Hypolipidemic potential and safety profile of the ethanolic extract and flour of the peel of Passiflora Cincinnata Mast. (Passifloraceae) in mice.

Passiflora cincinnata Mast. is described as a native Caatinga species, used by nutritional and medicinal purposes, although there are still few studies and pharmacological data related to this species. This paper aims to evaluate the safety profile and hypolipidemic potential of the fruit peel of this species in mice. It was analyzed the chemical composition of ethanolic extract (EtOH-Pc) by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS, and the organic and inorganic composition of flour (MF-Pc). Also were evaluated the acute toxicity, the lipid-lowering potential of these samples, through of a pretreatment (oral: 100 and 200 mg/kg), and a single treatment with the same doses, after hyperlipidemic induction with triton WR-1339, using as animal model Swiss Mus musculus mice, besides histopathological analysis. The presence of flavonoids in the extract was confirmed, mainly C-glycosides, and antioxidant minerals and pectin, in flour. No clinical signs of toxicity or death were reported in the study. In the hyperlipidemia study model used, the analyzed substances, at all doses, notably decreased the lipid levels of TC, TG, LDL-c and VLDL-c and increase the HDL-c levels in the induced hyperlipidemic mice (p < 0.05). The results of the histopathological analysis showed that in the group only induced was identified the discrete presence of hepatic steatosis, in 2 animals at the analysis of 24 h, not being visualized in the groups treated with the substances evaluated. The results obtained in the present study suggest a hypolipidemic potential of the extract and flour, obtained from the fruit peel of Passiflora cincinnata Mast.

Determination of phenolic compounds, in vitro antioxidant activity and characterization of secondary metabolites in different parts of Passiflora cincinnata by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis.

Ethanol extracts of different parts of Passiflora cincinnata were obtained by maceration. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated. The antioxidant activities were determined by ß-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching test, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging. The crude ethanol stem extract showed the highest amount of total polyphenols (45.53 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) while the highest total flavonoid contents (1.42 mg of quercetin equivalent/g) were observed in the leaf extract. The lowest IC50 (25.65 µg/ml) by the DPPH method was observed for the stem extract. The ABTS method showed a significant antioxidant activity for all investigated extracts. The secondary metabolite composition of ethanol extracts was assessed by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis, leading to the identification of fourteen secondary metabolites in P. cincinnata extracts. These results showed the potentiality of this species as a source of phenolic compounds and antioxidants.

(In)Segurança Alimentar, Indicadores Socioeconômicos e Perfil Antropométrico de Mulheres Contempladas por Programa Social / Food (In)Security, Socioeconomic Indicators and Anthropometric Profile of Women Contemplated by Social Program

Objetivo: Apresentar a prevalência de (in)segurança alimentar e nutricional e analisar a associação desta com alguns indica-dores socioeconômicos e o perfil antropométrico das mulheres beneficiadas por programa social. Metodologia: A população do estudo foi constituída por mulheres beneficiadas pelo programa Minha Casa Minha Vida, no Município de Petrolina-PE. Foram coletadas informações sobre os indicadores socioeconômicos, como raça, escolaridade, renda, quantidade de moradores. Foram aferidos o peso (Kg) e a altura para o cálculo do IMC. Por fim, foram coletadas as informações sobre (in)segurança alimentar por meio da Escala Brasileira de Insegurança Alimen-tar (EBIA). Resultados: A amostra do estudo foi constituída por 206 mulheres, em que 23,3% de suas famílias investigadas apresentaram segurança alimentar. O restante apresentou insegurança alimentar, 53,4% apresentaram insegurança leve, 13,6% insegurança moderada e 9,7% insegurança alimentar grave. O perfil antropométrico dessas mulheres não mostrou associação com a (in)segurança alimentar, sendo que 3,4% encontraram-se com baixo peso, 44,2% encontraram-se eu-tróficas e 52,4% apresentaram sobrepeso ou obesidade. Os indicadores socioeconômicos associados foram a renda total do domicílio, a escolaridade e a raça, enquanto a quantidade de moradores não se associou. A maior parte das mulheres eram pardas ou negras, possuíam baixa escolaridade e um rendimento domiciliar de até 1 salário mínimo, com quatro ou cinco moradores em seu domicílio. Conclusão: A popu-lação beneficiada apresenta elevado índice de insegurança alimentar, que está associada à baixa qualidade vida. Dessa forma, programas precisam sejam reformulados para garantir aos brasileiros acesso as necessidades básicas que possam assegurar bem-estar e qualidade vida. (AU)

Objective: To present the prevalence of food and nutritional (in)security in families benefited by a social program and to analyze the association of some socioeconomic indicators and the anthropometric profile of these women. Methodology:The study population consisted of women benefiting from the "Minha Casa Minha Vida" program in the city of Petrolina-PE. Data on socioeconomic indicators were collected, such as race, education, income, number of residents, weight (Kg) and height for the calculation of BMI. The Brazilian Scale of Food Insecu-rity (EBIA) was used to evaluate the food (in)security. Results:The study sample consisted of 206 women, where 23.3% of their families presented food security. The remaining families presented 53.4% mild, 13.6% moderate and 9.7% severe food insecurity. The anthropometric profile of these women did not show an association with food (in)security, with 3.4% being underweight, 44.2% were eutrophic and 52.4% were overweight or obese. The associated socioeconomic indicators were the total income, schooling and race, while the number of residents of the household did not have any association. Most women declared brown or black race, with low schooling and household income up to 1 minimum wage, with four or five residents in their home. Conclusion: The benefitted population has a high level of food insecurity, which is associated with poor quality of life. Thus, programs need to be reformulated to guarantee Brazilians' access to basic needs that ensure wellbeing and quality of life. (AU)

Ethanolic extract of the aerial parts of Passiflora cincinnata Mast. (Passifloraceae) reduces nociceptive and inflammatory events in mice.

BACKGROUND: Passiflora cincinnata Mast. is described as a native species from the Caatinga biome, and used by traditional medicine for several pharmacological purposes, such as inflammatory disorders. However, studies that prove its biological activities are scarce. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: This paper aims to evaluate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of the aerial parts of Passiflora cincinnata (Pc-EtOH) in mice. METHODS: The chemical composition of Pc-EtOH was assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The antinociceptive profile of the extract (given orally: 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) was established using the in vivo chemical models (acetic acid-induced abdominal constriction and formalin-induced paw licking test) and thermal (hot plate test) of nociception. The role of opioid, potassium channels, TRPV-1, muscarinic, serotoninergic (5-HT3) receptors and the participation of the nitric oxide pathway also was determined. The rota-rod test was used to verify the possible interference of the extract treatment in motor performance. Paw edema induced by carrageenan or histamine, and leukocyte migration, determination of total protein and nitric oxide to the peritoneal cavity were used for anti-inflammatory profile. RESULTS: The presence of flavonoids in the extract was confirmed using HPLC-DAD. At all doses tested the Pc-EtOH significantly reduced the number of writhing and decreased the paw licking time in both phases of the formalin test (p < 0.05). In the hot plate test, the extract increased the reaction time, reducing painful behavior. The antinociceptive mechanism probably involves central and peripheral pathways, involving the pathway of opioid and muscarinic receptors with influence of potassium channels and the nitric oxide pathway. However, the motor coordination test indicated that in the time of 120 min the extract decreases the stay time of the animal in the rota-rod. Pc-EtOH inhibited significantly (p < 0.05) the increase of the edema volume after administration of carrageenan and histamine. In the peritonitis test, acute pre-treatment with Pc-EtOH inhibited leukocyte migration, with a reduction in the number of neutrophils and concentration of total proteins and nitric oxide. CONCLUSION: The present study suggests that Pc-EtOH possesses peripheral and central antinociceptive action, and showed potential in inhibition of release of mediators of the inflammatory process.

Essential Oils and Their Major Compounds in the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation: A Review of Antioxidant Potential in Preclinical Studies and Molecular Mechanisms.

Inflammatory diseases result from the body's response to tissue damage, and if the resolution is not adequate or the stimulus persists, there will be progression from acute inflammation to chronic inflammation, leading to the development of cancer and neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. Due to the complexity of events that occur in inflammation associated with the adverse effects of drugs used in clinical practice, it is necessary to search for new biologically active compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. Among natural products, essential oils (EOs) present promising results in preclinical studies, with action in the main mechanisms involved in the pathology of inflammation. The present systematic review summarizes the pharmacological effects of EOs and their compounds in in vitro and in vivo models for inflammation. The research was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Scopus, BIREME, Scielo, Open Grey, and Science Direct. Based on the inclusion criteria, 30 articles were selected and discussed in this review. The studies listed revealed a potential activity of EOs and their compounds for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, especially in chronic inflammatory conditions, with the main mechanism involving reduction of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species associated with an elevation of antioxidant enzymes as well as the reduction of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), reducing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines. Thus, this review suggests that EOs and their major compounds are promising tools for the treatment of chronic inflammation.