Protective Effect on Human Lymphocytes of Some Flavonoids Isolated from Two Achillea Species

This study was conducted to elucidate the in vitro protective effect of five flavonoids [apigenin (1), apigenin-7-O-glucoside (2), centaureidin (3), jaceidin (4) and quercetin (5)] against chromosomal damage in mitogen-induced human lymphocytes. Using the Cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in which the biomarker of chromosome breakage and/or chromosome loss is the elevated frequency of micronucleus (MN) in binucleated (BN) cells, the presence of flavonoid 2 in minimal concentration (3 mu g/mL) gave a 35.5% decrease M the frequency of MN when compared with control human lymphocytes. The same concentration of flavonoids 1, 3 and 4, reduced the MN frequency by 24.4%, 28.0% and 28.0%, respectively. Higher concentrations (6 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL) seemed less effective. Flavonoid 5 (3 mu g/mL.) induced a slight decrease in MN frequency (5%), while higher doses (6 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL) provoked an increase of DNA damage. The comparable values for the cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) of the tested flavonoids and positive control suggested an inhibitory effect on lymphocyte proliferation. In the DPPH scavenging assay, flavonoids 1-4 demonstrated modest activity, in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the synthetic antioxidants BHT and Trolox, while 5 exhibited comparably high antioxidative activity

Protective Effect on Human Lymphocytes of Some Flavonoids Isolated from Two Achillea Species

This study was conducted to elucidate the in vitro protective effect of five flavonoids [apigenin (1), apigenin-7-O-glucoside (2), centaureidin (3), jaceidin (4) and quercetin (5)] against chromosomal damage in mitogen-induced human lymphocytes. Using the Cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in which the biomarker of chromosome breakage and/or chromosome loss is the elevated frequency of micronucleus (MN) in binucleated (BN) cells, the presence of flavonoid 2 in minimal concentration (3 mu g/mL) gave a 35.5% decrease M the frequency of MN when compared with control human lymphocytes. The same concentration of flavonoids 1, 3 and 4, reduced the MN frequency by 24.4%, 28.0% and 28.0%, respectively. Higher concentrations (6 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL) seemed less effective. Flavonoid 5 (3 mu g/mL.) induced a slight decrease in MN frequency (5%), while higher doses (6 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL) provoked an increase of DNA damage. The comparable values for the cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) of the tested flavonoids and positive control suggested an inhibitory effect on lymphocyte proliferation. In the DPPH scavenging assay, flavonoids 1-4 demonstrated modest activity, in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the synthetic antioxidants BHT and Trolox, while 5 exhibited comparably high antioxidative activity

Protective Effect on Human Lymphocytes of Some Flavonoids Isolated from Two Achillea Species

This study was conducted to elucidate the in vitro protective effect of five flavonoids [apigenin (1), apigenin-7-O-glucoside (2), centaureidin (3), jaceidin (4) and quercetin (5)] against chromosomal damage in mitogen-induced human lymphocytes. Using the Cytochalasin-B blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay, in which the biomarker of chromosome breakage and/or chromosome loss is the elevated frequency of micronucleus (MN) in binucleated (BN) cells, the presence of flavonoid 2 in minimal concentration (3 mu g/mL) gave a 35.5% decrease M the frequency of MN when compared with control human lymphocytes. The same concentration of flavonoids 1, 3 and 4, reduced the MN frequency by 24.4%, 28.0% and 28.0%, respectively. Higher concentrations (6 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL) seemed less effective. Flavonoid 5 (3 mu g/mL.) induced a slight decrease in MN frequency (5%), while higher doses (6 mu g/mL and 10 mu g/mL) provoked an increase of DNA damage. The comparable values for the cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI) of the tested flavonoids and positive control suggested an inhibitory effect on lymphocyte proliferation. In the DPPH scavenging assay, flavonoids 1-4 demonstrated modest activity, in a dose-dependent manner, compared with the synthetic antioxidants BHT and Trolox, while 5 exhibited comparably high antioxidative activity

An Insight into Fatty Acid Composition of Calliergonella cuspidata

The fatty acid composition of the moss Calliergonella cuspidata (Hedw.) Loeske (Amblystegiaccae) was preliminary analyzed by gas chromatography (GC FID) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Six fatty acids were identified in its chloroform-methanol extract 1/1: palmitic acid (66.83 %), stearic acid (11.73%), oleic acid (8.21 %), linolenic acid (6.01 %), alpha-linolenic acid (3.95 %) and arachidic acid (3.26 %). Arachidonic acid and cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, typical long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids for many mosses, were not detected in Calliergonella cuspidata

Micromeria thymifolia Essential Oil Suppresses Quorum-sensing Signaling in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

The chemical composition, antimicrobial and antiquorum sensing activity of the essential oil of Micromeria thymifolia (Scop.) Fritsch were investigated. Limonene, piperitone epoxide and piperitenone epoxide were found as the main constituents using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry technique. In vitro antimicrobial activity of the oil was tested against six bacterial and seven fungal strains and high antimicrobial potential was noticed. Minimum inhibitory concentration varied from 0.031 mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL for bacterial and 0.062 mg/mL to 0.5 mg/mL for fungal strains. The antiquorum properties of the essential oil were evaluated on Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1. The oil was tested at subMIC concentrations for anti-quorum sensing activity. The analyses on quorum-sensing functions have been carried out by evaluating twitching and swarming of bacterial cultures and the total amount of pyocyanin production produced by P. aeruginosa. This study showed that M. thymifolia essential oil exhibited antiquorum sensing activity and may be used as an antipathogenic drug

Molecular Diversity of Compounds from Pygidial Gland Secretions of Cave-Dwelling Ground Beetles: The First Evidence

Three adult cave-dwelling ground beetle species were induced to discharge secretions of their pygidial glands into vials. Dichloromethane extraction was used to obtain the secretions. In total, 42 compounds were identified by GC/MS analysis. Pheggomisetes ninae contained 32 glandular compounds, Laemostenus (Pristonychus) punctatus 13, whereas Duvalius (Paraduvalius) milutini had nine compounds. Caproic, oleic, palmitic, and stearic acids were present in the samples of all analyzed species. Undecane was predominant in the extract of L. punctatus. Palmitic acid was the major component in the secretion of D. milutini. Finally, the most abundant compounds in P. ninae secretion were heptacosene and nonacosadienes. Herein, we present the first data on the identification of pygidial gland secretion components in both troglophilous and troglobite cave-dwelling ground beetles. Some compounds are reported for the first time in the secretions of ground beetles and other higher or lower taxa. The adaptation to underground life has not led to a reduction or changes in the chemical defense mechanism in the analyzed troglophilous and troglobitic Platyninae and Trechinae taxa.Serbian Ministry of Education, Science, and Technological Development {[}173038, 172053, 173027