Gold Nanoparticles Synthesized with Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) and Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) Ethanolic Extracts Displayed Antiproliferative Effects and induced Caspase 3 Activity in Human HT29 and SW480 Cancer Cells

Environmentally friendly silver nanoparticles synthesized from Verbascum nudatum var. extract and evaluation of its versatile biological properties and dye degradation activity

In the present study, green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (VNE-AgNPs) via Verbascum nudatum extract was carried out for the first time. The synthesized AgNPs were characterized by different spectral methods such as UV-vis, FTIR, XRD, TEM, and EDAX. According to TEM analyses, the average size range of AgNPs was 17-21 nm, and the dominant peaks in the 111°, 200°, 221°, and 311° planes in the XRD pattern indicated the Ag-NPs FCC crystal structure. FTIR data showed that VNE-AgNPs interacted with many reducing, capping, and stabilizing phytochemicals during green synthesis. VNE-AgNPs had higher antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacterial strains with a maximum inhibition zone of 21 and 18 mm, respectively, than penicillin 5 IU, used as a positive control in the study. The cytotoxic effect of VNE-AgNPs appeared at a concentration of 50 µg/mL in L929 cells and 5 µg/mL in cancer (A549) cells. When the impact of VNE-AgNPs and C-AgNPs on inflammation was compared, it was found that VNE-AgNPs increased TNF-α levels (333.45 ± 67.20 ng/mg-protein) statistically (p < 0.05) more than TNF-α levels (256.92 ± 27.88 ng/mg-protein) in cells treated with C-AgNPs. VNE-Ag-NPs were found to have a degradation efficiency of 65% against methylene blue (MB) dye within 3 h.

Impact of Drying Process on the Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Capacity of Raw and Boiled Leaves and Inflorescences of Chenopodium berlandieri ssp. berlandieri

C. berlandieri ssp. berlandieri (C. berlandieri) is one of the most common members of the group of plants known as quelites, which are dark leafy greens widely consumed in Mexico. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of two drying procedures (oven drying and freeze-drying/lyophilization) on the polyphenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and proximal chemical analysis of C. berlandieri leaves and inflorescences (raw or boiled). The results indicated that the raw freeze-dried samples had higher amounts (p < 0.05) of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, and antioxidant capacity, mainly in the inflorescence. The oven-dried samples showed an increased concentration of polyphenols after boiling, while the lyophilized samples showed a slightly decreased concentration. The drying process was observed to have little impact on the proximal chemical composition. Quantification by UPLC-DAD-ESI-QToF/MS identified up to 23 individual phenolic compounds, with freeze-dried samples showing higher amounts of individual compounds compared with oven-dried. Procyanidin B2 was found exclusively in the inflorescences. The inflorescences have a higher content of phenolic compounds and greater antioxidant capacity than the leaves. Regardless of the drying process, the leaves and inflorescences of C. berlandieri contain an interesting variety of phenolic compounds that may have beneficial effects on health.

STAT3 as a newly emerging target in colorectal cancer therapy: Tumorigenesis, therapy response, and pharmacological/nanoplatform strategies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks as the third most aggressive tumor globally, and it can be categorized into two forms: colitis-mediated CRC and sporadic CRC. The therapeutic approaches for CRC encompass surgical intervention, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. However, even with the implementation of these techniques, the 5-year survival rate for metastatic CRC remains at a mere 12-14%. In the realm of CRC treatment, gene therapy has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach. Among the crucial molecular pathways that govern tumorigenesis, STAT3 plays a significant role. This pathway is subject to regulation by cytokines and growth factors. Once translocated into the nucleus, STAT3 influences the expression levels of factors associated with cell proliferation and metastasis. Literature suggests that the upregulation of STAT3 expression is observed as CRC cells progress towards metastatic stages. Consequently, elevated STAT3 levels serve as a significant determinant of poor prognosis and can be utilized as a diagnostic factor for cancer patients. The biological and malignant characteristics of CRC cells contribute to low survival rates in patients, as the upregulation of STAT3 prevents apoptosis and promotes pro-survival autophagy, thereby accelerating tumorigenesis. Furthermore, STAT3 plays a role in facilitating the proliferation of CRC cells through the stimulation of glycolysis and promoting metastasis via the induction of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Notably, an intriguing observation is that the upregulation of STAT3 can mediate resistance to 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin, and other anti-cancer drugs. Moreover, the radio-sensitivity of CRC diminishes with increased STAT3 expression. Compounds such as curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, and other anti-tumor agents exhibit the ability to suppress STAT3 and its associated pathways, thereby impeding tumorigenesis in CRC. Furthermore, it is worth noting that nanostructures have demonstrated anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic properties in CRC.

Comparison of Phytochemical Composition and Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis of an Extract from Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I. I. Johnst and Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. and Biological Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Activity In Vitro

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) and Porophyllum ruderale (PR) are representative edible plants that are a traditional food source in Mexico. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical composition and untargeted metabolomics analysis of CA and PR and evaluate their antiproliferative effect in vitro. The phytochemical composition (UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS-ESI) identified up to 38 polyphenols and selected organic acids that were clustered by the untargeted metabolomics in functional activities linked to indolizidines, pyridines, and organic acids. Compared with PR, CA displayed a higher reduction in the metabolic activity of human SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells (LC50: 10.65 mg/mL), and both extracts increased the total apoptotic cells and arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. PR increased mRNA Apc gene expression, whereas both extracts reduced mRNA Kras expression. Rutin/epigallocatechin gallate displayed the highest affinity to APC and K-RAS proteins in silico. Further research is needed to experiment on other cell lines. Results suggested that CA and PR are polyphenol-rich plant sources exhibiting antiproliferative effects in vitro.

Novel Collagen-Polyphenols-Loaded Silica Composites for Topical Application

Lesions can affect skin functions and cause a simple issue, such as dehydration, or more challenging complications, such as bacterial infections. The purpose of this study was to design composites for topical application that can prevent and/or assist in bacterial infections and support cell regeneration using natural components. A polyphenolic extract obtained from Salvia officinalis was embedded in functionalized mesoporous silica nanoparticles for better stability, followed by their distribution into a collagen porous scaffold. The resulting polyphenols-loaded MSN exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity and good cytocompatibility. Improved thermal stability of the collagen porous scaffold was obtained due to the presence of the functionalized MSN. For the first time, collagen-polyphenols-loaded silica composites were reported in the literature as potential wound dressings. The newly developed composites showed excellent sterility.

Molecular mechanisms of osteosarcoma metastasis and possible treatment opportunities

In osteosarcoma patients, metastasis of the primary cancer is the leading cause of death. At present, management options to prevent metastasis are limited and non-curative. In this study, we review the current state of knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of metastasis and discuss promising new therapies to combat osteosarcoma metastasis. Genomic and epigenomic changes, metabolic reprogramming, transcription factors, dysregulation of physiologic pathways, and alterations to the tumor microenvironment are some of the changes reportedly involved in the regulation of osteosarcoma metastasis. Key factors within the tumor microenvironment include infiltrating lymphocytes, macrophages, cancer-associated fibroblasts, platelets, and extracellular components such as vesicles, proteins, and other secreted molecules. We conclude by discussing potential osteosarcoma-limiting agents and their clinical studies.

Isothiocyanate-Rich Extracts from Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Var. Botrytis) and Radish (Raphanus sativus) Inhibited Metabolic Activity and Induced ROS in Selected Human HCT116 and HT-29 Colorectal Cancer Cells

Cruciferous vegetables such as cauliflower and radish contain isothiocyanates exhibiting chemoprotective effects in vitro and in vivo. This research aimed to assess the impact of cauliflower (CIE) and radish (RIE) isothiocyanate extracts on the metabolic activity, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), and LDH production of selected human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HCT116 and HT-29 for early and late colon cancer development, respectively). Non-cancerous colon cells (CCD-33Co) were used as a cytotoxicity control. The CIE samples displayed the highest allyl isothiocyanate (AITC: 12.55 µg/g) contents, whereas RIE was the most abundant in benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC: 15.35 µg/g). Both extracts effectively inhibited HCT116 and HT-29 metabolic activity, but the CIE impact was higher than that of RIE on HCT116 (IC₅₀: 0.56 mg/mL). Assays using the half-inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of all treatments, including AITC and BITC, displayed increased (p < 0.05) LDH (absorbance: 0.25-0.40 nm) and ROS release (1190-1697 relative fluorescence units) in both cell lines. BITC showed the highest in silico binding affinity with all the tested colorectal cancer molecular markers (NF-kB, β-catenin, and NRF2-NFE2). The theoretical evaluation of AITC and BITC bioavailability showed high values for both compounds. The results indicate that CIE and RIE extracts display chemopreventive effects in vitro, but additional experiments are needed to validate their effects.

Comparative Study between Two Simple Synthesis Methods for Obtaining Green Gold Nanoparticles Decorating Silica Particles with Antibacterial Activity

The SiO₂ particles system is one of the most common ways to protect colloidal metal systems, such as gold nanoparticles, from aggregation and activity loss due to their high chemical stability and low reactivity. In this study, silica green gold nanoparticles (AuNPs synthesized with mullein extract) were fabricated using two different sol-gel methods. The nanoparticles were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), and the antibacterial activity against pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica). Synthesis-1 nanoparticles had a kidney-shaped form and uniform distribution, while synthesis-2 nanoparticles had a spherical and non-uniform form. Characterization showed that temperature is an important factor in the distribution of AuNPs in silica; a decrease allowed the formation of Janus-type, and an increase showed a higher concentration of gold in energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis. Overall, similar bands of the two synthesis silica nanoparticles were observed in FTIR, while XRD spectra showed differences in the preferential growth in AuNPs depending on the synthesis. Higher antibacterial activity was observed against S. aureus, which was followed by L. monocytogenes. No differences were observed in the antibacterial activity between the two different sol-gel methods.