Anatomical and histochemical characterization of stem and leaves of Bauhinia pulchella Benth. (Fabaceae).

Bauhinia pulchella Benth. (Fabaceae), is native to Brazil and popularly known as pata-de-bode. In folk medicine, it is used to treat diabetes. Pharmacological studies have demonstrated different properties, such as cytotoxic and antioxidant, and different chemical constituents, such as essential oil, triterpenoids, steroids, among others. In order to highlight the morphological differences of the species B. pulchella from the others of the genus, and its pharmacological potential, the present study aimed to carry out the anatomical and histochemical characterization of the stem and leaves of B. pulchella. Usual methods in plant anatomy were used in the preparation of semi-permanent slides containing cross sections of the stem, petiole and leaf blade and paradermal sections of the leaf blade for analysis in light microscopy and polarized light. Histochemical tests were also performed to localize the metabolites in the stem and leaf blade. The stem of B. pulchella has a cylindrical outline, the bark is composed of 7-8 layers of cells and discontinuously distributed sclerenchyma; petiole presents flat convex contour, prominences in the adaxial region, concentric amphicrivral vascular bundle, surrounding a small concentric anfivasal intramedullary bundle, adaxially two accessory bundles and tector trichomes; leaf blade with anisocytic and tetracytic stomata on the adaxial surface and anisocytic, tetracytic and anomocytic on the abaxial surface; and midrib with plain-convex outline, 1-2 layers of collenchyma and covering trichomes. Characteristics that differ from other species of the genus Bauhinia. Alkaloids, phenolic compounds, lipophilic compounds, lignin, triterpenes, steroids and tannins were observed in the species. The results are fundamental for the pharmacobotanical standardization of the studied species.

The MAPKinase Signaling and the Stimulatory Protein-1 (Sp1) Transcription Factor Are Involved in the Phototherapy Effect on Cytokines Secretion from Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells Stimulated with Cigarette Smoke Extract.

The present study was aimed to investigate the phototherapy effect with low-level laser on human bronchial epithelial cells activated by cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Phototherapy has been reported to actuate positively for controlling the generation/release of anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory mediators from different cellular type activated by distinct stimuli. It is not known whether the IL-8 and IL-10 release from CSE-stimulated human bronchial epithelium (BEAS) cells can be influenced by phototherapy. Human bronchial epithelial cell (BEAS) line was cultured in a medium with CSE and irradiated (660 nm) at 9 J. Apoptosis index was standardized with Annexin V and the cellular viability was evaluated by MTT. IL-8, IL-10, cAMP, and NF-κB were measured by ELISA as well as the Sp1, JNK, ERK1/2, and p38MAPK. Phototherapy effect was studied in the presence of mithramycin or the inhibitors of JNK or ERK. The IL-8, cAMP, NF-κB, JNK, p38, and ERK1/2 were downregulated by phototherapy. Both the JNK and the ERK inhibitors potentiated the phototherapy effect on IL-8 as well as on cAMP secretion from BEAS. On the contrary, IL-10 and Sp1 were upregulated by phototherapy. The mithramycin blocked the phototherapy effect on IL-10. The results suggest that phototherapy has a dual effect on BEAS cells because it downregulates the IL-8 secretion by interfering with CSE-mediated signaling pathways, and oppositely upregulates the IL-10 secretion through of Sp1 transcription factor. The manuscript provides evidence that the phototherapy can interfere with MAPK signaling via cAMP in order to attenuate the IL-8 secretion from CSE-stimulated BEAS. In addition, the present study showed that phototherapy effect is driven to downregulation of the both the IL-8 and the ROS secretion and at the same time the upregulation of IL-10 secretion. Besides it, the increase of Sp-1 transcription factor was crucial for laser effect in upregulating the IL-10 secretion. The dexamethasone corticoid produces a significant inhibitory effect on IL-8 as well as ROS secretion, but on the other hand, the corticoid blocked the IL-10 secretion. Taking it into consideration, it is reasonable to suggest that the beneficial effect of laser therapy on lung diseases involves its action on unbalance between pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators secreted by human bronchial epithelial cells through different signaling pathway.

Extract from Arrabidaea chica (Fridericia chica) leaves show preventive action for the mitigation of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity / [Extrato das folhas de Arrabidaea chica (Fridericia chica) mostrou potencial ação no combate à cardiotoxicidade induzida pela doxorrubicina]

A doxorrubicina (dox) é um medicamento antineoplásico que induz cardiotoxicidade por estresse oxidativo. Os flavonoides são antioxidantes extraídos de plantas como Camellia sinensis e Arrabidaea chica (Fridericia chica). Esta pesquisa objetivou avaliar efeitos protetores do extrato de A. chica (AC), comparado ao de C. sinensis (CS), frente ao estresse oxidativo induzido pela dox, no coração. Cardiomiócitos e células neoplásicas MDA-MB 231 foram incubados com AC e CS. Depois, adicionou-se dox e avaliaram-se taxas de viabilidade e morte celular. A citometria de fluxo para o ensaio de iodeto de propídeo (IP) em cardiomiócitos mostrou as seguintes taxas de morte celular: controle 53%; dox 78% (maior que controle, P=0,015); AC_12,5µg/mL + dox 65% (menor que dox, P=0,031); AC_25µg/mL + dox 62% (menor que dox, P=0,028); AC_50µg/mL + dox 63% (menor que dox, P=0,030); CS_12,5µg/mL + dox 71% (menor que dox, P=0,040); CS_25µg/ml + dox 69% (menor que dox, P=0,037); CS_50µg/mL + dox 74% (menor que dox, P=0,044). Resultados das células MDA-MB 231 mostraram que nenhum extrato interferiu na atividade antitumoral da dox. Os dados de IP foram corroborados pelos de MTT. Este estudo reporta promissora utilização de A. chica na prevenção da cardiotoxicidade induzida pela dox.(AU)

Acute and sub-acute oral toxicity studies of standardized extract of Nasturtium officinale in Wistar rats.

Nasturtium officinale (watercress) is a perennial dicotyledonous plant, rich in vitamins, minerals and chemical compounds. The leaves of this plant, which contain glucosinolate, are used for its diuretic and hypoglycemic effects. The purpose of the study was to investigate the safety of the standardized extract of Nasturtium officinale (SENO) with phenylethyl glucosinolate 5.0 mg/ml-1, using acute and sub-acute oral dosage in Wistar rats. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analyzed the chemical composition, from aerial parts of watercress. In the acute toxicity study, dose estimated was LD50 in the range of 2000-5000 mg/kg, signs of mortality and toxicity on female rats were observed for 14 days, after single doses of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg. In the sub-acute study, female and male rats, age 10 weeks, were supplemented at doses of 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg for 28 days. On the 29th day, rats were fasted, anesthetized, euthanized, then their blood used for hematological and biochemical evaluation. No significant changes in general behavior were reported regarding the acute study, while the sub-acute study demonstrated no toxicity of the hematopoietic and biochemical systems. The results showed that SENO at dosage up to 5000 mg/kg in acute study was safe, and NOAEL (no-observed-adverse-effect levels) in the sub-acute, was up to 1000 mg/kg.

Beneficial effect of low-level laser therapy in acute lung injury after i-I/R is dependent on the secretion of IL-10 and independent of the TLR/MyD88 signaling.

The use of low-level laser for lung inflammation treatment has been evidenced in animal studies as well as clinical trials. The laser action mechanism seems to involve downregulation of neutrophil chemoattractants and transcription factors. Innate immune responses against microorganisms may be mediated by toll-like receptors (TLR). Intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (i-I/R) lead to bacterial product translocation, such as endotoxin, which consequently activates TLRs leading to intestinal and lung inflammation after gut trauma. Thus, the target of this study was to investigate the role of TLR activation in the laser (660 nm, 30 mW, 67.5 J/cm2, 0.375 mW/cm2, 5.4 J, 180 s, and spot size with 0.08 cm2) effect applied in contact with the skin on axillary lymph node in lung inflammation induced by i-I/R through a signaling adaptor protein known as myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88). It is a quantitative, experimental, and laboratory research using the C57Bl/6 and MyD88-/- mice (n = 6 mice for experimental group). Statistical differences were evaluated by ANOVA and the Tukey-Kramer multiple comparisons test to determine differences among groups. In order to understand how the absence of MyD88 can interfere in the laser effect on lung inflammation, MyD88-/- mice were treated or not with laser and subjected to occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery (45 min) followed by intestinal reperfusion (4 h). In summary, the laser decreased the MPO activity and the lung vascular permeability, thickened the alveolar septa, reduced both the edema and the alveolar hemorrhage, as well as significantly decreased neutrophils infiltration in MyD88-deficient mice as well in wild-type mice. It noted a downregulation in chemokine IL-8 production as well as a cytokine IL-10 upregulation in these animals. The results also evidenced that in absence of IL-10, the laser effect is reversed. Based on these results, we suggest that the beneficial effect of laser in acute lung injury after i-I/R is dependent on the secretion of IL-10 and independent of the TLR/MyD88 signaling.

Atividade antimicrobiana do extrato bruto etanólico de raízes e partes aéreas de Ottonia martiana Miq. (Piperaceae) / Antimicrobial activity of crude ethanolic extracts of Ottonia martiana Miq. (Piperaceae) roots and aerial parts

Ottonia martiana Miq., Piperaceae, conhecida na medicina popular brasileira como "anestésia", é um arbusto característico da Floresta Atlântica. Devido à ação anestésica sobre a mucosa oral, raízes e partes aéreas são popularmente utilizadas em dores de dente, na forma de alcoolaturas (bochechos) ou pela mastigação de fragmentos de partes da planta. Como os microrganismos estão adquirindo resistência aos antibióticos tradicionais, a procura por novos agentes antimicrobianos, a partir de plantas, vem sendo intensificada. Nesta perspectiva, avaliou-se o efeito antimicrobiano do extrato bruto etanólico dos órgãos totais desta espécie (EBEtOH) frente às bactérias Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 6569), Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 13048) e Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442), utilizando-se os métodos de difusão em ágar e bioautografia. Os resultados obtidos por difusão em ágar mostraram que o EBEtOH de O. martiana apresenta potencial antibacteriano contra E. faecium, evidenciado pelo aparecimento de zonas de inibição de crescimento no respectivo bioautograma e não demonstraram ação antimicrobiana contra as outras cepas testadas.

Ottonia martiana Miq., Piperaceae, known in Brazilian folk medicine as "anestésia", is an herbaceous shrub found in Atlantic Tropical Forest. Due to its anesthetic action on the mucous membranes of the mouth, roots and aerial parts are commonly used to relief toothache, usually as alcoholic macerates (mouth washing) or by chewing parts of the plant. As most microorganisms are acquiring resistance to traditional antibiotics, the search for new antimicrobials agents, specially from plants, is being intensified. Based on this, the activity of the crude ethanolic extract from roots and aerial parts (EBEtOH) of O. martiana against Enterococcus faecium (ATCC 6569), Enterobacter aerogenes (ATCC 13048) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 15442) was evaluated using the agar difusion and bioautographic methods. Results from the agar diffusion assay showed that O. martiana EBEtOH has a potencial effect against E. faecium, which was corroborated by the presence of inhibition zones in the bioautographic test, whereas no inhibitory action against the other assayed bacteria was observed.

[Intestinal invagination in children. Reduction with pneumo-enema]. / Invaginação intestinal na criança. Redução com pneumo-enema.

UNLABELLED: Pneumatic reduction of intussusception in children is an effective and safe procedure, although controversy persists concerning contraindications. The shown by this procedure when compared to barium reduction have led to its implementation in our Service. AIM: To evaluate the usefulness of a 'handicraft method' of pneumatic reduction of intussusception with very restricted contraindications (peritonitis or shock). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective study included 50 attempts at pneumatic reduction in 48 children (age range: 1.5-24 months). After confirmation of the diagnosis by ultrasonography. Then, air insufflation of the colon was performed under manometric and fluoroscopic control. After confirmation of diagnosis by ultrasonography, air insufflation of the colon was performed under manometric and fluoroscopic control in an operative room. Evolution longer than 24 hours was considered diagnostic delay, leukocytosis if WBC > 15 x 10(9)/l and distal localisation after splenic angle. Immediate laparotomy was undertaken in case of unsuccessful or doubtful reduction. RESULTS: Thirty-five reduction procedures (70%) were effective ab initio. In the 15 children submitted to laparotomy, seven were completely reduced (14%), five were manually reduced (10%), two presented intestinal necrosis (4%) and one (recurrence) had an ileal duplication (2%). The "real" efficacy (84%) was lower, even though significantly affected by diagnostic delay (81% vs 83%), rectal bleeding (81% vs 100%) or leukocytosis (71% vs 81%); efficacy was significantly lower only in distal localised cases (67% vs 97%, p = 0.02). There was one more recurrence (4%) and no other complications. CONCLUSIONS: The adopted method of pneumatic reduction was highly effective with low morbidity. Restricted contraindications were appropriate.