In Vitro and In Silico Toxicological Properties of Natural Antioxidant Therapeutic Agent Azimatetracantha. LAM.

Plant-derived antioxidants are a large group of natural products with the capacity to reduce radical-scavenging. Due to their potent therapeutic and preventive actions, these compounds receive a lot of attention from scientists, particularly pharmacologists. The pharmacological activities of the Azima tetracantha Lam. (AT) plant, belonging to the Salvadoraceae family, reported here justifies its traditional use in treating several diseases or disorders. This study aims to look at the propensity of certain plant compounds found in natural AT plant extracts that might play a critical role as a secondary metabolite in cervical cancer treatment. There is a shortage of information on the plant's phytochemical and biological characteristics. Methanol (MeOH) solvent extracts of the dried AT plant were screened phytochemically. Its aqueous extract was tested for antioxidant, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and anticancerous properties. Absorption Distribution Metabolism and Excretion (ADME/T), Docking, and HPLC were also performed. In clinical treatment, the plant shown no adverse effects. The antioxidant activity was evaluated and showed the highest concentration at 150 µg/mL (63.50%). MeOH leaf extract of AT exhibited the highest and best inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus (15.3 mm/1000) and displayed a high antiseptic potential. At a 200 µg/mL concentration, MeOH leaves-extract inhibited red blood cells (RBC) hemolysis by 66.56 ± 0.40, compared with 62.33 ± 0.40 from the standard. Albumin's ability to suppress protein denaturation ranged from 16.75 ± 0.65 to 62.35 ± 0.20 inhibitions in this test, providing even more support for its favorable anti-inflammatory properties. The ADME/T studies were considered for a potential cancer drug molecule, and one of our compounds from MeOH extract fills the ADME and toxicity parameters. The forms of compound 4 showed a strong hydrogen-bonding interaction with the vital amino acids (ASN923, THR410, LEU840TRY927, PHE921, and GLY922). A total of 90% of cell inhibition was observed when HeLa cell lines were treated with 300 µg/mL of compound 4 (7-acetyl-3a1-methyl- 4,14-dioxo-1,2,3a,3a1,4,5,5a,6,8a,9b,10,11,11a-tetradecahydro-2,5a epoxy5,6a (methanooxymethano)phenaleno[1',9':5,6,7]indeno[1,7a-b]oxiren-2-yl acetate). The polyphenol compounds demonstrated significant advances in anticancer drug properties, and it could lead to activation of cancer cell apoptosis.

Comparison of characteristics and biocompatibility of green synthesized iron oxide nanoparticles with chemical synthesized nanoparticles.

Iron oxide nanoparticles synthesis is an expanding area of research due of their magnetic properties and possible applications in several novel technologies. FeONPs are indispensable in the biomedical field for diagnosis, treatments and drug delivery and in bioremediation applications. The synthesis route of nanoparticles is a major concern because biological methods are eco-friendly, and chemical methods are considered toxic. The objective of this study is to synthesize FeONPs by two different methods and to compare their properties and efficiency in applications. FeONPs were synthesized and characterized by microscopic and various spectroscopic techniques. The synthesized FeONPs were screened for their cytotoxic activity on PBMCs using MTT assay and found to exhibit good biocompatibility. Moreover, the GS FeONPs exhibited potential antibacterial activities and meanwhile showed less toxicity in brine shrimp lethality assay. Hence, these nanoparticles are biocompatible, environmentally safe and can be utilized in many medical applications.

Isolation and Characterization of Avirulent and Virulent Strains of Agrobacterium tumefaciens from Rose Crown Gall in Selected Regions of South Korea.

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a plant pathogen that causes crown gall disease in various hosts across kingdoms. In the present study, five regions (Wonju, Jincheon, Taean, Suncheon, and Kimhae) of South Korea were chosen to isolate A. tumefaciens strains on roses and assess their opine metabolism (agrocinopine, nopaline, and octopine) genes based on PCR amplification. These isolated strains were confirmed as Agrobacterium using morphological, biochemical, and 16S rDNA analyses; and pathogenicity tests, including the growth characteristics of the white colony appearance on ammonium sulfate glucose minimal media, enzyme activities, 16S rDNA sequence alignment, and pathogenicity on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). Carbon utilization, biofilm formation, tumorigenicity, and motility assays were performed to demarcate opine metabolism genes. Of 87 isolates, 18 pathogenic isolates were affirmative for having opine plasmid genes. Most of these isolates showed the presence of an agrocinopine type of carbon utilization. Two isolates showed nopaline types. However, none of these isolates showed octopine metabolic genes. The objectives of the present study were to isolate and confirm virulent strains from rose crown galls grown in the different regions of Korea and characterize their physiology and opine types. This is the first report to describe the absence of the octopine type inciting the crown gall disease of rose in South Korea.

Impact of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi on Photosynthesis, Water Status, and Gas Exchange of Plants Under Salt Stress-A Meta-Analysis.

Soil salinization is one of the most serious abiotic stress factors affecting plant productivity through reduction of soil water potential, decreasing the absorptive capacity of the roots for water and nutrients. A weighted meta-analysis was conducted to study the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) inoculation in alleviating salt stress in C3 and C4 plants. We analyzed the salt stress influence on seven independent variables such as chlorophyll, leaf area, photosynthetic rate (Amax), stomatal conductance (Gs), transpiration rate (E), relative water content (RWC), and water use efficiency (WUE) on AMF inoculated plants. Responses were compared between C3 and C4 plants, AMF species, plant functional groups, level of salinity, and environmental conditions. Our results showed that AMF inoculated plants had a positive impact on gas exchange and water status under salt stress. The total chlorophyll contents of C3 plants were higher than C4 plants. However, C3 plants responses regarding Gs, Amax, and E were more positive compared to C4 plants. The increase in G s mainly maintained E and it explains the increase in Amax and increase in E. When the two major AMF species (Rhizophagus intraradices and Funnelliformis mosseae) were considered, the effect sizes of RWC and WUE in R. intraradices were lower than those in F. mosseae indicating that F. mosseae inoculated plants performed better under salt stress. In terms of C3 and C4 plant photosynthetic pathways, the effect size of C4 was lower than C3 plants indicating that AMF inoculation more effectively alleviated salt stress in C3 compared to C4 plants.

Bacillus subtilis CBR05 induces Vitamin B6 biosynthesis in tomato through the de novo pathway in contributing disease resistance against Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria.

Expression profiling for genes involved in Vitamin B6 (VitB6) biosynthesis was undertaken to delineate the involvement of de novo and salvage pathway induced by Bacillus subtilis CBR05 against, Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria in tomato. Pyridoxine biosynthesis (PDX) genes such as PDX1.2 and PDX1.3, were found to be overexpressed significantly at 72 hpi in B. subtilis and pyridoxine inoculated plants. Most significant upregulation was observed in the transcript profile of PDX1.3, which showed more than 12- fold increase in expression. Unfortunately, salt sensitive overlay4 (SOS4) profiling showed irregular expression which corroborates that SOS4 role in VitB6 biosynthesis needs further studies for deciphering a clear notion about their role in tomato. Antioxidant enzymes i.e., superoxide dismutase, catalase, polyphenol oxidase, and peroxidase activities clearly demonstrate escalation till 48 hpi and gets reduced in 72 hpi. Pot trials also confirm that B. subtilis compared to pyridoxine supplementation alone show plant disease resistance and elongated roots. The present study confirms that B. subtilis, as a versatile agent in eliciting induced systemic resistance regulated by de novo pathway as a model for plant defense against X. campestris pv. vesicatoria substantiated by VitB6 biosynthesis. Nevertheless, the study is preliminary and needs further evidence for affirming this phenomenon.

Vitamin B6 biosynthetic genes expression and antioxidant enzyme properties in tomato against, Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora.

Vitamin B6 (VitB6) is an essential cofactor for >140 biochemical reactions. Also, VitB6 is a potent antioxidant and helps plants cope with both biotic and abiotic stress conditions. However, the role of VitB6 in plant disease resistance has yet to be confirmed using molecular biology approaches. Here, we analyzed the expression patterns of VitB6 biosynthetic genes, including the de novo (PDX1 [PDX1.2 and 1.3] and PDX2) and the salvage (SOS4) pathways during the response to Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora. By quantitative PCR, we found that the most significant upregulation in the transcript profile of PDX2, which showed a 9.2-fold increase in expression at 12 h post inoculation (hpi) compared to 24-48 hpi. We also detected significant upregulation of PDX1.2 and PDX1.3, which were 6.6- and 4.3-fold upregulated at 24 hpi compared to 12 hpi, while SOS4 showed only low-level expression. Also, at 24 hpi, a significant increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities was observed in plants. Our findings confirm that the expression of de novo and salvage pathway genes is induced by E. carotovora and that this plays an important role in the regulation of defense response by modulating cellular antioxidant capacity.

Expression of PR-protein genes and induction of defense-related enzymes by Bacillus subtilis CBR05 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants challenged with Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora.

The present study was aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a biocontrol agent Bacillus subtilis CBR05 for control of soft rot disease (Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora) in tomato, and the possible mechanisms of its resistance induction have been investigated under pot conditions. Results showed that plants inoculated with B. subtilis CBR05 had lower disease incidence (36%). A significant increase in superoxide dismutase, catalase, peroxidase, and polyphenol oxidase activities was observed in plants inoculated with B. subtilis between 48 and 72 hpi. Also, the transcript profiles of Glu and Phenyl ammonia lyase (PAL) showed a significant up-regulation following inoculation. The most significant up-regulation was observed in transcript profile of PAL that showed 0.49 Fold Expression, at 72 hpi as compared to its expression at 12 hpi. These results suggest that systemic induction of defense-related genes expression and antioxidant enzyme activity by B. subtilis could play a pivotal role in disease resistance against soft rot disease.

Investigation of role of aspartame on apoptosis process in HeLa cells -->.

Aspartame is an artificial sweetener used as an alternate for sugar in several foods and beverages. The study reports that consumption of aspartame containing product could lead to cancer. However, the effect of aspartame on apoptosis process in cancer is not yet understood clearly. HeLa cells were exposed to different concentrations (0.01-0.05 mg/ml) of aspartame for 48 h. Cytotoxicity of aspartame on cancer cells was determined by SRB assay. The result indicates no significant changes on cell viability. Aspartame suppresses apoptosis process in cancer cells by down-regulation of mRNA expression of tumor suppressor gene p53, and pro-apoptotic gene bax. It up-regulates anti-apoptotic gene bcl-2 mRNA expression. In addition, Ki 67 and PCNA mRNA, and protein expressions were determined. Taking all these together, we conclude that aspartame may be a potent substance to slow-down the apoptosis process in HeLa cells. Further works are ongoing to understand the biochemical and molecular mechanism of aspartame in cancer cells.

In Vitro Selective Anti-Proliferative Effect of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Against Co-Cultured C2C12 Myoblastoma Cancer and 3T3-L1 Normal Cells.

The zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle has been widely used in biomedical applications and cancer therapy and has been reported to induce a selective cytotoxic effect on cancer cell proliferation. The present study investigated the cytotoxicity of ZnO nanoparticles against co-cultured C2C12 myoblastoma cancer cells and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Our results showed that the ZnO nanoparticles could be cytotoxic to C2C12 myoblastoma cancer cells than 3T3-L1 cells. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expressions of p53 and bax were significantly increased 114.3 and 118.2 % in the C2C12 cells, whereas 42.5 and 40 % were increased in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. The mRNA expression of bcl-2 was reduced 38.2 and 28.5 % in the C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells, respectively, whereas the mRNA expression of caspase-3 was increased 80.7 and 51.6 % in the C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. The protein expressions of p53, bax, and caspase-3 were significantly increased 40, 81.8, and 80 % in C2C12 cells, whereas 20.3, 28.2, and 37.9 % were increased in 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. The mRNA expression of bcl-2 was significantly reduced 32.2 and 22.7 % in C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells, respectively. Caspase-3 enzyme activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were increased in co-cultured C2C12 cells compared to 3T3-L1 cells. Taking all these data together, it may suggest that ZnO nanoparticles severely induce apoptosis in C2C12 myoblastoma cancer cells than 3T3-L1 cells.