ABSTRACT
Hancornia speciosa Gomes (HS) is a Brazilian fruit tree used in inflammatory disorders by folk medicine. Here we sought to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective properties of HS fruit juice in acetaminophen-induced hepatoxicity model in rats, as well as to perform a comprehensive chemical characterization of phenolics and metals by mass spectrometry. HS showed hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity by decreasing MDA and liver injury markers at healthy control levels. In addition, liver histopathological analysis revealed that HS decreases hepatocellular degeneration. Chemical characterization revealed 16 different phenolics, being chlorogenic acid (150 ± 5 µg/g) and rutin (120 ± 8 µg/g) the major phenolics in HS. Among the 14 micronutrients we identified, zinc and boron were the most abundant metals detected in HS. In line with previous studies involving liver diseases, our data supports evidence that such phenolics and metals present in HS may prevent liver injury induced by acetaminophen.
Subject(s)
Apocynaceae , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury , Acetaminophen/toxicity , Animals , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Apocynaceae/chemistry , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/drug therapy , Chemical and Drug Induced Liver Injury/prevention & control , Fruit and Vegetable Juices , Liver , Phenols/pharmacology , Plant Extracts/chemistry , Plant Extracts/pharmacology , RatsABSTRACT
Coprostanol (5ß-cholestan-3ß-ol) and other fecal steroids were used as markers to trace the input of sewage to the shelf along the coast of Sergipe and Alagoas States, in NE Brazil. Surface sediment samples in shallow regions (<50 m depth) on the shelf were collected adjacent to four fluvial systems, whose drainage basins exhibit distinct levels of human influence. Highest coprostanol concentrations were observed in the area under influence of the Sergipe River (58.6 ± 74.6 ng g(-)(1); maximum of 184.1 ng g(-)(1)), whereas in the Vaza-Barris (18.9 ± 23.6 ng g(-)(1)) and the Piaui/Real (12.3 ± 6.7 ng g(-)(1)) rivers the levels of coprostanol were near the method's limit of detection. Nearby the São Francisco River, the largest in the NE Brazil, coprostanol was virtually absent. The findings of the present study, supported by coprostanol-based diagnostic ratios, revealed that, when sanitation is lacking in the coastal region, even a small-sized river like the Sergipe River can effectively contribute to the export of sewage-derived organic matter to the inner continental shelf in the studied region.
Subject(s)
Environmental Monitoring , Geologic Sediments/chemistry , Sewage/analysis , Biomarkers/analysis , Brazil , Cholestanol/analysis , Feces/chemistry , Humans , Rivers/chemistry , Sanitation , Steroids/analysisABSTRACT
Medicinal plants are an important source of treatment for many ailments, although little is known of the potential genotoxic effects of most species. In the present study, two species from diverse and medicinally important genera - Maytenus rigida Mart., Celastraceae, and Aristolochia birostris Ducht, Aristolochiaceae - were analyzed to identify potentially significant secondary metabolites and the possible effects of their aqueous and alcoholic extracts on cell division in the onion root stem (genotoxicity test). The phytochemical testing revealed the presence of a number of potentially important secondary compounds in both species, including phenols, flavonoids, triterpenoids, steroids, and saponins. In the genotoxicity tests, no chromosomal abnormalities of any kind were observed in either species. In the case of M. rigida, a significant increase in mitotic activity was observed at the highest concentration. No significant tendency was recorded in A. birostris, although a considerable increase in the prophase was observed at all concentrations of the alcoholic extract. The triterpenoid content of both species may be especially important from a medicinal viewpoint, although recent findings on the carcinogenic potential of Aristolochia extracts demands caution in the interpretation of the results, and the need for further research.
ABSTRACT
Rifampicin is an antibiotic which, on a carbon paste electrode, shows an oxidation response of 0.492 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) at pH 7.0, due to the electroactivity of the hydroquinone group. Interaction of rifampicin with chitosan is strongly dependent on pH, species concentrations and contact time between the latter. Compared to the carbon paste electrode, electrodes modified with chitosan showed greater sensitivity, with optimum voltammetric profile obtained at pH 8.0. Spectrophotometric measurements indicate that rifampicin is strongly absorbed by chitosan at pH less than the pKa of the pharmaceutical, such behaviour being favourable for the use of chitosan as a carrier for the controlled release of rifampicin in the intestinal tract.
Subject(s)
Chitosan/chemistry , Rifampin/chemistry , Carbon/chemistry , Electrochemistry , Electrodes , Hydroquinones/chemistry , Molecular Structure , Oxidation-Reduction , Spectrum AnalysisABSTRACT
Há muito que diversas espécies de organismos são reconhecidas como grupos sensíveis a variaçãoes de parâmetros ambientais. Os critérios de qualidade da água para esses animais são derivados principalmente de testes de laboratório e, em escala muito menor, de ensaios realizados em campo. O emprego de testes de toxicidade aguda para água de produção de petróleo permite avaliar possíveis impactos que às vezes a simples caracterização física e química da água não revela. Sabe-se que essa constatação, isoladamente, não é suficiente para definir a toxicidade das substâncias, uma vez que pode haver processos sinérgicos e antagônicos. Os testes de toxicidade aguda foram realizados com duas espécies, um peixe nativo, Poecilia vivipara, e um crustáceo, Artemia salina. O método para o desenvolvimento desses testes foi baseado na 16ª edição de "Standard Methods for Examination of Water and Watewater". Determinaram-se ainda neste trabalho as concentraçãoes de HPAs e metais pesados existentes na água produzida.
Subject(s)
Metals, Heavy , Environmental Health/trends , Toxicity TestsABSTRACT
Foram avaliadas as características físico-químicas e a toxicidade da água de produção de petróleo caracterizada no Estado de Sergipe, sobre juvenis do camarão-sete-barba (Xiphopenaeus Kroyeri), expostos a diferentes diluições efluente, por períodos de até 96 horas, tendo em vista a larga distribuição, grande importância econômica ecológica dessa espécie, e os problemas de poluição aos quais as regiões costeiras produtoras de petróleo estão sujeitas. Foram utilizadas 315 juvenis capturados no ambiente e deixados aclimatar por trinta dias em laboratório. O peso médio dos animais em cada aquário ficou entre 1,07 e 1,44 gramas, apresentando comprimentos entre 12, 54 e 15,29 mm. Três replicas de 15 indivíduos foram submetidas a uma das seguintes diluições: 0,0 (controle), 1,0 por cento, 6,2 por cento, 12,5 por cento, 25 por cento e 50 por cento. Os indivíduos mortos foram retirados do aquário e contados às: 24,48, 72 e 96 horas de exposição à água produção de petróleo. As CL50 encontradas foram em média de 20,23 por cento, para exposição de 24 horas; 13,12 por cento para 48 horas, 8,31 por cento para 72 horas e 4,73 por cento para 96 horas. Determinou-se ainda neste trabalho as concentrações de HPAs (Hidrocarbonetos poliaromáticos) e metais pesados existentes na água produzida. Os resultados de HPs demonstraram predominância para o naftaleno (26,68mg/L),já para metais pesados as concentrações foram bem baixas.Os resultados demonstraram claramente que mesmo em pequenas concentrações a água de produção é toxica para o X. kroyeri.