RUNNING away from prostate cancer: WALKING through the molecular basis of physical activity

Funder

Organizational Unit

Publications

The effects of long-term chaetomellic acid a administration on renal function and oxidative stress in a rat model of renal mass reduction

Publication . Nogueira, António José M.; Peixoto, Francisco P.; Oliveira, Maria Manuel; Pires, Carlos André; Colaço, Bruno Jorge; Oliveira, Paula A.; Pires, Maria João

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of chronic treatment with chaetomellic acid A (CAA) on oxidative stress and renal function in amodel of renalmass reduction. Methods.MaleWistar ratswere subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy (RMR) or sham-operated (SO). One week after surgery, rats have been divided into four experimental groups: RMR: RMR rats without treatment (n = 14); RMR + CAA: RMR rats treated with CAA (n = 13); SO: SO rats without treatment (n = 13); and SO + CAA: SO rats treated with CAA (n = 13). CAA was intraperitoneally administered in a dose of 0.23 μg/Kg three times a week for six months. Results. RMR was accompanied by a significant reduction in catalase and glutathione reductase (GR) activity (p < 0.05) and a decrease in reduced glutathione (GSH)/oxidized glutathione (GSSG) ratio. CAAadministration significantly increased catalase andGR activity (p < 0.05) and increased GSH/GSSG ratio, but no significant difference between the treated and nontreated groups was found in this ratio.No significant differences were found between theRMRgroups in any of the parameters of renal function.However, CAA administration slightly improves some parameters of renal function. Conclusions. These data suggest that CAA could attenuate 5/6 RMR-induced oxidative stress.

2017Journal article

Open access

Administration of Castanea sativa flowers extract in Wistar rats

Publication . Nascimento-Gonçalves, Elisabete; Seixas, Fernanda; Fardilha, Margarida; Ferreira, Rita; Neuparth, Maria João; Rocha, Ana Isabel Faustino; Rosa, Eduardo; Bruno Jorge; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Oliveira, Paula A.

Castanea sativa Mill. flowers (CF) are reported by ancestral claims as having health benefits like mucolytic, antispasmodic and anti-dysenteric properties and, in vitro studies showed anticancer properties against breast, colon, cervical and hepatocellular carcinomas [1]. The aim of this work was to study the effect of chestnut flowers (CF) extract on rat’s physiological parameters. Fifteen male Wistar Unilever rats were randomly divided into two groups: untreated control, n=10, and CF group, n=5. Animals from CF group were exposed to the chestnut flowers extract in drinking water (20 mg/animal/day) for 49 weeks. Body weight, food and drink consumption were measured weekly. At necropsy, all organs were collected, weighed and liver and kidney were processed for histological analysis. Animals from CF group showed a mean final body weight and a food consumption higher than untreated animals (p>0.05). Animals from CF group showed lower consumption of water (p=0.000). Relative mean liver weight from animals treated with CF was higher than untreated animals (p=0.026) and presented more liver degeneration. However, liver inflammatory infiltrate was reduced (p=0.026) in animals exposed to CF extract. There were no significant differences in relative mean kidney weight among groups. Untreated animals developed 50% of discrete proteinuria and CF treated animals developed 20%. Serum levels of albumin, total protein, glucose and alanine aminotransferase did not show significant differences between experimental groups. These results suggest that chestnut flowers extract was well tolerated by the animals, did not cause hepatic and kidney toxicity and had no effect on biochemical profile. Further studies are necessary to evaluate in vivo, the effect of different CF doses and evaluate the respective potential use.

2019Conference object

Open access

The influence of Castanea sativa Mill. flower extract on hormonally and chemically induced prostate cancer in a rat model

Publication . Nascimento-Gonçalves, Elisabete; Seixas, Fernanda; Silva, Marcelo Aparecido de Souza; Fardilha, Margarida; Ferreira, Rita; Neuparth, Maria João; Faustino-Rocha, Ana; Colaço, B.; Venâncio, Carlos; Barros, Lillian; Ferreira, Isabel C.F.R.; Oliveira, Mónica M.F.; Peixoto, Francisco P.; Rosa, Eduardo; Oliveira, Paula A.

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers in men, with a huge impact on their health. The use of Castanea sativa Mill. flowers (CFs) in beverages has been reported, through ancestral claims, as having health benefits. In vitro research has evidenced the properties of CFs, such as antitumor and antioxidant activities. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of CF extract in an animal model of PCa. Forty male Wistar Unilever rats were randomly assigned to four groups: control, induced, control + CF, and induced + CF groups. Animals from the induced groups were exposed to a multistep protocol for PCa induction. The CF extract, rich in trigalloyl-HHDP-glucoside and obtained via decoction, was administered to the CF groups in drinking water (3 mg per animal per day) for 49 weeks. Animals were sacrificed at 61 weeks of age. Regarding the effects of CFs on dorsolateral prostate tumorigenesis, no significant differences were observed between the induced and induced + CF groups. However, animals exposed to the CF extract showed fewer inflammation areas on the dorsolateral prostate lobe than those not exposed to CF. Moreover, the CF extract alleviated the hepatic oxidative stress associated with the multistep protocol, resulting in lower levels of lipid peroxidation. These results suggest that CF extract has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This journal is.

2021Journal article

Open access