Characterization of purified coconut oil bodies as an encapsulating agent for Doxorubicin and Paclitaxel

Introduction@#Doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX) are both widely used anticancer drugs with a broad spectrum of antitumor activity, commonly against breast, ovarian, and lung cancers. Currently, these drugs are commercially available in liposomal formulations for their use in chemotherapy. This study generally proposed coconut oil bodies (COB) obtained from Cocos nucifera L. as an alternative carrier for DOX and PTX rather than the currently used liposome. @*Objectives@#This study aimed to compare standard liposome and coconut oil bodies as drug carriers in terms of their microencapsulation efficiencies, lipid profiles, in vitro drug release and stability, as well as their cholesterol levels.@*Methods@#Coconut oil bodies (COB) were isolated and purified from Cocos nucifera L. by modified sucrose gradient method followed by microencapsulation of standard drugs (doxorubicin and paclitaxel) through selfassembly and freeze-thaw method. The two standard drugs were encapsulated using COB and standard liposome. Encapsulation efficiency of both materials were determined. Lipid profiles of both encapsulating materials were analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, and cholesterol level determination. In vitro drug release and pH stability of both encapsulated drugs were analyzed. @*Results@#Doxorubicin (DOX) and paclitaxel (PTX) were successfully incorporated in COB. Lauric acid was mainly abundant in COB and was able to lower cholesterol levels (5 mg/dL). COB incorporated with DOX and PTX showed stability at acidic and neutral pH. Drug release profile showed a rapid outburst within 3 hours compared to liposome encapsulated DOX and PTX. @*Conclusion@#Our study showed the encouraging potentials of using COB as wall materials that will make them attractive candidates for the formulation of pharmaceuticals for optimized drug delivery of cancer chemotherapeutics DOX and PTX

Cryopreservation of Brazilian green dwarf coconut plumules by droplet-vitrification / Criopreservação de coqueiro anão verde do Brasil de Jiqui por vitrificação em gotas

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of vitrification solutions and exposure time on the cryopreservation of Brazilian green dwarf coconut plumules (BGD) using the droplet vitrification technique. Explants were excised from BGD mature fruits from the Active Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, Sergipe, Brazil. Firstly, embryos were disinfected, and after excision, plumules were pre-cultivated for 72 hours in Y3 + 0.6 M sucrose + 2.2 g L-1 Gelrite® culture medium. Plumules were exposed to PVS2 and PVS3 solutions for 15 and 30 minutes and rapidly immersed in liquid nitrogen (-196 ºC). After cryopreservation, they were thawed in culture medium solution (Y3 + 1.2 M sucrose) and cultured in regeneration medium. The experimental design was completely randomized in a 2x2 factorial scheme (vitrification solutions per exposure times), with five replicates per treatment. Data were compared by the Tukey's test at 5% probability. Significant differences were observed in the callogenesis percentage for the solutions x exposure time interaction for non-cryopreserved cultures (-NL) and for exposure time after cryopreservation (+NL). PVS2 and PVS3 combined with 15 minutes of exposure promoted the highest callus formation (70 and 100%, respectively) in control cultures. The exposure time of 30 min, regardless of vitrification solution, resulted in 30% embryogenic callus formation after cryopreservation. These results contributed to the long-term conservation of coconut palm.

RESUMO: O objetivo desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito das soluções de vitrificação e do tempo de exposição na criopreservação de plúmulas de coqueiro anão verde do Brasil de Jiqui (BGD), pela técnica de vitrificação em gotas. Os explantes foram excisados de frutos maduros oriundos do Banco de Germoplasma Ativo de Embrapa Tabuleiros Costeiros, Sergipe, Brasil. Os embriões foram desinfestados e as plúmulas, após a excisão, pré-cultivadas durante 72 horas em meio de cultura Y3 suplementado com sacarose 0,6 e 2,2 g L-1 Gelrite®. As plúmulas foram expostas em soluções de PVS2 e PVS3 durante 15 e 30 minutos, e rapidamente imersas em nitrogênio líquido (-196 ºC). Após a criopreservação, foram descongeladas na solução de meio de cultura Y3 com 1,2 M de sacarose, e cultivadas em meio de regeneração. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 2x2 (soluções de vitrificação x tempos de exposição), com cinco repetições por tratamento. Os dados foram comparados pelo teste de Tukey à probabilidade de 5%. Observaram-se diferenças significativas na porcentagem de calogênese para a interação entre soluções e tempo de exposição para as culturas não criopreservadas (-NL), e para o tempo de exposição após a criopreservação (+NL). O PVS2 e o PVS3 combinados com 15 minutos promoveram a maior formação de calo (70 e 100%, respectivamente) nas culturas de controle. O tempo de exposição de 30 min, independente da solução de vitrificação, promoveu 30% da formação de calos embriogênicos após a criopreservação. Estes resultados contribuem para a conservação em longo prazo do coqueiro.

Coconut oil on biochemical and morphological parameters in rats submitted to normolipidic and hyperlipidic diets / Óleo de coco em parâmetros bioquímicos e morfológicos de ratos submetidos à dieta normolipídica ou hiperlipídica

ABSTRACT: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of replacing soybean oil with extra virgin coconut oil in normolipidic and hyperlipidic diets, on the lipid metabolism of Wistar rats. In the first stage of the experiment (30 days), 36 rats were divided into 2 groups and fed with a control or a hyperlipidic diet. Six animals from each group were then killed, and the remaining rats were redistributed into 4 new groups: 2 groups remained on the control and hyperlipidic diets, and in the diets of the other 2 groups, the soybean oil was replaced with coconut oil (30 days). At the end of the assay, the biological models were decapitated for blood collection and removal of organs and peritoneal fat. Although the diet intake differed among groups during both stages of the experiment, no differences were noted with regard to weight gain and peritoneal fat. Replacing soybean oil with coconut oil in the rat diet lowered triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein serum concentrations in both groups. Liver parameters, namely, total cholesterol and triacylglycerols, increased with the substitution of soybean oil by coconut oil in the normolipidic diet and decreased in the hyperlipidic diet. Thus, replacing soybean oil by coconut oil may improve serum and liver lipid levels in Wistar rats.

RESUMO: O estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a influência da substituição do óleo de soja por óleo de coco extravirgem em dietas normolipídicas e hiperlipídicas, sobre o metabolismo lipídico de ratos Wistar. Na primeira fase do experimento, 30 dias, 36 ratos foram distribuídos em dois grupos, receberam dieta controle e dieta hiperlipídica. Após eutanásia de seis animais por grupo, os ratos de ambos os grupos foram redistribuídos em quatro novos grupos, dois permaneceram com as dietas controle e hiperlipídica e nos outros dois houve substituição do óleo de soja por óleo de coco (30 dias). Ao final do ensaio, os modelos biológicos foram decapitados, para coleta de sangue, retirada de órgãos e gordura peritoneal. O consumo de dieta foi diferente entre os grupos durante as duas fases do experimento, porém sem diferença no ganho de peso e gordura peritoneal. A substituição, na dieta, do óleo de soja por óleo de coco diminuiu as concentrações séricas de triacilgliceróis e de lipoproteínas de baixa densidade, em ambos os grupos. Os parâmetros hepáticos colesterol total e triacilgliceróis aumentaram com a substituição do óleo de soja por óleo de coco em dieta normolipídica e diminuíram na dieta hiperlipídica. A substituição do óleo de soja por óleo de coco pode ter benefícios com relação aos lipídeos séricos e hepáticos em ratos Wistar.

Cocos nucifera (L.) (Arecaceae): A phytochemical and pharmacological review

Cocos nucifera (L.) (Arecaceae) is commonly called the “coconut tree” and is the most naturally widespread fruit plant on Earth. Throughout history, humans have used medicinal plants therapeutically, and minerals, plants, and animals have traditionally been the main sources of drugs. The constituents of C. nucifera have some biological effects, such as antihelminthic, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antioxidant, antifungal, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities. Our objective in the present study was to review the phytochemical profile, pharmacological activities, and toxicology of C. nucifera to guide future preclinical and clinical studies using this plant. This systematic review consisted of searches performed using scientific databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, PubMed, SciVerse, and Scientific Electronic Library Online. Some uses of the plant were partially confirmed by previous studies demonstrating analgesic, antiarthritic, antibacterial, antipyretic, antihelminthic, antidiarrheal, and hypoglycemic activities. In addition, other properties such as antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cardioprotective, antiseizure, cytotoxicity, hepatoprotective, vasodilation, nephroprotective, and anti-osteoporosis effects were also reported. Because each part of C. nucifera has different constituents, the pharmacological effects of the plant vary according to the part of the plant evaluated.

Emissão foliar, relações iônicas e produção do coqueiro irrigado com água salina / Leaf emission, ionic relations and production of coconut irrigated with saline water

A necessidade de uso de águas salinas na agricultura é crescente, devido à pressão sobre águas de boa qualidade, principalmente para consumo humano. Com este objetivo, foram estudados os efeitos de quatro níveis de condutividade elétrica da água de irrigação (CEa: 0,1; 5,0; 10,0 e 15,0dS m-1), obtidos mediante adição de NaCl sobre o desenvolvimento do coqueiro (Cocos nucifera L.) cv. "Anão Verde", com 3,5 anos de idade. O experimento foi conduzido em blocos casualizados, em solo arenoso, irrigado por microaspersão, no município de Parnamirim-RN, no período de janeiro de 2000 a março de 2001. A salinidade da água aumentou os intervalos de emissão foliar e de inflorescência e o número de flores femininas, bem como os teores de Na e de Cl na folha número 14, acompanhado de relações antagônicas entre Na-Ca, Na-K e Cl-N e sinergismo entre Na-Mg, mas sem manifestar sintomas visuais de efeitos tóxicos. Os teores ótimos de Na e Cl na folha 14 foram, respectivamente, 0,207 e 0,580 por cento.

The necessity to use saline waters in agriculture has increased due to pressure on good quality water, principally, for human consumption. With this objective, the effects of four levels of electrical conductivity (0.1, 5.0, 10.0 and 15.0dS m-1) of irrigation water obtained by addition of NaCl were studied on the development of 3.5 years old coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) cv. 'Anão Verde'. The experiment was conducted in a sandy soil adopting a completely randomized block design and micro sprinkler irrigation system in the municipality of Parnamirim - RN, Brazil, during the period of January, 2000 to March, 2001. The salinity of water increased the interval of leaf emission and inflorescences and the number of female flowers per inflorescence as well as the contents of Na and Cl in leaf 14, accompanied by antagonism between Na-Ca, Na-K and Cl-N, and synergism between Na-Mg but without any visual symptoms of toxic effects. The optimum levels of Na and Cl in 14th leaf were found to be 0.207 and 0.580 percent.