Ninety-day oral toxicity assessment of an alternative biopolymer for controlled release drug delivery systems obtained from cassava starch acetate.

The large consumption of biodegradable films from cassava starch acetate (FCSA) as ingredients in food and pharmaceutical products requires the assessment of the possible toxicity of these products. The aim of this study was to investigate the toxicity of biodegradable film from cassava starch acetate after oral exposure of Wistar rats for 90 days. The amount of food consumed and the body weight were weekly monitored. Blood and urine samples were obtained for the assessment of serum parameters and renal function. Histopathological analyses in target organs were also performed. No evidence of clinical toxicity in hematological, biochemical, or renal parameters in the FCSA-treated animals was found. In addition, relative organ weight and histopathological evaluations did not differ between groups treated with FCSA and control. Data obtained suggest that the subchronic exposure to FCSA does not cause obvious signs of toxicity inWistar rats, indicating possible safety of this biofilm

Applications of Calcium Oxalate Crystal Microscopy in the Characterization of Baccharis articulata.

Baccharis articulata (Lam.) Pers., popularly known as carqueja, carquejinha or carqueja-doce, is a plant widely used in traditional medicine as a diuretic, digestive and antidiabetic. Due to its similar morphology with other species of the "carqueja group", especially Baccharis pentaptera (Less.) DC., it can be easily confused even by specialists. Thus, this study aimed to characterize micromorphology of the crystals present in B. articulata to show botanical markers that can help differentiate this species from other carquejas. Eleven crystalline morphotypes, including druses, styloids and various shapes of prismatic and sand crystals, were evidenced by scanning electron microscopy. In addition, the elemental chemical composition and the degree of hydration of the crystals were analyzed by EDS and Raman spectroscopy. The results of this study would aid in the authentication of B. articulata and serve as a basis for future studies of other species of Baccharis

Chemical profiles and cytotoxic activities of essential oils from six species of Baccharis subgenus Coridifoliae (Asteraceae).

This article augments the current know ledge about the chemical-biological properties of Baccharis subgenus Coridifoliae and discusses the therapeutic potentials of these economically unexploited plants

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans – anteaters, sloths, and armadillos – have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with 24 domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, ten anteaters, and six sloths. Our dataset includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data-paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the south of the USA, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to its austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n=5,941), and Cyclopes sp. has the fewest (n=240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n=11,588), and the least recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n=33). With regards to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n=962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n=12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other datasets of Neotropical Series which will become available very soon (i.e. Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans dataset

Mancha foliar em orquídeas, causada por Acidovorax avenae Subsp. cattleyae, séria ameaça à orquidicultura brasileira.

Resumo. ref. 028

Diuretic And Potassium-sparing Effect Of Isoquercitrin - An Active Flavonoid Of Tropaeolum Majus L.

Aim of the study: Previous studies have shown that the extracts obtained from Tropaeolum majus L. exhibit pronounced diuretic effects supporting the ethnopharmacological use of this plant as diuretic. In the present work, phytochemical investigation, guided by bio-assay in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), was carried out in order to identify the compounds responsible for diuretic action. Material and methods: Chromatographic fractionation of the hydroethanolic extract yielded an active fraction (TMLR) rich in isoquercitrin. TMLR (25-100 mg/kg) and isoquercitrin (5-10 mg/kg), as well the reference drug hydrochlorothiazide (10 mg/kg) were orally administered in a single dose or daily for 7 days to SHR. The urine excretion rate, pH, density, conductivity and content of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) electrolytes were measured in the urine of saline-loaded animals. Results: The urinary excretion rate was dose-dependently increased in both TMLR and isoquercitrin groups, as well as Na+. Despite the changes in urinary excretion of electrolytes, the plasmatic levels of Na+ and K+ had not been changed. In addition, we did not find any evidence of renal toxicity or other adverse effects in these animals, even after prolonged treatment with TMLR or isoquercitrin. Conclusion: This research supports and extends the ethnomedicinal use of T. majus as diuretic. This activity seems to be associated to the presence of the flavonol isoquercitrin. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.1342210215Benjumea, D., Abdala, S., Hernandez-Luis, F., Perez-Paz, P., Martin-Herrera, D., Diuretic activity of Artemisia thuscula, an endemic canary species (2005) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 100 (1-2), pp. 205-209. , DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2005.03.005, PII S0378874105002096, Perspectives of EthnopharmacologyBinet, L., A biologist physician in the country (1964) Biology and Medicine Journal, 53, pp. 5-28Correa, M.P., (1978) Dicionário Das Plantas Úteis Do Brasil e Das Exóticas Cultivadas, , Imprensa Nacional, Rio de JaneiroDe-la-Cruz, H., Vilcapoma, G., Zevallos, P.A., Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the Andean people of Canta, Lima, Peru (2007) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 111 (2), pp. 284-294. , DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2006.11.018, PII S0378874106006210De Medeiros, J.M., Macedo, M., Contancia, J.P., Nguyen, C., Cunningham, G., Miles, D.H., Antithrombin activity of medicinal plants of the Azores (2000) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 72, pp. 157-165Emura, K., Yokomizo, A., Toyoshi, T., Moriwaki, M., Effect of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin in spontaneously hypertensive rats (2007) Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, 53 (1), pp. 68-74. , DOI 10.3177/jnsv.53.68Ferreira, R.B.G., Vieira, M.C., Zárete, N.A.H., Análise de crescimento de Tropaeolum majus 'jewel' em função de espaçamentos entre plantas (2004) Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais, 7, pp. 57-66Ferro, D., (2006) Fitoterapia: Conceitos Clínicos, , Atheneu, São PauloGaskell, S.J., Electrospray: Principles and practice (1997) Journal of Mass Spectrometry, 32 (7), pp. 677-688. , DOI 10.1002/(SICI)1096-9888(199707)32:7<677::AID-JMS536>3.0.CO;2-GGasparotto Jr., A., Boffo, M.A., Lourenco, E.L., Stefanello, M.E., Kassuya, C.A.L., Marques, M.C., Natriuretic and diuretic effects of Tropaeolum majus (Tropaeolaceae) in rats (2009) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 122, pp. 517-522Goos, K.H., Albrecht, U., Schneider, B., Efficacy and safety profile of a herbal drug containing nasturtium herb and horseradish root in acute sinusitis, acute bronchitis and acute urinary tract infection in comparison with other treatments in the daily practice/results of a prospective cohort study (2006) Arzneimittelforschung, 56, pp. 249-257Griffiths, D.W., Deighton, N., Birch, A.E., Patrian, B., Baur, R., Stadler, E., Identification of glucosinolates on the leaf surface of plants from the Cruciferae and other closely related species (2001) Phytochemistry, 57 (5), pp. 693-700. , DOI 10.1016/S0031-9422(01)00138-8, PII S0031942201001388Jackson, E.K., Drugs affecting renal and cardiovascular function (1996) Goodman and Gilman's the Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, pp. 685-713. , Hardman, J.C., Gilman, A.G., Limbird, L.E. (Eds.), Pergamon Press, New YorkJohns, T., Kitts, W.D., Newsome, F., Towers, G.H.N., Anti-reproductive and other medicinal effects of Tropaeolum tuberosum (1982) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 5 (2), pp. 149-161. , DOI 10.1016/0378-8741(82)90040-XKau, S.T., Keddie, J.R., Andrews, D., A method for screening diuretic agents in the rat (1984) Journal of Pharmacological Methods, 11 (1), pp. 67-75. , DOI 10.1016/0160-5402(84)90054-8Lacaille-Dubois, M.A., Franck, U., Wagner, H., Search for potential angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitors from plants (2001) Phytomedicine, 8 (1), pp. 47-52Li, J., Wang, Z.-W., Zhang, L., Liu, X., Chen, X.-H., Bi, K.-S., HPLC analysis and pharmacokinetic study of quercitrin and isoquercitrin in rat plasma after administration of Hypericum japonicum thunb. extract (2008) Biomedical Chromatography, 22 (4), pp. 374-378. , DOI 10.1002/bmc.942Lykkesfeldt, J., Moller, B.L., Synthesis of benzylglucosinolate in Tropaeolum majus L. (isothiocyanates as potent enzyme inhibitors) (1993) Plant Physiology, 102, pp. 609-613Maghrani, M., Zeggwagh, N.-A., Haloui, M., Eddouks, M., Acute diuretic effect of aqueous extract of Retama raetam in normal rats (2005) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 99 (1), pp. 31-35. , DOI 10.1016/j.jep.2005.01.045Mietkiewska, E., Giblin, E.M., Wang, S., Barton, D.L., Dirpaul, J., Brost, J.M., Katavic, V., Taylor, D.C., Seed-specific heterologous expression of a nasturtium FAE gene in Arabidopsis results in a dramatic increase in the proportion of erucic acid (2004) Plant Physiology, 136 (1), pp. 2665-2675. , DOI 10.1104/pp.104.046839Pantoja, C.V., Chiang, L.C., Norris, B.C., Concha, J.B., Diuretic, natriuretic and hypotensive effects produced by Allium sativum (garlic) in anaesthetized dogs (1991) Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 31, pp. 325-331Roesler, R., Catharino, R.R., Malta, L.G., Eberlin, M.N., Pastore, G., Antioxidant activity of Caryocar brasiliense (pequi) and characterisation of components by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (2008) Food Chemistry, 110, pp. 711-717Sarikonda, V.K., Watson, R.E., Opara, O.C., DiPette, D.J., Experimental animal models of hypertension (2009) Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 3, pp. 158-165Schramm, D.D., German, J.B., Potential effects of flavonoids on the etiology of vascular disease (1998) Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, 9 (10), pp. 560-566. , DOI 10.1016/S0955-2863(98)00051-5, PII S0955286398000515Schramm, D.D., Wang, J.F., Holt, R.R., Ensunsa, J.L., Gonsalves, J.L., Lazarus, S.A., Schmitz, H.H., Keen, C.L., Chocolate procyanidins decrease the leukotriene-prostacyclin ratio in humans and human aortic endothelial cells (2001) American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 73 (1), pp. 36-40Stanic, G., Samarzija, I., Diuretic activity of Satureja montana subsp. Montana extracts and oil in rats (1993) Phytotherapy Research, 7, pp. 363-366Trippodo, N.C., Frohlich, E.D., Similarities of genetic (spontaneous) hypertension. Man and rat (1981) Circulation Research, 48, pp. 309-319Wu, J., Muir, A.D., Isoflavone content and its potential contribution to the antihypertensive activity in soybean angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitory peptides (2008) Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 56, pp. 9899-9904Zanetti, G.D., Manfron, M.P., Hoelzel, S.C.S., Análise morfo-anatômica de Tropaeolum majus L. (Tropaeolaceae) (2004) IHERINGIA Série Botânica, 59, pp. 173-17

Mancha bacteriana em orquídeas causada por Burkholderia gladioli, no Brasil.

Resumo. ref. 065

A Randomized Crossover Intervention Study on the Effect a Standardized Maté Extract (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) in Men Predisposed to Cardiovascular Risk

(1) Background: Due to its richness in chlorogenic acids (CGAs), Mat&eacute; (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) could be of interest in the prevention of cardiometabolic diseases, however clinical evidence are lacking. This trial aimed to evaluate the impact of mat&eacute; CGAs, consumed in a daily dose achievable through traditional mat&eacute; beverages, on parameters related to cardiometabolic risk. (2) Design: Thirty-four male volunteers aged 45&ndash;65 years and with at most one criteria of metabolic syndrome, were recruited for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, and crossover study. The volunteers were assigned to consume an encapsulated dry mat&eacute; extract for four-weeks, providing 580 mg of caffeoyl quinic acid derivatives (CQAs) daily, or a placebo, with a two weeks washout between intervention periods. Anthropometric variables, blood pressure, plasma glucose, lipids, endothelial, and inflammatory biomarkers were measured in overnight-fasted subjects and after a glucose load. (3) Results: We found no significant effects of treatment on these parameters and the response to the glucose load was also similar between the two interventions. However, a significant decrease in fasting glucose was observed between day 0 and day 28 for the mat&eacute; group only (&minus;0.57 &plusmn; 0.11 mmol/L, p &lt; 0.0002). In subjects with an intermediate to high Framingham risk score, consumption of mat&eacute; extract induced a 10% increase of high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-c from baseline. In a subgroup representative of the study population, significant decreases in the C-reactive protein (CRP) (&minus;50%) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (&minus;19%) levels were observed. (4) Conclusions: These clinical observations suggest that mat&eacute;, naturally rich in CGAs, could improve some cardiometabolic markers in subjects with a higher predisposition to metabolic syndrome, even if that remains to be confirmed in new trials specifically targeting this population