beta-carotene and Pain

Several mechanisms have been forwarded to explain the etiology of exercise-induced muscle damage. Free-radical mediated processes appear to be an important component of the inflammatory mediated response. Free radicals have also been demonstrated to be a contributing factor in the loss of calcium homeostasis within the cell. Therefore, one of the proposed treatments for preventing or reducing the extent of this damage is the intervention of free-radical mediated processes. Antioxidants are agents that typically work to prevent free-radical mediated alterations within cells by quenching free radicals. The traditional dietary antioxidants most commonly investigated to inhibit free-radical damage are vitamin E, vitamin C, and beta carotene. Other nutritional agents have also been noted to contain antioxidant properties. Isofavonoids and some phytochemicals have been proposed to contain antioxidant properties. This paper briefly reviews some aspects of these agents and the! ! ir role, either proven or proposed, in the prevention of oxidative stress and muscle damage.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta Carotene; Calcium; Dietary Supplements; Exercise; Free Radical Scavengers; Free Radicals; Homeostasis; Humans; Isoflavones; Muscle, Skeletal; Oxidative Stress; Pain; Vitamin E

Cancer chemoprevention with beta-carotene (BC), canthaxanthin (CX) and retinol-BC is reported with respect to skin, breast, gastric, colon carcinogeneses induced by benzo(a)pyrene (BP) with or without ultra violet radiation (UV-A, UV-B), dimethylbenzathracene (DMBA) +/- UVB, P-UVA, N-methyl-N'-N-nitro-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG), dimethylhydrazine (DMH), and with respect to transplanted tumours. When animals were loaded with carotenoid supplementation one month before the carcinogenic induction (continued throughout the experiment), cancer prevention was observed up to 60-100%. The absence of provitamin A-activity in CX shows the carotenoid antioxidant property. Fifteen patients given BC + CX to prevent recurrences after radical removal of the primary neoplasia in organs like lung, breast, colon, urinary bladder, head and neck were studied in 1980-89. A longer than expected disease-free interval was preliminarily found. Supplementation of BC +/- retinol was also reported to prevent and treat oral leucoplakia. Supplementation and intermittent retinol administration was also tested in benign cyclical mastalgia with clear cut side effect free therapeutic results.

Topics: Animals; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Breast; Canthaxanthin; Carotenoids; Drug Synergism; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Neoplasms; Pain; Vitamin A

Decoctions or infusions of the stem bark of Byrsonima japurensis A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae) are widely used as an anti-inflammatory drug in folk medicine of Amazonas State (Brazil).. To evaluate the pharmacological potential of an aqueous extract of the stem bark of Byrsonima japurensis (BJEA) to scientifically verify of its traditional use.. Anti-inflammatory, antihyperalgesic and antiulcer activities were evaluated in Wistar rats, a Hippocratic screening was performed in Swiss mice to evaluate the toxic effects, and antiplatelet evaluation was performed in human platelet rich plasma assay. Additionally, antioxidant activity was evaluated by superoxide radical scavenging method and β-carotene bleaching test.. Anti-inflammatory, antihyperalgesic and gastroprotective activities were observed in rats treated orally with different doses of BJEA. While signals of toxicity were observed in the mice treated with a very high dose of extract (5000mg/kg), no death occurred. BJEA also showed expressive antiplatelet and antioxidant activities in vitro.. According to our results, it was concluded that stem bark of Byrsonima japurensis has significant and safe anti-inflammatory activity, which is closely related with their potent antioxidant activity, supporting the folk medicinal use of this species.

Topics: Analgesics; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Antioxidants; beta Carotene; Brazil; Carrageenan; Edema; Female; Humans; Male; Malpighiaceae; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Pain; Phytotherapy; Plant Bark; Plant Extracts; Plant Stems; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stomach Ulcer; Superoxides

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adult; AIDS-Related Complex; Animals; Antimutagenic Agents; beta Carotene; Bleomycin; Breast Diseases; Carotenoids; Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; Chromosome Aberrations; Diet; Female; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Lymphocytes; Male; Menstruation Disturbances; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Pain; Rats