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Gil da Costa RM, Povey A, Medeiros-Fonseca B, Ramwell C, O'Driscoll C, Williams D, Hansen HCB, Rasmussen LH, Fletcher MT, O'Connor P, Bradshaw RHW, Robinson R, Mason J. Sixty years of research on bracken fern (Pteridium spp.) toxins: Environmental exposure, health risks and recommendations for bracken fern control. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 257:119274. [PMID: 38821456 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Bracken fern (Pteridium spp.) is a highly problematic plant worldwide due to its toxicity in combination with invasive properties on former farmland, in deforested areas and on disturbed natural habitats. The carcinogenic potential of bracken ferns has caused scientific and public concern for six decades. Its genotoxic effects are linked to illudane-type glycosides (ITGs), their aglycons and derivatives. Ptaquiloside is considered the dominating ITG, but with significant contributions from other ITGs. The present review aims to compile evidence regarding environmental pollution by bracken fern ITGs, in the context of their human and animal health implications. The ITG content in bracken fern exhibits substantial spatial, temporal, and chemotaxonomic variation. Consumption of bracken fern as food is linked to human gastric cancer but also causes urinary bladder cancers in bovines browsing on bracken. Genotoxic metabolites are found in milk and meat from bracken fed animals. ITG exposure may also take place via contaminated water with recent data pointing to concentrations at microgram/L-level following rain events. Airborne ITG-exposure from spores and dust has also been documented. ITGs may synergize with major biological and environmental carcinogens like papillomaviruses and Helicobacter pylori to induce cancer, revealing novel instances of chemical and biological co-carcinogenesis. Thus, the emerging landscape from six decades of bracken research points towards a global environmental problem with increasingly complex health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui M Gil da Costa
- Department od Morphology, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), São Luís, 65080-805, Brazil; Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory in Chemical Engineering (ALiCE), Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465, Porto, Portugal; Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal.
| | - Andrew Povey
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Beatriz Medeiros-Fonseca
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP) / RISE@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto) / Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), 4200-072, Porto, Portugal; Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Institute for Innovation, Capacity Building and Sustainability of Agri-Food Production (Inov4Agro), 5001-801, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Carmel Ramwell
- Fera Science Ltd, York Biotech Campus, Sand Hutton, York, YO41 1LZ, UK
| | - Connie O'Driscoll
- Ryan Hanley Consulting Engineers Ltd., 1 Galway Business Park, Dangan, Galway, H91 A3EF, Ireland
| | - David Williams
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Sheffield Institute for Nucleic Acids, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S3 7HF, UK
| | - Hans Chr B Hansen
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Thorvaldsensvej 40, DK-1871, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Lars Holm Rasmussen
- Novonesis, Microbe & Culture Research, Bøge Allé 10-12, DK- 2970, Hørsholm, Denmark
| | - Mary T Fletcher
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Health, and Food Science Precinct, 39 Kessels Road, Coopers Plains, QLD, 4108, Australia
| | - Peter O'Connor
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Richard H W Bradshaw
- Department of Geography and Planning, School of Environmental Sciences, University of Liverpool, L69 7ZT, UK
| | | | - James Mason
- School of Biochemistry and Immunology, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
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2
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García-Jorgensen DB, Holbak M, Hansen HCB, Abrahamsen P, Diamantopoulos E. Modeling the environmental fate of bracken toxin ptaquiloside: Production, release and transport in the rhizosphere. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:170658. [PMID: 38340825 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Plants produce a diverse array of toxic compounds which may be released by precipitation, explaining their wide occurrence in surrounding soil and water. This study presents the first mechanistic model for describing the generation and environmental fate of a natural toxin, i.e. ptaquiloside (PTA), a carcinogenic phytotoxin produced by bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum L. Kuhn). The newly adapted DAISY model was calibrated based on two-year monitoring performed in the period 2018-2019 in a Danish bracken population located in a forest glade. Several functions related to the fate of PTA were calibrated, covering processes from toxin generation in the canopy, wash off by precipitation and degradation in the soil. Model results show a good description of observed bracken biomass and PTA contents, supporting the assumption that toxin production can be explained by the production of new biomass. Model results show that only 4.4 % of the PTA produced in bracken is washed off by precipitation, from both canopy and litter. Model simulations showed that PTA degrades rapidly once in the soil, especially during summer due to the high soil temperatures. Leaching takes place in form of pulses directly connected to precipitation events, with maximum simulated concentrations up to 4.39 μg L-1 at 50 cm depth. Macropore transport is mainly responsible for the events with the highest PTA concentrations, contributing to 72 % of the total mass of PTA leached. Based on the results, we identify areas with high density of bracken, high precipitation during the summer and soils characterized by fast transport, as the most vulnerable to surface and groundwater pollution by phytotoxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel B García-Jorgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Maja Holbak
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | | | - Per Abrahamsen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Efstathios Diamantopoulos
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark; Chair of Soil Physics, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany
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3
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Malík M, Mika OJ, Navrátilová Z, Killi UK, Tlustoš P, Patočka J. Health and Environmental Hazards of the Toxic Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn (Bracken Fern). PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 13:18. [PMID: 38202326 PMCID: PMC10780724 DOI: 10.3390/plants13010018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn) is ubiquitous and acts as a cosmopolitan weed in pastures and similar environments. Despite its historical uses, it presents risks due to toxicity. This study, conducted in the second half of 2023, aimed to assess the environmental and health hazards of P. aquilinum, primarily focusing on its carcinogenic compound, ptaquiloside. The literature was comprehensively reviewed using diverse databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Information was synthesized from original research articles, meta-analyses, systematic reviews, and relevant animal studies. Animals grazing on bracken fern face annual production losses due to toxin exposure. The substantial impact on biodiversity, animal health, and human well-being arises from the presence of ptaquiloside and related compounds in milk, meat, and water, along with the increasing global prevalence of P. aquilinum and its swift colonization in acidic soil and fire-damaged areas. The objectives were to identify major bioactive compounds and explore their effects at molecular, cellular, pathological, and population levels. Various cooking techniques were considered to mitigate toxin exposure, although complete elimination remains unattainable. Therefore, the findings emphasize the need for cautious consumption. In conclusion, continued research is necessary to better understand and manage its environmental and health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matěj Malík
- Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic; (M.M.); (P.T.)
| | - Otakar Jiří Mika
- Department of Crisis Management, Faculty of Security Management, Police Academy of the Czech Republic, Lhotecká 559/7, 143 01 Praha 4, Czech Republic
- Department of Radiology, Toxicology and Civil Protection, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, J. Boreckého 1167/27, 370 11 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (U.K.K.); (J.P.)
| | - Zdeňka Navrátilová
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 433/2, 128 00 Praha 2, Czech Republic;
| | - Uday Kumar Killi
- Department of Radiology, Toxicology and Civil Protection, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, J. Boreckého 1167/27, 370 11 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (U.K.K.); (J.P.)
| | - Pavel Tlustoš
- Department of Agroenvironmental Chemistry and Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00 Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic; (M.M.); (P.T.)
| | - Jiří Patočka
- Department of Radiology, Toxicology and Civil Protection, Faculty of Health and Social Studies, University of South Bohemia, J. Boreckého 1167/27, 370 11 České Budějovice, Czech Republic; (U.K.K.); (J.P.)
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Hradec Králové, Hradecká 1285, 500 03 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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Farràs A, Mitjans M, Maggi F, Caprioli G, Vinardell MP, López V. Exploring wild Aspleniaceae ferns as safety sources of polyphenols: The case of Asplenium trichomanes L. and Ceterach officinarum Willd. Front Nutr 2022; 9:994215. [PMID: 36172521 PMCID: PMC9511145 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.994215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The forest ecosystem is a source of material resources used since ancient times by mankind. Ferns are part of different oriental systems of traditional medicine due to the phytochemical variety of their fronds, which have allowed their traditional use to be validated through ethnopharmacological studies. In Europe, different cultures have used the same fern with a wide variety of applications due to its presence in most European forests. In recent years, studies on the phytocharacterization and biological activity of the fronds of the main European ferns have been published. In this study, the presence of polyphenolic phytochemicals has been evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) in the fronds of two wild ferns together with in vitro activities in non-tumoral and human tumoral cell lines. The polyphenols were extracted from Asplenium trichomanes L. and Ceterach officinarum Willd. by cold maceration using methanol. The main phytochemicals of polyphenolic origin in the extracts of A. trichomanes and C. officinarum determined by HPLC-MS/MS were the flavonol hyperoside and the phenolic acid chlorogenic acid, respectively. This different polyphenolic nature of both extracts contributes to the divergence of the behavior experienced in the biological activities tested, but none of the extracts showed a cytotoxic or phototoxic profile in the different tested cell lines. However, the cytoprotective values in front of the H2O2 oxidative stress induced in the 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines position these extracts as possible candidates for future health applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrià Farràs
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Montserrat Mitjans
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Filippo Maggi
- School of Pharmacy, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | - María Pilar Vinardell
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Víctor López
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain
- Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
- *Correspondence: Víctor López,
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5
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Ruiz H, Lacasta D, Ramos JJ, Quintas H, Ruiz de Arcaute M, Ramo MÁ, Villanueva-Saz S, Ferrer LM. Anaemia in Ruminants Caused by Plant Consumption. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182373. [PMID: 36139233 PMCID: PMC9495094 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant toxicology has affected animals throughout evolution. Plants have adapted themselves to the environment. This adaptation has led to the development of defensive strategies to avoid being consumed. Plants have several chemical compounds, which can cause deleterious effects on people or animals that consume them, causing a wide variety of clinical signs. Plants from various latitudes, both cultivated for human and animal feeding or decorative purpose and even wild growth plants are able to generate anaemia in ruminants. Coumarins or ptaquiloside predispose bleeding and haemorrhages, causing a haemorrhagic disease in affected animals. In this group, some important fodder plants, such sweet clover (Genus Melilotus spp.), or other weeds distributed worldwide, such as bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum) of giant fennel (Ferula communis), are included. On the other hand, sulfur-containing chemicals (e.g., n-propyl disulfate and S-propyl cysteine sulfoxides (SMCOs)) may cause severe direct damage to the erythrocyte and their membrane, leading to their destruction and causing haemolytic anaemia in the animal. This review presents the most frequent intoxication by plants causing anaemia in ruminants. Toxic compounds, clinical signs, diagnosis and possible treatments are also presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Héctor Ruiz
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Delia Lacasta
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Juan José Ramos
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Hélder Quintas
- Mountain Research Centre (CIMO), School of Agriculture, Polytechnic Institute of Bragança (IPB), Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Marta Ruiz de Arcaute
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Ramo
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sergio Villanueva-Saz
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Luis Miguel Ferrer
- Animal Pathology Department, Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, Universidad de Zaragoza-CITA, Veterinary Faculty of Zaragoza C/Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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Kisielius V, Drejer M, Dornhoff JK, Mrkajic NS, Lindqvist DN, Hansen HCB, Rasmussen LH. Occurrence and stability of ptesculentoside, caudatoside and ptaquiloside in surface waters. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:277-289. [PMID: 35043811 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00364j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The illudane glycosides ptesculentoside (PTE), caudatoside (CAU) and ptaquiloside (PTA) are found in bracken ferns (Pteridium sp.). PTA is known to contaminate water bodies adjacent to bracken ferns and hence contribute to water toxicity. This study for the first time reports the presence of PTE and CAU in surface waters with concentrations up to 5.3 μg L-1 and outlines their stability under semi-natural conditions using water of two diverse lakes at their natural pH or pH adjusted to 6.5, with temperature controlled at 5 or 15 °C, and in the presence or absence of microbial activity. Under the same set of tested conditions the three illudane glycosides degraded at similar rates: with half-lives of approximately two days at pH 7.4 and 15 °C, and approximately 12 days at pH 5.2-6.5 and 5 °C. The water origin had significant influence on the degradation rates, but only due to its difference in pH. In most cases, the degradation rates of all the three illudane glycosides could be predicted using the existing first-order model for PTA hydrolysis. As PTE and CAU exhibit the same leaching pattern and stability as PTA, previous predictions of bracken environmental impact are likely underestimated, as PTE and CAU have not been monitored and included in the risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaidotas Kisielius
- Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
- Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Drejer
- Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jimmy Kjellerup Dornhoff
- Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Natasa Skrbic Mrkajic
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
- Greater Copenhagen Utility HOFOR, Ørestads Boulevard 35, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dan Nybro Lindqvist
- Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hans Christian Bruun Hansen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Lars Holm Rasmussen
- Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
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7
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Medeiros-Fonseca B, Abreu-Silva AL, Medeiros R, Oliveira PA, Gil da Costa RM. Pteridium spp. and Bovine Papillomavirus: Partners in Cancer. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:758720. [PMID: 34796228 PMCID: PMC8593235 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.758720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine papillomavirus (BPV) are a cause for global concern due to their wide distribution and the wide range of benign and malignant diseases they are able to induce. Those lesions include cutaneous and upper digestive papillomas, multiple histological types of urinary bladder cancers—most often associated with BPV1 and BPV2—and squamous cell carcinomas of the upper digestive system, associated with BPV4. Clinical, epidemiological and experimental evidence shows that exposure to bracken fern (Pteridium spp.) and other related ferns plays an important role in allowing viral persistence and promoting the malignant transformation of early viral lesions. This carcinogenic potential has been attributed to bracken illudane glycoside compounds with immune suppressive and mutagenic properties, such as ptaquiloside. This review addresses the role of BPV in tumorigenesis and its interactions with bracken illudane glycosides. Current data indicates that inactivation of cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells by bracken fern illudanes plays a significant role in allowing viral persistence and lesion progression, while BPV drives unchecked cell proliferation and allows the accumulation of genetic damage caused by chemical mutagens. Despite limited progress in controlling bracken infestation in pasturelands, bracken toxins remain a threat to animal health. The number of recognized BPV types has steadily increased over the years and now reaches 24 genotypes with different pathogenic properties. It remains essential to widen the available knowledge concerning BPV and its synergistic interactions with bracken chemical carcinogens, in order to achieve satisfactory control of the livestock losses they induce worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Medeiros-Fonseca
- Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Lúcia Abreu-Silva
- Veterinary Sciences Department, State University of Maranhão (UEMA), São Luís, Brazil
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Rede de Investigação em Saúde (RISE)@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), Porto, Portugal.,Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Biomedicine Research Center (CEBIMED), Faculty of Health Sciences, Fernando Pessoa University, Porto, Portugal.,Virology Service, Portuguese Institute of Oncology (IPO-Porto), Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula A Oliveira
- Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Veterinary Sciences Department, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Rui M Gil da Costa
- Centre for Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), Inov4Agro, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal.,Molecular Oncology and Viral Pathology Group, Research Center of IPO Porto (CI-IPOP)/Rede de Investigação em Saúde (RISE)@CI-IPOP (Health Research Network), Portuguese Oncology Institute of Porto (IPO Porto)/Porto Comprehensive Cancer Center (Porto.CCC), Porto, Portugal.,LEPABE - Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Post-graduate Programme in Adult Health (PPGSAD), Department of Morphology, Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA), UFMA University Hospital (HUUFMA), São Luís, Brazil
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8
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Farràs A, Mitjans M, Maggi F, Caprioli G, Vinardell MP, López V. Polypodium vulgare L. ( Polypodiaceae) as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Polyphenolic Profile, Cytotoxicity and Cytoprotective Properties in Different Cell Lines. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:727528. [PMID: 34603041 PMCID: PMC8482143 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.727528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Pteridophytes, represented by ferns and allies, are an important phytogenetic bridge between lower and higher plants. Ferns have evolved independently of any other species in the plant kingdom being its secondary metabolism a reservoir of phytochemicals characteristic of this taxon. The study of the potential uses of Polypodium vulgare L. (Polypodiaceae) as medicinal plant has increased in recent years particularly when in 2008 the European Medicines Agency published a monograph about the rhizome of this species. Our objective is to provide scientific knowledge on the polar constituents extracted from the fronds of P. vulgare, one of the main ferns of European distribution, to contribute to the validation of certain traditional uses. Specifically, we have characterized the methanolic extract of P. vulgare fronds (PVM) by HPLC-DAD and investigated its potential cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, ROS production and protective effects against oxidative stress by using in vitro methods. The 3T3, HaCaT, HeLa, HepG2, MCF-7 and A549 were the cell lines used to evaluate the possible cytotoxic behaviour of the PVM. HPLC-DAD was utilized to validate the polyphenolic profile of the extract. H2O2 and UVA were the prooxidant agents to induce oxidative stress by different conditions in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines. Antioxidant activity of in vitro PVM in 3T3 and HaCaT cell lines was evaluated by ROS assay. Our results demonstrate that PVM contains significant amounts of shikimic acid together with caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and flavonoids such as epicatechin and catechin; PVM is not cytotoxic at physiological concentrations against the different cell lines, showing cytoprotective and cellular repair activity in 3T3 fibroblast cells. This biological activity could be attributed to the high content of polyphenolic compounds. The fronds of the P. vulgare are a source of polyphenolic compounds, which can be responsible for certain traditional uses like wound healing properties. In the present work, fronds of the common polypody are positioned as a candidate for pharmaceutical applications based on traditional medicine uses but also as potential food ingredients due to lack of toxicity at physiological concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrià Farràs
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Montserrat Mitjans
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Filippo Maggi
- School of Pharmacy, Università di Camerino, Camerino, Italy
| | | | - María Pilar Vinardell
- Department of Biochemistry and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Víctor López
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad San Jorge, Zaragoza, Spain.,Instituto Agroalimentario de Aragón-IA2, CITA-Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
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9
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Rasmussen LH. Presence of the carcinogen ptaquiloside in fern-based food products and traditional medicine: Four cases of human exposure. Curr Res Food Sci 2021; 4:557-564. [PMID: 34458862 PMCID: PMC8379286 DOI: 10.1016/j.crfs.2021.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
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. Ptaquiloside is a natural carcinogen found in fern-based food products and natural remedies. Bracken ferns collected in the wild contain ptaquiloside after processing. Commercial dried bracken fronds (leaves) contain high levels of ptaquiloside. Commercial products based on rhizomes and some natural remedies contain no ptaquiloside. Presence of no-ptaquiloside ferns indicate potential of growing non-toxic cultivars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars Holm Rasmussen
- Department of Technology, University College Copenhagen, Sigurdsgade 26, DK2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark
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Gil da Costa RM, Neto T, Estêvão D, Moutinho M, Félix A, Medeiros R, Lopes C, Bastos MMSM, Oliveira PA. Ptaquiloside from bracken (Pteridium spp.) promotes oral carcinogenesis initiated by HPV16 in transgenic mice. Food Funct 2021; 11:3298-3305. [PMID: 32222741 DOI: 10.1039/d0fo00207k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Bracken (Pteridium spp.) is a common weed that is consumed as food especially in Asia, and is suspected of promoting carcinogenesis induced by papillomaviruses in the digestive and urinary systems. This is particularly worrying because the incidence of head-and-neck cancers associated with the human papillomavirus (HPV) is rapidly increasing, and HPV co-carcinogens urgently need to be identified. This study tested the hypothesis that two bracken compounds, ptaquiloside and rutin, are able to promote head-and-neck and bladder carcinogenesis in HPV16-transgenic mice. Expression of HPV16 E6 and E7 in oral and bladder tissues was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR. Mice were exposed orally to ptaquiloside (0.5 mg per animal per week for 10 weeks from 20 weeks-old) or rutin (413 mg kg-1 day-1 for 24 weeks from 6 weeks-old), sacrificed at 30 weeks-old and studied histologically. HPV16 E6 and E7 expression was higher in oral mucosa compared with the bladder (p 0.001). Importantly, ptaquiloside, but not rutin, increased the incidence of oral squamous cell carcinomas (p = 1.2 × 10-8) in HPV16-transgenic mice. Also, cancers of unexposed transgenic mice were restricted to the tongue base, while ptaquiloside-exposed mice showed multifocal lesions throughout the oral cavity. Wild-type controls showed no oral lesions. No bladder lesions were observed in any treated or untreated group. These results indicate that ptaquiloside from bracken is able to promote oral carcinogenesis initiated by HPV16. Rutin did not show any carcinogenic effects in this model. The absence of bladder lesions may reflect an insufficient incubation period or factors related to the specific viral oncogenes present in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui M Gil da Costa
- LEPABE, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal. and Grupo de Oncologia Molecular e Patologia Viral, CI-IPOP, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal and Centro de Investigação e Tecnologia de Ciências Agroambientais e Biológicas (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Tiago Neto
- Grupo de Oncologia Molecular e Patologia Viral, CI-IPOP, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal and ICBAS, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Diogo Estêvão
- Grupo de Oncologia Molecular e Patologia Viral, CI-IPOP, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Magda Moutinho
- Centro de Investigação e Tecnologia de Ciências Agroambientais e Biológicas (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Ana Félix
- Nova Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal and Serviço de Anatomia Patológica, Instituto Português de Oncologia de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rui Medeiros
- Grupo de Oncologia Molecular e Patologia Viral, CI-IPOP, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal and Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal and Serviço de Virologia, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, Porto, Portugal and Liga Portuguesa Contra o Cancro-Núcleo Regional do Norte, Porto, Portugal and CEBIMED, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Fernando Pessoa, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | - Paula A Oliveira
- Centro de Investigação e Tecnologia de Ciências Agroambientais e Biológicas (CITAB), Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal and Departamento de Ciências Veterinárias, Universidade de Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, UTAD, Vila Real, Portugal
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Dvorakova M, Pumprova K, Antonínová Ž, Rezek J, Haisel D, Ekrt L, Vanek T, Langhansova L. Nutritional and Antioxidant Potential of Fiddleheads from European Ferns. Foods 2021; 10:460. [PMID: 33669902 PMCID: PMC7923283 DOI: 10.3390/foods10020460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Ferns are part of the diet and traditional medicine in East Asia, North America, and Oceania, however, their importance has been forgotten in Europe. Here, the nutritional and antioxidant potential of young fern fronds (fiddleheads) of eight families were studied. Most of the tested fern species excelled in high antioxidant capacity when compared to the reference leafy vegetables spinach and rocket. On average, the total phenol content reached 220 mg·g-1 of extract dry weight for all fiddleheads, and 15 out of 24 tested species exceeded 1 g Trolox equivalent per gram of extract dry weight in Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay. On the other hand, fiddleheads contained a comparable amount of carotenoids and ascorbic acid with the reference vegetables. In the case of fatty acid composition, fiddleheads contained especially high amounts of essential omega-3 (n3) and omega-6 (n6) polyunsaturated fatty acids with a beneficial n6/n3 ratio. The n6/n3 ratio in all tested species was between 2 and 6.4, whereas the ratio in the reference vegetables was below 0.4. All in all, fiddleheads from European ferns are a rich source of valuable antioxidants and essential fatty acids with a desirable n-6/n-3 ratio and may thus form an alternative source of these compounds, especially for those people not consuming fish and fish products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Dvorakova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
| | - Karolína Pumprova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
- Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Žaneta Antonínová
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
- Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, CZ-16521 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Rezek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
| | - Daniel Haisel
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
| | - Libor Ekrt
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branisovska 1760, CZ-37005 Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;
| | - Tomas Vanek
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
| | - Lenka Langhansova
- The Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Experimental Botany, Rozvojova 263, CZ-16502 Prague, Czech Republic; (M.D.); (K.P.); (Ž.A.); (J.R.); (D.H.); (T.V.)
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García-Jorgensen DB, Hansen HCB, Abrahamsen P, Diamantopoulos E. A novel model concept for modelling the leaching of natural toxins: results for the case of ptaquiloside. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2020; 22:1768-1779. [PMID: 32716437 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00182a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Phytotoxins are a large class of highly diverse emerging environmental contaminants that have been detected at high concentrations in plants, water and soils. This study presents a novel modelling approach for assessing the fate of plant toxins in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, developed for the specific case of ptaquiloside (PTA), a carcinogenic phytotoxin produced by Pteridium aquilinum. The mechanistic model DAISY has been adapted for reproducing phytotoxin dynamics in plants, covering processes such as toxin generation in the canopy, wash off by precipitation and toxin recovery in the canopy after depletion events. Transport of the toxin in the soil was simulated by the advection-dispersion equation assuming weak sorption and degradation for two Danish soils. The model simulates realistic toxin contents in the plant during the growing season, where the actual PTA content is dynamic and a function of the biomass. An average of 48% of the PTA produced in the canopy is washed off by precipitation, with loads in the soil often in the order of mg m-2 and up to a maximum of 13 mg m-2 in a single rain event. Degradation in the soil removes 99.9% of the total PTA input to the soil, while only 0.1% leaches into the soil. The median annual flux-averaged predicted environmental concentrations during single events are often in the order of μg L-1, reaching up to 60 μg L-1 for the worst-case scenario. The simulated results for both degradation and wash off are of the same order of magnitude as the published data. Based on the results, we conclude that DAISY, with the newly implemented processes, is a useful tool for understanding, describing and predicting the fate of PTA in the soil. Further work comparing the model results with real data is needed for the calibration and validation of the model.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B García-Jorgensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
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