CHARACTERIZATION OF Achyrocline satureoides INFLORESCENCE EXTRACT ACTIONS ON THE NEUTROPHILS ROLE IN INFLAMMATION.

Abstract

Since ancient times, medicinal herbs have been used to treat several diseases, ever since the herbal medicines use has increased gradually. However, in most cases, the folk medicine use is accomplished without appropriate criteria or without necessary grounds in the literature, which in some cases, it may result in side or toxic effects. Achyrocline satureoides (Lam) DC, popularly known as marcela, marcela field, macelinha, macela or chamomile-national is very popularly used to treat stomach and intestine disorders, respiratory diseases, anemia, inflammation, viral infections, diabetes and prostate diseases. Our group has been developing study to elucidate the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of Marcela inflorescences. Present project will investigate the extract of Achyrocline satureoides inflorescence actions on the neutrophils functions. Male Wistar rats will be employed. The oral administration effects of this extract on neutrophil migration in vivo will be investigated in inflammation induced by E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in the dorsal subcutaneous tissue (air bag). The leukocyte-endothelium interaction (rolling and adhesion behavior) will be study in the mesenteric microcirculation by intravital microscopy. The chemotactic mediator's secretion (leukotriene B4 and CINC) by enzymatic immunoassay in the exudate obtained from inflamed air bag. In vitro, neutrophils obtained from the peritoneal cavity (4 h after local oyster glycogen 1% injection) will be incubated with the extract, it will be performed to quantify the adhesion molecules expression and toll-like 4 receptor (TLR-4) by flow cytometry assays. The neutrophil adhesion to endothelial cell culture and chemotaxis will be conducted in Boyden chamber. Together, these tests will provide data to explain action mechanisms of this herbs medicinal widely used in folk medicine. Importantly, data already obtained during the pre-master´s trainee in the laboratory indicate that the anti-inflammatory effect of the extract involves the modulation of expression of neutrophil adhesion molecules (data presented in section 4 of this project).