In vivo hypotensive effect and in vitro inhibitory activity of some Cyperaceae species

In 1820, French naturalist August Saint Hillaire, during a visit in Espírito Santo (ES), a state in southeastern Brazil, reported a popular use of Cyperaceae species as antidote to snake bites. The plant may even have a hypotensive effect, though it was never properly researched. The in vitro inhibitory of the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) activity of eigth ethanolic extracts of Cyperaceae was evaluated by colorimetric assay. Total phenolic and flavonoids were determined using colorimetric assay. The hypotensive effect of the active specie (Rhychonospora exaltata, ERE) and the in vivo ACE assay was measured in vivo using male Wistar Kyoto (ERE, 0.01-100mg/kg), with acetylcholine (ACh) as positive control (5 µg/kg, i.v.). The evaluation of ACE in vivo inhibitory effect was performed comparing the mean arterial pressure before and after ERE (10 mg/kg) in animals which received injection of angiotensin I (ANG I; 0,03, 03 and 300 µg/kg, i.v.). Captopril (30 mg/kg) was used as positive control. Bulbostylis capillaris (86.89 ± 15.20%) and ERE (74.89 ± 11.95%, ERE) were considered active in the in vitro ACE inhibition assay, at 100 µg/mL concentration. ACh lead to a hypotensive effect before and after ERE's curve (-40±5% and -41±3%). ERE showed a dose-dependent hypotensive effect and a in vivo ACE inhibitory effect. Cyperaceae species showed an inhibitory activity of ACE, in vitro, as well as high content of total phenolic and flavonoids. ERE exhibited an inhibitory effect on both in vitro and in vivo ACE. The selection of species used in popular medicine as antidotes, along with the in vitro assay of ACE inhibition, might be a biomonitoring method for the screening of new medicinal plants with hypotensive properties.Em 1820, o naturalista francês August Saint Hillaire, durante uma visita ao Espírito Santo (ES), Estado do sudeste do Brasil, relatou o uso popular de espécies de Cyperaceae como antídoto para picadas de cobra. As espécies podem possuir efeito hipotensor, embora nunca tenham sido devidamente pesquisadas. A inibição in vitro da atividade da enzima conversora da angiotensina (ECA) de oito extratos etanólicos de Cyperaceae foi avaliada por ensaio colorimétrico. Totais de fenólicos e flavonóides foram determinados utilizando ensaio colorimétrico. O efeito hipotensor da espécie ativa (Rhychonospora exaltata, ERE) no ensaio de ECA in vitro foi avaliada in vivo utilizando-se machos Wistar Kyoto (ERE, 0.01-100 mg/kg), com a acetilcolina (ACh), como controle positivo (5 µg/kg, iv). A avaliação do efeito inibidor da ECA in vivo foi realizado comparando-se a pressão arterial média, antes e após ERE (10 mg/kg) nos animais que receberam injeção de angiotensina I (Ang I, 0,03, 03 e 300 µg/kg, iv). Captopril (30 mg/kg) foi utilizado como controle positivo. Bulbostylis capillaris (86,89±15,20%) e ERE (74,89±11,95%, ERE) foram considerados ativas no ensaio de inibição da ECA in vitro, na concentração de 100 µg/mL. A ACh gerou um efeito hipotensor, antes e depois da curva de ERE (-40 ± 5% -41 ± 3%). ERE apresentou efeito hipotensivo dependente da dose e um efeito inibidor da ECA in vivo. As espécies de Cyperaceae mostraram uma atividade inibidora de ACE in vitro, bem como elevado conteúdo de substâncias fenólicas e flavonóides. ERE exibiu um efeito inibidor da ECA tanto in vitro como in vivo. A seleção das espécies utilizadas na medicina popular como antiofídicos, juntamente com o ensaio in vitro de inibição da ECA, pode ser um método de biomonitoramento para a seleção de novas plantas medicinais com propriedades hipotensores

Nulidade de GSTT1/GSTM1 relacionada a pesticidas associa-se com doenca de Parkinson

Genetic and environmental factors affect the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease(PD). Genetic variants of the enzyme glutathione S-transferases (GST) may be relatedto the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of genetic variants of GST(GSTT1/GSTM1) and their association with the exposure to environmental toxins in PDpatients. We studied 254 patients with PD and 169 controls. The GSTM1/GSTT1 variantwere analyzed by polymerase chain reaction. We applied the Fisher's exact test andthe χ2 test for statistical analysis (p<0.05). The present andabsence for GSTT1 and GSTM1 were similar in patients and controls. The null for GSTT1and GSTM1 (0/0) and exposure to pesticides prevailed in patients (18%) compared tocontrols (13%, p=0.014). This study suggests the association between PD and previouexposure to pesticides, whose effect may be enhanced in combination with null forGSTT1/GSTM1.Fatores genéticos e ambientais influenciam a patogênese da doença de Parkinson (DP).Variantes genéticas das enzimas glutationa S-transferases (GST) parecem estarenvolvidas com a doença. Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar a influência devariantes genéticas de GST (GSTT1/GSTM1) e sua associação com exposição a toxinaambientais em pacientes com DP. Foram estudados 254 pacientes com DP e 169 controles.As variantes para GSTM1/GSTT1 foram analisadas por reação em cadeia da polimerase.Para análise estatística foram aplicados os testes de Fisher e do χ2(p<0,05). Tanto a presença quanto a nulidade para GSTT1 e GSTM1 foramsemelhantes em pacientes e controles. A nulidade para GSTT1 e GSTM1 (0/0) e contatocom agrotóxicos prevaleceu nos pacientes (18%) em relação aos controles (13%,p=0,014). Este estudo sugere associação entre DP e contato prévio com agrotóxicos,cujo efeito parece potencializado em combinação com nulidade para GSTT1/GSTM1.FAMERPUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP)FAMERP Department of NeuroscienceFAMERP Hospital de BaseUNIFESPSciEL

Serum levels of oxidative stress biomarkers is changed in pharmacoresistant mesial temporal lobe epilepsy patients with or without psychiatric disorders

The objective of the present study was to assess the levels of oxidative stress biomarkers (OSB) in patients with pharmacoresistant temporal lobe epilepsy and mesial temporal sclerosis (TLE-MTS) in order to investigate a possible role of oxidative stress (OS) in the pathophysiology of such disease. Ninety-eight participants were included and distributed in three groups: group 1 (G1) - 25 patients with pharmacoresistant TLE-MTS, without comorbid PD; Group 2 (G2) - 21 patients with pharmacoresistant TLE-MTS with PD; Group 3 (G3) - 52 healthy control subjects. Serum levels of catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), reduced glutathione plus oxidated glutathione (total GSH), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), Trolox-equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were analyzed through spectrometry. The significance level was set at P0.05). A family history of epilepsy was more frequent among G1 and G2 groups when compared to G3 (P = 0.0002). Compared to controls, G1 and G2 presented higher CAT (P0.05). The lower levels of GPx, G6PD, and total GSH, as well as the higher CAT and TBARS levels observed in pharmaco-resistant TLE-MTS patients can indicate an imbalance between oxidizing agent production and elimination, supporting the hypothesis of a possible role of OS in the pathogenesis of this condition