BACKGROUND Cirrhosis is an important health problem characterized by a significant change in liver parenchyma. In animals, this can be reproduced by an experimental model of bile duct ligation (BDL). Melatonin (MLT) is a physiological hormone synthesized from serotonin that has been studied for its beneficial properties, including its antioxidant potential. AIM To evaluate MLT’s effects on oxidative stress, the inflammatory process, and DNA damage in an experimental model of secondary biliary cirrhosis. METHODS Male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups: Control (CO), CO + MLT, BDL, and BDL + MLT. MLT was administered (20 mg/kg) daily beginning on day 15 after biliary obstruction. On day 29 the animals were killed. Blood samples, liver tissue, and bone marrow were collected for further analysis. RESULTS BDL caused changes in biochemical and histological parameters and markers of inflammatory process. Thiobarbituric acid (0.46 ± 0.01) reactive substance levels, superoxide dismutase activity (2.30 ± 0.07) and nitric oxide levels (2.48 ± 0.36) were significantly lower ( P < 0.001) n the groups that received MLT. DNA damage was also lower ( P < 0.001) in MLT-treated groups (171.6 ± 32.9) than the BDL-only group (295.5 ± 34.8). Tissue damage and the expression of nuclear factor kappa B, interleukin-1β, Nrf2, NQO1 and Hsp70 were significantly lower in animals treated with MLT ( P < 0.001). CONCLUSION When administered to rats with BDL-induced secondary biliary cirrhosis, MLT effectively restored the evaluated parameters.

Due to the ethnopharmacological use of Campsiandra laurifolia (Fabaceae), popularly known as Acapurana, to treat wounds and ulcers, associated with the lack of alternative treatments for intestinal inflammations such as ulcerative colitis (UC), the present work sought to characterize its phytochemical and antioxidant activities, and to evaluate remedial action in experimental colitis with acetic acid. Phytochemical analyzes were performed through qualitative and quantitative colorimetric tests of the main secondary metabolites. In the colitis model, 24 male Wistar rats aged ± 60 days old were used, divided into 4 groups: Control (CO) control + aqueous extract of C. laurifolia 50 mg/kg (CO + A50); Colitis (CL); and Colitis + aqueous extract of C. laurifolia 50 mg/kg (CL + A50). Measurement of sphincter anal pressure and histological tests of the large intestine, lipoperoxidation (LPO), enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and levels of glutathione (GSH) were performed. For statistical analysis, the oxidative stress (OS) results were expressed as means ± standard error, adopting a significance level of p < 0.05. The screening indicated the presence of flavonoids, saponins and tannins in the extract, with high levels of phenolic compounds and tannins, and was related to high antioxidant capacity. In the histological analysis, the CL group presented loss of the crypts, edema and inflammatory infiltrate. The use of C. laurifolia extract restructured the crypts, decreased edema and increased sphincter anal pressure, with a decrease in LPO, SOD, and an increase in GSH. It is suggested that the use of C. laurifolia extract reduces OS due to its antioxidant power conferred by the phenolic compounds present in the extract.

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Ulcerative colitis (UC) affects the mucosa and submucosa of the large intestine. One of the mechanisms involved in its etiology is oxidative stress (OS), directly involved in the inflammatory process characteristic of UC. The Campsiandra laurifolia, known as acapurana, was described as possessing antioxidant properties. We used 24 male Wistar rats, divided into control (CO), control + acapurana (CO + A), colitis (CL), and colitis + acapurana (CL + A) groups. This study performed histological analysis, measuring anal sphincter pressure (ASP) and lipoperoxidation (LPO). The activity of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) levels were evaluated. The expression of the nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The statistical analysis used was the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Student-Newman-Keuls test; values were expressed as mean ± standard error, and the significance level was p < 0.05. In the animals of the CL group, we observed the destruction of the crypts and the presence of mucosal ulcers, edema, and submucosal inflammatory infiltrate, as well as increased damage to the intestinal mucosa, reduced ASP, increased LPO and SOD activity, reduced GSH levels, and increased expression of NFκB and iNOS. The administration of C. laurifolia in the CL + A group was shown to cause regeneration of crypts, reduction of inflammatory infiltrate, reduction of damage to the intestinal mucosa, increase in ASP, and reduction in LPO with the restoration of SOD activity and GSH levels. The immunohistochemistry of NFκB and iNOS was significantly reduced. Therefore, the C. laurifolia aqueous extract appears to exert an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effect in rats with AA-induced colitis.