Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Tigridia vanhouttei Extracts.

In this work, bulb extracts of Tigridia vanhouttei were obtained by maceration with solvents of increasing polarity. The extracts were evaluated against a panel of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains using the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested against two cell lines (THP-1 and A549) using the MTT assay. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was evaluated in THP-1 cells by measuring the secretion of pro-inflammatory (IL-6 and TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines by ELISA. The chemical composition of the extracts was recorded by FTIR spectroscopy, and their chemical profiles were evaluated using GC-MS. The results revealed that only hexane extract inhibited the growth of the clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 200 µg/mL. Against THP-1 cells, hexane and chloroform extracts were moderately cytotoxic, as they exhibited LC50 values of 90.16, and 46.42 µg/mL, respectively. Treatment with methanol extract was weakly cytotoxic at LC50 443.12 µg/mL against the same cell line. Against the A549 cell line, hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts were weakly cytotoxic because of their LC50 values: 294.77, 1472.37, and 843.12 µg/mL. The FTIR analysis suggested the presence of natural products were confirmed by carboxylic acids, ketones, hydroxyl groups, or esters. The GC-MS profile of extracts revealed the presence of phytosterols, tetracyclic triterpenes, multiple fatty acids, and sugars. This report confirms the antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of T. vanhouttei.

Impact of the Persistence of Three Essential Oils with Antifungal Activities on Stored Wheat Grains, Flour, and Baked Products.

Wheat grains are exposed to several plagues after harvesting and during storage. These plagues include bacteria, fungi, and insects with detrimental outcomes to their quality and heavy losses to the farmers. Fungi are of special interest because of their ability to produce mycotoxins with health concerns. Once grains are harvested, synthetic fungicides, which are sprayed before long-term storage, normally control fungi; however, these synthetic products represent a health concern because of their toxicities. Previously, we reported the antifungal activity of the essential oils extracted from Porophyllum linaria, Agastache mexicana, and Buddleja perfoliata against fungal strains isolated from stored wheat. In this study, we sprayed wheat grains with the same essential oils to measure their persistence interval and to prepare baked products to assess potential changes in their physical properties. The persistence interval of the essential oils in grains indicated that it takes between 63 and 134 days to eliminate 90% of the original compounds. This extended time of the compounds in the grains together with a lack of physical properties modifications of the flour and baked products (post-treatment) suggest that the presence of oils in the grains is potentially safe to use. The solid data denote the technological feasibility of the treatment and the possible management of residues through adequate safety intervals.

Natural Antispasmodics: Source, Stereochemical Configuration, and Biological Activity.

Natural products with antispasmodic activity have been used in traditional medicine to alleviate different illnesses since the remote past. We searched the literature and compiled the antispasmodic activity of 248 natural compounds isolated from terrestrial plants. In this review, we summarized all the natural products reported with antispasmodic activity until the end of 2017. We also provided chemical information about their extraction as well as the model used to test their activities. Results showed that members of the Lamiaceae and Asteraceae families had the highest number of isolated compounds with antispasmodic activity. Moreover, monoterpenoids, flavonoids, triterpenes, and alkaloids were the chemical groups with the highest number of antispasmodic compounds. Lastly, a structural comparison of natural versus synthetic compounds was discussed.

Toxicity evaluation of high-fluorescent rare-earth metal nanoparticles for bioimaging applications.

Research on nanometer-sized luminescent semiconductors and their biological applications in detectors and contrasting agents is an emergent field in nanotechnology. When new nanosize technologies are developed for human health applications, their interaction with biological systems should be studied in depth. Rare-earth elements are used in medical and industrial applications, but their toxic effects are not known. In this work, the biological interaction between terbium-doped gadolinium oxysulfide nanoparticles (GOSNPs) with human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC), human-derived macrophages (THP-1), and human cervical carcinoma cell (HeLa) were evaluated. The GOSNPs were synthetized using a hydrothermal method to obtain monodisperse nanoparticles with an average size of 91 ± 9 nm. Characterization techniques showed the hexagonal phase of the Gd2 O2 S:Tb3+ free of impurities, and a strong green emission at λemi = 544 nm produced by Tb3+ was observed. Toxic effects of GOSNPs were evaluated using cell viability, apoptosis, cell-cycle progression, and immunological response techniques. In addition, an Artemia model was used to assess the toxicity in vivo. Results indicated cell apoptosis in both types of cells with less sensitivity for PBMC cells compared to HeLa cells. In addition, no toxic effects were observed in the in vivo model of Artemia. Moreover, GOSNPs significantly reduced the activation and cell-cycle progression of PBMC and HeLa cells, respectively. Interestingly, an increase in proinflammatory cytokines was not observed. Our data suggest that fluorescence applications of GOSNPs for biolabeling are not toxic in primary immune cells and they may have an immunomodulatory effect. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part B: Appl Biomater, 105B: 605-615, 2017.

Antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and anti-inflammatory activities of Pleopeltis polylepis.

AIM OF THE STUDY: Pleopeltis polylepis (Polypodaceae) is a fern used in the traditional Mexican medicine to treat fever, bleeding, typhoid, cough, pertussis, chest pain, and renal and hepatic diseases. The aim of this study was to analyze the bioactivities of different extracts, fractions and isolated compounds from this species to scientifically validate its medicinal applications. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aerial parts of P. polylepis were macerated and extracted consecutively with hexane, chloroform, and methanol. These extracts were subsequently fractionated and compounds from hexane and methanol extracts were purified. The antimicrobial activity was assessed using a panel of eight Gram-positive and -negative bacterial and four fungal strains. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was assessed by flow cytometry using propidium iodide and the human-derived monocytic cell line THP-1. The anti-inflammatory activity was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6 and IL-10 using also the cell line THP-1. RESULTS: Various extracts, fractions and compounds obtained from this plant showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and -negative strains. Antifungal activity was confirmed only in Candida albicans and Tricophyton mentagrophytes. Two fractions and two isolated compounds (butyl myristate and ß-sitosterol) showed no significant cytotoxicity and were further evaluated for their anti-inflammatory activity. All four samples tested showed an anti-inflammatory activity similar to prednisone used as a control. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of P. polylepis as a traditional plant related to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities was confirmed by in vitro assays. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the isolation and bioactivities of extracts, fractions or isolated compounds from P. polylepis.

Antifeedant and phagostimulant activity of extracts and pure compounds from Hymenoxys robusta on Spodoptera exigua (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) larvae.

In this study, the insecticidal and antifeedant activities of compounds from the leaves of Hymenoxys robusta on Spodoptera exigua, also known as armyworm, are reported. The methanol extract possessed suppressive activity, as well as a high antifeedant activity, suggesting that this extract has toxic effects on larvae. Compounds isolated from the plant show that a derivative of inositol and hymenolides stimulate the feeding, while vermeerin shows a high antifeedant effect. In addition, the methanol extract inhibited oviposition, whereas consumption of the n-hexane extract and hymenolides produced infertile eggs. These findings suggest that compounds extracted from H. robusta have potential for the development of products for pest control.

Exploring the biological activities of Echeveria leucotricha.

Echeveria leucotricha J. A. Purpus (Crassulaceae) was evaluated for its potential antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory bioactivities. Aerial parts were extracted with hexane, methanol and chloroform, and fractionated accordingly. Biological activity was assessed in vitro against five Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria, four human pathogenic fungi and the protozoan Leishmania donovani. Extracts and fractions showing bioactivities were further investigated for their cytotoxic activities on macrophages. Results show that several extracts and fractions exhibited significant antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic activities, but no anti-inflammatory activity was recorded. Here, we report for the first time, and to the best of our knowledge, these bioactivities, which suggest that this plant can be used in the traditional Mexican medicine.

Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic activities of Laennecia confusa.

The current paper investigated the potential benefit of the traditional Mexican medicinal plant Laennecia confusa (Cronquist) G. L. Nesom (Asteraceae). Fractions from the hexane, chloroform, methanol, and aqueous extracts were analyzed for antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antiparasitic activities. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts and fractions was assessed on bacterial and fungal strains, in addition to the protozoa Leishmania donovani, using a microdilution assay. The propensity of the plant's compounds to produce adverse effects on human health was also evaluated using propidium iodine to identify damage to human macrophages. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts and fractions was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6. Chemical analyses demonstrated the presence of flavonoids, cyanogenic and cardiotonic glycosides, saponins, sesquiterpene lactones, and triterpenes in the chloroform extract. A number of extracts and fractions show antibacterial activity. Of particular interest is antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and its relative methicillin-resistant strain, MRSA. Hexanic and chloroformic fractions also exhibit antifungal activity and two extracts and the fraction CE 2 antiparasitic activity against Leishmania donovani. All bioactive extracts and fractions assayed were also found to be cytotoxic to macrophages. In addition, the hexane and methane extracts show anti-inflammatory activity by suppressing the secretion of interleukine-6.

Antimicrobial activities of sesquiterpene lactones and inositol derivatives from Hymenoxys robusta.

Six compounds from the aerial parts of the Argentinean plant Hymenoxys robusta (Rusby) Parker were isolated and their structures elucidated using extensive spectroscopic analyses. These compounds comprise two inositol derivatives and four 3,4-seco-pseudoguaianolides, including vermeerin. Bioactivity assays of these compounds against bacterial and fungal pathogens showed that only vermeerin possessed antimicrobial activity specific against Staphylococcus aureus, and showed no toxicity when exposed to human-derived macrophages.

Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, and cytotoxic activities of Galium mexicanum.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: To study the potential benefit of the traditional Mexican medicinal plant Galium mexicanum Kunth (Rubiaceae). Hexane, chloroform, and methanol extracts as well as various fractions from these extracts were tested to determine antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic or anti-inflammatory activities in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aerial parts of the plant were extracted with various solvents and fractionated accordingly. Their antibacterial and antifungal activities were assessed on nine bacterial and four fungal strains. Leishmania donovani was used as a protozoan strain for antiparasitic activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the compounds was investigated by measuring the secretion of interleukin-6 when macrophages were exposed to lipopolysaccharide. RESULTS: Various extracts and fractions obtained from this plant exhibit antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. Of special interest was the hexane fraction HE 14 b, which show antibacterial (ranging between 67 and 666 µg/ml) and antifungal (at concentrations of 333 µg/ml) activities. Also the hexane fraction HE 5 exhibited antiparasitic activity (at concentrations of 260 µg/ml), whereas the methanol fraction ME 13-15 showed a potent anti-inflammatory activity when compared to dexamethasone. Chemical analyses of the chloroform extract show the presence of triterpenes, saponins, flavonoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and glucosides, but no tannins were detected in the assayed extract. CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of Galium mexicanum as a traditional medicinal plant was confirmed using antibacterial and antifungal assays in vitro. We also report for the first time, and to the best of our knowledge, antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory activities of this plant.