8 research outputs found
A Cuban initiative for the implementation of pharmacogenomics in Latin America
No full textPharmacogenomics (PGx) seeks to elucidate interindividual variability in drug response, with the aim of optimizing therapeutic efficacy and minimizing adverse reactions. Although the field has gained scientific momentum in Latin America, its clinical implementation remains limited, largely restricted to academic settings. This short communication presents a regulatory framework—specifically, the Cuban pharmacogenomics guideline—as a foundation for regional implementation. This initiative proposes mapping existing regulations, identifying drug–gene pairs of high clinical impact, and developing a Latin American pharmacogenomic database to guide clinical practice. The Cuban guideline, the first of its kind in the region, covers biomarker validation, ethical considerations, and integration of PGx data into regulatory dossiers. The ultimate goal is to foster equitable, evidence-based personalized medicine in Latin America. Looking ahead, the hope is that personalized medicine will enable both doctors and patients to make more informed decisions about treatment options
Sacha Inchi (Plukenetia volubilis L.) powder: acute toxicity, 90 days oral toxicity study and micronucleus assay in rodents
No full textContext: Sacha Inchi has been consumed for years by indigenous peoples. Meanwhile, its toxicological potential has not been sufficiently studied.
Aims: To assess the acute, sub-chronic toxicity and genotoxicity evaluation of Sacha Inchi powder obtained from Plukenetia volubilis L.
Methods: A dose of 2000 mg/kg was orally administered to rats and mice and toxicity symptoms for 14 days were observed. In repeated dose study, the product was orally administered to Sprague Dawley rats of both sexes. Animals received 50, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day of the product for 90 days. At the end, animals were sacrificed and samples were done for hematological and biochemical analysis, organ weighs and histopathological examination. Genotoxicity potential of Sacha Inchi powder was evaluated through micronucleus test in mice. Negative controls received the vehicle (carboxymethyl cellulose, 0.5%) used.
Results: No morbidity or mortality at 2000 mg/kg of the product were found. Sacha Inchi powder oral administration during 90 days to rats did not lead to death, body weight gain, food consumption, or adverse events. No significant changes on hematological or biochemical parameters, organ weights or histopathological findings were observed. Induction of micronucleus formation attributable to the product was not found in mice.
Conclusions: No toxicity effects after oral acute exposure of Sacha Inchi power to rats and mice were observed. Neither toxicity attributable to oral doses of the product up to 500 mg/kg during 90 days to rats were found. Results suggested Sacha Inchi powder does not have genotoxicity potential under our experimental conditions
Inhibitory effects of Spirulina in zymosan-induced arthritis in mice
No full textThe anti-inflammatory effect of microalgae Spirulina was studied in zymosan-induced arthritis in mice. Four days after the intra-articular injection of zymosan (15 mg/ml), Spirulina (100 and 400 mg/kg per-orally) was administered to animals for 8 days. The mice were than killed and β-glucuronidase was measured in the synovial fluid. Each knee joint was totally removed for histopathological studies. Spirulina significantly reduced the levels of β-glucuronidase that had been increased by zymosan. Histopathological and ultrastructural studies showed inhibition of the inflammatory reaction, whereas no destruction of cartilage, well-preserved chondrocytes, and normal rough endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria were seen. The anti-arthritic effect exerted by Spirulina as shown in this model may be at least partly due to the previously reported anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties of its constituent, phycocyanin. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the anti-inflammatory effect of Spirulina in an experimental model of arthritis
PREVENTING HEPATOCYTE OXIDATIVE STRESS CYTOTOXICITY WITH Mangifera indica L. EXTRACT (VIMANG)
No full textProphylactic Use of Epidermal Growth Factor Reduces Ischemia/Reperfusion Intestinal Damage
No full textLarge-scale homoeoprophylaxis as an add-on measure to prevent COVID-19 disease: Cuban preliminary experiences
No full textProtective affects of lobenzarit against allyl alcohol-induced hepatoxicity in mice and rats.
No full textThe protective effects of lobenzarit disodium against the toxicity of allyl alcohol were investigated in vitro using isolated rat hepatocytes and in vivo using mice. In mice, at i.p. doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg lobenzarit significantly decreased the activity of alanine amino transferase (ALT) in serum and the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in liver homogenates, both of which were increased by allyl alcohol at a dose of 64 mg/kg. At concentrations of 0.2 and 0.3 mM, lobenzarit reduced the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) induced by 0.4 mM of allyl alcohol in isolated rat hepatocytes. However, lobenzarit did not increase the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) depleted by allyl alcohol in any of the two experimental models. The protective effects of lobenzarit were dose- and concentration-dependent and they were most obvious when lobenzarit was administered 30 min before allyl alcohol. It is concluded that lobenzarit exerts the observed protective effects most likely by its antioxidant properties
Interethnic Variability in CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 Genes and Predicted Drug Metabolism Phenotypes Among 6060 Ibero- and Native Americans: RIBEF-CEIBA Consortium Report on Population Pharmacogenomics
No full textPharmacogenetic variation in Latin Americans is understudied, which sets a barrier for the goal of global precision medicine. The RIBEF-CEIBA Network Consortium was established to characterize interindividual and between population variations in CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 drug metabolizing enzyme genotypes, which were subsequently utilized to catalog their "predicted drug metabolism phenotypes" across Native American and Ibero American populations. Importantly, we report in this study, a total of 6060 healthy individuals from Ibero-America who were classified according to their self-reported ancestry: 1395 Native Americans, 2571 Admixed Latin Americans, 96 Afro-Latin Americans, 287 white Latin Americans (from Cuba), 1537 Iberians, and 174 Argentinean Ashkenazi Jews. Moreover, Native Americans were grouped into North-, Central-, and South Amerindians (from Mexico, Costa Rica, and Peru, respectively). All subjects were studied for the most common and functional CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 allelic variants, and grouped as genotype-predicted poor or ultrarapid metabolizer phenotypes (gPMs and gUMs, respectively). Native Americans showed differences from each ethnic group in at least two alleles of CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19. Native Americans had higher frequencies of wild-type alleles for all genes, and lower frequency of CYP2D6*41, CYP2C9*2, and CYP2C19*17 (p < 0.05). Native Americans also showed less CYP2C19 gUMs than the rest of the population sample. In addition, differences within Native Americans (mostly North vs. South) were also found. The interethnic differences described supports the need for population-specific personalized and precision medicine programs for Native Americans. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest study carried out in Native Americans and other Ibero-American populations analyzing CYP2D6, CYP2C9, and CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms. Population pharmacogenomics is a nascent field of global health and warrants further research and education
