Development of nanoparticles coated with cassava bagasse pectin (Manihot esculenta Crantz) containing ß-carotene for mucoadhesive applications.

Pectin (PC) extracted from a solid residue from cassava roots (Manihot esculenta Crantz) was used to coat nanoparticles (NP) containing ß-carotene (BC) aiming at the gastrointestinal administration of this lipophilic nutraceutical. The NP were prepared by spontaneous emulsification method using food grade components. Pectin-coated NP have been successfully prepared as confirmed by the increased particle size and negative surface charges due to the pectin's anionic nature. NP showed spherical shape and monodisperse distribution, with a mean size of 21.3 nm (polydispersity index (PDI) 0.29) for BC PC T80-NP (nanoparticle with ß-carotene, pectin and Tween 80) and 261.4 nm (PDI 0.1) for BC PC T20-NP (nanoparticle with ß-carotene, pectin and Tween 20). BC was encapsulated at amounts of 530 and 324 µg/ml for BC PC T80-NP and BC PC T20-NP, respectively, with high encapsulation efficiency (> 95%), increasing its antioxidant capacity in vitro, besides no cytotoxic effect. However, only BC PC T20-NP was stable over a 90 days storage period (4°C) and revealed a strong interaction between pectin and mucin. These results suggest that pectin-coated BC PC T20-NP is a promising strategy to improve the bioavailability and permeation of BC for administration through mucosal surfaces.

Cardiac Glycoside Glucoevatromonoside Induces Cancer Type-Specific Cell Death.

Cardiac glycosides (CGs) are natural compounds used traditionally to treat congestive heart diseases. Recent investigations repositioned CGs as potential anticancer agents. To discover novel cytotoxic CG scaffolds, we selected the cardenolide glucoevatromonoside (GEV) out of 46 CGs for its low nanomolar anti-lung cancer activity. GEV presented reduced toxicity toward non-cancerous cell types (lung MRC-5 and PBMC) and high-affinity binding to the Na+/K+-ATPase α subunit, assessed by computational docking. GEV-induced cell death was caspase-independent, as investigated by a multiparametric approach, and culminates in severe morphological alterations in A549 cells, monitored by transmission electron microscopy, live cell imaging and flow cytometry. This non-canonical cell death was not preceded or accompanied by exacerbation of autophagy. In the presence of GEV, markers of autophagic flux (e.g. LC3I-II conversion) were impacted, even in presence of bafilomycin A1. Cell death induction remained unaffected by calpain, cathepsin, parthanatos, or necroptosis inhibitors. Interestingly, GEV triggered caspase-dependent apoptosis in U937 acute myeloid leukemia cells, witnessing cancer-type specific cell death induction. Differential cell cycle modulation by this CG led to a G2/M arrest, cyclin B1 and p53 downregulation in A549, but not in U937 cells. We further extended the anti-cancer potential of GEV to 3D cell culture using clonogenic and spheroid formation assays and validated our findings in vivo by zebrafish xenografts. Altogether, GEV shows an interesting anticancer profile with the ability to exert cytotoxic effects via induction of different cell death modalities.

Inhibition of cell proliferation, invasion and migration by the cardenolides digitoxigenin monodigitoxoside and convallatoxin in human lung cancer cell line.

Cardiac glycosides consist of a large family of naturally derived compounds that are clinically used to treat congestive heart failure, and also present anticancer properties. In this study, the cytotoxic effects of two cardenolides, digitoxigenin monodigitoxoside (DGX) and convallatoxin (CON) were screened in four human tumour cell lines. Both compounds showed anti-proliferative effects in all tumour cells, at nanomolar concentrations. Since the human lung cancer cell line A549 was the most sensitive, we investigated the anti-proliferative, anti-migratory and anti-invasive effects of these cardenolides. DGX and CON reduced A549 cell migration, being able to reduce more than 90% of cell invasion. Their effects on the expression of key regulators of metastatic mechanism showed decreased levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and p-FAK. Both compounds also presented low toxicity for healthy cells. Finally, this work provides the first insights into the effects of these cardenolides on key steps of lung cancer metastasis.

ptsicum / Antimicrobial activity of the genus Capsicum

Avaliou-se a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato bruto (EB) e frações hexânica (FH), clorofórmica (FC) e acetato de etila (FA) das pimentas malagueta (C. frutescens), cambuci (C.bactum var. pendulum), cumari (C.baccatum var praetermissum) e pimentão magali (C. annuum var. annuum). O EB foi obtido por extração líquido-líquido em solução hidro-alcoólica (etanol 96ºGL) seguida de fracionamento pelo sistema de solventes com grau de polaridade crescente, resultando em FH, FC e FA. Avaliou-se a atividade antimicrobiana através da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (ClM) e Concentração Letal Mínima (CLM). A pimenta cumari apresentou para a FA e FC uma CIM de 1,25mg/mL e CLM 1,5mg/mL para a L. monocytogenes. A pimenta Cambuci foi a segunda mais efetiva com atividade bactericida frente a S. typhimurium, C. perfringens e L. monocytogenes, sendo que a FA a mais efetiva, com CIM e CLM de 5 mg/mL frente a S. typhimurium. A FH da pimenta malagueta apresentou atividade bacteriostática frente a S. typhimurium, L. monocytogenes e C. perfringens com CLM de 5 mg/mL. O pimentão obteve apenas atividade bacteriostática frente a seis bactérias. Estes resultados demonstram que a pimenta cumari, cambuci e malagueta podem ser utilizadas como agentes conservantes naturais em alimentos.(AU)

The antimicrobial activity were evaluated to the crude extract (EB) and hexane (FH), chloroform (FC), and ethyl acetate (FA) fractions, from the malagueta pepper (C frutescens), cambuci (C baccatum varopendulum), eumari (C baccatum var praetermissum) and magali pepper (C annuum varo annuum). The EB was obtained by extraction hydro-alcoholic, followed by fractioning with solvent system with increasing polarity degree, resulting in FH, FC and FA. Antimicrobial activities were obtained by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Lethal Concentration (MLC). TheFA and FC from Cumari pepper showed MIC of 1.25 mg/ml and MLC 01 1.5 mg/ml for L. monocytogenes. Cambuci pepper was the second most effective with bactericidal activity againstS. typhimurium, C perfringens and L monocytogenes, the FA being the most effective, with MIC and MLC of 5 mg/ml against S. typhimurium. The FH from Malagueta pepper's showed baeteriostaticactivity against S. typhimurium, L. monocytogenes and C perfringens with MLC of 5 mg/ml. Magalipepper had bacteriostatic activity against six bacteria. The results show that eumari, cambuci and malagueta peppers can be used as nature agents preservatives in food. (AU)

Atividade antimicrobiana do gênero Capsicum / Antimicrobial activity of the genus Capsicum

Avaliou-se a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato bruto (EB) e frações hexânica (FH), clorofórmica (FC) e acetato de etila (FA) das pimentas malagueta (C. frutescens), cambuci (C.bactum var. pendulum), cumari (C.baccatum var praetermissum) e pimentão magali (C. annuum var. annuum). O EB foi obtido por extração líquido-líquido em solução hidro-alcoólica (etanol 96ºGL) seguida de fracionamento pelo sistema de solventes com grau de polaridade crescente, resultando em FH, FC e FA.(...) O pimentão obteve apenas atividade bacteriostática frente a seis bactérias. Estes resultados demonstram que a pimenta cumari, cambuci e malagueta podem ser utilizadas como agentes conservantes naturais em alimentos.