QUINTAIS IMORTAIS

Wiley. "Insights on marijuana and opioid use in people with cancer." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 22 April 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190422100947.htm>.

Lung benefits of caffeine therapy in preemies persists into mid-childhood

Date: July 14, 2017 Source: American Thoracic Society (ATS) Summary: Premature babies treated with caffeine have better lung function in mid-childhood than preemies not treated with caffeine, according to a randomized controlled trial.

Premature babies treated with caffeine have better lung function in mid-childhood than preemies not treated with caffeine, according to a randomized controlled trial published in the American Thoracic Society's American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

"Previous studies have shown that caffeine, which belongs to a group of drugs known as methylxanthines, reduces apnea of prematurity, a condition in which the baby stops breathing for many seconds," said lead study author Lex W. Doyle, MD, professor of neonatal pediatrics at the Royal Women's Hospital in Melbourne and head of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council's Centre of Research Excellence in Newborn Medicine.

Dr. Doyle added that caffeine, one of the most widely used drugs in neonatal intensive care, shortens the time premature infants require help breathing after birth. It also reduces the chances that the newborn will develop lung injury or abnormal lung development, a condition called bronchopulmonary dysplasia, which can lead to higher rates of breathing problems later in life.

In "Neonatal Caffeine Treatment and Respiratory Function at 11 Years in Children," Dr. Doyle and colleagues report on their study to determine if the lung benefits of caffeine in premature babies persist in mid-childhood.

At age 11, 142 children living in Australia who had been part of the international Caffeine for Apnea of Prematurity randomized controlled trial had their expiratory flow rates measured. Slightly more than half the children had been enrolled in the caffeine intervention; the others had been given a placebo.

The researchers found expiratory flows were significantly better in the caffeine group by approximately one-half a standard deviation for FEV1 (the maximum amount of air that can be forcefully blown out in one second), FVC (the amount of air that can be forcibly exhaled after taking the deepest breath possible) and FEF25-75% (the average flow from the point at which 25 percent of the FVC has been exhaled to the point at which 75 percent of the FVC has been exhaled.) FEV1/FVC (a measure of obstructive lung disease) was better by a lesser amount but still statistically significant.

The researchers said that caffeine appeared to improve long-term breathing by reducing lung injury and abnormal development during the newborn period, "rather than the caffeine molecule having any direct effect on the lung itself."

Study limitations include the fact that respiratory function tests measured only expiratory flows and the children were from only one of the Caffeine for the Apnea of Prematurity trial sites.

"It would be desirable to repeat lung function more extensively later in life, and at more sites to identify those participants at highest risk of developing severe breathing disorders in adulthood," Dr. Doyle said. "If it were possible to repeat lung function at one time only, the best time would be around age 25, when lung growth peaks."

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American Thoracic Society (ATS). "Lung benefits of caffeine therapy in preemies persists into mid-childhood." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 14 July 2017. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/07/170714072216.htm>.

sábado, 16 de novembro de 2019

Native California medicinal plant may hold promise for treating Alzheimer's

Salk scientists identify possible healing compound in Yerba santa

Date: February 20, 2019 Source: Salk Institute Summary: The medicinal powers of aspirin, digitalis, and the anti-malarial artemisinin all come from plants. A discovery of a potent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory chemical in a native California shrub may lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's disease based on a compound found in nature.

The medicinal powers of aspirin, digitalis, and the anti-malarial artemisinin all come from plants. A Salk Institute discovery of a potent neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory chemical in a native California shrub may lead to a treatment for Alzheimer's disease based on a compound found in nature. The research appears in the February 2019 issue of the journal Redox Biology.

"Alzheimer's disease is a leading cause of death in the United States," says Senior Staff Scientist Pamela Maher, a member of Salk's Cellular Neurobiology Laboratory, run by Professor David Schubert. "And because age is a major risk factor, researchers are looking at ways to counter aging's effects on the brain. Our identification of sterubin as a potent neuroprotective component of a native California plant called Yerba santa (Eriodictyon californicum) is a promising step in that direction."

Native California tribes, which dubbed the plant "holy herb" in Spanish, have long used Yerba santa for its medicinal properties. Devotees brew its leaves to treat respiratory ailments, fever and headaches; and mash it into a poultice for wounds, sore muscles and rheumatism.

To identify natural compounds that might reverse neurological disease symptoms, Maher applied a screening technique used in drug discovery to a commercial library of 400 plant extracts with known pharmacological properties. The lab had previously used this approach to identify other chemicals (called flavonoids) from plants that have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.

Through the screen, the lab identified a molecule called sterubin as Yerba santa's most active component. The researchers tested sterubin and other plant extracts for their impact on energy depletion in mouse nerve cells, as well as other age-associated neurotoxicity and survival pathways directly related to the reduced energy metabolism, accumulation of misfolded, aggregated proteins and inflammation seen in Alzheimer's. Sterubin had a potent anti-inflammatory impact on brain cells known as microglia. It was also an effective iron remover -- potentially beneficial because iron can contribute to nerve cell damage in aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Overall, the compound was effective against multiple inducers of cell death in the nerve cells, according to Maher.

"This is a compound that was known but ignored," Maher says. "Not only did sterubin turn out to be much more active than the other flavonoids in Yerba santa in our assays, it appears as good as, if not better than, other flavonoids we have studied."

Next, the lab plans to test sterubin in an animal model of Alzheimer's, then determine its drug-like characteristics and toxicity levels in animals. With that data, Maher says, it might be possible to test the compound in humans, although it would be critical to use sterubin derived from plants grown under standardized, controlled conditions. She says the team will likely generate synthetic derivatives of sterubin.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Salk Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Wolfgang Fischer, Antonio Currais, Zhibin Liang, Antonio Pinto, Pamela Maher. Old age-associated phenotypic screening for Alzheimer's disease drug candidates identifies sterubin as a potent neuroprotective compound from Yerba santa. Redox Biology, 2019; 21: 101089 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2018.101089

Cite This Page:

Salk Institute. "Native California medicinal plant may hold promise for treating Alzheimer's: Salk scientists identify possible healing compound in Yerba santa." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 20 February 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/02/190220174105.htm>.

sexta-feira, 15 de novembro de 2019

Root extract of Chinese medicinal plant makes worms live longer

Date: October 9, 2018 Source: Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg Summary: A root extract of the Fallopia multiflora, or Chinese knotweed, has special properties: it enables the nematode C. elegans to live longer and protects it from oxidative stress, according to a new study.

A root extract of the Fallopia multiflora, or Chinese knotweed, has special properties: it enables the nematode C. elegans to live longer and protects it from oxidative stress. This has been demonstrated in a new study by nutritional scientists at Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg (MLU). The researchers provide scientifically substantiated evidence for the effectiveness of this extract, which is primarily used in traditional Chinese medicine and as a dietary supplement. At the same time, they have identified molecular signalling pathways that could be responsible for the extract's effect.

Their study was recently published in the international scientific journal Plants.

The Chinese knotweed is very popular. Many suppliers sell extracts and powders of this plant as dietary supplements and advertise the rejuvenating and particularly health-promoting effect that the products supposedly possess. However only a handful of scientifically based studies have examined its effects. "Most studies have only focused on the primary active ingredient of the plant extract. But it actually contains many different substances whose combined efficacy has not yet been thoroughly researched," says nutritional scientist Professor Wim Wätjen from MLU. His research group has been studying the plant, its ingredients, and their possible effects for several years.

In the current study, the researchers from Halle examined whether the much-praised anti-ageing effects can actually be proven. They administered a high amount of the extract to the nematode C. elegans, a model organism frequently used in the bio- and life sciences. "Most earlier studies investigated the effects of the plant on isolated cells or in a test tube; we wanted to study it in a living organism," explains Wätjen. When the highest concentration was administered to the worms, 1,000 micrograms per millilitre, various effects were observed: The lifetime of the worms was extended by almost 19 per cent. For C. elegans this corresponds to an increase of about three days. In two further tests, the scientists investigated the extent to which the drug also protects the worms from oxidative stress or heat stress. Even though the extract did not improve the survival rate of worms in hot conditions, it was found to reduce the formation of harmful oxygen radicals and protect the animals significantly better against elevated oxidative stress.

In the next step the researchers repeated the tests with worms whose genetic material had been specifically altered at certain sites. This switched off special proteins that are critical for ageing. "If the genes responsible for producing the proteins DAF-16 or Sir-2.1 were defective, the positive effects of the root extract were also significantly lower," says Wätjen. A longer lifespan could only be observed if all proteins functioned properly. "This confirms that ageing is a complex process that depends on many factors," says Wätjen.

The results of the new study fit in well with previous studies: The primary component of the root extract is a substance that has a similar structure to resveratrol. "This substance is found in grapes, for example, and is known to activate a special class of enzymes called sirtuins. These have long been considered the most important substances for controlling the body's ageing process," says Wätjen.

The new study provides clues on how plant-based ingredients intervene in basic mechanisms and signalling pathways of ageing which can serve as a basis for further research. However, the findings cannot be transferred directly to humans. Although the basic principles and signalling pathways in other organisms may be similar, says Wätjen, subsequent studies are needed to clarify whether the effects observed in C. elegans can also be demonstrated in other organisms. In the future researchers in Halle will investigate the protective effect the extract has on the development of plaques in Alzheimer's disease.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Christina Saier, Christian Büchter, Karoline Koch, Wim Wätjen. Polygonum multiflorum Extract Exerts Antioxidative Effects and Increases Life Span and Stress Resistance in the Model Organism Caenorhabditis elegans via DAF-16 and SIR-2.1. Plants, 2018; 7 (3): 60 DOI: 10.3390/plants7030060

Cite This Page:

Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg. "Root extract of Chinese medicinal plant makes worms live longer." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 9 October 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/10/181009102529.htm>.

segunda-feira, 11 de novembro de 2019

Habitual tea drinking modulates brain efficiency: Evidence from brain connectivity evaluation

Date: October 11, 2019 Source: Impact Journals LLC Summary: The researchers recruited healthy older participants to two groups according to their history of tea drinking frequency and investigated both functional and structural networks to reveal the role of tea drinking on brain organization.

The researchers recruited healthy older participants to two groups according to their history of tea drinking frequency and investigated both functional and structural networks to reveal the role of tea drinking on brain organization.

The suppression of hemispheric asymmetry in the structural connectivity network was observed as a result of tea drinking.

The authors did not observe any significant effects of tea drinking on the hemispheric asymmetry of the functional connectivity network.

Dr. Junhua Li and Dr. Lei Feng said, "Tea has been a popular beverage since antiquity, with records referring to consumption dating back to the dynasty of Shen Nong (approximately 2700 BC) in China."

Tea is consumed in diverse ways, with brewed tea and products with a tea ingredient extremely prevalent in Asia, especially in China and Japan.

Although individual constituents of tea have been related to the roles of maintaining cognitive abilities and preventing cognitive decline, a study with behavioural and neurophysiological measures showed that there was a degraded effect or no effect when a constituent was administered alone and a significant effect was observed only when constituents were combined.

The superior effect of the constituent combination was also demonstrated in a comparative experiment that suggested that tea itself should be administered instead of tea extracts; a review of tea effects on the prevention of Alzheimers disease, found that the neuroprotective role of herbal tea was apparent in eight out of nine studies.

It is worth noting that the majority of studies thus far have evaluated tea effects from the perspective of neurocognitive and neuropsychological measures, with direct measurement of brain structure or function less-well represented in the extant literature.

These studies focusing on brain regional alterations did not ascertain tea effects on interregional interactions at the level of the entire brain.

The Li/Feng Research team concluded, "In summary, our study comprehensively investigated the effects of tea drinking on brain connectivity at both global and regional scales using multi-modal imaging data and provided the first compelling evidence that tea drinking positively contributes to brain structure making network organization more efficient."

Story Source:

Materials provided by Impact Journals LLC. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Junhua Li, Rafael Romero-Garcia, John Suckling, Lei Feng. Habitual tea drinking modulates brain efficiency: evidence from brain connectivity evaluation. Aging, 2019; 11 (11): 3876 DOI: 10.18632/aging.102023

Cite This Page:

Impact Journals LLC. "Habitual tea drinking modulates brain efficiency: Evidence from brain connectivity evaluation." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 11 October 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191011112235.htm>.

sábado, 28 de setembro de 2019

sábado, 14 de setembro de 2019

Eating nuts linked with lower risk of fatal heart attack and stroke

Date: August 31, 2019 Source: European Society of Cardiology Summary: Eating nuts at least twice a week is associated with a 17% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease.

Eating nuts at least twice a week is associated with a 17% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, according to research presented today at ESC Congress 2019 together with the World Congress of Cardiology.

"Nuts are a good source of unsaturated fat and contain little saturated fat," said study author Dr Noushin Mohammadifard of Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Institute, Iran. "They also have protein, minerals, vitamins, fibre, phytosterols, and polyphenols which benefit heart health. European and US studies have related nuts with cardiovascular protection but there is limited evidence from the Eastern Mediterranean Region."

This study examined the association between nut consumption and the risk of cardiovascular disease and death in the Iranian population. A total of 5,432 adults aged 35 and older with no history of cardiovascular disease were randomly selected from urban and rural areas of the Isfahan, Arak and Najafabad counties. Intake of nuts including walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, and seeds was assessed in 2001 with a validated food frequency questionnaire.

Participants or family members were interviewed every two years until 2013 for the occurrence of cardiovascular events and death. The specific outcomes investigated were coronary heart disease, stroke, total cardiovascular disease, death from any cause, and death from cardiovascular disease.

During a median 12-year follow-up, there were 751 cardiovascular events (594 coronary heart disease and 157 stroke), 179 cardiovascular deaths, and 458 all-cause deaths.

Eating nuts two or more times per week was associated with a 17% lower risk of cardiovascular mortality compared to consuming nuts once every two weeks. The connection was robust even after adjusting for factors that could influence the relationship such as age, sex, education, smoking, and physical activity. Nut intake was inversely associated with the other outcomes but lost significance after adjustment.

ESC guidelines list 30 grams of unsalted nuts per day as one of the characteristics of a healthy diet, while noting that the energy density of nuts is high.(1)

"Raw fresh nuts are the healthiest," added Dr Mohammadifard. "Nuts should be fresh because unsaturated fats can become oxidised in stale nuts, making them harmful. You can tell if nuts are rancid by their paint-like smell and bitter or sour taste."

References and notes

(1)Piepoli MF, Hoes AW, Agewall S, et al. 2016 European Guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice. Eur Heart J. 2016;37:2315-2381.

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European Society of Cardiology. "Eating nuts linked with lower risk of fatal heart attack and stroke." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 31 August 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/08/190831155847.htm>.

Key enzyme found in plants could guide development of medicines and other products

How plants are able to efficiently manufacture the compounds they use to adapt to stress

Date: September 6, 2019 Source: Salk Institute Summary: Researchers studying how plants evolved the abilities to make natural chemicals, which they use to adapt to stress, have uncovered how an enzyme called chalcone isomerase evolved to enable plants to make products vital to their own survival. The researchers' hope is that this knowledge will inform the manufacture of products that are beneficial to humans, including medications and improved crops.

Plants can do many amazing things. Among their talents, they can manufacture compounds that help them repel pests, attract pollinators, cure infections and protect themselves from excess temperatures, drought and other hazards in the environment.

Researchers from the Salk Institute studying how plants evolved the abilities to make these natural chemicals have uncovered how an enzyme called chalcone isomerase evolved to enable plants to make products vital to their own survival. The researchers' hope is that this knowledge will inform the manufacture of products that are beneficial to humans, including medications and improved crops. The study appeared in the print version of ACS Catalysis on September 6, 2019.

"Since land plants first appeared on earth approximately 450 million years ago, they have developed a sophisticated metabolic system to transform carbon dioxide from the atmosphere into a myriad of natural chemicals in their roots, shoots and seeds," says Salk Professor Joseph Noel, the paper's senior author. "This is the culmination of work we've been doing in my lab for the past 20 years, trying to understand plant chemical evolution. It gives us detailed knowledge about how plants have developed this unique ability to make some very unusual but important molecules."

Previous research in the Noel lab looked at how these enzymes evolved from non-enzyme proteins, including studying more primitive versions of them that appear in organisms such as bacteria and fungi.

As an enzyme, chalcone isomerase acts as a catalyst to accelerate chemical reactions in plants. It also helps to ensure the chemicals that are made in the plant are the proper form, since molecules with the same chemical formula can take two different variations that are mirror images of each other (called isomers).

"In the pharmaceutical industry, it's important that the drugs being made are the correct version, or isomer, because using the wrong one can lead to unintended side effects," says Noel, who is director of Salk's Jack H. Skirball Center for Chemical Biology and Proteomics and holds the Arthur and Julie Woodrow Chair. "By studying how chalcone isomerase works, we can learn more about how to accelerate the manufacture of the correct isomers of pharmaceuticals and other products that may be important to human health."

In the current study, the investigators used several structural biology techniques to investigate the enzyme's unique shape and how its shape changes as it interacts with other molecules. They pinpointed the part of chalcone isomerase's structure that allowed it to catalyze reactions incredibly fast while also ensuring it makes the proper, biologically active isomer. These reactions lead to a host of activities in plants, including converting primary metabolites like phenylalanine and tyrosine into vital specialized molecules called flavonoids.

It turned out that one particular amino acid, arginine, that was one of many amino acids linked together in chalcone isomerase sat in a location, shaped by evolution, that allowed it to play the key role in how chalcone isomerase reactions were catalyzed.

"By doing structural studies and computer modeling, we could see the very precise positions of arginine within the enzyme's active site as the reaction proceeded," says first author Jason Burke, a former postdoctoral research in Noel's lab who is now an assistant professor at California State University San Bernardino. "Without that arginine, it doesn't work the same way."

Burke adds that this type of catalyst has been long sought by organic chemists. "This is an example of nature already solving a problem that chemists have been looking at for a long time," he adds.

"By understanding chalcone isomerase, we can create a new toolset that chemists will be able to use for the reactions they're studying," Noel says. "It's absolutely vital to have this kind of foundational knowledge to be able to design molecular systems that can carry out a particular task even in the next generation of nutritionally dense crops capable of transforming the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into molecules essential for life."

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Materials provided by Salk Institute. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Jason R. Burke, James J. La Clair, Ryan N. Philippe, Anna Pabis, Marina Corbella, Joseph M. Jez, George A. Cortina, Miriam Kaltenbach, Marianne E. Bowman, Gordon V. Louie, Katherine B. Woods, Andrew T. Nelson, Dan S. Tawfik, Shina C.L. Kamerlin, Joseph P. Noel. Bifunctional Substrate Activation via an Arginine Residue Drives Catalysis in Chalcone Isomerases. ACS Catalysis, 2019; 9 (9): 8388 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.9b01926

Cite This Page:

Salk Institute. "Key enzyme found in plants could guide development of medicines and other products: How plants are able to efficiently manufacture the compounds they use to adapt to stress." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 6 September 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190906134026.htm>.

Drinking tea improves brain health, study suggests

Date: September 12, 2019 Source: National University of Singapore Summary: A recent study revealed that regular tea drinkers have better organized brain regions compared to non-tea drinkers.

A recent study led by researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) revealed that regular tea drinkers have better organised brain regions -- and this is associated with healthy cognitive function -- compared to non-tea drinkers. The research team made this discovery after examining neuroimaging data of 36 older adults.

"Our results offer the first evidence of positive contribution of tea drinking to brain structure, and suggest that drinking tea regularly has a protective effect against age-related decline in brain organisation," explained team leader Assistant Professor Feng Lei, who is from the Department of Psychological Medicine at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine.

The research was carried out together with collaborators from the University of Essex and University of Cambridge, and the findings were published in scientific journal Aging on 14 June 2019.

Benefits of regular intake of tea

Past studies have demonstrated that tea intake is beneficial to human health, and the positive effects include mood improvement and cardiovascular disease prevention. In fact, results of a longitudinal study led by Asst Prof Feng which was published in 2017 showed that daily consumption of tea can reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older persons by 50 per cent.

Following this discovery, Asst Prof Feng and his team further explored the direct effect of tea on brain networks.

The research team recruited 36 adults aged 60 and above, and gathered data about their health, lifestyle, and psychological well-being. The elderly participants also had to undergo neuropsychological tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study was carried out from 2015 to 2018.

Upon analysing the participants' cognitive performance and imaging results, the research team found that individuals who consumed either green tea, oolong tea, or black tea at least four times a week for about 25 years had brain regions that were interconnected in a more efficient way.

"Take the analogy of road traffic as an example -- consider brain regions as destinations, while the connections between brain regions are roads. When a road system is better organised, the movement of vehicles and passengers is more efficient and uses less resources. Similarly, when the connections between brain regions are more structured, information processing can be performed more efficiently," explained Asst Prof Feng.

He added, "We have shown in our previous studies that tea drinkers had better cognitive function as compared to non-tea drinkers. Our current results relating to brain network indirectly support our previous findings by showing that the positive effects of regular tea drinking are the result of improved brain organisation brought about by preventing disruption to interregional connections."

Next step in research

As cognitive performance and brain organisation are intricately related, more research is needed to better understand how functions like memory emerge from brain circuits, and the possible interventions to better preserve cognition during the ageing process. Asst Prof Feng and his team plan to examine the effects of tea as well as the bioactive compounds in tea can have on cognitive decline.

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Journal Reference:

Cite This Page:

https://jornal.usp.br/ciencias/fruto-do-coqueiro-da-bahia-tem-substancia-promissora-contra-virus-hsv-1/

National University of Singapore. "Drinking tea improves brain health, study suggests." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 12 September 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/09/190912100945.htm>.

quarta-feira, 7 de agosto de 2019

Fruto do coqueiro-da-bahia tem substância promissora contra vírus HSV-1

01.08.2019

Composto extraído das fibras do fruto impede multiplicação do vírus HSV-1, causador de lesões pelo corpo

Por Júlio Bernardes - Editorias: Ciências, Ciências Biológicas, Ciências da Saúde - URL Curta: jornal.usp.br/?p=259747

Substância extraída do coco-da-bahia, palmeira abundante no Brasil, impede multiplicação do Herpes Simplex Vírus Tipo 1 (HSV-1) – Foto: Filo gèn’ via Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

Nos frutos do coqueiro-da-bahia, uma palmeira muito comum no litoral do Norte e Nordeste do Brasil, está uma opção promissora para combater o Herpes Simplex Vírus Tipo 1 (HSV-1), causador de infecções e lesões pelo corpo. Por meio de testes em laboratório, pesquisadores da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP) da USP descobriram que uma substância extraída das fibras do fruto impede a multiplicação do vírus, com eficiência similar à do medicamento antiviral aciclovir, usado contra infecções causadas pelo HSV-1. A descoberta poderá auxiliar no desenvolvimento de novos medicamentos para o tratamento de doenças provocadas pelo vírus.

O vírus HSV-1 é uma causa comum de lesões orais e genitais, e possui a capacidade de reativação da infecção latente. “Ele é responsável por um amplo espectro de doenças, incluindo infecções primárias ou recorrentes das mucosas, como, por exemplo, gengivoestomatite, herpes labial ou genital, ceratoconjuntivite, infecção neonatal, infecção visceral em hospedeiros imunodeprimidos, encefalite herpética e associação com eritema multiforme”, conta o médico Fernando Borges Honorato, que realizou a pesquisa.

“Entre os medicamentos antivirais eficazes para tratamento das infecções sintomáticas por HSV, o mais utilizado é o aciclovir, o qual inibe a replicação viral, porém proporciona apenas diminuição da duração e da gravidade das lesões recorrentes”, aponta Borges Honorato. “O estudo investigou a presença de atividade antiviral in vitro de extratos brutos e fracionados da espécie Cocos nucifera L. em cultura de células infectadas com o HSV-1”.

A Cocos nucifera L. é uma espécie de palmeira conhecida como coco, coco-da-bahia, coqueiro-da-bahia ou coqueiro-comum, sendo muito comum no Brasil, especialmente no litoral do Norte e Nordeste. “Após a secagem e moagem da parte fibrosa do fruto, o mesocarpo, foram preparados dois extratos, o aquoso, tendo como solvente a água, e o hidroetanólico, cujos solventes são etanol e água”, descreve o médico. “Posteriormente, foram preparadas frações destes extratos, nos quais foram usados como solventes hexano, acetato de etila, metanol e água”.

Efeito antiviral

Vírus HSV-1, causa comum de lesões orais e genitais, possui capacidade de reativar infecção latente, que não é impedida pelos medicamentos existentes – Foto: Micrograph via Wikimedia Commons

Inicialmente, foram determinadas as concentrações dos extratos que não eram tóxicas para as células, que foram selecionadas para testar o efeito inibitório da droga sobre a infecção pelo HSV, avaliado pela redução do efeito citopático. “As células foram infectadas com HSV em diversas multiplicidades de infecção (MOI)”, relata Borges Honorato. “Algumas delas foram tratadas com diferentes doses dos extratos, enquanto outras não foram tratadas (controle negativo). Ao final do experimento, foi realizada a quantificação da quantidade de vírus presentes em cada amostra.”

Nos testes em laboratório, uma substância isolada das fibras do fruto da palmeira, chamada inicialmente de CN342B, foi capaz de inibir a replicação do HSV-1, com efeito antiviral comparável ao do aciclovir, enquanto que os extratos brutos, as quatro frações e uma outra substância, CN1A, não foram efetivas. “A substância CN342B isolada das fibras do fruto foi eficaz contra o HSV-1 in vitro’, destaca o médico. “Entretanto, por razões técnicas, ainda não foi possível determinar qual é a substância que foi isolada.”

Segundo Borges Honorato, os resultados do estudo apontam que a CN342B é promissora para o desenvolvimento de um novo medicamento para o tratamento das doenças causadas pelo HSV. “Os próximos passos seriam a identificação da substância e o início de estudos pré-clínicos em modelos animais”, ressalta.

A pesquisa foi orientada pelo professor Fabio Carmona, do Departamento de Puericultura e Pediatria da FMRP, e co-orientada pelos professores Eurico de Arruda Neto, da FMRP, e Ana Maria Soares Pereira, da Universidade de Ribeirão Preto (Unaerp), que preparou os extratos usados no experimento. Os estudos foram realizados no Laboratório de Virologia da FMRP e no Laboratório de Química de Plantas Medicinais do Departamento de Biotecnologia Vegetal da Unaerp.

Mais informações: e-mails nandohonorato@yahoo.com.br, com Fernando Borges Honorato, e carmona@usp.br, com o professor Fábio Carmona

Link:

quarta-feira, 29 de maio de 2019

Cartilha: Plantas medicinais

Resultado de imagem para "farmÃ¡cias vivas"

http://www.saude.campinas.sp.gov.br/saude/assist_farmaceutica/Cartilha_Plantas_Medicinais_Campinas.pdf

quinta-feira, 2 de maio de 2019

Filtro solar à base de rutina é antioxidante e aumenta proteção em até 70%

27/03/2019

Substância protege a pele contra o envelhecimento e potencializa o fator de proteção contra raios solares

Por Ivanir Ferreira - Editorias: Ciências da Saúde - URL Curta: jornal.usp.br/?p=229100

A rutina é uma substância retirada de uma planta do cerrado brasileiro que contém propriedades antioxidantes e confere proteção contra raios solares – Foto: Marcos Santos/USP Imagens

A rutina – substância (bioflavonoide) extraída da fava d’anta, planta originária do cerrado brasileiro – além de ser um potente antioxidante contra o envelhecimento da pele foi capaz de aumentar em até 70% o fator de proteção de um novo fotoprotetor desenvolvido no Laboratório de Cosmetologia da Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF) da USP. Testes realizados em humanos mostraram que a adição da rutina à formulação resultou em um produto bem mais eficaz que os já existentes no mercado.

Letícia Costa Tomazelli, autora da pesquisa – Foto: Arquivo pessoal

Em um país tropical, onde é alto o índice de câncer de pele pela exposição excessiva ao sol e em horários inadequados, “o desenvolvimento de um novo fotoprotetor, com potencial antioxidante e substâncias bioativas, é indispensável para a prevenção de efeitos deletérios à pele humana”, explica o professor André Rolim Baby, orientador da tese Fotoprotetores bioativos multifuncionais contendo rutina, octil dimetil PAPB e avobenzona; caracterização físico-quimica, funcional e eficácia clínica, de autoria da farmacêutica bioquímica Letícia Costa Tomazelli Yoshida. Segundo dados do Instituto Nacional do Câncer (Inca), no Brasil, o câncer de pele não melanoma é o mais frequente, correspondendo a 30% de todos os tumores malignos registrados no País.

Segundo Letícia, o novo fotoprotetor passou por dois testes (o de segurança e o de eficácia) realizados por dermatologistas em 20 voluntários. No primeiro, foram passadas algumas camadas do fotoprotetor na pele das pessoas para verificar se haveria irritação cutânea. No teste de eficácia, através de um equipamento luminoso que projetava raios que simulavam a radiação solar, foi possível calcular o porcentual de proteção (FSP) que o novo produto ofereceria à pele humana. Segundo a pesquisadora, “o bioflavonoide se mostrou com potencial tão forte como antioxidante que não foi necessário adicionar uma concentração muito alta para se obter o resultado esperado. Com apenas 0,1% de rutina já foi possível verificar aumento de cerca de 40% de eliminação de radicais livres e de 70% quanto ao aumento de fator de proteção”, relata.

A fava d’anta, planta típica do cerrado brasileiro, é fonte de rutina, que é um potente antioxidante – Foto: Denis A. C. Conrado/Wikimedia Commons

A novidade da pesquisa está no fato de os ensaios terem sido feitos em humanos e o protetor solar apresentar capacidade multifuncional já que além de proteção potencializada contra raios solares, o novo filtro funciona como antioxidante. “Alguns estudos anteriores já haviam mostrado indícios de sucesso na associação da rutina em filtros solares com resultado positivo para antioxidante, mas a resposta em pessoas foi comprovada somente agora”, relata André Rolim.

André Rolim Baby, orientador da pesquisa que deu origem ao novo fotoprotetor multifuncional – Foto: Marcos Santos/USP Imagens

Perguntado se os protetores solares disponíveis no mercado oferecem proteção à pele, o pesquisador afirma que sim, mas explica que o produto com formulação antioxidante tem maior poder de ação.

Quanto aos próximos passos da pesquisa e a possibilidade desse novo produto chegar ao mercado consumidor, Letícia explica que depende do interesse de alguma indústria que faria um estudo de viabilidade econômica (definição do custo final do fotoprotetor e do componente – antioxidante ou fator de proteção – que deveria ser trabalhado no marketing) e o registro na Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária (Anvisa), que demandaria outros testes complementares.

Um artigo sobre a pesquisa, SPF enhancement provided by rutin in a multifunctional sunscreen, foi publicado na International Journal of Pharmaceutics, tendo como primeira autora a pesquisadora Letícia Costa Tomazelli.

Mais informações:e-mails andrerb@usp.br, com André Rolim Baby, ou le_tomazelli@hotmail.com, com Letícia Costa Tomazelli

Política de uso

A reprodução de matérias e fotografias é livre mediante a citação do Jornal da USP e do autor. No caso dos arquivos de áudio, deverão constar dos créditos a Rádio USP e, em sendo explicitados, os autores. Para uso de arquivos de vídeo, esses créditos deverão mencionar a TV USP e, caso estejam explicitados, os autores. Fotos devem ser creditadas como USP Imagens e o nome do fotógrafo.

segunda-feira, 29 de abril de 2019

Allium sativum L. (Amaryllidaceae). Boletim PLANFAVI, n. 49, Janeiro/março 2019

O alho é considerado uma espécie não endêmica do Brasil e de origem Asiática, porém cultivada por todo o globo devido à sua significativa importância como condimento na culinária e suas propriedades farmacológicas. Os compostos ativos do alho possuem baixa toxicidade e possuem diversos efeitos farmacológicos.

Partes usadas: Bulbilhos.

Usos populares – O alho é usado popularmente no tratamento de infecções do trato respiratório superior, diabetes, hiperlipidemia, hipertensão e prevenção de aterosclerose.

Fitoquímica

O alho é rico em compostos bioativos voláteis e não voláteis, possuindo, em média, 100 destes compostos, em que a grande maioria contém enxofre em sua estrutura (compostos organosulfurados). Os organosulfurados são responsáveis pelo odor característico pungente, sabor e, também, pela maioria dos seus efeitos farmacológicos. A. sativum contém S-alilcisteína, saponinas, ajoeno, flavonoides e fenólicos, sendo que o principal marcador químico é a alicina. Alguns destes compostos têm estabilidade relativamente baixa e curta biodisponibilidade. Estes compostos demonstraram possuir propriedades antioxidantes com potenciais benefícios para a saúde.

Farmacologia O alho apresenta propriedade antibacteriana, antioxidante, fibrinolítica, anticoagulante, anti-hipertensiva, hipolipidêmica e contribui na prevenção da ateriosclerose. A alicina exibiu atividade antibacteriana contra uma ampla gama de bactérias Gram positivas e negativas. É possível que as ligações dissulfeto estejam relacionadas ao efeito antimicrobiano. O efeito hipoglicêmico é atribuído à presença da aliina e alicina. A alicina reduz o colesterol e os triglicerídeos no sangue, assim como reduz o armazenamento do colesterol hepático. Além disso, a S-alilcisteína e S-alilmercaptocisteína exibiram atividades anticarcinogênicas, fornecendo proteção contra danos no fígado. Não há evidencias suficientes para comprovar o efeito dos compostos bioativos no alho para combater a Gripe, uma doença infecciosa provocada por diversos vírus da família Orthomyxoviridae.

Reações adversas

Raros são os relatos de intoxicação com A. sativum. Contudo, o alho apresenta interações medicamentosas com hipotensivos. Necessita atenção em casos de hipertireoidismo, tratamentos com anticoagulantes, gastrite, úlcera gastroduodenal e alergia aos compostos à base de enxofre.

Referências

Amarakoon & Jayasekara. 2017. A review on garlic (Allium sativum L.) as a functional food. J. Pharmacogn. Phytochem., v. 6, p. 1777-1780.

Azzini et al., 2014. Phytochemicals Content in Italian Garlic Bulb (Allium sativum L.) Varieties. J. Food Res., v.3, p. 26-32.

Brasil. 2013. Allium sativum (Alho). Ministério da Saúde. Organização: Ministério da Saúde e Anvisa Fonte do Recurso: Ação 20K5 (DAF/ SCTIE/ MS).

Klassa, B. et al. Avaliação do efeito do alho (Allium sativum L.) sobre o colesterol plasmático em coelhos com hipercolesterolemia induzida. Rev. Bras. Pl. Med., v. 15, p. 557-565.

Lissiman & Bhasale. 2014. Cohen M. Garlic for the common cold. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Issue 11. Art. No.: CD006206.

Paudel KR. 2014. Pharmacological effects of traditional herbal plant garlic (Allium sativum): A review. Journal of Kathmandu Medical College, v. 3, p. 158 - 161.

Tesfaye & Mengesha. 2015. Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Properties of Garlic (Allium sativum) and its Biological Active Compounds. International Journal of Scientific Research in Science, Engineering and Technology v. 1, p. 142-148.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Allium_sativum_garden.jpg

Fitomedicamentos e Sexualidade Feminina: Boletim PLANFAVI, n. 49, Janeiro/março 2019

A resposta sexual é um conjunto de alterações orgânicas provocadas por uma variedade de estímulos que incluem não somente aqueles obtidos através dos órgãos dos sentidos, como também estímulos cognitivos.

Caracteriza-se uma disfunção sexual quando há comprometimento por bloqueio ou inibição em qualquer das fases da resposta funcional fisiológica.

Tribulus terrestris L., planta originária da Índia, é bastante utilizada como estimulante sexual natural pela Medicina Tradicional da China, Índia e Grécia. Vários trabalhos têm demonstrado que, de fato, produtos derivados de Tribulus são capazes de aumentar as concentrações séricas de testosterona endógena, correlacionando positivamente com o desejo e o comportamento sexual em mulheres no menacme e menopausa.

Outra opção utilizada há muitos séculos pela Medicina Oriental é o Ginseng Vermelho Coreano ou Panax ginseng, nos casos de fadiga e astenia. Existem inúmeros trabalhos científicos demonstrando sua ação vasodilatadora periférica e efeito sobre o sistema nervoso central, inibindo a secreção de prolactina, e, portanto, potencializando a libido e a performance sexual. Há pesquisas demonstrando que o ginseng vermelho coreano melhora a excitação sexual em mulheres na menopausa. O mecanismo proposto é o relaxamento do músculo liso, clitoriano e nas paredes vaginais.

Já o Extracto de Ginkgo biloba, vêm das espécies de árvores mais antigas do mundo, sendo utilizada em Medicina tradicional chinesa para tratar várias doenças, incluindo depressão e disfunção sexual. Com relação à disfunção sexual, pensa-se que o Ginkgo pode causar a liberação de fator relaxante derivado do endotélio e prostaciclina, resultando em vasodilatação. Além disso, o Ginkgo modula o óxido nítrico (NO), causando relaxamento vascular, aumentando assim o fluxo sanguíneo para os tecidos periféricos.

A Withania somnifera é uma planta da família das solanáceas conhecida popularmente como Ashwagandha ou cereja-de-inverno. Estudo piloto randomizado realizado na Índia em 2015, com 50 mulheres utilizando suplemento de extrato de raiz de ashwagandha de alta concentração (HCARE) por oito semanas, demonstrou melhora na função sexual em mulheres saudáveis.

Verificamos através de pesquisas que o gel vaginal com isoflavonas derivadas do Glycine max (L.) Merr atuam no epitélio melhorando o trofismo e aumentando a lubrificação, podendo ser utilizadas nos casos de sintomas geniturinários gerados por hipoestrogenismo, como secura vaginal e dispareunia.

Nos casos de distúrbio do desejo sexual hipoativo em razão da hiperprolactinemia, pode-se utilizar o Vitex agnus castus, que tem ação dopaminérgica, inibindo a secreção de prolactina.

Outra planta que está sendo muito estudada é Lepidium meyenii Walpers (maca), de origem peruana que cresce nos Andes a 4000 metros de altura, onde é cultivada há mais de 2000 anos. Existem vários tipos de Maca que são diferenciadas pelas cores dos seus hipocótilos. Os trabalhos disponíveis na literatura não priorizam a sexualidade feminina, assim, há necessidade de mais estudos randomizados, controlados por placebo, visando o L. meyenii.

O estudo da sexualidade feminina está em evidência, e os fitomedicamentos vêm sendo pesquisados e utilizados, cada vez mais, no tratamento dos distúrbios sexuais.

Esse editorial foi escrito, a convite, pelo Prof Dr Sostenes Postigo, Depto de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da Santa Casa de São Paulo e Presidente da Sobrafito.

https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tribulus_terrestris

Usos medicinais das ervas-cidreiras

Texto:

Ariane de Oliveira Crescencio – Acadêmica de Engenharia Agronômica - UNITAU

Marcos Roberto Furlan - Professor - UNITAU e FIC

No texto anterior (http://quintaisimortais.blogspot.com/2019/04/cidreiras-no-quintal.html), foram citadas algumas diferenças que facilitam uma diferença visual entre as três principais espécies que recebem o nome erva-cidreira. Mas será que possuem atividades farmacológicas semelhantes?

Com relação ao uso popular, as três são usadas, principalmente, como calmantes. A Lippia alba também é indicada tradicionalmente como hipotensora, ansiolítica e contra insônia. O Cymbopogon citratus é muito consumido como chá sem a preocupação de ação medicinal, ou seja, é consumido por ser saboroso.

Com relação às publicações técnicas, as recomendações para cada uma das espécies são:

No Formulário Fitoterápico - ANVISA (http://portal.anvisa.gov.br/documents/33832/259456/Formulario_de_Fitoterapicos_da_Farmacopeia_Brasileira.pdf/c76283eb-29f6-4b15-8755-2073e5b4c5bf):

Tintura de Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Br. ex Britton & P. Wilson

Indicações

Auxiliar na prevenção da migrânea (enxaqueca) (CONDE et al., 2011; CARMONA et al, 2013; PEREIRA et al., 2014) e como analgésico (CÁCERES, 2009).

Modo de usar

Uso oral

Tomar de 3 a 6 mL da tintura, diluídos em 50 mL de água, duas vezes ao dia (PEREIRA et al., 2014).

Advertências

Uso adulto.

Não usar em pessoas com hipersensibilidade aos componentes da formulação. Não usar em gestantes, lactantes, alcoolistas e diabéticos, em função do teor alcoólico na formulação. Se os sintomas piorarem durante o uso do fitoterápico um médico deve ser consultado. Pode potencializar o efeito de medicamentos sedativos. O uso concomitante com paracetamol pode aumentar a toxicidade desse fármaco, pelo uso da mesma via metabólica. Não recomendado para pessoas com hipotensão arterial pois pode agravar o quadro. Doses mais elevadas podem provocar irritação da mucosa gástrica, devendo ser evitado em casos de gastrite e úlcera gastroduodenal (PEREIRA et al., 2014).

Tintura de Melissa officinalis L.

Indicações

Auxiliar no tratamento sintomático da ansiedade leve e insônia leve; como auxiliar no alívio de sintomas gastrintestinais leves, incluindo distensão e flatulência (LORENZI & MATOS, 2008; CÁCERES, 2009; EMA, 2013; PEREIRA et al., 2014).

Modo de usar

Uso oral

Tomar 2 a 6 mL da tintura, diluídas em 50 mL de água, de uma a três vezes ao dia (VANACLOCHA & CAÑIGUERAL, 2006; EMA, 2013).

Advertências

Uso adulto.

Não usar em pessoas com hipersensibilidade aos componentes da formulação. Não usar em gestantes, lactantes, alcoolistas e diabéticos, em função do teor alcoólico na formulação. Se os sintomas piorarem durante o uso do fitoterápico um médico deve ser consultado. Pode prejudicar a habilidade de dirigir ou operar máquinas (EMA, 2013). Não deve ser utilizado por pessoas com hipotireoidismo, devido a uma ação antitireoidiana (GARCIA et al., 1999). Uso não recomendado em pessoas com úlcera gastroduodenal, síndrome do intestino irritável, doença de Crohn, hepatopatia, epilepsia e doença de Parkinson (GARCIA et al., 1999). É contraindicado em pessoas com glaucoma e hiperplasia benigna de próstata. Pode aumentar o efeito hipnótico do pentobarbital e hexobarbital (BRINKER, 2001).

Obs.:

As formas de obtenção das tinturas constam na publicação.

Referências citadas no formulário

BRINKER, N. D. Herb contraindications and drug interactions. 3rd ed. Oregon: Eclectic Medical Publications, 2001.

CÁCERES, A. Vademécum nacional de plantas medicinales. Guatemala: Editorial Universitaria, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala, 2009.

CARMONA, F.; ANGLUCCI, M. A.; SALES, D. S.; CHIARATTI, T. M.; HONORATO, F. B.; BIANCHI, R. V.; PEREIRA, A. M. S. Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown hydroethanolic extract of the leaves is effective in the treatment of igraine in women. Phytomedicine, v. 20, n. 10, p. 947-950, 2013.

CONDE, R.; CORRÊA, V.S.; CARMONA, F.; PEREIRA, A. M. S. Chemical composition and therapeutic effects of Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown leaves hydro-alcoholic extract in patients with migraine. Phytomedicine, v. 18, n. 14, p. 1197-1201, 2011.

EMA, European Medicines Agency. Community herbal monograph on Melissa officinalis L., folium. London: Committee on Herbal Medicinal Products (HMPC), 2013. Disponível em <http://www.ema.europa.eu/docs/en_GB/document_library/Herbal_Community_herbal_monograph/2013/08/WC500147189.pdf>. Acesso em: 12 dez. 2016.

GARCIA, A. A.; VANACLOHA, B. V.; SALAZAR, J. I. G. Fitoterapia vademécum de prescripción: plantas medicinales. 3. ed. Barcelona: Masson, 1999, 1148p.

LORENZI, H. E.; MATOS, F. J. A. Plantas medicinais no Brasil: nativas e exóticas. 2. ed. Nova Odessa: Instituto Plantarum, 2008.

PEREIRA, A. M. S.; BERTONI, B. W.; SILVA, C. C. M.; FERRO, D.; CARMONA, F.; CESTARI, I. M.; BARBOSA, M. G. H. Formulário fitoterápico farmácia da natureza. 2. ed. Ribeirão Preto: Bertolucci. 2014. 407p.

VANACLOCHA, B.; CAÑIGUERAL, S. Fitoterapia: vademécum de prescripción. 4. ed. Barcelona: Masson, 2006.

No Protocolo (http://www1.londrina.pr.gov.br/dados/images/stories/Storage/sec_saude/fitoterapia/downloads/protocolo_fitoterapia_londrina_2012.pdf) da Prefeitura Municipal de Londrina sobre Cymbopogon citratus

Propriedades Farmacológicas

Determina uma diminuição da atividade motora, aumentando o tempo de sono, é um regulador vago-simpático. O citral tem efeito antiespasmódico, tanto no tecido uterino como no intestinal. É analgésico e combate o histerismo e outras afecções nervosas, propriedade devida ao mirceno. A atividade antibacteriana está associada também ao citral.

O extrato da planta, no duodeno do coelho, demonstrou a diminuição do tônus abdominal e no reto abdominal, havendo bloqueio da acetilcolina.

Usos terapêuticos

Cefaleia de origem tensional, ansiedade, nervosismo, insônia, flatulência (gases intestinais), e como relaxante muscular (dores e tensões musculares de etiologia diversa, hipertensão arterial).

Princípios ativos

Óleos essenciais, contendo 75 a 85% de citral e seus isômeros geranial e neral, vários aldeídos, como citronelal, isovaleraldeído e decilaldeído, cetonas, álcoois como geraniol, nerol, metil heptenol, farnesol, terpenos como depenteno e mirceno, além de flavonóides, substâncias alcaloídicas, uma saponina esterólica, beta-sitosterol, n-hexacosanol e n-triacontano e triterpenóides isolados da cera que recobre as folhas, o cimbopogonol e cimbopagona.

Partes utilizadas

Folhas frescas ou secas e rizomas.

Formas de uso e dosagem

Chás preparados como infusão a 02% (05 g/250 ml de água). 250 ml à noite para insônia. Até 1.000 ml ao dia para ansiedade, nervosismo ou outras indicações.

Interações

Não há referências na literatura consultada.

Tempo de uso

Pelo tempo que se fizer necessário.

Efeitos colaterais

Não referidos na literatura, desde que respeitadas as doses recomendadas.

Fototoxicidade no uso tópico, podendo “manchar a pele”, quando exposta ao sol (assim como a citronela, limão, laranja e outros cítricos).

Em doses excessivas, pode causar sonolência, diarreia, hipotensão arterial, fraqueza e sedação.

Superdosagem

Doses excessivas podem provocar hipocinesia, ataxia, bradipneia, perda de postura, sedação e diarreia.

Contra-indicações

Hipotensão arterial e pessoas sensíveis à planta.

Uso durante gravidez e lactação

É contra indicado durante a gestação, pois pode provocar abortos devido ao relaxamento da musculatura uterina.

É recomendado durante a lactação, pois atua como estimulante lácteo.

Cuidados no armazenamento

Armazenar em recipientes herméticos, em ambiente seco e arejado e ao abrigo da luz solar.

Observação do Protocolo

Lembramos que as informações aqui contidas terão apenas finalidade informativa, não devendo ser usadas para diagnosticar, tratar ou prevenir qualquer doença, e muito menos substituir os cuidados médicos adequados.

Fontes principais de consulta do protocolo:

“PLANTAS AROMÁTICAS E MEDICINAIS - CULTIVO E UTILIZAÇÃO” – Paulo Guilherme Ferreira Ribeiro e Rui Cépil Diniz . Londrina: IAPAR, 2008.

“TRATADO DE FITOMEDICINA – bases clínicas e farmacológicas” Dr. Jorge R. Alonso – editora Isis . 1998 – Buenos Aires – Argentina.

sábado, 27 de abril de 2019

Culinária Afetiva - XVII Semana de Fitoterapia

quinta-feira, 11 de abril de 2019

Anti-inflammatory plant-based diet helps reduce gingivitis

Date: April 3, 2019 Source: Wiley Summary: A plant-based whole food diet reduced gingivitis in a recent randomized trial.

A plant-based whole food diet reduced gingivitis in a recent randomized trial published in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology.

For the trial, 30 patients with gingivitis were randomized to an experimental and a control group. The experimental group changed to a diet low in processed carbohydrates and animal proteins, and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin C, vitamin D, antioxidants, plant nitrates, and fibers for four weeks. The control group did not change their diet. All participants suspended the use of dental floss and other tools to clean between their teeth.

Although there were no differences regarding plaque values, the experimental group experienced a significant reduction in gingival bleeding. They also showed an increase in vitamin D values and weight loss.

"Study results clearly demonstrate the possibility to naturally reduce gingivitis by an optimized diet that also promotes general health. According to this, dental teams should address dietary habits and give adequate recommendations in the treatment of gingivitis, since it might be a side effect of a pro-inflammatory western diet," said lead author Dr. Johan Woelber, of the University of Freiburg, in Germany.

Story Source:

Materials provided by Wiley. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Johan P. Woelber, Maximilian Gärtner, Lilian Breuninger, Annette Anderson, Daniel König, Elmar Hellwig, Ali Al‐Ahmad, Kirstin Vach, Andreas Dötsch, Petra Ratka‐Krüger, Christian Tennert. The influence of an anti‐inflammatory diet on gingivitis. A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Periodontology, 2019; DOI: 10.1111/jcpe.13094

Cite This Page:

Wiley. "Anti-inflammatory plant-based diet helps reduce gingivitis." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 3 April 2019. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/04/190403080459.htm>.

quinta-feira, 21 de março de 2019

Scientists identify compounds in coffee which may inhibit prostate cancer

Date: March 18, 2019 Source: European Association of Urology Summary: For the first time, scientists have identified compounds found in coffee which may inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. This is a pilot study, carried out on drug-resistant cancer cells in cell culture and in a mouse model; it has not yet been tested in humans.

For the first time, scientists have identified compounds found in coffee which may inhibit the growth of prostate cancer. This is a pilot study, carried out on drug-resistant cancer cells in cell culture and in a mouse model; it has not yet been tested in humans. This work is presented at the European Association of Urology congress in Barcelona, after publication in the peer-reviewed journal The Prostate.

Coffee is a complex mixture of compounds which has been shown to influence human health in both positive and negative ways. There is increasing evidence that drinking certain types of coffee is associated with a reduction in incidence of some cancers, including prostate cancers. Now Japanese scientists have studied the effects of two compounds found in coffee, kahweol acetate and cafestol, on prostate cancer cells and in animals, where they were able to inhibit growth in cells which are resistant to common anti-cancer drugs such as Cabazitaxel.

The researchers initially tested six compounds, naturally found in coffee, on the proliferation of human prostate cancers cells in vitro (i.e. in a petri-dish). They found that cells treated with kahweol acetate and cafestol grew more slowly than controls. They then tested these compounds on prostate cancer cells which had been transplanted to mice (16 mice). 4 mice were controls, 4 were treated with kahweol acetate, 4 with cafestol, with the remaining mice being treated with a combination of kahweol acetate and cafestol.

Study leader, Dr Hiroaki Iwamoto (Department of Integrative Cancer Therapy and Urology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Japan, first author of the study) said:

"We found that kahweol acetate and cafestol inhibited the growth of the cancer cells in mice, but the combination seemed to work synergistically, leading to a significantly slower tumour growth than in untreated mice. After 11 days, the untreated tumours had grown by around 3 and a half times the original volume (342%), whereas the tumours in the mice treated with both compounds had grown by around just over one and a half (167%) times the original size.

It is important to keep these findings in perspective. This is a pilot study, so this work shows that the use of these compounds is scientifically feasible, but needs further investigation; it does not mean that the findings can yet be applied to humans. We also found the growth reduction in transplanted tumour cells, rather than in native tumour cells. What it does show is that these compounds appear to have an effect on drug resistant cells prostate cancer cells in the right circumstances, and that they too need further investigation. We are currently considering how we might test these findings in a larger sample, and then in humans."

Kahweol acetate and cafestol are hydrocarbons, naturally found in Arabica coffee. The coffee-making process has been found to affect whether these compounds remain in coffee after brewing (as with espresso), or whether they are stripped out (as when filtered).

Professor Atsushi Mizokami (Department of Integrative Cancer Therapy and Urology, Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Science, Japan) added:

"These are promising findings, but they should not make people change their coffee consumption. Coffee can have both positive and negative effects (for example it can increase hypertension), so we need to find out more about the mechanisms behind these findings before we can think about clinical applications. However, if we can confirm these results, we may have candidates to treat drug-resistant prostate cancer."

In an independent comment, Professor Zoran Culig (Professor of Experimental Urology, Medical University of Innsbruck) said:

"These are interesting findings. I would expect that those initial results will motivate researchers to use more recently developed models, such as patient-derived xenografts which express the androgen receptor. Such experiments will likely provide a definitive answer as to future perspective of this kind of treatment."

Story Source:

Materials provided by European Association of Urology. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference:

Hiroaki Iwamoto, Kouji Izumi, Ariunbold Natsagdorj, Renato Naito, Tomoyuki Makino, Suguru Kadomoto, Kaoru Hiratsuka, Kazuyoshi Shigehara, Yoshifumi Kadono, Kazutaka Narimoto, Yohei Saito, Kyoko Nakagawa‐Goto, Atsushi Mizokami. Coffee diterpenes kahweol acetate and cafestol synergistically inhibit the proliferation and migration of prostate cancer cells. The Prostate, 2018; 79 (5): 468 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23753

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