Emodin-8-O-Glucoside-Isolation and the Screening of the Anticancer Potential against the Nervous System Tumors.

Emodin-8-O-glucoside (E-8-O-G) is a glycosylated derivative of emodin that exhibits numerous biological activities, including immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, or anticancer activities. However, there are no reports on the activity of E-8-O-G against cancers of the nervous system. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the antiproliferative and cytotoxic effect of E-8-O-G in the SK-N-AS neuroblastoma, T98G human glioblastoma, and C6 mouse glioblastoma cancer cells. As a source of E-8-O-G the methanolic extract from the aerial parts of Reynoutria japonica Houtt. (Polygonaceae) was used. Thanks to the application of centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) operated in the descending mode using a mixture of petroleum ether:ethyl acetate:methanol:water (4:5:4:5 v/v/v/v) and a subsequent purification with preparative HPLC, E-8-O-G was obtained in high purity in a sufficient quantity for the bioactivity tests. Assessment of the cancer cell viability and proliferation were performed with the MTT (3-(bromide 4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium), CTG (CellTiter-Glo®) and BrdU (5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine) assays, respectively. E-8-O-G inhibits the viability and proliferation of SK-N-AS neuroblastoma, T98G human glioblastoma multiforme, and C6 mouse glioblastoma cells dose-dependently. E-8-O-G seems to be a promising natural antitumor compound in the therapy of nervous system tumors.

Magnoflorine from Berberis vulgaris Roots-Impact on Hippocampal Neurons in Mice after Short-Term Exposure.

In search of novel potential drug candidates that could be used as treatments or prophylactics for memory impairment, an aporphine alkaloid magnoflorine (MAG) isolated from the root of Berberis vulgaris was proven to exhibit beneficial anti-amnestic properties. Its effects on immunoreactivity to parvalbumin in the mouse hippocampus were assessed together with a study on its safety and concentration in the brain and plasma. For this purpose, four experimental groups were created: the MAG10 group-treated with 10 mg MAG/kg b.w. i.p., the MAG20 group-treated with 20 mg MAG/kg b.w. i.p., the MAG50 group-treated with 50 mg MAG/kg b.w. i.p., and a control group-injected with saline i.p. at a volume corresponding to their weight. Our results indicated that the hippocampal fields CA1-CA3 were characterized by an elevated number of parvalbumin-immunoreactive neurons (PV-IR) and nerve fibers in mice at the doses of 10 and 20 mg/kg b.w. (i.p.). No significant changes to the levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 or TNF-α were observed for the above two doses; however, the administration of 50 mg/kg b.w. i.p. caused a statistically significant elevation of IL-6, IL-1beta plasma levels and an insignificant raise in the TNF-alpha value. The HPLC-MS analysis showed that the alkaloid's content in the brain structures in the group treated with 50 mg/kg b.w. did not increase proportionally with the administered dose. The obtained results show that MAG is able to influence the immunoreactivity to PV-IR in hippocampal neurons and might act as a neuroprotective compound.

Gold coated porous silicon nanocomposite as a substrate for photoluminescence-based immunosensor suitable for the determination of Aflatoxin B1.

A rapid and low cost photoluminescence (PL) immunosensor for the determination of low concentrations of Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) has been developed. This immunosensor was based on porous silicon (PSi) covered by thin gold layer (Au) and modified by antibodies against AFB1 (anti-AFB1). PSi layer was formed on silicon substrate, then the surface of PSi was covered by 30nm layer of gold (PSi/Au) using electrochemical and chemical deposition methods and in such ways PSi/Au(El.) and PSi/Au(Chem.) structures were formed, respectively. In order to find PSi/Au the most efficiently suitable for PL-based sensor design, structure several different PSi/Au(El.) and PSi/Au(Chem.) structures were designed while using different conditions for electrochemical or chemical deposition of gold layer. It was shown that during the formation of PSi/Au structure crystalline Au nanoparticles uniformly coated the surface of the PSi pores. PL spectroscopy of PSi/Au nanocomposites was performed at room temperature and it showed a wide emission band centered at 700nm. Protein A was covalently immobilized on the surface of PSi/Au(El.) and PSi/Au(Chem.) forming PSi/Au(El.)/Protein-A and PSi/Au(Chem.)/Protein-A structures, respectively. In the next step PSi/Au(El.)/Protein-A and PSi/Au(Chem.)/Protein-A structures were modified by anti-AFB1 and in such way a structures (PSi/Au(El.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1 and PSi/Au(Chem.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1) sensitive towards AFB1 were designed. The PSi/Au(El.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1- and PSi/Au(Chem.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1-based immunosensors were tested in a wide range of AFB1 concentrations from 0.001 upon 100ng/ml. Interaction of AFB1 with PSi/Au(El.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1- and PSi/Au(Chem.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1-based structures resulted PL quenching. The highest sensitivity towards AFB1 was determined for PSi/Au(El.)/Protein-A/anti-AFB1-based immunosensor and it was in the range of 0.01-10ng/ml. The applicability of PSi/Au-based structures as new substrates suitable for PL-based immunosensors is discussed.