Avaliação "in vitro" do efeito da infusão de Cunila microcephala Benth sobre a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase e biomarcadores de estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de agricultores / Effect of the Cunila microcephala Benth infusion on the activity of Acetilcolinesterase enzyme and on the biomarkers of oxidative stress in farmers erythrocytes

RESUMO Tivemos como objetivo avaliar o efeito da infusão de Cunila microcephala Benth sobre a atividade da enzima acetilcolinesterase (AChE) e marcadores de estresse oxidativo em eritrócitos de agricultores. Foram utilizadas amostras provenientes de 16 trabalhadores rurais expostos a pesticidas agrícolas pelo período mínimo de 5 anos e um grupo controle constituído de 16 indivíduos não expostos a agrotóxicos. As hemácias dos agricultores e o grupo A foram expostos “in vitro” à solução salina (NaCl 0,9%). Os demais grupos foram expostos à infusão de poejo nas concentrações de 0; 5; 10; 25 e 50 g/L (Grupos B; C; D e E, respectivamente). Em seguida, foram realizadas as determinações da atividade da AChE e dos níveis de substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS), proteínas carboniladas (PCs) e glutationa reduzida (GSH). Os resultados mostram que a infusão de poejo 50g/L, aumenta a atividade da enzima AChE e os níveis de GSH. Contudo, os níveis de TBARS e PCs diminuíram após o tratamento com a infusão de poejo 25 e 50 g/L. A infusão de poejo, na concentração de 50 g/L, é capaz de reverter, “in vitro” a inibição da atividade da AChE que ocorre pela exposição a pesticidas, e ainda demonstra um importante potencial antioxidante, tendo em vista que diminuiu danos lipídicos e proteicos e ainda, estimulou a produção do principal antioxidante não enzimático endógeno.

ABSTRACT Evaluating the effect of infusion Cunila microcephala Benth on acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) enzyme and on biomarkers of oxidative stress in farmers erythrocytes. We used samples from 16 rural workers exposed to pesticides for a minimum of five years, and a control group composed of 16 individuals not exposed to pesticides. The erythrocytes of farmers and from group A were exposed “in vitro” the saline solution (NaCl 0,9%). The other groups were exposed to the infusion of “poejo” at concentrations of 0; 5; 10; 25 and 50 g/L (Groups B, C, D and E, respectively). Then, it was realized the analitical determinations of AChE activity and TBARS, PCs and GSH levels. The results showed that “poejo” infusion 50g/L, increased the AChE activity and GSH levels. However, the TBARS e PCs levels decreased after the treatment with “poejo” infusion 25 e 50 g/L. The “poejo” infusion 50 g/L is able to revert “in vitro” the inhibition of AChE activity that occurs by exposure to pesticides and also demonstrates an important antioxidant potential, given that decreased lipid and protein damage and also it stimulated the production of the main non-enzymatic antioxidant endogenous.

Phospholipids in plant and animal chromatin.

Isolated hepatic nuclei and hepatic chromatin have been analysed for their DNA, RNA, protein and phospholipid content. The protein/DNA ratio is 3 for nuclei and 1.95 for chromatin extracted from Triton X-100 treated nuclei. The phospholipids, (2.36 +/- 0.91 (S.D.) per cent of the total nuclear material), are lost during the chromatin preparation mainly during the Triton X-100 washings of the nuclei. Nevertheless, 10 per cent of the total nuclear phospholipids remain bound to the chromatin. The comparative analysis of both nuclei and chromatin shows a difference in phospholipids and fatty acid composition. Thus, the chromatin-associated phospholipid cannot be attributed simply to contaminating nuclear membrane. This is supported by the autoradiographic study of semi-thin sections of interphase nuclei from root apices of Vicia faba in which [3H] ethanolamine is clearly localized in the chromatin and nucleolar regions of the nuclei.