title: EFFECTS OF TOPICAL TREATMENT WITH EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI LATEX ON THE SURVIVAL AND INTESTINAL ADHESIONS IN RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL PERITONITIS.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of plants of the family Euphorbiaceae, particularly Euphorbia tirucalli (avelós) has been popularly widespread for treating a variety of diseases of infectious, tumoral, and inflammatory.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrated antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects of these extracts, evaluating the effect of a topical treatment with an aqueous solution of avelós latex on the survival and on intestinal adhesions in rats with experimental peritonitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peritonitis was induced in 24 Wistar rats, that were randomized into four groups of six as follows: (1) Control group (n=6), no treatment; (2) Antibiotic group (n=6), treatment with a single intramuscular dose of antibiotic Unasyn; (3) Saline group (n=6), the abdominal cavity was washed with 0.9% saline; and (4) E.tirucalli group (n=6), the abdominal cavity was washed with E. tirucalli at a concentration of 12 mg/ml. The animals that died were necropsied, and the time of death was recorded. The survivors were killed on postoperative day 11, and necropsy was subsequently performed for evaluation of the intestinal adhesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences were observed in the control and antibiotic groups (p<0.01) with respect to the survival hours when compared with the saline and E. tirucalli groups. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the survival of animals in the saline andE. tirucalli groups; however, one animal died in the saline group. Necropsy of the animals in the saline and E. tirucalligroups showed strong adhesions resistant to manipulation, between the intestinal loops and abdominal wall. The remaining groups did not show any adhesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical treatment with E. tirucalli latex stimulated an increased formation of intestinal adhesions and prevented the death of all animals with peritonitis.
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Lilhian Alves
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: de Araújo
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Fátima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mrué
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Roberpaulo Anacleto
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Neves
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Maxley Martins
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Nelson Jorge
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: da Silva-Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary School, Goiânia, GO, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcelo Seixo de Brito
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Catholic University of Goiás.
authors.forename: Paulo Roberto
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: de Melo-Reis
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D028481:Euphorbia; D007840:Latex / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008517:Phytotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015996:Survival Rate; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D010936:Plant Extracts