Cholesteryl ester storage disease. Report of a case.

Cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD) is a rare disorder of familial incidence characterized by the accumulation of cholesteryl ester and triglycerides in the liver, intestine and bone marrow. Until now only 21 cases have been reported in the literature. We present a 9 months old girl presenting with increased abdominal girth. She had normal liver function tests and increased cholesterol and triglycerides serum levels. The liver biopsy showed many cholesterol cristals seen as needle shaped cristals under polarized light. This is the youngest patient being diagnosed clinically in the literature.

A new ent-kaurane diterpene from stems of Alibertia macrophylla K. Schum. (Rubiaceae)

Phytochemical investigations of the stems of a specimen of Alibertia macrophylla led to the isolation and characterization of the new diterpene ent-kaurane-2β,3α,16α-triol (1), along with triterpenes 2-8, iridoids 9-12, and phenolic acids 13-15. The structure of 1 was established based on spectroscopic studies (1H- and 13C-NMR, IR, and HR-ESI-MS). This is the first report of the isolation of a diterpene from the Alibertia genus in Rubiaceae. © 2007 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG.

Propolis and its constituent caffeic acid suppress LPS-stimulated pro-inflammatory response by blocking NF-κB and MAPK activation in macrophages

Ethnopharmacological relevance Propolis is a bee product with numerous biological and pharmacological properties, such as immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory activities. It has been used in folk medicine as a healthy drink and in food to improve health and prevent inflammatory diseases. However, little is known about its mechanism of action. Thus, the goal of this study was to verify the antioxidant activity and to explore the anti-inflammatory properties of propolis by addressing its intracellular mechanism of action. Caffeic acid was investigated as a possible compound responsible for propolis action. Materials and methods The antioxidant properties of propolis and caffeic acid were evaluated by using the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical (DPPH) scavenging method. To analyze the anti-inflammatory activity, Raw 264.7 macrophages were treated with different concentrations of propolis or caffeic acid, and nitric oxide (NO) production, a strong pro-inflammatory mediator, was evaluated by the Griess reaction. The concentrations of propolis and caffeic acid that inhibited NO production were evaluated on intracellular signaling pathways triggered during inflammation, namely p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK1/2), the transcription nuclear factor (NF)-κB and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2), through Western blot using specific antibodies. A possible effect of propolis on the cytotoxicity of hepatocytes was also evaluated, since this product can be used in human diets. Results Caffeic acid showed a higher antioxidant activity than propolis extract. Propolis and caffeic acid inhibited NO production in macrophages, at concentrations without cytotoxicity. Furthermore, both propolis and caffeic acid suppressed LPS-induced signaling pathways, namely p38 MAPK, JNK1/2 and NF-κB. ERK1/2 was not affected by propolis extract and caffeic acid. In addition, propolis and caffeic acid did not induce hepatotoxicity at concentrations with strong anti-inflammatory potential. Conclusions Propolis exerted an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory action and caffeic acid may be involved in its inhibitory effects on NO production and intracellular signaling cascades, suggesting its use as a natural source of safe anti-inflammatory drugs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Efeitos do extrato de Baccharis dracunculifolia DC em diferentes mediadores da inflamação intestinal induzida por TNBS em ratos

Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas (Farmacologia) - IBB

Efeitos silibina sobre modelo pré-eclâmpsia induzida em ratas por tratamento com Nω-Nitro-L-arginina metil ester

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ácido cafeico e seus ésteres: inibição do burst oxidativo de neutrófilos e efeito anti-Helicobacter pylori

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Thermoplastic polyesters and Co-polyesters derived from vegetable oil: synthesis and optimization of melt polycondensation for medium and long chain poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s and their ester derivatives

The synthesis of a series of omega-hydroxyfatty acid (omega-OHFA) monomers and their methyl ester derivatives (Me-omega-OHFA) from mono-unsaturated fatty acids and alcohols via ozonolysis-reduction/crossmetathesis reactions is described. Melt polycondensation of the monomers yielded thermoplastic poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s [-(CH2)(n)-COO-](x) with medium (n = 8 and 12) and long (n = 17) repeating monomer units. The omega-OHFAs and Me-omega-OHFAs were all obtained in good yield (>= 80%) and purity (>= 97%) as established by H-1 NMR, Fourier Transform infra-red spectroscopy (FT-IR), mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. The average molecular size (M-n) and distribution (PDI) of the poly(omega-hydroxyfatty acid)s (P(omega-OHFA)s) and poly(omega-hydroxyfatty ester) s (P(Me-omega-OHFA) s) as determined by GPC varied with organo-metallic Ti(IV) isopropoxide [Ti(OiPr)(4)] polycondensation catalyst amount, reaction time and temperature. An optimization of the polymerization process provided P(omega-OHFA) s and P(Me-omega-OHFA) s with M-n and PDI values desirable for high end applications. Co-polymerization of the long chain (n = 12) and medium chain (n = 8) Me-omega-OHFAs by melt polycondensation yielded poly(omega-hydroxy tridecanoate/omega-hydroxy nonanoate) random co-polyesters (M-n = 11000- 18500 g mol(-1)) with varying molar compositions.

Caffeic acid: a review of its potential use in medications and cosmetics

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Performance and emissions of a gas turbine engine using ox tallow ethyl-ester blended with kerosene

The performance and emissions behavior of a Rover 1S/60 turboshaft engine when operated with several blends of aviation kerosene and ox tallow ethyl-ester are shown in this article. The tests were performed with a compressor shaft coupled to an hydraulic dynamometer where data of power and mass fuel flow were collected to determine the brake specific fuel consumption. A flue gas analyzer was positioned at the exhaust duct to collect oxygen, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrous oxides. An increase in the specific fuel consumption was observed due to the lesser lower heating value of the most oxygenated blends. However, reductions of CO, CO2 and NO (x) have been observed and no-significant ill effects have occurred in the turbine operation.

The modulatory effects of caffeic acid on human monocytes and its involvement in propolis action

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Structural basis for the inhibition of a phospholipase A2-like toxin by caffeic and aristolochic acids

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Validation of HPLC-UV assay of caffeic acid in emulsions

An accurate, sensitive, precise and rapid reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic method was successfully developed and validated for the determination of caffeic acid (CA) in emulsions. The best separation was achieved on a 250 × 4.6 mm, 5.0 µm particle size RP18 XDB Waters column using ethanol and purified water (40:60 v/v) adjusted to pH 2.5 with acetic acid as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 0.7 mL/min. Ultraviolet detection was performed at 325 nm at ambient column temperature (25°C). The method was linear over the concentration range of 10-60 µg/mL (r(2) = 0.9999) with limits of detection and quantification of 1.44 and 4.38 µg/mL, respectively. CA was subjected to oxidation, acid, base and neutral degradation, as well as photolysis and heat as stress conditions. There were no interfering peaks at or near the retention time of CA. The method was applied to the determination of CA in standard and pharmaceutical products with excellent recoveries. The method is applicable in the quality control of CA.

Caffeic acid esters and triterpenes of Alibertia macrophylla

A hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of Alibertia macrophylla afforded the esters of caffeic acid and 2-phenylethanol or 2-methyl butane-1,4-diol. The leaves also contain caffeic acid. The acetone extract of the stems of A. macrophylla contain α-amyrin, β-amyrin, α-amyrenone, β-amyrenone, lupeol, lupenone and germanicone. Structural assignments were taken through spectral data analysis and physical properties. This is the first report on the chemistry of Alibertia. © 1991.