Celia Regina Cavichiolo Franco

Baccharis rufescens Spreng. var. tenuifolia (DC.) Baker: contribuição ao estudo farmacognóstico

Baccharis rufescens Spreng. var. tenuifolia (DC.) Baker belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is used for liver and stomach problems in traditional medicine. Previous phytochemical data reported flavonoid and triterpene contents. Chloroform and methanol extracts of the leaves showed activity in the bioassay of brine shrimp. Chloroform extracts showed the presence of peroxides that can be used to treat malaria (Schenkel et al., 2002; Montanher et al., 2002; Moreira et al., 2003). Considering the pharmacological importance of B. rufescens var. tenuifolia, the purpose of this paper was to perform the anatomical analysis of aerial vegetative parts of Baccharis rufescens var. tenuifolia in order to provide pharmacognostic data for quality control. The plant material was studied by the usual methods of light and scanning electron microscopy. Amphistomatic leaves, anomocytic stomata, biseriate capitate glandular trichomes, uniseriate simple flagelliform non-glandular trichomes, secretory ducts associated to the phloem, perivascular fiber cap, calcium oxalate as prismatic and styloid crystals in the pith of the stem were reported as the mainly anatomical data for B. rufescens var. tenuifolia.Ouvir Ler foneticamente

Fucan effect on CHO cell proliferation and migration

Fucan is a term used to denominate sulfated L-fucose rich polysaccharides. Here, a heterofucan, named fucan B, was extracted from the Spatoglossum schröederi seaweed. This 21.5 kDa galactofucan inhibited CHO-K1 proliferation and migration when fibronectin was the substrate. Fucan B derivatives revealed that such effects depend on their degree of sulfation. Fucan B did not induce cell death, but promoted G1 cell cycle arrest. Western blotting and flow cytometry analysis suggest that fucan B binds to fibronectin and activates integrin, mainly integrin α5β1, which induces FAK/RAS/MEK/ERK activation. FAK activation inhibits CHO-K1 migration on fibronectin and ERK blocks cell cycle progression. This study indicates that fucan B could be applied in developing new antitumor drugs.

Stability of gum arabic-gold nanoparticles in physiological simulated pHs and their selective effect on cell lines

For the safe use of nanoparticles, especially in the biomedical field, their stability in different environments and the prevention of binding to the component organisms, which could lead to nanoparticle aggregation, is indispensable. Herein, we present a simple, efficient and biologically based method to obtain small gum arabic (GA)-stabilized gold nanoparticles (GA-AuNPs) with remarkable stability in physiological pHs. The in vitro stability tests in intestinal (pH 6.8) and gastric (pH 1.2) simulated pHs revealed that GA-AuNPs exhibit a surprisingly high stability even near the zero zeta potential. When subjected to GA-AuNPs, changes in the viability, proliferation and morphology were selectively induced in the B16-F10 melanoma cell line, whereas no alterations in the macrophage cell line, RAW 264.7, or in the fibroblast cell line, BALB/3T3, were observed at the same concentrations. Therefore, considering the remarkable stability and selective effect on cell lines, we show that GA-AuNPs exhibit properties that could provide a future alternative for melanoma treatment.

Anatomical Characters of Leave and Stem of Calea serrata Less., Asteraceae

The genus Calea belongs to the tribe Heliantheae and presents about 125 species. Calea serrata, popularly known as erva-de-cobra, cha-amargo and quebra-tudo, is an endemic species found in southern Brazil and is used in traditional medicine to treat ulcers and livers problems. The present work aimed to study the pharmacobotanical characters of leaves and stems of C. serrata for quality control purposes. The plant material was processed according to standard methods of light and scanning electron microscopy. Glandular capitate-stalked and capitate-sessile, uniseriate multicellular non-glandular trichome with tapered apical cell, conical non-glandular trichome, isobilateral mesophyll, secretory ducts near the endoderm and circular shape with six ribs in the stem were important characters, which contributed to the identification of the species.

Female Sex Hormones Influence the Febrile Response Induced by Lipopolysaccharide, Cytokines and Prostaglandins but not by Interleukin-1β in Rats

There are differences in the immune response, and particularly fever, between males and females. In the present study, we investigated how the febrile responses induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and different endogenous pyrogens were affected by female gonadal hormones. The febrile response to i.p. injection of LPS (50 μg/kg) was 40% lower in female rats compared to male or ovariectomised (OVX) female rats. Accordingly, oestrogen replacement in OVX animals reduced LPS‐induced fever. Treatment with the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor indomethacin (2 mg/kg, i.p. 30 min before) reduced the febrile response induced by LPS in both OVX (88%) and sham‐operated (71%) rats. In line with the enhanced fever in OVX rats, there was increased expression of cyclooxygenase‐2 (COX‐2) in the hypothalamus and elevated levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). In addition, OVX rats were hyper‐responsive to PGE2 injected i.c.v. By contrast to the enhanced fever in response to LPS and PGE2, the febrile response induced by i.c.v. injection of interleukin (IL)‐1β was unaffected by ovariectomy, whereas the responses induced by tumour necrosis factor (TNF)‐α and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)‐1α were completely abrogated. These results suggest that the mediators involved in the febrile response in females are similar to males, although the reduction of female hormones may decrease the responsiveness of some mediators such as TNF‐α and MIP‐1α. Compensatory mechanisms may be activated in females after ovariectomy such as an augmented synthesis of COX‐2 and PGE2.

Análise farmacobotânica de folha e caule de Tanacetum vulgare (L.)

Tanacetum vulgare L., popularly known as tansy, is used in traditional medicine as a vermifuge, digestive and emmenagogue. This study aimed to analyze the morphoanatomical leaves and stems of this medicinal plant in order to control the quality. Usual techniques of light and scanning electron microscopy were used. The leaves are composed, pinatissect and amphistomatic. Simple and flagelliform non- glandular trichomes and capitate glandular trichomes are observed. The midrib has biconvex shape, the petiole is concavo-convex, the rachis is plano-convex, and the stem is rounded. Collateral vascular bundles, perivascular fiber caps and laminar collenchyma are encountered in the leaves and stems. Evidenced the morphological and anatomical features contribute to the identification of the taxon and provide pharmacobotanical data for the quality control of herbal drugs.

Safe therapeutics of murine melanoma model using a novel antineoplasic, the partially methylated mannogalactan from Pleurotus eryngii

A heteropolysaccharide was isolated by cold aqueous extraction from edible mushroom Pleurotus eryngii (King Oyster) basidiocarps and its biological properties were evaluated. Structural assignments were carried out using mono- and bidimensional NMR spectroscopy, monosaccharide composition, and methylation analyses. A mannogalactan having a main chain of (1→6)-linked α-d-galactopyranosyl and 3-O-methyl-α-d-galactopyranosyl residues, both partially substituted at OH-2 by β-d-Manp (MG-Pe) single-unit was found. Biological effects of mannogalactan from P. eryngii (MG-Pe) were tested against murine melanoma cells. MG-Pe was non-cytotoxic, but reduced in vitro melanoma cells invasion. Also, 50mg/kg MG-Pe administration to melanoma-bearing C57BL/6 mice up to 10days decreased in 60% the tumor volume compared to control. Additionally, no changes were observed when biochemical profile, complete blood cells count (CBC), organs, and body weight were analyzed. Mg-Pe was shown to be a promising anti-melanoma molecule capable of switching melanoma cells to a non-invasive phenotype with no toxicity to melanoma-bearing mice.

A low-molecular-weight galactofucan from the seaweed, Spatoglossum schröederi , binds fibronectin and inhibits capillary-like tube formation in vitro

A low-molecular-weight (LMW) heterofucan (designated fucan B) was obtained from the brown seaweed, Spatoglossum schröederi, and its activity as an inhibitor of capillary-like tube formation by endothelial cells (ECs) was analyzed. Chemical, infrared and electrophoretic analyses confirmed the identity of fucan B. In contrast to other LMW fucans, fucan B (0.012-0.1u202fmg/mL) inhibited ECs capillary-like tube formation in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, fucan B (0.01-0.05u202fmg/mL) did not affect ECs proliferation. Fucan B also inhibited ECs migration on a fibronectin-coated surface, but not on laminin- or collagen-coated surfaces. Biotinylated fucan B was used as a probe to identify its localization. Confocal microscopy experiments revealed that biotinylated fucan did not bind to the cell surface, but rather only to fibronectin. Our findings suggest that fucan B inhibits ECs capillary-like tube formation and migration by binding directly to fibronectin and blocking fibronectin sites recognized by cell surface ligands. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the in vivo effects of fucan B.

Metallic ions in organs of rats injected with metallic particles of stainless steel 316L and Ti6Al4V alloy

Despite the interest in identifying systemic effects caused by the metallic particles released from long term metallic implants in the body, few works support reliable conclusions about the effects of those particles in organs. The aim of the present work is to look for damages in tissues of liver, kidney, lung and heart of rats submitted to injection of Hanks solution contained particles of Ti6Al4V alloy and Stainless Steel 316L, obtained by metal friction. The particles size ranges from 50 to 200 µm for the Ti alloy and from 100 to 500 µm for the 316L. Tissues isolated from the organs after the euthanasia were prepared and analyzed in an optical microscope and Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS). Lesions caused by an inflammatory response such as strange body epithelioid granuloma and giant cells were found in some of the tissues containing yttrium and aluminum.