Antioxidant Capacity and Cytotoxicity of Aesculus hippocastanum on Breast Cancer MCF-7 Cells

Aesculus hippocastanum L. is a native tree of Asia. Its leaves, seeds and flowers have long been used in folk medicine and in traditional food ingredients. In this study, the bark, seeds, leaves and flowers as aerial parts of A. hippocastanum were extracted in ethanol. The antioxidant capacity of each part was determined for its 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH) scavenging capacity, microsomal lipid peroxidation inhibition capacity and total phenolic content. Among all the parts examined, the bark extract of A. hippocastanum revealed the highest antioxidant capacity with an IC50 value of 0.025 mg/mL and 0.014 mg/mL for the inhibition of lipid peroxidation and for the scavenging of DPPH radical, respectively. The bark extract was further examined for its cytotoxic effect on human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and on healthy cells (3T3) using the MTT method. Cell viability was reduced to 30% upon the addition of 0.5 mg/mL bark extract for both cell lines

Anatolan sage Salva frutcosa nhbts cytosolc glutathone-s-transferase actvty and colon cancer cell prolferaton

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and healthy diet is critical in preventing it. This study intends to investigate phenolic profile, antioxidant, and anti-proliferative activity as well as Glutathione S-transferase (GST) inhibition activity of water extract of Salvia fruticosa Mill. (SF.) HPLC analysis revealed that the main bioactive ingredients of SF were rosmarinic and caffeic acid. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 425.1mg GAE/g extract and 94.7mg CE/g extract, respectively. SF exhibited high antioxidant activity through DPPH and ABTS assays. The extract exhibited time and dose-dependent anti-proliferative activity on colorectal adenocarcinoma cell lines (Caco-2 and HT-29). The extract also inhibited GST activity in a mixed-type manner, with an IC50 value of 6.8 mu g/mL. To conclude, the results suggest that SF may be considered as a medicinal plant which can be used in theprevention and treatment of colon cancer, besides chemotherapy drugs

MODULATION OF CYTOCHROME P450s AND ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES BY CAFFEIC ACID, p-COUMARIC ACID AND QUERCETIN-RICH ANATOLIAN PROPOLIS IN HUMAN ADENOCARCINOMA HT-29 CELLS

Propolis, which is a complex resinous material has diverse pharmacological and biological properties. Phase I and II enzymes are responsible for detoxication and elimination of activated carcinogens, acting as important biomarkers for chemoprevention. Among them, cytochrome P450s plays a prominent role in metabolic activation of xenobiotics. This study was designed to investigate the in vitro modulatory effects of Anatolian propolis and its phenolic contents; caffeic acid, quercetin and p-coumaric acid on the mRNA expression levels of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2E1, NQOI, GSTP1 and GPx in human colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 cells. Analysis results revealed that the propolis extract and its major phenolic contents; caffeic acid and quercetin suppressed the mRNA expression levels of CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 between the range of 1,66 and 4,55 fold, while p-coumaric acid did not show remarkable effects on the enzymes aforementioned. On the other hand, the extract and all phenolics increased the mRNA expression levels of antioxidant enzymes; NQO1, GSTP1 and GPx between the range of 1,51 and 9,85 fold. This preliminary study demonstrates that phenolic content rich-Anatolian propolis modulates the gene expression of the enzymes involved in xenobiotics activation and detoxication pathways

Detoxification of Groundnut Cake Naturally Contaminated with Aflatoxin B-1 Using Rhodococcus erythropolis in Shake Flask Bioreactors

Degradation of aflatoxin B-1 in groundnut cake, a residue after oil extraction, by Rhodococcus erythropolis was optimized using response surface methodology. The bacterium was first grown in synthetic medium to determine optimal growth conditions using the combination of the Plackett-Burman and Box-Behnken methods and consequently aflatoxin B-1 in groundnut cake slurry was degraded under varying culture conditions. Optimal growth conditions were found as 22.5 A degrees C of temperature, pH 7, 100 mL of culture volume in 500 mL flasks, 1 % (v/v) of inoculum size, 135 rpm of agitation speed, 5 g/L of glucose and 5 g/L of peptone concentration according to analysis of the Box-Behnken design. Optimal detoxification conditions were found as 27.4 % (w/v) of solid concentration, 4.88 % (v/v) of inoculum size and 24 h of incubation time by Box-Behnken response surface optimization. Maximum detoxification level was predicted as 92.2 % by the constructed model while the experimental counterpart was 87.3 %. The suggested culture conditions have the potential to decrease aflatoxin B-1 from 200 mu g/kg to below 20 mu g/kg, the regulatory limit, in feed materials. Further studies are needed to test the obtained results at a larger scale and to finalize safety assessment of the final product by animal testing

Blood pressure-lowering effect of dietary (-)-epicatechin administration in L-NAME-treated rats is associated with restored nitric oxide levels

Epidemiological and intervention studies have shown that the intake of certain chocolates or cocoa products decreases blood pressure (BP) in humans. (-)-Epicatechin is the most abundant flavanol present in cocoa seeds and its derived foods. This work investigates the effects of dietary (-)-epicatechin on BP in rats that received Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) for 4 days. (-)-Epicatechin administration prevented the 42 mm Hg increase in BP associated with the inhibition of NO production in a dose-dependent manner (0.2-4.0 g/kg diet). This BP effect was associated with a reduction in L-NAME-mediated increase in the indexes of oxidative stress (plasma TBARS and GSSG/GSH2 ratio) and with a restoration of the NO concentration. At the vascular level, none of the treatments modified NOS expression, but (-)-epicatechin administration avoided the L-NAME-mediated decrease in eNOS activity and increase in both superoxide anion production and NOX subunit p47phox expression. In summary, (-)-epicatechin was able to prevent the increase in BP and in oxidative stress and restored NO bioavailability. The fact that (-)-epicatechin is present in several plants usually consumed by humans gives the possibility of developing diets rich in those plants or pharmacological strategies using that flavonoid to diminish BP in hypertensive subjects.Fil: Litterio, Maria Corina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Jaggers, Grayson K.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Gulcin Sagdicoglu, Celep. Gazi University; TurquíaFil: Adamo, Ana María. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas "Prof. Alejandro C. Paladini". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Físico-Química Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Maria de Los Angeles. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Oteiza, Patricia I.. University of California; Estados UnidosFil: Fraga, César Guillermo. University of California; Estados Unidos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Galeano, Mónica. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad Medicina. Instituto de Bioquímica y Medicina Molecular; Argentin