Purpose. To investigate the effects of a combined herbal medicine Miodesin™ on the inflammatory response of key cells involved in the acute and chronic inflammatory processes as well as the possible epigenetic involvement. Methods. After the establishment of the IC50 dose, the chondrocyte, keratinocyte, and macrophage cell lines were pretreated for 2 hours with Miodesin™ (200 μg/mL) and stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) for 24 hours. The supernatant was used to measure the levels of cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5), and the cells were used to extract the mRNA for the transcription factor (NF-κβ), inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, PLA2, and iNOS), and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5). Results. Miodesin™ inhibited the release of LPS-induced cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; p<0.01) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5; p<0.01) and the expression of the transcription factor (NF-κβ; p<0.01), inflammatory enzymes (COX-1, COX-2, PLA2, iNOS; p<0.01), and chemokines (CCL2, CCL3, and CCL5; p<0.01). In addition, the evaluation of epigenetic mechanism revealed that Miodesin™ did not induce changes in DNA methylation, assuring the genetic safeness of the compound in terms of the inflammatory response. Conclusions. Miodesin™ presents anti-inflammatory properties, inhibiting hyperactivation of chondrocytes, keratinocytes, and macrophages, involving epigenetics in such effects.

Introdução: A beleza está diretamente ligada ao aspecto dos cabelos, em todos os tempos e todas as culturas. Sendo a nutrição uma importante ferramenta para a saúde capilar, uma vez que as células do folículo piloso capilar apresentam vários ciclos de crescimento contínuo, se renovando constantemente, e seu metabolismo ativo requer um adequado suprimento de nutrientes e energia. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o impacto dos suplementos alimentares na saúde dos cabelos. Material e Método: Foi realizada uma revisão bibliográfica nas principais bases de dados em saúde: SciELO, Medline e Lilacs com os descritores: Nutrientes, polifenóis, cabelo nos idiomas português e inglês, considerando o período de 2013 a 2020. Resultados: Foram encontrados 209 estudos, 11 foram incluídos e 195 excluídos por não atenderem os critérios de elegibilidade. Conclusão: A análise da literatura permitiu concluir que a nutrição está intimamente relacionada com a saúde capilar, atuando em todo o processo de crescimento e manutenção das células do folículo piloso. Sendo importante a prescrição nutricional de nutrientes para a manutenção da saúde capilar. Porém, mais estudos clínicos randomizados devem ser realizados para confirmar seus efeitos e estabelecer a dose adequada dos suplementos alimentares na prevenção de alopecias.

This review presents information from several studies that have demonstrated the antiviral activity of extracts ( Andrographis paniculata, Artemisia annua, Artemisia afra, Cannabis sativa, Curcuma longa, Echinacea purpurea, Olea europaea, Piper nigrum, and Punica granatum) and phytocompounds derived from medicinal plants (artemisinins, glycyrrhizin, and phenolic compounds) against SARS-CoV-2. A brief background of the plant products studied, the methodology used to evaluate the antiviral activity, the main findings from the research, and the possible mechanisms of action are presented. These plant products have been shown to impede the adsorption of SARS-CoV-2 to the host cell, and prevent multiplication of the virus post its entry into the host cell. In addition to antiviral activity, the plant products have also been demonstrated to exert an immunomodulatory effect by controlling the excessive release of cytokines, which is commonly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Preservatives are widely used substances that are commonly added to various cosmetic and pharmaceutical products to prevent or inhibit microbial growth. In this study, we compared the in vitro cytotoxicity of different types of currently used preservatives, including methylparaben, imidazolidinyl urea (IMU), and sodium benzoate, using the human newborn fibroblast cell line CCD1072Sk. Of the tested preservatives, only IMU induced a reduction in cell viability, as shown using the MTT assay and propidium iodide staining (IMU>methylparaben>sodium benzoate). IMU was shown to promote homeostatic alterations potentially related to the initiation of programed cell death, such as decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase-3 activation, in the treated cells. Methylparaben and sodium benzoate were shown to have a very low cytotoxic activity. Taken together, our results suggest that IMU induces programed cell death in human fibroblasts by a canonical intrinsic pathway via mitochondrial perturbation and subsequent release of proapoptotic factors.