Antibacterial, Trichomonacidal, and Cytotoxic Activities of Pleopeltis crassinervata Extracts.

Pleopeltis crassinervata is a fern documented in ethnobotanical records for its use in Mexican traditional medicine to treat gastric disorders and mouth ulcers. Consequently, conducting biological and pharmacological assays is crucial to validate the therapeutic efficacy of this plant within the context of traditional medicine. In the present study, we investigated the biological activity of extracts and fractions obtained from P. crassinervata organs against bacteria (Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis, Shigella flexneri, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli) and Trichomonas vaginalis using in vitro models. The precipitate fraction obtained from the frond methanolic extract showed significant antibacterial activity (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] 120 µg/mL) against the Staphylococcus aureus strain and was effective against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The hexane fraction also obtained from frond methanolic extract, showed a trichomonacidal effect with an IC50 of 82.8 µg/mL and a low cytotoxic effect. Hsf6 exhibited the highest activity against T. vaginalis, and the GC-MS analysis revealed that the predominant compound was 16-pregnenolone. The remaining identified compounds were primarily terpene-type compounds.

Evaluation of genotoxic damage, production reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in Plasmodium yoelii yoelii exposed to sodium metavanadate.

Malaria represents the greatest global health burden among all parasitic diseases, with drug resistance representing the primary obstacle to control efforts. Sodium metavanadate (NaVO3) exhibits antimalarial activity against the Plasmodium yoelii yoelii (Pyy), yet its precise antimalarial mechanism remains elusive. This study aimed to assess the antimalarial potential of NaVO3, evaluate its genotoxicity, and determine the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) in Pyy. CD-1 mice were infected and divided into two groups: one treated orally with NaVO3 (10 mg/kg/day for 4 days) and the other untreated. A 50% decrease in parasitemia was observed in treated mice. All experimental days demonstrated DNA damage in exposed parasites, along with an increase in ROS and RNS on the fifth day, suggesting a possible parasitostatic effect. The results indicate that DNA is a target of NaVO3, but further studies are necessary to fully elucidate the mechanisms underlying its antimalarial activity.

The multiple facets of the club cell in the pulmonary epithelium.

The non-ciliated bronchiolar cell, also referred to as "club cell", serves as a significant multifunctional component of the airway epithelium. While the club cell is a prominent epithelial type found in rodents, it is restricted to the bronchioles in humans. Despite these differences, the club cell's importance remains undisputed in both species due to its multifunctionality as a regulatory cell in lung inflammation and a stem cell in lung epithelial regeneration. The objective of this review is to examine different aspects of club cell morphology and physiology in the lung epithelium, under both normal and pathological conditions, to provide a comprehensive understanding of its importance in the respiratory system.

El endotelio sano y su disfunción en el riesgo cardiovascular / Healthy Endothelium and its Dysfunction in Cardiovascular Risk

Resumen El endotelio es una monocapa formada por células aplanadas llamadas w, que revisten la parte más interna del corazón, los vasos sanguíneos y los linfáticos. Es considerado un órgano que tiene una función de barrera, pero además se encarga de regular la permeabilidad y tono vascular, hemostasia, inflamación y angiogénesis. Esta revisión se centra sobre todo en las generalidades del endotelio vascular sano y su disfunción. Se analizan los conceptos de activación y disfunción, en donde la activación se considera como un proceso autolimitado, indispensable para la hemostasia y la inflamación. La disfunción endotelial, en cambio, es un proceso patológico, de mayor duración y que se presenta cuando el endotelio ya no puede autorregularse y cambia a un fenotipo proinflamatorio y protrombótico permanente. Esta disfunción es el primer cambio que lleva a la ateroesclerosis y al aumento del riesgo cardiovascular, por esta razón se revisan los principales biomarcadores de disfunción endotelial y riesgo cardiovascular. A medida que se avance en el conocimiento básico del endotelio y su disfunción, será posible diseñar nuevas medidas preventivas o terapéuticas que puedan disminuir dicho riesgo.

Abstract The endothelium is a monolayer of flatten cells named endothelial cells that form the inner layer of the heart, blood, and lymphatic vessels. Its function is not just as a barrier, but it is a regulator of vascular permeability and tone, hemostasis, inflammation, and angiogenesis. This review is about the general aspects of vascular endothelium and endothelial dysfunction that leads to increased vascular risk. Activation and dysfunction are discussed, considering the endothelial activation as a self-limiting process, necessary to promote inflammation and hemostasis. Endothelial dysfunction is a pathological process in which the endothelium loses its ability for self-regulation and acquires a prothrombotic and proinflammation phenotype. Endothelial dysfunction is the initial step for atherosclerosis and increased cardiovascular risk, so the main biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction are reviewed. As basic knowledge about endothelium increases, preventive or therapeutic measures can be designed as treatment or prevention the risk of its dysfunction.

Changes in the Proliferation of the Neural Progenitor Cells of Adult Mice Chronically Infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

During Toxoplasma gondii chronic infection, certain internal factors that trigger the proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), such as brain inflammation, cell death, and changes in cytokine levels, are observed. NPCs give rise to neuronal cell types in the adult brain of some mammals. NPCs are capable of dividing and differentiating into a restricted repertoire of neuronal and glial cell types. In this study, the proliferation of NPCs was evaluated in CD-1 adult male mice chronically infected with the T. gondii ME49 strain. Histological brain sections from the infected mice were evaluated in order to observe T. gondii tissue cysts. Sagittal and coronal sections from the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and from the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, as well as sagittal sections from the rostral migratory stream, were obtained from infected and non-infected mice previously injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). A flotation immunofluorescence technique was used to identify BrdU+ NPC. The scanning of BrdU+ cells was conducted using a confocal microscope, and the counting was performed with ImageJ® software (version 1.48q). In all the evaluated zones from the infected mice, a significant proliferation of the NPCs was observed when compared with that of the control group. We concluded that chronic infection with T. gondii increased the proliferation of NPCs in the three evaluated zones. Regardless of the role these cells are playing, our results could be useful to better understand the pathogenesis of chronic toxoplasmosis.

Evaluation of the Anti-Toxoplasma gondii Efficacy, Cytotoxicity, and GC/MS Profile of Pleopeltis crassinervata Active Subfractions.

Pleopeltis crassinervata (Pc) is a fern that, according to ethnobotanical records, is used in Mexican traditional medicine to treat gastrointestinal ailments. Recent reports indicate that the hexane fraction (Hf) obtained from Pc methanolic frond extract affects Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoite viability in vitro; therefore, in the present study, the activity of different Pc hexane subfractions (Hsf) obtained by chromatographic methods was evaluated in the same biological model. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis was carried out for hexane subfraction number one (Hsf1), as it showed the highest anti-Toxoplasma activity with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 23.6 µg/mL, a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 398.7 µg/mL in Vero cells, and a selective index (SI) of 16.89. Eighteen compounds were identified by Hsf1 GC/MS analysis, with the majority being fatty acids and terpenes. Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester was the most commonly found compound (18.05%) followed by olean-13(18)-ene, 2,2,4a,8a,9,12b,14a-octamethyl-1,2,3,4,4a,5,6,6a,6b,7,8,8a,9,12,12a,12b,13,14,14a,14b-eicosahydropicene, and 8-octadecenoid acid, methyl ester, which were detected at 16.19%, 12.53%, and 12.99%, respectively. Based on the mechanisms of action reported for these molecules, Hsf1 could exert its anti-Toxoplasma activity mainly on T. gondii lipidomes and membranes.

Sex differences in vanadium inhalation effects in non-ciliated bronchiolar cells.

The non-ciliated bronchiolar cell (NCBC) is responsible for the defense of the lung and responds to negative stimuli such as exposure to toxic pro-oxidant substances, which triggers the hyperproduction and hypersecretion of mucins and CC16 protein. The literature demonstrates that physiological and pathological responses in the lung can be influenced by the organism's sex. The objective of this report was to evaluate response differences to vanadium (V) inhalation in male and female CD-1 mice. Mice were exposed to V for four weeks. Hyperplasia of bronchiolar epithelium, small inflammatory foci and sloughing of the NCBC were observed, without changes between sexes and throughout the exposure time. Mucosecretory metaplasia was found in both males and females, however it was more drastic in males. The expression of CC16 increased in both sexes. This study demonstrated a different susceptibility between male and female mice exposed to V inhalation regarding mucosecretory metaplasia.

Bioactive Peptides against Human Apicomplexan Parasites.

Apicomplexan parasites are the causal agents of different medically important diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, cryptosporidiosis, and malaria. Toxoplasmosis is considered a neglected parasitosis, even though it can cause severe cerebral complications and death in immunocompromised patients, including children and pregnant women. Drugs against Toxoplasma gondii, the etiological agent of toxoplasmosis, are highly toxic and lack efficacy in eradicating tissue cysts, promoting the establishment of latent infection and acute relapsing disease. Cryptosporidiosis has been recognized as the most frequent waterborne parasitosis in US outbreaks; anti-cryptosporidium drug discovery still faces a major obstacle: drugs that can act on the epicellular parasite. Severe malaria is most commonly caused by the progression of infection with Plasmodium falciparum. In recent years, great progress has been made in the field of antimalarial drugs and vaccines, although the resistance of P. falciparum to artemisinin has recently gained a foothold in Africa. As seen, the search for new drugs against these parasites remains a challenge. Peptide-based drugs seem to be attractive alternative therapeutic agents recently recognized by the pharmaceutical industry, as they can kill different infectious agents and modulate the immune response. A review of the experimental effects of bioactive peptides on these parasites follows, along with comments. In addition, some biological and metabolomic generalities of the parasites are reviewed to elucidate peptide mechanisms of action on Apicomplexan targets.

Evaluation of the genotoxicity, cytotoxicity and antimalarial effect of sodium metavanadate po in a Plasmodium yoelii yoelii infected murine model.

Malaria is a parasitic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality worldwide and antimalarial drug resistance has increased in last two decades. Chloroquine and artemisinin which were usedfor the treatment of malaria are also reported with resistances. Recently, some metallic compounds of ruthenium and iridium have been used as possible therapeutic agents against other parasites such as Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi. Organic and inorganic compounds of vanadium such as metavanadate, have been used lately because its therapeutic properties as antineoplastic and hypoglycemic agents. In this study we evaluated the genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of metavanadate per os and its working dose, as a previous step for the future use of metavanadate as anti-parasitic agent in a Plasmodium yoelii yoelii malarial lethal model. Our findings suggest that 10 mg/kg is a safe dose that decreases parasitemia and increases the survival of the Plasmodium yoelii yoelii infected mice with no evidence of genotoxicity, cytotoxicity with the dose selected.