Antiinflammatory activity and biochemical parameters of the ethanol extract of Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck (Cactaceae)

We evaluated the antiinflammatory activity of ethanol 70 % extract of Nopalea cochenillifera in a model of induction of granulomatous tissue and the kidney and liver toxicity through serum dosage in rats. During 7 days were administered orally 1.5 ml, 3 times a day, of the ethanol extract of cladodes of N. cochenillifera. We used nimesulide 5 mg/kg/day as positive control and 20 % propylene glycol as a negative control. After the treatment period, we assessed the formation of granulomas and the serum levels of AST, ALT, albumin, creatinine and urea in all groups, noting that the animals treated with the extract showed 53.5 % inhibition formation of granulomatous tissue while the positive control group showed 58.5 %, confirming a significant antiinflammatory activity. There was not a significant elevation of biochemical markers in relation to negative control.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Morpho-anatomy of Glechon spathulata Benth. (Lamiaceae) leaves

Glechon spathulata Benth. (Lamiaceae) is a native plant in Brazil popularly known as "mangerona-do-campo". This plant is a perennial sub-shrub with aromatic leaves used in South America as a condiment and in traditional medicine for different purposes, such as inflammations, dyspepsia, diaphoretic, expectorant and antiseptic in catarrhal affections of the respiratory tract, colds, bronchitis and laryngitis. In this study, morpho-anatomical parameters of leaves of this plant were determimed, by macro and microscopic analysis, aiming to help its diagnosis as a pharmaceutical ingredient. The leaves are sub-sessile with spatulate shape and subrevolute margin, finely crenulate in the middle-upper. The uniseriate epidermis shows straight to slightly sinuous cells, diacytic stomata and non-glandular and glandular trichomes. The mesophyll is dorsiventral, displaying an uniseriate palisade parenchyma and a little compact spongy parenchyma, with an average of 4 cell layers. The vascular bundles are collateral closed. There was no presence of crystals. These morphological and anatomical features, when taken together, contribute to quality control of plant leaves of G. spathulata as a pharmaceutical ingredient.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Foam-forming properties of Ilex paraguariensis (mate) saponin: foamability and foam lifetime analysis by Weibull equation

Saponins are natural soaplike foam-forming compounds widely used in foods, cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations. In this work foamability and foam lifetime of foams obtained from Ilex paraguariensis unripe fruits were analyzed. Polysorbate 80 and sodium dodecyl sulfate were used as reference surfactants. Aiming a better data understanding a linearized 4-parameters Weibull function was proposed. The mate hydroethanolic extract (ME) and a mate saponin enriched fraction (MSF) afforded foamability and foam lifetime comparable to the synthetic surfactants. The linearization of the Weibull equation allowed the statistical comparison of foam decay curves, improving former mathematical approaches