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Nanotechnology has grown in importance in medicine, manufacturing, and consumer products. Nanoparticles (NPs) are also widely used in the field of insect pest management, where they show a variety of toxicological effects on insects. As a result, the primary goal of this review is to compile and evaluate available information on effects of NPs on insects, by use of a timely, bibliometric analysis. We also discussed the manufacturing capacity of NPs from insect tissues and the toxic effects of NPs on insects. To do so, we searched the Web of Science database for literature from 1995 to 2023 and ran bibliometric analyses with CiteSpace© and Bibliometrix©. The analyses covered 614 journals and identified 1763 relevant documents. We found that accumulation of NPs was one of the top trending topics. China, India, and USA had the most published papers. The most overall reported models of insects were those of Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito), Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito), Bombyx mori (silk moth), and Anopheles stephensi (Asian malaria mosquito). The application and methods of fabrication of NPs using insect tissues, as well as the mechanism of toxicity of NPs on insects, were also reported. A uniform legal framework is required to allow nanotechnology to fully realize its potential while minimizing harm to living organisms and reducing the release of toxic metalloid nanoparticles into the environment.
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Aedes , Culex , Inseticidas , Nanopartículas Metálicas , Animais , Inseticidas/toxicidade , Larva , Extratos VegetaisRESUMO
Diabetes mellitus is a global health issue characterized by hyperglycemia which leads over time to severe damage to numerous tissues. The present study aimed to estimate the effect of Egyptian Sidr honey against streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. Diabetic rats were treated with Sidr honey daily for 4 consecutive weeks. The biochemical profile of blood samples was measured. Furthermore, the activity of antioxidant enzymes, nitric oxide (NO), and malonaldehyde (MDA) were examined in hepatic and pancreatic tissues. Moreover, the expression of Bax, Caspase-3, and Bcl2 proteins were measured. Results revealed that the capability of Sidr honey to decline the elevated blood glucose and fructosamine levels. Also, the honey decreased the levels of NO and MDA. Furthermore, it regulated the antioxidant enzymes activity. Moreover, it reduced the expression levels of Caspase-3 and Bax while increased the Bcl2 level. In conclusion, Sidr honey can regulate hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, apoptosis, and antioxidant enzymes in STZ-induced diabetic rats.
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Apoptose , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Mel , Estresse Oxidativo , Estreptozocina , Animais , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/metabolismo , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/induzido quimicamente , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/tratamento farmacológico , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/patologia , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Apoptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Ratos , Mel/análise , Masculino , Egito , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/química , Ratos Wistar , Glicemia/análise , Glicemia/metabolismo , Óxido Nítrico/metabolismo , Caspase 3/metabolismo , Malondialdeído/metabolismoRESUMO
A lesser-known bee product called drone brood homogenate (DBH, apilarnil) has recently attracted scientific interest for its chemical and biological properties. It contains pharmacologically active compounds that may have neuroprotective, antioxidant, fertility-enhancing, and antiviral effects. Unlike other bee products, the chemical composition of bee drone larva is poorly studied. This study analyzed the chemical compostion of apilarnil using several methods. These included liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and a combination of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with solid phase micro-extraction (SPME/GC-MS). Additionally, antioxidant activity of the apilarnil was assessed using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. A chemical assessment of apilarnil showed that it has 6.3±0.00, 74.67±0.10 %, 3.65±0.32 %, 8.80±1.01 %, 13.16±0.94 %, and 8.79±0.49 % of pH, moisture, total lipids, proteins, flavonoids, and carbohydrates, respectively. LC-MS/MS analysis and molecular networking (GNPS) of apilarnil exhibited 44 compounds, including fatty acids, flavonoids, glycerophospholipids, alcohols, sugars, amino acids, and steroids. GC-MS detected 30 volatile compounds in apilarnil, mainly esters (24 %), ketones (23.84 %), ethers (15.05 %), alcohols (11.41 %), fatty acids (10.06), aldehydes (6.73 %), amines (5.46), and alkene (5.53 %). The antioxidant activity of apilarnil was measured using DPPH with an IC50 of 179.93±2.46â µg/ml.
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Antioxidantes , Compostos de Bifenilo , Abelhas , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/química , Antioxidantes/isolamento & purificação , Animais , Compostos de Bifenilo/antagonistas & inibidores , Cromatografia Gasosa-Espectrometria de Massas , Picratos/antagonistas & inibidores , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem , Cromatografia Líquida , Microextração em Fase SólidaRESUMO
Mycotoxin contamination of food crops is a global challenge due to their unpredictable occurrence and severe adverse health effects on humans. Therefore, it is of great importance to develop effective tools to prevent the accumulation of mycotoxins through the food chain. The use of magnetic nanoparticle (MNP)-assisted biosensors for detecting mycotoxin in complex foodstuffs has garnered great interest due to the significantly enhanced sensitivity and accuracy. Within such a context, this review includes the fundamentals and recent advances (2020-2023) in the area of mycotoxin monitoring in food matrices using MNP-based aptasensors and immunosensors. In this review, we start by providing a comprehensive introduction to the design of immunosensors (natural antibody or nanobody, random or site-oriented immobilization) and aptasensors (techniques for aptamer selection, characterization, and truncation). Meanwhile, special attention is paid to the multifunctionalities of MNPs (recoverable adsorbent, versatile carrier, and signal indicator) in preparing mycotoxin-specific biosensors. Further, the contribution of MNPs to the multiplexing determination of various mycotoxins is summarized. Finally, challenges and future perspectives for the practical applications of MNP-assisted biosensors are also discussed. The progress and updates of MNP-based biosensors shown in this review are expected to offer readers valuable insights about the design of MNP-based tools for the effective detection of mycotoxins in practical applications.
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Técnicas Biossensoriais , Nanopartículas de Magnetita , Micotoxinas , Humanos , Micotoxinas/análise , Técnicas Biossensoriais/métodos , Imunoensaio/métodos , Produtos AgrícolasRESUMO
The rise of artificial intelligence (AI) applications in healthcare provides new possibilities for personalized health management. AI-based fitness applications are becoming more common, facilitating the opportunity for individualised exercise prescription. However, the use of AI carries the risk of inadequate expert supervision, and the efficacy and validity of such applications have not been thoroughly investigated, particularly in the context of diverse health conditions. The aim of the study was to critically assess the efficacy of exercise prescriptions generated by OpenAI's Generative Pre-Trained Transformer 4 (GPT-4) model for five example patient profiles with diverse health conditions and fitness goals. Our focus was to assess the model's ability to generate exercise prescriptions based on a singular, initial interaction, akin to a typical user experience. The evaluation was conducted by leading experts in the field of exercise prescription. Five distinct scenarios were formulated, each representing a hypothetical individual with a specific health condition and fitness objective. Upon receiving details of each individual, the GPT-4 model was tasked with generating a 30-day exercise program. These AI-derived exercise programs were subsequently subjected to a thorough evaluation by experts in exercise prescription. The evaluation encompassed adherence to established principles of frequency, intensity, time, and exercise type; integration of perceived exertion levels; consideration for medication intake and the respective medical condition; and the extent of program individualization tailored to each hypothetical profile. The AI model could create general safety-conscious exercise programs for various scenarios. However, the AI-generated exercise prescriptions lacked precision in addressing individual health conditions and goals, often prioritizing excessive safety over the effectiveness of training. The AI-based approach aimed to ensure patient improvement through gradual increases in training load and intensity, but the model's potential to fine-tune its recommendations through ongoing interaction was not fully satisfying. AI technologies, in their current state, can serve as supplemental tools in exercise prescription, particularly in enhancing accessibility for individuals unable to access, often costly, professional advice. However, AI technologies are not yet recommended as a substitute for personalized, progressive, and health condition-specific prescriptions provided by healthcare and fitness professionals. Further research is needed to explore more interactive use of AI models and integration of real-time physiological feedback.
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Tricholoma matsutake (TM) is a valuable edible mushroom that has attracted increasing attention due to its potential medicinal values and functional uses. However, the chemical composition and molecular mechanisms behinds TM are not specifically summarized yet. Hence, this review aims to systematically analyze the research progress on the characterization of chemical compositions and the reported health effects of TM in the last 20 years. The myochemical profiles of TM consist of proteins with amino acids, fatty acids, nucleic acids with their derivatives, polysaccharides, minerals, volatile components, phenolic compounds, and steroids. The bioactive substances in TM exert their health effects mainly by regulating body immunity and restoring the balance of the redox system. NF-κB signaling pathway and its downstream cytokines such as TNF-α and IL-6 are the key molecular mechanisms. In addition, MAPK, PI3K-Akt, and JAK-STAT are also involved. NF-κB, MAPK, and PI3K-Akt are also highly related to cancer regulation and thus TM has great anticancer potential. Considering that most studies have only investigated the dosage and inhibition rate of TM on cancer cell lines, more extensive studies need to focus on the specific molecular mechanisms behind these anticancer effects in the future.
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NF-kappa B , Tricholoma , NF-kappa B/metabolismo , Tricholoma/química , Tricholoma/metabolismo , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt , Promoção da SaúdeRESUMO
Tropical fruits are popular because of their unique, delicious flavors and good nutritional value. Polyphenols are considered to be the main bioactive ingredients in tropical fruits, and these exert a series of beneficial effects on the human gastrointestinal tract that can enhance intestinal health and prevent intestinal diseases. Moreover, they are distinct from the polyphenols in fruits grown in other geographical zones. Thus, the comprehensive effects of polyphenols in tropical fruits on gut health warrant in-depth review. This article reviews, first, the biological characteristics of several representative tropical fruits, including mango, avocado, noni, cashew apple, passion fruit and lychee; second, the types and content of the main polyphenols in these tropical fruits; third, the effects of each of these fruit polyphenols on gastrointestinal health; and, fourth, the protective mechanism of polyphenols. Polyphenols and their metabolites play a crucial role in the regulation of the gut microbiota, increasing intestinal barrier function, reducing oxidative stress, inhibiting the secretion of inflammatory factors and regulating immune function. Thus, review highlights the value of tropical fruits, highlighting their significance for future research on their applications as functional foods that are oriented to gastrointestinal protection.
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Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Polifenóis , Humanos , Polifenóis/análise , Frutas/química , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/metabolismo , Trato Gastrointestinal/metabolismoRESUMO
The current studies mainly demonstrate the coumarin based azomethine-clubbed thiazoles synthesis and their in-vitro evaluation for the first time against α-glucosidase. Due to the catalytic role of α-glucosidase, it has become a precise target for the treatment of type diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The high rate of prevalence of diabetes and its associated health related problems led us to scrutinize the anti-diabetic capability of the synthesized thiazole derivatives (6a-6k). The anticipated structures of prepared compounds were confirmed through FT-IR and NMR spectroscopic methods. All the compounds showed several times potent activity than the standard drug, acarbose (IC50 = 873.34 ± 1.67 µM) against α-glucosidase with IC50 values in range of 0.87 ± 0.02-322.61 ± 1.14 µM. The compound 6k displayed the highest anti-diabetic activity (IC50 = 1.88 ± 0.03 µM). Kinetic study revealed that these are competitive inhibitors for α-glucosidase. The mode of binding of the synthesized molecules were further evaluated by molecular docking, which reflects the importance of azomethine group in protein-ligand interaction. The docking scores are complementary with the IC50 values of compounds while the interaction pattern of the compounds clearly demonstrates their structure-activity relationship. Current study reported medicinal importance of thiazole derivative as future drug candidates for the management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM).
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Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Inibidores de Glicosídeo Hidrolases , Humanos , Inibidores de Glicosídeo Hidrolases/química , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Estrutura Molecular , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , alfa-Glucosidases/metabolismo , Espectroscopia de Infravermelho com Transformada de Fourier , Relação Estrutura-Atividade , Cinética , Tiazóis/químicaRESUMO
Marine cyanobacteria are an ancient group of photosynthetic microbes dating back to 3.5 million years ago. They are prolific producers of bioactive secondary metabolites. Over millions of years, natural selection has optimized their metabolites to possess activities impacting various biological targets. This paper discusses the historical and existential records of cyanobacteria, and their role in understanding the evolution of marine cyanobacteria through the ages. Recent advancements have focused on isolating and screening bioactive compounds and their respective medicinal properties, and we also discuss chemical property space and clinical trials, where compounds with potential pharmacological effects, such as cytotoxicity, anticancer, and antiparasitic properties, are highlighted. The data have shown that about 43% of the compounds investigated have cytotoxic effects, and around 8% have anti-trypanosome activity. We discussed the role of different marine cyanobacteria groups in fixing nitrogen percentages on Earth and their outcomes in fish productivity by entering food webs and enhancing productivity in different agricultural and ecological fields. The role of marine cyanobacteria in the carbon cycle and their outcomes in improving the efficiency of photosynthetic CO2 fixation in the chloroplasts of crop plants, thus enhancing the crop plant's yield, was highlighted. Ultimately, climate changes have a significant impact on marine cyanobacteria where the temperature rises, and CO2 improves the cyanobacterial nitrogen fixation.
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Mudança Climática , Cianobactérias , Animais , Dióxido de Carbono , Fixação de Nitrogênio , AgriculturaRESUMO
Dicofol is a highly toxic residual pesticide in tea, which seriously endangers human health. A method for detecting dicofol in tea by combining stoichiometry with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) technology was proposed in this study. AuNPs were prepared, and silver shells were grown on the surface of AuNPs to obtain core-shell Au@AgNPs. Then, the core-shell Au@AgNPs were attached to the surface of a PDMS membrane by physical deposition to obtain a Au@AgNPs/PDMS substrate. The limit of detection (LOD) of this substrate for 4-ATP is as low as 0.28 × 10-11 mol/L, and the LOD of dicofol in tea is 0.32 ng/kg, showing high sensitivity. By comparing the modeling effects of preprocessing and variable selection algorithms, it is concluded that the modeling effect of Savitzky-Golay combined with competitive adaptive reweighted sampling-partial least squares regression is the best (Rp = 0.9964, RPD = 10.6145). SERS technology combined with stoichiometry is expected to rapidly detect dicofol in tea without labels.
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Nanopartículas Metálicas , Análise Espectral Raman , Humanos , Análise Espectral Raman/métodos , Dicofol , Ouro/química , Quimiometria , Nanopartículas Metálicas/química , Chá/químicaRESUMO
Naphthalene ring is present in a number of FDA-approved, commercially available medications, including naphyrone, terbinafine, propranolol, naproxen, duloxetine, lasofoxetine, and bedaquiline. By reacting newly obtained 1-naphthoyl isothiocyanate with properly modified anilines, a library of ten novel naphthalene-thiourea conjugates (5a-5j) were produced with good to exceptional yields and high purity. The newly synthesized compounds were observed for their potential to inhibit alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and scavenge free radicals. All of the investigated compounds displayed a more powerful inhibitory profile than the reference agent, KH2PO4 particularly compound 5h and 5a exhibited strong inhibitory potential against ALP with IC50 value of 0.365 ± 0.011 and 0.436 ± 0.057 µM respectively. In addition, Lineweaver-Burk plots revealed the non-competitive inhibition mode of the most powerful derivative i.e., 5h (ki value 0.5 µM). To investigate the putative binding mode of selective inhibitor interactions, molecular docking was performed. It is recommended that future research will focus on developing selective alkaline phosphatase inhibitors by modifying the structure of the 5h derivative.
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Salvia grossheimii is a perennial herb with antidiabetic and cytotoxic constituents. In continuation of our study on S. grosshiemii to identify the bioactive phytochemicals, we have reported the characterization of seven undescribed triterpenoids. The aerial parts of the plant were extracted in dichloromethane and its constituents were isolated using chromatography techniques. The structures of compounds were identified using 1D, 2D NMR, and ESI-MS spectral data. Seven new oleanane- and ursane-type triterpenoids (1-7) were identified in S. grossheimii. The structures of 1-7 were characterized as; 2α-hydroxy-3ß-acetoxy-olean-9(11),12-diene (1), 2α-acetoxy-3ß-hydroxy-olean-9(11),12-diene (2), 3ß-acetoxy-olean-18-ene,2α,11α-diol (3), 2α-hydroxy-3ß-acetoxy-urs-9(11),12-diene (4), 2α-acetoxy-3ß-hydroxy-urs-9(11),12-diene (5), 2α,3ß-diacetoxy-urs-12-ene-11α,20ß-diol (6), 2α,3ß-diacetoxy-urs-9(11),12-diene-20ß-ol (7). Triterpenoids (2, 5, and 7) were intramolecular transesterification or dehydration products of their corresponding isomers or allylic alcohol in the C rings, respectively, produced in-situ during NMR spectroscopy. Virtual screening of 1-7 was performed with molecular docking analysis to identify the potential SARS-CoV-2 and α-glucosidase inhibitors using the smina molecular docking algorithm. The best binding energy values (kcal/mol) against COVID-19 main protease Mpro were calculated for 6 (-8.77) and 7 (-8.68), and the higher binding affinities toward human α-glucosidase were obtained for 2 (-9.39) and 6 (-8.63). This study suggests S. grossheimii as a rich source of bioactive triterpenoids and introduces new natural compounds. Considering the high binding energy values of 2, 6, and 7, these structures could be candidates for anti-COVID-19 and antidiabetic drug development in the future.
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COVID-19 , Salvia , Triterpenos , Humanos , Salvia/química , Triterpenos/farmacologia , Triterpenos/química , Hipoglicemiantes/farmacologia , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , SARS-CoV-2 , Estrutura MolecularRESUMO
Natural products possess pleiotropic cardiovascular protective effects owing to their anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation and anti-thrombotic properties. Kaempferol, (3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one), is a kind of naturally occurring flavonoid existing in many common fruits and vegetables (e.g., onions, broccoli, strawberries and grapes) and particularly in traditional Chinese medicine as exemplified by Ginkgo biloba. Epidemiological, preclinical and clinical studies have revealed an inverse association between the consumption of kaempferol-containing foods and medicines and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Numerous translational studies in experimental animal models and cultured cells have demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological activities of kaempferol. In this article, we reviewed the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cardio-protective activities of kaempferol and elucidated the potential molecular basis of the therapeutic capacity of kaempferol by focusing on its anti-atherosclerotic effects. Overall, the review presents the health benefits of kaempferol-containing plants and medicines and reflects on the potential of kaempferol as a possible drug candidate to prevent and treat atherosclerosis, the underlying pathology of most cardiovascular diseases.
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BACKGROUND: Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to a massive global socio-economic tragedy that has impacted the ecosystem. This paper aims to contextualize urban and rural environmental situations during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Region. RESULTS: An online survey was conducted, 6770 participants were included in the final analysis, and 64% were females. The majority of the participants were urban citizens (74%). Over 50% of the urban residents significantly (p < 0.001) reported a reduction in noise, gathering in tourist areas, and gathering in malls and restaurants. Concerning the pollutants, most urban and rural areas have reported an increase in masks thrown in streets (69.49% vs. 73.22%, resp.; p = 0.003). Plastic bags and hospital waste also increased significantly with the same p-value of < 0.001 in urban areas compared with rural ones. The multifactorial logistic model for urban resident predictors achieved acceptable discrimination (AUROC = 0.633) according to age, crowdedness, noise and few pollutants. CONCLUSION: The COVID-19 pandemic had a beneficial impact on the environment and at the same time, various challenges regarding plastic and medical wastes are rising which requires environmental interventions.
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COVID-19 , Pandemias , África do Norte/epidemiologia , Ecossistema , Feminino , Humanos , Oriente Médio/epidemiologia , SARS-CoV-2RESUMO
Gastropods comprise approximately 80% of molluscans, of which land snails are used variably as food and traditional medicines due to their high protein content. Moreover, different components from land snails exhibit antimicrobial activities. In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of soft tissue extracts from Helix aspersa against Candida albicans, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus brasiliensis by identifying extract components using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS-MS). Two concentrations of three extracts (methanol, acetone, and acetic acid) showed antifungal activity. Both acetone (1 g/3 mL) and acetic acid extracts (1 g/mL) significantly inhibited C.albicans growth (p = 0.0001, 5.2 ± 0.2 mm and p = 0.02, 69.7 ± 0.6 mm, respectively). A. flavus and A. brasiliensis growth were inhibited by all extracts at 1 g/mL, while inhibition was observed for acetic acid extracts against A. brasiliensis (p = 0.02, 50.3 ± 3.5 mm). The highest growth inhibition was observed for A. flavus using acetic acid and acetone extracts (inhibition zones = 38 ± 1.7 mm and 3.1 ± 0.7 mm, respectively). LC-MS-MS studies on methanol and acetone extracts identified 11-α-acetoxyprogesterone with a parent mass of 372.50800 m/z and 287.43500 m/z for luteolin. Methanol extracts contained hesperidin with a parent mass of 611.25400 m/z, whereas linoleic acid and genistein (parent mass = 280.4 and 271.48900 m/z, respectively) were the main metabolites.
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Antifúngicos , Metanol , Acetona , Animais , Antifúngicos/química , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Candida albicans , Caramujos , Extratos de TecidosRESUMO
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens and the gradual depletion of available antibiotics have exacerbated the need for novel antimicrobial agents with minimal toxicity. Herein, we report functionally substituted pyridine carbohydrazide with remarkable antimicrobial effect on multi-drug resistant strains. In the series, compound 6 had potent activity against four MDR strains of Candida spp., with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values being in the range of 16-24 µg/mL and percentage inhibition up to 92.57%, which was exceptional when compared to broad-spectrum antifungal drug fluconazole (MIC = 20 µg/mL, 81.88% inhibition). Substitution of the octyl chain in 6 with a shorter butyl chain resulted in a significant anti-bacterial effect of 4 against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853), the MIC value being 2-fold superior to the standard combination of ampicillin/cloxacillin. Time-kill kinetics assays were used to discern the efficacy and pharmacodynamics of the potent compounds. Further, hemolysis tests confirmed that both compounds had better safety profiles than the standard drugs. Besides, molecular docking simulations were used to further explore their mode of interaction with target proteins. Overall results suggest that these compounds have the potential to become promising antimicrobial drugs against MDR strains.
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Anti-Infecciosos , Antifúngicos , Antifúngicos/farmacologia , Simulação de Acoplamento Molecular , Farmacorresistência Bacteriana Múltipla , Antibacterianos/farmacologia , Antibacterianos/uso terapêutico , Anti-Infecciosos/farmacologia , Piridinas/farmacologia , Testes de Sensibilidade MicrobianaRESUMO
Honeybee products, as multicomponent substances, have been a focus of great interest. The present work aimed to perform the nutritional and chemical profiling and biochemical characterization of bee pollen (BP), bee bread (BB), and royal jelly (RJ) and study their applications in the fortification of functional fermented dairy products. Their effects on starter cultures and the physicochemical and sensorial quality of products were monitored. A molecular networking analysis identified a total of 46 compounds in the three bee products that could be potential medicines, including flavonoids, fatty acids, and peptides. BB showed the highest protein and sugar contents (22.57 and 26.78 g/100 g), which cover 45.14 and 53.56% of their daily values (DVs), with considerable amounts of the essential amino acids threonine and lysine (59.50 and 42.03%). BP, BB, and RJ can be considered sources of iron, as 100 g can cover 141, 198.5, and 94.94% of DV%, respectively. BP was revealed to have the highest phenolic and flavonoid contents (105.68 and 43.91 µg/g) and showed a synergetic effect when mixed with RJ, resulting in increased antioxidant activity, while BB showed a synergetic effect when mixed with RJ in terms of both antioxidant and proteolytic powers (IC50 7.54, 11.55, 12.15, 12.50, and 12.65 cP compared to the control (10.55 cP)), reflecting their organoleptic properties and highlighting these health-oriented products as promising natural products for human health care.
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Própole , Abelhas , Animais , Humanos , Própole/química , Ácidos Graxos/química , Antioxidantes/análise , Flavonoides/química , Pólen/químicaRESUMO
Allium cepa L. is a highly consumed garden crop rich in biologically active phenolic and organosulfur compounds. This study aimed to assess the in vitro bioaccessibility and anti-inflammatory effect of a chemically characterized A. cepa extract rich in quercetin and its derivatives. Different varieties of A. cepa were studied; based on the highest total phenolic content, the "Golden" variety was selected. Its extracts, obtained from the tunicate bulb, tunic, and bulb, were subjected to determination of quercetin and its derivatives with LC-MS analysis and based on the highest total quercetin content, the tunic extract was utilized for further experiments. The extraction method was optimized through a design of experiment (DoE) method via full factorial design, which showed that 40% ethanol and 1 g tunic/20 mL solvent are the best extraction conditions. HPLC analysis of the optimized tunic extract identified 14 flavonols, including 10 quercetin derivatives. As far as in vitro bioaccessibility was concerned, the increases in some quercetin derivatives following the gastro-duodenal digestion process support the bioaccessibility of these bioactive compounds. Moreover, the extract significantly inhibited the production of PGE2 in stimulated J774 cell lines, while no effects of the tunic extract were observed against the release of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and nitrites. The study provided insights into the optimized extraction conditions to obtain an A. cepa tunic extract rich in bioavailable quercetin derivatives with significant anti-inflammatory effects against PGE2.
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Cebolas , Quercetina , Quercetina/farmacologia , Quercetina/análise , Cebolas/química , Dinoprostona , Anti-Inflamatórios/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/químicaRESUMO
Over recent decades, much attention has been given to imply the natural products in cancer therapy alone or in combination with other established procedures. Insects have a rich history in traditional medicine across the globe, which holds promise for the future of natural product drug discovery. Cecropins, peptides produced by insects, are components of a defense system against infections and are well known to exert antimicrobial and antitumor capabilities. The present study aimed to investigate, for the first time, the role of curcumin in enhancing the anticancer effect of Musca domestica larval hemolymph. Third larval instars of M. domestica were injected with curcumin and the hemolymph was picked at 4, 8, and 24 h post-curcumin injection. M. domestica cecropin A (MdCecA) was evaluated in control and injected larval hemolymphs. The cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7) and normal Vero cells was assessed to be comparable to control larval hemolymph. Curcumin-injected larval hemolymphs exhibited significant cytotoxicity with respect to the uninjected ones against MCF-7; however, Vero cells showed no cytotoxicity. The IC50 was 106 ± 2.9 and 388 ± 9.2 µg/mL for the hemolymphs of injected larvae at 4 and 8 h, respectively, while the control larval hemolymph revealed the IC50 of >500 µg/mL. For mechanistic anticancer evaluation, concentrations of 30, 60, and 100 µg/mL of curcumin-injected larval hemolymphs were examined. A significant G2/M cell cycle arrest was observed, confirming the anti-proliferative properties of hemolymphs over the tested concentrations. The MdCecA transcripts were significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated at 4 and 8 h post-injection, while a significant downregulation was observed after 24 h. Cecropin quantification by LC−MS revealed that MdCecA peptides have the highest expression in the hemolymph of the treated larvae at 8 h relative to the control group. The upregulation of cecropin expression at mRNA and protein levels may be attributed to the curcumin stimulation and linked to the increased cytotoxicity toward the cancer cell line. In conclusion, the results suggest that the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of M. domestica hemolymph on MCF-7 cells following the curcumin injection can be used as a natural candidate in future pharmaceutical industries.
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Chlorocebus aethiops , AnimaisRESUMO
Cardiotonic steroids (CTS) were first documented by ancient Egyptians more than 3000 years ago. Cardiotonic steroids are a group of steroid hormones that circulate in the blood of amphibians and toads and can also be extracted from natural products such as plants, herbs, and marines. It is well known that cardiotonic steroids reveal effects against congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation; therefore, the term "cardiotonic" has been coined. Cardiotonic steroids are divided into two distinct groups: cardenolides (plant-derived) and bufadienolides (mainly of animal origin). Cardenolides have an unsaturated five-membered lactone ring attached to the steroid nucleus at position 17; bufadienolides have a doubly unsaturated six-membered lactone ring. Cancer is a leading cause of mortality in humans all over the world. In 2040, the global cancer load is expected to be 28.4 million cases, which would be a 47% increase from 2020. Moreover, viruses and inflammations also have a very nebative impact on human health and lead to mortality. In the current review, we focus on the chemistry, antiviral and anti-cancer activities of cardiotonic steroids from the naturally derived (toads) venom to combat these chronic devastating health problems. The databases of different research engines (Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, and Sci-Finder) were screened using different combinations of the following terms: "cardiotonic steroids", "anti-inflammatory", "antiviral", "anticancer", "toad venom", "bufadienolides", and "poison chemical composition". Various cardiotonic steroids were isolated from diverse toad species and exhibited superior anti-inflammatory, anticancer, and antiviral activities in in vivo and in vitro models such as marinobufagenin, gammabufotalin, resibufogenin, and bufalin. These steroids are especially difficult to identify. However, several compounds and their bioactivities were identified by using different molecular and biotechnological techniques. Biotechnology is a new tool to fully or partially generate upscaled quantities of natural products, which are otherwise only available at trace amounts in organisms.