Isolation and Identification of Cytotoxic Compounds from Aeschynomene fascicularis, a Mayan Medicinal Plant

The plant Aeschynomene fascicularis (Fabaceae) has been used in Mayan traditional medicine in the Yucatan peninsula. However, the compounds present in the plant responsible for its curative properties have not yet been investigated. Aeschynomene fascicularis root bark was extracted with 100% methanol to obtain a crude extract. The methanol extract was partitioned successively with solvents with increasing polarity to obtain the corresponding hexane (Hx), dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate fractions (EtOAc), as well as a residual water-alcoholic fraction. These fractions were tested for their cytotoxic activities using an MTT assay against Hep-2 cancer cell lines. The Hx fraction led to the isolation of spinochalcone C (1), spinochalcone A (2), isocordoin (3) and secundiflorol G (4). Their structures were identified based on spectroscopic evidence and chemical properties. All compounds were subjected to cytotoxicity and antiproliferative assays against a panel of seven cell lines, including one normal-type cell line. Spinochalcone A (2) exhibited cytotoxic activity against DU-145 cell line and antiproliferative activity against the KB cell line. Secundiflorol G (4) showed strong cytotoxic activity towards KB and Hep-2 cell lines. In addition, isocordoin (3) showed moderate activity on KB, Hep-2 and DU-145 cell lines. The active Compounds 2, 3 and 4 are potential therapeutic entities against cancer

Anti-oxidant defence mechanisms and oxidant damage indicators measured in adults of Octopus maya exposed at optimal (24°C) and high (30°C) temperatures

There is the raw data of the evaluations of effects of temperature on males and females of Octopus maya acclimated for 30 d at 24 and 30°C. Data here are: 1. Routine metabolic rates measured in open respirometers during 24h, (RMR24h), without values, used to LMR data 2. The low oxygen consumption data (LMR) obtained from 20% lower quartile data distribution of the RMR 24h 3. High metabolic rate (HMR) measured in animals exposed to 35°C for 5 min in an intermittent respirometer. 4. Values of Q10 calculated with LMR, RMR 24h and HMR data 5. Data of activities of Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), lipoperoxidation (LPO), Carbonylation (PO), total protein, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CbE) of hearts and muscle of males and females of O. maya. Abstract Since thermal stress enhances the energy demands, it is possible to hypothesize that the harmful effects of high temperatures observed in cephalopods are the result of the limited capacity of adults to channel more energy than those that the reproductive activity demands. In this sense, the present study was designed to know how thermal stress modulates the energy physiology of Octopus maya adults, evaluated through the relationship between temperature, respiratory metabolism (measured as thermal metabolic scope: TMS), antioxidant defence mechanisms (ANTIOX) and oxidant damage indicators (ODI). Sixty-seven males and females of O. maya were individually distributed in two different temperatures of 24, and 30°C. TMS resulted lower in females and males acclimated to 30°C than in animals maintained at 24°C. At the same time, higher values of ANTIOX and ODI were registered in the branchial hearts than in muscle arms and both octopus males and females acclimated at 30 than 24°C. Octopus Carboxyl-esterase (CbE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were not affected by the acclimation temperature and by sex; however higher values in the branchial hearts than the muscle of those enzymes were observed. Results obtained in the present study demonstrated in adults of O. maya that 30°C is a temperature where animals are in a limit of energy production, probably as a result of the incapacity of animals to transport oxygen to mitochondria. Although the animals are adapted to satisfy their basic energy requirements at 30 °C, it is not enough to cover all the demands energy needed of reproduction. At 30°C, oxidative stress is present explaining the reduction in the production of eggs, viable sperm and therefore in the quality of the progeny

Thermal metabolic scope measured in adults of Octopus maya exposed at optimal (24°C) and high (30°C) temperatures

There is the raw data of the evaluations of effects of temperature on males and females of Octopus maya acclimated for 30 d at 24 and 30°C. Data here are: 1. Routine metabolic rates measured in open respirometers during 24h, (RMR24h), without values, used to LMR data 2. The low oxygen consumption data (LMR) obtained from 20% lower quartile data distribution of the RMR 24h 3. High metabolic rate (HMR) measured in animals exposed to 35°C for 5 min in an intermittent respirometer. 4. Values of Q10 calculated with LMR, RMR 24h and HMR data 5. Data of activities of Catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), total glutathione (GSH), lipoperoxidation (LPO), Carbonylation (PO), total protein, acetyl-cholinesterase (AChE), and carboxylesterase (CbE) of hearts and muscle of males and females of O. maya. Abstract Since thermal stress enhances the energy demands, it is possible to hypothesize that the harmful effects of high temperatures observed in cephalopods are the result of the limited capacity of adults to channel more energy than those that the reproductive activity demands. In this sense, the present study was designed to know how thermal stress modulates the energy physiology of Octopus maya adults, evaluated through the relationship between temperature, respiratory metabolism (measured as thermal metabolic scope: TMS), antioxidant defence mechanisms (ANTIOX) and oxidant damage indicators (ODI). Sixty-seven males and females of O. maya were individually distributed in two different temperatures of 24, and 30°C. TMS resulted lower in females and males acclimated to 30°C than in animals maintained at 24°C. At the same time, higher values of ANTIOX and ODI were registered in the branchial hearts than in muscle arms and both octopus males and females acclimated at 30 than 24°C. Octopus Carboxyl-esterase (CbE) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were not affected by the acclimation temperature and by sex; however higher values in the branchial hearts than the muscle of those enzymes were observed. Results obtained in the present study demonstrated in adults of O. maya that 30°C is a temperature where animals are in a limit of energy production, probably as a result of the incapacity of animals to transport oxygen to mitochondria. Although the animals are adapted to satisfy their basic energy requirements at 30 °C, it is not enough to cover all the demands energy needed of reproduction. At 30°C, oxidative stress is present explaining the reduction in the production of eggs, viable sperm and therefore in the quality of the progeny

Bioprospecting for lipophilic-like components of five Phaeophyta macroalgae from the Portuguese coast

Lipophilic compounds present in dichloromethane extracts of five brown macroalgae from the Portuguese coast were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Their dicarboxylic acids, long-chain aliphatic alcohols, and monoglyceride profile are reported for the first time. Additionally, other new compounds were also first reported: 24-methylene-cholesterol in Himanthalia elongata, Laminaria ochroleuca, and Undaria pinnatifida; desmosterol and brassicasterol in H. elongata, L. ochroleuca, Sargassum muticum, and U. pinnatifida; fucosterol and campesterol in S. muticum; and cholest-5-en-3-ol-(3β)-3-phenyl-2-propenoate in Cystoseira tamariscifolia. Brown macroalgae dichloromethane extracts are mainly composed of fatty acids (463.4–3089.0 mg kg−1 of dry material) and sterols (75.5–442.7 mg kg−1 of dry material). High amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids were found, with the ω-6/ω-3 ratios of all species lower than 3. Cystoseira tamariscifolia, H. elongata, and S. muticum showed to be also promising sources of fucosterol. These results seem to uphold the incorporation of these macroalgae in a more balanced diet, as well as their use in the nutraceutical industry, as long as they are coupled with sustainable management of these natural resources