Atividade antimalárica de plantas medicinais da biorregião do Araripe-CE em modelo murino - Plasmodium berghei

Malaria, also popularly known as maleita , intermittent fever, paludism, impaludism, third fever or fourth fever, is an acute infectious febrile disease, which, in human beings, is caused by four species: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale. Malaria, one of the main infectious diseases in the world, is the most important parasitoses, with 250 million annual cases and more than 1 million deaths per year, mainly in children younger than live years of age. The prophylactic and therapeutic arsenal against malaria is quite restricted, since all the antimalarials currently in use have some limitation. Many plant species belonging to several families have been tested in vivo, using the murine experimental model Plasmodium berghei or in vitro against P. falciparum, and this search has been directed toward plants with antithermal, antimalarial or antiinflammatory properties used in popular Brazilian bolk medicine. Studies assessing the biological activity of medicinal plant essential oils have revealed activities of interest, such as insecticidal, spasmolytic and antiplasmodic action. It has also been scientifically established that around 60% of essential oils have antifungal properties and that 35% exhibit antibacterial properties. In our investigation, essential oils were obtained from the species Vanillosmopsis arborea, Lippia sidoides and Croton zethneri which are found in the bioregion of Araripe-Ceará. The chemical composition of these essential oils was partially characterized and the presence of monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes. The acute toxicity of these oils was assessed in healthy mice at different doses applied on a single day and on four consecutive days, and in vitro cytotoxicity in HeLa and Raw cell lines was determined at different concentrations. The in vivo tests obtained lethal dose values of 7,1 mg/Kg (doses administered on a single day) and 1,8 mg/Kg (doses administered over four days) for 50% of the animals. In the in vitro tests, the inhibitory concentration for 50% of cell growth in Hela cell lines was 588 μg/mL (essential oil from C. zethneri after 48 h), from 340-555 μg/mL (essential oil from L. sidoides, after 24 and 48 h). The essential oil from V. arborea showed no cytotoxicity and none of the essential oils were cytotoxic in Raw cell lines. These data suggest a moderate toxicity in the essential XVIII oils under study, a finding that does not impede their testing in in vivo antimalarial assays. Was shown the antimalarial activity of the essential oils in mice infected with P. berghei was assessed. The three species showed antimalarial activity from 36%-57% for the essential oil from the stem of V. arborea; from 32%-82% for the essential oil from the leaves of L. sidoides and from 40%-70% of reduction for the essential oil from the leaves of C. zethneri. This is the first study showing evidence of antimalarial activity with these species from northeast Brazil. Further studies to isolate the active ingredients of these oils are needed to determine if a single active ingredient accounts for the antimalarial activity or if a complex integration of all the compounds present occurs, a situation reflected in their biological activity

Rastreamento populacional para Doença de Gaucher em Tabuleiro do Norte-CE

Background. Gaucher Disease (GD) is a hereditary lysosomal storage disorder characterized by the accumulation of glucosylceramide, mainly in the cells of the reticuloendothelial system, due to a deficiency of the enzyme acid β-glucosidase (GBA). Diagnosis is usually based on measurement of GBA activity in peripheral leukocytes. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of screening for GBA and chitotriosidase activity using Dried Blood Spots on Filter Paper (DBS-FP) to identify individuals at high risk for GD in high-risk populations such as that of Tabuleiro do Norte, a small town in Northeastern Brazil. Methods. Between June 1, 2007 and May 31, 2008, 740 consented residents and descendants of traditional families from Tabuleiro do Norte were submitted to screening with DBS-FP. Subjects with GBA activity <2.19 nmol/h/mL were referred to analysis of GBA and chitotriosidase activity in peripheral leukocytes and in plasma, respectively. Subjects at highest risk for GD (GBA activity in peripheral leukocytes <5.6 nmol/h/mg protein) were submitted to molecular analysis to confirm diagnosis. Results. Screening with DBS-FP identified 135 subjects (18.2%) with GBA activity <2.19 nmol/h/mL, 131 of whom remained in the study. In 10 of these (7.6%), GBA activity in leukocytes was 2.6 5.5 nmol/h/mg protein. Subsequent molecular analysis confirmed 6 cases of heterozygosity and 4 normals for GD. Conclusion. DBS-FP assay was shown to be an effective initial GD screening strategy for high-prevalence populations in developing regions. Diagnosis could not be established from GBA activity in leukocytes alone, but required confirmation with molecular analysis

Aqui, todo mundo é da mesma família : parentesco e relações étnicas entre os ciganos na cidade alta, Limoeiro do Norte CE

This study aims to understand how facing a context of Constant interaction whit the local population, the gypsies family Alves dos Santos, neighborhood residentes in uptown, Limoeiro do Norte Ce, maintain a sense of ethnic belonging. To that end, I analyze both the social relations between Gypsies and non-gypsies community, as it is from the contact that the social boundaries are delineated, as the discourses and social representations that are used to qualify them from stigma. So, I found that grounded in the notion of family, gypsies are seen as a group, searching the history / past nomadic origing and blood common elements that underlie its condition, and the language a cultural trait that makes it possible to establish objective distinctions among gypsies and other community residentes, becoming thus a diacritical mark.

Instituições prevalecentes, tradição e persistência no extrativismo da cera de carnaúba em Limoeiro do Norte -CE

A presente pesquisa visa entender os fatores que explicam a manutenção dos aspectos artesanais no extrativismo da cera de carnaúba em Limoeiro do Norte. Justificamos a exploração desse tema pelo fascínio do autor pelo tema e por ser esse recurso ainda uma importante fonte de renda para produtores e trabalhadores rurais no respectivo município. Objetivamos nessa pesquisa identificar as razões pelas quais a atividade mantém seu padrão tecnológico intacto. Primeiro objetivamos uma descrição do processo produtivo da cera, tanto no passado, quanto no presente, comparando estes momentos e ressaltando o caráter artesanal da atividade, além de analisar a importância atual da atividade para aqueles que ainda lidam com esse tipo de produção, bem como procuramos revelar estrutura histórica e institucional que permeia a lógica e as escolhas destes produtores, a qual pode explicar a preservação destes aspectos artesanais. Utilizando o referencial teórico do institucionalismo, explicamos que a preservação destes aspectos artesanais, ocorre em virtude da prevalência de determinadas instituições, como a memória coletiva cultivada entre os rendeiros idosos e resistentes, a concentração fundiária, responsável pelo arrendamento e também as restritas possibilidades de investimento e poupança no processo produtivo, em face do baixo nível de renda de produtores, os quais com um produto pouco competitivo no mercado, pouco podem fazer para inovar tecnologicamente.