Natalizia Miceli

Biological effect of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) waste matter Note I: diuretic activity

In this work we studied in rat the diuretic activity of Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. (Cactaceae) waste matter. The cladodes, flowers and non commerciable fruits were collected in S. Cono (CT, Sicily) cultivation. Acute and chronic diuretic activity of 15% infusion of cladodes, flowers and fruits were assayed. Natriuresis, kaliuresis and the activity on fructose-induced hyperuricemia was also studied. The results show that O. ficus indica cladode, fruit and flower infusions significantly increase diuresis. This effect is more marked with the fruit infusion and it is particularly significant during the chronic treatment. The fruit infusion shows also antiuric effect. In all experiments cladode, flower and fruit infusions showed a modest but not significant increase in natriuresis and kaliuresis.

Erucin, a new promising cancer chemopreventive agent from rocket salads, shows anti-proliferative activity on human lung carcinoma A549 cells.

Erucin (ER) is a dietary isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables, such as rocket salads (Erucasativa Mill., Diplotaxis sp.), that has been recently considered a promising cancer chemopreventive phytochemical. Biological activity of ER was investigated on human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells, analyzing its effects on molecular pathways involved in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, such as PARP-1 cleavage, p53 and p21 protein expression. Our results show that ER affects the A549 cell proliferation, enhancing significantly p53 and p21 protein expression in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001). PARP-1 cleavage occurs only after exposure to high concentrations of ER (50 microM), in accordance to previous studies showing similar bioactivity of other isothiocyanates (ITCs). Our study reports for the first time that the induction of p53, p21 and PARP-1 cleavage may participate in the anti-proliferative activity of ER in human lung adenocarcinoma A549 cells. Comparison of data with those obtained with the isothiocyanate sulforaphane (SF), structurally related to ER, underlines the strong relationship between structural analogy of ITCs and their biological activity. The ability of dietary compounds to modulate molecular mechanisms that affect cancer cell proliferation is certainly a key point of the cancer prevention potential by functional foods.

Study on the increment of the production of gastric mucus in rats treated with Opuntia ficus indica (L.) Mill. cladodes

Opuntia ficus indica cladodes are used in traditional medicine of many countries for their cicatrisant activity. The major components of cladodes are carbohydrate-containing polymers, which consist of a mixture of mucilage and pectin. In this paper we studied the cytoprotective effects of cladodes on experimental ethanol-induced ulcer in rat. The O. ficus indica cladodes administration gives rise to cytoprotection phenomena by breaking up the epithelial cells and stimulating an increase in mucus production. When O. ficus indica cladodes are administered as a preventive therapy, keep the gastric mucosa under normal condition by preventing mucus dissolution caused by ethanol and favouring mucus production. An increase of mucus production is also observed during the course of the curative treatment. The treatment with O. ficus indica cladodes provokes an increase in the number of secretory cells. Probably, the gastric fibroblasts are involved in the antiulcer activity.

Comparative analysis of flavonoid profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the berries of Juniperus communis L. var. communis and Juniperus communis L. var. saxatilis Pall. from Turkey.

The present study was designed to define and compare the flavonoid composition and the biological potential of berries methanol extracts of Juniperus communis L. var. communis (Jcc) and Juniperus communis L. var. saxatilis. Pall. (Jcs) from Turkey. Total polyphenols (Folin-Ciocalteau method) were 3-fold higher in Jcc (59.17 +/- 1.65 mg GAE/g extract) than in Jcs (17.64 +/- 0.09 mg GAE/g extract). Flavonoid and biflavonoid content, evaluated by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis, was higher in Jcc (25947 +/- 0.86 and 4346 +/- 3.95 microg/g extract) than in Jcs (5387 +/- 34.88 and 1944 +/- 26.88 microg/g extract). The HPLC analysis of Jcc allowed the separation of 16 flavonoids; hypolaetin-7-pentoside and quercetin-hexoside are the main compounds. Moreover, gossypetin-hexoside-pentoside and gossypetin-hexoside were identified for the first time in Jcc berries. In Jcs eight flavonoids were identified: quercetin-hexoside and isoscutellarein-8-O-hexoside are the most abundant compounds. The in vitro antioxidant activity was determined using different methods; Jcc was found to be more active than Jcs in the DPPH test (IC(50) of 0.63 +/- 0.09 mg/mL and 1.84 +/- 0.10 mg/mL) in reducing power assay (12.82 +/- 0.10 ASE/mL and 64.14 +/- 1.20 ASE/mL), and in TBA assay (IC(50) of 4.44 +/- 0.70 microg/mL and 120.07 +/- 3.60 microg/mL). By contrast, Jcs exhibited more elevated Fe(2+) chelating ability than Jcc. The extracts were also studied for their antimicrobial potential, displaying antimicrobial capacity only against Gram-positive bacteria.

Effects of Teucrium divaricatum Heldr. ssp. divaricatum decoction on experimental ulcer in rats.

The effects of chronic intragastric administration of the aerial parts decoction of Teucrium divaricatum Heldr. ssp. divaricatum (Labiateae) on experimental acetylsalicylic acid (ASA)-induced ulcer were studied in rats. The ulcer index and histological mucosa regeneration were evaluated. The ulcer index significantly decreased (U.I. 1.7+/-1.5; P<0.05) after treatment with a lyophilized decoction of T. divaricatum (500 mg/kg os), once daily for 7 days, compared to the control (U.I. 11.4+/-2.3). The ultrastructure modifications of gastric mucosa were observed by transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) confirming the antisecretory effect exercised by administration of the T. divaricatum decoction. Treatment with T. divaricatum seems to block up parietal cell acid secretion and to stimulate in the chief cells the formation of zymogen granules.

Cranberry and Recurrent Cystitis: More than Marketing?

Epidemiologic studies indicate that millions of people suffer from recurrent cystitis, a pathology requiring antibiotic prophylaxis and entailing high social costs. Cranberry is a traditional folk remedy for cystitis and, which, in the form of a variety of products and formulations has over several decades undergone extensive evaluation for the management of urinary tract infections (UTI). The aim of this retrospective study is to summarize and review the most relevant and recent preclinical and clinical studies on cranberries for the treatment of UTIs. The scientific literature selected for this review was identified by searches of Medline via PubMed. A variety of recent experimental evidence has shed light on the mechanism underlying the anti-adhesive properties of proanthrocyanidins, their structure–activity relationships, and pharmacokinetics. Analysis of clinical studies and evaluation of the cranberry efficacy/safety ratio in the prevention of UTIs strongly support the use of cranberry in the prophylaxis of recurrent UTIs in young and middle-aged women. However, evidence of its clinical use among other patients remains controversial.

Antiproliferative Activity of the Dietary Isothiocyanate Erucin, a Bioactive Compound from Cruciferous Vegetables, on Human Prostate Cancer Cells

It is becoming increasingly clear that many dietary agents, such as isothiocyanates (ITCs) from cruciferous vegetables, can retard or prevent the process of prostate carcinogenesis. Erucin (ER) is a dietary ITC, which has been recently considered a promising cancer chemopreventive phytochemical. The potential protective activity of ER against prostate cancer was investigated using prostate adenocarcinoma cells (PC3), to analyze its effects on pathways involved in cell growth regulation, such as the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDKs) inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 (p21), phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/AKT, and extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)1/2 signaling pathways. We have shown for the first time that ER increases significantly p21 protein expression and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in a dose-dependent manner to inhibit PC3 cell proliferation (P ≤ 0.01). Compared to the structurally related sulforaphane, a well-studied broccoli-derived ITC, ER showed lower potency in inhibiting proliferation of PC3 cells, as well as in modulating p21 and pERK1/2 protein levels. Neither of the naturally occurring ITCs was able to affect significantly pAKT protein levels in prostate cells at all concentrations tested (0–25 μM). It is clearly important for the translation of laboratory findings to clinical approaches to investigate in animal and cell studies the molecular mechanisms by which ITCs may exert health promoting effects.

Phenolic composition and biological activities of Juniperus drupacea Labill. berries from Turkey

The present study was designed to define the phenolic profile and the biological potential of berries methanol extract of Juniperus drupacea Labill. from Turkey. The total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteau assay) was 48.06±0.99mgGAE/g extract. The HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis allowed the determination of the complete phenolic profile of J. drupacea berries. Phenolic acids represented more than 60% of the total phenolics, and tyrosol was the major one (1324±0.64μg/g extract); within the flavonoids amentoflavone was detected as the main constituent (927±0.35μg/g extract). The extract exhibited good antioxidant properties, as determined by different in vitro models: DPPH test (IC(50) 0.38±0.02mg/mL), reducing power (12.63±0.14ASE/mL), Fe(2+) chelating ability (IC(50) 2.26±0.06mg/mL), and TBA test (IC(50) 2.47±1.13μg/mL). Cytotoxicity against Artemia salina was highlighted (LC(50) 489.47±27.8μg/mL), and a significant decrease (p⩽0.05; p⩽0.01) in HepG2 cells viability was observed at the higher concentrations (5-10μg/mL). The extract displayed good antibacterial activity towards Gram-positive bacteria and in particular Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible strain (MIC 78.12μg/mL).

Nepeta sibthorpii Bentham (Lamiaceae): micromorphological analysis of leaves and flowers.

Nepeta sibthorpii Bentham (Lamiaceae) is an herbaceous aromatic plant, growing in dry, usually rocky areas of Southern Greece. In this paper, we report the study of micromorphological features of the flowers and leaves of Nepeta sibthorpii Bentham. The analysis by means of scanning electron microscopy has permitted to characterize both the covering trichomatous garment, abundantly present on the calyx and on the leaves, and the glandular hairs, distributed on the adaxial leaf surface and on the outer surfaces of calyx and corolla, showing also the peculiar features of the epidermal cells, all useful diagnostic elements for the identification of this medicinal plant.

Anti-inflammatory and Antioxidant Activity of Ageratum conyzoides

Ageratum conyzoides L., a plant widely used in African and South American folk medicine, contains many active principles, including pyrrolizidine alkaloids and polymethoxyflavones. We undertook the present study to evaluate the effect of the methanol extract and of the flavonoid fraction of the aerial part of the plant on carrageenan-induced edema in rat. We subjected the methanol extract to column chromatography to separate the flavonoids and assayed the radical scavenging activity of this fraction by the DPPH method. The two preparations produced significant inhibition on carrageenan-induced rat paw edema, until 2 h after carrageenan treatment. The flavonoids exhibited a strong inhibitory activity on the DPPH radical. The anti-inflammatory effect of A. conyzoides methanol extract depends on the flavonoid fraction, which could produce a protective action against free-radical mediated damage in cells and tissue. Therefore, it is possible to hypothesize that flavonoids influence inflammatory gene protein expression.