Marcieni Ataíde de Andrade

Antinociceptive, neurobehavioral and antioxidant effects of Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl on rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl belongs to the Asteraceae family, popularly known as Japana. It is a perennial shrub native to Amazon rainforests of South America. Its leaves are used through infusions, decoctions, baths, and tea. It is largely used in Brazilian folk medicine as sedative, febrifuge, stimulant, tonic and anti-inflammatory. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study evaluated the putative effects of Eupatorium triplinerve on the central nervous system (CNS), including locomotor and anxiety activity, depression-like behavior, and antinociception and oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two-month-old male Wistar rats (n=7-10 rats/group) and Swiss male and female mice of the species Mus musculus (n=7-10 per group) were administered with 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg, 600 mg/kg, and 800 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Eupatorium triplinerve (HEET). The behavioral assays included open-field (OF), elevated Plus-maze (EPM), and forced swimming tests (FS). The antinociceptive activity was verified using chemical (acetic acid and formalin) and thermal (hot plate) models of nociception. The oxidative stress levels were measured in rat blood samples after behavioral assays and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), nitric oxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were measured in vivo. RESULTS Oral pretreatment with HEET reduced the locomotion in OF test (200-800 mg/kg), increased central locomotion and open arms entries in the OF and EPM tests, respectively (600-800 mg/kg), and decreased the immobility time in the FS (200-800 mg/kg). It also reduced the writhing number evoked by acetic acid injection (200-800 mg/kg) and licking time in the first phase of the formalin test (400-800 mg/kg). In the oxidative stress assays, the extract decreased TEAC, Nitric Oxide and MDA levels in response to swimming stress induced in rats. CONCLUSIONS These results were indicative for the first time that Eupatorium triplinerve exerted mild sedative, anxiolytic and antidepressive effects on the CNS. Antinociceptive effects not related to opioid system and antioxidant activity were also observed. These results support the ethnopharmacological use of Eupatorium triplinerve in popular medicine.

Understanding the Molecular Aspects of Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol as Antioxidants

An antioxidant mechanism of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) were compared with a simplified model of α-tocopherol, butylhydroxytoluene and hydroxytoluene in order to understand the antioxidant nature of THC and CBD molecules using DFT. The following electronic properties were evaluated: frontier orbitals nature, ionization potential, O-H bond dissociation energy (BDEOH), stabilization energy, and spin density distribution. An important factor that shows an influence in the antioxidant property of THC is the electron abstraction at the phenol position. Our data indicate that the decrease of the HOMO values and the highest ionization potential values are related to phenol, ether, and alkyl moieties. On the other hand, BDEOH in molecules with the cyclohexenyl group at ortho position of phenol are formed from lower energies than the molecules with an ether group at the meta position. In the light of our results, the properties calculated here predict that THC has a sightly higher antioxidant potential than CBD.

Potential behavioral and pro-oxidant effects of Petiveria alliacea L. extract in adult rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Petiveria alliacea (Phytolaccaceae) is a perennial shrub indigenous to the Amazon Rainforest and tropical areas of Central and South America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. In folk medicine, Petiveria alliacea has a broad range of therapeutic properties; however, it is also associated with toxic effects. AIM OF THE STUDY The present study evaluated the putative effects of Petiveria alliacea on the central nervous system, including locomotor activity, anxiety, depression-like behavior, and memory, and oxidative stress. MATERIALS AND METHODS Two-month-old male and female Wistar rats (n=7-10 rats/group) were administered with 900 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extracts of Petiveria alliacea L. The behavioral assays included open-field, forced swimming, and elevated T-maze tests. The oxidative stress levels were measured in rat blood samples after behavioral assays and methemoglobin levels were measured in vitro. RESULTS Consistent with previous reports, Petiveria alliacea increased locomotor activity. It also exerted previously unreported anxiolytic and antidepressant effects in behavioral tests. In the oxidative stress assays, the Petiveria alliacea extract decreased Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity levels and increased methemoglobin levels, which was related to the toxic effects. CONCLUSIONS The Petiveria alliacea extract exerted motor stimulatory and anxiolytic effects in the OF test, antidepressant effects in the FS test, and elicited memory improvement in ETM. Furthermore, the Petiveria alliacea extract also exerted pro-oxidant effects in vitro and in vivo, inhibiting the antioxidant status and increasing MetHb levels in human plasma, respectively.

Prescrições medicamentosas de pacientes atendidos no ambulatório de geriatria de um hospital universitário: estudo transversal descritivo

O objetivo foi avaliar prescricoes medicamentosas de pacientes idosos atendidos no ambulatorio de geriatria de um hospital. Metodo: Foi realizado um estudo transversal e descritivo, desenvolvido em um hospital universitario, com o auxilio de um questionario. Os pacientes com idade > 60 anos foram entrevistados sobre os medicamentos prescritos. Resultados: Foram entrevistados 208 pacientes. A media de medicamentos utilizados por pessoa foi de 3,8 e os medicamentos mais utilizados foram do aparelho cardiovascular (37,0%). Foram identificadas 406 interacoes potenciais em 140 pacientes (67,3%) e duplicidade terapeutica em duas prescricoes. O medicamento potencialmente inapropriado para idosos mais utilizado foi o nifedipino (2,4%). Conclusao: Os dados deste estudo corroboram sobre a tematica do uso de medicamentos em idosos, reforcando a importância da avaliacao do processo de prescricao de medicamentos para essa populacao.

Antifungal activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Chrysobalanus icaco against oral clinical isolates of Candida Species

Background: Chrysobalanus icaco is a medicinal plant commonly used to treat fungal infections in Brazilian Amazonian region. Objective: This work aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. icaco (HECi) against oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. and to determine the pharmacognostic parameters of the herbal drug and the phytochemical characteristics of HECi. Materials and Methods: The pharmacognostic characterization was performed using pharmacopoeial techniques. Phytochemical screening, total flavonoid content, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis were used to investigate the chemical composition of the HECi. A broth microdilution method was used to determine the antifungal activity of the extract against 11 oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. Results: Herbal drug presented parameters which were within the limits set forth in current Brazilian legislation. A high amount of flavonoid content (132,959.33 ± 12,598.23 μg quercetin equivalent/g of extract) was found in HECi. Flavonoids such as myricetin and rutin were detected in the extract by HPLC analyses. HECi showed antifungal activity against oral isolates of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis (minimum inhibitory concentrations [MIC] 3.12 and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively), and C. albicans American American Type Culture Collection (MIC <1.56 mg/mL). Conclusion: HECi was shown to possess antifungal activity against Candida species with clinical importance in the development of oral candidiasis, and these activities may be related to its chemical composition. The antifungal activity detected for C. icaco against Candida species with clinical importance in the development of oral candidiasis can be attributed to the presence of flavonoids in HECi, characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques.

Sentidos atribuídos à integralidade: entre o que é preconizado e vivido na equipe multidisciplinar

O objetivo deste artigo e discutir como os profissionais elaboram suas concepcoes acerca dos termos “integralidade” e “abordagem multidisciplinar” que estao presentes em seu dia a dia. Trata-se do recorte de uma dissertacao de mestrado de natureza qualitativa, realizada no municipio de Belem-Para, no periodo de junho a agosto de 2015. A maioria dos participantes atribuiu, a integralidade, o significado de “ver o ser como um todo”, e conseguiram visualizar a relacao desta com a abordagem multidisciplinar. Observamos a necessidade de aprofundarmos o conhecimento sobre os principios do SUS, e ainda durante a formacao, para realizarmos acoes de saude mais efetivas.

Lipid Profile of Children with Malaria by Plasmodium vivax

Background. Changes in lipid profile are commonly reported in adult patients with malaria. However, a few studies evaluated lipid abnormalities in children continuously exposed to P. vivax. Objective. To evaluate lipid abnormalities in children with P. vivax infection and to assess if parasite count or the history of malaria correlates with lipid levels at admission. Methods. A total of 75 children were included in the study, from which 43 were slide confirmed infection by P. vivax. Serial blood samples were collected at admission and, on days 7 and 14, evaluated for the colorimetric measurements of triglycerides, very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Results. The levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and HDL were significantly lower in malaria cases. The levels of VLDL and triglycerides were significantly higher in children with malaria. Such changes were transient and were not associated with parasite counting as well as with the history of malaria of patients. Conclusion. There are significant lipid abnormalities in children with low level of P. vivax infection and mild signs and symptoms of the disease, which are not associated with parasitaemia and previous episodes of disease.

Antimicrobial bioassay-guided fractionation of a methanol extract of Eupatorium triplinerve

Abstract Context: Eupatorium triplinerve Vahl (Asteraceae), popularly known as Japana, is widely used in folk medicine, due its analgesic, anticoagulant, antianorexic, antiparasitic, anthelmintic, sedative, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. Objective: The present study evaluated the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of E. triplinerve extracts from different parts of the plant and identified the extract with the highest antimicrobial potential. Materials and methods: Extracts were obtained by maceration of all parts of plant, and subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation of methanol extract by partition column chromatography. The major chemical groups, saponins, reducing sugars, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenoids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and others were screened by standard techniques. The antimicrobial activity of the different extracts was performed by microdilution assay and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were reported. Results: Phytochemical screening of hydroalcoholic extract from all parts of E. triplinerve identified mainly steroids, coumarins, alkaloids, saponins, tannins, depsides and absence of polysaccharides and flavonoids. The methanol extract of leaves presented the highest content of coumarins and lower MIC values of 62 and 75 µg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. In addition, its non-polar fractions showed antimicrobial activity with MIC ranging from 16 to 125 µg/mL against Gram-negative bacteria, mainly Escherichia coli. Discussion and conclusion: Data showed that non-polar fractions of E. triplinerve methanolic extract has better antimicrobial activity and most likely depends on the presence of several compounds, such as depsidones, coumarins, saponins, and triterpenes on crude extract. The results can be exploited largely in research of new antibacterial agents.

In vitro and in vivo assessment of genotoxic activity of Petiveria alliacea

Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) is an Amazonian shrub used in traditional medicine for many purposes. This study investigated the genotoxicity of the hydroalcoholic extract of P. alliacea (EHPa). In addition, we conducted pharmacognostic characterization and phytochemical investigation. Phytochemical screening and thin layer chromatography (TLC) were used to determine the chemical composition of the extract. Genotoxicity was evaluated using an in vitro comet assay in human lymphocytes (50, 100, and 250 mg/ml) and an in vivo micronucleus assay in mice orally treated with the extract (50, 100, and 250 mg/kg b.w., p.o.). The phytochemical screening identified the metabolites reducing sugars, alkaloids and saponins. TLC analyses identified organosulfur compounds in EHPa. Comet assay data showed that EHPa induced exacerbated DNA damage at 100 mg/ml treatments (EHPa 100 mg/ml: TL 219.13 ± 48.38 mm, % DNA-t 59.33 ± 18.98%, TM 134.99 ± 61.34, OM 87.48 ± 32.98) as compared with negative control (Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI): TL 37.79 ± 24.79 mm, % DNA-t 9.73 ± 6.56%, TM 4.86 ± 5.79, OM 6.90 ± 5.80; p<0.01). These effects were similar to positive control (hydrogen peroxide). The micronucleus assay, however, showed that EHPa induce slight genotoxicity in vivo. However, EHPa induced an exacerbated DNA damage in vitro, but this effect was slight in the animal model. These in vitro effects may be related to the chemical composition of the extract. Key words: Petiveria alliacea, genetic toxicity, DNA damage, comet assay, micronucleus assay.