Daiana Silva AvilaUniversidade Federal do Pampa (Unipampa) | UNIPAMPA
Daiana Silva Avila
PhD
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153
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Introduction
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March 2005 - February 2009
Publications
Publications (153)
In this study, we evaluated the toxicological and antiproliferative effects of B. glabra Choisy bract extract (BGCE) in its free and loaded into liposomes forms administered to C. elegans mutants with let‐60 gain‐of‐function (gf). Our results demonstrated that the concentration up to 75 µg CAE/mL of BGCE was safe for the worms. Notably, we develope...
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major causes of deaths around the world. The leading cause is related to high cholesterol levels; therefore, controlling these levels has been a successful strategy. Among the drugs used for this purpose, atorvastatin (ATV) has great efficacy; however, some side effects reduce patient adhesion. In this context...
Carbon nanomaterials are promising advanced materials for novel technologies. Therefore, biosafety studies are mandatory to support their safe development, uses, and disposal in sustainable innovation. Traditional toxicological assays are typically expensive, time-consuming, and have low throughput; they have been replaced by new approach methodolo...
Mitochondria play a crucial role in cellular respiration, ATP production, and the regulation of various cellular processes. Mitochondrial dysfunctions have been directly linked to pathophysiological conditions, making them a significant target of interest in toxicological research. In recent years, there has been a growing need to understand the in...
The initiation and progression of cancerous lesions causes changes to DNA structure. Carcinogenesis can occur because of non-modifiable (genetic) and modifiable risk factors. Evidence revealed that of all the types of cancer, 5-10% are caused by non-modifiable risk factors. Many are caused by modifiable risk factors which revealed that it is preven...
Iron oxide nanoparticles present superparamagnetic properties that enable their application in various areas, including drug delivery at specific locations in the organism. Silver nanoparticles have potent antimicrobial effects. Although the combination of Fe3O4-NPs and Ag-NPs in one hybrid nanostructure (Fe3O4@Ag-NPs) demonstrated promising target...
Citation: Funguetto-Ribeiro, A.C.; Nakama, K.A.; Pinz, M.P.; Oliveira, R.L.d.; Sacramento, M.d.; Pereira, F.S.O.; Pinton, S.; Wilhelm, E.A.; Luchese, C.; Alves, D.; et al. Development and In Vivo Assessment of 4-Phenyltellanyl-7-chloroquinoline-loaded Polymeric Nanocapsules in Alzheimer's Disease Models. Brain Sci. 2023, 13, 999. Abstract: Alzheime...
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in older people, and available treatments are palliative and produce undesirable side effects. The 4-phenyltellanyl-7-chloroquinoline (TQ) is an organochalcogen compound studied due to its pharmacological properties, particularly its antioxidant potential. However, TQ possesses some drawb...
Bladder cancer is the fourth most common malignancy in men. It can present along the entire continuum of severity, from mild to well-differentiated disease to extremely malignant tumors with low survival rates. Human RAS genes are the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers, and the critical role of aberrant Ras protein function in carci...
Quercetin is a flavonol widely distributed in plants and has various described biological functions. Several studies have reported on the ability to restore neuronal function in a wide variety of disease models, including animal models of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease. Quercetinper se can act as a neuroprotector/neuromodul...
The current massive and indiscriminate agrochemicals usage, which is inexorably linked to the toxic consequences to the environment and people, represents a great concern. Our work aimed to compare the toxicity induced by chlorpyrifos in its pure form (CPF) with that of a commercial formulation containing allegedly inert ingredients (CBCF) using Ca...
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the major causes of deaths around the world. The leading cause is related to high cholesterol levels, therefore, controlling these levels has been a successful strategy. Among the drugs used for this purpose, atorvastatin (ATV) has great efficacy, however some side effects reduce patient adhesion. In this context,...
Nanotechnology-based strategies have played a pivotal role in innovative products in different technological fields, including medicine, agriculture, and engineering. The redesign of the nanometric scale has improved drug targeting and delivery, diagnosis, water treatment, and analytical methods. Although efficiency brings benefits, toxicity in org...
Nanoformulations containing zein nanoparticles (ZN) can promote the stability and protection of molecules with acaricidal activity. The present study sought to develop nanoformulations with ZN associated with cypermethrin (CYPE) + chlorpyrifos (CHLO) + a plant compound (citral, menthol or limonene), characterize them, and verify their efficacy agai...
Background:
Maca (Lepidium meyenii Walp.) has been used in folk medicine to treat fertility disturbances, a claim that has been evidenced in some studies. However, the clinical trials validating this use have shown paradoxical findings and then maca safety is not well known.
Purpose:
This study investigated the effects and mechanisms by which ma...
A series of eleven Chromene-Dihydropyrimidinone and eleven Xanthene-Dihydropyrimidinone hybrid compounds were easily synthesized through a sequential multicomponent reaction followed by the Copper-catalyzed Alkyne-Azide Cycloaddition reaction. The antibiofilm and antibacterial...
Cancer is characterized by the uncontrolled growth of cells that can invade tissues
causing metastasis. Cancer cells have specific characteristics such as uncontrolled
proliferation, differentiation, loss of function and resistance to cellular homeostasis
mechanisms, making them highly capable of invading other tissues. The nematode
Caenorhabditis...
Ao longo dos anos, o uso do C. elegans vem crescendo na comunidade científica e, por isso, o domínio das análises fisiológicas, moleculares, bioquímicas e comportamentais de C. elegans assume importância crucial para possibilitar o desenvolvimento de abordagens experimentais mais eficientes. Portanto, a publicação deste trabalho visa disponibilizar...
Objectives:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the presence of aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Several natural compounds have been proposed against this disease and grape products are among these. However, little is known about grape juice potential. Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strains...
The aim of this study was to characterize the limnological parameters and analyse the biological effects of different ponds in a commercial fish farm in the Pará State, Brazil. One pond is designated for fingerling production (N) while the other is for fattening and termination (F). The other three ponds are named supply tanks, from which the water...
Nano-sized drug delivery systems have been the subject of intense research in recent years because polymeric materials allow the absorption and release of active substances in a controlled manner. Despite the benefits, the safety of nanoparticulate systems is an aspect to be understood, particularly in vivo systems. Caenorhabditis elegans is a very...
Human exposure to the natural environmental contaminant methylmercury (MeHg) has been associated to adverse health effects. Importantly, the mechanisms by which this organomercurial exerts its neurotoxicity have yet to be fully clarified. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate whether exposure to MeHg alters dopamine (DA) and octopamine (...
Toluene is an air pollutant widely used as an organic solvent in industrial production and emitted by fossil fuel combustion, in addition to being used as a drug of abuse. Its toxic effects in the central nervous system have not been well established, and how and which neurons are affected remains unknown. Hence, this study aimed to fill this gap b...
The pitangueira (Eugenia uniflora) is a tree native to Brazil but is cultivated in several subtropical countries. A great diversity of nutrients and bioactive compounds have been found in the leaves and fruits of E. uniflora, which supports its use in folk medicine to treat diseases such as stomach and intestinal disorders, fever and general inflam...
Methylmercury (MeHg), an organomercurial, is one of the most prevalent and toxic environmental pollutants. The major route of human exposure occurs via consumption of MeHg-adulterated seafood. Historically, MeHg epidemics in Minamata Bay, Japan, and in Iraq provided evidence of its developmental toxicity and neurological damage. This chapter descri...
The demand for the development of environmentally sustainable, low-cost and controlled-release bioinsecticides for crop protection is emerging. To that end, we have developed biodegradable zein nanoparticles (NP) loaded with clove oil (CO) or its major compound eugenol (EU), which have been widely reported by their insecticide activities. However,...
The reuse of agroindustrial waste has been the subject of several studies since they present rich chemical composition and their disposal generates costs to industries and harmful potential to the environment. Compounds present in soybean residues may have a potential antibiofilm activity, a property still very little explored in this raw material....
In a previous in vitro study, dihydropyrimidinone-derived selenoesteres demonstrated antioxidant properties, metal chelators and inhibitory acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, making these compounds promising candidates for Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) treatment. However, these effects have yet to be demonstrated in an in vivo animal model; therefore...
Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) have been developed under the rationale of specifically targeting plants, since glyphosate mechanism is based on the inhibition of the shikimate pathway, present only in plants. However, this herbicide has been detected in aquatic ecosystems, wildlife and in humans and several studies have demonstrated its toxicit...
Manganese (Mn) is an essential metal, which at high exposures causes neurotoxic effects and neurodegeneration. The neurotoxic effects of Mn are mediated by neuroinflammation, oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and other mechanisms. Recent findings have demonstrated the potential impact of Mn overexposure on gut m...
The existence of a formal Endocannabinoid System in C. elegans has been questioned due to data showing the absence of typical cannabinoid receptors in the worm; however, the presence of a full metabolism for endocannabinoids, alternative ligands, and receptors for these agents and a considerable number of orthologous and homologous genes regulating...
The deficiency in the activity of the mitochondrial enzyme methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MCM, EC 5.4.99.2) leads to a condition called methylmalonic academia, which is characterised by the accumulation of methylmalonic (MMA), malonic (MA) or other organic acids. Importantly, we have recently found that supplementation with Ilex paraguariensis aqueous e...
Uruguay River is the most important river in western Rio Grande do Sul, separating Brazil from Argentina and Uruguay. However, its pollution is of great concern due to agricultural activities in the region and the extensive use of pesticides. In a long term, this practice leads to environmental pollution, especially to the aquatic system. The objec...
Environmental and occupational exposure to chemical and biological agents can interfere with neurons and glial cells from the central and peripheral nervous systems and generate a condition called neurotoxicity. Early diagnostics is critical to improve outcomes and to avoid long-lasting damage that can incapacitate the affected subjects. To that en...
Uranium (U) mining is an aquatic environmental concern because most of these harmful compounds are discharged into freshwater, reaching the saline environment as the final destination of this contaminated water. Carbonates are present in ocean waters and are essential for benthic organisms, however they may influence the U-induced toxicity. Thus, t...
Plants are widely used in folk medicine because of their pharmacological properties. Ceiba speciosa, popularly known as paineira-rosa or tree-of-wool, is a species found in the Northwest of Rio Grande do Sul, being native of the upper Uruguay River, Brazil. The tea obtained from the stem bark is employed in folk medicine to reduce cholesterol, tria...
Organic selenium, tellurium and sulfur compounds have been studied due to their pharmacological properties. For instance, the β-aryl-chalcogenium azide compounds have demonstrated antitumoral action in vitro. However, yet no pharmacological actions of this class of compounds were determined in vivo. Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that present...
Fruits are sources of bioactive compounds that are responsible for several biological activities. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the chemical composition of the pulp of the Brazilian Savanna fruit Dipteryx alata; evaluate its toxic effects, influence on the life expectancy of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and its antioxidant activit...
The use of nanoagrochemicals is fundamental to modern agriculture and the applications of nanotechnology in the form of nanopesticides or nanofertilizers are growing all over the world. Notwithstanding, risk assessment of these products has been far outpaced by their development. Environmental and human health impacts are general concerns that have...
Background
Organophosphorus pesticides exert their toxic effects mainly by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which is related to emotional disorders, such as depression. Atropine-oximes therapy is commonly used; however, the efficacy of oximes in the reactivation of AChE has been inconsistent. The objective of this study was to investi...
Among the several metals that are essential for our health is manganese (Mn). This trace element is required for the proper development and functioning of several organisms, particularly humans. Mn is ubiquitously distributed in nature, being present in the diet; therefore, the nutritional requirements are easily acquired. Absorption, transport, st...
Background
Manganese (Mn) is a metal ubiquitously present in nature and essential for many living organisms. As a trace element, it is required in small amounts for the proper functioning of several important enzymes, and reports of Mn deficiency are indeed rare.
Methods
This mini-review will cover aspects of Mn toxicokinetics and its impact on br...
Butiá (Butia eriospatha) is a fruit of a palm tree belonging to the family Arecaceae, native to South America. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of butiá extract using Caenorhabditis elegans as animal model. Initially, we performed survival experiments, reproduction, resistance to oxidative stress (post or pre‐treatmen...
This book explores the development of nanopesticides and tests of their biological activity against target organisms. It also covers the effects of nanopesticides in the aquatic and terrestrial environments, along with related subjects including fate, behaviour, mechanisms of action and toxicity. Moreover, the book discusses the potential risks of...
The inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) is a common outcome caused by organophosphorus (OPs) intoxication. Although inconsistent, the standard treatment consists of a muscarinic receptor antagonist (atropine) and AChE‐reactivating molecules such as oximes. This study proposes to test unpublished compounds which contain the moieties of isatin...
Toluene is a highly volatile organic solvent present in gasoline. Exposure mainly occurs by absorption via the pulmonary tract and easily reaches the central nervous system, which causes toxic effects. Toluene toxicity has been described but not well established. The present work aimed to evaluate the effects of airborne exposure to toluene, the in...
Piperazine designer drugs are a group of synthetic drugs of abuse that have appeared on the illicit market since the second half of the 1990s. The most common derivatives are 1‐benzylpiperazine (BZP), 1‐(4‐methoxyphenyl)piperazine (MeOPP) and 1‐(3,4‐methylenedioxybenzyl)piperazine (MDBP). They can be consumed as capsules, tablets, but also in powde...
Pesticides guarantee us high productivity in agriculture, but the long-term costs have proved too high. Acute and chronic intoxication of humans and animals, contamination of soil, water and food are the consequences of the current demand and sales of these products. In addition, pesticides such as glyphosate are sold in commercial formulations whi...
Organic selenium compounds have several pharmacological activities already described, as anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, which have been attributed to their antioxidant effects. Because they are promising in pharmacology, the synthesis of these compounds has increased significantly. As many new molecules are synthesized the use of a sim...
Sustainable agriculture encourages practices that present low risks to the environment and human health. To this end, zein (corn protein) can be used to develop nanocarrier systems capable of improving the physicochemical properties of biopesticides, reducing their possible toxicity. Neem oil extracted from the Azadirachta indica tree contains many...
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of chronic, progressive disorders characterized by neuronal loss and symptoms related to the affected brain or medulla areas. They affect millions of people worldwide and because their mechanisms are not totally understood, treatments are still experimental. In order to further study these diseases and how to...
The ethanolic extract obtained from purple pitanga fruit (Eugenia uniflora- PPE) has been previously described by its potential to reduce lipid accumulation in vitro. In the present study, we aimed to study this potential in vivo using Caenorhabditis elegans as animal model. Considering the low pH of the extract, its hydrophilic characteristic, its...
Background
Salvia hispanica seeds have been commonly used by people that seek healthy habits through natural foods to reduce cholesterol and triacylglycerides levels, however, the evidences that support this assumption are still scarce in literature. Here, we aimed to evaluate the lipid lowering effects of chia by using Caenorhabditis elegans as an...
Thimerosal (THIM) is a well-established antifungal and antiseptic agent widely used as a preservative in vaccines. Recent studies identified neurotoxic effects of THIM, including malfunction of the monoaminergic system. However, the underlying cytotoxic mechanisms are not well understood. Here we used the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to invest...
Pitanga, a fruit of the pitangueira tree (Eugenia uniflora L.), is native to Brazil and has a high antioxidant capacity due to the elevated amount of anthocyanins. The present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the purple pitanga fruit and to evaluate its antioxidant effect in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. We observed tha...
There are increasing studies indicating that a disturbance in iron homeostasis is involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases in which oxidative stress plays an important role. To counteract oxidative stress, bioactive molecules as the flavonoid resveratrol can act as scavenger agents or by modulating enzymes and metabolic signaling...
Studies focusing on the teratogenicity of a series of new chemicals that are produced in a daily basis represent an important focus in toxicological/pharmaceutical research, particularly due to the risks arising from occupational exposure of the subjects. However, the complex mating procedures, scheduling of treatments, requirements for trained per...
This book is organized into 18 chapters covering the following subjects: history (Chapter 1); use of nanomaterials in agriculture (Chapter 2); green nanotechnology (Chapter 3); nanonutrients (Chapter 4); enhanced productivity (Chapter 5); synthesis and applications of nanoparticles in agriculture (Chapter 6); toxicity, fate and transport of nanomat...
An original and focused library of two sets of dihydropyrimidin-2-thiones (DHPMs) substituted N-1 aryl derived from monastrol were designed and synthesized in order to discover more effective Eg5 ligand than the template. The studies made on molecular docking, selected four ligands for the pharmacological investigations performed against two glioma...
Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element for physiological functions since it acts as an enzymatic co-factor. Nevertheless, overexposure to Mn has been associated with a pathologic condition called manganism. Furthermore, Mn has been reported to affect lipid metabolism by mechanisms which have yet to be established. Herein, we used the nematode...
Nanotechnology has become increasingly a reality nowadays, and along with it there is a need for discussions related to potential advances, as well as the impacts on the environment and human health that technology can cause (Purohit et al. 2017). Nanomaterials applications and also implications on the environment have been studied by several group...
Drugs used for the treatment and prevention of malaria have resistance-related problems, making them ineffective for monotherapy. If properly associated, many of these antimalarial drugs may find their way back to the treatment regimen. Among the therapeutic arsenal, quinine (QN) is a second-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria but has side eff...
Despite all the applications of nanotechnology, limited data are available on their environmental and health risks. Many nanomaterials have been developed; however, their safety evaluation is not performed at the same speed. Toxicity can occur at different trophic levels (microorganisms, invertebrates, and vertebrates), and because of that, alterna...
The tryptophan metabolite, quinolinic acid (QUIN), and the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP) are two important tools for toxicological research commonly used in neurotoxic models of excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, energy depletion, and neuronal cell death in mammals. However, their toxic properties have yet to be explored in the ne...
Methylmercury (MeHg), an organomercurial, is one of the most prevalent and toxic environmental pollutants. The major route of human exposure occurs via consumption of MeHg-adulterated seafood. Historically, MeHg epidemics in Minamata Bay, Japan, and in Iraq provided evidence of its developmental toxicity and neurological damage. This chapter descri...
Over the last decade, engineered nanomaterials (NMs) brought a revolutionary development in many sectors of human life including electronics, paints, textiles, food, agriculture, and health care. However, the exponential growth in the number of NMs applications resulted in uncertainties regarding their environmental impacts. Currently, the common a...
Metals are a component of a variety of ecosystems and organisms. They can generally be divided into essential and nonessential metals. The essential metals are involved in physiological processes once the deficiency of these metals has been associated with diseases. Although iron, manganese, copper, and zinc are important for life, it has been evid...
Quinine, a treatment used in chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria, was loaded into poly(ɛ-caprolactone) or Eudragit® RS100 nanocapsules using Curcuma oil as the oil-based core. Until now, the effect of cationic nanocapsules on malaria has not been reported. A 2⁴ factorial design was adopted using, as independent variables, the concentration of...
The tryptophan metabolite, quinolinic acid
(QUIN), and the mitochondrial toxin 3-nitropropionic acid
(3-NP) are two important tools for toxicological research commonly
used in neurotoxic models of excitotoxicity, oxidative
stress, energy depletion, and neuronal cell death in mammals.
However, their toxic properties have yet to be explored in the
ne...
We describe here the synthesis of enantiomerically pure chalcogenoethers obtained through the reaction of nucleophilic species of chalcogen (S, Se and Te), generated in situ from the respective diorganyl dichalcogenides, with (R)- and (S)-tosyl solketal. Furthermore, some of the chalcogenoethers were treated with acidic cation exchange resin Dowex-...
Organic selenium and tellurium compounds are known for their broad-spectrum effects in a variety of experimental disease models. However, these compounds commonly display high toxicity and the molecular mechanisms underlying these deleterious effects have yet to be elucidated. Thus, the need for an animal model that is inexpensive, amenable to high...
The extensive use of pesticides is causing environmental pollution, affecting animal organisms in different habitats and also leading human health at risk. In this study, we present as an alternative the use of nanoparticles loaded with pesticides and report their toxicological assessment to a soil organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Three nanopartic...