Agrochemicals were more prominent in 1960, marked due to the agricultural modernization process. As a result of this widespread use for food production, there was also an increase in cases of intoxication caused by these agents which made it necessary to search for alternative therapies for agricultural workers. Thus, considering that phytochemical characterization revealed the presence of antioxidants in Cymbopogon citratus extract, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of this plant infusion on the enzyme acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) and on the redox response in farmers' erythrocytes. These erytrocytes were processed and subjected to treatment with the Cymbopogon citratus infusion (5, 10, 25 and 50 g/L). In these samples the following were determined: the AChE enzyme activity, the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), protein carbonyls (CPs) and reduced glutathione (GSH). In general, it was discovered that the inhibition of AChE activity is negative regarding to the increase of protein carbonyl levels and positive regarding the GSH levels. In addition, Cymbopogon citratus infusions could not even reverse this inhibition or the high levels of TBARS and CPs. On the other hand, levels of GSH were increased by infusions demonstrating the increased antioxidant activity in rural workers' erythrocytes.

<p>Bovine Mastitis is an infection of the mammary glands that represents important economic losses in milk production. As in other pathologies, medicinal plants emerged as an important alternative for treatment of this condition. In this sense, the aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant activity of the extract of <em>Mentha arvensis</em> L. on the erythrocytes of healthy dairy cows (P1); of dairy cows with mastitis without previous treatment (P2); and of dairy cows with mastitis and previously treated with antibiotics (P3). The levels of Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), of the protein carbonylation (PC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) were analyzed in the cows’ erythrocytes before and after treatment with the extract of Mentha. This study demonstrated an occurrence of oxidative stress in the cows with mastitis. The mint extract promoted an increase in GSH levels combined with a decrease in the levels of oxidative markers, especially in cows with mastitis without previous antibiotic treatment.</p>

ResumoA mastite bovina está associada a uma resposta antibacteriana endógena mediada pela produção de espécies reativas. Contudo, o excesso de reações oxidativas pode desencadear apoptose celular agravando o quadro clínico dos animais. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a resposta redox no plasma de vacas leiteiras com e sem mastite submetidas ou não ao tratamento com antibioticoterapia. As vacas foram divididas em Grupo Controle (G1), vacas sem mastite; grupo G2, vacas com mastite sem tratamento com antimicrobianos; grupo G3, vacas com mastite tratadas com antibiótico. As amostras sanguíneas foram coletadas após a primeira ordenha da manhã. Foram analisados a existência de lipoperoxidação (LPO) e os níveis de proteínas carboniladas (PCs), de glutationa reduzida (GSH), de ácido ascórbico (ASA) e de ácido úrico (AU). Os animais do G3 apresentaram aumento na LPO e das PCs. Em todos os grupos, os níveis de GSH permaneceram inalterados. Os valores plasmáticos de ASA e de AU mostraram-se diminuídos nos animais dos grupos G2 e G3. Os resultados demonstraram que o tratamento com antimicrobianos parece agravar os danos oxidativos presentes na mastite bovina, reforçando a importância da busca por alternativas terapêuticas a fim de minimizar esse efeito. Palavras-chave: antibióticos; oxidação celular; vacas. AbstractBovine mastitis is associated with an endogenous antibacterial response mediated by the production of reactive species. However, excess oxidative reactions can trigger cellular apoptosis, aggravating the clinical state of the animals. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the plasma redox response of dairy cows with and without mastitis submitted or not to antibiotic therapy. The cows were divided into control group (G1), cows without mastitis; group G2, cows with mastitis without antimicrobial treatment; group G3, cows with mastitis treated with antibiotics. Blood samples