No abstract

No abstract

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemia is infecting millions of people and some studies relate conditions that might increase the risk of developing a fatal course for the disease, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. In COVID-19 physiopathology, one of the main inflammation mechanisms is the "cytokine storm", causing a pro-inflammatory state, related to cardiac and pulmonary damage. There is also a less effective role of lymphocyte B and T in the humoral immunity due to the reduction of their proliferative response. The physiopathology of ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder) involves several modifications at the genetic and at the immune level, such as the increase of inflammatory cytokines and abnormal immune response in several levels. We hypothesize that ASD could be a risk-factor as the other conditions are. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) Clinically, the infection and the immune response manifest in two phases. Initially there is an endogenous immune response, which depends on individual health and genetic characteristics, which prevents the virus from spreading through organism. It is believed that has close relation to specific HLA and histocompatibility complex to activate the immunity. The response is linked to the destruction level of the virus, the patient's innate response, and it determines its inflammation status and symptomatology [12]. Studies that investigate COVID-19 physiopathology demonstrate that there is a second phase of hyper-activation of cytokines (known as

Protium heptaphyllum Aubl. belongs to the Burseraceae family. It is commonly called 'almecegueira' and is known to produce an amorphous resin which has constituents such as α- and β-amyrin, taraxastan-3-oxo-20-ol and sitostenonein. The α- and β-amyrin from P. heptaphyllum have pharmacological activities in several systems, such as central and peripheral nervous system, gastrointestinal tract and immunological system. In this study, our objective was to review pharmacological activities and to gather more information on the mixture of α- and β-amyrin obtained from P. heptaphyllum to guide future preclinical and clinical studies using this compound. This review consisted of searches performed using scientific databases such as PubMed, SciELO, LILACS, SciFinder and Science Direct. Some uses of α- and β-amyrin have been partially confirmed by previous studies demonstrating analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anticonvulsant, antidepressive, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, antipancreatitic, anticholytic, antihyperglycemic and hypolipidemic effects. It is noteworthy that there are no α- and β-amirin toxicity tests described in the literature as recommended in the international guidelines, and such tests are one of the research stages to proceed in clinical and preclinical trials if this compound was to be used.