CONGRESSO DA SOCIEDADE BRASILEIRA DE IMUNOLOGIA EM SALVADOR - BA

EFFECT OF BABASSU MESOCARP (Orbignya phalerata, MART.)IN THE LETHAL SEPSIS

BARROQUEIRO, ESB; PRADO, DS; PEREIRA, WS; SILVA, LA; MACIEL, MCG; NASCIMENTO, FRF; GUERRA RNM.

Labboratory of Immunophysiology, CCBS, UFMA, São Luís, Ma- Brazil

Babassu (Orbignya phalerata, Mart) has been used in Brazil as medicine for the treatment of pains, constipation, obesity, leukemia, rheumatism, ulcerations, tumors and inflammations. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic and the prophylactic effects of babassu mesocarp ethanolic extract.(BEE) on the sepsis induced by cecal ligature and perforation (CLP). Swiss female mice (8-12 weeks old, 20-30g, n=10/group) were used The BEE treatment was done 6h before, soon after or 6h hours later the CLP, by subcutaneous route at the doses of 125mg/kg and 250mg/kg and compared to an untreated control group After 12hs of the CLP a half of mice was killed, the peritoneal cells were collected counted and cultured for quantification of the colony forming units (CFU). The spleen, lymph node and bone marrow cells were also counted. The other part of the mice was used to evaluate the animal survival. The results showed that the BEE treatment increased the survival when administrated 6 hs after the CLP in 35% and 39% at the doses of 125 and 250mg/kg, respectively. The increase of the survival was not observed in the groups treated 6hs before. The peritoneal cell influx was inhibited by BEE at the doses of 250mg/kg but not at 125mg/Kg. There was an increase in lymph node cell number and weight. The extract did not reduce the CFU. The data suggest that babassu mesocarp has an important anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effect and can be used as therapeutical in the lethal sepsis.

Key word: Babassu mesocarp, Orbignya phalerata, Sepse, Antimicrobial effect.

Supported by: FAPEMA, CNPq