ABSTRACT
Spirulina platensis is a "super-food" and has attracted researchers' attention due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. Herein, we investigated the antinociceptive effects of Spirulina in different rodent behavior models of inflammatory pain. Male Swiss mice were treated with Spirulina (3-300 mg/kg, p.o.), indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o.), or vehicle (0.9% NaCl 10 mL/kg). Behavioral tests were performed with administration of acetic acid (0.6%, i.p.), formalin 2.7% (formaldehyde 1%, i.pl.), menthol (1.2 µmol/paw, i.pl.), cinnamaldehyde (10 nmol/paw, i.pl.), capsaicin (1.6 µg/paw, i.pl.), glutamate (20 µmol/paw, i.pl.), or naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals were also exposed to the rotarod and open field test to determine possible effects of Spirulina on locomotion and motor coordination. The quantitative phytochemical assays exhibited that Spirulina contains significant concentrations of total phenols and flavonoid contents, as well as it showed a powerful antioxidant effect with the highest scavenging activity. Oral administration of Spirulina completely inhibited the abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid (ED50 = 20.51 mg/kg). Spirulina treatment showed significant inhibition of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior during the inflammatory phase, and the opioid-selective antagonist markedly blocked this effect. Furthermore, our data indicate that the mechanisms underlying Spirulina analgesia appear to be related to its ability to modulate TRMP8 and TRPA1, but not by TRPV1 or glutamatergic system. Spirulina represents an orally active and safe natural analgesic that exhibits great therapeutic potential for managing inflammatory pain disorders.
Subject(s)
Analgesics/pharmacology , Narcotic Antagonists/pharmacology , Nociceptive Pain/drug therapy , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , Spirulina/chemistry , TRPA1 Cation Channel/metabolism , TRPM Cation Channels/metabolism , Analgesics/therapeutic use , Animals , Capsaicin/pharmacology , Male , Mice , Naloxone/pharmacology , Nociception/drug effects , Plant Extracts/therapeutic useABSTRACT
O objetivo do artigo é realizar uma reflexão a partir da vivência dos integrantes no projeto Farmácia Viva sobre as práticas integrativas e complementares com ênfase na fitoterapia. Trata-se de um relato de experiência sobre uma das atividades no projeto "Vivências e Estágios na Realidade do Sistema Único de Saúde", ocorrido em Sobral-CE realizado em Março e Abril de 2016 nos dispositivos sociais de atenção a saúde. A Farmácia Viva é constituída por equipe multiprofissional que integra o serviço de saúde que cultiva, prepara e orienta o uso de plantas medicinais para à população a fim de favorecer a redução da medicalização e o uso inadequado das ervas medicinais. O Projeto Farmácia Viva busca fortalecer uso da fitoterapia que contribui, através da medicina tradicional, as práticas de saúde visando promover a oferta de cuidados alternativos com fácil acesso e baixo custo. A existência de iniciativas do projeto Farmácia Viva tem sido de grande suporte na atenção básica, a população torna-se próxima, acolhida, ciente da finalidade da erva medicinal, compreendendo sua indicação terapêutica, riscos do uso inadequado e das vantagens de possuir menos efeitos colaterais. Além de perpetuar nas gerações seguintes os benefícios das plantas, não deixando de multiplicar o poder das mesmas nas instituições de saúde.(AU)
This article aims to discuss the experience of a "Farmácia Viva" project participant about integrative and complementary practices emphasizing the Phytotherapy. It deals with the report of experiences about the activities in the project "Vivências e Estágios na Realidade do Sistema Único de Saúde", occured in Sobral-CE during March and April 2016 in the social devices of health attention. The "Farmácia Viva" project is formed by a multi-professional group that integrates the health service that cultivates, prepares and guides the use of medicinal plants to the population in order to favors the reduction of medicalization and the inappropriate use of medicinal herbs. The "Farmácia Viva" project aims to strengthen the Phytotherapy use that contributes, through the traditional medicine, to the health practices aiming to promote the oï¬er of alternatives cares with easy access and low cost. The existence of initiatives of the "Farmácia Viva" project has been very supportive to the basic care, the population becomes close, welcomed, aware of the medicinal herbs' purpose, understanding its therapeutic indication, misuse's risks, and the advantage of having fewer side eï¬ects. Besides perpetuating the plants' beneï¬ts to the following generations, while multiplying their power in health institutions.(AU)
ABSTRACT
The risk of chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease is growing as a result of the continuous increasing average life span of the world population, a syndrome characterized by the presence of intraneural neurofibrillary tangles and senile plaques composed mainly by beta-amyloid protein, changes that may cause a number of progressive disorders in the elderly, causing, in its most advanced stage, difficulty in performing normal daily activities, among other manifestations. Therefore, it is important to understand the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of this syndrome. Nevertheless, despite intensive effort to access the physiopathological pathways of the disease, it remains poorly understood. In that context, some hypotheses have arisen, including the recent oxidative stress hypothesis, theory supported by the involvement of oxidative stress in aging, and the vulnerability of neurons to oxidative attack. In the present revision, oxidative changes and redox mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease will be further stressed, as well as the grounds for antioxidant supplementation as adjuvant therapy for the disease will be addressed.