Neurobehavioral and Antioxidant Effects of Ethanolic Extract of Yellow Propolis

Propolis is a resin produced by bees from raw material collected from plants, salivary secretions, and beeswax. New therapeutic properties for the Central Nervous System have emerged. We explored the neurobehavioral and antioxidant effects of an ethanolic extract of yellow propolis (EEYP) rich in triterpenoids, primarily lupeol and β-amyrin. Male Wistar rats, 3 months old, were intraperitoneally treated with Tween 5% (control), EEYP (1, 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg), or diazepam, fluoxetine, and caffeine (positive controls) 30 min before the assays. Animals were submitted to open field, elevated plus maze, forced swimming, and inhibitory avoidance tests. After behavioral tasks, blood samples were collected through intracardiac pathway, to evaluate the oxidative balance. The results obtained in the open field and in the elevated plus maze assay showed spontaneous locomotion preserved and anxiolytic-like activity. In the forced swimming test, EEYP demonstrated antidepressant-like activity. In the inhibitory avoidance test, EEYP showed mnemonic activity at 30 mg/kg. In the evaluation of oxidative biochemistry, the extract reduced the production of nitric oxide and malondialdehyde without changing level of total antioxidant, catalase, and superoxide dismutase, induced by behavioral stress. Our results highlight that EEYP emerges as a promising anxiolytic, antidepressant, mnemonic, and antioxidant natural product

Potential Benefits of Lycopene Consumption: Rationale for Using It as an Adjuvant Treatment for Malaria Patients and in Several Diseases

Malaria is a disease that affects thousands of people around the world every year. Its pathogenesis is associated with the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS) and lower levels of micronutrients and antioxidants. Patients under drug treatment have high levels of oxidative stress biomarkers in the body tissues, which limits the use of these drugs. Therefore, several studies have suggested that RONS inhibition may represent an adjuvant therapeutic strategy in the treatment of these patients by increasing the antioxidant capacity of the host. In this sense, supplementation with antioxidant compounds such as zinc, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E has been suggested as part of the treatment. Among dietary antioxidants, lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant among the main carotenoids. This review aimed to describe the main mechanisms inducing oxidative stress during malaria, highlighting the production of RONS as a defense mechanism against the infection induced by the ischemia-reperfusion syndrome, the metabolism of the parasite, and the metabolism of antimalarial drugs. Furthermore, the effects of lycopene on several diseases in which oxidative stress is implicated as a cause are outlined, providing information about its mechanism of action, and providing an evidence-based justification for its supplementation in malaria

Oxidative Stress in Parkinson’s Disease: Potential Benefits of Antioxidant Supplementation

Parkinson’s disease (PD) occurs in approximately 1% of the population over 65 years of age and has become increasingly more common with advances in age. The number of individuals older than 60 years has been increasing in modern societies, as well as life expectancy in developing countries; therefore, PD may pose an impact on the economic, social, and health structures of these countries. Oxidative stress is highlighted as an important factor in the genesis of PD, involving several enzymes and signaling molecules in the underlying mechanisms of the disease. This review presents updated data on the involvement of oxidative stress in the disease, as well as the use of antioxidant supplements in its therapy

Participation of oxidative stress in the activity of compounds isolated from Eleutherine plicata Herb

CNPQ project through the process no. 432458/2018.2 and PROPESP/UFPAFederal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Para. Institute of Biological Sciences. Oxidative Stress Research Lab. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Biological Sciences. Oxidative Stress Research Lab. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Para. Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde e Ambiente. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Biological Sciences. Oxidative Stress Research Lab. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Para. Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network. Belem, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Para. Institute of Health Sciences. Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences. Belem, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Para. Postgraduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology of the BIONORTE Network. Belém, PA, Brazil.From Eleutherine plicata, naphthoquinones, isoeleutherine, and eleutherol were isolated, and previous studies have reported the antioxidant activity of these metabolites. The present work evaluated the role of oxidative changes in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei and treated with E. plicata extract, fraction, and isolated compounds, as well as to verify possible oxidative changes induced by these treatments. E. plicata extracts were prepared from powder from the bulbs, which were submitted to maceration with ethanol, yielding the extract (EEEp), which was fractionated under reflux, and the dichloromethane fraction (FDMEp) was submitted for further fractionation, leading to the isolation of isoeleutherine, eleutherine, and eleutherol. The antimalarial activity was examined using the suppressive test, evaluating the following parameters of oxidative stress: trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and reduced glutathione (GSH). Furthermore, the molecular docking of naphthoquinones, eleutherol, eleutherine, and isoeleutherine interactions with antioxidant defense enzymes was investigated, which was favorable for the formation of the receptor–ligand complex, according to the re-rank score values. Eleutherine and isoeleutherine are the ones with the lowest binding energy for catalase (CAT), glutathione reductase (GR), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1), showing themselves as possible targets of these molecules in the involvement of redox balance. Data from the present study showed that treatments with E. plicata stimulated an increase in antioxidant capacity and a reduction in oxidative stress in mice infected with P. berghei, with naphthoquinones being responsible for reducing oxidative changes and disease severity

Evaluation of acute and subacute toxicity of ethanolic extract and fraction of alkaloids from bark of Aspidosperma nitidum in mice

Federal University of Pará. Institute of Health Sciences. Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Post‑graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Oxidative Stress Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Health Sciences. Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Oxidative Stress Research Laboratory. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Post‑graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences. Post‑graduate Program in Chemistry. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Exact and Natural Sciences. Post‑graduate Program in Chemistry. Belém, PA, Brazil.Ministério da Saúde. Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde. Instituto Evandro Chagas. Centro Nacional de Primatas. Ananindeua, PA, Brasil.Ministério da Ciência, Tecnologia, Inovação e Comunicações. Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi. Botany Coordination. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Health Sciences. Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Innovation. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Post‑graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology. Belém, PA, Brazil.Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Post‑graduate Program in Biodiversity and Biotechnology. Belém, PA, Brazil / Federal University of Pará. Institute of Biological Sciences. Oxidative Stress Research Laboratory. Belém, PA , Brazil.This study investigated the acute and subacute toxicity of the ethanolic extract (EE) and alkaloid fraction (FA) from A. nitidum. The EE was obtained from trunk bark with ethanol, FA was obtained from the fractionation of EE. To test the acute toxicity, mice were divided into four groups, and the negative controls received water or aqueous solution of dimethyl sulfoxide, whereas the others received EE or FA (2000 mg/kg, orally, single dose). The same controls were used in the subacute trial. However, the animals were treated for 28 days, and the dose used was 1000 mg/kg per day of EE and FA. Daily clinical evaluations of the animals were performed. At the end of the experiment, hematological, biochemical, and histopathological assessments (liver, lung, heart, and kidney) were performed. In the acute and subacute toxicity studies, mice treated with EE and FA did not show any clinical changes, there were no changes in weight gain, hematological and biochemical parameters compared to the control groups (p > 0.05). In the histopathological examination, there was no abnormality in the organs of the treated animals. Therefore, EE and FA did not produce toxic effects in mice after acute and subacute treatment

ATIVIDADE ANTIMALÁRICA DO EXTRATO ETANÓLICO E FRAÇÃO DE DICLOROMETANO DE ELEUTHERINE PLICATA

<p><strong>Introdução: </strong>A malária é uma das infecções humanas mais prevalentes e um enorme problema de saúde. A busca de novas alternativas terapêuticas para o tratamento da malária, a partir das plantas utilizadas popularmente podem dar valiosa contribuição, e dentre as espécies, a <i>Euletherine plicata</i> é a que apresenta grande potencial com esta ação.<strong> Objetivo: </strong>Avaliar a atividade antimalárica de <i>Eleutherine plicata </i>Herb. em camundongos infectados pelo <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>. <strong>Métodos: </strong>Para isso, foram utilizados 40 camundongos fêmeas (Mus musculus) divididos randomicamente em 4 grupos, como segue: Grupo I (controle negativo); Grupo II (controle positivo); Grupos III e IV (animais infectados com <i>P. berghei</i> e tratados diariamente com o extrato (EEEp) e a fração (FDMEp) de <i>E. plicata</i>, respectivamente). Durante o período de estudo foi avaliado a sobrevida diária e o percentual de parasitemia durante os trinta dias de estudo. <strong>Resultados:</strong> Tanto o EEEp como a FDMEp na dose de 200 mg/kg foram capazes de reduzir significativamente a parasitemia dos animais em relação ao grupo controle positivo durante o período de estudo. Tal redução, refletiu em prolongamento da sobrevida dos animais de ambos os grupos tratados, quando comparados ao controle.  <strong>Conclusão: </strong>O EEEp e a FDMEp na dose testada foram capazes de reduzir a parasitemia e prolongar a sobrevida dos animais em relação ao controle infectado.</p&gt

Salivary Gland Extract from <i>Aedes aegypti</i> Improves Survival in Murine Polymicrobial Sepsis through Oxidative Mechanisms

Sepsis is a systemic disease with life-threatening potential and is characterized by a dysregulated immune response from the host to an infection. The organic dysfunction in sepsis is associated with the production of inflammatory cascades and oxidative stress. Previous studies showed that Aedes aegypti saliva has anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant properties. Considering inflammation and the role of oxidative stress in sepsis, we investigated the effect of pretreatment with salivary gland extract (SGE) from Ae. aegypti in the induction of inflammatory and oxidative processes in a murine cecum ligation and puncture (CLP) model. Here, we evaluated animal survival for 16 days, as well as bacterial load, leukocyte migration, and oxidative parameters. We found that the SGE pretreatment improved the survival of septic mice, reduced bacterial load and neutrophil influx, and increased nitric oxide (NO) production in the peritoneal cavity. With regard to oxidative status, SGE increased antioxidant defenses as measured by Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and glutathione (GSH), while reducing levels of the oxidative stress marker malondialdehyde (MDA). Altogether, these data suggest that SGE plays a protective role in septic animals, contributing to oxidative and inflammatory balance during sepsis. Therefore, Ae. aegypti SGE is a potential source for new therapeutic molecule(s) in polymicrobial sepsis, and this effect seems to be mediated by the control of inflammation and oxidative damage

Repeated Cycles of Binge-Like Ethanol Intake in Adolescent Female Rats Induce Motor Function Impairment and Oxidative Damage in Motor Cortex and Liver, but Not in Blood

Moderate ethanol consumption (MEC) is increasing among women. Alcohol exposure usually starts in adolescence and tends to continue until adulthood. We aimed to investigate MEC impacts during adolescence until young adulthood of female rats. Adolescent female Wistar rats received distilled water or ethanol (3 g/kg/day), in a 3 days on-4 days off paradigm (binge drinking) for 1 and 4 consecutive weeks. We evaluate liver and brain oxidative damage, peripheral oxidative parameters by SOD, catalase, thiol contents, and MDA, and behavioral motor function by open-field, pole, beam-walking, and rotarod tests. Our results revealed that repeated episodes of binge drinking during adolescence displayed lipid peroxidation in the liver and brain. Surprisingly, such oxidative damage was not detectable on blood. Besides, harmful histological effects were observed in the liver, associated to steatosis and loss of parenchymal architecture. In addition, ethanol intake elicited motor incoordination, bradykinesia, and reduced spontaneous exploratory behavior in female rats

“Special K” Drug on Adolescent Rats: Oxidative Damage and Neurobehavioral Impairments

Ketamine is used in clinical practice as an anesthetic that pharmacologically modulates neurotransmission in postsynaptic receptors, such as NMDA receptors. However, widespread recreational use of ketamine in “party drug” worldwide since the 1990s quickly spread to the Asian orient region. Thus, this study aimed at investigating the behavioral and oxidative effects after immediate withdrawal of intermittent administration of ketamine in adolescent female rats. For this, twenty female Wistar rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and ketamine group (n=10/group). Animals received ketamine (10 mg/kg/day) or saline intraperitoneally for three consecutive days. Three hours after the last administration, animals were submitted to open field, elevated plus-maze, forced swim tests, and inhibitory avoidance paradigm. Twenty-four hours after behavioral tests, the blood and hippocampus were collected for the biochemical analyses. Superoxide dismutase, catalase, nitrite, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were measured in the blood samples. Nitrite and LPO were measured in the hippocampus. The present findings demonstrate that the early hours of ketamine withdrawal induced oxidative biochemistry unbalance in the blood samples, with elevated levels of nitrite and LPO. In addition, we showed for the first time that ketamine withdrawal induced depressive- and anxiety-like profile, as well as short-term memory impairment in adolescent rodents. The neurobehavioral deficits were accompanied by the hippocampal nitrite and LPO-elevated levels

ATIVIDADE ANTIMALÁRICA DO EXTRATO ETANÓLICO E FRAÇÃO DE DICLOROMETANO DE ELEUTHERINE PLICATA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Introdução: &lt;/strong&gt;A malária é uma das infecções humanas mais prevalentes e um enorme problema de saúde. A busca de novas alternativas terapêuticas para o tratamento da malária, a partir das plantas utilizadas popularmente podem dar valiosa contribuição, e dentre as espécies, a &lt;i&gt;Euletherine plicata&lt;/i&gt; é a que apresenta grande potencial com esta ação.&lt;strong&gt; Objetivo: &lt;/strong&gt;Avaliar a atividade antimalárica de &lt;i&gt;Eleutherine plicata &lt;/i&gt;Herb. em camundongos infectados pelo &lt;i&gt;Plasmodium berghei&lt;/i&gt;. &lt;strong&gt;Métodos: &lt;/strong&gt;Para isso, foram utilizados 40 camundongos fêmeas (Mus musculus) divididos randomicamente em 4 grupos, como segue: Grupo I (controle negativo); Grupo II (controle positivo); Grupos III e IV (animais infectados com &lt;i&gt;P. berghei&lt;/i&gt; e tratados diariamente com o extrato (EEEp) e a fração (FDMEp) de &lt;i&gt;E. plicata&lt;/i&gt;, respectivamente). Durante o período de estudo foi avaliado a sobrevida diária e o percentual de parasitemia durante os trinta dias de estudo. &lt;strong&gt;Resultados:&lt;/strong&gt; Tanto o EEEp como a FDMEp na dose de 200 mg/kg foram capazes de reduzir significativamente a parasitemia dos animais em relação ao grupo controle positivo durante o período de estudo. Tal redução, refletiu em prolongamento da sobrevida dos animais de ambos os grupos tratados, quando comparados ao controle. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusão: &lt;/strong&gt;O EEEp e a FDMEp na dose testada foram capazes de reduzir a parasitemia e prolongar a sobrevida dos animais em relação ao controle infectado.&lt;/p&gt