RESUMO
Objectives: Metabolic syndrome is associated with the development of chronic kidney disease. Bursera simaruba "chaca" is a medicinal plant used in Mexico for hypertension and empirical therapy. In this study, were examined the effects of ethanol extract of B. simaruba on metabolic syndrome. Materials and Methods: For induction of metabolic syndrome, 20% fructose was used, and it was administered in the water and food to male Wistar rats for 12 weeks, after administering ethanol extract of B. simaruba intragastrically (100 and 200 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks, blood pressure was determined. In plasma, glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, angiotensin II, oxide nitric, and angiotensin 1-7 were quantified. In the kidney was performed histological study and the activity of anti-oxidant enzymes was quantified. Results: Rats with metabolic syndrome developed obesity, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, and kidney damage characterized by proliferative glomerulonephritis, necrosis, and reduced activity of anti-oxidant enzymes. These alterations were significantly ameliorated by ethanol extract of B. simaruba. Conclusion: The ethanolic extract of B. simaruba showed antidyslipidemic, antihypertensive, anti-oxidant, and renoprotective effects.
RESUMO
Skin infections have been associated with Acanthamoeba, nevertheless the events during skin invasion and UV-B light effects on it are unknown. The early morphological events of Acanthamoeba castellanii skin invasion are shown in SKH-1 mice that were chronically UV-B light irradiated. Mice that developed skin lesions (group 1) were topical and intradermally inoculated with A. castellanii trophozoites and sacrificed 48 h or 18 days later. Mice that showed no skin lesions (group 2) were intradermally inoculated and sacrificed 24, 48 or 72 h later. Mice ventral areas were considered controls with and without trophozoites intradermally inoculated. Skin samples were processed by histological and immunohistochemistry techniques. In group 1, trophozoites were immunolocalized in dermal areas, hair cysts, sebaceous glands, and blood vessels, and collagen degradation was observed. One of these mice shown trophozoites in the spleen, liver, and brain. In group 2, few trophozoites nearby collagenolytic activity zones were observed. In control samples, nor histological damage and no trophozoites were observed. Adherence and collagenolytic activity by A. castellanii were corroborated in vitro. We can infer that UV-B light irradiated skin could favor A. castellanii invasiveness causing damage in sites as far away as the brain, confirming the invasive capacity and pathogenic potential of these amphizoic amoebae.
RESUMO
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Verbesina crocata (Cav.) Less. (Arnica or Capitaneja) is an endemic plant from Mexico restricted to the western part of the country. The aerial parts are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and burns. The objective of this investigation was to carry out a pharmacognostic study of V. crocata and establish markers that allow for the recognition of the characteristics of the plant and validate its traditional use. The study includes anatomical and chemical characteristics of the plant as well as evaluations of its antioxidant capacity and wound healing ability in a murine model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An anatomical study of V. crocata was performed on the middle part of the leaf and stem. A methanolic extract of this species (VcME) was obtained by methanolic maceration of the aerial parts. Subsequently, a partition of the VcME was made to obtain a hexanic fraction (VcH). The phytochemical preliminary screening and characterization by high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI/MS) of the VcME and VcH were performed. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were quantified. The wound healing capacity of the methanolic extract was determined in CD-1 mice by the healing rate, the tensiometric method, and histological analysis. RESULTS: The anatomical study of V. crocata showed the presence of two types of secretory structures and their position on the leaves. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein and trichomes are potentially useful for recognition of the species. Chemical compounds detected by HPLC-ESI/MS reveal the presence of sitosterol glycoside and catechin derivatives as principal constituents of V. crocata. The VcME showed low antioxidant capacity and total phenolic. V. crocata had a similar healing effect to Recoveron® in the tensiometric method, but the rate of healing was higher. According to the histological analysis, the treatment of V. crocata promoted the remodelling phase 15 days after the incisional wound. CONCLUSION: This is the first pharmacognostic study of this species that covers the plant anatomy, chemical content and biological properties related to its traditional use. V. crocata favours wound healing according to physical and histological evaluations. In addition, the characteristics of the middle vein, trichomes and catechin glycosides are potentially useful for the recognition of this species.
RESUMO
Ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is involved in both sunburn and the development of skin cancer, which has a high incidence worldwide. Strategies to reduce these effects include the use of photoprotective substances. The aim of this work was to investigate the photoprotective effect of verbascoside isolated from the methanolic extract of Buddleja cordata (BCME) in SKH-1 mice exposed to acute and chronic UV-B radiation. The mouse dorsal area was evaluated macroscopically and microscopically for diagnosis; verbascoside penetration into mouse skin was investigated in vivo by the tape stripping method. After acute UV-B exposure, 100 percent of irradiated mice that had been protected with verbascoside showed no signs of sunburn or of inflammatory processes. After chronic exposure, 100 percent of unprotected mice showed skin carcinomas; in contrast, in mice topically treated with either BCME or verbascoside, the presence of lesions was decreased by 90 percent. These results prove that verbascoside penetrates through the skin of mice and suggest that verbascoside and BCME may potentially prevent photodamage on mices skin after acute and chronic UVR exposure.
La radiación ultravioleta (RUV) provoca quemaduras solares y el desarrollo de cáncer de piel. El objetivo de este trabajo fue investigar el efecto fotoprotector del verbascósido obtenido del extracto metanólico de Buddleja cordata (EMBC) en ratones SKH-1 expuestos a RUV-B de manera aguda y crónica. El diagnóstico histológico se llevó a cabo en la piel de la zona dorsal de los ratones. La penetración del verbascósido fue cuantificada mediante la técnica de la cinta adhesiva. En el experimento agudo, el 100 por ciento de los ratones protegidos con verbascósido no evidenciaron signos de quemadura ni procesos inflamatorios. En el experimento crónico los ratones sin protección e irradiados presentaron carcinomas cutáneos. En contraste en los ratones protegidos con EMBC o verbascósido las lesiones disminuyeron un 90 por ciento en ambos grupos. El verbascósido penetró en la piel del ratón. Los resultados sugieren que el EMBC y el verbascósido previenen el fotodaño en la piel de ratones expuestos de forma aguda o crónica a la RUV.