Copaiba Oil-Loaded Polymeric Nanocapsules: Production and In Vitro Biosafety Evaluation on Lung Cells as a Pre-Formulation Step to Produce Phytotherapeutic Medicine

Copaiba oil has been largely used due to its therapeutic properties. Nanocapsules were revealed to be a great nanosystem to carry natural oils due to their ability to improve the bioaccessibility and the bioavailability of lipophilic compounds. The aim of this study was to produce and characterize copaiba oil nanocapsules (CopNc) and to evaluate their hemocompatibility, cytotoxicity, and genotoxicity. Copaiba oil was chemically characterized by GC-MS and FTIR. CopNc was produced using the nanoprecipitation method. The physicochemical stability, toxicity, and biocompatibility of the systems, in vitro, were then evaluated. Β-bisabolene, cis-α-bergamotene, caryophyllene, and caryophyllene oxide were identified as the major copaiba oil components. CopNc showed a particle size of 215 ± 10 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.15 ± 0.01, and a zeta potential of −18 ± 1. These parameters remained unchanged over 30 days at 25 ± 2 °C. The encapsulation efficiency of CopNc was 54 ± 2%. CopNc neither induced hemolysis in erythrocytes, nor cytotoxic and genotoxic in lung cells at the range of concentrations from 50 to 200 μg·mL−1. In conclusion, CopNc showed suitable stability and physicochemical properties. Moreover, this formulation presented a remarkable safety profile on lung cells. These results may pave the way to further use CopNc for the development of phytotherapeutic medicine intended for pulmonary delivery of copaiba oil

Acúmulo de matéria seca e nutrientes no meloeiro irrigado sob estratégias de manejo da salinidade

O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de investigar estratégias de uso de água salobra sobre o acúmulo de matéria seca e nutrientes, duas cultivares de melão (Sancho- C1 e Medellín- C2) irrigadas com água de baixa (S1 = 0,61 dS m-1) e alta (S2 = 4,78 dS m-1) salinidade por fase da cultura: S1S1S2S2- T1, S2S1S2S2- T2, S2S2S1S2- T3 (os 1, 2, 3 e 4º termos correspondem, respectivamente, às fases de crescimento, floração, crescimento dos frutos e maturação e colheita) e, ainda a irrigação alternada, durante todo o ciclo, com água S1 por 2 dias consecutivos seguido com água S2 por um dia (S12dias + S21dia- T4) e a irrigação com água S2 durante todo o ciclo- T5. Além disto foi utilizada, como testemunha, a irrigação com a mistura de 37% da água S1 e 63% da água S2- T0 (manejo adotado atualmente na fazenda em que o experimento foi conduzido). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o de blocos inteiramente casualizados em um esquema de parcelas subdivididas 6 x 2 (manejo da água salina x cultivar) com quatro repetições. O acúmulo de fitomassa seca total na parte aérea da cultivar Sancho foi superior ao de Medellín, em todas as estratégias de manejo utilizado; os nutrientes mais absorvidos pelas plantas das duas cultivares foram o cálcio, o potássio e o nitrogênio.A study was carried out aiming to investigate management strategies for use of brackish water in the accumulation of dry matter and nutrients in two cultivars of melon (C1 - Sancho and C2 - MedeLλi n) irrigated with low (S1 = 0.61 dS m-1) and high (S2 = 4.78 dS m-1) salinity water in different phases of crop: S1S1S2S2 - T1, S2S1S2S2 - T2, S2S2S1S2 - T3. The 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th term correspond, respectively, to different phases - initial growth, flowering, fruit maturation and harvest. Alternate irrigation during the crop cycle, two days of consecutive application with S1 water followed by one day with S2 water (S1 2 days + S2 1day - T4) and irrigation with S2 water throughout the cycle - T5 was also tested. Furthermore, as control, management practice at the farm where the experiment was conducted consisting of irrigation with a mixture of 37% S1 water and 63% of S2 water -T0 was used. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design in a 6 x 2 split-plots with four replications. The total dry matter accumulation in shoots of cv. Sancho was greater than Medellín in all management strategies. The nutrients required most by the two cultivars were calcium, potassium and nitrogen

Effect of paclitaxel (Taxol®) on the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in female Wistar rats

The evidence that natural or synthetic drugs can affect the biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals (radiobiocomplexes) in setting of nuclear medicine clinic is already known. We studied the effect of Paclitaxel, an anti-neoplastic agent for the treatment of solid tumors, on the biodistribution of Na99mTcO4 in female rats. Paclitaxel (1mg/mL/week) was administered into animals in single dose during 3 weeks, with interval of 1 week among them. The control group received NaCl 0.9% solutions by the same via. One hour after the last dose, it was injected Na99mTcO4 in the animals. The percentage of activity per gram (%ATI/g) and biochemical and hematological determinations were performed. A significant increase were found in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, glucose and in the %ATI/g of some organs (ovaries, uterus, vagina, breasts, large intestine and liver).These results can be associated, probably, to the capacity of paclitaxel to alter the biodistribution of Na99mTcO4 and the metabolism of glucose and hepatic enzymes.<br>Já está bem estabelecido na literatura científica que produtos naturais ou sintéticos podem alterar a biodistribuição de radiofármacos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a influência do paclitaxel, um agente antineoplásico para tratamento de tumores sólidos na biodistribuição do pertecnetato de sódio em ratas Wistar e na determinação de componentes bioquímicos e hematológicos. Paclitaxel, comercialmente conhecido por Taxol® (1mg/mL/semana), foi administrado, intraperitoneamente, nos animais do grupo tratado, em dose única, por 3 semanas, mas com intervalo de uma semana entre elas. O grupo controle recebeu solução de NaCl 0,9%. Uma hora após a última dose de paclitaxel, os animais receberam 0,1 mL de Na99mTcO4 (3,7MBq) via plexo orbital. O percentual de radioatividade por grama (%ATI/g) e parâmetros laboratoriais foram determinados. Ocorreu um aumento significativo (p<0,05) do %ATI/g nos ovários, útero, vagina, mamas, intestino grosso e fígado. Os níveis de glicose sangüínea e das enzimas hepáticas (ALT e AST) também aumentaram significantemente (p<0,01). Esses resultados podem estar associados, provavelmente, à capacidade do paclitaxel em alterar a biodistribuição do Na99mTcO4 e o metabolismo da glicose e de enzimas hepáticas