Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Populi gemmae Extract: Preparation, Physicochemical Characterization, Antimicrobial Potential and In Vitro Antiproliferative Assessment.

Green route is an economic, facile and eco-friendly method, employed for the synthesis of various types of nanoparticles, having it as a starting point biological entity, especially as a plant extract. The present study aims to obtain silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) starting from an ethanolic extract of Populi gemmae (Pg), by adjusting the reaction parameters. The morphological and structural characterization exhibited that both the reaction temperature and the concentration of metal salt, contributes to the obtaining of Pg-AgNPs with adjustable size and shape. The newly synthesized nanoparticles exhibited a good antibacterial activity on Gram-positive bacteria as well as antifungal activity. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of Pg-AgNPs was assessed on two different cancer cell lines (breast cancer cells-MCF7 and lung carcinoma epithelial cells-A549). Results have shown that the green-synthetized Pg-AgNPs_S2 (obtained at 60 °C, using AgNO3 of 5 M) induced a substantial decrease in tumor cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with an IC50 ranging from 5.03 to 5.07 µg/mL on A549 cell line and 3.24 to 4.93 µg/mL on MCF7 cell line.

Correlations on Phenolic Screening Related to In Vitro and In Ovo Assessment of Ocimum basilicum L. Hydro-Alcoholic Extracts Used as Skin Active Ingredient.

The current study was aimed to evaluate the phenolic composition parameters of two hydro-alcoholic extracts of Ocimum basilicum L. (OB) obtained from the aerial part (without leaves) and leaves, in order to determine their contribution to the antioxidant activity (AOA). Both hydro-alcoholic extracts have proven to be rich in polyphenolic compounds, flavonoids, flavonols and tannins. Therefore, the leaves' extracts reveal an inhibition percentage of 89%, almost comparable with the standard reference (95%). To complete the toxicological profile, the study also assessed the potential cytotoxicity of basil hydro-alcoholic extracts on immortalized human keratinocytes (HaCaT), skin human fibroblasts (1BR3), mice epidermis (JB6Cl41-5a) and primary human melanocytes (HEMa) cells, correlated to A375 antitumor in vitro activity. The extracts did not induce significant cytotoxic effect on any of the selected normal cell lines but showed relevant activity on A375 cells. Considering the low values obtained regarding the irritative effects in the chorionallantoic membrane of the egg on blood vessels, we can emphasize that both extracts can be considered as biocompatible ingredients. Regarding the potential activity of hydro-alcoholic extracts on human skin, the decrease of erythema values after the application of extracts was a relevant observation which indicates the anti-inflammatory potential of Ocimum basilicum L.

Assessment of the Antiangiogenic and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of a Maslinic Acid Derivative and its Potentiation using Zinc Chloride.

Maslinic acid is a pentacyclic triterpene with a plethora of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, cardioprotective, and antitumor effects. New derivatives with improved properties and broad-spectrum activity can be obtained following structural changes of the compound. The present study was aimed to characterize a benzylamide derivative of maslinic acid-benzyl (2α, 3ß) 2,3-diacetoxy-olean-12-en-28-amide (EM2)-with respect to the anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory effects in two in vivo experimental models. Consequently, the compound showed good tolerability and lack of irritation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay with no impairment of the normal angiogenic process during the tested stages of development. In the acute ear inflammation murine model, application of EM2 induced a mild anti-inflammatory effect that was potentiated by the association with zinc chloride (ZnCl2). A decrease in dermal thickness of mice ears was observed when EM2 and ZnCl2 were applied separately or in combination. Moreover, hyalinization of the dermis appeared only when EM2 was associated with ZnCl2, strongly suggesting the role of their combination in wound healing.

Cocrystal Formation of Betulinic Acid and Ascorbic Acid: Synthesis, Physico-Chemical Assessment, Antioxidant, and Antiproliferative Activity.

Betulinic acid (BA) was demonstrated to be a very promising anticancer agent against various tumor cell lines such as breast, colon, lung, and brain. Despite its strong cytotoxic effect, betulinic acid exhibits low water solubility, feature that is reflected in its poor bioavailability. To overcome these drawbacks, numerous strategies were conducted to improve its physicochemical and pharmacokinetic profile, among which cocrystalization emerged as a promising approach. Thus, our work consisted in obtaining slowly grown cocrystals of BA and ascorbic acid (BA+VitC) in isopropyl alcohol obtained in a hydrothermal experiment. The newly formed cocrystals were characterized by physico-chemical methods such asSEM, DSC, XRPD, and FT-IR spectroscopy demonstrating BA+VitC cocrystal formation while their antioxidant activity revealed an additive antioxidant effect. To investigate the biological effect, BA+VitC cocrystals were tested on HaCat (immortalized human keratinocytes), B164A5 and B16F0 (murine melanoma), MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 (human breast cancer), and HeLa (cervical cancer) cell lines. Results of BA upon the tested tumor cell lines, after co-crystallization with vitamin C, indicated a superior cytotoxic effect with the preservation of a good selectivity index assumably due to an improved BA water solubility and consequently an optimized bioavailability.

Oleic Acid Double Coated Fe3O4 Nanoparticles as Anti-Melanoma Compounds with a Complex Mechanism of Activity-In Vitro and In Ovo Assessment.

Magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (MIONPs) were placed in the spotlight lately due to their excellent biocompatibility and the possibility to tailor their magnetic properties making them useful in a plethora of bioapplications, including magnetic resonance imaging and targeted nanoplatforms for anticancer drugs delivery. The aim of the present study consisted in achieving a toxicological profile of the biocompatible colloidal suspension of iron oxide nanoparticles coated with a double layer of oleic acid (Fe3O4 @OA) obtained by combustion method by performing in vitro (on human keratinocytes-HaCaT and human and murine melanoma cells) and in ovo studies on chick chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM assay). The colloidal suspension obtained proved to be stable in phosphate buffer saline and the size of the nanoparticles were in the range of 30 nm, an optimum size for biomedical applications. Fe3O4 @OA colloidal suspension reduced viability of human keratinocytes only at concentrations higher than 25 µg/mL, whereas in the case of melanoma cells the effect was observed at lower doses (starting with 10 µg/mL). An interesting phenomena was detected at the highest concentration tested (50 µg/mL) to all cell lines, more precisely, a particular enucleation process associated only with Fe3O4 @OA colloidal suspension stimulation. The irritant potential data evaluated by HET-CAM assay indicated the following hierarchy: Fe3O4 < Fe3O4 @OA < OA. Our results provide relevant information regarding the mechanism of action of Fe3O4 @OA that needs elucidation by future in vitro and in vivo studies.