The essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAz) presents myorelaxant and antispasmodic actions on cardiac and smooth muscles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of EOAz on the skeletal muscle contraction in post-stroke spasticity. Fifteen adults with unilateral hemiparesis and spasticity resulting from stroke were submitted to surface electromyography readings of the gastrocnemius muscle, before and after 10 daily applications (dermal 0.05 mL per muscle belly) of EOAz. The healthy contralateral muscles without applying the oil were used as controls. The analysis showed that, in both lateral and medial gastrocnemius, the values of all studied variables (root mean square, maximum amplitude and median power frequency) were significantly decreased in pathological legs during muscle contraction (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05). Moreover, spastic muscles presented different results before and after dermal application of EOAz: The mean values of root mean square and median power frequency were significantly increased in lateral and medial gastrocnemius, and also, the maximum amplitude increased in medial gastrocnemius (Mann-Whitney test, p < 0.05). The results suggest that EOAz acts in the skeletal spastic muscle contraction by promoting relaxation and improvement of the muscular performance. Thus, the EOAz can be useful for the clinical management of secondary effects in patients with cerebral vascular disease.The Alpinia speciosa K. Schum., synonymy zerumbet, is a plant of Asian origin and member of the Zingiberaceae family [1,2]. It is widely distributed in Brazil, where it is popularly called 'colony'. The essential oil and extracts obtained from aerial parts of Alpinia zerumbet present antihypertensive [3][4][5][6], antioxidant [7,8] and anxiolytic [9] activities, among others.Some actions of essential oil of Alpinia zerumbet (EOAz) and its main constituents have been reported on the nervous and muscular systems. In experimental studies, the EOAz presented anticholinergic, antispasmodic and myorelaxant effects on small intestine of rodents [10,11]; promoted a dose-dependent blockade of the compound action potential of the rat sciatic nerve [12]; and presented endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect [4,13]. Also, the oil induced a cardiodepressive effect in vitro, this action being related to calcium current blockade [14]. These findings raise the possibility that the EOAz can act on altered contractile properties of skeletal fibres.In stroke patients, spasticity occurs as a result of spinal reflex dysfunction and is clinically related to abnormal increased muscle tone [15] and consequent impaired muscular performance [16]. This illness causes disabilities in more than 50% of affected people and impacts family and healthcare systems [17]. The current treatments are not fully effective, and new therapeutic strategies are desirable.From the hypothesis that EOAz could be a complementary medicine to treat spasticity by presenting relaxant action, this work aimed to investigate the effects of the derm...

ResumoIntrodução: A própolis é uma substância resinosa e complexa; produzida pelas abelhas, destaca-se por suas propriedades terapêuticas, como atividade antimicrobiana, anti-inflamatória e cicatrizante. Poucos trabalhos existem sobre a variedade de própolis vermelha, encontrada no Estado de Sergipe. Objetivo: Avaliar a ação antimicrobiana do extrato de própolis vermelha, coletada na região nordeste do Estado de Sergipe, contra cepas de Enterococcus faecalis. Material e método: As amostras de própolis vermelha foram coletadas em Brejo Grande-SE, Brasil, e identificadas segundo suas características sensoriais, a granulometria e requisitos físico-químicos. O teor de flavonoides no extrato seco foi determinado. Soluções de própolis vermelha (EEP) foram preparadas nas concentrações de 1%; 2,5%; 5% e 7,5%. A cepa bacteriana de referência utilizada foi Enterococcus faecalis -ATCC 29212. A atividade antibacteriana foi verificada por meio de testes in vitro (teste de difusão em disco e determinação da concentração bactericida mínima -CBM) e ex vivo (utilizando dentes humanos extraídos). No teste ex vivo, os dentes contaminados foram divididos em três grupos com dez dentes cada. O grupo 1 foi tratado com própolis a 7,5% (concentração determinada no teste CBM); o grupo 2 foi tratado como controle positivo, com solução de hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5%, e o grupo 3 foi utilizado como controle negativo, sendo tratado apenas com solução salina NaCl 0,9%. Resultado: O extrato de própolis promoveu halo de inibição comparado ao da solução de hipoclorito de sódio a 2,5%, variando entre 12 e 16 mm. Não houve crescimento bacteriano após irrigação do conduto radicular com a solução de EEP a 7,5%. Conclusão: A própolis coletada apresentou médio teor de flavonoides (1,8%) e características físico-químicas coerentes com as exigidas pelo Ministério da Agricultura. Na concentração de 7,5% de própolis vermelha, foi observado um maior potencial antibacteriano quando comparado aos demais grupos. Descritores: Própolis; bactérias; Enterococcus faecalis. AbstractIntroduction: Propolis is a complex resinous substance produced by bees that has therapeutic properties, such as antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory, healing. Few studies exist on the red variety of propolis, found in the state of Sergipe. Objective: Evaluation of the antimicrobial action of the extract of propolis red collected in the northeastern state of Sergipe, against strains of Enterococcus faecalis. Material and method: The red propolis samples were collected in Brejo Grande/SE -Brazil and identified according to their sensory characteristics, granulometry and physical chemical requirements. The content of flavonoids in dried extract was determined. Solutions of red propolis (EEP) were prepared at concentrations of 1%; 2.5%; 5% and 7.5%. The bacterial strain used was Enterococcus faecalis -ATCC 29212. The antibacterial activity was verified by in vitro tests (disk diffusion test and determination of minimum bactericidal concentration -CBM) and ex vivo (using human extracted...

A apitoxina é o veneno produzido pelas abelhas do gênero Apis, com objetivo de proteger a colônia contra a extensa variedade de predadores, que vão desde outros artrópodes a vertebrados, e consiste numa mistura complexa de enzimas, peptídeos e aminoácidos, além de pequenas quantidades de carboidratos e lipídios. Tanto a apitoxina, quanto seus compostos bioativos, apresentam diversificada eficácia biológica in vitro e in vivo contra uma variedade de doenças. A terapia com apitoxina tem sido utilizada na Medicina tradicional chinesa, bem como na antiga Grécia e Egito, há milhares de anos, para o tratamento da artrite, reumatismo e outras doenças autoimunes, bem como contra neoplasias, doenças de pele, dor e infecções e mais recentemente contra alguns tipos de câncer. Sua composição desperta o interesse da comunidade científica desde o século XIX, e na década de 80 já estimava-se a importância deste possível agente terapêutico na medicina ocidental. Hoje, vem sendo utilizado em uma ampla gama de fármacos, e a sua utilização do veneno de abelha no cenário atual, tem se configurado como uma proposta diferenciada de produto a ser extraído da apicultura e com grande visibilidade no mercado. Na Europa e em alguns mercados globais já existem fórmulas farmacêuticas registradas com o veneno da abelha bruto. A composição química da apitoxina, os métodos de coleta, as propriedades biológicas e suas possíveis aplicações terapêuticas estão bem documentadas nesta revisão.

The Portulaca oleracea L. (Portulacaceae) is a cosmopolitan species with a wide range of biological activities, including antioxidant and neuroprotective actions. We investigated the effects of P. oleracea extracts in a 6-hydroxydopamine rat model of Parkinson's disease, a debilitating disorder without effective treatments. Chemical profiles of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of whole plant were analyzed by thin layer chromatography and the antioxidant activity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhidrazila method. Male Wistar rats received intrastriatal 6-hydroxydopamine and were treated with vehicle or extracts (oral, 200 and 400 mg/kg) daily for two weeks. The behavioral open field test was conducted at days 1 and 15. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed 4 weeks after surgery to quantify tyrosine-hydroxylase cell counts in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Extracts presented antioxidant activity in concentrations above 300 µg/kg. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of Levodopa, alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, terpenoids and polysaccharides. Both extracts improved motor recovery 15 days after lesion and protected from tyrosine-hydroxylase cell loss after 4 weeks, but these effects were more evident for the aqueous extract. Because the dopamine precursor is present, in addition to antioxidant compounds and neuroprotective effects, P. oleracea can be considered as potential strategy for treating Parkinson's disease.

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USE OF BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS AS A TOOL FOR SURVEYING STUDIES ON METABOLOMICS APPLIED TO THE BIOREMEDIATION OF AREAS IMPACTED BY HYDROCARBONS. Bibliometric reviews, carried out from access to databases of scientific articles associated with software for data processing, can be helpful for qualitative and quantitative assessments of existing publications on a given topic. Several petroleum hydrocarbons are carcinogenic and immunotoxic agents, causing adverse effects on the biota, and the study of metabolites generated in bioremediation processes has been the object of current research. Therefore, in this work, the use of bibliometric analysis as a tool for surveying studies on the applied metabolomics bioremediation of areas impacted by hydrocarbons is presented. A bibliometric review was carried out in the Scopus Preview and Web of Science databases with data analysis using RStudio software with the bibliometrix package. The survey gathered the studies and prominent publications of the last seven years, making it possible to present gaps and opportunities in the area.

This study evaluated the neuroprotective effects of the Africanized bee venom (BV) and its mechanisms of action after 6-hydroxydopamine-(6-OHDA)-induced lesion in a mice model. Prior to BV treatment, mice received intrastriatal microinjections of 6-OHDA (no induced dopaminergic neuronal death) or ascorbate saline (as a control). BV was administered subcutaneously at different dosages (0.01, 0.05 or 0.1 mg·Kg−1) once every two days over a period of 3 weeks. The open field test was carried out, together with the immunohistochemical and histopathological analysis. The chemical composition of BV was also assessed, identifying the highest concentrations of apamin, phospholipase A2 and melittin. In the behavioral evaluation, the BV (0.1 mg·Kg−1) counteracted the 6-OHDA-induced decrease in crossings and rearing. 6-OHDA caused loss of dopaminergic cell bodies in the substantia nigra pars compacta and fibers in striatum (STR). Mice that received 0.01 mg·Kg−1 showed significant increase in the mean survival of dopaminergic cell bodies. Increased astrocytic infiltration occurred in the STR of 6-OHDA injected mice, differently from those of the groups treated with BV. The results suggested that Africanized BV has neuroprotective activity in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease.