Antidepressant activity of rose oxide essential oil: possible involvement of serotonergic transmission

Rose oxide (RO) is a monoterpene found in rose oil fragrances. This monoterpene has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory activity, however, little is known regarding its pharmacological activity. The present study was carried out to evaluate its antidepressant action and possible mechanisms of action. Analysis of ADMET pharmacokinetic properties (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity) of rose oxide was performed by computational prediction analysis. Behavioral tests were performed to assess the interaction between rose oxide and the central nervous system and antidepressant effect that includes: forced swim test (FST), tail suspension test (TST), open field test (OFT) and rota-rod test. The results of pharmacokinetic and toxicological properties indicate that rose oxide could be used orally, since it has good intestinal absorption as well as pharmacological and toxicological properties that can be similar to pharmacological compounds (regular hepatic metabolism and low toxicity). Treatment with 50 mg/kg of rose oxide was able to decrease the immobility time of animals not affected by FST and TST and was not able to alter the motor activity of the OFT and rota-rod test, suggesting modulation and antidepressant activity. Docking data suggest that rose oxide can bind to receptors in the serotonergic pathway. The results described here suggest that rose oxide has antidepressant activity, modulating the serotonergic pathway.

Padrão reprodutivo, dieta e parasitologia de Artibeus lituratus (Olfers, 1818) (Mammalia, Chiroptera) em parques urbanos do município do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro, Brasil)

Este trabalho apresenta dados sobre a dinâmica reprodutiva, o padrão alimentar e as associações com parasitos em indivíduos de Artibeus lituratus capturados no período de 2009 a 2018 em três Parques Naturais urbanos no município do Rio de Janeiro. Os animais foram capturados com auxílio de redes de espera, medidos, pesados e inspecionados para a ocorrência de ectoparasitas; quando possível, foram coletadas fezes e preparados esfregaços sanguíneos para análise da dieta e presença de hemoparasitos, respectivamente. A partir da avaliação dos 307 espécimes capturados, verificou-se que os dados biométricos estavam dentro do esperado para a espécie. A dieta foi avaliada através de 68 amostras de fezes, que continham fragmentos de insetos, polpa de frutos e sementes de Urticaceae, Combretaceae, Myrtaceae, Piperaceae e Solanaceae. Os parasitos encontrados em associação com os morcegos foram a espécie de Diptera Paratrichobius longicrus e o ácaro Periglischrus iheringi, além dos hemoparasitos Plasmodium sp., Hepatozoon sp., e Litomosoides sp. Os dados referentes à reprodução de Artibeus lituratus nos parques urbanos inventariados neste estudo demonstram que eles mantêm um padrão reprodutivo típico da Subfamília Stenodermatinae, que consiste em poliestria bimodal com pico em março e abril e outro em julho, agosto e setembro.

Evaluation of the effects of quercetin on brain lesions secondary to experimental hydrocephalus in rats

INTRODUCTION

Hydrocephaly is a disease that affects not only the dynamics of the cerebrospinal fluid, but also other structures of the central nervous system. Although shunt is effective in reducing ventriculomegaly, many neurological damages are not reversed with surgery. Several studies demonstrate that oxidative stress is involved in the genesis of hydrocephalus lesions.

OBJECTIVE

Evaluate the neuroprotective response of quercetin in hydrocephalus.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Male newborns rats were used, which received the 15% kaolin injection in the cisterna magna for induction of hydrocephalus. They were divided into control group (C), untreated hydrocephalic (HN), shunted hydrocephalic (HD), hydrocephalic treated with distilled water (HA), hydrocephalic treated with distilled water and shunt (HDA), hydrocephalic treated with quercetin peritoneal (HQp), hydrocephalic treated with quercetin peritoneal and shunt (HDQp), hydrocephalic treated with quercetin by gavage (HQg), and hydrocephalus treated with quercetin by gavage and shunt (HDQg).

RESULTS

Quercetin significantly improved the immunohistochemical markers, mainly caspase and GFAP. There were no significant changes in clinical/behavioral assessment. The use of isolated quercetin does not alter the volume and ventricular size, and the realization of ventriculo-subcutaneous shunt in newborn rats with hydrocephalus presents a high morbi-mortality.

CONCLUSION

The use of quercetin shows laboratory improvement of the effects of glial lesion and corpus callosum fibers and is therefore not justified by the use of the routine substance as neuroprotective.