RESUMO
Ethnomedicinal studies in the Amazon community and in the Northeast region of Brazil highlight the use of Libidibia ferrea fruits for the treatment of gastric problems. However, there are no data in the literature of this pharmacological activity. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide a scientific basis for the use of the dry extract of L. ferrea pods (DELfp) for the treatment of peptic ulcers. Phytochemical characterization was performed by HPLC/MS. In vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, ABTS, phosphomolybdenum, and superoxide radical scavenging activity. The gastroprotective activity, the ability to stimulate mucus production, the antisecretory activity, and the influence of -SH and NO compounds on the antiulcerogenic activity of DELfp were evaluated. The healing activity was determined by the acetic acid-induced chronic ulcer model. Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity was investigated. HPLC/MS results identified the presence of phenolic compounds, gallic acid and ellagic acid, in DELfp. The extract showed antioxidant activity in vitro. In ulcers induced by absolute ethanol and acidified ethanol, the ED50 values of DELfp were 113 and 185.7 mg/kg, respectively. DELfp (100, 200, and 400 mg/kg) inhibited indomethacin-induced lesions by 66.7, 69.6, and 65.8%, respectively. DELfp (200 mg/kg) reduced gastric secretion and H+ concentration in the gastric contents and showed to be independent of nitric oxide (NO) and dependent on sulfhydryl (-SH) compounds in the protection of the gastric mucosa. In the chronic ulcer model, DELfp reduced the area of the gastric lesion. DELfp also showed anti-H. pylori activity. In conclusion, DELfp showed antioxidant, gastroprotective, healing, and antiulcerogenic activities. The mechanism of these actions seems to be mediated by different pathways and involves the reduction of gastric secretion and H+ concentration, dependence on sulfhydryl compounds, and anti-H. pylori activity. All these actions support the medicinal use of this species in the management of peptic ulcers.
Assuntos
Antiulcerosos/química , Antioxidantes/química , Fabaceae/química , Extratos Vegetais/química , Ácido Acético/toxicidade , Animais , Antiulcerosos/farmacologia , Antiulcerosos/uso terapêutico , Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Pressão , Fabaceae/metabolismo , Feminino , Mucosa Gástrica/efeitos dos fármacos , Mucosa Gástrica/patologia , Helicobacter pylori/efeitos dos fármacos , Espectrometria de Massas , Óxido Nítrico/química , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Fenóis/análise , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Úlcera Gástrica/induzido quimicamente , Úlcera Gástrica/tratamento farmacológico , Úlcera Gástrica/patologia , Compostos de Sulfidrila/química , Compostos de Sulfidrila/metabolismoRESUMO
Spondias mombin L. (yellow mombin) is a tree with a nutritional fruit that is commonly consumed in the North and Northeast of Brazil, as the juice of its pulp is rich in antioxidant compounds. This study aimed to investigate the gastroprotective and ulcer healing activities of yellow mombin juice (YMJ) in Wistar rats, and to elucidate the possible involved mechanisms. Phytochemical characterization of the lyophilized fruit juice was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The gastroprotective activity of YMJ was investigated in ethanol (25, 50, and 100% YMJ) and indomethacin (100% YMJ) models of acute gastric ulcer in rats. Then, the effect of YMJ on mucus production and gastric secretions, and the involvement of non-protein sulfhydryl groups and prostaglandins in the gastroprotective process were examined. Moreover, the ulcer healing effect of YMJ was investigated in a model of acetic acid-induced chronic ulcer through histological and immunohistochemical analyses. HPLC results identified the presence of epicatechin (7.1 ± 1.6 µg/mL) and quercetin (17.3 ± 2.5 µg/mL) in YMJ. Ethanol-induced gastric lesions were inhibited by YMJ (25, 50, and 100%) by 42.42, 45.09, and 98.21% respectively, and indomethacin-induced lesions were inhibited by YMJ (100%) by 58.96%, compared to control group. Moreover, YMJ reduced gastric content and total acidy by 57.35 and 71.97%, respectively, compared to the control group. Treatment with YMJ also promoted healing of chronic ulcer, regeneration of the gastric mucosa, and restoration of mucus levels in glandular cells, as confirmed by histological analysis. It also increased cellular proliferation, as demonstrated by high reactivity to Ki-67 and bromodeoxyuridine. In conclusion, YMJ was found to possess gastroprotective and ulcer healing activities that are correlated to its antisecretory action. These results support the commercial exploration of YMJ as a functional food.
Assuntos
Anacardiaceae , Sucos de Frutas e Vegetais , Mucosa Gástrica , Úlcera Gástrica , Animais , Avaliação Pré-Clínica de Medicamentos , Etanol/efeitos adversos , Etanol/farmacologia , Feminino , Mucosa Gástrica/metabolismo , Mucosa Gástrica/patologia , Masculino , Ratos , Ratos Wistar , Úlcera Gástrica/induzido quimicamente , Úlcera Gástrica/tratamento farmacológico , Úlcera Gástrica/metabolismo , Úlcera Gástrica/patologiaRESUMO
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer among men in western populations, and despite its high mortality, its etiology remains unknown. Inflammatory processes are related to the etiology of various types of tumors, and prostate inflammation, in particular, has been associated with prostate cancer carcinogenesis and progression. Human papillomavirus (HPV) is associated with benign and malignant lesions in the anogenital tract of both females and males. The possible role of HPV in prostate carcinogenesis is a subject of great controversy. In this study, we aimed to examine the prevalence of HPV infections in prostate carcinomas of patients from northeastern Brazil. This study included 104 tissue samples from primary prostate carcinoma cases. HPV DNA was purified and then amplified using MY09/11 and GP5+/GP6+ degenerate primer sets that detect a wide range of HPV types, and with specific PCR primers sets for E6 and E7 HPV regions to detect HPV 16. None of the samples showed amplification products of HPV DNA for primer sets MY09/11 and GP5+/GP6+, or the specific primer set for the E6 and E7 HPV regions. HPV infection, thus, does not seem to be one of the causes of prostate cancer in the population studied.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The MDM2 gene is the major negative regulator of p53, a tumor suppressor protein. Single nucleotide polymorphism in promoter region of MDM2 gene leads to increased expression resulting in higher levels of MDM2 protein. This event increases the attenuation of the p53 pathway. Polymorphisms in this gene can interfere in the regulation of cellular proliferation. We evaluated whether MDM2 SNP309 (rs2278744) associated or not with the use of oral contraceptive can heighten susceptibility to development of cervical lesions in women HPV infected. METHODS: MDM2 SNP309 (rs2278744) was genotyped in a total of 287 patients using the PCR-RFLP technique. The results were analyzed by UNPHASED v.3.121 and SNPStats programs. RESULTS: The three groups (SIL, LSIL and HSIL) showed no significant differences in either genotype or allelic frequencies for MDM2 polymorphisms, except when HSIL was compared with LSIL (p = 0.037; OR = 1.81). Furthermore, in the analysis of contraceptives, a significant association was found between the use of contraceptives and the MDM2 variant in the development of high-grade cervical lesions for the TG genotype (p = 0.019; OR = 2.21) when HSIL was compared with control. When HSIL was compared with LSIL (p = 0.006; OR = 2.27). CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that MDM2 SNP309 might be a good marker for assessing the progression of LSIL to HSIL. In addition, they also show that oral contraceptives alone, did not have any effect on the progression or development of cervical lesions. However, they may act synergistically with MDM2 SNP309 (rs2278744) and HPV infection in the development of cervical lesions.
RESUMO
Copaiba oil, extracted from Copaifera multijuga Hayne, Fabaceae, is widely used for medicinal purposes, especially to treat inflammatory processes. However, there is no report regarding its effect on reproductive performance after used in repeated doses orally. The present study evaluated the effects of the oral administration of Copaiba oil (at doses of 200, 500 or 2500 mg/kg) or water (control) for eight weeks in male Wistar rats. Treated males mated untreated females, and parameters as fertility rates, absolute and relative mass of accessory sexual organs and histology and development of the offspring were evaluated. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of 22 components accounting for 99.11% of the Copaiba oil. The main compounds identified were sesquisterpenes. The reproductive toxicology results indicate that there was no difference between the treated groups compared with the control group in any of the parameters, suggesting that the oral treatment with C. multijuga oil for eight weeks does not affect reproductive performance of male Wistar rats.
RESUMO
Um estudo comparativo sobre a ação de diversos fixadores utilizados em microscopia eletrônica de transmissão (MET) e microscopia de luz (ML) foi realizado, a fim de analisar a preservação de estruturas celulares ao microscópio eletrônico de transmissão (MET). Fragmentos de fígado de camundongo foram fixados em 5 diferentes fixadores: o fixador de Karnovsky, glutaraldeído e paraformaldeído utilizados no processamento para MET e o formaldeído comercial e líquido de Bouin utilizados no processamento para ML. Após a fixação, os fragmentos foram pós-fixados com tetróxido de ósmio e contrastastados com acetato de uranila. A seguir foram desidratados e incluídos em resina Epon. Os cortes ultrafinos mostraram que os fragmentos fixados com Karnovsky e glutaraldeído apresentaram melhor preservação das estruturas celulares e menor extração. O paraformaldeído produziu alguns artefatos de má fixação e extração pelo fato de formar menos ligações cruzadas que o glutaraldeído. Os fixadores formaldeído comercial e o líquido de Bouin utilizados em microscopia de luz mostraram que não são adequados ao uso em MET, pois são considerados fixadores coagulantes e produzem extensa extração dos componentes celulares. Comparando-se as imagens obtidas com os fixadores utilizados, o fixador de Karnovsky e o glutaraldeído mostraram melhor preservação e maior similaridade na morfologia