Antiproliferative activity in tumor cell lines, antioxidant capacity and total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents of Myrciaria floribunda

ABSTRACT Myrciaria floribunda (H. West ex Willd.) O. Berg, Myrtaceae, is a native plant species of the Atlantic Rain Forest, from north to south of Brazil. The lyophilized ethyl acetate extract from the leaves of M. floribunda was investigated for its antiproliferative activity in tumor cell lines, antioxidant capacity and its total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents. Antiproliferative activity was tested in vitro against seven human cancer cells and against immortalized human skin keratinocytes line (HaCat, no cancer cell). Antioxidant activity was determined using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging and oxygen radical absorbing capacity (ORAC) assays and total phenolic, flavonoid and tannin contents were determined by spectrophotometric techniques. Ethyl acetate extract of M. floribunda exhibited antiproliferative activity against cancer cell lines with total growth inhibition (TGI) between 69.70 and 172.10 µg/mL. For HaCat cell, TGI value was 213.60 µg/mL. M. floribunda showed a strong antioxidant potential: EC50 of 45.89±0.42 µg/mL and 0.55±0.05 mmol TE/g for DPPH and ORAC, respectively. Total phenolic content was 0.23±0.013g gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g extract and exhibited 13.10±1.60% of tannins content. The content of flavonoid was 24.08±0.44% expressed as rutin equivalents. These results provide a direction for further researches about the antitumoral potential of M. floribunda.

Estimulação visual em recém-nascidos pré-termos na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal: resultados preliminares / Visual stimulation in premature newborn in the neonatal intensive therapy unity: preliminary results

As alterações na visão que ocorrem no recém-nascido pré-termo se dão pela imaturidade do sistema nervoso central, sendo que a visão permite a ação motora, através da experimentação. O principal objetivo da pesquisa foi promover uma melhor acuidade visual em recém-nascidos pré-termos (RNPT). Trata-se de um ensaio clínico realizado na Unidade de Terapia Intensiva Neonatal do Conjunto Hospitalar do Mandaqui. A estimulação foi realizada inicialmente com uma lanterna e cartões. O estímulo foi aplicado numa distância inicial de 20 cm, assim, foi verificada a resposta visual ou uma resposta motora. Para análise dos dados foram utilizados os critérios de média e cálculos de probabilidade. A população estudada foi composta de 4 RNPTs, com idade gestacional média de 29 semanas, peso ao nascer de 1010g, sendo 2 (50%) do sexo masculino. Em relação às doenças, 4 (100%) apresentavam síndrome do desconforto respiratório, 2 (50%) displasia broncopulmonar, 1 (25%) broncopneumonia, 3 (75%) apnéia da prematuridade, 2 (50%) hipertensão intra-craniana e 1 (25%) atelectasia, tempo médio de ventilação mecânica 52,75 dias e oxigenioterapia 17,66 dias. Com os dados iniciais pode ser relatado que ao decorrer de três dias de estimulação visual ocorreu uma melhora na movimentação, lateralização e fixação do objeto, influenciando o desenvolvimento infantil e ressaltando a importância do aumento da amostra para continuação do estudo.

The alterations in vision which occurred in the premature newborn has the origin of the immaturity of the central nervous system, the vision allows the motor action, through the experimentation. The main objective of the research was to promote a better visual acuity in premature newborn. This is about a clinical trial executed in theNeonatal Intensive Therapy Unity in Conjunto Hospitalar Mandaqui. The stimulation was done initially with lantern and cards. The stimulus was applied with initial distance of 20 cm, then, it was verified a visual or a motor response. For this data analysis, it was used the average criteria and probability calculations. The population analyzed was compound of 4 premature newborn, with gestational age around 29 weeks, birth weight of 1010g, with 2 (50%) of the sex male. Regarding to the illness, 4 (100%) had respiratory distress syndrome, 2 (50%) bronchopulmonary dysplasia, 1 (25%) broncopneumonia, 3 (75%) apnea of prematurity, 2 (50%) hipertensão intra-craniana and 1 (25%) atelectasias, around 52,75 days using the mechanical ventilation and around 17,66 days using oxygentherapy. With the initial information it can be related that during three days of the visual stimulation, it has occurred an evolution in the movement, lateralization and fixation of the object, influencing the infant development and emphasizing the importance of the sample’s increase to continuation of the study.

Effects of the essential oil obtained from Pilocarpus spicatus Saint-Hilaire (Rutaceae) on the development of Rhodnius prolixus nymphae

Bioassays against fifth-instar nymphae of Rhodnius prolixus were conducted with essential oil of Pilocarpus spicatus extracted by hydrodistillation. The main results may be summarized as follows: (i) high levels of toxicity and paralysis together with discrete moulting inhibition were caused by topical application of either 0.5 µL or 1.0 µL per insect of the crude essential oil; (ii) partial fagoinhibition, high moulting inhibition, prolonged intermoulting period and high number of paralyzed insects, but no toxicity were observed after oral treatment using either 5 µL or 10 µL of Pilocarpus spilcatus essential oil per mL of ingested blood meal. The importance of these results in relation to the relevant biological events in R. prolixus is herein discussed.

Bioensaios contra ninfas de 5º estádio de Rhodnius prolixus foram conduzidos utilizando-se óleo essencial de Pilocarpus spicatus extraído por hidrodestilação. Os principais resultados podem ser resumidos como se segue: (i) altos níveis de toxicidade e paralisia associados à discreta inibição da muda foram induzidos pela aplicação tópica de 0,5 µL ou 1,0 µL do óleo essencial por inseto; (ii) fagoinibição parcial, altos níveis de inibição da muda, período intermuda prolongado e alto número de insetos paralisados mas ausência de toxicidade foram observados após tratamento oral com 5,0 µL ou 10 µL de óleo essencial de P. spicatus por mL de sangue ingerido. A importância destes resultados em relação a eventos biológicos relevantes em R. prolixus é aqui discutida.