Citrus fruits have potential health-promoting properties and their essential oils have long been used in several applications. Due to biological effects described to some citrus species in this study ...our objectives were to analyze and compare the phytochemical composition and evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of essential oils (EO) obtained from four different Citrus species. Mice were treated with EO obtained from C. limon, C. latifolia, C. aurantifolia or C. limonia (10 to 100 mg/kg, p.o.) and their anti-inflammatory effects were evaluated in chemical induced inflammation (formalin-induced licking response) and carrageenan-induced inflammation in the subcutaneous air pouch model. A possible antinociceptive effect was evaluated in the hot plate model. Phytochemical analyses indicated the presence of geranial, limonene, γ-terpinene and others. EOs from C. limon, C. aurantifolia and C. limonia exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by reducing cell migration, cytokine production and protein extravasation induced by carrageenan. These effects were also obtained with similar amounts of pure limonene. It was also observed that C. aurantifolia induced myelotoxicity in mice. Anti-inflammatory effect of C. limon and C. limonia is probably due to their large quantities of limonene, while the myelotoxicity observed with C. aurantifolia is most likely due to the high concentration of citral. Our results indicate that these EOs from C. limon, C. aurantifolia and C. limonia have a significant anti-inflammatory effect; however, care should be taken with C. aurantifolia.
Leishmania, microbiota and sand fly immunity Telleria, Erich Loza; Martins-da-Silva, Andrea; Tempone, Antonio Jorge ...
Parasitology,
09/2018, Volume:
145, Issue:
10
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
In this review, we explore the state-of-the-art of sand fly relationships with microbiota, viruses and Leishmania, with particular emphasis on the vector immune responses. Insect-borne diseases are a ...major public health problem in the world. Phlebotomine sand flies are proven vectors of several aetiological agents including viruses, bacteria and the trypanosomatid Leishmania, which are responsible for diseases such as viral encephalitis, bartonellosis and leishmaniasis, respectively. All metazoans in nature coexist intimately with a community of commensal microorganisms known as microbiota. The microbiota has a fundamental role in the induction, maturation and function of the host immune system, which can modulate host protection from pathogens and infectious diseases. We briefly review viruses of public health importance present in sand flies and revisit studies done on bacterial and fungal gut contents of these vectors. We bring this information into the context of sand fly development and immune responses. We highlight the immunity mechanisms that the insect utilizes to survive the potential threats involved in these interactions and discuss the recently discovered complex interactions among microbiota, sand fly, Leishmania and virus. Additionally, some of the alternative control strategies that could benefit from the current knowledge are considered.
•Thymus vulgaris L. extract promoted control of biofilms of interest to oral health.•This product showed in vitro anti-inflammatory effect in LPS-stimulated macrophages.•The plant extract presented ...absence of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity.
This study evaluated the biological effects of the T. vulgaris L. extract., such as antimicrobial activity on planktonic cultures and mono- and polymicrobial biofilms, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory activity and genotoxicity.
Monomicrobial biofilms of Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and polymicrobial biofilms composed by C. albicans with each bacterium were formed for 48h and exposed for 5min to the plant extract. Murine macrophages (RAW 264.7), human gingival fibroblasts (FMM-1), human breast carcinoma cells (MCF-7) and cervical carcinoma cells (HeLa) were also exposed to the plant extract for 5min and the cell viability were analyzed by MTT, neutral red (NR) and crystal violet (CV) assays. Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) produced by RAW 264.7 was quantified by ELISA, after 24h exposure to the plant extract, both in the absence and presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli. Genotoxicity of the plant extract was evaluated by micronucleus formation (MN) in 1000 cells. The results were analyzed by T-Test or ANOVA and Tukey’s Test (P≤0.05).
All biofilms showed significant reductions in CFU/mL (colony-forming units per milliliter). Cell viability was above 50% for all cell lines. Anti-inflammatory effect on the synthesis of IL-1β and TNF-α was observed. The MN was similar or lower than the control group in all cells.
T. vulgaris L. extract was effective against all biofilms, promoted high cell viability, anti-inflammatory effect and presented no genotoxicity.
Snake envenomation (Bothrops genus) is common in tropical countries and acute kidney injury is one of the complications observed in Bothrops snakebite with relevant morbidity and mortality. Here, we ...showed that Bothropoides pauloensis venom (BpV) decreased cell viability (IC50 of 7.5 μg/mL). Flow cytometry with annexin V and propidium iodide showed that cell death occurred predominantly by apoptosis and late apoptosis, through caspases 3 and 7 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential collapse and ROS overproduction. BpV reduced perfusion pressure, renal vascular resistance, urinary flow, glomerular filtration rate, percentage of sodium, chloride or potassium tubular transportation. These findings demonstrated that BpV cytotoxicity on renal epithelial cells might be responsible for the nephrotoxicity observed in isolated kidney.
•Bothropoides pauloensis venom induced apoptosis and necrosis in MDCK cells.•The venom induced caspases 3 and 7 activation, mitochondrial depolarization and ROS overproduction in MDCK cells.•B. pauloensis venom induced alterations in rat isolated kidney.
Population aging is a worldwide phenomenon associated with physiological and metabolic changes that contribute to the increased prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The phase angle ...(PA) is a variable calculated by bioelectrical impedance analysis, interpreted as a direct measure of cell stability. The objective of the present study was to investigate the correlation of PA with the anthropometric measures, metabolic profile and the cardiovascular risk estimated by the Global Cardiovascular Risk Score in the elderly population.
A cross-sectional study was carried out with 402 patients aged >60 years (70.4 ± 6.9 years, 74% female) treated in primary care. Patients were evaluated by blood pressure, anthropometric measurements and body composition. The score of the risk and the stratification of the cardiovascular risk were calculated using the criteria from the Framingham Heart Study.
Age, systolic blood pressure, neck circumference and fat-free mass correlated with PA in female patients. In men, age and systolic blood pressure were the variables that correlated with the PA in the bivariate analysis. In the multiple linear regression, for the female group the risk score presented an independent variation with PA (P = 0.051) and age (P < 0.0001). The same correlation was observed for the male group both for PA (P = 0.042) and age (P < 0.0001).
The present data show an independent association of PA with overall cardiovascular risk in the elderly population. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2018; 18: 732-737.
The Micrurus snake venoms mainly cause systemic complications, essentially neurotoxicity. Previous studies, however, have described that they are involved in the occurrence of acute kidney injury ...(AKI) in animal models. AKI pathogenesis in snakebites is multifactorial and involves immunological reactions, hemodynamic disturbances, and direct nephrotoxicity. The aim of this study was to compare the nephrotoxic effects of coral snake venoms from M. browni (MbV) and M. laticollaris (MlV) on the proximal tubular epithelial cell line (LLC-MK2) and isolated perfused kidney. Using an MTT assay, both venoms significantly reduced cell viability at higher concentrations (25–100 μg/mL). MlV (10 μg/mL) increased the perfusion pressure (PP) at 60, 90 and 120 min, while the MbV did it only at 90 and 120 min. Renal vascular resistance (RVR) decreased at 60 min and increased at 120 min with MbV, but decreased at 60, 90 and 120 min with MlV. Urinary flow (UF) alterations were not observed with MlV, but MbV elevated them at 90 and 120 min. Both venoms significantly decreased the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), %TNa+, %TK+ and %TCl− levels as of 60 min of perfusion. Oxidative stress analysis revealed that both venoms behaved similarly, reducing glutathione and increasing malondialdehyde levels. Kidney injury is not usually described in clinical cases of Micrurus snakebites. However, the potential for nephrotoxicity should be considered in the overall picture of envenomation.
•The nephrotoxic effects of Micrurus browni and Micrurus laticollaris snake venoms were investigated.•Both venoms reduced renal epithelial cells viability at the highest tested concentrations.•Both venoms induced functional alterations in the isolated rat perfused kidney.•Both venoms reduced glutathione and increased malondialdehyde levels.
Skin substitutes are considered a useful alternative for occlusive dressings in the treatment of superficial burns as they reduce the frequency of dressing replacement. This phase II randomized ...controlled trial aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin as an occlusive xenograft dressing for the treatment of burn wounds in humans. In order to assess the use of tilapia skin, the following variables were evaluated: number of days for wound healing, the number of times the occlusive dressing was changed, use of anesthetics or analgesics, pain assessment using the Visual Analogue Scale, and evaluation of burn improvement on the day of dressing removal. In total, 62 participants completed the study. It was found that in participants treated with tilapia skin, complete reepithelialization occurred in significantly fewer days; reported pain intensity was lower (study arms B and C), the amount of anesthetics/analgesics required was lower (study arms B and C), and the necessity of dressing changes was significantly reduced in comparison with volunteers treated with silver sulfadiazine. In our study, the tilapia skin xenograft showed good efficacy as an occlusive biological dressing for burn wound treatment in humans.
Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Arecaceae) is an endogenous palm tree from the Amazon region. Its seeds correspond to 85% of the fruit’s weight, a primary solid residue generated from pulp production, the ...accumulation of which represents a potential source of pollution and environmental problems. As such, this work aimed to quantify and determine the phytochemical composition of E. oleracea Mart. seeds from purple, white, and BRS-Pará açaí varieties using established analytical methods and also to evaluate it as an eco-friendly corrosion inhibitor. The proanthocyanidin quantification (n-butanol/hydrochloric acid assay) between varieties was 6.4–22.4 (w/w)/dry matter. Extract characterization showed that all varieties are composed of B-type procyanidin with a high mean degree of polymerization (mDP ≥ 10) by different analytical methodologies to ensure the results. The purple açaí extract, which presented 22.4% (w/w) proanthocyanidins/dry matter, was tested against corrosion of carbon steel AISI 1020 in neutral pH. The crude extract (1.0 g/L) was effective in controlling corrosion on the metal surface for 24 h. Our results demonstrated that the extracts rich in polymeric procyanidins obtained from industrial açaí waste could be used to inhibit carbon steel AISI 1020 in neutral pH as an abundant, inexpensive, and green source of corrosion inhibitor.
Abstract Background Planning strategies to prevent heart failure (HF) in developing countries require epidemiologic data in primary care. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of ...HF stages and their phenotypes, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFPEF), and HF with reduced EF (HFREF) and to determine B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels to identify HF in the adult population. Methods and Results This is a cross-sectional study including 633 individuals, aged ≥45 years, who were randomly selected and registered in a primary care program of a medium-sized city in Brazil. All participants were underwent clinical evaluations, BNP measurements, electrocardiograms, and tissue Doppler echocardiography in a single day. The participants were classified as stage 0 (healthy, 11.7%), stage A (risk factors, 36.6%), stage B (structural abnormalities, 42.7%), or stage C (symptomatic HF, 9.3%). Among patients with HF, 59% presented with HFPEF and 41% presented with HFREF. The mean BNP levels were 20 pg/mL−1 in stage 0, 20 pg/mL−1 in stage A, 24 pg/mL−1 in stage B, 93 pg/mL−1 in HFPEF, and 266 pg/mL−1 in HFREF. The cutoff BNP level with optimal sensitivity (92%) and specificity (91%) to identify HF was 42 pg/mL−1. Conclusion The present study demonstrated a high prevalence of individuals at risk for HF and the predominance of HFPEF in a primary care setting. The clinical examination, along with BNP and tissue Doppler echocardiography, may facilitate early detection of stages A and B HF and allow implementation of interventions aimed at preventing progression to symptomatic HF.
PDF
