Cassia grandis fruit extract reduces the blood glucose level in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.

INTRODUCTION: Cassia grandis Lf fruits are ethnobotanically used for digestive disorders, anemia, and for reducing blood glucose. However, there are no studies about the antidiabetic activity nor the oral toxicity of the plant fruit-extracts. This paper aims to evaluate the hypoglycemic effect of C. grandis fruits extract in vivo, and assess the acute oral toxicity, and sub-acute oral toxicity. The antioxidant activity and the α-glycosidase inhibitor effect were also evaluated. METHODS: The extract was obtained by maceration of the fruit pulp with 70% hydroalcoholic solution (1:2, m:v). The extractive solution was concentrated in a vacuum rotary evaporator, up to a drug: solvent ratio of 2:1 (g/ml). Soluble solids, relative density, refractive index, pH, total phenolics, and flavonoids were determined. A preliminary phytochemical screening was made, followed by the quantitation of volatiles by GC/MS. The acute and sub-acute oral toxicity was evaluated in Sprague Dawley rats, by using biochemical and hematological parameters. The radical scavenging activity (DPPH, ABTS) and α-glycosidase inhibitory effect were tested. The hypoglycemic effect was assessed in alloxan-induced diabetic rats. RESULTS: The extract of C. grandis contains alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, free amino acids, amines, phenols, tannins, reduced sugars, resins, saponins, steroids, and triterpenes, plus 38 volatile compounds, being linalool the most abundant (1,66%). The extract exhibited an LD50 > 2000 mg/kg, and after a continuous administration (1000 mg/kg, 28-days), the hematological and biochemical parameters were normal. The extract showed hypoglycemic effect, being the dose 200 mg/kg no statistically different from glibenclamide at 25 mg/kg. Good antioxidant activity and a potent α-glycosidase inhibitory effect were also observed. CONCLUSION: C. grandis extract is an excellent hypoglycemic and non-toxic plant product. The hypoglycemic mechanism could be associated with the antioxidant effect and with the α-glycosidase inhibition. Up to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the hypoglycemic effect in vivo of C. grandis fruits extract.

Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide inactivation in postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of endogenous estrogens on the bioavailability of nitric oxide (.NO) and in the formation of lipid peroxidation products in pre- and postmenopausal women. METHODS: NOx and S-nitrosothiols were determined by gaseous phase chemiluminescence, nitrotyrosine was determined by ELISA, COx (cholesterol oxides) by gas chromatography, and cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxides (CE18:2-OOH), trilinolein (TG18:2-OOH), and phospholipids (PC-OOH) by HPLC in samples of plasma. RESULTS: The concentrations of NOx, nitrotyrosine, COx, CE18:2-OOH, and PC-OOH were higher in the postmenopausal period (33.8+/-22.3 microL; 230+/-130 nM; 55+/-19 ng/microL; 17+/-8.7 nM; 2775+/-460 nM, respectively) as compared with those in the premenopausal period (21.1+/-7.3 microM; 114+/-41 nM; 31+/-13 ng/microL; 6+/-1.4 nM; 1635+/-373 nM). In contrast, the concentration of S-nitrosothiols was lower in the postmenopausal period (91+/-55 nM) as compared with that in the premenopausal p in the premenopausal period (237+/-197 nM). CONCLUSION: In the postmenopausal period, an increase in nitrotyrosine and a reduction of S-nitrosothiol formation, as well as an increase of COx, CE18:2-OOH and PC-OOH formation occurs. Therefore, NO inactivation and the increase in lipid peroxidation may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and to the greater risk for atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women.

Peroxidação lipídica e inativação do óxido nítrico na pós-menopausa / Lipid peroxidation and nitric oxide inactivation in postmenopausal women

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of endogenous estrogens on the bioavailability of nitric oxide ( NO) and in the formation of lipid peroxidation products in pre- and postmenopausal women. METHODS: NOx and S-nitrosothiols were determined by gaseous phase chemiluminescence, nitrotyrosine was determined by ELISA, COx (cholesterol oxides) by gas chromatography, and cholesteryl linoleate hydroperoxides (CE18:2-OOH), trilinolein (TG18:2-OOH), and phospholipids (PC-OOH) by HPLC in samples of plasma. RESULTS: The concentrations of NOx, nitrotyrosine, COx, CE18:2-OOH, and PC-OOH were higher in the postmenopausal period (33.8±22.3 mM; 230±130 nM; 55±19 ng/mL; 17±8.7 nM; 2775±460 nM, respectively) as compared with those in the premenopausal period (21.1±7.3 mM; 114±41 nM; 31±13 ng/mL; 6±1.4 nM; 1635±373 nM). In contrast, the concentration of S-nitrosothiols was lower in the postmenopausal period (91±55 nM) as compared with that in the premenopausal p in the premenopausal period (237±197 nM). CONCLUSION: In the postmenopausal period, an increase in nitrotyrosine and a reduction of S-nitrosothiol formation, as well as an increase of COx, CE18:2-OOH and PC-OOH formation occurs. Therefore, òNO inactivation and the increase in lipid peroxidation may contribute to endothelial dysfunction and to the greater risk for atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women

Detecção e caracterização de lipídios nitrados no plasma e nas lipoproteínas humanas / Detection and characterization of nitrated lipids in human blood plasma and lipoproteins

O óxido nítrico (`ANTPOT. PONTO NOï) e outras espécies reativas do nitrogênio reagem com radicais lipídicos gerando lipídios nitrados (LNs) aos quais têm sido atribuídas diversas ações antiaterogênicas. Contudo, apesar de diversos estudos terem demonstrado a formação de LNs em sistemas isolados, até então, a detecção destes produtos em amostras humanas não havia sido descrita. No presente trabalho foram realizadas a síntese, a caracterização química, a detecção em plasma e lipoproteínas humanas e a avaliação da atividade de liberação de `ANTPOT. PONTO NOï; do nitrolinoleato (LN`O IND. 2ï), nitrohidroxilinoleato (LN`O IND. 2ïOH) e nitrolinoleato de colesterol (ChLN`O IND. 2ï), derivados do ácido linoleico, seu hidroperóxido e do linoleato de colesterol, respectivamente...

Peroxidação lipídica: mecanismos e avaliação em amostras biológicas / Lipid peroxidatiom: mechanisms and evaluation in biological samples

O processo de peroxidação lipídica é iniciado pela reação de um radical livre com um ácido graxo insaturado e propagada por radicais peroxilas. Resulta na formação de hidroperóxidos lipídicos e aldeídos, tais como o malondialdeído, 4-hidroxinonenal e isoprostanos, que podem ser detectados em amostras biológicas e utilizados para se avaliar o estresse oxidativo. Nesta revisão são discutidos os principais mecanismos que induzem o processo de peroxidação lipídica, assim como as principais metodologias utilizadas para sua mensuração em sistemas biológicos...