Abstract Epidemiological studies have shown an inverse association between coffee consumption and the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The effects of the oral treatment with green (non-roasted) coffee extracts (CE, 100 or 400 mg/kg) and caffeine (31.2 mg/kg) were evaluated on catalepsy induced by haloperidol in mice, and unilateral 6-OHDA lesion of medial forebrain bundle (MFB) or striatum in rats. Also, the in vitro antioxidant activity and the monoamine levels in the striatum were investigated. CE presented a mild antioxidant activity in vitro and its administration decreased the catalepsy index. CE at the dose of 400 mg/kg induced ipsilateral rotations 14 days after lesion; however, chronic 30-day CE and caffeine treatments did not interfere with the animals’ rotation after apomorphine or methamphetamine challenges in animals with MFB lesion, nor on monoamines levels. Furthermore, CE and caffeine were effective in inhibiting the asymmetry between ipsilateral and contralateral rotations induced by methamphetamine and apomorphine in animals with lesion in the striatum but did not avoid the monoamines depletion. These results indicate that CE components indirectly modulate dopaminergic transmission, suggesting a pro-dopaminergic action of CE, and further investigation must be conducted to elucidate the mechanisms of action and the possible neuroprotective role in PD.

The medicinal plants Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer (Araliaceae) and Heteropterys tomentosa A. Juss (Malpighiaceae) are widely and separately used by the Brazilian population as phytotherapeutics for the same medicinal purposes as tonics and to improve cognition. A chemical analysis was carried out on hydroethanolic extracts of powdered roots from P. ginseng and H. tomentosa using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS (High Performance Liquid Chromatography coupled to Diode-Array Detector and Electrospray Ionization - Mass Spectrum/Mass Spectrum). The ginsenosides Rg1, Rf, mRg and mRf were the main constituents in a hydroethanolic extract from P. ginseng, while in the hydroethanolic extract from H. tomentosa, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and astilbin isomers were the main constituents. Concentration-time-effect curves were generated in cultures of astrocytes that were incubated with hydroethanolic extracts of these species to elucidate their toxicities. The P. ginseng extract was nontoxic at all of the tested times and concentrations. The hydroethanolic extract from H. tomentosa demonstrated toxicity at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. P. ginseng extract had no protective effect against staurosporine. Many studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of ginsenosides, caffeoylquinic derivatives and flavonoids.

OBJECTIVE: Alcohol and other drug use appears to reduce decision-making ability and increase the risk of unsafe sex, leading to possible unplanned pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases/human immunodeficiency virus/HIV transmission, and multiple sexual partners. This study aimed to test the hypothesis that risky sexual behaviors among adolescents are associated with legal and illegal drug use. METHODS: A national cross-sectional survey of 17,371 high-school students was conducted in 2010. Students were selected from 789 public and private schools in each of the 27 Brazilian state capitals by a multistage probabilistic sampling method and answered a self-report questionnaire. Weighted data were analyzed through basic contingency tables and logistic regressions testing for differences in condom use among adolescents who were sexually active during the past month. RESULTS: Approximately one third of the high school students had engaged in sexual intercourse in the month prior to the survey, and nearly half of these respondents had not used a condom. While overall sexual intercourse was more prevalent among boys, unsafe sexual intercourse was more prevalent among girls. Furthermore, a lower socioeconomic status was directly associated with non-condom use, while binge drinking and illegal drug use were independently associated with unsafe sexual intercourse. CONCLUSION: Adolescent alcohol and drug use were associated with unsafe sexual practices. School prevention programs must include drug use and sexuality topics simultaneously because both risk-taking behaviors occur simultaneously.

The objective of the present study was to assess whether Turnera diffusa Willd. ex Schult., Turneraceae, (TD), plant known in popular medicine as tonic and aphrodisiac, has other effects that are characteristic of an adaptogen substance, such as improvement of the memory and reduction of the damage caused by stress. We carried out an initial screening to detect a possible toxicity of the plant. In that phase of the study we used tests of observational screening; evaluation of acute toxicity; measurement of motor activity and motor coordination, and sleeping time induced by pentobarbital, and observed that the extract presented low toxicity and no stimulant or depressant effect on the animals. We then performed specific tests for the evaluation of an adaptogen effect. TD did not protect the stomach of the animals from the formation of ulcers, neither did it alter the plasmatic levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticosterone of the animals submitted to immobilization and cold. As regards the evaluation of memory in passive avoidance, TD did not inhibit scopolamine-induced amnesia. Additionally, the hydroalcoholic extract presented low antioxidant activity in vitro. In the models used, TD produced no changes in relation to a possible adaptogen effect.

Foram avaliados, em ratos e camundongos, os efeitos antiúlcera de duas plantas usadas popularmente no Brasil para o tratamento de "males gástricos": a Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (aroeira-da-praia) e a Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (aroeira-do-sertão). Os decoctos de ambas as plantas apresentaram um marcante efeito protetor da mucosa gástrica contra as ulcerações induzidas por estresse de imobilização em baixa temperatura em ratos. Ambas as plantas apresentaram, ainda: elevação do pH, do volume do conteúdo gástrico, redução das hemorragias gástricas e do trânsito intestinal em camundongos, mesmo em doses tão reduzidas quanto 3,4 mg/kg (1/4 da dose utilizada pelo homem).

Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi and the Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão were evaluated in rats and mice for antiulcer effects, as these two plants are widely used in Brazil for gastric ulcer treatment. Extracts of the plants showed a marked protective effect against gastric ulcerations induced by immobilization stress at low temperature in rats. They also showed an increase in the pH and volume of the gastric contents, and reduction in gastric hemorrhage in rats, and decrease in intestinal transit in mice, even at the low doses of 3.4 mg/kg (1/4 of the dose used by humans).

Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek é tradicionalmente usada no Brasil para o tratamento de úlcera gástrica. O presente trabalho relata a investigação fitoquímica de um extrato etanólico de folhas de M. ilicifolia (EEMIL) visando o isolamento de constituintes que foram usados como marcadores químicos para monitorar o fracionamento de um extrato aquoso liofilizado de folhas de M. ilicifolia (LAEMIL). De EEMIL, quatro flavonóides foram isolados, compreendendo o triglicosídeo flavônico mauritianina (1), trifolina (2), hyperina (4), e epi-catequina (5). O fracionamento de LAEMIL levou a 5 frações, fornecendo um derivado tetraglicosilado de canferol (3), além do galactitol (6). LAEMIL e suas frações foram avaliadas quanto aos efeitos sobre o volume e pH da secreção gástrica em ratos. Análise por CLAE (Cromatografia Líquida de Alta Eficiência) revelou que somente frações contendo o tri- e tetra-glicosídeos flavônicos 1 e 3 causaram aumento significativo de volume gástrico e pH, indicando que esses glicosídeos têm importante papel sob o efeito gastroprotetor de folhas de M. ilicifolia.

Maytenus ilicifolia Mart. ex Reissek is traditionally used in Brazil for treatment of gastric ulcers. Here we report the phytochemical investigation of an ethanol extract of M. ilicifolia leaves (EEMIL) aiming at the isolation of constituents which were used as chemical markers to monitor an activity-guided fractionation of a lyophilized aqueous extract of M. ilicifolia leaves (LAEMIL). From EEMIL, four flavonoids were isolated, namely the tri-flavonoid glycosides mauritianin (1), trifolin, (2) hyperin (4), and epi-catechin (5). Fractionation of LAEMIL led to 5 fractions which afforded the tetra-glycoside kaempferol derivative (3), and galactitol (6). LAEMIL and its fractions were evaluated in rats for their effects on gastric secretion volume and pH. HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) analysis revealed that only fractions containing the tri- and tetra-flavonoid glycosides 1 and 3 caused significant increase of gastric volume and pH, thus indicating that these glycosides play an important role on the gastroprotective effect of M.ilicifolia leaves.

A crença de que medicamentos à base de plantas são isentos de riscos à saúde faz parte da bagagem cultural da população afeita ao seu uso: "o que vêm da terra não faz mal". No entanto, o potencial tóxico, as características específicas do usuário, a possibilidade de contaminação e a falta de regulamentação constituem fatores de risco para a ocorrência de reações adversas, intoxicações e outras complicações decorrentes de seu uso. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas junto a 20 raizeiros (vendedores de ervas "in natura") na cidade de Diadema/SP. Foram relatados 40 casos de problemas relacionados ao uso de 22 espécies de plantas medicinais. As espécies mais citadas foram Luffa operculata - buchinha (7 casos), Senna alexandrina - sene (4 casos) e Paullinia cupana - guaraná (3 casos). Dentre os sinais e sintomas relatados, os mais freqüentes foram relacionados ao sistema nervoso central, problemas gastrointestinais e cardiovasculares. Os entrevistados também relataram um caso de aborto relacionado ao uso de S. alexandrina e três casos de óbito após a ingestão do chá do fruto de L. operculata. O caráter "natural" das plantas medicinais não é sinônimo de ausência de riscos para a população usuária. É necessária a implantação de políticas de fitofarmacovigilância eficientes, a fim de tornar o consumo mais racional e, deste modo, minimizar os riscos à população usuária.

Traditionally, medicinal herbs have been considered gentle and harmless because of their natural origin: "natural and therefore free of risks". However, toxic potential, various consumer-related factors (such as age, disease factors, pregnancy, etc), contamination, and lack of regulation concerning quality control are some of the risk factors deemed to be associated with herbal adverse reactions, poisonings and other complications. Over a 7-month period, semi-structured interviews were carried out with 20 "raizeiros" (traditional healers) in Diadema/SP. We found 40 unexpected events related to 22 species of medicinal herbs. The most frequent species reported were Luffa operculata - "buchinha" (7 reports), Senna alexandrina - "sene" (4 reports) and Paullinia cupana - "guaraná" (3 reports). Among the adverse events, the most frequent signs and symptoms reported involved the central nervous, gastrointestinal and cardiovascular systems. They also reported one case of abortion (related with S. alexandrina) and three deaths related with L. operculata. Adverse events that result from "natural" medicines are relatively uncommon, but they certainly occur more often than acknowledged. Medicinal plants are traditionally considered as innocuous, but as commercially available medicinal products they require sanitary surveillance in order to identify their risks, to give them a legal status, to evaluate their efficacy and to ascertain their safety.

OBJETIVO: Investigar o uso da fluoxetina na cidade de Santo André, SP, por meio de coleta e análise das receitas especiais (RE) prescritas por médicos e arquivadas nas farmácias e drogarias daquela cidade. MÉTODOS: Foram coletadas as receitas especiais retidas durante os meses de agosto do ano de 2005 a julho de 2006, em 13 farmácias de manipulação e em 27 drogarias em diferentes regiões de Santo André. Cada receita especial foi analisada em relação à presença de fluoxetina, em associação ou não a outros princípios ativos, e o sexo do(a) paciente foi anotado. RESULTADOS: Foram analisadas 39.782 RE - 16.124 coletadas das farmácias magistrais e 23.658 das drogarias. Desses totais, 10.919 prescrições continham fluoxetina - 9.259 provenientes das farmácias magistrais (84,8%) e apenas 1.660 (15,2%) das drogarias. As prescrições de fluoxetina eram predominantemente destinadas a mulheres (79,8%). Na imensa maioria das RE, a fluoxetina foi prescrita em associação com um grande número de outras substâncias ativas, inclusive anfetaminas anoréticas, chegando a mais de dez outras em quase a metade das prescrições. Esse tipo de prescrição múltipla, principalmente para mulheres, é comparado com as prescrições de fórmulas magistrais para emagrecer, muito utilizadas no Brasil. CONCLUSÃO: Os dados obtidos sugerem que a utilização de fluoxetina teria um fim estético (perda de peso), e não um fim terapêutico (tratamento de depressão). Discute-se a relação risco-benefício desse possível uso, que poderia ser classificado de inadequado dado as conhecidas reações adversas da fluoxetina e a sua interferência no sistema citocromo P450.

OBJECTIVE: Investigate the use of fluoxetine in Santo André city, SP, by collecting and analyzing special prescriptions (SP) issued by physicians and filed in compounding pharmacies and drugstores of that city. METHODS: Special prescriptions were collected during August 2005 to July 2006 in 13 compounding pharmacies and 27 drugstores, in different regions of Santo André. Each prescription has been examined for the presence of fluoxetine, in combination or not with other active ingredients, and sex (a) patient was noted. RESULTS: We examined 39,782 SP; 16,124 of them were collected from compounding pharmacies and 23,658 from drugstores. Of these totals, 10,919 prescriptions contained fluoxetine as follows: 9,259 from the compounding pharmacies (84.8%) and only 1,660 (15.2%) from drugstores. Fluoxetine was manly prescribed for women (79.8%). In the vast majority of SP, fluoxetine was prescribed in combination with a large number of other active substances reaching more than ten others in almost half of the prescriptions. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that the large use of fluoxetine possibily aims to an aesthetic objective (to lose weight) and not as a therapeutic aim (treatment of depression). This work discusses the risk/benefit of this use which could be described as inappropriate, given the known adverse reactions of fluoxetine and its interference with the cytochrome P450 system.

O tema "Plantas medicinais no tratamento de dependência" em um país deve ser precedido pela resposta a quatro questões: 1. O país em questão possui biodiversidade suficiente para permitir a descoberta de remédios naturais úteis? 2. Seus habitantes possuem tradição e cultura de procurar e utilizar recursos da natureza para aliviar e curar doenças, incluindo dependência de drogas? 3. O problema de dependência de drogas está presente no país em questão? 4. Seus habitantes reconhecem e diagnosticam a dependência de drogas como um sério problema? O álcool é, de longe, o mais sério problema de saúde quando o assunto abuso de drogas é considerado, atingindo toda a sociedade brasileira, incluindo os índios. Ao contrário, outras drogas podem ser consideradas como problemas menores e não são o foco principal deste artigo. As pessoas vivendo nas terras brasileiras mais isoladas não têm acesso ao sistema público de saúde. Conseqüentemente, estas pessoas procuram tratamento com curandeiros e raizeiros; ou, no caso dos indígenas, com os shamans. Estes doutores populares não conhecem a medicina e terapêutica acadêmicas e recorrem a plantas locais para tratar as diferentes patologias que acometem seus pacientes. Entretanto, o abuso e dependência de álcool não são vistos por eles como problemas de saúde segundo as regras e critérios da medicina acadêmica. Um levantamento foi feito em diversos livros brasileiros, teses sobre fitoterapia e alguns bancos de dados. Os resultados de tal pesquisa foram frustrantes. Não foram encontrados artigos de autores brasileiros sobre o uso de plantas para o tratamento de dependência de drogas nos bancos de dados consultados e apenas três notas muito curtas em um livro clássico escrito por Shultes e Raffauf (1990). Dos livros brasileiros sobre o uso popular de plantas medicinais, foram obtidas dez menções: a maioria delas sobre o tratamento de problemas relatados ao álcool e duas delas a respeito do tratamento da dependência de "Ayahuasca".

The topic "Herbal Medicines in the Treatment of Addictions" in a country must be preceded by answers to four questions: 1. Does the country in question possess a biodiversity rich enough to allow the discovery of useful medicines? 2. Do local people have tradition and culture to look for and use resources from Nature to alleviate and cure diseases, including drug dependence? 3. Is drug dependence (or addiction) present in the country in question? 4. Do people of that country recognize and diagnose such problem as a serious one? Alcohol is, by far, the most serious health problem when drug abuse is considered, reaching all of Brazilian society, including the Indians. On the contrary, other drugs may be considered as minor problems and they are not the main focus of this manuscript. The people living in Brazilian hinterland don’t have access to public health systems. Consequently, these people seek assistance from "curandeiros" and "raizeiros"; the Indians are assisted by the shaman. These "folk doctors" do not know the academic medicine and therapeutics, and resort to the local plants to treat different ailments of their patients. Furthermore, alcohol abuse and dependence are not recognized by them, according to the rules and criteria of academic medicine. We have conducted a survey in many Brazilian books, Thesis concerning phytotherapy, and several databank. The results of such searches were very disappointing. No published papers from Brazilian authors concerning the use of plants for the treatment of addictions were found in the databases and there were only three very short notes in the masterly book written by Shultes and Raffauf (1990). From the Brazilian books on folk medicine employing medicinal plants, ten mentions were disclosed: most of them dealing with treatment of alcohol problems and two to counteract "Ayahuasca" dependence.

O presente estudo analisa as informações que a imprensa escrita vem divulgando atualmente no Brasil sobre as implicações do uso de drogas para a saúde. Por meio de análise de conteúdo, foi pesquisada uma amostra de 502 artigos divulgados ao longo do ano de 1998 em jornais e revistas. Entre os psicotrópicos mais evidenciados nas manchetes, destacaram-se o cigarro comum (18,1%), derivados da coca (9,2%), maconha (9,2%), bebidas alcoólicas (8,6%) e anabolizantes (7,4%). Em contrapartida, os solventes, que são os psicotrópicos mais usados no Brasil (excetuando-se o álcool e o tabaco), foram evidenciados em apenas um artigo. Esses dados indicam um descompasso entre o enfoque jornalístico e o perfil epidemiológico do consumo de psicotrópicos no Brasil. A dependência foi a conseqüência mencionada com maior freqüência nos artigos (46%), seguida de violência (9,2%), síndrome de abstinência (8,0%) e AIDS (6,8%). Os artigos apresentaram diferentes enfoques de acordo com a droga em questão; por exemplo, enquanto para a maconha prevaleceram os artigos sobre o seu uso terapêutico e a descriminalização, para a cocaína predominaram temas relacionados aos danos decorrentes do uso, ao tratamento e à repressão.

This article analyzes information recently published by the Brazilian press on the use of psychoactive drugs and its implications on health. A sample of 502 newspaper and magazine articles published in 1998 was researched using content analysis. The drugs most frequently featured in the headlines were tobacco (18.1%), coca-derived drugs (9.2%), marijuana (9.2%), alcoholic beverages (8.6%), and anabolic steroids (7.4%). Solvents were featured in only one article, although they are the most commonly used drug in Brazil, second only to alcohol and tobacco. These data indicate an imbalance between the journalistic approach and the epidemiological profile of psychoactive drug consumption in Brazil. Dependence was the most frequent consequence mentioned in the articles (46%), followed by violence (9.2%), withdrawal syndrome (8.0%), and AIDS (6.8%). The focus of the articles varied according to the drug in question. While articles on marijuana focused on its therapeutic use and legalization, those on cocaine-related issues discussed both the damage caused by consumption as well as various interventions (treatment and repression).

O presente estudo analisa as informações que a imprensa escrita vem divulgando atualmente no Brasil sobre as implicações do uso de drogas para a saúde. Por meio de análise de conteúdo, foi pesquisada uma amostra de 502 artigos divulgados ao longo do ano de 1998 em jornais e revistas. Entre os psicotrópicos mais evidenciados nas manchetes, destacaram-se o cigarro comum (18,1%), derivados da coca (9,2%), maconha (9,2%), bebidas alcoólicas (8,6%) e anabolizantes (7,4%). Em contrapartida, os solventes, que são os psicotrópicos mais usados no Brasil (excetuando-se o álcool e o tabaco), foram evidenciados em apenas um artigo. Esses dados indicam um descompasso entre o enfoque jornalístico e o perfil epidemiológico do consumo de psicotrópicos no Brasil. A dependência foi a conseqüência mencionada com maior freqüência nos artigos (46%), seguida de violência (9,2%), síndrome de abstinência (8,0%) e AIDS (6,8%). Os artigos apresentaram diferentes enfoques de acordo com a droga em questão; por exemplo, enquanto para a maconha prevaleceram os artigos sobre o seu uso terapêutico e a descriminalização, para a cocaína predominaram temas relacionados aos danos decorrentes do uso, ao tratamento e à repressão.

This article analyzes information recently published by the Brazilian press on the use of psychoactive drugs and its implications on health. A sample of 502 newspaper and magazine articles published in 1998 was researched using content analysis. The drugs most frequently featured in the headlines were tobacco (18.1%), coca-derived drugs (9.2%), marijuana (9.2%), alcoholic beverages (8.6%), and anabolic steroids (7.4%). Solvents were featured in only one article, although they are the most commonly used drug in Brazil, second only to alcohol and tobacco. These data indicate an imbalance between the journalistic approach and the epidemiological profile of psychoactive drug consumption in Brazil. Dependence was the most frequent consequence mentioned in the articles (46%), followed by violence (9.2%), withdrawal syndrome (8.0%), and AIDS (6.8%). The focus of the articles varied according to the drug in question. While articles on marijuana focused on its therapeutic use and legalization, those on cocaine-related issues discussed both the damage caused by consumption as well as various interventions (treatment and repression).

Oitocentos e noventa e dois médicos, entre eles neurologistas (463) e psiquiatras (411), responderam a um questionário sobre a prescrição do metilfenidato para o transtorno do déficit de atenção e hiperatividade (TDAH). A maioria dos médicos relatou a ocorrência esporádica de reações adversas não-sérias, tais como dor de cabeça, emagrecimento, inapetência, hiperexcitabilidade, taquicardia, etc; apenas seis médicos, entretanto, relataram casos que poderiam levar à suspeita de dependência, embora nenhum deles satisfizesse os critérios da CID-10 para tal. A grande maioria opinou que a exigência da notificação de receita A (amarela) é inadequada, criando preconceitos em relação à condição dos pacientes e amedrontando seus parentes. Relatam ainda que tal classificação dificulta a prescrição do medicamento, fazendo muitas vezes com que o metilfenidato se torne a segunda opção para o tratamento de TDAH, além de tornar o produto pouco disponível nas farmácias e dificultar o trabalho dos profissionais. Isso faz com que a adesão ao tratamento se torne mais difícil, pois, além dos vários entraves burocráticos para se adquirir o medicamento, há também o medo por parte dos familiares e do próprio paciente de estar tomando tal medicação. Neurologistas e psiquiatras argumentam que o controle do metilfenidato deve existir, mas, em se tratando de um medicamento prescrito por especialistas e de não possuir grande potencial de dependência, o receituário azul já seria suficiente para o controle adequado. A classificação do metilfenidato, juntamente com as anfetaminas e com o princípio ativo da maconha (dronabinol), é uma outra questão levantada, sendo tal fato para grande parte dos profissionais uma total incoerência.

Four hundred and sixty three brazilian neurologists and 411 brazilian psychiatrists answered a questionnaire aimed at to obtain information on the prescription of methylphenidate for the treatment of the Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder. The majority of the doctors reported the erratic occurrence of a few non serious adverse reactions such as headache, weight loss, inapetence, hyperexcitability and tachycardia. On the other hand, only six doctors reported cases that cold raise a suspicion of drug dependence, although none of these six cases satisfied the ICD-10 criteria for dependence. The vast majority of the medical doctors manifested the opinion that the especial prescriptions the "Notifications A" of yellow color, the same used for opiates also, as demanded by the Brazilian Health Authorities, is inadequate as it raises misconceptions in relation to the real patient disease and frightens the parents and relatives. The doctors also claimed the such especial prescription form encumbers the prescription of the medicament making methylphenidate the second choice for the treatment and, for this reason, less available in pharmacies and drugstores. As a consequence the adherence to the treatment is more difficult to attain. The neurologists and psychiatrists agree that a certain control over methylphenidate is necessary, but as it is prescribed mostly by specialists and does not possess an evident abuse potential, the "Prescription Notification B", of blue color, would be enough for efficient control. In fact, according to the doctors, the scheduling in Brazil of methylphenidate in the same list as the amphetamines and dronabinol (the active principle of Cannabis sativa) should be reviewed.

Realizou-se estudo clínico duplo-cego controlado com placebo, buscando-se comprovar os efeitos tônicos em atividade física atribuídos às raízes de Pfaffia glomerata. Foram triados 38 voluntários normais e realizou-se testes ergoespirométricos, com medição de VO2 máximo, carga máxima atingida, freqüência cardíaca submáxima e níveis sanguíneos de lactato no início e no fim do teste. Os voluntários receberam o extrato das raízes ou placebo por seis meses. Ocorreu apenas uma desistência no grupo placebo, não se verificou alterações clínico-laboratoriais e anotou-se manifestações mínimas de efeitos adversos. O teste ergoespirométrico realizado no início e no fim do estudo clínico não evidenciou alterações positivas ou negativas nos vários parâmetros analisados. Concluiu-se que, nos termos do protocolo utilizado e com o número de voluntários envolvidos, que o extrato padronizado das raízes de Pfaffia glomerata não promoveu benefícios aos voluntários em termos de aptidão e atividade física.

This double-blind clinical study controlled with placebo, being looked for to check the tonic effects in physical activity attributed to the roots of Pfaffia glomerata. It was selected 38 normal volunteers and it took place ergoespirometric tests, with mensuration of VO2 maximum, reached maximum load, frequency heart and blood levels of lactato. The volunteers received the extract of the roots or placebo for six months. It just happened a waiver in the group placebo, it was not verified clinicallaboratorials alterations and it scored minimum manifestations of adverse effects. The ergoespirometric test accomplished in the beginning and at the end of the clinical study it didn’t evidence positive or negative alterations in the several analyzed parameters. It was ended that, in the terms of the used protocol and with the number of involved volunteers, that the standardized extract of the roots of Pfaffia glomerata didn’t promote benefits to the volunteers in aptitude terms and physical activity.