Curcumin and Quercetin as Potential Radioprotectors and/or Radiosensitizers for X-ray-based Sterilization of Male Navel Orangeworm Larvae

Dielectric heating for controlling field and storage insect pests in host plants and food products with varying moisture content

At the intersection of insect control and sustainability goals, dielectric heating emerges as a promising solution. In agriculture, where insect pests can reduce agricultural yields and the nutritional quality of crops under field and storage conditions. Chemical pesticides are often used to manage pests but owing to their deleterious consequences on humans and the environment, chemical-free treatments have become the preferred option. Among the existing options, applying radio frequency (RF) and microwave energy for the purpose of dielectric heating has proven to be a successful alternative to chemical pesticides for controlling some major insect pests. This review offers an overview of dielectric heating for pest control in both storage settings and field environments, which addresses pests that impact materials with varying moisture contents (MC). The review highlights the limitation of this technology in controlling insect pests within bulk materials, leading to non-uniform heating. Additionally, it discusses the application of this technology in managing pests affecting materials with high MC, which can result in the degradation of the host material's quality. The review suggests the combination of different techniques proven effective in enhancing heating uniformity, as well as leveraging the non-thermal effects of this technology to maintain the quality of the host material. This is the first review providing an overview of the challenges associated with employing this technology against high moisture content (MC) materials, making it more advantageous for controlling storage pests. Overall, the review indicates that research should particularly emphasize the utilization of this sustainable technology against insect pests that inflict damage on high (MC) substances.

Comparison of the radioprotective effects of the liposomal forms of five natural radioprotectants in alleviating the adverse effects of ionising irradiation on human lymphocytes and skin cells in radiotherapy

This study aims to evaluate the radioprotective effects of liposomes encapsulating curcumin (Lip-CUR), silibinin (Lip-SIL), α-tocopherol (Lip-TOC), quercetin (Lip-QUE) and resveratrol (Lip-RES) in alleviating the adverse effects of ionising irradiation on human lymphoctyes and skin cells in radiotherapy. Liposomes encapsulating the above natural radioprotectants (Lip-NRPs) were prepared by the film hydration method combined with sonication. Their radioprotective effects for the cells against X-irradiation was evaluated using trypan-blue assay and γ-H2AX assay. All prepared Lip-NRPs had a mean diameter less than 240 nm, polydispersity index less than 0.32, and zeta potential more than -23 mV. Among them, the radioprotective effect of Lip-RES was lowest, while that of Lip-QUE was highest. Lip-SIL also exhibited a high radioprotective effect despite its low DPPH-radical scavenging activity (12.9%). The radioprotective effects of Lip-NRPs do not solely depend on the free radical scavenging activity of NRPs but also on their ability to activate cellular mechanisms.

Phytochemicals: A potential next generation agent for radioprotection

BACKGROUND

Radiation hazards are accountable for extensive damage in the biological system and acts as a public health burden. Owing to the rapid increasing in radiation technology, both Ionizing radiation (IR) from natural and man made source poses detrimental outcome to public health. IR releases free radicals which induces oxidative stress and deleterious biological damage by modulating radiation induced signalling intermediates. The efficacy of existing therapeutic approach and treatment strategy are limited owing to their toxicity and associated side effects. Indian system of traditional medicine is enriched with prospective phytochemicals with potential radioprotection ability.

PURPOSE

The present review elucidated and summarized the potential role of plant derived novel chemical compound with prospective radioprotective potential.

METHOD

So far as the traditional system of Indian medicine is concerned, plant kingdom is enriched with potential bioactive molecules with diverse pharmacological activities. We reviewed several compounds mostly secondary metabolites from plant origin using various search engines.

RESULTS

Both compounds from land plants and marine source exhibited antioxidant antiinflammatory, free radical scavenging ability. These compounds have tremendous potential in fine-tuning of several signalling intermediates, which are actively participated in the progression and development of a pathological condition associated with radiation stress.

CONCLUSION

Development and explore of an operational radioprotective agent from originated from plant source that can be used as a novel molecular tool to eliminate the widespread damage caused by space exploration, ionizing radiation, nuclear war and radiotherapy has been significantly appreciated. Through extensive literature search we highlighted several compounds from both land plant and marine origin can be implemented for a better therapeutic potential against radiation induced injury. Furthermore, extensive clinical trials must be carried out in near future for better therapeutic modality and clinical efficacy.

Binding of quercetin and curcumin to human serum albumin in aqueous dimethyl sulfoxide and in aqueous ethanol

The paper reports the spectrofluorimetric and calorimetric study of binding of two hydrophobic biologically active molecules with antioxidant ability, flavonoids quercetin, and curcumin, to human serum albumin (HSA) in water, aqueous DMSO (0.05 and 0.1 mol. fraction of DMSO), and aqueous ethanol (0.05 mol. fraction of EtOH). Both flavonoids induce the quenching of HSA fluorescence. The stability constants of associates, as well as the changes in enthalpy of the reaction between quercetin and protein, were evaluated. The influence of solvent composition and additions of hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin as a solubilizer of hydrophobic molecules, on the association processes is discussed.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10973-022-11216-8.

Evaluating Flight Performance of Mass-Reared and Irradiated Navel Orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) for Sterile Insect Technique

Navel orangeworm (Pyralidae: Amyelois transitella) is a key pest of almonds and pistachios in California. Moths directly infest nuts which leads to reduced crop yield and quality, and infestation can predispose nuts to fungal pathogens that produce aflatoxins. While several integrated pest management strategies have been developed for A. transitella, studies have recently been initiated to explore the use of sterile insect technique (SIT) as an additional control tool. Mass-rearing, sterilization, and transportation methods originally developed for Pectinophora gossypiella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) are currently being used for production of A. transitella in a mass-rearing facility, but the impacts of these processes on performance of A. transitella remain unclear. In this study, computerized flight mills were used to evaluate multiple flight parameters of mass-reared and irradiated A. transitella males and females relative to non-irradiated mass-reared moths and two strains of locally reared moths which were neither mass-reared nor irradiated. Mass-reared non-irradiated females performed similarly to both strains of locally reared females, flying a mean 9.4-11.8 km per night, whereas mass-reared and irradiated males and mass-reared non-irradiated males all flew shorter distances, in the range of 3.0-6.7 km per night. All of the mass-reared moths compared to locally reared moths had significantly more non-fliers that did not engage in more than two minutes of continuous flight. Findings from this study suggest that mass-rearing conditions reduce A. transitella flight capacity, while irradiation interacts with moths in a sex-specific manner.

Multicentre International Study for the Prevention with iAluRil of Radio-induced Cystitis (MISTIC): A Randomised Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

Radiation-induced cystitis is a common side effect of radiotherapy (RT) to the pelvic area. Hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) are components of the urothelial mucosa and positive results have been obtained for intravesical HA/CS instillations for the treatment of urinary tract infections and bladder pain syndrome. HA/CS may also have a protective effect against RT bladder toxicity.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate whether HA and CS protect the urothelium during RT, alleviate lower urinary tract symptoms, and improve quality of life.

DESIGN SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

This multicentre randomised controlled trial was conducted across seven centres in four countries. Male patients aged ≥18 yr scheduled to undergo primary intensity-modulated radiotherapy for localised prostate cancer were enrolled.

INTERVENTION

Patients were randomised to intravesical HA/CS plus an oral formulation of curcumin, quercetin, HA, and CS (group A) or no treatment (group B).

OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS AND STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

The primary endpoint was absolute changes from baseline to follow-up in urinary domain scores for the Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite (EPIC), the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Male Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (ICIQ-MLUTS), and the EuroQol Group EQ-5D-5L questionnaire. Data analysis for efficacy and safety outcomes was performed using an intention-to-treat (ITT) approach; the ITT population was defined as all randomised patients.

RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS

Of 57 patients screened, 49 were enrolled and randomly assigned to either active treatment (group A, n = 25) or the control (group B, n = 24). Three patients in the control group withdrew after randomisation. Changes from baseline to 12 mo were worse in the control group for subtotal scores for urinary symptoms and impact of symptoms on quality of life and for the total score (p =  0.05, p =  0.003, and p =  0.008, respectively). There was a significant time × group interaction in favour of active treatment for the incontinence symptom score (p =  0.011) and bother score (p =  0.017). The absence of a sham procedure and/or placebo is the main limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that intravesical HA/CS in combination with an oral formulation may reduce urinary symptoms and improve QoL at short-term (1 yr) follow-up.

PATIENT SUMMARY

We investigated whether hyaluronic acid (HA) and chondroitin sulfate (CS) have a protective effect against the bladder toxicity of radiotherapy for prostate cancer. HA/CS used for weekly bladder irrigation for 6 wk and given orally with curcumin and quercetin for 12 wk reduced urinary incontinence symptoms and bother measured at 1-year follow-up. This may hold promise as a preventive treatment if the results are confirmed in further trials.

Therapeutic Potential of (-)-Agelamide D, a Diterpene Alkaloid from the Marine Sponge Agelas sp., as a Natural Radiosensitizer in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Models

Radiation therapy (RT) is an effective local treatment for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but there are currently no predictive biomarkers to guide treatment decision for RT or adjuvant systemic drugs to be combined with RT for HCC patients. Previously, we reported that extracts of the marine sponge Agelas sp. may contain a natural radiosensitizer for HCC treatment. In this study, we isolated (−)-agelamide D from Agelas extract and investigated the mechanism underlying its radiosensitization. (−)-Agelamide D enhanced radiation sensitivity of Hep3B cells with decreased clonogenic survival and increased apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, (−)-agelamide D increased the expression of protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase/inositol-requiring enzyme 1α/activating transcription factor 4 (PERK/eIF2α/ATF4), a key pathway of the unfolded protein response (UPR) in multiple HCC cell lines, and augmented radiation-induced UPR signaling. In vivo xenograft experiments confirmed that (−)-agelamide D enhanced tumor growth inhibition by radiation without systemic toxicity. Immunohistochemistry results showed that (−)-agelamide D further increased radiation-induced ATF4 expression and apoptotic cell death, which was consistent with our in vitro finding. Collectively, our results provide preclinical evidence that the use of UPR inducers such as (−)-agelamide D may enhance the efficacy of RT in HCC management.

X-Ray-Based Irradiation of Larvae and Pupae of the Navel Orangeworm (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)

The suitability of adult male the navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella (Walker) for Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) has been reported for both high energy gamma (>1 MeV) and low energy x-ray (90 keV) sterilization. However, research regarding sterilization of NOW larvae and pupae by gamma irradiation indicated nonsuitability due to high mortality. Here, NOW larvae and pupae were irradiated to doses up to 50 Gy with 90 keV x-rays, then paired with nonirradiated colony mates. Sterility of surviving insects was determined by the presence or absence of hatched neonates. While presence of offspring does not guarantee viability, the absence does guarantee sterility (as is appropriate for SIT) and was thus the measure used here. Early stage larvae experienced 77% mortality at a dose of 30 Gy, versus 20% for nonirradiated control. At 40 Gy, mortality reached 98%. Of surviving early stage larvae at 30 Gy, 29% of moth pairs produced offspring. For late stage larvae, no offspring were produced at 40 Gy, but mortality was 73%. For pupae, mortality reached 53% at 30 Gy with 13% still producing neonates, while mortality reached 98% at 40 Gy. These results are consistent with reported results for gamma irradiation of NOW larvae where sterility was observed somewhere between the 30 Gy and 60 Gy data points, but mortality was high. This further confirms the lack of suitability of NOW irradiated in the larval stage, whether by gamma or x-ray, and supports the hypothesis that x-ray and gamma treatments are biologically equivalent at equal doses.