Italian wild rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.]: influence of agricultural practices on antioxidant molecules and on cytotoxicity and antiproliferative effects

Wild rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.] belongs to family Brassicaceae and has its origin in the Mediterranean region. The effect of conventional and integrated cultivation practices on the nutritional properties and benefits of wild rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC.] were studied. Bioactive molecules levels (vitamin C, quercetin, lutein), antioxidant properties and bioactivity of polyphenolic extracts from the edible part of rocket in Caco-2 cells were determined. Regarding antioxidant properties, FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) values ranged from 4.44 ± 0.11 mmol/kg fw to 9.92 ± 0.46 mmol/Kg fw for conventional rocket and from 4.13±0.17 fw mmol/kg to 11.02 ± 0.45 mmol/Kg fw for integrated rocket. The characteristics of wild rocket as dietary source of antioxidants have been pointed out. Significant differences in the quality of conventional and integrated rocket have been shown, while no influence of agronomic practice on biological activity was reported. A significant accumulation of cells in G1 phase and a consequent reduction in the S and G2 + M phases was observed in Caco-2 cells treated with rocket polyphenol extrac

Anthocyanins induce cell cycle perturbations and apoptosis in different human cell lines

To investigate the mechanistic basis for the biological properties of anthocyanins, two aglycone anthocyanins [delphinidin (DY) and cyanidin (CY)] were used to examine their effects on cell cycle progression and on induction of apoptosis in human cancer cells (uterine carcinoma and colon adenocarcinoma cells) and in normal human fibroblasts. These compounds differ in the number and position of hydroxyl groups on the beta ring in the molecular structure. Cellular uptake of anthocyanins was confirmed by HPLC analysis and no metabolites were detected. The clonogenic assay showed that CY induces a dose-dependent growth inhibitory effect only in fibroblasts. This effect was confirmed by flow cytometric analysis, showing a significant reduction of cells in S phase. In contrast, DP inhibited cell growth in normal and tumour cell lines. This event is accompanied in fibroblasts by an accumulation of cells in the S phase suggesting a block in the transition from S to G2 phase. On the other hand, in tumour cell lines we observed a reduction of cells in G1 phase, paralleled by the appearance of a fraction of cells with a hypodiploid DNA content, thus demonstrating an apoptotic effect by DP. The occurrence of apoptosis induced by DP was confirmed by morphological and biochemical features, including nuclear condensation and fragmentation, annexin V staining, DNA laddering and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-proteolysis. Furthermore, the mitochondrial membrane potential of apoptotic cells after treatment with DP was significantly lost. The different effects exerted by DP as compared with CY suggest that the presence of the three hydroxyl groups on the beta ring in the molecular structure of DP may be important for its greater biological activity

Stilbenoid-Enriched Grape Cane Extracts for the Biocontrol of Grapevine Diseases

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