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Este artículo se encuentra disponible en la siguiente URL: https://www.nrronline.org/temp/NeuralRegenRes15122207-4877537_133255.pdf En este artículo también participa: Pilar Soriano. The retina may suffer neurodegenerative damages, as other tissues of the central nervous system do, and serious eye diseases may develop. One of them is age-related macular degeneration, which causes progressive loss of vision due to retina degeneration. Treatment of age-related macular degeneration focuses on antioxidant agents and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor compounds, among others, that prevent/ diminish oxidative stress and reduce neovascularisation respectively. The phytochemicals, medicinal plants and/or plant-diet supplements might be a useful adjunct in prevention or treatment of age-related macular degeneration owing to their antioxidant and anti-vascular endothelial growth factor properties. This review article presents the most investigated plants and natural products in relation to age-related macular degeneration, such as saffron, ginkgo, bilberry and blueberry, curcuma or turmeric, carotenoids, polyphenols, and vitamins C and E. This study provides up-to-date information on the effects, treatments, safety and efficiency of these phytotherapy products.

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a chronic disease caused by an intermittent or partial obstruction of the upper airways during sleep. The cycles of hypoxia and reoxygenation generate changes in the oxidative balance with an increase in the formation of reactive oxygen species that react easily with other molecules, changing their functions. This research was developed to assess oxidative stress in patients with OSAS at its different levels of severity (mild, moderate, severe) by measuring malondialdehyde (MAD) and the antioxidant effects with de vitamin C. Patients underwent a polysomnography exam to diagnose OSAS and its severity. According to the AHI (apnea and hypopnea index), the participants were divided into groups: control G0 (AHI 30 / h). Age, weight, BMI (body mass index), cervical circumference, in addition to blood pressure measurement, and 2 venous punctures were used to measure MAD before and after antioxidant therapy with vitamin C 1 g / day for 30 consecutive days. There was no statistical difference between the groups regarding age. About weight, BMI and cervical circumference, these were higher in the groups of experimental cases when compared to control, being even proportional to the severity of OSAS. Blood pressure levels were also significantly elevated in patients. As for MAD dosages before and after antioxidant therapy, there were no changes between groups. It was concluded that oxidative stress in OSAS cannot be measured by the blood dosage of MAD, and that vitamin C is not able to reduce it, when assessed through the levels of this marker. A Síndrome da Apneia Obstrutiva do Sono (SAOS) é uma doença crônica causada por uma obstrução total ou parcial das vias aéreas superiores durante o sono de forma intermitente. Os ciclos de hipóxia e reoxigenação geram alterações do balanço oxidativo com aumento da formação de espécies reativas do oxigênio que reagem facilmente com outras moléculas alterando suas funções. Esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida para avaliar o estresse oxidativo em pacientes com SAOS em seus diferentes níveis de gravidade (leve, moderada, severa) por meio da dosagem do malondialdeído (MAD) e os efeitos de terapia antioxidante com vitamina C. Pacientes foram submetidos a um exame de polissonografia para diagnóstico da SAOS e de sua gravidade. De acordo com o IAH (índice de apneia e hipopneia), os participantes foram distribuídos nos grupos: controle G0 (IAH < 5/h); leve G1 (IAH 5/h ≥ e < 15/h); moderado G2 (IAH ≥ 15 e ≤ 30/h); e severa G3 (IAH>30/h). Foram verificadas idade, peso, IMC (índice de massa corporal), circunferência cervical, além da medição da pressão arterial, e de 2 punções venosas para dosagem do MAD antes e após terapia antioxidante com vitamina C 1 g/dia por 30 dias consecutivos. Não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos com relação à idade. Quanto ao peso, IMC e a circunferência cervical, estes foram maiores nos grupos de casos experimentais quando comparado ao controle, sendo inclusive proporcionais à gravidade da SAOS. Os níveis tensionais também foram significativamente elevados nos doentes. Quanto às dosagens do MAD antes e após a terapia antioxidante, não houve alterações entre os grupos. Concluiu-se que o estresse oxidativo na SAOS não pode ser mensurado pela dosagem sanguínea do MAD, e que a vitamina C não é capaz de reduzi-lo, quando avaliado por meio dos níveis desse marcador.

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe disease in about 20% of patients, causing hospitalization and death, mainly due to associated systemic complications. The treatment of this condition is still insufficient to control the intrinsic inflammatory process and is focused on managing the complications and symptoms of patients. Among the many factors involved in AP, the inflammatory response and oxidative stress can be highlighted. In this context, rutin is presented as a natural substance with important potential to treat AP, by considering its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The aim of this study is to investigate the pharmacological effects of rutin on experimental AP induced by L-arginine administration in mice. Adult male Swiss mice (25-30 g) were used in this study and all experiments were approved by this institution´s Ethics Committee in Animal Research (43/2012). For the induction of AP, mice received 2 injections of L-arginine (8%, 4 g/kg, i.p., with an interval of 1 h). The control group received the same volume of saline (0.9%) instead of L-arginine. Mice submitted to AP induction were treated with rutin (37.5, 75 or 150 mg/kg, p.o.) or saline (vehicle) after 24, 36, 48 and 60 h of the first injection of L-arginine. The control group was treated with vehicle at the same time points. The euthanasia occurred after 72 h of induction and was accompanied by blood and organ (pancreas, lung, liver and kidney) collection. We investigated parameters that permitted us to infer about pancreatic and systemic inflammation and evaluate serum concentrations of pancreatic enzymes, abdominal hyperalgesia and oxidative stress. In animals injected with L-arginine, it was detected the increase of inflammatory and biochemical parameters that confirmed the induction of AP, when compared with saline-injected animals. The treatment with rutin reduced the myeloperoxidase activity in pancreas (p