Phytochemical study, molecular docking, genotoxicity and therapeutic efficacy of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of Ximenia americana L. in the treatment of experimental COPD in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ximenia americana L. is popularly known as yellow plum, brave plum or tallow wood. All the parts of this plant are used in popular medicine. Its reddish and smooth bark are used to treat skin infections, inflammation of the mucous membranes and in the wound healing process. OBJECTIVE: Verification of phytochemical profile, the molecular interaction between flavonoid, (-) epi-catechin and 5-LOX enzyme, by means of in silico study, the genotoxic effect and to investigate the pharmacological action of the aqueous extract of the stem bark of X. americana in pulmonary alterations caused by experimental COPD in Rattus norvegicus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The identification of secondary metabolites was carried out by TLC and HPLC chromatographic methods, molecular anchoring tests were applied to analyze the interaction of flavonoid present in the extract with the enzyme involved in pulmonary inflammation process and the genotoxic effect was assessed by comet assay and micronucleus test. For induction of COPD, male rats were distributed in seven groups. The control group was exposed only to ambient air and six were subjected to passive smoke inhalations for 20 min/day for 60 days. One of the groups exposed to cigarette smoke did not receive treatment. The others were treated by inhalation with beclomethasone dipropionate (400 mcg/kg) and aqueous and lyophilized extracts of X. americana (500 mg/kg) separately or in combination for a period of 15 days. The structural and inflammatory pulmonary alterations were evaluated by histological examination. Additional morphometric analyses were performed, including the alveolar diameter and the thickness of the right ventricle wall. RESULTS: The results showed that the aqueous extract of the bark of X. americana possesses (-) epi -catechin, in silico studies with 5-LOX indicate that the EpiC ligand showed better affinity parameters than the AracA ligand, which is in accordance with the results obtained in vivo studies. Genotoxity was not observed at the dose tested and the extract was able to stagnate the alveolar enlargement caused by the destruction of the interalveolar septa, attenuation of mucus production and decrease the presence of collagen fibers in the bronchi of animals submitted to cigarette smoke. CONCLUSION: Altogether, the results proved that the aqueous extract of X. americana presents itself as a new option of therapeutic approach in the treatment of COPD.

In Vivo Evaluation of the Genotoxic Effects of Poly (Butylene adipate-co-terephthalate)/Polypyrrole with Nanohydroxyapatite Scaffolds for Bone Regeneration.

Here, butylene adipate-co-terephthalate/polypyrrole with nanohydroxyapatite (PBAT/PPy/nHAp) scaffolds were fabricated and characterized. The electrospinning process was carried out using 12 kV, a needle of 23 G, an infusion pump set at 0.3 mL/h, and 10 cm of distance. Afterwards, nHAp was directly electrodeposited onto PBAT/PPy scaffolds using a classical three-electrode apparatus. For in vivo assays (comet assay, acute and chronic micronucleus), 60 male albino Wistar rats with 4 groups were used in each test (n = 5): PBAT/PPy; PBAT/PPy/nHAp; positive control (cyclophosphamide); and the negative control (distilled water). Peripheral blood samples were collected from the animals to perform the comet test after 4 h (for damage) and 24 h (for repair). In the comet test, it was shown that the scaffolds did not induce damage to the % DNA tail and neither for tail length. After the end of 48 h (for acute micronucleus) and 72 h (for chronic micronucleus), bone marrow was collected from each rat to perform the micronucleus test. All of the produced scaffolds did not present genotoxic effects, providing strong evidence for the biological application of PBAT/PPy/nHAp scaffolds.