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The effects of annatto seeds and of bixin on the oxidative damage induced by cisplatin in male Wistar rats was evaluated in the present study by way of lipid peroxidation, weight gain, the food efficiency coefficient, fat deposits in the hepatocytes and dosing of the enzymes in this organ. The animals were divided into four groups: control group (CG), cisplatin group (CPG), bixin+cisplatin group (CBG) and annatto+cisplatin group (CUG). Cisplatin (5 mg/kg body weight) was injected intraperitoneally 48 hours before the end of the experiment. The bixin and annatto were administered daily together with the commercial feed. The pre-treatment with annatto and bixin attenuated the cisplatin-induced liver damage and significantly reduced the enzymes AST and ALT. Annatto was shown to be capable of inhibiting lipid peroxidation as determined by TBARS. These results suggest that annatto seeds and bixin could be important agents in the reduction of cisplatin-induced hepatotoxicity.

This study assessed the protective effect of the carotenoid bixin and annatto seeds against possible nephrotoxicity induced with a single peritoneal administration of pharmacological cisplatin in male Wistar rats. After 48 h, the blood cell differential count showed a significant reduction in neutrophil counts in rats that received a diet rich in bixin when compared to the group that received only cisplatin. The use of cisplatin led to an increase in kidney weight. The carotenoid bixin attenuated renal injury, characterized by increased polymorphonuclear infiltration. No protective effect was observed with respect to Annatto. These results demonstrate the role of toxic cisplatin and suggest that bixin affords a protective effect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in adult Wistar rats. Keywords: Cisplatin, Bixin, Annatto, Cell differentiation, Nephrotoxicity, Antioxidant

To highlight the importance of the spices in the Mediterranean diet, the aim of the paper was to study the essential oil compositions and to clarify the potential differences in the biological activities of the three cardamom species. In the study, we compared the phytochemical profiles and biological activities of essential oils from Elettaria cardamomum, Aframomum corrorima and Amomum subulatum. The oils were analyzed using the GC and GC/MS techniques and were mainly constituted of the oxygenated monoterpenes which represents 71.4%, 63.0%, and 51.0% of all compounds detected in E. cardamomum, A. corrorima and A. subulatum essential oils, respectively, 1,8-cineole was the main common compound between the tree tested volatile oil. The essential oils showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms tested especially the fungal strains. The Ethiopian cardamom was the most active essential oil with fungal growth inhibition zone ranging from 12.67 to 34.33 mm, MICs values ranging from 0.048 to 0.19 mg/mL, and MBCs values from 0.19 to 1.75 mg/mL. The three tested essential oils and their main component (1,8-cineole) significantly increased the production of elastase and protease production, and motility in P. aeruginosa PAO1 in a dose dependent manner. In fact, at 10 mg/mL concentration, the three essential oils showed more than 50% of inhibition of elastolytic and proteolytic activities in P. aeruginosa PAO1. The same oils inhibited also the violacein production in C. violaceum strain. It was also noticed that at high concentrations, the A. corrorima essential oil significantly inhibited the germination of radish. A thorough knowledge of the biological and safety profiles of essential oils can produce applications of economic importance.

A disfagia se caracteriza por uma disfunção no processo de deglutição, sinal prevalente de doenças degenerativas como esclerose múltipla e doença de Parkinson. Alimentos de textura modifi cada e bebidas espessadas são tradicionalmente utilizados no auxílio para o tratamento clínico da disfagia. Assim, este trabalho objetivou desenvolver uma formulação de espessante alimentar com valor nutricional agregado, e avaliar sua efi ciência em diferentes alimentos líquidos (leite integral, sucos de maçã, uva e laranja), sob diferentes condições de tempo de preparo (10 e 120 minutos e 24 horas) e temperatura ambiente (25ºC) e refrigerada (10ºC). A formulação foi composta de concentrado proteico de soro, mix de vitaminas e minerais e goma guar como agente espessante. Os valores obtidos para a viscosidade mostraram diferença estatisticamente signifi cativa (P

Peganum harmala L., also known as Syrian rue or Pegano, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Zygohpyllaceae family, and is widely used in traditional medicine. The chemical composition of essential oils of P. harmala seeds from five different regions of Northern Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) was studied by GC and GC-MS analyses. A total of 105 compounds were identified, the main components being oxygenated monoterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Eugenol is the main component in all oils. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was assayed against some bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus (DSM 25693), Bacillus cereus (DSM 4313), Bacillus cereus (DSM4384), Escherichia coli (DMS 857) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 50071). All the oils showed different inhibitory activity. In the twentieth century this is an important result; we need possible new botanical drugs because the problem of resistance to antimicrobial drugs has become apparent. Moreover, the essential oils were evaluated for their possible in vitro phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radicle growth of Raphanus sativus L., Lepidium sativum L., and Ruta graveolens L. The results showed that both germination and radical elongation were sensitive to the oils.

Citrus medica cv. 'liscia' and C. medica cv. 'rugosa' are two taxa of citron, belonging to the biodiversity of South Italy, in particular of Amalfi Coast, in the Campania region. The chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) from fruit peels of both C. medica cultivars was studied by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses. In all, 100 compounds were identified, 82 for C. medica cv. 'liscia', accounting for 91.4% of the total oil, and 88 for C. medica cv. 'rugosa', accounting for 92.0% of the total oil. Monoterpene hydrocarbons are the main constituents in both oils of C. medica cv. 'liscia' (79.1%) and C. medica cv. 'rugosa' (80.2%). In both oils, limonene (67.2%-62.8%) and camphene (8.5%-10.9%) are the main constituents. The antimicrobial activity of the EOs was assayed against some bacterial strains: Bacillus cereus (DSM 4313), Bacillus cereus (DSM 4384), Staphylococcus aureus (DSM 25693), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 50071), and Escherichia coli (DSM 8579). Low concentrations of C. medica cv. 'rugosa' EO showed an inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa and higher concentrations inhibited more B. cereus (4384) and E. coli than S. aureus. The cytotoxicity of the EO was evaluated against SH-SY5Y cell line. The influence of the EO on the expression of adenylate cyclase 1 (ADCY1) was also studied. The antimicrobial activity registered confirm their traditional uses as food preserving agents and led us to hypothesize the possible use of these oils as antimicrobials. The alterations in ADCY1 expression suggested a role for limonene in effects on the central nervous system.

The aims of this work were to study the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Pereskia aculeata and to evaluate some biological activities of three leaf extracts. The phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities were determined. The methanol extract showed antioxidant activity (EC50 7.09 mg/mL) and high polyphenols content (15.04 +/- 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g). The petroleum ether extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, whereas the chloroform extract showed inhibitory activity against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The petroleum ether and methanol extracts were more effective in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus versicolor. The possible cytotoxicity of extracts on neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cancer cell line and the influence on adenylate cyclase (ADCY) expression was also studied. P. aculeata chloroform extract showed antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 262.83 mu g/mL. Treatments of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with 100 mu g/mL of methanol extract significantly reduced ADCY1 expression.

The aims of this study are to determine the chemical composition of Lavandula angustifolia Mill. and Coriandrum sativum L. essential oils, to evaluate their cytotoxic effects in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, to investigate whether an alteration of adenylate cyclase 1 (ADCY1) and of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) expression can take part in the molecular mechanisms of the essential oils, and to study their possible neuronal electrophysiological effects. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation, and studied by GC and GC-MS. In the oils from L. angustifolia and C. sativum, linalool was the main component (33.1% and 67.8%, respectively). SH-SY5Y cells were incubated with different concentrations of essential oils and of linalool. Cell viability and effects on ADCY1 and ERK expression were analyzed using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide MTT and Western blotting, respectively. Variation in cellular electrophysiology was studied in primary cultures of rat cortical neurons with a multi-electrode array (MEA)-based approach. The essential oils and linalool revealed different cytotoxic activities. Linalool inhibited ADCY1 and ERK expression. Neuronal networks subjected to L. angustifolia and C. sativum essential oils showed a concentration-dependent inhibition of spontaneous electrical activity.

Pereskia aculeata and Pereskia grandifolia have been studied widely due to their high nutritional and therapeutic values. However, little is known about the biological requirements of their seeds for the various germination factors. Thus, this experiment aimed to evaluate the thermal effects on the germination of these species at the temperatures of 24°C, 27°C, 30°C, 33°C and 36°C. After verification of the existence of differences in the performance of germination, a non-linear regression was carried out, relating the germination to temperature and identifying its point of maximum efficiency. We found that the lowest synchronization indexes of germination were observed close to 30°C. The best germination response of the P. aculeata and P. grandifolia was observed at 30°C and 33°C, respectively, with greater germination strength and fewer days to attain 63.21% of germinations. The results obtained from the germination of P. aculeata and P. grandifolia can be described by the Weindull distribution model with three parameters, as proposed by Carneiro and Guedes (1992).

The chemical composition of the essential oils of Pereskia aculeata Mill. and P. grandifolia Haw. (Cactaceae), grown in Brazil, was studied by means of GC and GC-MS. In all, 37 compounds were identified, 30 for P. aculeata and 15 for P. grandifolia. Oxygenated diterpenes are the main constituents, both in the oil of P. grandifolia (55.5%) and in that of P. aculeata (29.4%). The essential oils were evaluated for their in vitro phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radicle growth of Raphanus sativus L., Sinapis arvensis L., and Phalaris canariensis L. seeds. The essential oil of P. grandifolia, at all doses tested, significantly inhibited the radicle elongation of R. sativus. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was assayed against ten bacterial strains. The essential oils showed weak inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive pathogens.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis (Basellaceae), grown in Brazil, was studied by means of GC and GC-MS analysis. In all, 19 compounds were identified, accounting for 91.6% of the total oil; hydrocarbons were the main constituents (67.7%). The essential oil was evaluated for its in vitro potential phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radicle growth of Raphanus sativus L., Sinapis arvensis L., and Phalaris canariensis L. seeds. At 1.25 microg/mL and 0.625 microg/mL, the oil significantly promoted the germination of S. arvensis. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was assayed against ten bacterial strains. The essential oil showed a weak inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive pathogens.

The present study was the first to examine the protective effect and antioxidant potential of two fruits native to the south of Brazil, namely guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand) and red guava (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), with respect to reducing the effects of cisplatin-induced hypercholesterolemia in male Wistar rats. The cisplatin-treated animals showed high glucose, LDL cholesterol, oxidized LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol levels. These native fruits reversed the increase in these parameters. The fat levels in the liver improved with supplementation with the fruits, and there were no differences in the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), creatinine, urea or HDL cholesterol levels, nor in the weight of the organs analyzed, indicating that the dose used did not affect these markers. O presente estudo foi o primeiro realizado para avaliar o efeito protetor e o potencial antioxidante de duas frutas nativas do sul do Brasil, conhecidas como Guabiju (Myrcianthes pungens (O. Berg) D. Legrand) e araçá vermelho (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), em relação a reduzir os efeitos da hipercolesterolemia induzida pela cisplatina em ratos Wistar machos. Os animais tratados com a cisplatina apresentaram elevada taxa de glicose, altos níveis de colesterol LDL, colesterol LDL oxidado e colesterol total. Os frutos nativos atuaram protegendo os animais pela redução destes parâmetros. Os níveis de gordura no fígado melhoraram com a suplementação pelos frutos e não houve diferenças nas substâncias reativas ao ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS) e níveis de creatina, uréia e colesterol HDL e, também, no peso dos órgãos analisados, indicando que a dose utilizada não foi capaz de afetar tais marcadores.

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) Steenis (Basellaceae), grown in Brazil, was studied by means of GC and GC-MS analysis. In all, 19 compounds were identified, accounting for 91.6% of the total oil; hydrocarbons were the main constituents (67.7%). The essential oil was evaluated for its in vitro potential phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radicle growth of Raphanus sativus L., Sinapis arvensis L., and Phalaris canariensis L. seeds. At 1.25 μg/mL and 0.625 μg/mL, the oil significantly promoted the germination of S. arvensis. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil was assayed against ten bacterial strains. The essential oil showed a weak inhibitory activity against the Gram-positive pathogens.