Gerlânia de Oliveira Leite

Topical anti-inflammatory effect of Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. (Caryocaraceae) fruit pulp fixed oil on mice ear edema induced by different irritant agents

AIM OF THE STUDY Caryocar coriaceum Wittm. fruit pulp fixed oil (CCFO) has been widely employed by communities from Brazil Northeastern in the treatment of skin inflammation, respiratory affections, wound healing and muscle pain. In this study, we evaluated the topical effect of CCFO against different irritant agents in vivo, in order to verify its antiedematous effect as well to unravel its tentative mechanisms of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS CCFO was obtained from Caryocar coriaceum fruits using ethyl acetate as solvent. Ear edema provoked by the application of Croton oil (single and multiple applications), arachidonic acid (AA), capsaicin, phenol and histamine to Swiss mice was used to evaluate the topical anti-inflammatory effect of CCFO. Histological analysis from mice ears sensitized with Croton oil and AA single application was also performed. RESULTS Crude CCFO (20μL/ear) demonstrated significant topical antiedematous effect against Croton oil single (inhibition of 32.0%; P<0.05) and multiple (41.4% after 9 days, P<0.001) applications, AA (inhibition of 49.7%; P<0.01) and phenol (inhibition of 38.8%; P<0.001). In contrast, CCFO did not antagonize the edema caused by topical treatment with capsaicin and histamine when compared to control group (P>0.05). Histological analysis also revealed that CCFO was able to reduce the edema and the influx of inflammatory cells in mice ears sensitized with Croton oil and AA. CONCLUSIONS CCFO exhibited a similar profile of topical anti-inflammatory activity to that of drugs that classically modulate the production of arachidonic acid metabolites. The study also indicates the potential application of CCFO as an important herbal medicine to be used against skin inflammatory diseases.

(-)-α-Bisabolol attenuates visceral nociception and inflammation in mice.

The study examined the antiinflammatory and antinociceptive effects of the sesquiterpene (-)-α-bisabolol (BISA). The antiinflammatory effect was evaluated on acute models of dermatitis induced by Croton oil, arachidonic acid, phenol and capsaicin, respectively, in mouse ear. BISA inhibited the dermatitis induced by all noxious agents, except capsaicin. BISA was assessed in two established mouse models of visceral nociception. Mice were pretreated orally with BISA, and the pain-related behavioral responses to intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide or to intracolonic mustard oil were analyzed. BISA showed a dose-unrelated significant antinociception. Collectively, the results suggest that BISA may be an topical antiinflammatory and visceral antinociceptive agent.

Gastroprotective mechanism of Vanillosmopsis arborea bark essential oil

This study was aimed to clarify the mechanism of gastroprotection by Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker essential oil (EOVA) using ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage in mice. Gastric lesions were significantly reduced by EOVA (200 and 400 mg/kg). Chemical analysis showed that the major compound of EOVA was alpha-bisabolol. Pretreatment of mice with yohimbine, the alpha2-antagonist, greatly suppressed the gastroprotective effect of OEVA. Furthermore, OEVA gastroprotection was not attenuated in mice pretreated with indomethacin, L-NAME or glibenclamide, the respective inhibitors of cyclooxygenase, nitric oxide synthase and K(+)(ATP) channel activation. These data suggest that OEVA affords gastroprotection most possibly by alpha2-receptor activation.

Gastroprotective Effect of Medicinal Plants from Chapada do Araripe, Brazil

Gastric ulcer is a serious gastrointestinal disorder that requires a well targeted therapeutic strategy. A number of drugs are available for the treatment of gastric ulcer, but clinical evaluation has shown incidence of relapses, side effects, and drug interactions. The search for novel molecules has been extended to herbal drugs that offer better protection and decreased relapse. The essential oils from Croton zehntneri (EOCZ) and Vanillosmopsis arborea (EOVA), the oil from Caryocar coriaceum pulp (OCC), the latex from Himatanthus drasticus (LHD), and the extract from Stryphnodendron rotundifolium (ESR) obtained from Chapada do Araripe, Ceara (Brazil) have been evaluated for cytoprotetive activity on ethanol-induced ulcer formation in mice. EOCZ, EOVA, OCC, and ESR were administrated by gavage at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg and LDH, by the same way, at 0.2 and 0.4 mL/animal (n=8). Following 60 min, mice were given 0.2 mL of ethanol (96%) by gavage. Thirty minutes after the administration of ethanol, all groups were sacriÞ ced and the gastric ulcer index was calculated by planimetry. Preliminary results suggest that all the plants tested showed signiÞ cant activity. EOVA (6.47±1.91%*), OCC (8.86±2.45%*) and ESR (1.50±0.30%**) were the most active. Data are expressed as mean±s.e.m. of the lesioned area (%) and were analyzed by ANOVA and Student-Newman-Keul´s test (*P Key words: Croton zehntneri, Vanillosmopsis arborea, Caryocar coriaceum, Himatanthus drasticus, Stryphnodendron rotundifolium, gastroprotection .

Antioxidant Effect of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium Martius Extracts from Cariri-Ceará State (Brazil): Potential Involvement in Its Therapeutic Use

Stryphnodendron rotundifolium is a phytotherapic used in the northeast of Brazil for the treatment of inflammatory processes which normally are associated with oxidative stress. Consequently, we have tested the antioxidant properties of hydroalcoholic (HAB) and aqueous extracts (AB) from the bark and aqueous extract (AL) from the leaves of Stryphnodendron rotundifolium to determine a possible association between antioxidant activity and the popular use of this plant. Free radical scavenger properties were assessed by the quenching of 1′,1′-diphenil-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the calculated IC50 were: HAB = 5.4 ± 0.7, AB = 12.0 ± 2.6, and AL = 46.3 ± 12.3 µg/mL. Total phenolic contents were: HAB = 102.7 ± 2.8, AB = 114.4 ± 14.6, and AL = 93.8 ± 9.1 µg/mg plant). HPLC/DAD analyses indicated that gallic acid, catechin, rutin and caffeic acid were the major components of the crude extracts of S. rotundifolium. Plant extracts inhibited Fe(II)-induced lipid peroxidation in brain homogenates. Iron chelation was also investigated and only HBA exhibited a weak activity. Taken together, the results suggest that S. rotundifolium could be considered an effective agent in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Attenuation of visceral nociception by α-bisabolol in mice: investigation of mechanisms.

Background We previously described the visceral antinociceptive property of α-bisabolol (BISA) in mouse models of visceral nociception induced by cyclophosphamide and mustard oil (MO). This study examined the effect of BISA in mouse models of visceral nociception induced by acetic acid, capsaicin, formalin, and the contribution of the nitric oxide system, α2, KATP, 5-HT3 and TRPV1 receptors to the effect of BISA on MO-evoked nociceptive behaviors. Mice were pretreated orally with BISA (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) or vehicle, and the pain-related behavioral responses to intraperitoneal administration of acetic acid or intracolonic injection of MO were analyzed. Results BISA significantly suppressed the nociceptive behaviors in a dose-unrelated manner. The antinociceptive effect of BISA (50 mg/kg) was show to be glibenclamide resistant, but it was not blocked by pretreatment with the other antagonists tested. In the open-field test that detects sedative or motor abnormality, mice received 50 mg/kg BISA did not show any per se influence in ambulation frequency. Conclusions However, their precise antinociceptive mechanisms of action have not been determined.

Topical Antinociceptive Effect of Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker on Acute Corneal Pain in Mice

This study aimed to assess the possible topical antinociceptive activity of Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker essential oil (EOVA) and to clarify the underlying mechanism, using the acute model of chemical (eye wiping) nociception in mice. EOVA (25 to 200 mg/kg; p.o. and topical) evidenced significant antinociception against chemogenic pain in the test model of formalin-induced neuroinflammatory pain. Local application of 5 M NaCl solution on the corneal surface of the eye produced a significant nociceptive behavior, characterized by eye wiping. The number of eye wipes was counted during the first 30 s. EOVA (25, 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg; p.o. and topical) significantly decreased the number of eye wipes. Naloxone, yohimbine, L-NAME, theophylline, glibenclamide, and ruthenium red had no effect on the antinociceptive effect of EOVA. However, ondansetron, p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (PCPA), capsazepine, prazosin, and atropine prevented the antinociception induced by EOVA. These results indicate the topical antinociceptive effect of EOVA and showed that 5-HT, α1, TRPV1, and central muscarinic receptors might be involved in the antinociceptive effect of EOVA in the acute corneal model of pain in mice.

Topical Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Oil from Tropidurus hispidus (Spix, 1825)

Tropidurus hispidus has been used in traditional medicine in several regions of Northeastern Region of Brazil. Its medicinal use involves the treatment of diseases such as warts, sore throat, tonsillitis, chicken pox, varicella, measles, asthma, alcoholism, and dermatomycosis. The present study evaluated the topical anti-inflammatory activity of Tropidurus hispidus fat in treating ear edema in an animal model. Oil from T. hispidus (OTH) was evaluated on its effect against experimental inflammation in mice. OTH was extracted from body fat located in the ventral region of Tropidurus hispidus using hexane as a solvent. We used the model of mouse ear edema induced by phlogistic agents, croton oil (single and multiple applications), arachidonic acid, phenol, capsaicin, and histamine, applied into the right ears of animals pretreated with acetone (control), dexamethasone, or OTH. OTH inhibited the dermatitis induced by all noxious agents, except capsaicin. This effect may be related to the fatty acids present in OTH.

O óleo essencial do caule de Vanillosmopsis arborea atenua a dor visceral em camundongos

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Vanillosmopsis arborea Baker (Asteraceae) has high economic value and anti-inflammatory properties due the presence of alpha-bisabolol in its bark essential oil. Keeping in view the high content of α-bisabolol in Vanillosmopsis arborea (EOVA) bark essential oil, the aim of our study was to determine whether EOVA mitigates viscer METHOD: Mice (n = 8) were pretreated orally with EOVA (100, 200 e 400 mg/kg) or vehicle, and pain-related behavioral responses to intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide (CPM 400 mg/kg), intracolonic mustard oil (MO 0.75%) or capsaicin (CAP 0.3%) were analyzed. RESULTS: Animals that received CFM, OM or CAP presented spontaneous nociceptive behaviors that were significantly suppressed by EOVA. CONCLUSION: These findings point to visceral antinociceptive properties of EOVA suggesting the potential use of Vanillosmopsis arborea to treat pain associated to gastrointestinal disorders.

Irrigation of Solanum lycopersicum L. with magnetically treated water increases antioxidant properties of its tomato fruits

Antioxidant effects of tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.) have been studied and an association between dietary intake of tomatoes and lowered risk of cancer, neurodegenerative, and cardiovascular diseases has been suggested. Here we used magnetically treated water (MTW; 0.03–0.15 T), which promotes better germination and productivity in tomatoes, and we investigated the effects of aqueous and ethanolic (10–400 μg/ml) extracts of S. lycopersicum as potential antioxidant against 10 μM Fe(II)-induced thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) in liver and brain homogenates from rats. The ethanolic extracts from magnetically treated plants were more effective than aqueous extracts in preventing TBARS formation in brain and liver. The protective effects of ethanolic extract can be associated with antioxidants (polyphenols and flavonoids), lycopene and other lipophilic components found in the extract. In effect, magnetically treated plants had higher content of polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds than nontreated plants and they can be a better source of antioxidants than nontreated plants. Consequently, MTW can be used to produce functional foods with high contents of antioxidant components and may have better beneficial health effects than traditionally produced foods.