Eduardo Carvalho Lira

The objective was to evaluate the essential oil (EO) from Croton sertanejus leaves against Aedes aegypti , analyzing spatial repellency (SR), topical effective concentration (EC), EC protection time, oviposition deterrence, and preliminary toxicity in Mus musculus . Additionally, the chemical composition of the oil was characterized. Results showed a significant SR of 0.2 starting from 1 mg/cm ² . The ECs required to repel 50% and 99% of the mosquitoes were 3 and 109 mg/cm ² , respectively. The EC of 109 mg/cm ² provided 64.8% protection against landings within 360 min and 100% protection against blood‐feeding for 150 min. The EO significantly reduced oviposition at water volumes of 20 mL (beginning at 2.5 mg/mL) and 500 mL (beginning at 0.005 mg/mL); however, no significant effect was observed at 1000 mL. No mortality occurred in Mus musculus . However, at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, a significant reduction in brain weight was observed, while at 300 mg/kg, an increase in lung and kidney weights occurred. At 2000 mg/kg, there were also elevated levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, alongside a reduction in creatinine. Regarding the chemical composition, eucalyptol was the main component. Therefore, these findings underscore the need for further validation.

Maternal low-protein diet can lead to hyperglycemia and the ethanolic extract from the inner bark of Spondias tuberosa Arruda (umbu) can be an alternative to mitigate this effect. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of maternal low-protein diet with ethanolic extract of umbu inner bark during pregnancy. Pregnant Wistar rats were fed control or low-protein diet until lactation. Animals were randomly assigned on one of three groups: control diet containing 19% of protein (n=6); low-protein diet containing 9% of protein (n=6); or low-protein diet and umbu extract (n=6), 500mg via gavage for 21 days. Body weight, food intake, fasting blood glucose and organs weight were measured. The intake of a low-protein diet during pregnancy caused a lower protein consumption (p= 0,0001), an increase in food (p=0,03), caloric (p=0,008), carbohydrate (p=0,002 and 0,01), and lipidic (p=0,008) intake associated with an increase in fasting blood glucose (p=0,05). However, the body weight was not affected. During lactation, it was found a reduction in food (p=0,02), protein (p=0,0001), and lipidic intake (p=0,009). The administration of umbu extract was able to reduce body weight during pregnancy (p=0,001). The maternal low-protein diet caused greater changes while the ethanolic extract of umbu produced limited effects on most maternal parameters within the short treatment window.

Skin flaps necrosis is an important complication in reconstructive surgeries and implies in more comorbidity to patients and higher costs due to and longer period of dressing and local wound care. This article intends to review physiology of non-ischemic and ischemic flaps and approach the main substances classes investigated to improve ischemic flaps viability. It’s fundamental understanding biochemical events that occur during flap surgery and how neurovascular effect, inflammatory response and reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to skin flap necrosis. Many substances have been researched to improve ischemic flaps viability, such as vasodilators, heparinoids, ROS scavengers and others. They presented good results, however most of them were studied in animal models only. Recent studies using gene therapy have obtained really excitant results, however in experimental models. Although a vast number of substances have been researched, Nitroglycerin has been tested in humans can be already used besides its side effects.

Although there are reports that polyphenol resveratrol (Rsv) may cause muscle hypertrophy in basal conditions and attenuate muscle wasting in catabolic situations, its mechanism of action is still unclear. Our study evaluated the ex vivo effects of Rsv on protein metabolism and intracellular signaling in innervated (sham-operated; Sham) and 3-day sciatic denervated (Den) rat skeletal muscles. Rsv (10^-4 M) reduced total proteolysis (40%) in sham muscles. Den increased total proteolysis (~40%) in muscle, which was accompanied by an increase in the activities of ubiquitin-proteasome (~3-fold) and lysosomal (100%) proteolytic systems. Rsv reduced total proteolysis (59%) in Den muscles by inhibiting the hyperactivation of ubiquitin-proteasome (50%) and lysosomal (~70%) systems. Neither Rsv nor Den altered calcium-dependent proteolysis in muscles. Mechanistically, Rsv stimulated PKA/CREB signaling in Den muscles, and PKA blockage by H89 (50μM) abolished the antiproteolytic action of the polyphenol. Rsv reduced FoxO4 phosphorylation (~60%) in both Sham and Den muscles and Akt phosphorylation (36%) in Den muscles. Rsv also caused a homeostatic effect in Den muscles by returning their protein synthesis rates to levels similar to Sham muscles. These data indicate that Rsv directly inhibits the proteolytic activity of lysosomal and ubiquitin-proteasome systems, mainly in Den muscles through, at least in part, the activation of PKA/CREB signaling.

Nectandra leucantha has been used in traditional medicine. Several metabolites isolated from N. leucantha extracts displayed immunomodulatory, antileishmanial properties, but the determination of the toxicological profile in mammals has not previously been performed. In this study, the ethanol extract from N. leucantha barks (EENl) was characterized by HPLC/HRESIMS. To study acute toxicity, female mice received EENl in a single dose of 100, 300, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg bw. Later, sub-acute toxicity was introduced in female and male mice by oral gavage at 100, 500 or 1000 mg/kg bw for 28 consecutive days. Hematological and biochemical profiles from the blood as well as histological analysis from the liver and kidney were performed. The HPLC/HRESIMS analysis of the EENl revealed the presence of six neolignans chemically related to dehydrodieugenol B. In the oral acute and sub-chronic studies, EENl did not produce in all doses evaluated any alteration in behavior, biochemical, hematological, body weight gain and food intake or sudden death in Swiss mice. In addition, histopathological data did not reveal any disturbance in liver and kidney morphology after 28 days of EENl treatment. Our results indicate that EENl at dosage levels up to 2000 mg/kg bw is non-toxic and can be considered safe for mammals.

Bauhinia cheilantha (Fabaceae), known popularly as pata-de-vaca and mororó has been largely recommended treating several diseases in folk medicine. However, information on safe doses and use is still scarce. The goal was to evaluate in-vitro antioxidant and antihemolytic and also acute and sub-acute toxicity effects of hydroalcoholic extract from B. cheilantha leaves (HaEBcl). The identification of the compounds in the HaEBcl was performed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Antioxidant and hemolytic activity of HaEBcl was evaluated in vitro. To study acute toxicity, female mice received HaEBcl in a single dose of 300 and 2.000 mg/kg. Later, sub-acute toxicity was introduced in both female and male mice by oral gavage at 300, 1000, or 2000 mg/kg for 28 consecutive days. Hematological and biochemical profiles were created from the blood as well as from histological analysis of the liver. HaEBcl is rich in flavonoids (quercitrin and afzelin), has no hemolytic effects and moderate antioxidant effects in vitro. Acute toxicity evaluation showed that lethal dose (LD₅₀) of HaEBcl was over 2000 mg/kg. Sub-acute toxicity testing elicited no clinical signs of toxicity, morbidity, or mortality. The hematological and biochemical parameters discounted any chance of hepatic or kidney toxicity. Furthermore, histopathological data did not reveal any disturbance in liver morphology in treated mice. Results indicate that HaEBcl has no hemolytic and moderate antioxidant effects in vitro. In addition, HaEBcl dosage levels up to 2000 mg/kg are nontoxic and can be considered safe for mammals.

The vanadium(V) complexes have been investigated as potential anticancer agents which makes it essential to evaluate their toxicity for safe use in the clinic. The large-scale synthesis and the acute oral toxicity in mice of the oxidovanadium(V) Schiff base catecholate complex, abbreviated as [VO(HSHED)dtb] containing a redox-active ligand with tridentate Schiff base (HSHED = N-(salicylideneaminato)-N’-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1,2-ethylenediamine) and dtb = 3,5-di-(t-butyl)catechol ligands were carried out. The body weight, food consumption, water intake as well biomarkers of liver and kidney toxicity of the [VO(HSHED)dtb] were compared to the precursors, sodium orthovanadate, and free ligand. The 10-fold scale-up synthesis of the oxidovanadium(V) complex resulting in the preparation of material in improved yield leading to 2–3 g (79%) material suitable for investigating the toxicity of vanadium complex. No evidence of toxicity was observed in animals when acutely exposed to a single dose of 300 mg/kg for 14 days. The toxicological results obtained with biochemical and hematological analyses did not show significant changes in kidney and liver parameters when compared with reference values. The low oral acute toxicity of the [VO(HSHED)dtb] is attributed to redox chemistry taking place under biological conditions combined with the hydrolytic stability of the oxidovanadium(V) complex. These results document the design of oxidovanadium(V) complexes that have low toxicity but still are antioxidant and anticancer agents.

Morus nigra L. has been widely used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes. We evaluate the chemical composition and antidiabetic properties of the hexane (Hex-Mn) and chloroform (Chlo-Mn) fractions obtained by partition of the crude ethanolic extract from the leaves in rats. Chemical composition analysis of Hex-Mn and Chlor-Mn was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (CG-MS). In vivo and in vitro studies were carried out to compare the antidiabetic activities of the Hex-Mn and Chlor-Mn fractions. Most of the compounds identified in Hex-Mn were α-linolenic acid, stigmast-5-en-3-ol and linolenic acid ethyl ester, while in Chlor-Mn, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, palmitic acid and α-linolenic acid were mainly identified. Only Hex-Mn treatment reduced both fasting and postprandial hyperglycemia. Additionally, Hex-Mn preserved body weight gain, preserved the hepatic glycogen content, and also reduced the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and nitrite levels, as well as restored the superoxide dismutase. Furthermore, digestion of complex carbohydrates and intestinal glucose absorption was prevented by Hex-Mn treatment. Our results suggest that the antidiabetic activity of Hex-Mn may be explained, at least in part, by the insulin sensitivity increase, antioxidant properties and reduction in carbohydrate absorption in the small intestine.

Morus nigra, popularly known as mulberry, has been traditionally used as anti-diabetic herbal medication. This study focused on hexane fraction from Brazilian M. nigra leaves (Hex-Mn) effects on digestion and absorption of carbohydrate in diabetic mice. The high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was performed, and showed the presence of flavonoids isoquercetin and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside. Hex-Mn did not alter oral glucose tolerance test; however, it prevented hyperglycemia in oral sucrose and starch tolerance test in diabetic mice. Also, Hex-Mn was more efficient to inhibit the α-glucosidase, showing lower inhibitory effect on α-amylase activity in vitro. The results suggest that Hex-Mn may delay the carbohydrate digestion, but not glucose transport through brush border membrane of the intestine, which contribute with reduction in postprandial hyperglycemia in mice. Hex-Mn has antihyperglycemic effect by attenuating the carbohydrate digestion in diabetic mice, which could be explained, at least in part, by the presence of isoquercetin and kaempferol-3-O-rhamnoside.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of a 15-week dietary intake of cactus flour on metabolic parameters, body weight and dietary intake of rats.Design/methodology/approach: Male Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups (n= 8-10): control or westernized diets added or not of cactus flour. The following parameters were evaluated during the period of dietary manipulation: body weight, food intake, glycemic and lipid profile (oral glucose tolerance test, metabolic parameters, hepatic and muscular glycogen dosage), visceral and body fat (relative weight to body weight). Data were analyzed using Graphpad Prism®5,p= 0.05.Findings: Animals fed on a Western-style diet together with flour cactus presented lower weight gain (335.7 ± 20.0,p= 0.05) over the evaluated period, even when the volume of food intake was not different among the groups. The addition of cactus flour to a Western-style diet appears to lower glucose levels at 30 and 60 min (p= 0.05), as shown in the glucose tolerance curve. There was a downward trend does fat stores, cholesterol levels and triglycerides. Therefore, it was concluded that this addition cactus flour is effective even when the diet is hyperlipidic, demonstrating its ability to attenuate risk parameters for the occurrence of metabolic syndromes such as sub fraction high cholesterol levels and glucose tolerance.Originality/value: The addition of functional foods to diets may work to improve the harmful effects of this type of diet.Opuntia ficus indicahas high nutritional value and has hypoglycemic and hypolipemic properties besides being antioxidant.