–MA Tiller mortality began at PI, reached a peak in the PI–BT st

–MA. Tiller mortality began at PI, reached a peak in the PI–BT stage, and then gradually decreased with time until maturity. At the Max.–PI stage, DS rice showed higher tiller mortality than TP rice but

lower at BT–HD and HD–12DAH under either CT or NT. At PI–BT, higher tiller mortality was observed for CTTP (29.1%) and CTDS (29.4%) and NTDS showed lower tiller mortality than NTTP but with no significant difference. At the Max.–MA stage, the difference in tiller mortality between DS and TP was the smallest (Fig. 3). Both tillering duration (TD) and tillering rate (TR) varied significantly among the treatments. The TD was longer under TP than DS but TR was higher under DS than TP in either CT or NT. TD was longer in CTTP (59 days) followed by NTTP and lower duration was observed for

NTDS Epacadostat solubility dmso and CTDS methods. NTDS had higher TR (15.3 m− 2 day− 1) followed by CTDS. There was no significant difference in TR between CTTP and NTTP (8.8 and 8.0 m− 2 day− 1) respectively (Fig. 4). There was a significant correlation between panicle number per m2 http://www.selleckchem.com/PI3K.html and maximum tiller number per m2, but not between maximum tiller number and panicle-bearing tiller rate (Fig. 5). The dry weight of the vegetative part of tillers varied significantly among the treatments at all crop growth stages. The tiller dry weight gradually increased until HD and decreased at the MA stage. TP under either CT or NT had higher tiller dry weight than DS except at the tillering stage. NTTP had higher tiller dry weight than CTTP at all growth stages Diflunisal except the tillering and MA stages. However, CTDS produced higher tiller dry weight than NTDS at all growth stages except the tillering and HD stages. Tiller dry weight was higher at the HD stage in all treatments and NTTP had

higher (4.3 g) tiller dry weight which was statistically not different from that of CTTP. Also there was no significant difference in tiller dry weight between NTDS and CTDS at the HD stage (Fig. 6). Leaf area (cm2 tiller− 1) varied significantly among the treatments at all growth stages of the crop. There were significant differences among establishment methods on all sampling dates. Leaf area increased sharply from the Max. to the BT stage, then slightly increased at the HD stage, and then gradually decreased with time. Leaf area per tiller was always higher under TP than DS at all growth stages. CTTP always had higher leaf area than NTTP, and CTDS than NTDS (Fig. 7). Number of spikelet per cm of panicle varied significantly among the treatments. CTTP and NTTP had significantly higher numbers of spikelet per cm of panicle than CTDS and NTDS. Panicle dry weight at maturity varied significantly among the treatments. Panicle dry weight under TP was higher than that under DS under either CT or NT. CTTP had heavier panicles (4.3 g) than NTTP. NTDS and CTDS were similar in panicle dry weight. The TP method resulted in 12% longer and heavier panicles than DS.

The most explanatory risk factors include age, sex, pack-years of

The most explanatory risk factors include age, sex, pack-years of smoking, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, antihypertensive and lipid-lowering medications, and diabetes mellitus status. An inclusion of less traditional risk factors such as LDL:HDL ratio, homocysteine levels, high school completion, white blood cell count and LDL cholesterol to the traditional model contributed only about additional 2%, explaining 23% of the variance in total carotid plaque burden at best. Therefore variation in subclinical carotid plaque burden is largely unexplained by known vascular

Selleck MK-2206 risk factors. These results suggest that other unaccounted factors, both environment and genetic, play an important role in the determination of subclinical atherosclerosis. Identification of these genetic and environmental factors underlying unexplained subclinical atherosclerosis is of great importance for successful prevention of stroke and cardiovascular disease, and is in the major focus for future investigations leading to genetic discoveries and new anti-atherosclerotic treatments. Carotid selleckchem IMT and carotid plaque are significant predictors of vascular events and 2D ultrasound measurement of cIMT and carotid plaque is an inexpensive

way to detect individuals with increased atherosclerotic burden and risk of CVD, evaluate the effects of current and novel therapies and investigate new contributing factors. Many unaccounted factors, both environmental and genetic, may play an important role in the determination of atherosclerosis, underscoring the importance of further cIMT and carotid plaque research investigations for successful prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease and stroke. “
“It is widely accepted

that the early carotid arterial wall disease is a useful predictor of the risk of both ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease in asymptomatic population [1]. The parameters of arterial wall elasticity properties should be employed as a surrogate marker to detect early stage of Ribociclib clinical trial vascular diseases. Increased artery wall stiffness and decreased arterial distensibility are accepted to be a common pathological mechanism for many factors associated with stroke, arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidemia and myocardial infarction [2] and [3]. Several quantitative or qualitative analysis methods for arterial wall function have been suggested. From them the most popular are the detection of flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) of brachial artery, assessment of peripheral arterial pressure waveforms, measurements of pulse wave velocity (PWV), measurements of arterial distensibility and stiffness with calculation of Young’s modulus of elasticity of wall material, wall thickness and blood density.

9 km2 and has about 6 km of coastline It was founded in the 12th

9 km2 and has about 6 km of coastline. It was founded in the 12th century and Venetoclax datasheet remained a small coastal fishery town until the 19th century, when the town was discovered by tourists and seaside holidays at the German Baltic coast became popular. Today, tourism is the major source of income, and Warnemünde belongs to the most important of German seaside resorts. The town provides over 10 000 tourist beds and recorded 313 000 guest arrivals in 2012 and more than 1 000 000 tourist overnight stays (Statistisches Amt Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, 2012). The annual degree of bed capacity utilisation is only 27.9%, which reflects the dependency on summer bathing tourism and a relatively short season. A solid pier in

Warnemünde protects the entrance of Rostock harbour and causes ongoing accumulation of sand. As a result, the town has selleck chemical a broad sandy beach about 3 km long, and a growing dune belt protects against storm surges. The beach, which has been awarded the Blue Flag, attracts additional visitors from the city of Rostock (204 000 inhabitants in 2011) as well as day visitors from Northern Germany, especially from Berlin. Consequently, the beach is crowded during the summer season. Located at the entrance of Rostock harbour and Breitling bay, Warnemünde became an important ship-building location during the 20th century, but the industry has faced a serious decline during the last two decades. After German reunification in 1990 and

the resulting political changes in the entire Baltic region, sport-boat and cruise tourism started to grow quickly. In 2012, 181 cruise ships (or 300 000 passengers) visited Warnemünde, making it the most important cruise ship port in Germany. Close to 1 000 sport boats berths are available. Today, fisheries and the small local fish market have only limited economic importance, but are maintained as a cultural heritage and tourist attraction. Parts of the dune belt, the coastal cliffs, Endonuclease and the coastal forests are under nature protection programs. Neringa municipality is located on

the Curonian (Kuršių) Spit – a narrow peninsula, separating the Curonian (Kuršių) Lagoon from the Baltic Sea. It is the longest (about 50 km) municipality of Lithuania at the border to Russia. Neringa was founded in 1961, when the five settlements Nida, Juodkrante, Preila, Pervalka and Alksnyne were joined into one administrative unit. Neringa is part of Kursiu Nerija National Park, a designated HELCOM Baltic Sea Protected Area and a Natura 2000 site. The area is protected as one of the largest and most complex dune habitats in Europe. Moreover, it is an important migratory bird convergence space and known for rare breeding bird species. Forests cover about 83% of total area, but most are protected and used only for recreational purposes (Statistics Lithuania, 2012a). The shoreline between Nida and Juodkrante is relatively stable. Artificial fore-dunes along the Baltic coast protect coastal villages from destructive sand drift.

13C NMR spectrum of fraction in D2O (30 mg/mL) was obtained at 70

13C NMR spectrum of fraction in D2O (30 mg/mL) was obtained at 70 °C using a Bruker DRX 400 Avance spectrometer incorporating Fourier transform and chemical shifts are expressed in δ (ppm) relative to acetone (δ 30.2). High pressure size exclusion chromatography (HPSEC) was carried out using a multidetection equipment previously described ( Vriesmann, Teófilo, et al., selleck inhibitor 2011), where CA-HYP (filtered at 0.22 μm;

Millipore) was analyzed at 1.4 mg/mL in 0.1 M NaNO2 solution containing 0.5 g/L NaN3. The data were collected and processed by a Wyatt Technology ASTRA program. Rheological properties of CA-HYP were first studied in aqueous solution at 5 g/100 g. CA-HYP was solubilized in deionized water with stirring for 16 h at 25 °C and then rested for 4 h before rheological

analyses. In order to form gels, CA-HYP was solubilized at 1.0–1.6 g GalA/100 g final mixture in both deionized water and 0.1 mol/L NaCl at pH 5. The mixtures were heated and when they reached 60 °C, a pre-heated calcium solution (60 °C) was dropped into the mixtures under continuous stirring, in a concentration to reach R = 0.5 in the final gel, according to the stoichiometric ratio R = 2[Ca+2]/[COO−], which relates the concentration of Ca+2 to check details the amount of non-esterified GalA residues ( Fraeye, Duvetter, Doungla, Van Loey, & Hendrickx, 2010). The mixtures were then boiled, cooled and kept under refrigeration. Tests with increasing pH and decreasing calcium content (until R = 0.2) were also carried out. Alternatively, CA-HYP at 0.99 g GalA/100 g pectin fraction was prepared under acidic pH (2.5–3.0) and high sucrose content (60 g/100 g).CA-HYP was solubilized in aqueous citric-acid solutions with stirring for 16 h at 25 °C, followed by the addition of sucrose during the heating of the mixtures. After boiling for 15 min with continuous stirring, sample was cooled to room temperature, pH was measured and it was stored under refrigeration

for 16 h. Rheological measurements were conducted in a Haake MARS rheometer coupled with a thermostatized bath HAAKE K15 and a DC5 heating circulator. The temperature of all analysis (25 °C) was controlled PAK6 with a Peltier system (TC 81) and a Thermo Haake UTM. C60/2Ti or PP 35 Ti L spindles were employed in the analysis. Frequency sweeps were obtained in the range of 0.01–10 Hz within the linear viscoelastic region (obtained by strain sweep tests at 1 Hz). Flow curves were collected in the CR (controlled rate) mode, from 0.1 to 300 s−1 during 360 s. The software RheoWin 4.0 Data Manager was used to obtain the rheological and statistical parameters. All experiments were performed at least in duplicate and the results are the average values.

e oxygen consumption by the faecal

pellet itself and the

e. oxygen consumption by the faecal

pellet itself and the increase in oxygen consumption by surrounding microbes because of the presence of the faecal pellet, which stimulated them by providing an alternative food source). Oxygen consumption rates were converted to carbon demand, assuming a respiration factor of 1 mol O2:1 mol CO2 ( Ploug et al. 2008). Faecal pellet carbon-specific degradation rates (FP-CSD) represents the carbon demand (μg d− 1) per faecal pellet carbon contents (μg FP− 1) and is expressed as percentage per day (% d− 1, Ploug et al. 2008). In order to determine the carbon contents of the faecal pellets, about 100 faecal pellets of each type (culture and in situ) were placed on 450°C ash-burned GFF filters for carbon analysis. Filters were fumed with HCl for 24 h and subsequently

analysed on a Leeman Lab CEC 440 CHN selleck chemical analyser (Reigstad et al. 2008). Samples (250 ml) for counting phyto- and protozooplankton (i.e. heterotrophic ciliates and dinoflagellates) were fixed with acid Lugol (2% vol. final concentration). Subsamples (12.5 to 100 ml) were counted microscopically after settling in Utermöhl sedimentation chambers for 48 h. The entire chamber or parts of it were examined under an inverted microscope at a magnification of × 200 and × 400. Samples for bacterial abundance (BA) were fixed with fresh formaldehyde to a final concentration of 2%. BA was determined by direct counts of DAPI-stained filter samples (0.2 μm pore size membrane filters) using an epifluorescence microscope ( Porter & Feig 1980). A minimum of 10 frames and Selleckchem Fulvestrant 500 cells were counted in each sample. In order to determine the effects of faecal pellet origin and water type on FP-CSD, these factors were tested using a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by an LSD post-hoc test in the case of significant results. Differences in FP-CSD between treatments were tested by one-way ANOVA, followed by a LSD post-hoc test. Normality and homogeneity of

variance were subjected to the Bartlett test prior to the application of parametric tests ROS1 (Fisher Snedecor tests applied through ANOVA). For all the statistical results, a probability of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Statistical analyses were performed using Statgraphics Plus (Manugistics, Inc., Rockville, MD, USA). All the investigated plankton groups (i.e. bacteria, phyto- and protozooplankton) had higher abundances at the chl a max than at 90 m ( Figure 1). Phytoplankton at the chl a max was dominated by Phaeocystis pouchetii, which was absent at 90 m depth. Diatoms were less abundant but with 7100 cells l− 1 at the chl a max were about 3.6 times more abundant than at 90 m. Heterotrophic dinoflagellates were more abundant than ciliates at both depths. The carbon demand of the microbial community, used as a blank for measuring the FP-CSD, was 42.4 ± 6.0 SD μg C l− 1 d− 1 and 5.5 ± 0.

Previous studies have shown that the C17 2 cells

Previous studies have shown that the C17.2 cells SCH772984 secrete NGF and BDNF, but also glial

cell-line derived neurotrophic factor, stimulating autocrine induction of differentiation (Lu et al., 2003 and Niles et al., 2004). Indeed, just leaving the cells in complete DMEM for 8 days decreased the nestin expression and increased the expression of βIII-tubulin and GFAP. However, no medium change during the whole differentiation period (with or without addition of extra neurotrophic factors) is a less controlled culture condition which generated a fraction of detached, presumably dead cells (not shown). It also seemed that the GFAP expression was stimulated, without attenuating βIII-tubulin expression, if the media were changed with 3–4 days of intervals (Fig. 2c). Increased GFAP expression could, however, be a sign of induction of reactive astrocytes, but since this step of differentiation was not evident in the morphologic evaluation (Fig. 1) it seems unlikely. The serum-free differentiation medium, i.e. DMEM:F12 medium with N2 supplements, NGF and BDNF, generated cultures with two distinct morphological phenotypes assumed to be neurons and CX-5461 clinical trial astrocytes (Fig. 1). Along with the visual indication of two different phenotypes, a significant increase in the βIII-tubulin and GFAP expression

was evident at the mRNA as well as the protein levels (Fig. 2 and Fig. 3). The decrease in nestin expression further supports the conclusion

Methocarbamol that the neural progenitor cells differentiated and that a mixed cell culture of neurons and astrocytes was obtained after 7 days in the serum-free DMEM:F12 medium with N2 supplements, NGF and BDNF. Taken together, the mixed culture of neurons and astrocytes obtained in serum-free differentiation medium without any artificial extracellular matrix, together with the fact the C17.2 cells are easy to handle, makes the cell line a good candidate as an alternative to primary brain cell cultures for toxicological evaluation of chemicals. This study was financed by grants from the Swedish Research Council and the Swedish Fund for Research Without Animal Experiments. “
“Metastatic melanoma remains a highly lethal disease, with an incidence that continues to increase faster than any other cancer and almost adjuvant treatments fail to control this malignancy. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy was used is this work with selective treatment for melanoma cells with minimum effects in normal cells. This therapy induces cell death by apoptosis and cell cycle arrest only in melanoma cells. Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a binary treatment modality that involves the selective accumulation of boron carriers in a tumor, followed by irradiation with a thermal or epithermal neutron beam (Monti Hughes et al., 2011).

Furthermore, this technique has been proved valuable

Furthermore, this technique has been proved valuable Gamma-secretase inhibitor for the examination of traumatic nerve lesions, nerve sheath tumors and several types of polyneuropathies. The most common cause of focal neuropathies is entrapment of a nerve while passing through an osseo-fibrous tunnel, such as the carpal tunnel at the wrist and the cubital tunnel at the elbow. The pathophysiological feature of nerve compression comprises disturbed vascular microcirculation, impaired axonal transport, edema within the nerve, and thickening of perineurium resulting in

an enlargement of the nerve diameter, which is typically located proximally to the entrapment site [3]. Consequently, changes in nerve cross-sectional area are the most relevant sonographic findings in entrapment neuropathies (Supplementary Fig. 1; to view the figure, please visit the online supplementary file in ScienceDirect). In patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), numerous studies demonstrated high accuracy for both, the maximum cross-sectional area of the median nerve proximal to the entrance of the carpal tunnel and the Fulvestrant purchase ratio of the median nerve area at the wrist to the area of the nerve at the forearm [4], [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10] and [11]. For example,

according to a cut-off value for the cross-sectional area of 10 mm2, sensitivity and specificity were 82% and 87% in a study by Ziswiler

et al. [6]. Increasing the cut-off value to 12 mm2 resulted in a 100% specificity at the expense of a lower sensitivity of 44%. Secondary findings in patients with CTS are nerve flattening within the carpal tunnel and bowing of the flexor retinaculum [2]. In contrast to electrodiagnosis, ultrasonography has the capability to rule out secondary causes of CTS such as tenosynovitis, ganglion cysts, accessory muscles or tumors [4] and [5]. In case the nerve branches proximal to the carpal tunnel, ultrasonography can further demonstrate a bifid median nerve [11] or a persistent median artery (Fig. 1) [12]. If symptoms persist or worsen after surgery, ultrasonography may be valuable to assess incomplete splitting of the retinaculum Glutamate dehydrogenase or intra-operative injuries of the ulnar branch of the median nerve (Fig. 2). However, in contrast to NCS, ultrasonography is obviously not suitable for post-treatment follow-up of CTS since Lee et al. [13] pointed out that the cross-sectional area of the median nerve remained unchanged 6 months after surgery. Supplementary Fig. 1.  Cross-sectional (a) and longitudinal (b) view of the median nerve (dotted line) at the wrist in a patient with carpal tunnel syndrome. Cross-sectional area of the nerve is enlarged to 16 mm2. Arrows indicate the retinaculum flexorum.

1A Importantly, cross-reactivity with B andianus venom and reac

1A. Importantly, cross-reactivity with B. andianus venom and reactivity with B. atrox, B. barnetti and B. pictus

was observed. In this experiment, a weaker reactivity was observed against the venoms from B. pictus and B. hyoprora. Fig. 1B shows the results of the Western Blot assay. PABA was able to recognize all of the analyzed venoms. Regarding B. andianus venom, reactivity against bands at ∼14, 25, 50 kDa and higher masses were observed. There was remarkable reactivity with the ∼14 kDa protein compared to the others. B. andianus venom has toxicological and electrophoretic profiles similar to those of other Peruvian Bothrops sp. venoms used in the anti-venom Afatinib clinical trial production. The toxicological profile is also common to Bothropic envenomations characterized by local tissue damage and by systemic manifestations ( White, 2005). The symptoms observed in animals experimentally envenomed by B. andianus venom were very similar to other Peruvian Bothrops venoms ( Laing et al., 2004; Rojas et al., 2005). Our observations find that PABA is effective in neutralizing the most important toxic activities induced by B. andianus venoms when using an experimental protocol based on pre-incubation of venom and anti-venom before testing in experimental systems ( Gutierrez et al., 1990;

Otero et al., 1995). Thus, despite the fact that B. andianus venom is not included in the antigenic pool used in Peru, PABA is effective against this venom. Our preclinical observations are in agreement with the report of Rojas et al. (2005), DAPT datasheet which shows the efficacy

of Peruvian anti-venom in neutralizing many snake venoms found in Peru. This research was supported by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior, Brazil – CAPES (TOXINOLOGIA No 23038000825/2011-63), Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais, Brazil (FAPEMIG) and by funds of the INCTTOX PROGRAM of Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil (CNPq). The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support and assistance of the Instituto Nacional de Salud (Lima, Peru) without which it would not have been possible to carry out this study. We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Michael Richardson and Jessica McCormack for Resveratrol revising this manuscript. “
“The Brazilian Ministry of Health registered 25,189 cases of accidents with venomous snakes in 2010 and envenomations caused by Bothrops snakes were the most frequent (72.5%). One of the most striking local effects observed during the poisoning is pain, swelling, degradation of connective tissue, blood vessels, muscle cells, among other physiological components. In some cases tissue injury can result in permanent disability of the affected member. The only treatment currently available for bothropic accidents is the serumtherapy with specific antivenom.

Artificial seawater (ASW) of different salinities was prepared ac

Artificial seawater (ASW) of different salinities was prepared according to Millero (2006) with slight modifications. Ca2 +

and HCO3− were not initially added in the ASW; the amount of NaHCO3 and CaCl2 was FXR agonist compensated for by adding NaCl. The amount of salt needed at salinity 70 and 105 was two and three times of that at salinity 35 (Table 1). Ten kilograms ASW of salinity 70 was prepared as a stock solution. In addition, 1 kg ASW of salinity 35 as well as salinity 105 was prepared separately. The salinity of the ASW stock solutions was checked with a conductivity meter (WTW Cond 330i). Subsamples of 10 mL stock solution of salinity 70 and 105 were diluted to salinity 35 before beginning with measurements; the differences between the theoretical and measured values were within ± 0.2. Stock solutions of CaCl2 and NaHCO3 at concentrations of 2.5 mol kg− 1 (soln) and 0.5 mol kg− 1 (soln) were prepared by dissolving 183.775 g CaCl2·2H2O and 21.002 g NaHCO3 into 500 g solutions using de-ionized water and subsequently stored in gas-tight Tedlar bags (SKC). All chemicals were obtained from Merck (EMSURE® ACS, ISO, Reag, Ph Eur) except SrCl2 and H3BO3, which were from Carl Roth (p.a., ACS, ISO). Four parameters were studied: pH (8.5 to 10.0), salinities (0 to 105) both in ASW and the

NaCl medium, temperatures (0 to − 4 °C) and PO4 concentrations (0 to 50 μmol kg− 1). The standard values were pH 9.0, salinity 70, temperature 0 °C, and PO4 concentration 10 μmol kg− 1 Rucaparib mouse and only one of these quantities was varied at a time. Experiments were also carried out in the NaCl medium at salinities

from 0 to 105 in the absence of PO4 at pH 9 and temperature 0 °C. In order to simulate the concentration processes of Ca2 + and DIC during sea ice formation, stock solutions of CaCl2 and NaHCO3 (Ca2 +:DIC = 5:1, which is the typical concentration ratio in seawater) were pumped from the Tedlar bags into a Teflon reactor vessel with 250 g working solution using a high precision peristaltic pump (IPC-N, Ismatec) at a constant pumping rate of 20 μL min− 1 (Fig. 1). The solution was stirred at 400 rpm and the temperature was Sirolimus in vitro controlled by water-bath using double walled water jackets. pH electrodes (Metrohm 6.0253.100) were calibrated using NBS buffers 7.000 ± 0.010 and 10.012 ± 0.010 (Radiometer analytical, IUPAC standard). The pH of the solution was kept constant by adding 0.5 mol L− 1 NaOH which was controlled by a titration system (TA20 plus, SI Analytics). pH and the volume of NaOH added to the solution were recorded every 10 s. Depending on the experimental conditions, the maximum input of CaCl2, NaHCO3 and NaOH into the working solution during the experiments is within a few mL, which did not have a significant effect on solution salinity. Duplicates for each experimental condition were run in parallel.

Thus, the change in membrane fluidity was observed at a concentra

Thus, the change in membrane fluidity was observed at a concentration 10 times greater than that for hemolysis. This result could be explained by the fact that the spin probes are sparsely distributed in the membrane and, therefore, the spin probe spectroscopy only detects changes in fluidity when a widespread change occurs in the membrane. The molar ratio between spin probe and lipid present in the membranes used for the EPR

measurements was 1:200. Thus, to detect changes in membrane fluidity, the environment of most spin labels would have to be changed. This result also suggests that a highly localized change in the erythrocyte membrane is sufficient to provoke hemolysis. In cell cytotoxicity, the IC50 of nerolidol was 6 × 1011 molecules/fibroblast and the concentration this website that alters fibroblast membrane fluidity was approximately 10 times lower (6.3 × 1010 terpenes/cell). These calculations indicate that the concentrations that cause a general change in INK 128 molecular weight fibroblast membrane fluidity are smaller than those that inhibit the growth of fibroblasts. This result is indicative of the low toxicity of terpenes in cultured fibroblasts and suggests that, unlike in red blood cells, change in fibroblast membrane fluidity occurs without disruption of the membrane. In conclusion, we examined the hemolytic potential and cytotoxicity in fibroblasts treated with terpenes and showed that these reagents

cause cellular injury in a concentration-dependent manner. Nerolidol, α-terpineol and DL-menthol were the most hemolytic and limonene and 1,8-cineole were the least hemolytic, whereas in the cytotoxicity assay, nerolidol and α-terpineol were the most cytotoxic and 1,8-cineole

was the least cytotoxic; however, the correlation coefficient between the two tests was low (R = 0.61). This study demonstrated that monoterpenes are powerful membrane fluidizers in erythrocyte and fibroblast cells, and the observed effects were not significantly Oxalosuccinic acid different among them, suggesting that they possess the same potency in enhancing dermal permeation. However, less polar monoterpenes, such as limonene and cineole, showed low membrane aggressiveness and cytotoxicity. The sesquiterpene produced the greatest increase in membrane fluidity, but also a greater irritation potential. Although the mechanisms of cytotoxicity were not investigated, we suggest that terpenes could trigger various mechanisms, including interactions with the cellular membrane, which most likely occur during terpene-induced hemolysis. The antiproliferative effects of monoterpenes have been previously demonstrated through the modulation of gene expression associated with apoptosis ( Bardon et al., 1998, Bardon et al., 2002, Yang and Ping Dou, 2010 and Wu et al., 2012). Given that some monoterpenes show activity against Leishmania infantum promastigotes ( Morales et al., 2009) and the sesquiterpene nerolidol inhibits the growth of several species of Leishmania promastigotes and amostigotas ( Arruda et al.