The interaction of sesamol with DNA and cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and localization in HepG2 cells

The Role of Selenium Nanoparticles in the Treatment of Liver Pathologies of Various Natures

The liver is the body's largest gland, and regulates a wide variety of physiological processes. The work of the liver can be disrupted in a variety of pathologies, the number of which is several hundred. It is extremely important to monitor the health of the liver and develop approaches to combat liver diseases. In recent decades, nanomedicine has become increasingly popular in the treatment of various liver pathologies, in which nanosized biomaterials, which are inorganic, polymeric, liposomal, albumin, and other nanoparticles, play an important role. Given the need to develop environmentally safe, inexpensive, simple, and high-performance biomedical agents for theragnostic purposes and showing few side effects, special attention is being paid to nanoparticles based on the important trace element selenium (Se). It is known that the metabolism of the microelement Se occurs in the liver, and its deficiency leads to the development of several serious diseases in this organ. In addition, the liver is the depot for most selenoproteins, which can reduce oxidative stress, inhibit tumor growth, and prevent other liver damage. This review is devoted to the description of the results of recent years, revealing the important role of selenium nanoparticles in the therapy and diagnosis of several liver pathologies, depending on the dose and physicochemical properties. The possibilities of selenium nanoparticles in the treatment of liver diseases, disclosed in the review, will not only reveal the advantages of their hepatoprotective properties but also significantly supplement the data on the role of the trace element selenium in the regulation of these diseases.

Transcriptome Profiling Analysis of Breast Cancer Cell MCF-7 Treated by Sesamol

Background

Breast cancer is a highly malignant tumor that affects a large number of women worldwide. Sesamol, a natural compound, has been shown to exhibit inhibitory effects on various tumors, including breast cancer. However, the underlying mechanism of its action has not been fully explored. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effect of sesamol on the transcriptome of MCF-7 breast cancer cells, in order to better understand its potential as an anti-cancer agent.

Methods

The transcriptome profiles of MCF-7 breast cancer cells treated with sesamol were analyzed using Illumina deep-sequencing. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the control and sesamol-treated groups were identified, and GO and KEGG pathway analyses of these DEGs were conducted using ClueGO. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was mapped on STRING database and visualized by Cytoscape software. Hub genes in the network were screened by Cytohubba plugin of Cytoscape. Prognostic values of hub genes were analyses by the online Kaplan-Meier plotter and validated by qRT-PCR in MCF-7 cells.

Results

The results of the study showed that sesamol treatment had a significant effect on the transcriptome of MCF-7 cells, with a total of 351 DEGs identified. Functional enrichment analyses of DEGs revealed their involvement in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, fatty acid metabolism and monocyte chemotaxis. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis of DEGs resulted in the identification of 10 hub genes, namely IGF2, MMP1, MSLN, CXCL10, WT1, ITGAL, PLD1, MME, TWIST1, and FOXA2. Survival analysis showed that MMP1 and ITGAL were significantly associated with overall survival (OS) and recovery-free survival (RFS) in breast cancer patients.

Conclusion

Sesamol may play important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, fatty acid metabolism and cell cycle of MCF-7.

Formulation Strategies for Enhancing Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Potential of Sesamol: A Natural Phenolic Bioactive

Natural plants and their products continue to be the major source of phytoconstituents in food and therapeutics. Scientific studies have evidenced the benefits of sesame oil and its bioactives in various health conditions. Various bioactives present in it include sesamin, sasamolin, sesaminol, and sesamol; among these, sesamol represents a major constituent. This bioactive is responsible for preventing various diseases including cancer, hepatic disorders, cardiac ailments, and neurological diseases. In the last decade, the application of sesamol in the management of various disorders has attracted the increasing interest of the research community. Owing to its prominent pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, antiinflammatory, antineoplastic, and antimicrobial, sesamol has been explored for the above-mentioned disorders. However, despite the above-mentioned therapeutic potential, its clinical utility is mainly hindered owing to low solubility, stability, bioavailability, and rapid clearance issues. In this regard, numerous strategies have been explored to surpass these restrictions with the formulation of novel carrier platforms. This review aims to describe the various reports and summarize the different pharmacological activities of sesamol. Furthermore, one part of this review is devoted to formulating strategies to improve sesamol's challenges. To resolve the issues such as the stability, low bioavailability, and high systemic clearance of sesamol, novel carrier systems have been developed to open a new avenue to utilize this bioactive as an efficient first-line treatment for various diseases.

A Comprehensive Review on Distribution, Pharmacological Properties, and Mechanisms of Action of Sesamin

Sesamin is a kind of fat-soluble lignan extracted from sesame seeds or other plants. It has attracted more and more attention because of its extensive pharmacological activities. In this study, we systematically summarized the pharmacological activities of sesamin including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, protection of liver and kidney, prevention of diabetes, hypertension, and atherosclerosis. Studies focus on the abilities of sesamin to attenuate oxidative stress by reducing the levels of ROS and MDA, to inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, etc.), and to induce apoptosis and autophagy in cancer cells through a variety of signaling pathways such as NF-κB, JNK, p38 MAPK, PI3K/AKT, caspase-3, and p53. By inhibiting the production of ROS, sesamin can also enhance the biological activities of NO in blood vessels, improve endothelial dysfunction and hypertension, and change the process of atherosclerotic lesion formation. In line with this, the various pharmacological properties of sesamin have been discussed in this review so that we can have a deeper understanding of the pharmacological activities of sesamin and clear the future development direction of sesamin.

Investigation and Biological Assessment of Rumex vesicarius L. Extract: Characterization of the Chemical Components and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Dengue Vector Activity

The objective of this study was to assess the biological potency and chemical composition of Rumex vesicarius aboveground parts using GC-MS. In this approach, 44 components were investigated, comprising 99.99% of the total volatile compounds. The major components were classified as fatty acids and lipids (51.36%), oxygenated hydrocarbons (33.59%), amines (7.35%), carbohydrates (6.06%), steroids (1.21%), and alkaloids (0.42%). The major components were interpreted as 1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl oleate (oxygenated hydrocarbons, 18.96%), ethyl 2-hydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylate (ester of fatty acid, 17.56%), and 2-propyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-ol (oxygenated hydrocarbons, 11.18%). The DPPH antioxidant activity of the extracted components of R. vesicarius verified that the shoot extract was the most potent with IC₅₀ = 28.89 mg/L, with the percentages of radical scavenging activity at 74.28% ± 3.51%. The extracted plant, on the other hand, showed substantial antibacterial activity against the diverse bacterial species, namely, Salmonella typhi (23.46 ± 1.69), Bacillus cereus (22.91 ± 0.96), E. coli (21.07 ± 0.80), and Staphylococcus aureus (17.83 ± 0.67). In addition, the extracted plant was in vitro assessed as a considerable anticancer agent on HepG2 cells, in which MTT, cell proliferation cycle, and DNA fragmentation assessments were applied on culture and treated cells. The larvicidal efficacy of the extracted plant was also evaluated against Aedes aegypti, the dengue disease vector. As a result, we may infer that R. vesicarius extract increased cytocompatibility and cell migratory capabilities, and that it may be effective in mosquito control without causing harm.

Multi-Spectroscopic and Molecular Simulation Approaches to Characterize the Intercalation Binding of 1-Naphthaleneacetic Acid With Calf Thymus DNA

1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), having high-quality biological activity and great yield-increasing potential in agricultural production, is a broad-spectrum plant growth regulator. Although NAA is of low toxicity, it can affect the balance of the human metabolism and damage the body if it is used in high quantity for a long time. In this study, the interaction of NAA with calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) was investigated under simulated human physiological acidity (pH 7.4) using fluorescence, ultraviolet-visible absorption, and circular dichroism spectroscopy combined with viscosity measurements and molecular simulation techniques. The quenching of the endogenous fluorescence of NAA by ctDNA, observed in the fluorescence spectrum experiment, was a mixed quenching process that mainly resulted from the formation of the NAA-ctDNA complex. NAA mainly interacted with ctDNA through hydrophobic interaction, and the binding constant and quenching constant at room temperature (298 K) were 0.60 × 10⁵ L mol^-1 and 1.58 × 10⁴ L mol^-1, respectively. Moreover, the intercalation mode between NAA and ctDNA was verified in the analysis of melting point, KI measurements, and the viscosity of ctDNA. The results were confirmed by molecular simulation, and it showed that NAA was enriched near the C-G base of ctDNA. As shown in circular dichroism spectra, the positive peak intensity of ctDNA intensified along with a certain degree of redshift, while the negative peak intensity decreased after binding with NAA, suggesting that the binding of NAA induced the transformation of the secondary structure of ctDNA from B-form to A-form. These researches will help to understand the hazards of NAA to the human body more comprehensively and concretely, to better guide the use of NAA in industry and agriculture.

Synchronizing In Silico, In Vitro, and In Vivo Studies for the Successful Nose to Brain Delivery of an Anticancer Molecule

Sesamol is a sesame seed constituent with reported activity against many types of cancer. In this work, two types of nanocarriers, solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) and polymeric nanoparticles (PNs), were exploited to improve sesamol efficiency against the glioma cancer cell line. The ability of the proposed systems for efficient brain targeting intranasally was also inspected. By the aid of two docking programs, the virtual loading pattern inside these nanocarriers was matched to the real experimental results. Interactions involved in sesamol-carrier binding were also assessed, followed by a discussion of how different scoring functions account for these interactions. The study is an extension of the computer-assisted drug formulation design series, which represents a promising initiative for an upcoming industrial innovation. The results proved the power of combined in silico tools in predicting members with the highest sesamol payload suitable for delivering a sufficient dose to the brain. Among nine carriers, glyceryl monostearate (GMS) and polycaprolactone (PCL) scored the highest sesamol payload practically and computationally. The EE % was 66.09 ± 0.92 and 61.73 ± 0.47 corresponding to a ΔG (binding energy) of -8.85 ± 0.16 and -5.04 ± 0.11, respectively. Dynamic light scattering evidenced the formation of 215.1 ± 7.2 nm and 414.25 ± 1.6 nm nanoparticles, respectively. Both formulations demonstrated an efficient cytotoxic effect and brain-targeting ability compared to the sesamol solution. This was evidenced by low IC₅₀ (38.50 ± 10.37 μM and 27.81 ± 2.76 μM) and high drug targeting efficiency (7.64 ± 1.89-fold and 13.72 ± 4.1-fold) and direct transport percentages (86.12 ± 3.89 and 92.198 ± 2.09) for GMS-SLNs and PCL-PNs, respectively. The results also showed how different formulations, having different compositions and characteristics, could affect the cytotoxic and targeting ability.

Sesamol induces cytotoxicity via mitochondrial apoptosis in SCC-25 cells

Sesamol is the main constituent of sesame seed oil and is obtained from Sesamum indicum. Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common neoplasms affecting the oral cavity. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxic potentials of sesamol on human oral squamous carcinoma (SCC-25) cells. Human oral squamous carcinoma cells were treated with different concentrations (62.5, 125, and 250 μM/mL) of sesamol for 24 h. Cytotoxicity was analyzed by 3- (4, 5- dimethylthiazol -2- yl) -2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression was investigated by dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate assay. Apoptosis-related morphology was analyzed by acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. Caspase-9 expression was analyzed by confocal microscopic double immunofluorescence staining. Mitochondrial apoptosis-related markers are analyzed using qPCR. Sesamol treatment caused a significant cytotoxic effect in OSCC cells. Sesamol-induced cytotoxic effect was associated with intracellular ROS generation. Sesamol treatments induced a significant increase in the early and late apoptotic cells. This treatment also induced caspase-9 expression in OSCC cells. Sesamol treatments caused downregulation of Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog (HRAS) expression at protein and gene levels. Sesamol treatment modulates intrinsic apoptotic marker gene expression in OSCC cells. Overall results confirm the anti-cancer potential of sesamol and it seems to be a promising candidate for OSCC.

Binding mechanism of 4-octylphenol with human serum albumin: Spectroscopic investigations, molecular docking and dynamics simulation

4-Octylphenol (OP) is an environmental estrogen that can enter organisms through the food chain and cause various toxic effects. Here, the interaction between OP and human serum albumin (HSA) was explored through multipectral, molecular docking and dynamics simulation. The results showed that OP and HSA formed a ground state complex through a static quenching mechanism, and the interaction was spontaneously driven by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interaction forces. The binding constant at different temperatures was measured to be on the order of 10⁵ L mol^-1. Site competition experiments suggested that OP interacted with amino acid residues Lys195, Cy245 and Cys246 located at the Sudlow site I of HSA, resulting in a more stretched protein peptide. The presence of OP increased the surface hydrophobicity of HSA, and reduced the content of α-helix in HSA by 3.4%. FT-IR spectra showed that OP interacted with the C=O and C-H groups of the polypeptide backbone. Molecular docking demonstrated that OP mainly bound to Site I of HSA and hydrogen bonds participated in the interaction. In addition, molecular dynamics simulations further explored the stability and dynamic behavior of the OP-HSA complex through RMSD, RMSF, SASA and Rg.

Molecular complexes of calf thymus DNA with various bioactive compounds: Formation and characterization

The interaction between biomacromolecules and ligands has attracted great interest because of their biological properties. Calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) can interact with bioactive compounds to form complexes. Here, ctDNA-ligand complexes were studied using fluorescence, absorption, and infrared spectroscopy, circular dichroism, ABTS assay and competitive displacement. The binding constants of bioactive compounds at the intercalative site of ctDNA ranked in order kaempferol > apigenin > quercetin > curcumin > riboflavin, while the binding constants at minor groove sites ranked quercetin > kaempferol > naringenin ~ apigenin > hesperetin > curcumin ~ resveratrol ~ riboflavin > caffeic acid. CtDNA maintained stable B-form with an enhancement of base stacking and a decrease of right-handed helicity in the presence of these bioactive compounds, except for hesperetin and caffeic acid. Bioactive compounds preferentially bound to guanine bases and tended to transfer into a more hydrophobic environment upon complexation with ctDNA. The DNA complexation did not affect the ABTS·⁺ scavenging capacity of quercetin, kaempferol, resveratrol and apigenin but increased the ones of naringenin, caffeic acid, curcumin, hesperetin and riboflavin. The data gathered here should be useful to understand the binding modes of DNA with ligands for their potential application in pharmaceutical and food industries.

Phloretin protects against cardiac damage and remodeling via restoring SIRT1 and anti-inflammatory effects in the streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model

Diabetic cardiomyopathy increases the risk of heart failure independent of coronary artery disease and hypertension. Phloretin (PHL) shows anti-inflammatory effects in macrophages. In this study, we explored the protective effects of PHL on high glucose (HG)-induced injury in diabetic cardiomyopathy in vivo and in vitro. Using streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model and incubating cardiac cells line under a HG environment, PHL were evaluated of the activities of anti-inflammation and anti-fibrosis. In the study, PHL treatment ameliorated cardiomyocyte inflammation injury, and reduced fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. PHL also improved cardiac biochemical criterions after 8 weeks of induction of diabetes in C57BL/6 mice. Molecular docking results indicated that silent information regulator 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) bound to PHL directly and that SIRT1 expression was upregulated in the PHL-treated group in HG-induced H9C2 cells. Protective effect of PHL was been eliminated in silence SIRT1 H9C2 cells. Taken together, these results suggested that PHL suppressed HG-induced cardiomyocyte injury via restoring SIRT1 expression.

Inhibitory effects of organic acids on polyphenol oxidase: From model systems to food systems

Organic acids are widely utilized in the food industry for inhibiting the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and enzymatic browning. This review discusses the mechanisms of inhibition of PPO and enzymatic browning by various organic acids based on studies in model systems, critically evaluates the relevance of such studies to real food systems and assesses the implication of the synergistic inhibitory effects of organic acids with other physicochemical processing techniques on product quality and safety. Organic acids inhibit the activity of PPO and enzymatic browning via different mechanisms and therefore the suitability of a particular organic acid depends on the structure and the catalytic properties of PPO and the physicochemical properties of the food matrix. Studies in model systems provide an invaluable insight into the inhibitory mechanisms of various organics acids. However, the difference in the effectiveness of PPO inhibitors between model systems and food systems and the lack of correlation between the degree of PPO inhibition based on in vitro assays and enzymatic browning imply that the effectiveness of organic acids can be accurately evaluated only via direct assessment of browning inhibition in a particular food system. Combination of organic acids with physical processing techniques is one of the most viable approaches for PPO inhibition since the observed synergistic effect helps to reduce the undesirable organoleptic quality changes from the use of excessive concentration of organic acids or intense physical processing.

Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Sesamum indicum L.-A Review

The use of foodstuff as natural medicines has already been established through studies demonstrating the pharmacological activities that they exhibit. Knowing the nutritional and pharmacological significance of foods enables the understanding of their role against several diseases. Among the foods that can potentially be considered as medicine, is sesame or Sesamum indicum L., which is part of the Pedaliaceae family and is composed of its lignans such as sesamin, sesamol, sesaminol and sesamolin. Its lignans have been widely studied and are known to possess antiaging, anticancer, antidiabetes, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Modern chronic diseases, which can transform into clinical diseases, are potential targets of these lignans. The prime example of chronic diseases is rheumatic inflammatory diseases, which affect the support structures and the organs of the body and can also develop into malignancies. In line with this, studies emphasizing the anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of sesame have been discussed in this review.

Rapid electroanalytical procedure for sesamol determination in real samples

In this study, the development of an electroanalytical assay based on square wave voltammetry technique for determining sesamol (Ses) in sesame oil samples is described. The influence of various factors such as pH of the supporting electrolyte, its composition, and SW (square wave) parameters was studied. Linearity of the peak current depended on the concentration of Ses in the range from 3.0 to 140.0 μmol L^-1 with a limit of detection of 0.71 μmol L^-1. Furthermore, the cyclic voltammetric behavior of Ses and the effects of scan rate and pH on the peak current and peak potential of Ses were determined. Moreover, the electrode process was found to be diffusion-controlled. The proposed methodology was successfully applied for determining Ses in commercial sesame oil samples. The obtained results were in good agreement with the results from the HPLC-UV reference method.

Validation of Cell-Based Assay for Quantification of Sesamol Uptake and Its Application for Measuring Target Exposure

The intracellular drug concentration is needed for determination of target exposure at the site of action regarding its pharmacological action and adverse effects. Sesamol is an antiproliferative molecule from Sesamum indicum with promising health benefits. We present a method for measuring the intracellular sesamol content using reverse-phase HPLC with a UV diode array in melanoma cells. Sesamol was completely resolved by isocratic elution (4.152 ± 0.008 min) with methanol/water (70%, v/v) through a 30 °C, 5-µm C-18 column and detection at 297 nm. The present assay offers high sensitivity, fast elution, and an accurate and linear nominal concentration range of 10–1000 ng/mL (R² = 0.9972). The % accuracy of the sesamol quality control sample was −3.36% to 1.50% (bias) with a 0.84% to 5.28% relative standard deviation (RSD), representing high repeatability and high reproducibility. The % recovery was 94.80% to 99.29%, which determined that there was no loss of sesamol content during the sample preparation. The validated method was applied to monitor intracellular sesamol concentration after treatment from 5 min to 24 h. The remaining intracellular sesamol content was correlated with its antiproliferative effect (R² = 0.9483). In conclusion, this assay demonstrated low manipulation, quick elution, and high sensitivity, precision, accuracy, and recovery, and it was successfully applied to the quantification of sesamol in target cells.

Sesamol, a major lignan in sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum): Anti-cancer properties and mechanisms of action

Sesamol is a natural phenolic compound and a major lignan isolated from sesame seeds (Sesamum indicum) and sesame oil. The therapeutic potential of sesamol was investigated intensively, and there is compelling evidence that sesamol acts as a metabolic regulator that possesses antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-hepatotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, and chemopreventive properties. Various studies have reported that sesamol exerts potent anti-cancer effects. Herein, we provide a comprehensive review that summarizes the in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer activity of sesamol in several cancer cell lines and animal models. The protective role that sesamol plays against oxidative stress through its radical scavenging ability and lipid peroxidation lowering potential is analyzed. The ability of sesamol to regulate apoptosis and various stages of the cell cycle is also outlined. Moreover, the signaling pathways that sesamol seems to target to execute its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and pro-apoptotic/anti-proliferative roles are discussed. The signaling pathways that sesamol targets include the p53, MAPK, JNK, PI3K/AKT, TNFα, NF-κB, PPARγ, caspase-3, Nrf2, eNOS, and LOX pathways. The mechanisms of action that sesamol executes to deliver its anti-cancer effects are delineated. In sum, there is ample evidence suggesting that sesamol possesses potent anti-cancer properties in vitro and in vivo. A thorough understanding of the molecular targets of sesamol and the mechanisms of action underlying its anti-cancer effects is necessary for possible employment of sesamol as a chemotherapeutic agent in cancer prevention and therapy.

Exploring the binding interaction of Maillard reaction by-product 5-hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde with calf thymus DNA

BACKGROUND

5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde (5-HMF), a by-product of the Maillard reaction, usually present in fried and baked food, may cause potential harm to the human body. Here, the interaction between 5-HMF and calf thymus DNA (ctDNA) under physiological buffer (pH 7.4) was studied using multi-spectroscopic methods combined with multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) chemometrics and molecular simulation techniques.

RESULTS

The concentration profiles and pure spectra of the three components (5-HMF, ctDNA and 5-HMF-ctDNA complex) were extracted from highly overlapping spectra using MCR-ALS analysis, which verified the formation of 5-HMF-ctDNA complex. The binding constant being of the order of 10³  L mol^-1 at four temperatures (292, 298, 304 and 310 K) indicated a weak affinity in the binding of 5-HMF to ctDNA. The binding interaction was mainly driven by hydrogen bonds and van der Waals forces. Viscosity analysis, melting assay, ionic strength effect and competitive fluorescence studies ascertained that 5-HMF bound to ctDNA through groove binding, and it tended to bind to guanine-cytosine rich region of ctDNA which was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectra and molecular docking. Circular dichroism spectral analysis and DNA cleavage assays indicated that the ctDNA conformation was altered from B to A form and 5-HMF caused DNA damage at higher concentration.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that 5-HMF bound to ctDNA through groove binding and caused DNA damage. This research may contribute to understand the binding mechanism of 5-HMF to ctDNA and to the assessment of the toxicological effect of 5-HMF in biological processes. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.

Delivery of Sesamol Using Polyethylene-Glycol-Functionalized Selenium Nanoparticles in Human Liver Cells in Culture

Anticancer nanoparticles were fabricated by linking the nanoparticles of two known anticancer agents, sesamol and selenium, using polyethylene glycol (PEG). The successful fabrication of the sesamol-PEG-selenium nanoparticles (PEG-SeNPs), which had a sesamol loading efficiency of 10.0 ± 0.5 wt %, was demonstrated using different spectroscopic techniques. The impact of the nanoparticles on model cancer cells (HepG2) was established using the cell activity test, morphological observation, and fluorescent staining, which all showed that nanoparticles effectively inhibited the HepG2 cells. 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assays showed that the concentration of the sample that inhibits 50% of the cells of PEG-SeNPs and sesamol-PEG-SeNPs on HepG2 cells was 413.8 and 68.7 μg/mL, respectively, which indicated the synergistic inhibition between sesamol and selenium nanoparticles. Furthermore, flow cytometry showed that sesamol-PEG-SeNPs exhibited higher apoptosis than either sesamol or PEG-SeNPs alone. Finally, western blot confirmed that the apoptostic ability of sesamol-PEG-SeNPs was associated with downregulation of Bcl-2 and procaspase-3, upregulation of Bax and PARP, and discharge of cytochrome c into the cytosol. Our findings suggest the novel sesamol nanoparticles may be efficient anticancer agents.

An oxidodiperoxido vanadium-based artificial nuclease: DNA binding and cleavage studies

Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Study of the Interactions Occurring During the Encapsulation of Sesamol within Casein Micelles Reformed from Sodium Caseinate Solutions

A casein micelle is a natural structure found in milk, based on the association between individual caseins and colloidal calcium phosphate, which can be used as vehicle for the encapsulation of hydrophobic compounds. In this project the capacity of micelles to encapsulate sesamol, a powerful antioxidant present in roasted sesame seeds, was evaluated. The micelles were reformed from sodium caseinate solutions at 2% or 5% (w/v) concentration, and then 1 or 2 mg/mL sesamol were added. A significant increase on the encapsulation efficiency was observed as caseinate concentration increased, going from 28% to 35% of sesamol encapsulated, while the encapsulation yield was greater in all cases for micelles from solutions with lower caseinate concentration. The average size of micelles ranged from 150 to 165 nm with an average zeta potential of -27.3 ± 1.86 mV. FTIR and fluorescence analysis confirm interactions within the casein chains and sesamol molecules with a bathochromic shift which suggests a predominant hydrophilic nature of such interactions. Differential scanning calorimetry thermograms showed that denaturation enthalpy tended to decrease as sesamol concentration increased, suggesting that sesamol molecules may be displacing the water molecules associated with the casein chains, reinforcing the idea of predominant hydrophilic interactions. Based on the results from encapsulation efficiency, it is estimated that about 7 g of casein micelles reformed from 2% (w/v) caseinate solutions with 2 mg/mL of added sesamol may provide the recommended daily dose and may be useful for the development of new functional food products.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

The development of a nanodelivery system for different bioactives will allow the enrichment of foods and drinks to develop new functional products that will satisfy consumers' demands. Additionally, the study of interactions between these molecules will allow us to understand how sesamol is being incorporated within the reformed micelles and how this process can even be improved.

Sesamol Inhibited Melanogenesis by Regulating Melanin-Related Signal Transduction in B16F10 Cells

Melanin is synthesized through a series of interactions catalyzed by melanogenic enzymes such as tyrosinase, dopachrome tautomerase (tyrosinase-related protein-2; TRP-2), and tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1). Tyrosinase plays a key role in catalysing the initial and limiting steps of melanogenesis. The melanin that results from melanogenesis has the protective effect of absorbing ultraviolet radiation. However, overproduction of melanin, in addition to altering the appearance of skin, may lead to skin disorders such as melasma, solar lentigo, and postinflammatory hyperpigmentation. Previous studies have revealed that sesamol is a strong antioxidant and a free radical scavenger. In this study, we investigated the effects of sesamol on the regulation of melanogenesis and related mechanisms in B16F10 cells. The results indicated that sesamol inhibited tyrosinase activity and melanogenesis induced by α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) in B16F10 melanoma cells. Sesamol decreased the protein level of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), tyrosinase, and TRP-1 by downregulating cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) pathways that had been activated by α-MSH. Sesamol increased glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3β), protein kinase B (AKT), and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) phosphorylation, thus inhibiting the transcription of MITF. Sesamol also inhibited melanin synthesis and tyrosinase expression by modulating ERK, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, p38, and c-Jun amino-terminal kinase (JNK) signalling pathways. These results indicate that sesamol acted as a potent depigmenting agent.

Antibacterial Actions of Glycinin Basic Peptide against Escherichia coli

Glycinin basic peptide (GBP) is an antibacterial ingredient that occurs naturally in the basic parts of soybean glycinin. The antibacterial actions of GBP against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 were investigated in this study. The minimum inhibitory concentration of GBP against E. coli was 200 μg/mL. The exposure of E. coli cells to GBP induced significant cell damage and inactivated intracellular esterases (stressed and dead cells, 70.9% ± 0.04 for 200 μg/mL of GBP and 91.9% ± 0.06 for 400 μg/mL of GBP), as determined through dual staining in flow cytometry. GBP resulted in the exposure of phosphatidylserine in E. coli cells. The analyses of flow cytometry-manifested GBP treatment led to the shrinkage of the cell surface and the complication of cell granularity. The observations in transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that 400 μg/mL of GBP severely disrupted the membrane integrity, resulting in ruptures or pores in the membrane, outflows of intracellular contents, or aggregation of the cytoplasm. Release of alkaline phosphatase, lipopolysaccharide, and reducing sugar further verified that the membrane damage was due to GBP. In addition, GBP treatment changed the helicity and base staking of DNA, as determined by circular dichroism spectroscopy. These results showed that GBP had strong antibacterial activity against E. coli via membrane damage and DNA perturbation. Additionally, GBP exhibited no cytotoxicity on the viability of human embryonic kidney cells. Thus, GBP may be a promising candidate as a natural antibacterial agent.

Sesamol Induces Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells Apoptosis by Impairing Mitochondrial Function and Suppressing Autophagy

Sesamol, a nutritional phenolic antioxidant compound enriched in sesame seeds, has been shown to have potential anticancer activities. This study aims at characterizing the antitumor efficacy of sesamol and unveiling the importance of mitochondria in sesamol-induced effects using a human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line, HepG2 cells. Results of this study showed that sesamol treatment suppressed colony formation, elicited S phase arrest during cell cycle progression, and induced both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathway in vitro with a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, sesamol treatment elicited mitochondrial dysfunction by inducing a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. Impaired mitochondria and accumulated H2O2 production resulted in disturbance of redox-sensitive signaling including Akt and MAPKs pathways. Mitochondrial biogenesis was inhibited as suggested by the decline in expression of mitochondrial complex I subunit ND1, and the upstream AMPK/PGC1α signals. Importantly, sesamol inhibited mitophagy and autophagy through impeding the PI3K Class III/Belin-1 pathway. Autophagy stimulator rapamycin reversed sesamol-induced apoptosis and mitochondrial respiration disorders. Moreover, it was also shown that sesamol has potent anti-hepatoma activity in a xenograft nude mice model. These data suggest that mitochondria play an essential role in sesamol-induced HepG2 cells death, and further research targeting mitochondria will provide more chemotherapeutic opportunities.

A Facile and Convenient Approach for the Synthesis of Novel Sesamol–Oxazine and Quinoline–Oxazine Hybrids

A series of functionalized sesamol–oxazine and quinoline–oxazine hybrids have been synthesized via one-pot reaction of sesamol/6-hydroxyquinoline, aromatic amines, and methanal. The structures of all the novel compounds were confirmed by spectral data. The structures of the synthesized hybrids were also confirmed by X-ray crystallographic studies. Mild reaction conditions, operational simplicity, short reaction times, simple workup, and high yields of products are salient features of this methodology.

Membrane Destruction and DNA Binding of Staphylococcus aureus Cells Induced by Carvacrol and Its Combined Effect with a Pulsed Electric Field

Carvacrol (5-isopropyl-2-methylphenol, CAR) is an antibacterial ingredient that occurs naturally in the leaves of the plant Origanum vulgare. The antimicrobial mechanism of CAR against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300 was investigated in the study. Analysis of the membrane fatty acids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that exposure to CAR at low concentrations induced a marked increase in the level of unbranched fatty acids (from 34.90 ± 1.77% to 62.37 ± 4.26%). Moreover, CAR at higher levels severely damaged the integrity and morphologies of the S. aureus cell membrane. The DNA-binding properties of CAR were also investigated using fluorescence, circular dichroism, molecular modeling, and atomic-force microscopy. The results showed that CAR bound to DNA via the minor-groove mode, mildly perturbed the DNA secondary structure, and induced DNA molecules to be aggregated. Furthermore, a combination of CAR with a pulsed-electric field was found to exhibit strong synergistic effects on S. aureus.

Phytochemical Contents and Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Selected Black and White Sesame Seeds

Sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds are popular nutritional food but with limited knowledge about their antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of various varieties. Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of six varieties of sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) seeds were studied. Fenheizhi3 (black) cultivar exhibited the maximum contents of total phenolics and lignans and values of total oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and antiproliferative activity (EC₅₀) against HepG2 cells. Bound ORAC values showed strong associations with bound phenolics contents (r = 0.976, p < 0.01); in bound phenolic extracts, EC₅₀ values showed strong negative associations with phenolic contents (r = −0.869, p < 0.05) and ORAC values (r = −0.918, p < 0.01). Moreover, the contents of free phenolics were higher than that of the bound phenolics, and the three black sesame seeds generally depicted higher total phenolics compared to the three white varieties. The antioxidant (ORAC values) and antiproliferation activities of six sesame seeds were both associated with contents of bound phenolics (r > 0.8, p < 0.05). Interestingly, nonlignan components in bound phenolics contributed to the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities. This study suggested that Fenheizhi3 variety is superior to the other five varieties as antioxidant supplements.

Acrylamide induces mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in BV-2 microglial cells

Acrylamide (ACR), a potent neurotoxin, can be produced during food processing at high temperature. This study examined the redox-dependent apoptotic and inflammatory responses of ACR in an immortalized mouse microglia cell line BV2. The exposure of BV2 cells to ACR reduced cell viability and induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. ACR impaired cell energy metabolism by decreasing mitochondrial respiration, anaerobic glycolysis, and lowering expression of the complex I, III, and IV subunits. Mitochondrial dysfunction was associated with a decrease of the mitochondrial membrane potential and the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, thus resulting in activation of the mitochondrion-driven apoptotic signaling. This was accompanied by (a) the modulation of redox-sensitive signaling, suppressed Akt activation and increased JNK and p38 activation, and (b) increased expression of NFκB and downstream inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and nitric oxide generation, thus supporting indirectly a proinflammatory effect of ACR. Nrf2 expression was also increased but not its translocation to the nucleus. Expectedly, the electrophilic attack of ACR on GSH resulted in substantial loss of GSH with a minor GSSG formation. These changes in the cell׳s redox status elicited by ACR resulted in increased H2O2 formation. The changes in mitochondrial functionality and complex subunit expression caused by ACR were reversed by N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). Likewise, NAC restored the cell׳s redox status by increasing GSH levels with concomitant attenuation of H2O2 generation; these effects resulted in decreased apoptotic cell death and inflammatory responses. ACR-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction along with a more oxidized redox status seems to be critical events leading to activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway and inflammatory responses.

Sesamol suppresses the inflammatory response by inhibiting NF-κB/MAPK activation and upregulating AMP kinase signaling in RAW 264.7 macrophages

OBJECTIVES AND DESIGN

Sesamol is a lignan isolated from sesame seed oil. In recent years, it was found that sesamol could decrease lung inflammation and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in rats. In this study, we investigated whether sesamol exhibited anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-stimulated macrophages.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RAW 264.7 cells were treated with sesamol, then treated with LPS to induce inflammation. The levels of proinflammatory cytokines were analyzed with ELISA. The gene and protein expression of cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were evaluated with real-time PCR and Western blots, respectively. We also examined inflammatory signaling pathways, including nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways.

RESULTS

Sesamol inhibited production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and proinflammatory cytokines. Sesamol markedly suppressed mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Sesamol enhanced the protective antioxidant pathway represented by Nrf2 and HO-1. Moreover, sesamol suppressed NF-κB transport into the nucleus and decreased MAPK activation, but it promoted adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation.

CONCLUSIONS

These data suggested that sesamol ameliorated inflammatory and oxidative damage by upregulating AMPK activation and Nrf2 signaling and blocking the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Phloretin ameliorates chemokines and ICAM-1 expression via blocking of the NF-κB pathway in the TNF-α-induced HaCaT human keratinocytes

Previous studies found that phloretin had anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. In this study, we investigated whether phloretin could suppress the production of the intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and chemokines through downregulation of the nuclear transcription factor kappa-B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways in TNF-α-stimulated HaCaT human keratinocytes. HaCaT cells were treated with phloretin and then the cells were stimulated by TNF-α. Phloretin treatment decreased the production of IL-6, IL-8, CCL5, MDC, and TARC. Phloretin decreased ICAM-1 protein and mRNA expression, and also suppressed the adhesion of monocyte THP-1 cells to inflammatory HaCaT cells. Phloretin inhibited NF-κB translocation into the nucleus and also suppressed the phosphorylation of Akt and MAPK signal. In addition, phloretin increased heme oxygenase-1 production in a concentration-dependent manner. These results demonstrated that phloretin has anti-inflammatory effects to inhibit chemokines and ICAM-1 expressions through suppression of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in human keratinocytes.

Application of an optosensing chip based on molecularly imprinted polymer coated quantum dots for the highly selective and sensitive determination of sesamol in sesame oils

A novel optosensing chip was constructed by anchoring the fluorescence sensing material layer based on molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) coated CdSe/ZnS quantum dots (QDs) on a chip for highly selective and sensitive optosensing of sesamol in sesame oil. Many factors that affected the performance of the optosensing chip based on MIP-coated QDs are discussed. Under optimized conditions, the relative fluorescence intensity of the optosensing chip decreased linearly (r(2) > 0.99) with increasing sesamol concentration in the range from 2.4 × 10(-6) to 1.2 × 10(-3) mol L(-1) with a detection limit of 7.2 × 10(-8) mol L(-1). The relative standard deviation for five replicate detections of 4.8 × 10(-4) mol L(-1) sesamol was 2.2%. Recoveries of 94.8-102.3% were achieved by direct detection when the optosensing chip was used for the selective detection of sesamol in sesame oil. Practically, the optosensing approach showed high sensitivity, good selectivity, and excellent reproducibility for the detection of sesamol in real oil samples.