Curcuma longa ingestion protects in vitro hepatocyte membrane peroxidation

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da ingestão de cúrcuma sobre a peroxidação lipídica e conteúdo de GSH, por ação tóxica in vitro de paracetamol, utilizando cultura primária de hepatócitos. Quatro grupos de ratos Holtzman foram usados: 1) GNN, normonutrido, alimentado ad libitum com ração de laboratório; 2) GDN, desnutrido, alimentado com 60% da quantidade de ração consumida por GNN; 3) GNN+C, alimentado como GNN, mas contendo 1% de cúrcuma na dieta; 4) GDN+C, alimentado como GDN, mas contendo 1% de cúrcuma na dieta. Os animais foram sacrificados aos 90 dias de vida, e cultura de hepatócitos preparada. Metade das placas de cultura foi tratada com paracetamol. A curva dose-resposta mostrou que 6 mM de paracetamol aumentou em 54% a peroxidação e diminuiu em 63% o conteúdo de GSH. A restrição na ingestão de alimentos (40%) diminuiu o peso corporal (33%) ao sacrifício e o índice de peroxidação cerca de 42%, entretanto, aumentou o conteúdo de GSH cerca de 43%. A ingestão de cúrcuma diminuiu a peroxidação em ambos ratos normonutridos (42%) e desnutridos (33%) e evitou o efeito pro-oxidante de paracetamol em ambos os grupos. A cúrcuma exerceu efeito protetor antioxidante sobre o organismo.The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of turmeric ingestion on lipid peroxidation and GSH content, promoted by in vitro acetaminophen, on hepatocytes primary culture from well-nourished and malnourished rats. Four groups of Holtzman male rats were used: 1) WNG, well-nourished, fed lab chow diet ad libitum; 2) MNG, malnourished, fed 60% of the diet consumed by WNG; 3) WNG+T fed the same diet of WNG, but containing 1% of turmeric; 4) MNG+T fed 60% of the diet consumed by WNG+T. The animals were sacrificed at 90 days of age, the livers excised and hepatocytes primary cultures were prepared. Half of the plates of hepatocytes culture were treated with acetaminophen. Dose-response curve showed that 6 mM acetaminophen increased peroxidation around 54% and decreased GSH content around 63%. The model of malnutrition used, by restricting food ingestion (40%), decreased body weight in 33% and peroxidation index around 42% and increased GSH content around 43%. Turmeric ingestion decreased hepatocyte peroxidation in both well-nourished (42%) and malnourished rats (33%) and was able to avoid the acetaminophen pro-oxidant effect in both well-nourished and malnourished animals. Turmeric ingestion played a beneficial role to the organism and, therefore, can be considered a functional food

Effects induced by Apis mellifera venom and its components in experimental models of nociceptive and inflammatory pain

AbstractThe effects induced by Apis mellifera venom (AMV), melittin-free AMV, fraction with molecular mass < 10 kDa (F<10) or melittin in nociceptive and inflammatory pain models in mice were investigated. Subcutaneous administration of AMV (2, 4 or 6 mg/kg) or melittin-free AMV (1, 2 or 4 mg/kg) into the dorsum of mice inhibited both phases of formaldehyde-induced nociception. However, F<10 (2, 4 or 6 mg/kg) or melittin (2 or 3 mg/kg) inhibited only the second phase. AMV (4 or 6 mg/kg), but not F<10, melittin-free AMV or melittin, induced antinociception in the hot-plate model. Paw injection of AMV (0.05 or 0.10 mg), F<10 (0.05 or 0.1 mg) or melittin (0.025 or 0.050 mg) induced a nociceptive response. In spite of inducing nociception after paw injection, scorpion (Tityus serrulatus) or snake (Bothrops jararaca) venom injected into the dorsum of mice did not inhibit formaldehyde-induced nociception. In addition, AMV (6 mg/kg), but not F<10 (6 mg/kg) or melittin (3 mg/kg), inhibited formaldehyde paw oedema. Concluding, AMV, F<10 and melittin induce two contrasting effects: nociception and antinociception. AMV antinociception involves the action of different components and does not result from non-specific activation of endogenous antinociceptive mechanisms activated by exposure to noxious stimuli

PADRÕES CLIMATOLÓGICOS E TENDÊNCIAS DA PRECIPITAÇÃO NOS REGIMES CHUVOSO E SECO DA AMAZÔNIA ORIENTAL

Este trabalho apresenta uma contribuição aos aspectos da climatologia dinâmica da Amazônia oriental, baseado na análise observacional das séries históricas de 40 anos (1975 a 2014) dos dados de precipitação para 30 estações meteorológicas dos estados do Pará, Maranhão e Tocantins. Os resultados mostraram que os padrões climatológicos de precipitação nos regimes chuvoso (janeiro a maio) e seco (julho a novembro) apresentam variabilidade espacial pronunciada, com características climáticas diferenciadas (intensidade e disposição geográfica dos máximos e mínimos pluviométricos) entre os dois regimes sazonais. Os dados de precipitação do satélite TRMM indicaram que a ZCIT e a ZCAS são os principais sistemas meteorológicos do regime chuvoso, enquanto que os aglomerados convectivos, linhas de instabilidade e influências das bandas frontais posicionadas no nordeste brasileiro são os principais sistemas que explicam a distribuição pluviométrica do regime seco. A análise de tendências usando o teste de Mann-Kendall para o regime chuvoso demonstrou sinais de aumento sistemático de precipitação particularmente no oeste, centro e nordeste do Pará e norte do Tocantins. Para o regime seco, há sinais de tendências positivas significantes no oeste/sudeste do Pará, contudo ressaltam-se os padrões de neutralidade (sem tendências) em grande parte do Maranhão e alguns setores do norte/nordeste do Pará

Esquistossomose mansônica: evidência de menor resposta nos camundongos isentos de germes

Germfree (GF and conventional (CV) mice were infected intraperitoneally with GF cercariae of Schistosoma mansoni and kept for six weeks. Twenty four hours before killing, they were injected with [³H]-thymidine. Schistosoma worms, harvested after perfusion of portal system, were counted as well as eggs from liver and intestines. Liver was also used for DNA, protein, and collagen determinations. [³H] -Thymidine incorporation and collagen determinations were used to establish the indices given by the difference between their contents in infected and control animals and expressed per thousand eggs in liver. The recovery of worms in GF mice was around twice as much as in CV ones, and the total number of eggs was higher in the liver of GF animals. No hypertrophy of liver cells was observed by the ratio protein/DNA, but [³H]-thymidine incorporation into DNA was higher than in controls in both GF and CV infected animals. The [³H]-thymidine and collagen indices were lower in GF animals which indicate a more discrete cellular replication and smaller collagen content in relation to the number of eggs present in livers of these mice. It was concluded that the disease seems to be less severe in GF animals.Camundongos isentos de germes (GF) e convencionais (CV) foram infectados intraperito-nealmente com cercárias GF de Schistosoma mansoni e mantidos por seis semanas. Vinte e quatro horas antes do sacrifício, eles foram injetados com [³H]-timidina. Vermes de Schistosoma, recolhidos através de perfusão do sistema porta, foram contados, assim como os ovos no fígado e intestino delgado. O fígado foi também usado para determinações de DNA, proteínas e colágeno. A incorporação de [³H]-timidina e as determinações de colágeno foram usadas para calcular os índices dados pela diferença entre seus conteúdos nos animais infectados e controles e expressos por mil ovos no fígado. A recuperação de vermes nos camundongos GF foi cerca de duas vezes aquela dos CV. O número total de ovos foi maior no fígado dos animais GF. Nenhuma hipertrofia das células hepáticas foi observada pela relação proteína/DNA mas a incorporação de [³H]-timidina em DNA foi maior que nos controles em ambos animais infectados (GF e CV). Os índices de [³H]-timidina e colágeno foram menores nos animais GF indicando uma replicação celular mais discreta e um conteúdo de colágeno menor em relação ao número de ovos presentes nos fígados destes camundongos. Concluiu-se que a doença parece ser menos se vera em animais GF

Curcuma longa ingestion protects in vitro hepatocyte membrane peroxidation Ingestão de Curcuma longa protege contra peroxidação de membrana de hepatócito

The goal of the present study was to evaluate the effect of turmeric ingestion on lipid peroxidation and GSH content, promoted by in vitro acetaminophen, on hepatocytes primary culture from well-nourished and malnourished rats. Four groups of Holtzman male rats were used: 1) WNG, well-nourished, fed lab chow diet ad libitum; 2) MNG, malnourished, fed 60% of the diet consumed by WNG; 3) WNG+T fed the same diet of WNG, but containing 1% of turmeric; 4) MNG+T fed 60% of the diet consumed by WNG+T. The animals were sacrificed at 90 days of age, the livers excised and hepatocytes primary cultures were prepared. Half of the plates of hepatocytes culture were treated with acetaminophen. Dose-response curve showed that 6 mM acetaminophen increased peroxidation around 54% and decreased GSH content around 63%. The model of malnutrition used, by restricting food ingestion (40%), decreased body weight in 33% and peroxidation index around 42% and increased GSH content around 43%. Turmeric ingestion decreased hepatocyte peroxidation in both well-nourished (42%) and malnourished rats (33%) and was able to avoid the acetaminophen pro-oxidant effect in both well-nourished and malnourished animals. Turmeric ingestion played a beneficial role to the organism and, therefore, can be considered a functional food.<br>O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito da ingestão de cúrcuma sobre a peroxidação lipídica e conteúdo de GSH, por ação tóxica in vitro de paracetamol, utilizando cultura primária de hepatócitos. Quatro grupos de ratos Holtzman foram usados: 1) GNN, normonutrido, alimentado ad libitum com ração de laboratório; 2) GDN, desnutrido, alimentado com 60% da quantidade de ração consumida por GNN; 3) GNN+C, alimentado como GNN, mas contendo 1% de cúrcuma na dieta; 4) GDN+C, alimentado como GDN, mas contendo 1% de cúrcuma na dieta. Os animais foram sacrificados aos 90 dias de vida, e cultura de hepatócitos preparada. Metade das placas de cultura foi tratada com paracetamol. A curva dose-resposta mostrou que 6 mM de paracetamol aumentou em 54% a peroxidação e diminuiu em 63% o conteúdo de GSH. A restrição na ingestão de alimentos (40%) diminuiu o peso corporal (33%) ao sacrifício e o índice de peroxidação cerca de 42%, entretanto, aumentou o conteúdo de GSH cerca de 43%. A ingestão de cúrcuma diminuiu a peroxidação em ambos ratos normonutridos (42%) e desnutridos (33%) e evitou o efeito pro-oxidante de paracetamol em ambos os grupos. A cúrcuma exerceu efeito protetor antioxidante sobre o organismo

Dose-dependent effect of carbamazepine on weanling rats submitted to subcutaneous injection of tityustoxin.

The scorpion envenoming syndrome is a serious public health matter in Brazil. The most severe cases occur during childhood and elderly. Previous results from our laboratory suggest that the effects of scorpion toxins on the central nervous system play a major role on the lethality induced by scorpion envenoming. The aim of this work is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of carbamazepine (CBZ) injected i.p. 90 min before s.c. tityustoxin (TsTX) injection in weanling rats. Rats were divided into six experimental groups according to s.c. injection (saline or TsTX) and i.p. treatment (vehicle or CBZ 12, 50 and 100 mg/kg): Sal/Veh group (n = 4); Sal/CBZ100 (n = 4); TsTX/CBZ12 (n = 6); TsTX/CBZ50 (n = 8); TsTX/CBZ100 (n = 8) and, at last, TsTX/Veh (n = 8). The dose of TsTX was the same for all groups: 6.0 mg/kg, twice the DL50 for weanling rats. Video images were recorded until death or for a maximum period of 240 min. Lungs were excised and weighed to evaluate edema. The results showed that CBZ (12, 50 and 100 mg/kg) was able to increase the survival rate and latency-to-death of the rats. Only the group treated with 100 mg/kg of CBZ had a decrease in the pulmonary edema. The known effect of CBZ reducing neuronal excitability most likely protected the neural substrates targeted by TsTX. Although treatment was performed before TsTX inoculation, the results are promising regarding CBZ as a therapeutic coadjuvant in the treatment of scorpion poisoning. The pharmacokinetics of CBZ can be very much improved by either changing the form of administration or encapsulating the drug in order to enhance solubility