Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro 24020-141, Brazil.
J Cell Biochem. 2010 Dec 15;111(6):1652-60. doi: 10.1002/jcb.22906.
Eugenia punicifolia known as "pedra-ume caá" is a shrub largely distributed in the Amazon region popularly used in decoctions or infusions as a natural therapeutic agent, which can interfere on cholinergic nicotinic neurotransmission. This work aimed to investigate a putative anti-inflammatory effect of dichloromethane fraction of E. punicifolia extract (Ep-CM) in the muscular lesion of mdx dystrophic mice, considering that activation of cholinergic mechanisms mitigates inflammation. A polymer containing the Ep-CM was implanted in mdx gastrocnemius muscle before onset of myonecrosis for local slow and gradual release of bioactive compounds and mice sacrificed 7 days or 9 weeks after surgery. Comparing to control muscle, treatment did not alter choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase enzymatic activities, but decreased metaloproteases-9 and -2 activities and levels of tumor necrosis factor α and NFκB transcription factor. In addition, treatment also reduced levels of bioactive IL-1β form and cleaved caspase-3, related to early events of cellular death and inflammatory activation and further increased myogenin expression without affecting collagen production which is associated with fibrosis. In vivo treatment of mdx dystrophic mice with Ep-CM caused significant reduction of muscular inflammation and improved skeletal muscle regeneration without inducing fibrosis.
巴戟天，俗称“pedra-ume caá”，是一种广泛分布于亚马逊地区的灌木，常被制成汤剂或浸剂作为天然治疗剂，可干扰胆碱能烟碱型神经递质传递。本研究旨在探讨巴戟天二氯甲烷提取物（Ep-CM）的潜在抗炎作用，考虑到胆碱能机制的激活可以减轻炎症。一种含有 Ep-CM 的聚合物被植入 mdx 鼠的比目鱼肌中，以在肌肉坏死发生前进行局部缓慢和逐渐释放生物活性化合物，然后在手术后 7 天或 9 周处死小鼠。与对照肌肉相比，治疗并未改变胆碱乙酰转移酶和乙酰胆碱酯酶的酶活性，但降低了金属蛋白酶-9 和 -2 的活性以及肿瘤坏死因子 α 和 NFκB 转录因子的水平。此外，治疗还降低了生物活性的 IL-1β 形式和 cleaved caspase-3 的水平，这与细胞死亡和炎症激活的早期事件有关，并进一步增加了肌生成素的表达，而不影响与纤维化相关的胶原蛋白产生。体内给予 mdx 肌营养不良症小鼠 Ep-CM 治疗可显著减轻肌肉炎症，改善骨骼肌再生，而不会诱导纤维化。
