Combining cashew gum with cyclophosphamide in murine melanoma model: A strategy for the reduction of side effects.

The understanding of cancer immunity and antitumor factors generated by natural polysaccharides is not yet fully comprehended. Polysaccharides, like cashew gum (CG), can exhibit immunomodulatory action and may assist in the antitumor process and side effects relieve. This study aimed to determine the antitumor effect of CG alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX), and its interactions with immune cells, in a murine melanoma model, using the B16-F10 cell line. Tumor growth inhibition, hematological, histopathological, ELISA, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and qRT-PCR analyses were performed to elucidate the antitumor potential, involvement of immune cells, and potential toxic effects. CG showed significant tumor growth inhibition, reaching up to 42.9 % alone and 51.4 % in combination with CTX, with mild toxicity to organs. CG enhanced leukocyte count, even in the presence of CTX. Furthermore, CG influenced the activation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAM), characterized by an increase in Il4, as well as a reduction in Ifng, Il1b, Tgfb, and Il6 gene expression. Nevertheless, these effects did not compromise the antitumor activity of CG. In summary, the combination of CG with CTX is a promising approach for leukopenia, one of the most important side effects of cancer treatment and deserves further investigation.

Involvement of the dopaminergic system in the antidepressant-like effect of the lectin isolated from the red marine alga Solieria filiformis in mice.

This study aimed at evaluating the antidepressant-like action of the marine alga Solieria filiformis lectin (SfL) and to investigate the participation of the monoaminergic system in this action. For this, male Swiss mice (n=10) were pretreated with intravenous injections (i.v.) of SfL (1, 3 or 9mg/kg) and submitted to open field (OFT), tail suspension (TST), forced swimming (FST), elevated plus-maze (EPMT) and hole-board tests (HBT). As controls, mice received sterile saline (i.v.), imipramine (10 or 30mg/kg; intraperitoneally - i.p.) or diazepam (1 mk/kg; i.p.). To assess the involvement of the monoaminergic system in SfL effects, the FST was conducted in mice pretreated with PCPA, an inhibitor of serotonin synthesis, or noradrenergic and dopaminergic receptors specific antagonists. The results showed that SfL has an antidepressant-like effect, with no psychostimulant and anxiolytic-like effects. When denatured or combined with mannan, SfL lost the ability to reduce the immobility time in the FST. In addition, SfL antidepressant-like effect was inhibited by the pretreatment of mice with SCH 23390, a dopamine D1 receptor antagonist, and by sulpiride, a dopamine D2 receptor antagonist. Thus, SfL produced an antidepressant-like effect, which is probably dependent on its interaction with the dopaminergic system.

Analysis of some chemical nutrients in four Brazilian tropical seaweeds / Análise de alguns nutrientes químicos em quatro algas marinhas tropicais brasileiras

Seaweeds have various chemical components with beneficial effects for human use; however, their nutritional values in Brazilian species are not well known. This study aimed to evaluate the content of water, ash, protein, carbohydrate, and lipid in four seaweeds (Hypnea musciformis, Solieria filiformis, Caulerpa cupressoides and C. mexicana). Algal constituents were determined by difference, gravimetric or colorimetric method, being the values expressed as g 100 g-1 dehydrated weight (d.w.). Results revealed that the water (10.7 ± 0.18-15.06 ± 1.14 g 100 g-1 d.w.), ash (7.79 ± 0.87-15.12 ± 0.51 g 100 g-1 d.w), protein (17.12 ± 0.99-20.79 ± 0.58 g 100 g-1 d.w.), lipid (0.33 ± 0.01-3.77 ± 0.13 g 100 g-1 d.w.) and carbohydrate (38.07 ± 0.32-54.24 ± 0.157 g 100 g-1 d.w.) contents varied between the species (p < 0.05). H. musciformis and S. filiformis (Rhodophyta) had highest ash contents (14.14 ± 1.23-15.12 ± 0.51 g 100 g-1 d.w.), whereas lipids were higher for Caulerpa species (Chlorophyta) (1.52 ± 0.17-3.77 ± 0.13 g 100 g-1 d.w.) (p < 0.05). Protein and carbohydrate were the most sources in all the species. Therefore, the studied seaweeds could be a potential source of food ingredients for diets.

As algas marinhas possuem vários componentes químicos com efeitos benéficos para uso humano. Entretanto, não são conhecidos bem seus valores nutricionais em espécies brasileiras. Objetivou-se avaliar os conteúdos de água, cinza, proteína, carboidrato e lipídio em quatro algas marinhas (Hypnea musciformis, Solieria filiformis, Caulerpa cupressoides e C. mexicana). Os constituintes das algas foram determinados por método de diferença, gravimétrico ou colorimétrico, sendo os valores expressos em g 100 g-1 de peso desidratado (p.d.). Os resultados revelaram que os conteúdos de água (10,7 ± 0,18-15,06 ± 1,14 g 100 g-1 p.d.), cinza (7,79 ± 0,87-15,12 ± 0,51 g 100 g-1 p.d.), proteína (17,12 ± 0,99-20,79 ± 0,58 g 100 g-1 p.d.), lipídio (0,33 ± 0,01-3,77 ± 0,13 g 100 g-1 p.d.) e carboidrato (38,07 ± 0,32-54,24 ± 0,157 g 100 g-1 p.d.) variaram entre as espécies (p < 0,05). H. musciformis e S. filiformis (Rhodophyta) tiveram os maiores conteúdos de cinza (14,14 ± 1,23-15,12 ± 0,51 g 100 g-1 p.d.), enquanto as espécies Caulerpa (Chlorophyta) foram para lipídio (1,52 ± 0,17-3,77 ± 0,13 g 100 g-1 p.d.) (p < 0,05). Todas as espécies foram fontes maiores em proteína e carboidrato. Portanto, as algas marinhas estudadas poderiam ser uma fonte de ingrediente alimentar potencial para dietas.