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Objective: Physalis Peruviana Linnaeus (PPL) is an herbaceous species characterized by a wide variety of bioactive compounds to which anti-inflammatory properties have been attributed. This makes this fruit a possible complementary therapy for diseases that involve chronic inflammation, such as inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In the present study, the effect of a PPL extract on the expression of inflammatory markers in the Caco-2 cell line was evaluated.Methods: An in vitro gastric digest (50 g PPL pulp) was performed, obtaining an extract that was used to challenge Caco-2 cells for 24 and 72 hours. This extract was characterized by LC-MS/MS. Then, the relative mRNA expression of NF-kB, TLR4, IL-18 and MCP-1 was determined through qRT-PCR and the protein levels of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-18 and MCP-1 through Luminex Immunoassay.Results: From the characterization of the extract, compounds with bioactive potential such as isothiocyanates, indoles and coumarins were found. Treatment of Caco-2 cells with PPL extract (80 µg/ml), particularly for 72 hours, produced a reduction of IL-18 and MCP-1 mRNA expression (p < 0.01), in addition to IL-18 (p < 0.01), IL-8 (p < 0.0001) and MCP-1 (p < 0.01) protein levels, however, no effects on NF-kB p65 (p = 0.09) and TLR4 (p = 0.20) mRNA expression were observed.Conclusion: The results obtained in this study open the possibility that the regular consumption of 50 g of PPL could constitute a possible complementary therapy for the treatment of IBD, improving the quality of life of these patients.

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Since prostate cancer (PCa) relies on limited therapies, more effective alternatives are required. Essential oils (EOs) and their bioactive compounds are natural products that have many properties including anticancer activity. This review covers studies published between 2000 and 2023 and discusses the anti-prostate cancer mechanisms of the EOs from several plant species and their main bioactive compounds. It also provides a critical perspective regarding the challenges to be overcome until they reach the market. EOs from chamomile, cinnamon, Citrus species, turmeric, Cymbopogon species, ginger, lavender, Mentha species, rosemary, Salvia species, thyme and other species have been tested in different PCa cell lines and have shown excellent results, including the inhibition of cell growth and migration, the induction of apoptosis, modulation in the expression of apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes and the suppression of angiogenesis. The most challenging aspects of EOs, which limit their clinical uses, are their highly lipophilic nature, physicochemical instability, photosensitivity, high volatility and composition variability. The processing of EO-based products in the pharmaceutical field may be an interesting alternative to circumvent EOs' limitations, resulting in several benefits in their further clinical use. Identifying their bioactive compounds, therapeutic effects and chemical structures could open new perspectives for innovative developments in the field. Moreover, this could be helpful in obtaining versatile chemical synthesis routes and/or biotechnological drug production strategies, providing an accurate, safe and sustainable source of these bioactive compounds, while looking at their use as gold-standard therapy in the close future.

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O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o estado nutricional, a qualidade de vida de pacientes oncológicos de clínica especializada. Realizou-se um estudo observacional do tipo transversal. O delineamento amostral adotado foi o não probabilístico por conveniência. Os instrumentos utilizados foram a ASG-PPP, validada para tal, e a versão brasileira do questionário de qualidade de vida sf-36. Aceitaram participar do estudo 13 pacientes, todos em tratamento natural exclusivo ou associado com cirurgia, o tempo mínimo de tratamento foi de 2 anos e máximo de 18 anos. Do total de participantes do estudo,nove (69,2%) do sexo feminino, destes, 54% com diagnóstico de câncer de mama com estadiamento 2,3 e 4, 4 (31%) do sexo masculino. 11(84,6%)não apresentaram metástase ao longo do tratamento ou recidiva tumoral. Em relação ao estado nutricional 11(84,6%) participantes apresentaram se eutróficos e 2(15,3%) desnutridos, porém com valores de hemoglobina e albumina normais. Quanto a qualidade de vida, 13(100%) apresentaram boa qualidade avaliado pelo questionário aplicado e relatam atividades de vida diárias normais. O tratamento tem como eixo central a dieta crudívoraeterapias auxiliares como meditação, geoterapia, naturopatia e outras. Houve resultados satisfatórios em relação ao estado nutricional e qualidade de vida no grupo que participou do estudo, 100% dos participantes encontram-se satisfeitos com o tratamento adotado e boa qualidade de vida. Diante da escassez de grupos que tenham se submetido exclusivamente a tratamento natural, sugere-se outras pesquisas com grupos maiores para que sejam possíveis maiores inferências e correlações.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutritional status, quality of life in patients with cancer in treatment in a specialized clinic. The present study is An observational cross-sectional. The sample design adopted was non-probabilistic. The quality of life and nutritional status were assessed by the validated ASG-PPP and the Brazilian version of the quality of life questionnaire-sf-36. Thirteen patients participated in the present study, all in natural treatment alone or associated with surgery, the minimum treatment time was 2 years and a maximum of 18 years. Of the total study participants, nine (69.2%) females, of these, 54% diagnosed with breast cancer with staging 2.3 and 4.4 (31%) males. 11 (84.6%) had no metastasis during treatment or tumor recurrence. Regarding nutritional status 11 (84.6%) participants were eutrophic and 2 (15.3%) malnourished, but with normal hemoglobin and albumin values. Regarding quality of life, 13 (100%) presented good quality of life by the applied questionnaire and reported normal daily life activities. The treatment has as its central axis the raw diet and auxiliary therapies such as meditation, geotherapy, naturopathy and others. There were satisfactory results regarding nutritional status and quality of life in the group that participated in the study, 100% of participants are satisfied with the treatment adopted and good quality of life. Given the scarcity of groups thathave undergone exclusively natural treatment, Further research with larger groups is suggested so that greater inferences and correlations are possible.

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Tannery wastewater is characterized by high and variable concentrations of diverse pollutants, which makes it difficult and costly to treat. In the search for sustainable treatment options for tannery effluents, two pilot-scale horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) constructed wetlands (CW) were built and operated for the treatment of synthetic water of quality similar to that of pre-treated tannery effluents. Five different loading phases were examined with gradual increase of inflow COD, NH4+-N and Cr loads until reaching and exceeding the typical composition of a tannery effluent. High COD and NH4+-N removals were observed (82 and 96%, respectively), and almost complete Cr removal in the outflow, which met the Venezuela national standards for environmental discharge. Plant uptake was measured, but microbial processes appear to be the main ammonium transformation/removal mechanism. Nitrogen, chlorophyll and Cr in the plant aerial parts and roots indicated the capacity of Phragmites sp. to grow and survive even under high loads. The measured heterotrophic bacteria in the substrate and rhizomes indicated the biofilm development and the oxidation of organic matter and nitrogen. Water losses via evapotraspiration were also measured and reached 14%. Overall, the tested CW design proved to be a sustainable and feasible alternative for the treatment of tannery wastewater in tropical climates.

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Chagas disease (CD) affecting about 7 million people is caused by the flagellate protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. The central nervous system (CNS) is an important site for T. cruzi persistence in the host during the chronic phase of infection, because the protozoan may pass the blood-brain barrier and may cause motor and cognitive neuronal damage. Thinking about avoiding or minimizing these negative effects, it is hypothesized that resveratrol (RSV), a component with several medicinal properties has beneficial effects on the CNS. The objective of this study was to investigate, whether T. cruzi infection interferes with neurogenesis and gliogenesis of embryos of infected mice females, and whether RSV would be able to avoid or minimize these changes caused by CD. RSV is a polyphenol found in grapes and widely studied for its neuroprotective and antioxidant properties. In addition, we investigated the role caused by the parasite during congenital infection and CNS development. Embryos and their brains were PCR-positive for T. cruzi. For this study, NPCs obtained from telencephalon of infected and uninfected embryos and were cultured in presence of resveratrol for forming neurospheres. The results demonstrated that the congenital transmission of T. cruzi influences CNS formation and neural fate, decreasing the number of neuroespheres and causing an elongation in the phases of the cell cycle. In addition, the parasite promoted an increase in neugliogenesis. Resveratrol was neuroprotective and prevented negative effects of the infection. Thus, we suggest the use of resveratrol as a therapeutic target for the treatment of neuroinflammation or as neuroprotective agent during Chagas disease, as it improves gliogenesis and restores neural migration.

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