Effect of Calendula officinalis cream on achilles tendon healing.

In recent years, the scientific community has undertaken research on plant extracts, searching for compounds with pharmacological activities that can be used in diverse fields of medicine. Calendula officinalis L. is known to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and wound healing properties when used to treat skin burns. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of C. officinalis on the initial phase of Achilles tendon healing. Wistar rats were separated in three groups: Calendula (Cal)-rats with a transected tendon were treated with topical applications of C. officinalis cream and then euthanized 7 days after injury; Control (C)-rats were treated with only vehicle after transection; and Normal (N)-rats without tenotomy. Higher concentrations of hydroxyproline (an indicator of total collagen) and non-collagenous proteins were observed in the Cal group in relation to the C group. Zymography showed no difference in the amount of the isoforms of metalloproteinase-2 and of metalloproteinase-9, between C and Cal groups. Polarization microscopy images analysis showed that the Cal group presented a slightly higher birefringence compared with the C group. In sections of tendons stained with toluidine blue, the transected groups presented higher metachromasy as compared with the N group. Immunocytochemistry analysis for chondroitin-6-sulfate showed no difference between the C and Cal groups. In conclusion, the topical application of C. officinalis after tendon transection increases the concentrations of collagen and non-collagenous proteins, as well as the collagen organization in the initial phase of healing.

Propriedades farmacológicas da Aloe vera (L. ) Burm. f / Pharmacological activities of Aloe vera (L. ) Burm. f

A Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. tem sido utilizada há milhares de anos na medicina tradicional para o tratamento de diversos males. O intuito desse trabalho foi o levantamento bibliográfico de artigos que evidenciassem a atividade farmacológica da Aloe vera. A revisão contemplou livros e periódicos nacionais e internacionais indexados nas bases de dados MEDLINE, LILACS e SciElo, nos idiomas português, inglês e espanhol, utilizando as palavras-chave citadas. Após o levantamento bibliográfico, constatou-se que várias atividades biológicas são atribuídas a Aloe vera. Evidências sugerem eficácia no tratamento da psoríase, herpes genital, queimaduras e hiperglicemia. Além disto, também foram demonstradas atividades antineoplásica, antimicrobiana, anti-inflamatória e imunomodulatória por estudos in vitro e in vivo, entretanto, na cicatrização de feridas, os resultados foram conflitantes. No tratamento de dermatite por radiação e em queimaduras solares sua eficácia não foi comprovada e foram relatados casos de hepatite aguda devido ao consumo de preparações orais. Tendo em vista as várias atividades comprovadas e poucos relatos acerca de sua contra indicação, conclui-se que o uso desta espécie corrobora o vasto uso popular.

The Aloe vera (L.) Burm.f. has been used for thousands of years in traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The aim of this study was to carry out a bibliographical review on the pharmacological activity of Aloe vera. This review included books and national and international journals indexed to MEDLINE, LILACS and SciELO, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, using the key words mentioned. After the literature review, we found that several biological activities have been attributed to Aloe vera. Evidence suggests efficacy in the treatment of psoriasis, genital herpes, burns and hyperglycemia. Moreover, antineoplastic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities have also been demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo studies; however, in wound healing, the results were conflicting. In the treatment of radiation dermatitis and sunburn, its efficacy has not been proven, and cases of acute hepatitis from the consumption of oral preparations have been reported. Considering the various proven activities and the few reports about the contraindications of Aloe vera, we conclude that the use of this species confirms its wide popular usage.

Cashew gum microencapsulation protects the aroma of coffee extracts.

Microencapsulation of materials rich in volatile compounds by spray drying presents the challenge of removing water by vapourization without loss of odour and/or flavour components. Crioconcentrated coffee extracts rich in odour components were used as a substrate core to evaluate microencapsulation with cashew gum from Anacardium occidentale L. In Brazil, cashew gum is a low cost alternative to the traditional Arabic gum. A suspension containing coffee extract and the wall material was dissolved in water and then passed through a spray dryer. Core microcapsules were microwave-assisted extracted (MAE) and the aroma protection of the microcapsules produced was evaluated using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC/MS). The external morphology and size distribution of the microcapsules were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light scattering techniques, respectively. When comparing Arabic and cashew gum microencapsulation of coffee extracts both wall materials were observed to have similar aroma protection, external morphology and size distribution. Sensory analysis was employed to examine flavour protection and consumer preference with microencapsulation. These biochemical, sensory and structural data suggest that low cost cashew gum is a well suited alternative for odour microencapsulation to the more costly Arabic gum currently used in Brazil.