Hepatoprotective Properties of a Polyphenol-Enriched Fraction from Annona crassiflora Mart. Fruit Peel against Diabetes-Induced Oxidative and Nitrosative Stress.

A polyphenol-enriched fraction from Annona crassiflora fruit peel (Ac-Pef) containing chlorogenic acid, (epi)catechin, procyanidin B2, and caffeoyl-glucoside was investigated against hepatic oxidative and nitrosative stress in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Serum biochemical parameters, hepatic oxidative and nitrosative status, glutathione defense system analysis, and in silico assessment of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) of the main compounds of Ac-Pef were carried out. Ac-Pef treatment during 30 days decreased serum alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase activities, as well as hepatic lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation and nitration, inducible nitric oxide synthase level, and activities and expressions of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase. There were increases in antioxidant capacity, glutathione reductase activity, and reduced glutathione level. ADMET predictions of Ac-Pef compounds showed favorable absorption and distribution, with no hepatotoxicity. A. crassiflora fruit peel showed hepatoprotective properties, indicating a promising natural source of bioactive molecules for prevention and therapy of diabetes complications.

The Role of Metformin in Controlling Oxidative Stress in Muscle of Diabetic Rats.

Metformin can act in muscle, inhibiting the complex I of the electron transport chain and decreasing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Our hypothesis is that the inhibition of complex I can minimize damage oxidative in muscles of hypoinsulinemic rats. The present study investigated the effects of insulin and/or metformin treatment on oxidative stress levels in the gastrocnemius muscle of diabetic rats. Rats were rendered diabetic (D) with an injection of streptozotocin and were submitted to treatment with insulin (D+I), metformin (D+M), or insulin plus metformin (D+I+M) for 7 days. The body weight, glycemic control, and insulin resistance were evaluated. Then, oxidative stress levels, glutathione antioxidant defense system, and antioxidant status were analyzed in the gastrocnemius muscle of hypoinsulinemic rats. The body weight decreased in D+M compared to ND rats. D+I and D+I+M rats decreased the glycemia and D+I+M rats increased the insulin sensitivity compared to D rats. D+I+M reduced the oxidative stress levels and the activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase in skeletal muscle when compared to D+I rats. In conclusion, our results reveal that dual therapy with metformin and insulin promotes more benefits to oxidative stress control in muscle of hypoinsulinemic rats than insulinotherapy alone.

Parasitoses oportunistas em pacientes com o vírus da imunodeficiência humana / Opportunistic parasitosis in patients with the virus of the human immunodeficiency

As parasitoses representam um dos maiores problemas de saúde pública do Brasil. Mesmo com todo desenvolvimento tanto na área farmacológica quanto nas medidas de saneamento básico e educação sanitária, as doenças causadas por esses endoparasitas são uma das mais frequentes em todo o território nacional. Para os pacientes portadores do vírus da imunodeficiência humana (HIV), o risco de infecção parasitária é consideravelmente mais elevado, visto que tais indivíduos apresentam diminuição significativa na contagem de células T-CD4+. Essa imunodepressão proporciona não só maior suscetibilidade à contaminação por agentes oportunistas,mas também sintomatologia mais grave. Sendo assim, a infecção parasitária contribui para o declínio abrupto da condição clínica do paciente com síndrome da imunodeficiência adquirida (SIDA). O objetivo desse estudo foi enfatizar a necessidade de se combatera proliferação das parasitoses oportunistas, principalmente nos pacientes portadores do HIV. Realizou-se levantamento bibliográfico em livros didáticos e em base de dados Medline, Scielo e LILACS. Cinquenta e oito publicações foram selecionadas com o intuito de elucidar a fisiopatologia das principais e mais comuns parasitoses intestinais em associação com o vírus HIV-1 ou HIV-2. O tratamento das doenças parasitárias e o acompanhamento do estadiamento clínico e imunológico buscam proporcionar ao paciente melhor qualidade de vida e, sobretudo, evitar possíveis intercorrências médicas, as quais podem resultar na elevação das taxas de morbimortalidade. O sucesso dessa conduta pode ser alcançado caso ocorra o diagnóstico precoce das infecções parasitárias. Para isso, é indispensável que o paciente realize não só exames parasitológicos regulares, mas que também receba a terapia farmacológica correta e o acompanhamento frequente da sua evolução clinica e imunológica. As diretrizes e recomendações do Ministério da Saúde enfatizam a necessidade de se diagnosticar e tratar todos os indivíduos com SIDA infectados por agentes parasitários oportunistas.

Parasitosis represent one of the greatest Brazilian public health problems. Even with all the development in pharmacology, basic sanitation and sanitary education areas, the diseases caused by these endoparasites constitute the most frequent diseases in the entire national territory. For the patients who are carriers of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the risk of parasitic infection is considerably more elevated, since such subjects show significant fall in CD4+ T cells count. This immunodepression not only causes higher susceptibility to contamination by opportunistic agents, but also more severe symptomatology. Thus, parasitic infection contributes for the abrupt decline of the clinical condition of the patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). The purpose of the present study was to emphasize the need to fight against the proliferation of opportunistic parasitosis, especially in HIV-infected patients. A bibliographic survey was conducted in didactic books and in the databases Medline, Scielo and LILACS. Fifty-eight publications were selected with the purpose to clarify the pathophysiology of the most common and most important intestinal parasitosis in association with the HIV-1 or HIV-2 virus. The treatment of parasitic diseases and the follow-up of clinical and immunological staging aim at providing the patient with a bette rquality of life and, above all, avoiding possible medical intercurrences, which can result in the elevation of the morbid-mortality rates. The success of this intervention can be reached if the early diagnosis of parasitic infection occurs. Therefore, it is essential that the patient not only undergoes regular parasitic examinations, but also receives correct drug therapy and frequent follow-up of his/her clinic and immunological evolution. The guidelines and recommendations of the Health Ministry emphasize the necessity to diagnose and treat all the individuals with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome infected with opportunistic parasitic agents.

Evaluation of healing wound and genotoxicity potentials from extracts hydroalcoholic of Plantago major and Siparuna guianensis.

Despite the large use of the Plantago major and Siparuna guianensis in traditional medicine, there are no studies demonstrating the effectiveness from extracts of these plants in the healing process by the present methodology. This study reported the effects and toxicity of the P. major and S. guianensis extracts in the wound healing compared with a commercial product used in Brazil by macroscopic and microscopic analysis. Following injury in cervical dorsal area of the mice, the extract from P. major and S. guianensis and ointment was applied after an injury in cervical dorsal area of the mice. Wound healing rates were calculated at 4, 9, 15 and 21 d after the wounding, and tissues were obtained on the ninth day for histological analysis. Moreover, mutagenic assay of extracts was performed. Mutagenicity studies carried out with plant extracts showed not mutagenic with or without metabolic activations. Reduction of the wound area occurred earlier in mice treated with P. major and control treatment. On the 15th day, the complete wound closure occurred in P. major-treated wounds. Throughout ointment and S. guianensis treatment it was not observed the wound closured. Microscopic analyses of the wound, on the ninth day, showed the more efficient formation of the neoepithelium and skin appendages in animals treated with S. guianensis and P. major, while ointment treatment presented no re-epithelialization and absent skin appendages in wound. Thus, P. major extract showed good effects on wound healing processes rendering it a promising candidate for the treatment of wounds what also justified its traditional usage in wound treatment.