The use of comet assay data with a simple reaction mechanism to evaluate the relative effectiveness of free radical scavenging by quercetin, epigallocatechin gallate and N-acetylcysteine in UV-irradiated MRC5 lung fibroblasts

Toxicological effects of Camellia sinensis (green tea): A review

Many scientific articles proved that green tea (GT), Camellia sinensis, has a great potential to manage central nervous system, cardiovascular, and metabolic diseases and treat cancer and inflammatory disorders. However, it is important to consider that "natural" is not always "safe." Some relevant articles reported side effects of GT, detrimental effects on health. The aim of this study is to provide a classified report about the toxicity of GT and its main constituents in acute, subacute, subchronic, and chronic states. Furthermore, it discusses on the cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and developmental toxicity of GT and its main constituents. The most important side effects have been reported hepatotoxicity and gastrointestinal disorders specially while consumed on an empty stomach. GT and its main components are not major teratogen, mutagen, or carcinogen substances. However, there is limited data in using them during pregnancy, and they should be used with caution in pregnancy, breast-feeding, and susceptible people. Because GT and its main components have a wide variety of drug interactions, consideration should be taken in coadministration of them with narrow therapeutic indexed drugs. Furthermore, they evoke selective cytotoxicity on cancerous cells that could engage them as an adjuvant substance in cancer therapy.

Nutraceutical potential of tinctures from fruits, green husks, and leaves of Juglans regia L

The aim of this study was to assess the phenolic composition and nutraceutical potential of tinctures from fruits in two stages of maturity (F3, younger; F25, older), green husks (GH), and leaves (L) of Juglans regia L. In all extracts gallic, protocatechuic, 3-caffeoylquinic, 3-ρ-coumaroylquinic, 4-caffeoylquinic, 4-ρ-coumaroylquinic, and ρ-coumaric acids and quercetin-3-O-deoxyhexoside were detected using UPLC-MS technique. Caffeic acid hexoside I and quercetin-3-O-deoxyhexoside I have been identified in GH tincture. The highest ability to chelate Fe²⁺ was observed for GH tincture (EC₅₀ = 71.01 ± 3.55 mg FM/mL), whereas the lowest was observed (EC₅₀ = 131.06 ± 6.55 mg FM/mL) for F3 tincture. The highest reducing power was found for F3 and F25 (EC₅₀ = 32.47 ± 1.53 and 36.07 ± 1.72 mg FM/mL, resp.). Ability of tinctures to prevent lipids against oxidation was relatively low. The highest activity (EC₅₀ = 126.49 ± 6.32 mg FM/mL) was determined for F25. Tested tinctures showed relatively high antiradical activity—EC₅₀ values ranged from 100.56 ± 5.03 to 129.04 ± 6.45 mg FM/mL for L and F25, respectively. The results obtained suggest that J. regia can be a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant properties.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate decreases UVA-induced HPRT mutations in human skin fibroblasts accompanied by increased rates of senescence and apoptosis

Our study was designed to determine the protective effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) on cultured human skin fibroblasts (HSFs) from multiple ultraviolet A (UVA) irradiation-induced hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyl transferase (HPRT) mutant colony formation and its underlying mechanisms. In our study, the mutation frequency of the HPRT gene was examined by mutagenesis assay. Cell senescence was determined by histochemical staining of senescence-associated β-galactosidase. The apoptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. EGCG decreased the UVA-induced HPRT gene mutation frequency by 47.85%. However, EGCG further increased the number of senescent cells by 38.92% and the apoptosis rate by 56.92% in HSFs. The photo-protective effect of EGCG on multiple UVA-exposed HSFs is related to a significant reduction in UVA-induced HPRT mutant cells. This may be caused by the induction of damaged cells to proceed to senescence and apoptosis.

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate reduces airway inflammation in mice through binding to proinflammatory chemokines and inhibiting inflammatory cell recruitment

One major activity of chemokines is the recruitment of immune cells to sites of infection and inflammation. CD4(+) Th1 cells play critical roles in host defense against pathogens and in the pathogenesis of many immune-mediated diseases. It was reported that epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) exhibits anti-inflammatory properties, but the mechanisms have not been completely defined. In this study, we found that EGCG markedly decreased recruitment of murine OVA-specific Th1 cells and other inflammatory cells into the airways in a Th1 adoptive-transfer mouse model. In vitro analysis revealed that EGCG inhibited CXCR3 ligand-driven chemotaxis of murine and human cells. Surface plasmon resonance studies revealed that EGCG bound directly to chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, and CXCL11. These results indicated that one anti-inflammatory mechanism of EGCG is binding of proinflammatory chemokines and limiting their biological activities. These findings support further development of EGCG as a potent therapeutic for inflammatory diseases.

Walnut (Juglans regia L.) leaves: Phenolic compounds, antibacterial activity and antioxidant potential of different cultivars

Different cultivars of walnut (Juglans regia L.) leaves (Cv. Lara, Franquette, Mayette, Marbot, Mellanaise and Parisienne) grown in Portugal, were investigated in what concerns phenolic compounds and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. Phenolics analysis was performed by reversed-phase HPLC/DAD and 10 compounds were identified and quantified: 3- and 5-caffeoylquinic acids, 3- and 4-p-coumaroylquinic acids, p-coumaric acid, quercetin 3-galactoside, quercetin 3-pentoside derivative, quercetin 3-arabinoside, quercetin 3-xyloside and quercetin 3-rhamnoside. The antimicrobial capacity was screened against Gram positive (Bacillus cereus, B. subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram negative bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and fungi (Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans). Walnut leaves selectively inhibited the growth of Gram positive bacteria, being B. cereus the most susceptible one (MIC 0.1mg/mL). Gram negative bacteria and fungi were resistant to the extracts at 100mg/mL. Lara walnut leaves were also submitted to antibacterial assays using 18 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus sp. Antioxidant activity was accessed by the reducing power assay, the scavenging effect on DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals and beta-carotene linoleate model system. In a general way, all of the studied walnut leaves cultivars presented high antioxidant activity (EC(50) values lower than 1mg/mL), being Cv. Lara the most effective one.

Evaluation of the protective effects of quercetin in the hepatopulmonary syndrome

The hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) occurs when intrapulmonary dilatation causes hypoxemia in cirrhosis. The free radicals may play a significant contributory role in the progression of HPS, and flavonoid agents could protect against deleterious effects of free radicals. The flavonoid quercetin was evaluated in an experimental model of biliary cirrhosis induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats. Quercetin was administered at 50mg/kg for 14 days to cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic rats. Bone marrow was extracted from animals to analyze micronuclei. Lung, liver and blood were extracted to detect DNA damage using the comet assay. The results showed that the micronuclei and DNA damages to lung and liver were increased in BDL rats. Quercetin caused no damage to the DNA while decreasing the occurrence of micronucleated cells in bone marrow as well as DNA damage to lung and liver in cirrhotic rats. Quercetin showed antimutagenic activity against hydroperoxides as evaluated by the oxidative stress sensitive bacterial strains TA102 Salmonella typhimurium and IC203 Escherichia coli, suggesting protection by free radical scavenging. In Saccharomyces cerevisie yeast strains lacking mitochondrial or cytosolic superoxide dismutase, these results indicate that quercetin protects cells by induction of antioxidant enzymes. The present study is the first report of genotoxic/antigenotoxic effects of quercetin in a model of animal cirrhosis. In this model, quercetin was not able to induce genotoxicity and, conversely, it increased the genomic stability in the cirrhotic rats, suggesting beneficial effects, probably by its antioxidant properties.