Avaliação de efeitos toxicológicos e comportamentais de ginseng panax em ratos

Panax ginseng CA Meyer (Araliaceae) is a herbaceous plant widely used in China, South Korea, Japan and other Asian countries for the treatment of various diseases micro circulatory, cerebrovascular, among others, representing one of the drugs used by older man. It has over 30 biologically active ginsenosides with different pharmacological and behavioral effects and inhibitory effect on the NMDA receptor. The amino acid glycine is a co-agonist of the NMDA receptor, activating this receptor. At the cellular level, ketamine is widely known to be NMDA receptor antagonist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the general activity in the open field, and anxiety in elevated plus maze, mice treated with P. ginseng compared with the action of ketamine and glycine, to better understand the action of this herbal medicine at the NMDA receptor. We used 66 adult male rats were divided into six groups: a positive control, treated for 30 days with water by gavage, who received glycine (500mg/kg; po) on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of treatment, one hour before of behavioral assessment, a negative control was treated for 30 days with water by gavage received ketamine (5mg/kg, ip) on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of treatment, one hour prior to behavioral evaluation, three experimental groups, receiving 100, 200 or 300 mg / kg P. ginseng by gavage for 30 days and one group treated solely with white water, and is also administered 1 ml of water by gavage one hour prior to behavioral evaluation. Animal behavior in these three groups was also examined on days 7, 14, 21 and 28 of treatment. On day 30 of treatment, the animals were anesthetized with thiopental (70mg/kg) for blood collection and after euthanasia, withdrawal of various organs. There were no changes in weight and body weight gain and weight reasons in organ / body weight. However the consumption of water and food values showed a significant increase. Serum levels of AST was increased in a dose-dependently in the animals treated with doses of P. ginseng, glycine and ketamine as compared to the blank group. Unlike creatinine levels proved to be decreased in all treated groups when compared with white. However, the level of urea in these groups was reduced and no changes were observed in the ALT parameter. Histopathological examination revealed no changes in cell morphology in different tissues. There were no behavioral changes in the elevated plus maze and few changes were observed in the open field, animals treated with P. ginseng, glycine and ketamine when compared to white. These data suggest that the doses of P. ginseng employed were unable to induce general toxicity in rats treated for 30 days and also shows that the general behavior of mice treated with P. ginseng was slightly different from that observed in animals treated with ketamine and glycine. Finally, the study on the elevated plus maze showed that the extract of P. ginseng showed no anxiolytic or anxiogenic action

Mobilização de reservas e partição de metabólitos durante a germinação da semente e o estabelecimento da plântula em moringa

Seed germination and seedling establishment are critical processes for commercial plantation and depend directly on reserve mobilization as a source of cellular fuels and biosynthetic precursors. In this way, we investigated the coordination among reserve mobilization, metabolite partitioning, and mobilizing enzyme activities in Moringa oleifera Lam (moringa) an oil-seeded species employed in biofuel production. Seeds were germinated under controlled conditions and seedlings were grown hydroponically at a greenhouse. Samples were harvested at 0, 4, 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 days after imbibition (DAI). The contents of dry mass (DM), neutral lipids (NL), soluble proteins (SP), starch, total soluble sugars (TSS), non-reducing sugars (NRS), and total free amino acids (TFAA) as the activity of isocitrate lyase (ICL), acid proteases, and amylases were determined. The mobilization of storage proteins was initiated during seed germination whereas the mobilization of storage lipids and starch was triggered throughout seedling establishment although all reserves have been depleted until 20 DAI. The partitioning of DM and metabolites to the roots and the shoots was uneven during seedling establishment. Low shoot/root ratio on the basis of DM could be related to the natural occurrence of moringa in drought climates. In the roots, TSS, NRS, and TFAA were accumulated from 12 to 16 DAI and then were consumed until the end of the experiment. In the shoots, TSS and TFAA were consumed in parallel with NRS accumulation from 12 to 20 DAI. The activity of ICL, acid proteases, and amylases was coordinated with the mobilization of lipids, proteins and starch respectively. Thus, we propose that the patterns of reserve mobilization and metabolite partitioning verified in moringa seem distinct from those found to other tree species and may be involved in metabolic strategies to enable environment colonization

Physical-chemical analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid of healthy dogs submitted to different storage periods and temperatures

Disfunções envolvendo o sistema nervoso são de grande importância na Medicina Veterinária, pois tratam-se de enfermidades de elevada incidência e com poucos subsídios auxiliares no seu diagnóstico, prognóstico e na avaliação de terapias empregadas. Ainda hoje, o diagnóstico baseia-se, em grande parte, no histórico e no exame clínico neurológico. Dessa forma, a análise dos constituintes do fluido cefalorraquidiano torna-se uma das poucas alternativas de acesso clínico ao sistema nervoso central (SNC). Mesmo com a grande utilidade do exame físico-químico e citoscópico do liquor na neurologia veterinária, poucos são os estudos sobre a estabilidade dos seus constituintes sob estocagem. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho teve como finalidade verificar a influência da temperatura e do tempo de conservação nas características físico-químicas do liquor de cães hígidos. Para tanto, foram coletadas amostras de LCR, através da punção da cisterna cerebelo-medular de cães clinicamente sadios, as quais foram submetidas à análise da densidade específica, do pH, da glicorraquia, das proteínas totais e das atividades das enzimas creatina quinase (CK) e aspartato aminotransferase (AST), após conservá-las em diferentes temperaturas (25°C, 4°C e -4°C) e por diferentes períodos de tempo (logo após a colheita, 24 horas, 48 horas, uma semana e um mês). Dentre os resultados obtidos, foi possível verificar, principalmente, que houve estabilidade dos parâmetros estudados por até um mês de estocagem nas amostras mantidas sob a temperaturas de congelamento de -4°C.

Hemograma e perfil bioquímico sérico, inclusive hemogasométrico, de bezerros infectados experimentalmente com Salmonella Dublin

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

Alterations in muscular enzymes of horses competing long-distance endurance rides under tropical climate

Estudaram-se as alterações de atividade das enzimas musculares creatino quinase (CK), lactato desidrogenase (LDH) e aspartato aminotransferase (AST) em um grupo de cavalos que utilizados em provas de enduro de 70 e 100km de distância, em cinco competições. Os valores (U/l) basais (antes da largada) foram 245,13±9,84 para CK, 496,61±14,76 para LDH e 328,95±8,65 para AST. Todas as atividades das enzimas decresceram no primeiro momento das provas (~30km). Valores de pico, significativamente diferentes, foram alcançados para CK (413,59±50,75) imediatamente após 70km de distância; 24 horas após para LDH (628,61±33,30); e 48 horas após as provas para AST (389,89±16,96). A monitoração do período de recuperação revelou diferente comportamento entre as concentrações enzimáticas com CK retornando aos valores basais 24 horas pós-provas (279,61 ± 23,05). LDH e AST retornaram aos valores basais, 72 horas pós-provas (505,25±33,78 e 359,35±24,90, respectivamente). Os dados obtidos revelaram diferentes alterações na concentração de enzimas musculares de cavalos de enduro, diretamente relacionadas com a duração do esforço.

Light exercise causes adaptive changes in muscles of young Brasileiro de Hipismo horses

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

Hepatoprotective treatment attenuates oxidative damages induced by carbon tetrachloride in rats

The present study evaluated the hepatoprotective effect of an N-acetyl or-methionine + choline chloride + caffeine + thiamine hydrochloride + nicotinamide + pyridoxine hydrochloride compound at doses of 0.2, 0.6 and 1.0 mL/kg of b.w., and the assessment was done by the investigation of serum-enzymatic activity, metabolic functions of the liver and histophatological changes in female Wistar rats, which were subjected to experimental intoxication with CCl4. One hundred and nineteen rats were randomly distributed into 17 groups, performing five different treatments, being evaluated seven animals per treatment in four periods: 2, 4, 6 and 8 days after CCl4-induced intoxication. Treated rats with the hepatoprotective medicine (HM) presented a significant reduction in infiltration of inflammatory cells, steatosis, necrosis and liver congestion when compared to non-treated rats (control). Beside these results, the treatment showed a positive effect on circulatory alterations in the intoxicated animals, with reduction of spleen and renal congestion, as well as, promotion of a significant improvement in ALT, AST, LDH, ALP, GGT enzymatic serum activity reduction and in recovering liver function regarding the metabolism of urea, triglycerides and glucose. These findings indicate therapeutic usefulness of the compound when administered at dose 0.6 and 1.0 mL/kg of b.w. in female Wistar rats. (C) 2010 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Blood serum components and serum protein test of Hybro-PG broilers of different ages

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

A potential synbiotic product improves the lipid profile of diabetic rats

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

Pharmacokinetic and safety evaluation of the use of ciprofloxacin on an isoniazid-rifampicin regimen in rabbits

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

Steatosis and hepatic markers before and shortly after bariatric surgery

Background We present new findings on liver steatosis detected in a group of 20 morbidly obese patients who were reassessed shortly after bariatric surgery (BS) by assaying hepatic markers in their serum.Methods We assayed aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT), cholinesterase, cholesterol, total protein, and albumin, and measured the weight and the body mass index (BMI) of patients, before and one and three months after surgery.Results There were significant reductions in BMI following surgery and also falls in transaminases and gamma-GT activities three months after BS. No changes occurred in other parameters between periods, except that cholesterol was above reference values before BS and fell to normal levels three months after BS.Conclusions We suggest that before undergoing surgery, the patients suffered from slight steatosis, while after BS the reduction in AST and gamma-GT indicated that this condition was corrected within three months. Moreover, these enzymes may be useful markers for excess fat in the liver.

Effect of oral vanadyl sulfate treatment on serum enzymes and lipids of streptozotocin-diabetic young rats

In this work we investigate the possible toxicity of vanadyl sulfate (VOSO4), a compound capable of reducing hyperglycemia, on the following serum enzymes of diabetic young rats: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LD) and creatine kinase (CK), as well as its effects on serum lipids. We find that at a concentration of 1 mg/mL VOSO4 has no toxic effect on the liver and muscles of diabetics young rats. These findings suggest that VOSO4 may be an alternative to insulin in the near future, due to its low cost, low toxicity and ready availability.

Acute 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid intoxication in broiler chicks

The acute toxicity of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), a herbicide, was studied in chicks dosed with 100, 300, 500, or 600 mg 2,4-D/kg BW, by the oral route. Clinical, laboratory, and histopathological methods were used as indicators of toxicity. After acute exposure, the herbicide decreased motor activity and induced muscular weakness and motor incoordination; decreased weight gain; increased serum creatine kinase (CK) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) activities and serum uric acid (UA), creatinine (CR), and total proteins (TP) levels; and did not change serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activities. These changes were time-and dose-dependent and reversible. The LD50 (lethal dose 50%) calculated for oral 2,4-D in chicks was 420 mg/kg BW (385 to 483). Chromatographic analysis of the serum of the intoxicated chicks showed the presence of the herbicide; the amount found was dose-and time-dependent, increasing from 2 to 8 h after exposure and decreasing afterwards. Histopathological post-mortem studies conducted on intoxicated chicks showed hepatic (vacuolar degeneration of the hepatocytes), renal (tubular nephrosis), and intestinal (hemorragic) lesions. Taken together, the observed alterations mainly reflected kidney and muscle tissue damage, although hepatic toxicity may also have occurred after acute 2,4-D intoxication.

Influência da prática de yoga sobre os sintomas da menopausa

Yoga has been studied and practiced for over three thousand years and nowadays it is widely adopted as a mean to assist the health of individuals. Additionally, numerous benefits to the health rehabilitation and quality of life of elderly individuals has been attributed to this set of techniques. In women, the aging process is characterized by the interruption on ovarian follicular activity (menopause) characterized by a number of neuroendocrine and physiologic changes. Those changes are frequently accompanied by uncomfortable and occasionally debilitating symptoms. Although there is profuse clinical information about menopause, studies on the potential therapeutic application of yoga during the climacteric period are scarce. The objective of this research was to investigate the psychophysiological effects of 12 weeks of yoga practice in 88 postmenopausal women. The volunteers were divided into a control group (no intervention), exercise group and yoga group. Instruments were applied for the evaluation of climacteric syndrome, stress, depression, quality of life, and anxiety. In addition, the determination of hormonal levels of FSH, LH, estradiol, cortisol and progesterone, and biochemical levels of glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, LDL, urea, creatinine, AST and ALT were conducted. Our results showed that the yoga group had significantly lower scores after the regular practice of yoga for menopausal symptoms. Besides, those changes were accompanied by a statistical significant improvement in the stress levels, decrease in depression scores, and higher scores in quality of life when compared with the control group and the exercise group. As well, the regular practice of yoga promoted the maintenance of cortisol levels compared to control group after 12 weeks. Regarding the biochemical parameters yoga practitioners presented lower levels of LDL in the blood. These results are supported by previous studies which found that regular practice of yoga improves quality of life of subjects, Thus, herein we propose that yoga can be a non-pharmacological alternative to management of menopausal symptoms and stress in postmenopausal women

Rhodamine 6G encapsuled mesoporous silica channels

We report the effect of solvent on the rhodamine 6G encapsuled into channels of mesoporous silica, synthesized by two-step process that gives intermediary stable hybrid micelles. Mesoporous materials have been obtained by the method that involves surfactant micelles (mainly cationic) and inorganic precursor of the structure to be obtained. MSU-X type mesoporous silica has been synthesized with polyethylene oxide surfactant as the directing-structure agent and tetraethyl orthosilicate Si(OEt)(4) as the silica source. The influence of the solvent on the encapsulation of rhodamine dye was systematically explored, specially its influence on the luminescence properties. Rhodamine 6G encapsuled into mesoporous silica channel was characterized by UV-Vis and luminescence spectroscopies, scanning electron microscopy, small angle x ray scattering and N(2) sorption-desorption. The pore size and the solvent effects into luminescence dye encapsuled into mesoporous silica channels are observed in the visible absorption and emission spectra of rhodamine 6G. The intense photo luminescence band of rhodamine 6G dye is in 500 to 600 nm region. The observed shift of the absorption and emission bands can be assigned to the effect of the solvents dielectric constant and pore size of mesoporous silica.