Human-edible protein contribution of tropical beef cattle production systems at different levels of intensification.

Sustainable intensification of tropical grasslands has been identified by researchers and stakeholders as a solution to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation. However, there are concerns about food security and the role of livestock in feed-food competition between animals and humans involving land and other resources. We aimed to determine the net protein contribution (NPC), a feed-food competitiveness index, of tropical beef cattle raised on extensive systems or finished in pastures or conventional feedlots, under different levels of intensification. We modelled five scenarios, from cow-calf to slaughter, based on common beef cattle practices in Brazil, whose main production system is grazing. Scenario 1 represented the lowest level of intensification and the most extensive system. Scenario 2 represented a moderately extensive system. Scenarios 3, 4, and 5 represented different degrees and practices of intensification, with animals in cow-calf and stocker phases raised solely on well-managed permanent pastures. In Scenario 3, the animals were finished in a feedlot. In Scenarios 4 and 5, all animals in the stocker phase received a protein-energy supplement, but in Scenario 4, animals were finished in a permanent pasture with high-concentrate intake. In Scenario 5, animals were finished in a feedlot. The human-edible protein (heP) conversion efficiency (hePCE) was calculated as the ratio of heP produced (meat) to heP consumed as feed, and the NPC was the product of hePCE using the protein quality ratio, accounting for the digestible indispensable amino acid score content. An hePCE > 1 indicated that meat production did not compete with humans for food, and an NPC > 1 indicated that it contributed positively to meet human requirements. Meat production and heP intake consistently increased with intensification. The greatest hePCE values were from Scenarios 1 (9.2), 2 (2.2), and 3 (1.2), which were essentially pasture-fed systems, compared to Scenarios 4 and 5 (average of 1.0). The NPC varied from 24.1 (Scenario 1) to 2.6 (Scenario 5). The area required to produce 1 kg of carcass decreased from 147 to 45 m2, and the slaughter age decreased from 36 to 21 months from the most extensive to intensive systems. Brazilian beef cattle production contributes positively to the protein requirements of humans without limiting human food supplies. The intensification of tropical grazing beef systems is a key strategy to save land and produce more meat without limiting food for humans, playing an important role in the food security agenda.

New insights into U(VI) sorption onto montmorillonite from batch sorption and spectroscopic studies at increased ionic strength.

The influence of ionic strength up to 3 mol kg-1 (background electrolytes NaCl or CaCl2) on U(VI) sorption onto montmorillonite was investigated as function of pHc in absence and presence of CO2. A multi-method approach combined batch sorption experiments with spectroscopic methods (time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and in situ attenuated total reflection Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR FT-IR)). In the absence of atmospheric carbonate, U(VI) sorption was nearly 99% above pHc 6 in both NaCl and CaCl2 and no significant effect of ionic strength was found. At lower pH, cation exchange was strongly reduced with increasing ionic strength. In the presence of carbonate, U(VI) sorption was reduced above pHc 7.5 in NaCl and pHc 6 in CaCl2 system due to formation of aqueous UO2(CO3)x(2-2x) and Ca2UO2(CO3)3 complexes, respectively, as verified by TRLFS. A significant ionic strength effect was observed due to the formation of Ca2UO2(CO3)3(aq), which strongly decreases U(VI) sorption with increasing ionic strength. The joint analysis of determined sorption data together with literature data (giving a total of 213 experimental data points) allowed to derive a consistent set of surface complexation reactions and constants based on the 2SPNE SC/CE approach, yielding log K°≡SSOUO2+ = 2.42 ± 0.04, log K°≡SSOUO2OH = -4.49 ± 0.7, and log K°≡SSOUO2(OH)32- = -20.5 ± 0.4. Ternary uranyl carbonate surface complexes were not required to describe the data. With this reduced set of surface complexes, an improved robust sorption model was obtained covering a broad variety of geochemical settings over wide ranges of ionic strengths and groundwater compositions, which subsequently was validated by an independent original dataset. This model improves the understanding of U(VI) retention by clay minerals and enables now predictive modeling of U(VI) sorption processes in complex clay rich natural environments.

Diet versus jaw bones: Lessons from experimental models and potential clinical implications.

The consumption of different types of diets influences not only body health but the bone remodeling process as well. Nutritional components can directly affect maxillary and mandibular alveolar bone microarchitecture. In this review, we focus on the current knowledge regarding the influence of diets and dietary supplementation on alveolar bone. Accumulating evidence from experimental models suggests that carbohydrate- and fat-rich diets are detrimental for alveolar bone, whereas protective effects are associated with consumption of calcium, ω-3, and bioactive compounds. Little is known about the effects of protein-free and protein-rich diets, boron, vitamin C, vitamin E, zinc, and caffeine on alveolar bone remodeling. Adipokines and direct effects of nutritional components on bone cells are proposed mechanisms linking diet and bone. Results from animal models substantiate the role of nutritional components on alveolar bone. It is a well-built starting point for clinical studies on nutritional monitoring and intervention for patients with alveolar bone disorders, especially those who are treatment refractory.

Avaliação clínica e bioquímica de cães submetidos a dois métodos de hidroterapia / Clinical and biochemical evaluation of dogs submitted to two methods of hydrotherapy

Avaliou-se a resposta dos parâmetros fisiológicos de frequência cardíaca (FC) e respiratória (FR), temperatura retal (TR) e a atividade sérica das enzimas creatina quinase (CK) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH) em cães adultos hígidos, machos e fêmeas, sob duas modalidades de hidroterapia. Dez cães foram distribuídos em dois grupos de cinco animais, denominados de grupo I (caminhada em esteira aquática) e grupo II (natação) e submetidos a duas sessões por semana com duração inicial de 10 minutos, acrescida de cinco minutos por sessão até 30 minutos, durante nove semanas. As avaliações foram realizadas antes, imediatamente depois e quatro horas após o exercício em todas as sessões para as variáveis de FC, FR e TR e nos dias um, sete, 28 e 60 para CK e LDH. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) quando comparados os valores médios dos parâmetros fisiológicos de frequência cardíaca e respiratória e de temperatura retal. Os níveis de CK e LDH não se elevaram após a hidroterapia nos diferentes tempos e dias avaliados. Dessa forma, foi possível concluir que as sessões de natação e de caminhada em esteira aquática não causaram alterações nos parâmetros fisiológicos de frequência cardíaca e respiratória, temperatura retal e nos níveis sanguíneos de creatina quinase (CK) e lactato desidrogenase (LDH) no protocolo proposto.(AU)

The physiological parameters of heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (TR), and serum activity of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) enzymes were determined in healthy dogs, male and female, under two hydrotherapy modalities. Ten dogs were distributed in two groups of five animals, named Group I (underwater treadmill walk) and Group II (swimming), submitted to two sessions per week with initial duration of 10 minutes, plus 5 minutes per session up to 30 minutes, during 9 weeks. The evaluations were performed before, immediately after and 4 hours after exercise in all sessions for the HR, RR and TR variables and on days one, seven, 28 and 60 for CK and LDH. There was no difference (P> 0.05) when comparing the mean values of physiological parameters of heart and respiratory rate and rectal temperature. CK and LDH levels did not rise after hydrotherapy at different times and days evaluated. So, it was possible to conclude that swimming sessions and underwater treadmill walking did not cause alterations in the physiological parameters of heart and respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and the blood levels of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the proposed protocol.(AU)

Effect of broiler breeders fed with corn or sorghum diet and canthaxanthin supplementation on production and reproductive performance.

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of corn or sorghum diet and canthaxanthin (CX) supplementation on performance in broiler breeders. A total of 440 females with similar body weight (BW) (3.71 ± 0.14 kg) and 60 roosters were placed in an open-sided house with 20 pens, randomly distributed in a factorial arrangement (2 × 2). There were 4 diets of 2 ingredients; corn (CO) or sorghum (SO) and 2 levels of CX; 6 mg/kg (CX) and 0 mg/kg (NCX) totaling 5 replicate pens of 22 females and 3 males each, from 42 to 65 wk, divided in 2 periods (from wk 42 to 53 and wk 54 to 65). Birds' BW was measured every 28 d and mortality rate was calculated at the end of trial. Egg production (%), egg specific gravity (g/cm3), egg weight (g), yolk weight (%), albumen weight (%), eggshell weight (%) and yolk colorimetric score were measured weekly. Incubation parameters were recorded in 12 incubations to evaluate hatching eggs, hatching (%), hatchability (%), fertility (%), weight of the chicks born and their quality. The BW, mortality, percentage of yolk and albumen weight, fertility and some incubation parameters were not affected (P > 0.05) by diets used. An increase in the egg production, hatching eggs, chicks born and first quality chick by hen at the second period were observed in CX breeder's diets (P = 0.0066; P = 0.0060; P = 0.0368; P = 0.0326). Egg specific gravity and eggshell weight were improved at the first period by SO+CX diet (P = 0.0138; P = 0.0209) and the same effect to egg weight, but at the second period (P = 0.0251). The CX was well absorbed from the diet and effectively transferred to the egg yolk, thereby increasing egg yolk pigmentation in the both periods (P < 0.0001). The CX supplementation in broiler breeder diets improved the productive and reproductive performance (laying% and hatchable eggs) at the second period, also to the both periods improved the egg yolk pigmentation.

Effect of broiler breeders fed with corn or sorghum and canthaxanthin on lipid peroxidation, fatty acid profile of hatching eggs, and offspring performance.

The aim of study was to evaluate the effect on broiler breeders fed with corn or sorghum diets and canthaxanthin on lipid peroxidation, fatty acid, and offspring's performance. A total of 440 females with similar body weight (BW) (3.77 ± 0.11 kg) and 60 roosters were placed in an open-sided house with 20 pens, randomly distributed in a factorial arrangement (2 × 2). There were 4 diets of 2 ingredients; corn (CO) or sorghum (SO) and 2 levels of canthaxanthin; 6 mg/kg (CX) and 0 mg/kg (NCX) totaling five replicate pens of 22 females and 3 males each, from 45 to 65 wk old. The BW was measured every 28 days, carotenoid concentration, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), fatty acid profile (%) in egg yolks, and the performance from two incubations and their offspring were evaluated. The study had the same statistical design as broiler breeders, making a total of 4 groups with 10 replicate pens of 8 chicks each. The BW and mortality were not affected (P > 0.05) by diets. Egg yolks coming from the CO diet had the highest (P < 0.05) lutein (3.8 vs. 0.49 mg/kg) and zeaxanthin (4.25 vs. 0.22 mg/kg) concentration compared to SO diet. The SO+CX diet had the highest CX concentration (P < 0.0001). The SO+CX diet showed the lowest TBARS (P = 0.0002) in the egg yolk compared to the CO+CX diet. Egg yolks coming from breeders fed with CO showed a higher concentration of saturated fatty acids (23.36 vs. 21.44%) and monounsaturated fatty acids (27.17 vs. 24.96%). Egg yolks arising from broiler breeders fed with SO diets showed a higher concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared (15.29 vs. 12.88%). The CX reduced the offspring CO diets mortality and improved their viability at 64 wk-old for the broiler breeders (P < 0.05). CX was well absorbed from the diet and effectively transferred to the egg yolk, thereby increasing its concentration in the yolk. This conferred resistance to oxidative stress to the yolk and also later to the developing embryo and its ultimate performance.

Landfill leachate sludge use as soil additive prior and after electrocoagulation treatment: A cytological assessment using CHO-k1 cells.

Electrocoagulation has recently attracted attention as a potential technique for treating toxic effluents due to its versatility and environmental compatibility, generating a residue chemically suitable to be used as a soil additive. In the present study, landfill leachate sludge hazardous effects were investigated prior and after electrocoagulation process using in vitro assays with the mammalian cells CHO-k1. An integrated strategy for risk assessment was used to correctly estimate the possible adverse landfill leachate sludge effects on human health and ecosystem. Electrocoagulation process proved to be an effective treatment due to possibility to improve effluent adverse characteristics and produce sludge with potential to be used as soil additive. Despite low cytoxicity, the residue presented genotoxic and mutagenic effects, indicating a capacity to induce genetic damages, probably due to induction of polyploidization process in cells. The observed effects demand an improvement of waste management methods for reduce negative risks of landfill leachate sludge application.

Biocompounds from rapeseed oil industry co-stream as active ingredients for skin care applications.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the great number of substances produced by the skincare industry, very few of them seem to truly have an effect on the skin. Therefore, given the social implications surrounding physical appearance, the search for new bioactive compounds to prevent or attenuate skin ageing and enhance self-image is a priority of current research. In this context, being rich in valuable compounds, such as proteins, phenolics, lipids and vitamins, this study is focused on the potential activity of rapeseed press cake hydrolysates to be used as raw materials for skincare applications. METHODS: In this study, the protein-rich press residue from the rapeseed oil industry was converted enzymatically into short-chain biologically active peptides using four protease products with varying substrate specificity - Alcalase 2.4L FG, Protex 6L, Protamex and Corolase 7089. The antioxidant, anti-wrinkle and anti-inflammatory activities of the obtained hydrolysates were evaluated in vitro while their biocompatibility with human skin fibroblasts was tested. RESULTS: All hydrolysates were biocompatible with skin fibroblasts after 24 h of exposure, while the non-hydrolysed extract induced cell toxicity. Alcalase 2,4L FG and Protex 6L-obtained hydrolysates were the most promising extracts showing improved bioactivities suitable for skin anti-ageing formulations, namely antioxidant activity, inhibiting approximately 80% cellular reactive oxidative species, anti-inflammatory and anti-wrinkle properties, inhibiting around 36% of myeloperoxidase activity and over 83% of elastase activity. CONCLUSION: The enzymatic technology applied to the rapeseed oil industry costream results in the release of bioactive compounds suitable for skincare applications.

The Upshot of LRRK2 Inhibition to Parkinson's Disease Paradigm.

Mutations in leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 gene (LRRK2) are implicated in autosomal dominant familial and sporadic Parkinson's disease (sPD). Given its relative frequency in PD and its putative function in several cellular pathways that are known to be impaired in the disease, we wanted to tackle LRRK2 physiological role and to address its potential as a PD therapeutic target. We investigated the impact of pharmacological inhibition of LRRK2 kinase activity in control and PD cell function. We provide evidence that physiologically LRRK2, through its kinase activity, regulates mitochondrial fission events and facilitates autophagic degradation by modulating lysosomal cellular localization. Upon LRRK2 inhibition, normal fission decreases, leading to the elongation of mitochondrial network which contributes to a poor degradation of deficient mitochondria. Moreover, LRRK2 inhibition promotes lysosomal perinuclear clustering, through Rab7 that further hinders autophagosomes degradation. These events induce a decrease in the autophagic flow, which contributed directly to a decreased proteolytic degradation of damaged mitochondria. These data resembled the results observed in sPD cells. Interestingly, the LRRK2 kinase activity is increased in sPD cells, and despite its inhibition recovers mitochondrial cellular localization, it did not improve microtubule network-dependent trafficking. Our results provide novel insights into the multiple mechanisms that dictate the association between LRRK2 and mitophagy in sPD, and contribute with new findings that could have important therapeutic implications.

Assessment of antioxidant activity of spray dried extracts of Psidium guajava leaves by DPPH and chemiluminescence inhibition in human neutrophils.

This work evaluated the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity of spray dried extracts (SDE) from Psidium guajava L. leaves. Different drying carriers, namely, maltodextrin, colloidal silicon dioxide, Arabic gum, and ß -cyclodextrin at concentrations of 40 and 80% relative to solids content, were added to drying composition. SDE were characterized through determination of the total phenolic, tannins, and flavonoid content. Antioxidant potential of the SDE was assessed by two assays: cellular test that measures the luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (LumCL) produced by neutrophils stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and the DPPH radical scavenging (DPPH∗ method). In both assays the antioxidant activity of the SDE occurred in a concentration-dependent manner and showed no toxicity to the cells. Using the CLlum method, the IC50 ranged from 5.42 to 6.50 µg/mL. The IC50 of the SDE ranged from 7.96 to 8.11 µg/mL using the DPPH(•) method. Psidium guajava SDE presented significant antioxidant activity; thus they show high potential as an active phytopharmaceutical ingredient. Our findings in human neutrophils are pharmacologically relevant since they indicate that P. guajava SDE is a potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in human cells.

Processing strategies for smart electroconductive carbon nanotube-based bioceramic bone grafts.

Electroconductive bone grafts have been designed to control bone regeneration. Contrary to polymeric matrices, the translation of the carbon nanotube (CNT) electroconductivity into oxide ceramics is challenging due to the CNT oxidation during sintering. Sintering strategies involving reactive-bed pressureless sintering (RB + P) and hot-pressing (HP) were optimized towards prevention of CNT oxidation in glass/hydroxyapatite (HA) matrices. Both showed CNT retentions up to 80%, even at 1300 °C, yielding an increase of the electroconductivity in ten orders of magnitude relative to the matrix. The RB + P CNT compacts showed higher electroconductivity by ∼170% than the HP ones due to the lower damage to CNTs of the former route. Even so, highly reproducible conductivities with statistical variation below 5% and dense compacts up to 96% were only obtained by HP. The hot-pressed CNT compacts possessed no acute toxicity in a human osteoblastic cell line. A normal cellular adhesion and a marked orientation of the cell growth were observed over the CNT composites, with a proliferation/differentiation relationship favouring osteoblastic functional activity. These sintering strategies offer new insights into the sintering of electroconductive CNT containing bioactive ceramics with unlimited geometries for electrotherapy of the bone tissue.

Characterization and anti-staphylococcal activity of the essential oil from Turnera subulata Sm

The present study is pioneer in analyzing the chemical composition of the essential oil from aerial parts of Turnera subulata Sm. and evaluates their antibacterial activity against a panel of drug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The aerial parts were kiln-dried and then powdered in mechanical mill, and was subjected to hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus. The components were analyzed using a mass spectrometrycoupled gas chromatography (GC-MS), and the identification of substances was performed by comparison of the mass spectra obtained with the mass spectra of the database of the GC-MS and retention indices . The essential oil was evaluated using the method of broth dilution at concentrations ranging from 3.125µg/mL to 3200µg/mL. It was possible to identify 45 substances (92.1%) of the essential oils, and the major components were trans-caryophyllene (6.7%), citronellol (5.6%), sphatulenol (5.3%), α-cadinol (4.3%), n-tricosano (4.3%), geraniol (4.1%) and trans-geranilacetone (3.7%), n-pentacosano (3.5%), globulol (3.4%), caryophyllene oxide (3.2%). The essential oil of T. subulata Sm. showed effective antibacterial activity for the various strains of S. aureus tested, with the MIC values between 25 µg/mL and 1600 µg/mL. The study of the essential oil of Turnera subulata Sm. showed that it consists of a complex mixture of several classes of compounds having the sesquiterpenes as major constituents followed by monoterpenes, and showed an antibacterial activity significant front the strains tested.

O presente estudo é pioneiro em analisar a composição química dos óleos essenciais das partes aéreas de Turnera subulata Sm. e sua atividade antibacteriana frente à Staphylococcus aureus resistentes a antibióticos. As partes aéreas da planta foram secas em estufa, pulverizadas em moinho mecânico e submetidas à hidrodestilaçao em aparato tipo Clevenger. A composição dos óleos essenciais foi analisada por cromatografia gasosa acoplada a espectrometria de massas (CG-EM), e a identificação realizada por comparação dos espectros de massas com a biblioteca do CG-EM e índices de retenção. A atividade antimicrobiana do óleo essencial foi avaliada usando o método de diluição em caldo, em concentrações que variaram de 3.125µg/mL to 3200µg/mL. Foi possível identificar 45 substâncias (92,1%) do óleo essencial, sendo os componentes majoritários: trans-cariofileno (6,7%), citronelol (5,6%), espatulenol (5,3%), α-cadinol (4,3%), n-tricosano (4,3%), geraniol (4,1%) e trans-geranilacetona (3,7%), n-pentacosano (3,5%), globulol (3,4%) e óxido de cariofileno (3,2%). O óleo essencial de T. subulata Sm. mostrou atividade antibacteriana eficaz para as várias cepas de S. aureus testadas, com valores de CIM entre 25 µg/mL e 1600 µg/mL. O estudo do óleo essencial de Turnera subulata Sm. evidenciou sua complexa mistura, contendo várias classes de substâncias, tendo os sesquiterpenos como constituintes majoritários seguido dos monoterpenos, e mostrou significativa atividade antibacteriana frente as cepas testadas.

Suplementação de colina em dietas para frangos de corte machos em fase de crescimento / Choline supplementation in diets for male broilers in the growing phase

Avaliaram-se os efeitos dos níveis de suplementação de colina em dietas para frangos de corte, de 22 a 40 dias de idade, sobre o desempenho, a composição de carcaças e fígados, bem como as características macroscópicas e histopatológicas dos fígados. O período de criação foi de um a 40 dias de idade, sendo que o período experimental foi de 22 a 40 dias de idade. Até o 21º dia de idade, todas as aves receberam a mesma ração à qual foram adicionados 400mg colina/kg. No 22º dia, os frangos foram distribuídos em cinco tratamentos, nos quais os níveis testados de suplementação de colina foram: zero, 400, 800, 1.200 e 1.600mg/kg, com seis repetições de 30 aves cada. As rações experimentais, formuladas à base de milho, farelo de soja e farinha de carne/ossos, foram isonutritivas, com exceção dos níveis de colina. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente ao acaso, e a estimativa da suplementação de colina foi avaliada pelos modelos de regressão. Os níveis de suplementação de colina apresentaram efeito linear pelo teste F (P<0,05) para o consumo de ração. Os demais parâmetros avaliados não sofreram influência da suplementação (P>0,05). O nível de 1.600mg colina/kg de ração resulta em maior consumo de ração de frangos de corte aos 40 dias de idade.

The effects of choline supplemental levels were evaluated in diets for broilers on performance, carcass and liver composition and liver histopathology characteristics from 22 to 40 days-old. The period of creation was one to 40 days of age, and the experimental period was 22 to 40 days-old. Until 21 days of age all birds received the same diet added to 400mg choline/kg. On day 22, broilers were allotted to five treatments (zero, 400, 800, 1200 and 1600 mg/kg), with six repetitions of 30 birds each. The experimental diets formulated based on corn, soybean meal and meat/bones meal were isonutritive, except for the choline levels. The experimental design was completely randomized and the estimation of choline supplementation was evaluated by regression models. The levels of choline supplementation showed a significant linear effect for the F test (P<0.05) for feed intake. The other evaluated parameters were not influenced by supplementation (P>0.05). The supplementation of 1600mg choline/kg in the diet results in higher feed intake of broilers at 40 days old.

Inhibition of human in vitro osteoclastogenesis by Equisetum arvense.

OBJECTIVES: Equisetum arvense has long been used in traditional medicines to treat different disorders, including bone pathologies. In this study a hydromethanolic extract of E. arvense was assessed for its effects on human osteoclastogenesis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Osteoclast precursors were maintained in non-stimulated and stimulated (presence of M-CSF and RANKL) conditions, or in co-cultures with osteoblasts. Cell cultures were treated with 0.00016-0.5 mg/ml of a hydromethanolic E. arvense extract. RESULTS: The extract did not affect spontaneous osteoclastogenesis. In osteoclast precursors committed to osteoclastogenesis (stimulated or co-cultured with osteoblasts), E. arvense caused dose-dependent inhibitory effect that became statistically significant at concentrations ≥0.004 mg/ml. This was observed using different osteoclast differentiation and activation markers. Cell response was associated with changes in relative contribution of MEK and NFkB signalling pathways, as well as PGE2 production. As there were differences in the response of osteoclast precursors maintained in the presence of inductive factors, or co-cultured with osteoblastic cells, it seems that E. arvense extract had the ability to modulate osteoclastogenesis, either by acting directly on osteoclast precursor cells, and/or via osteoblasts. CONCLUSIONS: Equisetum appeared to have a negative effect on human osteoclastogenesis, which is in line with its putative beneficial role in pathophysiological conditions associated with increased osteoclastic activity, and might suggest potential utility for treatment with bone regeneration strategies.

Equisetum arvense hydromethanolic extracts in bone tissue regeneration: in vitro osteoblastic modulation and antibacterial activity.

OBJECTIVES: Equisetum arvense preparations have long been used to promote bone healing. The aim of this work was to evaluate osteogenic and antibacterial effects of E. arvense hydromethanolic extracts. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dried aerial components of E. arvense were extracted using a mixture of methanol:water (1:1), for 26 days, yielding three extracts that were tested (10-1000 µg/ml) in human osteoblastic cells: E1, E2 and EM (a mixture of E1 and E2, 1:1). Cell cultures, performed on cell culture plates or over hydroxyapatite (HA) substrates, were assessed for osteoblastic markers. In addition, effects of the extracts on Staphylococcus aureus were addressed. RESULTS: Solution E1 caused increased viability/proliferation and ALP activity at 50-500 µg/ml, and deleterious effects at levels ≥1000 µg/ml. E2 inhibited cell proliferation at levels ≥500 µg/ml. EM presented a profile between those observed with E1 and E2. In addition, E1, E2 and EM, 10-1000 µg/ml, inhibited expansion of S. aureus. Furthermore, E1, tested in HA substrates colonized with osteoblastic cells, causing increase in cell population growth (10-100 µg/ml). E1 also exhibited antibacterial activity against S. aureus cultured over HA. CONCLUSIONS: Results showed that E. arvense extracts elicited inductive effects on human osteoblasts while inhibiting activity of S. aureus, suggesting a potentially interesting profile regarding bone regeneration strategies.

A novel triazolic naphthofuranquinone induces autophagy in reservosomes and impairment of mitosis in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas' disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, represents a serious health problem in Latin America, and the available chemotherapy, which is based on 2 nitro-derivatives, is not satisfactory. In folk medicine, natural products including naphthoquinones have been employed for the treatment of different parasitic diseases. In the pursuit of alternative drugs for Chagas' disease, we investigated the mechanism of action of the triazolic naphthoquinone (TN; 2,2-dimethyl-3-(4-phenyl-1H-1,2,3-triazol-1-yl)-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione), which is the most active compound against T. cruzi trypomastigotes among a series of naphthofuranquinones. TN was active against the 3 parasite forms producing a dose-dependent inhibitory effect. In epimastigotes, TN induced reservosome disruption, flagellar blebbing, Golgi disorganization, the presence of cytosolic concentric membrane structures and abnormal multiflagellar parasites. The treatment also led to the appearance of well-developed endoplasmic reticulum profiles surrounding organelles that associated with an increase in monodansylcadaverine labelling, suggesting autophagy as part of the TN mechanism of action. Interestingly, no ultrastructural damage was detected in the mitochondria of naphthoquinone-treated epimastigotes. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated an impairment of mitosis, an increase in ROS production and the maintenance of mitochondrial membrane potential. TN could be a good starting point in the investigation of a chemotherapeutic approach for the treatment of Chagas' disease.

Atividade antiviral de extratos de plantas medicinais disponíveis comercialmente frente aos herpesvírus suíno e bovino / Antiviral activity of commercially available medicinal plants on suid and bovine herpesviruses

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo pesquisar a atividade antiviral in vitro de plantas medicinais disponíveis comercialmente sobre herpesvírus suíno (SuHV-1) e bovino (BoHV-1). As espécies adquiridas foram Mikania glomerata, Cymbopogon citratus, Equisetum arvense, Peumus boldus, Solanum paniculatum, Malva sylvestris, Piper umbellatun e Solidago microglossa. A citotoxicidade dos extratos foi avaliada na linhagem celular MDBK pelas alterações morfológicas das células e obtenção da concentração máxima não citotóxica (CMNC) de cada planta. A atividade antiviral foi realizada com os extratos em suas respectivas CMNC e avaliada com base na redução do título viral e expressos em porcentagem de inibição. Os extratos aquosos de Peumus boldus e Solanum paniculatum apresentaram atividade antiviral sobre o SuHV-1 com 98% de inibição viral enquanto o de Peumus boldus inibiu apenas o BoHV-1 em 99%.

This paper aims to find commercially available medicinal plants showing antiviral activity in vitro on suid and bovine herpesviruses. The following species were tested: Mikania glomerata, Cymbopogon citratus, Equisetum arvense, Peumus boldus, Solanum paniculatum, Malva sylvestris, Piper umbellatun and Solidago microglossa. The cytotoxicity was evaluated by morphological changes in cells determining the maximum not cytotoxic concentration (MNCC). The antiviral activity was evaluated by viral title reduction. The extracts from Peumus boldus and Solanum paniculatum showed antiviral activity against SuHV-1 with 98% of inhibition. The extract of Peumus boldus also showed activity against BoHV-1 with 99% of inhibition.