Paula Bianchetti

Anxiety-like behaviour in mice exposed to tannery wastewater: The effect of photoelectrooxidation treatment.

The leather industry is a major producer of wastewaters and releases large quantities of many different chemical agents used in hide processing into the environment. Since the central nervous system is sensitive to many different contaminants, our aim was to investigate the neurobehavioral effects of exposure of mice to tannery effluents using animal models of depression and anxiety, namely forced swim and elevated plus-maze. In order to propose a clean technology for the treatment of this effluent, we also investigated the exposure of mice to effluents treated by photoelectrooxidation process (PEO). Adult male Swiss albino mice (CF1 strain) were given free access to water bottles containing an effluent treated by a tannery (non-PEO) or PEO-treated tannery wastewater (0.1 and 1% in drinking water). Exposure to tannery wastewater induced behavioural changes in the mice in elevated plus-maze. Exposure to non-PEO 1% decreased the percentage of time spent in the open arms, indicating anxiety-like behaviour. Exposure to tannery wastewater did not alter immobility time in the forced swim test, suggesting that tannery effluents did not induce depression-like behaviour in the mice. These behavioural data suggest that non-PEO tannery effluent has an anxiogenic effect, whereas PEO-treated tannery effluents do not alter anxiety levels.

Antidepressant-like effects of methanol extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus flowers in mice

BackgroundHibiscus tiliaceus L. (Malvaceae) is used in postpartum disorders. Our purpose was to examine the antidepressant, anxiolytic and sedative actions of the methanol extract of H. tiliaceus flowers using animal models.MethodsAdult male Swiss albino mice were treated with saline, standard drugs or methanol extract of H. tiliaceus and then subjected to behavioral tests. The forced swimming and tail suspension tests were used as predictive animal models of antidepressant activity, where the time of immobility was considered. The animals were submitted to the elevated plus-maze and ketamine-induced sleeping time to assess anxiolytic and sedative activities, respectively.ResultsMethanol extract of H. tiliaceus significantly decreased the duration of immobility in both animal models of antidepressant activity, forced swimming and tail suspension tests. This extract did not potentiate the effect of ketamine-induced hypnosis, as determined by the time to onset and duration of sleeping time.ConclusionOur results indicate an antidepressant-like profile of action for the extract of Hibiscus tiliaceus without sedative side effect.

Avaliação dos efeitos do ultrassom terapêutico sobre a cafeína e verificação da liberação em sistema de difusão vertical

Currently, the physiotherapists use the phonoforesis, which consists in the therapeutical ultrasound (US) used to increase the drug molecules migration through the skin, however, the US can shows oxidative effects, and is used, for example, in chemical reactions acceleration. The present study aimed to perform the electrochemical evaluation and the diffusion investigation of gel/caffeine 5% solutions submitted to therapeutical US (continuous mode, 1.0 W cm-2 and 1 MHz). It this study, it has been verified diffusion increase and a possible oxidation of the caffeine molecules, when subjected to therapeutical US.

Essential oils rich in monoterpenes are unsuitable as additives to boar semen extender

Despite the development of efficient boar semen extenders, there is still room for improvement of new formulas using new molecules that could increase fertilisation outcomes and substitute cryoprotectants and antibiotics. The goal of this work was to evaluate if the essential oils from the leaves of Myrrhinium atropurpureum and Cymbopogon citratus are suitable as additives in boar semen extender. The major compounds found in the essential oils from M. atropurpureum were 1,8‐cineole (37.37%) and terpinolene (19.18%); and geranial (49.8%) and neral (33.24%) in essential oil of C. citratus. The addition of 1% and 0.1% of both essential oils to extended semen had immediate spermicidal effects (p < 0.05). Lower concentrations were tested and no cytotoxic effect was observed when M. atropurpureum essential oil was added at 0.001%. Differently, essential oil from C. citratus reduced sperm motility, membrane functionality and integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential even in concentrations as low as 0.001%. Also, addition of essential oils in low concentrations had no inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa growth. We conclude that the essential oils from C. citratus and M. atropurpureum, rich in monoterpenes, are cytotoxic to swine spermatozoa, therefore unsuitable as semen extender additives.

Avaliação da liberação da rutina associada ao ultrassom contínuo

Pele intacta pode ser usada como uma porta de administracao sistemica. Profissionais da saude vem associando principios ativos ao recursoultrassonico, tecnica denominada fonoforese. Um principio ativo comumente utilizado na pratica clinica e a rutina. A rutinaclassifica-se como um flavonoide da classe dos flavonois, e tambem utilizada como antioxidante, na prevencao ou tratamentoda deficiencia venosa ou linfatica e da fragilidade ou permeabilidade capilar. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a liberacaode gel contendo rutina 5% frente a aplicacao de fonoforese (US continuo) in vitro para que, possa ser avaliada a eficacia doseu emprego terapeutico. Foram preparadas amostras contendo rutina 5% em meio hidrogel, as amostras foram analisadascom e sem a aplicacao da fonoforese nos tempos de 5, 10, 15 e 20 minutos. Os resultados mostram que nao existe diferenca emtermos de difusao em 5 e 10 minutos, porem nos tempos 15 e 20 minutos se pode evidenciar um incremento significativo doprincipio ativo para o meio receptor quando aplicada a fonoforese. O US continuo se apresentou como facilitador no processode liberacao da rutina para o meio, sendo que este fato esta relacionado ao tempo de irradiacao sonora.

Efeito do Ultrassom Terapêutico Sobre a Retenção e Manutenção da Atividade Antioxidante

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the retention of a glycolic extract of A. montana using a biomembrane model, and to determine the effect of therapeutic ultrasound on the antioxidant capacity of the extract. Biomembrane samples were treated in a vertical diffusion system with A. montana extract/hydrogel homogenate in the absence or presence of ultrasound (3 MHz; 1.0 W/cm2). Biomembranes that had been submitted to ultrasound for 4 and 150 min retained, respectively, 93.5 and 69.03% less of the bioactive extract than those treated with passive diffusion for similar periods, thus indicating that phonophoresis enhances permeation through the membrane. Cyclic voltammetry was employed in the determination of antioxidant activities by measurement of the amount of hydrogen peroxide neutralized by the extract. Electrochemical analysis showed that the peak current related to the reduction of hydrogen peroxide diminished when extract was present. However, treatment of the extract with ultrasound gave rise to a decrease in the antioxidant potential, as indicated by an observed increase of 27% in hydrogen peroxide concentration in comparison with untreated extract. It is concluded that, although ultrasound improves permeation of the glycolic extract of A. montana, the antioxidant activity of the preparation is diminished.