Novel Lignan and Stilbenoid Mixture Shows Anticarcinogenic Efficacy in Preclinical PC-3M-luc2 Prostate Cancer Model

Peer reviewe

Quercus suber and Betula pendula outer barks as renewable sources of oleochemicals: A comparative study

A comparative study on the chemical composition of oak cork (Quercus suber L.) and corresponding industrial residues and birch (Betula pendula L.) outer bark is reported. Cork oak samples have lower extractives contents (6-9%) and higher contents of carbohydrates and lignin (23-27 and 33-38%, respectively) than those found for birch outer bark (40, 6 and 9%, respectively); suberin contents accounted for around 30% of cork, 11% of industrial cork powder and 45% of birch outer bark. Analysis of the suberin monomeric composition revealed that C18 and C22 omega-hydroxyfatty acids (including mid-chain epoxy- and dihydroxy-derivatives), followed by alpha,omega-dicarboxylic acids, are the main components in both suberins, with 9,10-epoxy-18-hydroxyoctadecanoic, 18-hydroxyoctadec-9-enoic, 9,10,18-trihydroxyoctadecanoic and octadec-9-enoic acids as the major components. The differences in the relative amounts of these acids in the suberin samples and the impact on the potential exploitation of the different industrial by-products are discussed. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.WaCheUp project - STRP 013896EC/6FP - priority 3, NM

Effect of altitude on the composition of suberin monomers in the outer bark of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

The changes in the amount and composition of suberin monomers of Scots pine outer bark, which is grown natively in Turkey, was investigated as a function of growing altitude. Samples were taken from every 100 m to 1300m which was the highest point of the sampling area. While the total amount of suberin monomers is varied within the range 17.56-47.20 mg/g, there was no correlation between total amount and altitude. Total amount of alkanols of suberin monomers decreased when the altitude increased. Alcohol 24:0 was seen as the dominant constituent and its amount decreased from 100 m to 1300 m. There was not a clear change in the total amount of alkanoic, dioic and hydroxy acids. Acid 1,18-hydroxy-18:1 and acid 1.18-dioic-18:1 were determined as the main compounds in all samples. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Novel Suberin-Based Biopolyesters: From Synthesis to Properties

This article reports the successful synthesis and characterization of two types of completely biobased polymers prepared by the polycondensation or polytransesterification of suberin fragments, isolated by different procedures and from two different vegetable sources. These polymerizations were conducted with different experimental conditions in terms of the type of catalyst, the reaction medium and temperature, as well as the molar ratio between the reactive moieties. The ensuing linear or partly crosslinked polyesters were characterized by conventional spectroscopic techniques, SEC, DSC, XRD, DMA, and TGA. These hydrophobic materials represent an original contribution to the growing field of polymers from renewable resources. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 49: 2281-2291, 2011FCT - SFRH/BD/38890/2007AFORE - FP7/2007-2013FCT - PNRCPOCI 2010FEDERREEQ/515/CTM/2005 POC

PKE and its compounds induce A) apoptosis and B) G0/G1 cell cycle arrest of PC-3M-luc2 cells <i>in vitro.</i>

<p>Apoptosis rates and number of cells in G0/G1 phase are expressed relative to vehicle control (Ctrl = 1). The cells were treated with test compounds for 48 hours and apoptosis rate and cell cycle phase was determined with flow cytometer. LS, mixture of main PKE lignans and stilbenes; MePS, pinosylvin monomethyl ether; NTG, nortrachelogenin; PS, pinosylvin; MR, matairesinol; Ab, abietic acid; RV, resveratrol. The data are means of three independent experiments ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by non-parametric t-test for each treatment in comparison to respective Ctrl. *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.</p

PKE and its compounds sensitize PC-3M-luc2 cells to TRAIL -induced apoptosis <i>in vitro.</i>

<p>A) Cells treated with PKE in combination with increasing concentrations of human TRAIL (0−100 ng/ml), values are percentages of nuclear fragmentation. B) Cells treated with PKE, LS mixture, or with individual PKE compounds in combination with human TRAIL (25 ng/ml), values are relative apoptosis rates (Ctrl = 1). The cells were treated with test compounds for 48 hours and nuclear fragmentation was determined with flow cytometer. LS, mixture of main PKE lignans and stilbenes; MePS, pinosylvin monomethyl ether; NTG, nortrachelogenin; PS, pinosylvin; MR, matairesinol; Ab, abietic acid; RV, resveratrol. The data are means of three independent experiments ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by non-parametric t-test for each treatment in comparison to respective vehicle treatment (Ctrl). *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.</p

Pine knot extract (PKE) and its polyphenols inhibit the proliferation of PC-3M-luc2 prostate cancer cells.

<p>A) Cells were treated with PKE or a mixture of its main lignans and stilbenoids (LS mixture) for 48 hours. B) Cells were treated with individual PKE derived compounds for 48 hours. Cell proliferation rate expressed as percent of control was measured with BrdU assay. The data are means of three independent experiments ± SEM. Statistical significance was determined by non-parametric t-test for each treatment in comparison to respective vehicle treatment (Ctrl). *p<0.05, **p<0.01, ***p<0.001.</p

Multivariate testing and visualization of the relationships among vascularization, proliferation and tumor volume A) Vehicle vs. low dose comparison, and B) Vehicle vs. high dose comparison (p = 0.0051) using MD (p = 0.4195).

<p>C) Tumor volume, vessel length and proliferation index were detected as the most important factors of differences in the multivariate analyses. The hyperplane indicates that two of the groups (vehicle in black and high dose in green) were linearly separable when the three factors were considered together (Hyperplane: 100.55 = 0.104×Tumor volume +0.895×Proliferation index +21.1×Vessel length).</p