Ciomar Aparecida Bersani-Amado

Anti-Inflammatory and Antinociceptive Effects of Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oil in Experimental Animal Models

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Family Lamiaceae), popularly named rosemary, is a common household plant grown in many parts of the world, including Brazil. Rosemary leaves are used for food flavoring and have been used in folk medicine for many conditions; they have antispasmodic, analgesic, antirheumatic, carminative, cholagogue, diuretic, expectorant, and antiepileptic effects. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of rosemary essential oil (REO) on experimental models of nociception and inflammation in animals. The anti-inflammatory effect of REO was evaluated by inflammatory exudate volume and leukocyte migration in carrageenan-induced pleurisy and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests in rats. Antinociception was evaluated using the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate tests in mice. REO (500 mg/kg) significantly reduced the volume of pleural exudate and slightly decreased the number of cells that had migrated compared with the control animals. At doses of 250, 500, and 750 mg/kg, REO significantly inhibited carrageenan-induced edema 1-4 hours after injection of the phlogistic agent. In the hot plate test, REO administration (125, 250, and 500 mg/kg) showed unremarkable effects on response latency, whereas control injection of meperidine induced significant antinociceptive effects. REO at doses of 70, 125, and 250 mg/kg had a significant antinociceptive effect in the acetic acid-induced abdominal writhing test compared with control animals. These data suggest that REO possesses anti-inflammatory and peripheral antinociceptive activity.

Effects of Thymol and Carvacrol, Constituents of Thymus vulgaris L. Essential Oil, on the Inflammatory Response.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L., Lamiaceae) is an aromatic and medicinal plant that has been used in folk medicine, phytopharmaceutical preparations, food preservatives, and as an aromatic ingredient. The effect of Thymus vulgaris essential oil (TEO) and its isolated constituents thymol and cavacrol (CVL) were studied in the following experimental models: ear edema, carrageenan-induced pleurisy, and chemotaxis in vitro. In the pleurisy model, TEO, CVL, and thymol significantly inhibited inflammatory edema. However, only TEO and CVL inhibited leukocyte migration. In the in vitro chemotaxis experiment, CVL inhibited leukocyte migration, whereas thymol exerted a potent chemoattractant effect. In the ear edema model, CVL (10 mg/ear), applied topically, reduced edema formation, exerting a topical anti-inflammatory effect. Thymol did not reduce edema formation but rather presented an irritative response, probably dependent on histamine and prostanoid release. Our data suggest that the antiinflammatory effects of TEO and CVL are attributable to the inhibition of inflammatory edema and leukocyte migration.

Immunomodulatory activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe, Salvia officinalis L. and Syzygium aromaticum L. essential oils: evidence for humor‐ and cell‐mediated responses

Objectives The immunomodulatory effect of ginger, Zingiber officinale (Zingiberaceae), sage, Salvia officinalis (Lamiaceae) and clove, Syzygium aromaticum (Myrtaceae), essential oils were evaluated by studying humor‐ and cell‐mediated immune responses.

Gastric antiulcerogenic effects of Stryphnodendron adstringens in rats

The antiulcer activity of the total extract and the fractions of Stryphnodendron adstringens was studied in rats and compared with that of cimetidine. Ulcers were induced in rats by means of three experimental models: acute stress, acidified‐ethanol and indomethacin. The total extract and the fractions were found to have significant antiulcer activity in the case of the acute stress and acidified‐ethanol models. These findings support the use of S. adstringens extracts in the treatment of gastric lesions. Copyright

Toxicological studies on Stryphnodendron adstringens

This study was carried out to determine the acute toxicity of total barbatimão extract (LD(50)) after oral administration to mice, and its effect on certain biochemical parameters in plasma of rats after 30 days of administration. The LD(50) value of the extract was 2699 mg/kg. A daily oral administration of extracts at 800 and 1600 mg/kg doses for 30 days caused a decrease in body weight, thymic involution, and an increase of plasma glucose and aspartate aminotransferase levels in the animals. The results showed that the extract administered in a prolonged period produced toxic effects in the experimental animals.

Study of the effectiveness of propolis extract as a storage medium for avulsed teeth

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of propolis extract in maintaining the viability of human periodontal ligament (PDL) cells, and to radiographically analyze tooth replantation and the adjacent periodontium in dogs after storage in this extract. Human PDL cells were incubated with the experimental media propolis, milk, saliva, Hanks balanced salt solution (HBSS), and Dulbeccos modified Eagles medium (DMEM, positive controls), and distilled water (negative control). Cell viability was determined 0, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h later by colorimetric MTT assay. Thirty incisors from dogs were divided into two storage time blocks (1 and 3 h) and were maintained in the experimental media. HBSS served as a positive control, and dry teeth (on gauze) as a negative control. The replanted teeth were radiographed once per month for 6 months. The radiographic images were standardized by the shortening/lengthening factor, and were both qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. The in vitro results showed that the efficacy of propolis in maintaining functional viability of PDL cells was similar to that of milk. Propolis and milk were significantly better than controls from the 6-h time period. The in vivo results showed that teeth maintained in propolis medium exhibited replacement resorption with significant reduction in tooth length, similar to teeth maintained in saliva and dried teeth. This resorption was less intense with the 3-h storage time than the 1-h storage time. Conditions close to normal were found in teeth maintained in milk, similar to the HBSS control. Therefore, although propolis was effective in maintaining the viability of human PDL cells, resorption of the tooth replantation in dogs occurred under these experimental conditions.

Effect of crude extracts of leaves of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) on glycemia in diabetic rats

The present study investigated the effect of crude extracts from yacon leaves, obtained by aqueous cold (YC) or hot (YH) extraction, or hydro-ethanolic extraction (YE), on glycemia of the diabetic (induced by streptozotocine, 50 mg/kg, ip) and nondiabetic rats. The animals were treated orally with the extracts (400 mg/kg) or water for 3, 7, 10, and 14 days. After this period, the animals were anesthetized and blood samples were collected for measurement of plasmatic glucose and creatinine and activity of the enzymes (AST, ALT, ALP). Also were evaluated the consumption of food, water, urine volume, body weight of the animals and LD50 of YE. Treatment with YE for 14 days reduced glycemia in diabetic and nondiabetic animals. No similar reduction was observed in animals treated with YC or YH. Additionally, YE restored the activity of the plasmatic enzymes that were altered, and improved weight gain in the diabetic animals. These results showed that the effectiveness of the yacon extracts is related to the method of preparation and to the time of treatment. The effect of YE on glycemia in diabetic rats is not related to reduction of food intake or to interference of the extract with intestinal absorption of carbohydrates.

Rosmarinus officinalis L. Essential Oil Inhibits In Vivo and In Vitro Leukocyte Migration

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (Lamiaceae), popularly known as rosemary, is used for food flavoring and in folk medicine as an antispasmodic, analgesic, antirheumatic, diuretic, and antiepileptic agent. Few studies have shown the anti-inflammatory effects of rosemary essential oil (REO). This study evaluated the effects of REO on leukocyte migration through in vivo leukocyte migration and in vitro chemotaxis assay. REO was analyzed by using gas chromatography-mass spectometry, and the main components identified were camphor (27.59%), 1,8-cineole (15.74%), α-pinene (16.58%), and β-myrcene (10.02%). In rats, administration of REO reduced the number of leukocytes that rolled, adhered, and migrated to the scrotal chamber after carrageenan injection. All doses of REO tested significantly inhibited leukocyte chemotaxis induced by casein. The effects of REO on leukocyte migration highlight an important mechanism of the anti-inflammatory action of rosemary.

Effect of Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) bark on animal models of nociception

A atividade antinociceptiva do extrato bruto e fracoes do Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart.) Coville (barbatimao) foi avaliada. Foram usados tres modelos experimentais para avaliacao da dor: teste de contorcao abdominal induzida pelo acido acetico, teste da formalina e teste da placa quente. Os resultados mostraram um efeito antinociceptivo evidente do barbatimao nos modelos experimentais de contorcao induzida por acido acetico e dor induzida pela formalina. Por outro lado, o barbatimao nao modificou significativamente o tempo de latencia dos animais no teste da placa quente. Estes resultados sugerem que o extrato de barbatimao apresenta efeito antinociceptivo por mecanismos perifericos.

Effect of Pfaffia iresinoides on the experimental inflammatory process in rats

Antiinflammatory activities of aqueous and saponin extracts and ecdysterone obtained from Pfaffia iresinoides (Sprengel) were studied by using three experimental inflammatory models in rats. The saponin extract (25 and 50 mg/kg, p.o.) reduced the leukocyte migration, particularly of mononuclear cells in the carrageenin‐induced pleurisy. It also inhibited the granuloma tissue formation following cotton pellet implantation and the complete Freunds adjuvant‐induced arthritis. The aqueous extract, in the same conditions, was effective on both carrageenin‐induced pleurisy and complete Freunds adjuvant arthritis. However, it did not alter the granuloma formation. The ecdysterone (5 mg/kg, p.o.), isolated from P. iresinoides, showed no effect on these inflammatory processes.