Contrast-induced nephropathy (NIC) is directly related to increased morbidity and mortality, and its treatment and prevention might be achieved by the administration of antioxidant products. The juçara palmetto (Euterpe edulis Martius) has fruits rich in phenolic compounds, which are known for their antioxidant activity. This work aimed to evaluate the nephroprotective activity of E. edulis pulp in the NIC animal model. The collected fruits were pulped, their contents of polyphenols and anthocyanins were quantified, and their antioxidant activity were evaluated. The nephroprotective effects were determined based on iodine contrast induction and evaluated by biochemical and histological analyses. The results showed that E. edulis pulp was rich in polyphenols (811 ± 16.7 mg EAG/g) and anthocyanins (181.25 mg/100 g) and had very strong antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) method, which revealed an antioxidant activity index (AAI) of 3.4, and the 2,29-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, which revealed an IC50 of 0.59 ± 0.03 mg/mL. In the in vivo experiments, E. edulis pulp tended to provide renal protection and reduce renal dysfunction and tubular morphological lesions in mice after the induction of NIC, and these effects were obtained through the antioxidant activities of the polyphenols in the pulp.

RESUMO História e literatura exprimem sentidos ao mundo social por meio de narrativas que subsidiam a investigação histórica, com pistas fragmentárias de suas redes de interlocução social e intertextual. Em consonância com esses pressupostos teórico-metodológicos, este artigo analisa o indianismo preconizado pelo Romantismo brasileiro, por meio do estudo da polêmica entre Domingos José Gonçalves de Magalhães e José de Alencar. A Confederação dos Tamoios (1856), poema épico escrito por Magalhães e narrado em forma de versos, descrevia o conflito empreendido pelos índios Tamoios, no período de 1554 a 1567, contra os portugueses e sua prática de escravização indígena. O poema não teve aceitação totalmente elogiosa, com destaque para as críticas de José de Alencar que, sob o pseudônimo de Ig, alegou que o formato de epopeia não captava o heroísmo idealizado às personagens indígenas e às especificidades do Brasil mediante o pouco destaque atribuído às características da natureza. O ponto de convergência na abordagem de ambos era a ênfase na figura do indígena, gestada a partir de uma aproximação com os relatos de cronistas, mas por intermédio de maneiras distintas de usufruto: Magalhães adotava a fidelidade ao “testemunho”, sem a idealização, enquanto Alencar seguiu o caminho inverso e poetizou os nativos. Tais embates literários confirmaram a formulação de uma literatura romântica pautada no estudo de cronistas para a composição de textos ficcionais, demarcando a evidência da fluidez entre história e literatura no universo letrado oitocentista.

Abstract History and literature express senses to the social world via narratives that subsidize historical investigation, with fragments of its networks of social and intertextual dialogue. In accordance with those theoretical and methodological assumptions, this article aims to analyze the Indianism promoted by Brazilian Romanticism, through the study of the controversy between Domingos José Gonçalves de Magalhães and José de Alencar. A Confederação dos Tamoios (1856), epic poem written by Magalhães and narrated in the form of verses, depicted the 1554-1567 conflict undertaken by indigenous Tamoio people against the Portuguese and their practice of indigenous slavery. The poem did not have a totally positive reception, with emphasis on José de Alencar’s criticism who, under the pseudonymous Ig, claimed that the epic format did not capture the idealized heroism of indigenous characters and the specificities of Brazil, due to lack of emphasis attributed to characteristics of nature. A mutual point of convergence in the approach was the emphasis on the indigenous character, born out of an approximation with accounts from chroniclers, though via different approaches: Magalhães adopted the fidelity to “testimony” sans idealization; while Alencar followed the opposite way and poetized natives. These literary clashes confirmed the formulation of a Romantic literature, based on the study of chroniclers for composition of fictional texts, evidencing the fluidity between History and Literature in the nineteenth-century literary universe.

Introduction: species of the family Cyperaceae are commonly used by the population to treat gastric disorders.However, there are a few ethnopharmacological studies about this family Lagenocarpus rigidus (Kunth) Ness, Cyperaceae, is one of the most widespread swamp species. Objective: evaluate the gastric activity of L. rigidus and its chemical characterization. Methods: ethanolic extract of L. rigidus (ELR) leaves prepared by percolation was subjected to total polyphenol and flavonoid quantification, as well as HPLC quantification of some flavonoids. Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition was determined by colorimetric assays.The gastric effects of ELR were tested in male Wistar rats (n = 6 each group) treated with different doses (600, 60 and 6 mg/kg i.p.) ELR.Gastric lesions were induced by administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg s.c.).The number of ulcers and the index of mucosal damage (IMD) were determined taking into account the color, edema and bleeding of gastric lesions, the number of petechiae, and the number and size of the ulcers. Statistical analysis of data was performed with one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey's test; significance was p < 0.05. Results: ELR inhibited the ACE (68.5±18.1%) at a concentration of 100 mg/mL.Oral administration of ELR (6, 60 and 600 mg/kg) showed protective activity against indomethacin-induced gastric injury. Total polyphenols in ELR were 157.7 ± 5.8 mg pirogalol/mg equivalent flavonoids and 66.9 ± 3.1 µg equivalent quercetin/mg. Conclusion: L. rigidus protects against acute gastric damage induced by indomethacin in an independent dose manner.

Introducción: las especies de la familia Cyperaceae popularmente se utilizan para tratar trastornos gástricos. Sin embargo, hay pocos estudios etnofarmacológicos sobre esta familia. Lagenocarpus rigidus (Kunth) Ness, Cyperaceae, es una de las especies más grandes de población en pantano. Objetivo: evaluar la actividad gástrica de L. rigidus, junto a su caracterización química. Métodos: el extracto etanólico de hojas de L. rigidus (ELR), preparado por percolación fue objeto de cuantificación de polifenoles y flavonoides totales, cuantificación por HPLC de algunos flavonoides. La inhibición de la enzima convertidora de angiotensina (ECA) se realizó por ensayos colorimétricos. Los efectos gástricos de ELR se llevó a cabo en ratas Wistar macho (n = 6, cada grupo), el tratamiento con diferentes dosis (600, 60 y 6 mg/kg ip) de ELR. Las lesiones gástricas se indujeron mediante la administración de indometacina (30 mg/kg sc). El número de úlceras y signos de puntuación del índice de lesión de las mucosas (IMD) se evaluó teniendo en cuenta el color, edema y hemorragia de las lesiones gástricas, el número de petequias, y el número y tamaño de las úlceras. El análisis estadístico de los datos se realizó mediante ANOVA 1 vía, seguido por el test de Tukey y significación fue de p < 0,05. Resultados: ELR inhiben la ACE (68,5 ± 18,1 %) a una concentración de 100 mg/mL. La administración oral de ELR (6, 60 y 600 mg/kg) mostró un efecto protector gástrico contra inducido por indometacina. Los polifenoles totales de ELR fue 157,7 ± 5,8 mg equivalente de pirogalol/mg de flavonoides y 66,9 ± 3,1 μg equivalentes de quercetina/mg. Conclusiones: L. rigidus protege contra el daño gástrico agudo inducido por la indometacina en una organización independiente de la dosis.