Juliana Oliveira de Melo

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.

Avaliação da atividade antiinflamatória do coentro (Coriandrum sativum L.) em roedores

Coriandrum sativum L. (Umbelliferae), conhecido popularmente por coentro, e uma planta domestica cultivada nas diversas partes do mundo, inclusive no Brasil. As folhas e frutos do coentro sao utilizados como condimento em culinaria e na medicina popular como analgesica, antirreumatica, carminativa e colagoga. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do tratamento com o oleo essencial (OEC) e o extrato hidroalcoolico (EHC) do coentro em modelos experimentais de inflamacao em roedores. A atividade antiinflamatoria do coentro foi avaliada por meio dos testes de pleurisia em ratos e formacao do edema de orelha em camundongos. A pleurisia foi induzida pela carragenina em animais tratados ou nao com EHC. O edema de orelha induzido pela aplicacao topica de oleo de croton e a atividade da mieloperoxidase foi avaliada em camundongos tratados ou nao com OEC ou EHC. No teste da pleurisia o tratamento com EHC promoveu significativa diminuicao no edema pleural, mas nao sobre a migracao leucocitaria. Alem disso, diferentemente ao observado com o tratamento com OEC, o uso topico de EHC diminui significativamente o edema de orelha e a migracao celular induzidos pela aplicacao do oleo de croton. Os dados indicam que EHC apresenta atividade antiinflamatoria quando administrado pelas via oral e topica, enquanto que OEC nao apresenta atividade antiinflamatoria topica.

Resveratrol-derived stilbenoids and biological activity evaluation of seed extracts of Cenchrus echinatus L.

A phytochemical study of the ethyl acetate fractions from the partition of seeds and roots methanol extracts of Cenchrus echinatus L. led to the isolation of three resveratrol-derived stilbenoids: pallidol (1), carasiphenol C (2) and nepalensinol B (3). The results of a topic anti-inflammatory evaluation, DPPH assay and antiproliferative activity against adenocarcinoma cells (Caco 2) are described.

Inhibitory Effect of Helicteres gardneriana Ethanol Extract on Acute Inflammation

The anti-inflammatory effect of an ethanol extract of Helicteres gardneriana (Nees) Castiglioni was assayed in experimental models of pleurisy and microcirculation in situ. Treatment of animals with 500 mg/kg body weight reduced the exudate volume (35% reduction) induced by intrapleural injection of carrageenan and the migration of polymorphonuclear cells into the inflamed pleural cavity of rats (40%). Additionally, rolling and adhesion of leukocytes and the number of leukocytes that migrated toward the perivascular space in response to the carrageenan injection were decreased by the extract (500 mg/kg). These data demonstrate the anti-inflammatory effect of the ethanol extract of Helicteres gardneriana and imply that inhibition of leukocyte-endothelial interactions is important in the extracts mechanism of action.

Evaluation of Soybean Methanol Fraction on Acute Inflammation

Soybeans have been of interest of researchers because of the presence of isoflavones, a subclass of flavonoids, which have demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity. The aim of this study was investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol fraction from soybean, which contains mainly isoflavone glucosides and malonylglucosides. The anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol fraction from soybean was studied using croton oil-induced mouse ear edema and carrageenan-induced pleurisy models. The methanol fraction inhibited the ear edema in a dose-dependent manner: 0.625 mg/kg by 44.23% (P<.05), 1.25 mg/kg by 60.68% (P<.01), and 2.5 mg/kg by 65.68% (P<.01). Myeloperoxidase enzyme activity was reduced at the dose of 2.5 mg/kg (64.79%, P<.05). No effects were seen on carrageenan-induced pleurisy at different doses of the methanol fraction (100 or 400 mg/kg). These results demonstrated that the methanol fraction containing conjugated isoflavones showed topical anti-inflammatory activity. There was no acute toxicity in Swiss mice after oral administration of the fraction, at doses of 1,000, 2,000, 3,000, and 4,000 mg/kg.