Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Properties of Natural Bioactive Monoterpenes Nerol, Estragole, and 3,7-Dimethyl-1-Octanol.

The therapeutic potential of medicinal plants is noted because of the presence of varieties of biochemicals. The monoterpenes, like nerol, estragole, and 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol, have been reported for antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the toxic, cytotoxic, and oxidant/antioxidant effects of these compounds by several in vitro (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing potential), ex vivo (hemolysis), and in vivo (Artemia Salina and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) assays. Results suggest that estragole and 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol at 31.25-500 µg/mL did not exhibit significant cytotoxic effects in the A. Salina and hemolysis tests. Nerol showed significant cytotoxic effects on these test systems at all test concentrations. The monoterpenes showed radical (ABTS•+ and DPPH•) scavenging capacities in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro tests. However, they did not oxidize the genetic material of S. cerevisiae (SODWT, Sod1Δ, Sod2Δ, Sod1/Sod2Δ, Cat1Δ, and Cat1Δ/Sod1Δ) lines. Among the three monoterpenes, nerol may be a good candidate for antioxidant and anti-tumor therapies.

Chemotherapeutic and Safety Profile of a Fraction from Mimosa caesalpiniifolia Stem Bark.

Mimosa caesalpiniifolia (Fabaceae) is used by Brazilian people to treat hypertension, bronchitis, and skin infections. Herein, we evaluated the antiproliferative action of the dichloromethane fraction from M. caesalpiniifolia (DFMC) stem bark on murine tumor cells and the in vivo toxicogenetic profile. Initially, the cytotoxic activity of DFMC on primary cultures of Sarcoma 180 (S180) cells by Alamar Blue, trypan, and cytokinesis block micronucleus (CBMN) assays was assessed after 72 h of exposure, followed by the treatment of S180-bearing Swiss mice for 7 days, physiological investigations, and DNA/chromosomal damage. DFMC and betulinic acid revealed similar in vitro antiproliferative action on S180 cells and induced a reduction in viable cells, induced a reduction in viable cells and caused the emergence of bridges, buds, and morphological features of apoptosis and necrosis. S180-transplanted mice treated with DFMC (50 and 100 mg/kg/day), a betulinic acid-rich dichloromethane, showed for the first time in vivo tumor growth reduction (64.8 and 80.0%) and poorer peri- and intratumor quantities of vessels. Such antiproliferative action was associated with detectible side effects (loss of weight, reduction of spleen, lymphocytopenia, and neutrophilia and increasing of GOT and micronucleus in bone marrow), but preclinical general anticancer properties of the DFMC were not threatened by toxicological effects, and these biomedical discoveries validate the ethnopharmacological reputation of Mimosa species as emerging phytotherapy sources of lead molecules.

Determination by chromatography and cytotoxotoxic and oxidative effects of pyriproxyfen and pyridalyl.

Pyriproxyfen (PPF) is a larvicide, used to combat the proliferation of Aedes aegypti larvae. The objective of this study was to analyze the compounds of pyriproxyfen and pyridalyl (PYL) in a commercial larvicide to analyze the cytotoxic and oxidative effects of PPF and PYL. The toxic potential of PPF and PYL were assessed based on lethal concentration (LC50) in Artemia salina, cytotoxicity based on the mitotic index and the chromosomal alterations in Allium cepa and the oxidative damage in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The PPF and PYL compounds were identified by HPLC-PDA based on their retention times and spectral data. The wavelengths λmax (258 nm) and (271 nm) of the UV spectrum of PYL and PPF and the retention times (RT) (3.38 min) and (4.03 min), respectively. The toxicological potentials of PPF and PYL were significant at concentrations (1, 10, 100 and 1000 ppm), with an LC50 of 48 h (0.5 ppm). PPF and PYL pointed out a cytotoxic effect in A. cepa at all concentrations (0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1.0, 100 and 1000 ppm), genotoxic effect at concentrations only (0.0001; 0.1; 1; 100 and 1000 ppm), and mutagenic for concentrations (0.1, 100 and 1000 ppm). In relation S. cerevisiae, PPF e PYL prompted oxidative damage at concentrations (100 and 1000 ppm) in all strains (SODWT, Sod1, Sod2, Sod1Sod2, Cat1 and Sod1Cat1). Therefore, the PPF and PYL identificated in commercial larvicide by HPLC-PDA produced cytotoxic and oxidative effects that could cause health and ecosystem risks.