<i>Echinophora tenuifolia</i> L. branches phytochemical profile and antiproliferative activity on human cancer cell lines

The methanolic extract of Echinophora tenuifolia L. branches and its fractions were evaluated for their in vitro cell growth inhibitory activity on different human cancer cell lines (C32, LoVo and SKBr3) and the normal BJ fibroblasts. All tested samples were effective against the melanoma cell line C32, with IC50 values ranging from 22.8 ± 0.8 to 78.7 ± 1.2 μg/mL, the antiproliferative activity of the dichloromethane fraction being significantly higher. This fraction was also effective against the LoVo adenocarcinoma cell line, with an IC50 value of 53.0 ± 2.1 μg/mL. The ethyl acetate and dichloromethane fractions showed the highest lipid peroxidation inhibitory activity, verified by means of the β-carotene bleaching test. The phytochemical profiles of E. tenuifolia branches extract were established by means of GC-MS and HPTLC. Overall, branches of E. tenuifolia L. could represent a rich source of bioactive compounds, potentially useful in the pharmaceutical field.</p

<i>In vitro</i> antioxidant and anti-denaturation effects of <i>Buglossoides purpurocaerulea</i> (L.) I. M. Johnst. fruit extract

Fruits from Buglossoides purpurocaerulea (L.) I. M. Johnst. were extracted with methanol through maceration. The phytochemical composition of obtained raw extract was investigated with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analyses. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also quantified and in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed using the DPPH assay and the β-carotene bleaching test. In order to verify the anti-arthritic potential, the raw extract was evaluated for its anti-denaturation effect on heat-treated bovine serum albumin (BSA), chosen as a protein model. Linoleic and α-linolenic acids were the most abundant identified apolar constituents. HPTLC analyses allowed the identification of rosmarinic acid. The sample showed a concentration-dependent antioxidant activity and it was also proven to be effective in preventing the heat-induced denaturation of BSA, with an IC50 value equal to 15.7 ± 0.5 µg/mL.</p

Life history parameters of <i>Ooencyrtus telenomicida</i> when developing in different host types.

<p>The number emerging (A), sex ratio (B), developmental time and size of female (C, E) and male (D, F) <i>Ooencyrtus telenomicida</i> adults developing in (I) 1 day old, unparasitized <i>Nezara viridula</i> eggs (Ot), (II) 2 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>Trissolcus basalis</i> when they were 1 day old (Tb1 - Ot2), (III) 4 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> when they were 3 days old (Tb3 - Ot4), or (IV) 10 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> 7 days earlier (Tb3 - Ot10).</p

Seasonal occurrence of parasitoid species (% ± SE) recorded from sentinel egg masses in 2011 and 2012 under field conditions.

<p>Data are reported in terms of <i>host location</i>  =  number of egg masses from which at least one parasitoid emerged divided by the total number of recollected egg masses. Black, cross and white bars indicate egg masses discovered by <i>T. basalis</i> only (Tb), by <i>O. telenomicida</i> only (Ot) and by both species (Tb+Ot), respectively.</p

Parasitism data (% + SE) recorded from naturally laid egg masses in both 2011 and 2012 under field conditions.

<p>All indexes are distinguished according to single or concurrent emergence of the egg parasitoid species from the same egg mass. (A) <i>host location</i>  =  number of egg masses from which at least one parasitoid emerged divided by the total number of egg masses. (B) <i>host exploitation</i>  =  number of individually parasitized eggs divided by the total number of eggs from the egg masses located by the wasps and (C) <i>host impact</i>  =  number of individually parasitized eggs divided by the total number of sampled eggs. In (B) and (C) black, cross and white bars indicate the proportion of individual eggs exploited from egg masses located by <i>T. basalis</i> only (Tb), by <i>O. telenomicida</i> only (Ot) and by both species (Tb+Ot), respectively. Different letters indicate significantly different percentages within the same year and index (C) (GLM, P<0.05).</p

Parasitism data (% + SE) obtained when species were released singly or simultaneously under semi-field conditions.

<p>All indexes are distinguished according to single or concurrent emergence of the egg parasitoid species from the same egg mass. (A) <i>host location</i>  =  number of egg masses from which at least one parasitoid emerged divided by the total number of egg masses. (B) <i>host exploitation</i>  =  number of individually parasitized eggs divided by the total number of eggs from the located egg mass and (C) <i>host impact</i>  =  number of individually parasitized eggs divided by the total number of sampled eggs. In (B) and (C) black, cross and white bars indicate the proportion of individual eggs exploited by parasitoids from egg mass located by <i>T. basalis</i> only (Tb), by <i>O. telenomicida</i> only (Ot) and by both species (Tb+Ot), respectively. Different letters indicate significantly different percentages within the same index (GLM, P<0.05).</p

The proportion of <i>Ooencyrtus telenomicida</i> females selecting a (I) 1 day old, unparasitized <i>Nezara viridula</i> eggs (Ot), (II) 2 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>Trissolcus basalis</i> when they were 1 day old (Tb1 - Ot2), (III) 4 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> when they were 3 days old (Tb3 - Ot4), or (IV) 10 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> 7 days earlier (Tb3 - Ot10) as their first oviposition site in a choice bioassay.

<p>The proportion of <i>Ooencyrtus telenomicida</i> females selecting a (I) 1 day old, unparasitized <i>Nezara viridula</i> eggs (Ot), (II) 2 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>Trissolcus basalis</i> when they were 1 day old (Tb1 - Ot2), (III) 4 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> when they were 3 days old (Tb3 - Ot4), or (IV) 10 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs that had been parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> 7 days earlier (Tb3 - Ot10) as their first oviposition site in a choice bioassay.</p

Window of opportunity for <i>Ooencyrtus telenomicida</i> as function of host egg age and interspecific parasitism status.

<p>The emergence of <i>Ooencyrtus telenomicida</i> from (A) unparasitized 1 to 5 day old <i>Nezara viridula</i> eggs (Ot); (B) 1day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs parasitized by <i>Trissolcus basalis</i> that were then parasitized by <i>O. telenomicida</i> 1 to 8 days later (Tb1-Ot); and (C) 3 day old <i>N. viridula</i> eggs parasitized by <i>T. basalis</i> that were then parasitized by <i>O. telenomicida</i> 1 to 8 days later (Tb3-Ot).</p