Essential oil from eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage reduces nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-induced murine peritoneal macrophages

Few studies are concerned about the essential oil extracted from leaves of Eucalyptus benthamii Maiden et Cambage that shows high content of α-pinene. The goal of this paper was to investigate the in vitro effect of the essential oil of E. benthamii and α-pinene on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in mouse peritoneal macrophages. Macrophages were harvested by washing with phosphate buffered saline and cultured with 10 μg/mL LPS. Three concentrations (5, 10, and 20 μg/mL) of the essential oil of E. benthamii and α-pinene were investigated. Nitrite levels were measured based on the Griess reaction, an indirect assay for NO production. The essential oil of E. benthamii significantly suppressed NO production in murine peritoneal macrophages at 10 and 20 μg/mL. In contrast, α-pinene did not inhibit NO production.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

PRODUÇÃO DE BIOMASSA DE Trichosporon sp.: FERMENTAÇÃO EM MANIPUEIRA UTILIZANDO DIFERENTES FONTES DE NITROGENIO

Large amounts of cassava are processed both to obtain flour or starch, for human consumption or for industrial ends. Such process generates several wastes, solid or liquid, with peculiar characteristics, due to their starch and cyanogenic compounds. In order to contribute with some knowledge concerning to decrease the environmental impact or/and to utilize them as raw material, many scientist have been working on the subject. In this rework, microbial biomass production of Trichosporon sp using manipueira, the main liquid residue, as culture medium, has been studied especially to observe the influence of nitrogen supplementation. It was found that supplementation with ammonium sulfate allows to increase the biomass production up to 22.00 g/L, representing an increase of 138%, as compared with the control; indeed, this nitrogen source had better results if compared to urea. Carbon: nitrogen ratio of 5.15 was found to be the most interesting both to increase the biomass production and to reduce the residual sugar. With more nitrogen in the fermentation medium, the biomass showed more protein, and the order of correlation was significantly higher. Thermal treatment of manipueira shows a peculiar behavior considering that to produce high quality microbial biomass it is necessary to sterilize the medium and if the objective is to decrease the sugar content, the thermal treatment is no longer necessary.A quantidade e a qualidade dos reslduos do processamento de mandioca tem sido motivo de experimentos, visando agregar valores aos subprodutos para aplicação no setor agro-industrial. Neste trabalho foram investigados processos de formação de biomassa de Trichosporon sp em manipueira, suplementada ou não com nitrogênio. Foi observado que esta suplementação beneficia o processo de formação de biomassa, que pode atingir o nível de 22,00 g/L, o qual comparado ao processo controle representa aumento de 138%. O sulfato de arnônio apresentou-se como a melhor fonte de nitrogênio, em todos os aspectos. A razão entre carbono e nitrogênio de 5,15 mostrou-se adequada para aumentar a produção de biomassa e para diminuir o teor do açúcar residual. Os teores de nitrogênio no meio mostraram-se correlacionados aos teores de proteínas na biomassa. O tratamento térmico do substrato mostrou-se interessante para a produção de biomassa de melhor qualidade, mas não ê adequado quando se considera apenas o consumo de açúcar

Effect of Fish Oil Supplementation for Two Generations on Changes of Lymphocyte Function Induced by Walker 256 Cancer Cachexia in Rats

Fish oil supplementation has been shown to improve the cachectic state of tumor-bearing animals and humans. Our previous study showed that fish oil supplementation (1 g per kg body weight per day) for 2 generations had anticancer and anticachetic effects in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats as demonstrated by reduced tumor growth and body weight loss and increased food intake and survival. In this study, the effect of fish oil supplementation for 2 generations on membrane integrity, proliferation capacity, and CD4/CD8 ratio of lymphocytes isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus of Walker 256 tumor-bearing animals was investigated. We also determined fish oil effect on plasma concentration and ex vivo production of cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-6, and IL-10]. Lymphocytes from thymus of tumor-bearing rats presented lower viability, but this change was abolished by fish oil supplementation. Tumor growth increased proliferation of lymphocytes from all lymphoid organs, and fish oil supplementation abolished this effect. Ex vivo production of TNF-alpha and IL-6 was reduced in supplemented animals, but IL-4 and IL-10 secretion was stimulated in both nontumor and tumor-bearing rats. IL-10 and IFN-gamma plasma levels was also decreased in supplemented animals. These results suggest that the anticachetic effects of fish oil supplementation for a long period of time (2 generations) in Walker 256 tumor-bearing rats may be associated to a decrease in lymphocyte function as demonstrated by reduced viability, proliferation capacity, and cytokine production.FAPESPFundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)CNPqCAPESCoordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES