Evaluation of the Antigenotoxic Potential of Two Types of Chayote (Sechium edule) Juices.

Sechium edule (Jacq.) Swartz is a perennial herbaceous climbing plant with tendrils and tuberous roots belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family. Its fruits ("chayote"), stems, roots, and leaves are edible and are commonly ingested by humans. It has shown medicinal properties attributed to its bioactive compounds (vitamins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, triterpenoids, polyphenolic compounds, phytosterols, and cucurbitacins), which together have been associated with the control and prevention of chronic and infectious diseases, highlighting its antibacterial, anti-cardiovascular/antihypertensive, antiepileptic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, antiproliferative, and antioxidant activities. The objective of the study was to determine the antigenotoxic potential of two types of fresh chayote juice (filtered (FChJ) and unfiltered (UFChJ)) against DNA damage produced by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) using an in vivo mouse peripheral blood micronucleus assay (MN). The juices were consumed freely for 2 weeks. A negative control, a control group of each juice, a positive batch [B[a]P], and two combined batches (B[a]P plus FChJ or UFChJ) were included. Blood smears were stained and observed under a microscope to quantify the number of micronucleated normochromic erythrocytes (MNNEs). The results indicate: (a) B[a]P increased the frequency of MNNEs and reduced the rate of PEs; and (b) no juice produced toxic effects or induced MN. On the contrary, both juices were genoprotective. However, the most significant effect was presented by UFChJ at the end of the experiment (70%). It is suggested that UFChJ has a greater amount of fiber and/or phytochemicals that favor the therapeutic effect. Possibly, the genoprotection is also related to its antioxidant capacity.

Phytochemicals and Their Usefulness in the Maintenance of Health.

Inflammation is the immune system's first biological response to infection, injury, or irritation. Evidence suggests that the anti-inflammatory effect is mediated by the regulation of various inflammatory cytokines, such as nitric oxide, interleukins, tumor necrosis factor alpha-α, interferon gamma-γ, as well as the non-cytokine mediator, prostaglandin E2. Currently, the mechanism of action and clinical usefulness of phytochemicals is known; their action on the activity of cytokines, free radicals, and oxidative stress. The latter are of great relevance in the development of diseases, such that the evidence collected demonstrates the beneficial effects of phytochemicals in maintaining health. Epidemiological evidence indicates that regular consumption of fruits and vegetables is related to a low risk of developing cancer and other chronic diseases.

Effect of Mexican Propolis on Wound Healing in a Murine Model of Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) affects the wound healing process, resulting in impaired healing or aberrant scarring. DM increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, fibroblast senescence and angiogenesis abnormalities, causing exacerbated inflammation accompanied by low levels of TGF-ß and an increase in Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Propolis has been proposed as a healing alternative for diabetic patients because it has antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and proliferative effects and important properties in the healing process. An ethanolic extract of Chihuahua propolis (ChEEP) was obtained and fractionated, and the fractions were subjected to High-Performance Liquid Chromatography with diode-array (HPLC-DAD), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HPLC-MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses and 46 compounds were detected. Deep wounds were made in a murine DM model induced by streptozotocin, and the speed of closure and the wound tensile strength were evaluated by the tensiometric method, which showed that ChEEP had similar activity to Recoveron, improving the speed of healing and increasing the wound tensile strength needed to open the wound again. A histological analysis of the wounds was performed using H&E staining, and when Matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) and α-actin were quantified by immunohistochemistry, ChEEP was shown to be associated with improved histological healing, as indicated by the reduced MMP9 and α-actin expression. In conclusion, topical ChEEP application enhances wound healing in diabetic mice.

Laherradurin Inhibits Tumor Growth in an Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium Colorectal Cancer Model In Vivo.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common neoplasia in the world. Its mortality rate is high due to the lack of specific and effective treatments, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy, among other factors. The natural products in cancer are a primary source of bioactive molecules. In this research, we evaluated the antitumor activity of an acetogenin (ACG), laherradurin (LH), isolated from the Mexican medicinal plant Annona macroprophyllata Donn.Sm. in a CRC murine model. The CRC was induced by azoxymethane-dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS) in Balb/c mice and treated for 21 days with LH or cisplatin. This study shows for the first time the antitumor activity of LH in an AOM/DSS CRC model. The acetogenin diminished the number and size of tumors compared with cisplatin; the histologic studies revealed a recovery of the colon tissue, and the blood toxicity data pointed to less damage in animals treated with LH. The TUNEL assay indicated cell death by apoptosis, and the in vitro studies exhibited that LH inhibited cell migration in HCT116 cells. Our study provides strong evidence of a possible anticancer agent for CRC.

Toxicity induced by dieldrin and chlorpyrifos in the freshwater crayfish Cambarellus montezumae (Cambaridae) / Toxicidad inducida por dieldrín y clorpirifós en Cambarellus montezumae (Cambaridae)

The toxicity induced by insecticides in aquatic organisms is of utmost relevance because it may give a clue about the degree of health or damage of the involved ecosystem. In the present report, we determined the effect of dieldrin (DD) and chlorpyrifos (CP) on the freshwater crayfish, Cambarellus montezumae. The organisms (4-6cm in diameter) were collected in the Ignacio Ramírez Reservoir, situated at 50km Northeast of Mexico City, in the Rio Lerma Basin. Initially, we determined the LC50 value with the Probit method, then the DNA damage with single cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay applied at 24, 48, and 72h of exposure) to the brain and hepatopancreas of animals exposed (in reconstituted water) to 0.05 and 0.5µg/L of each insecticide. In the hepatopancreas of the same organisms, we determined the lipid peroxidation by applying the TBARS test. DNA damage and lipid peroxidation were also evaluated with the same methods to organisms exposed in water from the reservoir. In regard to the LC50 at 72h of exposure, we found a value of 5.1µg/L and a value of 5.62µg/L for DD and CP, respectively. The comet assay applied at different exposure times showed significant DNA damage to both organs, with respect to the control level. In the case of DD, statistical significance was observed for the two doses in the whole evaluated schedule. CP was genotoxic in the brain with the high dose at 72h, and in the hepatopancreas with the two tested doses at all evaluated exposure times. Also, a significant lipid peroxidation increase was detected with the two doses of insecticides. In the study with water from the reservoir, a more pronounced DNA damage was detected. Our results showed strong DNA damage induced by both insecticides in the crayfish, as well as a correlation with the lipid peroxidation effect, suggesting that oxidative stress is involved in the genotoxic alteration. Our results also showed the usefulness of the studied organism as well as the applied tests for the evaluation of toxicological effects, and suggested the pertinence of applying the comet assay to other freshwater organisms to evaluate the bioaccumulation of insecticides. Rev. Biol. Trop. 63 (1): 83-96. Epub 2015 March 01.

La toxicidad inducida por insecticidas en organismos acuáticos es de gran relevancia porque puede orientar sobre el grado de salud o daño del ecosistema involucrado. En el presente estudio determinamos el efecto del dieldrín (DD) y del clorpirifós (CP) en el acocil de agua dulce Cambarellus montezumae. Los organismos (4-6cm de diámetro) se recolectaron en la Represa Ignacio Ramírez, situada a 50km al Noreste de la Ciudad de México, en la cuenca del Río Lerma. Inicialmente determinamos la LC50 con el método de Probit y después el daño al ADN mediante la electroforesis unicelular en gel (ensayo cometa, aplicado a las 24, 48 y 72 h de exposición) en el cerebro y el hepatopáncreas de animales expuestos (en agua reconstituida) a 0.05 y 0.5µg/L de cada insecticida. En el hepatopáncreas de los mismos organismos determinamos la peroxidación lipídica aplicando la prueba de TBARS. El daño al ADN y la peroxidación lipídica también se evaluaron con los mismos métodos en organismos expuestos a los insecticidas en agua de la represa. En relación a la LC50, a las 72h de exposición encontramos un valor de 5.1µg/L y un valor de 5.62µg/L para DD y CP, respectivamente. El ensayo cometa aplicado a diferentes tiempos de exposición mostró un significativo daño al ADN en ambos órganos con respecto al valor del testigo. En el caso del DD se observó significancia estadística para las dos dosis en todo el horario evaluado. CP fue genotóxico en el cerebro con la dosis más alta a las 72 h y en hepatopáncreas con las dos dosis, en todos los tiempos de exposición evaluados. También se detectó un significativo aumento de la peroxidación lipídica con las dos dosis de los insecticidas. En el estudio con el agua de la represa se detectó un daño más pronunciado en el ADN. Nuestros resultados mostraron un fuerte daño al ADN en Cambarellus montezumae por ambos insecticidas, así como una correlación con el efecto de la peroxidación lipídica, lo que sugiere que el estrés oxidativo está involucrado en la alteración genotóxica. Nuestros resultados también mostraron la utilidad del organismo estudiado y de las pruebas aplicadas para evaluar efectos tóxicos, y sugieren la pertinencia de aplicar el ensayo cometa en otros organismos de agua dulce para evaluar la bioacumulación de insecticidas.

La prevención química del cáncer / The chemoprevention of cancer

El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar el concepto, la situación actual y las perspectivas en la prevención química del cáncer. Para dicho análisis se consideraron los mecanismos involucrados en el proceso, las características que requieren los compuestos para ubicarlos en estudios preclínicos y clínicos, y el estado actual en que se encuentran agentes como los retinoides, carotenoides, calcio, ácido alérgico y fumárico, curcumino y aspirina. La información sugiere que la estrategia planteada tiene bases sólidas y que en un futuro cercano se verán efectos positivos en el hombre