Chemotherapeutic Mechanism of Action of the Synthetic Resorcinolic Methyl 3,5-dimethoxy-2-octanoylbenzoate.

Resorcinolic lipids are described as potential examples of selective chemotherapeutic adjuvants that can enhance the effects of cyclophosphamide (CYC) while promoting cell death without causing DNA damage. Therefore, the current study attempted to describe how the resorcinolic lipid methyl 3,5-dimethoxy-2-octanoylbenzoate (AMS35BB) interacted with DNA (DNA docking) and how this compound affected genetic toxicology models and other biological characteristics when combined with CYC. We observed that AMS35BB, used alone (7.5 and 10 mg/kg), increases the frequency of genomic damage (comet assay) but not chromosomal damage (micronuclei assay), lowers phagocytosis, and promotes cell death in Swiss male mice. When used in association with CYC, AMS35BB can reduce the risk of genomic damage by up to 33.8% as well as chromosomal damage, splenic phagocytosis, cell death, and lymphocyte frequency. Molecular docking showed that AMS35BB had a higher affinity than the active metabolite of CYC for binding to the DNA double helix major groove. As a result, AMS35BB has the potential to be both an adjuvant when used in association with CYC and a therapeutic candidate for the development of a selective chemotherapeutic drug.

Human Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals and Metalloids in Herbal Medicines Used to Treat Anxiety: Monitoring of Safety.

The present study estimated the human health risk assessment and daily intake of heavy metals and metalloids in herbal medicines used to treat anxiety in Brazil. Six different brands of herbal medicines were purchased in the city of Campo Grande/MS, Brazil: Pasalix®, Calman®, Serenus®, Maracugina®, Prakalmar® and Calmasyn®. In total, eight elements including As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, and Pb were analyzed using optical emission spectrometry with inductively coupled plasma (ICP OES). Only the concentration of As in the herbal medicine Prakalmar® is above the values established by United States Pharmacopoeia Convention (USP) and Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (BF) for permitted concentration of elemental impurities in drugs substances. The concentration of Ba, Cd, Co, Cr and Cu in all herbal medicines are lower than the values set by USP and FB. The concentration of Pb in Calman® is lower than the limits established by BF, but higher than those established by USP. Pasalix, Serenus®, Calmasyn®, Prakalmar® and Marcacugina® have a higher Pb concentration than the values allowed by USP and BF. All herbal medications have concentrations within safe ranges for human consumption, with the exception of Calmasyn®, which has Pb over the value defined by USP for oral permissible daily exposure (PDE) for elemental impurities. The values of estimated daily intake (EDI) of metal (loid)s in adults and children obtained from the consumption of the herbal medicines are below the values stipulated by the minimal risk levels (MRLs). All the hazard index (HI) values recorded in this study were below 1. However, monitoring by regulatory agency is necessary, large doses of heavy metal may cause acute or chronic toxicities.

Human Health Risk Assessment through Roasted Meats Consumption.

Data on the content of metals and metalloids in roasted meats with different types of wood and charcoal are still scarce in the literature. The concentrations of metals (Al, Cr, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, V, and Zn) and metalloid (As) were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-OES) after microwave digestion, and the estimated daily intake (EDI) for adults was assessed to determine the hazard quotient (HQ). The concentrations of Al, Cr, Cu, and Fe in raw meats were below the data obtained in other countries. The concentration of As (0.17 ± 0.42-0.23 ± 0.10 mg/kg), Mg (206.77 ± 3.99-291.95 ± 8.87 mg/kg), V (0.42 ± 0.14-6.66 ± 0.80 mg/kg), and Zn (6.66 ± 0.80-48.13 ± 0.56 mg/kg) in raw meats exceeded the values in the literature. The concentrations of Mg, As, Cr, Fe, V, and Zn are high when the meat is roasted using wood. All levels of Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Mo, V, and Zn in raw meats are lower than those of meat roasted with coal and wood. The content of As in meat roasted with Chromed Copper Arsenate (CCA) wood (15.10 ± 0.27-26.25 ± 1.47 mg/kg) is higher than meat roasted with charcoal (0.46 ± 0.09-1.16 ± 0.50 mg/kg). EDI and HQ values revealed a minimal exposure of the adult population to those metals through roasted-meats consumption. However, EDI values of As in some roasted meats are above standard limits. Roast meats with wood showed higher levels of major and trace elements than meats roasted with coal. High exposures, in the long-term, may cause damage to health.