Effects of a mixture of fatty acids from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) wax oil in two models of inflammation: zymosan-induced arthritis and mice tail test of psoriasis.

A mixture of fatty acids obtained from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) wax oil (FAM), in which the main constituents are palmitic, oleic, linoleic, and linolenic acids, was evaluated in two models of inflammation: zymosan-induced arthritis and in the tail test for psoriasis, both on mice. In the first model, FAM significantly reduced zymozan-induced increase of beta glucuronidase (DE(50) 90+/-7 mg/kg). Histopathological studies showed inhibition in cellular infiltration and reduction of synovial hyperplasia and synovitis, whereas in the second test, histopathological and ultrastructural studies showed that topical application of FAM induced orthokeratosis with the presence of keratohyalin granules in the previously parakeratotic adult mouse tail, and without effects on epidermal thickness. The ED(50) of FAM in this model was 155+/-10 mg. The results of our studies showed that topical application of FAM exerts an important anti-inflammatory activity in both tests without evidence of irritant effects. The anti-inflamatory effects exerted by FAM may be due to its inhibitory effects on arachidonic acid metabolism. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the anti-inflammatory effect of sugar cane by-products in experimental models of arthritis and psoriasis.

Effect of an EGF-cancer vaccine on wound healing and inflammation models.

BACKGROUND: Epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGF-R) are attractive targets for cancer immunotherapy. Tolerance has been broken with an EGF-vaccine and antibodies against EGF have been produced in animals and in cancer patients. EGF also plays an important role in the inflammation stage of wound healing. Because this therapeutic approach may be of importance after surgery procedures in cancer patients, we decided to investigate the possible role of the EGF-vaccine in the croton-oil-induced ear edema and in the wound healing experimental animal models. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Mice were immunized with an EGF-vaccine by intramuscular injections and serum titers against EGF were measured through ELISA techniques. Control animals received saline. RESULTS: Immunized mice produced antibodies against EGF while no antibody titers could be measured in control animals. Croton oil applied to the inner ear surface of EGF-vaccine treated mice caused a 61.3% lower ear punch weight and a 60.2% lower myeloperoxidase activity than control mice. In the EGF-vaccine treated animals, planimetry measurements and histological analysis did not led to significant impairment in tissue repair. CONCLUSIONS: The EGF-vaccination in mice decreased the normal croton-oil-induced inflammation response, without apparent impairment in tissue healing.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of a mixture of fatty acids isolated and purified from sugar cane wax oil.

The anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of FAM, a defined mixture of fatty acids isolated from sugar cane (Saccharum officinarum L.), was evaluated. Oral administration of this mixture showed anti-inflammatory activity in the cotton pellet granuloma assay and in the carrageenin-induced pleurisy test, both in rats, as well as in the peritoneal capillary permeability test in mice. In addition, FAM showed analgesic properties in the hot-plate model and in the acetic acid-induced writhings test, both in mice. In conclusion, these results provide evidence on the potential usefulness of the mixture of fatty acids from sugar cane wax oil in inflammatory disorders.

Antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects of an extract of red propolis.

AIM: To study the antipsoriatic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects of ethanolic extract of red propolis. METHODS AND RESULTS: This extract induced the formation of granular layer in the mouse tail test used as a model of psoriasis. Propolis 50 mg.kg-1 i.g. showed anti-inflammatory activity in the cotton-pellet granuloma assay in rats, in croton oil-induced edema in mice at a dose of 25% (2.5 microL), and in the peritoneal capillary permeability test in mice at a dose of 10 mg.kg-1. The extract (25 mg.kg-1 i.g.) showed analgesic effect in the model of acetic acid-induced writhings, whereas 40 mg.kg-1 was effective in the hot plate test in mice. CONCLUSION: Anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipsoriatric properties of Cuban red propolis were evident.

Pharmacological screening of plant decoctions commonly used in Cuban folk medicine.

Pharmacological screening for cardiotonic, hypotensive or bronchodilator activities was performed on 50 plant species depending on their traditional medical use by the Cuban population. Eleven of these species may have promise as therapeutic agents, but additional preclinical pharmacological and toxicological studies are needed to establish their therapeutic effectiveness and safety in human disease.

Kerosene-induced asthma.

Clinical evaluation of 286 asthmatic women showed 15.5% of those who improved clinically had contact with kerosene, while 43.9% of those who failed to improve used kerosene as fuel for cooking. In 16 women the onset of asthma occurred soon after they began to use kerosene. Kerosene can cause and aggravate asthma.

Pharmacological study of Cymbopogon citratus leaves.

Cymbopogon citratus leaves are employed by the Cuban population as an antihypertensive and anti-inflammatory folk medicine. A 10% or 20% decoction of leaves was tested using arterial pressure in rats, urine production and carrageenan-induced edema in rats. The decoction showed some dose-related hypotensive effects given intravenously and some weak diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect when given orally.

Effects of kerosene on airway sensitization to egg albumin in guinea pig.

We undertook a study to determine if pre-exposure to kerosene smoke enhances airway sensitization to egg albumin in the guinea pig. Kerosene vapor inhalation for 15 days, 1 hour daily, in similar conditions to which some housewives who use kerosene as cooking fuel are exposed elicited tracheal damage characterized by signs of dysplasia and inflammatory infiltrate. When these animals were exposed to egg albumin aerosol there was an increase in the antialbumin antibody blood titer and an increased response to egg albumin in the isolated tracheal preparation (Schultz-Dale reaction), We conclude that the airway damage elicited by inhalation of kerosene vapor increase antigen absorption and thereby antibody formation.

Induction of acetylcholinesterase inhibition in the guinea pig trachea by kerosene.

The effect of kerosene on in vivo and in vitro tracheal acetylcholinesterase (CHE) activity of guinea pigs has been investigated. Kerosene aerosol administered to guinea pigs during 20 min at a mean concentration of 20.4 mg/l elicited immediately, 1 h and 24 h later tracheal CHE inhibition by 30, 48.8, and 32.3% of control values (p less than 0.05). Kerosene at 1% concentration inhibited significantly, after 1 h of incubation in vitro, the CHE activity by 44.9% of control values. The tracheal CHE inhibition induced by kerosene could actually increase the acetylcholine concentration acting on smooth muscle of airways, and this partially explains the respiratory symptoms which are frequently observed after kerosene intoxication.

Kerosene aerosol induces guinea-pig airway hyperreactivity to acetylcholine.

Kerosene aerosol (32.5 mg/l; 20 min), when administered to guinea pigs 1 h before exposure to acetylcholine (Ach), induced potentiation of cumulative dose-response curve of this agonist on isolated tracheal strips as well as a decrease of the lethal doses of Ach. This enhanced response was absent or greatly reduced when kerosene aerosol was administered to guinea pigs 24 h previously or just before Ach challenge. This airway hyperreactivity was also lacking when carbachol or histamine were used as spasmogens instead of Ach. Possible explanations of these results are discussed.

[Morphological changes in the respiratory tract of guinea pigs exposed to kerosene aerosol]. / Alteraciones morfológicas del árbol respiratorio de cobayas sometidos a aerosol de keroseno.

It's well known that there exists a high correlation between daily usage of Kerosene and the appearance of dyspnea in healthy humans and in asthmatic patients. Our aim is to study the histological alterations of the respiratory tract of guinea pigs submitted to Kerosene aerosol. It was administered to male guinea pigs fifteen minutes daily for a month. Fragments of trachea and lungs were processed for histological studies. Erosion of tracheal epithelium and inflammatory infiltration were observed. Lungs presented with thickening of the interalveolar septa. The eosinophilic infiltration may represent an immunological response resembling reactions of immediate hypersensitivity. The morphological alterations may be induced by toxic products of Kerosene such as sulphur impurities that act as mucosal irritants which damage defense mechanisms of the organism.

Disodium cromoglycate inhibits bronchoconstriction by kerosine aerosol in rabbits.

To determine whether or not disodium cromoglycate (DSCG) inhibits the bronchoconstriction induced by inhalation of kerosene aerosol in rabbits, we carried out a study in 31 normal rabbits which were divided into four groups. DSCG was administered through the tracheal cannula twenty minutes before exposure to kerosene aerosol. Twenty and forty milligrams of DSCG as total doses inhibited kerosene induced bronchoconstriction in large airways (RL), but 5 mg of drug did not have any effect. DSCG at any tested dose did not inhibit the decreased dynamic lung compliance (CL) which was observed after kerosene aerosol. Our findings suggest that DSCG at high dose inhibit the bronchoconstrictor effect of kerosene in large airways of rabbits.

Studies on the effects of kerosine aerosol on airways of rabbits.

The effects of kerosine aerosol inhalation at a mean concentration of 32.5 mg/L on spontaneously breathing rabbits as well as on artificially ventilated rabbits were studied. Kerosine aerosol inhalation by spontaneously breathing rabbits during 4 minutes elicited an increase in total pulmonary resistance (RT) by 38 +/- 15 percent of control value (p less than 0.05). After atropine injection (0.2 mg/kg. I.V.) there was an immediate decrease in RT which was not significantly different from the control value after either, 1 or 5 minutes administration. Kerosine aerosol inhalation during 9 minutes elicited an increase in tracheal resistance by 45.5 +/- 8.2 percent of control value in artificially ventilated normal rabbits, while in vagotomized ones the increase was only by 21.2 +/- 6.9 percent of control value (p less than 0.05). It is concluded that inhalation of kerosine by spontaneously breathing or artificially ventilated rabbits elicit an acute increase in airways resistance which is mainly reflex and mediated by parasympathetic pathways.

Effect of acute haemorrhage and autotransfusion on respiration in the pig.

The effect of haemorrhage and transfusion of blood on minute ventilation, VE, in eight anaesthetized pigs was studied by bleeding the animals from the jugular vein and retransfusion of the same quantity of blood. Bleeding the pig from the jugular vein at approximately 50 ml/min, during 2 min, decreased V/ by 8.4 +/- 5.6 per cent of the pre-bleeding control valve (p = 0.0004) and when the same quantity of blood was retransfused the VE increased by 11.8 +/- 12.4 per cent (p=0.03). The possible mechanisms are discussed. We conclude that: a) mechanoreceptors localized in pulmonary circulation play an important role in the VE response during the first seconds of venous haemorrhage and venous transfusion, b) autotransfusion from moving legs and its effect on pulmonary mechanoreceptors may explain in part hyperpnoea at the onset of muscular exercise.