RESUMEN
Nano-encapsulation is a technology used to pack substances in order to enhance their stability and bioavailability, but this packing may interact with living systems, causing unexpected toxicity. Vitamin A (vit A) is a substance that has received attention, because in developed countries, the increasing availability of supplements is leading to its excessive intake. This study aims to compare teratogenic effects caused by exposure to the traditional formulation of vit A versus nano-encapsulated vit A. We used ascidian embryos as an alternative model. Ascidians are marine organisms closely related to vertebrates that share with them a body plan and developmental programme, including the morphogenetic role of retinoic acid (RA). Our data showed that the adverse effects of exposure to the same concentration of the two formulations were different, suggesting that the nano-encapsulation increased the bioavailability of the molecule, which could be better absorbed and metabolised to RA, the effective teratogenic substance.
Asunto(s)
Ciona intestinalis/efectos de los fármacos , Nanoestructuras/toxicidad , Teratógenos/toxicidad , Vitamina A/toxicidad , Animales , Disponibilidad Biológica , Liposomas , Nanoestructuras/administración & dosificación , Pruebas de Toxicidad , Vitamina A/administración & dosificaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: This research aimed at improving knowledge as to the chemical composition and the antibacterial and anti-cancer activities of the essential oil of Waldheimia glabra, a wild plant from the Himalayan Mountains. RESULTS: The results obtained by GC-MS showed that spathulenol, 9-tetradecenol, thujopsene, α-thujone, santolina alcohol and terpinen-4-ol were the main constituents of Waldheimia glabra essential oil. These results were confirmed by HS-SPME GC-MS analysis that also reported high amounts of artemisia alcohol and camphor. Disc diffusion assay suggested a mild antibacterial activity against both Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, a dose-response correlation was observed between Waldhemia glabra essential oil concentration and viability of human breast adenocarcinoma cells MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7. CONCLUSIONS: Together with the GC-MS method, HS-SPME GC-MS proved to be a reliable technique to characterise the chemical composition of essential oil obtained from aromatic plants. Further studies will focus on W. glabra phytochemicals and their biological activity, in order to support traditional uses of the plant. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry.
Asunto(s)
Asteraceae/química , Aceites Volátiles/química , Antibacterianos/química , Antibacterianos/aislamiento & purificación , Antibacterianos/farmacología , Antineoplásicos/química , Antineoplásicos/aislamiento & purificación , Antineoplásicos/farmacología , Artemisia/química , Monoterpenos Bicíclicos , Línea Celular Tumoral , Relación Dosis-Respuesta a Droga , Escherichia coli/efectos de los fármacos , Cromatografía de Gases y Espectrometría de Masas/métodos , Humanos , Células MCF-7 , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , Monoterpenos/química , Aceites Volátiles/aislamiento & purificación , Aceites Volátiles/farmacología , Extractos Vegetales/química , Extractos Vegetales/aislamiento & purificación , Extractos Vegetales/farmacología , Sesquiterpenos/química , Staphylococcus aureus/efectos de los fármacos , Terpenos/químicaRESUMEN
A novel use of two components of Cape aloe, aloin A and aloesin, acting as stabilizers in the preparation of gold and silver nanoparticles, is reported. Stable water-soluble particles of different size and shape are prepared by varying the reaction conditions, temperature, reaction time, and reducing agents. Characterization of the obtained particles is performed using UV-visible, attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR), and 1H NMR spectroscopies and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The efficient cellular uptake of 50 nm sized aloin A and aloesin stabilized gold particles into macrophages and HeLa cells was investigated, proposing these particles as nanovehicles.