Summary: β‐Phenylethylamine (β‐PEA) is a trace amine with chemical proximity to biogenic amines and amphetamines. It is an endogenous agonist of trace amine‐associated receptors (TAARs) that acts as a neuromodulator of classic neurotransmitters in the central nervous system. At high concentrations, β‐PEAcontracts smooth muscle, and a role forTAARs in these responses has been postulated. The high dietary intake of trace amines has been associated with such symptoms as hypertension and migraine, especially after the intake of foods containing such compounds. In gastrointestinal tissues,TAARexpression was reported, although the effect of β‐PEAon gastric contractile behaviour is unknown. Here, isolated strips that were obtained from the rat gastric fundus were stimulated with high micromolar concentrations of β‐PEA. Under resting tonus, β‐PEAinduced contractions. In contrast, when the strips were previously contracted withKCl, a relaxant response to β‐PEAwas observed. The contractile effect of β‐PEAwas inhibited by 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT) receptor antagonists (i.e., cyproheptadine and ketanserin) but not by theTAAR₁antagonistEPPTB. In gastric fundus strips that were previously contracted with 80 mmol/LKCl, the relaxant effect of β‐PEAintensified in the presence of 5‐HTreceptor antagonists, which was inhibited byEPPTBand the adenylyl cyclase inhibitorMDL‐12,330A. The guanylyl cyclase inhibitorODQdid not alter the relaxant effects of β‐PEA. In conclusion, β‐PEAexerted dual contractile and relaxant effects on rat gastric fundus. The contractile effect appeared to involve the recruitment of 5‐HTreceptors, and the relaxant effect of β‐PEAonKCl‐elicited contractions likely involvedTAAR₁.

This study describes an undergraduate student laboratory activity using isolated preparations from rat gastrointestinal tissues that possess contractile profiles typically exhibited by striated and smooth muscle cells. While students are introduced to an ex vivo methodology, they can compare differences in trace experiments, twitch aspects, phasic and tonic properties, force-frequency relationships, and pharmacological responsiveness of esophageal (striated) and fundic (smooth muscle) segments. Muscle strips were subjected to electrical field stimulation (EFS) applied by platinum electrodes immersed in the physiological solution. The contractile profile of EFS responses varied between these two types of gut preparations. Atropine and tubocurarine revealed differential inhibitory influences in esophagus or fundus tissues; caffeine and procaine produced similar effects, i.e., potentiation and blockade of the EFS-induced contractile response in these tissues, respectively. Experimental results obtained during the activity helped the improvement of student learning about basic concepts previously discussed in theoretical lectures. To measure student learning with this laboratory exercise, a questionnaire was applied before and after the activity, and the number of expected correct answers, concerning the mechanisms of contraction in striated and smooth muscle, could be clearly evidenced.

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are conditions of the gastrointestinal tract with treatments linked to side effects and relapses. Spondias mombin L. is a species with anti-inflammatory action, but there is little information in the literature about its application in the treatment of IBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of hydroalcoholic extract of Spondias mombin L. (HESm) in a rat model of ulcerative colitis (UC). Methods: Hydroalcoholic extract was obtained using the turboextraction technique, followed by identification of its major components using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UFLC). Intestinal anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in an acute model of UC induced by 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). Groups received a vehicle, prednisolone (2 mg/kg), or HESm (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg) before and after UC induction. Ulcerated area, score, and intestinal weight/length ratio were analyzed. Histopathological analysis and the extract’s effect on the contractility of the intestinal segment were carried out. Results: UFLC identified the presence of quercetin, a flavonoid widely cited for the species. At doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, the extract reduced areas of injury by 86.82, 92.67, and 85.06%, respectively, compared to the control, in addition to reducing scores and weight/length ratio of the colons. Histopathological analysis confirmed the results. In contractility, the extract at the highest concentration tested reduced the response of the muscarinic agonist carbamylcholine to 53.7 ± 4.2% of control contraction. Conclusions: Results demonstrate the species’ ability to reduce injuries caused by colitis, suggesting its potential to contribute to the clinical management of IBD in the future.

Produtos apícolas, como o mel de abelhas sem ferrão, exibem efeitos antioxidantes, antibacterianos, anti-inflamatórios e cicatrizantes, despertando interesse por seu potencial como alternativa aos tratamentos convencionais para a cicatrização de feridas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi revisar a literatura científica sobre o potencial cicatrizante do mel produzido por abelhas sem ferrão. Desenvolveu-se uma revisão narrativa da literatura a partir da busca pelos descritores “honey” e “wound healing” em estudos publicados entre 2021 e agosto de 2026, nas bases de dados PubMed, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde e Scientific Electronic Library Online e, de forma complementar, no Google Acadêmico. O processo de busca e seleção resultou na inclusão de 11 estudos, que apresentaram evidências experimentais ou clínicas relacionadas à evolução das feridas, aos processos celulares e histológicos envolvidos no reparo tecidual e às propriedades biológicas potencialmente associadas a esses efeitos. Apesar da heterogeneidade quanto às espécies de abelhas, origem geográfica e características dos méis, os estudos pré-clínicos demonstraram efeitos favoráveis sobre a cicatrização, incluindo redução da área das feridas e alterações histológicas e celulares relacionadas ao reparo tecidual. Entretanto, as evidências clínicas ainda são limitadas, com resultados favoráveis ao mel quanto à epitelização e à formação de tecido de granulação, mas sem diferenças estatisticamente significativas em relação ao tratamento convencional. Dessa forma, os achados sustentam o potencial cicatrizante do mel de abelhas sem ferrão, especialmente diante dos resultados pré-clínicos, mas reforçam a necessidade de sua investigação em estudos clínicos mais robustos.