Chemical and toxicological effects of medicinal Baccharis trimera extract from coal burning area.

The entire process of power generation, extraction, processing and use of coal strongly impact water resources, soil, air quality and biota leads to changes in the fauna and flora. Pollutants generated by coal burning have been contaminating plants that grow in area impacted by airborne pollution with high metal contents. Baccharis trimera is popularly consumed as tea, and is widely developed in Candiota (Brazil), one of the most important coal burning regions of the Brazil. This study aims to investigate the phytochemical profile, in vivo genotoxic and mutagenic potential of extracts of B. trimera collected from an exposed region to pollutants generated by coal burning (Candiota City) and other unexposed region (Bagé City), using the Comet assay and micronucleus test in mice and the Salmonella/microsome short-term assay. The HPLC analyses indicated higher levels of flavonoids and phenolic acids for B. trimera aqueous extract from Bagé and absence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons for both extracts. The presence of toxic elements such as cobalt, nickel and manganese was statistically superior in the extract from Candiota. For the Comet assay and micronucleus test, the mice were treated with Candiota and Bagé B. trimera aqueous extracts (500-2000 mg/kg). Significant genotoxicity was observed at higher doses treated with B. trimera aqueous extract from Candiota in liver and peripheral blood cells. Micronuclei were not observed but the results of the Salmonella/microsome short-term assay showed a significant increase in TA98 revertants for B. trimera aqueous extract from Candiota. The extract of B. trimera from Candiota bioacumulated higher levels of trace elements which were associated with the genotoxic effects detected in liver and peripheral blood cells.

N-acetylcysteine modulates angiogenesis and vasodilation in stomach such as DNA damage in blood of portal hypertensive rats.

AIM: To evaluate the antioxidant effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the stomach of rats with portal hypertension. METHODS: Twenty-four male Wistar rats weighing ± 250 g were divided into four experimental groups (n = 6 each): Sham-operated (SO), SO + NAC, partial portal vein ligation (PPVL), and PPVL + NAC. Treatment with NAC in a dose of 10 mg/kg (i.p.) diluted in 0.6 mL of saline solution was administered daily for 7 d starting 8 d after the surgery. Animals from the PPVL and SO group received saline solution (0.6 mL) for the same period of time as the PPVL + NAC and SO + NAC group. On the 15(th) day the animals were anesthetized and we evaluated portal pressure by cannulating mesenteric artery. After, we removed the stomach for further analysis. We performed immunohistochemical analysis for endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and nitrotirosine (NTT) proteins in stomach. We also evaluated eNOS and VEGF by Western blot analysis and assessed DNA damage in blood samples by the comet assay. RESULTS: The portal hypertension group exhibited increases in portal pressure when compared to SO group (29.8 ± 1.8 vs 12.0 ± 0.3 mmHg) (P < 0.001). The same was observed when we compared the eNOS (56.8 ± 3.7 vs 13.46 ± 2.8 pixels) (P < 0.001), VEGF (34.9 ± 4.7 vs 17.46 ± 2.6 pixels) (P < 0.05), and NTT (39.01 ± 4.0 vs 12.77 ± 2.3 pixels) (P < 0.05) expression by immunohistochemistry of the PPVL animals with the SO group. The expression of eNOS (0.39 ± 0.03 vs 0.25 ± 0.03 a.µ) (P < 0.01) and VEGF (0.38 ± 0.04 vs 0.26 ± 0.04 a.µ) (P < 0.01) were also evaluated by Western blot analysis, and we observed an increase of both proteins on PPVL animals. We also evaluated the DNA damage by comet assay, and observed an increase on damage index and damage frequency on those animals. NAC decreased portal pressure values in PPVL + NAC animals (16.46 ± 2 vs 29.8 ± 1.8 mmHg) (P < 0.001) when compared to PPVL. The expression of eNOS (14.60 ± 4.1 vs 56.8 ± 3.7 pixels) (P < 0.001), VEGF (19.53 ± 3.2 vs 34.9 ± 4.7 pixels) (P < 0.05) and NTT (21.84 ± 0.7 vs 39.01 ± 4.0 pixels) (P < 0.05) evaluated by immunohistochemistry were also reduced in PPVL + NAC animals. Also, when evaluated by Western blot eNOS expression (0.32 ± 0.03 vs 0.39 ± 0.03 a.µ) (P < 0.05) and VEGF expression (0.31 ± 0.09 vs 0.38 ± 0.04 a.µ) (P < 0.01). Furthermore, NAC modulated DNA damage in PPVL + NAC animals. CONCLUSION: In view of these results, we believe NAC is able to protect the stomach from the alterations induced by the PPVL procedure.