The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of trans-anethole in combination with methotrexate, compared to monotherapy with trans-anethole or methotrexate, on inflammatory parameters and oxidative stress of arthritic rats. The experimental model of arthritis induced by Freund's complete adjuvant (AIA) in rats was used. Treatment with trans-anethole and methotrexate, in combination or monotherapy, was started on the day of AIA induction and continued for 21 days. The association of anethole (62.5 mg/Kg) to methotrexate (6 mg/Kg) therapy was able to further reduce both the oxidative stress induced by arthritis and the inflammatory events that characterize the disease, as demonstrated by the following indicators: 1) decrease in the edema of the hind legs, in the score of secondary lesions, in the recruitment of leukocytes to the articular cavity and in the plasma myeloperoxidase activity; 2) increase in plasma content of reduced thiols and total antioxidant capacity; 3) diminution of protein carbonylation in plasma, liver and kidneys; 4) decrease in lipid peroxidation in the liver; 5) reduction in the hepatic ROS content; 6) enhancement of the activity of the antioxidant enzymes and GSH/GSSG ratio. In general, the combination anethole + methotrexate presented a substantially higher effect than the monotherapy with anethole or methotrexate (at the same doses). The data obtained in this work allow us to conclude that the use of trans-anethole in combination with methotrexate suppressed arthritic progression in rats, with the main advantage of reduction of methotrexate dose, attenuating adverse effects caused by high dose therapy.

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Our proposal in this study is that with vitamin D supplementation in obese animals, there willbe reductions in hepatic steatosis and control of blood glucose levels. Male wistar rats wereused (CEUA nº 5866200720). After 21 days of age, they were acclimatized until they were 30days old, from this date on, the obesity induction protocol was initiated, by means of thecafeteria diet. The animals were divided into 2 groups: rats fed a normal diet [control group(CTL n= 24)] another with a hypercaloric diet [obesity induction group (WD n=24)]. After 90days old, they were subdivided into two other groups: CTL-VD (n=12) and WD-VD (n=12)animals in which, were supplemented with vitamin D3 (5.600UI/week, 90 to 130 days old, bygavage). At 131 days old, WD rats exhibited a significantly higher adiposity index than CTLand WD-VD rats. The WD-VD rats had a significantly lower adiposity index than WD rats.The hepatic steatosis was confirmed by biochemical measurements of the total liver lipidcontent increased in WD rats 5% of the liver weight. Vit D3 supplementation decreased BWgain, and reduction of the total lipid total liver in WD-VD rats. The glycemic curve wasperformed and the WD animals showed higher values ​​in the first 15 minutes than the CTLanimals. The WD-VD animals presented normal values ​​of the area under the curve, in relationto the WD. Vit D supplementation showed that there is a relationship between increasedadipose tissue and circulating vitamin D levels. Supplementation of VD3 attenuated hepaticsteatosis.