Hydroalcoholic extract of red propolis promotes functional recovery and axon repair after sciatic nerve injury in rats.

CONTEXT: Peripheral axon injury and degeneration are often mediated by oxidative stress and inflammation. The hydroalcoholic extract of the red propolis (HERP) has attracted great attention because of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to study the effect of HERP on nerve repair and functional recovery after sciatic nerve injury (SNI) in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical markers in HERP were identified using high-resolution mass spectroscopy. After axonotmesis of sciatic nerve, ibuprofen (IBP) and HERP treatments were orally administered for 28 d. Behavioural tests were performed weekly after SNI. The myelinated axon number was counted using morphometric analysis. RESULTS: The compounds found in HERP were pinocembrin, formononetin, vestitol, and biochanin A. The animals that underwent SNI showed a significant decrease in motor function based on the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan scale and sciatic functional index compared with sham animals until 7 d after the surgery (p < 0.05). After 14 and 21 d, the SNI groups treated with either HERP or IBP showed significant improvement (p < 0.01), and the SNI group treated with HERP 10 mg/kg showed accelerated motor recovery compared with the other groups (p < 0.01). SNI caused also a reduction in the myelinated axon counts, and treatment with HERP 10 mg/kg induced a significant increase in the number of myelinated fibres compared with all other groups. CONCLUSION: HERP promoted regenerative responses and accelerated functional recovery after sciatic nerve crush. Thus, it can be considered to be a new strategy or complementary therapy for treating nerve injuries.

Enhancement of the functionality of women with knee osteoarthritis by a gel formulation with Caryocar coriaceum Wittm ("Pequi") nanoencapsulated pulp fixed oil.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease that occurs when there is a change in the mechanical and biological properties of the articular cartilage and the subchondral bone; The condition is more prevalent in women than in men. Pequi oil (PO), which is extracted from the fruits of the pequi tree (Caryocar coriaceum Wittm), is widely used in traditional medicine in the Brazilian northeast for the management of inflammation and joint pain. The aim of this study was to develop a pharmaceutical formulation containing Carbopol® hydrogel nanoencapsulated with pequi pulp fixed oil (PeONC) and evaluate its therapeutic effect on functionality and pain in women with knee osteoarthritis. The study was divided into two stages: Stage 1 - preparation and physico-chemical characterization of the pharmaceutical formulation containing PeONC, cell viability assays and skin irritability testing. Step 2 - A double-blind randomized clinical trial evaluating knee symptoms, quality of life, pressure pain, function, muscle strength and range of motion. The nanoformulation was in a gel form, with a particle size of 209.5 ± 1.06 nm, a pH of 6.23 ± 0.45, a zeta potential of - 23.1 ± 0.4 mV, a polydispersity index of 0.137 ± 0.52, and containing nanocapsules with a spherical shape a polymeric wall and an oily nucleus. The gel showed no cytotoxicity and was not irritating to human skin. The treatment with PeONC increased the strength of the knee flexor and extensor muscles and the total motion range of the knee. In addition, the treatment reduced knee instability, pain, swelling, and locking; There was also an improvement in some items of the SF-36 quality of life questionnaire such as in respect of functional capacity and social aspects. In conclusion, PeONC was found to be a stable, safe formulation with no toxicity in respect of topical use in humans. Additionally, the treatment produced an increase in muscle strength and functionality that was associated with reduced knee symptoms and improved quality of life. Our findings showed that in a group of women treated with PeONC mitigated the symptoms of knee osteoarthritis.

Effects of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. on healing and tissue repair after partial Achilles tenotomy in rats.

PURPOSE:: To investigate the cellular response to injury, analyzing histopathologic changes associated with increased cellularity, degeneration and disorganization of collagen fibers. METHODS:: Thirty wistar rats were divided in two groups after partial Achilles tenotomy: the right hind paw were treated with the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAz), diluted to 33% (0.3 mL kg-1), and the left hind paw received sunflower oil for 3, 14, 30 and 90 days. Statistical significance was determined using a Chi-square and Pearson Correlation qualitative variables test. Moreover, Mann-Whitney U-test test for comparison between different groups of the same cell, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's test of quantitative measurement. RESULTS:: A decrease hyperemia (p < 0.001) was observed in the acute phase of inflammatory cell number (p < 0.001), whereas sub-acute phase was marked by significant correlation with macrophages in fibroblasts (r = 0.17, p = 0.03), with probable induction a dense and modeled tissue. At chronic phase, it was found an increase in the number of fibroblasts and a higher percentage of type I collagen fibers (78%) compared with control collagen fibers (55%). CONCLUSION:: Oil of Alpinia zerumbet stimulated the process of maturation, organization and tissue repair which gave it greater resistance.

The Effect of Alpinia zerumbet Essential Oil on Post-Stroke Muscle Spasticity.

The essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAz) presents myorelaxant and antispasmodic actions on cardiac and smooth muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EOAz on the skeletal muscle contraction in post-stroke spasticity. Fifteen adults with unilateral hemiparesis and spasticity resulting from stroke were submitted to surface electromyography readings of the gastrocnemius muscle, before and after 10 daily applications (dermal 0.05 mL per muscle belly) of EOAz. The healthy contralateral muscles without applying the oil were used as controls. The analysis showed that, in both lateral and medial gastrocnemius, the values of all studied variables (root mean square, maximum amplitude and median power frequency) were significantly decreased in pathological legs during muscle contraction (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05). Moreover, spastic muscles presented different results before and after dermal application of EOAz: The mean values of root mean square and median power frequency were significantly increased in lateral and medial gastrocnemius, and also, the maximum amplitude increased in medial gastrocnemius (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.05). The results suggest that EOAz acts in the skeletal spastic muscle contraction by promoting relaxation and improvement of the muscular performance. Thus, the EOAz can be useful for the clinical management of secondary effects in patients with cerebral vascular disease.

Effects of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. on healing and tissue repair after partial Achilles tenotomy in rats

Abstract Purpose: To investigate the cellular response to injury, analyzing histopathologic changes associated with increased cellularity, degeneration and disorganization of collagen fibers. Methods: Thirty wistar rats were divided in two groups after partial Achilles tenotomy: the right hind paw were treated with the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAz), diluted to 33% (0.3 mL kg-1), and the left hind paw received sunflower oil for 3, 14, 30 and 90 days. Statistical significance was determined using a Chi-square and Pearson Correlation qualitative variables test. Moreover, Mann-Whitney U-test test for comparison between different groups of the same cell, one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's test of quantitative measurement. Results: A decrease hyperemia (p < 0.001) was observed in the acute phase of inflammatory cell number (p < 0.001), whereas sub-acute phase was marked by significant correlation with macrophages in fibroblasts (r = 0.17, p = 0.03), with probable induction a dense and modeled tissue. At chronic phase, it was found an increase in the number of fibroblasts and a higher percentage of type I collagen fibers (78%) compared with control collagen fibers (55%). Conclusion: Oil of Alpinia zerumbet stimulated the process of maturation, organization and tissue repair which gave it greater resistance.

Viabilidade do uso do óleo essencial da Alpinia zerumbet, Zingiberaceae, na otimização do tratamento fisioterapêutico em paralisia cerebral espástica / Feasibility of using essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet, Zingiberaceae, the optimization of physical therapy in spastic cerebral palsy

Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a viabilidade do óleo essencial da Alpinia zerumbet associado ao tratamento fisioterapêutico da paralisia cerebral. Métodos: O estudo foi prospectivo, analítico e clínico do tipo II, aleatório por grupos em períodos específicos. A amostra, N = 24, de crianças com paralisia cerebral foi dividida em quatro grupos: dois grupos de cinesioterapia tratado com óleo essencial e seu controle, por via dérmica, na dose de 0,5 kg ml/10 kg, e dois grupos de cinesioterapia, tratado com óleo essencial e seu controle, por via inalatória, na dose 0,05 ml/10 kg/5 ml de soro fisiológico por 15 minutos. A espasticidade muscular e as atividades funcionais estáticas e dinâmicas foram mensuradas pelo protocolo de Durigon (2004). Os testes t-Student e ANOVA foram utilizados para a significância de 95%. Resultados: Os grupos tratados com óleo essencial apresentaram resultados significativos na avaliação do tônus muscular e na função estática e dinâmica. Conclusão: O óleo essencial associado à cinesioterapia modula o tônus muscular, possibilitando ganho funcional. As crianças tratadas de forma dermal apresentaram melhor resultado em relação às que inalaram o óleo essencial.

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of the essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet associated with physical therapy for cerebral palsy. Methods: The study was a prospective, clinical analytical type II, random by groups in specific periods. The sample, N = 24, were children with cerebral palsy was divided into four groups: groups of exercise treated with essential oil and its control and dermal administration of 0.5 kg ml/10 kg and two groups of kinesiotherapy treated with essential oil and its control by inhalation at a dose of 0.05 ml/10 kg/5 ml saline for 15 minutes. Muscle spasticity and the static and dynamic functional activities were measured by protocol Durigon (2004). The Student t-tests and ANOVA were used for the 95% significance. Results: The groups treated with essential oil showed significant results in the assessment of muscle tone and function static and dynamic. Conclusion: The essential oil associated with the kinesiotherapy modulates the tone making it functional gain. Children treated in such a way that showed best results for dermal which inhaled the essential oil.

Motor function evaluation of hydrocephalus children / Avaliação da função motora de crianças com hidrocefalia

Objectives: To evaluate the kinetic functional condition of children with hydrocephalus; to identify the condition of the muscle tone; to verify the static and dynamic functional activities; and to verify the association between tone changes and functional activities. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive, exploratory and study, using qualitative and quantitative approach, performed at the University Hospital in Aracaju city, from August 2009 to March 2010. Results: From 50 evaluated children, 30 (60%) had hypertonia; 10 (20%) were hypotonic; and 10 (20%) did not show muscle tone alteration. The age average was considerably lesser in hypertonic children and higher in hypotonic and without tone alteration children. The average of carried through surgeries was more expressive in hypertonic children. Motor sequels had been present in 92% of the sample. The static functional activities, as well as dynamic functional activities, were lower in hypertonic children (p < 0,0001) and higher in hypotonic and normal tone children. Conclusions: Muscle tone exacerbation is more present in hydrocephalus children and motor function is impaired, being the neuropsychomotor development delayed more evident in spastic children group and less pronounced in children with normal muscle tone.

Objetivos: Avaliar o quadro cinético-funcional de crianças com hidrocefalia; identificar a condição do tônus muscular; verificar as atividades funcionais estáticas e dinâmicas; verificar a associação entre as alterações de tônus e as atividades funcionais nas crianças com hidrocefalia. Método: Estudo transversal, de caráter descritivo, exploratório e de campo, sob abordagem qualiquantitativa, realizado no ambulatório do Hospital Universitário, do município de Aracaju, no período de agosto de 2009 a março de 2010. Resultados: Das 50 crianças avaliadas, 30 (60%) apresentavam hipertonia; 10 (20%) eram hipotônicas; 10 (20%) não apresentavam alteração de tônus muscular. A média de idade foi consideravelmente menor nas crianças hipertônicas em relação às crianças hipotônicas e normotônicas. A média de procedimentos cirúrgicos realizados foi mais expressiva no grupo de crianças com hipertonia muscular. As sequelas motoras estiveram presentes em 92% da amostra. As atividades funcionais estáticas, bem como as dinâmicas, encontraram-se mais comprometidas nas crianças hipertônicas (p < 0,0001) do que nas hipotônicas e normotônicas. Conclusões: A hipertonia muscular foi a alteração tônica mais presente nas crianças com hidrocefalia, e a função motora é deficitária, sendo o atraso no desenvolvimento neuropsicomotor mais evidente no grupo de crianças espásticas e menos pronunciado nas crianças com tônus muscular sem alterações.