Kátia Nascimento

Memory deficit, toxic effects and activity of Na+, K+-ATPase and NTPDase in brain of Wistar rats submitted to orally treatment with alpha-terpinene

The neurotoxic effects and activity of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and NTPDase in Wistar rats after treatment with α-terpinene (daily oral administration of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0mLkg(-1) for 10days) were examined. Results of the inhibitory avoidance task showed a memory deficit (p<0.05) in rats treated with all doses of α-terpinene. The evaluation of DNA damage in brain tissue revealed an increase (p<0.05) on frequency of damage and damage index in all concentrations. According to the cytotoxicity assay, doses of 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0mLkg(-1) increase the lactate dehydrogenase levels, and doses of 1.0mLkg(-1) also decrease (p<0.05) cell viability in brain cells. A decrease (p<0.05) on Na(+), K(+)-ATPase activity in brain tissue and on NTPDase activity in serum were observed in all concentrations of α-terpinene. These results suggest that the α-terpinene was cytotoxic and genotoxic to the brain cells by inducing loss of cell viability and DNA damage, as well as causing alterations in Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and NTPDase activity, what may contribute to the memory deficit of treated animals. Thus, α-terpinene cannot be consumed by the population at the doses studied.

Evaluation of Stability and In Vitro Security of Nanoemulsions Containing Eucalyptus globulus Oil

Essential oil of Eucalyptus globulus presents several pharmacological properties. However, their therapeutic efficacy may be affected by limitations due to several conditions, rendering it difficult to obtain stable and effective pharmaceutical formulations. The use of nanotechnology is an alternative to improve their characteristics aiming to ensure their stability and effectiveness. Furthermore, studies about the possible toxic effects of nanostructures are necessary to evaluate safety when the formulation comes into contact with human cells. Hence, in this paper, we evaluate for the first time the stability and in vitro cytogenotoxicity of nanoemulsions containing Eucalyptus globulus in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. As a result, the stability study found that the best condition for storage up to 90 days was refrigeration (4°C); it was the condition that best preserved the nanometric features. The content of the major compounds of oil was maintained after nanoencapsulation and preserved over time. In tests to evaluate the safety of this formulation, we can conclude that, at a low concentration (approximately 0.1%), Eucalyptus globulus nanoemulsion did not cause toxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and also showed a protective effect in cells against possible damage when compared to oil in free form.

Pomegranate seed oil nanoemulsions with selective antiglioma activity: optimization and evaluation of cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and oxidative effects on mononuclear cells

Abstract Context: Glioma is a malignant brain tumor with rapid proliferation, infiltrative growth, poor prognosis and it is chemoresistent. Pomegranate seed oil (PSO) has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antitumor properties. This study showed the optimization of PSO nanoemulsions (NEs) as an alternative for glioma treatment. Objective: The study aimed to evaluate PSO NEs cytotoxicity on human blood cells and antiglioma effects against C6 cells. Materials and methods: NEs were prepared by the spontaneous emulsification method, using PSO at 1.5 and 3.0%, and were evaluated regarding their physical stability and antioxidant activity. Toxicity evaluations in human blood cells were performed in terms of cell viability, genotoxicity, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation, catalase activity and hemolysis at 0.1, 0.25 and 0.5 mg/mL PSO, after a 72-h incubation period. In vitro antitumor effect was determined against glioma cells after 24 and 48 h, and astrocytes were used as a non-transformed cell model. Results: Formulations presented droplet size below 250 nm, low polydispersity index, negative zeta potential and pH in the acid range. NEs and PSO had scavenging capacity around 30% and promoted a proliferative effect in mononuclear cells, increasing about 50% cell viability. No genotoxic and oxidative damage was observed in lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and catalase activity evaluations for NEs. Hemolysis study showed a hemolytic effect at high concentrations. Moreover, formulations reduced only tumor cell viability to 47%, approximately. Discussion and conclusion: Formulations are adequate and safe for intravenous administration. Besides, in vitro antitumor activity indicates that NEs are promising for glioma treatment.

Protective effect of nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres against cerebral damage caused by Trypanosoma evansi

Trypanosoma evansi is a zoonotic parasite associated with high animal mortality that has gained importance due to its capacity to infect humans. Recently, some evidences have demonstrated that T. evansi infection causes severe genotoxic and cytotoxic damage in brain cells, contributing to the pathogenesis and clinical signs of the disease. In this sense, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres, a natural compound with trypanocidal and neuroprotective effects, is able to protect the brain tissue from the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects found during T. evansi infections. Trypanosoma evansi induced brain genotoxic effects through increased damage index (DI) and frequency of damage (FD) when compared to the control group. Moreover, T. evansi induced cytotoxic effects through the reduction of brain cell viability compared to the control group. The metabolites of nitric oxide (NOx) increased in infected animals compared to the control group. The treatment with nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres prevented the increase on brain DI, FD, and NOx levels, as well as the reduction on cell viability. Based on these evidences, these results confirm that T. evansi induces genotoxic and cytotoxic damage mediated by the upregulation of NOx levels. The most important finding is that nerolidol-loaded in nanospheres was able to prevent DNA damage and cell mortality through the modulation of brain NOx levels. In summary, this treatment can be considered an interesting approach to prevent T. evansi brain damage due its anti-inflammatory property.

Diphenyl diselenide loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules with selective antimelanoma activity: Development and cytotoxic evaluation

Please cite this article as: Luana Mota Ferreira, Verônica Ferrari Cervi, Marcel Henrique Marcondes Sari, Allanna Valentini Barbieri, Andiara Prates Ramos, Priscila Marquezan Copetti, Gerson Fernandes de Brum, Kátia Nascimento, Jessica Mendes Nadal, Paulo Vitor Farago, Michele Rorato Sagrillo, Cristina Wayne Nogueira, Letícia Cruz , Diphenyl diselenide loaded poly(ε-caprolactone) nanocapsules with selective antimelanoma activity: Development and cytotoxic evaluation. The address for the corresponding author was captured as affiliation for all authors. Please check if appropriate. Msc(2017), doi:10.1016/j.msec.2018.05.014