Fernanda Bovo

Effect of the native polysaccharide of cashew-nut tree gum exudate on murine peritoneal macrophage modulatory activities.

The native polysaccharide of cashew-nut tree gum exudate (CNTG) and its arabinogalactan-protein component (CNTG-AGP) were tested by using immuno-stimulant and anti-inflammatory in vitro assays of murine peritoneal macrophage activities. In the assay for immuno-stimulant activity (without previous treatment with lipopolysaccharide; LPS), CNTG increased the production of interleukin (IL)-10 and both CNTG and CNTG-AGP decreased the concentrations of IL6. When the macrophages were incubated in the presence of LPS and CNTG a decrease in the levels of nitric oxide (NO(·)) and IFN-γ was observed. The results could explain the popular use of CNTG as an anti-inflammatory. In addition, CNTG is the main component of the cashew-nut tree gum exudate, which has been considered a versatile polymer with potential pharmaceutical and food industry applications. These data may contribute to the study of the immunomodulation activity of plant polysaccharides, as well as encourage future experiments in the field of cashew-nut tree gum exudate applications.

Modulating Effects of Arabinogalactans from Plant Gum Exudates on Human Complement System

Gum arabic and cashew nut tree gum exudate polysaccharide (CNTG) are plant polysaccharides composed of galactose and arabinose known as arabinogalactans (AGs). Although these fractions are used in food and pharmaceutical industry, cases of allergic reactions were described in clinical reports. As AGs were reported as modulators of the classical (CP) and alternative pathways (AP) of complement system (CS), in the present work, we investigate whether gum arabic and CNTG have an effect on both CS pathways. The complement fixation tests were performed with (CP‐30 and AP‐30) and without pre‐incubation (CP‐0 and AP‐0). For CP‐30, CNTG and gum arabic (833 μg/ml) showed a reduction of 28.0% (P = 0.000174) and 48.5% (P = 0.000143), respectively, on CP‐induced haemolysis. However, no effect was observed for CP‐0 in the CP‐induced haemolysis. For AP‐30, both CNTG and gum arabic (833 μg/ml) showed 87% reduction on the CP‐induced haemolysis, with IC50 values of 100 and 7 μg/ml, respectively. For AP‐0, a reduction of 11.3% for gum arabic and no effect for the CNTG on the CP‐induced haemolysis were observed. These results suggested that gum arabic and CNTG could be acting as activators of the CS. Thus, this effect on the CS, especially on the AP, which accounts for up to 80–90% of total CS activation, indicates that both fractions may be harmful because of their potential pro‐inflammatory action. Considering that CS activation induces inflammatory response, further studies confirming this immunomodulatory effect of these fractions are required to insure their safe use.

Epidemiological analysis of serological markers of hepatitis B in HIV+ patients from Curitiba and metropolitan region

Introduction: The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) in patients infected by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to a higher incidence of liver disorders due to persistence and recurrence of HBV infection in addition to increased morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of serological markers for hepatitis B in patients infected by HIV followed at Hospital de Clinicas da Universidade Federal do Parana (HC-UFPR). Methods: The clinical and epidemiological data were collected through a questionnaire applied to the patients, as well as a retrospective analysis of medical records. Serum levels of total hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) and surface antigen of the hepatitis B virus (HBsAg) were evaluated through chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Among the 297 HIV+ patients, 49.8% were seropositive only for anti-HBc, and 2.6 % were positive for both markers. Results and discussion: The prevalence of hepatitis B markers was significantly associated with HIV infection when compared with the prevalence observed in the general population from the same geographical area (anti-HBc+ HBsAg+: 0.14% vs. 2.6%, OR: 18.82, 95% CI 2.34-151.19, p = 0.00052). Concerning the associated risks to acquire HIV/HBV infection, 44.87% of the patients reported having been infected through sexual contact. A total of 16.66% HIV/HBV positive patients were in the age group 18-30 years, 62.82% were between 31-50 years and 16.66% were over 60 years old. Conclusion: The findings of the present study corroborate the need to investigate systematically the presence of markers for HBV in HIV+ patients from different regions of the country.

Utilização de planejamento fatorial para a determinação da capacidade antioxidante e doseamento de flavonoides totais em Verbena minutiflora Briq. ex Moldenke (gervai)

Verbena minutiflora Briq. ex Moldenke (gervai) tem seu uso medicinal relatado popularmente para tratamento de doencas hepaticas, diarreia e outros problemas de saude. Entretanto, pouco se conhece a respeito de seus componentes quimicos e estudos que comprovem suas propriedades medicinais sao escassos. O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar a composicao quimica dos extratos aquosos e etanolicos de flores de V. minutiflora e otimizar processos de obtencao de extratos com maiores capacidades antioxidantes e maiores concentracoes de flavonoides. O metodo de extracao foi desenhado por planejamento fatorial, onde as variaveis para a determinacao da capacidade antioxidante foram: pH, extracao liquida, metodo e tempo de extracao. Para a determinacao de flavonoides totais as variaveis avaliadas por planejamento fatorial foram: concentracao de hexametilenotetramina, tipo de acido, volume de acido e tempo de aquecimento. Os resultados das analises quimicas dos extratos mostraram: aminogrupos, taninos e acidos fixos (extrato aquoso) aminogrupos, flavonoides, triterpenos, esteroides, alcaloides e cumarinas (extrado hidroetanolico). Os resultados dos planejamentos fatoriais mostraram que o melhor metodo de extracao para a capacidade antioxidante foi o que usou vortex, por 35 min, com agua:etanol 50:50, com pH1, obtendo 0,1899± 5,8.10-3 mmol expressos em acido ascorbico g-1 nos extratos de V. minutiflora. Enquanto, para as dosagens de flavonoides totais as variaveis significantes foram: tipo de acido e volume de acido. A melhor extracao obtida foi: 6,748. 10-2± 2,085 10-3% expressos em quercetina. Os resultados mostraram que o planejamento fatorial e uma importante ferramenta para a otimizacao de extracao de componentes quimicos em produtos naturais.

Pectinas de plantas medicinais: características estruturais e atividades imunomoduladoras

Medicinal plants have many therapeutic properties that are related to the presence of biologically active compounds. Pectins, a group of acid polysaccharides that have relevant medicinal and nutraceutical properties, are an example of such biological compounds. Pectins contain a main chain with galacturonic acid units that are α-(1→4) linked; they can be classified into homogalacturonans and type I and type II rhamnogalacturonans (RG-I and RG-II). Other polysaccharides containing arabinose, galactose, or both have been isolated in association with pectin-type polysaccharides are known as arabinogalactans (AGs, type I and type II). Arabinogalactan-proteins (AGPs) comprise AG-II associated with proteins. Several studies have reported that pectins, as well as AG and AGPs, can act as modulators of the immune system and can therefore be considered biological response modifiers. The immunomodulation is related to the activity of macrophages as on the complement system pathways. In general, polysaccharides cause stimulation of phagocytic activity, increase production of reactive oxygen species and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Polysaccharides can modulate the classical and alternative complement pathways. The aim of this review has to describe the structural aspects of pectins and their biological activities related to the modulation of the immune system. Using literature, we reported data of 29 medicinal plant species, which present as constituents pectins, arabinogalactan and/or AGPs, correlating their therapeutic properties with biological activities associated to the immune system. In most cases described in the literature, it is difficult to determine how the specific structural characteristics can be involved in modulation of macrophage activity. However, with respect to the modulation of the activity of the complement system is proposed that the presence of AG-II-type structures would contribute most significantly to this activity. The possible mechanisms of modulation of pectins, AGs and AGPs on macrophage activity and/or the complement system are not yet fully clear, even if, these polymers can be considered potential candidates for studies aimed at the development of new therapeutic agents with modulatory properties beneficial to the immune system.

Relationship between the prevalence of hemoglobin S and the ethnic background of blood donors in Paraná state

Introduction:Hemoglobin S (HbS) is one of the most common inherited hematological disorders in humans. In Brazil, the sickle-cell disease (SCD) has significant epidemiological importance due to its prevalence and the morbidity-mortality and, therefore, it has been identified as a matter of public health.Objective:To determine the prevalence of HbS among Asian Brazilian, Afro Brazilian, and Euro Brazilian individuals of a blood bank in Curitiba.Material and method:The study was conducted from January 2008 to December 2009, and included 83,213 donors seen at the Instituto Paranaense de Hemoterapia e Hematologia.Results and discussion:The prevalence of HbS in the studied population was 0.9%, among them, 0% Asian Brazilians, 2.7% Afro Brazilians, and 0.7% Euro Brazilians. There was a positive association, statistically significant for the sickle cell trait in Afro-descendants, with odds ratio (OR) 4.01; confidence interval (CI) 3.42-4.72; and 95% confidence.Conclusion:This study showed higher rates of sickle cell trait in Afro Brazilians, which corroborates data published in other Brazilian regions and states.

Análise do potencial antioxidante do consumo oral da farinha produzida com micélio de Agaricus brasiliensis em hamsters hipercolesterolêmicos

The main function of antioxidant defense system is to inhibit or reduce the cells damage caused by reactive oxygen species. Some antioxidants occurring in the diet enhance the antioxidant defense of plasma. The antioxidant potential of oral intake of a flour produced with A. brasiliensis mycelium fermented on wheat grains was evaluated in plasma samples from male hypercholesterolemic Syrian Golden hamsters, were divided into four groups: P (standard diet), H (standard hypercholesterolemic diet), C (standard diet + 10 % of wheat flour containing mycelium of A. brasiliensis), and HC (standard diet hypercholesterolemic + 10 % wheat flour containing mycelium of A. brasiliensis). The animals were fed for 40 days and then sacrificed for collecting plasma. The antioxidant capacity analysis showed that the dietary intake of group C induced the most significant increase of antioxidants concentrations in plasmas (0.39 mg.mL-1, expressed in ascorbic acid). The HC group showed higher antioxidant capacity than the H group (p < 0.05), as it inhibited 20.2 % of crocin bleaching, while the H group inhibited 10.4 % only; however the HC group showed a similar antioxidant capacity of P group (16.64 %). It is suggested that the consumption of wheat flour containing mycelium of A. brasiliensis induced the antioxidant protection in animals plasma.