Bruno Ambrósio da Rocha

Inhibitory Effect of the Hexane Fraction of the Ethanolic Extract of the Fruits of Pterodon pubescens Benth in Acute and Chronic Inflammation

Fruits of Pterodon pubescens Benth have been used traditionally for the treatment of rheumatism, sore throat, and respiratory disorders, and also as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, depurative, tonic, and hypoglycemic agent. The study was aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity of the hexane fraction of an ethanolic extract of P. pubescens fruits. The oil from P. pubescens fruits was extracted with ethanol and partitioned with hexane. The anti-inflammatory activity was measured with increasing doses of the hexane fraction (FHPp) by using a carrageenan-induced rat model of pleurisy and a rat model of complete Freunds adjuvant-induced arthritis by using an FHPp dose of 250 mg/kg for 21 days. Treatment with an FHPp resulted in anti-inflammatory activity in both models. The results of biochemical, hematological, and histological analyses indicated a significant decrease in glucose, cholesterol, and triglycerides levels (18.32%, 34.20%, and 41.70%, resp.) and reduction in the numbers of total leukocytes and mononuclear cells. The FHPp dose of 1000 mg/kg induced no changes in behavioral parameters, and no animal died. The results of this study extend the findings of previous reports that have shown that administration of extracts and fractions obtained from species of the genus Pterodon exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and lacks toxicity.

Hepatoprotective Effect of Silymarin (Silybum marianum) on Hepatotoxicity Induced by Acetaminophen in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of Silymarin (SLM) on the hypertension state and the liver function changes induced by acetaminophen (APAP) in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). Animals normotensive (N) or hypertensive (SHR) were treated or not with APAP (3 g/kg, oral) or previously treated with SLM. Twelve hours after APAP administration, plasmatic levels of liver function markers: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), glucose (GLU), gamma glutamyl transferase (γ-GT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) of all groups, were determined. Liver injury was assessed using histological studies. Samples of their livers were then used to determine the myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and nitric oxide (NO) production and were also sectioned for histological analysis. No differences were observed for ALT, γ-GT, and GLU levels between SHR and normotensive rats groups. However, AST and ALP levels were increased in hypertensive animals. APAP treatment promoted an increase in ALT and AST in both SHR and N. However, only for SHR, γ-GT levels were increased. The inflammatory response evaluated by MPO activity and NO production showed that SHR was more susceptible to APAP effect, by increasing leucocyte infiltration. Silymarin treatment (Legalon) restored the hepatocyte functional and histopathological alterations induced by APAP in normotensive and hypertensive animals.

Synergistic effects of anethole and ibuprofen in acute inflammatory response.

This study assessed the effect of the combination of anethole and ibuprofen in comparison with monotherapy by either drug alone, using two in vivo inflammatory models, namely the pleurisy and paw edema in rats. We also measured the levels of the TNF protein in plasma, and the ability of anethole to inhibit, in vitro, the activity of the cyclooxygenase 1 and cyclooxygenase 2 enzymes. The test drugs (anethole; ibuprofen; anethole + ibuprofen), at different doses, were administered once (p.o.) 60 min before the induction of the inflammatory response. The association of anethole + ibuprofen inhibited the development of the inflammatory response in both models used. This effect can be partially explained by the inhibitory action on the production of TNF and of COX isoforms. The isobologram analysis evidenced a synergistic effect between ibuprofen and anethole, because the combination of drugs showed a higher inhibitory potential than either drug alone.

Acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity: Preventive effect of trans anethole.

The hepatotoxicity induced by APAP is caused by the excessive production of N-acetyl-para-benzoquinone imine (NAPQI), which, when reacting with hepatic proteins proved to cause irreversible lesions. Associated with this process, an intense inflammatory process is also evidenced, characterized by the increased cell influx and production/release of inflammatory mediators. Trans anethole, an aromatic compounds has been showed anti-inflammatory efficacy by inhibit the cellular recruitment and synthesis/releases of many proinflammatory mediators such as prostaglandin (PGE2), cytokines (TNF, IL-1) and nitrico oxide (NO). The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of trans anethole on some inflammatory parameters that are involved in hepatotoxicity induced by high doses of acetaminophen. Our results demonstrate that treatment with AN at doses 125 and 250mg/kg once a day for seven days prevented the changes caused by the APAP overdose, showing less intensity in the histological changes (necrosis, size of hepatocyte area and inflammatory infiltration), and corroborating the findings of serum activities of transaminases and phosphatases and the activity of the enzyme myeloperoxidase. In addition, the treatment prevented the up-regulation of proinflammatory mediators such as NO, TNF, IL-1α, MIP-1α and MCP-1 and induced the up-regulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10). Thus, our results demonstrate a possible protective effect of trans anethole on the hepatotoxicity induced by APAP.

Involvement of cytokines in the modulation and progression of renal fibrosis induced by unilateral ureteral obstruction in C57BL/6 mice: effects of thalidomide and dexamethasone

This study investigated the kinetics of cytokines that are involved in the development of interstitial fibrosis in mice that were subjected to UUO, the interstitial type I and III collagen deposition, and the effects of Thalido and Dexa treatment on these parameters. Inbred C57BL/6 mice were divided into the groups: Normal (not submitted surgery), Sham (sham surgery), Control (UUO treated with 0.5% carboxymethyl cellulose), Thalido (UUO treated with 5 mg/kg thalidomide), and Dexa (UUO treated with 1 mg/kg dexamethasone). The treatments began the day before surgery and were administered once daily by gavage for 1, 7, or 14 days. At the end of each treatment period, blood samples were collected for the determination of creatinine, urea, cytokines. The Control group exhibited a increase in creatinine concentration compared with the Normal and Sham groups within the first 24 h after UUO, which remained high until days 7 and 14. The urea concentration was higher on days 7 and 14 in the Control group compared with the Sham group. In the Thalido and Dexa groups, a reduction of serum creatinine concentration was seen on day 14. Treatment with Dexa reduced the serum concentration of urea on day 7. The serum concentrations of cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, IL‐6, IL‐10 and IL‐17) and chemokines (KC, MIG, bFGF) increased in UUO mice at all of the sampling times. The Dexa and Thalido groups exhibited alterations in the concentrations of these cytokines, suggesting the involvement of anti‐inflammatory and immunomodulatory mechanisms that may have modified the fibrosis framework.

Evidence of anti-inflammatory effect and percutaneous penetration of a topically applied fish oil preparation: a photoacoustic spectroscopy study

Abstract. This paper investigates the topical anti-inflammatory effect of a fish oil preparation (FOP) in a croton oil (CO) model of skin inflammation. The photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) was applied to estimate the percutaneous penetration of the FOP and as a model to evaluate the topical inflammatory response. After applying CO, the groups of mice received a topical application of a FOP on the left ear. The right ear received the vehicle that was used to dilute the CO. After 6 h, ear tissue was collected to determine the percent inhibition of edema, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and cytokine levels and to perform PAS measurements. Treatment with FOP reduced edema and MPO activity, which was at least partially attributed to a decrease in the levels of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, keratinocyte-derived chemokine, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. The topically applied FOP penetrated into the tissue and decreased the area of the bands that characterize inflamed tissue. The present results demonstrated the topical anti-inflammatory effect of the FOP. PAS suggests that FOP anti-inflammatory activity is linked with its ability to penetrate through the skin.

Behçet’s Disease: Pulmonary Aneurysm Resolution with Oral Therapy and HLA B72 Allele Association

We report the case of a woman who was diagnosed with a pulmonary artery aneurysm that was caused by Behçet’s disease. The patient was initially diagnosed with community-acquired pneumonia and then pulmonary thromboembolism and aneurysm of the right pulmonary artery segmental branch was confirmed. The initial treatment consisted of anticoagulant drugs. After analysis of the family history and a positive pathergy test, the patient was diagnosed with Behçet’s disease. Oral pharmacological treatment began with corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide, and anticoagulant suspension. The HLA B72 allele was identified in the patient and her two sisters, demonstrating the familial characteristic of the disease and the presence of this allele in a female patient with Behçet’s disease. After 12 months of treatment, the clinical condition completely resolved.

Analysis of Solanum Americanum Mill. by Ultrafast Liquid Chromatography with Diode Array and Time-Of-flight Mass Spectrometry Detection with Evaluation of Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Rodent Models

ABSTRACT Solanum americanum Mill. has been traditionally used for the treatment of fever, stomachache, skin diseases, gynecological disorders, and different kinds of inflammation. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory response of different extracts obtained from ripe fruits of S. americanum Mill., in experimental models and evaluated them qualitatively using ultrafast liquid chromatography with diode array and time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UFLC-DAD/TOF-MS). The inflammatory response of four extracts of ripe fruits was evaluated for the systemic and topical anti-inflammatory activities. The compounds in each extract were identified using UFLC-DAD-TOF/MS. A total of 34 compounds was identified in the four extracts. The best results were obtained in compounds from the aqueous and chloroform extracts. This study demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory activity for the compounds present in fruit of S. americanum Mill.

Still's disease pediatric: Resolution after oral treatment and prognosis

Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA) or Still’s disease consists of an inflammatory systemic process without known etiology. It affects both genders in the same proportions, and represents 8.9% of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis’s cases. The clinical findings vary, although fever of unknown origin is common. This study describes a 6 years old boy diagnosed with SJIA, characterizing the manifestations of this rheumatologic disease, the main signs and symptoms, laboratory evaluation, diagnostic criteria and treatment. Correspondence to: Ciomar Aparecida Bersani-Amado, Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil, E-mail: cabamado@uem.br