In vitro cytotoxic screening of coumarins

This study reports the cytotoxicity screening of 33 coumarins in a panel of human tumor cell lines (Caco-2: human colorectal adenocarcinoma, HCT-8: human ileocecal adenocarcinoma, and HEp-2: human larynx epidermoid carcinoma). The classic MTT assay was employed to evaluate the influence of samples on cellular viability. Following continuous incubation with cells for 72 h, all tested coumarins exhibited CC50 values ≥ 0.34 mM for all three cell lines. These findings indicate that all samples were not able to reduce the viability of tumor cell lines used in this study in clinically relevant concentrations. Some structure-activity relationships were established and could be used for the synthesis of derivatives with improved cytotoxic potential.Colegio de Farmacéuticos de la Provincia de Buenos Aire

Larvicidal effects of endophytic and basidiomycete fungus extracts on Aedes and Anopheles larvae (Diptera, Culicidae)

Introduction In vitro bioassays were performed to access the larvicidal activity of crude extracts from the endophytic fungus Pestalotiopsis virgulata (Melanconiales, Amphisphaeriaceae) and the saprophytic fungus Pycnoporus sanguineus (Basidiomycetes, Polyporaceae) against the mosquitoes Aedes aegypti and Anopheles nuneztovari. Methods The extracts were tested at concentrations of 100, 200, 300, 400 and 500ppm. Ethyl acetate mycelia (EAM) extracts and liquid culture media (LCM) from Pe. virgulata and Py. sanguineus were tested against third instar larvae of Ae. aegypti and An. nuneztovari. Results The larvicidal activity of the EAM extracts from Pe. virgulata against Ae. aegypti had an LC50=101.8ppm, and the extract from the basidiomycete fungus Py. sanguineus had an LC50=156.8ppm against the Ae. aegypti larvae. The Pe. virgulata extract had an LC50=16.3ppm against the An. nuneztovari larvae, and the Py. sanguineus extract had an LC50=87.2ppm against these larvae. Conclusions These results highlight the larvicidal effect of EAM extracts from the endophyte Pe. virgulata against the two larval mosquitoes tested. Thus, Pe. virgulata and Py. sanguineus have the potential for the production of bioactive substances against larvae of these two tropical disease vectors, with An. nuneztovari being more susceptible to these extracts