Delia Elva Cruz-Vega

Synthesis and in vitro antiprotozoal activity of 5-nitrothiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone derivatives

Several thiosemicarbazone derivatives of 5-nitrothiophene-2-carboxaldehyde were prepared by the simple process in which N(4)-thiosemicarbazone moiety was replaced by aliphatic, arylic and cyclic amine. Among these thiosemicarbazones compound 11 showed significant antiamoebic activity whereas compound 3 was more active antitrichomonal than the reference drug.

Synthesis, characterization and antiamoebic activity of benzimidazole derivatives and their vanadium and molybdenum complexes.

Reaction of [MoO(2)(acac)(2)] (where, acac=acetyl acetone) and KVO(3) with 2-(salicylidieneimine) benzimidazole lead to form new complexes [MoO(2)(sal-BMZ)(2)] and K [VO(2)(sal-BMZ)(2)] [where, sal-BMZ=2-(salicylidieneimine) benzimidazole], which showed the monobasic bidentate nature of the ligand in which the phenolic oxygen and the imine nitrogen of the ligand are coordinated to the metal ion. These complexes were characterized along with nine other complexes of oxoperoxovanadium (V), molybdenum (Vl) and tungsten (Vl) with benzimidazole derivatives and screened in vitro by micro dilution technique for their amoebicidal activity with a view to search for a more effective agent against Entamoeba histolytica suggests that compound 2 and 3 might be endowed with important antiamoebic properties since they showed IC(50 )values in a microM range.

Synthesis, characterisation and antiamoebic activity of new thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone derivatives and Their cyclooctadiene Ru(II) complexes

Reaction of new thiosemicarbazones (1-4) derived from thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde and cycloalkylaminothiocarbonylhydrazine with [Ru(eta(4)-C8H12)(CH3CN)2Cl2] leads to form complexes (1a-4a) of the type [Ru(eta(4)-C8H12)(TSC)Cl2] (where TSC=thiosemicarbazone). All the compounds have been characterised by elemental analysis, IR, 1H NMR, electronic spectra and thermogravimetric analysis. It is concluded that the thionic sulphur and the azomethine nitrogen atom of the ligands are bonded to the metal ion. In vitro antiamoebic screening against (HK-9) strain of Entamoeba histolytica indicated that the Ru(II) complexes of thiophene-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazones were found more active than the thiosemicarbazones.

Antimycobacterial Activity of Juglans regia, Juglans mollis, Carya illinoensis and Bocconia frutescens

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a serious worldwide health threat, killing almost 2 million people per year. Alternative antimycobacterial drugs are urgently needed; studies have shown that medicinal plants traditionally used to treat respiratory diseases are a potential source of compounds to treat tuberculosis. This paper studied the antimycobacterial activity of 28 extracts from four different plant species that have been used in traditional Mexican medicine to treat tuberculosis. Bark and leaf crude extracts of Juglans regia L., Juglans mollis Engelm., Carya illinoensis (Wangenh) K. Koch and Bocconia frutescens showed in vitro anti‐M. tuberculosis activity. Hexane bark extracts from C. illinoensis, J. mollis and J. regia were the most active with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31, 50 and 100 µg/mL, respectively. Ethanol bark extracts from C. illinoensis and J. mollis showed activity at 100 and 125 µg/mL, respectively. Leaf extracts had the lowest activity. Methanol and hexane leaves extracts from B. frutescens had a MIC of 125 µg/mL. None of the aqueous extracts showed antimycobacterial activity. Copyright

Liver Fibrosis and Protection Mechanisms Action of Medicinal Plants Targeting Apoptosis of Hepatocytes and Hepatic Stellate Cells

Following chronic liver injury, hepatocytes undergo apoptosis leading to activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC). Consequently, activated HSC proliferate and produce excessive extracellular matrix, responsible for the scar formation. The pandemic trend of obesity, combined with the high incidence of alcohol intake and viral hepatitis infections, highlights the urgent need to find accessible antifibrotic therapies. Treatment strategies should take into account the versatility of its pathogenesis and act on all the cell lines involved to reduce liver fibrosis. Medicinal plants are achieving popularity as antifibrotic agents, supported by their safety, cost-effectiveness, and versatility. This review will describe the role of hepatocytes and HSC in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and detail the mechanisms of modulation of apoptosis of both cell lines by twelve known hepatoprotective plants in order to reduce liver fibrosis.

Liver fibrosis and mechanisms of the protective action of medicinal plants targeting inflammation and the immune response.

Inflammation is a central feature of liver fibrosis as suggested by its role in the activation of hepatic stellate cells leading to extracellular matrix deposition. During liver injury, inflammatory cells are recruited in the injurious site through chemokines attraction. Thus, inflammation could be a target to reduce liver fibrosis. The pandemic trend of obesity, combined with the high incidence of alcohol intake and viral hepatitis infections, highlights the urgent need to find accessible antifibrotic therapies. Medicinal plants are achieving popularity as antifibrotic agents, supported by their safety, cost-effectiveness, and versatility. The aim of this review is to describe the role of inflammation and the immune response in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis and detail the mechanisms of inhibition of both events by medicinal plants in order to reduce liver fibrosis.

Synthesis, crystal structure, and enhancement of the efficacy of metronidazole against Entamoeba histolytica by complexation with palladium(II), platinum(II), or copper(II)

Reaction of trans-[PdCl2(DMSO)(2)]. cis-[PtCl2(DMSO)(2)]. and [Cu(OAc)(2)](H2O)-H-. with metronidazole (mnz) leads to the formation of new complexes, i.e., trans-[PdCl2(mnz)(2)] (1), trans-[PtCl2(mnz)(2)] (2). and trans-[Cu-2(OAc)(4)(mnz)(2)] (3), respectively. Complexes 1-3 crystallize all in the centrosymmetric monoclinic space group P2(1)/c with Z = 8. Unit-cell parameters for these complexes are: 1, a = 7.1328(14) Angstrom, b = 20.699(4) Angstrom, c = 7.1455(14) Angstrom, and beta = 116.17(3)degrees; 2, a = 9.9169(14) Angstrom, b = 21.853(4) Angstrom, c = 6.7218(13) Angstrom, and beta = 110.79(3)degrees: 3. a = 9.1663(18) Angstrom, b = 19.129(4) Angstrom, c = 8.9446(18) Angstrom, and beta = 116.44(3)degrees. The complexes 1 and 2 maintain an ideal square-planar geometry. In complex 3, the H2O molecules of the starting complex are replaced by metronidazole while maintaining a dimeric structure of [Cu(OAc)(2)]. Each Cu ion has an ideal octahedral structure, though distortion occurs in the equatorial position where the acetato ligands are attached. The Cu-Cu separation of 2.6343(8) Angstrom indicates considerable metal-metal interaction. The testing of the antiamoebic activity of these complexes against the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica suggests that compound 1-3 might be endowed with important antiamoebic properties since they showed IC50 values in a muM range better than metronidazole (Table 2). Thus, compound 1 displayed more effective amoebicidal activity than metronidazole (IC50 values of 0.103 muM vs. 1.50 muM resp.).

Age-Related Yield of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Bearing the Low-Affinity Nerve Growth Factor Receptor

Adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) are a heterogeneous cell population that may be enriched by positive selection with antibodies against the low-affinity nerve growth factor receptor (LNGFR or CD271), yielding a selective cell universe with higher proliferation and differentiation potential. This paper addresses the need for determining the quantity of ADSCs positive for the CD271 receptor and its correlation with donors age. Mononuclear cells were harvested from the lower backs of 35 female donors and purified using magnetic beads. Multipotency capacity was tested by the expression of stemness genes and through differentiation into preosteoblasts and adipocytes. A significant statistical difference was found in CD271+ concentrations between defined age intervals. The highest yield was found within women on the 30–40-year-old age range. CD271+ ADSCs from all age groups showed differentiation capabilities as well as expression of typical multipotent stem cell genes. Our data suggest that the amount of CD271+ cells correlates inversely with age. However, the ability to obtain these cells was maintained through all age ranges with a yield higher than what has been reported from bone marrow. Our findings propose CD271+ ADSCs as the primary choice for tissue regeneration and autologous stem cell therapies in older subjects.

Differentiation of CD133+ Stem Cells From Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Into Preneuron Cells

Improvements in quality of life and life expectancy have been observed in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients transplanted with CD133+ stem cells into their frontal motor cortices. However, questions have emerged about the capacity of cells from these patients to engraft and differentiate into neurons. The objective of this work was to evaluate the in vitro capacity of CD133+ stem cells from 13 ALS patients to differentiate into neuron lineage. Stem cells were obtained through leukapheresis and cultured in a control medium or a neuroinduction medium for 2–48 hours. Expression of neuronal genes was analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) and immunohistochemical techniques. Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated that CD133+ stem cells from ALS patients incubated for 48 hours in a neuroinduction medium increased the detection of neuronal proteins such as nestin, β‐tubulin III, neuronal‐specific enolase, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. RT‐PCR assays demonstrated an increase in the expression of β‐tubulin III, nestin, Olig2, Islet‐1, Hb9, and Nkx6.1. No correlation was found between age, sex, or ALS functional scale and the CD133+ stem cell response to the neuroinduction medium. We conclude that CD133+ stem cells from ALS patients, like the stem cells of healthy subjects, are capable of differentiating into preneuron cells.

MICROPROPAGATION OF LEPIDIUM VIRGINICUM (BRASSICACEAE), A PLANT WITH ANTIPROTOZOAL ACTIVITY

SummaryMicropropagation is a technique to ensure a constant and uniform source of medicinal plants. In this report, we describe the micropropagation of Lepidium virginicum L. (Brassicaceae), a wild plant used as an antiamoebic in traditional Mexican medicine. In vitro-germinated seeds were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium to obtain pathogen-free cotyledons, hypocotyls, and apical bud (AB) explants. For induction of morphogenesis, the effect of cytokinins, benzyladenine (BA) and kinetin (KN), combined with auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was evaluated. The best rate of shoot proliferation was induced 15 d after culture on MS mineral medium supplemented with IAA∶KN (0.57∶13.94 μM) from AB explants. Maximum shoot elongation was achieved without plant growth regulators. The effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) (14.76 μM) was evaluated for in vitro root induction; 60 d after culture all the shoots had developed roots. All rooted plants were successfully transferred to pots and 100% acclimatized in ex vitro conditions. The methanol extracts from the micropropagated active explants of L. virginicum showed and IC50 antiprotozoal value between 141.90 and 268.53 μg ml−1.