Investigation of cytokines, oxidative stress, metabolic, and inflammatory biomarkers after orange juice consumption by normal and overweight subjects

Abdominal adiposity has been linked to metabolic abnormalities, including dyslipidemia, oxidative stress, and low-grade inflammation. To test the hypothesis that consumption of 100% orange juice (OJ) would improve metabolic, oxidative, and inflammatory biomarkers and cytokine levels in normal and overweight subjects with increased waist circumference. Subjects were divided into two groups in accordance with their body mass index: normal and overweight. Both groups of individuals consumed 750 mL of OJ daily for 8 weeks. Body composition (weight, height, percentage of fat mass, and waist circumference); metabolic biomarkers (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [LDL-C], high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol [HDL-C], triglycerides, glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, and glycated hemoglobin); oxidative biomarkers (malondialdehyde and DPPH(•)); inflammatory biomarkers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein [hsCRP]); cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ); and diet were evaluated before and after consumption of OJ for 8 weeks. The major findings of this study were: 1) no alteration in body composition in either group; 2) improvement of the lipid profile, evidenced by a reduction in total cholesterol and LDL-C; 3) a potential stimulation of the immune response due to increase in IL-12; 4) anti-inflammatory effect as a result of a marked reduction in hsCRP; and 5) antioxidant action by the enhancement of total antioxidant capacity and the reduction of lipid peroxidation, in both normal and overweight subjects. OJ consumption has a positive effect on important biomarkers of health status in normal and overweight subjects, thereby supporting evidence that OJ acts as functional food and could be consumed as part of a healthy diet to prevent metabolic and chronic diseases.

Probiotics: the scientific evidence in the context of inflammatory bowel disease

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

Nanostructured lipid system as a strategy to improve the anti-Candida albicans activity of Astronium sp

The genus Astronium (Anacardiaceae) includes species, such as Astronium fraxinifolium, Astronium graveolens, and Astronium urundeuva, which possess anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic, healing, and antimicrobial properties. Nanostructured lipid systems are able to potentiate the action of plant extracts, reducing the required dose and side effects and improving antimicrobial activity. This work aims to evaluate a nanostructured lipid system that was developed as a strategy to improve the anti-Candida albicans activity of hydroethanolic extracts of stems and leaves from Astronium sp. The antifungal activity against C. albicans (ATCC 18804) was evaluated in vitro by a microdilution technique. In addition to the in vitro assays, the Astronium sp. that showed the best antifungal activity and selectivity index was submitted to an in vivo assay using a model of vulvovaginal candidiasis infection. In these assays, the extracts were either used alone or were incorporated into the nanostructured lipid system (comprising 10% oil phase, 10% surfactant, and 80% aqueous phase). The results indicated a minimal inhibitory concentration of 125.00 µg/mL before incorporation into the nanostructured system; this activity was even more enhanced when this extract presented a minimal inhibitory concentration of 15.62 µg/mL after its incorporation. In vivo assay dates showed that the nanostructure-incorporated extract of A. urundeuva leaves was more effective than both the unincorporated extract and the antifungal positive control (amphotericin B). These results suggest that this nanostructured lipid system can be used in a strategy to improve the in vitro and in vivo anti-C. albicans activity of hydroethanolic extracts of Astronium sp.

Eferocitose na presença de PAMP estimula ativação de macrófagos de perfil misto M1/M2

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

Potencial anti-inflamatório e antiproliferativo de compostos inibidores da enzima desoxi-hipusina sintase

Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia - IQ

Estudo da ação de derivados semi-sintéticos de curcumina em linhagens celulares de câncer humano

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

Atividade anti-inflamatória e citotoxicidade dos extratos glicólicos de Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori (alcachofra), Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (aroeira-do-sertão) e Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (chá verde)

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana e anti-inflamatória do extrato glicólico de Hamamelis virginiana Linnaeus

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Caracterização morfológica, perfil químico, atividade biológica e conservação in situ do gênero Lychnophora Mart. (Asteraceae: Vernonieae: Lychnophorinae), Brasil

Many people who live in the cerrado regions use plant species for therapeutic purposes. However, due to intensive extraction of some species, native botanical populations are at risk of disappearing or suffering a dramatic decrease, such as, for instance, individuals of the Lychnophora genus. This has 24 species distributed into the categories vulnerable, endangered, critically endangered, and possibly extinct. These individuals are known in folk medicine as “arnica” and their leaves and flowers are commonly used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and healing agents. The chemical profile of the genus is characterized by the presence of sesquiterpene lactones, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes, triterpenes, flavonoids, steroids, polyacetylenes, and caryophyllene derivatives which also have lignans with analgesic activity. Studies with Lychnophora species show significant results with regard to their biological activities against Leishmania amazonensis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Tripanosoma cruzi. Therefore, this study aimed to perform a survey of the morphology, chemical composition, and biological activity, as well as the use and current conservation status of the Lychnophora genus in Brazil.

Síntese e atividade anti-HCV, anti-candida e antibacteriana de nitrochalconas

Pós-graduação em Química - IBILCE

Avaliação de atividades biológicas dos extratos de Rosmarinus officinalis L. (alecrim) e Thymus vulgaris L. (tomilho)

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Efeitos do extrato de Agave sisalana Perrine sobre a toxicidade ovariana e uterina, fertilidade e parâmetros fetais de ratas

Pós-graduação em Biociências - FCLAS

Terpinen-4-ol: estudo do efeito sinérgico/aditivo, adesão em co-cultura e alteração dos fatores de virulência sobre Candida spp

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

Caracterização por espectrometria de massas e investigação das atividades anti-inflamatória e gastroprotetora do extrato etanólico e diterpenos clerodânicos de folhas de Casearia sylvestris Swartz

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Caracterização por espectrometria de massas e investigação das atividades anti-inflamatória e gastroprotetora do extrato etanólico e diterpenos clerodânicos de folhas de Casearia sylvestris Swartz

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)