The schistosomicidal activity of ethanolic extracts from branches, leaves, flowers and fruits of Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos (Bignoniaceae) plant and metabolic profile characterization by UPLC-ESI-QTOF analysis.

Schistosomiasis, caused by Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907, is a severe and widely distributed parasitic disease, affecting about 200 million people worldwide. The disease is recognized by elevated mortality rates, especially among those living in areas of poor sanitation. Currently, the chemotherapeutic treatment is solely based on using the praziquantel drug. Therefore, there is a need for the discovery of new medicines for the treatment of this parasitosis. Thus, this work aimed to evaluate the schistosomicidal activity of ethanolic crude extracts from the branches, leaves, flowers, and fruits of Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart ex DC.) Masttos and characterize its metabolic profile by UPLC-ESI-QTOF analysis. Evaluation of plant extract on S. mansoni was carried out in adult worms in vitro, in which the mortality rate was quantified, and the damages in the tegument of the worms were monitored. All extracts induced changes in the viability of adult males of S. mansoni, causing the death of the parasites, which was directly dependent of the concentration.

Tamanho de primeira maturaçäo sexual do Schizodon knerii e do Leporinus piau (Teleostei, Anostomidae) na represa de Três Marias, MG / First sexual maturation of Schizodon knerii and of Leporinus piau (Teleostei, Anostomidae) from Três Marias reservoir, MG - Brazil

Determinaram-se os tamanhos de primeira maturaçäo sexual (L50) para S. knerii, piau-branco e para L. piau, piau-gordura. Diferenciaram-se peixes juvenis de peixes adultos por critérios microscópicos. O comprimento padräo correspondente à primeira maturaçäo sexual (L50) foi estimado em: S. knerii 14,5 cm para fêmeas e 2,3 cm para machos; L. piau 10,2 cm para fêmeas e 9,6 cm para machos. Todos os peixes estavam aptos a reproduzirem-se (L100) a partir de: S. knerii 17,5cm para fêmeas e 14,7cm para machos; L. piau 12,0cm para fêmeas e 10,8cm para machos. O coeficiente de correlaçäo (r) entre frequência de adultos e classes de comprimento padräo foi superior a 0,97 em cada caso indicando eficiência do método

Cholesterol and phospholipids content of yolk from fertilized and unfertilized hen eggs.

Three lipid-containing fractions (granules, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and infranatant) of fertilized and unfertilized yolks were obtained from hen eggs, either from commercial sources or from Arbor acres hens kept by the Pena Branca Aviário Pernambuco and utilized fresh (laid during the previous 7 days). Total cholesterol (TC) and total phospholipid (TP) levels (mg/g yolk, reported as means +/- SD) were determined. In the yolk granules (insoluble fraction) the levels of TC (2.05 +/- 0.36) and TP (0.90 +/- 0.43) of fertilized egg yolks were similar to the levels of TC (2.20 +/- 0.41) and TP (0.90 +/- 0.14) of unfertilized eggs. The TC levels in the LDL from fertilized egg yolks (8.29 +/- 1.63) were not statistically different from those in unfertilized eggs (7.31 +/- 1.50). In contrast, TC was not detected in the infranatant fraction of unfertilized egg yolks, but was present in the infranatant fraction (1.39 +/- 0.69) of fertilized eggs. The TP levels of LDL (0.73 +/- 0.23) and infranatant (0.32 +/- 0.09) fractions of fertilized egg yolks were significantly lower than the levels of TP in the LDL (1.73 +/- 0.51) and infranatant (0.79 +/- 0.59) fractions of unfertilized eggs. Consequently, the TC/TP ratio (mol/mol) increased in the LDL and infranatant fractions of fertilized egg yolks when compared to unfertilized egg yolks. TC levels were similar in the total yolk of fertilized (10.76 +/- 1.32) and unfertilized (10.33 +/- 1.77) eggs, while the TP levels were significantly lower in the fertilized (1.92 +/- 0.17) than in unfertilized (3.43 +/- 0.97) eggs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Cholesterol and phospholipids content of yolk from fertilized and unfertilized hen eggs

Three lipid-containing (granules, low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and infranatant) of fertilized and unfertilized yolks were obtained from hen eggs, either from commercial sources or from Arbor acres henskept by the Pena Branca Aviario Pernambuco and utilized fresh (laid during the previous 7 days). Total cholesterol (TC) and total phospholipid (TP) levels (mg/g yolk, reported as means ñ SD) were determined. In the yolk granules (insoluble fraction) the levels of TC (2.05 ñ 0.36) and TP(0.90 ñ 0.43) of fertilized egg yolks were similar to the levels of TC (2.20 ñ 0.4) and TP (0.90 ñ 0.14) of unfertilized eggs. The levels TC in the LDL from fertilized egg yolks (8.29 ñ 1.63) were not statistically different from those in unfertilized eggs (7.31 ñ 1.50). In contrast, TC was not detected in the infranatant fraction of unfertilized egg yolks, but was present in the infranatant fraction (1.39 ñ 0.69) of fertilized eggs. The TP levels of LDL (0.73 ñ 0.23) and infranatant (0.32 ñ 0.09) fractions of fertilized egg yolks were significantly lower than the levels of TP in the LDL (1.73 ñ 0.51) and infranatant (0.79 ñ 0.59) fractions of unfertilized eggs. Consequently, the TC/TP ratio (mol/mol) increased in the LDL and infranatant fractions of fertilized egg yolks when compared to unfertilized egg yolks. TC levels were similar in the total yolks TC levels were similar in the total yolk of fertilized (10.76 ñ 1.32) and unfertilized (10.33 ñ 1.77) eggs, while the TP levels were significantly lower in the fertilized (1.92 ñ 0.17) than in unfertilized (3.43 ñ 0.97) eggs. These results suggest a transfer of TC from the LDL to the infranatant fraction and a large consumption of TP during the fertilization process

Effect of experimental schistosomiasis on 14C-4-cholesterol esterification by mouse liver homogenate.

The effect of experimental schistosomiasis mansoni on cholesterol esterification by mouse liver homogenate was studied using 14C-4-cholesterol. The reaction was carried out in 0.85 ml containing 10 nCi labelled cholesterol (164 nmol as an albumin-stabilized emulsion) with 30 mg tissue homogenate in 176 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.1, containing 59 microM oleic acid, 0.3 mM CoASH and 8.8 mM ATP. In experiments with liver from infected mice (N = 22), the percentage of cholesterol esterification was 6.9 +/- 0.7%/h. This rate was 52% less than that observed in normal mice (14.4 +/- 0.6%/h, N = 21). The decrease may be due to the existence of inhibitors of the cholesterol esterifying in the infected liver, increased hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters or a decrease in the synthesis of the enzyme acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase by the infected liver.

Effect of experimental Schistosomiasis on 14C-4-cholesterol esterification by mouse liver homogenate

The effect of experimental schistosomiasis mansoni on cholesterol esterification by mouse liver homogenate was studied using 14C-4-cholesterol. The reaction was carried out in 0.85 ml containing 10 nCi labelled cholesterol (I64 nmol as an albumin-stabilized emulsion) with 30 mg tissue homogenate in 176 mM sodium phosphate buffer, pH 7.1, containing 59 micronM oleic acid, 0.3 mM CoASH and 8.8 mM ATP. In experiments with liver from infected mice(N = 22), the percentage of cholesterol esterification was 6.9 + or - 0.7%/h. This rate was 52% less than that observed in normal mice (14.4 + or - 0.6%/h, N = 21). The decrease may be due to the existence of inhibitors of the cholesterol esterifying in the infected liver, increased hydrolysis of cholesteryl esters or a decrease in the synthesis of the enzyme acyl CoA:cholesterol acyl transferase by the infected liver