Curcumin pre-treatment modulate the activities of adenine nucleotide and nucleoside degradation enzymes in lymphocyte of rats infected with Trypanosoma evansi.

This study aimed to evaluate nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase) and adenosine deaminase (ADA) activities in lymphocytes from rats supplemented or not with curcumin 30 days prior to experimental infection with Trypanosoma evansi. Thirty-two adult male Wistar rats were divided in four groups. The pre-infection group 20 (PreI20) received orally 20 mg/kg of curcumin and pre-infection group 60 (PreI60) received orally 60 mg/kg of curcumin for 30 days prior inoculation with T. evansi. The infected e non-infected control groups received only oral vehicle for 30 days. Trypanosoma evansi infected groups were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.2 ml of blood with 1 × 106 parasites. After inoculation the treatment of the groups continued until the day of euthanasia (15 days). The results showed that curcumin pre-treatment, with both doses, reduced (P < .05) NTPDase and increased (P < .05) ADA activity in lymphocytes of treated groups when compared to untreated and infected animals (control). The results of this study support the evidence that the regulation of ATP and adenosine levels by NTPDase and ADA activities appear to be important to modulate the immune response in T. evansi infection, once the treatment with curcumin maintained the NTPDase activity reduced and enhanced ADA activity in lymphocytes. It is possible to conclude that the use of curcumin prior to infection with T. evansi induces immunomodulatory effects, favoring the response against the parasite.

Hypolipidemic effects of Solidago chilensis hydroalcoholic extract and its major isolated constituent quercetrin in cholesterol-fed rats.

CONTEXT: Despite several studies on the effects of Solidago chilensis Meyen (Asteraceae), the phytochemical and hypolipidemic properties remain underappreciated. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the hypolipidemic and antioxidant effects of hydroalcoholic extract (HE) and quercetrin from S. chilensis aerial parts in cholesterol-fed rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The HE was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography, followed by quercetrin isolation. Hypercholesterolemic rats (1% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid for 15 d) were treated with HE (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg p.o.; n = 6), simvastatin (4 mg/kg p.o.; n = 6), or quercetrin (10 mg/kg p.o.; n = 6) once a day for 30 d. During this period, a high-cholesterol diet was maintained until the 30th day of treatment. RESULTS: Rats treated with HE (150, 300, and 600 mg/kg) and quercetrin showed decreased serum levels of total cholesterol (-19.9, -27.5, -31.0, and -39.4%), lipoprotein-cholesterol (-36.0, -37.5, -43.3, and -59.4%), and triacylglycerides (-15.6, -23.5, -29.8, and -27.2%) when compared with the control group similar to simvastatin. Moreover, treatment with HE and quercetrin decreased hepatic 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase activity (35.1% on average) and increased fecal cholesterol levels (38.2% on average). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that hypolipidemic effects of HE are associated with it modulating the activity of HMG-CoA reductase and its interference in the reabsorption and/or excretion of intestinal lipids. Solidago chilensis and its main constituent, quercetrin, may thus be effective as cholesterol-lowering agents and in preventing atherosclerosis.