Chia oil prevents chemical and immune-mediated inflammatory responses in mice: Evidence for the underlying mechanisms.

Chia (Salvia hispanica L.) is an herbaceous plant used as omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (ω-3 PUFA) source that presents a range of beneficial effects on human health. Herein, it was used a chia oil containing over than 62% of α-linolenic acid (ALA), a compound widely related to anti-inflammatory actions. Chia oil effect was tested using paw edema and mechanical hyperalgesia induced by carrageenan, and ear edema induced by croton oil, histamine, and capsaicin. Croton oil was used in both preventive and therapeutic treatment schedules of chia oil while histamine and capsaicin were used only in preventive treatment schedule. Chia oil mechanism of action was investigated using nociception and paw edema response induced by intraplantar injection of acidified saline (ASIC activator), PGE2 (prostaglandin pathway), cinnamaldehyde (TRPA1 activator), bradykinin (BK pathway), menthol (TRPM8 activator), and capsaicin (TRPV1 activator). Further, RT-PCR for inflammatory mediators (TRPA1, NF-κB, PPAR-γ, COX-2, IL-6, TNF, FPR2, FAAH, MAGL, and IL-12A) induced by carrageenan, NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and the cell viability were then accessed. Later, chia oil actions were evaluated in the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a multiple sclerosis (MS) model. Chia oil showed anti-edematogenic and anti-hyperalgesic effects when administered 1 h before pro-inflammatory stimulus - particularly carrageenan and croton oil. Moreover, chia oil upregulated the mRNA levels of COX-2 and formyl peptide receptor 2 (FPR2) while reduced IL-6 expression in the spinal cord of mice submitted to i.pl. injection of carrageenan. Interestingly, chia oil mediates antinociceptive effects in mice decreasing the nociceptive response induced by acidified saline, PGE2, and cinnamaldehyde, but not by bradykinin, menthol, and capsaicin. On the EAE model, chia oil preventively administered attenuated EAE-induced motor deficits and mechanical hyperalgesia in mice, suggesting a valuable effect of chia oil supplementation in regulating inflammatory responses and some immune functions during immune-mediated inflammatory disorders (IMID). Nonetheless, additional reports will need to assess the effect of chia oil in well-controlled clinical trials performed in MS patients.

Involvement of Opioid System and TRPM8/TRPA1 Channels in the Antinociceptive Effect of Spirulina platensis.

Spirulina platensis is a "super-food" and has attracted researchers' attention due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and analgesic properties. Herein, we investigated the antinociceptive effects of Spirulina in different rodent behavior models of inflammatory pain. Male Swiss mice were treated with Spirulina (3-300 mg/kg, p.o.), indomethacin (10 mg/kg, p.o.), or vehicle (0.9% NaCl 10 mL/kg). Behavioral tests were performed with administration of acetic acid (0.6%, i.p.), formalin 2.7% (formaldehyde 1%, i.pl.), menthol (1.2 µmol/paw, i.pl.), cinnamaldehyde (10 nmol/paw, i.pl.), capsaicin (1.6 µg/paw, i.pl.), glutamate (20 µmol/paw, i.pl.), or naloxone (1 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals were also exposed to the rotarod and open field test to determine possible effects of Spirulina on locomotion and motor coordination. The quantitative phytochemical assays exhibited that Spirulina contains significant concentrations of total phenols and flavonoid contents, as well as it showed a powerful antioxidant effect with the highest scavenging activity. Oral administration of Spirulina completely inhibited the abdominal contortions induced by acetic acid (ED50 = 20.51 mg/kg). Spirulina treatment showed significant inhibition of formalin-induced nociceptive behavior during the inflammatory phase, and the opioid-selective antagonist markedly blocked this effect. Furthermore, our data indicate that the mechanisms underlying Spirulina analgesia appear to be related to its ability to modulate TRMP8 and TRPA1, but not by TRPV1 or glutamatergic system. Spirulina represents an orally active and safe natural analgesic that exhibits great therapeutic potential for managing inflammatory pain disorders.

Preocupação de idosos em relação a quedas / Preoccupation of elderly people concerning falls

Objetivos: as quedas e o medo de cair são um importante problema de saúde pública entre os idosos. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a preocupação de idosos com novas quedas e identificar em quais atividades ela acontece. Metodologia: 26 idosos (76,2 ± 6,3 anos, 84,6% do gênero feminino) dos Programas de Saúde da Família “Jóquei Clube” e “Três Lagos”, da cidade de Marília, São Paulo. A avaliação da preocupação de novas quedas foi feita utilizando-se a Escala Internacional de Eficácia de Quedas elaborada pelo PROFANE, dividida em três partes: atividade de vida diária (AVD), atividade física (AF) e atividade social (AS). Resultados: a maioria dos participantes manifestou grande preocupação com novas quedas nas atividades de limpeza de casa (73,1%). No aspecto AF, grande parte das pessoas demonstrou muita preocupação na realização de atividades como sentar-se ou levantar-se de uma cadeira (73%). Nas atividades sociais, houve grande preocupação para a maioria dos itens avaliados. A média de quedas foi maior na faixa etária de 75-84 anos (2,9), em comparação com as outras faixas etárias (2,4-³85 anos; 1,63-65 a 74 anos) Conclusão: O estudo permitiu observar que existe um grande medo de idosos com novas quedas nas atividades básicas de vida diária.

Objective: falls and the fear of falling are an important problem of public health among the elderly. This work aims to evaluate the fear of elderly concerning new falls and to identify in which activities these happen. Methodology: 26 aged (76,2 ± 6,3 years, 84.6% were female) from the Family Health Programs "Jockey Clube" and "Três Lagos", in Marília, São Paulo. The evaluation of fear of new falls was made using the Falls Efficacy Scale International elaborated by PROFANES, divided in three parts: everyday activities (EA), physical activity (PA) and social activity (SA). Results: most part of participants revealed great concern with new falls in activities such as home cleaning (73,1%). Concerning PA, most people showed concern with the accomplishment of activities such as sitting down or stading up (73%). In social activities, for most questions evaluated a great concern was expressed. The average of falls was higher for ages 75-84 years (2,9) as compared to other ages (2,4 - ³ 85 years; 1,63 - 65 to the 74 years). Conclusion: The study allowed to observe that elderly people are very much concerned with new falls in basic everyday activities.