Study of the Interference between Plectranthus

Plectranthus is one of the most representative genera of Lamiaceae family. In this study, the essential oils from Plectranthus amboinicus, Plectranthus ornatus, and Plectranthus barbatus were investigated for their chemical composition and antimicrobial and modulatory activities. The major components found were carvacrol (54.4%—P. amboinicus) and eugenol (22.9%—P. ornatus e 25.1%—P. barbatus). In vitro antimicrobial activity was conducted against Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus aureus (multiresistant) using microdilution method. The results of bioassay showed that all strains were sensitive to the oils, except P. aeruginosa that was resistant to P. amboinicus and P. ornatus. A synergistic effect of all essential oils combined with the aminoglycosides was demonstrated. These results show that P. amboinicus, P. ornatus, and P. barbatus inhibit the growth of pathogenic microorganism, and besides this they present antibiotic modifying activity, providing a new perspective against the problem of bacterial resistance to antibiotics

Prevalência de anemia em crianças pré-escolares do município de Farias Brito, CE

O objetivo do presente estudo foi verificar a prevalência de anemia em pré-escolares do município de Farias Brito, CE. Estudou-se uma amostra de 71 crianças com idade entre 3 e 6 anos da Escola de Educação Infantil Joana Alves Bezerra. A presença de anemia foi verificada pela dosagem de hemoglobina (Hb), utilizando-se espectrofotometria, e pela avaliação da morfologia das células sangüíneas. Foram consideradas anêmicas as crianças com H

PROSPECÇÃO FITOQUÍMICA E AVALIAÇÃO DA ATIVIDADE ANTIBACTERIANA E TOXICIDADE DO LÁTEX DE CALOTROPIS PROCERA (ASCLEPIDACEAE)

Calotropis procera (Asclepidaceae), é uma espécie lactífera e arbórea típica de áreas com baixos níveis de pluviosidade e solos pobres em nutrientes. Na medicina popular suas folhas e seu látex são utilizados no tratamento de úlceras, tumores e doenças hepáticas. A prospecção fitoquímica das frações hexano, acetato de etila, metanol e água do extrato do seu látex mostrou a presença de metabólitos como: flavonas, flavonóis, xantonas, flavononóis, esteróides e alcalóides. Todas as frações, exceto a hexano, demonstraram atividade antibacteriana contra linhagens Gram-negativas, merecendo destaque a fração aquosa por apresentar o melhor resultado frente a P. aeruginosa com CIM de 128 μg/mL. Os ensaios de toxicidade foram realizados frente à Artemia salina e indicaram resultados significativos para as frações acetato de etila e metanólica com CL50 de 10,0 e 16,5 μg/mL, respectivamente

Gastroprotective potential of frutalin, a d-galactose binding lectin, against ethanol-induced gastric lesions

AbstractThe present study was designed to verify whether frutalin (FTL) affords gastroprotection against the ethanol-induced gastric damage and to examine the underlying mechanism(s). Gastric damage was induced by intragastric administration of 0.2ml of ethanol (96%). Mice in groups were pretreated with FTL (0.25, 0.5 and 1mg/kg; i.p.), cimetidine (100mg/kg; p.o.), or vehicle (0.9% of NaCl, 10mL/kg; p.o.), 30min before ethanol administration. They were sacrificed 30min later, the stomachs excised, and the mucosal lesion area (mm2) measured by planimetry. Gastroprotection was assessed in relation to inhibition of gastric lesion area. To study the gastroprotective mechanism(s), its relations to capsaicin-sensitive fibers, endogenous prostaglandins, nitric oxide, sulphydryls, ATP-sensitive potassium channels, adrenoceptors, opioid receptors and calcium channels were analyzed. Treatments effects on ethanol-associated oxidative stress markers GSH and MDA were measured in gastric tissue. FTL afforded a dose-unrelated gastroprotection against the ethanol damage. However, it failed to prevent the ethanol-induced changes in the levels of GSH and MDA. It was observed that the gastroprotection by FTL was greatly reduced in animals pretreated with capsazepine, indomethacin, L-NAME or glibenclamide. Considering the results, it is suggested that the FTL could probably be a good therapeutic agent for the development of new medicine for the treatment of gastric ulcer

Plant Macromolecules as Biomaterials for Wound Healing

Natural biomolecules are increasingly relevant for biomedical applications and tissue engineering for being able to produce an effect on chemical signals, organization of cells, and restitution of extracellular matrix in lesioned tissues. In this chapter, we will address the potential of plant macromolecules, in particular, carbohydrates and proteins such as hemicelluloses and lectins. While lectins are mostly carbohydrate-binding proteins, which can interact with cell surfaces to initiate anti-inflammatory pathways, as well as immunomodulatory functions, hemicelluloses are remarkably known by their ability to form viscous solutions even at low concentrations, which makes them an excellent candidate as vehicle to carry different sorts of biomolecules. Taking into account the complexity of the whole healing process, as an overlapping and coordinated cascade of events, most of the properties presented here by those materials may be of interest to the wound-care market

Attenuation of capsaicin-induced acute and visceral nociceptive pain by α- and β-amyrin, a triterpene mixture isolated from Protium heptaphyllum resin

Abstract The triterpene mixture, a-and h-amyrin, isolated from Protium heptaphyllum resin was evaluated on capsaicinevoked nociception in mice. Orally administered a-and h-amyrin (3 to 100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the nociceptive behaviors-evoked by either subplantar (1.6 Ag) or intracolonic (149 Ag) application of capsaicin. The antinociception produced by a-and h-amyrin against subplantar capsaicin-induced paw-licking behavior was neither potentiated nor attenuated by ruthenium red (1.5 mg/kg, s.c.), a non-specific antagonist of vanilloid receptor (TRPV1), but was greatly abolished in animals pretreated with naloxone (2 mg/kg, s.c.), suggesting an opioid mechanism. However, participation of a 2 -adrenoceptor involvement was unlikely since yohimbine (2 mg/ kg, i.p.) pretreatment failed to block the antinociceptive effect of a-and h-amyrin in the experimental model of visceral nociception evoked by intracolonic capsaicin. The triterpene mixture (3 to 30 mg/kg, p.o.) neither altered significantly the pentobarbital sleeping time, nor impaired the ambulation or motor coordination in open-field and rota-rod tests, respectively, indicating the absence of sedative or motor abnormality that could account for its antinociception. Nevertheless, a-and h-amyrin could significantly block the capsaicin (10 mg/kg, s.c.)-induce

Imagens de ressonância magnética na artrite reumatoide

A artrite reumatoide (AR) é uma poliartrite inflamatória crônica que frequentemente causa progressiva destruição articular. O tratamento e o manejo da AR têm se baseado na identificação e na intervenção precoce da doença com medicamentos modificadores da doença (DMARDs). As alterações no tratamento têm resultado em melhora significativa para os pacientes, incluindo redução dos sintomas e dos sinais da doença, preservação articular e redução da progressão de lesões. Métodos de avaliação de resposta ao tratamento e predição do curso da doença são necessários. Em relação ao diagnóstico precoce da AR, estudos longitudinais demonstraram que a imagem por ressonância magnética (IRM) é mais sensível que a radiografia (RX) para demonstrar presença e progressão de erosões ósseas. Por outro lado, muitos fatores de pior prognóstico têm sido relacionados à AR, incluindo fatores demográficos, genéticos, clínicos, imunológicos e radiográficos. Este artigo apresenta a IRM na AR em relação ao seu valor no diagnóstico, no monitoramento e no prognóstico da doença

Corneal antinociceptive effect of (-)-α-bisabolol

Context: (-)-α-Bisabolol (BISA) is a sesquiterpene alcohol widely used as scent in cosmetic preparations, perfumes, shampoos, toilet soaps and other toiletries with potential for use in the pharmaceutical area. Objective: To evaluate the corneal antinociceptive efficacy of BISA and to analyze the best solubilizing agent. Materials and methods: Acute corneal nociception was induced by the local application of hypertonic saline (5 M NaCl; 20 μL) to the corneal surface of Swiss mice (n = 8/group) 60 min after topical treatment with solutions or ointment containing BISA (50–200 mg/mL). The number of eye wipes performed with the ipsilateral forepaw was counted for a period of 30 s. Control groups (vehicles) were included. Results: BISA (50, 100 or 200 mg/mL) solubilized with Tween 80 did not reduce the number of eye wipes. Animals treated with the ointment (BISA 50, 100 or 200 mg/mL; p < 0.001), as well the solution containing propylene glycol (BISA 100 mg/mL; p < 0.05), showed significant reduction in the number of nociceptive behaviours. Solutions containing propylene glycol and isopropyl myristate had no effects. Discussion and conclusion: BISA possess corneal antinociceptive activity. Although the ointment presented antinociceptive effect, it is concluded that BISA when associated with propylene glycol has better potential for corneal nociceptive pain since it is more comfortable to use, leading to greater acceptance by patients