Oxidative stress and aging: correlation with clinical parameters.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The free radical theory of aging has been receiving a lot of attention in the past years. The aim of this study was to examine the correlation between oxidative damage, antioxidant enzyme activities and plasma antioxidant potential with clinical parameters in elderly people. METHODS: Elderly subjects over 80 years old were included in the study. Clinical data were collected based on the Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (n = 132). In addition, blood samples were collected to determine biochemical and oxidative stress. RESULTS: The results showed that the mean age of the participants was 85.1 ± 4.0 years old. Diabetic patients presented higher plasma protein carbonyl levels when compared with non-diabetic, and plasma levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances were correlated to serum triglyceride and LDL fraction. In contrast, a lower plasma total antioxidant capacity presented a relation with the presence of diabetes and arterial hypertension. In addition, healthy elderly subjects presented a higher plasma total antioxidant capacity. CONCLUSION: Thus, it seemed that plasma antioxidant potential is a better predictor of successful aging in the elderly than oxidative damage parameters or plasma antioxidant enzyme activities.

[Anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. leaves (Rutaceae)]. / Atividade anti-helmíntica do extrato aquoso das folhas de Zanthoxylum rhoifolium Lam. (Rutaceae).

The study evaluated the anthelmintic activity of aqueous extract of Zanthoxylum rhoifolium leaves in two experiments. In vitro test, cultures of goat fecal samples were treated with different concentrations of extract (134.5 to 335.0 mg.mL(-1)). In vivo test was composed of 20 sheep: G1: treated with 0.63 g.kg(-1), during four days; G2: same dose, for eight days; G3: ivermectin (200 microg.kg(-1)) and G4 untreated group. In vitro results showed a reduction of Haemonchus spp, Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. larvae greater than 95% in the concentrations between 335.0 and 193.7 mg.mL(-1). Faecal egg counting reduction was 51, 56 and 90% in G1, G2 and G3, respectively, while immature stages and adults ranged from 0 to 91% in G1 and from 26 to 94% in G2. Ivermectin effectiveness was 99% for L4 and L5 of H. contortus and 100% for other nematodes species. Clinical and biochemical parameters have remained in the normality and histophatologic analyses did not show alteration suggesting absence of toxicity. Although the great effectiveness of Z. rhoifolium leaves extract in vitro test, it displayed poor efficiency in vivo regarding gastrointestinal nematodes reduction.

[Effects of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves in infective larvae cultures of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats]. / Efeitos dos extratos aquosos de folhas de Mentha piperita L. e de Chenopodium ambrosioides L. sobre cultivos de larvas infectantes de nematóides gastrintestinais de caprinos.

Phitotherapy has been frequently utilized in parasitism control for numerous animal species. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the in vitro effects of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita L. and Chenopodium ambrosioides L. leaves in larvae cultures of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. Six different concentrations of M. piperita extracts (196; 150.7; 115.9; 89.1; 68.5 e 52.7 mg/mL) and C. ambrosioides extracts (110,6; 85; 65,3; 50,2; 38,6 e 29,6 mg/mL) were used for the treatment of larvae cultures, in triple assays. Distilled water and doramectin were used in larvae cultures as negative and positive controls, respectively. The results revealed a reduction of more than 95% of the infective larvae when M. piperita extracts were used in the concentrations of 115.9 and 196 mg/mL, and C. ambrosioides extract in the concentration of 110.6 mg/mL, supporting the effect of these extracts in the in vitro treatment of gastrointestinal nematodes of goats.