RESUMO
The genus Passiflora (Passifloraceae) comprises about 500 species. The Passiflora edulis stands out because of its economic and medicinal importance. It is widely planted in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, especially in South America, the Caribbean, South Africa, and Asia. The aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis Sims f. edulis (Gulupa) leaves is used in traditional medicine for its soothing and tranquilizing effects on the central nervous system. Therefore, evaluating its safety for human use is a fundamental requirement to continue the development of new therapies within the framework of regulatory, preclinical, and clinical guidelines. Here, the sub-acute toxicity study was conducted following the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) guideline 407 for 28 days in Wistar albino rats. The study showed that 1000 mg/kg/day of the aqueous extract in 10 adult Wistar rats (five males and five females) was well tolerated. The hematological results are at normal levels. However, monocytopenia and eosinopenia were observed with a significant difference (P < 0,05) for both male and female rats treated with the aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis. The results show that liver and kidney function profiles were conserved. However, an increase in ALT is observed with significant differences between male and female rats treated with the extract compared to the controls. Study findings were limited to non-adverse histopathological results of a slightly increased incidence of focal periportal lymphocytic infiltrate in the liver and focal corticomedullary nephrocalcinosis in the kidney compared to control. Therefore, the aqueous extract of Passiflora edulis has a good safety profile in oral administration, was well tolerated, and did not cause any lethality or adverse effects in the sub-acute toxicity study in male and female rats. The NOAEL (no observed adverse effect level) for the 28-day subacute toxicity study was considered to be 1000 mg/kg.
RESUMO
Pythium insidiosum es un hongo distribuido globalmente causante de una micosis emergente llamada Pitiosis en personas y animales. El diagnóstico definitivo involucra correlación clínico epidemiológica, clínico patológica, histopatológica y molecular. En Colombia no existen antecedentes diagnósticos de Pitiosis con estas correlaciones. Pitiosis fue demostrada dos equinos de zona rural en Puerto Boyacá, Departamento de Boyacá-Colombia. Los equinos presentaron en extremidades lesiones únicas, pruriginosas, ulceradas, granulomatosas, alternada de masas sólidas con secreción serosanguinolenta. De las biopsias los hallazgos anatomopatológicos demostraron masas sólidas de aspecto coralino, las cuales se procesaron histopatológicamente. Los resultados correlacionados de biogeografía, las lesiones halladas en los equinos y en ellas los patrones histopatológicos de Splendore-Hoeplii, con hallazgos de hifas raramente septadas con diámetro de 2,5 a 6,2 micras en ramificación angulada, junto a la secuenciación del DNA extraído y comparado con el depositado para P.insidiosum en el GenBank permitió demostrar en todas las muestras una homología del 100% conformándose por primera vez el diagnóstico definitivo de Pitiosis en Colombia.
Pythium insidiosum is a globally distributed fungus that causes a fungal infection called Pythiosis is considered an emerging disease in humans and animals. A definitive diagnosis involves clinical, epidemiological, histopathological and molecular correlations. There are no reports of Pythiosis diagnosis involving all these correlations in Colombia. In this study were confirmed Phytiosis in two horses in rural area of Puerto Boyaca (Boyaca, Colombia) presenting single,itching, ulcerated, granulomatous lesions on their limbs with serosanguineous suppuration. Biopsies were analyzed pathologically and histopathologically. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was carried out from DNA extracted of paraffin blocks. This study report the first definitive diagnosis of phytiosis in Colombia based on the correlation between biogeography area, the pathological and histopathological findings which included patterns like Splendore-Hoeplii and hyphae with rare septae (2.5 to 6.2 microns diameters of branching angled) along with sequenced DNA that showed 100% homology with the Pythium insidiosum sequence at the GenBank.
