The socioecological benefits and consequences of oil palm cultivation in its native range: The Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project.

Agriculture is expanding rapidly across the tropics. While cultivation can boost socioeconomic conditions and food security, it also threatens native ecosystems. Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), which is grown pantropically, is the most productive vegetable oil crop worldwide. The impacts of oil palm cultivation have been studied extensively in Southeast Asia and - to a lesser extent - in Latin America but, in comparison, very little is known about its impacts in Africa: oil palm's native range, and where cultivation is expanding rapidly. In this paper, we introduce a large-scale research programme - the Sustainable Oil Palm in West Africa (SOPWA) Project - that is evaluating the relative ecological impacts of oil palm cultivation under traditional (i.e., by local people) and industrial (i.e., by a large-scale corporation) management in Liberia. Our paper is twofold in focus. First, we use systematic mapping to appraise the literature on oil palm research in an African context, assessing the geographic and disciplinary focus of existing research. We found 757 publications occurring in 36 African countries. Studies tended to focus on the impacts of palm oil consumption on human health and wellbeing. We found no research that has evaluated the whole-ecosystem (i.e., multiple taxa and ecosystem functions) impacts of oil palm cultivation in Africa, a knowledge gap which the SOPWA Project directly addresses. Second, we describe the SOPWA Project's study design and-using canopy cover, ground vegetation cover, and soil temperature data as a case study-demonstrate its utility for assessing differences between areas of rainforest and oil palm agriculture. We outline the socioecological data collected by the SOPWA Project to date and describe the potential for future research, to encourage new collaborations and additional similar projects of its kind in West Africa. Increased research in Africa is needed urgently to understand the combined ecological and sociocultural impacts of oil palm and other agriculture in this unique region. This will help to ensure long-term sustainability of the oil palm industry-and, indeed, all tropical agricultural activity-in Africa.

Well-differentiated tireoid carcinoma: epidemiological profile, surgical results and oncological response. / Carcinoma bem diferenciado de tireoide: perfil epidemiológico, resultados cirúrgicos e resposta oncológica.

OBJECTIVE: to know the epidemiological profile of patients undergoing surgery for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma at the Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital of the Federal University of Espírito Santo, as well as the oncological results and the main postoperative complications. METHODS: we conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) operated from January 2008 to December 2015. RESULTS: During the study period, 95 of the 353 patients undergoing surgical treatment of the thyroid gland had WDTC. Papillary carcinoma was the most frequent (91.57%). Total thyroidectomy not associated with cervical emptying was the most frequent surgical procedure (65.26%). Postoperative complications occurred in 6.31% of patients, hematoma being the most frequent. The mean follow-up time was 36.9 months. Relapse occurred in four patients (4.21%), being locoregional in all cases. The prognostic factors analyzed, such as gender, age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, staging, type of surgery, histology and complementary iodine therapy did not show statistical significance. CONCLUSION: papillary carcinoma was the most common thyroid malignant neoplasm, affecting women in the 49-year-old age group more frequently. Loco-regional recurrence occurred in four patients. Hematoma was the most frequent complication.

OBJETIVO: conhecer o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia do carcinoma bem diferenciado da tireoide no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, assim como os resultados oncológicos e as principais complicações pós-operatórias. MÉTODOS: estudo transversal e retrospectivo de pacientes portadores de carcinoma bem diferenciado da tireoide operados no período de janeiro de 2008 a dezembro de 2015. RESULTADOS: no período do estudo, dos 353 pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico da glândula tireoide, 95 eram portadores de CBDT. O carcinoma papilífero da tireoide foi o mais frequente (91,57%). A tireoidectomia total não associada a esvaziamento cervical foi o procedimento cirúrgico mais frequente (65,26%). As complicações pós-operatórias ocorreram em 6,31% dos pacientes, sendo o hematoma a mais frequente. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 36,9 meses. A recidiva ocorreu em quatro pacientes (4,21%), sendo locorregional em todos os casos. Os fatores prognósticos analisados, como sexo, idade, tamanho do tumor, acometimento linfonodal, estadiamento, tipo de cirurgia, histologia e iodoterapia complementar não demonstraram significância estatística. CONCLUSÃO: o carcinoma papilífero da tireoide foi a neoplasia maligna mais frequente, acometendo o sexo feminino na faixa etária dos 49 anos mais frequentemente. A recidiva locorregional ocorreu em quatro pacientes. O hematoma foi a complicação mais frequente.

Effects of n-3 fatty acids and exercise on oxidative stress parameters in type 2 diabetic: a randomized clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: The relationship between diabetes and oxidative stress has been previously reported. Exercise represents a useful non-pharmacological strategy for the treatment in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) patients, but high intensity exercise can induce a transient inflammatory state and increase oxidative stress. Nutritional strategies that may contribute to the reduction of oxidative stress induced by acute exercise are necessary. The aim of this study was to examine if n-3 PUFA supplementation intervention can attenuate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress associated with high intensity exercise in this population. As a primary outcome, lipoperoxidation measurements (TBARS and F2-isoprostanes) were selected. METHODS: Thirty T2DM patients, without chronic complications, were randomly allocated into two groups: placebo (gelatin capsules) or n-3 PUFA (capsules containing 180 mg of eicosapentaenoic acid and 120 mg of docosahexaenoic acid). Blood samples were collected fasting before and after 8 weeks supplementation. In the beginning and at the end of protocol, an acute exercise was performed (treadmill), and new blood samples were collected before and immediately after the exercise for measurements of oxidative stress and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP). RESULTS: After the supplementation period, a decrease in triglycerides levels was observed only in n-3 PUFA supplementation group (mean difference and 95% CI of 0.002 (0.000-0.004), p = 0.005). Supplementation also significantly reduced TRAP levels after exercise (mean difference and 95% CI to 9641 (- 20,068-39,351) for - 33,884 (- 56,976 - -10,793), p = 0.004, Cohen's d effect size = 1.12), but no significant difference was observed in n-3 PUFA supplementation group in lipoperoxidation parameters as TBARS (mean difference and 95% CI to - 3.8 (- 10-2.4) for - 2.9 (- 1.6-7.4) or F2-isoprostanes (mean difference and 95% CI -0.05 (- 0.19-0.10) for - 0.02 (- 0.19-0.16), p > 0.05 for both. CONCLUSION: PUFA n-3 supplementation reduced triglycerides as well as TRAP levels after exercise, without a significant effect on inflammatory and oxidative stress markers.This study is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the registration number of NCT03182712.

Potential use of secondary products of the agri-food industry for topical formulations and comparative analysis of antioxidant activity of grape leaf polyphenols.

The aim of the present study was to develop a phytocosmetic using Vitis waste by-products, for use as a topical formulation for skin protection against ultraviolet radiation damage. The study also evaluates the free radical scavenger activity of the crude extracts of dried leaves of Vitis vinifera and Vitis labrusca, as well as the anthocyanins, flavonoid fraction and isolated compounds. Next, release and permeation studies of hydrogels were performed using Franz-type diffusion cells. Flavonoid acted more intensively in TRAP and conjugated dienes antioxidant assays, whereas anthocyanins had higher antioxidant activity in hydroxyl and nitric oxide assay. Only quercetin-3-O-glucuronide (5) was released from hydrogels, and the flavonoid retention in porcine ear skin after eight hours of permeation was below of limit of quantification for this compound. The polyphenols present in Vitis are capable of absorbing UV and visible light, justifying their potential as sunscreens for the development of a phytocosmetic.

Carcinoma bem diferenciado de tireoide: perfil epidemiológico, resultados cirúrgicos e resposta oncológica / Well-differentiated tireoid carcinoma: epidemiological profile, surgical results and oncological response

RESUMO Objetivo: conhecer o perfil epidemiológico dos pacientes submetidos à cirurgia do carcinoma bem diferenciado da tireoide no Hospital Universitário Cassiano Antônio Moraes da Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, assim como os resultados oncológicos e as principais complicações pós-operatórias. Métodos: estudo transversal e retrospectivo de pacientes portadores de carcinoma bem diferenciado da tireoide operados no período de janeiro de 2008 a dezembro de 2015. Resultados: no período do estudo, dos 353 pacientes submetidos a tratamento cirúrgico da glândula tireoide, 95 eram portadores de CBDT. O carcinoma papilífero da tireoide foi o mais frequente (91,57%). A tireoidectomia total não associada a esvaziamento cervical foi o procedimento cirúrgico mais frequente (65,26%). As complicações pós-operatórias ocorreram em 6,31% dos pacientes, sendo o hematoma a mais frequente. O tempo médio de seguimento foi de 36,9 meses. A recidiva ocorreu em quatro pacientes (4,21%), sendo locorregional em todos os casos. Os fatores prognósticos analisados, como sexo, idade, tamanho do tumor, acometimento linfonodal, estadiamento, tipo de cirurgia, histologia e iodoterapia complementar não demonstraram significância estatística. Conclusão: o carcinoma papilífero da tireoide foi a neoplasia maligna mais frequente, acometendo o sexo feminino na faixa etária dos 49 anos mais frequentemente. A recidiva locorregional ocorreu em quatro pacientes. O hematoma foi a complicação mais frequente.

ABSTRACT Objective: to know the epidemiological profile of patients undergoing surgery for well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma at the Cassiano Antônio Moraes University Hospital of the Federal University of Espírito Santo, as well as the oncological results and the main postoperative complications. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional, retrospective study of patients with well-differentiated thyroid carcinoma (WDTC) operated from January 2008 to December 2015. Results: During the study period, 95 of the 353 patients undergoing surgical treatment of the thyroid gland had WDTC. Papillary carcinoma was the most frequent (91.57%). Total thyroidectomy not associated with cervical emptying was the most frequent surgical procedure (65.26%). Postoperative complications occurred in 6.31% of patients, hematoma being the most frequent. The mean follow-up time was 36.9 months. Relapse occurred in four patients (4.21%), being locoregional in all cases. The prognostic factors analyzed, such as gender, age, tumor size, lymph node involvement, staging, type of surgery, histology and complementary iodine therapy did not show statistical significance. Conclusion: papillary carcinoma was the most common thyroid malignant neoplasm, affecting women in the 49-year-old age group more frequently. Loco-regional recurrence occurred in four patients. Hematoma was the most frequent complication.

Desempenho ponderal, função hepática e hemograma de borregos naturalmente infectados por helmintos gastrointestinais suplementados com ferro oral ou parenteral / Weigth performance, hepatic function and complete blood count of lambs naturally infected by gastrointestinal helminths supplemented with oral and parenteral iron

Esta pesquisa foi realizada com objetivo de avaliar os valores de hematócrito, hemoglobina, hematimetria, leucometria global, ferro sérico, AST, GGT, albumina, ferro sérico, ganho de peso e status parasitológico em cordeiros anêmicos naturalmente infectados por helmintos gastrointestinais suplementados com ferro oral ou parenteral. Foram utilizados 27 cordeiros com peso vivo médio em quilogramas de 27,66 ± 5,8 e idade entre 8 e 10 meses com anemia verminótica alocados em três grupos experimentais; Grupo controle (GC) n=9, Grupo Sulfato ferroso (G2) n=9 e Grupo Ferro Dextrano (G3) n=9. Os animais do G2 receberam via oral diariamente um grama de sulfato ferroso (Fe +2 SO 4 ), equivalente a 200 miligramas de ferro durante 21 dias; já os animais do G3 receberam duas aplicações de 25mg/kgde peso vivo de ferro dextrano por via intramuscular com intervalo de sete dias, a primeira no dia zero e a segunda no dia sete do experimento, enquanto que os animais do GC não receberam tratamento. As coletas de dados foram realizadas nos dias 0, 7, 14 e 21 do experimento. Os níveis de ferro sérico no G3 foram superiores quando comparado aos GC e G2 nos dias 7 e 14 (p<0,05). Em relação aos parâmetros eritrocitários, o G3 apresentou índices superiores (p<0,05) em comparação aos GC e G2 nos dias 7, 14 e 21. A concentração de ferro hepático no G3 foi superior em relação aos GC e G2, apesar de não alterar a mensuração de parâmetros de função hepática entre os grupos. Os valores de OPG, peso vivo e leucócitos totais não diferiram entre os grupos. Baseado nos resultados obtidos, conclui-se que a administração de duas doses de ferro dextrano parenteral foi suficiente para elevar as concentrações séricas e hepáticas deste mineral sem causar danos ao fígado. Além disso, esta suplementação também aumentou a eritropoiese. Já a administração oral diária de 200mg não tem influência sobre a série vermelha do sangue bem como sobre níveis séricos e hepáticos deste mineral. Ambos não exercem influência sobre série branca do sangue.

This research was conducted to evaluate the values of ​​ hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cell count overall, serum iron, AST, GGT, albumin, weight gain and parasitological status in anemic lambs naturally infected by gastrointestinal nematodes. It was used 27 lambs with 27.66 ± 5.8 of body weight and 8 to 10 months old with anemia due to worm infection divided in three experimental groups; Control Group (CG) n=9, Ferrous Sulphate Group (G2) n=9 and Iron Dextran Group (G3) n=9. The animals of G2 received 1 gram of Ferrous Sulphate (Fe +2 SO 4 ) orally daily, during 21 days equivalent to 200 milligrams of iron, the animals of G3 received two intramuscular injections of 25mg kg body -1 weight of iron dextran at 7-day interval, the first one on day zero and the second one on day 7 of the experiment, whereas the CG received no treatment. The data collections were performed on days 0, 7, 14 and 21 of the experiment. The serum iron levels in the G3 was higher than GC and G2 on days 7 and 14 (p<0,05). Regarding erythrocyte parameters, G3 showed higher rates (p<0.05) compared to CG and G2 on days 7, 14 and 21. The liver iron concentration was higher in G3 compared to GC and G2, while not change the measurement of liver function parameters between groups. The EPG values, body weight ​​and total leukocytes showed no significant difference among the groups. Based on these results, it was concluded that the administration of two doses of parenteral iron dextran was sufficient to raise the serum and liver of this mineral without causing liver damage. Furthermore, this supplementation also increased erythropoiesis. Already oral administration of 200mg daily has no effect on the number of red blood as well as serum and liver of this mineral. Both not influence the white blood.

Passiflora manicata (Juss.) aqueous leaf extract protects against reactive oxygen species and protein glycation in vitro and ex vivo models.

The leaf extracts of many species of genus Passiflora have been extensively investigated for their biological activities on several rat tissues, but mainly in the central nervous system and liver. They posses anxiolytic-like, sedative effects and antioxidant properties. Evidences suggest a key role of C-glycosylflavonoids in the biological activities of Passiflora extracts. Some species (such as P. manicata) of the genus are still poorly investigated for their chemical and biological activity. In this work, we aim to investigate both antioxidant and antiglycation properties of aqueous extract of P. manicata leaves (PMLE) in vitro and ex vivo models. Crude extract showed the C-glycosylflavonoid isovitexin as the major compound. Isoorientin and vitexin were also identified. In TRAP/TAR assay, PMLE showed a significant antioxidant activity. PMLE at concentrations of 10 and 100 µg mL⁻¹ significantly decreasing LDH leakage in rat liver slices. Antioxidant effect also was observed by decreased in oxidative damage markers in slices hence hydrogen peroxide was added as oxidative stress inductor. PMLE inhibited protein glycation at all concentrations tested. In summary, P. manicata aqueous leaf extract possess protective properties against reactive oxygen species and also protein glycation, and could be considered a new source of natural antioxidants.

L-NAME co-treatment prevent oxidative damage in the lung of adult Wistar rats treated with vitamin A supplementation.

Based on the fact that vitamin A in clinical doses is a potent pro-oxidant agent to the lungs, we investigated here the role of nitric oxide (NO•) in the disturbances affecting the lung redox environment in vitamin A-treated rats (retinol palmitate, doses of 1000-9000 IU•kg(-1)•day(-1)) for 28 days. Lung mitochondrial function and redox parameters, such as lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and the level of 3-nytrotyrosine, were quantified. We observed, for the first time, that vitamin A supplementation increases the levels of 3-nytrotyrosine in rat lung mitochondria. To determine whether nitric oxide (NO •) or its derivatives such as peroxynitrite (ONOO-) was involved in this damage, animals were co-treated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (30 mg•kg(-1), four times a week), and we analysed if this treatment prevented (or minimized) the biochemical disturbances resulting from vitamin A supplementation. We observed that L-NAME inhibited some effects caused by vitamin A supplementation. Nonetheless, L-NAME was not able to reverse completely the negative effects triggered by vitamin A supplementation, indicating that other factors rather than only NO• or ONOO- exert a prominent role in mediating the redox effects in the lung of rats that received vitamin A supplementation.

Phytochemical screening, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Chrysopogon zizanioides essential oil

Chrysopogon zizanioides (L.) Roberty, Poaceae, is a plant widely used in northeast Brazil in folk medicine for the treatment of various pathological conditions, including inflammatory pain. The present study evaluated the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of C. zizanioides essential oil (EO) in rodents. EO was further characterized by GC/MS. The major components of EO were identified as khusimol (19.57%), E-isovalencenol (13.24%), α-vetivone (5.25%), β-vetivone (4.87%) and hydroxy-valencene (4.64%). Following intraperitoneal injection (i.p.), EO at 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced the number of writhes (51.9 and 64.9%, respectively) and the number of paw licks during phase 2 (56.7 and 86.2%, respectively) of a formalin model when compared to control group animals. However, EO-treated mice were ineffective at all doses in hot-plate and rota-rod tests. The EO inhibited the carrageenan-induced leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity in a dose-dependent manner (34.7, 35.4, and 62.5% at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively). In the paw edema test, the EO (100 mg/kg) inhibited all three phases of the edema equally well, suggesting that the EO has a non-selective inhibitory effect on the release or actions of these mediators. Our results suggest possible antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of the EO.

The effects of vitamin A supplementation for 3 months on adult rat nigrostriatal axis: increased monoamine oxidase enzyme activity, mitochondrial redox dysfunction, increased ß-amyloid(1-40) peptide and TNF-α contents, and susceptibility of mitochondria to an in vitro H2O2 challenge.

Even though vitamin A has been viewed as an antioxidant molecule, recent findings demonstrate that such vitamin elicits pro-oxidant effects in vivo. Moreover, vitamin A supplements utilization may increase mortality rates among healthy subjects. However, the mechanism by which vitamin A elicits such effects remains to be better analyzed. In this regard, we investigated here the consequences of vitamin A supplementation at 500, 1000, or 2500 IU/kg day(-1) for 3 months on adult rat substantia nigra and striatum total and mitochondrial redox state (both oxidative and nitrosative stress markers), electron transfer chain activity, monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme activity, endoplasmic reticulum stress marker (BiP), α- and ß-synucleins, ß-amyloid peptide (1-40), dopamine D2 receptor (D2R), receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), caspase-3 and caspase-8 enzyme activity and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels. Also, nigrostriatal mitochondria were isolated and challenged with 50 µM H2O2 in vitro after vitamin A supplementation and complexes I-III, II-III, and IV enzyme activity was recorded. We observed both total and mitochondrial oxidative and nitrosative stress, increased MAO enzyme activity, and increased levels of α-synuclein, ß-amyloid peptide, RAGE, and TNF-α, but decreased D2R in both rat brain areas. Furthermore, vitamin A supplementation induced a decrease in nigral, but not striatal, ß-synuclein levels in this work. Moreover, mitochondria isolated from both substantia nigra and striatum of vitamin A-treated rats were more sensitive to H2O2 than control mitochondria as assessed through the in vitro assay. Overall, these data may be useful to explain how vitamin A elicits neurotoxic effects chronically.

Increased susceptibility of mitochondria isolated from frontal cortex and hippocampus of vitamin A-treated rats to non-aggregated amyloid-ß peptides 1-40 and 1-42.

OBJECTIVE: Vitamin A is a redox-active molecule and its inadvertent utilisation as a preventive therapy against ageing or neurodegeneration has become a harmful habit among humans at different ages. Mitochondrial dysfunction and redox impairment may be induced by vitamin A supplementation experimentally. Nonetheless, it is still not clear by which mechanisms vitamin A elicits such effects. Then, we performed this investigation to analyse whether mitochondria isolated from frontal cortex and hippocampus of vitamin A-treated rats are more sensitive to a challenge with amyloid-ß (Aß) peptides 1-40 or 1-42. METHODS: Adult Wistar rats received vitamin A at 1000-9000 IU/kg/day orally for 28 days. Then, mitochondria were isolated and the challenge with Aß peptides 1-40 or 1-42 (at 0.2 or 0.1 µM, respectively) for 10 min was carried out before mitochondrial electron transfer chain enzyme activity, superoxide anion radical (O2 -•) production and 3-nitrotyrosine content quantification. RESULTS: Mitochondria obtained from vitamin A-treated rats are more sensitive to Aß peptides 1-40 or 1-42 than mitochondria isolated from the control group, as decreased mitochondrial complex enzyme activity and increased O2 -• production and 3-nitrotyrosine content were observed in incubated mitochondria isolated from vitamin A-treated rats. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that oral intake of vitamin A at clinical doses increases the susceptibility of mitochondria to a neurotoxic agent even at low concentrations.

L-NAME cotreatment did prevent neither mitochondrial impairment nor behavioral abnormalities in adult Wistar rats treated with vitamin A supplementation.

Vitamin A has been characterized as a potential neurotoxin, because ingestion of such vitamin - or its derivatives, the retinoids - at moderate to high doses elicits a myriad of deleterious effects, from acute intoxication involving head-ache, confusion, and 'pseudo tumor cerebri' to chronic, and perhaps irreversible, abnormalities, including irritability, anxiety, depression, and suicide ideation. Nevertheless, it still remains to be found the mechanism by which vitamin A induces cognitive decline. Based on the fact that vitamin A at clinical doses is a potent pro-oxidant agent to the central nervous system, we performed the present work to analyze whether a cotreatment with L-NAME at 30 mg/kg (four times a week) was able to prevent (or minimize) the biochemical and/or behavioral disturbances resulting from a 28-day daily supplementation with retinol palmitate at doses from 1000 to 9000 IU/kg/day. Then, we investigated mitochondrial function, redox parameters, and the levels of proteins potentially involved in neurodegenerative events, as for instance α-synuclein and receptor for advanced glycation endproducts. Besides, monoamine oxidase enzyme activity was quantified in this work. We observed that L-NAME cotreatment was not completely effective in preventing the redox disturbances induced by vitamin A supplementation. Moreover, L-NAME cotreatment did not affect the behavioral deficits elicited by vitamin A supplementation. We conclude that other parameters rather than NO levels or its derivatives, as for example ONOO(-), take a more important role in mediating the negative effects triggered by vitamin A supplementation.

Redox characterization of usnic acid and its cytotoxic effect on human neuron-like cells (SH-SY5Y).

Usnic acid (UA) is the most common and abundant lichenic secondary metabolite with potential therapeutic application. Anti-inflammatory and antitumour properties have already been reported and UA-enriched extracts are widely used to treat several diseases in the folk medicine. First, we performed in silico evaluation of UA interactions with genes/proteins and important compounds for cellular redox balance and NO pathway. Then, we assessed UA redox properties against different reactive species (RS) generated in vitro, and evaluated its action on SH-SY5Y neuronal like cells upon hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), since no in vitro neurotoxicological data has been reported so far. Total reactive antioxidant potential index (TRAP) showed a significant antioxidant capacity of UA at the highest tested concentration; UA was also effective against hydroxyl radicals and reduced the formation of nitric oxide. In vitro, lipoperoxidation was enhanced by UA and changed the cellular viability at highest concentration of 20µg/mL for 1 and 4h, as well as 2 and 20µg/mL for 24h of treatment, according to MTT reduction assay. Moreover, UA did not display protective effects against H(2)O(2)-induced cell death in any case. Evaluation of intracellular RS production by the DCFH-based assay indicated that UA was able to induce changes in basal RS production at concentration of 20µg/mL for 1h and from 2ng/mL to 20µg/mL for 4 and 24h. In conclusion, UA could display variable redox-active properties, according to different system conditions and/or cellular environment. Moreover, our results suggest that potential neurotoxicological effects of UA should be further studied by additional approaches; for instance, in vivo and clinical studies.

Effect of propolis on mast cells in wound healing.

Wound healing is divided into three phases: inflammatory, proliferative and remodeling. Mast cells participate in all these phases. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of propolis on the population of mast cells in oral surgical wounds in comparison to the results obtained with dexamethasone. This study was prospective, in vivo, randomized, semiexperimental, quantitative and comparative animal. A circular surgical wound was made on the dorsum of the tongue of 90 hamsters divided into three experimental groups: topical application of 30% propolis alcoholic extract (Group 1); 0.1% dexamethasone in orabase cream (Group 2); and orabase cream alone (Group 3). Applications were performed every 12 h throughout the experiment. The postoperative times for killing of the animals were 1, 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. The Student's t test for independent samples was employed in the statistical analysis. In the inflammatory phase of healing, propolis caused a greater reduction in the number of mast cells on the edge and in the central region of the surgical wound in comparison to dexamethasone. Moreover, the number of mast cells on day 1 was lower in the central region of the wounds treated with the orabase cream alone in comparison to dexamethasone. In conclusion, the anti-inflammatory action of propolis mediated by mast cells was more effective than dexamethasone in the inflammatory phase of healing.

Antinociceptive action and redox properties of citronellal, an essential oil present in lemongrass.

Citronellal (CT) is a monoterpenoid and the major constituent of the mixture of terpenoids that give the citronella oil its lemon scent. Citronella oil is widely used around the world for various purposes and is mainly obtained from plants of the Cymbopogon genus, which are known as "lemongrass." Considering these plants have been used worldwide for various medicinal purposes, the interest of researchers to understand the biological activities of monoterpenoids related to the Cymbopogon genus has been increasing. In the present work, we investigated the antinociceptive action and the redox properties of CT. Our results indicate that intraperitoneal injection of CT was effective in reducing nociceptive face-rubbing behavior in both phases of the formalin test, which was also naloxone-sensitive. CT also evoked antinociceptive response in the capsaicin and glutamate tests. The total radical-trapping antioxidant parameter and total antioxidant reactivity assays indicate that CT at doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/mL exerts a significant antioxidant activity, which is probably related to its ability to scavenge superoxide and nitric oxide, but not H(2)O(2) or hydroxyl radicals, as evaluated separately by specific in vitro tests. These results show for the first time the antinociceptive potential of CT and indicate that the antioxidant properties of this compound may rely on its mechanism of biological actions because CT-containing natural products are used to treat various diseases related to oxidative stress and reactive species.

Total and mitochondrial nitrosative stress, decreased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) levels and glutamate uptake, and evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the hippocampus of vitamin A-treated rats.

Vitamin A supplementation has caused concern among public health researchers due to its ability in decreasing life quality from acute toxicological effects to increasing mortality rates among vitamin supplement users. For example, it was described cognitive decline (i.e. irritability, anxiety, and depression) in patients subjected to long-term vitamin A therapy, as occurs in cancer treatment. However, the mechanism by which vitamin A affects mammalian cognition is not completely understood. Then, we performed the present work to investigate the effects of vitamin A supplementation at clinical doses (1,000-9,000 IU/kg day(-1)) for 28 days on rat hippocampal nitrosative stress levels (both total and mitochondrial), bioenergetics states, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), alpha- and beta-synucleins, BiP and dopamine receptor 2 (D2 receptor) contents, and glutamate uptake. We observed mitochondrial impairment regarding respiratory chain function: increased complex I-III, but decreased complex IV enzyme activity. Also, decreased BDNF levels were observed in vitamin A-treated rats. The present data demonstrates, at least in part, that mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased BDNF and D2 receptors levels, as well as decreased glutamate uptake may take an important role in the mechanism behind the previously reported cognitive disturbances associated to vitamin A supplementation.

Redox properties and cytoprotective actions of atranorin, a lichen secondary metabolite.

Atranorin (ATR) is a lichenic secondary metabolite with potential uses in pharmacology. Antinociceptive and antiinflammatory actions have been reported, and the use of atranorin-enriched lichen extracts in folk medicine is widespread. Nonetheless, very few data on ATR biological actions are available. Here, we evaluated free radical scavenging activities and antioxidant potential of ATR using various in vitro assays for scavenging activity against hydroxyl radicals, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide radicals, and nitric oxide. The total reactive antioxidant potential (TRAP) and total antioxidant reactivity (TAR) indexes and in vitro lipoperoxidation were also evaluated. Besides, we determined the cytoprotective effect of ATR on H(2)O(2)-challenged SH-SY5Y cells by the MTT assay. ATR exerts differential effects towards reactive species production, enhancing hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide production and acting as a superoxide scavenger; no activity toward hydroxyl radical production/scavenging was observed. Besides, TRAP/TAR analysis indicated that atranorin acts as a general antioxidant, although it demonstrated to enhance peroxyl radical-induced lipoperoxidation in vitro. ATR was not cytotoxic, and also protected SH-SY5Y cells against H(2)O(2)-induced cell viability impairment. Our results suggest that ATR has a relevant redox-active action, acting as a pro-oxidant or antioxidant agent depending on the radical. Also, it will exert cytoprotective effects on cells under oxidative stress induced by H(2)O(2).

Vitamin A supplementation in rats under pregnancy and nursing induces behavioral changes and oxidative stress upon striatum and hippocampus of dams and their offspring.

Vitamin A is important for both development and maintenance of adult brain homeostasis. However, excessive vitamin A exposure has been linked to cognitive impairments and may induce congenital defects, including neuronal malformations. Recently, we demonstrated that vitamin A supplementation is able to alter behavioral parameters and induce a pro-oxidant state in hippocampus and striatum of adult male rat. Thus, the aim of the present work was to investigate the effects of vitamin A supplementation in pregnant and nursing rats on maternal and offspring striatum and hippocampus. Wistar female rats (7 per group) were orally supplemented with retinyl palmitate (2500, 12,500 and 25,000 IU/kg/day) or saline (control) throughout pregnancy and nursing. Homing test was performed at postnatal days (PND) 5 and 10 for offspring, while open field test (OFT) was carried out at PND19 and 20 for dams and offspring, respectively. Redox parameters were evaluated at PND21 for both. Vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy and nursing increased superoxide dismutase/catalase (SOD/CAT) ratio and oxidative damage in maternal and offspring striatum and hippocampus. Additionally, supplementation induced behavioral alterations. In conclusion, we suggest some caution regarding vitamin A intake during pregnancy and breastfeeding, since oxidative stress can disturb several biological phenomena, including neuronal signaling and neurotransmission, which may induce several behavioral deficits.