Invasion of TC-1 cells to skeletal muscle fibers protect them from peroxisomicine A1 (T-514) treatment in a murine model of cancer.

T-514 or Peroxisomicine A1 (PA1) is a toxin isolated from plants of genus Karwinskia. In vitro studies described selective toxicity of PA1 on malignant cell lines. A toxic effect of PA1 on TC-1 cells in vivo was reported. The objective was to evaluate the effect of PA1 over invasion of TC-1 cells to muscle fibers in vivo. TC-1 cells were implanted in 36 mice divided in two groups (n: 18): treated with PA1 or with vehicle, a control group was included. At 10 days, nine mice of each group were euthanized. TC-1 implant site was analyzed by light and electron microscopy, a morphometric study was also performed. Remaining mice were used to evaluate tumor growth and survival time. Results show tumor cells between muscle fibers, with diminution in diameter, change in the staining pattern, loss of continuity of external lamina, and sarcoplasm with tumor cells. Statistically difference was observed between treated group vs control group. PA1 decreased tumor growth and increased the survival time in treated mice. The degree of resistant activity, aggressiveness, and invasiveness of TC-1 cells described in present work; should be taken into account in studies that evaluate effectiveness of therapies using this cancer model.

A new antimycobacterial furanolignan from Leucophyllum frutescens.

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the minor active fractions obtained from the root bark of Leucophyllumfrutescens (Berl.) I. M. Johnst. led to isolation from the n-hexane extract of a new compound with moderate activity against the H37Rv Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain (MIC 63 microg/mL), and low cytotoxicity, as shown by the IC5o against Vero cells. The compound was identified by 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy a s2',5"-dimethoxysesamin.

Evaluación del efecto del tratamiento con ácido lipoico administrado a la rata Wistar intoxicada con el fruto de Karwinskia humboldtiana / Evaluation of the effect of treatment with lipoic acid administered to the Wistar rat intoxicated with the fruit of Karwinskia humboldtiana

La ingesta accidental de fruto de Karwinskia humboldtiana ocasiona una parálisis flácida, simétrica, progresiva y ascendente, similar al síndrome de Guillain-Barré. Evoluciona en el transcurso de 3 a 12 meses hasta su recuperación total, pero los casos graves terminan en la muerte por insuficiencia respiratoria. No existe un tratamiento específico. La lesión histopatológica descrita en nervio periférico de pacientes, y animales de experimentación corresponde a una desmielinización segmentaria acompañada de degeneración Walleriana. Una de las toxinas extraídas a partir de la semilla, la T-514, ocasiona un incremento de radicales libres in vitro. Los radicales libres se han relacionado con la desmielinización que se presenta en otros tipos de neuropatías como en la diabética. Ya que la lesión ultraestructural que se presenta en los modelos animales de diabetes es similar a la que se observa en la intoxicación experimental con fruto de K. humboldtiana, se decidió administrar un potente agente antioxidante, el ácido a-lipoico en un modelo de intoxicación crónica por fruto de K. humboldtiana. Sin embargo, no se observó mejoría sobre las manifestaciones clínicas evaluadas en los animales o sobre las lesiones histopatológicas presentes en el nervio periférico. Estos resultados sugieren que los radicales libres no son el mecanismo principal de lesión sobre el nervio periférico en la polineuropatía causada por K. humboldtiana.

The accidental ingestion of Karwinskia humboldtiana causes a flaccid, symmetrical, progressive and ascending paralysis, similar to Guillain-Barre syndrome. It evolves over the course of 3 to 12 months until full recovery, but severe cases end in death due to respiratory failure. There is no specific treatment. The histopathological lesions described in peripheral nerve of patients and in experimental animals, corresponds to segmental demyelination accompanied by Wallerian degeneration. One of the toxins extracted from the seed, T-514, causes an increase of free radicals in vitro. Free radicals have been associated to demyelination that occurs in other types of neuropathy such as diabetic neuropathy. Since the ultrastructural damage that occurs in animal models of diabetes is similar to that observed in experimental poisoning with the fruit of K. humboldtiana, we decided to administer a powerful antioxidant, a-lipoic acid, in a model of chronic poisoning due of K. humboldtiana. However, no improvement was observed on the clinical manifestations evaluated in animals or in the histopathological lesions in the peripheral nerve. These results suggest that free radicals are not the primary mechanism of injury on the peripheral nerve caused by K. humboldtiana.

Comparison of high-performance liquid chromatographic and thin-layer chromatographic methods for determination of aloin in herbal products containing Aloe vera.

Aloe vera is a medicinal plant used worldwide to treat a variety of conditions and, as such, has important commercial value. Aloin is a principal component of aloe vera leaves and is used for quality control of products containing it. A semiquantitative thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) method for determining the concentration of aloin in aloe-based products was validated. The results were similar to those of a validated high-performance liquid chromatographic method; therefore, TLC, which is a simple, sensitive, specific, rapid, and cheap method, may be ideal for use in any laboratory for routine analysis of commercial products containing aloe vera.

Evaluation of thin-layer chromatography methods for quality control of commercial products containing Aesculus hippocastanum, Turnera diffusa, Matricaria recutita, Passiflora incarnata, and Tilia occidentalis.

In Mexico, plant-derived products with health claims are sold as herbal dietary supplements, and there are no rules for their legal quality control. Aesculus hippocastanum, Turnera diffusa, Matricaria recutita, Passiflora incarnata, and Tilia occidentalis are some of the major commercial products obtained from plants used in this region. In this paper, we describe the effectiveness of thin-layer chromatography methods to provide for the quality control of several commercial products containing these plants. Standardized extracts were used. Of the 49 commercial products analyzed, only 32.65% matched the chromatographic characteristic of standardized extracts. A significant number of commercial products did not match their label, indicating a problem resulting from the lack of regulation for these products. The proposed methods are simple, sensitive, and specific and can be used for routine quality control of raw herbals and formulations of the tested plants. The results obtained show the need to develop simple and reliable analytical methods that can be performed in any laboratory for the purpose of quality control of dietary supplements or commercial herbal products sold in Mexico.