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.

ABSTRACT The Mylodontidae Scelidotheriinae (Mammalia, Xenarthra, Tardigrada) are a diversified clade of South American fossil ground sloths, with a wide geographic distribution, especially in high and middle latitudes. According to the last revision, the Quaternary diversity includes the genera Scelidotherium, Catonyx, and Valgipes. The clade Scelidotheriinae is well represented in the Pleistocene of the Tarija-Padcaya basin, and the first mention of these ground sloths correspond to the middle of the XIX Century. Since then, several species (i.e., Scelidotherium tarijensis, Scelidodon tarijensis, Scelidotherium capellini) have been reported as inhabiting the Tarija-Padcaya basin during the Pleistocene. Despite the abundance of fossil records of Scelidotheriinae in this area, no modern taxonomic revisions are available. In consequence, in this contribution a revision of the remains assigned to Scelidotheriinae from the Tarija-Padcaya basin is accomplished, and some biostratigraphic and geographic implications are discussed. Our results show that one single species (Catonyx tarijensis) can be recognized in the studied area, whereas a supposed smaller one (Scelidotherium patrium) actually corresponds to juvenile specimens of C. tarijensis.

Medicinal plants (MP) have been used world-wide for the treatment or prevention of health conditions and due to their natural origin; they have been historically considered harmless. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with an intentional sample of twenty plant vendors in the city of Diadema to explore their knowledge and beliefs on the safety and efficacy of MP. Different levels of perceptions about the safety of MP were found, varying from "completely safe" to "completely harmful". The majority of the interviewees declared that "if herbs have an effect, they are also likely to have a side effect", depending on many factors such as dosage, concomitant use of other drugs, characteristics of the plant material and consumer related factors, specially those related to pregnant women, children and elderly people. Thirty-nine unexpected events related to 21 species of MP were reported. One case of serious gastrointestinal disease related to the consumption of a contaminated "slim mixture" was also described. Adverse events and other problems that result from MP are relatively uncommon, but they are almost certainly underreported and occur more often than acknowledged. This study strengthens the call for further research and educational efforts into this complex area.

In this paper, the authors report the remains of some taxa of Pleistocene mammals coming from Chaco Province, Argentina. These remains were classified as Glyptodon sp., Neosclerocalyptus cf. N. heusseri, Panochthus sp., Propraopus grandis, Megatherium cf. M. americanum, Megatherium sp., Scelidotherium cf. S. leptocephalum, Lestodon sp., Equus (Amerhippus) neogeus, Toxodon cf. T. gezi and Toxodon sp., Smilodon populator, Morenelaphus sp., Stegomastodon cf. S. platensis and Stegomastodon sp. It is possible to assign a Bonaerian-Lujanian age (middle Pleistocene-early Holocene) for this assemblage of mammals. Paleozoogeographically, the authors remark the similitude of the taxa here described and those reported for the pampean region, Santa Fe, Formosa, Paraguay and southern Bolivia. This situation permits to infer similar climatic conditions among these areas. On the other hand, a preliminary palaeofaunistic comparison with Chile shows some significative differences, specially with central Chile, while the southern and northern regions are more similar to the Argentinian Quaternary paleofauna.

Se da a conocer un conjunto de restos óseos de mamíferos pleistocenos provenientes de distintas localidades de la Provincia del Chaco, Argentina. El conjunto está integrado por Glyptodon sp., Neosclerocalyptus cf. N. heusseri, Panochthus sp., Propraopus grandis, Megatherium cf. M. americanum, Megatherium sp., Scelidotherium cf. S. leptocephalum, Lestodon sp., Equus (Amerhippus) neogeus, Toxodon cf. T. gezi y Toxodon sp., Smilodon populator, Morenelaphus sp., Stegomastodon cf. S. platensis, Stegomastodon sp. La asociación es referible al Bonaerense-Lujanense (Pleistoceno medio- Holoceno temprano). Desde el punto de vista paleozoogeográfico muestra gran similitud con aquéllas de igual antigüedad de la región pampeana, de la Provincia de Formosa, Paraguay y sudeste de Bolivia. Estas similitudes son atribuidas a una marcada homogeneidad ambiental. Por otro lado, una comparación preliminar con la paleomastofauna de Chile indica algunas diferencias significativas, fundamentalmente con respecto a la región central, mientras que hacia el sur y norte se observan mayores similitudes con la paleofauna cuaternaria de Argentina.

Frações protéicas obtidas de sementes de feijão-de-porco (Canavalia ensiformis), bem como o aminoácido canavanina presente nestas sementes, foram avaliadas em sua capacidade de inibir o crescimento dos fungos fitopatogênicos Macrophomina phaseolina, Colletotrichum gloesporioides, Sclerotium rolfsii e Fusarium oxysporum. Constatamos que a maior parte das proteínas examinadas e também canavanina não apresentaram nenhum efeito sobre o crescimento desses fungos. Por outro lado, a proteína tóxica canatoxina mostrou-se efetiva, a uma concentração de 2%, na inibição do crescimento de M. phaseolina, C. gloesporioides e S. rolfsii.

Protein fractions obtained from seeds of the jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis) as well as the amino acid canavanine, present in these seeds, were tested for their capacity to inhibit the growth of the phytopathogenic fungi Macrophomina phaseolina, Colletotrichum gloesporioides, Sclerotium rolfsii and Fusarium oxysporum. We found that most of the proteins examined and also canavanine did not have any effect on the growth of these fungi. On the other hand the toxic protein canatoxin was found to be effective, at a concentration of 2%, in the inhibition of the growth of M. phaseolina, C. gloesporioides and S. rolfsii.

Investigação prévia mostrou que ratos privados de sono (REM SD) mostram acentuação de resposta a agonistas dopaminérgicos. As evidências indicam que essa ação parece ser mediada por supersensibilização de receptores dopaminérgicos pós-sinápticos. Com base nisso, foi feita REM SD em ratos com modelo experimental da doença de Parkinson, nos quais foi feita lesão eletrolítica bilateral de ambas as vias nigro-estriatais. Sete dias após a cirurgia os animais eram submetidos a REM SD por 72 horas. Imediatamente após o final deste período era feita observação em campo aberto para a ambulação, "rearing", "grooming" e latência. Em comparação com ratos não-privados foi observado aumento significativo na ambulação e "rearing", resposta que reapareceu após um segundo período de REM SD, realizado 21 dias após a cirurgia. Estes dados, de melhora de dois parâmetros de modelo experimental da doença de Parkinson, sugerem que a privação de sono pode ser útil nesta doença.

Previous investigations have shown that REM sleep deprived (REM SD) rats display an enhanced response to dopamine agonists. This action seems to be mediated through a supersensitivity of dopamine post-synaptic receptors. Accordingly, REM SD was performed on rats with an experimental model of Parkinson's disease. The animals were bilaterally lesioned in the nigrostriatal pathway through a stereotaxically directed electrical current. Seven days after the surgery the animals were REM SD for 72 hours and immediatelly after the end of this period were observed in an open field for ambulation, rearing, grooming, and latency. In comparison with non-deprived rats there was a significant increase in ambulation and rearing, a response that appeared again after a second REM SD period on day 21th after the surgery. These data of improvement of two parameters of an experimental model of Parkinson's disease suggest that SD may be useful in this condition.