The non-euphoric phytocannabinoid cannabidivarin counteracts intestinal inflammation in mice and cytokine expression in biopsies from UC pediatric patients.

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) using marijuana have been reported to experience symptomatic benefit. Cannabidivarin (CBDV) is a safe non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid able to activate and desensitize TRPA1, a member of the TRP channels superfamily, which plays a pivotal role in intestinal inflammation. Here, we have investigated the potential intestinal anti-inflammatory effect of CBDV in mice and in biopsies from pediatric patients with active UC. Colonic inflammation was induced in mice by dinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (DNBS). The effect of orally administered CBDV on macroscopic and microscopic damage, inflammatory parameters (i.e. myeloperoxidase activity, intestinal permeability and cytokine production) and faecal microbiota composition, was evaluated 3 days after DNBS administration. TRPA1 expression was studied by RT-PCR in inflamed colons of mice as well as in mucosal colonic biopsies of children with active UC, whose response to incubation with CBDV was also investigated. CBDV attenuates, in a TRPA1-antagonist sensitive manner, DNBS-induced signs of inflammation including neutrophil infiltration, intestinal permeability, and cytokine (i.e. IL-1ß, IL-6 and the chemokine MCP-1) production. CBDV also alters the dysregulation of gut microbiota associated to colitis. Finally, CBDV lessens cytokine expression in colonic biopsies from pediatric patients with ulcerative colitis, a condition in which TRPA1 was up-regulated. Our preclinical study shows that CBDV exerts intestinal anti-inflammatory effects in mice via TRPA1, and in children with active UC. Since CBDV has a favorable safety profile in humans, it may be considered for possible clinical trials in patients with UC.

Olive leaf extract counteracts epithelial to mesenchymal transition process induced by peritoneal dialysis, through the inhibition of TGFß1 signaling.

The mesothelial cells (MCs) play an important role in the morpho-functional alterations of the peritoneal membrane (PM) undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). MCs, through the epithelial-mesenchymal transition process (EMT), progressively acquire a myofibroblast-like phenotype, promoting peritoneal fibrosis (PF) and failure of peritoneal membrane function. Transforming growth factor ß1 (TGFß1), through canonical and non-canonical pathways, promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process leading to PF. To investigate the therapeutic potential of an olive leaf extract (OLE) on preserving peritoneal membrane function, we evaluated the effect of OLE on the TGFß1-induced EMT in mesothelial cells, Met5A, and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. As assessed by changes in the expression of epithelial, mesenchymal, and fibrotic cell markers (such as E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-SMA, fibronectin, vimentin), levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP2 and MMP9), and cell migration, OLE inhibited the TGFß1-induced EMT. Importantly, the beneficial effect of OLE was mediated by reduction of the TGFß1-induced activation of Smad2/3 signaling and the mitigation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) phosphorylation. Smad/non-Smad signaling pathways, activated by TGFß1, both reduce expression of epithelial marker E-cadherin which has a crucial role in EMT initiation. Interestingly, we observed that in presence of OLE activity of the E-cadherin, promoter was increased and concomitantly OLE reduced the nuclear content of its co-repressor SNAIL. Our results suggest the potential therapeutic of OLE to counteract fibrotic process in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Olive leaf extract counteracts cell proliferation and cyst growth in an in vitro model of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by progressive enlargement of kidney cysts, leading to chronic kidney disease. Since the available treatment for ADPKD is limited, there is emerging interest for natural compounds as potential therapeutic candidates. The aim of our study was to investigate whether an olive leaf extract may be able to counteract the cyst growth in an in vitro model of ADPKD. We treated WT9-12 cells with an olive leaf extract (OLE). In monolayer culture we evaluated cell viability by the MTT assay, protein expression by western-blot analysis and apoptosis by DNA laddering and TUNEL assays. For functional studies we used transient transfection and ChIP assays. Intracellular calcium measurement was performed with a spectrofluorimeter using a fluorescent probe. 3D-cell-culture was used for cyst growth studies. OLE reduced the WT9-12 cell growth rate and affected intracellular signaling due to high c-AMP levels, as OLE reduced PKA levels, enhanced p-AKT, restored B-Raf-inactivation and down-regulated p-ERK. We elucidated the molecular mechanism by which OLE, via Sp1, transactivates the p21WAF1/Cip1 promoter, whose levels are down-regulated by mutated PKD1. We demonstrated that p-AKT up-regulation also played a crucial role in the OLE-induced anti-apoptotic effect and that OLE ameliorated intracellular calcium levels, the primary cause of ADPKD. Finally, using a 3D-cell-culture model we observed that OLE reduced the cyst size. Therefore, multifaceted OLE may be considered a new therapeutic approach for ADPKD treatment.

Effect of the monostearate/monopalmitate ratio on the oral release of active agents from monoacylglycerol organogels.

The delivery of active agents from organogels is becoming an important topic owing to the possibility of releasing, in a controlled way, lipophilic agents. Controlled release from foods is a topic with increasing relevance owing to the growing industrial interest towards functional or medical foods, i.e. foods containing nutraceutical agents or drugs. Anyway, release properties are related to the rheological properties of organogels, and, therefore, a deep knowledge of their microstructure and physical characteristics is necessary to design carriers with expected release properties. In this work, two low molecular weight gelators (i.e. glycerol monopalmitate, GMP, and glycerol monostearate, GMS) have been investigated using rheology, microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, IR, aiming at understanding the effects of different gelator ratios on organogel properties. It was observed that GMP, within the range of investigated compositions, seems to be more effective in yielding consistent organogels and this effect was related to differences in microstructure with respect to GMS. Their ability to control the oral release of active agents was investigated, in vitro, using a chemotherapeutic drug for adenocarcinoma of the gastrointestinal tract, 5 fluorouracil (5-FU). A physical model based on carrier erosion was used to describe the release data, evidencing a good agreement with experimental values. Among the tested samples it seems that the use of 90% of GMS (over total organogelator content) yields promising results allowing a good partition of the released drug between the gastric and intestinal tracts with the largest value (although lower than 40% of loaded amount) of the total released drug.

Co-Culture of Plant Beneficial Microbes as Source of Bioactive Metabolites.

In microbial cultures the production of secondary metabolites is affected by experimental conditions, and the discovery of novel compounds is often prevented by the re-isolation of known metabolites. To limit this, it is possible to cultivate microorganisms by simulating naturally occurring interactions, where microbes co-exist in complex communities. In this work, co-culturing experiments of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma harzianum M10 and the endophyte Talaromyces pinophilus F36CF have been performed to elicit the expression of genes which are not transcribed in standard laboratory assays. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the co-culture induced the accumulation of siderophores for both fungi, while production of M10 harzianic and iso-harzianic acids was not affected by F36CF. Conversely, metabolites of the latter strain, 3-O-methylfunicone and herquline B, were less abundant when M10 was present. A novel compound, hereby named harziaphilic acid, was isolated from fungal co-cultures, and fully characterized. Moreover, harzianic and harziaphilic acids did not affect viability of colorectal cancer and healthy colonic epithelial cells, but selectively reduced cancer cell proliferation. Our results demonstrated that the co-cultivation of plant beneficial fungi may represent an effective strategy to modulate the production of bioactive metabolites and possibly identify novel compounds.

Mode of action of lactoperoxidase as related to its antimicrobial activity: a review.

Lactoperoxidase is a member of the family of the mammalian heme peroxidases which have a broad spectrum of activity. Their best known effect is their antimicrobial activity that arouses much interest in in vivo and in vitro applications. In this context, the proper use of lactoperoxidase needs a good understanding of its mode of action, of the factors that favor or limit its activity, and of the features and properties of the active molecules. The first part of this review describes briefly the classification of mammalian peroxidases and their role in the human immune system and in host cell damage. The second part summarizes present knowledge on the mode of action of lactoperoxidase, with special focus on the characteristics to be taken into account for in vitro or in vivo antimicrobial use. The last part looks upon the characteristics of the active molecule produced by lactoperoxidase in the presence of thiocyanate and/or iodide with implication(s) on its antimicrobial activity.

Development of a colorimetric method for the dosage of OI- anions and I2 in aqueous media.

Lactoperoxidase catalyzes the oxidation of thiocyanate (SCN-) and iodide (I-) in presence of hydrogen peroxide in hypothiocyanite (OSCN-) ions and, depending on the pH, in hypoiodite (OI-) ions or in iode (I2). Oxidized SCN- and I- are part of the lactoperoxidase system, which is a natural biological protection in cow milk, and are described as having inhibitory properties against pathogenic human bacteria, fungi and viruses. We have developed an aqueous solution containing only OSCN- and OI- ions (without the enzyme) and we tested it successfully against plant pathogens. In order to characterize this new soft chemical control against plant pathogens we had to determine the concentration of OSCN- and OI- ions. The dosage of OSCN- consists in a well referenced colorimetric method but no procedure is described for the determination of OI- ions. We have thus developed an easy method, based on the oxidation of the amine moiety of 3,3',5,5'- tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) by OI- or I2 in a strongly absorbing blue product for the detection and dosage of both molecules. Interestingly the OSCN- ions are not able to oxidize TMB and render this method specific to enzymatic oxidized iodide. We have calculated its sensitivity, repeatability and linearity. This method could also be used for the determination of OCI- and OBr- ions produced during the enzymatic oxidation of chloride and bromide by mammalian's peroxidases.

Imprinted hydrophilic nanospheres as drug delivery systems for 5-fluorouracil sustained release.

Molecularly imprinted hydrogel nanospheres as devices for the controlled/sustained release of 5-fluororacil in biological fluids were synthesized employing one-pot precipitation technique as the polymerization method. Methacrylic acid as a functional monomer and ethylene glycole dimethacrylate as a cross-linker were used in polymeric feed. Morphological and hydrophilic properties were determined by scanning electron microscopy and water content measurement, and recognition and selectivity properties of spherical molecularly imprinted polymers were compared with the spherical non-imprinted polymers, both in organic (acetonitrile) and water media. Finally, in vitro release studies were performed in plasma simulating fluids.

Molecular features of new Peach Latent Mosaic Viroid variants suggest that recombination may have contributed to the evolution of this infectious RNA.

Nucleotide sequences of a broad range of Peach Latent Mosaic Viroid (PLMVd) variants were determined. The variants were isolated from peach, pear, and almond tree samples collected in Tunisia. Sequence analysis confirmed the high variability of PLMVd, as no less than 119 new variants were identified. Variations included new polymorphic positions, insertions of 11 to 14 nucleotides, and new mutations within the hammerhead self-cleavage motifs. We provide the first covariation-based evidence for certain stems within the proposed secondary structure. Our covariation analysis also strengthens the view that a pseudoknot closes the replication domain. On the basis of phylogenetic tree studies and informative positions, PLMVd variants are proposed to cluster into groups and subgroups likely to have resulted from recombination events. PLMVd thus emerges as a suitable viroid for retracing the evolution of an RNA genome.