Study of oxidative and inflammatory parameters in LDLr-KO mice treated with a hypercholesterolemic diet: Comparison between the use of Campomanesia xanthocarpa and acetylsalicylic acid

BACKGROUND

Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease that affects the arterial wall leading to myocardial, cerebral, and peripheral ischemic syndromes. The use of low doses of aspirin inhibits platelet aggregation and inflammation and prevents cardiovascular mortality. However, ASA may produce hemorrhagic events. Thus, several studies have sought new natural compounds to suppress platelet aggregation without causing serious adverse effects.

PURPOSE

In this sense, this study aims to compare the effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa plant extract with those of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on inflammatory parameters observed in homozygous mice knockout for the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLr-KO) treated with a hypercholesterolemic diet.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, 28 male LDLr-KO mice were divided into three groups and fed a hypercholesterolemic diet for 4 weeks. Thereafter, the animals that received the hypercholesterolemic diet were treated for 5 days with (1) distilled water, (2) C. xanthocarpa extract, or (3) acetylsalicylic acid. The levels of inflammatory markers were assessed in the blood samples. The gastric tolerability of the animals after oral administration of the treatments was assessed through quantification of the lesions in the gastric mucosa.

RESULTS

The levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6, TNF-α, and INF-γ were reduced to 19.2 ± 3%, 20.4 + 1.3%, 24.7 ± 1.2%, and 20.8 ± 1.7%, respectively, in the group treated with C. xanthocarpa, when compared to control group. Furthermore, treatment with plant extract significantly increased the levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 by 27.3 ± 5.9%, but ASA showed no significant effect on the same cytokines when compared to the control group, with the exception of IL-10, which presented an increase of 8.6 ± 3.5%. Treatments with C. xanthocarpa and ASA also caused significant reductions of 26.4 ± 3% and 38.4± 6% in the serum levels of oxLDL, respectively. However, only treatment with C. xanthocarpa reduced the levels of anti-oxLDL antibodies when compared with the control (25.8 ± 6%). In addition, the analyzed extract did not induce ulcerogenic activity, while ASA induced the formation of lesions.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, treatment with C. xanthocarpa causes anti-inflammatory activity in hypercholesterolemic animals, with results superior to those obtained with the use of ASA.

Association between hypertriglyceridemia and protein oxidation and proinflammatory markers in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals

BACKGROUND

Although hypercholesterolemia is a well-established risk factor for coronary heart disease, evidence suggests that increased triglyceride (TG) concentrations are also an independent risk factor. TG concentrations >150mg/dl are observed nearly twice as often in subjects with atherosclerosis. We assessed the association between hypertriglyceridemia and protein oxidation and proinflammatory markers in normocholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic individuals.

METHODS

We included 127 volunteers enrolled in Cruz Alta, RS, Brazil. The patients were stratified based on total cholesterol and TG concentrations for analysis of associations with inflammation (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein - hs-CRP), endothelial dysfunction (nitric oxide - NOx) and oxidative stress (advanced oxidation protein products - AOPPs; ischemia-modified albumin - IMA). Correlations between variables were determined and multiple regression analysis was employed to investigate whether some variables correlate with TG concentrations.

RESULTS

Hypertriglyceridemia was related to oxidative stress and proinflammatory markers in individuals independent of total cholesterol concentrations. Moreover, the results indicate a stronger association of tested biomarkers with TG concentrations than with total cholesterol. The results indicate a positive correlation between oxidative stress and TG concentrations in the sera of hypercholesterolemia subjects. AOPPs and IMA concentrations were associated with the presence of hypertriglyceridemia in a manner that was independent of age, gender, hypertension and diabetes mellitus disease, smoking habits, sedentary lifestyle, BMI, waist circumference, LDL, HDL and total cholesterol concentrations.

CONCLUSIONS

We speculate that TG concentrations can reflect the enhancement of protein oxidation and proinflammation.

Effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa on inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and lipid biomarkers in hypercholesterolemic individuals

In Brazil, the edible plant Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. (Myrtaceae), popularly known as "guavirova," has been studied in hypercholesterolemic individuals. The present work investigated the effects of C. xanthocarpa on inflammatory processes, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction and lipid biomarkers in hypercholesterolemic individuals. A total of 156 individuals were selected in a double-blind fashion and randomly divided into two groups in accordance with the intervals used in the criteria for hypercholesterolemia: individuals with total cholesterol (TC) levels between 200 and 240 mg/dL (undesirable level individuals - UL) and individuals with TC levels >240 mg/dL (hypercholesterolemic individuals - HL). Both groups had a control group (CG), which received placebo treatment, an encapsulated excipient group (lactose) and an experimental group that received 500 mg (EG 500), 750 mg (EG 750) or 1000 mg (EG 1000) of encapsulated C. xanthocarpa. The inflammatory processes (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein - hs-CRP), oxidative stress (advanced oxidation protein products-AOPPs; ischemia-modified albumin-IMA), endothelial dysfunction (nitric oxide - NOx) and biochemical (TC, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein - HDL, low-density lipoproteins - LDL, and very low-density lipoprotein - VLDL) parameters were measured before and 90 days after the initiation of treatment. A significant decrease in TC and LDL levels was observed in HL individuals from the EG 500 group (reduction of 29 ± 3% and 41 ± 5% to levels before treatment) compared to the CG group individuals. A significant reduction in oxidative stress and inflammatory process components (reduction of 52 ± 11% in AOPPs, 32 ± 10% in IMA and 57 ± 7% in hs-CRP) and a significant increase in NOx (increase of 84 ± 27%) was observed in HL individuals in the EG 1000 group when compared to the CG group individuals. Treatment with encapsulated C. xanthocarpa reduced blood TC and LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic individuals. In addition to its effect on cholesterol levels, this plant reduced oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemic individuals and improved the levels of NOx.

Mortalidade por doenças circulatórias e evolução da saúde da família no Brasil: um estudo ecológico

O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a mortalidade por doenças circulatórias paralelamente à evolução da Estratégia Saúde da Família no Brasil. Estudo ecológico, retrospectivo, baseado na evolução temporal da ESF e nas taxas de mortalidade por doenças circulatórias no Brasil. Foi realizada uma descrição da razão de cobertura habitante x ESF e dos indicadores de saúde relacionados à mortalidade por doenças circulatórias. Para a associação estatística utilizou-se o teste de Correlação de Spearman. Houve aumento populacional no Brasil em 15%, evolução de 761% no número de ESF e 5% de aumento na mortalidade por doenças circulatórias. A razão população x ESF passou de 52.838 (1998) para 7.084 (2006) pessoas assistidas por ESF. As regiões norte e nordeste apresentaram crescimento nas taxas de mortalidade por doenças circulatórias e em 21 (81%) estados houve correlação positiva entre mortalidade por doenças circulatórias e ESF (r: > 0,7; p < 0,01). Por fim, considera-se a ESF uma importante política pública de saúde, tendo obtido resultados exitosos no Brasil desde a sua implementação. Entretanto, em um contexto geral, sua expansão não influenciou a redução da mortalidade por doenças circulatórias, tendo apresentado aumento deste indicador no país.

[Mortality due to circulatory disorders and the evolution of family health in Brazil: an ecological study]

The scope of this study was to analyze deaths due to circulatory disorders in parallel with the evolution of the Family Health Strategy (FHS) in Brazil. It is an ecological and retrospective study based on the temporal evolution of the FHS and mortality rates due to circulatory disorders in Brazil. A description of the inhabitant x FHS coverage ratio and health indicators related to mortality due to circulatory disorders was carried out. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient test was used for the statistical association. There was a population increase of 15% in Brazil, evolution of 761% in the number of FHS units and 5% increase in mortality due to circulatory disorders. The population x FHS ratio rose from 52,838 (1998) to 7,084 (2006) people assisted by FHS units. North and northeast regions showed growth in mortality rates due to circulatory disorders and in 21 states (81%) there was a positive correlation between this mortality and FHS units (r: > 0.7; p < 0.01). Finally, the FHS is regarded as an important public health policy, which has achieved successful results in Brazil since its implementation. However, in general terms, its expansion has not influenced the reduction of mortality due to circulatory disorders, which is an indicator that has increased in the country.

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe saponaria Haw on thermal injury in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Brazil, the plant Aloe saponaria Haw, popularly known as "babosa pintadinha", has been empirically used for its potential effect on thermal injury. Because there are no scientific data confirming its popular use, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Aloe saponaria on nociceptive and inflammatory parameters in a rat model of thermal injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Adult male Wistar rats were subjected to a thermal injury or sham procedure (immersion in water at 70 or 37°C, respectively, for 5 or 8s). Burned animals were topically treated with vehicle (base cream), sulfadiazine 1% (positive control) or Aloe saponaria cream (0.3%-30%) once a day for 2 or 6 days. Each day, 30min before the treatment, we measured nociceptive (static and dynamic mechanical allodynia, thermal allodynia and spontaneous pain) and inflammatory (paw edema) parameters. Moreover, enzymatic indicators of leukocyte infiltration into burned tissue were also determined 2 or 6 days after the thermal injury.

RESULTS

The thermal injury (fist and second-degree) procedure, but not the sham procedure, induced nociception and inflammation from 1 to 6 days after the injury. The topical treatment with Aloe saponaria cream (10%) reduced nociceptive behaviors from day 1 to 6 (peak at day 2), edema at days 5 and 6 (peak at day 6) and myeloperoxidase, N-acetyl-glucosaminidase and eosinoperoxidase activities at day 6. The antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects of Aloe saponaria were obtained with doses of 3%-30%, with maximal inhibition obtained with a dose of 10% (reductions of 39±9%, 41±9%, 31±7%, 83±7% and 23±2% for static and dynamic mechanical allodynia, thermal allodynia, spontaneous pain and paw edema, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrate that topically applied Aloe saponaria presented antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory effects in rats subjected to a thermal injury, which supports its traditional use for burn injuries.

Cardiorespiratory fitness of a Brazilian regional sample distributed in different tables

BACKGROUND

Most classification tables of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) used in clinical practice are international and have not been validated for the Brazilian population. That can result in important discrepancies when that classification is extrapolated to our population.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the use of major CRF tables available in a Brazilian population sample of the Central High Plan of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS).

METHODS

This study assessed the retrospective data of 2,930 individuals, living in 36 cities of the Central High Plan of the state of RS, and considered the following: presence of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and estimated maximum oxygen consumption (VO2peak) values obtained through exercise test with Bruce protocol. To classify CRF, the individuals were distributed according to sex, inserted in their respective age groups in the Cooper, American Heart Association (AHA) and Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Unifesp) tables, and classified according to their VO2peak.

RESULTS

Women had lower VO2peak values as compared with those of men (23.5 ± 8.5 vs. 31.7 ± 10.8 mL.kg-1.min-1, p < 0.001). Considering both sexes, VO2peak showed an inverse and moderate correlation with age (R = -0.48, p < 0.001). An important discrepancy in the CRF classification levels was observed between the tables, ranging from 49% (Cooper x AHA) to 75% (Unifesp x AHA).

CONCLUSION

Our findings indicate important discrepancy in the CRF classification levels of the tables assessed. Future studies could assess whether international tables could be used for the Brazilian population and populations of different regions of Brazil.

Involvement of the glutamatergic system in the nociception induced intrathecally for a TRPA1 agonist in rats

The transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) is expressed in peripheral and spinal terminals of sensory neurons, jointly to the vanilloid receptor (TRPV1). A relevant peripheral role of TRPA1 receptor has been implicated in a variety of processes, including the detection of noxious cold, and diverse painful stimulus, but the functional role of TRPA1 receptor in nociceptive transmission at spinal cord in vivo is poorly known. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether the glutamatergic system is involved in the transmission of nociceptive stimulus induced for a TRPA1 agonist in the rat spinal cord. We observed that cinnamaldehyde, a TRPA1 agonist, on spinal cord synaptosomes leads to an increase in [Ca(2+)](i) and a rapid release of glutamate, but was not able to change the specific [(3)H]-glutamate binding. In addition, spinally administered cinnamaldehyde produced heat hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia in rats. This behavior was reduced by the co-injection (i.t.) of camphor (TRPA1 antagonist) or MK-801 (N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonist) to cinnamaldehyde. Besides, the pretreatment with resiniferatoxin (RTX), a potent TRPV1 agonist, abolished the cinnamaldehyde-induced heat hyperalgesia. Here, we showed that intrathecal RTX results in a decrease in TRPA1 and TRPV1 immunoreactivity in dorsal root ganglion. Collectively, our results demonstrate the pertinent participation of spinal TRPA1 in the possible enhancement of glutamatergic transmission of nociceptive signals leading to increase of the hypersensitivity, here observed as heat hyperalgesia. Then the modulation of spinal TRPA1 might be a valuable target in painful conditions associated with central pain hypersensitivity.

Effects of Campomanesia xanthocarpa on biochemical, hematological and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic patients

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Southern Brazil, the plant Campomanesia xanthocarpa Berg. (Myrtaceae), popularly known as "guavirova", has been empirically used for its potential effect in reducing blood cholesterol levels.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Since there are no scientific data confirming its popular use, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Campomanesia xanthocarpa on biochemical, hematological, anthropometrical and oxidative stress parameters in hypercholesterolemic patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty three patients were selected according to total cholesterol (TC) levels: 200-240 mg/dL, undesirable level (UL), and >240 mg/dL, hypercholesterolemic level (HL). UL or HL patients were randomly divided into control group (CG), which received placebo capsules, and experimental group 250 (EG 250) or 500 (EG 500), which received either 250 or 500 mg of encapsulated Campomanesia xanthocarpa. All groups received a cholesterol restriction diet and capsules once a day. The biochemical (TC, triglycerides, HDL, LDL and VLDL), hematological (hematocrit and hemoglobin), anthropometrical (weight and abdominal circumference) and oxidative stress (protein carbonyl) parameters were measured before, 45 and 90 days after the treatment started.

RESULTS

There was no alteration on biochemical, hematological, anthropometric or oxidative stress parameters in UL patients of all groups. However, a significant decrease in TC and LDL levels was observed in HL patients from EG 500 group (reduction of 28+/-3% and 45+/-4% to levels before treatment) in relation to CG group patients (reduction of 12+/-2% and 29+/-4%). Moreover, a significant reduction in oxidative stress was observed in HL patients of EG 250 (51+/-12%) and EG 500 groups (34+/-18%) when compared to levels before treatment. A positive correlation between plasma oxidative stress PC and TC levels was observed. Finally, we found that Campomanesia xanthocarpa extract possesses anti-oxidant properties and 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitory activity in vitro.

CONCLUSION

Confirming its popular use, the treatment with Campomanesia xanthocarpa encapsulated reduced blood TC and LDL levels in hypercholesterolemic patients.