Vivian Molina’s research while affiliated with AVT Natural Products and other places

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of single oral doses of D-005 (a lipid extract obtained from the fruit oil of Acrocomia crispa) on LPS-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. D-005 batch composition was: lauric (35.8%), oleic (28.4%), myristic (14.2%), palmitic (8.9%), stearic (3.3%), capric (1.9%), caprylic (1.2%), and palmitoleic (0.05%) acids, for a total content of fatty acids of 93.7%. D-005 (200 mg/kg) significantly reduced lung edema (LE) (≈ 28% inhibition) and Lung Weight/Body Weight ratio (LW/BW) (75.8% inhibition). D-005 (25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) produced a significant reduction of Histological score (59.9, 56.1, 53.5 and 73.3% inhibition, respectively). Dexamethasone, as the reference drug, was effective in this experimental model. In conclusion, pretreatment with single oral doses of D-005 significantly prevented the LPS-induced ALI in mice. Resumen: El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar los efectos de dosis orales únicas de D-005 (extracto lipídico obtenido del aceite de frutos de Acrocomia crispa) sobre el daño pulmonar agudo (DPA) inducido por LPS en ratones. La composición del lote de D-005 fue: ácido láurico (35.8%), oleico (28.4%), mirístico (14.2%), palmítico (8.9%), esteárico (3.3%), cáprico (1.9%), caprílico (1.2%) y palmitoleico (0.05%), con un contenido total de ácidos grasos de 93.7%. D-005 (200 mg/kg) redujo significativamente el edema pulmonar (EP) (≈ 28% de inhibición) y la relación peso pulmón/peso corporal (PP/PC) (75.8% de inhibición). D-005 (25, 50, 100 y 200 mg/kg) produjo una reducción significativa de la puntuación histológica (59.9, 56.1, 53.5 y 73.3% de inhibición, respectivamente). La dexametasona, fármaco de referencia, fue efectiva en este modelo experimental. En conclusión, el pretratamiento con dosis orales únicas de D-005 previno significativamente el DPA inducido por LPS en ratones. Este artículo puede ser citado como / This article must be cited as: L Mena, R Sierra, M Valle, V Molina, S Rodriguez, N Merino, Z Zamora, V González, JA Medina. 2019 Acrocomia crispa fruits lipid extract prevents LPS-induced acute lung injury in mice. Bol Latinoam Caribe Plant Med Aromat 18 (1): 16-26. Mena et al. Acrocomia crispa fruit lipid extract prevents acute lung injury in mice

La inflamación aguda persistente conduce a la cronicidad del proceso inflamatorio. Estudios anteriores demostraron el efecto anti-inflamatorio del aceite de girasol ozonizado. Se evaluó el efecto anti-inflamatorio del aceite de girasol ozonizado (AGO) y formulaciones en crema, en el modelo de inflamación crónica inducido en ratas. Los animales (Ratas Sprague Dawley macho), se dividieron en ocho grupos experimentales de diez animales cada uno, se les indujo la inflamación crónica (granuloma por algodón): control positivo, dos controles vehículos (aceite de girasol y placebo de formulación), grupo tratado con AGO y tres grupos con formulaciones semisólidas (FSS) (10, 30 y 50 % de AGO) y otro con crema de indometacina al 4%. Todos los tratamientos se administraron por vía tópica durante los seis días consecutivos, posteriores a la inducción del granuloma. Se determinó como variable de eficacia, el peso húmedo (PH) y el peso seco (PS) de los granulomas. El AGO redujo de forma significativa y moderada tanto el PH (35,63 %) como el PS (38,48 %) del granuloma, comparado con el grupo control. De manera similar, las FSS de AGO (10, 30 y 50 %) inhibieron de forma significativa y moderada, el PH (37,02; 35,83 y 40,80 %, respectivamente) y el PS (42,9; 43,9 y 45, 5%, respectivamente), del granuloma en comparación con el grupo control. Los resultados de este estudio demuestran el efecto anti-inflamatorio del AGO y de las FSS a base de AGO, aplicados tópicamente, durante seis días consecutivos, en la zona del granuloma inducido experimentalmente por la mota de algodón en ratas.

This study was aimed to investigate whether the a lipid extract from Acrocomia crispa fruits (D-005) inhibits COX and 5-LOX enzyme activities in vitro. This study demonstrates that D-005 inhibits markedly and in a dose dependent manner COX-2 and 5-LOX activities. The dual inhibition of COX-2 and 5-LOX supports further research on the potential anti-inflammatory effect of D-005. © 2017 Boletín Latinoamericano y del Caribe de Plantas Medicinales y Aromáticas.

El efecto antinflamatorio del tratamiento combinado de D-002 (mezcla de alcoholes de alto peso molecular) y Lyprinol (ácidos grasos poliinsaturados del mejillón de labio verde (Perna canaliculus)), se evaluó mediante el modelo de inflamación crónica inducido por la implantación de la mota de algodón en ratas. Para lo cual, se utilizaron rata macho de la línea Sprague Dawley, divididas en cinco grupos experimentales a los que se les indujo el granuloma por algodón: un control (vehículo), un grupo tratado con D-002 (25 mg/kg), uno con Lyprinol (25 mg/kg), uno con la combinación (D-002 + Lyprinol) y uno con aspirina (150 mg/kg) como sustancia de referencia. Todos los tratamientos (vehículo, D-002, aspirina y Lyprinol) se administraron por vía oral mediante entubación intragástrica (5 mL/kg) dosis repetida, durante seis días, comenzando 24 horas después de inducida la inflamación crónica por granuloma de algodón. Los resultados mostraron que el tratamiento combinado de D-002 con Lyprinol redujo de forma significativa tanto el peso húmedo (13,2 %) como el peso seco (25,68%) del granuloma inducido en las ratas; sin embargo, este efecto no tuvo una interacción de tipo aditiva ya que no fue superior a la sumatoria de los efectos de la monoterapia. Se demostró la efectividad de la terapia combinada D-002 + Lyprinol sobre la formación del granuloma inducido por algodón en ratas.

Reflux esophagitis, a common gastrointestinal disease, may be induced by duodeno gastroesophageal-reflux, and by duodeno-esophageal reflux (DER), the reflux of the biliary content only. D-002, a mixture of six higher primary alcohols purified from the beeswax, has exhibited gastric and esophageal protection experimentally. The aim of this work was to investigate the effects of D-002 on the esophageal histological changes in rats with DER-induced esophagitis. Rats were randomized into six groups: a negative control and five with DER: a positive control, three D-002- (50, 200 and 400mg/kg, respectively) and one omeprazole (20 mg/kg) group, treated for 14 days. Microscopic studies of esophagus were performed looking for reflux esophagitis indicators, such as basal cell hyperproliferation, papillae elongation, inflammatory cell infiltrates, epithelial erosions and ulcerations. The thickness of esophageal epithelium was measured and leukocytes were counted. Histological characteristics of esophagitis were evaluated. Negative controls had normal esophagus, while positive controls exhibited marked esophagitis. The values of the histological score, thickness of the esophageal epithelium and leukocyte infiltration in the positive control group were higher (p <0.001) than in the negative control. D-002 (50 - 400 mg/kg) reduced significantly (p <0.01) the histological scores versus the positive control group. D-002 lowered significantly the epithelium thickness and abolished (p <0.001) leukocytes infiltration versus the positive control. Compared with the positive control, omeprazole reduced (p <0.01) the histological score, the epithelium thickness and leukocytes infiltration. Repeated doses of D-002 ameliorated the histological changes in rats with DER-induced esophagitis.

Background: Peptic ulcer is very common diseases in the adult population affecting the patient’s life quality. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) play an important role in the gastric cytoprotection and the gastroprotective effects of some substances that increase the gastric mucus secretion is associated with increased concentrations of PGE2 in gastric mucosa. D-002 is a gastroprotective substance, but its effects on gastric mucosa PGE2 concentrations remained unexplored. This study investigated the effects of D-002 on PGE2 concentrations in gastric mucosa with ethanol induced gastric ulcer in rats. Methods and Findings: Rats were randomized into six groups: a negative control that only received the vehicle and five groups with ethanol induced gastric ulcer: a positive control (vehicle-treated), three treated with D-002 (25, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and one with omeprazole (20mg/kg) as a reference substance. Gastric ulcer index, gastric mucus amount and concentrations of PGE2 in gastric mucosa were quantified. D-002 (25, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly and markedly inhibited ulcer index (44.4; 47.8 and 75.2%, respectively), significantly prevented the reduction of gastric mucus content (89.8, 100 and 100%, respectively), and completely restored the concentrations of PGE2 depleted in gastric mucosa compared to the positive control group and significantly increased their levels compared to the negative control (60.3; 70.5 and 136.1%) group. No dose/effect relationship was found on any of these variables. Omeprazole was effective on all variables studied. Conclusions: D-002 (25, 100 and 200 mg/kg) significantly and markedly increased PGE2 concentrations in gastric mucosa of rats with ethanol induced gastric ulcer, which supports at least in part its gastroprotector multifactorial mechanism.

ABSTRACT Pain is annoying symptom of various acute and chronic inflammatory disorders affecting the quality of life of suffers. Its treatments include anti-inflammatory drugs with adverse effects as gastrointestinal or cardiovascular disorders. Therefore, the search for more secure and effective analgesic drugs is updated. This study investigated the effects of D-003, Lyprinol and the combination (D-003 + Lyprinol) on acetic acid writhing test in mice. Two experimental series were performed. The first evaluated different doses of D-003 (5, 25, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) and Lyprinol (5, 25, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) on acetic acid-induced writhing in mice, while the second one evaluated the combination therapy D-003 (25 mg/kg) + Lyprinol (25 mg/kg) in this test. Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) as a reference drug was evaluated too. D-003 (5, 25, 100, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) significantly, markedly and dose dependently inhibited the number of writhings in mice compared to the control group (29.3, 33.8, 42, 58.7, 72.9 and 73.7 %, respectively). Lyprinol (25, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg) produced a significant, modest and non-dose-dependent inhibition of the writhings number compared with the control group (36.3, 35.2, 36.1 and 35.3%, respectively. Ibuprofen (100 mg/kg) marked and significantly inhibited the writhes (56.1%). Comparison of equal doses of D-003 and Lyprinol showed statistically significant differences at the doses of 200 and 400 mg kg, showing greater percent inhibition with D-003 (73%) than with Lyprinol (36%). The combination of D-003+Lyprinol caused a marked inhibition (67.3%) that was statistically significant not only compared with the control group, but with respect to separate D-003 (34.8 %) and Lyprinol (27.9 %), respectively. In conclusion, D-003, Lyprinol and the combined therapy D-003+Lyprinol significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing number in mice, while the combined therapy produced an additional benefit compared to monotherapies with an additive-type positive interaction. Key words: D-003, Lyprinol, combined therapy, pain, acetic acid-writhing test, mice.

Inflammation, a physiological response to noxious stimuli, is implicated in diseases. D-002, a mixture of beeswax alcohols with antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects, has been shown to reduce the pleural exudates in rats with carrageenan-induced pleurisy (CAP), a model characterised by lung neutrophil infiltration and subsequent lipid peroxidation. The effects of D-002 on these events, however, had not been explored yet. Here we investigated the ability of D-002 to inhibit neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation in the lungs of rats with CAP. Rats were randomized into a negative vehicle control and six carrageenan-injected groups: one positive vehicle control, four treated with D-002 (50, 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) and one with aspirin (150 mg/kg). Acute oral treatment with D-002 (50-800 mg/kg) decreased significantly, dose-dependently and almost totally neutrophil infiltration (27.4% to 99.9%) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (72.5%-96.3%) levels in lung tissues compared to the positive control. Also, D-002 reduced significantly, but moderately (≅ 31%), the volume of the pleural exudates. Aspirin (150 mg/kg) reduced markedly (90.2%) neutrophil infiltration, not MDA, in lung tissues, and lowered the volume (47%) of the pleural exudates. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that acute oral D-002 treatment was effective for ameliorating neutrophil infiltration and lipid peroxidation in the lung tissues of rats with CAP and confirms its ability for lowering the formation of CAP-induced pleural exudates. Taken together, these data enhance our understanding of the anti-inflammatory effects of D-002.

Background: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) mainly depend on alpha1-adrenoreceptors (α1-ADR) stimulation, but a link with oxidative stress (OS) is also involved. D-004, a lipid extract of Roystonea regia fruits, antagonizes ADR-induced responses and produces antioxidant effects. The objective of this study was to investigate whether D-004 produce antioxidant effects in rats with phenylephrine (PHE)-induced urodynamic changes. Methods: Rats were randomized into eight groups (ten rats/group): a negative vehicle control and seven groups injected with PHE: a positive control, three treated with D-004 (200, 400 and 800 mg/kg) and three others with tamsulosin (0.4 mg/kg), grape seed extract (GSE) (250 mg/kg) and vitamin E (VE) (250 mg/kg), respectively. Results: Effects on urinary total volume (UTV), volume voided per micturition (VM), malondialdehyde (MDA) and carbonyl groups (CG) concentrations in prostate and bladder homogenates were study outcomes. While VM and UTV lowered significantly in the positive control as compared to the negative control group, the opposite occurred with prostate and bladder MDA and CG values. D-004 (200-800 mg/kg) increased significantly both VM and UTV, lowered significantly MDA in prostate and bladder homogenates, and reduced GC levels only in the prostate. Tamsulosin increased significantly VM and UTV, but unchanged oxidative variables. GSE and VE unchanged the UTV, whereas VE, not GSE, modestly but significantly attenuated the PHE-induced decrease of VM. Conclusions: Single oral administration of D-004 (200-800 mg/kg) was the only treatment that ameliorated the urodynamic changes and reduced increased oxidative variables in the prostate of rats with PHE-induced prostate hyperplasia.