Nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation of a hydroethanolic extract of Nettle (Urtica dioica) and Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): comparison of antibacterial and anticancer activity.

Introduction: Nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation are attractive novel methods that can be used for incorporating active plant extracts in food preparations and pharmaceutical formulations. In the current study, we aimed to investigate the anticancer and antibacterial effects of hydroethanolic extracts of Nettle (NE), Wormwood (WE), and the combination of the two plants (CNWE), as well as their nanoemulsion forms (NN, NW, CNNW) and nanoencapsulation forms (CN, CW, and CCNW). Methods: The morphology and structure of the nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation preparations were assessed utilizing dynamic light scattering (DLS) along with transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The antibacterial activity of the prepared formulations were assessed by determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), zone of inhibition diameter, minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), along with biofilm growth inhibition against Salmonaella typhimurium and Klebsiella. pneumoniae. The anticancer activity was evaluated via a MTT assay in the colon cancer cell line (HCT116). Results: The nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation particle size varied between 10 and 50 nm and 60 and 110 nm, respectively. The MIC values were between 11.25 and 95 µg/mL along with MBC values between 11.25 and 190 µg/mL. The highest inhibition of biofilm formation was observed with CCNW against K. pneumoniae (∼78.5%) and S. typhimurium (∼73%). In descending order, the inhibition of biofilm formation was CCNW > CW > CN > CNNW > NN > NW > CNWE > NE > WE against the tested bacteria. The IC50 values for NE, WE, CNWE, NN, NW, CNNW, CN, CW, and CCNW were determined as 250, 170, 560, 380, 312, 370, 250, 420, and 700 µg/mL, respectively. Exposure to a high concentration of NW resulted in a significantly lower HCT116 viability compared to other groups. Taken together, CNNW, and CCNW showed the highest antibacterial and anticancer activitiy. Discussion: Nanoemulsion and nanoencapsulation were effective ways to increase the antibacterial and anticancer activity of the extracts and could be used in the food and pharmaceutical industries.

Could probiotics protect against human toxicity caused by polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics?

Nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) made of polystyrene (PS) can be toxic to humans, especially by ingestion of plastic particles. These substances are often introduced into the gastrointestinal tract, where they can cause several adverse effects, including disturbances in intestinal flora, mutagenicity, cytotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and exacerbated oxidative stress. Although there are widespread reports of the protective effects of probiotics on the harm caused by chemical contaminants, limited information is available on how these organisms may protect against PS toxicity in either humans or animals. The protective effects of probiotics can be seen in organs, such as the gastrointestinal tract, reproductive tract, and even the brain. It has been shown that both MPs and NPs could induce microbial dysbiosis in the gut, nose and lungs, and probiotic bacteria could be considered for both prevention and treatment. Furthermore, the improvement in gut dysbiosis and intestinal leakage after probiotics consumption may reduce inflammatory biomarkers and avoid unnecessary activation of the immune system. Herein, we show probiotics may overcome the toxicity of polystyrene nanoplastics and microplastics in humans, although some studies are required before any clinical recommendations can be made.

Nanoplastics: Focus on the role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs.

When plastic objects in our surroundings are degraded, they may produce particles ranging in size from 1 to 100 nm therefore called nanoplastics. The environmental chemicals including nanoplastics may be able to affect biological processes in the nuclear level like altering DNA methylation and regulating microRNAs (miRNAs) as well as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) expression and therefore are implicated in chronic human diseases like neoplasms. The regulatory role of miRNAs and lncRNAs in gene expression is appreciated. In vitro as well as in vivo experiments have shown that environmental elements including nanoplastics are able to dysregulate miRNAs and lncRNAs expression with possible genetic consequences that increase the risk of cancer development. In the current article, we review the biological effects of miRNAs and lncRNAs alterations following nanoplastics exposure.

Role of fermented goat milk as a nutritional product to improve anemia.

Goat milk, like cow milk, needs some modifications to be used as the sole source of nutrition during early infancy. For goat milk to be more like human milk and more nutritionally complete, sugar, vitamins and minerals need to be added to it and for reduction of renal solute load, it needs to be diluted. To prevent megaloblastic anemia in infants fed exclusively on goat milk, folic acid should be supplied either by adding it to goat milk or by an oral folic acid supplement. In fortification of milk products, thermal processing, fermentation, and species differences in milk folate bioavailability are three additional factors that should be considered besides absolute difference in folate concentration between goat and human milk. Whether different feeding regimes (e.g., iron and folate content of diets) influence milk folate content needs to be elucidated by more research. Our findings showed that fermented goat milk during anemia recovery can be improve antioxidant status, protection from oxidative damage to biomolecules, protective effects on testis, improve Fe and skeletal muscle homeostasis as well as improve cardiovascular health. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: To be used as part of a postweaning nutritionally well-balanced diet, fermented goat milk is most likely an excellent source of nutrition for the human.

Artemisia Species as a New Candidate for Diabetes Therapy: A Comprehensive Review.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic disease and a threatening problem for world health. Allopathic medications are not efficient enough in controlling DM and its complications. Therefore, much attention has been directed towards the traditional medicine system. Plant derived-natural compounds with medicinal properties play an essential role in DM management and treatment. Artemisia is a varied and widespread genus of the family Asteraceae, which has more than 500 species with beneficial economic and therapeutic significance. Electronic databases such as Science Direct, Scopus, Pubmed, Web of Science, medRixv, and Wiley were used to search scientific literature. In folklore medicine, Artemisia species have been widely utilized for diabetes management. Molecular investigations have revealed that the NF-κB suppression, Notch 1 inhibition, cell cycle stop at S+G2/M-phase, enhanced Bax protein concentrations, mitochondrial membrane potential attenuation, activation of p53 and caspase, Bcl-2 regulation, and ROS formation are crucial mechanisms that could be targeted via various Artemisia species. Anti-diabetic effects of single or multiple doses of alcoholic and aqueous extracts of Artemisia species are due to the presence of bioactive compounds, and they are completely efficient in lowering levels of blood glucose in experimental examinations. In spite of the available anti-diabetic drugs, therapeutic agents obtained from the mentioned plants have been used for the treatment of this disease and its complications with less adverse impacts. Taken together, multiple lines of evidence indicated that Artemisia species could be introduced as a potential therapeutic candidate in the treatment and management of diabetes.

Comparison Between Biomarkers of Kidney Injury, Inflammation, and Oxidative Stress in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: This study was conducted to compare parameters of kidney injury, oxidative stress and inflammation in people with diabetic nephropathy (DN) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 57 cases with DN and 57 cases with T2DM were included in the study. Fasting blood samples were obtained to determine parameters of kidney injury, oxidative stress and inflammation. RESULTS: The current study showed that patients with DN had higher tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (167.0 ± 40.1 vs. 151.4 ± 37.4 ng/L, P < .05) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) concentrations (1625.2 ± 631.0 vs. 1391.5 ± 465.4 ng/mL, P < .05) compared with T2DM cases. Moreover, we observed a non-significant increase in MMP-9 levels among patients with DN compared with individuals with T2DM (4864.4 ± 1934.3 vs. 4239.2 ± 1853.9 ng/L, P > .05). Furthermore, advanced glycation end products (AGEs) levels in patients with DN were higher than that of patients with T2DM (8511.7 ± 1799.9 vs. 7660.7 ± 1711.9 AU, P < .05), but the difference in malondialdehyde value was not significant. Finally, we found that total protein levels in cases with DN were enhanced compared with individuals with T2DM (7.1 ± 0.5 vs. 6.9 ± 0.6 mg/dL, P < .05); however, other markers of kidney injury did not change. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the results of present study revealed that few markers of inflammation and oxidative stress including TNF-α, MMP-2, AGEs levels and total protein levels in patients with DN were significantly higher than that of patients with T2DN. Further studies are necessary to confirm these findings.

The Effects of Probiotic Honey Consumption on Metabolic Status in Patients with Diabetic Nephropathy: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Controlled Trial.

To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first evaluating the effects of probiotic honey intake on glycemic control, lipid profiles, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress in patients with diabetic nephropathy (DN). This investigation was conducted to evaluate the effects of probiotic honey intake on metabolic status in patients with DN. This randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial was performed among 60 patients with DN. Patients were randomly allocated into two groups to receive either 25 g/day probiotic honey containing a viable and heat-resistant probiotic Bacillus coagulans T11 (IBRC-M10791) (108 CFU/g) or 25 g/day control honey (n = 30 each group) for 12 weeks. Fasting blood samples were taken at baseline and 12 weeks after supplementation to quantify glycemic status, lipid concentrations, biomarkers of inflammation, and oxidative stress. After 12 weeks of intervention, patients who received probiotic honey compared with the control honey had significantly decreased serum insulin levels (- 1.2 ± 1.8 vs. - 0.1 ± 1.3 µIU/mL, P = 0.004) and homeostasis model of assessment-estimated insulin resistance (- 0.5 ± 0.6 vs. 0.003 ± 0.4, P = 0.002) and significantly improved quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (+ 0.005 ± 0.009 vs. - 0.0007 ± 0.005, P = 0.004). Additionally, compared with the control honey, probiotic honey intake has resulted in a significant reduction in total-/HDL-cholesterol (- 0.2 ± 0.5 vs. + 0.1 ± 0.1, P = 0.04). Probiotic honey intake significantly reduced serum high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) (- 1.9 ± 2.4 vs. - 0.2 ± 2.7 mg/L, P = 0.01) and plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels (- 0.1 ± 0.6 vs. + 0.6 ± 1.0 µmol/L, P = 0.002) compared with the control honey. Probiotic honey intake had no significant effects on other metabolic profiles compared with the control honey. Overall, findings from the current study demonstrated that probiotic honey consumption for 12 weeks among DN patients had beneficial effects on insulin metabolism, total-/HDL-cholesterol, serum hs-CRP, and plasma MDA levels, but did not affect other metabolic profiles. http://www.irct.ir: IRCT201705035623N115.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity of Bunium persicum, Eucalyptus globulus, and Rose Water on Multidrug-Resistant Listeria Species.

This research was aimed at investigating the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of Bunium persicum, Eucalyptus globulus, and rose water on multidrug-resistant Listeria species. The antibiotic resistance of Listeria spp obtained from seafood samples were determined by the Kirby-Bauer method. The antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the essential oils and extracts were evaluated using ferric reducing antioxidant power and microdilution methods, respectively. A total 2 samples (1.88%) were positive for Listeria spp. L monocytogenes was found to be resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, penicillin, vancomycin, and kanamycin. B persicum essential oil showed the greatest antioxidant activity (248.56 ± 1.09 µM Fe2+/g). The E globulus essential oil showed consistently strong antimicrobial activity against L monocytogenes and L grayi, while rose water showed no antimicrobial activity against any of the tested bacterial strains. The results showed that after adding the B persicum and E globulus essential oils to bacteria, the cell components' release increased significantly.

Sub-chronic oral toxicity of Cuminum cyminum L.'s essential oil in female Wistar rats.

The current study was performed to evaluate the toxicity of Cuminum cyminum L. (C. cyminum)'s essential oil after 23 days and 45 days of repeated oral administration in female Wistar rats. A total of 80 healthy female Wistar rats were randomly selected and divided into 4 groups. The rats were gavaged with C. cyminum's essential oil at dose levels of 0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg/day. Clinical signs, body weight, hematology, serum biochemistry and organ histopathology were assessed once after 23 days and again after 45 days passed from the start of the intervention. Oral administration of C. cyminum's essential oil had no observed adverse effects on clinical signs, mortality, body weight, hematology, biochemistry and organ histology (liver, kidneys, spleen and lungs) in a sample of healthy female Wistar rats after 23 days and 45 days from the start of the study. However, an increase in serum levels of alanine transaminase (ALT) was found only at dose level of 1000 mg/kg/d C. cyminum's essential oil, after the 23-days interval. We conservatively defined the non-observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) for C. cyminum's essential oil as 500 mg/kg/d in female Wistar rats. The present study results should be treated with cautious in terms of the other organs' toxicity.

Melatonin and human mitochondrial diseases.

Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the main causative factors in a wide variety of complications such as neurodegenerative disorders, ischemia/reperfusion, aging process, and septic shock. Decrease in respiratory complex activity, increase in free radical production, increase in mitochondrial synthase activity, increase in nitric oxide production, and impair in electron transport system and/or mitochondrial permeability are considered as the main factors responsible for mitochondrial dysfunction. Melatonin, the pineal gland hormone, is selectively taken up by mitochondria and acts as a powerful antioxidant, regulating the mitochondrial bioenergetic function. Melatonin increases the permeability of membranes and is the stimulator of antioxidant enzymes including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalase. It also acts as an inhibitor of lipoxygenase. Melatonin can cause resistance to oxidation damage by fixing the microsomal membranes. Melatonin has been shown to retard aging and inhibit neurodegenerative disorders, ischemia/reperfusion, septic shock, diabetes, cancer, and other complications related to oxidative stress. The purpose of the current study, other than introducing melatonin, was to present the recent findings on clinical effects in diseases related to mitochondrial dysfunction including diabetes, cancer, gastrointestinal diseases, and diseases related to brain function.

Detection of Bendiocarb and Carbaryl Resistance Mechanisms among German Cockroach Blattella germanica (Blattaria: Blattellidae) Collected from Tabriz Hospitals, East Azerbaijan Province, Iran in 2013.

BACKGROUND: Insecticide resistance is one of the serious problems for German cockroach control program. This study was conducted to determine the bendiocarb and Carbaryl resistance mechanisms in German cockroaches using the piperonyl butoxide (PBO). METHODS: Bioassay tests were conducted with 4 to 6 different concentrations of both insecticides with four replicates of 10 susceptible strain cockroaches per concentration to determine of discriminative concentration. After determining discriminative concentration, the result was compared to wild strain. The levels of susceptibility and resistance ratio (RR) and synergism ratio (SR) were calculated for each five wild strains. Moreover resistance mechanisms in wild strains were determined using PBO synergist in vivo. RESULTS: Hospital strains showed different levels of resistance to bendiocarb and carbaryl compared to susceptible strain. The bendiocarb and carbaryl resistance ratios ranged from 2.11 to 7.97 and 1.67 to 2 at LD50 levels, respectively. The synergist PBO significantly enhanced the toxicity of bendiocarb and carbaryl to all strains with different degrees of synergist ratio, 1.31, 1.39, 3.61, 1.78, 1.62 and 2.1 fold for bendiocarb, 1.19, 1.18, 1.12. 1.29, 1.45 and 1.11-fold for carbaryl, suggesting monooxygenase involvement in bendiocarb and carbaryl resistance. CONCLUSION: The synergetic effect of PBO had the highest effect on bendiocarb and resistance level was significantly reduced, which indicates the important role of monoxidase enzyme in creating resistance to Bendiocarb. Piperonyl butoxide did not have a significant synergistic effect on carbaryl and did not significantly break the resistance.