Genotoxic and antiproliferative properties of bark aqueous extract.

The bark extract from has been widely used in traditional medicine to treat gynecological-related disorders, diabetes, and dyslipidemias albeit without scientific proof. In addition, bark extract safety, especially regarding mutagenic activities, is not known. The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, antitumor, and toxicological parameters attributed to an bark aqueous extract.

Nanoemulsions and nanocapsules loaded with Melaleuca alternifolia essential oil for sepsis treatment.

Sepsis represents a complex clinical syndrome that results from a harmful host response to infection. The infections most associated with sepsis are pneumonia, intra-abdominal infection, and urinary tract infection. Tea tree oil (TTO) has shown high antibacterial activity; however, it exhibits low aqueous solubility and high volatility, which have motivated its nanoencapsulation.

Protective action of Cecropia pachystachya extract and enriched flavonoid fraction against memory deficits, inflammation and oxidative damage in lipopolysaccharide challenged mice.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cecropia pachystachya (CP) Trécul is a medicinal plant native to South and Central America with several pharmacological properties, such as anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective.

Aim Of The Study: In this study, we investigated the effect of CP extract (200 mg/kg) and its enriched flavonoid fraction (EFF-CP) (50 and 100 mg/kg) in a model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation.

Material And Methods: CP and EFF-CP were administered intragastrically for 14 days and LPS (250 μg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally from the 8th to the 14th days.

Free Radical Scavenging Properties and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of (Maté) and the Ability of Its Major Chemical Markers to Inhibit the Production of Proinflammatory Mediators.

A. St. Hil.

Bioguided isolation of a selective compound from Calea phyllolepis leaves against breast cancer cells.

Plants of the Calea genus have been reported to contain lipophilic compounds, such as sesquiterpene lactones, with cytotoxic effect against different cancer cell lines. The aim of this manuscript was to investigate the chemical profile and cytotoxic activity of different fractions from Calea phylolepis leaves on different human cancer cell lines. The fractions were prepared using solvent extraction of increasing polarity, yielding hexane, ethyl acetate and methanolic fractions.

Clinical efficacy of capsules containing standardized extract of Bauhinia forficata Link (pata-de-vaca) as adjuvant treatment in type 2 diabetes patients: A randomized, double blind clinical trial.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Bauhinia forficata Link, is a Brazilian native plant and popularly known as pata-de-vaca ("paw-of-cow"). The tea prepared with their leaves has been extensively used in the Brazilian traditional practices for the diabetes treatment. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of capsules containing granules of a standardized extract of B.

The Protective Action of Rubus sp. Fruit Extract Against Oxidative Damage in Mice Exposed to Lipopolysaccharide.

Neuroinflammation is an event that occurs in several pathologies of brain. Rubus sp. (blackberry) is a powerful antioxidant fruit, and its extract has neuroprotective activity.

Bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity and antitumoral activity of ethanolic extracts from fruits and seeds of Eugenia involucrata DC.

Eugenia involucrata DC. (Myrtaceae) is a native tree species from Brazil that has been scarcely studied. We investigated the phenolic composition, the antioxidant capacity and the antitumoral activity of ethanolic extracts from fruits (FE) and seeds (SE) of E.

and toxicological evaluations of aqueous extract from leaves.

leaves are popularly used to treat asthma and diabetes. Despite the widespread consumption of this plant, there are few scientific studies regarding its toxicological potential. In order to conduct a thorough study concerning the potential adverse effects, the aim of this study was to assess acute and subacute toxicity tests of crude aqueous extract from leaves (CAE-Cp) using model, as well as cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and antioxidant activity.

Effects of Standardized Medicinal Plant Extracts on Drug Metabolism Mediated by CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 Enzymes.

The use of medicinal plants concomitantly with conventional drugs can result in herb-drug interactions that cause fluctuations in drug bioavailability and consequent therapeutic failure and/or toxic effects. The CYP superfamily of enzymes plays an important role in herb-drug interactions. Among CYP enzymes, CYP3A4 and CYP2D6 are the most relevant since they metabolize about 50% and 30% of the drugs on the market, respectively.

Cytotoxic effects of a triterpene-enriched fraction of Cecropia pachystachya on the human hormone-refractory prostate cancer PC3 cell line.

Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most diagnosed invasive cancer and a leading cause of death in men in western countries. Most patients initially respond to androgen deprivation but finally develop hormone-refractory disease, which results in advanced clinical failure and death. Since hormone-refractory disease is highly radiotherapy and chemotherapy resistant, increasing interest has been placed on finding novel therapies for this advanced type of Pca.

Effects of Bidens gardneri Baker leaves aqueous extract in glucose homeostasis of rats.

Bidens gardneri Baker, popularly known as "picão-vermelho", has been used, traditionally, as a medicinal plant for the treatment of Diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to evaluate antidiabetic effect of leaves from B. gardneri aqueous extract (BGAE).

Evidence of hippocampal astrogliosis and antioxidant imbalance after L-tyrosine chronic administration in rats.

Tyrosinemia type II is a genetic disorder characterized by elevated blood levels of the amino acid tyrosine caused by the deficiency of tyrosine aminotransferase enzyme, resulting in neurologic and developmental difficulties in the patients. Although neurological sequelae are common in Tyrosinemia type II patients, the mechanisms involved are still poorly understood. The oxidative stress appears to be, at least in part, responsible for neurological complication in this inborn error metabolism.

Blackberry extract improves behavioral and neurochemical dysfunctions in a ketamine-induced rat model of mania.

Bipolar disorder is a chronic mood disorder characterized by episodes of mania and depression. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of blackberry extract on behavioral parameters, oxidative stress and inflammatory markers in a ketamine-induced model of mania. Animals were pretreated with extract (200 mg/kg, once a day for 14 days), lithium chloride (45 mg/kg, twice a day for 14 days), or vehicle.

Antigenotoxic and antimutagenic effects of Myrciaria dubia juice in mice submitted to ethanol 28-day treatment.

is a native plant from the Amazon region which produces red-purplish fruit rich in antioxidant compounds such as ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and phenolic. fruit is used to prepare juices considered to possess high nutritional content providing health benefits. The aim of this study was to examine the ability of juice to protect DNA against genomic instability induced by sub-acute ethanol consumption attributed to oxidative stress.

Chemical Constituents and Pharmacology properties of Aristolochia triangularis: a south brazilian highly-consumed botanical with multiple bioactivities.

Aristolochia triangularis Cham., is one of the most frequently used medicinal plant in Southern Brazil. Preparations containing the leaves and/or stems are traditionally used as anti-inflammatory, diuretic, as well as antidote against snakebites.

Biological activities of marine invertebrates extracts from the northeast brazilian coast.

This paper reports the in vitro antiproliferative effects, antiprotozoal, anti-herpes and antimicrobial activities of 32 organic extracts of 14 marine sponges and 14 corals collected in northeast Brazilian coast. The ethanolic extracts of the sponges Amphimedon compressa and Tedania ignis, and the acetone extract of Dysidea sp. showed relevant results concerning the antiproliferative effects against A549, HCT-8, and PC-3 cell lines by sulforhodamine B assay, but also low specificity.

Combined actions of blueberry extract and lithium on neurochemical changes observed in an experimental model of mania: exploiting possible synergistic effects.

Bipolar disorder is a psychiatric disease characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression. Blueberries contain bioactive compounds with important pharmacological effects such as neuroprotective and antioxidant actions. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of blueberry extract and/or lithium on oxidative stress, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and Na, K-ATPase activity in an experimental ketamine-induced model of mania.

TSH fraction from Petromica citrina: A potential marine natural product for the treatment of sepsis by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Background And Purpose: Antibiotic resistance is now a worldwide public health problem. A potential alternative source in the search for new antibiotics is the bioactive molecules obtained from marine products, as the halistanol trisulfate, obtained from Petromica citrina, and herein investigated from its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties.

Experimental Approach: The antimicrobial activity of the fractionation products (TSH fraction, halistanol sulfate (HS) and halistanol sulfate C (HS-C)) of the marine sponge Petromica citrina was evaluated against twenty bacteria and two fungi strains by the disk diffusion and microdilution methods.

Southern Brazilian native fruit shows neurochemical, metabolic and behavioral benefits in an animal model of metabolic syndrome.

In this work, we evaluated the effects of Psidium cattleianum (Red Type) (PcRT) fruit extract on metabolic, behavioral, and neurochemical parameters in rats fed with a highly palatable diet (HPD) consisted of sucrose (65% carbohydrates being 34% from condensed milk, 8% from sucrose and 23% from starch, 25% protein and 10% fat). Animals were divided into 4 groups: standard chow, standard chow + PcRT extract (200 mg/Kg/day by gavage), HPD, HPD + extract. The animals were treated for 150 days.

Enhancement of antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties of yogurt enriched with concentrated strawberry pulp obtained by block freeze concentration.

Strawberry juice was concentrated using block freeze concentration process. The concentrate was used to produce two yogurts with different concentrations of cryoconcentrated strawberry pulp (15% and 30%). Total lactic acid bacteria count, physicochemical and rheological properties was evaluated during storage (7days) for all yogurts.

Berries grown in Brazil: anthocyanin profiles and biological properties.

Background: Phytochemical profiles of two Brazilian native fruits - pitanga (red and purple) and araçá (yellow and red) - as well as strawberry cultivars Albion, Aromas and Camarosa, blackberry cultivar Tupy and blueberry cultivar Bluegen cultivated in Brazil were characterized for total phenolic content and total anthocyanin content by liquid chromatography coupled to a photodiode array and a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Radical scavenging, antiherpes and cytotoxic activities of these berry extracts were also evaluated.

Results: Blueberry presented the highest total anthocyanin content (1202 mg cyanidin-O-glucoside equivalents kg fresh fruit), while strawberry cultivar Aromas presented the highest total phenolic content (13 550 mg gallic acid equivalents kg fresh fruit).

Molecular mechanism of action of Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside, the main anthocyanin responsible for the anti-inflammatory effect of strawberry fruits.

Fragaria x ananassa Duch., popularly called strawberry, is known for its worldwide consumption and important biological activities, and these effects are related to its high concentration of anthocyanins. Pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside (P3G) is a major anthocyanin found in strawberry, and was evaluated for its anti-inflammatory action in experimental models.

Lipid-lowering and antiatherogenic effects of Vitex megapotamica (Spreng.) Moldenke in a mice experimental model.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Vitex megapotamica (Spreng.) Moldenke is a deciduous tree, native of South America. Its leaves are traditionally used to treat cardiovascular diseases.