Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / O 1,8-cineol, o α-pineno e β-pineno sÃo monoterpenos constituintes do Ãleo essencial de plantas encontradas no Nordeste do Brasil como a âmalva-santaâ e o âeucaliptoâ (Ãleo Essencial do Eucalyptus tereticornis - OEET) que, na medicina popular, sÃo usadas no tratamento de distÃrbios intestinais e respiratÃrios. As aÃÃes miorrelaxantes desses Ãleos essenciais sÃo atribuÃdas à presenÃa desses monoterpenos. Nosso objetivo foi estudar mais detalhadamente os efeitos desses constituintes, assim como o do OEET, sobre a contratilidade do mÃsculo liso gastrintestinal e sobre o efeito procinÃtico em ratos. No presente estudo, foram usados ratos Wistar machos (180-250g) sacrificados por deslocamento cervical. Tiras de duodeno, Ãleo e fundo de estÃmago foram cortados e mantidos em soluÃÃo de Tyrode normal. As contraÃÃes isomÃtricas foram registradas atravÃs de transdutores de forÃa conectados a sistema computadorizado. SoluÃÃes contendo o 1,8-cineol, o α-pineno ou β-pineno foram preparadas em Tween 80 (concentraÃÃo final ≤ 0,2% v/v). Usados isoladamente, o OEET, o 1,8-cineol, o α-pineno e β-pineno diminuÃram o tÃnus basal em tiras de duodeno. Em tÃnus basal de tiras isoladas de fundo gÃstrico, o OEET e o 1,8-cineol possuÃram efeito miorrelaxante, enquanto o α-pineno e o β-pineno possuÃram efeito contrÃtil. Esse efeito contrÃtil do α-pineno e do β-pineno em tiras isoladas de fundo gÃstrico à por possÃvel interferÃncia com o mecanismo dependente de IP3 e independe da ativaÃÃo local do receptor muscarÃnico e de uma aÃÃo central na ativaÃÃo de receptores nicotÃnicos, da mesma forma, o efeito miorrelaxante na musculatura lisa duodenal à mediado por possÃvel interferÃncia com os mecanismos celulares mediados pela formaÃÃo de IP3. AlÃm disso, como demonstrado anteriormente, em Ãleo de rato, esses monoterpenos provavelmente ativam as vias de entrada de Ca2+ para a cÃlula em situaÃÃes de depleÃÃo dos estoques intracelulares. Em estudos de retenÃÃo fracional de corante no trato gastrintestinal, o OEET, o 1,8-cineol, o α-pineno e o β-pineno promoveram a aceleraÃÃo do esvaziamento gÃstrico. O α-pineno e β-pineno tambÃm aceleraram o trÃnsito intestinal e reduziram a complacÃncia gÃstrica. Os nossos dados mostram que OEET possui propriedades prÃ-cinÃticas, que podem ser atribuÃveis aos efeitos contrastantes induzidos por α-pineno e β-pineno, corroborando com dados apresentados anteriormente (JucÃ, 2007). / The monoterpenes 1,8-cineole, α-pinen and β-pinene are constituents commonly found in several essential oils obtained from plants in Brazilian northeast such as âmalva-santaâ and âeucaliptoâ (Essential Oil of Eucalyptus tereticornis - EOET), which are used in folk medicine to treat respiratory and gastrointestinal dysfunctions. Myorelaxant actions are due to the presence of these constituents in their essential oils. The present work aimed to further study the pharmacological effects of these compounds, as well as the EOET, on smooth muscle gastrointestinal contractility and the prokinetic effect in rats. Wistar rats (200-250 g) were used, sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Strips were carefully obtained from gastric fundus, duodenum and ileum, and were maintained in normal Tyrode‟s solution. Isometric contractions were recorded through force transducers coupled to a computerized data acquisition system. Solutions containing 1,8-cineolo, α-pinene or β-pinene were prepared with Tween 80 (final concentration ≤ 0,2% v/v). Solely used, EOET, 1,8-cineole, α-pinene or β-pinene decreased duodenal basal tonus. In basal tone of gastric fundus isolated strips, EOET and 1,8-cineole had relaxant effect, while α-pinene and β-pinene had contractile effect. This contractile effect of α-pinene and β-pinene in isolated strips of gastric fundus is due to possible interference with IP3-dependent mechanism and independent of the muscarinic receptor activation and a central action in the activation of nicotinic receptors, in the same way, the duodenal smooth muscle relaxant effect is mediated by possible interference with the cellular mechanisms mediated by the formation of IP3. Moreover, as shown above, in the rat ileum, monoterpenes activate capacitative Ca2+ entry to intracellular milieu after Ca2+ stores depletion. The α-pinene and β-pinene also accelerated intestinal transit and reduced gastric compliance. Our data show that OEET has prokinetic properties in rats, which may be attributable to the contrasting effects induced by α-pinene and β-pinene, corroborating data presented previously (JucÃ, 2007).

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / AntipsicÃticos representam o alicerce no tratamento da esquizofrenia, um transtorno mental grave, incapacitante, com elevada carga social. A esquizofrenia à uma sÃndrome caracterizada pela presenÃa de sintomas positivos, negativos e cognitivos. A terapia atual nÃo trata de maneira satisfatÃria os sintomas negativos e cognitivos. Um modelo relevante para o estudo da esquizofrenia em uma abordagem prÃ-clÃnica à o da administraÃÃo de cetamina. Neste sentido a administraÃÃo repetida desta droga à capaz de mimetizar grande parte dos sintomas da esquizofrenia em roedores. A Alpinia zerumbet à uma planta cujo Ãleo essencial (OEAZ) vem apresentando importante efeito antipsicÃtico como evidenciado em publicaÃÃes prÃvias de nosso grupo de pesquisa. Com base nesta afirmativa o presente trabalho objetivou determinar os efeitos do OEAZ contra sintomas positivos, negativos e cognitivos tipo esquizofrenia induzidos pela administraÃÃo aguda e repetida de cetamina. Para tanto foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos tratados com OEAZ 100 ou 200 mg/kg sozinho ou apÃs a administraÃÃo de cetamina. No protocolo de administraÃÃes repetidas a cetamina foi administrada por cinco dias e por mais cinco dias os animais receberam cetamina e OEAZ 100 ou 200 mg/kg. Um grupo de animais foi tratado com o antipsicÃtico atÃpico risperidona e outro recebeu soluÃÃo salina (controle). ApÃs os tratamentos os animais foram submetidos a avaliaÃÃes comportamentais para a determinaÃÃo de sintomas positivos (atividade locomotora), negativos (interaÃÃo social) e cognitivos (labirinto em Y e memÃria de reconhecimento de objetos). Os resultados mostraram que a administraÃÃo aguda de cetamina nÃo foi capaz de causar alteraÃÃes em todos os modelos utilizados, principalmente em relaÃÃo à memÃria de reconhecimento de objetos que foi inclusive melhorada pela administraÃÃo aguda da droga. O OEAZ em ambas as doses foi capaz de reverter estas alteraÃÃes. A administraÃÃo repetida da cetamina foi capaz de mimetizar de forma mais fiel as alteraÃÃes relacionadas à esquizofrenia, sendo que neste modelo a administraÃÃo do OEAZ foi superior à da risperidona, principalmente na memÃria de trabalho. Portanto, os resultados do presente estudo mostram que o OEAZ pode ser uma nova abordagem farmacolÃgica no tratamento dos sintomas negativos e cognitivos da esquizofrenia / Antipsychotics represent the basis in treatment of schizophrenia, a severe mental disorder, disabling, with high social burden. Schizophrenia is a syndrome characterized by the presence of positive, negative and cognitive symptoms. The current therapy does not manage satisfactorily the negative and cognitive symptoms. One of the most relevant models for the study of schizophrenia in a preclinical approach is the administration of ketamine. In this sense the repeated administration of the drug can largely mimic the symptoms of schizophrenia in rodents. The Alpinia zerumbet is a plant whose essential oil (EOAZ) has shown significant antipsychotic effect as evidenced in previous studies of our research group. Based on this statement the present study aimed to determine the effects of EOAZ against positive, negative and cognitive schizophrenia induced by acute and repeated administration of ketamine-like symptoms. For this it was used male Wistar rats treated with EOAZ 100 or 200 mg/kg alone or following the administration of ketamine. In repeated administration protocol ketamine was applied for five days and in the subsequent five days the animals received both ketamine and EOAZ 100 or 200 mg/kg. One group of animals was treated with the atypical antipsychotic risperidone and other received saline (control). After treatment the animals were subjected to behavioral assessments for the determination of positive symptoms (locomotor activity) , negative (social interaction) and cognitive (Y maze and object recognition memory) . The results showed that acute administration of ketamine was not able to cause changes in all models used , especially in relation to recognition memory of objects that was even enhanced by acute drug administration. The EOAZ at both doses was able to reverse those changes. Repeated administration of ketamine was able to mimic more accurately the changes related to schizophrenia , and in this model the administration of EOAZ was superior to risperidone , particularly in working memory. Therefore, the results of this study show that EOAZ may be a new pharmacological approach in treating negative and cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A doenÃa tuberculose à altamente infecciosa e estima-se que um terÃo da populaÃÃo mundial esteja infectada. Em 2012, foi estimado que 8,6 milhÃes de pessoas no mundo tiveram a doenÃa, representando umas das doenÃas infecciosas que mais matam no mundo. O agente causador da infecÃÃo à o Mycobacterium tuberculosis, uma micobactÃria com alta capacidade de adquirir resistÃncia aos fÃrmacos usados no tratamento. O desenvolvimento de novas drogas ou opÃÃes terapÃuticas com atividade antimicobacteriana se faz necessÃrio para a reduÃÃo da prevalÃncia da doenÃa. As plantas atravÃs de vias metabÃlicas secundÃrias produzem diversos compostos, sendo jà verificada atividade biolÃgica contra micobactÃrias em algumas classes de terpenÃides. Este estudo avaliou a atividade antimicobacteriana de Ãleos essenciais de Lippia alba, Lippia sidoides, Cymbopogon citratus, Plectranthus amboinicus e Cinnamomun zeylanicum contra a cepa padrÃo (H37Rv) de M. tuberculosis. A tÃcnica utilizada foi de microdiluiÃÃo em placa de 96 poÃos (Resazurin Microtiter Assay - REMA), onde se utiliza a rezasurina, indicador de oxirreduÃÃo, para a avaliaÃÃo do crescimento bacteriano. O rendimento da extraÃÃo dos Ãleos de L. alba, L. sidoides, C. citratus, P. amboinicus e C. zeylanicum foi de 0,49%, 0,68%, 0,30%, 0,009% e 0,13%, respectivamente. O citral foi encontrado como o principal constituinte dos Ãleos de L. alba (70,6%) e C. citratus (80,7%). O Ãleo de L. sidoides teve como principal constituinte o cariofileno (30,2%). O timol (64,3%) foi encontrado em maior percentual de concentraÃÃo no Ãleo do P. amboinicus. No Ãleo de C. zeylanicum foi encontrado o trans-cinamaldeÃdo (86,0%) como principal constituinte. O Ãleo essencial de L. alba nÃo apresentou atividade antimicobacteriana. Os Ãleos de L. sidoides, C. citratus, P. amboinicus e C. zeylanicum apresentaram CIM de 299,5Â117,2Âg/ml, 1.250Âg/ml, 351,6Â55,2Âg/ml e 286,5Â130,2Âg/ml, respectivamente. O Ãleo que apresentou maior atividade antimicobacteriana foi o de L. sidoides, com potÃncia de 5,4 x 10-4. Os resultados mostram que os Ãleos essenciais de L. sidoides, C. citratus, P. amboinicus e C. zeylanicum, contÃm substÃncias com propriedades de inibiÃÃo do crescimento da cepa padrÃo H37Rv de M. tuberculosis. Os Ãleos essenciais sÃo alternativas promissoras na descoberta de novos agentes terapÃuticos. / The infectious agent is the Mycobacterium tuberculosis, one mycobacteria with high capacity to acquire resistance to agents used in the treatment. The development of new drugs or treatments with antimicrobial activity is necessary for reducing the prevalence of the disease. Plants through secondary metabolic pathways produce various compounds, being already observed biological activity against mycobacteria in some classes of terpenoids. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Lippia alba, Lippia sidoides, Cymbopogon citratus, Plectranthus amboinicus and Cinnamomun zeylanicum against standard strain (H37Rv) of M. tuberculosis. The technique used was in 96-well microdilution (Resazurin Microtiter Assay - REMA) card, which uses the rezasurina, redox indicator for the evaluation of the bacterial growth. The yield of extraction of oils from L. alba, L. sidoides, C. citratus, P. amboinicus and C. zeylanicum was 0.49%, 0.68%, 0.30%, 0.009% and 0.13%, respectively. Citral was found as the major constituent of oil of L. alba (70.6%) and C. citratus (80.7%). The oil of L. sidoides has as the main constituent the caryophyllene (30.2%). The thymol (64.3%) was found in a higher percentage of oil concentration in P. amboinicus. In the oil of C. zeylanicum the trans-cinnamaldehyde (86.0%) was found as the main constituent. The essential oil of L. alba do not showed antimicrobial activity. The oil of L. sidoides, C. citratus, P. amboinicus and C. zeylanicum showed MIC of 299.5Â117.2mg/ml, 1.250μg/ml, 351.6Â55.2mg/ml and 286.5Â130.2g/ml, respectively. The oil that showed higher antimicrobial activity was the of L. sidoides, with power of 5.4 x 10-4. The results show that essential oils of L. sidoides, C. citratus, P. amboinicus and C. zeylanicum contains substances with properties of inhibiting the growth of the standard strain H37Rv of M. tuberculosis. Essential oils are promising alternatives in the discovery of new therapeutic agents.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Ocimum. micranthum Willd. à uma planta popularmente conhecida como alfavaca de folha miÃda ou estoraque sendo utilizada na medicina popular no tratamento de gripe, resfriados, febre, tosse, bronquites, nas infecÃÃes intestinais e estomacais, nas otites e como estimulante e carminativa. O presente estudo teve como objetivo mostrar a atividade do Ãleo essencial de Ocimum micranthum e seu principal constituinte, o cinamato de metila, em traquÃias isoladas de ratos Wistar. Foi evidenciado que tanto o OEOM quanto o cinamato de metila, nas concentraÃÃes de 1-1000 Âg/mL, nÃo interferem no tÃnus basal, no entanto sÃo capazes de reverter a resposta contrÃtil induzida por cloreto de potÃssio e carbacol com CI50 de 112 e 128,2 Âg/mL (para o OEOM) e 308 e 100 Âg/mL (para o cinamato de metila) respectivamente. . A concentraÃÃo de 100 Âg/mL OEOM, quando adicionada antes do agente contrÃtil, à capaz de atenuar a resposta mÃxima do KCl em traquÃias de ratos naÃve, fato que nÃo ocorreu quando a contraÃÃo foi induzida por carbacol na presenÃa de nitrendipina. Adicionalmente, em animais submetidos a modelos de asma pela OVA, o OEOM se mostrou mais ativo em animais desafiados do que apenas sensibilizados. Portanto, o mecanismo envolvido nos efeitos miorrelaxante e antiespasmÃdico do OEOM Ã, pelo menos em parte, devido à sua aÃÃo preferencial nos canais de cÃlcio operados por voltagem (VOCC). Seu principal constituinte, o cinamato de metila, parece estar envolvido nos efeitos miorrelaxantes do OEOM. / The Ocimum. micranthum Willd. is a plant popularly known as âalfavaca-de-folha-miÃdaâ or âestoraqueâ and is used in folk medicine to treat flu, colds, fever, cough, bronchitis, stomach and intestinal infections, ear infections and as stimulant and carminative. This study aimed to show the activity of its essential oil (EOOM) and of its main constituent, methyl cinnamate, in rat isolated trachea. It was shown that both the OEOM and methyl cinnamate (1-1000 Âg/mL) did not change the basal tone, but they were able to reverse the contractile response induced by potassium chloride or carbachol with IC50 of 112 and 128.2 Âg/mL (for EOOM) and 308 and 100 μg/mL (for methyl cinnamate), respectively. At 100 Âg/mL, added before the contractile agent, EOOM attenuated maximal response to KCl in trachea from naÃve rats. This effect did not occur when contraction was induced by carbachol in the presence of nitrendipine. Additionally, in animals subjected to an ovalbumin-sensitized model of asthma, EOOM was more active in challenged than in sensitized animals. In conclusion,th e myorelaxant and antispasmodic effects of the EOOM are due to its preferential action on voltage-operated calcium channels. Its major constituent, methyl cinnamte, appears to be involved in the pharmacological effects of the EOOM.

M.Sc. / It is estimated that there are approximately 6.9 million vehicles operating on South African roads, four million (58%) of which represent passenger cars. (Mbendi, 2002a). The number of vehicles operating on national roads increase annually. For motor vehicle engines to perform optimally, among other components, they require engine oil. Nationally in 2002, approximately 40 million litres of motor oil were sold at service station forecourts. For the same period, Gauteng motor oil sales exceeded 17.5 million litres while 76% of these sales occurred in Johannesburg (Maneveld, 2003b). When motor oil is poured into an engine there is always an amount of oil that remains in the container. In this study the author quantifies the amount of unused motor oil that is discarded into the environment via the containers that carry it and makes an assessment of the associated environmental implications. In the South African context, no documented data regarding this problem exists. Chapter one provides the background and motivation to the study, an explicit description of the problem being researched, objectives of the research, the study area and a brief description of the research methodology. This chapter defines the parameters within which the research took place. Chapter two briefly describes the South African oil and lubricants industry. It also focuses on lubricant manufacture, blending, composition, use and properties of lubricants. Chapter three details the research methodology and data collection procedures. This is followed by an analysis of the pilot and main study encompassing statistical interpretation and synthesis. Graphical and photographic illustrations are used. Conclusions were reached on the basis of factual information. Chapter four collates the information from previous chapters, which enables the author to make projections and quantify the amount of unused oil discarded into the environment. An assessment of the associated environmental implications is then determined. In the last chapter, limitations of the study are discussed. This is followed by concluding statements, proposals for further research and recommendations to address the research problem.

No description available.

Willamette mite (WM), Eotetranychus willamettei, is a major pest throughout most winegrape regions in coastal California and Oregon. These mites puncture leaf tissue with their chelicerae and cause loss of photosynthetically active area. Chemical control treatments on grape include nearly ten registered synthetic miticides, plus soaps and oils. Oils can be petroleum based (mineral oil) or botanical (from seeds of various plants). There has been a lot of interest of late in the use of botanical oils other than soybean, including those derived from the seeds of plants including spearmint, rosemary and clove. This project tested for differences in the efficacy of a mineral vs. a botanical oil. The botanical oil was a blend of rosemary and peppermint oil (Ecotrol®) and was tested against a petroleum based oil (Omni Oil®), then compared to a commonly used synthetic miticide (Nexter®, common chemical name pyridaben). The field experiment (San Juan Vineyards in Shandon, CA) tested effects on adult mite and egg populations, with five treatments: Omni Oil®, Ecotrol®, Nexter®, Ecotrol® + Nexter®, and water as a control. Laboratory experiments tested effects on adult females and eggs. Treatments were Omni Oil®, Ecotrol® (1.0%), Ecotrol® (0.5%) and water as a control. Field data showed that Omni Oil® (at 1.5%) was the only effective treatment, Ecotrol® (at 0.5% or 1.0%) did not differ from the control. Omni Oil® was the most effective treatment against adult mites in the laboratory studies, followed by Ecotrol® at 1.0%, with Ecotrol® at 0.5 % not very effective. Egg mortality was high with Omni Oil® 1.5% or Ecotrol® 1.0% but low with Ecotrol® 0.5%.

Bibliography: pages 46-50. / A sequential atomic emission spectrometer, using a low power (1,7 kW) argon-cooled inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system, was used for the determination of wear metals and additives in lubricating oils with xylene as solvent. The modified Simplex method was applied to establish the optimum experimental parameters for 21 individual spectral lines. The optimization was applied to single element analysis on the basis of net signal-to-background ratio (SBR) using the standard cross flow nebulizer and then repeated using the high solids Babington-type nebulizer. Weighted compromise conditions were calculated resulting in a maximum loss of 50% in the SBRs of the individual elements. These conditions result in an analytically useful plasma that gives low detection limits and high sensitivities for the analysis of metals in lubricating oils. Analytical parameters such as detection limit and analytical range for the analysis of 17 elements present in lubricating oil as wear metals or contaminants and 4 other elements present in the most common lubricating oil additives were determined. The detection limits reported here for oil in xylene are of the same order as the published limits for aqueous and for oil-in-MIBK solutions. However, the most valuable property of the ICP-AES was found to be the astounding analytical range which allows determinations to be made over a large concentration range without the need for serial dilutions. The effect of sample preparation was investigated by employing ultrasonic agitation prior to withdrawing the used oil from the sample vial. An upward trend was found in the element concentrations from manual shaking of the oil to ultrasonic agitation, indicating a particle distribution effect. Finally, the technique was tested successfully by analysing an NBS reference standard and by participating in several "round robin" used oil analyses. ICP-atomic emission spectrometry can be successfully applied to the analysis of metals in lubricating oils with a speed, accuracy and precision which at least equals, and even improves upon any other of the established techniques.

No description available.

No description available.