Anti-inflammatory Evaluation and Toxicological Analysis of Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg.

Campomanesia xanthocarpa (Myrtaceae) is used in Brazilian traditional medicine against fever, diabetes, hypercholesteremic, obesity, and urinary diseases. In the present study, the compounds 2',6'-dihydroxy-3'-methyl-4'-metoxychalcone and 2',4'-dihydroxy-3',5'-dimethyl-6'-methoxychalcone were identified for the first time in leaves of the C. xanthocarpa. These compounds and the hydroethanolic extract (HECX) significantly inhibited paw edema and reduced both leukocyte migration and the leakage of protein into the pleural cavity. No toxicity was detected by HECX in an acute toxicity test.

Diuretic and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Microencapsulated Acrocomia aculeata (Arecaceae) Oil on Wistar Rats.

Acrocomia aculeata, popularly known as "bocaiuva," is widely acknowledged in culinary and traditional medicines to treat cardiovascular diseases, a combined effect with diuretics that are also used for hypertension. However, there are no scientific data published to support its use as functional food and its ethnopharmacological use. This study intended to determine the composition of fatty acids of the pulp oil and evaluate the diuretic action and anti-inflammatory activity of the in natura and microencapsulated oil orally administrated on rats. The obtained results confirm the prevalence of monounsaturated fatty acids (68.51%), especially oleic acid (65.68%±1.05%), in the oil from the bocaiuva pulp. The in natura A. aculeata oil has diuretic (P<.01) and anti-inflammatory potential, which promoted a marked inhibition on the hind paw edema induced by carrageenan (67%±7% after 2 h) (P<.01). In addition, results show that the oral administration of the bocaiuva oil at 300 (P<.05) and 700 (P<.05) mg/kg doses significantly inhibited the leukocyte migration induced by carrageenan to the pleural cavity in rats. The inhibitions equaled 91%±3% and 81%±16%, respectively. The microencapsulated oil also showed antiedematogenic (P<.01) as well as diuretic activities (P<.01). The microencapsulation by complex coacervation was shown to be a technique that favors the bioavailability and preservation of bioactive components of the bocaiuva oil.

Indicaxanthin from cactus pear fruit exerts anti-inflammatory effects in carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy.

Nutritional research has shifted recently from alleviating nutrient deficiencies to chronic disease prevention. We investigated the activity of indicaxanthin, a bioavailable phytochemical of the betalain class from the edible fruit of Opuntia ficus-indica (L. Miller) in a rat model of acute inflammation. Rat pleurisy was achieved by injection of 0.2 mL of λ-carrageenin in the pleural cavity, and rats were killed 4, 24, and 48 h later; exudates were collected to analyze inflammatory parameters, such as nitric oxide (NO), prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); cells recruited in pleura were analyzed for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) activation. Indicaxanthin (0.5, 1, or 2 µmol/kg), given orally before carrageenin, time- and dose-dependently, reduced the exudate volume (up to 70%) and the number of leukocytes recruited in the pleural cavity (up to 95%) at 24 h. Pretreatment with indicaxanthin at 2 µmol/kg inhibited the carrageenin-induced release of PGE(2) (91.4%), NO (67.7%), IL-1ß (53.6%), and TNF-α (71.1%), and caused a decrease of IL-1ß (34.5%), TNF-α (81.6%), iNOS (75.2%), and COX2 (87.7%) mRNA, as well as iNOS (71.9%) and COX-2 (65.9%) protein expression, in the recruited leukocytes. Indicaxanthin inhibited time- and dose- dependently the activation of NF-κB, a key transcription factor in the whole inflammatory cascade. A pharmacokinetic study with a single 2 µmol/kg oral administration showed a maximum 0.22 ± 0.02 µmol/L (n = 15) plasma concentration of indicaxanthin, with a half-life of 1.15 ± 0.11 h. When considering the high bioavailability of indicaxanthin in humans, our findings suggest that this dietary pigment has the potential to improve health and prevent inflammation-based disorders.

Steady antibiotic release from biodegradable beads in the pleural cavity: an in vitro and in vivo study.

BACKGROUND: Inadequate localized drug concentrations and systemic adverse effects are among the concerns when regional infections are treated with systemic antibiotics. We designed and fabricated a poly(D,L)-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA)-based biodegradable drug delivery system and evaluated the release of antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: PLGA copolymer and penicillin G sodium were mixed, compressed, and sintered to fabricate biodegradable antibiotic beads. The beads were placed in phosphate-buffered saline to test the characteristics of in vitro drug release. The beads then were introduced into the pleural cavities through chest tubes of six New Zealand white rabbits. Daily pleural effusion was collected to measure the antibiotic concentration and bacterial inhibitory characteristics. RESULTS: Forty percent of the penicillin was released in the first day in the in vitro study. The rest of the antibiotic was then gradually released in the following 30 days. All six animals survived the experiment. The initial surge of drug release was less significant in the pleural cavity than in the phosphate-buffered saline. The drug concentrations were well above the minimum inhibitory concentration breakpoint for penicillin susceptibility throughout the study period in both in vitro (30 days) and in vivo (14 days) studies. CONCLUSIONS: These preliminary findings demonstrated that the biodegradable PLGA antibiotic beads could achieve a fairly steady antibiotic release in the pleural cavity for at least 2 weeks. This drug delivery system may have the potential to serve as an adjuvant treatment of pleural cavity infection.

Anti-inflammation effects of corn silk in a rat model of carrageenin-induced pleurisy.

Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleural layers that surround the lungs. Despite much research into inflammatory diseases, no drugs with favorable safety profiles are available yet for their treatment. Corn silk has been used in many parts of the world for the treatment of edema, cystitis, gout, kidney stones nephritis, and prostitutes. However, no scientific reports on the anti-inflammatory effects of corn silk were so far available. To test the anti-inflammatory efficacy of corn silk extract (CSEX) in a rat model of carrageenin (Cg)-induced pleurisy, exudate formation, and cellular infiltration, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1ß), vascular endothelial growth factor alpha (VEGF-α), interleukin-17 (IL-17), C3 and C4 complement protein levels, adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) levels, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation, and total antioxidant activity were studied, respectively. Pretreatment with CSEX reduced Cg-induced pleurisy exudate, number of leukocytes, oxidative stress, C3 protein level, and O (2)(-) levels at the inflammatory site. Pretreatment with CSEX also inhibited TNF-α, IL-1ß, VEGF-α, and IL-17A and blocked inflammation-related events (ICAM-1 and iNOS) by activation of NF-κB. Supplementation with CSEX may be a promising treatment for inflammatory diseases that involve oxidative stress.