Parasitoides calcidoides (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea) asociados con Sibinia subelliptica (Desbrochers, 1873) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) en Bulgaria

The weevil Sibinia subelliptica (Desbrochers, 1873) and a rich complex of associated chalcidoid parasitoids were reared from inflorescences of Dianthus giganteus d’Urv. (Caryophyllaceae) in Bulgaria. The following taxa were identified: Aprostocetus venustus (Gahan) and Baryscapus sp. near garganus (Domenichini, 1958) (Eulophidae); Eupelmus barai Fusu and E. microzonus Förster (Eupelmidae); Aximopsis augasmae (Zerova), A. collina (Zerova), Eurytoma coleophorae Zerova and E. coleopterae Zerova (Eurytomidae); Catolaccus crassiceps (Masi) and Pteromalus ochrocerus (Thomson) (Pteromalidae); and Exopristus trigonomerus (Masi) (Torymidae). Two of these, E. coleophorae and E. coleopterae, are new records for Bulgaria. All parasitoid-host relationships are documented here for the first time. New plant associations with D. giganteus are recorded here for all reared parasitoids except E. barai and E. microzonus. The new trophic association of S. subelliptica with D. giganteus is established here.El gorgojo Sibinia subelliptica (Desbrochers, 1873) y un rico complejo de parasitoides calcidoides asociados se criaron a partir de inflorescencias de Dianthus giganteus d’Urv. (Caryophyllaceae) en Bulgaria. Se identificaron los siguientes taxones: Aprostocetus venustus (Gahan) y Baryscapus sp. cercana a garganus (Domenichini, 1958) (Eulophidae); Eupelmus barai Fusu y E. microzonus Förster (Eupelmidae); Aximopsis augasmae (Zerova), A. collina (Zerova), Eurytoma coleophorae Zerova y E. coleopterae Zerova (Eurytomidae); Catolaccus crassiceps (Masi) y Pteromalus ochrocerus (Thomson) (Pteromalidae); y Exopristus trigonomerus (Masi) (Torymidae). Dos de éstos, E. coleophorae y E. coleopterae, son registrados como nuevos para Bulgaria. Todas las mencionadas relaciones parasitoide-hospedador se documentan por primera vez, así como se registra por primera vez la asociación de la planta D. giganteus con todos los parasitoides obtenidos, excepto en los casos de E. barai y E. microzonus. Se establece la nueva asociación trófica de S. subelliptica con D. giganteus

Antiproliferative Activity of Natural Flavonoid Fustin Isolated from the Heartwood of Cotinus Coggygria Scop. Against Breast and Colon Cancer Cell Lines

Background and objective: Cotinus coggygria Scop. is a valuable medicinal plant species with pronounced pharmacological potential due to its numerous biological activities. The herb is characterized by a high content of polyphenols among which is fustin. The anticancer activities of fustin, however, are extremely weakly studied. The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vitro antiproliferative potential of fustin isolated from the heartwood of C. coggygria against cell lines originating from two of the most common cancer types – breast (MDA-MB-231 and MCF7), and colon cancer (Colon 26). Materials and methods: Cell growth inhibitory properties of fustin were examined by MTT assay. Subsequently, phase-contrast and fl uorescence microscopy analysis as well as colonyforming assay were carried out on the most sensitive to the cytostatic action of the fustin cell line. Results: The obtained results showed that fustin reduced the proliferation of all studied cell lines. The highest cytostatic eff ect was registered towards breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 56.02 μg/ ml followed by colon cancer cells with an IC50 of 78.07 μg/ml. MCF7 cell proliferation was least aff ected with a calculated IC50 of 187.8 μg/ml. Further investigations on breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cells indicated decreased density of cell monolayer and some morphological alterations, signifi cant attenuation in the number of viable cells, and diminished clonogenic ability of cells after fustin exposure. Conclusion: It could be concluded that fustin isolated from the heartwood of medicinal plant C. coggygria possesses marked antiproliferative properties against breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 which will be a subject of our more detailed future investigations