Cytotoxicity assessment of Dipteryx alata Vogel hydroalcoholic extract

• Grant number: 06/05802-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2007
• End date: March 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Medicines Analysis and Control
• Principal Investigator: Patricia Santos Lopes
• Grantee: Natália Mencacci Esteves-Pedro
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria de Pós-Graduação e Pesquisa. Universidade de Sorocaba (UNISO). Sorocaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The active, synthetic and natural substances, as well as medicines and cosmetics must be tested upon its effectiveness and security, before being disposed for the patient or consumer. Currently, the alternative methods had substituted the use of animals for some tests, as for example, assays of citotoxicity. These methods, beyond humanitarians, benefit the technological progress generating reduction of costs and greater specificity of answers. To test topical products the ideal is that a culture of keratinocytes is used. Such cells, however, only grow when cultivated in a feeder layer. The fibroblasts are important cells of the fabric conjunctive, which synthesize precursory molecules. This culture of fibroblasts will be a sustentation structure that will allow the growth of keratinocytes. Our goal will be to determine the dose of ionizing radiation that affects the genetic code of the fibroblasts, stopping its metabolic activity and its cellular growth. This will allow the culture of keratinocytes on this feeder layer making possible the safety tests of topical products in vitro.