Antioxidant, antimicrobial and immunostimulant properties of saline extract from Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Swartz (Fabaceae) leaves

281-289Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Swartz is a species that originates in India and Central America and is widely distributed in the world. This plant presents important biological properties, due to the presence of some secondary medicinal metabolites, such as tannins, glycosides, flavonoids and diterpenes. In folk medicine, C. pulcherrima is used in different diseases as bronchitis, asthma, infections, wounds and eye irritations. The aim of this study was to perform a phytochemical screening and evaluate which biological properties the saline extract of leaves from C. pulcherrima have against microorganisms and animal cells. Results showed that 15 majority compounds could be found in saline extract distributed among phenol, coumarin and quercetin groups.Saline extract of leaves from C. pulcherrima also showed good results in antioxidant test and showed significant antifungal property against Candida strains. Moreover, the saline extract did not showed cytotoxicity against mice splenocytes and promoted proliferation in these cells. These results may be predictive for future studies using the saline extract from C. pulcherrima leaves as cell stimulant agent in a pharmaceutical phytotherapic formulation used in cicatricial and in vitro immunostimulant assays

Avaliação da atividade cicatrizante da Lectina de Cratylia mollis em camundongos normais e imunodeprimidos experimentalmente

Um organismo imunocomprometido tem dificuldade de restabelecimento após uma injúria. Sementes da lectina de Cratylia mollis, experimentalmente chamada Cramoll 1,4, foi usada no tratamento de feridas cutâneas em camundongos normais e imunodeprimidos, com o objetivo de desenvolver uma terapia que pudesse superar a condição imunodeprimida do organismo. A droga imunossupressora utilizada foi Metotrexato (0.8 mg/kg/semana). Feridas cirúrgicas (1 cm de diâmetro) foram produzidas em camundongos fêmeas normais e imunodeprimidas. As lesões foram tratadas com administração tópica (T) e intraperitoneal (Ip), como segue: grupos controle NaCl T; NaCl Ip; NaCl Immunod T e NaCl Immunod Ip (0,15 M NaCl) e grupos tratados Cramoll T; Cramoll Ip; Cramoll Immunod T e Cramoll Immunod Ip (10 μg,ml-1 Cramoll 1,4). Parâmetros como edema, hiperemia, crosta, tecidos de granulação e cicatricial como também a contração das feridas foi analisada por 12 dias. O edema foi pouco observado nos grupos Cramoll Ip e Cramoll Immunod Ip, a hiperemia se mostrou em grande parte pálida em todos os grupos. O infiltrado inflamatório, proliferação de fibroblastos e deposição de fibras colágenas foram observados com maior intensidade em todas as feridas tratadas com a Cramoll, especialmente o grupo Cramoll T. Estes últimos aspectos favoreceram um excelente fechamento e reparo das lesões tratadas com a Cramoll 1,4. Nos animais experimentais o fechamento de todas as lesões foi observado no dia 10 para o grupo Cramoll Immunod Ip e dia 11 para os grupos Cramoll T, Cramoll Ip e Cramoll Immunod T. Os grupos controle obtiveram fechamento das feridas no dia 12 para o grupo NaCl Immunod T e 90% dos grupos NaCl T, NaCl Ip e NaCl Immunod Ip. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, conclui-se que animais sadios ou imunocomprometidos tratados com Cramoll 1,4 têm suas lesões eficientemente reparadas e em menor temp

Activities of stromal and immune cells in HPV-related cancers

Abstract The immune system is composed of immune as well as non-immune cells. As this system is a well-established component of human papillomavirus- (HPV)-related carcinogenesis, high risk human papillomavirus (hrHPV) prevents its routes and mechanisms in order to cause the persistence of infection. Among these mechanisms are those originated from stromal cells, which include the cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), the myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and the host infected cells themselves, i.e. the keratinocytes. These types of cells play central role since they modulate immune cells activities to create a prosperous milieu for cancer development, and the knowledge how such interactions occur are essential for prognostic assessment and development of preventive and therapeutic approaches. Nevertheless, the precise mechanisms are not completely understood, and this lack of knowledge precluded the development of entirely efficient immunotherapeutic strategies for HPV-associated tumors. As a result, an intense work for attaining how host immune response works, and developing of effective therapies has been applied in the last decade. Based on this, this review aims to discuss the major mechanisms of immune and non-immune cells modulated by hrHPV and the potential and existing immunotherapies involving such mechanisms in HPV-related cancers. It is noticed that the combination of immunotherapies has been demonstrated to be essential for obtaining better results, especially because the possibility of increasing the modulating capacity of the HPV-tumor microenvironment has been shown to be central in strengthening the host immune system

Cramoll 1,4 lectin increases ROS production, calcium levels, and cytokine expression in treated spleen cells of rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)This study reports the in vivo stimulatory effects of Cramoll 1,4 on rat spleen lymphocytes as evidenced by an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Ca(2+) levels, and interleukin (IL)-1 beta expression. Cramoll 1,4 extracted from seeds of the Leguminosae Cratylia mollis Mart., is a lectin with antitumor and lymphocyte mitogenic activities. Animals (Nine-week-old male albino Wistar rats, Rattus norvegicus) were treated with intraperitoneal injection of Cramoll 1,4 (235 mu g ml(-1) single dose) and, 7 days later, spleen lymphocytes were isolated and analyzed for intracellular ROS, cytosolic Ca(2+), and IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1 mRNAs. Cell viability was investigated by annexin V-FITC and 7-amino-actinomycin D staining. The data showed that in lymphocytes activated by Cramoll 1,4 the increase in cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS was related to higher cytosolic Ca(2+) levels. Apoptosis and necrosis were not detected in statistically significant values and thus the lectin effector activities did not induce lymphocyte death. In vivo Cramoll 1,4 treatment led to a significant increase in IL-1 beta but IL-6 and -10 levels did not change. Cramoll 1,4 had modulator activities on spleen lymphocytes and stimulated the Th2 response.3421/Fev163169Departamento de Patologia Clinica, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Cramoll 1,4 lectin increases ROS production, calcium levels, and cytokine expression in treated spleen cells of rats

This study reports the in vivo stimulatory effects of Cramoll 1,4 on rat spleen lymphocytes as evidenced by an increase in intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, Ca(2+) levels, and interleukin (IL)-1 beta expression. Cramoll 1,4 extracted from seeds of the Leguminosae Cratylia mollis Mart., is a lectin with antitumor and lymphocyte mitogenic activities. Animals (Nine-week-old male albino Wistar rats, Rattus norvegicus) were treated with intraperitoneal injection of Cramoll 1,4 (235 mu g ml(-1) single dose) and, 7 days later, spleen lymphocytes were isolated and analyzed for intracellular ROS, cytosolic Ca(2+), and IL-6, IL-10, and IL-1 mRNAs. Cell viability was investigated by annexin V-FITC and 7-amino-actinomycin D staining. The data showed that in lymphocytes activated by Cramoll 1,4 the increase in cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS was related to higher cytosolic Ca(2+) levels. Apoptosis and necrosis were not detected in statistically significant values and thus the lectin effector activities did not induce lymphocyte death. In vivo Cramoll 1,4 treatment led to a significant increase in IL-1 beta but IL-6 and -10 levels did not change. Cramoll 1,4 had modulator activities on spleen lymphocytes and stimulated the Th2 response.Departamento de Patologia Clinica, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Immunomodulatory, and Cytotoxic Action of Fractions from Eugenia uniflora

An increasing number of biological activities presented by medicinal plants has been investigated over the years, and they are used in the search for new substances with lower side effects. Eugenia uniflora L. and Eugenia malaccensis L. (Myrtaceae) have many folk uses in various countries. This current study was designed to quantify the polyphenols and flavonoids contents and evaluate the immunomodulatory, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potentials of fractions from E. uniflora L. and E. malaccensis L. It was observed that the polyphenol content was higher in ethyl acetate fractions. These fractions have high antioxidant potential. E. malaccensis L. seeds showed the largest DPPH radical scavenger capacity (EC50=22.62). The fractions of E. malaccensis L. leaves showed lower antioxidant capacity. The samples did not alter the profile of proinflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide release. The results indicate that species of the family Myrtaceae are rich in compounds with antioxidant capacity, which can help reduce the inflammatory response

Third-Generation Vaccines: Features of Nucleic Acid Vaccines and Strategies to Improve Their Efficiency

Gene immunization comprises mRNA and DNA vaccines, which stand out due to their simple design, maintenance, and high efficacy. Several studies indicate promising results in preclinical and clinical trials regarding immunization against ebola, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza, and human papillomavirus (HPV). The efficiency of nucleic acid vaccines has been highlighted in the fight against COVID-19 with unprecedented approval of their use in humans. However, their low intrinsic immunogenicity points to the need to use strategies capable of overcoming this characteristic and increasing the efficiency of vaccine campaigns. These strategies include the improvement of the epitopes’ presentation to the system via MHC, the evaluation of immunodominant epitopes with high coverage against emerging viral subtypes, the use of adjuvants that enhance immunogenicity, and the increase in the efficiency of vaccine transfection. In this review, we provide updates regarding some characteristics, construction, and improvement of such vaccines, especially about the production of synthetic multi-epitope genes, widely employed in the current gene-based vaccines

Conocarpus erectus L., a plant with a high content of structural sugars, ions and phenolic compounds, shows antioxidant and antimicrobial properties promoted by different organic fractions

Objective: To evaluate the structural and chemical composition of plant and the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities promoted by hexanic, ethanolic and ethyl acetate fractions obtained from leaves of Conocarpus erectus. Methods: Organic fractions were characterized through UPLC-MS and GC-MS. Antioxidant potential was performed through DPPH and molybdenum phosphate techniques. Antibacterial and antifungal assays were performed in accordance with Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols. Results: The obtained biomass of Conocarpus erectus leaves showed the high presence of glucose (0.45 g/L), cellulose (28.69%), Na (55.126 μg/L) and K (31.163 μg/L). We identified seven compounds in the hexanic and ethyl acetate fractions, and eight compounds in ethanolic fraction. Moreover, phenolic compounds are prevalent in all organic fractions with values of (10.04 ± 0.24), (221.26 ± 1.84), (340.53 ± 0.84) mg/g GAE to hexanic, ethyl acetate and ethanolic fraction, respectively. Antioxidant results showed a high potential in ethyl acetate fraction (71.82 ± 6.87)% and (10.89 ± 0.05)% in DPPH and molybdenum phosphate techniques, respectively. The ethanolic fraction showed moderate bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and presented a high fungistatic potential for all Candida species tested. Conclusions: Organic fractions obtained from leaves of Conocarpus erectus present antimicrobial and antioxidant properties, and these findings contribute to scientific information for the effectiveness on use of this plant in the development of a phytotherapic compound