Anthocyanins-rich berry extracts directed formation of Ag NPs with the investigation of their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities

Herein we report anthocyanins-rich berries (Rubus fruticosus L (blackberry); Fragaria vesca L (strawberry) and Rubus idaeus L (raspberry)) extracts directed silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and systematically investigate their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. We also fabricated Ag NPs using standards molecules, gallic acid and catechin, as natural antioxidants. We have demonstrated how Ag NPs and Ag+ ions cause the reduction in antioxidant activity towards 1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH). The extracts directed Ag NPs exhibited much higher antimicrobial activities against Gram negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica NCTC 8394), Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778) bacteria and fungus (Candida albicans ATCC 10231) compared to the berry extracts. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized from Vaccinium myrtillus L. against Multiple Antibiotic Resistance and Biofilm Forming Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Background: Despite new innovations and process improvements, biofilm forming bacterial infections still pose a serious threat to patients. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been shown to have antibacterial properties and have been applied for surface manufacturing of many permanent medical devices at the same time. Therefore, we attempted to compare the performance of green synthesis of AgNPs and Vaccinium myrtillus L. plant extracts in terms of antibacterial and antibiofilm potential against multi drug resistant (MDR) biofilm forming Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli clinical strains. Materials and Methods: The biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles was determined by using disc diffusion and broth micro dilution method. Antibiofilm properties of nanoparticles have also been investigated by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and tissue culture plate (TCP) method. Results: Both extract and AgNP showed comparable bactericidal (p<0,0001) and antibiofilm activity (p<0,0001), but the mode of bacterial interaction and the degree of damage were completely different. Conclusion: For the first time with this study, extracts and also nanoparticles obtained from V. myrtillus were found to be effective in strains that have high biofilm activity and multiple drug resistance. Biosynthesized AgNPs were found to reduce planktonic cells as well as biofilm growth in a dose dependent manner. The results also supported the antibiofilm potential of AgNPs. This finding thus provides an idea of the development of silver nanoparticle-based biomaterials for use as effective surface modifying agents

Momordica charantia Seed and Aryl Extracts Potentiate Growth Inhibition and Apoptosis by Dual Blocking of PI3K/AKT and MAPK Pathways as a Downstream Target of EGFR Signaling in Breast Cancer Cells

Background and Objective: Herbal extracts and plant compounds are increasingly becoming of interest for their therapeutic potential in various cancer types. Momordica charantia is well known for its anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties

Cytotoxic Effects of Functional Foods Momordica charantia L. and Lycium barbarum L. Extracts on Prostate Cancer Cells

Prostate cancer is a growing health problem around the world. Although there are different therapeutic methods, none of them possessed complete efficacy up to now. Therefore, discovery of novel anti-cancer drugs is important. Bitter melon (Momordicacharantia L.) and Goji berry (Lycium barbarum L.) as functional foods may prevent prostate cancer. In this study, we investigated the effects of ripe and unripe fruit (peel and pulp), seed and aril extracts of bitter melon and also black and red fruit extracts of L. Barbarum on cancer cell viability. In vitro cytotoxicity activities of the extracts (0–150 µg/mL) against androgen dependent (LnCAP) and independent (PC-3) prostate cancer cell lines were screened by MTT assay. Our results reveal that, all tested extracts exhibited cytotoxic activity towards the investigated tumour cells and bitter melon seed extract was the most effective extracts having an IC50 value of 14.7 µg/mL for LnCAP cells. The overall findings demonstrate that specially seed extract of bitter melon, could be a potential source of a new anti-cancer compound and serve as a possible drug against prostate cancer

Preparation of natural indicator incorporated media and its logical use as a colorimetric biosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Herein, we report a rational design in preparation of natural indicator incorporated media used as a rapid, selective, sensitive and economic colorimetric biosensor for detection of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Anthocyanins obtained from red cabbage (Brassica oleracea) extract (RCE) are major components and acted as pH responsive indicators in the RCE media. The RCE media was tested for eight gram-positive, four gram-negative bacterial and one model fungal pathogens. We experimentally revealed how salt concentration and antibiotic (cefoxitin) in the RCE media influence the growth of pathogens and especially MRSA. Benefiting pH dependent color change function of anthocyanins is indispensable point of the RCE media in sensing of MRSA growth. The potential MRSA colorimetric sensing mechanism of anthocyanins relies on both protonation and decrease in electron density on structures of anthocyanins by acidic organic volatile compounds produced during growth of MRSA. The protonated anthocyanins with low electron density changed original purple color of the RCE media to pink color. We demonstrated that detection of MRSA was achieved by spectrophotometrically (one single cell) and visually with naked eyes (100 cells) in 2nd hrs and 6th hrs of incubation, respectively. We optimized concentrations of cefoxitin (from 1 mg/mL to 20 mg/mL) against MRSA and Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) bacterial cell (3 McFarland) suspensions, then growth of MRSA was visually and clearly detected in the presence of 4 mg/mL cefoxitin between 90 min and 3 h. We persistently offer that the proposed RCE media can be a well alternative to currently used phenotypic methods in clinics owing to its much rapid, sensitive, selective and economic properties. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Effect of Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. (Cherry Laurel) Fruit on Dimethoate Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

Dimethoate is one of the most important organophosphate insecticides and may cause oxidative stress leading to production of free radicals and alterations in antioxidants. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. fruit extract containing antioxidant compounds on dimethoate-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. The rats were divided into six groups as follows: Control group; dimethoate-treated group; L. officinalis-treated group; the group of pre-treatment with L. officinalis prior to dimethoate; the group of pre-treatment with vitamin C before dimethoate; the group of post-treatment with L. officinalis after dimethoate. Aspartate transaminase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and total bilirubin (TBil) as liver function tests and the oxidative stress parameters such as total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured. The DNA damage was determined with comet assay. The results indicated that dimethoate caused a significant increase in AST, ALT, TOS, MDA, DNA damage and an important decrease in TAS, SOD, CAT, GPx as compared to control group. However, administration of L. officinalis or vitamin C to dimethoate-exposed rats restored these biochemical and oxidative stress parameters to nearly normal levels. In conclusion, toxic effects of dimethoate on rat liver are mainly attributed to hepatic function enzymes, oxidative stress and DNA damage, while these effects were largely ameliorated by L. officinalis fruit extract

Green synthesis with incorporated hydrothermal approaches for silver nanoparticles formation and enhanced antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal pathogens

In this study, we report, for the first time, the combination of green and hydrothermal syntheis approaches for biosynthesis of red cabbage extract directed spherical Ag NPs with high yield and monodispersity. The Ag NPs have a very narrow size distribution and enhanced inhibitory properties against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram +), Escherichia coli (Gram) and Candida albicans. We investigate how experimental parameters influence Ag NPs formation and their inhibitory properties. Integration of hydrothermal approach to the green synthesis made the Ag NP more stable and retarded aggregation for several weeks, which is a significant finding as plant extract-directed Ag NPs are intrinsically unstable and tend to aggregate. The Ag NPs even at low concentration (9.37 ppm) exhibit effective inhibition property for all target pathogens. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Sedative Effects of Latexes Obtained from Some Lactuca L. Species Growing in Turkey

Lactuca L. species belong to the Asteraceae family and these plants are traditionally used for therapeutic purposes around the world. The dried milky latex of L. serriola is known as "lettuce oil" and is used as a sedative in Turkey. This study aimed to evaluate the sedative effects and analyze the chemical compositions of latexes obtained from some Lactuca species growing in Turkey. The sedative effects were evaluated through various behavioral tests on mice. For this purpose, latexes were obtained from L. glareosa Boiss., L. viminea (L.) J. Presl and C. P, L. mulgedioides (Vis and Pani) Boiss. and Kotschy ex. Boiss., L. saligna L., and L. serriola L. The latex from L. saligna showed the highest sedative effects, whilst L. serriola and L. viminea latexes also displayed significant sedative effects compared to the control group at a dose of 100 mg/kg. However, the latexes from L. glareosa and L. mulqedioides did not exhibit any sedative effects on mice. Characteristic sesquiterpene lactones (lactucin, lactucopicrin, 11,13 beta-dihydrolactucin, and 11,13 beta-dihydrolactucopicrin) were determined qualitatively and quantitatively by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Lactucin was identified as the main component

A New Strategy for Enhancing Acanthamoebicidal Activity with Synthesis of Nanoflower of Laurocerausus officinalis Roemer (Cherry laurel) Fruit Extracts

Pathogenic Acanthamoeba species often cause infection known as Acanthamoeba keratitis among people who use contact lenses. It is a type of infection that can result in corneal ulceration, visual loss or even blindness, if not treated. There are various therapeutic options available in the treatment of Acanthamoeba infections but they are usually tough treatments with limited efficacy. For instance, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a commonly used contact lens disinfectant which is effective against Acanthamoeba but it is toxic to the cornea. For these reasons, new and more efficacious treatment options are required for Acanthamoeba infections. In this context, plants are considered natural resources for the discovery of new drugs. Laurocerasus officinalis Roem. (cherry laurel) (Rosaceae) grows in Black Sea region; and it is known as "Taflan", "Laz kirazi" or "Karayemis". Local people are using the seeds against diabetes, while the fruits are consuming as food, and used fordiuretic and passing kidney stones. It has also been reported that the seeds of the cherry laurel are used as an antiparasitic agent in this area. The aim of the study was to confirm the traditionally use of antiparasitic activity of this fruit and to increase the potential effect by means of organic-inorganic hybrid synthesis. Total phenol contents of methanol extracts prepared from endocarp, mesocarp and seeds of the fruit were calculated. The effects of methanol extracts and nano flower (NFs) plants synthesized from these extracts on the proliferation of Acanthamoeba castellanii were investigated. Thus, for the first time, novel organic-inorganic nanobio-antiparasitic agents called NFs were produced from cherry laurel and the increase in the amoebicidal activity of the NFs was elucidated. The characterization of NFs were determined with Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FT-IR) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) techniques. In addition, the catalytic activity of the fruit extracts and the NFs were measured against guaiacol in the presence of H2O2. The viability testing of A. castellaniicysts used for amoebicidal activity was performed using 4% trypan blue. Methanol extracts and nano-flowers were prepared at concentrations of 32, 16, 8, 4, 2 and 1 mg/ml in 0.9% saline and distributed 200 pl each in tubes and incubated in the room temperature with the addition of 200 pl of 98% viable A.castellani parasites. The results were evaluated using the SPSS V.22.0 program and it was determined that there was a significant increase in the amoebicidal activity of NFs compared with the other extracts according to variance analysis (p <= 0.05). In the study, it was determined that samples killed parasites or reduced parasite proliferation at certain times. As a result, NFs synthesized from fruit extracts were demonstrated about three times more effective than the non hybrid extracts for amoebicidal activity. This situation can be explained as high proliferative effect of a new nano-bio-antiparasitic agent known as nanoflower against A.castellani