Biological properties of Cakile maritima Scop. (Brassicaceae) extracts.

OBJECTIVE: Cakile maritima scop. (CKM) is a herbaceous plant (Brassicaceae) growing also in high salinity environment. It is an annual plant growing in clumps or mounds in the sand on beaches and bluffs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Stems, seeds, leaves and flowers of CKM were used to obtain 70% of ethanol extracts. The phenolic content of the different extracts was evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The separation of phytochemical compounds was based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Radical scavenging activity was determined by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay. The qualitative assay for the inhibition of α-glucosidase was quantified spectrophotometrically and the anti-inflammatory activity was determined in the U937 cell line by using gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cell viability assay was done in U937, MM1S, and U266 cells by using the 3-(4,5-Dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. The antimicrobial activity was investigated by MIC determination, "double-triple combinations assay", and growth inhibition curves analysis, using the extracts individually or in various combination. Statistical analysis was performed by the Student's t-test and ANOVA. RESULTS: All parts of the plant exhibited a high antioxidant capacity as measured by DPPH assay. Furthermore, all extracts reduced (about 10 folds) the expression of inflammatory cytokines in macrophage following LPS treatment. As regards the antibacterial activity, only the seeds extract was able to inhibit both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria when tested alone, whereas dual combinations of different extracts (leaves, flowers, stems and seeds) caused bacterial inhibition exhibiting a synergic action. Finally, we showed that the extracts did not exhibit cytotoxic effects in normal cells and that, surprisingly, it exhibited an anti-proliferative effect (inhibition ≈80%) in multiple myeloma U266 cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that CKM possesses antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-proliferative activities and such pleiotropic effects may be exploited under various pathological conditions.

A new antioxidant formulation reduces the apoptotic and damaging effect of cigarette smoke extract on human bronchial epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: In this study we evaluated the possible protective effect of an antioxidant formulation containing microfiltered milk derived polypeptides, Curcumin, Vitamin B2, Carnitine and N-Acetyl-cysteine (NAC) in an in vitro model of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) were used in this study. Cells were treated for 24 h in the presence or absence of 10% of cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and in the presence or absence of antioxidant formulation. We evaluated cell viability by MTT assay, reactive oxygen species by flow cytometer and quantitative analysis of gene expression by Real-time PCR. RESULTS: The data obtained showed a significant increase of cell viability in CSE-exposed cells and a significant reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production compared to cells treated with only CSE. The antioxidant effects of formulation were confirmed by a decrease of inflammatory cytokines genes IL-1ß, IL-6, TNFα, nitric oxide synthase gene (NOS2) and through an induction of antioxidant genes such as heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), nuclear transcription factor erythroid 2 (NRF2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α). CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that antioxidants combination plays a protective role on oxidative stress and inflammation, in an in vitro model of COPD, activating key genes in response to oxidative stress and decreasing the cytokines responsible for the inflammatory pathways.

Moringa oleifera Lam. improves lipid metabolism during adipogenic differentiation of human stem cells.

OBJECTIVE: Moringa oleifera Lam., a multipurpose tree, is used traditionally for its nutritional and medicinal properties. It has been used for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including inflammation, cancer and metabolic disorders. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We investigated the effect of Moringa oleifera Lam. on adipogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and its impact on lipid metabolism and cellular antioxidant systems. RESULTS: We showed that Moringa oleifera Lam. treatment during adipogenic differentiation reduces inflammation, lipid accumulation and induces thermogenesis by activation of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), and coactivator 1 alpha (PGC1α). In addition, Moringa oleifera Lam. induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a well established protective and antioxidant enzyme. Finally Moringa oleifera Lam. significantly decreases the expression of molecules involved in adipogenesis and upregulates the expression of mediators involved in thermogenesis and lipid metabolism. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Moringa oleifera Lam. may promote the brown remodeling of white adipose tissue inducing thermogenesis and improving metabolic homeostasis.

Lipid subclasses profiles and oxidative stress in aggressive periodontitis before and after treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Associations between dyslipidaemia, oxidative stress and periodontitis have emerged in recent years. However, there is a lack of studies investigating these associations in aggressive periodontitis (AgP) cases. The aim of this study was to investigate the lipid and oxidative stress profiles in patients with AgP, and to relate them to clinical variables and interleukin (IL)-6 genetic variants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve non-smoking Caucasian patients with AgP selected based on their IL6 haplotypes underwent periodontal non-surgical and surgical treatment. Peripheral blood samples taken at baseline and at six different time-points after treatment were processed to determine IL-6 circulating levels, lipid profiles (cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] and low-density lipoprotein [LDL] subclasses) and oxidative stress markers (glutathione and total lipid hydroperoxide levels). RESULTS: HDLs were the most prevalent lipoproteins, followed by intermediate-density lipoprotein, very-low-density lipoprotein and LDL. The LDL subclasses consisted mainly of the less atherogenic large LDL. The lipid profile did not consistently change after treatment up to 3 mo after surgery. Periodontal disease severity was associated with LDL levels and size. The IL6 haplotypes were associated with total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL and LDL subclasses after adjusting for confounders. IL-6 circulating levels were associated with both very-low-density lipoprotein and lipid hydroperoxide levels. CONCLUSION: Based on these data, we conclude that both periodontal disease severity and IL6 haplotypes may influence lipid profiles in AgP.