Essential oil from Ageratum fastigiatum reduces expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha in peripheral blood leukocytes subjected to in vitro stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate

AbstractAgeratum fastigiatum (Gardner) R.M. King & H. Rob., a member of the Asteraceae family popularly known in Brazil as “matapasto”, is indicated in folk medicine as anti-inflammatory and analgesic. Despite its popular use, little is known about its potential effect on the parameters involved in an inflammatory response. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of the essential oil from A. fastigiatum and to evaluate the frequency of tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma producing cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate in the presence of essential oil from A. fastigiatum. Non-toxic concentrations of essential oil from A. fastigiatum were evaluated in cultures of peripheral blood leucocytes using the trypan blue exclusion assay by flow cytometry. GC–MS analysis revealed that the prevalent compounds identified in the essential oil from A. fastigiatum sample were α-pinene, limonene, trans-caryophyllene, α-humulene, caryophyllene oxide, 1,2-humulene-epoxide, 1,6-humulanodien-3-ol, and α-cadinol. Results showed that exposure to essential oil from A. fastigiatum at concentrations of 0.5×10−2 and 1×10−2μl/ml caused no alterations in leukocyte viability as compared to the control group. Both concentrations lowered the percentage of tumor necrosis factor alpha (+)-lymphocytes and neutrophils. There were no changes in the percentage of lymphocytes positive for the interferon gamma cytokine. Our results suggest that part of the anti-inflammatory activity attributed to A. fastigiatum may be due to the effect of some of its components in decreasing the number of cells that produce the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha

O discurso da institucionalização de práticas em saúde: uma reflexão à luz dos referenciais teóricos das ciências humanas The institutionalization speech of health practices: a reflection based on the approach of the Human Sciences

O objetivo deste artigo é promover uma reflexão sobre o discurso da institucionalização de práticas de saúde, notadamente da avaliação, e em que medida ela pode levar à mudança pretendida, ou, por outro lado, reafirmar conceitos enraizados e reproduzir práticas. Para isto, se buscou auxílio nos teóricos do campo das ciências humanas, principalmente aqueles que têm refletido sobre as instituições sociais. Os referenciais teóricos utilizados são de autores da sociologia positivista, da fenomenologia sociológica e do movimento institucionalista francês. Com eles, busca-se compreender a noção de instituição presente nessas escolas e seu reflexo na concepção de institucionalização. À luz do referencial no qual se apóiam, os autores sugerem alguns cuidados na condução prática das ações que apóiam o movimento da institucionalização da avaliação em saúde.<br>This paper aims to promote reflections on the movement to institutionalize health practices evaluation: can it lead to the intended changes or may it reproduce old practices? To answer these questions, it was necessary to resort to the aid of Human Sciences mainly the authors who study social institutions. These authors based their theories on Positivistic sociology, on sociological phenomenology and on the precepts of the French institutionalism movement. Following their lines of thought, this paper is intended to further understand the concept of institution and institutionalization present in those social schools. Based on the theoretical framework which encourages this text, the authors suggest some special attention be placed on actions that support the movement for health evaluation institutionalization