Chemical composition and anti-inflammatory evaluation of essential oils from leaves and stem barks from Drimys brasiliensis Miers (Winteraceae)

The essential oils from leaves and stem barks from Drimys brasiliensis Miers (Winteraceae) were individually obtained by hydrodistillation and their compounds characterized by use of GC/FID and GC/MS. The main identified derivatives were monoterpenes (leaves 4.31% and stem barks 90.02%) and sesquiterpenes (leaves 52.31% and stem barks 6.35%). Additionally, the sesquiterpene polygodial was isolated from hexane extract from stem barks of D. brasiliensis after chromatographic steps and characterized by spectroscopic means, mainly NMR. Aiming the evaluation of anti-inflammatory potential, the crude essential oils and the sesquiterpene polygodial were subjected to bioassays to evaluate the acute toxicity of these compounds as well as the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities induced by carrageenan and formalin in mices. Ours results showed that essential oil obtained from the stem barks significantly reduced the oedema induced by carrageenan. The anti-inflammatory effect induced by stem barks oil (at 200 mg kg-1) was similar to observed for indomethacin (at 10 mg kg-1) and superior for polygodial (at 200 mg kg-1) in 30 and 60 min after the administration of essential oils. The inflammatory response induced by formalin was effective to the stem barks oil (62.5%) in comparison to polygodial (50.0%).Os óleos essenciais das folhas e das cascas do tronco de Drimys brasiliensis Miers (Winteraceae) foram obtidos individualmente por hidrodestilação e suas composições químicas foram determinadas através de análise por CG/DIC e CG/EM. Os principais constituintes identificados foram monoterpenos (folhas 4,31% e cascas do tronco 90,02%) e sesquiterpenos (folhas 52,31% e cascas do tronco 6,35%). Adicionalmente, o sesquiterpeno poligodial foi isolado do extrato em hexano das cascas do tronco de D. brasiliensis após fracionamento cromatográfico e caracterizado por métodos espectroscópicos. Visando a avaliação do potencial anti-inflamatório, os óleos essenciais brutos e o sesquiterpeno poligodial foram submetidos à bioensaios para avaliação da toxicidade aguda destes compostos bem como das atividades anti-inflamatória e antinociceptiva induzidas por carragenina e formalina em ratos. Nossos resultados mostraram que o óleo essencial bruto obtido das cascas do tronco reduziu significativamente o edema induzido por carragenina. O efeito anti-inflamatório induzido pelo óleo das cascas do tronco (a 200 mg kg-1) foi similar ao observado para indometacina (a 10 mg kg-1) e superior ao poligodial (a 200 mg kg-1) em 30 e em 60 min após administração. A resposta inflamatória induzida pela formalina foi efetiva para o óleo das cascas do tronco (62,5%) em comparação ao poligodial (50,0%).Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da TerraUniversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da Terra Centro de Ciências e Humanidades Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da SaúdeUniversidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da SaúdeUNIFESP, Depto. de Ciências Exatas e da TerraSciEL

Combined treatment with caffeic and ferulic acid from Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae) protects against metabolic syndrome in mice

Fractionation of the EtOH extract from aerial parts of Baccharis uncinella C. DC. (Asteraceae) led to isolation of caffeic and ferulic acids, which were identified from spectroscopic and spectrometric evidence. These compounds exhibit antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and have been shown to be effective in the prevention/treatment of metabolic syndrome. This study investigated whether the combined treatment of caffeic and ferulic acids exhibits a more significant beneficial effect in a mouse model with metabolic syndrome. The combination treatment with caffeic and ferulic acids was tested for 60 days in C57 mice kept on a high-fat (40%) diet. The data obtained indicated that treatment with caffeic and ferulic acids prevented gain in body weight induced by the high-fat diet and improved hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. The expression of a number of metabolically relevant genes was affected in the liver of these animals, showing that caffeic and ferulic acid treatment results in increased cholesterol uptake and reduced hepatic triglyceride synthesis in the liver, which is a likely explanation for the prevention of hepatic steatosis. In conclusion, the combined treatment of caffeic and ferulic acids displayed major positive effects towards prevention of multiple aspects of the metabolic syndrome and liver steatosis in an obese mouse model.CAPESFAPESPMackPesquisaUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Programa Posgrad Disturbios Desenvolvimento, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Med Translac, Escola Paulista Med, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed ABC, Ctr Ciencias Nat & Humanas, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilEscola Ciencias Med, Dept Ciencias Patol, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Escola Engn, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilRush Univ & Med Ctr, Dept Internal Med, Div Endocrinol & Metab, Chicago, IL 60612 USAUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, Sao Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 2011/21847-6Web of Scienc

Serge Romoff - temoin inconnu

En mai 1921 et à Paris depuis une quinzaine d’années, Serge Romoff est appelé comme témoin au procès fictif de Maurice Barrès monté par les Dadaïstes et les Surréalistes. Bien qu’il soit presque certain qu’il connaissait plusieurs membres des deux groupes, il n’y a aucune trace de sa participation au cours des années précédentes ni à leurs activités ni à leurs publications. Qui donc était Serge Romoff?? La documentation manque, mais il semble qu’à partir de 1920 il joue un rôle de plus en plus important dans le monde culturel et surtout dans celui des artistes émigrés russes dans le quartier de Montparnasse. Il travaille dans l’imprimerie, fait quelques traductions, collabore à plusieurs revues culturelles, organise des expositions et écrit des articles de presse, notamment pour L’Humanité. En 1928 il retourne à Moscou où il continue à faire des conférences, probablement sur la littérature française et l’art. Il est mort en février 1939, une des victimes peut-être des purges staliniennes

Triterpenoids and phenolic derivatives from Baccharis uncinella C.DC. (Asteraceae)

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Ctr Ciencias & Humanidades, BR-01302907 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, BR-01302907 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Dept Ciencias Exatas & Terra, BR-09972270 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Anti-leishmanial and anti-trypanosomal potential of polygodial isolated from stem barks of Drimys brasiliensis Miers (Winteraceae)

Parasitic protozoan diseases affect the poorest population in developing countries. Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease have been included among the most important threats for public health in Central and South American continent, with few therapeutic alternatives and highly toxic drugs. in the course of selection of novel drug candidates, we studied the anti-protozoal potential of Drimys brasiliensis. Thus, the crude hexane extract from stem bark as well as its main derivative, the sesquiterpene polygodial, were tested using in vitro assays. the crude hexane extract and polygodial showed activity against Leishmania spp. in the range between 22 and 62 mu g/mL, but polygodial demonstrated high parasite selectivity towards Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes (2 mu g/mL), with a selectivity index of 19. Finally, polygodial showed a leishmanicidal effect, inducing intense ultrastructural damages in Leishmania in short-time incubation. the obtained results suggested that polygodial could be used as a tool for drug design studies against protozoan diseases and as a candidate molecule for further in vivo studies against T. cruzi.Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Ctr Ciencias & Humanidades, BR-01302907 São Paulo, BrazilUniv Presbiteriana Mackenzie, Ctr Ciencias Biol & Saude, BR-01302907 São Paulo, BrazilInst Adolfo Lutz Registro, Dept Parasitol, Lab Toxinol Aplicada, BR-01246000 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Inst Ciencias Ambientais Quim & Farmaceut, BR-09972270 Diadema, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 06/57626-5CNPq: 473405/2008-3CNPq: 477422/2009-8Web of Scienc