Neuroprotective Mechanisms of Resveratrol in Alzheimer's Disease: Role of SIRT1.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive and neurodegenerative disorder of the cortex and hippocampus, which eventually leads to cognitive impairment. Although the etiology of AD remains unclear, the presence of ß-amyloid (Aß) peptides in these learning and memory regions is a hallmark of AD. Therefore, the inhibition of Aß peptide aggregation has been considered the primary therapeutic strategy for AD treatment. Many studies have shown that resveratrol has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties and can decrease the toxicity and aggregation of Aß peptides in the hippocampus of AD patients, promote neurogenesis, and prevent hippocampal damage. In addition, the antioxidant activity of resveratrol plays an important role in neuronal differentiation through the activation of silent information regulator-1 (SIRT1). SIRT1 plays a vital role in the growth and differentiation of neurons and prevents the apoptotic death of these neurons by deacetylating and repressing p53 activity; however, the exact mechanisms remain unclear. Resveratrol also has anti-inflammatory effects as it suppresses M1 microglia activation, which is involved in the initiation of neurodegeneration, and promotes Th2 responses by increasing anti-inflammatory cytokines and SIRT1 expression. This review will focus on the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory neuroprotective effects of resveratrol, specifically on its role in SIRT1 and the association with AD pathophysiology.

Antifungal Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Chrysobalanus icaco Against Oral Clinical Isolates of Candida Species.

BACKGROUND: Chrysobalanus icaco is a medicinal plant commonly used to treat fungal infections in Brazilian Amazonian region. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of C. icaco (HECi) against oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. and to determine the pharmacognostic parameters of the herbal drug and the phytochemical characteristics of HECi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The pharmacognostic characterization was performed using pharmacopoeial techniques. Phytochemical screening, total flavonoid content, and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis were used to investigate the chemical composition of the HECi. A broth microdilution method was used to determine the antifungal activity of the extract against 11 oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. RESULTS: Herbal drug presented parameters which were within the limits set forth in current Brazilian legislation. A high amount of flavonoid content (132,959.33 ± 12,598.23 µg quercetin equivalent/g of extract) was found in HECi. Flavonoids such as myricetin and rutin were detected in the extract by HPLC analyses. HECi showed antifungal activity against oral isolates of Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis (minimum inhibitory concentrations [MIC] 3.12 and 6.25 mg/mL, respectively), and C. albicans American American Type Culture Collection (MIC <1.56 mg/mL). CONCLUSION: HECi was shown to possess antifungal activity against Candida species with clinical importance in the development of oral candidiasis, and these activities may be related to its chemical composition. The antifungal activity detected for C. icaco against Candida species with clinical importance in the development of oral candidiasis can be attributed to the presence of flavonoids in HECi, characterized by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques. SUMMARY: Chrysobalanus icaco presents a high amount of flavonoids in its constitutionLC analysis was able to identify the flavonoids myricetin and rutin in C. icaco hydroalcoholic extractThe C. icaco hydroalcoholic extract inhibits the growth of oral clinical isolates of Candida spp. and Candida albicans American Type Culture Collection. Abbreviations Used: HECi: Hydroalcoholic extract of C. icaco; HPLC: High performance liquid chromatography; AlCl3: Aluminum chloride; DMSO: Dimethyl sulfoxide; CH3NOONa: Sodium acetate; MTT: 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide; ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; EMBRAPA: Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation - Eastern Amazon; v/v: Volume per volume; SD: Standard deviation; TFC: Total flavonoid content; w/v: Weight per volume; ELSD: Evaporative light scattering detector; DAD: Diode-arrange detector; UFPA: Federal University of Pará; IEC: Evandro Chagas Institute; INCQS-FIOCRUZ: National Institute of Quality Control in Health - Fundação Oswaldo Cruz; SDA: Sabouraud Dextrose Agar; CFU: Colony-forming units; MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentrations; MFC: Minimum fungicidal concentrations.

Petiveria alliacea exerts mnemonic and learning effects on rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) is a perennial shrub native to the Amazon region and other tropical areas such as Central America and the Caribbean. Popularly known as mucuracaá, P. alliacea is used in the folk medicine for a broad variety of therapeutic purpose and also in religious ceremonies by slaves as a sedative, which highlights its properties on the Central Nervous System (CNS). AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study evaluated the effects of the P. alliacea leaves hydroalcoholic extract (PaLHE) on the cognition, including learning and memory. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three-month-old male and female Wistar rats (n=8-10/group) were administered with 900mg/kg of PaLHE. The behavioral assays included Step-down Inhibitory avoidance (IA) and Morris Water Maze (MWM) tests. RESULTS: Consistent with our previous reports, P. alliacea improved long-term memory. It also exerted previously unreported effects on short-term and spatial memory improvement, and increased learning in the tasks. CONCLUSIONS: The P. alliacea extract elicited mnemonic effects and improved the learning process in both IA and MWM tests. Our results highlight the importance of further studies in order to identify the active substances of the PaLHE and investigate the pharmacological mechanisms that underlies the reported effects.

Análise do sistema de notificações em vigilância sanitária - NOTIVISA / Analysis of notifications from the health surveillance system - NOTIVISA

Objetivo: analisar o crescimento e o perfil de notificações de queixas técnicas e reações adversas deprodutos farmacêuticos, assim como os notificadores mais atuantes no município de Belém-PA.Método: estudo descritivo e retrospectivo de dados de notificações do NOTIVISA, no período de 01de dezembro de 2007 a 31 de dezembro de 2008. Resultados: 49,01% (344) dos produtos notificadospertenciam ao grupo de medicamentos e, deste total, 237 eram relacionados a eventos adversos. Detodas as notificações relacionadas a medicamentos registradas, 272 estavam concluídas (79,07%). AFundação Santa Casa de Misericórdia do Pará foi a instituição que mais notificou neste período.Considerações finais: o NOTIVISA se firma como um sistema importante para o monitoramento daqualidade e utilização de produtos sob vigilância sanitária, contribuindo para a promoção do URM.

Objective: this study aimed to characterize the growth and profile of reports of technical complaintsand adverse reactions to pharmaceuticals products, as well as notifiers most active in the city ofBelém, state of Pará, Brazil. Method: descriptive and retrospective study of notices?s data from theNOTIVISA, in the period from december 1st of 2007 till december 31 of 2008. Results: 49,01%(344) of products notifications it was drugs, and between them, 237 was related to adverse events.Among all notifications related to medicines registered, 272 was concluded (79,07%). The FundaçãoSanta Casa de Misericórdia do Pará was the institution that more notified in this period. Conclusions:the NOTIVISA consolidate itself like an important system for monitoring the quality and use of theproducts under sanitary surveillance, contributing for the rational use of medicines (RUM).