Abstract Purpose: Comparing survival rates of rats subjected to spleen procedures after fecal peritonitis induction. Assessing changes in TCD4 and CD8 lymphocyte rates before and after the procedures. Correlating animal survival with CD4 and CD8 lymphocytes. Methods: Thirty male Wistar rats were distributed into 3 groups of ten: spleen manipulation (SM); total splenectomy (TS); subtotal splenectomy with preservation of the inferior pole (IP). Rats were subjected to surgical procedure depending on the group. Seven days after surgery they underwent induction of peritonitis and survival time was recorded. All animals were subjected to two blood collections: before surgery and 70 days after it for TCD4/TCD8 lymphocyte counting. Results: Mean survival time was longer in the IP and SM groups and shorter in the TS group; there was significant difference between them. The comparison of the median number of CD4 did not present changes, whereas the comparison of the median number of CD8 decreased in the SM and IP groups. The correlation between the median number of TCD4 and TCD8 lymphocytes and the animals’ survival was not significant. Conclusion: The maintenance of splenic tissue contributed to increase the survival of rats and there was a change in the number of TCD8 lymphocytes.

ABSTRACT The objective was to investigate the total saponin and protodioscin concentrations and the cytotoxicity in vitro, of five samples of the plant Tribulus terrestris, commercially available in the metropolitan region of Vitória - Espirito Santo, Brazil, and to compare them with the aqueous extract of the plant. The chromatographic profile and quantification of protodioscin in commercial samples and plant extract were evaluated by LC-MS/MS. The percentage of total saponins were determined by the colorimetric method. Extracts and protodioscin cytotoxicity were analyzed by the MTT assay in three cell lineages: fibroblasts (L929), ovarian cancer (Ovcar3) and murine hepatoma (Hepa1c1c7). All extracts displayed high levels of total saponins (207.2 to 780.3 mg g-1 of dry extract). The chromatographic profile revealed a wide diversity of compounds, and the saponin protodioscin was detected in only two extracts. One extract displayed high cytotoxicity, with IC50 values of 157.0, 38.2 and 7.4 µg mL-1 for the Ovcar3, Hepa1c1c7 and L929 cell lines, respectively. The other extracts displayed cytotoxic effects only at concentrations equal to or greater than 125.0 µg mL-1. Surprisingly, the most cytotoxic extract displayed the highest protodioscin concentration. Therefore, it is suggested that these products be marketed with caution, and followed-up by a certified healthcare professional.