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Physalins are seco-steroids with a variety of pharmacological activities already described. In this study the pharmacological properties of a standardized concentrated ethanolic extract from Physalis angulata (CEEPA), rich in physalins B, D, F and G, were studied in models of pain and inflammation in mice. Inflammatory mediators were measured by radioimmunoassay and Real-Time PCR in mice paws after the CFA stimuli. Systemic administration of CEEPA produced antinociceptive effect on the writhing test and formalin test. In the writhing test, physalins B, D, F and G showed that the antinociceptive effect of CEEPA is more potent than that of these purified compounds. In addition, CEEPA reduced the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2 and iNOS mRNA in the CFA-induced paw inflammation. Likewise, CEEPA decreased the TNF-α, IL-1β and PGE2 paw levels. In conclusion, CEEPA induces antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects, with improved pharmacological potency relative to pure physalins, associated to modulation of cytokine and cyclooxygenase pathways.

INTRODUÇÃO: as células-tronco (CT) possuem capacidade de induzir a regeneração tecidual e, portanto, apresentam um potencial terapêutico. Assim como a medula óssea e o cordão umbilical, a polpa dentária é uma das fontes disponíveis de CT. O seu fácil acesso e o fato de os dentes decíduos não serem órgãos vitais, que normalmente são descartados após a esfoliação, provêm um atrativo para testes de segurança e viabilidade terapêutica dessas células. OBJETIVOS: descrever a coleta, o isolamento e o cultivo de CT obtidas da polpa de dentes decíduos, assim como a sua caracterização por meio de citometria de fluxo e da indução da diferenciação em linhagens osteogênica e adipogênica. MÉTODOS: as CT foram obtidas de forma relativamente simples e apresentaram boa capacidade proliferativa, mesmo a partir de pouca quantidade de tecido pulpar. RESULTADOS: a análise por citometria de fluxo confirmou as características de CT mesenquimais, com baixos níveis de expressão dos antígenos CD34 e CD45, que são marcadores de células hematopoiéticas, e altos níveis de expressão dos antígenos CD105, CD166, CD90 e CD73, que são marcadores de CT mesenquimais. A plasticidade das células foi confirmada pela identificação de depósitos de cálcio nas culturas que receberam meio osteogênico, e de acúmulo lipídico intracelular nas culturas que receberam meio adipogênico. CONCLUSÕES: as CT de dentes decíduos têm um potencial promissor de aplicação em regeneração tecidual. Sendo assim, é importante difundir entre os cirurgiões-dentistas o conhecimento sobre a existência e as características dessa fonte de CT, discutindo a técnica utilizada, suas limitações e possíveis indicações. INTRODUCTION: Stem cells (SCs) are capable of inducing tissue regeneration and are, therefore, potentially therapeutic. Similarly to bone marrow and umbilical cords, dental pulp is one of the available sources of SCs. The fact that these cells are easily accessible and that deciduous teeth are not vital organs, and are normally discarded after exfoliation, make them particularly attractive for use in safety and viability tests. OBJECTIVE: To describe the collection, isolation and culture of SCs obtained from the pulp of deciduous teeth as well as their characterization by flow cytometry, and the induction of differentiation into osteogenic and adipogenic lineages. METHODS: SCs were obtained in a relatively straightforward manner and showed good proliferative capacity, even from a small amount of pulp tissue. RESULTS: Analysis by flow cytometry confirmed the characteristics of mesenchymal SCs with low expression of CD34 and CD45 antigens, which are markers for hematopoietic cells, and high levels of expression of CD105, CD166, CD90 and CD73 antigens, which are markers for mesenchymal SCs. Cell plasticity was confirmed by identifying calcium deposits in cultures that received osteogenic medium, and intracellular lipid accumulation in adipogenic cultures that received adipogenic medium. CONCLUSIONS: SCs collected from deciduous teeth show promising potential for application in tissue regeneration. Therefore, it is important that knowledge about the existence and characteristics of this source of stem cells be disseminated among dentists and that the technique, its limitations and possible indications are highlighted and discussed.