Anxiolytic and sedative effects of extracts and essential oil from Citrus aurantium L.

Citrus aurantium L. is commonly used as an alternative treatment for insomnia, anxiety and epilepsy. Essential oil from peel (EOP) and hydroethanolic (70% w/v) extract (HE) from leaves were obtained. Hexanic (HF), dichloromethanic (DF) and final aqueous (AF) fractions were obtained from HE by successive partitions. Swiss male mice (35-45 g) were treated orally with 0.5 or 1.0 g/kg of these preparations 30 min before the experiments for the evaluation of the sedative/hypnotic activity (sleeping time induced by sodium pentobarbital-SPB: 40 mg/kg, i.p.), anxiolytic activity (elevated plus maze-EPM) and anticonvulsant activity (induced by pentylenetetrazole-PTZ: 85 mg/kg, se or by maximal electroshock-MES: 50 mA, 0.11s, corneal). The results showed that EOP (0.5 g/kg) increased the latency period of tonic seizures in both convulsing experimental models. This effect was not dose-dependent. Treatment with 1.0 g/kg increased the sleeping time induced by barbiturates and the time spent in the open arms of the EPM. Specific tests indicated that the preparation, in both doses used, did not promote deficits in general activity or motor coordination. HF and DF fractions (1.0 g/kg) did not interfere in the epileptic seizures, but were able to enhance the sleeping time induced by barbiturates. The results obtained with EOP in the anxiety model, and with EOP, HF and DF in the sedation model, are in accord with the ethnopharmacological use of Citrus aurantium L., which could be useful in primary medical care, after toxicological investigation.

Energy substrate utilization during nightly vocal activity in three species of Scinax (Anura/Hylidae)

Anuran amphibians exhibit different patterns of energy substrate utilization that correlate with the intensity of vocal and locomotor activities. Given the remarkable differences among species in breeding and feeding strategies, and the different ways energy is used in the whole animal, the suggested correlations between calling and locomotor behavior and the level of energy substrates in the muscles responsible for such activities are more complex than previously reported. We explored the relationships between calling and locomotor behavior and energy supply to trunk and hindlimb muscles, respectively, within the ecologically diverse tree-frog genus Scinax. Specifically, we measured the relative amount of carbohydrates and lipids in these two groups of muscles, and in the liver of three species of Scinax that differ in vocal and locomotor performance, and compared our results with those of two other species for which comparable data are available. We also compared the contents of lipids and carbohydrates of conspecific males collected at the beginning and after 4 h of calling activity. The stomach content to potential feeding opportunities across species was also assessed in both groups of males. Scinax hiemalis and S. rizibilis exhibit comparatively low and episodic calling during long periods of activity whereas S. crospedospilus calls at higher rates over shorter periods. Male S. hiemalis had highest levels of trunk muscle glycogen followed by those of S. rizilbilis and S. crospedospilus, respectively. There was no correlation between total lipid content in trunk muscle and calling rate among different species, suggesting that other metabolic aspects may be responsible for the energetic support for vocal activity. The levels of lipids and carbohydrates in trunk and hindlimb muscles and liver of males collected at the beginning and 4 h into the calling period were similar across species, so the extent of energetic reserves does not appear to constrain vocal or locomotor activity. Finally, we found exceptionally high levels of carbohydrates and lipids in the liver of S. rizibilis, a trait perhaps related to a long and demanding breeding period.

Effect of mangiferin on the development of periodontal disease: Involvement of lipoxin A(4), anti-chemotaxic action in leukocyte rolling

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

Heart failure increases atrogin-1 and MuRF1 gene expression in skeletal muscle with fiber type-specific atrophy

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

The anthelmintic effect of plant extracts on Haemonchus contortus and Strongyloides venezuelensis

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

A laboratory study on feeding plasticity of the shredder Sericostoma vittatum Rambur (Sericostomatidae)

Since litter input and availability of leaves in many streams is highly seasonal in Portugal, we investigated whether Sericostoma vittatum, a typical shredder, was able to grow using alternative food sources. To test this hypothesis we fed S. vittatum with Alnus glutinosa (alder, CPOM, coarse particulate organic matter), leaf powder from A. glutinosa and Acacia dealbata and FPOM (fine particulate organic matter) from a 5th and a > 6th order river, the macrophyte Myriophyllum aquaticum and biofilm. Growth in S. vittatum was significantly influenced by the food item given (ANOVA, P = 0.0082). The food item promoting the highest growth was A. glutinosa, in the form of FPOM (6.48% day(-1)) and CPOM (4.24% day(-1)); all other forms of FPOM and biofilm provided relatively low growth rates (0.77-1.77% day(-1)). The macrophyte M. aquaticum was also used as food source by S. vittatum and promoted intermediate growth (1.96% day(-1)). Neither nitrogen, phosphorus nor caloric content was correlated with growth. However, since higher growth was achieved with alder, in the form of CPOM and FPOM, we concluded that the chemical content of food was more important for S. vittatum than the physical form of such food. This may partially explain why shredders are able to survive when leaves are scarce in streams.

Input of litter in deforested and forested areas of a tropical headstream

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Diet of invertebrates sampled in leaf-bags incubated in a tropical headwater stream

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Colonização por macroinvertebrados bentônicos em substrato artificial e natural em um riacho da serra de Itatinga, São Paulo, Brasil

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

Diel comparison of the catch and size of the shrimp artemesia longinaris (dendrobranchiata, penaeidae) in the ubatuba region, northern coast of the state of São Paulo

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

Plant pigments: the many faces of light perception

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

Deletion (1)(q12) and double minutes in a metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate

Cytogenetic analysis after short-term cultures were performed on an invasive and moderately-differentiated prostatic adenocarcinoma. The results showed a normal male chromosomal complement in most metaphases examined. Furthermore, several abnormalities were found, including del(1)(q12), double minute and ring chromosomes, acentric fragments, triradial figures, and near-tetraploid cells. (C) Elsevier B.V., 1999. All rights reserved.

A simple procedure for rehybridization of nuclei analyzed previously by fish

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