Eurythrematosis as a developmental model of the Diabetes Mellitus type 1 pathological condition: pathophysiological parameters and oxidative stress / Eurytrematose como modelo de desenvolvimento da patologia da Diabetes Mellitus tipo 1: parâmetros fisiopatológicos e stress oxidativo

Eurytrematosis is a helminthic disease caused by trematodes belonging to the genus Eurytrema spp. that parasitize the pancreas of many animals and humans. This parasitosis causes chronic fibrosing pancreatitis, fat infiltration in the pancreatic parenchyma, besides damaging the exocrine pancreas, which is similar to that found in patients with Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (DM1). The current work aimed to evaluate the use of bovine pancreas infected with E. coelomaticum as a model to study DM1 pathophysiology. It was carried out macroscopic analyses, parasite identification, total pancreatic lipid determination and oxidative damage biomarkers levels of pancreas naturally infected with E. coelomaticum. Macroscopically, we observed that the infected pancreas had duct obstruction, organ stiffness due to the visible presence of fibrosis, increased adipose tissue deposition, increased protein and lipid damage, as well as increased antioxidant biomarkers (GSH, CAT and VIT C). Thus, it is possible to show that DM1 may have pancreatic parasitism as a possible primary origin. However, more studies are needed to better investigate this possible primary origin; the results obtained here suggest that the use of pancreas parasitized by E. coelomaticum could be a model to investigate DM1 pathophysiology

Preliminary studies of anti-ulcerogenic effect of Aster squamatus leaves hydroalcoholic extract on various ulcer models in rats

Se comprobó el efecto antiulcerogénico del extracto crudo hidroalcólico (70%) de las hojas de Aster squamatus (ECH) frente a úlceras inducidas por etanol, indometacina y estrés provocado por el frío. El ECH (500 y 1000mg/kg) redujo el índice de la lesión (IL) y el número de úlceras (NU) inducido por etanol. La dosis de 1000 mg/kg redujo el NU en el modelo de la indometacina y también redujo el IL e NU en el modelo provocado por estrés a frío. De acuerdo con los datos obtenidos, varios mecanismos de acción pueden estar involucrados en la protección gástrica. Subsiguientes estudios deben ser realizados para intentar poner en evidencia las substancias involucradas en el efecto anti-ulcerogénico del Aster squamatus.The anti-ulcerogenic effect of crude hydroalcoholic extract (70%) of Aster squamatus leaves (CHE) was tested against ethanol-, indomethacin-, and cold stress- induced ulcers. The CHE (500 and 1000 mg/kg) reduced the lesion index (LI) and the number of ulcers (NU) in ethanol-induced ulcers. The dose of 1000 mg/kg reduced the NU in the model of the indomethacin, and also reduced the LI and NU in the stress model. According to the obtained data, several action mechanisms may be involved in the gastric protection. Subsequent studies should be made trying to evidence the substances involved in Aster squamatus anti-ulcerogenic effect.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Preliminary studies of anti-ulcerogenic effect of Aster squamatus leaves hydroalcoholic extract on various ulcer models in rats

Se comprobó el efecto antiulcerogénico del extracto crudo hidroalcólico (70%) de las hojas de Aster squamatus (ECH) frente a úlceras inducidas por etanol, indometacina y estrés provocado por el frío. El ECH (500 y 1000mg/kg) redujo el índice de la lesión (IL) y el número de úlceras (NU) inducido por etanol. La dosis de 1000 mg/kg redujo el NU en el modelo de la indometacina y también redujo el IL e NU en el modelo provocado por estrés a frío. De acuerdo con los datos obtenidos, varios mecanismos de acción pueden estar involucrados en la protección gástrica. Subsiguientes estudios deben ser realizados para intentar poner en evidencia las substancias involucradas en el efecto anti-ulcerogénico del Aster squamatus.The anti-ulcerogenic effect of crude hydroalcoholic extract (70%) of Aster squamatus leaves (CHE) was tested against ethanol-, indomethacin-, and cold stress- induced ulcers. The CHE (500 and 1000 mg/kg) reduced the lesion index (LI) and the number of ulcers (NU) in ethanol-induced ulcers. The dose of 1000 mg/kg reduced the NU in the model of the indomethacin, and also reduced the LI and NU in the stress model. According to the obtained data, several action mechanisms may be involved in the gastric protection. Subsequent studies should be made trying to evidence the substances involved in Aster squamatus anti-ulcerogenic effect.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Antimicrobial Activity and Modulatory Effect of Essential Oil from the Leaf of Rhaphiodon echinus (Nees & Mart) Schauer on Some Antimicrobial Drugs

Background: Rhaphiodon echinus is a weed plant used in the Brazilian folk medicinal for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, the essential oil of R. echinus leaf was investigated for its antimicrobial properties. Methods: The chemical constituents of the essential oil were characterized by GC-MS. The antimicrobial properties were determined by studying by the microdilution method the effect of the oil alone, and in combination with antifungal or antibiotic drugs against the fungi Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis and the microbes Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. In addition, the iron (II) chelation potential of the oil was determined. Results: The results showed the presence of β-caryophyllene and bicyclogermacrene in major compounds, and revealed a low antifungal and antibacterial activity of the essential oil, but a strong modulatory effect on antimicrobial drugs when associated with the oil. The essential oil showed iron (II) chelation activity. Conclusions: The GC-MS characterization revealed the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the essential oil and metal chelation potential, which may be responsible in part for the modulatory effect of the oil. These findings suggest that essential oil of R. echinus is a natural product capable of enhancing the antibacterial and antifungal activity of antimicrobial drugs

Polyphenolic Composition and Evaluation of Antioxidant Activity, Osmotic Fragility and Cytotoxic Effects of Raphiodon echinus (Nees & Mart.) Schauer

Raphiodon echinus (R. echinus) is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, coughs, and infectious diseases. However, no information is available on the potential antioxidant, cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of this plant. In this study, the polyphenolic constituents, antioxidant capacity and potential toxic effects of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. echinus on human erythrocytes and leukocytes were investigated for the first time. R. echinus extracts showed the presence of Gallic, chlorogenic, caffeic and ellagic acids, rutin, quercitrin and quercetin. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of R. echinus exhibited antioxidant activity in DPPH radical scavenging with IC50 = 111.9 μg/mL (EtOH extract) and IC50 = 227.9 μg/mL (aqueous extract). The extracts inhibited Fe2+ (10 μM) induced thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation in rat brain and liver homogenates. The extracts (30–480 μg/mL) did not induce genotoxicity, cytotoxicity or osmotic fragility in human blood cells. The findings of this present study therefore suggest that the therapeutic effect of R. echinus may be, in part, related to its antioxidant potential. Nevertheless, further in vitro and in vivo studies are required to ascertain the safety margin of its use in folk medicine