Effects of "Bacuri" Seed Butter (Platonia insignis Mart.), a Brazilian Amazon Fruit, on Oxidative Stress and Diabetes Mellitus-Related Parameters in STZ-Diabetic Rats.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral administration of Platonia insignis Mart. ("bacuri") seed butter (BSB) on oxidative stress and diabetes mellitus-related parameters in streptozotocin-induced (STZ) diabetic rats. Diabetes mellitus was induced in female Wistar rats (180-250 g) by the intraperitoneal administration of STZ (45 mg/kg, b.w). BSB (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) was administered to animals for four weeks. The effect on weight gain, food intake, blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, hepatic transaminases, plasma and liver TBARS and MPO activity, erythrocyte SOD activity, non-protein sulfhydryl groups (SH-NP), and histopathology of the liver tissue was investigated. BSB at the dose of 100 mg/kg had a positive effect on the reduction in glycated hemoglobin percentage and increased albumin concentration, as well as decreased ALT and AST levels and increased SH-NP liver levels in treated animals compared to normal control rats. Moreover, BSB had no effects on weight gain, food intake, and fasting glucose. Thus, the BSB presented marked properties in improvement of hepatic antioxidant defenses, which demonstrates BSB as a potential hepatoprotective agent in metabolic disorders.

Retrospective study of post-mortem diagnosis of dogs and cats necropsied in the Animal Pathology Sector of Piauí Federal University, Brazil from 2009 to 2014 / Estudo retrospectivo de diagnósticos post-mortem de cães e gatos necropsiados no Setor de Patologia Animal da Universidade Federal do Piauí, Brasil de 2009 a 2014

Knowledge of the main causes of death in dogs and cats provides grants for monitoring, planning and evaluation of measures to reduce the percentage of death of these animals. Therefore, the present paper was developed to analyze the diagnostic postmortem of dogs and cats in Animal Pathology Laboratory UFPI from August 2009 to August 2014, establishing the frequency of causes that led to the animal deaths. 361 dogs and 86 cats were necropsied in this period. Of the dogs, 56.7% were males and 43.3% females. Regarding age at death, in the group of dogs, 29.4% had less than 1 year; 27.7% between 1.1 to 5 years; 23.3% 5.1 to 10 years and 9.1% over 10.1 years. In the group of cats, 61.6% were male and 38.4% female, of which 29.1% were less than 1 year; 39.5% 1.1 to 5 years; 18.6% 5.1 to 10 years and 2.3% over 10.1 years. The main causes of death in dogs were infectious disorders (23.8%), degenerative diseases (14.4%), circulatory disorders (10.2%) and neoplasms 8.6%. In cats, infectious disorders (18.6%), urinary (15.1%), trauma (8.1%) and neoplasms (8.1%) were the leading causes of death. It is concluded that the main causes of death in both pet animal species, diagnosed in animal-UFPI Pathology sector, were infectious diseases. Local veterinary services should be made aware of these results, leading to measures for paying more attention to these diseases and the adoption of prophylactic measures to reduce the occurrence of such diseases in pets...

O conhecimento das principais causas de óbito em cães e gatos fornece subsídios para o monitoramento, planejamento e avaliação de medidas que visam reduzir o percentual de óbito desses animais em uma dada localidade. O presente trabalho compilou os diagnósticos post-mortem de cães e gatos necropsiados no Laboratório de Patologia Animal da Universidade Federal do Piauí (UFPI), Estado do Piauí, Brasil, no período de agosto de 2009 a agosto de 2014, estabelecendo a frequência das doenças que culminaram com o óbito dos animais. Nesse período foram necropsiados 361 cães e 86 gatos. Dos cães, 56,7% eram machos e 43,3% fêmeas. Em relação à idade no momento do óbito, 29,4% tinham menos de um ano; 27,7% entre 1,1 a 5 anos; 23,3% de 5,1 a 10 anos e 9,1% acima de 10,1 anos. Em relação aos felinos, 61,6% eram machos e 38,4% eram fêmeas, dos quais 29,1% tinham menos de um ano; 39,5% de 1,1 a 5 anos; 18,6% de 5,1 a 10 anos e 2,3% acima de 10,1 anos. Nos cães as principais causas de óbito foram distúrbios infecciosos (23,8%), doenças degenerativas (14,4%), distúrbios circulatórios (10,2%) e neoplasias 8,6%. Em gatos, os distúrbios infecciosos (18,6%), urinários (15,1%), traumáticos (8,1%) e neoplasias (8,1%) foram as principais causas de morte. Conclui-se que a principal causa de morte, tanto em cães quanto gatos, diagnosticada no setor de Patologia Animal UFPI foram as doenças infecciosas, estes resultados contribuem para que o clínico dedique maior atenção a essas enfermidades, visando adoção de medidas profiláticas que reduzirão a sua ocorrência nos animais de companhia da região estudada...

Efeito antinociceptivo da própolis oriunda de duas vegetações distintas / Antinociceptive effect of propolis from two different vegetations

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito antinociceptivo da própolis, comparando soluções elaboradas a partir da própolis obtida do apiário do Centro de Ciências Agrárias (CCA) da Universidade Federal do Piauí, com o extrato oriundo do Laboratório Apis Flora. Foram utilizados 48 camundongos,divididos em seis grupos que foram tratados com solução hidroetanólica (veículo, 20mL/Kg, v.o.), dipirona (controle positivo, 50mL/Kg, v.o.), solução de própolis a 10% (obtida do CCA e Apis Flora, 20mL/Kg, v.o.) e solução de própolis a 20% (obtida do CCA e Apis Flora, 20mL/Kg, v.o.). O estimulo nociceptivo foi induzido por meio da administração intraperitoneal (i.p.) de ácido acético a 0,6%, 20 minutos após a administração de cada tratamento. Realizou-se a contagem do numero de contorções abdominais por um período de 20 minutos, e calculou-se o percentual de inibição da sensação dolorosa proporcionado por cada tratamento. Os resultados mostraram que o grupo controle, tratados com solução hidroetanólica, diferiu significativamente de todos os demais, e que os tratados com a solução de própolis a 10% e 20%, de ambas as origens, não diferem significativamente entre si e nem do controle positivo, demonstrando possuir efeito antinociceptivo semelhante.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic effect of propolis, comparing solutions prepared from propolis obtained from the apiary of the Centre for Agricultural Sciences (CCA) of the Federal University of Piauí, with the extract from the Apis Flora Laboratory. Forty eight mice were divided into six groups treated with hydroethanol solution (vehicle, 20mL/Kg, p.o.), dipyrone (positive control, 50mL/Kg, p.o.), propolis solution10% (obtained from CCA and Apis Flora, 20mL/Kg, p.o.) and propolis 20% solution (obtained from CCA and Apis Flora, 20mL/Kg, p.o.). The nociceptive stimulus was induced by intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of 0.6% acetic acid 20 minutes after administration of each treatment. The number of writhing was performed, for a period of 20 minutes, and the inhibition percentage of the painful sensation provided by each treatment were calculated. The results showed that the control group, treated with hydroethanol solution, was significantly different from all others, and those treated with propolis solution at 10% and 20% from, both sources do not differ significantly from each other and not the positive control, showing similar analgesic effect.

Effect of six tropical tanniferous plant extracts on larval exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus.

Tanniferous plants represent a promising alternative for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants. This experiment evaluated the effects of extracts from the leaf and stem of Anadenanthera colubrina, Leucaena leucocephala and Mimosa tenuiflora on larval exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus in vitro and verified the role of tannins in this process. Third-stage larvae of H. contortus were incubated with extracts for 3 hours and were exposed to sodium hypochlorite solution. The extracts were tested at 300 µg.mL(-1) and accompanied by controls: phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP). The larval exsheathment was evaluated for 60 minutes, and the results were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). The six extracts blocked larval exsheathment. After PVPP addition, a tannin inhibitor, the exsheathment percentage was similar to the PBS (p > 0.05), except for L. leucocephala and M. tenuiflora leaf extracts. However, pre-incubation with PVPP of these two extracts significantly changed larval exsheathment when compared to the non-treated extracts (p < 0.05). These results suggest that A. colubrina, L. leucocephala and M. tenuiflora could be useful in gastrointestinal nematode control and that tannins are probably the main compounds involved in the observed effects. However, in vivo and toxicological studies should be conducted.

Effect of six tropical tanniferous plant extracts on larval exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus / Efeito de seis extratos de plantas taniníferas tropicais sobre o desembainhamento larvar de Haemochus contortus

Tanniferous plants represent a promising alternative for controlling gastrointestinal nematodes of small ruminants. This experiment evaluated the effects of extracts from the leaf and stem of Anadenanthera colubrina, Leucaena leucocephala and Mimosa tenuiflora on larval exsheathment of Haemonchus contortus in vitro and verified the role of tannins in this process. Third-stage larvae of H. contortus were incubated with extracts for 3 hours and were exposed to sodium hypochlorite solution. The extracts were tested at 300 µg.mL-1 and accompanied by controls: phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and polyvinyl polypyrrolidone (PVPP). The larval exsheathment was evaluated for 60 minutes, and the results were subjected to the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). The six extracts blocked larval exsheathment. After PVPP addition, a tannin inhibitor, the exsheathment percentage was similar to the PBS (p > 0.05), except for L. leucocephala and M. tenuiflora leaf extracts. However, pre-incubation with PVPP of these two extracts significantly changed larval exsheathment when compared to the non-treated extracts (p < 0.05). These results suggest that A. colubrina, L. leucocephala and M. tenuiflora could be useful in gastrointestinal nematode control and that tannins are probably the main compounds involved in the observed effects. However, in vivo and toxicological studies should be conducted.

Plantas taniníferas representam uma promissora alternativa de controle dos nematóides gastrintestinais de pequenos ruminantes. Esse experimento avaliou in vitro os efeitos dos extratos das folhas e caules de Anadenanthera colubrina, Leucaena leucocephala e Mimosa tenuiflora sobre o desembainhamento larvar de Haemonchus contortus e verificou o papel dos taninos nesse processo. Larvas de terceiro estádio de H. contortus foram incubadas com 300 µg.mL-1 de extrato por 3 horas e expostas a uma solução de hipoclorito de sódio. O ensaio foi acompanhado por controles: solução salina tamponada com fosfato (PBS) e polivinilpolipirrolidona (PVPP). O desembainhamento larvar foi avaliado durante 60 minutos e os resultados submetidos ao teste Kruskal-Wallis (p < 0,05). Os seis extratos bloquearam o desembainhamento larvar. Após adição de PVPP, um inibidor de taninos, o percentual de desembainhamento foi similar ao PBS (p > 0,05), exceto nos extratos das folhas de L. leucocephala e M. tenuiflora. Entretanto, a pré-incubação desses dois extratos com PVPP alterou significativamente o desembainhamento quando comparado com extratos não-tratados (p < 0,05). Esses resultados sugerem que A. colubrina, L. leucocephala e M. tenuiflora podem ser úteis no controle de nematóides gastrintestinais e que os taninos são provavelmente os principais compostos envolvidos nos efeitos. Contudo, estudos toxicológicos e in vivo são necessários.