ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the morphological, biochemical, and histological effects of aqueous extracts of peanut (skinless and added to 1% skin) in Swiss mice submitted to a high-fat diet. Methods: Forty male Swiss mice were divided into four groups (n=10 per group): GI) normocaloric diet; GII) high-fat diet; GIII) high-fat diet + 0.5 mL of peanut extract; GIV) high-fat diet + 0.5 mL of peanut extract + 1% peanut skin. The animals were weighed weekly and euthanized after 12 weeks for histopathological and biochemical analyses. The study was approved by the Animal Use Ethics Committee. Results: The animals in the GIV group had higher body weight when compared to the other ones. Increase in total cholesterol in GIII, increase in blood glucose in groups GII, GIII and GIV, decrease in serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) concentration in groups GI and GIV and increase in serum concentration of C-reactive protein in GII were seen. The presence of vacuolar fat deposits was found in animal livers from GII. Conclusions: The extracts improved the plasma concentrations of animals that received a high-fat diet, including preventing morphological damage to liver tissue. These benefits were enhanced by the association of peanut shells with the extract.

Resumo Objetivou-se realizar a caracterização físico-química e dos compostos bioativos do extrato aquoso de amendoim sem pele e acrescido de 1% de pele. Os extratos aquosos de amendoim sem e com pele foram caracterizados quanto aos parâmetros: umidade, extrato seco total, cinzas, lipídios, proteínas, teor de sólidos solúveis, acidez titulável, pH, carboidrato e fibras totais, além de compostos fenólicos e flavonoides. Os percentuais de umidade encontrados foram elevados em todas as amostras, resultante de sua base de extrato aquoso produzido na proporção 1:8 (amendoim:água). Observou-se que os extratos aquosos de amendoim sem pele e acrescido de 1% de pele não apresentaram diferença significativa entre si para os parâmetros de pH, como também para sólidos solúveis totais, lipídios e carboidratos. No entanto, a acidez, proteínas, fibras e cinzas apresentaram diferença estatística. Na determinação de compostos fenólicos, notou-se que o extrato aquoso de amendoim com pele apresentou uma quantidade maior quando comparado ao sem pele. Quanto aos flavonoides, a maior quantidade também foi encontrada na amostra com pele, apresentando uma diferença média de 2,52 µg/100 g base úmida. Os extratos aquosos de amendoim com e sem pele mostraram ser uma valiosa alternativa para um melhor aproveitamento do amendoim, proporcionando à população um produto nutricional. A bebida acrescida de 1% de pele enriqueceu o produto quanto ao potencial antioxidante devido às suas maiores concentrações de compostos fenólicos totais e flavonoides.

Abstract The objective of this work was to carry out the physical-chemical characterization and bioactive compounds of aqueous extract of peanuts without skin and with addition of 1% of skin. The aqueous extracts of peanuts without and with skin were characterized according to the parameters: moisture, total dry extract, ash, lipids, proteins, soluble solids content, titratable acidity, pH, carbohydrates and total fibers, in addition to phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The percentages of moisture found were high in all samples, resulting from its base of aqueous extract produced in the proportion 1:8 (peanut:water). It was observed that the aqueous extracts of peanuts without skin and the addition of 1% of skin did not present significant difference between them for the pH parameters, as well as for total soluble solids, lipids and carbohydrates. However, acidity, proteins, fibers and ash presented a statistical difference. In the determination of phenolic compounds, it was noted that the aqueous extract of peanuts with skin presented a larger amount when compared to those without skin. As for flavonoids, the largest amount was also found in the skin sample, obtaining an average difference of 2.52 µg/100 g wet basis. The aqueous extract of peanuts with and without skin proved to be a valuable alternative for a better use of peanuts, providing the population with a nutritional product. The beverage added with 1% of skin enriches the product in terms of its antioxidant potential, due to its greater concentrations of phenolic compounds and flavonoids.

Abstract Purpose: To evaluate the response of aging rats with sepsis to two different antibiotic regimens. Methods: The study was conducted with 30 aging rats (18 month-old) with autologous feces peritonitis. The animals were divided into three groups: Group 0 received no therapeutic intervention (control), while Group 1 received a single dose of 40 mg/kg meropenem and Group 2 received a single dose of 20 mg/kg moxifloxacin. The intervention in both Groups was made 6 hours after induction of peritonitis. The animals were followed up to 15 days for evaluating morbidity and mortality. The weights at baseline were similar in all groups. Results: At the end of follow-up, weight loss was significantly greater (p=0.0045) in Group 0 (non-intervention controls). Culture from a blood sample at the end of follow-up was positive in all the animals in Group 0, in two animals in Group 1 and in four animals in Group 2. Morbidity/mortality was significantly higher in Group 0 compared to both Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.003) but the scores were not significantly different between Groups 1 and 2 (p=0.6967). Conclusion: Both antibiotic regimens rendered promising results for the treatment of fecal peritonitis.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats with increasing age.METHODS:Thirty Wistar rats stratified in three groups: group I - six month-old; group II - 12 month-old; and group III - 18 month-old, underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis (6 ml/kg rat), and were treated with intravenous meropenem. The survival animals were followed-up for 45 days. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee.RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the mortality and morbidity in elderly rats. Of interest, even among young survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life.CONCLUSIONS:The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intravenous meropenem reached reasonable results in rats with six and twelve months of age, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax cavities. However, the great majority (80%) of elderly rats could not overcome the initial severe infectious challenge, proving that ageing is a very important risk factor for impairing immune response. Thus, sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.

PURPOSE:To evaluate the treatment outcome of severe peritonitis in rats submitted to permanent bilateral carotid occlusion (PBCO).METHODS:Sixteen Wistar rats (mean age of 8.5 months) with PBCO underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis, and were treated with moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone, and followed-up for 45 days. Ten rats (mean age five months) without PBCO were used as a control group. The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee.RESULTS:There was a significant increase (p=0.0002) in the mortality and morbidity in older rats that underwent PBCO (study group). However, even among the survival rats presenting with severe residual abscesses both in the abdomen and thorax cavities, they present an almost normal life.CONCLUSIONS:The treatment of severe autogenously fecal peritonitis with intraperitoneal moxifloxacin combined with dexamethasone was very effective in young rats without permanent bilateral carotid occlusion. The treatment reached reasonable results in older rats with PBCO, even considering residual abscesses on abdomen and thorax. Older age was the greater risk factor for the outcome of the treatment of severe peritonitis. Sepsis remains a challenging situation, especially in elderly.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of chronic cerebral hypoxia on memory of rats submitted to bilateral common carotid artery ligation (BCCL).METHODS: Every each week, for 16 weeks, 31 rats were tested for memory using a water and land mazes and compared with 30 normal rats (control group A). The variables were expressed by their mean and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for animal investigation.RESULTS: There was a significant increase in the latency time, in the survival water and land mazes, after four weeks (study group B) follow-up. However, without any medication or therapeutically induced measures, after 16 weeks (study group C) follow-up the latency mean times tend to be similar to control group (A) in the neurocognitive tests.CONCLUSIONS: Neurocognitive deficits after 16 weeks post-operative follow-up of rats that underwent bilateral common carotid artery ligation is a natural adaptive phenomenon. Thus, is not realistic to allow translational information from this animal model for therapeutically approaches aiming at to prevent, or to improve brain damage in human beings suffering from chronic deprivation of adequate blood supply.

PURPOSE: To develop an alcoholic extract of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi and to test its impact on autogenously fecal peritonitis in Wistar rats. METHODS: The inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi was kept for seven days in 70% ethanol alcohol. The total elimination of the solvent was performed in a rotary evaporator under reduced pressure at 55-60°C. Four milliliter of this extract was injected, after 24 h, into the abdominal cavity of six out of eight survival rats that underwent autogenously fecal peritonitis with five milliliter of 10% filtered fecal suspension. They were clinically followed up for 45 days when they were euthanized. The necropsy findings (inventory) of the abdominal and thorax cavities were inspected and the main findings were recorded and photographed. The investigation was approved by the Ethics Committee. RESULTS: Two out of six survival rats that were critically ill after 24 h died within the 12 h after the extract injection into the abdominal cavity. Four rats that were also critically ill recovered and gradually became healthy, eating well, regaining weight and moving normally in the cage. At 45 days post severe peritonitis the necropsy findings revealed few signs of residual infection on the abdominal and thorax cavities. There were no bowel adhesions. CONCLUSION: The impact of alcoholic extract of the inner bark of the Schinus terebinthifolius raddi was considered very positive and promising as natural local antiseptic against very severe peritonitis in Wistar rats.

PURPOSE: To investigate morbidity, mortality and microbiological response to fecal peritonitis induced in Wistar rats with permanent bilateral carotid ligation (PBCL). METHODS: Fecal peritonitis was induced in 30 rats, with 10 animals in each group: Group1 - normal young animals; Group2 - normal mature animals; and Group3 - rats with PBCL after four months postoperative follow-up. Peritonitis was induced with 10% stool suspension. Morbidity and mortality were evaluated. The survival animals after seven days were euthanized for tests. For microbiological studies blood were collected from the carotids and right ventricle; and fragments of lung and peritoneum. RESULTS: The morbidity and mortality of young animals were significantly lower than in mature animals with and without PBCL. There was no difference in morbidity and mortality among mature rats with and without PBCL. The diversity of microorganisms producing septicemia was similar to native micro biota of the large bowel. CONCLUSIONS: The immune response was more efficient in young animals, represented by significant less morbidity and no natural mortality. PBLC did not affect morbidity and mortality in mature rats. The immune response to fecal peritonitis has age as an independent predictor.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of cerebral hypoxia-ischemia on memory and learning survival of rats submitted to permanent bilateral carotid ligation (PBCL). METHODS: Twenty-four survivors of PBCL were evaluated after 30 days with regard to memory and learning using a water survival maze. Twenty-three healthy rats were used as control group. The results were expressed by their means and standard error of the mean (SEM). p<0.05 was used for rejecting the null hypothesis. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee for animal investigation. RESULTS: The mortality rate for the surgery was 44.4%. The latency time to find the survival platform was higher in rats that underwent PBCL (Normal: 10.24 ± 1.85s - Study: 25.30 ± 4.69s - Mann - Whitney p=0.0388). Additionally, the type of swimming and the spatial stability of the studied rats on the survival platform were compromised in these animals. CONCLUSION: The permanent bilateral carotid ligation induces change in the learning and survival memory.