The oil of garlic, Allium sativum L. (Amaryllidaceae), as a potential protectant against Anisakis spp. Type II (L3) (Nematoda) infection in Wistar rats / O óleo de alho, Allium sativum L. (Amaryllidaceae), como potencial protetor contra Anisakis spp. Infecção tipo II (L3) (Nematoda) em ratos Wistar

Abstract The consumption of inadequately thermally treated fish is a public health risk due to the possible propagation of Anisakis larvae. The present study demonstrated the physiological and histopathological changes that accompanied an oral inoculation of crude extracts from fresh and thermally treated Anisakis Type II (L3) in rats. Worms were isolated from a marine fish and examined and identified using light and scanning electron microscopy. The study was performed in 6 rat groups: control (I), garlic oil (GO) inoculated (II), fresh L3 inoculated (III), thermally treated L3 inoculated (IV), fresh L3 + GO inoculated (V), and a thermally treated L3 + GO inoculated (VI) groups. Rats inoculated with fresh and thermally treated L3 showed abnormal liver and kidney functions associated with the destruction of normal architecture. GO produced a protective effect in rat groups inoculated with L3 extracts + GO via the amelioration of liver and kidney functions, which was confirmed by the marked normal structure on histology. Cooking of L3-infected fish induced severe alterations compared to uncooked fish. The administration of garlic before and after fish eating is recommended to avoid the dangerous effect of anisakids, even if they are cooked.

Resumo O consumo de peixe inadequadamente tratado termicamente representa um risco para a saúde pública, com a possibilidade da propagação de larvas de Anisakis. O presente estudo demonstrou as alterações fisiológicas e histopatológicas acompanhadas de inoculação oral de extractos brutos de Anisakis tipo II (L3) frescos e termicamente tratados em ratos. Os vermes foram isolados de um peixe marinho, examinados e identificados por microscopia de luz e eletrônica de varredura. O estudo foi conduzido em 6 grupos de ratos: controle (I), óleo de alho (GO) inoculado (II), L3 fresco inoculado (III), L3 tratado termicamente inoculado (IV), L3 fresco + GO inoculado (V), e um grupo L3 + GO tratado termicamente inoculado (VI). Observou-se que ratos inoculados com L3 fresco e tratados termicamente mostraram funções hepáticas e renais anormais, associadas à destruição da sua arquitetura normal. GO produziu um efeito protector em grupos de ratos inoculados com extractos L3 + GO através da melhoria das funções do fígado e dos rins, o que foi confirmado pela estrutura normal marcada da sua histologia. A cozedura de peixes infectados com L3 induziu alterações mais graves do que os peixes não cozidos. Recomenda-se a administração de alho antes e depois do consumo de peixe, para evitar o efeito perigoso dos anisakids, mesmo que sejam cozidos.

Investigation of Allium sativum's protective effect on ovarian reserve in an experimental ovarian injury model / Investigación del efecto protector de Allium sativum de la reserva ovárica en un modelo experimental de lesión ovárica

We aimed to evaluate the effects of detorsion and Allium sativum (garlic oil) treatment on the ovarian reserve in an ovarian torsion model. Ovarian torsion may lead to loss of ovarian tissue and infertility. It is an experimental rat study that was carried out on 16 sets of ovaries each, one for treatment group and a control group. In the control group, the procedure involved only the surgically opening and closing the abdomen. Bilateral adnexal torsion/detorsion was performed after a 3-hour ischemia period for the detorsion-only group. The detorsion + Allium sativum group received a 5 ml/kg dose of Allium sativum intraperitoneally, 2 hours before surgery. After the second surgery, removed ovarian samples were evaluated for follicle counts, damage scores and other parameters. Primordial, preantral, small antral and large antral follicle counts were significantly higher in the detorsion + Allium sativum group. Degeneration, congestion, hemorrhage ,inflammation and total damage scores were significantly elevated in the detorsion only group compared to those for the detorsion + Allium sativum group. Finally, there was a significant correlation between AMH alterations and postoperative, preantral follicle count (p<0.05). As a conclusion detorsion + Allium sativum treatment may be effective in protecting the ovarian reserve after torsion.

Intentamos evaluar los efectos de la detorsión y el tratamiento con Allium sativum (aceite de ajo) en la reserva ovárica en un modelo de torsión ovárica. La torsión ovárica puede ocasionar pérdida de tejido ovárico e infertilidad. Este es un estudio experimental en ratas que se llevó a cabo en 16 sets de ovarios para cada grupo: tratamiento y control. En el grupo control, el procedimiento involucró solamente la apertura y el cierre quirúrgicos del abdomen. La torsión / detorsión anexial bilateral se realizó después de un período de isquemia de 3 horas para el grupo de solo detorsión. El grupo de detorsión + Allium sativum recibió una dosis de 5 ml / kg de Allium sativum por vía intraperitoneal, 2 horas antes de la cirugía. Después de la segunda cirugía, las muestras ováricas eliminadas se evaluaron para recuentos de folículos, puntajes de daño y otros parámetros. Los recuentos de folículos antrales primordiales, preantrales, antrales pequeños y grandes fueron significativamente mayores en el grupo con detorsión + Allium sativum. Los puntajes de degeneración, congestión, hemorragia, inflamación y daño total fueron significativamente elevados en el grupo de solo detorsión, en comparación con los del grupo de detorsión + Allium sativum. Finalmente, hubo una correlación significativa entre las alteraciones de AMH y el recuento de folículos preantrales postoperatorios (p <0,05). Como conclusión, el tratamiento con detorsión + Allium sativum puede ser eficaz para proteger la reserva ovárica después de la torsión.

Antibacterial activity of the Piper aduncum oil and dillapiole, its main constituent, against multidrug-resistant strains / Actividad antibacteriana del aceite de Piper aduncum y dillapiole, su componente principal, frente a cepas resistentes a múltiples fármacos

The study aimed to evaluate the bactericidal activity of oil essential and dillapiole from P. aduncum against standard and multidrug-resistant strains of Staphylococcus spp. The oil showed antimicrobial action against these strains, but better results were obtained for the standards strains of S. epidermidis and S. aureus, with MIC of 250 and 500 ug/mL, respectively. Dillapiolle was less effective than the oil against the same standard and multi-drug resistant strains (MIC =1000 ug/mL). However, when dillapiolle was tested in combination with myristicin, another component of the oil, it increased its bactericidal activity and showed a synergistic action...

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar la actividad bactericida de los aceites esenciales y dillapiole de P. aduncum contra cepas estándar y multirresistentes de Staphylococcus spp. El aceite mostró acción antimicrobiana frente a estas cepas, pero se obtuvo mejores resultados para las cepas de S. epidermidis y S. aureus, con MIC de 250 y 500 ug/ml, respectivamente. Dillapiolle fue menos eficaz que el aceite contra cepas estándar y multirresistentes (MIC = 1000 ug/ml). Sin embargo, cuando dillapiolle fue probado en combinación con la miristicina, otro componente del aceite, que aumentó su actividad bactericida y mostró una acción sinérgica...

Antimicrobial activity of allylic thiocyanates derived from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman reaction

Bacterial resistance to commonly used antibiotics has been recognized as a significant global health issue. In this study, we carried out the screening of a family of allylic thiocyanates for their action against a diversity of bacteria and fungi with a view to developing new antimicrobial agents. Allylic thiocyanates bearing halogenated aryl groups, which were readily obtained in two steps from the Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts, showed moderate-to-high activity against selective pathogens, including a methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strain. In particular cases, methyl (Z)-3-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-2-(thiocyanomethyl)-2-propenoate exhibited antimicrobial activity comparable to the reference antibiotic Imipenem.

Caspase-8 and p38MAPK in DATS-induced apoptosis of human CNE2 cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a common malignancy in Southern China of uncertain etiologic origin. Diallyl trisulfide (DATS), one of the major components of garlic (Allium sativum), is highly bactericidal and fungicidal. In this study, we investigated the function of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and caspase-8 in DATS-induced apoptosis of human CNE2 cells using MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide], flow cytometry assay, and Western blotting. After CNE2 cells were treated with DATS (50, 100, or 150 μM) for 24 h, cell viability rates were 75.9, 63.4 and 39.6 percent, and apoptosis rates were 24.5, 36.9, and 62.4 percent, respectively. The data showed that DATS induced CNE2 cell death in a dose-dependent manner. After human CNE2 cells were treated with 100 μM DATS and inhibitors (10 μM SB203580 and Z-LETD-FMK for p38MAPK and caspase-8, respectively), changes in cell viability and apoptosis and in p38MAPK and caspase-8 activity were detected. Cell viability rates were 66.5 and 68.1 percent and decreased 9.9 and 11.5 percent compared with inhibitor treatment alone. Apoptosis rates were 31.53 and 29.98 percent and increased 9.1 and 10 percent compared with inhibitor treatment alone. The results indicated that DATS activates p38MAPK and caspase-8, but both inhibitors have an effect on P38MAPK and caspase-8 activity. In conclusion, our data indicate that p38MAPK and caspase-8 are involved in the process of DATS-induced apoptosis in human CNE2 cells and interact with each other.

Growth inhibitory effect and Chk1-dependent signaling involved in G2/M arrest on human gastric cancer cells induced by diallyl disulfide

Diallyl disulfide (DADS) inhibits growth and induces cell cycle G2/M arrest in human gastric cancer MGC803 cells. In this study, 15 mg/L DADS exerted similar effects on growth and cell cycle arrest in human gastric cancer BGC823 cells. Due to the importance of cell cycle redistribution in DADS-mediated anti-carcinogenic effects, we investigated the role of checkpoint kinases (Chk1 and Chk2) during DADS-induced cell cycle arrest. We hypothesized that DADS could mediate G2/M phase arrest through either Chk1 or Chk2 signal transduction pathways. We demonstrated that DADS induced the accumulation of phosphorylated Chk1, but not of Chk2, and that DADS down-regulated Cdc25C and cyclin B1. The expression of mRNA and total protein for Chkl and Chk2 was unchanged. Chk1 is specifically phosphorylated by ATR (ATM-RAD3-related gene). Western blot analysis showed that phospho-ATR was activated by DADS. Taken together, these data suggest that cell cycle G2/M arrest, which was associated with accumulation of the phosphorylated forms of Chk1, but not of Chk2, was involved in the growth inhibition induced by DADS in the human gastric cancer cell line BGC823. Furthermore, the DADS-induced G2/M checkpoint response is mediated by Chk1 signaling through ATR/Chk1/Cdc25C/cyclin B1, and is independent of Chk2.