Um estudo prévio de nosso grupo de pesquisa demonstrou que uma fração eriquecida em valepotriatos obtida a partir de partes aéreas e subterrâneas de V. glechomifolia submetida à extração com CO2 supercrítico (VAL) possui efeito antidepressivo e prevenção do comportamento de doente (sickness behavior) induzido por LPS. Além disso, alguns estudos revelaram propriedades antiinflamatórias de V.wallichii e de V.amurensis. Estes dados da literatura sugerem que os valepotriatos podem ser utilizados no desenvolvimento de novos farmácos. Entretanto, dados sobre toxicidade, segurança e atividade anti-inflamatória de valepotriatos ainda são escassos. Considerando isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a atividade anti-inflamatória periférica e a toxicidade oral aguda e de doses repetidas de VAL. A atividade anti-inflamatória foi avaliada por meio do teste de formalina em camundongos CF1 e o ensaio de migração de leucócitos em ratos Wistar. Além disso, os estudos de toxicidade seguiram as normativas 423 e 407 da Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OECD). Diferentes grupos de camundongos foram tratados com VAL (1, 10 e 30 mg/kg), diclofenaco 50 mg/kg (controle positivo) ou saline (controle negativo) 1 h antes da injeção de formalina. No ensaio de quimiotaxia, os leucócitos foram tratados com concentrações de 0,1-1,0 μg/mL de VAL, indometacina ou diclofenaco (1 μg/mL). No estudo de toxicidade aguda, três camundongos CF1 machos foram tratados com uma dose única de VAL (2000 mg/kg, v.o.) e observados durante 14 dias. Já para o estudo de toxicidade de doses repetidas, diferentes grupos de animais (n = 10) receberam doses únicas diárias de VAL (30, 150 e 300 mg/kg, v.o.) ou veículo durante 28 dias. No teste de formalina, VAL inibiu o comportamento do tipo nociceptivo na segunda fase do teste de forma dose-dependente. O efeito da dose mais elevada de VAL foi comparável com o diclofenaco na dose de 50 mg/kg (v.o.). VAL (0,1-1 μg/mL) também inibiu a migração de leucócitos induzida por LPS (65 μg/mL) de modo dependente da concentração. Este efeito foi comparável ao efeito de indometacina (0,1 - 1 μg/mL) e superior ao efeito do diclofenaco (1 μg/mL). No estudo de toxicidade aguda apenas uma morte foi detectada, o que classifica VAL como segura (categoria 5), de acordo com a OECD-normativa 423. O estudo toxicidade de doses repetidas demonstrou que VAL na dose de 300 mg/kg retardou o ganho de peso e reduziu o consumo de ração dos animais deste grupo na primeira semana de tratamento, provavelmente devido aos efeitos sedativos da mesma. As outras doses não alteraram o ganho de peso e ingesta de ração. Nenhuma das doses de VAL alterou qualquer parâmetro comportamental, urinário, bioquímico, hematológico, anatômico ou histológico. Em conclusão, estes resultados demonstram pela primeira vez que valepotriatos, uma classe especial de terpenos que ocorrem apenas no gênero Valeriana, apresentam atividade anti-inflamatória periférica e são seguros em doses pré-clínicas eficazes, por via oral. / A previous study by our research group demonstrated that an enriched fraction obtained from the aerial and subterranean parts of V. glechomifolia submitted to supercritical CO2 extraction (VAL) shows antidepressant-like effect and prevented LPS-induced sickness behavior. Also, some studies revealed anti-inflammatory properties of V.wallichii and V.amurensis. Altogether, these findings suggest that the valepotriates scaffold might be useful to develop new antidepressant and antiinflammatory drugs. However, data about the toxicity, safety and anti-inflammatory activity of valepotriates from V. gelchomifolia are still scarce. Considering this, the aim of this study was to investigate the peripheral anti-inflammatory activity and the oral acute and repeated toxicity of VAL. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by using the formalin test in CF1 mice and Wistar rat’s leukocytes migration assay. Besides, the toxicity studies followed the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) toxicity studies guidelines 423 and 407. Different groups of mice were treated with VAL (1, 10 and 30 mg/kg), diclofenac 50 mg/kg (positive control) or saline (negative control) 1 h before the formalin injection. In the chemotaxis assay, the leukocytes were treated with a range of 0.1-1.0 μg/mL of VAL, indomethacin or diclofenac (1 μg/mL). In the acute toxicity, three CF1 mice were treated with a single dose of VAL (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) and observed for 14 days. To perform the repeated toxicity study, separated group of animals (n=10) received single daily doses of VAL (30, 150 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle during 28 days. In the formalin test, VAL inhibited the nociceptive behavior in the late phase in a dose dependent manner at 30mg/kg dose. The effect of the VAL highest dose was comparable to diclofenac 50 mg /kg (p.o.). VAL (0.1 - 1 μg/mL) inhibited the leukocyte migration induced by LPS (65 μg/mL) in a concentration dependent manner. This antichemotatic effect was comparable to indomethacin (0.1 – 1μg/mL) and better than diclofenac (1 μg/mL) effect. In the acute toxicity study only one death was detected, which classify VAL as safe (category 5), according to OECD-guideline 423. The repeated dose toxicity study demonstrated that VAL 300 mg/kg delayed the weight gain and reduced the food consumption in the first week, probably due to sedative effects. The other doses had no effect on weight gain and food consumption. None of doses altered any behavioral, urinary, biochemical, hematological, anatomic or histological parameters. In conclusion, these results demonstrate for the first time that valepotriates, a special class of terpenes occurring only in Valeriana genus, present peripheral anti-inflammatory activity and are safe at effective pre-clinical doses, by oral route.

Um estudo prévio de nosso grupo de pesquisa demonstrou que uma fração eriquecida em valepotriatos obtida a partir de partes aéreas e subterrâneas de V. glechomifolia submetida à extração com CO2 supercrítico (VAL) possui efeito antidepressivo e prevenção do comportamento de doente (sickness behavior) induzido por LPS. Além disso, alguns estudos revelaram propriedades antiinflamatórias de V.wallichii e de V.amurensis. Estes dados da literatura sugerem que os valepotriatos podem ser utilizados no desenvolvimento de novos farmácos. Entretanto, dados sobre toxicidade, segurança e atividade anti-inflamatória de valepotriatos ainda são escassos. Considerando isso, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a atividade anti-inflamatória periférica e a toxicidade oral aguda e de doses repetidas de VAL. A atividade anti-inflamatória foi avaliada por meio do teste de formalina em camundongos CF1 e o ensaio de migração de leucócitos em ratos Wistar. Além disso, os estudos de toxicidade seguiram as normativas 423 e 407 da Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Econômico (OECD). Diferentes grupos de camundongos foram tratados com VAL (1, 10 e 30 mg/kg), diclofenaco 50 mg/kg (controle positivo) ou saline (controle negativo) 1 h antes da injeção de formalina. No ensaio de quimiotaxia, os leucócitos foram tratados com concentrações de 0,1-1,0 μg/mL de VAL, indometacina ou diclofenaco (1 μg/mL). No estudo de toxicidade aguda, três camundongos CF1 machos foram tratados com uma dose única de VAL (2000 mg/kg, v.o.) e observados durante 14 dias. Já para o estudo de toxicidade de doses repetidas, diferentes grupos de animais (n = 10) receberam doses únicas diárias de VAL (30, 150 e 300 mg/kg, v.o.) ou veículo durante 28 dias. No teste de formalina, VAL inibiu o comportamento do tipo nociceptivo na segunda fase do teste de forma dose-dependente. O efeito da dose mais elevada de VAL foi comparável com o diclofenaco na dose de 50 mg/kg (v.o.). VAL (0,1-1 μg/mL) também inibiu a migração de leucócitos induzida por LPS (65 μg/mL) de modo dependente da concentração. Este efeito foi comparável ao efeito de indometacina (0,1 - 1 μg/mL) e superior ao efeito do diclofenaco (1 μg/mL). No estudo de toxicidade aguda apenas uma morte foi detectada, o que classifica VAL como segura (categoria 5), de acordo com a OECD-normativa 423. O estudo toxicidade de doses repetidas demonstrou que VAL na dose de 300 mg/kg retardou o ganho de peso e reduziu o consumo de ração dos animais deste grupo na primeira semana de tratamento, provavelmente devido aos efeitos sedativos da mesma. As outras doses não alteraram o ganho de peso e ingesta de ração. Nenhuma das doses de VAL alterou qualquer parâmetro comportamental, urinário, bioquímico, hematológico, anatômico ou histológico. Em conclusão, estes resultados demonstram pela primeira vez que valepotriatos, uma classe especial de terpenos que ocorrem apenas no gênero Valeriana, apresentam atividade anti-inflamatória periférica e são seguros em doses pré-clínicas eficazes, por via oral. / A previous study by our research group demonstrated that an enriched fraction obtained from the aerial and subterranean parts of V. glechomifolia submitted to supercritical CO2 extraction (VAL) shows antidepressant-like effect and prevented LPS-induced sickness behavior. Also, some studies revealed anti-inflammatory properties of V.wallichii and V.amurensis. Altogether, these findings suggest that the valepotriates scaffold might be useful to develop new antidepressant and antiinflammatory drugs. However, data about the toxicity, safety and anti-inflammatory activity of valepotriates from V. gelchomifolia are still scarce. Considering this, the aim of this study was to investigate the peripheral anti-inflammatory activity and the oral acute and repeated toxicity of VAL. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by using the formalin test in CF1 mice and Wistar rat’s leukocytes migration assay. Besides, the toxicity studies followed the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) toxicity studies guidelines 423 and 407. Different groups of mice were treated with VAL (1, 10 and 30 mg/kg), diclofenac 50 mg/kg (positive control) or saline (negative control) 1 h before the formalin injection. In the chemotaxis assay, the leukocytes were treated with a range of 0.1-1.0 μg/mL of VAL, indomethacin or diclofenac (1 μg/mL). In the acute toxicity, three CF1 mice were treated with a single dose of VAL (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) and observed for 14 days. To perform the repeated toxicity study, separated group of animals (n=10) received single daily doses of VAL (30, 150 and 300 mg/kg, p.o.) or vehicle during 28 days. In the formalin test, VAL inhibited the nociceptive behavior in the late phase in a dose dependent manner at 30mg/kg dose. The effect of the VAL highest dose was comparable to diclofenac 50 mg /kg (p.o.). VAL (0.1 - 1 μg/mL) inhibited the leukocyte migration induced by LPS (65 μg/mL) in a concentration dependent manner. This antichemotatic effect was comparable to indomethacin (0.1 – 1μg/mL) and better than diclofenac (1 μg/mL) effect. In the acute toxicity study only one death was detected, which classify VAL as safe (category 5), according to OECD-guideline 423. The repeated dose toxicity study demonstrated that VAL 300 mg/kg delayed the weight gain and reduced the food consumption in the first week, probably due to sedative effects. The other doses had no effect on weight gain and food consumption. None of doses altered any behavioral, urinary, biochemical, hematological, anatomic or histological parameters. In conclusion, these results demonstrate for the first time that valepotriates, a special class of terpenes occurring only in Valeriana genus, present peripheral anti-inflammatory activity and are safe at effective pre-clinical doses, by oral route.

The main objective of this research project was to study the growth and development of the floral nectar spur of Centranthus ruber (L.) DC. Nectar spurs are tubular floral outgrowths, generally derived from the perianth organs, which typically contain secreted floral nectar. The morphological characteristics of the spur, particularly the length, determine which floral visitors will be able to access the nectar reward pooled at the spur tip. Therefore, nectar spurs are ecologically important for the development of specialised pollinator interactions and have been demonstrated to act as key innovations in the evolution of some taxa. Morphological and anatomical characteristics of the spur and floral nectary were investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy. Ultrastructural features of the nectar spur, particularly the floral nectary within, were assessed using transmission electron microscopy. Nectar in C. ruber is produced by a trichomatous nectary which runs along the entire, inner abaxial surface of the spur. The nectary is aligned with the single vascular bundle which runs along the abaxial side of the spur, through the sub-nectary parenchyma, and back up the adaxial side. The secretory trichomes are unicellular and, in late development, they develop a thick layer of secondary wall ingrowths which vastly increases the surface area of the plasma membrane for nectar secretion. Elongate, non-secretory trichomes occupy the entire remaining circumference of the spur’s inner epidermis, but their density is reduced compared to the secretory trichomes. The cellular basis for spur growth is poorly characterized in the literature. Until recently, it was assumed that all nectar spurs grow by the constant production of new cells via up to three potential meristematic regions (the meristem hypothesis, Tepfer 1953). The cellular basis for spur growth in C. ruber was investigated by cell file counts and cell length and width measurements along the lateral side of nectar spurs in each of the developmental stages. DAPI stained spurs were also examined with Confocal/Apotome microscopy to determine the timing and position of cell division activity throughout spur development. It was determined that elongation of the spur epidermal cells contributes much more to spur growth than cell division. In early development, division is the primary driver of spur growth and the cells are isotropic. However, as development progresses, cell division activity slows down and the spur cells become increasingly anisotropic until anthesis. The patterns of nectar secretion were determined by assessing the volume, solute concentration and carbohydrate composition of the nectar throughout flowering phenology in two C. ruber plants. Nectar volumes and solute amounts rose initially, followed by an eventual decline in both as phenology progressed towards senescence. Because this study was conducted on greenhouse grown plants, it can be assumed that nectar was not removed by insects, suggesting that it is likely reabsorbed following secretion. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis determined that C. ruber's nectar is sucrose dominant and that nectar composition remains stable following anthesis throughout floral phenology.