European medicinal and edible plants associated with subacute and chronic toxicity part I: Plants with carcinogenic, teratogenic and endocrine-disrupting effects

Frequencies of enamel hypomineralisation in permanent and primary molars in a medieval and early-modern-age population (7th - 17th c.) in Sains-en-Gohelle (Pas de Calais, France)

Molar Incisor Hypomineralisation (MIH) is defined as a qualitative demarcated enamel hypomineralisation defect of tooth enamel affecting at least one first permanent molar (FPM), often affecting permanent incisors. More recently, the term Hypomineralised Second Primary Molar (HSPM) was used to describe similar defects affecting second primary molars. Our observational study aimed at determining HSPM and MIH frequencies in a medieval and early-modern-age population population (Sains-en-Gohelle, France, 7th - 17th centuries) and compare it to the current worldwide and French prevalence values. To date, there are no other studies on this subject in France. European studies have been published, but the diagnosis of these pathologies is based solely on a visual examination. Our study differs from others by using objective diagnostic. microtomography and X-ray fluorescence. The use of these diagnostic methods allows differentiation between hypomineralised and taphonomic lesions. The frequencies of MIH and HSPM were, respectively, 12.3% and 13.3%. In fact, there were 10 individuals with at least one first permanent molar affected by MIH amongst the 81 individuals with at least one first permanent molar present, and 15 individuals with at least one second primary molar affected by HSPM among the 113 individuals with at least one second primary molar present.The presence of MIH and HSPM in ancient populations with frequencies respectively equivalent and higher than current worldwide averages renews the debate and questioning about the aetiological factors of these pathologies.

The investigation on an ethnic medicinal plant of Elsholtiza bodinieri Vaniot: Chemical constituents, acute, 28-day subacute and 90-day subchronic toxicity evaluation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Elsholtiza bodinieri Vaniot, belonging to the family Lamiaceae, has important medicinal value in Yunnan province of China. Traditionally, its aerial parts have been used as an ethnomedicine to treat diaphoresis, headache, fever, cough, pharyngitis, dyspepsia, and hepatitis. However, the safety assessment of E. bodinieri is still unexplored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical constituents of the hot water extract from E. bodinieri (HEEB) and evaluate the 14-day acute, 28-day subacute and 90-day subchronic toxicity by oral administration in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The chemical constituents of HEEB were analyzed by UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS. Firstly, SD rats were chosen for a single oral administration of the maximum dose of 5000 mg/kg to evaluate toxicity. Subsequently, consecutive 28-day subacute and 90-day subchronic toxicity assessments of HEEB were conducted on Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats through repeated doses of 2500, 1250, 625, and 312.5 mg/kg for the former, and 1500, 1000, and 500 mg/kg for the latter. For toxicity evaluation, hematology and serum biochemical indicators were determined, and major organs of the rats were collected to calculate organ coefficients. Additionally, hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining was performed on the collected tissues to assess histopathological changes induced by repeated oral administration of HEEB.

RESULTS

A total of 23 compounds were identified by UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS analysis. Acute toxicity assessment revealed that oral administration of HEEB did not induce mortality and unnormal behavior changes in female rats over a 14-day period, suggesting that the approximate lethal dose (ALD) was higher than 5000 mg/kg. In consecutive 28-day and 90-day toxicity evaluations, HEEB doses of 2500 mg/kg and 1500 mg/kg resulted in hepatic and kidney tissue damage in both female and male rats, which was verified by the increased levels of AST, ALT, BUN, Na+, and Cl-.

CONCLUSIONS

After the acute, 28-day subacute and 90-day subchronic toxicity evaluation, the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) was determined as 1000 mg/kg/day. These findings not only provided a safety information for its medicinal and edible application, but also promoted the further comprehensive development of this plant.

Assessment of acute toxicity, genotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity of SteLL, a lectin from Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi. Leaves, in mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY RELEVANCE

Schinus terebinthifolia Raddi (Anacardiaceae), known as Brazilian pepper tree, stands out as a medicinal plant widely used in traditional medicine. The leaves are popularly used as anti-inflammatory agent and to relieve inflammatory conditions such as bronchitis, ulcers, and wounds, for example.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study evaluated the acute toxicity, genotoxicity, and anti-inflammatory activity of S. terebinthifolia leaf lectin (SteLL) in mice (Mus musculus).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In the acute toxicity assay, the animals were treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally (per os) with a single dose of 100 mg/kg. Genotoxicity was assessed by the comet and micronucleus assays. Carrageenan-induced peritonitis and paw edema models were used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of SteLL (1, 5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.).

RESULTS

No animal died and no signs of intoxication or histopathological damage were observed in the acute toxicity assay. Genotoxic effect was not detected. In peritonitis assay, SteLL reduced in 56-69% leukocyte migration to the peritoneal cavity; neutrophil count decreased by 25-32%, while mononuclear cell count increased by 67-74%. SteLL promoted a notable reduction of paw edema after 4 h (61.1-63.4%). Morphometric analysis showed that SteLL also decreased the thickness of epidermal edema (30.2-40.7%). Furthermore, SteLL decreased MPO activity, plasma leakage, NO release, and modulated cytokines in both peritoneal fluid and paw homogenate.

CONCLUSION

SteLL did not induce acute toxicity or genotoxicity in mice and stands out as a promising candidate in the development of new phytopharmaceuticals with anti-inflammatory action.

Ethnobotany study on wild edible plants used by the Tujia ethnic group in Laifeng, southwest Hubei, China

BACKGROUND

Wild edible plants hold a significant position in the lives of local residents, serving as a primary food source or supplement. Laifeng County, located in the hinterland of the central mountainous area of China, boasts abundant wild edible plant resources. The Tujia people, residing here for generations, have accumulated a wealth of traditional knowledge in the long-term practice of utilizing wild edible plants. The aim of this study is to document and organize the traditional utilization of wild edible plants by the Tujia ethnic group in Laifeng.

METHODS

An ethnobotanical investigation, comprising semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews, and participatory observations, was conducted in 26 traditional villages in Laifeng County from May 2023 to June 2024. A total of 252 informants were interviewed, from whom information about wild edible plants, including edible parts, food categories, consumption modes, and multiple uses was collected. The relative frequency of citation (RFC) and the cultural food significance index (CFSI) were calculated to identify the cultural importance of wild edible plants.

RESULTS

A total of 163 species of wild edible plants consumed by the Tujia people in Laifeng, belonging to 64 families and 118 genera and related traditional knowledge were collected, including vegetables (78), fruits (52), wine-soaking plants (12), spices (11), food substitutes (9), tea substitutes (6), nuts (5), coagulants (2), and oil (1). The most frequently used families were Rosaceae, Asteraceae, and Poaceae, with 23, 10, and 10 species, respectively. The most commonly utilized plant parts were fruits, leaves, and stems. RFC and CFSI analyses identified 14 species of wild edible plants with high cultural importance in the local diet, such as Allium macrostemon, Houttuynia cordata, and Hovenia acerba.

CONCLUSIONS

The Tujia ethnic group in Laifeng demonstrates extensive knowledge in their traditional usage of wild edible plants, offering unique and robust insights into the harvesting, processing, and consumption of these resources. Over time, this practice has become an integral part of the local food culture. These findings contribute to the preservation of the Tujia culture of wild edible plants in Laifeng and the conservation and development of wild edible plant resources.

Phytochemical and bioactive potentials of African Annonaceae species

This review aims to gather available information on the medicinal, nutritional, and bioactive profiles of Annonaceae species in the African continent, sponsoring their use worldwide and mainly in African communities, where access to food and medicines for basic health care is scarce. >60 medicinal taxa were compiled, belonging to 22 genera, namely Annickia, Annona, Anonidium, Artabotrys, Cleistochlamys, Cleistopholis, Dennettia, Duguetia, Greenwayodendron, Hexalobus, Isolona, Lettowianthus, Monanthotaxis, Monodora, Neostenanthera, Polyceratocarpus, Sphaerocoryne, Uvaria, Uvariastrum, Uvariodendron, Uvariopsis and Xylopia; the most diverse and economically important genera were the genera Annona, Uvaria and Xylopia with 7 species each. Annonaceae species hold a valuable nutritional profile, rich in proteins, fibers, and minerals, being also good sources of a wide range of bioactive compounds of high biological relevance. These compounds are especially important in developing countries, where most of these species are available for direct use as food and/or medicines by the most deprived populations.

[Adverse effects of licorice consumed as food: An update]

The word "licorice" refers to the plant, its root, and its aromatic extract. From a commercial point of view, Glycyrrhiza glabra is the most important species with a wide range of uses (herbal medicine, tobacco industry, cosmetics, food and pharmaceutical). Glycyrrhizin is one of the main constituents of licorice. Glycyrrhizin is hydrolyzed in the intestinal lumen by bacterial β-glucuronidases to 3β-monoglucuronyl-18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (3MGA) and 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), which are metabolized in the liver. Plasma clearance is slow due to enterohepatic cycling. 3MGA and GA can bind to mineralocorticoid receptors with very low affinity, and 3MGA induces apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome through dose-dependent inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 in renal tissue. The cases of apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome reported in the literature are numerous and sometimes severe, even fatal, most often in cases of chronic high dose consumption. Glycyrrhizin poisonings are characterized by hypertension, fluid retention, and hypokalemia with metabolic alkalosis and increased kaliuresis. Toxicity depends on the dose, the type of product consumed, the mode of consumption (acute or chronic) and a very large inter-individual variability. The diagnosis of glycyrrhizin-induced apparent mineralocorticoid excess syndrome is based on the history, clinical examination, and biochemical analysis. Management is primarily based on symptomatic care and stopping licorice consumption.

Bio-organic fertilizers promote yield, chemical composition, and antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of essential oil in fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds

The aromatic fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare Miller) is cultivated worldwide due to its high nutritional and medicinal values. The aim of the current study was to determine the effect of the application of bio-organic fertilization (BOF), farmyard manure (FM) or poultry manure (PM), either individually or combined with Lactobacillus plantarum (LP) and/or Lactococcus lactis (LL) on the yield, chemical composition, and antioxidative and antimicrobial activities of fennel seed essential oil (FSEO). In general, PM + LP + LL and FM + LP + LL showed the best results compared to any of the applications of BOF. Among the seventeen identified FSEO components, trans-anethole (78.90 and 91.4%), fenchone (3.35 and 10.10%), limonene (2.94 and 8.62%), and estragole (0.50 and 4.29%) were highly abundant in PM + LP + LL and FM + LP + LL, respectively. In addition, PM + LP + LL and FM + LP + LL exhibited the lowest half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 8.11 and 9.01 μg mL-1, respectively, compared to L-ascorbic acid (IC50 = 35.90 μg mL-1). We also observed a significant (P > 0.05) difference in the free radical scavenging activity of FSEO in the triple treatments. The in vitro study using FSEO obtained from PM + LP + LL or FM + LP + LL showed the largest inhibition zones against all tested Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains as well as pathogenic fungi. This suggests that the triple application has suppressive effects against a wide range of foodborne bacterial and fungal pathogens. This study provides the first in-depth analysis of Egyptian fennel seeds processed utilizing BOF treatments, yielding high-quality FSEO that could be used in industrial applications.

Natural Compounds in Plant-Based Food

Plant-based foods include a wide range of products, such as fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices, as well as food products based on them, such as sauces, soups, or beverages [...].

Phytoestrogens and Health Effects

Phytoestrogens are literally estrogenic substances of plant origin. Although these substances are useful for plants in many aspects, their estrogenic properties are essentially relevant to their predators. As such, phytoestrogens can be considered to be substances potentially dedicated to plant-predator interaction. Therefore, it is not surprising to note that the word phytoestrogen comes from the early discovery of estrogenic effects in grazing animals and humans. Here, several compounds whose activities have been discovered at nutritional concentrations in animals and humans are examined. The substances analyzed belong to several chemical families, i.e., the flavanones, the coumestans, the resorcylic acid lactones, the isoflavones, and the enterolignans. Following their definition and the evocation of their role in plants, their metabolic transformations and bioavailabilities are discussed. A point is then made regarding their health effects, which can either be beneficial or adverse depending on the subject studied, the sex, the age, and the physiological status. Toxicological information is given based on official data. The effects are first presented in humans. Animal models are evoked when no data are available in humans. The effects are presented with a constant reference to doses and plausible exposure.

Current Trends in Toxicity Assessment of Herbal Medicines: A Narrative Review

Even in modern times, the popularity level of medicinal plants and herbal medicines in therapy is still high. The World Health Organization estimates that 80% of the population in developing countries uses these types of remedies. Even though herbal medicine products are usually perceived as low risk, their potential health risks should be carefully assessed. Several factors can cause the toxicity of herbal medicine products: plant components or metabolites with a toxic potential, adulteration, environmental pollutants (heavy metals, pesticides), or contamination of microorganisms (toxigenic fungi). Their correct evaluation is essential for the patient’s safety. The toxicity assessment of herbal medicine combines in vitro and in vivo methods, but in the past decades, several new techniques emerged besides conventional methods. The use of omics has become a valuable research tool for prediction and toxicity evaluation, while DNA sequencing can be used successfully to detect contaminants and adulteration. The use of invertebrate models (Danio renio or Galleria mellonella) became popular due to the ethical issues associated with vertebrate models. The aim of the present article is to provide an overview of the current trends and methods used to investigate the toxic potential of herbal medicinal products and the challenges in this research field.

Lead/Drug Discovery from Natural Resources

Natural products and their derivatives have been shown to be effective drug candidates against various diseases for many years. Over a long period of time, nature has produced an abundant and prosperous source pool for novel therapeutic agents with distinctive structures. Major natural-product-based drugs approved for clinical use include anti-infectives and anticancer agents. This paper will review some natural-product-related potent anticancer, anti-HIV, antibacterial and antimalarial drugs or lead compounds mainly discovered from 2016 to 2022. Structurally typical marine bioactive products are also included. Molecular modeling, machine learning, bioinformatics and other computer-assisted techniques that are very important in narrowing down bioactive core structural scaffolds and helping to design new structures to fight against key disease-associated molecular targets based on available natural products are considered and briefly reviewed.

The Use of Medicinal Plant-Derived Metallic Nanoparticles in Theranostics

In the quest to effectively diagnose and treat the diseases that afflict mankind, the development of a tool capable of simultaneous detection and treatment would provide a significant cornerstone for the survival and control of these diseases. Theranostics denotes a portmanteau of therapeutics and diagnostics which simultaneously detect and treat ailments. Research advances have initiated the advent of theranostics in modern medicine. Overall, theranostics are drug delivery systems with molecular or targeted imaging agents integrated into their structure. The application of theranostics is rising exponentially due to the urgent need for treatments that can be utilized for diagnostic imaging as an aid in precision and personalised medicine. Subsequently, the emergence of nanobiotechnology and the green synthesis of metallic nanoparticles (MNPs) has provided one such avenue for nanoscale development and research. Of interest is the drastic rise in the use of medicinal plants in the synthesis of MNPs which have been reported to be potentially effective in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. At present, medicinal plant-derived MNPs have been cited to have broad pharmacological applications and have been studied for their potential use in the treatment and management of cancer, malaria, microbial and cardiovascular diseases. The subject of this article regards the role of medicinal plants in the synthesis of MNPs and the potential role of MNPs in the field of theranostics.

Myristicin and Elemicin: Potentially Toxic Alkenylbenzenes in Food

Alkenylbenzenes represent a group of naturally occurring substances that are synthesized as secondary metabolites in various plants, including nutmeg and basil. Many of the alkenylbenzene-containing plants are common spice plants and preparations thereof are used for flavoring purposes. However, many alkenylbenzenes are known toxicants. For example, safrole and methyleugenol were classified as genotoxic carcinogens based on extensive toxicological evidence. In contrast, reliable toxicological data, in particular regarding genotoxicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity is missing for several other structurally closely related alkenylbenzenes, such as myristicin and elemicin. Moreover, existing data on the occurrence of these substances in various foods suffer from several limitations. Together, the existing data gaps regarding exposure and toxicity cause difficulty in evaluating health risks for humans. This review gives an overview on available occurrence data of myristicin, elemicin, and other selected alkenylbenzenes in certain foods. Moreover, the current knowledge on the toxicity of myristicin and elemicin in comparison to their structurally related and well-characterized derivatives safrole and methyleugenol, especially with respect to their genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, is discussed. Finally, this article focuses on existing data gaps regarding exposure and toxicity currently impeding the evaluation of adverse health effects potentially caused by myristicin and elemicin.

Crude extract of Jatobá leaves promotes canine osteosarcoma cell D17 proliferation

Background and Aim

New substances for neoplasm treatment have to be carefully studied to minimize adverse effects and prevent disease progression stimulation. Jatobá is a typical tree of the Cerrado and Caatinga biome, with antifungal, antimicrobial, larvicide, antioxidant, and antiproliferative properties. This study aimed to investigate the action of the crude extract of Jatobá leaves (EBFJ) on canine osteosarcoma (CO) cells and analyze the expression of biomarkers in neoplasm progression.

Materials and Methods

D17 cells were cultured and subjected to treatment with EBFJ at different concentrations (10 μg/mL; 100 μg/mL; 1000 μg/mL; 2000 μg/mL; and 5000 μg/mL) and exposure times (24 h, 48 h, and 72 h). The tetrazolium reduction assay and the immunocytochemistry technique, with anti-Bcl2, anti-p53, and anti-Ki-67 antibodies, were used to observe the effect of the extract on cell proliferation.

Results

Doses of 2000 µg and 5000 µg had cell viability of 300.80% and 361.84%, respectively. The extract did not show significant cytotoxicity of samples with the control group. The confluence of cells, the number of labeled cells, and the expression of Bcl2, Ki-67, and p53 were higher in the groups treated with EBFJ, with a statistical difference from the group without treatment.

Conclusion

EBFJ was not cytotoxic and had a proliferative effect on CO D17 cells. The confluence of cells, the number of labeled cells, and the expression of Bcl2, Ki-67, and p53 were higher in the groups treated with the extract.

Alkenylbenzenes in Foods: Aspects Impeding the Evaluation of Adverse Health Effects

Alkenylbenzenes are naturally occurring secondary plant metabolites, primarily present in different herbs and spices, such as basil or fennel seeds. Thus, alkenylbenzenes, such as safrole, methyleugenol, and estragole, can be found in different foods, whenever these herbs and spices (or extracts thereof) are used for food production. In particular, essential oils or other food products derived from the aforementioned herbs and spices, such as basil-containing pesto or plant food supplements, are often characterized by a high content of alkenylbenzenes. While safrole or methyleugenol are known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic, the toxicological relevance of other alkenylbenzenes (e.g., apiol) regarding human health remains widely unclear. In this review, we will briefly summarize and discuss the current knowledge and the uncertainties impeding a conclusive evaluation of adverse effects to human health possibly resulting from consumption of foods containing alkenylbenzenes, especially focusing on the genotoxic compounds, safrole, methyleugenol, and estragole.

Presence of the carcinogen ptaquiloside in fern-based food products and traditional medicine: Four cases of human exposure

Ptaquiloside (PTA) is a natural carcinogen present in many ferns. Brackens (Pteridium sp.) contain PTA and are classified by WHO/IARC as ‘ … possibly carcinogenic to humans’, however, these ferns are used in food, traditional medicine and as food supplements around the world. This study aimed to outline the presence of PTA in different human exposure routes by using and validating an LC-MS based protocol to test the contents of PTA in commercial products, the degradation product Pterosin B (PtB) and wild specimens from Europe, Asia and North America. The Limit of Detection of the protocol was 0.024 μg g⁻¹ for PTA and 0.028 μg g⁻¹ for PtB. PTA and PtB were present in most wild specimens (PTA: BD – 6300 ± 520 μg g⁻¹; PtB: BD - 449 ± 1 μg g⁻¹) while commercial products made from fronds, as well as fronds prepared as traditional Chinese medicine, were in the range 44 ± 3 to 666 ± 33 μg g⁻¹ for PTA and BD to 1653 ± 184 μg g⁻¹ for PtB. This study did not find PTA/PtB in rhizomes and products made thereof nor in homoeopathic products based on bracken. Boiling or drying bracken showed to reduce PTA some degree but cannot remove it completely. Interestingly, crosiers with no PTA/PtB were found in the USA, indicating a potential for commercial production of PTA-free fronds.

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Ptaquiloside is a natural carcinogen found in fern-based food products and natural remedies.

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Bracken ferns collected in the wild contain ptaquiloside after processing.

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Commercial dried bracken fronds (leaves) contain high levels of ptaquiloside.

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Commercial products based on rhizomes and some natural remedies contain no ptaquiloside.

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Presence of no-ptaquiloside ferns indicate potential of growing non-toxic cultivars.

Analysis of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in Eupatorium fortunei Turcz. and their in vitro neurotoxicity

This study was to analyze the pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in Eupatorium fortunei herbs and its derived finished products with a view to evaluating their effects on the proliferation and oligodendrogenesis of neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Using a LC-MS/MS method with 32 PAs reference standards, 8 PAs including intermedine, intermedine N-oxide, lycopsamine, lycopsamine N-oxide, retronecine, seneciphylline and senkirkine and 7-acetylintermedine N-oxide were identified with intermedine N-oxide and lycopsamine N-oxide being most abundant. The total PA amounts were found to vary from 0.18 to 61.81 μg/g in 30 batches of herbs and from 0.86 to 36.96 μg/g in 4 commercial finished products, respectively. Risk assessments indicated that the short-term intake seemed unlikely lead to acute toxic effects but the chronic use warranted cautions. Using NPCs derived from mouse induced pluripotent stem cells as an in vitro testing model, intermedine, intermedine N-oxide and lycopsamine N-oxide appeared to decrease cell viability at 30 μM whereas intermedine N-oxide inhibited oligodendrogenesis of NPCs at 10 μM. The present results suggested that the PAs in the majority of E. fortunei herbs and the derived products not only resulted in their exposure far exceeding the acceptable intake limit (i. e. 1.0 μg PA per day for adults) in herbal medicinal products recommended by the European Medicines Agency but also induced neurotoxicity to NPCs in vitro.

Occurrence of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in ragwort plants, soils and surface waters at the field scale in grassland

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PA)s are natural toxins produced by a variety of plants including ragwort. The PAs present a serious health risk to human and livestock. Although these compounds have been extensively studied in food and feed, little is known regarding their environmental fate. To fill this data gap, we investigated the occurrence of PAs in ragwort plants, soils and surface waters at three locations where ragwort was the dominant plant species to better understand their environmental distribution. The concentrations of PAs were quantified during the full growing season (April-November) and assessed in relation to rain events. PA concentrations ranged from 3.2-6.6 g/kg dry weight (dw) in plants, 0.8-4.0 mg/kg dw in soils, and 6.0-529 μg/L in surface waters. Maximum PA concentrations in the soil (4 mg/kg) and water (529 μg/L) were in mid-May just before flowering. The average distribution of PAs in water was approximately 5 g/10,000 L, compared to the average amounts present in ragwort (506 kg/ha), and soil (1.7 kg/ha). In general, concentrations of PAs increase in the soil and surface water following rain events.

Phytochemical composition and in vitro safety evaluation of Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. ethanolic extract: Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and mutagenicity assessment

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The application of the herb Ziziphora clinopodioides Lam. in folk medicine and as a food additive has been recommended due to its many claimed bioactivities. Regardless of the plant benefits, its safety considerations are largely unknown.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of the present research was to determine the chemical compositions and cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and mutagenicity potentials of the ethanolic extract of Ziziphora clinopdioides Lam. (EEZC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

GC-MS and LC-MS analysis were used for chemical composition determination. The MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and trypan blue exclusion dye assays were used for cytotoxicity and the Comet assay was employed for genotoxicity assessment on human blood lymphocytes. Also, the Ames Salmonella/microsome test was carried out for the evaluation of mutagenicity.

RESULTS

Pulegone was the main component of the n-hexane fraction. Different phenolic acids and flavonoids were detected by LC-MS. The cytotoxicity study indicated a conspicuous decline in human lymphocyte viability ranging from 52% to 100% as showed by the MTT assay and 67% up to 100% by the trypan blue assay, at 1 and 10 mg/mL, respectively. The Comet assay results revealed a dose dependent genotoxicity, in so much as 90% and 98% of the cells were screened as damaged at concentrations of 5 and 10 mg/mL, respectively. An incidence rate of 8% and 13% of grade 4 damage was observed at 5 and 10 mg/mL, respectively. Additionally, the DNA damage index (DI) was elevated dose-dependently by a rising concentration of the extract, wherein the DI at 10 mg/mL concentration was 2.22, which was 22 times greater than that of negative control, and even more than positive control. The Ames test exhibited no signs of mutagenicity for neither Salmonella typhimurium TA98 nor TA100 strains, accompanied or unaccompanied by S9 metabolic activation.

CONCLUSION

Results indicated a dose-dependent cytotoxicity and genotoxicity potential of the EEZC on human lymphocytes, suggesting that this plant should be used with caution by consumers, even in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Since the plant usage in daily life continues to increase due to its ever growing phytotherapical and phytonutritional properties, it may pose a health risk by its high concentration's uptake. Although no mutagenicity of this extract was observed in this study, further research is recommended to clarify the mutagenic risks of this herb.

A Snapshot on Food Allergies: A Case Study on Edible Flowers

This perspective study addresses the main causes of adverse reactions to foods in humans, by taking into account the main allergic reactions that may occur as a result of food ingestion, as well the main allergens present in food and how their allergenicity change as a result of food preparation. In addition, European legislation on food labeling and novel foods was taken into account. The case study of this perspective is on the potential allergenicity of edible flowers as well as evidence of phytochemistry and toxic compounds and the risk associated with their ingestion. Regarding edible flowers, a key issue to address is if they are safe to consume or not. In the framework of the project “Innovative activities for the development of the cross-border supply chain of the edible flower” (ANTEA), we considered 62 different species and varieties of edible flowers. The results obtained by consulting two databases on allergens, COMPRISE and Allergen Nomenclature, marked two alerts for two species of edible flowers selected in the project. Moreover, based on edible flower consumption, about ten grams per serving, and on their protein content, we can also state that the risk of allergic reactions due to edible flower ingestion is very low.

Toxicogenetic evaluation of Smallanthus sonchifolius (yacon) as a herbal medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Smallanthus sonchifolius (Poepp. & Endl.) H. Robinson, commonly known as yacon, is a medicinal plant belonging to the Asteraceae family used in traditional folk medicine. Its roots and leaves have been used by people suffering from diabetes or from various digestive or renal disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed at evaluating the in vitro potential genotoxic effects of the aqueous extract of yacon in order to determine its safety and at characterizing its phytochemical composition.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The aqueous extract of S. sonchifolius was prepared in a similar way to that commonly used in popular medicine as tea bags. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-MS/MS) were used to identify the main compounds. The MTT test was performed to determine the range of doses and the Cytochalasine B-blocked micronucleus (Cytome assay) was used to assess geneotoxicity.

RESULTS

The chemical analysis of the aqueous extract revealed the presence of the sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) enhydrin and the dimer enhydrofolin, as the main compounds together with phenolic compounds. Increasing concentrations of the extract induced a cytotoxic effect on CHO-K1 and HepG2 cells. A statistically significant increase in the frequency of MNi, NBUDs and NPBs was observed in CHO-K1 cells, while in HepG2 cells a statistically significant frequency increase was observed with three of the four tested doses for MNi and only with the highest dose for NPBs and NBUs (genotoxic effect).

CONCLUSION

Results demonstrated the inability of the metabolic system to counteract the genetic instability, allowing the safe consumption of the leaves as a 2% tea infusion in quantities of up to 250 mL/day.

CMAUP: a database of collective molecular activities of useful plants

The beneficial effects of functionally useful plants (e.g. medicinal and food plants) arise from the multi-target activities of multiple ingredients of these plants. The knowledge of the collective molecular activities of these plants facilitates mechanistic studies and expanded applications. A number of databases provide information about the effects and targets of various plants and ingredients. More comprehensive information is needed for broader classes of plants and for the landscapes of individual plant’s multiple targets, collective activities and regulated biological pathways, processes and diseases. We therefore developed a new database, Collective Molecular Activities of Useful Plants (CMAUP), to provide the collective landscapes of multiple targets (ChEMBL target classes) and activity levels (in 2D target-ingredient heatmap), and regulated gene ontologies (GO categories), biological pathways (KEGG categories) and diseases (ICD blocks) for 5645 plants (2567 medicinal, 170 food, 1567 edible, 3 agricultural and 119 garden plants) collected from or traditionally used in 153 countries and regions. These landscapes were derived from 47 645 plant ingredients active against 646 targets in 234 KEGG pathways associated with 2473 gene ontologies and 656 diseases. CMAUP (http://bidd2.nus.edu.sg/CMAUP/) is freely accessible and searchable by keywords, plant usage classes, species families, targets, KEGG pathways, gene ontologies, diseases (ICD code) and geographical locations.

Sokovic M, Barros L, Ferreira ICFR. Chemical Composition and Plant Growth of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta Plants Cultivated under Saline Conditions

The aim of this report was to study the effect of salinity (control: 2dS/m, S1: 4 dS/m and S2: 6 dS/m) and harvest time (first harvest on 9 May 2018 and second harvest on 19 April 2018) on the growth and the chemical composition of Centaurea raphanina subsp. mixta plants. The plants of the first harvest were used for the plant growth measurements (fresh weight and moisture content of leaves, rosette diameter, number and thickness of leaves), whereas those of the second harvest were not used for these measurements due to the flowering initiation, which made the leaves unmarketable due to their hard texture. The results of our study showed that C. raphanina subsp. mixta plants can be cultivated under mild salinity (S1 treatment) conditions without severe effects on plant growth and yield, since a more severe loss (27.5%) was observed for the S2 treatment. In addition, harvest time proved to be a cost-effective cultivation practice that allows to regulate the quality of the final product, either in edible form (first harvest) or for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes as well as antimicrobial agents in food products. Therefore, the combination of these two agronomic factors showed interesting results in terms of the quality of the final product. In particular, high salinity (S2 treatment) improved the nutritional value by increasing the fat, proteins and carbohydrates contents in the first harvest, as well as the tocopherols and sugars contents (S1 and S2 treatments, respectively) in the second harvest. In addition, salinity and harvest time affected the oxalic acid content which was the lowest for the S2 treatment at the second harvest. Similarly, the richest fatty acid (α-linolenic acid) increased with increasing salinity at the first harvest. Salinity and harvest time also affected the antimicrobial properties, especially against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Trichoderma viride, where the extracts from the S1 and S2 treatments showed high effectiveness. In contrast, the highest amounts of flavanones (pinocembrin derivatives) were detected in the control treatment (second harvest), which was also reflected to the highest antioxidant activity (TBARS) for the same treatment. In conclusion, C. raphanina subsp. mixta plants seem to be tolerant to medium salinity stress (S1 treatment) since plant growth was not severely impaired, while salinity and harvesting time affected the nutritional value (fat, proteins, and carbohydrates) and the chemical composition (tocopherols, sugars, oxalic acid, fatty acids), as well as the bioactive properties (cytotoxicity and antimicrobial properties) of the final product.

Genotoxicity assessment of saline extract from Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) and its chemopreventive effect against cyclophosphamide-induced DNA damage

Pilosocereus gounellei (Cactaceae) is used to treat wounds and inflammation. In this study, we evaluated whether the saline extract from its stem would have genotoxic or anti-genotoxic effects. In the genotoxicity evaluation, mice received the extract (500, 1,000, or 2,000 mg/kg) orally while negative and positive controls were treated with saline solution (0.9% NaCl) per os and cyclophosphamide (CPA, 80 mg/kg i.p.), respectively. In the anti-genotoxicity assay, using other animals, treatments were carried out by administering the extract (500, 1,000 or 2,000 mg/kg) or saline solution (negative control) per os and then CPA (80 mg/kg i.p.) 1 h later. Genotoxic effects were evaluated by micronucleus test and comet assay using peripheral blood and bone marrow cells. Oral administration of only the extract at 500 and 1,000 mg/kg did not result in genotoxicity. A slight increase in the incidence of micronucleus was observed at the highest dose (2,000 mg/kg). Administration of the extract before CPA reduced the micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes (MNPCE) number by 49.07–71.43%, and DNA fragmentation in peripheral blood (85.04–94.44%) and bone marrow (87.43–92.70%) cells also decreased. In conclusion, when administered orally at the tested doses, the extract is genotoxically safe, being cautious in doses above 1,000 mg/kg, and has a protective effect against CPA-induced DNA damage.

A systematic review and quality assessment of case reports of adverse events for borage (Borago officinalis), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) and comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Symphytum officinale (comfrey), Tussilago farfara (coltsfoot) and Borago officinalis (borage) have long histories of therapeutic use, but their safety has been questioned due to the presence of unsaturated pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs). The evidence base underlying these concerns relies in part on case reports. This systematic review assesses these case reports for their reliability to inform this debate.

METHOD

Study selection was restricted to case reports describing possible pyrrolizidine alkaloid related harm and ingestion of comfrey, coltsfoot or borage. An extensive search of academic databases was conducted. Papers meeting the criteria were critically appraised.

RESULTS

The search resulted in 11 appropriate case reports, none of which involved borage. Nine reports were assessed for causality and indicated some degree of association between the material ingested and the adverse event. Lack of unequivocal identification of the species ingested compromised attribution and was a significant source of uncertainty. Three levels of identity confusions were found; misidentification or substitution at the level of the whole herb; omission of appropriate botanical identification and attribution of a specific PA to either comfrey or coltsfoot when it is a constituent found in other plants of established toxicity.

CONCLUSION

These cases are an unreliable body of evidence on which to draw conclusions about the safety of the oral consumption of Symphytum officinale and Tussilago farfara. Toxicological studies based on oral ingestion of phytochemically-complex preparations of these herbs may be the most accurate methodology for assessing clinical risk.

Antimalarial plants with potential male-factor antifertility properties

Malaria, caused mainly by Plasmodium falciparum among other Plasmodium species, is one of the main causes of death from parasitic diseases. Malaria is still a health problem mainly because of the cost of effective antimalarial drugs and the growing parasite resistance to conventional antimalarial drugs, making a great proportion of the people in malaria endemic countries dependent on plants for its treatment. Corollary, a large number of the rural populations consume antimalarial herbal preparations in large or excessive quantities despite the fact that it has been reported that some of them could cause male-factor infertility, a growing global health concern. Few studies have compiled information on the scientifically validated male-factor antifertility effects of these antimalarial plant remedies. The aim of this review therefore is to compile information on commonly used antimalarial plant remedies that have been experimentally validated as having male-factor antifertility effects. Thus, antimalarial plant remedies with experimentally confirmed male-factor antifertility potentials and compounds isolated from them are identified and discussed. The male-factor antifertility effects of these plants include reduction of sperm quality, regulation of reproductive hormone levels and induction of lipid peroxidation. Indiscriminate use of such antimalarial plants is discouraged when male contraception is not desired.

Hazard assessment of Maerua subcordata (Gilg) DeWolf. for selected endpoints using a battery of in vitro tests

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Maerua subcordata (Gilg) DeWolf is a medicinal and wild food plant growing mainly in east Africa. Especially its root tuber is widely used in traditional medicine to treat several infectious and chronic diseases but also in some toxicity implications like use as abortifacient.

AIM OF THE STUDY

the present study applied in silico and in vitro tests to identify possible hazards of M. subcordata (fruit, leaf, root, seed) methanol extracts focussing on developmental toxicity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Ames test, estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) assay, aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) assay, embryonic stem cell test (EST), and zebrafish embryotoxicity test (ZET) were employed. Besides, a Derek Nexus toxicity prediction was performed on candidate structures obtained from metabolomics profiling of the extracts using liquid chromatography coupled to multistage mass spectroscopy (LC/MSⁿ) and a MAGMa software based structural annotation.

RESULTS

Glucosinolates, which degrade to isothiocyanates, and biogenic amines were among the candidate molecules identified in the extracts by LC/MSⁿ - MAGMa software structural annotation. Isothiocyanates and some other candidate molecules suggested a positive mutagenicity alert in Derek toxicity predictions. All the extracts showed negative mutagenicity in the Ames test. However, the Derek predictions also identified endocrine and developmental toxicity as possible endpoints of concern. This was further assessed using in vitro tests. Results obtained reveal that leaf extract shows AhR and ERα agonist activities, inhibited differentiation of ES-D3 stem cells into contracting cardiomyocytes in the EST (p < 0.001) as well as inhibited hatching (p < 0.01) and showed acute toxicity (p < 0.01) in the ZET. Also, the fruit extract showed toxicity (p < 0.05) towards zebrafish embryos and both fruit and seed extracts showed AhR agonist activities while root extract was devoid of activity in all in vitro assays.

CONCLUSION

The leaf extract tests positive in in vitro tests that may point towards a developmental toxicity hazard. The current evaluations did not raise concerns of genotoxicity or developmental toxicity for the fruit, seed and root extracts. This is important given the use of especially these parts of M. subcordata, in traditional medicine and/or as (famine) food.

Composition and safety evaluation of tea from New Zealand kawakawa (Piper excelsum)

Kawakawa (Piper excelsum) has food, medicinal and cultural importance to the indigenous Māori people of New Zealand, and is being incorporated into a range of commercial food and therapeutic products, including tea. In this study, the chemical compositions of kawakawa fresh leaves, dried leaves for tea, and hot brewed tea, were analysed and compared. The key metabolites were diayangambin, elemicin, myristicin, unidentified lignans and amides. The safety of brewed tea and tea leaves were evaluated in 8 week old Sprague Dawley rats in a 14 day acute study followed by a 28 day subacute study. In the 14 day study, the rats received the equivalent of 1, 2, 3 or 4 cups of kawakawa tea, and the rats in the 28 day study received daily doses that were equivalent to 4 cups per day. There were no adverse effects observed in the rats, and body weights and food intakes were not significantly different between the control and the kawakawa treated animals. There were small differences in organ weights, biochemical and haematology parameters observed in the rats given the kawakawa tea. In conclusion, the consumption of kawakawa tea could be considered safe within the conditions used in this study.

The effect of Cynara scolymus (artichoke) on maternal reproductive outcomes and fetal development in rats

Cynara scolymus (C.scolymus) is a plant employed worldwide as an herbal medicine. However, there is a paucity of data related to the evaluation of its toxicity in commercial preparations; thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the possible teratogenic effect of the dry extract of C.scolymus leaves in Wistar rats. Females were treated, from gestation day (GD) 6 until GD19, with 0.0, 1.0, 2.0 or 4.0 g/kg body weight of C.scolymus extract. At GD20, a cesarean section was performed for evaluation of maternal and fetal parameters. C.scolymus did not induce changes in food consumption, preimplantation or postimplantation losses, placental weight or biochemical profile. An increase in water consumption was observed in pregnant females treated with the higher doses of C.scolymus. Experimental groups showed lower body weight gain during pregnancy and lower gravid uterus weight. Maternal body weight minus the gravid uterus weight did not result in significant differences. Reductions in fetal weight and length were observed in experimental groups. The number of live pups per litter was lower in the highest dose group. No fetal skeletal or visceral malformations were detected. The results showed that the consumption of artichoke during pregnancy clearly has a negative impact on fetuses.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids quantified in soil and water using UPLC-MS/MS

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are produced in plants as defence compounds against insects. PAs present a serious health risk to humans and livestock; therefore it is necessary to have a validated analytical method to monitor PAs in the environment. The objective of this work is to present an UPLC-MS/MS method for quantification of PAs in environmental samples of both soil and water. A fast, reliable, and sensitive approach is developed to identify and quantify PAs in soil and water. Sample preparation was performed by clean-up and pre-concentration of the samples using MCX solid phase extraction cartridges with full optimization, and then PAs were determined by UPLC coupled with TQ-MS. In the liquid chromatography, most of the parameters were optimized and tested including gradient time, solvents, additives, and pH of the mobile phases and flow rate. In addition, the MS parameters of cone voltage, desolvation temperature, cone flows, and collision energy were optimized. The instrument limit of detection (2–7 μg L⁻¹) and limit of quantification (5–9 μg L⁻¹) were determined experimentally, and the method was linearity validated up to 1000 μg L⁻¹. The method was applied to analyse soil and surface water samples collected in April and May 2018 in Vejle, Borup, and Holte, Denmark. In total, 15 PAs were quantified and reported for the first time in environmental samples, in a range of 3–1349 μg kg⁻¹ in soil and 4–270 μg L⁻¹ in surface water.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids quantified in soil and water.

Common risks of adulterated and mislabeled herbal preparations

Due to the growing trend of returning to nature and the fear of adverse reactions from conventional medicines, people are increasingly resorting to the use of herbal preparations. Because of long-term use and natural origin these preparations give a sense of security. But herbal formulations also possess undesirable effects and, among other dangers, present a risk connected with deliberate addition of synthetic compounds, deliberate or unintentional replacement of the plant species or simply a risk of mislabeling. While the replacement of the plant species occurs in a very different groups of herbal products, reports of added illicit synthetic substances often include groups of herbal weight-loss preparations, sexual enhancers, preparations for treatment of rheumatic and inflammatory diseases, antidiabetic and blood pressure lowering preparations. In the world of Internet ordering, these are the dangers that everyone should be aware of. In this article, we reviewed the safety issues related to adulterated or mislabeled herbal products.

Mediterranean Wild Edible Plants: Weeds or "New Functional Crops"?

The Mediterranean basin is a biodiversity hotspot of wild edible species, and their therapeutic and culinary uses have long been documented. Owing to the growing demand for wild edible species, there are increasing concerns about the safety, standardization, quality, and availability of products derived from these species collected in the wild. An efficient cultivation method for the species having promising nutraceutical values is highly desirable. In this backdrop, a hydroponic system could be considered as a reproducible and efficient agronomic practice to maximize yield, and also to selectively stimulate the biosynthesis of targeted metabolites. The aim of this report is to review the phytochemical and toxic compounds of some potentially interesting Mediterranean wild edible species. Herein, after a deep analysis of the literature, information on the main bioactive compounds, and some possibly toxic molecules, from fifteen wild edible species have been compiled. The traditional recipes prepared with these species are also listed. In addition, preliminary data about the performance of some selected species are also reported. In particular, germination tests performed on six selected species revealed that there are differences among the species, but not with crop species. “Domestication” of wild species seems a promising approach for exploiting these “new functional foods”.

Scientific opinion on the safety of green tea catechins

The EFSA ANS Panel was asked to provide a scientific opinion on the safety of green tea catechins from dietary sources including preparations such as food supplements and infusions. Green tea is produced from the leaves of Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze, without fermentation, which prevents the oxidation of polyphenolic components. Most of the polyphenols in green tea are catechins. The Panel considered the possible association between the consumption of (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), the most relevant catechin in green tea, and hepatotoxicity. This scientific opinion is based on published scientific literature, including interventional studies, monographs and reports by national and international authorities and data received following a public 'Call for data'. The mean daily intake of EGCG resulting from the consumption of green tea infusions ranges from 90 to 300 mg/day while exposure by high-level consumers is estimated to be up to 866 mg EGCG/day, in the adult population in the EU. Food supplements containing green tea catechins provide a daily dose of EGCG in the range of 5-1,000 mg/day, for adult population. The Panel concluded that catechins from green tea infusion, prepared in a traditional way, and reconstituted drinks with an equivalent composition to traditional green tea infusions, are in general considered to be safe according to the presumption of safety approach provided the intake corresponds to reported intakes in European Member States. However, rare cases of liver injury have been reported after consumption of green tea infusions, most probably due to an idiosyncratic reaction. Based on the available data on the potential adverse effects of green tea catechins on the liver, the Panel concluded that there is evidence from interventional clinical trials that intake of doses equal or above 800 mg EGCG/day taken as a food supplement has been shown to induce a statistically significant increase of serum transaminases in treated subjects compared to control.

Human Plant Exposures Reported to a Regional (Southwestern) Poison Control Center Over 8 Years

BACKGROUND

There is little published data about human plant exposures reported to US poison control centers (PCCs).

METHODS

A retrospective chart review of all reported plant exposures to a single regional PCC between January 1, 2003 and December 31, 2010 was done to understand better the characteristics of plant exposure cases. Specific generic plant codes were used to identify cases. Recorded variables included patient demographics, plant involved, exposure variables, symptoms, management site, treatments, and outcome. Univariate and multivariate regression was used to identify outcome predictors.

RESULTS

A total of 6492 charts met inclusion criteria. The average age was 16.6 years (2 months-94 years); 52.4% were male. The most common exposure reason was unintentional (98%), and the majority (92.4%) occurred at the patient's home. Ingestions (58.3%) and dermal exposures (34.3%) accounted for most cases. Cactus (27.5%), oleander (12.5%), Lantana (5.7%), and Bougainvillea (3.8%) were most commonly involved. Symptoms developed in 47.1% of patients, and were more likely to occur following Datura (66.7%), and Morning Glory or Milkweed (25% each) exposures. Almost 94% of patients were managed onsite (home) and only 5.2% involved evaluation in a health care facility (HCF). Only 37 (0.6%) patients required hospital admission, and 2.9% of cases resulted in more than minimal effects. Exposures resulting in more than minimal clinical effects were predicted by several variables: abnormal vital signs (OR = 35.62), abnormal labs (OR = 14.87), and management at a HCF (OR = 7.37). Hospital admissions were increased for patients already at a HCF (OR = 54.01), abnormal vital signs (OR = 23.28), and intentional exposures (OR = 14.7).

CONCLUSION

Plant exposures reported to our poison control center were typically unintentional ingestions occurring at home. Most patients were managed onsite and few developed significant symptoms.

Pregnancy and herbal medicines: An unnecessary risk for women's health-A narrative review

The indiscriminate use of herbal medicines to prevent or to heal diseases or even the use for questionable purposes such as weight loss has received both interest and scrutiny from the scientific community and general public alike. An increasing number of women put their own and the unborn child's health at risk due to a lack of knowledge about the phytochemical properties and adequate use of herbal medicine (phytomedicines or herbal supplements) and lack of communication with their healthcare provider. The purpose of this narrative review was to summarize the use of herbal medicines during pregnancy and their potential toxic effects to highlight the importance of caution when prescribing herbal medicines or supplements for women, because, in addition to suffering interactions and a great amount of information obtained in preclinical predictive studies, assessment of nephrotoxicity, neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, genotoxicity, and teratogenicity of traditional medicinal herbs still remains scarce in the clinical setting.

Synchronous application of antibiotics and essential oils: dual mechanisms of action as a potential solution to antibiotic resistance

Antibiotic resistance has increased dramatically in recent years, yet the antibiotic pipeline has stalled. New therapies are therefore needed to continue treating antibiotic resistant infections. One potential strategy currently being explored is the use of non-antibiotic compounds to potentiate the activity of currently employed antibiotics. Many natural products including Essential Oils (EOs) possess broad spectrum antibacterial activity and so have been investigated for this purpose. This article aims to review recent literature concerning the antibacterial activity of EOs and their interactions with antibiotics, with consideration of dual mechanisms of action of EOs and antibiotics as a potential solution to antibiotic resistance. Synergistic interactions between EOs and their components with antibiotics have been reported, including several instances of antibiotic resensitization in resistant isolates, in support of this strategy to control antibiotic resistance. However, a lack of consistency in methods and interpretation criteria makes drawing conclusions of efficacy of studied combinations difficult. Synergistic effects are often not explored beyond preliminary identification of antibacterial interactions and mechanism of action is rarely defined, despite many hypotheses and recommendations for future study. Much work is needed to fully understand EO-antibiotic associations before they can be further developed into novel antibacterial formulations.

Mitodepressive, antioxidant, antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects of wild-growing Romanian native Arctium lappa L. (Asteraceae) and Veronica persica Poiret (Plantaginaceae)

The present study aims to evaluate the potential uses of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from Romanian native wild-growing plants. The hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained from the burdock roots and respectively the aerial parts of birdeye speedwell. The extracts were characterised by HPLC (quantifying 13 compounds in the V. persica extract, 6 compounds in the A. lappa extract and confirming the presence of arctiin and arctigenin in the burdock extract). The antioxidant potential of the crude extracts was evaluated using two methods: the DPPH assay (79.91% for speedwell extract, 76.23% for burdock extract) and the phosphomolybdate method (296.5 mg/g ascorbic acid equivalents for burdock, 324.4 mg/g for speedwell). The crude extracts were found to be active against both fungal lines used (Aspergillus niger and Penicillium hirsutum), inhibition zones - 17.1 mm and 13.1 mm against P. hirsutum, respectively ca. 22 mm for both extracts against A. niger. The cytogenetic effects (assessed using the Allium cepa assay) revealed a series of chromosomal aberrations and nuclear aberrations induced in the meristematic root cells. The anti-inflammatory effect, estimated in two inflammation experimental models, showed a significant effect, especially for the speedwell extract. The results recommend the evaluated extracts as promising sources of biologically-active compounds.

P53 tumor suppressor is required for efficient execution of the death program following treatment with a cytotoxic limonoid obtained from Melia azedarach

This work examines the antitumor activity of an isomeric mixture (1), composed of the limonoids meliartenin and its interchangeable isomer 12-hydroxyamoorastatin. The results obtained showed that 1 displayed outstanding cytotoxic activity against CCRF-CEM, K562, A549 and HCT116 cells, with a highly selective effect on the latter, with an IC₅₀ value of 0.2 μM. Based on this finding, HCT116 cells were selected to study the mechanism of action of 1. Cell cycle analysis revealed that 1 induced sustained arrest in the S-phase, which was followed by the triggering of apoptotic cell death and reduced clonogenic capacity. This cytotoxicity was seen to be preceded by the upregulation of the tumor suppressor p53 and its target effector p21. In addition, it was found that p53 expression was required for efficient cell death induction, and thus that the toxicity of 1 relies mainly on p53-dependent mechanisms. Taken together, these findings position 1 as a potent antitumor agent, with potential for the development of novel chemotherapeutic drugs based on the induction of S-phase arrest.

Extract of bulbus Fritillaria cirrhosa perturbs spindle assembly checkpoint, induces mitotic aberrations and genomic instability in human colon epithelial cell line

BACKGROUND

Bulbus Fritillaria cirrhosa D. Don (BFC) has been used in China as a folk medicine for the treatment of cough and asthma for more than 2000 years. The antitussive and antiasthmatic effects of BFC have been reported before, nevertheless its toxicity and safety have not been documented. This study investigated the possible effects of BFC on spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), mitotic fidelity and genomic stability in human NCM460 colon epithelial cells.

METHODS

Cells were treated with BFC (0, 20, 40, 80 and 160μg/ml) for 24, 48 and 72h and harvested differently according to the biomarkers observed. Mitotic aberrations were assessed by the biomarkers of chromosome misalignment (CMA), chromosome lagging (CL) and chromatin bridge (CB). Frequencies of micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridge and nuclear bud (NB) in cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay were used as indicators of genomic instability (GIN). SAC activity was determined by anaphase to metaphase ratio (AMR) and the expression of several SAC genes, including CENP-E, Mps1, Bub1, Mad-1, BubR1 and Mad-2.

RESULTS

Compared with the control, cells in BFC treated groups (80 and 160μg/ml) showed: 1) increased AMR (p<0.05), up-regulated expression of Mps1, Bub1 and Mad-1 (p<0.05) and down-regulated expression of CENP-E, BubR1 and Mad-2 (p<0.05); 2) increased frequencies of CMA, CL and CB (p<0.01); 3) increased incidences of MN and NB (p<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed for the first time that BFC causes mitotic aberrations and GIN in human colon epithelial cells and these effects maybe the result of SAC dysfunction.

Genotoxic and cytotoxic action potential of Terminalia citrina, a medicinal plant of ethnopharmacological significance

Most herbal medicines utilized in complementary and alternative medicine lack safety evaluation setting our lives under unwarranted risks. Present study comprised of genotoxic and cytotoxic appraisal of Terminalia citrina fruits which are used as a folklore medicine for treatment of various ailments. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of T. citrina fruit extracts were evaluated for the presence of different phytochemicals. Genotoxic potential of both the extract of T. citrina was assessed through Ames reverse mutagenicity assay in Salmonella TA 100 and 102 strains. Cytotoxic potential of T. citrina was determined in baby hamster kidney cell line (BHK-21). Statistical analysis was carried out by ANOVA following post hoc test. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenolic compounds, tannins, catechins and saponins. It was revealed that both the extracts of T. citrina exhibited significant mutagenicity in tester strains. Ethanolic extract showed higher mutagenicity in TA 100 strain, whereas aqueous extract of T. citrina exhibited higher mutagenicity in TA 102 strain than TA 100. Both the extracts of T. citrina showed dose-dependent mutagenicity. Fifty percent cell viability was exhibited by 260 and 545 µg/mL of ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. This study concludes that the ethanolic and aqueous fruit extracts of T. citrina may not be safe owing to their mutagenic and cytotoxic potential and it necessitates further investigation regarding its safety evaluation.

Phyllanthus emblica Fruit Extract Activates Spindle Assembly Checkpoint, Prevents Mitotic Aberrations and Genomic Instability in Human Colon Epithelial NCM460 Cells

The fruit of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. (PE) has been widely consumed as a functional food and folk medicine in Southeast Asia due to its remarkable nutritional and pharmacological effects. Previous research showed PE delays mitotic progress and increases genomic instability (GIN) in human colorectal cancer cells. This study aimed to investigate the similar effects of PE by the biomarkers related to spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC), mitotic aberrations and GIN in human NCM460 normal colon epithelial cells. Cells were treated with PE and harvested differently according to the biomarkers observed. Frequencies of micronuclei (MN), nucleoplasmic bridge (NPB) and nuclear bud (NB) in cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay were used as indicators of GIN. Mitotic aberrations were assessed by the biomarkers of chromosome misalignment, multipolar division, chromosome lagging and chromatin bridge. SAC activity was determined by anaphase-to- metaphase ratio (AMR) and the expression of core SAC gene budding uninhibited by benzimidazoles related 1 (BubR1). Compared with the control, PE-treated cells showed (1) decreased incidences of MN, NPB and NB (p < 0.01); (2) decreased frequencies of all mitotic aberration biomarkers (p < 0.01); and (3) decreased AMR (p < 0.01) and increased BubR1 expression (p < 0.001). The results revealed PE has the potential to protect human normal colon epithelial cells from mitotic and genomic damages partially by enhancing the function of SAC.