Studies showing anxiolytic-like properties of natural products have grown. This paper evaluated if carvacryl acetate (CA) could be studied as an alternative drug to treat anxiety disorders. Elevated plus maze (EPM) tests , light-dark box (LDB) tests, and marble-burying tests (MBTs) were performed on mice. In the first protocol, the anxiolytic-like activities of CA 25, 50, 75 and 100mg/kg at single doses were compared to those of the vehicle, buspirone 5mg/kg (BUSP) and diazepam 1mg/kg (DZP). In the second protocol, the anxiolytic-like actions of CA were tested for GABAergic and serotonergic systems. The time spent in the open arms (TSOA) and the number of open arms entries (NOAE) were measured in EPM; the time spent in the light box (TSLB) and the number of entries to light box (NELB) were measured in LDB; and the number of marbles buried (NMB) were measured in MBT. CA increased TSOA and NOAE in the EPM, as well as TSLB and NELB in the LDB and the NMB in the MBT. The anxiolytic-like activity of CA 25; 50; 75 and 100mg/kg was not associated with psychomotor retardation in the open field test and in the Rota rod test, contrarily with what happened with DZP. In the second protocol, to suggest the mechanism of action of CA, flumazenil 25mg/kg ip (FLU) and WAY 100,635 10mg/kg ip (WAY-5-HT1A antagonist) were also used. FLU+CA100 reduced TSOA in the EPM when compared to CA100 but WAY+CA100 did not. In LDB, FLU+CA100 reduced the TSLB when compared to CA100 but WAY+CA100 did not. In the MBT, FLU+CA100 inhibited the effect of CA100 on the NMB but WAY+CA100 did not. In conclusion, CA seems to have an anxiolytic-like effect, probably due to GABAergic agonist action, without psychomotor side effects.

Epileptic syndromes are highly prevalent neurological conditions and can often be disabling. In order to find an alternative for treatment, this study evaluated anticonvulsant effects of carvacryl acetate (CA), a derivative of monoterpene carvacrol, after seizures induced by pilocarpine (P400), picrotoxin (PIC) or pentylenetetrazol (PTZ). We also analyzed the CA effects on Na+, K+-ATPase and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (δ-ALA-D) activities in hippocampus mice after seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ. In addition, glutamate, δ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glutamine and aspartate levels in mice hippocampus treated with CA after seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ were also measured. CA produced anticonvulsant effects against seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ, and its effects were reversed by flumazenil, suggesting that action mechanism can be mediated by GABAergic system. CA increased GABA levels, but did not alter glutamate and aspartate concentrations in mice hippocampus after seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ when compared with seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ (p<0.05), respectively, as well as decreased glutamine content in mice hippocampus after seizures induced by PIC when compared with seizures induced by PIC (p<0.05). In addition, CA also increased Na+, K+-ATPase and δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase activities after seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ when compared with seizures induced by P400, PIC or PTZ (p<0.05), respectively. This study demonstrated that CA could be a future therapeutic option for treatment of epilepsy, with a multifactorial brain action mechanism.

This study investigated in vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential of carvacryl acetate (CA), a derivative of carvacrol, monoterpenic component of oregano. The correlation between in vitro and in vivo CA effects was also determined. In vitro tests measured thiobarbituric acid reactive species content, nitrite formation and hydroxyl radical levels. In vivo tests measured thiobarbituric acid reactive species content, nitrite concentration and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels, as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities were measured, using mice hippocampus. The CA administrations for in vivo tests were intraperitoneally and acutely improved. CA reduced lipid peroxidation, nitrite and hydroxyl radical contents in vitro as well as lipid peroxidation and nitrite content in vivo. It also increased reduced GSH levels and GPx as well as catalase activities. Moreover, CA required a lower concentration to inhibit 50 % of free radicals measured in vitro than trolox. There was significant negative correlation between in vitro nitrite levels and in vivo reduced GSH levels; in vitro nitrite content and in vivo GPx activity as well as in vitro hydroxyl radical levels and in vivo SOD activity. To date, this is the first study which suggests vitro and in vivo antioxidant potential to this monoterpene and the correlation between these parameters.

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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 24px;">Introdução: Pacientes com traço falciforme são frequentemente expostos a estresse oxidativo devido ao aumento da produção de </span></span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">espécies reativas derivadas do oxigênio. A doença também pode ser caracterizada pelo aumento dos níveis plasmáticos de produtos </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">da peroxidação lipídica e do consumo de óxido nítrico. Objetivo: O objetivo do presente trabalho foi delinear o perfil epidemiológico e </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">comparar as alterações plasmáticas dos parâmetros oxidativos (nitrito e malonaldeído (MDA)) entre portadores do traço falciforme e </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">pacientes com perfil de hemoglobina normal. Metodologia: Foram colhidas 70 amostras, sendo 50 de portadores do traço falciforme </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">(Grupo Hb AS) e 20 do grupo controle (Grupo Hb AA). Para a confirmação do diagnóstico laboratorial, as amostras de sangue foram </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">submetidas ao procedimento eletroforético em pH alcalino e ao teste de solubilidade. O método empregado para determinar a </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">peroxidação lipídica foi baseado na sua reação com ácido tiobarbitúrico e para mensurar o conteúdo de nitrito foi usado o método </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">de GREEN. Resultados: O grupo Hb AS (0,24 ± 0,02) apresentou valor médio dos níveis séricos de MDA semelhante ao grupo Hb AA </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">(0,20 ± 0,02; p=0,3138). Em relação aos níveis séricos de nitrito, verificou-se um aumento de 92% no grupo Hb AS (4,6 ± 0,33) quando </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">comparado ao grupo Hb AA (2,4 ± 0,22; p<0,0009). Conclusão: Em suma, o perfil desses portadores do traço falciforme atendidos </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">é de mulheres jovens, com baixa escolaridade, casadas e que não exercem atividade remunerada. Considerando os parâmetros </span><span style="line-height: 24px; font-size: medium;">oxidativos, os pacientes com traço falciforme apresentam níveis mais elevados de nitrito plasmático.</span></p>