Acute toxicity of Jatropha curcas oil on plant cell cycle / Toxicidade aguda do óleo de jatropha curcas no ciclo celular de plantas

Today, a great interest in Jatropha-based products exists worldwide, mainly for the production of biofuel.However, the oil obtained from this plant is known to be toxic due to contained curcins andphorbol esters. Bioassays, including plant cytogenetic assays based on cell cycle observation, are useful for determining the toxicity of J. curcas oil. Hence, the aim of this study was to describe the mechanism of action of J. curcas oil by cell cycle analysis using Lactuca sativa as plant testing model. A decrease in root growth was observed, closely related to the reduction in mitotic index, along with an increase in condensed nuclei. J. curcas chemicals act both as aneugenic agents, leading to the formation of lagged, sticky chromosomes and c-metaphase cells, as well as clastogenic agents, inducing the formation of chromosome bridges and fragments. The cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of phorbol esters and other chemical components of J. curcas oil was determined and discussed.

Um grande interesse mundial existe em produtos à base de pinhão manso, principalmente para a produção de biocombustíveis. No entanto, o óleo obtido a partir desta planta é conhecidamente tóxico por conter curcina e ésteres de forbol. Bioensaios, incluindo ensaios citogenéticos em plantas-modelo com base na observação do ciclo celular, são úteis para determinar a toxicidade do óleo de J. curcas. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi descrever o mecanismo de ação do óleo de J. curcas por análise do ciclo celular usando Lactuca sativa como modelo de teste em plantas. Foi observada uma redução no crescimento das raízes, intimamente relacionada com a redução do índice mitótico e com um aumento de núcleos condensados. Os constituintes químicos de J. curcas atuam simultaneamente como agentes aneugênicos, levando à formação de cromossomos perdidos e pegajosos e células em c-metáfase, bem como agentes clastogênicos, induzindo a formação de pontes e fragmentos cromossômicos. A citotoxicidade e genotoxicidade do éster de forbol e outros componentes químicos do óleo de J. curcas foram determinados e discutidos.

Traditional uses and seed chemical composition of Jatropha spp. (Euphorbiaceae) in Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, México / Usos tradicionales y composición química de la semilla de Jatropha spp. (Euphorbiaceae) en Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, México

Abstract The Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Biosphere Reserve in México holds genetic richness and endemism for the genus Jatropha, but the specific use of the plants and the seed chemical profiles are still unknown. We recorded the traditional forms of use of Jatropha species, and analyzed the chemical composition of Jatropha spp. seeds. For this, a semi-structured survey was conducted in 15 towns, and 20 interviews were applied in each one between May and August 2012 to estimate the Significant Use Level and Relative Use Value per species. Besides, seeds from J. neopauciflora, J. rufescens, and J. rzedowskii were collected between August and October 2013, and to seed flour samples we determined total lipids by the Soxhlet method, crude protein by the Kjendahl method, and ashes according to AOAC methods; fatty acid profile and phorbol esters were determined by gas chromatography and by HPLC, respectively. The species J. neopauciflora, J. oaxacana, J. rufescens, J. ciliata, and J. rzedowskii, are used as traditional medicine, food, and ornaments, except for J. ciliata, for which none use was recorded. The Significant Use Level as food was found not significant, but for medicinal purposes, J. neopauciflora obtained the highest Relative Use Value (9.0 %). The latex is used to treat 13 disorders, including dental problems and oral diseases with a Significant Use Level of 32.9 %; it is also used as a hemostatic. The protein content among species varied from 23.37 to 26.06 %, and total lipids from 34.79 to 36.60 %. The principal unsaturated fatty acids were oleic (25.08 to 30.09 %) and linoleic (44.55 to 48.46 %), and the saturated fatty acids were palmitic (10.11 to 16.50 %) and stearic (9.47 to 11.15 %). Phorbol esters, the main cause of seed's toxicity, were absent in J. neopauciflora, J. rufescens, and J. rzedowskii. In conclusion, the Significant Use Level of Jatropha species studied was low, with little cultural acceptance and sporadic utilization. The Relative Use Value was important for medicinal purposes, especially for J. neopauciflora. The dehulled seeds of J. neopauciflora, J. rufescens, and J. rzedowskii are potentially useful as food, having high protein contents, and unsaturated oleic and linoleic fatty acids. With this study we report three non-toxic Jatropha species and recommend to scientifically validate the antimycotic use of J. neopauciflora latex. Rev. Biol. Trop. 66(1): 266-279. Epub 2018 March 01.

Resumen La Reserva de la Biosfera Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, México contiene riqueza genética y endemismo para el género Jatropha, pero se desconoce el uso específico de las plantas y la composición química de la semilla. Documentamos las formas tradicionales de uso de las especies de Jatropha y, analizamos la composición química de las semillas de las especies de Jatropha. En 15 comunidades se aplicaron 20 entrevistas semiestructuradas entre mayo y agosto de 2012 para estimar el Nivel de Uso Significativo y el Valor de Uso Relativo por especie. Se colectó semilla solo de J. neopauciflora, J. rufescens, y J. rzedowskii entre agosto y octubre de 2013 para determinar mediante los métodos de la AOAC, el contenido total de lípidos en una muestra de 3 g de harina mediante el método de Soxhlet, proteína cruda en una muestra de harina de 0.4 g por el método Kjendahl y ceniza en una muestra de 5 g de harina. El perfil de ácidos grasos se determinó por cromatografía de gases y el contenido de ésteres de forbol mediante HPLC. Las especies registradas fueron J. neopauciflora, J. oaxacana, J. rufescens, J. rzedowskii y J. ciliata, que se usan en medicina tradicional, alimento y como ornamental, excepto J. ciliata, para la cual no se reportó ningún uso. El Nivel de Uso Significativo como alimento no fue importante, pero para propósitos medicinales J. neopauciflora tuvo el mayor Valor de Uso Relativo (9.0 %). El látex es usado para tratar 13 trastornos, incluyendo problemas dentales y enfermedades bucales con un Nivel Significativo de Uso de 32.9 %; y también es usada como hemostático. El contenido de proteína entre especies varió de 23.37 a 26.06 % y los lípidos totales variaron de 34.79 a 36.60 %. Los principales ácidos grasos insaturados fueron oleico (25.08 a 30.09 %) y linoleico (44.55 a 48.46 %); los ácidos grasos saturados fueron palmítico (10.11 a 16.50 %) y esteárico (9.47 a 11.15 %). No se detectó la presencia de ésteres de forbol (la causa principal de la toxicidad de la semilla) en J. neopauciflora, J. rufescens, y J. rzedowskii. En conclusión, el Nivel de Uso Significativo de las especies de Jatropha fue bajo, con poca aceptación cultural y utilización esporádica. El Valor de Uso Relativo fue importante para propósitos medicinales, especialmente para J. neopauciflora. Las semillas sin testa de J. neopauciflora, J. rufescens, y J. rzedowskii son potencialmente útiles como alimento por su alto contenido de proteínas, ácidos grasos insaturados oleico y linoleico. Se identificaron tres especies no toxicas de Jatropha. Se recomienda validar científicamente el uso antimicótico del látex de J. neopauciflora.

Effects of Euphorbia milii latex on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation / Efeito do latex de Euphorbia milii sobre a proliferação de linfócitos induzida por mitogénio

The crude latex of "Crown-of-Thorns" (Euphorbia milii var hislopii, syn E.splendens) is a potent plant molluscicide. For this reason, toxicological studies have been performed to evaluate the health risks posed by its use in schistosomiasis control programs. The present study is part of a more comprehensive immunotoxicological evaluation of this molluscicide. Here, we investigated the effects of E. milii latex on the proliferation of human lymphocytes in vitro. Lyophilized latex of E. milii (0, 0.5, 5, 25 and 50 µg/ml) was incubated with whole blood in the presence of proliferation stimulators, i.e. lectins (phytohemagglutinin, concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen), as well as with human monoclonal antibody against CD3 and tetanus toxoid. Cell proliferation was measured by ³H-thymidine incorporation, and the effects of latex on mitogen-induced cell proliferation were compared to the effects of 10 ng/ml of 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). Results showed that mitogen-induced cell proliferation was markedly enhanced by E. milii latex. This synergistic effect of latex on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation may be due to the presence of TPA-like phorbol esters and/or to mitogenic plant lectins.

O látexbrutoda "Coroa de Cristo" (Euphorbia miliivarhislopii, syn E.splendens) é um potente moluscicidavegetal. Neste sentido, são necessários estudos toxicológicosque visemavaliar possíveis riscos à saúdeassociados ao uso em larga escala desta espécie em áreas endêmicas para esquistossomose. O presente estudo é parte deuma avaliação mais abrangentesobre o potencial tóxico destemoluscicida. Foram investigados in vitro osefeitos dolátex da E.miliisobre a proliferação delinfócitoshumanos. O látexliofilizado (0; 0,5;5;25 e 50 µg/ml)foi incubado comsangue totalna presençade agentes mitogênicos, tais como lectinas(fitohemaglutinina, concanavalina Ae pokeweed), anticorpomonoclonalhumano anti-CD3etoxóide tetânico. A proliferação celularfoi quantificada atravésincorporaçãode ³H-timidina eos efeitos do látexnaproliferação celular induzida por agentes mitogênicosforam comparados comos efeitos de10 ng/mlde12-O-tetradecanoilforbol-13-acetato (TPA). Os resultados demonstram quea proliferação celular induzida poragentes mitogênicosfoimarcadamenteaumentada na presença do látex daE.milii.Oefeito sinérgico observado pode ser devidoà presença deésteres de forbol, como o TPA, e/oude lectinas com ação mitogênica presentes nesta espécie vegetal.

Actividad antiinflamatoria de flores y hojas de Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. (Swartz) / Anti-inflammatory activity of flowers and leaves of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. (Swartz)

Introducción: Partes aéreas de la planta Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. (Swartz) han sido usadas en medicina tradicional al sur del Departamento de Cundinamarca para el tratamiento de afecciones inflamatorias. Objetivo: Evaluar la actividad antiinflamatoria de flores, hojas y frutos verdes de Caesalpinia pulcherrima para cuantificar su actividad antiinflamatoria en modelos murinos de inflamación aguda y subcrónica. Metodología: Este estudio cuantificó la actividad antiinflamatoria de diferentes extractos de tejidos aéreos de esta especie encontrada en Colombia por dos modelos de inflamación aguda, el edema auricular inducido por TPA (acetato de 12-O-tetradecanoil-forbol) y el edema plantar inducido por carragenina; así como el modelo de inflamación sub-crónico de granuloma inducido por pellet de algodón. Resultados: Los extractos de flores mostraron la mayor actividad antiinflamatoria en el modelo del TPA, en tanto que las hojas fueron más efectivas en disminuir el granuloma, en el modelo del pellet de algodón. No se observó ninguna actividad antiinflamatoria de ningún extracto en el modelo de carragenina. Los frutos verdes no mostraron actividad en ningún modelo. Conclusión: Los resultados demostraron la efectividad que el uso etnobotánico le atribuye a esta planta. Los extractos activos obtenidos mostraron el potencial uso de esta planta en la fabricación fitoterapéuticos efectivos. Salud UIS 2011; 43 (3): 281-287.

Introduction: Aerial parts of Caesalpinia pulcherrima L. (Swartz) have been used in traditional medicine in southern Cundinamarca Department for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Objective: Evaluate the antiinflammatory activity of flowers, leaves and green fruits of the plant to quantify inflammatory activity of acute and subchronic murine inflammation models. Methodology: This study quantified the anti-inflammatory activity of different extracts of aerial tissues of this species for two models of acute inflammation, the ear edema induced by TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate) and plantar edema induced by carrageenan, as well as the sub-chronic inflammation model of granuloma induced by cotton pellet. Results: The flower extracts proved to have the largest anti-inflammatory activity in the TPA model, while the leaves were more effective in reducing the granuloma in the cotton pellet model. There was no anti-inflammatory activity of any extract carrageenan model. The green fruits showed no activity in any model. Conclusion: The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the ethnobotanical use attributed to this plant. The active extracts obtained showed the potential use of this plant in making safe and effective phytomedicines. Salud UIS 2011; 43 (3): 281-287.

TPA and BrdU promote CD133 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells / 肿瘤

Objective:To explore whether tumor-inducing agent 12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) affect CD133 expression in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) 5-8F cells. Methods:NPC cell line 5-8F was treated with single TPA, single BrdU, or TPA plus BrdU, respectively. CD133 mRNA and protein expression levels were detected by real-time fluorogentic quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively. Flow cytometry was used to separate CD133-positive cells and determine their levels. Boyden chamber test was used to measure the invasion capability of the cells. Results:Compared with untreated group, CD133 mRNA levels were increased in single BrdU group and BrdU plus TPA group (P=0.037 and 0.003, respectively), and decreased in single TPA group. Western blotting indicated that the expressions of CD133 protein was increased in all the three treated groups, and FCM showed that the quantity of CD133-positive cells also increased. The invasion capability was enhanced, especially in BrdU plus TPA group. Conclusion:Both TPA and BrdU increased CD133 expression in NPC.The effects of TPA and BrdU are synergestic.

Effects of PMA(phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate)and laminin on adhesion and proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To explore the effects of PMA(phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate,a tumor promoter, mimicking the action of diacylglycerol on PKC)and laminin on the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells, and provide a new clue to liver cancer treatment. METHODS: Human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line(BEL-7402)was used to identify the endogenous laminin and protein kinase C-?(PKC-?) expression, and the effects of laminin and PMA on the adhesion and the proliferation were also investigated in vitro. RESULTS: By the effect of exogenous laminin, human hepatocellular carcinoma cell (BEL-7402) possessed endogenous laminin expression and increased the adhesion and the proliferation, which was showed the synergistic action by the effect of PMA in combination. By the action of PMA alone,the proliferation and the PKC-? expression increased by exogenous laminin were decreased, and the adhesion and the endogenous laminin expression were increased. CONCLUSIONS: The finding suggested that the adhesion and the proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell were closely related to the effects of endogenous or exogenous laminin ,which were associated with cPKC-? activity. Therefore,the application of anti-laminin antibody in combination with PKC antagonist might be a new clue to find out the therapy for liver cancer.

Phorbol Esters Attenuate The Action of Isoproterenol on Vascular Smooth Muscle

The effects of phorbol esters were studied in rabbit carotid artery to evaluate the action of protein kinase C on the regulation of vascular tone by isoproterenol. The vascular rings, 2 mm in width, were myographied isometrically in an isolated organ bath and the effects of phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate(PDBu) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate(PMA) were determined. Isoproterenol, a beta adrenergic agonist, relaxed the vessel which was precontracted by phenylephrine, but not that by phorbol esters. The action of isoproterenol was attenuated by removal of endothelium or pretreatment with methylene blue or nitro-L-arginine. The pretreatment with phorbol esters at concentrations which did not induce contraction, decreased isoproterenol-induced relaxation of vascular rings with or without endothelium. The action of PDBu on isoproterenol-induced relaxation was less effective than that of PMA, unlike those observed in contractile response, but the contractile effect of the former was more potent than that of the latter. PMA did not affect relaxant effect of forskolin, an activator of adenyl cyclase. Staurosporine, a protein kinase C inhibitor, inhibited the action of these drugs on both isoproterenol-induced relaxation and the contractile response. These results suggest that the relaxation induced by isoproterenol was reducd by the activation of protein kinase C, which may be isozyme different from that involved in contractile response.

Inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on the expression of integrin CD18 induced by PMA / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To study the effect of dexamethasone(Dex) on the expression of CD18. METHODS: Quantitative RT-PCR analysis, Northern blotting technique were used to measure the expression of CD18 in U937 cells treated by PMA. RESULTS : Dex could significantly attenuated the effects of PMA in a dose-dependent manner (10 -6 mol/L-10 -10 mol/L). These effects of Dex (10 -7 mol/L) were completely aborted by RU-486 (10 -6 mol/L).CONCLUSION: Dex, via GR, could inhibit CD18 mRNA expression in U937 cells treated by PMA. The effects of Dex might be possibly depended on the counteracting action on the NF-?B.

Signal transduction and mechanisms of integrin CD18 expression regulated by PMA / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To investigate the effect of PMA(phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) on the expression of CD18 and the mechanism. METHODS: The technique of quantitative RT-PCR analysis was used to measure the expression of CD18 mRNA in U937 cells treated by PMA. RESULTS: PMA could significantly induce CD18 mRNA expression in a dose and time-dependent manner. The induction effects of PMA on CD18 mRNA could be inhibited obviously by Myr (2 ?mol/L), a specific inhibitor of PKC, and APDC, an inhibitor of NF-?B, but not be inhibited by curcumin, a inhibitor of transcriptional factor AP-1. CONCLUSION: PMA enhanced the expression of CD18 via the pathway of PKC. Transcriptional factor NF-?B, but not AP-1, was essential for the gene transcription of CD18 in U937 cells treated by PMA.

Mechanisms underlying the induction of IL-2 secretion by PDB plus ionomycin in CD4~+CD25~+ T cells from cord blood and adult peripheral blood / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To confirm that CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells don't have an instinctive defection in IL-2 secretion, and to have an insight into the maturation state of CD4~+CD25~+ T cells in cord blood. METHODS: CD4~+CD25~+ and CD4~+CD25~- T cells were purified from cord blood of term infants (CB) and adult peripheral blood (PB) by autoMACS, and stimulated with PDB plus ionomycin. After 45 hours of culture, cells were detected for expression of CD69 and CD25 by flow cytometry, and the supernatants were measured for 7 kinds of cytokines by Luminex. RESULTS: CD4~+CD25~+ T cells from both CB and PB proliferated comparably with CD4~+CD25~- T cells when stimulated with PDB plus ionomycin. After 45 hours of culture, however, the CD4~+CD25~+ T cells underwent a tendency of cell death. Expression of CD25 was further upregulated when CD25~+ cells were activated. Under stimulation of PDB plus ionomycin, both CD4~+CD25~+ and CD4~+CD25~- T cells in PB secreted high levels of IFN-?, IL-2 and TNF-?, with CD25~+ cells secreted much higher level of IL-5, IL-4 and IL-10 than those in CD25~- cells; CD4~+CD25~+ and CD4~+CD25~- T cells in CB also secreted high level of IL-2 and TNF-? but much lower level of IFN-? than those in PB, and no secretion of IL-5, IL-4 and IL-10 was observed. CONCLUSION: CD4~+CD25~+ regulatory T cells don't have an instinctive defection in IL-2 secretion, otherwise there may be a different TCR signaling pattern in CD4~+CD25~+ T cells from traditional T cells. The CD4~+CD25~+ T cells in cord blood have not fully matured in function.

Potentiation of the action of phorbol ester by heparin in human CNE2 cells: Association with enhanced expression of c-jun, p53 and p21 / 中国病理生理杂志

AIM: To measure the effect of addition of heparin to TPA on cell proliferation and apoptosis in CNE2 cells and investigate the possible molecular mechanisms underlying heparin and TPA interaction on cell proliferation and apoptosis. METHODS: Cell viability and cell cycle were determined by cell counting and flow cytometry. Apoptosis was evaluated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUPT nick-end labeling (TUNEL) and agarose gel electrophoresis. The expression of c-jun, c-fos, p21 and p53 was examined by Western blot. RESULTS: TPA alone inhibited CNE2 cell proliferation and evoked apoptosis associated with typical morphological changes and DNA fragmentation, which was augmented when heparin was added. Compared with TPA or heparin alone, TPA plus heparin obviously enhanced the number of TUNEL-positive cells from 23%?1.2% to 51%?0.9%. After exposure to different concentrations of heparin (with or without TPA) for 24 h, CNE2 cells were accumulated G 0/G 1 phase. There was a decrease in the number of cells in S phase by the combined heparin and TPA treatment compared to heparin or TPA alone. Western blot analysis revealed that TPA induced the increases in c-jun and p53, p21 protein expression and the levels were remarkably increased following heparin in combination with TPA treatment, whereas no significant change in c-fos was detected. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that heparin synergistically potentiates the action of TPA in CNE2 cells, which may be associated with the increase in c-jun protein level and the upregulation of p21, p53 protein expression.