The influence of dietary Motore™ supplement on antioxidant status to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Rhamdia quelen.

This study points to evaluate the effects of pre-treatment with standardized dry extract of Curcuma longa (Motore™) added to the diet (0; 250; 500; and 750 mg/kg) on oxidative stress parameters, longevity, and therapeutic success in Rhamdia quelen experimentally infected with Aeromonas hydrophila (MF 372510). After treatment, the liver and kidney were collected to determine non-enzymatic oxidative parameters such as the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), non-protein thiols (NPSH), and quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. Also, two enzymatic antioxidant parameters were evaluated: superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The results showed an increase of ROS and TBARS levels, a depletion in NPSH, and a decrease of SOD and CAT activities in infected fish compared to control. The highest Motore™ dose minimized the deleterious effect of A. hydrophila infection improving longevity, oxidative status, and survival rate. The addition of 750 mg Motore™/kg feed is recommended for silver catfish in fish farming. Serious economic losses in Rhamdia quelen culture caused by Aeromonas hydrophila infections can be prevented by the addition of Motore™ to the diet.

Antimicrobial Activity and Modulatory Effect of Essential Oil from the Leaf of Rhaphiodon echinus (Nees & Mart) Schauer on Some Antimicrobial Drugs.

BACKGROUND: Rhaphiodon echinus is a weed plant used in the Brazilian folk medicinal for the treatment of infectious diseases. In this study, the essential oil of R. echinus leaf was investigated for its antimicrobial properties. METHODS: The chemical constituents of the essential oil were characterized by GC-MS. The antimicrobial properties were determined by studying by the microdilution method the effect of the oil alone, and in combination with antifungal or antibiotic drugs against the fungi Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Candida tropicalis and the microbes Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas. In addition, the iron (II) chelation potential of the oil was determined. RESULTS: The results showed the presence of ß-caryophyllene and bicyclogermacrene in major compounds, and revealed a low antifungal and antibacterial activity of the essential oil, but a strong modulatory effect on antimicrobial drugs when associated with the oil. The essential oil showed iron (II) chelation activity. CONCLUSIONS: The GC-MS characterization revealed the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes in the essential oil and metal chelation potential, which may be responsible in part for the modulatory effect of the oil. These findings suggest that essential oil of R. echinus is a natural product capable of enhancing the antibacterial and antifungal activity of antimicrobial drugs.

Neonatal handling increases neurogenesis, BDNF and GR in the hippocampus favoring memory acquisition in rats.

Early life is a critical period for the development of the central nervous system (CNS) when the brain undergoes functional organization, neuronal proliferation and migration. This study aimed to evaluate influences and possible interactions of the neonatal handling (NH) on morphologic, biochemical and molecular markers in the hippocampus, as well as on Mu opioid receptors (MOR) immunoreactivity when adolescent rats were exposed to morphine. On postnatal day (PND) 1, male pups were assigned to two experimental groups: unhandled (UH) or neonatal handling (NH), whose procedure was applied from PND2 to PND9. On PND 50, animals were submitted to memory behavioral test, anesthesia and euthanasia for blood collection and hippocampus removal. Animals exposed to NH showed: i) increased levels of proBDNF and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF); ii) increased memory performance; iii) decreased lipid peroxidation (LP) in plasma and hippocampus; iv) increased antioxidant defenses; v) increased glucocorticoids receptor (GR) levels. Interestingly, our data showed a positive correlation between BDNF and working memory after NH procedure (r2 = 0.73; P = 0.006). Animals submitted to NH showed an increased per se of MOR immunoreactivity regardless of morphine exposure, while this increasing was also observed in the UH group after morphine exposure, even in a small extent. NH beneficial influence during early stage of life can be reflected during the development of the puppies, enhancing memory performance, preventing oxidative events and improving molecular targets in hippocampus. Further experimental studies in addition to clinical ones are needed to validate NH protocol as a therapeutic tool.

Analysis of the abortive and/or infertilizing activity of Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart. Coville) / Investigação da atividade abortiva e/ou infertilizante de Stryphnodendron adstringens (Mart. Coville)

Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatiman) is a tree found from Pará to Mato Grosso do Sul and São Paulo States (Brazil). The aim of this study was to determine the toxicity of the extracts of the broad beans of this species and to verify if they have some effect on the pregnancy of rats. The broad beans were collected in the region of Cuiabá (MT, Brazil) and separated in husks and seeds. The crude hydroalcoholic (2:1) extracts were prepared at room temperature and dried at a maximum of 55ºC. Female virgin rats were mated and received the extracts (0.5 ml/100 g weight, 100 g/l) or water in the same proportion (control) by gavage from day 1 to day 7 of gestation. Laparatomies were made at day 7 to count the number of uterine implants and the rats were sacrificed on the 21st day of gestation. The seed extracts reduced the weight of the uterus and the number of live fetuses compared to the control group. The mean lethal dose (LD50) calculated for this extract was 4,992.8 mg/kg and the LD50 of the extract of the husk was higher than 5,000 mg/kg. We may conclude that the extract of S. adstringens seeds impaired the gestation of rats, and its ingestion could be harmful to herbivorous animals.

Stryphnodendron adstringens (barbatimão) é uma árvore natural dos Estados do Pará ao Mato Grosso do Sul e São Paulo (Brasil). O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a toxicidade dos extratos das vagens desta espécie e verificar efeitos sobre a gestação de ratas. As vagens foram coletadas na região de Cuiabá (MT, Brasil) e separadas em cascas e sementes. Foram feitos extratos brutos hidroalcoólicos (2:1), a frio e depois levados à secura (máximo 55C). Ratas fêmeas virgens foram acasaladas e receberam extratos (0,5 ml/100 g de peso, 100 g/l) ou água na mesma proporção (controle) por gavagem do 1 ao 7 dia de gestação. No 7 dia, foram feitas laparatomias para contagem do número de implantes uterinos. As ratas foram sacrificadas no 21 dia de gestação. Os extratos das sementes reduziram o peso do útero e o número de fetos vivos em relação ao grupo controle. A dose média letal (DL50) calculada para o extrato das sementes foi de 4.992,8 mg/kg. A DL50 do extrato das vagens foi maior que 5.000 mg/kg. Pode-se concluir que o extrato das sementes de S. adstringens interfere na gestação de ratas, sendo que esta ingestão pode prejudicar animais herbívoros.