Lilian Tatiani Dusman Tonin

Radioprotective effect of the Barbados Cherry ( Malpighia glabra L.) against radiopharmaceutical Iodine-131 in Wistar rats in vivo

BackgroundThe increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables has contributed to the improvement of populational health, due in part, to the abundance of antioxidants in these foods. Antioxidants reduce the level of oxidative damage to DNA caused by free radicals and ionizing radiation, including the radioisotope iodine-131 (131I). This isotope is used for the diagnosis and treatment of thyroid injuries, such as hyperthyroidism and cancer.MethodsThis study aimed to evaluate the radioprotective and cytotoxic activity of acute and subchronic treatments with Barbados Cherry (BC) (Malpighia glabra L.) fruit juice (5 mg), which is rich in potent antioxidants such as vitamin C, phenols, carotenoids, anthocyanins and yellow flavonoids and its activity against the mutagenic activity of the therapeutic dose of 25 μCi of radioiodine for hyperthyroidism. The test system used was the bone marrow cells of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) that were treated in vivo by gavage.ResultsBC showed radioprotective activity in acute treatments, which is most likely due to the joint action of its antioxidant components. In subchronic treatments, the continuous treatment presented an effective radioprotective activity, which was significantly different from treatment with the radiopharmaceutical only. Treatment with BC prior to (PRE) and simultaneous with (SIM) ionizing radiation decreased the number of induced chromosomal alterations, while post-treatment produced no protective effect. In addition, BC exhibited no cytotoxic activity.ConclusionsThese data serve as evidence that BC can be used as a preventive health measure to improve public health quality by countering the action of inevitable exposure to mutagens, such as 131I.

Antimutagenic Effect of Medicinal Plants Achillea millefolium and Bauhinia forficata In Vivo

The investigation of traditionally used medicinal plants is valuable both as a source of potential chemotherapeutic drugs and as a measure of safety for the continued use of these medicinal plants. Achillea millefolium L. (AM) is an ancient remedial herb native to Europe that is used to treat wounds, gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary disorders, inflammation, headaches, and pain. Bauhinia forficata Link (BF), an Asiatic plant, is one of the most commonly used plants in folk medicine against diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxic and antimutagenic potential of aqueous extracts of AM and BF on bone marrow cells of Wistar rats treated in vivo. These plant extracts possess considerable antioxidant activity due to the presence of flavonoids and phenolic compounds. These compounds were determinants to noncytotoxic and antimutagenic/protective action of these plants, that reduced statistically the percentage of chromosomal alterations induced by the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide in simultaneous (AM, 68%; BF, 91%), pre- (AM, 68%; BF, 71%), and post-treatment (AM, 67%; BF, 95%). Therefore, the results of this study indicate that extracts of A. millefolium and B. forficata have antimutagenic potential and that their consumption can benefit the health of those using them as an alternative therapy.

Antioxidant effect of the wine residue production of the extract on oxidative stability of soybean oil

The present work has as main objectives to optimize the extraction conditions of antioxidant phenolic compounds of the wine production of waste, prepared with Isabel and Bordo grapes (8:2) ( Vitis labrusca ) and evaluate soybean oil plus behavior of this extract through an accelerated storage test. The conditions that gave the extract with a higher content of total phenolics (TF) and the best antioxidant activity by the DPPH radical scavenging free method were dehydrating the residue at 80 °C and using 5.00 g of sample, 90 mL of ethanol/water 30% by magnetic stirring at room temperature for 4 hours (FT = 1222.68 ± 26.22 mg 100 g -1 AGE; IC 50 = 876.78 ± 12.67 mg L -¹ ). This extract was added to soybean oil without antioxidants at concentrations of 1000 and 3000 ppm and the samples were subjected to an accelerated storage test at 65 °C for 17 days, compared to the synthetic antioxidant BHT (1000 ppm) and the antioxidant free oil as a negative control. The extracts were more effective than BHT in the oxidative stability of the oil in the first two days, delaying the formation of peroxides significantly. After 17 days, the BHT was able to inhibit by 51.2% the formation of peroxides in soybean oil, while the natural extract at a concentration of 3000 ppm inhibited by 27.0% and at concentration of 1000 ppm inhibited 24.0%, demonstrating the efficiency as natural antioxidant grape pomace extract.