Interaction of Thalassia testudinum Metabolites with Cytochrome P450 Enzymes and Its Effects on Benzo(a)pyrene-Induced Mutagenicity.

The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effects of Thalassia testudinum hydroethanolic extract, its polyphenolic fraction and thalassiolin B on the activity of phase I metabolizing enzymes as well as their antimutagenic effects. Spectrofluorometric techniques were used to evaluate the effect of tested products on rat and human CYP1A and CYP2B activity. The antimutagenic effect of tested products was evaluated in benzo[a]pyrene (BP)-induced mutagenicity assay by an Ames test. Finally, the antimutagenic effect of Thalassia testudinum (100 mg/kg) was assessed in BP-induced mutagenesis in mice. The tested products significantly (p < 0.05) inhibit rat CYP1A1 activity, acting as mixed-type inhibitors of rat CYP1A1 (Ki = 54.16 ± 9.09 µg/mL, 5.96 ± 1.55 µg/mL and 3.05 ± 0.89 µg/mL, respectively). Inhibition of human CYP1A1 was also observed (Ki = 197.1 ± 63.40 µg/mL and 203.10 ± 17.29 µg/mL for the polyphenolic fraction and for thalassiolin B, respectively). In addition, the evaluated products significantly inhibit (p < 0.05) BP-induced mutagenicity in vitro. Furthermore, oral doses of Thalassia testudinum (100 mg/kg) significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the BP-induced micronuclei and oxidative damage, together with an increase of reduced glutathione, in mice. In summary, Thalassia testudinum metabolites exhibit antigenotoxic activity mediated, at least, by the inhibition of CYP1A1-mediated BP biotransformation, arresting the oxidative and mutagenic damage. Thus, the metabolites of T. testudinum may represent a potential source of chemopreventive compounds for the adjuvant therapy of cancer.

Síndromes psiquiátricos en personas infectadas con el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana: una revisión breve / Psychiatric syndromes in people infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus: a brief review

La infección por el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana (VIH) es una endemia que ha impactado severamente a la población mundial en tiempos recientes. A lo largo de los años se han descrito numerosas alteraciones psiquiátricas en los individuos que padecen la infección por este virus: deterioro cognitivo, depresión, delirium, psicosis, manía y ansiedad. El presente artículo es una breve revisión sobre aspectos generales de la infección con el Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Humana y la repercusión a nivel psiquiátrico que se evidencia en sujetos que padecen tanto de la infección como del Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida (SIDA) y sus complicaciones.

Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus is an endemic disease that has severely impacted the world population in recent times. Over the years, numerous psychiatric syndromes have been reported in individuals who are infected by this virus: cognitive impairment, depression, delirium, psychosis, mania and anxiety. This article is a brief review of general aspects of the infection with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus and its psychiatric impact on the patients suffering from both infection and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and their complications.

Chemical composition and antioxidant activities of the essential oil from Tornabenea bischoffii (Apiaceae).

The chemical composition of Tornabenea bischoffii J. A. Schmidt essential oil from Cape Verde was studied by GC and GC/MS. Sixty volatile compounds were identified of which myristicin was the major constituent (33.6%). Using the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging method and the in vitro assay for prevention of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric reactive species, significant antioxidant activities were evidenced.

Photoprotecting action and phytochemical analysis of a multiple radical scavenger lipophilic fraction obtained from the leaf of the seagrass Thalassia testudinum.

The apolar fraction F1 of Thalassia testudinum was chemically characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, which led to the identification of 43 metabolites, all of them reported for the first time in the genus Thalassia. More than 80% of the F1 composition was constituted by aromatic metabolites including the major components 1,1-bis(p-tolyl)ethane (6.0%), 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl (4.8%) and a 1,1-bis(p-tolyl)ethane isomer (4.7%). This lipophilic fraction was assayed for its antioxidant effects and skin protective action. In vitro assays showed that F1 strongly scavenged DPPH* (IC(50) 312.0 ± 8.0 µg mL(-1)), hydroxyl (IC(50) 23.8 ± 0.5 µg mL(-1)) and peroxyl radical (IC(50) 6.6 ± 0.3 µg mL(-1) ), as well as superoxide anion (IC(50) 50.0 ± 0.7 µg mL(-1)). Also, F1 markedly inhibited the spontaneous lipid peroxidation (LPO) in brain homogenates (IC(50) 93.0 ± 6.0 µg mL(-1)) and the LPS-stimulated nitrite generation on RAW624.7 macrophages (58.6 ± 3.2%, 400 µg mL(-1)). In agreement with these findings, its topical application at 250 and 500 µg cm(-2) strikingly reduced skin damage on mice exposed to acute UVB radiation by 45% and 70%, respectively and significantly attenuated the LPO developed following the first 48 h after acute exposure to UVB irradiation, as manifested by the decreased malondialdehide level and by the increased of reduced gluthatione content. Our results suggest that F1 may contribute to skin repair by attenuating oxidative stress due to its antioxidant activity.

Phytochemical analysis and in vitro free-radical-scavenging activities of the essential oils from leaf and fruit of Melaleuca leucadendra L.

The phytochemical profile of Melaleuca leucadendra L. leaf and fruit oils from Cuba was investigated by GC and GC/MS. Forty-one and sixty-four volatile compounds were identified and quantified, accounting for 99.2 and 99.5% of the leaf-oil and fruit-oil total composition, respectively. The main components were 1,8-cineol (43.0%), viridiflorol (24.2%), α-terpineol (7.0%), α-pinene (5.3%), and limonene (4.8%) in the leaf oil, and viridiflorol (47.6%), globulol (5.8%), guaiol (5.3%), and α-pinene (4.5%) in the fruit oil. The antioxidant capacity of these essential oils was determined by three different in vitro assays (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS), and 2,2'-Azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation), and significant activities were evidenced for all of them.

Composition and biological properties of the volatile oil of Artemisia gorgonum Webb.

The chemical composition of Artemisia gorgonum Webb essential oil from Cape Verde was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. A total of 111 volatile compounds, accounting for 94.9% of the essential oil, were identified by GC and GC/MS. The major compounds were camphor (28.7%), chrysanthenone (10.8%), lavandulyl 2-methylbutanoate (9.5%), alpha-phellandrene (5.5%), lavandulyl propanoate (4.2%), camphene (4.0%), and p-cymene (3.4%). The volatile oil of this endemic plant, which is used in Cape Verdean folk medicine against several ailments, was tested for its antioxidant and antimalarial properties, and was found to exhibit free-radical scavenging on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), prevention of lipid peroxidation-in vitro by TBARS (thiobarbituric acid reactive species) assay, and antiplasmodial activity.

Composition and antioxidant properties of the essential oil of the endemic Cape Verdean Satureja forbesii.

The chemical composition of essential oil from the air-dried aerial parts of Satureja forbesii (Benth.) Briq. from Cape Verde was studied by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-nine volatile compounds were identified of which geranial (42.0%) and neral (31.2%) were the major constituents. Using the 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free-radical scavenging method and the in vitro assay for prevention of lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric reactive species, significant activities were evidenced.