Bioactive withanolides from the leaves of Athenaea velutina (Sendtn.) D'Arcy.

Withanolides are a substantial bio-diverse group of naturally occurring steroidal lactones. Herein, ten still undescribed withanolides (1-10), along with the knowns withaferin A (11), 2,3-dihidrowithaferin A (12), and two other non-withanolides, vomifoliol (13) and the N-trans-p-coumaroyltyramine (14), were isolated from the hexane/EtOAc 1:1 leaf extract of Athenaea velutina (Sendtn.) D'Arcy (Solanaceae).

Lipid nanoformulations as a platform for antihypertensive applications of a ruthenium nitrosyl compound.

Nitric oxide (NO) and derivatives play key roles in immunomodulation and blood pressure regulation. Nitrosyl ruthenium complexes are studied as vasorelaxant agents with potential applications in cardiovascular and parasitic diseases. Lipid nanoemulsions enhance their stability and bioavailability.

Imbalance of Myoinositol and D-Chiro-Inositol in Saliva of Children With Type-1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Objective: Earlier work suggests Myoinositol (MI) and D-chiro- inositol (DCI) imbalance in urine and plasma of diabetic patients, and their potential for monitoring insulin resistance. This study aimed to assess levels of Myoinositol (MI) and D-chiro- inositol (DCI) in saliva of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM-1) and controls, to verify if concentrations of MI and DCI are similarly altered in saliva, exploring their potential for monitoring DM-1.

Design, Patients And Measurements: This cross-sectional clinical study enroled 45 patients (DM-1, n = 25; Controls, n = 20).

Rutin ameliorates nitrergic and endothelial dysfunction on vessels and corpora cavernosa of diabetic animals.

Endothelial dysfunction is an early complication of diabetes and it is related to both micro- and macroangiopathies. In addition, >70% of diabetic patients develop autonomic neuropathies. Increased oxidative stress has a major role in the development of both nitrergic and endothelial dysfunction.

Nitroprusside─Expanding the Potential Use of an Old Drug Using Nanoparticles.

For more than 70 years, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) has been used to treat severe hypertension in hospital emergency settings. During this time, a few other clinical uses have also emerged such as in the treatment of acute heart failure as well as improving mitral incompetence and in the intra- and perioperative management during heart surgery. This drug functions by releasing nitric oxide (NO), which modulates several biological processes with many potential therapeutic applications.

Pentacyanoferrate(II) complex of pyridine-4- and pyrazine-2-hydroxamic acid as source of HNO: investigation of anti-tubercular and vasodilation activities.

A pharmacophore design approach, based on the coordination chemistry of an intimate molecular hybrid of active metabolites of pro-drugs, known to release active species upon enzymatic oxidative activation, is devised. This is exemplified by combining two anti-mycobacterial drugs: pyrazinamide (first line) and delamanid (third line) whose active metabolites are pyrazinoic acid (PyzCOOH) and likely nitroxyl (HNO (or NO)), respectively. Aiming to generate those active species, a hybrid compound was envisaged by coordination of pyrazine-2-hydroxamic acid (PyzCONHOH) with a Na[Fe(CN)] moiety.

A divergent mode of activation of a nitrosyl iron complex with unusual antiangiogenic activity.

Nitric oxide (NO) and nitroxyl (HNO) have gained broad attention due to their roles in several physiological and pathophysiological processes. Remarkably, these sibling species can exhibit opposing effects including the promotion of angiogenic activity by NO compared to HNO, which blocks neovascularization. While many NO donors have been developed over the years, interest in HNO has led to the recent emergence of new donors.

Antihypertensive potential of cis-[Ru(bpy)(ImN)(NO)], a ruthenium-based nitric oxide donor.

The aim of this study was to investigate the antihypertensive properties of cis-[Ru(bpy)ImN(NO)] (FOR0811) in normotensive and in N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-induced hypertensive rats. Vasorelaxant effects were analyzed by performing concentration response curve to FOR0811 in rat aortic rings in the absence or presence of 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazolo-[4,3,-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), L-cysteine or hydroxocobalamin. Normotensive and L-NAME-hypertensive rats were treated with FOR0811 and the effects in blood pressure and heart rate variability in the frequency domain (HRV) were followed.

In vitro and in vivo leishmanicidal activity of a ruthenium nitrosyl complex against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. There are many complications presented by the current treatment, as high toxicity, high cost and parasite resistance, making the development of new therapeutic agents indispensable. The present study aims to evaluate the leishmanicidal potential of ruthenium nitrosyl complex cis-[Ru(bpy)(SO)(NO)](PF) against Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis.

Intra-Renal Angiotensin Levels Are Increased in High-Fructose Fed Rats in the Extracorporeal Renal Perfusion Model.

Overconsumption of fructose leads to metabolic syndrome as a result of hypertension, insulin resistance, and hyperlipidemia. In this study, the renal function of animals submitted to high fructose intake was analyzed from weaning to adulthood using and methods, being compared with a normal control group. We investigated in model of the role of the renin Angiotensin system (RAS) in the kidney.

Low-level laser therapy (904nm) can increase collagen and reduce oxidative and nitrosative stress in diabetic wounded mouse skin.

Background And Objective: Over the last decade we have seen an increased interest in the use of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) in diseases that involve increased oxidative stress. It is well established that hyperglycemia in diabetes elicits a rise in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production but the effect of LLLT remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate whether LLLT was able to improve oxidative/nitrosative stress parameters in the wound healing process in diabetic mice.

Effects of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri and its major components, anethole and estragole, on the rat corpora cavernosa.

Aims: The effects of the essential oil of Croton zehntneri (EOCz) and its major components anethole, estragole and methyl eugenol were evaluated in phenylephrine precontracted rat corpora cavernosa (RCC).

Main Methods: RCC strips were mounted in 5 ml organ baths for isometric recordings of tension, precontracted with 10 μM phenylephrine and exposed to test drugs.

Key Findings: All major compounds relaxed RCC.

Identification of mechanisms involved in the relaxation of rabbit cavernous smooth muscle by a new nitric oxide donor ruthenium compound.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relaxation in vitro of cavernous smooth muscle induced by a new NO donor of the complex nitrosil-ruthenium, named trans-[Ru(NH3)4(caffeine)(NO)]C13 (Rut-Caf) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP).

Materials And Methods: The tissues, immersed in isolated bath systems, were pre-contracted with phenilephrine (PE) (1 µM) and then concentration-response curves (10 (-12) - 10(-4) M) were obtained. To clarify the mechanism of action involved, it was added to the baths ODQ (10 µM, 30 µM), oxyhemoglobin (10 µM), L-cysteine (100 µM), hydroxicobalamine (100 µM), glibenclamide, iberotoxin and apamine.

Guanylin peptide family: history, interactions with ANP, and new pharmacological perspectives.

The guanylin family of peptides has 3 subclasses of peptides containing either 3 intramolecular disulfide bonds found in bacterial heat-stable enterotoxins (ST), or 2 disulfides observed in guanylin and uroguanylin, or a single disulfide exemplified by lymphoguanylin. These peptides bind to and activate cell-surface receptors that have intrinsic guanylate cyclase (GC) activity. These hormones are synthesized in the intestine and released both luminally and into the circulation, and are also produced within the kidney.

The extract of the jellyfish Phyllorhiza punctata promotes neurotoxic effects.

Phyllorhiza punctata (P. punctata) is a jellyfish native to the southwestern Pacific. Herewith we present the biochemical and pharmacological characterization of an extract of the tentacles of P.

A new C-type animal lectin isolated from Bothrops pirajai is responsible for the snake venom major effects in the isolated kidney.

We investigated the biochemical and biological effects of a new C-type galactoside specific lectin termed BPL that was isolated from the snake venom of Bothrops pirajai. This lectin was purified using size exclusion HPLC followed by an immobilized lactose affinity column. The purified BPL was homogeneous by reverse phase HPLC and SDS-PAGE.