Chemical Composition and Protective Possibilities of Juglans Nigra Leaves and Green Husks Extracts: DNA Binding and Micronucleus Assay in Human Lymphocytes

To better understand the mechanism of action of the compounds in the ethanolic extracts of J. nigra leaves and green husks, their binding to CT-DNA was investigated. This study was conducted to elucidate the in vitro protective effect of extracts against chromosomal damage in mitogen-induced human lymphocytes and investigate the possible application of selec+ted extracts as a natural source of polyphenolic compounds. Using HPLC-MS analysis, 103 different compounds were identified as having a higher number of active species, which is consistent with their activity. The frequency of micronuclei (MN) was scored in binucleated cells, and the nuclear proliferation index was calculated. Cyclic voltammetry experiments demonstrate that the nature of the interaction between extracts and CT-DNA is a synergy of electrostatic and intercalative modes, where leaves extracts showed a higher ability to bind to DNA. Extracts showed excellent antioxidant activity. At a concentration of only 4 μg/mL, extract of J. nigra leaves and the green husks reduced the incidence of MN by 58.2% and 64.5%, respectively, compared to control cell cultures

Application of Screen Printed Diamond Electrode, Coupled with “Point-of-Care” Platform, for Nanomolar Quantification of Phytonutrient Pterostilbene in Dietary Supplements: An Experimental Study Supported by Theory

Herein, a screen–printed diamond electrode (SPDE) coupled with a “point-of-care” platform (30 µL-drop concepts, single-drop-detection approach) was successfully applied for the electrochemical determination of pterostilbene (PTS). Cyclic voltammetry identified irreversible oxidation of PTS, where oxidation peak was shown to be strongly dependent on the pH of the working environmental. Although the proposition of the detailed electrochemical oxidation mechanism of PTS goes out of the scope of the present research, we have determined the most probable reactive site of our analyte, by utilizing DFT-based reactivity descriptors (Fukui functions). For electrochemical quantification of PTS, oxidation peak at 0.32 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) was followed in presence of 0.5 mol L−1 of Briton–Robinson buffer solution (pH = 9). Coupled with the optimized parameters of differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), SPDE detected PTS in two linear ranges (first range was from 0.011 to 0.912 µmol L−1; second range was from 0.912 to 4.420 µmol L−1), providing the LOD and LOQ on a nanomolar level (3.1 nmol L−1 and 10.0 nmol L−1, respectively). The selectivity of the optimized DPV method was found to be excellent, with the current changes of less than 7%, in the presence of ten times higher concentrations of the certain interferences. The practical applicability of the SPDE and single-drop-detection approach in dietary supplements (with a declared PTS content of 50 mg/tablet), with the recovery values ranging from 95 to 102%, shows that the developed method has high potential for precise and accurate PTS detection, as well as exceptional miniaturization possibilities of relevant equipment for on-site sensing

Correlation between steroid receptors, angiogenic factors, and classical prognostic parameters in node-negative breast cancer patients

Breast cancer (BC) progression is an estrogen receptor (ER) signaling- and angiogenesis-dependent process. This study investigated relationships between classical prognostic factors and biomarkers ER, PR, VEGF, and bFGF in node-negative BC patients. Positive correlation between ER and both PR (p < 0.001) or FGF (p = 0.04) levels indicates ER-regulated expression of these factors and a potential synergistic effect of ER and bFGF in tumor progression. Aside from correlation of age with ER and bFGF levels (p = 0.003; p = 0.05; respectively), no correlation of biomarkers with classical prognostic parameters was found, indicating that those biomarkers could be independent prognostic factors

Optimization of radioprotective dose of Juglans nigra leaf extract using response surface methodology

J. nigra leaf contains mixture of various pharmacologically active compounds and it is assumed that they may have the potential radioprotective effect. The purpose of this work was to predict radioprotective doses by correlating changes in organ distribution of radiopharmaceuticals with extract dose levels and rat body weight using response surface methodology (RSM) based on a second-order polynomial equation. The extract was administered daily by oral gavage to rats at dose of 6.9, 10.3, or 13.7 mg kg−1 body weight (bw) day−1 for 10 days. On the eleventh day, 0.1 ml of the one radiopharmaceutical (Na99mTcO4, 99mTc-dimercaptosuccinic acid and 99mTc-tin colloid) was injected into the tail vein. The statistical parameters: the coefficient of determination (0.81–0.95), the coefficient of variation (3.05–11.1), the adequate precision (8.82–19.12) and the mean relative percentage deviation (± 2.3–8.2) were indicated the precision and reliability of RSM. Using RSM, the predicted daily dose of leaf extract ranging from 11.19 to 11.99 mg kg−1 bw may be considered as an optimal daily radiopotective dose for protection of organs from radiation in cases of planned radiation exposures

Roles of Junglas nigra husk extract microelements as radioprotectors: an in vivo model using 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals

The aim of this work was to analyze the multi-elemental composition of the extracts of J. nigra husk, with an assessment of the possible influence of their microelements on biochemical, toxicological and radioprotective effects of in rats exposed to radiation from 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals. The elements in extract were quantified: microelements (Zn>Al>Se>Cu>Sr>Cr>Ni>Mn>Ba>I>V) and toxic-elements (Pb>Hg>Cd>As). The use of extract in rats showed no clinical evidence of toxicity in terms of biochemical parameters. The results showed significant alteration in the organs accumulation of 99mTc-radiopharmaceuticals. The results showed that extract of J. nigra husk may act as a potential radioprotector of organ system