Effects of cancer-induced cachexia and administration of L-glutathione on the intestinal mucosa in rat.

Walker-256 tumor is an experimental model known to promote cachexia syndrome, oxidative stress, and systemic inflammation. This study evaluated the duodenal mucosa of rats with Walker-256 tumor administered with 1% L-glutathione, intending to evaluate the damage caused by cancer-associated cachexia in the gastrointestinal tract and the effects of antioxidant administration on mucosal protection. Twenty-four 55-day-old male Wistar rats were distributed into four groups: control (C); control administered with 1% L-glutathione (C-GSH); Walker-256 tumor (W) and Walker-256 tumor administered with 1% L-glutathione (W-GSH).

Cancer-induced morphological changes in enteric glial cells in the jejunum of Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats.

Cancer-induced cachexia is associated with systemic inflammation and gastrointestinal dysfunction. How changes to cells of the enteric nervous system contribute to gut dysfunction in tumor development and cancer cachexia is unknown. Here, we tested the hypothesis that changes to enteric glia, a type of peripheral glia that surround enteric neurons and regulate gut homeostasis, are associated with tumor development and that supplementing with the antioxidant L-glutathione is protective against the changes induced.

L-glutathione 1% promotes neuroprotection of nitrergic neurons and reduces the oxidative stress in the jejunum of rats with Walker-256-bearing tumor.

Aims: Our main goals were to investigate the effects of L-glutathione (1%) treatment in Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats by analyzing immunoreactive neurons (IR), responsive to the nNOS enzyme and 3-Nitrotyrosine, in their jejunum myenteric plexus. Moreover, the oxidative state and inflammatory process in these animals were investigated.

Methods: Four experimental groups were utilized: control (C), control treated with L-glutathione (CGT), Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats (TW), and Walker-256 tumor-bearing rats treated with L-glutathione (TWGT).

Evaluation of Genistein as a Mitochondrial Modulator and Its Effects on Sperm Quality.

Phytoestrogens, such as isoflavones, are bioactive compounds found in plants with defense and protection functions. In the human body, they simulate the behavior of the hormone estradiol and can modulate the function of the male hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. This study aims to describe the effects of genistein on sperm quality of Wistar rats (male/adult) after a short oral administration protocol (50 mg/day, for 5 days), focusing on mitochondrial function.

Phytochemical Characterization of Cannabis sativa L. Roots from Northeastern Brazil.

This article describes the phytochemical study of Cannabis sativa roots from northeastern Brazil. The dried plant material was pulverized and subjected to exhaustive maceration with ethanol at room temperature, obtaining the crude ethanolic extract (Cs-EEBR). The volatile compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), which allowed to identify 22 compounds by comparing the linear retention index (LRI), the similarity index (SI) and the fragmentation pattern of the constituents with the literature.

Hypolipidemic potential and safety profile of the ethanolic extract and flour of the peel of Mast. (Passifloraceae) in mice.

Mast. is described as a native Caatinga species, used by nutritional and medicinal purposes, although there are still few studies and pharmacological data related to this species. This paper aims to evaluate the safety profile and hypolipidemic potential of the fruit peel of this species in mice.

Bis-nor-diterpene from Cnidoscolus quercifolius (Euphorbiaceae) induces tubulin depolymerization-mediated apoptosis in BRAF-mutated melanoma cells.

A phytochemical investigation of cytotoxic extract and fractions of Cnidoscolus quercifolius Pohl led to isolation of five terpenoids, including three lupane-type triterpenes (1-3) and two bis-nor-diterpenes (4-5). Compounds 4 (phyllacanthone) and 5 (favelanone) are commonly found in this species and have unique chemical structure. Although their cytotoxic activity against cancer cells has been previously reported, the anticancer potential of these molecules remains poorly explored.

New -kaurene-type nor-diterpene and other compounds isolated from Mart. (Annonaceae).

A new nor--kaurene diterpene and ten other compounds were isolated from stems, including four kaurene diterpenes, three alkamides, one sesquiterpene and two steroids. Their chemical structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods, including 1D-, 2D-NMR, and HRESIMS. The absolute configuration of compounds , , , and was confirmed by CD experiments.

Involvement of serotonergic pathways in gastric dysmotility induced by fat burning nutritional supplements in mice.

Fat burners are a category of nutritional supplements that are claimed to increase the metabolism and promote greater energy expenditure, leading to weight loss. However, little is known about the side effects on gastrointestinal motility. In this study, we evaluated the effect of ingestion with a fat burner named Thermbuterol® (THERM) on the gastric motility and food behavior of mice.

is an excellent eco-friendly biosorbent for the removal of chromium in leather industry effluents.

In Brazil, the leather industry is an important economic segment moving around U$ 3 billions of dollars a year. However, high amounts of water are requested to transform skin animals into leather, causing high wastewater amounts to be consequently produced. A major problem is attached to the presence of chromium in the wastewater from the tanning process.

Corrigendum to: "Inclusion of vitexin in β-cyclodextrin: preparation, characterization and expectorant/antitussive activities" [Heliyon 6 (12) (December 2020) e05461].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Inclusion of vitexin in β-cyclodextrin: preparation, characterization and expectorant/antitussive activities.

The study aimed to include the isolated vitexin of in the β-cyclodextrin cavity to improve the solubility of this flavone. Its characterization was performed by techniques such as H NMR/ROESY (Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy), FT-IR (Infrared Spectroscopy with Fourier Transform), SEM (Morphological analysis of IC by Scanning Electron Microscopy) and dissolution study . In addition, the following activities were evaluated in the animal models: expectorant, phenol red dosage in bronchoalveolar lavage and antitussive, cough induced by citric acid.

Chemical study of barks.

(Willd.) Poir., popularly known as "black jurema", is a plant that is predominant in the Caatinga Biome.

Complexation with β-cyclodextrin enhances apoptosis-mediated cytotoxic effect of harman in chemoresistant BRAF-mutated melanoma cells.

Harman, a natural β-carboline alkaloid, has recently gained considerable interest due to its anticancer properties. However, its physicochemical characteristics and poor oral bioavailability have been limiting factors for its pharmaceutical development. In this paper, we described the complexation of harman (HAR) with β-cyclodextrin (βCD) as a promising alternative to improve its solubility and consequently its cytotoxic effect in chemoresistant melanoma cells (A2058 cell line).

Low-level laser therapy attenuates lung inflammation and airway remodeling in a murine model of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Relevance to cytokines secretion from lung structural cells.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive and chronic inflammatory disease with a poor prognosis and very few available treatment options. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has been gaining prominence as a new and effective anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory agent. Can lung inflammation and the airway remodeling be regulated by LLLT in an experimental model of IPF in C57Bl/6 mice? The present study investigated if laser attenuates cellular migration to the lungs, the airway remodeling as well as pro-fibrotic cytokines secretion from type II pneumocytes and fibroblasts.

Treatment of effluent containing thiamethoxam and efficiency evaluation of toxicity reduction.

The treatment of seeds using pesticides is a widely employed technique that generates effluents with high contamination potential. In the present study, our objective was to characterize and evaluate the toxicity of washing wastewater from corn seed treaters that contained the pesticide thiamethoxam. Effluents were treated by adsorption using several adsorbent materials, namely activated vegetable carbon, corn straw, and soybean hulls, different pH, and distinct mass concentrations for each material.

Bioguided Purification of Active Compounds from Leaves of var. (Griseb.) Altschul.

var cebil (Griseb.) Altschul is a medicinal plant found throughout the Brazilian semi-arid area. This work performed a bioguided purification of active substances present in ethyl acetate extract from leaves.

Identification of flavonoids in Hayne (Fabaceae) by HPLC-DAD-MS analysis.

is a native tree known in Brazil as 'jatobá' and used in folk medicine to treat pain and inflammation. The aim of this work was to identify the flavonoids present in the crude ethanolic extract and ethyl acetate fraction using HPLC-DAD and LC-MS analysis. The ethanolic extract was partitioned to obtain the ethyl acetate fraction.

Adsorption study of heavy metals in aqueous solutions aiming at the treatment of contaminated groundwater.

This study evaluates the application of the vegetal activated carbon (AC), vegetable AC impregnated with Ag and Cu (0.08% m/m) and cationic Supergel SGC650H resin for adsorption of Fe and Pb ions in closed and batch system. The best adsorption capacities were obtained by using the cationic resin SGC650H, pH 3, temperature of 30 °C and stirring speed of 100 rpm.

Inhibitory effects of Morus nigra L. (Moraceae) against local paw edema and mechanical hypernociception induced by Bothrops jararacussu snake venom in mice.

Background: Bothropic venoms cause intense local damage, pain, edema, and myonecrosis. Morus nigra L. (Moraceae) has several uses in folk medicine and can be a promising candidate for the treatment of several inflammatory disorders.

Influence of light intensity, fertilizing and season on the cirsiliol content, a chemical marker of (Lamiaceae).

Background: (Family Lamiaceae) is a medicinal plant from which the flavonoid cirsiliol with sedative, hypnotic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity has been extracted.

Methods: Seedlings were cultivated under different levels of shade in native or fertilized modes. The content of cirsiliol was measured monthly by high-performance liquid chromatography and the total phenolic content by the Folin-Ciocalteu method.

Essential Oils and Their Major Compounds in the Treatment of Chronic Inflammation: A Review of Antioxidant Potential in Preclinical Studies and Molecular Mechanisms.

Inflammatory diseases result from the body's response to tissue damage, and if the resolution is not adequate or the stimulus persists, there will be progression from acute inflammation to chronic inflammation, leading to the development of cancer and neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases. Due to the complexity of events that occur in inflammation associated with the adverse effects of drugs used in clinical practice, it is necessary to search for new biologically active compounds with anti-inflammatory activity. Among natural products, essential oils (EOs) present promising results in preclinical studies, with action in the main mechanisms involved in the pathology of inflammation.

Determination of phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and characterization of secondary metabolites in different parts of by HPLC-DAD-MS/MS analysis.

Ethanol extracts of different parts of assiflora were obtained by maceration. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were evaluated. The antioxidant activities were determined by β-carotene-linoleic acid bleaching test, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), and 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging.

Phytochemical and pharmacological aspects of Cnidoscolus Pohl species: A systematic review.

Background: Cnidoscolus is a genus belonging to the Euphorbiaceae family, distributed in South American countries, such as Mexico and Brazil, which includes several species widely used in folk medicine. However, the genus is not sufficiently exploited from a chemical and pharmacological point of view.

Hypothesis/purpose: This paper aims to present a systematic review of known pharmacological and chemical aspects from Cnidoscolus, an important genus for South America research groups on medicinal plants.