Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Studies of Beta-Sitosterol and Pteropodine in Mouse

Beta-sitosterol (BS) and pteropodine (PT) are constituents of various plants with pharmacological activities potentially useful to man. The chemicals themselves possess biomedical properties related to the modulation of the immune and the nervous systems, as well as to the inflammatory process. Therefore, safety evaluation of the compounds is necessary in regard to their probable beneficial use in human health. The present study evaluates their genotoxic and cytotoxic potential by determining the capacity of the compounds to induce sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), or to alter cellular proliferation kinetics (CPK) and the mitotic index (MI) in mouse bone marrow cells. Besides, it also determines their capacity to increase the rate of micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPE) in peripheral mouse blood, and the relationship polychromatic erythrocytes/normochromatic erythrocytes (PE/NE) as an index of cytotoxicity. For the first assay, four doses of each compound were tested: 200, 400, 600, and 1000 mg/kg in case of BS, and 100, 200, 300, and 600 mg/kg for PT. The results in regard to both agents showed no SCE increase induced by any of the tested doses, as well as no alteration in the CPK, or in the MI. With respect to the second assay, the results obtained with the two agents were also negative for both the MNPE and the PE/NE index along the daily evaluation made for four days. In the present study, the highest tested dose corresponded to 80% of the LD(50) obtained for BS and to 78% in the case of PT. The results obtained establish that the studied agents have neither genotoxic nor cytotoxic effect on the model used, and therefore they encourage studies on their pharmacological properties

Perspectives on utilization of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables

It is known that in developing countries, a large quantity of fruit and vegetable losses results at postharvest and processing stages due to poor or scarce storage technology and mishandling during harvest. The use of new and innovative technologies for reducing postharvest losses is a requirement that has not been fully covered. The use of edible coatings (mainly based on biopolymers) as a postharvest technique for agricultural commodities has offered biodegradable alternatives in order to solve problems (e.g., microbiological growth) during produce storage. However, biopolymer-based coatings can present some disadvantages such as: poor mechanical properties (e.g., lipids) or poor water vapor barrier properties (e.g., polysaccharides), thus requiring the development of new alternatives to solve these drawbacks. Recently, nanotechnology has emerged as a promising tool in the food processing industry, providing new insights about postharvest technologies on produce storage. Nanotechnological approaches can contribute through the design of functional packing materials with lower amounts of bioactive ingredients, better gas and mechanical properties and with reduced impact on the sensorial qualities of the fruits and vegetables. This work reviews some of the main factors involved in postharvest losses and new technologies for extension of postharvest storage of fruits and vegetables, focused on perspective uses of edible coatings and nano-laminate coatings.María L. Flores-López thanks Mexican Science and Technology Council (CONACYT, Mexico) for PhD fellowship support (CONACYT Grant Number: 215499/310847). Miguel A. Cerqueira (SFRH/BPD/72753/2010) is recipient of a fellowship from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, POPH-QREN and FSE Portugal). The authors also thank the FCT Strategic Project of UID/ BIO/04469/2013 unit, the project RECI/BBB-EBI/0179/2012 (FCOMP-01-0124-FEDER-027462) and the project ‘‘BioInd Biotechnology and Bioengineering for improved Industrial and AgroFood processes,’’ REF. NORTE-07-0124-FEDER-000028 Co-funded by the Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), QREN, FEDER. Fundação Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico – FUNCAP, CE Brazil (CI10080-00055.01.00/13)

Exomorfología y anatomía de órganos vegetativos aéreos en especies de Flourensia DC. (Asteraceae) con importancia fitoquímica

El género Flourensia DC. es americano y comprende 32 especies. Son arbustos resinosos utilizados en medicina popular; poseen un potencial valor económico, por lo que, en algunas especies representantes, se han caracterizado sus compuestos químicos y determinado algunos posibles usos. En el presente trabajo, se estudió la exomorfología y anatomía de órganos vegetativos de F. hirta S. F. Blake, F. leptopoda S. F. Blake, F. niederleinii S. F. Blake y F. tortuosa Griseb., especies endémicas del centro de Argentina. Se observó que todas son similares en cuanto a la anatomía de hoja y tallo. En cuanto al estudio de la epidermis foliar, se concluye que es posible diferenciar las especies teniendo en cuenta la frecuencia estomática y la presencia de tricomas. Finalmente, las diferencias más notables se encontraron en la exomorfología foliar ya que se observó una gran variación en cuanto a la forma de las hojas y tamaño de las láminas y pecíolos. Con respecto a las estructuras secretoras, se encontraron tricomas y conductos secretores esquizógenos en las hojas y los tallos de todas las especies, las cuales serían responsables de la producción y secreción de las resinas.The genus Flourensia DC. is American and comprises 32 species. They are resiniferous shrubs used in folk medicine. As they have potential economic value, its chemical compounds have been characterized and some possible uses identified. In this work, the exomorphology and anatomy of vegetative organs of F. hirta S. F. Blake, F. leptopoda S. F. Blake, F. niederleinii S. F. Blake and F. tortuosa Griseb., endemic species from central Argentina, have been studied. All species are similar in leaf and stem anatomy. Regarding the epidermis, it is possible to differentiate the species according to the stomatal frequency and the presence of trichomes. Finally, the most remarkable differences were found in leaf exomorphology, since there was a large variation in shape and size of blades and petioles. Concerning the secretory structures, trichomes and secretory ducts were found in the leaves and stems of all species, which would be responsible for the production and secretion of the resins

Variación en el patrón de crecimiento en altura de cuatro especies de Pinus en edades tempranas

Con el propósito de determinar la variación inter e intraespecífica en la tasa de crecimiento en altura y el número de ciclos, se evaluó una plantación experimental de 18 meses de edad, establecida en Patoltecoya, Puebla, durante un periodo de 12 meses. La plantación incluye un total de 30 procedencias de 4 especies de Pinus (10 de P. greggii Engelm., 11 de P. patula Schl. et Cham., 4 de P. tecunumanii (Schw.) Eguiluz et Perry y 5 de P. maximinoi H. E. Moore), en un diseño experimental de parcelas divididas en bloques completos al azar, en dos sitios contiguos. No se encontró un efecto significativo del sitio, ni de la interacción genotipo*ambiente en ninguna de las variables del crecimiento evaluadas, pero sí variación significativa ( p ≤ 0.01) entre y dentro de especies en estas características. La variación entre especies fue de 2 a 6 veces mayor que la variación intraespecífica, por lo que existe un mayor potencial de selección a nivel de especies que de procedencias en dichas características. Pinus maximinoi y P. tecunumanii presentaron las mayores tasas de crecimiento en altura (2.50 y 2.44 m /año respectivamente), mientras que P. patula presentó las menores (1.92 m/año). En P. tecunumanii y P. patula la tasa de crecimiento se asoció en forma negativa ( r = -98) en la primera y en forma positiva (r = 0.75) en la segunda con el número de ciclos de crecimiento, mientras que en P. greggii y P. maximinoi no se encontró una correlación significativa entre estas características. Además, se detectaron diferencias importantes entre las especies en el patrón de variación geográfica en las características del crecimiento evaluadas.</jats:p

Retinopathy of prematurity: Controversies in the usage of intraocular antiangiogenics [Retinopat�a del prematuro: Controversias en el uso de antiangiog�nicos intraoculares]

The increase in survival rates among preterm infants, characteristics of neonatal care for such infants and a lack of suitable programs for preventing, detecting and treating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are factors that have made this disease the main cause of preventable blindness among children in Mexico. The advent of antiangiogenic agents in cancer treatment and their off-label use with favorable results in the treatment of proliferative vessel disease of the retina among adult patients, as well as anecdotal reports in the literature and a series of cases showing serious methodological flaws, have prompted their use in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Unfortunately, these agents used indiscriminately in our country have a systemic absorption and secondary effects on the preterm patient's body. There are no long-term monitoring studies that guarantee their safe use in this segment of the population. This article describes the situation in our country and warns of the risks posed by the use of this type of drug on the preterm infant population

Retinopathy of prematurity: Controversies in the usage of intraocular antiangiogenics [Retinopatía del prematuro: Controversias en el uso de antiangiogénicos intraoculares]

The increase in survival rates among preterm infants, characteristics of neonatal care for such infants and a lack of suitable programs for preventing, detecting and treating retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) are factors that have made this disease the main cause of preventable blindness among children in Mexico. The advent of antiangiogenic agents in cancer treatment and their off-label use with favorable results in the treatment of proliferative vessel disease of the retina among adult patients, as well as anecdotal reports in the literature and a series of cases showing serious methodological flaws, have prompted their use in the treatment of retinopathy of prematurity. Unfortunately, these agents used indiscriminately in our country have a systemic absorption and secondary effects on the preterm patient's body. There are no long-term monitoring studies that guarantee their safe use in this segment of the population. This article describes the situation in our country and warns of the risks posed by the use of this type of drug on the preterm infant population

Genotoxic and Antigenotoxic Assessment of Chios Mastic Oil by the In Vitro Micronucleus Test on Human Lymphocytes and the In Vivo Wing Somatic Test on Drosophila

International audienceChios mastic oil (CMO), the essential oil derived from Pistacia lentiscus (L.) var. chia (Duham), has generated considerable interest because of its antimicrobial, anticancer, antioxidant and other beneficial properties. In the present study, the potential genotoxic activity of CMO as well as its antigenotoxic properties against the mutagenic agent mitomycin-C (MMC) were evaluated by employing the in vitro Cytokinesis Block MicroNucleus (CBMN) assay and the in vivo Somatic Mutation And Recombination Test (SMART). In the in vitro experiments, lymphocytes were treated with 0.01, 0.05 and 0.10% (v/v) of CMO with or without 0.05 μg/ml MMC, while in the in vivo assay Drosophila larvae were fed with 0.05, 0.10, 0.50 and 1.00% (v/v) of CMO with or without 2.50 μg/ml MMC. CMO did not significantly increase the frequency of micronuclei (MN) or total wing spots, indicating lack of mutagenic or recombinogenic activity. However, the in vitro analysis suggested cytotoxic activity of CMO. The simultaneous administration of MMC with CMO did not alter considerably the frequencies of MMC-induced MN and wing spots showing that CMO doesn't exert antigenotoxic or antirecombinogenic action. Therefore, CMO could be considered as a safe product in terms of genotoxic potential. Even though it could not afford any protection against DNA damage, at least under our experimental conditions, its cytotoxic potential could be of interest