DSpace Collection:https://hdl.handle.net/10316/180002024-03-29T10:20:29Z2024-03-29T10:20:29ZEvaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Cymbopogon citratus In vivo-Polyphenols ContributionGarcia, RitaFerreira, Joao PintoCosta, GustavoSantos, TelmoBranco, FábioCaramona, MargaridaCarvalho, Rui deDinis, Augusto ManuelBatista, Maria TeresaCastel-Branco, MargaridaFigueiredo, Isabel V.https://hdl.handle.net/10316/1011402022-08-18T15:18:41Z2015-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Evaluation of Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Cymbopogon citratus In vivo-Polyphenols Contribution
Authors: Garcia, Rita; Ferreira, Joao Pinto; Costa, Gustavo; Santos, Telmo; Branco, Fábio; Caramona, Margarida; Carvalho, Rui de; Dinis, Augusto Manuel; Batista, Maria Teresa; Castel-Branco, Margarida; Figueiredo, Isabel V.
Abstract: Cymbopogon citratus is one of the most common herbs used in folk medicine due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Taking into account these properties showed on in vitro assays, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of C. citratus leaves infusion (CcE) and its flavonoid-rich (CcF) and tannin-rich (CcT) fractions. The evaluation of the anti-inflammatory activity was performed in the carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema model. Both central and peripheral analgesic activities were evaluated in mice through the hot plate test and the acetic acid-induced writhing test, respectively. In the acute inflammation model, the statistically significant results obtained in percentage of oedema inhibition were 70.80 and 82.30% for CcE (34.12 and 68.24 mg kg , respectively), 59.00% for CcF 1 1 1 1 (7.42 mg kg ), 61.00% for CcT (5.96 mg kg ) and 84.00% for positive control group (10 mg kg ). For the peripheral pain evaluation, statistically significant results showed a pain 1 1 1 reduction of 57.00% for CcE (136.48 mg kg ), 54.60% for CcF (14.8 mg kg ), 52.20% for CcT (11.92 mg kg ) and 83.00% for positive control group. This study demonstrates that C. citratus infusion compounds are able to reduce inflammation and peripheral pain in vivo, with polyphenols showing a significant contribution for these activities.2015-01-01T00:00:00ZAuthors, peer reviewers, and readers: What is expected from each player in collaborative publishing?Fernandez-Llimos, FernandoPharmacy Practice 2020 peer reviewershttps://hdl.handle.net/10316/1011352022-08-29T14:42:21Z2021-01-14T00:00:00ZTitle: Authors, peer reviewers, and readers: What is expected from each player in collaborative publishing?
Authors: Fernandez-Llimos, Fernando; Pharmacy Practice 2020 peer reviewers
Abstract: Scholarly publishing is in a crisis, with the many stakeholders complaining about different aspects of the system. Authors want
fast publication times, high visibility and publications in high-impact journals. Readers want freely accessible, high-quality
articles. Peer reviewers want recognition for the work they perform to ensure the quality of the published articles. However,
authors, peer reviewers, and readers are three different roles played by the same group of individuals, the users of the
scholarly publishing system—and this system could work based on a collaborative publishing principle where “nobody pays,
and nobody gets paid”.2021-01-14T00:00:00ZEncapsulated Escitalopram and Paroxetine Intranasal Co-Administration: In Vitro/In Vivo EvaluationSilva, SoraiaBicker, JoanaFonseca, CarlaFerreira, Nuno R.Vitorino, CarlaAlves, GilbertoFalcão, AmílcarFortuna, Anahttps://hdl.handle.net/10316/968542024-02-06T10:06:16Z2021-01-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Encapsulated Escitalopram and Paroxetine Intranasal Co-Administration: In Vitro/In Vivo Evaluation
Authors: Silva, Soraia; Bicker, Joana; Fonseca, Carla; Ferreira, Nuno R.; Vitorino, Carla; Alves, Gilberto; Falcão, Amílcar; Fortuna, Ana
Abstract: Depression is a common mental disorder. Its treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) is effective only in a fraction of patients, and pharmacoresistance is increasing steadily. Intranasal (IN) drug delivery to the brain stands out as a promising strategy to improve current therapeutic approaches by operating as a shuttle to overcome the blood-brain barrier. This work aimed to simultaneously administer escitalopram and paroxetine by IN route to mice. For this purpose, three nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC1, NLC2, and BorNLC) and one nanoemulsion (NE) were tested for drug loading. After their characterization, investigation of their impact on nasal cell viability and SSRI permeability assays were performed, using a human nasal RPMI 2650 cell line in air-liquid interface. In vitro assays demonstrated that NLCs, including borneol (BorNLC), significantly increased escitalopram permeability (p < 0.01) and paroxetine recovery values (p < 0.05) in relation to the other formulations and non-encapsulated drugs. IN and intravenous (IV) pharmacokinetic studies performed in vivo with a single dose of 2.38 mg/kg demonstrated similar results for escitalopram brain-to-plasma ratios. IN administrations delayed escitalopram peak concentrations in the brain for 15-60 min and no direct nose-to-brain delivery was detected. However, encapsulation with BorNLC considerably decreased escitalopram exposure in the lungs (124 μg min/g) compared with free escitalopram by IN (168 μg min/g) and IV (321 μg min/g) routes. Surprisingly, BorNLC IN instillation increased concentration levels of paroxetine in the brain by five times and accelerated brain drug delivery. Once again, lung exposure was considerably lower with BorNLC (AUCt = 0.433 μg min/g) than that with IV administration (AUCt = 1.01 μg min/g) and non-encapsulated IN formulation (AUCt = 2.82 μg min/g). Direct nose-to-brain delivery was observed for paroxetine IN administration with a direct transport percentage (DTP) of 56.9%. If encapsulated, it increases to 74.2%. These results clearly emphasize that nose-to-brain delivery and lung exposure depend on the formulation and on the characteristics of the drug under investigation. NLCs seem to be an advantageous strategy for nose-to-brain delivery of lipophilic molecules, since they reduce systemic and lung exposure, thereby decreasing adverse effects. For hydrophilic compounds, NLCs are particularly important to decrease lung exposure after IN administration.2021-01-01T00:00:00ZOccurrence and risk assessment of zearalenone in flours from Portuguese and Dutch marketsAldana, Juan RamosSilva, Liliana J. G.Pena, AngelinaV., Jordi MañesLino, Celeste M.https://hdl.handle.net/10316/279282021-10-28T07:53:47Z2014-11-01T00:00:00ZTitle: Occurrence and risk assessment of zearalenone in flours from Portuguese and Dutch markets
Authors: Aldana, Juan Ramos; Silva, Liliana J. G.; Pena, Angelina; V., Jordi Mañes; Lino, Celeste M.
Abstract: The occurrence of zearalenone (ZEA) in different flours for human consumption, from the Portuguese and Dutch markets, was evaluated. Good analytical performance was obtained through extraction with acetonitrile:water (90:10), clean-up with immunoaffinity columns, and detection and quantification by liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection. ZEA levels were determined in 48 samples to verify the compliance with the maximum permitted levels by European legislation. Two flour samples from Portugal exceeded the maximum limit established by EC. A major presence and levels in maize flours was shown. Coimbra (Portugal) and Utrecht (The Netherlands) samples showed that 37.5% of the samples were contaminated. Considering the percentage of TDI, ranging between 5.2 and 56%, the risk assessment linked with the exposure to ZEA was considered to be of concern for some studied populations, especially for babies. This is the first study on the intake assessment of ZEA present in different types of flour through their consumption.2014-11-01T00:00:00Z