Flavonoids: biological activities and therapeutic potential.

Flavonoids have aroused much interest in research, since they present a great diversity of biological activities observed in vitro, such as: antioxidant effect, modulation of the enzymatic activity and inhibition of cellular proliferation, exerting beneficial effects on the organism, as well as the use of its therapeutic potential. With wide distribution in the plant kingdom represent a class of phenolic compounds that differ in their chemical structure and particular characteristics. The objective of this review was to describe the relevant aspects of flavonoids, reporting the different known groups, the probable mechanisms by which they act, their pharmacological properties and to gain a better understanding of the reported beneficial health effects of these substances. This systematic review consisted of research using scientific databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, SciVerse and SciELO, without time limitation. Some pharmacological properties of some flavonoids and their health benefits have been confirmed by previous studies.

Standardized extract of Erythrina velutina Willd. attenuates schizophrenia-Like behaviours and oxidative parameters in experimental animal models.

OBJECTIVES: To study the effects of the standardized extract from the leaves of Erythrina velutina in behavioural and oxidative parameters in the ketamine-induced schizophrenia model. METHODS: Mice received ketamine (KET) or saline for 7 days. From 8th to 14th day, the animals received Erythrine (Eryt) (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg) or olanzapine (Olanz), 1 h after KET administration. At 14th day, 30 min after the last administration of KET, the open-field and pre-pulse inhibition (PPI) tests were performed. Then, the animals were sacrificed and the prefrontal cortex (PFC), hippocampus (HC) and striatum (ST) were dissected for the oxidative tests. KEY FINDINGS: Ketamine increased spontaneous locomotor activity and grooming. KET decreased the PPI, which was reversed by combining it with Eryt or olanzapine. KET decreased GSH concentration in PFC and ST this was reversed by Eryt. KET increased MDA concentration in PFC and HC this was reversed by Eryt. Eryt and Olanzapine reduced MDA concentration in ST when compared to KET group. Nitrite concentration was reduced by administration of KET in the PFC. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the standardized extract of E. velutina can prevent behavioural symptoms and oxidative stress induced by repeated doses of KET.

Acute and neuropathic orofacial antinociceptive effect of eucalyptol.

Terpenes have a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antinociceptive action. The anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive effects of eucalyptol are well established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antinociceptive effect of eucalyptol on acute and neuropathic orofacial pain in rodent models. Acute orofacial and corneal nociception was induced with formalin, capsaicin, glutamate and hypertonic saline in mice. In another series, animals were pretreated with capsazepine or ruthenium red to evaluate the involvement of TRPV1 receptors in the effect of eucalyptol. In a separate experiment, perinasal tissue levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α and IFN-γ were measured. Rats were pretreated with eucalyptol before induction of temporomandibular joint pain with formalin or mustard oil. In another experiment, rats were submitted to infraorbital nerve transection (IONX) to induce chronic pain, followed by induction of mechanical hypersensitivity using Von Frey hairs. Locomotor performance was evaluated with the open-field test, and molecular docking was conducted on the TRPV1 channel. Pretreatment with eucalyptol significantly reduced formalin-induced nociceptive behaviors in all mouse strains, but response was more homogenous in the Swiss strain. Eucalyptol produced antinociceptive effects in all tests. The effect was sensitive to capsazepine but not to ruthenium red. Moreover, eucalyptol significantly reduced IFN-γ levels. Matching the results of the experiment in vivo, the docking study indicated an interaction between eucalyptol and TRPV1. No locomotor activity changes were observed. Our study shows that eucalyptol may be a clinically relevant aid in the treatment of orofacial pain, possibly by acting as a TRPV1 channel antagonist.

Electroencephalographic study of chlorpromazine alone or combined with alpha-lipoic acid in a model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine in rats.

Schizophrenia is characterized by behavioral symptoms, brain function impairments and electroencephalographic (EEG) changes. Dysregulation of immune responses and oxidative imbalance underpins this mental disorder. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of the typical antipsychotic chlorpromazine (CP) alone or combined with the natural antioxidant alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) on changes in the hippocampal average spectral power induced by ketamine (KET). Three days after stereotactic implantation of electrodes, male Wistar rats were divided into groups treated for 10 days with saline (control) or KET (10 mg/kg, IP). CP (1 or 5 mg/kg, IP) alone or combined with ALA (100 mg/kg, P.O.) was administered 30 min before KET or saline. Hippocampal EEG recordings were taken on the 1st, 5th and 10th days of treatment immediately after the last drug administration. KET significantly increased average spectral power of delta and gamma-high bands on the 5th and 10th days of treatment when compared to control. Gamma low-band significantly increased on the 1st, 5th and 10th days when compared to control group. This effect of KET was prevented by CP alone or combined with ALA. Indeed, the combination of ALA 100 + CP1 potentiated the inhibitory effects of CP1 on gamma low-band oscillations. In conclusion, our results showed that KET presents excitatory and time-dependent effects on hippocampal EEG bands activity. KET excitatory effects on EEG were prevented by CP alone and in some situations potentiated by its combination with ALA.

[Cross-cultural adaptation of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment for use in Brazil with informal caregivers of the elderly]. / Adaptação transcultural do Caregiver Reaction Assessment parauso no Brasil com cuidadores informais de idosos.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment CRA for use in Brazil with informal caregivers of dependent elderly METHOD: A methodological study, of five steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, retro-translation, evaluation by a judge committee and a pre-test, with 30 informal caregivers of older persons in Fortaleza, Brazil. Content validity was assessed by five experts in gerontology and geriatrics. The cross-cultural adaptation was rigorously conducted, allowing for inferring credibility. RESULTS: The Brazilian version of the CRA had a simple and fast application (ten minutes), easily understood by the target audience. It is semantically, idiomatically, experimentally and conceptually equivalent to the original version, with valid content to assess the burden of informal caregivers for the elderly (Content Validity Index = 0.883). CONCLUSION: It is necessary that other psychometric properties of validity and reliability are tested before using in care practice and research.

Cross-cultural adaptation of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment for use in Brazil with informal caregivers of the elderly / Adaptación Transcultural Del Caregiver Reaction Assessment Para Empleo En Brasil Con Cuidadores Informales De Ancianos / Adaptação transcultural do Caregiver Reaction Assessment para uso no Brasil com cuidadores informais de idosos

This study aimed to carry out the cross-cultural adaptation of the Caregiver Reaction Assessment CRA for use in Brazil with informal caregivers of dependent elderly METHOD A methodological study, of five steps: initial translation, synthesis of translations, retro-translation, evaluation by a judge committee and a pre-test, with 30 informal caregivers of older persons in Fortaleza, Brazil. Content validity was assessed by five experts in gerontology and geriatrics. The cross-cultural adaptation was rigorously conducted, allowing for inferring credibility. RESULTS The Brazilian version of the CRA had a simple and fast application (ten minutes), easily understood by the target audience. It is semantically, idiomatically, experimentally and conceptually equivalent to the original version, with valid content to assess the burden of informal caregivers for the elderly (Content Validity Index = 0.883). CONCLUSION It is necessary that other psychometric properties of validity and reliability are tested before using in care practice and research. .

El blanco de este estudio fue llevar a cabo la adaptación transcultural del Caregiver Reaction Assessment para empleo en Brasil con cuidadores informales de ancianos dependientes. MÉTODO Estudio metodológico, de cinco etapas: traducción inicial, síntesis de las traducciones, retrotraducción, evaluación por comité de jueces y pre prueba con 30 cuidadores informales de ancianos de Fortaleza-CE, Brasil. La validez de contenido fue evaluada por cinco expertos en Salud del Anciano. La adaptación transcultural fue rigurosamente conducida, permitiendo desprender su credibilidad. RESULTADOS La versión brasileña del CRA tuvo aplicación sencilla, rápida (diez minutos) y fácilmente comprensible por el público meta. Equivale semántica, idiomática, experimental y conceptualmente a la versión original, con contenido válido para evaluar la sobrecarga de los cuidadores informales de ancianos (Índice de Validez de Contenido=0,883). CONCLUSIÓN Es necesario analizar sus demás propiedades psicométricas de validez y confiabilidad antes del empleo en la práctica asistencial y de investigación. .

Objetivou-se realizar a adaptação transcultural do Caregiver Reaction Assessment (CRA) para uso no Brasil com cuidadores informais de idosos dependentes MÉTODO Estudo metodológico, de cinco etapas: tradução inicial, síntese das traduções, retrotradução, avaliação por comitê de juízes e pré-teste com 30 cuidadores informais de idosos de Fortaleza-CE, Brasil. A validade de conteúdo foi avaliada por cinco especialistas em Saúde do Idoso. A adaptação transcultural foi rigorosamente conduzida, permitindo depreender sua credibilidade. RESULTADOS A versão brasileira do CRA teve aplicação simples, rápida (dez minutos), facilmente compreensível pelo público-alvo. É semanticamente, idiomaticamente, experimentalmente e conceitualmente equivalente à versão original, com conteúdo válido para avaliar a sobrecarga de cuidadores informais de idosos (Índice de Validade de Conteúdo=0,883). CONCLUSÃO É necessário que as suas demais propriedades psicométricas de validade e confiabilidade sejam analisadas, antes da utilização na prática assistencial e de pesquisa. .