RESUMO:Achyrocline satureioides (marcela) é utilizada na medicina popular brasileira, na forma de chá, como tratamento de patologias digestivas e infl amatórias. O efeito anti-proliferativo de infusões de marcela sobre o ciclo celular da cebola foi avaliado, utilizando-se infl orescências de marcela recém coletadas (2005) e após armazenamento por 30 meses (2003). Preparou-se as infusões em duas concentrações: 5,0 mg/mL (concentração usual como chá) e 20 mg/mL. Utilizaram-se 3 grupos de 6 bulbos de cebola para cada população de marcela. Retirou-se um grupo de bulbos controle de cada população. Todos os bulbos enraizados em água destilada foram transferidos para os extratos de marcela e permaneceram por 24 horas, (os bulbos controle permaneceram em água). As radículas foram coletadas, fi xadas em etanol-ácido acético (3:1) por 24 h e estocadas em álcool 70%. Foram analisadas 6000 células por grupo de bulbos, e os índices mitóticos calculados submetidos a análise estatística pelo teste 2 a 5%. Conclui-se que as infusões de marcela possuem ação antiproliferativa sobre o ciclo celular da cebola e que essa ação inibitória da divisão celular aumenta conforme aumento da concentração, bem como após o armazenamento.Unitermos: Achyrocline satureioides, Allium cepa, Asteraceae, Liliaceae, atividade antiproliferativa, índice mitótico, planta medicinal.ABSTRACT: "Anti-proliferative effect of infusions of Achyrocline satureioides on the Allium cepa cell cycle". Achyrocline saturoides (marcela) is used in Brazilian folk medicine as a tea in the treatment of digestive and infl ammatory diseases. The anti-proliferative effect of infusions of marcela on onion cell cycle was evaluated by using the infl orescences of recently collected marcela and after the storage for 30 months. Marcela infl orescences were collected for the infusion preparations in 2003 and in 2005 (used still fresh). We prepared the infusions at two concentrations 5.0 mg/mL (concentration used as tea) and 20 mg/mL. We used two groups of six onion bulbs for each population of marcela, and one group of bulbs of each population was withdrawn as a control group. All bulbs rooted in distilled water and after they were transferred to the extracts of marcela and they were kept there for 24 hours (control bulbs remained under water). The root tips were collected, after fi xed in ethanol acetic acid (3:1) for 24 hours and, stored under alcohol 70%. A total of 6000 cells per group of bulbs was analyzed, and the mitotic indexes were calculated and undergone to statistical analysis by using 2 at 5%. The conclusions were that the infusions of marcela have anti-proliferative action on the cell cycle of onion and that this inhibitory action on the cell division increases according to the increase of the infusion concentration, after storage as well.

RESUMO:Mundialmente, muitas espécies de plantas medicinais são utilizadas para o tratamento de doenças. No entanto, a maioria dessas espécies não foram sufi cientemente estudadas, principalmente quanto à presença de substâncias citotóxicas/mutagênicas em sua composição ou decorrentes do próprio metabolismo e podem causar danos à saúde da população. A presença de substâncias mutagênicas nas espécies vegetais que causam alterações cromossômicas podem ser detectadas durante o ciclo celular de uma espécie. O sistema teste de Allium cepa é freqüentemente utilizado para avaliação do potencial genotóxico de extratos de plantas medicinais através da análise de células meristemáticas provenientes de pontas de raízes tratadas com infusões medicinais (chás). O conhecimento do potencial genotóxico destas espécies medicinais, através da análise do ciclo celular de Allium cepa serve como indicativo de segurança para a população que utiliza chás medicinais como única alternativa para o tratamento de doenças. Essa revisão, objetiva informar a respeito da importância do teste de Allium cepa para avaliação preliminar da genotoxicidade de infusões de plantas medicinais. Unitermos: Allium cepa, plantas medicinais, citotoxicidade, mutagenicidade.ABSTRACT: "The use of Allium cepa test as a bioindicator of genotoxicity of medicinal plants infusions". All over the world, many species of medicinal plants are used for disease treatments. However, most of them were not deeply studied; and the presence of cytotoxic or mutagenic substances in their composition or resulting from their metabolism may be harmful to human beings. The mutagenic effects caused by such substances result in chromosomal changes which are detecTable during the cell cycle of a species through cytogenetic analysis. The Allium cepa test system is widely used for evaluating the genotoxic potential of infusions (tea) made of medicinal plants, through the cell cycle analysis. The knowledge of the genotoxic potential of such species through the Allium cepa test serves as a warning and safety bioindicator for the population who uses medicinal tea quite often as the unique alternative for disease treatment of its people. In the review article, we intend to inform people about the importance of the Allium cepa test for evaluating the genotoxicity of infusions of medicinal plants.

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Background and methods: Essential arterial hypertension triggers a chronic inflammatory process that seems to be linked to purinergic signaling. Physical exercise exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and is able to modulates purinergic system. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 6 months of resistance training on inflammatory markers, purinergic system components, hemodynamic and anthropometric parameters in hypertensive woman. Methods: A total of 31 hypertensive group and 28 normotensive (control group) middle-aged sedentary women were submitted to 6 months of resistance training. All measurements and blood collection were carried out before (pretest), after 3 months and after 6 months (posttest) of training. Purinergic enzymes [nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase (NTPDase) and adenosine deaminase] were assessed in lymphocytes; IL-6, IL-10, ATP and C-reactive protein levels were measured in serum. Results: Six months of resistance training was able to significantly reduce blood pressure (BP), IL-6, C-reactive protein, ATP levels as well as NTPDase and adenosine deaminase activities in hypertensive group. Physical training was also able to increase IL-10 levels in hypertensive group. A positive correlation was found between BP, enzyme activities and levels of ATP and IL-6. A negative correlation was found between BP and IL-10. Positive correlation was found between NTPDase and IL-6 levels (P < 0.05) as well as ATP levels and IL-6 levels. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrated the relationship between purinergic signaling and inflammation in hypertension and suggests that resistance training serve as tool to reduce inflammation in hypertensive woman by modulating purinergic system.

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