Phytochemical analysis of carotenoid profile in Mentha piperita and Artemisia vulgaris: cytotoxicity in tumoral cells and evaluation of plasmid DNA cleavage.

Several medicinal plants have been administered to cancer patients attributed to their anticarcinogenic and chemoprotective properties, in addition to lower toxicity compared to traditional therapies. The aim was to investigate the antioxidant properties and carotenoid composition of aqueous extracts of Mentha piperita or Artemisia vulgaris which were previously found to exert beneficial effects on human health through diet. aqueous extracts exhibited potent antioxidant activity. A diversity of carotenoids was identified in these extracts using HPLC-PDA-MS/MS. Both extracts contained predominantly all-trans-lutein as the main component within this class. In order to investigate antioxidant properties, the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) techniques were used. The (3-4,5 dimethylthiazol-2, 5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) (MTT) and Crystal Violet assays assessed cellular cytotoxicity. Assessments of presence of reactive species were carried out following exposure of oral squamous cell carcinoma cell line (SCC-4) to various aqueous extracts of M piperita or A vulgaris utilizing dichlorofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and nitric oxide (NO) assays. Exposure to these extracts induced severe cytotoxic effects, which led to investigation of the biochemical and molecular mechanisms underlying this observed effect. Data demonstrated that both solutions induced oxidative stress and DNA damage, especially at higher concentrations using agarose gel subjected to electrophoresis. It is known that exposure to excess amounts of antioxidants results in a prooxidant effect which is beneficial in cancer therapy. Further, the extracts were found to reduce viability of SCC-4 in culture, indicating that this antitumoral activity may be of therapeutic importance and requires further study.

Graphene oxide decreases the effects of salt stress on Persian clover seed germination.

Among biotic and abiotic stresses, the most restrictive for plant distribution is salt stress, where different concentrations might exert harmful effects on seed germination. Recently, nanomaterials were used successfully to mitigate these stresses, indicating that plants may be able to develop normally in adverse conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of graphene oxide (GO) on the germination of Persian clover seedlings under salt stress conditions. Following sown on substrate paper, seeds were tested after exposure to different concentrations of graphene oxide (0, 125, 250, or 500 mg L-1 GO), sodium chloride (0; -0.1; -0.2; -0.3, or -0.4 MPa NaCl) and/or GO + salt concomitantly, and then stored for 7 days in a germination chamber at 20°C in the presence of light. Seed germination and growth parameters of seedlings were determined. Graphene oxide demonstrated protective effect against salt stress as evident by no marked adverse effects on seed germination where GO blocked the salt-induced reduction in germination. The results obtained provide references for the safe application of nanomaterials and emphasize the significance of GO as a promising material for reducing the toxicity of salts in agriculture.

Phytochemical characterization and toxicological activity attributed to the acetonic extract of South American Vassobia breviflora.

The particular plant species found in southern Brazil, Vassobia breviflora (Solanaceae) has only a few apparent studies examining its biological effect. Thus, the aim of the present study was to determine the activity of the acetone extract fraction derived from V. breviflora. Four compounds were identified by ESI-qTOF-MS: eucalrobusone R, aplanoic acid B, pheophorbide A, and pheophytin A. In addition, 5 compounds were identified by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS: all-trans-lutein, 15-cis-lutein, all-trans-ß-carotene, 5,8-epoxy-ß-carotene, and cis-ß-carotene. Cell lines A549 (lung cancer), A375 (melanoma cancer) and HeLa (cervical cancer) were incubated with different concentrations of each studied extract using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and 2'-7'dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assays. The acetonic extract exhibited cytotoxic activity at a concentration of 0.03 mg/ml in the HeLa strain and 0.1 mg/ml in the others. In addition to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Antibacterial activity was assessed utilizing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in 9 ATCCs strains and 7 clinical isolates, as well as determination of biofilm production. Data demonstrated that MIC and MBC were approximately 256 mg/ml in most of the strains tested and antibiofilm effect at S. aureus, S. epidermidis, A. baumannii, and E. faecalis, concentrations below the MIC. Genotoxic activity on plasmid DNA did not produce significant elevated levels in breaks in the isolated genetic material.

Impact of dietary supplementation with Cinnamomum cassia essential oil on silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen): Toxicological effects and muscle antioxidant and fatty acid profiles.

The aim of this study was to determine the biological effects of dietary supplementation with 0.05% and 0.1% cinnamon essential oil extracted from Cinnamomum cassia on silver catfish (Rhamdia quelen). The final body weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate were significantly higher in fish supplemented with 0.05% cinnamon essential oil than in the control(untreated) group. Muscle reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation levels were significantly lower in fish supplemented with 0.05% cinnamon essential oil but higher at the 0.1% concentration. Muscle antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals (ACAP) and superoxide dismutase activity were significantly higher in fish supplemented with 0.05% cinnamon essential oil, while ACAP levels were lower in fish supplemented with 0.1%. The total saturated fatty acid content was significantly higher in the muscle of supplemented fish than in controls, while the total monounsaturated fatty acid content was significantly higher only in fish fed 0.1% cinnamon essential oil. Finally, the total content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was significantly lower in fish fed 0.1% essential oil. Thus, data demonstrated that 0.05% C. cassia essential oil improves fish health by improving performance and muscle oxidant/antioxidant status. Higher doses of cinnamon essential oil produced oxidative stress in muscle, suggesting toxicity at the 0.1% level. Although this cinnamon essential oil diet exerted positive health effects, this diet impaired the muscle fatty acid profile, suggesting adverse impacts on human health.

Detection of new phytochemical compounds from Vassobia breviflora (Sendtn.) Hunz: antioxidant, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activity of the hexane extract.

Vassobia breviflora (Sendtn.) Hunz is a plant of the Solanaceae family from South America and there are no apparent studies reported on the biological activity of the hexane extract. The aim of this investigation was to conduct phytochemical analyses using ESI-TOF-MS, while antioxidant activities were evaluated by the following methods 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) 2,2"-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical capture (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS). Antimicrobial activities were performed by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and antibiofilm formed. Cytotoxicity was measured by MTT and dsDNA PicoGreen tests, beyond the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) determined by Dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA). The hexane extract showed the presence of 5 (choline, pantothenic acid, calystegine B, lanciphodylactone I, and 15"-cis-zeaxanthin) compounds detected. V. breviflora extract demonstrated reliable results utilizing different antioxidant methods. In antibacterial activity, V. breviflora extract exhibited inhibitory, bactericidal, and antibiofilm action in biofilm-forming bacteria. The hexane extract exhibited cytotoxicity against melanoma, lung cancer, glioblastoma, leukemia, uterine colon, and hepatocarcinoma tumor cells. In addition, all tested strains resulted in increased production of ROS. This plant extract may be considered in future as an alternative for development of new therapeutic options aimed at the treatment of diverse pathologies.

Insights of ethyl acetate fraction from Vassobia breviflora in multidrug-resistant bacteria and cancer cells: from biological to therapeutic.

Cancer and infectious diseases are among the leading causes of death in the world. Despite the diverse array of treatments available, challenges posed by resistance, side effects, high costs, and inaccessibility persist. In the Solanaceae plant family, few studies with Vassobia breviflora species relating to biological activity are known, but promising results have emerged. The phytochemicals present in the ethyl acetate fraction were obtained using ESI-MS-QTOF, and the antioxidants assays 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical capture (ABTS), plasma ferric reduction capacity (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT, Neutral Red, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) released. The production of reactive oxygen species, nitric oxide, and purinergic enzymes was also investigated. Antibacterial activity was measured through minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and antibiofilm activity, in addition to genotoxicity in plasmid DNA. Five major masses were identified D-glucopyranose II, allyl disulfide, γ-lactones, pharbilignoside, and one mass was not identified. V. breviflora exhibited relevant antioxidant and cytotoxic activity against the HeLa cell line and enhanced expression effect in modulation of purinergic signaling. Antibacterial activities in the assays in 7 ATCC strains and 8 multidrug-resistant clinical isolates were found. V. breviflora blocked biofilm formation in producing bacteria at the highest concentrations tested. However, there was no plasmid DNA cleavage at the concentrations tested. Data demonstrated that V. breviflora exhibited an antioxidant effect through several methods and proved to be a promising therapeutic alternative for use against tumor cells via purinergic signaling and multidrug-resistant microorganisms, presenting an anti-biofilm effect.

Influence of magnetite incorporation into chitosan on the adsorption of the methotrexate and in vitro cytotoxicity.

Emerging pollutants are a group of substances involved in environmental contamination resulting mostly from incomplete drug metabolism, associated with inadequate disposal and ineffective effluent treatment techniques. Methotrexate (MTX), for instance, is excreted at high concentrations in unchanged form through the urine. Although the MTX is still effective in cancer and autoimmune disease treatment, this drug shows the ability of bioaccumulation and toxicity to the organism. Thus, the present work aimed to evaluate the adsorption of the MTX drug onto magnetic nanocomposites containing different amounts of incorporated magnetite (1:1, 1:5, and 1:10 wt%), combining the theoretical-experimental study as well as the in vitro cytotoxicity. Moreover, equilibrium studies (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin-Radushkevich, Hill, Redlich-Peterson, and Sips), kinetic (PFO, PSO, and IPD), and thermodynamic (ΔG°, ΔH°, and ΔS°) were used to describe the experimental data, and ab initio simulations were employed in the theoretical study. Magnetic nanocomposites were synthesized by the co-precipitation method using only FeCl2 as the iron precursor. Adsorbents were characterized by FTIR, XRD, Raman, SEM-EDS, BET, and VSM analysis. Meanwhile, cytotoxic effects on L929 and A375 cell lines were evaluated through MTT, NR, and LDH assays. The adsorption of the MTX was carried out in a typical batch system, exploring the different experimental conditions. The theoretical study suggests the occurrence of chemisorption between CS·Fe3O4-MTX. The maximum adsorption capacity of MTX was 285.92 mg g-1, using 0.125 g L-1 of CS·Fe3O4 1:1, with an initial concentration of the MTX (50 mg L-1), pH 4.0 at 293 ± 1.00 K. The best adjustment of equilibrium and kinetic data were the Sips (low values for statistical errors) and PSO (qe = 96.73 mg g-1) models, respectively. Thermodynamic study shows that the adsorption occurred spontaneously (ΔG° < 0), with exothermic (ΔH° = - 4698.89 kJ mol-1) and random at the solid-solution interface (ΔS° = 1,476,022.00 kJ mol-1 k-1) behavior. Finally, the in vitro study shows that magnetic nanomaterials exhibit higher cytotoxicity in melanoma cells. Therefore, the magnetic nanocomposite reveals to be not only an excellent tool for water remediation studies but also a promising platform for drug delivery.

Cytotoxic screening and antibacterial activity of Withaferin A.

Cancer and bacterial infections are among the leading causes of death worldwide. Plant-derived bioactive compounds constitute promising alternatives for development of new therapeutics. This study aimed at evaluating the biological activity of Withaferin A using 6 tumor cell lines: A549 (lung cancer), U87MG (glioblastoma), SH-SY5Y (neuroblastoma), B16-F10 (mouse melanoma), HeLa (uterine colon cancer) and K562 (chronic myeloid leukemia). In addition, 17 other standard bacterial strains and several multidrug resistant bacteria (MDR) clinical isolates were examined. Cell viability was assessed using the following assays: MTT, neutral red, and dsDNA PicoGreen®. Further, oxidative stress was measured by quantification of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The activity against bacteria was determined by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bacterial concentration (CBM) and antibiofilm activity in the production of strains. Withaferin A was effective, as evidenced by its cytotoxic activity in tumor cell lines, enhanced ROS production in tumor cells and bactericidal and antibiofilm activity. Data demonstrated that Withaferin A may be therapeutically considered as an antitumor and antibacterial agent.