OBJECTIVES: To examine the cellularity and thickness of the articular cartilage of the femur in rats with arthritis after treatment with iontophoresis. METHODS: To evaluate these objectives, a histological analysis was performed on hematoxylin and eosin, where cellularity and cartilage thickness were observed and evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively by manual counting by 700.09µm² area. RESULTS: The group treated with IAA had normal cellularity (40.1 cells/μm2) and maintenance of non-calcified cartilage (75.5μm), suggesting normal thickness. The non-treated group C+, on the other hand, had a lower mean number of chondrocytes (13.0μm2) (P <0.05) and, when the cartilage thickness was compared, it showed higher average thickness of calcified cartilage (104.8 mm) and lower mean of non-calcified cartilage (53.3μm) CONCLUSION: The use of iontophoresis with L-ascorbic acid by continuous electric current contributed to a quantitative gain of chondrocytes and improved the thickness distribution of calcified and non-calcified cartilage. Level of Evidence III, Case Control Study.

Espécies reativas do oxigênio (ERO) e radicais livres estão relacionados ao início ou à exacerbação de muitas doenças em organismos vivos; existindo portanto uma necessidade contínua por moléculas antioxidantes que inativem as ERO e radicais livres. Muitos estudos com extratos brutos de plantas têm demonstrado propriedades antioxidantes e seqüestradoras de radicais livres. Espécies de Salacia são utilizadas, em muitos países, como remédio tradicional contra certas doenças e por suas propriedades antiinflamatórias. Neste estudo, o extrato bruto etanólico da casca da raiz da Salacia campestris Walp (Hippocrateaceae) foi avaliado quanto à sua habilidade em seqüestrar radicais livres e espécies reativas do oxigênio; os resultados são expressos como porcentagem de inibição das espécies ativas. ScEtOH mostrou-se eficiente frente as espécies estudadas: radical DPPH (inibição obtida = 30%), ABTS•+ (IC50 = 1,8±0,8 μg/mL), HOCl (IC50 = 1,7 ± 0,1 μg/mL), O2•- (inibição obtida = 32%), and NO• (inibição obtida = 18%). A inibição da atividade peroxidásica foi avaliada através da oxidação do guaiacol catalisada pela hemina, HRP e mieloperoxidase (MPO); os dados mostram que 10 μg/mL de ScEtOH promovem 54 e 51% de inibição, respectivamente para os sistemas da hemina e da HRP. No sistema da MPO, ScEtOH promoveu 50% de inibição na dose de 8,9 μg/mL, enquanto a quercetina, um potente inibidor da MPO promoveu tal inibição com 1,35 μg/mL.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical species have been implicated in initiating or accompanying many diseases in living organisms; there is thus, a continual need for antioxidants molecules to inactivate ROS/free radicals. Many studies of plants crude extracts have demonstrated free-radical scavenging and antioxidant action. Salacia species have long been used, in several countries, as traditional medicines against certain diseases and for their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, Salacia campestris Walp (Hippocrateaceae) root bark ethanol extract (ScEtOH) was assessed for its ability to scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen species; the results were expressed as percentage inhibition of the active species. ScEtOH was efficient against studied species: DPPH radical (obtained inhibition = 30%), ABTS•+ (IC50 = 1.8±0.8 μg/mL), HOCl (IC50 = 1.7 ± 0.1 μg/mL), O2•- (obtained inhibition = 32%), and NO• (obtained inhibition = 18 %). Peroxidase activity inhibition was evaluated through the guaiacol oxidation reaction catalyzed by hemin, HRP and myeloperoxidase (MPO); data showed that ScEtOH at 10 μg/mL led to 54 and 51% of inhibition, respectively, for the hemin and HRP systems. In the MPO system, ScEtOH promoted a 50% inhibition at 8.9 μg/mL, whereas quercetin, a powerful MPO inhibitor, inhibited this system at 1.35 μg/mL.

The phytochemical investigation of the flowers of Pterogyne nitens (Caesalpinioideae) resulted in the isolation and identification of nine phenolic derivatives, quercetin 3-O-sophoroside, taxifolin, astilbin, ourateacatechin, caffeic, ferulic, sinapic, chlorogenic and gallic acid, besides two guanidine alkaloids, pterogynine, pterogynidine. This is the first time these compounds have been reported in P. nitens flowers. As this is a monospecific genus, these secondary metabolites may have taxonomical significance. Their structures were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic analyses, including two-dimensional NMR techniques.

Espécies Reativas do Oxigênio (ERO) e radicais livres têm tido implicações na iniciação e evolução de muitas doenças ou nas causas das mesmas em organismos vivos; há portanto, necessidade contínua por moléculas antioxidantes para inativar ERO/radicais livres. Estudos sobre extratos brutos de plantas têm demonstrado suas ações antioxidante e seqüestradora de radicais livres. Espécies do gênero Maytenus são utilizadas, em vários países, como medicamentos tradicionais no combate a úlceras gástricas, dispepsia e outras desordens gástricas, bem como por suas propriedades antiinflamatórias. Neste estudo, o extrato bruto etanólico da raiz da Maytenus aquifolium (Celastraceae) foi avaliado quanto à sua habilidade em seqüestrar radicais livres e outras espécies reativas do oxigênio. Os resultados são expressos como porcentagem de inibição das espécies ativas. O extrato foi eficiente contra as espécies estudadas: radical DPPH (inibição alcançada = 35,5 ± 1,3 %), ABTS•+ (IC50 = 0,0036 ± 0,0003 mg/mL), HOCl (IC50 = 0,002 ± 0,0001 mg/mL ), O2•- (inibição alcançada = 36,0 ± 2,1 %), and NO· (inibição alcançada = 18,3 ± 0,4 %).

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radical species have been implicated in initiating, accompanying or causing many diseases in living organisms; there is thus, a continual need for antioxidants molecules to inactivate ROS/free radicals. Many studies of plants crude extracts have demonstrated free-radical scavenging and antioxidant action. Maytenus species have long been used, in several countries, as traditional medicines against gastric ulcers, dyspepsia and others gastric problems and for their anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, Maytenus aquifolium (Celastraceae) root bark ethanol extract was assessed for its ability to scavenge free radicals and reactive oxygen species. The results were expressed as percentage inhibition of the active species. The extract was efficient against studied reactive species: DPPH radical (obtained inhibition = 35.5 ± 1.3 %), ABTS•+ (IC50 = 0.0036 ± 0.0003 mg/mL), HOCl (IC50 = 0.002 ± 0.0001 mg/mL ), O2•- (obtained inhibition = 36.0 ± 2.1 %), and NO• (obtained inhibition = 18.3 ± 0.4 %).