The present study results link the systemic effects of induced periodontitis with changes in hepatic tissues such as microvesicular steatosis, likely caused by an increase in oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. The findings from the present study implicate an association between a decrease of pericytes and liver disease caused by ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.

Parotoid glands of amphibians are known for the production of several biologically active compounds having pharmacological and toxic effects in mammals. In the present work, a protein fraction obtained from Rhinella schneideri parotoid gland (RsPP) was characterized to study its biological and toxic effects. Rhinella schneideri parotoid secretion is composed of up to 30% (w/w) of soluble proteins. Tandem mass spectrometric analysis of the RsPP identified 104 proteins, including actin, beta-actin, ribosomal proteins, catalase, galectin, and uncharacterized proteins; however, no peptidases were found, and this result was reinforced by the absence of proteolytic activity. In addition, RsPP did not exhibit pro-coagulant or antibacterial effects. However, pretreatment of mice with different doses of RsPP intraperitoneally inhibited carrageenan-induced paw edema and increased tissue myeloperoxidase activity. RsPP also reduced interleukin 1β levels in the peritoneal cavities and cell migration in the peritoneal cavities of an animal model of carrageenan-induced peritonitis. Subchronic treatment of animals with RsPP for 7 consecutive days did not alter the serum biochemical, renal, or liver parameters. However, a significant reduction in blood leukocyte count was observed. Our results showed that R. schneideri parotoid secretion contains proteins with anti-inflammatory and slight toxic effects.

Objective. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the advances in the study of medicinal plants and their biologic effects on periodontitis in animal models. Study Design. A systematic search was conducted by three independent researchers, who screened articles published up to March/2016, to identify the studies that contained sufficient and clear information on the association of the medicinal plants and periodontitis in murine models. The searches were performed using PubMed, Cochrane, and Science Direct databases. Results. After a critical analysis of titles and abstracts, 30 studies were finally eligible for analysis. The studies presented a great diversity of the experiment designed regarding the methods of induced periodontitis and the evaluation of the medicinal plants efficacy. None of the studies described the possible toxic effects associated with the administration of the plant material to animals and whether they could prevent damage to organs caused by systemic effect of induced periodontitis. Gel-based formulations containing plant substances are seen as an interesting strategy to treat periodontitis. Conclusions. In this systematic review, the state-of-the-art knowledge on the medicinal plants and the induced periodontitis was critically evaluated and discussed from the experiment designed to the possible clinical application.

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A biodiversidade marinha brasileira tem sido reconhecida por ser fonte de compostos com propriedades biológicas diversas. As algas marinhas são consideradas fontes valiosas de diversos compostos bioativos, entre eles os polissacarídeos. Os principais polissacarídeos conhecidos de algas marinhas são carragenanas, agaranas e alginatos, mas também são relatadas as galactanas híbridas, fucanas e laminarinas. Algumas dessas macromoléculas apresentam alguns dos grupos hidroxila dos resíduos de açúcar substituídos por grupamentos sulfato, sendo chamados de polissacarídeos sulfatados. Em linhas gerais, os polissacarídeos extraídos de algas marinhas apresentam várias atividades biológicas com potenciais benefícios para a saúde, tais como atividade anticoagulante e antitrombótica, antiviral, anti-tumor, imunomodulatória, antioxidante e anti-hiperlipêmica, e aplicações bastante diversificadas na área de alimentos, farmacêutica, biomédica e biotecnológica. No Brasil, a exploração de espécies com fins comerciais de maior porte corresponde à coleta de algas vermelhas no litoral do nordeste. Entretanto, as algas marinhas ainda são um recurso pouco explorado no Brasil, sendo necessário potencializar os recursos científicos, tecnológicos e financeiros, bem como diminuir a distância entre pesquisas em polissacarídeos de algas e produção e exploração no mercado.