Andiroba oil (Carapa guianensis Aubl) shows cytotoxicity but no mutagenicity in the ACPP02 gastric cancer cell line.

Andiroba (Carapa guianensis Aubl) is an Amazonian plant whose oil has been widely used in traditional medicine for various purposes, including anti-inflammation. Research reports indicate that the oil can confer antitumor activity due to the presence of fatty acids, which can directly influence cell death mechanisms. Thus, andiroba oil (AO) has gained interest for its potential to be used in antineoplastic therapies. Here, we report an in vitro analysis of the cytotoxic and mutagenic potential of AO in the gastric cancer cell line, ACP02. Cell survival was assessed by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay, differential staining with ethidium bromide and acridine orange assessed apoptosis-necrosis, and mutagenesis was assessed by the micronucleus test. The apolar oil was first diluted in 0.1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and then further diluted to six concentrations (0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 and 100 µg/mL and 1 mg/mL) in RPMI medium. Controls included RPMI alone (negative control) and 0.1% DMSO diluted in medium (vehicle control). The MTT test showed that AO significantly reduced cell viability (P < .05) only when the highest tested concentration was applied for 48 hours. The apoptosis/necrosis test showed that the highest concentration of AO induced cell death by apoptosis at 24 and 48 hours. There was no statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei. The ability of the AO to decrease the viability of ACP02 cells via apoptosis, without exerting mutagenic effects, suggests that the oil could be useful as an alternative therapeutic agent for primary tumors of stomach cancer.

Target and non-target response of Swietenia Mahagoni Jacq. chemical constituents against tobacco cutworm Spodoptera litura Fab. and earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae Kinb.

Toxicological screening of Swietenia mahagoni Jacq. (Meliaceae, West Indies Mahogany) against the lepidopteran pest Spodoptera litura was examined. Phytochemical screening through GC-MS analysis revealed nine peaks with prominent peak area % in Bis (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (31.5%) was observed. The larvae exposed to discriminating dosage of 100 ppm deliver significant mortality rate compare to other treatment concentrations. The lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) was observed at the dosage of 31.04 and 86.82 ppm respectively. Sub-lethal concentrations (30 ppm) showed higher larval and pupal durations. However, pupal weight and mean fecundity rate reduced significantly. Similarly, the adult longevity reduced significantly in dose dependent manner. Midgut histology studies showed that the methanolic extracts significantly disturbs the gut epithelial layer, lumen and brush border membrane compare to the control. The soil assay on a non-target beneficial organism, the soil indicator earthworm Eudrilus eugeniae, with extracts from S. mahagoni (200 mg/kg) showed no toxicity compared to Monocrotophos at the dosage of 10 ppm/kg. Current results suggest that this bio-rational plant product from S. mahagoni displays a significant effect to reduce lepidopteran pests with low toxicity to other beneficial species.

Selectivity of plant extracts for Trichogramma pretiosum Riley (Hym.: Trichogrammatidae).

We evaluated the selectivity of three plant extracts with potential insecticidal effects for the parasitoid Trichogramma pretiosum Riley, which is commonly used in biological pest control. The plant extracts assayed were an acetone extract of Toona ciliata M. Roem., commercial neem oil, and a nanoencapsulated formulation of neem oil (NC40). The toxicity of the plant extracts to T. pretiosum was evaluated according to the recommendations of the International Organization for Biological Control- IOBC Working Group. We assessed the susceptibility of adults of the maternal and F1 generations and immature stages of T. pretiosum to the extracts. Females exposed to egg cards treated with commercial neem oil parasitized almost 70% fewer eggs than control eggs treated with water; and this extract was therefore classified as slightly harmful. When the eggs were offered to females 24h after treatment with neem oil and aqueous NC40, the parasitism rate also decreased, and the two extracts were classified as slightly harmful. Adult emergence was lower for parasitoids that fed on host eggs offered 24h after the treatment with the T. ciliata extract, which was considered slightly harmful. The emergence of T. pretiosum from eggs, larvae and pupae treated with the different plant extracts, did not decrease compared to development stages treated with the water control. The use of T. pretiosum, combined with the application of an ethanol extract of T. ciliata and a nanoencapsulated formulation of neem, appears to be feasible in view of these low toxicity indices.

Immunorestorative in immunosuppressed Balb/c mice and cytotoxic activity of water extract from Trichilia hirta root

Patients receiving chemotherapy treatment in Santiago de Cuba traditionally use water extracts from Trichilia hirta roots. The study aim was to evaluate the immunorestorative and cytotoxic activity of water extracts from Trichilia hirta root. Administration of root water extract increased the total and differential leukocyte counts in inmunosupressed Balb/c mice. Thymus weight recovered significantly as well as bone marrow cellularity. Moreover, water extract (125 ug/mL) showed selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells T-47D and SK-mel-3 in comparison with non-cancer cells (Vero). The results indicate that Trichilia hirta has significant immunorestorative effects in vivo and selective cytotoxicity in vitro. Therefore, it might be a promising alternative for cancer therapy(AU)

Pacientes bajo tratamiento quimioterpéutico tradicionalmente usan extractos acuosos de raíz de Trichilia hirta en Santiago de Cuba. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la actividad inmunorestauradora y citotóxica de extractos acuosos de raíz de Trichilia hirta. La administración del extracto acuoso de raíz incrementó los conteos globales y diferenciales de leucocitos en ratones inmunodeprimidos. El peso del timo, así como, la celularidad de la médula ósea se recuperaron significativamente. Además, el extracto acuoso (125 ug/mL) mostró citotoxicidad selectiva contra las células tumorales T-47D y SK-mel-3 en comparación con la línea no tumoral (Vero). Los resultados indican que Trichilia hirta posee significativos efectos inmunorestauradores in vivo y citotoxicidad selectiva, por lo cual podría ser una promisoria alternativa para la terapia del cáncer(AU)

Evaluations of toxicity of Turraeanthus africanus (Méliaceae) in mice.

Turraeanthus africanus (Meliacaeae) is known to possess a broad spectrum of pharmacological, medicinal and therapeutic properties. However, no extensive safety studies have been conducted on these extracts to date. The aim of this study was to evaluate toxicity of the aqueous extract of Turraeanthus africanus (Meliacaeae) after oral and intraperitoneal administration in mice. The acute toxicity was evaluated after single daily administration of the aqueous extract orally at doses of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 g kg(-1) or by the intraperitoneal route at doses of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12 g kg(-1) of raw material. The subacute toxicity was evaluated only by the intraperitoneal route for 6 weeks at doses of 1.5, 3, 6 g kg(-1) of raw material. Oral doses up to 30 g kg(-1) of the aqueous extract of Turraeanthus africanus (TA) did not produce mortality or significant changes in the general behaviour and gross appearance of internal organs of rats. However, the intraperitoneal administration of the aqueous extract of Turraeanthus africanus caused dose-dependent lethal effects. The acute intraperitoneal toxicity (LD(50)) of TA extract in mice was 7.2 g kg(-1). In subacute toxicity in mice, after the intraperitoneal administration of TA extract for 6 consecutive weeks, the feed consumption was significantly affected at the dose 3 g kg(-1) with P < 0.05 and at the dose 6 g kg(-1) with P < 0.001 and consequently had significant effect with P < 0.05 in body weight of animals. Level of triglyceride of treated animals lowered at dose 1.5 g kg(-1) with P < 0.001 and at dose 3 g kg(-1) and 6 g kg(-1) with P < 0.05. Total cholesterol level of treated animals lowered at dose 1.5 g kg(-1) with P < 0.005 and at dose 3 and 6 g kg(-1) with P < 0.001. HDL cholesterol level of treated animals lowered up to dose 6 g kg(-1) with P < 0.05 while levels of LDL cholesterol, serum and tissue creatinine of treated animals lowered at dose 3 g kg(-1) and dose 6 g kg(-1) with P < 0.05. Serum protein level of treated animal enhanced at dose 1.5 g kg(-1) and at dose 6 g kg(-1) with P < 0.05 while tissue creatinine level of treated animal enhanced with P < 0.001. The histology of liver, kidney and lung of the treated mice indicated morphological change of these organs (data not shown). No significant difference was observed during treatment concerning the haematological parameters. The results suggest that the plant is not toxic through the oral route in mice and that parenteral administration should be avoided.