Coconut oil increases HDL-c and decreases triglycerides in wistar rats / Óleo de coco aumenta o HDL-c e reduz os triglicerídeos séricos em ratas Wistar

Changes in body composition and serum lipid profile in rats, supplemented with coconut oil, are evaluated and compared to other lipid sources. Female Wistar rats received by gavage 1 mL kg-1 of saline, soybean oil, lard or coconut oil during 21 days. At the end of the study period, body composition, food intake, feces, urine, organ weight and serum lipid profile were assessed. No statistical differences between the groups were found in body composition, food intake, fecal and urinary analysis, and organ weight. In the case or plasma lipid concentrations, coconut oil and lard raised total cholesterol levels, without changes in LDL levels. On the other hand there was no change in total cholesterol levels in the soybean oil group. HDL fraction increased in all groups when compared to that in the saline group; this increase was more significant in the coconut oil group. There was significant reduction of serum triglycerides only in the coconut oil group when compared to the saline group. Supplementation with coconut oil did not interfere in weight and body composition of the animals used in current study, but revealed significant effect on the increase of HDL-c levels and decrease of serum triglycerides.

Analisar as alterações na composição corporal e no perfil lipídico sérico de ratas suplementadas com óleo de coco, comparativamente a outras fontes lipídicas. Foram utilizadas ratas Wistar, as quais receberam via oral 1 mL kg-1 de solução salina, óleo de soja, gordura de porco ou óleo de coco por 21 dias. Ao término avaliaram- se a composição corporal, o consumo alimentar, as fezes, a urina, o peso de órgãos e o perfil lipídico sérico. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos com relação à composição corporal, ao consumo alimentar, à análise de fezes e à urina, e peso de órgãos. Quanto às concentrações de lipídios plasmáticos, o óleo de coco e a gordura de porco elevaram o colesterol total, sem alteração dos níveis de LDL, quando comparados ao grupo salina. Em todos os grupos foi observada elevação da fração HDL, sendo mais significativa no grupo óleo de coco, quando comparados ao grupo salina. Ainda, se comparado ao grupo salina, apenas no grupo óleo de coco houve redução significativa das concentrações séricas de triglicerídeos. A suplementação com óleo de coco não interferiu no peso e composição corporal dos animais em estudo. No entanto esta suplementação apresentou importante efeito no aumento do HDL-c e na redução dos triglicerídeos séricos.

Anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of Croton urucurana Baillon bark.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Croton urucurana (Euphorbiaceae) is popularly used in Brazil to treat inflammatory processes, pain, and gastric ulcers. AIM OF STUDY: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties of the methanol extract from the bark of C. urucurana (MECu) in mice and identify its chemical constituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The extract was characterized by UHPLC-DAD-ESI-Q-TOF-MS/MS. Extract doses of 25, 100, and 400mg/kg were employed in the biological assays. Evaluation of anti-inflammatory activity was based on paw edema and leukocyte recruitment into the peritoneal cavity of mice, both induced by carrageenan. Abdominal writhing caused by acetic acid and duration of formalin-induced paw-licking were the models employed to evaluate antinociceptive activity. RESULTS: Ten compounds were identified in the extract: (+)-gallocatechin (1), procyanidin B3 (2), (+)-catechin (3), (-)-epicatechin (4), tembetarine (5), magnoflorine (6), taspine (7), methyl-3-oxo-12-epi-barbascoate (8), methyl-12-epi-barbascoate (9), and hardwickiic acid (10). This is the first report of compounds 2, 4, 6, 7, and 10 in C. urucurana and compound 5 in the genus Croton. In addition to inhibiting paw edema and leukocyte recruitment (particularly of polymorphonuclear cells) into the peritoneal cavity of mice, MECu reduced the number of abdominal writhings induced by acetic acid and the duration of formalin-induced paw licking. CONCLUSIONS: The methanol extract of C. urucurana bark exhibited anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive properties, corroborating its use in folk medicine. These effects may be related to the presence of diterpenes, alkaloids, and flavonoids.

Antiulcerogenic activity of Carica papaya seed in rats.

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the gastroprotective and healing effects of the methanolic extract of the seed of the papaya Carica papaya L. (MECP) in rats. Models of acute gastric ulcer induction by ethanol and indomethacin and of chronic ulcer by acetic acid were used. The gastric juice and mucus parameters were evaluated using the pylorus ligation model, and the involvement of sulfhydryl compounds (GSH) and nitric oxide in the gastroprotective effect was analyzed using the ethanol model. The toxicity was assessed through toxicity tests. No signs of toxicity were observed when the rats received a single dose of 2000 mg/kg of extract. The MECP in doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg significantly reduced the gastric lesion with 56, 76, and 82 % inhibition, respectively, and a dose of 30 mg/kg lansoprazole showed 79 % inhibition in the ethanol model. MECP (125, 250, 500 mg/kg) and cimetidine (200 mg/kg) reduced the gastric lesion in the indomethacin model, with 62, 67, 81, and 85 % inhibition, respectively. The MECP (500 mg/kg) and cimetidine (200 mg/kg) treatments showed a reduction in ulcerative symptoms induced by acetic acid by 84 and 73 %, respectively. The antiulcerogenic activity seems to involve GSH because the inhibition dropped from 72 to 13 % in the presence of a GSH inhibitor. Moreover, the MECP showed systemic action, increasing the mucus production and decreasing gastric acidity. Treatments with MECP induce gastroprotection without signs of toxicity. This effect seems to involve sulfhydryl compounds, increased mucus, and reduced gastric acidity.

Antiulcer activities of the hydroethanolic extract of Sedum dendroideum Moc et Sessé ex DC. (balsam).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The leaves of Sedum dendroideum, commonly known as balsam, have long been employed for the treatment of gastric ulcers. The aim of study was to evaluate the antiulcer activity and toxicological properties of Sedum dendroideum using induced gastric ulcer models in Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The hydroethanolic extract of Sedum dendroideum (ESD) was analyzed using an acute ulcer model using ethanol and indomethacin and a chronic ulcer model using acetic acid. The toxicity was evaluated with acute and subacute toxicity tests. The gastric secretion was assessed by the performance of pyloric ligation and the gastric volume, pH, and hydrogen ion concentration. The mechanism of the gastroprotective activity of ESD through the involvement of nitric oxide and sulfhydryl compounds was assessed. Moreover, a phytochemical screening and antioxidant assays were performed. RESULTS: No signs of toxicity were observed. In the ethanol-induced ulceration model, ESD doses of 25, 50, and 100mg/kg significantly reduced the gastric lesions by 66.03%, 71.11%, and 70.82%, respectively. In the indomethacin-induced ulceration model, ESD doses of 25, 50, and 100mg/kg significantly reduced the gastric lesions by 89.88%, 94.36%, and 90.64%, respectively. Treatment with ESD at 50mg/kg and cimetidine at 200mg/kg significantly reduced acetic acid-induced ulcerations and resulted in 92.99% and 77.16% cure, respectively. ESD doses of 25, 50, and 100mg/kg inhibited oxidation by 79.7%, 82.4%, and 82.3%, respectively. The antiulcer activity of ESD may involve sulfhydryl compounds, considering that this activity was inhibited in the animals treated with sulfhydryl compound blockers. Furthermore, ESD increased mucus secretion and reduced gastric acidity and volume. CONCLUSIONS: The leaf extract of Sedum dendroideum exhibited gastroprotective activity, potentially due to sulfhydryl compounds and antioxidant activity. Therefore, other studies are warranted to elucidate the antiulcer properties of these compounds.