Peppers: A "Hot" Natural Source for Antitumor Compounds.

Piper, Capsicum, and Pimenta are the main genera of peppers consumed worldwide. The traditional use of peppers by either ancient civilizations or modern societies has raised interest in their biological applications, including cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects. Cellular responses upon treatment with isolated pepper-derived compounds involve mechanisms of cell death, especially through proapoptotic stimuli in tumorigenic cells. In this review, we highlight naturally occurring secondary metabolites of peppers with cytotoxic effects on cancer cell lines. Available mechanisms of cell death, as well as the development of analogues, are also discussed.

Fabrication of volatile compounds loaded-chitosan biopolymer nanoparticles: Optimization, characterization and assessment against Aspergillus flavus and aflatoxin B1 contamination.

The study demonstrates the use of chitosan as a carrier agent of designed antifungal formulation (CME 4:1:1) based on a combination of plant compounds such as trans- cinnamaldehyde (C), methyl eugenol (M), and estragole (E). The formulation was encapsulated inside the chitosan biopolymer nanomatrix (Ne-CME) and characterized by SEM, FTIR, and XRD. The Ne-CME exhibited enhanced antifungal and aflatoxin B1 inhibitory effect compared to the individual compounds and unencapsulated form. Ne-CME (0.04 µl/ml) caused significant protection of Piper longum fruit from fungal (90.05%) and aflatoxin B1 (100%) contamination and had no significant negative effects on its nutritional properties. In addition, the probable antifungal mechanism of Ne-CME was investigated using in-silico (effect on Omt-1 and Vbs structural genes of AFB1 biosynthesis) and biochemical (perturbances in the cell membrane, carbohydrate catabolism, methyl-glyoxal, mitochondrial membrane potential, and antioxidant defense system) assay.

Characterisation of the membrane transport of pilocarpine in cell suspension cultures of Pilocarpus microphyllus.

Pilocarpine is an alkaloid obtained from the leaves of Pilocarpus genus, with important pharmaceutical applications. Previous reports have investigated the production of pilocarpine by Pilocarpus microphyllus cell cultures and tried to establish the alkaloid biosynthetic route. However, the site of pilocarpine accumulation inside of the cell and its exchange to the medium culture is still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the intracellular accumulation of pilocarpine and characterise its transport across membranes in cell suspension cultures of P. microphyllus. Histochemical analysis and toxicity assays indicated that pilocarpine is most likely stored in the vacuoles probably to avoid cell toxicity. Assays with exogenous pilocarpine supplementation to the culture medium showed that the alkaloid is promptly uptaken but it is rapidly metabolised. Treatment with specific ABC protein transporter inhibitors and substances that disturb the activity of secondary active transporters suppressed pilocarpine uptake and release suggesting that both proteins may participate in the traffic of pilocarpine to inside and outside of the cells. As bafilomicin A1, a specific V-type ATPase inhibitor, had little effect and NH4Cl (induces membrane proton gradient dissipation) had moderate effect, while cyclosporin A and nifedipine (ABC proteins inhibitors) strongly inhibited the transport of pilocarpine, it is believed that ABC proteins play a major role in the alkaloid transport across membranes but it is not the exclusive one. Kinetic studies supported these results.

Efecto del extracto acuoso de Piper elongatum Vahl. (matico) sobre la motilidad intestinal en ratones / Effect of aqueous extract from Piper elongatum Vahl (matico) on the intestinal motility in mice

Objetivo: evaluar el efecto del extracto acuoso de Piper elongatum Vahl. (matico) sobre la motilidad intestinal en ratones BALB/c. Métodos: estudio experimental. Se empleó el método del carbón activado. Los grupos fueron: Grupo 1 control negativo con NaCl 9.0 por ciento, Grupo 2 control positivo con loperamida 10 mg/Kg, grupos tratamiento de la planta a dosis de 125 mg/Kg (Grupo3), 250 mg/Kg (Grupo4) y 500 mg/Kg (Grupo5). Se utilizaron las pruebas estadísticas de ShapiroWilk, ANOVA y Bonferroni; se consideró p<0,05 como significativo e intervalo de confianza 95 por ciento. Resultados: el porcentaje del intestino recorrido por el carbón activado fue de 69,4±4,5; 24,9±3,0; 75,3±4,3; 71,1±4,5; 56,4±2,7 y 59,4±3,0 en los grupos del 1 al 5, respectivamente. La prueba post hoc Bonferroni no mostró diferencias entre el control negativo y los grupos tratamiento con Piper elongatum Vahl., mientras que sí existió diferencia entre el control positivo con los demás grupos y entre el grupo 3 y 5 (p<0,001). Conclusiones: el extracto acuoso de las hojas de Piper elongatum Vahl. no posee efecto sobre la motilidad intestinal a las dosis evaluadas, se requieren más estudios(AU)

Objective: to evaluate the effect of aqueous extract from Piper elongatum Vahl (matico) on the intestinal motility in BALB/c mice. Methods: experimental study that used activated carbon. The involved groups were: Group 1 with negative control with 9.0 percent NaCl; Group 2 positive control with loperamide 10mg/Kg, groups treated with the plant at doses of 125 mg/kg (Group3), 250 mg/kg (Group4) and 500 mg/Kg (Group5). ShapiroWilk, ANOVA and Bonferroni statistical tests were used; p<0.05 was considered as significant and 95 percent confidence interval. Results: the percentages of intestine explored with the active charcoal were 69,4±4,5; 24,9±3,0; 75,3±4,3; 71,1±4,5; 56,4±2,7 and 59,4±3,0 in groups 1 to 5 respectively. The ANOVA on this variable showed a p<0,001. The post hoc Bonferroni test showed no differences between the negative control and treatment groups with Piper elongatum Vahl whereas there was a difference between the positive control and the other groups and between the groups 3 and 5 (p<0.001). Conclusions: the aqueous extract from Piper elongatum Vahl has no effect on the intestinal motility at the evaluated doses, so further studies are needed(AU)