Amoebicidal and trichomonicidal capacity of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with extracts of the plants Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) and Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae) / Capacidad amebicida y tricomonicida de nanopartículas poliméricas cargadas con extractos de las plantas Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) y Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae)

Abstract Introduction: Pathogenic protozoans, like Entamoeba histolytica and Trichomonas vaginalis, represent a major health problem in tropical countries; and polymeric nanoparticles could be used to apply plant extracts against those parasites. Objective: To test Curcuma longa ethanolic extract and Berberis vulgaris methanolic extracts, and their main constituents, against two species of protozoans. Methods: We tested the extracts, as well as their main constituents, curcumin (Cur) and berberine (Ber), both non-encapsulated and encapsulated in polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), in vitro. We also determined nanoparticle characteristics by photon correlation spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy, and hemolytic capacity by hemolysis in healthy erythrocytes. Results: C. longa consisted mainly of tannins, phenols, and flavonoids; and B. vulgaris in alkaloids. Encapsulated particles were more effective (P < 0.001); however, curcumin and berberine nanoparticles were the most effective treatments. CurNPs had IC50 values (µg/mL) of 9.48 and 4.25, against E. histolytica and T. vaginalis, respectively, and BerNPs 0.24 and 0.71. The particle size and encapsulation percentage for CurNPs and BerNPs were 66.5 and 73.4 nm, and 83.59 and 76.48 %, respectively. The NPs were spherical and significantly reduced hemolysis when compared to non-encapsulated extracts. Conclusions: NPs represent a useful and novel bioactive compound delivery system for therapy in diseases caused by protozoans.

Resumen Introducción: Los protozoos patógenos, como Entamoeba histolytica y Trichomonas vaginalis, representan un importante problema de salud en los países tropicales; y se podrían usar nanopartículas poliméricas para aplicar extractos de plantas contra esos parásitos. Objetivo: Probar los extractos etanólicos de Curcuma longa y Berberis vulgaris, y sus principales constituyentes, contra dos especies de protozoos. Métodos: Probamos los extractos, así como sus principales constituyentes, curcumina (Cur) y berberina (Ber), tanto no encapsulados como encapsulados en nanopartículas poliméricas (NPs), in vitro. También determinamos las características de las nanopartículas por espectroscopía de correlación de fotones y microscopía electrónica de barrido, y la capacidad hemolítica por hemólisis en eritrocitos sanos. Resultados: C. longa tenía principalmente: taninos, fenoles y flavonoides; y B. vulgaris, alcaloides. Las partículas encapsuladas fueron más efectivas (P < 0.001); sin embargo, las nanopartículas de curcumina y berberina fueron los tratamientos más efectivos. CurNPs tenía valores IC50 (µg/mL) de 9.48 y 4.25, contra E. histolytica y T. vaginalis, respectivamente, y BerNPs 0.24 y 0.71. El tamaño de partícula y el porcentaje de encapsulación para CurNPs y BerNPs fueron: 66.5 y 73.4 nm, y 83.59 y 76.48 %, respectivamente. Los NP son esféricos y redujeron significativamente la hemólisis en comparación con los extractos no encapsulados. Conclusiones: Las NP representan un sistema de administración de compuestos bioactivos útil y novedoso para la terapia enfermedades causadas por protozoos.

Protein Concentrates on Tepary Bean (Phaseolus acutifolius Gray) as a Functional Ingredient: In silico Docking of Tepary Bean Lectin to Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma.

The tepary bean (Phaseolus acutifolius Gray) is a US-Mexico frontier native crop, produces high yields in agriculture, and needs to be reconsidered because of its nutritional and functional properties. This study aimed to determine the technological and nutritional properties of flours and protein concentrates of tepary bean, besides determining an in silico agonist effect of tepary bean lectin to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ). We evaluated the technological properties of raw samples (tepary flour and tepary protein concentrate) and cooked samples (tepary flour and tepary protein concentrate). The flours present a significant difference (p < 0.05) concerning protein concentrates in water absorption and oil absorption capacity. The raw samples' emulsifying capacity was higher than that reported in the literature for other legumes, but not the cooked samples. The samples' foaming capacity had no significant difference in treatments (p > 0.05), and cooked tepary bean protein concentrate presented complete gelation at a lower concentration (2%). Nutritionally, raw samples present a protein percentage of 23.46 ± 0.06 and 71.38 ± 0.44 and cooked samples present a protein percentage of 25.27 ± 0.04 and 62.69 ± 0.14; a chemical score of 72, 86, 82, and 72; in vitro protein digestibility (%) = 48.20 ± 0.31, 49.80 ± 0.80, 61.77 ± 1.70, and 63.61 ± 4.19; and C-PER = 0.86, 1.34, 1.93, and 1.81, respectively. All the samples showed methionine + cysteine as the limiting amino acid. All these nutritional data are very similar to the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris). SDS-PAGE preserves the lectin fraction in both protein concentrates. The in silico study of tepary lectin (PDB: 6tt9) shows that there were seven peptides that presented values below -120 kcal/mol: PEW, VSVGF, PSQK, TTPW, ATSF, ITY, and TSF, with VSVGF, PSQK, and PEW having the highest affinity for active sites of the PAPRγ receptor (binding energies from -5.32 to -7.04 kcal/mol). These peptides could show antiadipogenic or antidiabetic activity based on the intermolecular bond energies and open an interesting research item.

Studied of Prunus serotine oil extracted by cold pressing and antioxidant effect of P. longiflora essential oil.

Prunus serotine oil, was extracted from the seeds without shells, resulting in an oil yield of 23.41 ± 3.62%. Through GC it was shown that 52.38% of the total fatty acids present in the oil were polyunsaturated fatty acids. The fatty acids profile presented in the P. serotine oil were oleic (41.42%), linoleic (26.97%) and α-eleostearic acid (25.33%). It had a high concentration of total phenols (221 ± 15.85 mg as gallic acid equivalents/kg oil) and flavonoids (0.77 ± 0.01 mg catechin equivalents/kg oil). The antiradical activity was 31.52 ± 2.71% and 12.94 ± 0.67% of radical inhibition for colorimetric methods using ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid)] and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), respectively. The activity inhibition was 2.3 (ABTS) and 1.8 (DPPH) times higher, respectively, than the ones of Prunus dulcis oil. Lipid oxidation showed that at day nine, P. serotine oil has it maximum hydroperoxide production through two methods (hydroperoxide and MDA). Three oregano fractions were added (code: 642, 655 and A01) as natural antioxidants at four different concentrations (3000, 300, 30 and 3 ppm) each one, to extend its shelf life. Fraction 642 managed to extend its shelf life until day 30 (30 °C ± 2 °C), in both methodologies. The fraction 642 at 3 ppm, controls the production of hydroperoxide formation. Resulting in values of 3.65 µM equivalents of cumene hydroperoxide/kg of oil and 10.29 µM equivalents of 1,1,3,3-Tetraethoxypropane/kg of oil, decreasing by 3.2 times the peroxide formation with respect to P. serotine oil without leaving a Poliomintha longiflora fraction.

Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effect of Hydrogel with Origanum vulgare on Culture of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus

ABSTRACT: The oral cavity is an ecosystem that provides ideal conditions for the growth of bacteria, the Streptococcus genus is important for the formation of biofilms that lead to the development of dental caries, which affects the population worldwide. The world health organization encourages the use of plants thanks to its various therapeutic actions. Origanum vulgare L. (oregano), is an aromatic plant with medicinal and culinary properties. The objective of this study was to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the ethanolic extract of oregano, against the growth of Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC. Leaves of the plant were obtained and the ethanolic extract was made by maceration. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the Kirby-Bauer method and compared with 2% chlorhexidine, subsequently the extract was incorporated into a hydrogel and its effect on biofilm formation was assessed by fluorescence microscopy and the main compounds were identified. present in the extratco. The study revealed that the extract presented antimicrobial effect against both strains and at 2% it showed high antimicrobial action compared to chlorhexidine at the same concentration, with average inhibition halos of 26.3 mm and 19 mm for each microorganism analyzed, (p < 0.05). Likewise, the hydrogel prepared with 2% extract significantly eliminated the preformed Streptococcus biofilm, at 24 hours of exposure, due to the presence of a variety of chemical groups, such as sterols, triterpenes, flavonoids, flavanones, flavanonol s, lactones. sesquiterpenic, tannins and coumarins. The oregano extract presented high antimicrobial action for both species, with a greater effect towards Streptococcus mutans and an interesting antibiofilm action; These results show the importance of exploring treatment alternatives of plant origin, to be considered as interesting complementary aids in dental therapy.

RESUMEN: La cavidad oral es un ecosistema que proporciona condiciones ideales para el crecimiento de bacterias, el género Streptococcus es importante para la formación de biopelículas que conducen al desarrollo de caries dental, que afecta a la población a nivel mundial. La organización mundial de la salud, fomenta el uso de plantas gracias a sus diversas acciones terapéuticas. Origanum vulgare L. (orégano), es una planta aromática con propiedades medicinales y culinarias. El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar la actividad antimicrobiana y antibiofilm in vitro del extracto etanólico de oregano, contra el crecimiento de Streptococcus mutans y Streptococcus sobrinus ATCC. Se obtuvierón hojas de la planta y se realizó el extracto etanólico mediante maceración. La actividad antimicrobiana se evaluó mediante el método de Kirby-Bauer y se comparó con la clorhexidina al 2 %, posteriormente se incorporó el extracto en un hydrogel y se valoró su efecto sobre la formación del biofilm mediante microscopía de fluorescencia y se identificó los principales compuestos presentes en el extratco. El estudio reveló que el extracto presentó efecto antimicrobiano contra ambas cepas y al 2 % mostró alta acción antimicrobiana en comparación con la clorhexidina a la misma concentración, con halos de inhibición promedio de 26.3 mm y de 19 mm para cada microorganismo analizado, (p < 0.05). Así mismo, el hidrogel preparado con extracto al 2 %, eliminó significativamente la biopelícula preformada de Streptococcus, a las 24 horas de exposición, debido a la presencia de una variedad de grupos químicos, como esteroles, triterpenos, flavonoides, flavanonas, flavanonoles, lactonas sesquiterpénicas, taninos y cumarinas. El extracto de orégano presentó alta acción antimicrobiana para ambas especies, con mayor efecto hacia el Streptococcus mutans y una acción antibiofilm interesante; estos resultados muestran la importancia de explorar en alternativas de tratamiento de origen vegetal, para considerarse como auxiliares complementarios interesantes en la terapia dental.