This work evaluated the effects of increasing levels of the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum meal (BSM) in the feed given to Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings. The completely randomized design experiment lasted 42 days. Nile tilapia fingerlings (n=75) with an average age of 30 days and average weight of 0.43 ± 0.02 g were assigned to 25 plastic tanks and submitted to five treatments in five repetitions. The treatments were increasing levels of BSM (5, 10, 15, and 20 g kg-1 of feed) and a control feed (no BSM). Each experimental unit was made up of a 36 L plastic tank with three fingerlings. The parameters studied were final average weight, percentage of weight gain, apparent feed conversion ratio, total length and carcass yield with and without head. The final average weight, percentage of weight gain, and total length were not affected by the treatments (p>0,05). The apparent feed conversion ratio improved linearly (p<0.01) and carcass yield increased linearly (p<0.01) as the BSM in feeds increased. BSM is an additive with potential use in Nile tilapia feed at the level of 20 g kg-1 because it does not result in growth loss and improves the feed conversion ratio and carcass yield in Nile tilapia during the fingerling period.

Este trabalho avaliou os efeitos de níveis crescentes da farinha de alga marromAscophyllum nodosum (FAM) nas rações para alevinos de tilápia do Nilo Oreochromis niloticus. O experimento, com delineamento inteiramente casualizado, durou 42 dias. Foram utilizados alevinos de tilápia do Nilo (n= 75) com idade média de 30 dias e peso médio de 0,43 ± 0,02 g, distribuídos em 25 tanques plásticos submetidos à cinco tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os tratamentos foram níveis crescentes de farinha de alga marrom (5, 10, 15 e 20 g kg-1 de ração) e uma ração controle (sem FAM). Cada unidade experimental foi composta por um tanque plástico de 36 L com três alevinos. Foram estudados os parâmetros médios de peso final, percentagem de ganho de peso, taxa de conversão alimentar aparente, comprimento total e rendimento de carcaça, com e sem cabeça. As médias de peso final, percentagem de ganho de peso e comprimento total não foram influenciadas pelos tratamentos (p>0,05). Os valores da taxa de conversão alimentar aparente melhoraram linearmente (p<0,01) e os valores de rendimento de carcaça aumentaram linearmente (p<0,01) à medida que se aumentaram os níveis de FAM nas rações. A farinha de alga marrom é um aditivo com potencial utilização em rações de tilápia do Nilo no nível de 20 g kg-1, pois não diminui o crescimento e promove melhora da taxa de conversão alimentar e do rendimento de carcaça de alevinos de tilápia do Nilo.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been used extensively to control inflammatory pain. Several peripheral antinociceptive mechanisms have been described, such as opioid system and NO/cGMP/KATP pathway activation. There is evidence that the cannabinoid system can also contribute to the in vivo pharmacological effects of ibuprofen and indomethacin. However, there is no evidence of the involvement of the endocannabinoid system in the peripheral antinociception induced by NSAIDs. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the participation of the endocannabinoid system in the peripheral antinociceptive effect of NSAIDs. All experiments were performed on male Wistar rats (160-200 g; N = 4 per group). Hyperalgesia was induced by a subcutaneous intraplantar (ipl) injection of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 2 μg/paw) in the rat’s hindpaw and measured by the paw pressure test 3 h after injection. The weight in grams required to elicit a nociceptive response, paw flexion, was determined as the nociceptive threshold. The hyperalgesia was calculated as the difference between the measurements made before and after PGE2, which induced hyperalgesia (mean = 83.3 ± 4.505 g). AM-251 (80 μg/paw) and AM-630 (100 μg/paw) were used as CB1 and CB2 cannabinoid receptor antagonists, respectively. Ipl injection of 40 μg dipyrone (mean = 5.825 ± 2.842 g), 20 μg diclofenac (mean = 4.825 ± 3.850 g) and 40 μg indomethacin (mean = 6.650 ± 3.611 g) elicited a local peripheral antinociceptive effect. This effect was not antagonized by ipl CB1 cannabinoid antagonist to dipyrone (mean = 5.00 ± 0.9815 g), diclofenac (mean = 2.50 ± 0.8337 g) and indomethacin (mean = 6.650 ± 4.069 g) or CB2 cannabinoid antagonist to dipyrone (mean = 1.050 ± 6.436 g), diclofenac (mean = 6.675 ± 1.368 g) and indomethacin (mean = 2.85 ± 5.01 g). Thus, cannabinoid receptors do not seem to be involved in the peripheral antinociceptive mechanism of the NSAIDs dipyrone, diclofenac and indomethacin.

Objetivou-se investigar o efeito do extrato acetato de etila de Cocos nucifera (EAECN) sobre parâmetros fisiológicos e sobre a inflamação tópica induzida por xileno. EAECN foi obtido a partir da água da fibra da casca do coco verde e o teste fitoquímico indicou a presença de taninos condensados, flavononas, flavonóis, flavononóis, xantonas e esteróides. EAECN foi administrado aos camundongos Swiss por via oral em dose única diária de 10, 30, 100 e 250 mg Kg-1 por cinco dias consecutivos para os protocolos de toxicidade e inflamação tópica. No ensaio de toxicidade foram observadas as freqüências cardíacas e respiratórias, a presença de diarréia, analgesia e apatia e realizada a contagem total dos leucócitos do sangue periférico, avaliação macroscópica dos órgãos e peso relativo do rim, fígado, timo e baço. O efeito do EAECN sobre a inflamação tópica foi realizado utilizando-se grupos testes com as diferentes concentrações de EAECN e grupos controles positivos que receberam, pela mesma via nas mesmas condições, NaCl 0,9% ou DMSO a 5% ou o antiinflamatório padrão, Dexametasona (6 mg Kg-1). Todos os animais receberam o agente flogístico (25 µL) nas partes interna e externa da orelha duas horas após o último tratamento, enquanto os animais do grupo controle negativo não receberam qualquer tratamento. Após 50 minutos da aplicação do xileno, os animais foram sacrificados, e uma porção de cada orelha foi retirada e pesada. A diferença de peso entre as orelhas representa o efeito induzido pelos tratamentos. EAECN não desenvolveu toxicidade, não alterou a contagem total de leucócitos, não alterou o peso e nem o peso relativo dos órgãos dos animais tratados em relação aos controles. EAECN não inibiu a inflamação provocada pelo xileno, apresentando efeito pró-inflamatório dependente da dose. Conclui-se que EAECN nos protocolos utilizados não é tóxico e não possui atividade antiinflamatória tópica.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of ethyl acetate extract of Cocos nucifera (EAECN) on physiological parameters and xylene-induced topic inflammation. EAECN was obtained from the water of the green coconut husk fiber and the phytochemical test indicated the presence of condensed tannins, flavanones, flavonols, xanthones and steroids. EAECN was orally administered to Swiss mice at a single daily dose of 10, 30, 100 and 250 mg Kg-1 during five consecutive days for toxicity and topic inflammation protocols. Toxicity experiments included the observation of heart and respiratory frequencies, diarrhea, analgesia and apathy, besides total leukocyte count in peripheral blood, macroscopic evaluation of the organs, and relative weight of kidneys, liver, thymus and spleen. The effect of EAECN on topic inflammation was assessed using test groups with different EAECN concentrations and positive control groups which received, by the same route and conditions, NaCl 0.9%, DMSO 5% or reference drug, Dexamethasone (6 mg Kg-1). All the animals received the phlogistic agent (25 µL) in the inner and outer parts of the ears two hours after the last treatment, whereas the negative control group animals did not receive any treatment. At 50 minutes after xylene application, the animals were sacrificed and a portion of each of their ears was removed and weighed. The difference between ear weights represents the effect induced by the treatments. EAECN did not develop toxicity, change leukocyte total count, or alter animal weight and organ relative weight in treated animals compared with control groups. EAECN did not inhibit the xylene-induced inflammation, demonstrating dose-dependent pro-inflammatory effect. In conclusion, EAECN used as in these experimental protocols is not toxic and does not have topic anti-inflammatory activity.