Abstract. Clusia minor L. is traditionally used to treat many disorders that including pain and inflammation such as sores and warts. Four extracts from the leaves of the plant were prepared: hexane (A), ethyl acetate (B), methanol (C) and ethanol (E). GC/MS analysis of extracts B and C led to the identification of thirty-three and twenty-seven compounds, respectively. The presence of vitamin E and lupeol was relevant in both extracts. All extracts showed effective radical scavenger properties in the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay, being extract E the most promissory (IC50 = 10.25 µg/mL). Extracts A, C and E, administered topically (0.5-4 mg per ear), significantly reduced ear edema induced by croton oil at 4 mg per ear, meanwhile, extract B was able to significantly reduce the inflammation at the dose of 2 mg per ear. The cytotoxic activity of the extracts was evaluated against four cell lines. Extract B showed the most cytotoxicity effect, with IC50 values in the range of 32.01-203.5 µg/mL. In addition, no acute oral toxicity after mice exposure to the four extracts was observed. The results suggest Clusia minor L. may be an excellent potential source of new bioactive agents for the development of new medicinal agents.

Resumen. La especie Clusia minor L. se usa tradicionalmente para tratar algunos trastornos que incluyen dolor e inflamación, como son las llagas y verrugas. Se prepararon cuatro extractos a partir de las hojas de la planta: hexano (A), acetato de etilo (B), metanol (C) y etanol (E). El análisis por CG/EM de los extractos B y C permitieron la identificación de 33 y 27 compuestos, respectivamente. La presencia de vitamina E y lupeol fue relevante en ambos extractos. Todos los extractos mostraron capacidad secuestradora del radical 2,2-difenil-2-picril-hidrazilo (DPPH), siendo el extracto E el más prometedor (IC50 = 10,25 μg/ml). Los extractos A, C y E, administrados tópicamente (0,5-4 mg por oreja), redujeron significativamente el edema de oreja inducido por aceite de crotón a 4 mg por oreja; mientras que el extracto B lo logró a la dosis de 2 mg por oreja. También fue evaluada la actividad citotóxica de los extractos contra cuatro líneas celulares. El extracto B mostró el mayor efecto de citotoxicidad, con valores de IC50 en el rango de 32,01-203,5 μg/mL. Además, no se observó toxicidad aguda por vía oral después de la exposición de los ratones a los extractos. Los resultados sugieren que esta especie puede ser una fuente potencial de nuevos agentes bioactivos para desarrollar agentes medicinales.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do tratamento com talidomida no carcinoma mamário murino 4T1. Após a suspensão de células 4T1, estas foram inoculadas no flanco esquerdo para obtenção de tumor sólido. Depois de cinco dias de inoculação, o grupo tratado recebeu, por via oral, 150 mg/kg de talidomida por sete dias. Os tumores foram mensurados a cada 48 horas e ao final do experimento. Sangue total foi coletado para análise hematológica. Os resultados sugerem que a terapêutica com talidomida aumenta o número de leucócitos circulantes no carcinoma mamário murino 4T1. Essa resposta foi acompanhada de uma diminuição do crescimento tumoral.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapy effect of thalidomide in the 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma. 4T1 cell suspension was injected into the posterior left flank of all animals to obtain solid tumors. Five days after inoculation, the treatment group was orally administered 150 mg/kg of thalidomide for seven days. Tumors were measured every 48 hours until the end of treatment. Whole blood was collected for hematology analysis. Our results suggest that thalidomide therapy increase the number of circulating leukocytes in the 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma, and this response is accompanied by a decrease in tumor growth.

The chemotherapy agents against cancer may be classified as "cell cycle-specific" or "cell cycle-nonspecific". Nevertheless, several of them have their biological activity related to any kind of action on DNA such as: antimetabolic agents (DNA synthesis inhibition), inherently reactive agents (DNA alkylating electrophilic traps for macromolecular nucleophiles from DNA through inter-strand cross-linking - ISC - alkylation) and intercalating agents (drug-DNA interactions inherent to the binding made due to the agent penetration in to the minor groove of the double helix). The earliest and perhaps most extensively studied and most heavily employed clinical anticancer agents in use today are the DNA inter-strand cross-linking agents.

Samples of a commercial glass fiber FM® (Fiber Max) were used to test the efficacy of a chemical sol-gel surface treatment to enhance their bioactivity. After treatment with tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), individual fiber samples were soaked into a simulated body fluid (SBF) solution, from which they were removed at intervals of 5 and 10 days. Micrographs obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of samples chemically treated with TEOS revealed the formation of a hydroxyapatite (HA) coating layer after 5 days into SBF solution. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic (FTIR) analyses confirmed that the coating layer has P-O vibration bands characteristic of HA. The in vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated using a direct contact test, minimum essential medium elution test (ISO 10993-5) and MTT assay. Fibers immersed in SBF and their extracts exhibited lower cytotoxicity than the controls not subjected to immersion, suggesting that SBF treatment improves the biocompatibility of the fiber.

Calcium phosphates and bioactive glasses have been used in many biomedical applications for more than 30 years due basically to their bioactive behavior. However, ceramics are too brittle for applications that require high levels of toughness and easy processability. In this work, a biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) and a bioactive glass composition (BG) were combined with polymers to produce composites with tailorable properties and processability. The BCP particles were synthesized by a precipitation technique. The BG particles were produced by sol-gel processing. The BCP particles were treated with a silane agent to improve the compatibility between particles and the polymer matrix. Dense samples were produced by hot pressing (200 °C) a mixture of 30 wt.% of particles in poly (methyl methacrylate). The samples produced were characterized by X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Mechanical properties were evaluated by a three point bending test. Samples were also submitted to in vitro bioactivity test and in vivo toxicity test. Results showed that the production of the composites was successfully achieved, yielding materials with particles well dispersed within the matrices. Evaluation of the in vivo inflammatory response showed low activity levels for all composites although composites with silane treated BCP particles led to milder inflammatory responses than composites with non-treated particles.