Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Properties of Black Mulberry (Morus nigra L.) in a Model of LPS-Induced Sepsis.

Sepsis is a complex disease and is the cause of many deaths worldwide. Sepsis pathogenesis involves a dysregulated inflammatory response with consequent production of inflammatory mediators and reactive species. The production and excessive release of these substances into the systemic circulation trigger various cellular and metabolic alterations that are observed during the disease evolution. Thus, more studies have been carried out to investigate the therapeutic potential of plants such as Morus nigra L., popularly known as black mulberry. Studies have shown that plants belonging to the Morus genus are rich in secondary metabolites such as flavonoids which are associated with important biological activities as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory actions. Based on this context, the objective of our study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of Morus nigra L. in a sepsis model induced by LPS. Male C57BL/6 mice were distributed in four groups: control, sepsis, sepsis treated with leaf extract of mulberry, and sepsis treated with mulberry pulp. The animals were treated with 100 µL of their respective treatments for twenty-one days. Sepsis was induced at the 21st day with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) by intraperitoneal injection. The animals were euthanized 24 hours after receiving the LPS injection. The data obtained were analyzed in GraphPad Prism 6.0 software. Our results showed that treatment with either extract significantly decreased the number of leukocytes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum levels of TNF in septic animals. Regarding the redox status, the treatments significantly decreased the antioxidant activity of the enzyme glutathione peroxidase. Regarding metalloproteinase type 2, it was observed that the treatment with black mulberry pulp was able to significantly reduce the activity of this enzyme concerning the sepsis group. Finally, these results together promoted an increase in the animal's survival that received the black mulberry leaf or pulp extract.

Baccharis trimera protects against ethanol induced hepatotoxicity in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Baccharis trimera has been traditionally used in Brazil to treat liver diseases. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the protective effect of Baccharis trimera in an ethanol induced hepatotoxicity model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The antioxidant capacity was evaluated in vitro by the ability to scavenged the DPPH radical, by the quantification of ROS, NO and the transcription factor Nrf2. Hepatotoxicity was induced in animals by administration of absolute ethanol for 2 days (acute) or with ethanol diluted for 28 days (chronic). The biochemical parameters of hepatic function (ALT and AST), renal function (urea and creatinine) and lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL) were evaluated. In addition to antioxidant defense (SOD, catalase, glutathione), oxidative damage markers (TBARS and carbonylated protein), MMP-2 activity and liver histology. RESULTS: Baccharis trimera promoted a decrease in ROS and NO, and at low concentrations promoted increased transcription of Nrf2. In the acute experiment it promoted increase of HDL, in the activity of SOD and GPx, besides diminishing TBARS and microesteatosis. Already in the chronic experiment B. trimera improved the hepatic and renal profile, decreased triglycerides and MMP-2 activity, in addition to diminishing microesteatosis. CONCLUSION: We believe that B. trimera action is possibly more associated with direct neutralizing effects or inhibition of reactive species production pathways rather than the modulation of the antioxidant enzymes activity. Thus it is possible to infer that the biological effects triggered by adaptive responses are complex and multifactorial depending on the dose, the time and the compounds used.