Jonathaline Apollo Duarte

Evaluation of genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of hydroalcoholic extract of Euphorbia tirucalli (Euphorbiaceae) in cell cultures of human leukocytes

Euphorbia tirucalli (L.), commonly known as aveloz, has been indiscriminately used in popular medicine to treat various illnesses. However, some components can have devastating consequences. Injury to a cells genetic material can cause mutations, cancer, and cell death. Our main goal in this work was to evaluate the genotoxic and cytotoxic effects of E. tirucalli extract on human leukocytes. For this purpose, we performed a phytochemical analysis to evaluate the plants components. In the second step, we treated cultured human leukocytes with different concentrations of the dry extract of the plant and then evaluated the oxidative and genotoxic profiles of these leukocytes. We found that at 1% and 10% concentrations, the aveloz extract acted as a genotoxic agent that could damage DNA and increase oxidative damage. We conclude that despite its popular use, aveloz can act as a genotoxic agent, especially when it contains phorbol ester. Avelozs indiscriminate use might actually promote tumors and therefore carry a considerable genetic risk for its users.

Antifungal mechanism of action of Schinus lentiscifolius Marchand essential oil and its synergistic effect in vitro with terbinafine and ciclopirox against dermatophytes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal, antichemotactic and antioxidant activities of Schinus lentiscifolius essential oil, as well as its combined effect with terbinafine and ciclopirox, against dermatophytes.

Stability Study of Finasteride: Stability-Indicating LC Method, In Silico and LC–ESI-MS Analysis of Major Degradation Product, and an In Vitro Biological Safety Study

Stability studies of the pharmaceutically important compound finasteride were conducted in order to evaluate decomposition of the drug under forced degradation conditions. A simple stability-indicating liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the evaluation of finasteride and degradation products formed in pharmaceutical preparations and the raw material. Isocratic LC separation was achieved on a C18 column using a mobile phase of o-phosphoric acid (0.1% v/v), adjusted to pH 2.8 with triethylamine (10% v/v) and acetonitrile (52:48 v/v), with a flow rate of 1.0 mL min-1. The alkaline degradation kinetics of the drug were also evaluated and could be best described as second-order kinetics under the experimental conditions applied for the tablets and raw material. Based on in silico studies and molecular weight confirmation, a comprehensive degradation pathway for the drug and the identity of its major product could be suggested without complicated isolation or purification processes. Furthermore, a biological safety study was performed to evaluate the effect of the degraded sample in relation to the intact molecule. The results showed that the degraded sample affected the cell proliferation. Therefore, these studies show that special care must be taken during the manipulation, manufacture and storage of this pharmaceutical drug.

Immunotoxicological Evaluation of Schinus molle L. (Anacardiaceae) Essential Oil in Lymphocytes and Macrophages

Schinus molle L. is used to treat various diseases; however, the literature lacks information regarding its possible immunotoxic effects. The aim of the study was to investigate the immunotoxic effects of essential oil from leaves of Schinus molle L. in cultures of human lymphocytes and macrophages. The cultures were treated with essential oil (EO) of Schinus molle L. and subsequently subjected to genotoxic analysis (comet assay), mutagenic analysis (micronucleus frequency and chromosomal aberration), and cytotoxic (cell viability) and functional parameters (interleukins secretions). Our analyses have determined that the essential oil from leaves of Schinus molle L. presents several compounds with α-pinene being the major compound; in addition, the compound verbenene was firstly identified; genotoxic effects were detected only in macrophages and only at the two highest concentrations tested. An important finding is that Schinus molle L. oil causes an activation of the immune system. This action has its mechanism centered by the cascade nitric oxide-interleukin-10-tumor necrosis factor alpha.

Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of antihypertensives distributed in Brazil by social programs: Are they safe?

Hypertension, a chronic non-transmissible multifactorial condition, it is highly frequent in Brazil, affecting about 32.5% of the population over 25 years of age. It is characterized by the sustained increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels above 140 mmHg and 90 mmHg, respectively. It is the major aggravating factor in cardiovascular complications and the appearance of other comorbidities. Aiming to promote greater adherence to treatment and improve the populations access to basic medicament, in 2004 the Federal Government created the Programa Farmácia Popular do Brasil (PFPB); partnership with private institutions that provides the population with medicament to control hypertension, free of charge or subsidized at up to 90% of the value. The PFPB distributes the anti-hypertensives atenolol, captopril, enalapril, hydrochlorothiazide, losartan and propranolol. In this way, this work aims to evaluate the genotoxic potential of antihypertensives in human lymphocytes and macrophages, since they are widely used drugs and with few studies about their genotoxicological safety. The tests were developed from cell cultures treated with five different antihypertensive concentrations, all based on plasma peaks, evaluating cell viability, DNA damage index and DNA double strand breakdown. The results show that, as the concentration of captopril and enalapril maleate increased, cell viability decreased. In addition, a DNA damage was observed with the use Captopril and Enalapril in the higher concentrations. Hydrochlorothiazide also caused DNA damage in the five doses tested. Regarding the breaking of double strands of DNA, all the compounds showed increased ruptures. This decrease in dsDNA is dose dependent for all compounds tested. The set of results shows that the use although frequent still requires care and greater knowledge. In general, the antihypertensive drugs that proved to be safer in relation to the genetic damage tested were Losartan and Propranolol.