Blechnum Orientale Linn - a fern with potential as antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial agent

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Blechnum orientale </it>Linn. (<it>Blechnaceae</it>) is used ethnomedicinally for the treatment of various skin diseases, stomach pain, urinary bladder complaints and sterilization of women. The aim of the study was to evaluate antioxidant, anticancer and antibacterial activity of five solvent fractions obtained from the methanol extract of the leaves of <it>Blechnum orientale </it>Linn.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Five solvent fractions were obtained from the methanol extract of <it>B. orientale</it> through successive partitioning with petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, butanol and water. Total phenolic content was assessed using Folin-Ciocalteu's method. The antioxidant activity was determined by measuring the scavenging activity of DPPH radicals. Cytotoxic activity was tested against four cancer cell lines and a non-malignant cell using MTT assay. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays. Standard phytochemical screening tests for saponins, tannins, terpenoids, flavonoids and alkaloids were also conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The ethyl acetate, butanol and water fractions possessed strong radical scavenging activity (IC₅₀8.6-13.0 μg/ml) and cytotoxic activity towards human colon cancer cell HT-29 (IC₅₀27.5-42.8 μg/ml). The three extracts were also effective against all Gram-positive bacteria tested: <it>Bacillus cereus, Micrococcus luteus</it>, methicillin-susceptible <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MSSA), methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) and <it>Stapylococcus epidermidis</it>(minimum inhibitory concentration MIC 15.6-250 μg/ml; minimum bactericidal concentration MBC 15.6-250 μg/ml). Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenoids and tannins. Ethyl acetate and butanol fractions showed highest total phenolic content (675-804 mg gallic acid equivalent/g).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The results indicate that this fern is a potential candidate to be used as an antioxidant agent, for colon cancer therapy and for treatment of MRSA infections and other MSSA/Gram-positive bacterial infectious diseases.</p

Antitumoral, Antihypertensive, Antimicrobial, and Antioxidant Effects of an Octanuclear Copper(II)-Telmisartan Complex with an Hydrophobic Nanometer Hole

A new Cu(II) complex with the antihypertensive drug telmisartan, [Cu8Tlm16].24H2O (CuTlm), was synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and electronic, FTIR, Raman and EPR spectroscopy. The crystal structure (at 120 K) was solved by X-ray diffraction methods. The octanuclear complex is a hydrate of but otherwise isostructural to the previously reported [Cu8Tlm16] complex. [Cu8Tlm16].24H2O crystallizes in the tetragonal P4/ncc space group with a=b=47.335(1), c=30.894(3) Å, Z=4 molecules per unit cell giving a macro-cyclic ring with a double helical structure. The Cu(II) ions are in a distorted bi-pyramidal environment with a somewhat twisted square basis, cis-coordinated at their core N2O2 basis to two carboxylate oxygen and to two terminal benzimidazole nitrogen atoms. Cu8Tlm16 has a toroidal-like shape with a hydrophobic nanometer hole and their crystal packing defines nano-channels that extend along the crystal c-axis. Several biological activities of the complex and the parent ligand were examined in vitro. The antioxidant measurements indicate that the complex behaves as a superoxide dismutase mimics with improved superoxide scavenger power as compared with native sartan. The capacity of telmisartan and its copper complex to expand human mesangial cells (previously contracted by angiotensin II treatment) is similar to each other. The antihypertensive effect of the compounds is attributed to the strongest binding affinity to angiotensin II type 1 receptor and not to the antioxidant effects. The cytotoxic activity of the complex and that of its components was determined against lung cancer cell line A549 and three prostate cancer cell lines (LNCaP, PC-3 and DU 145). The complex displays some inhibitory effect on the A549 line and a high viability decrease on the LNCaP (androgen-sensitive) line. From flow cytometric analysis it was established an apoptotic mechanism for the latter cell line. Telmisartan and CuTlm show antibacterial and antifungal activities in various strains and CuTlm displays improved activity against the Stafilococcus aureus strain as compared with unbounded copper(II).Fil: Islas, María Soledad. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Medina, Juan José. Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral; ArgentinaFil: López Tévez, Libertad Leonor. Universidad Nacional del Chaco Austral; ArgentinaFil: Rojo, Teófilo. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Lezama, Luis. Universidad del País Vasco; EspañaFil: Griera Merino, Mercedes. Universidad de Alcalá; EspañaFil: Calleros, Laura. Universidad de Alcalá; EspañaFil: Cortés, María Alicia. Universidad de Alcalá; España. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rodriguez Puyol, Manuel. Universidad de Alcalá; EspañaFil: Echeverría, Gustavo Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Piro, Oscar Enrique. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Ferrer, Evelina Gloria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; ArgentinaFil: Williams, Patricia Ana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino". Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Centro de Química Inorgánica "Dr. Pedro J. Aymonino"; Argentin