Effect of Byrsonima crassa and Phenolic Constituents on Helicobacter pylori-Induced Neutrophils Oxidative Burst

Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu (Malpighiaceae) is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of diseases related mainly to gastric ulcers. In a previous study, our group described the gastric protective effect of the methanolic extract from the leaves of B. crassa. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of methanolic extract and its phenolic compounds on the respiratory burst of neutrophils stimulated by H. pylori using a luminol-based chemiluminescence assay as well as their anti-H. pylori activity. The suppressive activity on oxidative burst of H. pylori-stimulated neutrophils was in the order of methyl gallate > (+)-catechin > methanol extract > quercetin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside > quercetin 3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside > amentoflavone. Methyl gallate, compound that induced the highest suppressive activity with IC50 value of 3.4 μg/mL, did not show anti-H. pylori activity. B. crassa could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant in gastric ulcers by attenuating the effects on the damage to gastric mucosa caused by neutrophil generated reactive oxygen species, even when H. pylori displays its evasion mechanisms

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity and immunostimulatory effect of extracts from Byrsonima crassa Nied. (Malpighiaceae)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Several <it>in vitro </it>studies have looked at the effect of medicinal plant extracts against <it>Helicobacter pylori </it>(<it>H. pylori</it>). Regardless of the popular use of <it>Byrsonima crassa </it>(<it>B. crassa</it>) as antiemetic, diuretic, febrifuge, to treat diarrhea, gastritis and ulcers, there is no data on its effects against <it>H. pylori</it>. In this study, we evaluated the anti-<it>H. pylori </it>of <it>B. crassa </it>leaves extracts and its effects on reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates induction by murine peritoneal macrophages.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined by broth microdilution method and the production of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and nitric oxide (NO) by the horseradish peroxidase-dependent oxidation of phenol red and Griess reaction, respectively.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The methanolic (MeOH) and chloroformic (CHCl₃) extracts inhibit, <it>in vitro</it>, the growth of <it>H. pylori </it>with MIC value of 1024 μg/ml. The MeOH extract induced the production H₂O₂and NO, but CHCl₃extract only NO.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Based in our results, <it>B. crassa </it>can be considered a source of compounds with anti-<it>H. pylori </it>activity, but its use should be done with caution in treatment of the gastritis and peptic ulcers, since the reactive oxygen/nitrogen intermediates are involved in the pathogenesis of gastric mucosal injury induced by ulcerogenic agents and <it>H. pylori </it>infections.</p

Effect of Byrsonima crassa and Phenolic Constituents on Helicobacter pylori-Induced Neutrophils Oxidative Burst

Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu (Malpighiaceae) is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of diseases related mainly to gastric ulcers. In a previous study, our group described the gastric protective effect of the methanolic extract from the leaves of B. crassa. The present study was carried out to investigate the effects of methanolic extract and its phenolic compounds on the respiratory burst of neutrophils stimulated by H. pylori using a luminol-based chemiluminescence assay as well as their anti-H. pylori activity. The suppressive activity on oxidative burst of H. pylori-stimulated neutrophils was in the order of methyl gallate > (+)-catechin > methanol extract > quercetin 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranoside > quercetin 3-O-β-d-galactopyranoside > amentoflavone. Methyl gallate, compound that induced the highest suppressive activity with IC50 value of 3.4 µg/mL, did not show anti-H. pylori activity. B. crassa could be considered as a potential source of natural antioxidant in gastric ulcers by attenuating the effects on the damage to gastric mucosa caused by neutrophil generated reactive oxygen species, even when H. pylori displays its evasion mechanisms

Relación entre el saneamiento básico y la incidencia de enteroparasitosis en Sinop, MT

Introduction: Protozoa and helminths cause enteroparasitoses, which constitute an important public health issue. Preschoolers and school children, who do not have a fully developed immune system, are more vulnerable to contamination by intestinal parasites because they are more exposed to risk factors, such as poor hygiene habits and crowding in closed places. The most common parasites affecting this age group include Giardia lamblia, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, and hookworms. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of intestinal parasites in preschoolers, school children, sandboxes of government schools in the city of Sinop – state of Mato Grosso (MT). Methods: This cross sectional, quantitative study with an experimental design was carried out from July 2015 to September 2016 and included preschoolers and school children aged 3 to 12 years, chosen by convenience sampling from government schools in the school district of the city of Sinop – MT; four schools were in the central region of Sinop, whereas seven schools, attended by children living in the suburban and rural areas, were far from the city center. Fecal samples were collected by the children’s family and sent to the schools, from where they were transported to the laboratory for parasitological examination. Sand samples were collected from sandboxes in the play areas of the schools. More specifically,100 g of sand was collected by scraping one of the four quadrants or the center of the sandbox surface or deeper into the sandbox, totaling 10 samples/box. The parasitological methods spontaneous sedimentation described by Hoffmann, active migration described by Rugai, centrifugal-spontaneous flotation described by Faust, and spontaneous flotation described by Willis were used to analyze the fecal and sand samples. Results: A total of 646 fecal samples obtained from preschoolers and school children aged 3 to 12 years were evaluated; 21.05% of the samples tested positive for intestinal parasites. As for the sand samples, 100% tested positive for intestinal parasites. In all the fecal and sand samples that tested positive for intestinal parasites, G. lamblia predominated, followed by Toxacara sp, Toxoplasma gondii, A. lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, Strongyloides stercoralis, hookworm, and commensal amoebae of the large intestine, were also identified. Conclusion: Children aged 6 to 12 years were the most affected by enteroparasitoses. This may be related to poor hygiene habits, which puts these children at greater risk of contamination. The results agree with most epidemiological studies conducted in Brazil and show a high prevalence enteroparasitoses in children.Introdução: As enteroparasitoses são causadas por protozoários e helmintos e representam um importante problema de saúde pública. As crianças em idade pré-escolar e escolar apresentam maior vulnerabilidade à contaminação por enteroparasitas pelo fato de estarem mais expostas a fatores de risco, tais como hábitos precários de higiene e aglomeração em locais fechados, e por não apresentarem o sistema imunológico totalmente desenvolvido. Objetivos: Avaliar a prevalência de enteroparasitos em crianças pré-escolares e escolares e em caixas de areia de instituições públicas de ensino no município de Sinop-MT. Métodos: O tipo de estudo realizado foi transversal, quantitativo com delineamento experimental. Foi realizado no período de julho de 2015 a setembro de 2016. Foram avaliadas crianças pré-escolares e escolares de 3 a 12 anos escolhidas por amostragem de conveniência de quatro instituições da rede municipal de ensino localizadas na região central de Sinop – MT e sete afastadas do centro da cidade e que atendem novos bairros e a zona rural. As amostras de fezes foram coletadas pelos responsáveis das crianças que encaminharam para as instituições de ensino e, posteriormente, foram transportadas ao laboratório para realização do exame parasitológico. As amostras de areia foram coletadas a partir de caixas das áreas de recreações de todas as instituições de ensino, sendo coletada 100 gramas de areia da raspagem superficial e profunda dos quatro quadrantes e do centro, totalizando 10 amostras/caixa. Os métodos parasitológicos utilizados para análises das amostras de fezes e areia foram Hoffmann, migração ativa, centrífugo-flutuação espontânea por Faust e flutuação espontânea por Willis. Resultados: Foram avaliadas 646 amostras de fezes de crianças pré-escolares e escolares de 3 a 12 anos, apresentando 21,05% de positividade para parasitos intestinais. As 80 amostras de areia das caixas das áreas de recreação infantil avaliadas, apresentaram 100% de positividade para enteroparasitos, sendo G. lamblia mais prevalente, seguida de Toxocara sp, Toxoplasma gondii, A. lumbricoides e Strongyloides stercoralis. Conclusão: A faixa etária mais acometida foi verificada entre as crianças de 6 a 12 anos e pode estar relacionada aos precários hábitos de higiene e assim, maior risco de contaminação. Pode-se concluir que os resultados estão de acordo com a maioria dos estudos epidemiológicos realizados no Brasil, demonstrando elevada prevalência de enteroparasitoses em crianças em idade escolar.Las enteroparasitosis se encuentran entre las enfermedades más comunes en el mundo, siendo más frecuentes en niños menores de 12 años, constituyendo así un importante problema de salud pública. Se evaluaron 646 muestras de heces de niños en edad preescolar y escolar de 3 a ≥ 12 años, mostrando positividad para parásitos intestinales en 136 y 100% en muestras de arena de cajas en áreas de juego infantil. De las muestras positivas de heces y arena para enteroparásitos, Giardia lamblia mostró mayor positividad, seguida de Toxacara sp, Toxoplasma gondii, Ascaris lumbricoides, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, Strongyloides stercoralis y anquilostomas. Las amebas comensales del intestino grueso identificadas fueron Entamoeba coli, Endolimax nana y Entamoeba hartmanni. La mayor positividad para Giardia lamblia se puede atribuir a fallas en la infraestructura de saneamiento básico en la ciudad de Sinop - MT, contaminación de la arena en las áreas de recreación y consumo de vegetales contaminados. El grupo de edad más afectado se encontró entre los niños de 3 a 9 años y puede estar relacionado con malos hábitos de higiene y, por tanto, mayor riesgo de contaminación. Se puede concluir que nuestros resultados están en línea con la mayoría de los estudios epidemiológicos realizados en Brasil, que muestran una alta incidencia de enteroparasitosis en niños, debido a las bajas condiciones socioeconómicas, los malos hábitos de higiene personal y las fallas en las condiciones básicas de saneamiento y suministro. de agua en Sinop - MT

Effect of subinhibitory concentration of chlorhexidine on Streptococcus agalactiae virulence factor expression

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of chlorhexidine at subinhibitory concentration (50% minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC)) on the growth, cytolysin expression and phagocytosis of Streptococcus agalactiae ATCC 13813. Bacterial growth with and without chlorhexidine treatment was monitored by turbidity measurements, and exocytolysins were estimated by neutral red uptake assay by the McCoy cell line. The phagocytic process was evaluated using luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence to follow the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils exposed to bacteria. Chlorhexidine-treated culture did not exhibit a detectable decrease in cell growth, and no statistically significant reduction in the respiratory burst of polymorphonuclear neutrophils was observed. However, growth in the presence of chlorhexidine resulted in a significant reduction of S. agalactiae exocytolysins. Although 50% MIC of chlorhexidine did not interfere with S. agalactiae growth and phagocytosis, the knowledge that this concentration was still able to alter some bacterial virulence parameters may be useful in its therapeutic applications. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. and the International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved

Relative antioxidant activity of Brazilian medicinal plants for gastrointestinal diseases

The free radical scavenging capacity of Brazilian medicinal plants and some of their constituents was examined in vitro using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) quantitative assay. Twelve medicinal plants, used to treat gastrointestinal disorders (Alchornea glandulosa, Alchornea triplinervia, Anacardium humile, Byrsonima crassa, Byrsonima cinera, Byrsonima intermedia, Davilla elliptica, Davilla nitida, Mouriri pusa, Qualea grandiflora, Qualea parviflora and Qualea multiflora), were selected because they showed antiulcerogenic activity in previous studies. The radical scavenging methanolic extracts activity demonstrated to be dose-dependent. The efficient concentration, which represents the amount of the antioxidant able of decrease the initial DPPH radical by 50%, vary from < 5 to 17.2 mu g/ml. The lowest efficient concentration values among the analyzed plant were shown by A. humile, B. crassa and Q. parviflora. Purified phenolic compounds (amentoflavone, (+)-catechin, methyl gallate, quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranoside, and quercetin 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranoside) were also tested and the greatest antioxidant activities were obtained with (+)-catechin and methyl gallate, similar to quercetin, a phenolic compound used as standard.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Cytotoxicity of Active Ingredients Extracted from Plants of the Brazilian "Cerrado"

Cytotoxicity assays arc needed for the screening of natural products with potential anti-inflammatory. The purpose of this study was to compare the basal cytotoxicity of active ingredients extracted from plants of the Brazilian "cerrado". The viability was assayed with the neutral red uptake assay in Mac Coy cells after 24h of exposition. The dose evaluated was 50 mu g/mu L. The test substances were: cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, syringic acid, vannilic acid, homogentisic acid, scandenin, palustric acid, diosgenin, cabraleone. Studies of cytotoxicity demonstrated that all active compounds evaluated have low toxicity in vitro. The substances showed cell viability above 60% for the concentration used. However, the cinnamic acid, sacandenin and palustric acid showed highest toxicity with a 50% reduction in cell viability for the dose of 50 mu g/mu L. Cytotoxic screening results are useful to estimate the best concentrations of those compounds with potential anti-inflammatory without their cause cell death.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq