Françoise Botelho | Universidade Federal de Uberlândia (original) (raw)

Papers by Françoise Botelho

Journal of Ethnopharmacology

Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, aside from skin cancer. As an alternat... more Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men, aside from skin cancer. As an alternative cancer treatment, photodynamic laser therapy (PDT) can be used to induce cell death. We evaluated the PDT effect, using methylene blue as a photosensitizer, in human prostate tumor cells (PC3). PC3 were subjected to four different conditions: DMEM (control); laser treatment (L-660 nm, 100 mW, 100 J.cm −2); methylene blue treatment (MB-25 μM, 30 min), and MB treatment followed by low-level red laser irradiation (MB-PDT). Groups were evaluated after 24 h. MB-PDT treatment reduced cell viability and migration. However, because MB-PDT did not significantly increase the levels of active caspase-3 and BCL-2, apoptosis was not the primary mode of cell death. MB-PDT, on the other hand, increased the acid compartment by 100% and the LC3 immunofluorescence (an autophagy marker) by 254%. Active MLKL level, a necroptosis marker, was higher in PC3 cells after MB-PDT treatment. Furthermore, MB-PDT resulted in oxidative stress due to a decrease in total antioxidant potential, catalase levels, and increased lipid peroxidation. According to these findings, MB-PDT therapy is effective at inducing oxidative stress and reducing PC3 cell viability. In such therapy, necroptosis is also an important mechanism of cell death triggered by autophagy.

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience

Neurochemistry international, 2018

Excessive fat consumption increases the level of fatty acids (FAs) in the blood, which reach the ... more Excessive fat consumption increases the level of fatty acids (FAs) in the blood, which reach the hypothalamus and damage the circuit related to energy balance. In the present study, we used palmitate in a primary culture of purified astrocytes to mimic the fat-rich environment found in obesity. Our results showed increased glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) reactivity in hypothalamic astrocytes compared to cortical astrocytes. In addition, palmitate-treated astrocytes showed no significant changes in cytokine expression and an upregulation of glutathione in the culture medium that may serve as an intrinsic neuroprotective property against excess FA. Additionally, purified hypothalamic neurons were incubated with palmitate-treated astrocyte-conditioned medium (MPAL). MPAL treated-neurons exhibited a reduction in excitatory synapses and enhanced neuritogenesis. Our results suggest that hypothalamic astrocytes react to palmitate differently than cortical astrocytes and influence th...

Journal of exercise rehabilitation, 2017

This study examined physiological variables of animals fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or with a n... more This study examined physiological variables of animals fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) or with a normal diet (ND) subjected to swimming at low and moderate level. Over 16 weeks, a group of animals was fed with HFD or ND, and at the 8 weeks, they started swimming with 50% or 80% of the maximum load achieved in the progressive work test. Weekly, body weight and the amount of ingested food were registered. The glycemic level was measured at the beginning, middle and at the end of the experiment. Adipose tissue, gastrocnemius muscles and hearts were collected for morphometry. The results showed that the animals fed an HFD had a minor caloric intake; however, the HFD increased body weight and adiposity, likely causing cardiac hypertrophy and an increase in the glycemic level. In this context, swimming with an 80% load contributed positively to weight control, adiposity, glycemic level, to control cardiac hypertrophy and induce hypertrophy in the gastrocnemius muscle. All parameters assess...

Foods

Dyslipidemia and oxidative stress are directly related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular dise... more Dyslipidemia and oxidative stress are directly related to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. Annona crassiflora Mart. (ACM) has been traditionally used in folk medicine to alleviate inflammation and pain. This plant is rich in polyphenols, which exhibit high antioxidant capacity. The present study aimed to elucidate the antioxidant properties of ACM in the heart of hyperlipidemic mice. The animals were orally administered either a crude ethanol extract (CEAc) or a polyphenols-rich fraction (PFAc) obtained from ACM fruit peel. There were correlations between blood and fecal biochemical data with cardiac oxidative stress biomarkers. Here, the pre-treatment with CEAc for 12 d led to an increase in glutathione content (GSH) and a reduction in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, PFAc was found to enhance the total antioxidant capacity as well as GSH, SOD and CAT activities, which were reduced by Triton WR-1339-induc...

Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2007

The antioxidant activity of floranol (3,5,7,2 0-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone), a new ... more The antioxidant activity of floranol (3,5,7,2 0-tetrahydroxy-6-methoxy-8-prenylflavanone), a new flavonoid isolated from the roots of Dioclea grandiflora, was evaluated by the inhibition of human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation. Floranol increased its oxidation lag-phase significantly in a dose-dependent manner. As the antioxidant mechanism may involve metal coordination, we have undertaken a detailed study of floranol interactions with Cu(II) and Fe(III) by combination of UV-visible (UV-Vis) and mass spectrometries and cyclic voltammetry. The acidity constants of the ligand as well as the stability constants of the metal complexes were calculated. The pKa values of 6.58, 11.97 and 13.87 were determined and the following acidity order is proposed 7-OH > 5-OH > 2 0-OH. The best fit between experimental and calculated spectra was obtained assuming the formation of two Cu(II) complexes: [CuL] log b = 19.34 ± 0.05 and [CuL 2 ] 2À log b = 26.4 ± 0.10 and three Fe(III) complexes: [FeL 3 ] 3À log b = 44.72 ± 0.09, [FeL 2 ] À log b = 35.32 ± 0.08 and [FeL] + log b = 19.51 ± 0.04. In addition, copper and iron reduction is less favorable in the presence of floranol. These results indicate that floranol can efficiently bind Cu(II) and Fe(III) ions thus preventing their effect on LDL oxidation.

Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais, 2014

Este estudo objetivou realizar atividades de extensão em fitoterapia, a partir de um levantamento... more Este estudo objetivou realizar atividades de extensão em fitoterapia, a partir de um levantamento de dados sobre as plantas medicinais, fitoterápicos e medicamentos convencionais utilizados por 292 idosos frequentadores de um programa de Atividades Físicas e Recreativas para a Terceira Idade (AFRID), na cidade de Uberlândia-MG, utilizando como instrumento de investigação, um questionário semiestruturado. Dentre os entrevistados verificamos que 88% utilizavam medicamentos prescritos, principalmente para o controle da hipertensão. O uso de plantas medicinais foi relatado por 76,7% dos idosos, sendo as mais citadas: Cymbopogon citratus, Mentha sp., Rosmarinus officinalis, Plectranthus barbatus, Ocimum gratissimum, e Matricaria chamomilla. Dezesseis (5,5%) idosos utilizavam fitoterápicos, principalmente preparados a partir de extratos de Ginkgo biloba, Aesculus hippocastanum e Passiflora incarnata em associação com Crataegus oxyacantha e Salix alba. O uso concomitante de plantas medicin...

Food and Chemical Toxicology, 2004

Eggplant (Solanum melongena) has been used as hypocholesterolemic agent in many countries. Howeve... more Eggplant (Solanum melongena) has been used as hypocholesterolemic agent in many countries. However, few controlled studies were addressed to this subject and atherogenesis. We have evaluated the effect of eggplant on cholesterol metabolism and atherogenesis in LDLR(-/-) mice. Animals were fed on chow (n=17) or atherogenic (n=21) diet during 12 weeks receiving water (control) or eggplant extract. Liver, serum and fecal lipids, together with serum lipoproteins were measured. Oxidative stress was evaluated through conjugate diene formation and ox-LDL antibodies by enzyme immunoassay. Atherosclerotic lesions were measured in different sites of aorta. Total cholesterol and atherogenic lipoproteins did not decrease after eggplant intake. Animals receiving eggplant and chow diet showed increased anti-ox-LDL antibodies and a decreased lag phase of conjugated diene formation, indicating a higher oxidative stress than controls. No differences were seen in lesion area of aortic valve. Eggplant extract had high histamine and other amine levels that could enhance LDL oxidation and its endocytosis. Eggplant did not decrease plasma cholesterol nor prevent the development of atherosclerosis in LDLR(-/-) mice. Surprisingly, eggplant increased oxidative stress, representing a risk factor for atherosclerosis. These results did not support the use of eggplant extract as hypocholesterolemic agent.

Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society, 2010

Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Cell biology international, Jan 24, 2018

Recent studies have been trying to find out how diet and metabolic changes such as dyslipidaemia,... more Recent studies have been trying to find out how diet and metabolic changes such as dyslipidaemia, hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia can stimulate cancer progression. This investigation aimed to evaluate the effect of high concentrations of fatty acids and/or glucose in tumour prostate cells, focusing on the proliferation/migration profile and oxidative stress. PC3 cells were treated with high concentration of saturated fatty acid (palmitate, 100µM), glucose (220 mg/dL) or both for 24 or 48 h. Results demonstrated that PC3 cells showed a significant increase in proliferation after 48 h of treatment with glucose and palmitate + glucose. Cell proliferation was associated with reduced levels of AMPK phosphorylation in glucose group at 24 and 48 h of treatment, while palmitate one presented this result only after 48 h of treatment. Also, there was a significant increase in cell migration between time 0 and 48 h after all treatments, except in the control. Catalase activity was increas...

Biology of sport, 2018

This study aimed to verify whether salivary total protein (STP) would reflect anaerobic threshold... more This study aimed to verify whether salivary total protein (STP) would reflect anaerobic threshold in elderly athletes subjected to an incremental exercise test. Seven elderly elite athletes (EEA) and six physically active elderly men (PAE) completed a treadmill protocol in which blood and saliva samples were collected. Blood lactate (BL) and STP increased significantly in EEA during the test (0.8 ± 0.2 to 5.1 ± 2.0 mmol/L and 42.5 ± 7.5 to 222.5 ± 63.8 mg/dL, respectively) and remained elevated at five minutes after exercise (5.0 ± 1.9 mmol/L and 147.2 ± 50.0 mg/dL, respectively). Furthermore, correlations between STP and heart rate (r = 0.87, p < 0.001), and between BL and STP (r = 0.96, p < 0.001), were observed in the elderly athletes. STP represents a potential non-invasive biomarker for determining anaerobic threshold during an incremental exercise test, and this parameter may be used as an indicator of physical exercise intensity in elderly athletes.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry, Jul 26, 2017

Five new copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(NO)(NN)(ClO4)2], in which NO=4-fluorophenoxyacetic ... more Five new copper(II) complexes of the type [Cu(NO)(NN)(ClO4)2], in which NO=4-fluorophenoxyacetic acid hydrazide (4-FH) or 4-nitrobenzoic hydrazide (4-NH) and NN=1,10-phenanthroline (phen), 4-4'-dimethoxy-2-2'-bipyridine (dmb) or 2,2-bipyridine (bipy) were synthesized and characterized using various spectroscopic methods. The X-ray structural analysis of one representative compound indicates that the geometry around the copper ion is distorted octahedron, in which the ion is coordinated to hydrazide via the terminal nitrogen and the carbonyl oxygen, and to heterocyclic bases via their two nitrogen atoms. Two perchlorate anions occupy the apical positions, completing the coordination sphere. The cytotoxic activity of compounds was investigated in three tumor cell lines (K562, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7). Concerning K562 cell line, the complexes with 1,10-phenanthroline exhibit high cytotoxic activity and are more active than carboplatin, free ligands and [Cu(phen)2](2+). Considering...

This study presents a comprehensive view of the histological and functional status of the prostat... more This study presents a comprehensive view of the histological and functional status of the prostate of adult rat offspring of mothers subjected to gestational diabetes induced by alloxan. The ventral prostate of male adult offspring of diabetic (DP) or normal (CP) mothers was evaluated for collagen fibres, cell death, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, cell proliferation, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), androgen receptors (AR), transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ-1), catalase and total antioxidant activity. The prostates of DP animals were lower in weight than those of the CP group. The DP group also exhibited hyperglycaemia and hypotestosteronemia, higher cell proliferation and AR expression, a reduction in α-actin (possibly interfering with the reproductive function of the prostate), and enhanced activity of MMP-2, although the absolute content of MMP-2 was lower in this group. These findings were associated with increased TGFβ-1 and decreased collagen distribution. The prostates of DP rats additionally exhibited reductions in catalase and total antioxidant activity. Thus, rats developing in a diabetic intrauterine environment have glycaemic and hormonal changes that impact on the structure and physiology of the prostate in adulthood. The increased AR expression possibly leads to elevated cell proliferation. Stromal remodelling was characterized by enhanced activity of MMP-2 and collagen degradation, even with increased TGFβ-1 activation. These changes associated with increased oxidative stress might interfere with tissue architecture and glandular homeostasis.

Journal of inorganic biochemistry, 2009

We have studied the protonation equilibria of a dicopper(II) complex [Cu(2)(micro-OH)(C(21)H(33)O... more We have studied the protonation equilibria of a dicopper(II) complex [Cu(2)(micro-OH)(C(21)H(33)ON(6))](ClO(4))(2).H(2)O, (1), in aqueous solution, its interactions with DNA, its cytotoxic activity, and its uptake in tumoral cells. C(21)H(33)ON(6) corresponds to the ligand 4-methyl-2,6-bis[(6-methyl-1,4-diazepan-6-yl)iminomethyl]phenol. From spectrophotometric data the following pKa values were calculated 3.27, 4.80 and 6.10. Complex 1 effectively promotes the hydrolytic cleavage of double-strand plasmid DNA under anaerobic and aerobic conditions. The following kinetic parameters were calculated k(cat) of 2.73 x 10(-4)s(-1), K(M) of 1.36 x 10(-4)M and catalytic efficiency of 2.01 s(-1)M(-1), a 2.73 x 10(7) fold increase in the rate of the reaction compared to the uncatalyzed hydrolysis rate of DNA. Competition assays with distamycin reveal minor groove binding. Complex 1 inhibited the growth of two tumoral cell lines, GLC4 and K562, with the IC(50) values of 14.83 microM and 34.21 m...

Chemistry & Biodiversity, 2008

We studied the cytotoxic effect and the uptake of Pd(II) complexes of doxycycline (Dox), [Pd(Dox)... more We studied the cytotoxic effect and the uptake of Pd(II) complexes of doxycycline (Dox), [Pd(Dox)Cl2], and tetracycline (Tc), [Pd(Tc)Cl2], in chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. The effect of the compounds on macrophage viability was also investigated. Compound 1 is more effective than compound 2 in inhibiting the growth of K562 cells with the IC(50) values of 14.44 and 34.54 microM, respectively. There is a good correlation between cell-growth inhibition and intracellular metal concentrations, determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Incubation of the cells with equitoxic concentrations of both compounds yields approximately the same intracellular Pd concentration. At the IC(50) doses, intracellular concentration is ca. 33 x 10(-16) mol/cell for both compounds 1 and 2. This suggests that more [Pd(Tc)Cl2] is needed to produce a cytotoxic effect, because it enters cells more slowly. Both compounds up to 16 microM did not affect the viability of mouse peritoneal macrophages after a 48-h incubation. After 72 h of incubation, the IC(50) values are 22 for [Pd(Dox)Cl2] and 40 microM for [Pd(Tc)Cl(2)]. Therefore, the cytotoxic effect in cancer cells exhibited by both compounds is higher than their effect in macrophages.