Antiedema and antinociceptive potential of the essential oil of Pectis elongata Kunt (Asteraceae) from the Brazilian Amazon.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pectis elongata, a herbaceous species that is known in northern Brazil as "cominho" or "limãozinho", is traditionally used in the region for the treatment of fevers, colds, hypotension, genitourinary and gastric disorders, and pain. AIM OF THE STUDY: Determine the chemical composition and acute oral toxicity and evaluate whether Pectis elongata essential oil (PeEO) has antiedema and antinociceptive activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical composition was determined using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and the degree of toxicity determined by the LD50. The antiedema and antinociceptive potential was evaluated via the λ-carrageenan-induced paw edema test and formalin test, respectively. RESULTS: Citral (geranial and neral) was characterized as a major component of the PeEO, representing 89% of the total identified compounds. According to OECD criteria (2002), the EO was considered non-toxic since it presented LD50 values over 2000 mg kg-1. Its antiedema potential was observed at doses of 200 and 400 mg kg-1 (p ≤ 0.05). At a dose of 400 mg kg-1, PeEO also showed antinociceptive potential (p ≤ 0.05), both in the neurogenic phase and in the inflammatory phase. CONCLUSIONS: PeEO, which is rich in citral, did not induce any characteristic signs of acute oral toxicity and was also efficient in reducing carrageenan-induced paw edema, in addition to presenting antinociceptive potential and acting on both central and peripheral pain. It is thus a promising candidate for the development of a new herbal medicine with anti-inflammatory and analgesic action.

Standardization and anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extract of Psittacanthus plagiophyllus Eichl. (Loranthaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL IMPORTANCE: The hemiparasitic species Psittacanthus plagiophyllus Eichl. (Loranthaceae), also known as erva de passarinho, is used in folk medicine in the Santarém region in the state of Pará, Brazil, to treat gastritis and a variety of inflammatory disorders. In view of the lack of pharmacological studies on this species in the literature and the fact that it is used constantly by the local population, this study sought to standardize the extract of the leaves of P. plagiophyllus (AEPp) and to assess its anti-inflammatory potential in in vivo tests. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Quality control and standardization of AEPp were performed following the 5th edition of the Brazilian Pharmacopeia. To assess the in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of AEPp, the carrageenan-induced and dextran-induced rat paw edema models were initially used. To investigate the effect of AEPp on carrageenan-induced leukocyte recruitment and exudate production, the air pouch inflammation model was used. In addition, the antioxidant activity of AEPp was assessed in vitro by the DPPH radical scavenging method. RESULTS: The chromatographic profile of AEPp indicated the presence of flavonoids, coumarins and hydrolyzable and condensed tannins. Measurement of phenolics revealed the following percentages in the extract: 12.62±0.18% total phenolics, 5.39±0.01% total tannins, 12.54±0.24% hydrolyzable tannins, 8.37±0.32% condensed tannins and 1.23±0.02% total flavonoids. In 500 and 1000mg/kg doses (p.o.) AEPp had significant edema-inhibiting activity (p<0.01) in both the models used, suggesting that the extract may act in vascular and cell events in the inflammatory response and exert an inhibitory effect on mediators responsible for edema. In all the doses tested [250, 500 and 1000mg/kg (p.o.)], AEPp inhibited total leukocyte and neutrophil migration and reduced the amount of exudate in the air pouch in a dose-dependent manner. Both effects were statistically significant (p<0.01). The extract also reduced the DPPH radical (maximum reduction 93.13±1.71% at a concentration of 75µg/mL), indicating that it has antioxidant activity. AEPp, therefore, exhibited considerable in vivo anti-inflammatory activity and in vitro antioxidant activity. This may be due to its high phenolics content. CONCLUSION: These findings provide evidence to support the use of P. plagiophyllus in folk medicine to treat inflammatory disorders.

Condições higiênico-sanitárias nos serviços de alimentação de Organizações Não Governamentais de Toledo/PR / Hygiene and sanitary conditions of food services in Non-Governmental Organizations in Toledo/PR

The knowledge of the conditions in which ready-for-consumption food is produced is necessary in order to assure the human right to adequate nutrition. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the hygiene and sanitary conditions of Food Services in Non-Government Organizations(NGOs) in Toledo / PR. Data collection occurred by direct observation and interview with the person responsible for the establishment. The checklist of the Good Manufacturing Practices in Food Producing / Processing Establishments which is part of the Brazilian Health Authority ("Anvisa")Resolution RDC 275, dated October 21, 2002, was used. The choices for answers were: YES, when the item complied with the Resolution; NO, when the item did not comply with the resolution and NOT APPLICABLE in cases where the item was not necessary. The answers were evaluated as the percentage of compliance. Items where the option was NOT APPLICABLE were excluded from the analysis of compliance. Ten NGOs were visited from April to October, 2008. A total of 1578 meals are served in these institutions every day. Among the services examined, 10% were in Group1, 50% in Group 2 and 40% in Group 3. Physical structure and facilities presented 58% of compliance; equipment, furniture and utensils presented 61% of compliance, handlers presented 56% of compliance, production presented 54% of compliance and documentation presented 9% of compliance. The results showed the need for intervention to improve the safety of food supplied to the attendance of these institutions

El conocimiento de las condiciones en que seproducen los alimentos listos para el consumo, es necesario en el sentido de garantizar el derecho humano a una alimentación adecuada. Así, el objetivo de la encuesta fue evaluar las condiciones higiénico-sanitarias de Sevicios deAlimentación de Organizaciones No Gubernamentales (ONG) de Toledo/PR. La recolección de los datos se hizo por observación directa y por entrevista al responsable por el establecimiento. Se aplicó una Lista deVerificación de Buenas Prácticas, que es partede la RDC 275, de 21 de octubre de 2002, a Establecimientos Productores/Manipuladores de Alimentos. Las opciones de respuestas fueron: SI, cuando la opción estaba adecuada; NO,cuando la opción no estaba adecuada y NO SEAPLICA, en casos donde la opción no era necesaria. La evaluación se hizo en relación al porcentaje de adecuación. Los temas donde la opción era NO SE APLICA, fueron excluidos del análisis de adecuación. Fueron visitadas diez ONG de Abril a Octubre de 2008. El número de comidas servidas diariamente en las instituciones eran 1578. De los servicios analizados, 10%estaban en Grupo 1, 50% en Grupo 2 y 40% en Grupo 3. El conjunto: estructura física e instalaciones presentó 58% de adecuación;equipos, muebles y utensilios 61%; manipuladores 56%; producción 54% y documentación 9%. Los resultados muestran la necesidad de intervención para mejorar de la seguridad de los alimentos ofrecidos al público albo de las instituciones

O conhecimento das condições em que se produzem os alimentos prontos para o consumo é necessário no sentido de garantir o direito humano a uma alimentação adequada. Assim, o objetivo dessa pesquisa foi avaliar as condições higiênico-sanitárias de Serviços de Alimentação em Organizações Não Governamentais (ONG)de Toledo/PR. A coleta dos dados ocorreu por observação direta, bem como entrevista ao responsável pelo estabelecimento. Utilizou-se a Lista de Verificação das Boas Práticas de Fabricação em Estabelecimentos Produtores/Industrializadores de Alimentos que compõe a RDC 275 de 21 de outubro de 2002. As opções de respostas foram: SIM, quando o item estava adequado; NÃO, quando o item não estava adequado e NÃO SE APLICA, em casos em que o quesito não era necessário. A avaliação deu-se conforme o percentual de adequação. Os itens em que a opção foi NÃO SE APLICA, foram excluídos da análise de adequação. Foram visitadas dez ONG de abril a outubro de 2008.O número de refeições servidas diariamente nessas instituições é de 1578. Dos serviços analisados, 10% estavam no Grupo 1, 50% no Grupo 2 e 40% no Grupo 3. O bloco estrutura física e instalações apresentou 58% de adequação, equipamentos, móveis e utensílios 61%, manipuladores 56%, produção 54% e documentação 9%. Os resultados mostraram a necessidade de intervenção para a melhoria da segurança dos alimentos oferecidos ao público alvo destas Instituições.