Formation of Cyclobutane Pyrimidine Dimers after UVA Exposure (Dark-CPDs) Is Inhibited by an Hydrophilic Extract of Polypodium leucotomos

Exposure to sun and especially to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) exerts well known detrimental effects on skin which are implicated in malignancy. UVR induces production of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs), immediately during exposure and even hours after the exposure, these latter being called dark-CPDs, as consequence of the effects of different reactive species that are formed. Fernblock® (FB), an aqueous extract of Polypodium leucotomos, has proven to have photoprotective and antioxidant effects on skin. The aim of our work was to investigate the potential photoprotective effect of FB against dark-CPD formation. Murine melanocytes (B16-F10) were exposed to UVA radiation and the production of dark-CPDs and different reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS) was measured. Significant dark-CPD formation could be seen at 3h after UVA irradiation, which was inhibited by the pre-treatment of cells with FB. Formation of nitric oxide, superoxide and peroxynitrite was increased after irradiation, consistent with the increased CPD formation. FB successfully reduced the production of these reactive species. Hence, these results show how dark-CPDs are formed in UVA irradiated melanocytes, and that FB acts as a potential antioxidant and ROS scavenger, preventing the DNA damage induced by sun exposure.

Investigation the application of niosome as a nanocarrier for sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extract by spectroscopy and chemometrics

Objetive: Investigation the application of niosome as a nanocarrier for sage (Salvia officinalis L.) extract by spectroscopy and chemometrics. Material and Method: In this study,niosome nanoparticles containing cholesterol and without cholesterol were prepared by thin film hydration method. Ethanol extract of sage was extracted by microwave and loaded inside the niosome nanoparticles. The size of the nanoparticles was determined by field imaging scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The zeta potential of the niosomes was determined by Dynamic light scattering (DLS). to investigate the type of interactions between surfactants and cholesterol used in the niosome structure, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was used. Drug release was investigated for 5 consecutive days in phosphate buffer salin (PBS) 0/01 M with pH=7.4 at T=370C. Results:The zeta potential of the niosomes with cholesterol and without cholesterol was -24/1&-15/6 mv . The loading capacity of the drug in the concentration range (1-3% w / w of niosum) for both types of niosome was between 61% and 93%. Conclusion: This results show that the release rate of niosme with cholesterol is significantly more regular and lower than of niosome without cholesterol. In general, it can be concluded that niosome can be a suitable nano-carrier for delivery of hydrophilic extract of the sage.

Extractives in Betula celtiberica stemwood and isolation and identification of diarylheptanoids in the hydrophilic extract

In Betula celtiberica (Iberian white birch) stemwood, the content and composition of lipophilic and hydrophilic extractives were determined; these have not been reported previously in this species. The total gravimetric amount of extractives was 2.2% of dry wood, of which lipophilic extractives accounted for 0.39% and hydrophilic extractives 1.84% (determined by gas chromatography–flame ionisation detection [GC–FID]). The lipophilic extract contained mainly triterpenoids and steroids. The hydrophilic extract (acetone–water 95:5 v v−1) contained mainly sugars, compounds not eluting on GC, and a large number of unidentified compounds, which accounted for 0.87% of dry wood and dominated the extract. The compounds were isolated from the extract by silica column chromatography and further purified. GC–electron impact (EI)-MS of the silylated compounds showed characteristic mass fragments that suggested them to be diarylheptanoids (DAHs). This is an interesting compound group, as many of them have shown a large variety of beneficial biological effects. Of over 80 detected DAHs, the exact mass of 17 compounds was determined by electrospray ionisation-quadrupole-time-of-flight (ESI-QTOF)-MS, and of these, the structure of 11 compounds was elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). One was a meta,para-bridged diphenylether and 10 were meta,meta-bridged biphenyls, of which one, 3,8,9,17-tetrahydroxy-[7,0]-metacyclophane, has not been described previously. Because of low concentrations, 21 DAHs were only tentatively identified, and of these, as many as 17 seem to be previously undescribed compounds.

Addressing the phytochemical prospection of thermally treated Eucalyptus grandis wood

This work aimed to investigate phytochemical prospection in treated and untreated wood of Eucalyptus grandis to understand the dynamics of extractives in relation to heat treatment. Samples of E. grandis wood were collected and grouped into external and internal regions. Half of the samples from each region were submitted to heat treatment at 190 ºC. From the treated and untreated samples, phytochemical tests were performed to detect classes of metabolites present in the E. grandis raw wood, hydrophilic extract and lipophilic extract. Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of alkaloids, phenolic compounds and triterpenoids in all hydrophilic extracts of the studied species. Presence of flavanonols, flavanones and saponins was detected only in the internal region of the wood. Tannins, leucoanthocyanidins, triterpenoids and saponins were influenced by heat treatment. The classes of flavonoids, xanthones and alkaloids are the most resistant to heat treatment. The phytochemical analysis made it possible to identify a new class of extractives that emerged after heat treatment, flavones.

Anti-Proliferative Activity of A Hydrophilic Extract of Manna from Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl through Mitochondrial Pathway-Mediated Apoptosis and Cell Cycle Arrest in Human Colon Cancer Cells

Manna is produced from the spontaneous solidification of the sap of some Fraxinus species, and, owing its content in mannitol, is used in medicine as a mild laxative. Manna is also a rich source of characteristic bio-phenols with reducing, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This study assesses the activity of a hydrophilic extract of manna (HME) on cellular and molecular events in human colon-rectal cancer cells. HME showed a time- and concentration-dependent anti-proliferative activity, measured by MTT assay, in all the cell lines examined, namely Caco-2, HCT-116 and HT-29. The amounts of HME that caused 50% of cell death after a 24 h treatment were 8.51 ± 0.77, 10.73 ± 1.22 and 28.92 ± 1.99 mg manna equivalents/mL, respectively; no toxicity was observed in normally differentiated Caco-2 intestinal cells. Hydroxytyrosol, a component of HME known for its cytotoxic effects on colon cancer cells, was ineffective, at least at the concentration occurring in the extract. Through flow-cytometric techniques and Western blot analysis, we show that HME treatment causes apoptosis, assessed by phosphatidylserine exposure, as well as a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, an intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increases in the levels of cleaved PARP-1, caspase 3 and Bax, and a decrease in Bcl-2 expression. Moreover, HME interferes with cell cycle progression, with a block at the G1/S transition. In conclusion, the phytocomplex extracted from manna exerts an anti-proliferative activity on human colon cancer cells through the activation of mitochondrial pathway-mediated apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Our data may suggest that manna could have the potential to exert chemo-preventive effects for the intestine.

Biological Activity of Hydrophilic Extract of Chlorella vulgaris Grown on Post-Fermentation Leachate from a Biogas Plant Supplied with Stillage and Maize Silage

Algae are employed commonly in cosmetics, food and pharmaceuticals, as well as in feed production and biorefinery processes. In this study, post-fermentation leachate from a biogas plant which exploits stillage and maize silage was utilized as a culture medium for Chlorella vulgaris. The content of polyphenols in hydrophilic extracts of the Chlorella vulgaris biomass was determined, and the extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activity (DPPH assay), antibacterial activity (against Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus plantarum, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and antifungal activity (against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The use of the post-fermentation leachate was not found to affect the biological activity of the microalgae. The aqueous extract of Chlorella vulgaris biomass was also observed to exhibit activity against nematodes. The results of this study suggest that Chlorella vulgaris biomass cultured on post-fermentation leachate from a biogas plant can be successfully employed as a source of natural antioxidants, food supplements, feed, natural antibacterial and antifungal compounds, as well as in natural methods of plant protection.

Photodynamic action of Hypericum perforatum hydrophilic extract against Staphylococcus aureus

Hypericin (Hyp) is one of the most effective, naturally occurring photodynamic agents, which proved effective against a wide array of microorganisms.

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Secondary Metabolites from a Microcystis sp. Bloom Material Collected in Southern Israel

The hydrophilic extract of Microcystis sp. bloom material collected from Bror Hayil Reservoir in southern Israel afforded four new metabolites, (2 S,3 S)-3-hydeoxy-1,4-diphenylbutan-2-yl-acetate, aeruginosins BH604, BH462A and BH462B, and two known metabolites cyanopeptolins S and SS. The planar structure of 1–4 was established by analyses of their 1D and 2D NMR data and mass spectrometric data. The absolute configurations of the chiral centers of 1 were established by Mosher method and analysis of the coupling constants between H-2 and H-3, and those of 2–4 by Merfay's method and advanced Merfay's method and chiral HPLC. The compounds do not inhibit the serine proteases trypsin and thrombin.