Anti-inflammatory effects of Brazilian ginseng (Pfaffia paniculata) on TNBS-induced intestinal inflammation: experimental evidence

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic, relapsing, idiopathic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. Clinical studies suggest that the initiation of IBD is multifactorial, involving genetics, the immune system and environmental factors, such as diet, drugs and stress. Pfaffia paniculata is an adaptogenic medicinal plant used in Brazilian folk medicine as an anti-stress agent. Thus, we hypothesised that the P. paniculata enhances the response of animals subjected to colonic inflammation. Our aim was to investigate the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of P. paniculata in rats before or after induction of intestinal inflammation using trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). The animals were divided into groups that received the vehicle, prednisolone or P. paniculata extract daily starting 14days before or 7days after TNBS induction. At the end of the procedure, the animals were killed and their colons were assessed for the macroscopic damage score (MDS), extent of the lesion (EL) and weight/length ratio, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and glutathione (GSH), cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Histological evaluation and ultrastructural analysis of the colonic samples were performed. Treatment with the 200mg/kg dose on the curative schedule was able to reduce the MDS and the EL. In addition, MPO activity was reduced, GSH levels were maintained, and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and CRP were decreased. In conclusion, the protective effect of P. paniculata was related to reduced oxidative stress and CRP colonic levels, and due to immunomodulatory activity as evidenced by reduced levels of IL-1β, INF-γ, TNF-α and IL-6.

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)

Modulatory effects of propolis samples from Latin America (Brazil, Cuba and Mexico) on cytokine production by human monocytes

Propolis has been used in folk medicine in different regions of the world including Latin America. Propolis is a resinous mixture of substances collected by honey bees from several botanical sources, and its composition contains a rich chemical variety, depending on the geographical area and plant sources. Our aim was to compare the modulatory effect of propolis samples from three different countries of Latin America (Brazil, Cuba and Mexico) on pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine production (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-10, respectively) by human monocytes. Cells were incubated with propolis for 18 h at 37°C. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide method, and cytokine production was determined by ELISA. All samples did not affect monocyte viability. Brazilian propolis stimulated both TNF-α and IL-10 production by monocytes. Cuban propolis stimulated TNF-α and inhibited IL-10 production, while Mexican sample exerted the opposite effect, inhibiting TNF-α and stimulating IL-10 production. The major compounds found in Brazilian, Cuban and Mexican propolis samples were artepillin C, isoflavonoids and pinocembrin, respectively. Brazilian, Cuban and Mexican propolis contained different components that may exert pro- and anti-inflammatory activity depending on concentration, what may provide a novel approach to the development of immunomodulatory drugs containing propolis.

Does the gastroprotective action of a medicinal plant ensure healing effects? An integrative study of the biological effects of Serjania marginata Casar. (Sapindaceae) in rats

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

Avaliação das atividades cicatrizante e antiinflamatória de Casearia sylvestris Swartz em animais e identificação dos marcadores químicos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of byrosima crassa and phenolic constituents on helicobacter pylori: induced neutrophils oxdative burst

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

Leishmanicidal activity of different parts from Arrabidaea brachypoda (DC.) Bureau (Bignoniaceae)

Infections by protozoans of the genus Leishmania are the major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The drugs of choice for the treatment of leishmaniasis are the pentavalent antimonials, which exert renal and cardiac toxicity. Thus, there is a strong need for safer and more effective treatments against leishmaniasis. The present study was designated to evaluate, by a bioguided assay, the leishmanicidal activity of hidro-ethanolic extracts from different parts (leves, caule and root) of one same plant the Arrabidaea brachypoda (DC.) Bureau. Its has been used to relieve general pain, painful joints and kidney stones in Brazilian folk medicine. Nevertheless, scientific information regarding this species is scarce; there are no reports related to its possible leishmanicidal activity. The leves extract presented the best activity on promastigotes forms of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, when compared to the other extracts. It showed significant activity on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. Our results are promising, showing that these compounds are biologically active on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis.

Imagens, sensações e afetos: as personagens gays nos curtas-metragens brasileiros exibidos no Festival Mix Brasil de Cultura da Diversidade

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Baccharis dracunculifolia D.C: diversidade genética e química de populações

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Horticultura) - FCA

Estudo fitoquímico dos extratos de folhas, galhos e cascas do caule de Calycophyllum spruceanum Benth para testes de potencial de cosmético funcional

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Aplicações folkcomunicacionais na publicidade

O presente trabalho faz uma análise de anúncios publicitários onde são utilizados elementos da folkcomunicação na construção da linguagem publicitária. Empregando a pesquisa bibliográfica e documental buscamos evidenciar quais são esses elementos e como eles são apropriados pela linguagem publicitária. Os conceitos da folkcomunicação, na área da publicidade, mostram que, na realidade, os “comunicadores folclóricos” traduzem os conteúdos complexos dos meios de comunicação de massa e os interpretam segundo valores tradicionais das camadas populares, conforme conceitos definidos por Luiz Beltrão. Essa tradução faz a aproximação com o público tão almejada pela publicidade, criando espaços de entendimento e de consumo dos bens ofertados. Nesta pesquisa, foi possível demonstrar como, em várias situações publicitárias, as apropriações dos conceitos folk são incorporados na e pela linguagem da publicidade.

Novas mediações folkcomunicacionais a partir da narrativa transmídia

Cultural events are changing significantly since the arrival of Web 2.0, where the company now has the ability to interact with the content available on the Internet, and also produce their own channels of media content. Among the existing manifestations, stands out by a bias folk-communicational, content production Comics, which consists in the narrative reconstruction of existing audiovisual products, making the author of the new work in an agent folkcommunicational. This article presents new perspectives on the issue, proposing a new reading of the mediations folk-communicational from transmedia storytelling.

José Marques de Melo e os estudos científicos da folkcomunicação

This paper aims some academic contributions of José Marques de Melo for the study and propagation of Folkcomunication Theory, developed by Luiz Beltrão, in 1967, in his PhD thesis. Marques de Melo, disciple of Beltrão, is one of the most representative names on the set of international scientific studies of communication. Divided in three parts, this text covers theoretical contributions (conception and classification of genders, formats and types of taxonomy of Folkcomunication); dialogues with other thinkers (McLuhan, Morin and Freire) and empirical contribution (internet as a Folk tool). We emphasize that the contributions of Marques de Melo are fundamentals for the new generations to understand the importance of the Folkcomunication and see it as a complex communicational system.

Gêneros e formatos da folkcomunicação

The study of Folk Communication is a major legacy of Luiz Beltrão in his endeavor to educate journalism students about collective communication and its many ramifications. The topicality of this pioneering research has piqued the interest of many groups, not only in Brazil but also in Latin America and in European countries. This research seeks to know, map, and organize the data on Folk Communication available on the web, dealing more specifically with Iconic Folk Communication, Funeral Format, and Kinetics Folk Communication, Format: Rite of Passage, as defined by Professor José Marques de Melo in his investigation on Genres and Formats of Folk Communication: a taxonomic approach. Employing bibliographic and documentary research, the objective of this analysis is to verify which types are present, and whether there are other formats and identify them.

Dança do ventre e feminilidade: análise dos relatos de praticantes

Pós-graduação em Psicologia do Desenvolvimento e Aprendizagem - FC