Toxicity effects of ethanol extract of Simarouba versicolor on reproductive parameters in female Wistar rats

Simarouba versicolor is popularly known as pau-paraiba. It belongs to the Simaroubaceae family and is found in the Northeast of São Paulo and in some parts of the states of Pará and Mato Grosso do Sul. It is known that this and other species from this genus have several activities: insecticides, antiinflammatory, antitumor, anthelmintic, among others. The effects of ethanolic extract of the bark of S. versicolor (Sv-EtOH) on the reproductive system of rats were investigated; also the influence of estrogenic and/or antiestrogenic activity, estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation and offspring development was observed. In the experimental protocols with ethanolic extract of S. versicolor, the doses were 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg. To evaluate estrogenic and anti-estrogenic activity, uterotrophic assay and histopathology of the uterus were performed. In the estrous cycle tests, animals were treated daily, for 30 days, to count number of cycles and record the biochemical profile. During pre-implantation and post-implantation, the effect of the extract on pregnancy, lactation and development of the progeny was observed. Uterotrophic assay exhibited anti-estrogenic activity at extract doses of 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg. The animals exposed to all doses had no changes in their estrous cycle, pregnancy, lactation and biochemical profile. All results were within normal range; however, creatinine concentration increased significantly at all doses as compared to the control. The ethanol extract of S. versicolor presented antiestrogen activity, low systemic toxicity and had no reproductive toxicity at investigated doses.Key words: Simarouba versicolor, reproduction, rats

Utilization of candeia ( Eremanthus erythropappus (DC.) Macleish) wood residues in the production of particleboard with addition of pet

Este trabalho objetivou analisar, por meio das propriedades f\uedsicas e mec\ue2nicas, a viabilidade da produ\ue7\ue3o de pain\ue9is a partir da incorpora\ue7\ue3o do res\uedduo da madeira de candeia ( Eremanthus erythropappus ) e a influ\ueancia das diferentes porcentagens de pl\ue1stico tipo PET (polietileno tereftalato), como tamb\ue9m da presen\ue7a e aus\ueancia de parafina sobre as propriedades dos pain\ue9is aglomerados. Foram utilizados res\uedduos da madeira de candeia, ap\uf3s a extra\ue7\ue3o do \uf3leo, em associa\ue7\ue3o \ue0 madeira de eucalipto, na propor\ue7\ue3o de 25:75, e adesivo ur\ue9ia-formalde\ueddo (12%) para a produ\ue7\ue3o dos pain\ue9is; al\ue9m da incorpora\ue7\ue3o de PET na forma de part\uedculas originadas de envases de refrigerantes em tr\ueas porcentagens de incorpora\ue7\ue3o (0%, 25% e 50%) em tratamentos na presen\ue7a (1%) e aus\ueancia de emuls\ue3o de parafina. O ciclo de prensagem dos pain\ue9is ocorreu sob aquecimento el\ue9trico a temperatura de 160oC; press\ue3o de 0,4MPa e tempo de 8 minutos. O experimento foi instalado em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com tr\ueas repeti\ue7\uf5es. As propriedades avaliadas, segundo as normas DIN (1971), ASTM D 1037-93 (1995) e CS 236-66 (1968), foram: liga\ue7\ue3o interna; flex\ue3o est\ue1tica (m\uf3dulo de elasticidade - MOE e m\uf3dulo de ruptura - MOR); compress\ue3o paralela \ue0 superf\uedcie das chapas; absor\ue7\ue3o de \ue1gua e inchamento em espessura, ap\uf3s 2 e 24 horas de imers\ue3o. As propriedades mec\ue2nicas dos pain\ue9is foram reduzidas com o aumento dos n\uedveis de incorpora\ue7\uf5es de PET; a adi\ue7\ue3o de parafina n\ue3o promoveu, de modo geral, ganhos de resist\ueancia e redu\ue7\ue3o de higroscopicidade dos pain\ue9is madeira-pl\ue1stico; \ue9 vi\ue1vel a utiliza\ue7\ue3o do res\uedduo da madeira de candeia, em associa\ue7\ue3o \ue0 madeira de eucalipto, na confec\ue7\ue3o dos pain\ue9is madeira-pl\ue1stico, pois as propriedades atenderam \ue0s exig\ueancias m\uednimas das normas, exceto para o teste de flex\ue3o est\ue1tica.This work aimed to evaluate, through the physical and mechanical properties, the panels production viability with inclusion of candeia ( Eremanthus erythropappus ) wood residues and the influence of different percentages of PET (polyethylene terephthalate), as well as the presence and absence of paraffin on the properties of particleboard. There were used candeia wood residues, after oil extraction, in association with eucalypt wood in the proportion of 25:75 and urea-formaldehyde adhesive (12%) for panels production; besides the PET incorporation in particle form, which were originated from soft drink bottles and included in three percentages (0%, 25% e 50%) in treatments in the presence (1%) and absence of paraffin emulsion. The panels pressing cycle occurred under electric heating at 160\ub0C, 0.4 MPa of pressure, during 8 minutes. The experimental design was entirely randomized with three repetitions. The properties evaluated, according to DIN (1971), ASTM D 1037-93 (1995) and CS 236-66 (1968) standards, were: internal bonding; static bending (modulus of elasticity \u2013 MOE and rupture \u2013 MOR); compression parallel to the panel surface; water absorption and thickness swelling, after 2 and 24 hours water soaking. The panel mechanical properties decreased with increasing in PET level; in general, paraffin addition did not improve the wood/plastic panels resistance and higroscopicity; the utilization of candeia wood residues is viable, in association with eucalypt wood, for the wood/plastic panel production, since the properties attended the minimum demands of the standards, except static bending

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of six artemisinin derivatives against Schistosoma mansoni

Schistosomiasis is a tropical neglected disease whose socioeconomic impact is surpassed only by malaria. Until recently, praziquantel (PZQ) has been the only available drug, raising concerns that tolerant/resistant strains may appear. Since the discovery of the schistosomicidal potential of artemisinin (ART), new derivatives have been produced and evaluated. In this work, we evaluated the activity of ART derivatives against Schistosoma mansoni, both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro assay, worm survival, oviposition, and morphological alterations were evaluated. Further analysis of morphological alterations and membrane integrity was conducted using scanning electron microscopy and a cell-permeable, benzimidazole dye (Hoescht 33258) that binds to the minor groove of double stranded DNA. For the in vivo assay, artesunic acid (AcART) and dihydroartemisinin acetate (AcDQHS) were selected, since they showed the best in vitro results. Infected mice treated 21, 45, or 60days post-infection (dpi), with a concentration of 100mg/kg of either AcART or AcDQHS, showed a significant worm reduction (particularly in females), fewer eggs eliminated in feces, and a decrease of immature eggs in the intestinal tissues. Our results indicate that AcART and AcDQHS have some schistosomicidal activity against juvenile and adult stages of S. mansoni1182505516CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal e Nível Superiornão te