Protective effects of Hydrocotyle umbellata var. bonariensis Lam. (Araliaceae) on memory in sleep-impaired female mice.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Hydrocotyle umbellata var.bonariensis Lam. (Hb), popularly known in Brazil as acariçoba and outside Brazil Hb by a number of names including marsh-pennywort, and many-flower, has traditionally been used in Ayurvedic medicine in the retardation of aging (Rasayana effect). AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study evaluated the effect of Hb treatment before and during paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) and sleep restriction (SR) on learning, memory, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) brain activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Adult Swiss nulliparous female mice were randomly distributed among the experimental groups. The treated groups received the aqueous solution of Hb leaves orally at concentrations of 500 and 1.000 mg/kg. PSD and SR were induced by the multiple platform method, in which the animals remained for 3-days in PSD or 15-days in SR for 22 h per day. The collection of the vaginal epithelium occurred daily to determine the estrous cycle. Body mass gain was determined. The animals were submitted to the passive avoidance test and were then euthanized for the collection of brain tissue and the determination of cerebral cholinesterase activity. RESULTS: The aqueous solution of Hb was associated with a significant reduction in cholinesterase activity at both doses in the SR model, and at the dose of 1.000 mg/kg in the PSD model. Regarding the learning and memory test, the PSD group treated with 1.000 mg/kg presented significant improvement, whereas in the SR experiment none of the treated-groups showed any improvement in learning and memory. In the analysis of SR/PSD interference and/or Hb treatment on the estrous cycle, it was possible to observe that the treatment acted as a protector in the SR group, maintaining a normal cycle. CONCLUSIONS: The analyses showed that Hb was safe to use during periods of SR or PSD, acting as an adaptogen for these situations, in addition to being able to reduce cholinesterase activity, which suggests its neuroprotective action. In relation to the estrous cycle, Hb can act as a protector in SR situations.

Acupuncture to Treat Sleep Disorders in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review.

Sleep disorders are commonly observed among postmenopausal women, with negative effects on their quality of life. The search for complementary therapies for sleep disorders during postmenopausal period is of high importance, and acupuncture stands out as an appropriate possibility. The present review intended to systematically evaluate the available literature, compiling studies that have employed acupuncture as treatment to sleep disorders in postmenopausal women. A bibliographic search was performed in PubMed/Medline and Scopus. Articles which had acupuncture as intervention, sleep related measurements as outcomes, and postmenopausal women as target population were included and evaluated according to the Cochrane risk of bias tool and to the STRICTA guidelines. Out of 89 search results, 12 articles composed our final sample. A high heterogeneity was observed among these articles, which prevented us from performing a meta-analysis. Selected articles did not present high risk of bias and had a satisfactory compliance rate with STRICTA guidelines. In general, these studies presented improvements in sleep-related variables. Despite the overall positive effects, acupuncture still cannot be stated as a reliable treatment for sleep-related complaints, not due to inefficacy, but rather limited evidence. Nevertheless, results are promising and new comprehensive and controlled studies in the field are encouraged.

Can Ayahuasca and sleep loss change sexual performance in male rats?

The ingestion of the beverage Ayahuasca usually occurs in religious ceremonies that are performed during the night leading to sleep deprivation. The purpose of the present study was to characterize the acute effects of Ayahuasca upon the sexual response of sleep deprived male rats. One group of sexually experienced male Wistar rats were submitted to a paradoxical sleep deprivation (PSD) protocol for 96h, while another group spent the same amount of time in the home cage (CTRL). After this period, either saline or Ayahuasca drink (250, 500 and 1000µgmL(-1)) was administered by gavage and sexual behavior and hormonal concentrations were measured. Ayahuasca alone significantly decreased sexual performance at all doses. However, in sleep deprived rats, the lower dose increased sexual performance while the intermediate dose produced a detrimental effect on sexual response compared to the CTRL rats at the same dose. Regarding the hormonal analyses, a lower testosterone concentration was observed in sleep-deprived saline rats in relation to the CTRL group. Progesterone was significantly lower only in PSD rats at the dose 500µgmL(-1) compared with CTRL-500µgmL(-1) group. Corticosterone was unchanged among the groups evaluated. Our results suggest that Ayahuasca intake markedly impaired sexual performance alone, but, when combined with sleep deprivation, had significant, but heterogeneous, effects on male sexual response.

The beneficial effects of massage therapy for insomnia in postmenopausal women.

With increases life expectancy, the incidence of undesirable manifestations of menopause has increased as well. The effects of lost ovarian function include progressive decrease in estradiol secretion, trophic changes in the breast, vasomotor symptoms, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders. Insomnia, which has physiological consequences and can result in a loss of quality of life, is prevalent in women after menopause. Hormone therapy has been widely used to reduce menopausal symptoms, but its use in recent years has been questioned because of the reported risks of cardiovascular events and increased incidence of tumors. This controversy has generated significant interest in non-hormonal treatments among both physicians and patients. Our previous research has shown a positive effect of massage therapy on menopausal symptoms. We explored the hypothesis that massage therapy would produce beneficial effects in postmenopausal women through inflammatory and immunological changes. Recent results from self-report questionnaires have shown improvements in sleep pattern and quality of life following massage therapy. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of massage therapy for the treatment of postmenopausal symptoms, particularly insomnia, and indicate that it is a promising line of research.

The oral administration of trans-caryophyllene attenuates acute and chronic pain in mice.

Trans-caryophyllene is a sesquiterpene present in many medicinal plants' essential oils, such as Ocimum gratissimum and Cannabis sativa. In this study, we evaluated the antinociceptive activity of trans-caryophyllene in murine models of acute and chronic pain and the involvement of trans-caryophyllene in the opioid and endocannabinoid systems. Acute pain was determined using the hot plate test (thermal nociception) and the formalin test (inflammatory pain). The chronic constriction injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve induced hypernociception was measured by the hot plate and von Frey tests. To elucidate the mechanism of action, mice were pre-treated with naloxone or AM630 30 min before the trans-caryophyllene treatment. Afterwards, thermal nociception was evaluated. The levels of IL-1ß were measured in CCI-mice by ELISA. Trans-caryophyllene administration significantly minimized the pain in both the acute and chronic pain models. The antinociceptive effect observed during the hot plate test was reversed by naloxone and AM630, indicating the participation of both the opioid and endocannabinoid system. Trans-caryophyllene treatment also decreased the IL-1ß levels. These results demonstrate that trans-caryophyllene reduced both acute and chronic pain in mice, which may be mediated through the opioid and endocannabinoid systems.

Epicatechin and epigallocatechin gallate inhibit formation of intermediary radicals during heating of lysine and glucose.

High concentrations of the tea catechins epicatechin (EC) or epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) inhibited formation of highly reactive intermediary radicals appearing during the Maillard reactions (MR), that take place during heating glucose and lysine at 70°C in EtOH/HEPES buffer at pH 7.0 and pH 8.0. Radicals were trapped by ethanol, which subsequently were converted into spin adducts of the spin trap α-(4-pyridyl N-oxide)-N-tert-butylnitrone (POBN). EGCG was found to be more efficient than EC as inhibitor of intermediary radicals during the MR. Based on UV/Vis-spectroscopy, measurement of oxygen consumption and LC-MS detection of intermediates, it is suggested that the quinone form of autoxidised EC reacts with lysine through either a Michael type addition or a "Strecker like" reaction and thereby influences the formation of intermediary MR products as well as radicals.

Evaluation of the antinociceptive activity of Ocimum gratissimum L. (Lamiaceae) essential oil and its isolated active principles in mice.

Ocimum gratissimum is used in popular medicine to treat painful diseases. The antinociceptive properties of O. gratissimum essential oil (OgEO) and two of its active principles (eugenol and myrcene) were tested in classic models of pain (hot plate test and formalin test). Adult male C57BL/6 J mice acutely received corn oil (control group, p.o.), morphine (positive control group, 5 mg/kg, i.p.), OgEO (10, 20, or 40 mg/kg, p.o.), eugenol or myrcene (both at 1, 5, or 10 mg/kg, p.o.). The highest doses of all tested drugs significantly increased the latency to lick the paw(s) in the hot plate test compared with the control group. OgEO at a dose of 40 mg/kg and eugenol and myrcene at a dose of 10 mg/kg were effective in minimizing animal pain in the first and second phases of the formalin test. The antinociceptive effect shown by all drugs tested in hot plate test was reverted by naloxone administration (1 mg/kg), indicating opiod system participation. These results demonstrate the beneficial effects of OgEO and its active principles against neurogenic and inflammatory pain. Our findings demonstrate that OgEO and its isolated active principles exhibited antinociceptive activity in murine pain models.

Actividad antioxidante y prooxidante del aceite esencial de ajo por resonancia de spin electrónica / Antioxiodant and prooxidant activity of esential oil of garic by electron spin resonance

El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar el comportamiento antioxidante y prooxidante del aceite esencial de ajo (AE) y su posterior adición en dosis de 0,05% (A1) y 0,4% (A2) en hamburguesas de cerdo envasadas en aerobiosis y almacenadas en refrigeración hasta 6 días. Para ello se estudió la actividad antioxidante del AE en un sistema lipídico modelo (reacción de Fenton), y en hamburguesas de cerdo por REE (resonancia de spin electrónica) mediante la formación de radicales libres durante el calentamiento a 55 oC y su posterior unión con el spin trap PBN (α-fenil-N-tert-butilnitrona) a día 0, 3 y 6 de almacenamiento. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que el AE mostró efecto prooxidante a una concentración de fenoles totales ≥ 1.6 mg GAE/L. En hamburguesas A1 la formación de radicales tras 3 horas de calentamiento a 55 oC fue significativamente menor (P<0.05%) que en muestras control (C) y A2 durante todo el almacenamiento. En hamburguesas A2 dicha formación de radicales fue mayor (P<0.05%) que en la carne C y A1, por lo que a elevadas concentraciones de AE se ha observado un efecto prooxidante. Los resultados obtenidos indican el uso del aceite esencial de ajo en un porcentaje de 0,05% como antioxidante natural en hamburguesas de cerdo, pudiéndose plantear la incorporación de dicho aceite como una estrategia natural de conservación (AU)

The aim of this study was to study the antioxidant and prooxidant activity of the essential oil of garlic (AE) and the posterior addition at doses of 0.05% (A1) and 0.4% (A2) in pork patties packaged in aerobic conditions and stored in refrigeration during 6 days. For that, the antioxidant activity of the AE in a model system (Fenton reaction), and in burgers with REE (electron spin resonance) by free radical formation during heating at 55 °C and its binding to PBN (α-fenil-N-tert-butilnitrona) on days 0, 3 and 6 of storage was studied. The results showed that AE showed prooxidat effect at phenol concentration ≥ 1.6 mg GAE/L. In patties A1, the radical formation after 3 hours of heating at 55 °C was significantly lower (P <0.05%) than in control samples (C) and A2 throughout the storage. In contrast, burgers treated with 0.4% of AE showed that radical formation was higher (P <0.05%) than C and A1, therefore, the higher level of AE showed a prooxidant effect. The results indicate that the use of 0.05% essential oil of garlic, as a natural antioxidant in pork burgers, being a good strategy of conservation (AU)

Distinct gender-related sleep pattern in an acute model of TMJ pain.

Since it is recognized that acute inflammation of the temporomandibular joint results in sleep disturbances in male rats, and that the orofacial region may display a site-specific effect of ovarian hormones on nociception, we hypothesized that distinct genders would respond differently when subjected to this inflammatory acute orofacial pain. Sleep was monitored after injection of saline/Freund's adjuvant into the temporomandibular joint in male and female (proestrus and diestrus phases) rats. Progesterone and stress-related hormones were also assessed. In males, Freund's adjuvant induced a significant nociceptive response and sleep disturbances. Behavior and sleep architecture in the females remained unaffected. Our results suggest that females and males present distinct responses to an acute model of orofacial pain.

Influence of temporomandibular joint pain on sleep patterns: role of nitric oxide.

Since nitric oxide is related to nociception and the sleep-wake cycle, this study sought to determine its involvement in the altered sleep pattern in a temporomandibular joint pain model by investigating the effect of the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME) and that of its precursor (L-arginine). The temporomandibular joints of test animals were injected with Freund's adjuvant or saline, and their sleep was recorded. The procedure was repeated after the administration of L-NAME and L-arginine. L-NAME increased rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in the control group. The orofacial pain group showed a reduction in total sleep time and an increase in sleep latency compared with the SHAM group. L-NAME increased sleep time, non-rapid eye movement (NREM), and REM sleep and reduced sleep latency in the orofacial pain group. L-arginine did not alter sleep parameters. Thus, L-NAME improved sleep efficiency, whereas L-arginine did not modify it, suggesting the involvement of nitric oxide in painful temporomandibular joint conditions.