Avaliação do efeito enteroprotetor do extrato de Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G.Lohmann na mucosite induzida pela associação de 5-Fluorouracil e Irinotecano

Abstract

Mucositis is an inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract originated as an adverse effect of chemotherapy treatment and may affect 40-100% of patients under treatment of cancer. This condition leads to painful lesions, food intake restriction, breaks or even treatment suspension, impacting directly on the tumor control and patients quality of life. There are currently no prophylactic or curative treatments in use in clinical practice, which makes it extremely relevant the development of animal models to study the mucositis. In traditional medicine, is reported the use of the species Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G.Lohmann, which already has proven anti-inflammatory activity in vitro and in vivo, for the treatment of intestinal cramps and bloody diarrhea, also symptoms of mucositis. In this context, the objective of this work was to investigate the possible beneficial effects of F. chica extract in the intestinal epithelium of animals with mucositis induced by 5-FU and irinotecan association. The model was developed in BALB/c mice, male, 8 weeks old, who received 34 mg/kg of 5-FU and 41 mg/kg intraperitoneal irinotecan, during the first four days of the experimental protocol. Additionally, the animals were given a dose of 30 mg/kg of F. chica extract orally along with the chemotherapy, extending until day 7 of the protocol. The results showed no difference in weight variation and food consumption, intestinal permeability levels and bacterial translocation (except for mesenteric lymphonodes) for MUC and F. chica + MUC groups (p>0,05). In addition, parameters such as production of cytokines, inflammatory infiltrate (MPO and EPO), showed no significant difference between the study groups. The extract was able to exert a partial protective effect on the epithelium of animals, reducing scores of diarrhea, the expression of ZO-1, bacterial translocation for MLN and levels of sIgA (p0.05). These results suggest that the F. chica extract could contribute as an alternative for de undesirable effects of mucositis, opening perspectives for further experimentation aiming at the future development of an herbal medicines.