Chrysin flavonoid encapsulation: a review about methodologies used and biological potential / Encapsulação do flavonoide crisina: uma revisão sobre as metodologias utilizadas e potencial biológico

ABSTRACT: Chrysin flavonoid has been presented as having numerous and promising bioactive effects, such as antioxidant, anticonvulsant, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antineoplastic, antihyperlipidemic, and antidepressant. However, one of the main challenges for advances in studies on the bioactivity of chrysin is its low bioavailability in humans. Thus, aiming to overcome this barrier, several studies have demonstrated the bioactive potential of capsules containing chrysin. The objective of this review was to present the main methodologies used for the encapsulation of chrysin, and its main biological effects demonstrated so far. Our intention is to offer ways to advancement of research in the area of flavonoid encapsulation. As for the encapsulation techniques, it was found that they are diverse, and the most recurrent encapsulating agents were PEG, PLGA polymers and their derivatives, in addition to other agents, such as PCL, albumin, lipids and chitosan.The bioactive effects of the capsules are also numerous, and anticarcinogenic effects are the most frequent, in addition to other effects such as antioxidant, antidiabetic, antimicrobial and neuroprotective. In conclusion, we verified a lack of use of green techniques for the encapsulation of chrysin, and the production of lipid-water emulsions and the dissolution of chrysin in ethanol seems to be alternatives in this regard. In addition, bioactive potential of these capsules can be evaluated in other experimental models, and should advance to clinical trials and application in food formulations.

RESUMO: O flavonoide crisina tem sido apresentado como tendo numerosos e promissores efeitos bioativos, como antioxidante, anticonvulsivante, anti-hipertensivo, anti-inflamatório, antineoplásico, anti-hiperlipidêmico e antidepressivo. No entanto, um dos principais desafios para o avanço dos estudos sobre a bioatividade da crisina é sua baixa biodisponibilidade em humanos. Assim, visando superar essa barreira, diversos estudos têm demonstrado o potencial bioativo de cápsulas contendo crisina. O objetivo desta revisão é apresentar as principais metodologias utilizadas para o encapsulamento da crisina e seus principais efeitos biológicos demonstrados até o momento. Nossa intenção é oferecer caminhos para o avanço das pesquisas na área de encapsulação de flavonoides. Quanto às técnicas de encapsulamento, verificou-se que são diversas, e os agentes encapsulantes mais recorrentes são os polímeros PEG, PLGA e seus derivados, além de outros agentes como PCL, albumina, lipídeos e quitosana. Os efeitos bioativos das cápsulas também são numerosos, sendo os efeitos anticarcinogênicos os mais frequentes, além de outros efeitos como antioxidante, antidiabético, antimicrobiano e neuroprotetor. Em conclusão, verificamos a falta de utilização de técnicas verdes para o encapsulamento de crisina, e a produção de emulsões lipídeo-água e dissolução da crisina em etanol parecem ser alternativas neste aspecto. Além disso, o potencial bioativo destas cápsulas pode ainda ser avaliado em outros modelos experimentais, e deve-se avançar para ensaios clínicos e aplicação em formulações alimentícias.

Efeitos bioquímicos do óleo de bacuri (platonia insignis) em camundongos machos / Biochemical effects of bacuri oil (Platonia insignis) in male mice

Introdução: A utilização das plantas medicinais como fonte de pr odutos terapêuticos acompanha a história da humanidade. A Platoniainsignis é uma espécie frutífera nativa da Amazônia oriental, popularmente conhecida como bacuri. O óleo extraído das sementes do bacuri proporciona uma composição química com alto teor de substâncias ativas com efeitos cicatrizantes, antioxidantes e anti-inflamatórios. Objetivo: Este estudo visa caracterizar os efeitos bioquímicos do óleo de bacuri como possível alternativa terapêutica preventiva. Método: Foram utilizados 15 camundongos Swiss adultos divididos em 3 grupos. O óleo de bacuri nas doses de 10 e 100 mg/Kg e o veículo (óleo de oliva ­ 10 ml/Kg) foram administrados via oral por 30 dias consecutivos. Após 24 horas da administração do composto natural e do veículo, procedeu-se a eutanásia dos animais; sangue coletado por punção cardíaca e o plasma utilizado para realizar as análises bioquímicas. Foram avaliados os parâmetros bioquímicos: glicose, colesterol total, colesterol LDL (LowDensityLipoprotein) e HDL (High Density Lipoprotein), triglicerídeos, transaminase glutâmica oxalacética (TGO), transaminase glutâmica pirúvica (TGP), gama glutamil transferase (GGT), ureia, creatinina e proteínas totais. Resultados: O pré-tratamento com o óleo de bacuri promoveu efeitos benéficos nos parâmetros bioquímicos analisados. Conclusões: Desta forma, o fruto pode ser utilizado como uma alternativa terapêutica na prevenção de doenças.

Introduction: The utilization of medicinal plants as a source of therapeutic products has been a part of human history. Platonia insignis is a fruit species native to the eastern Amazon, popularly known as bacuri. The oil extracted from bacuri seeds provides a chemical composition with a high content of active substances with healing, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: This study aims to characterize the biochemical effects of bacuri oil as a possible preventive therapeutic alternative. Method: 15 adult Swiss mice were used, divided into three groups. Bacuri oil at doses of 10 and 100 mg/kg and the vehicle (olive oil ­ 10 ml/kg) were administered orally for 30 consecutive days. After 24 hours of administration of the natural compound and vehicle, the animals were euthanized; blood collected by cardiac puncture and plasma used to perform biochemical analyses. The biochemical parameters were evaluated: glucose, total cholesterol, LDL (Low Density Lipoprotein) and HDL (High Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol, triglycerides, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT), urea , creatinine, and total proteins. Results: Pretreatment with bacuri oil promoted beneficial effects on the biochemical parameters analyzed. Conclusions: In this way, the fruit can be used as a therapeutic alternative in the prevention of diseases.

The Importance of Skin Health Promotion for Children: Care with Makeup Use and Skin Cancer Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Numerous pathogenic complications affect the skin and are preventable, such as skin cancer, microbial diseases, dermal irritations, and anaphylaxis. In this context, the correct use of skin products, including sunscreens and child makeup, is important for promoting skin health and preventing adverse health conditions. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to use educational and playful activities to promote skin health for students. METHODS: This project was development in a municipal elementary school (Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil). The interventions were divided into three moments. In the first day, a questionnaire was applied to find out the students' previous knowledge about photoprotection. On the second day, an intervention lecture was held addressing issues related to photoprotection and the use of makeup. Finally, we played educational and ludic games and after, the questionnaire was reapplied. This was done to evaluate these actions' effectiveness regarding photoprotection and record their habits by applying a structured questionnaire at the beginning and end of the activities. RESULTS: Students received positively and interacted significantly during all activities performed. Regarding the impact of this study, we observed that ten times more students considered using sunscreen as something important at the end of the project, as only 8.16% of participants knew what skin cancer was at the beginning of the experiment. After the educational activities, this number rose to 72.37%, and 92.86% of girls reported wearing makeup, with more than half being expired or unlabeled and only 21.6% being appropriate for child use. CONCLUSION: The measures demonstrated effectively improve students' level of information regarding skin cancer prevention and indicated that inappropriate habits concerning makeup use in childhood are quite common, demonstrating the importance of educational interventions for children, since can improve your health.