Effect of copaiba oil on hepatic metabolism of animals submitted to experimental model of Diabetes type I

Abstract

Copaíba oil is extracted from the tree trunks of Copaíba and its medicinal properties were known to the Indians to observe that the animals rubbed themselves in the copaíba trees to heal their wounds. Various properties are now known as anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antineoplastic and trypanosomicides. The popular use in Diabetes is well known, but no scientific work has proven this effect. In relation to the liver, few studies exist on the effect of copaiba oil on the metabolism as well as on associated pathologies. Diabetes is a condition which results in oxidative stress in various organs. Oxidative stress plays a key role in the development of complications of diabetes, such as liver damage. Currently, type 1 DM is considered an inflammatory process with significant increase of IL-6, IL-18, IL-1 and TNF cytokines. Hepatocytes are able to respond to pro-inflammatory cytokines by promoting the expression of genes that mediate inflammation or initiate the caspase activation pathway, which is important in the apoptosis process (Apgar Ingaramo et al, 2011). Understanding the regulation of the inflammatory process and its relation with apoptosis may be of therapeutic relevance with possible interventions in this process. Thus, the objective of this project is to study the effect of copaíba oil on the hepatic metabolism of normal rats submitted to the experimental model of diabetes type I (DM I), especially to the processes of cell death and regeneration.