Elisa Vanessa Heisler’s research while affiliated with Federal University of Santa Maria and other places

Diabetes mellitus is associated with chronic wound-healing problems that significantly impact patients’ quality of life and substantially increase expenditure on healthcare. Therefore, the identification of compounds that can aid healing is justified. Anredera cordifolia (Ten.) has been used in folk medicine for curative purposes; however, the causal mechanisms underlying its healing effects remain to be elucidated. In this study, the effect of the ethanolic extract of A. cordifolia was evaluated in an in vitro healing model using fibroblasts cultivated under normoglycemic and hyperglycemic environments. The extract was predominantly composed of phytol and exhibited genoprotective activity. Fibroblast migration attenuated the adverse effects of hyperglycemia, favoring cell proliferation. Collagen levels were significantly increased in ruptured fibroblasts under both standard and hyperglycemic environments. The phytogenomic effect of the extract on three genes related to extracellular matrix formation, maintenance, and degradation showed that A. cordifolia increased the expression of genes related to matrix synthesis and maintenance in both normoglycemic and hyperglycemic individuals. Furthermore, it reduced the expression of genes related to matrix degradation. Overall, this is the first study to demonstrate the effectiveness of A. cordifolia in wound healing, elucidating possible causal mechanisms that appear to be based on the genoprotective effect of this plant on the migratory and proliferative phases of the wound healing process; these effects are probably related to phytol, its main constituent.

Aims: To describe the medicinal plants grown in nurseries medicinal in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region. Methodology: A qualitative exploratory study whose Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observation, applied in April and May 2014, in the participants' homes and place of cultivation of medicinal plant nurseries. In order to analyze data we have used the operative proposal of Minayo. Results: 22 persons participated in this study, cultivators three medicinal plant nurseries. Were listed 12 plants grown in three medicinal plant nurseries. The knowledge about plants comes from the popular knowledge, being cultivated seedlings coming from the backyards of cultivators. Conclusion: The results showed that the three medicinal plant nurseries, the same species of plants and that many of these are grown, have their potential therapeutic confirmed by scientific studies. Such studies are unknown to the people interviewed.

Introduction: Anredera cordifolia is a plant recognized as a non-conventional food plant. In folk medicine, it shows promise, being used in the treatment of skin diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. Objectives: To map the properties of the Anredera cordifolia plant in the therapeutic process of non-communicable chronic diseases. Materials and methods: The study was based on the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines. The search was conducted in the Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases in 2022 and updated in 2023. Selection criteria were primary studies, in any language, country of origin, and publication year, conducted with humans, animals, and/or cellular models, in a laboratory context, focusing on the properties of the plant. Selection was performed independently by two reviewers using the Rayyan software. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: In the 27 included articles, the results demonstrated that the plant has positive properties in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, chronic kidney disease, obesity, and cataracts, as well as being beneficial in controlling cholesterol, triglyceride, and uric acid levels. The main therapeutic properties identified were hypoglycemic effect and reduction in serum levels of triglycerides and total cholesterol. The plant also showed beneficial effects on the healing of diabetic wounds, reduction in heart rate, and obesity. Conclusions: Chronic diseases with evidence on the use of the plant include hypertension, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, and cataracts. Additionally, the plant has beneficial properties regarding clinical markers such as triglycerides, cholesterol, and blood glucose.

Objetivo: conhecer os saberes de estudantes de enfermagem da Catalunha sobre o uso de plantas medicinais como terapia complementar no cuidado à saúde. Metodologia: pesquisa qualitativa, exploratória e descritiva, por meio de entrevista semiestruturada, realizada em março de 2016, com cinco estudantes de Enfermagem de uma Universidade da Catalunha (Espanha). Aprovada pelo Comitê de Ética n. 981.660/2015. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: para os estudantes, o uso das plantas medicinais como terapia complementar é uma opção de fácil acesso, pois há possibilidade de cultivá-las em domicílio e podem ser encontradas no comércio. O conhecimento sobre sua utilização é difundido culturalmente e repassado, especialmente, pelas gerações familiares. A escassez do ensino na academia sobre o uso de plantas medicinais mostrou-se uma preocupação dos estudantes, já que é preciso aprender para que possam ensinar aos usuários durante o exercício profissional. O uso de plantas no tratamento de doenças é um tema que deve ser explorado pela ciência, devido a sua eficácia terapêutica, fácil acessibilidade e contemplação integrativa das crenças e culturas dos indivíduos. Conclusão: os saberes populares são evidenciados a nível familiar, e a inserção destes na grade curricular dos cursos de enfermagem é salutar à formação integral do profissional.

Objectives: Describing culture circles as a powerful device for dialogue on the promotion of rural elderly health by Family Health Strategy workers. Method: A qualitative study of the participant action type articulated with the methodological framework of Paulo Freire and the concepts of value, counter value, death economy and Cartesian compass of Jaime Breilh. 2

Esta obra constituiu-se a partir de um processo colaborativo entre pesquisadores brasileiros da área de Produtos Naturais que se destacaram e apresentaram seus trabalhos de pesquisa neste espaço formativo. Resultou, também, da necessidade de haver em língua portuguesa um compêndio que atualizasse os conhecimentos e pesquisas desenvolvidas nesta área científica. Abordou-se desta maneira o rico estudo fitoquímico de diferentes espécies de plantas ocorrentes em todos os biomas brasileiros, incluindo seus potenciais biológicos. Alguns profissionais que atuam na farmacognosia, ciências farmacêuticas, biologia, farmácia, biotecnologia e química de produtos naturais contribuíram para construção deste livro. Agradecemos aos autores pelo empenho, disponibilidade e dedicação para o desenvolvimento e conclusão dessa obra. Esperamos também que a mesma sirva de instrumento didático-pedagógico para estudantes, professores dos diversos níveis de ensino e demais interessados pela temática. “Não foram o ouro e a prata que seduziram o homem branco na Amazônia: foram as plantas” (Otto Gottlieb e Walter Mors, 1978).

RESUMO: Descrever as plantas medicinais cultivadas em hortos medicinais em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Estudo qualitativo do tipo exploratório cuja coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e observação, aplicadas nos meses de abril e maio de 2014, no domicílio dos participantes e no local de cultivo dos hortos medicinais. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se da proposta operativa de Minayo. Participaram dessa pesquisa 22 pessoas, cultivadoras de três hortos medicinais. Foram elencadas 12 plantas cultivadas nos três hortos medicinais. O conhecimento a respeito das plantas é proveniente do saber popular, sendo as mudas cultivadas, oriundas dos quintais das cultivadoras. A análise dos resultados permitiu perceber que nos três hortos medicinais, são cultivadas as mesmas espécies de plantas e que grande parte destas, contam com seus potenciais terapêuticos confirmados por estudos científicos. Tais estudos são desconhecidos pela população entrevistada. Palavras-chave: plantas medicinais; enfermagem; medicina tradicional; conhecimento. ABSTRACT: Plants grown in medicinal gardens in a municipality in the Rio Grande do Sul state-Northwest Region. To describe the medicinal plants grown in nurseries medicinal in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region. A qualitative exploratory study whose Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observation, applied in April and May 2014, in the participants' homes and place of cultivation of medicinal plant nurseries. In order to analyze data we have used the operative proposal of Minayo. 22 persons participated in this study, cultivators three medicinal plant nurseries. Were listed 12 plants grown in three medicinal plant nurseries. The knowledge about plants comes from the popular knowledge, being cultivated seedlings coming from the backyards of cultivators. The results showed that the three medicinal plant nurseries, the same species of plants and that many of these are grown, have their potential therapeutic confirmed by scientific studies. Such studies are unknown to the people interviewed. INTRODUÇÃO Há milhares de anos, o homem vem buscando a cura e prevenção de diversas doenças por meio de práticas não convencionais de saúde, como o uso de plantas medicinais, advindas do saber e da cultura popular, sendo o conhecimento à este respeito repassado entre as gerações familiares e comunitárias (Alvim et al., 2006). Por muito tempo, estas práticas populares de cuidado foram rejeitadas pelo sistema oficial de saúde, prevalecendo o modelo biomédico de atenção. Atualmente acredita-se que esse cuidado realizado por meio das plantas medicinais seja favorável à saúde humana, desde que o usuário tenha conhecimento de sua finalidade, dos riscos e benefícios (Badke et al., 2012). Apesar da população afirmar que as plantas medicinais não trazem malefícios ao organismo, o uso de uma planta incorretamente identificada pode gerar efeitos colaterais, indesejados e/ou tóxicos. Às vezes, plantas de espécies diferentes, com princípios ativos distintos, recebem o mesmo nome popular. Por essa razão, é importante a correta identificação da planta e a comprovação científica de seu princípio ativo (Ceolin et al. 2009). Sociedade Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais 2021 © I Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais (2018) 20:477-484. ARTIGO ORIGINAL ©️ 2018 Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais/Brazilian Journal of Medicinal Plants. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Introduction: The objective of the study is to describe the power relations used by managers in health production in twin cities and how they operate to ensure health, considering the reality of cross�borderation. Methods: This is an exploratory approach and a qualitative method, carried out on the border between Brazil and Uruguay. The participants were six municipal mayors. Data collection took place from October to November 2016. Results: By producing health in the border territory, managers have strategies and jurisdictions to enable local and, at the same time, international policy, which affects the daily, somewhat restricting local governance, involving binational decisions, such as complementarity in health services. The lack of recognition of national health systems and the interdependence of the need for health production in this binational space is a challenge for municipal management. Conclusion: Managers use political power to realize binational actions and ensure foreigners access to the Single Health System; Agreements signed outside the reality of the administration interfere with law enforcement at the border. Managers need representation in decision-making spaces at the state and national levels that order the demands arising from binational border committees, as well as enabling better local governance in health cooperation in Mercosur.