Efeitos arterioprotetores de cuphea carthagenensis (JACQ) J.F. Macbr. em coelhos Nova Zelândia submetidos à dieta rica em colesterol

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Arquimedes Gasparotto JuniorDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia. Defesa: Curitiba, 26/06/2013Inclui referências : f. 58-61-71-78Área de concentraçãoResumo: Apesar da Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J. F. Macbr. ser amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira para o tratamento de aterosclerose e doenças do aparelho circulatório, não há dados que comprovam seus benefícios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar possíveis efeitos hipolipemiantes e antiaterogênicos da fração solúvel em etanol obtida a partir de Cuphea carthagenensis (ES-CC), utilizando coelhos Nova Zelândia (NZ) submetidos à dieta rica em colesterol (DRC). A dislipidemia e a aterosclerose foi induzida através da administração de dieta comercial padrão suplementada com 1% de colesterol, durante 8 semanas. O ES-CC foi administrado por via oral em doses de 10, 30 e 100 mg/kg, uma vez ao dia, durante quatro semanas, com início a partir da 4ª semana de DRC. Os níveis séricos de triglicerídeos (TG), colesterol total (CT) e as suas frações (LDL-C, VLDL-C e HDL-C) foram mensurados no tempo zero e no final de cada mês de tratamento. Após eutanásia, os segmentos da artéria aorta (arco-aórtico, torácica, abdominal e ilíaca) foram avaliados macro e microscopicamente e então medidas a camada íntima e média das artérias. Também foram determinadas a atividade antioxidante da ES-CC e a sua influência sobre o funcionamento das enzimas antioxidantes hepáticas. A DRC promoveu importantes mudanças na estrutura da parede arterial, incluindo espessamento da camada íntima dos vasos. Além disso, também observamos um significativo aumento da peroxidação lipídica acompanhada da redução dos níveis hepáticos de glutationa e do nitrito plasmático. O tratamento com a ES-CC foi capaz de impedir o aumento do CT, LDL-C, VLDL-C e triglicérides, além de aumentar os níveis de HDL-C em coelhos Nova Zelândia. Estes efeitos foram acompanhados por uma redução significativa do estresse oxidativo e da modulação da atividade da catalase e superóxido dismutase. Ademais, as camadas íntimas e médias dos segmentos arteriais foram significativamente reduzidas com a administração do ES-CC. Este estudo demonstrou que a ES-CC é capaz de reduzir os lipídeos séricos e o estresse oxidativo, contribuindo para atenuar o desenvolvimento da placa aterosclerótica induzida pela DRC.Abstract: Although Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. is used in Brazilian folk medicine in the treatment of atherosclerosis and circulatory disorders, no study has been conducted to evaluate these effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible hypolipemiant and antiatherogenic activity of the ethanol soluble fraction obtained from Cuphea carthagenensis (ES-CC) in an experimental model of atherosclerosis, using New Zealand (NZ) rabbits undergoing cholesterol-rich diet (CRD). Dyslipidemia and atherogenesis were induced by administration of standard commercial diet increased of 1% of cholesterol (CRD) for 8 weeks. The ES-CC was administered orally at doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, once a day, for four weeks, starting from the 4thweek of CRD diet. Body weight measurements were carried out weekly from the beginning of the experiments for 8 weeks. The serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and their fractions (LDL-C, VLDL-C and HDL-C) were measured at beginning of the experiments, and at week four and eight. After the rabbits were euthanized, aorta segments (aortic arc, thoracic, abdominal and iliac segments) were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically and the intima and media layers of the arteries were measured. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of ES-CC and its influence on the functioning of hepatic antioxidant enzymes were also determined. The CRD induced dyslipidemia and major structural changes in the aortic wall. In addition, we observed an increase in lipid peroxidation accompanied by a reduction of hepatic glutathione, and serum nitrite. The treatment with ES-CC was able to prevent the increase of TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C and triglycerides levels, as well as increased the HDL-C levels in NZ rabbits. These effects were accompanied by a significant reduction in oxidative stress and modulation of the function of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, the intima and media layers of the arterial segments were significantly reduced by ES-CC treatment. This study demonstrated that ES-CC reduces the serum lipids and hepatic oxidative stress when orally administered to NZ rabbits. In addition, it was able to reduce the development of atherosclerosis induced by CRD

Prolonged Diuretic Activity and Calcium-Sparing Effect of Tropaeolum majus

Although several studies indicate high effectiveness in the use of the hydroethanolic extract from Tropaeolum majus (HETM) as a diuretic, the impact of its prolonged use in the presence of low estrogen levels remains unclear. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the diuretic effects of prolonged administration of HETM in ovariectomized rats and their interrelationship between calcium excretion and bone turnover. Forty-two female Wistar rats were ovariectomized (OVX) and treated orally with different doses of HETM (3, 30, and 300 mg/kg) for 4 weeks. On the first day of treatment and at weekly intervals for four weeks the diuretic activity was evaluated. Electrolyte concentrations and creatinine levels were estimated from urine sample of each rat. The serum lipids, urea, creatinine, and osteocalcin were also measured at the end of the experiment. The data revealed that the HETM was able to sustain its diuretic effect after prolonged treatment. Moreover, its use has not affected the urinary calcium or potassium excretion, reduces lipid levels, and maintains osteocalcin levels similarly to untreated rats. These findings support the potential of HETM as a candidate to be used in clinical conditions in which the renal loss of calcium is not desired

Efeitos arterioprotetores de cuphea carthagenensis (JACQ) J.F. Macbr. em coelhos Nova Zelândia submetidos à dieta rica em colesterol

Orientador : Prof. Dr. Arquimedes Gasparotto JuniorDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Farmacologia. Defesa: Curitiba, 26/06/2013Inclui referências : f. 58-61-71-78Área de concentraçãoResumo: Apesar da Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J. F. Macbr. ser amplamente utilizada na medicina popular brasileira para o tratamento de aterosclerose e doenças do aparelho circulatório, não há dados que comprovam seus benefícios. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar possíveis efeitos hipolipemiantes e antiaterogênicos da fração solúvel em etanol obtida a partir de Cuphea carthagenensis (ES-CC), utilizando coelhos Nova Zelândia (NZ) submetidos à dieta rica em colesterol (DRC). A dislipidemia e a aterosclerose foi induzida através da administração de dieta comercial padrão suplementada com 1% de colesterol, durante 8 semanas. O ES-CC foi administrado por via oral em doses de 10, 30 e 100 mg/kg, uma vez ao dia, durante quatro semanas, com início a partir da 4ª semana de DRC. Os níveis séricos de triglicerídeos (TG), colesterol total (CT) e as suas frações (LDL-C, VLDL-C e HDL-C) foram mensurados no tempo zero e no final de cada mês de tratamento. Após eutanásia, os segmentos da artéria aorta (arco-aórtico, torácica, abdominal e ilíaca) foram avaliados macro e microscopicamente e então medidas a camada íntima e média das artérias. Também foram determinadas a atividade antioxidante da ES-CC e a sua influência sobre o funcionamento das enzimas antioxidantes hepáticas. A DRC promoveu importantes mudanças na estrutura da parede arterial, incluindo espessamento da camada íntima dos vasos. Além disso, também observamos um significativo aumento da peroxidação lipídica acompanhada da redução dos níveis hepáticos de glutationa e do nitrito plasmático. O tratamento com a ES-CC foi capaz de impedir o aumento do CT, LDL-C, VLDL-C e triglicérides, além de aumentar os níveis de HDL-C em coelhos Nova Zelândia. Estes efeitos foram acompanhados por uma redução significativa do estresse oxidativo e da modulação da atividade da catalase e superóxido dismutase. Ademais, as camadas íntimas e médias dos segmentos arteriais foram significativamente reduzidas com a administração do ES-CC. Este estudo demonstrou que a ES-CC é capaz de reduzir os lipídeos séricos e o estresse oxidativo, contribuindo para atenuar o desenvolvimento da placa aterosclerótica induzida pela DRC.Abstract: Although Cuphea carthagenensis (Jacq.) J.F. Macbr. is used in Brazilian folk medicine in the treatment of atherosclerosis and circulatory disorders, no study has been conducted to evaluate these effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate possible hypolipemiant and antiatherogenic activity of the ethanol soluble fraction obtained from Cuphea carthagenensis (ES-CC) in an experimental model of atherosclerosis, using New Zealand (NZ) rabbits undergoing cholesterol-rich diet (CRD). Dyslipidemia and atherogenesis were induced by administration of standard commercial diet increased of 1% of cholesterol (CRD) for 8 weeks. The ES-CC was administered orally at doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg, once a day, for four weeks, starting from the 4thweek of CRD diet. Body weight measurements were carried out weekly from the beginning of the experiments for 8 weeks. The serum levels of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and their fractions (LDL-C, VLDL-C and HDL-C) were measured at beginning of the experiments, and at week four and eight. After the rabbits were euthanized, aorta segments (aortic arc, thoracic, abdominal and iliac segments) were evaluated macroscopically and microscopically and the intima and media layers of the arteries were measured. Additionally, the antioxidant activity of ES-CC and its influence on the functioning of hepatic antioxidant enzymes were also determined. The CRD induced dyslipidemia and major structural changes in the aortic wall. In addition, we observed an increase in lipid peroxidation accompanied by a reduction of hepatic glutathione, and serum nitrite. The treatment with ES-CC was able to prevent the increase of TC, LDL-C, VLDL-C and triglycerides levels, as well as increased the HDL-C levels in NZ rabbits. These effects were accompanied by a significant reduction in oxidative stress and modulation of the function of catalase and superoxide dismutase. Moreover, the intima and media layers of the arterial segments were significantly reduced by ES-CC treatment. This study demonstrated that ES-CC reduces the serum lipids and hepatic oxidative stress when orally administered to NZ rabbits. In addition, it was able to reduce the development of atherosclerosis induced by CRD

Antimicrobial activity of Asteraceae species against bacterial pathogens isolated from postmenopausal women.

PURPOSE:Investigation of the antibacterial action of aqueous extracts of Bidens sulphurea, Bidens pilosa, and Tanacetum vulgare, species of Asteraceae family that are popularly used for the treatment of genito-urinary infection. METHODS:The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bacterial concentration (MBC) of the extracts against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC29212), Escherichia coli (ATCC25922), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC27853) and against bacteria that were isolated from cultures of vaginal secretions and urine from menopausal women with a diagnosis of recurrent urinary tract infections (rUTI) were determined by broth microdilution. RESULTS:The MIC values of the three extracts against Gram-positive and Gram-negative standard bacterial strains ranged from 7.81 to 125.00 mg ml-1, and the MBC values ranged from 7.81 to 500.00 mg ml-1. However, B. sulphurea was more efficient. In the urine samples, the three extracts inhibited the growth of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp., and the B. pilosa was the most active extract against E. coli compared with the other ones. For the vaginal secretion samples, no significant differences in the inhibition of coagulase-positive Staphylococcus spp. and P. mirabilis were found among the extracts. T. vulgare and B. sulphurea were more effective in inhibiting coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. compared with B. pilosa. E. coli was more susceptible to the B. sulphurea extract compared with the B. pilosa and T. vulgare extracts. CONCLUSION:The present results suggested the potential medicinal use of Asteraceae species, especially B. sulphurea, as therapeutic agents against rUTI-related bacteria