Estudio comparativo de los parámetros reológicos, ópticos y fisicoquímicos de extractos acuosos de hojas de Bauhinia forficata / Comparative study of rheological, optical and physicochemical parameters of aqueous extracts of leaves of Bauhinia forficata

Objetivos: La diabetes mellitus es señalada como una de las principales amenazas para la salud humana en el siglo XXI. Entre las plantas medicinales utilizadas tradicionalmente para su tratamiento, se encuentra la Bauhinia forficata que crece en Argentina y Brasil. En este trabajo se realizó un estudio comparativo de parámetros reológicos y fisicoquímicos entre diferentes extractos acuosos obtenidos a partir de hojas de Bauhinia forficata recolectadas en la ciudad de Rosario (Argentina) y hojas comerciales vendidas en dietéticas y farmacias. Métodos: Se prepararon soluciones extractivas a partir de las hojas disecadas y solución fisiológica, utilizando los siguientes procedimientos: Cocimiento, Digestión Controlada, Infusión y Maceración. Se realizó la caracterización reológica, óptica y fisicoquímica de los mismos. Resultados y Conclusiones: Los resultados obtenidos son de utilidad para el análisis de la hemocompatibilidad de estos extractos, contribuyendo además a los estudios para la comprensión de sus mecanismos de acción como antidiabéticos en fitomedicina

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus is identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. Among the medicinal plants used traditionally for its treatment, is the Bauhinia forficata that grows in Argentina and Brazil. This work makes a comparative study of rheological and physicochemical parameters between different aqueous extracts, obtained from leaves of Bauhinia forficata collected in the city of Rosario (Argentina) and commercial leaves sold in diet and pharmacies. Methods: Extractive solutions were prepared from the dissected leaves and physiological solution, using the following procedures: Cooking, Controlled Digestion, Infusion and Maceration. The rheological, optical and physicochemical characterization was carried out. Results and Conclusions: The results obtained are useful for the analysis of the hemocompatibility of these extracts, contributing also to the studies for the understanding of their mechanisms of action as antidiabetics in phytomedicine

The urinary excretion of an organic anion transporter as an early biomarker of methotrexate-induced kidney injury.

Methotrexate (MTX) belongs to a group of medicines known as antimetabolites. It is commonly used in the treatment of malignant diseases and is prescribed in autoimmune and chronic inflammatory disorders. Along with its effective therapeutic power, MTX has adverse effects on several organs, including the kidney. The organic anion transporter 5 (Oat5) is exclusively localized in the renal apical membrane. Oat5 urinary excretion was proposed as an early biomarker in ischemic and nephrotoxic-induced kidney injury and in renal damage due to vascular calcification in preclinical models. The aim of this study was to evaluate Oat5 renal expression and urinary excretion in rats 48 h after the exposure to different doses of MTX, in comparison with traditional markers of renal injury, such as creatinine and urea plasma levels, protein urinary levels, urinary alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity, fractional excretion of water (FEWater) and renal histology. Male Wistar rats were treated with a single intraperitoneal injection of MTX at different dosages: 40-80-120-180-360 mg per kg b.w. (M40, M80, M120, M180, M360, n = 4, respectively) and experiments were carried out 48 h after MTX administration. Oat5 renal expression was evaluated by western blotting and immunohistochemistry. Traditional parameters were only modified at the higher MTX dose (M360). Conversely, Oat5 urinary excretion was elevated at the middle dose of 80 mg per kg b.w. Oat5 renal expression was modified at the highest dose as well, both in homogenates and in apical membranes. These results suggest that Oat5 urinary excretion might serve as an early biomarker of MTX-induced kidney injury.

Effects of Phyllanthus sellowianus Müll Arg. extracts on the rheological properties of human erythrocytes.

Phyllanthus sellowianus extracts have been used in Argentina since colonial times in the treatment of diabetes. The in vitro biorheological and hemoagglutinant action of different extracts of P. sellowianus bark on human erythrocytes (RBC) were studied. RBCs were incubated in vitro with four aqueous extracts: Maceration; Controlled Digestion (PD); Decoction; and Infusion. Biorheological parameters (deformability, membrane surface viscosity, elastic modulus, and dynamic viscolelasticity) were determined with an Erythrodeformeter, and erythrocyte adhesion was characterized by image digital analysis. Immunohematological assays in RBC incubated with all the extracts showed large globular aggregates and agglutination in human ABO blood group system. Isolated cell coefficient showed the increase of cell adhesion. Aggregated shape parameters were significantly higher than normal and they changed with the concentration, particularly of PD extracts. Rheological results showed that the extract biorheological action varies with the temperature used in the extract preparations. The results obtained are useful to study the action mechanism of extracts from P. sellowianus bark in order to evaluate its use as therapeutic agent in diabetes. Immunohematological Tests using ABO system showed its agglutinant power, which is of special interest in Immunohematology to be used as hemoclassifier.