Aims: Study addressed the antioxidant activity (AA) of Sabicea brasiliensis roots crude extract (CE), ethyl acetate (EAF), and hydro-methanolic (HMF) fractions, and its impact on cell viability and adenine nucleotide hydrolysis in vascular A7r5 cells. Materials and Methods: AA of CE, EAF and HMF were determined by the inhibition of the DPPH and ABTS radicals. Total phenolic content was evaluated by Folin-Ciocalteau. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay at different concentrations (62.5; 125; 250 and 500 μg·mL-1) of EAF and HMF after 24, 48 and 72 h. Ectonucleotidase activities were evaluated by colorimetric methods after 48 h EAF or HMF treatment. Results: The highest AA was observed for CE (76%), followed by EAF (46%) and HMF (23%). Phenolic content followed the same pattern. After 48 h, EAF increased A7r5 vascular cells viability by 40%, 40%, 62% and 25% at distinct concentrations, respectively; while HMF augmented it by 50% (500 μg·mL−1). Finally, after 48 h EAF (500 μg·mL−1) decreased about 50% of ATP and ADP metabolism while HMF inhibited 56 and 59% the hydrolysis of NPP substrate (at 125 and 250 μg·mL−1). Conclusion: Study confirmed the high AA of S. brasiliensis, which influences vascular cells proliferation and purines metabolism, pointing to potential cellular pathways that may support the popular use of this plant.

Objective: Noninvasive intracranial pressure waveforms for estimation of intracranial hypertension have been previous validated and a P2/P1 ratio over 1,2 shows a good correlation with this damage. 1,2,3 In animal models, with induced hypertension, it has been observed a significative increase in P2/P1 ratio 2 weeks later. 4 Our objective, as a proof of concept, was to observe followed treated hypertensive patients concerning the rate of P2/P1 behavior. Design and method: The evaluation procedure of noninvasive intracranial pressure waveforms have been performed in 62 treated hypertensive patients with 7 minutes length. First and last minutes were discarded as well any test with poor quality wave signal at any moment. Data concerning systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) measured with OMRON automatic device HBP 1100 were obtained at the same moment as well the variables of age, body mass index (BMI), anti-hypertensive drugs and a history of diabetes (DM), stroke (ST) or myocardial infarction (MI). Descriptive statistics tests were used through the measurement of central tendency (mean), dispersion (standard deviation) and frequency (percentage). T Student and ANOVA as parametric tests and qui squared for categorical variables. Results: Data from 52 patients were validated. Mean age of 64,6 years, 63,5% female, BMI 28,4 +- 5,4 Kg/m2, 48,1% with diabetes. Mean systolic and diastolic office BP measurements of 141,6 +- 25,4 mmHg and 85,2 +- 14,7 mmHg respectively and 53,8% with controlled hypertension (systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP < 90 mmHg). P2/P1 ratio over 1,2 has been found in 75% of the sample and there were no differences concerning controlled and non-controlled hypertension, number of anti-hypertensives drugs, or comorbidities as DM, ST or MI but at this moment we have to consider the small size of the sample to achieve enough power to detect these differences or correlations. Conclusions: The prevalence of 75% of P2/P1 ratio over 1,2 (equivalent to intracranial hypertension) deserves attention from scientific community since it raises a question about blood-brain barrier protection and can help to explain the huge association between hypertension and cerebrovascular diseases.