GC/MS Analysis, Antioxidant Activity, and Antimicrobial Effect of Pelargonium peltatum (Geraniaceae)

In recent years, the increase in antibiotic resistance demands searching for new compounds with antimicrobial activity. Phytochemicals found in plants offer an alternative to this problem. The genus Pelargonium contains several species; some have commercial use in traditional medicine such as P. sinoides, and others such as P. peltatum are little studied but have promising potential for various applications such as phytopharmaceuticals. In this work, we characterized the freeze-dried extracts (FDEs) of five tissues (root, stem, leaf, and two types of flowers) and the ethyl acetate fractions from leaf (Lf-EtOAc) and flower (Fwr-EtOAc) of P. peltatum through the analysis by thin-layer chromatography (T.L.C.), gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), phytochemicals quantification, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity. After the first round of analysis, it was observed that the FDE-Leaf and FDE-Flower showed higher antioxidant and antimicrobial activities compared to the other FDEs, for which FDE-Leaf and FDE-Flower were fractionated and analyzed in a second round. The antioxidant activity determined by ABTS showed that Lf-EtOAc and Fwr-EtOAc had the lowest IC₅₀ values with 27.15 ± 1.04 and 28.11 ± 1.3 µg/mL, respectively. The content of total polyphenols was 264.57 ± 7.73 for Lf-EtOAc and 105.39 ± 4.04 mg G.A./g FDE for Fwr-EtOAc. Regarding the content of flavonoid, Lf-EtOAc and Fw-EtOAc had the highest concentration with 34.4 ± 1.06 and 29.45 ± 1.09 mg Q.E./g FDE. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration (M.I.C.) of antimicrobial activity was evaluated: Lf-EtOAc and Fwr-EtOAc were effective at 31.2 µg/mL for Staphylococcus aureus and 62.5 µg/mL for Salmonella enterica, while for the Enterococcus feacalis strain, Fwr-EtOAc presented 31.2 µg/mL of M.I.C. According to the GC-MS analysis, the main compounds were 1,2,3-Benzenetriol (Pyrogallol), with 77.38% of relative abundance in the Lf-EtOAc and 71.24% in the Fwr-EtOAc, followed by ethyl gallate (13.10%) in the Fwr-EtOAc and (Z)-9-Octadecenamide (13.63% and 6.75%) in both Lf-EtOAc and Fwr-EtOAc, respectively.

Cytotoxic and Antitumoral Effects of Bikaverin from Gibberella fujikuroi on L5178Y Lymphoma Murine Model

In this work, bikaverin was isolated from the mycelium of Gibberella fujikuroi and characterized using 1D (1H and 13C) and 2D (HSQC and HMBC) NMR spectroscopy. Its cytotoxic effect on L5178Y lymphoma cells and antitumor effect on BALB/c mice inoculated with L5178Y cells were evaluated. According to the results, bikaverin showed cytotoxic effect against L5178Y lymphoma cells with an IC50 value of 0.23 μg/mL.The tumor evolution, with and without treatment, was observed in the in vivo study; the group without treatment showed 1,280±128 x 105 cells/mL in ascites volume, and the groups treated with bikaverin at the dose of 1.73 mg/kg/day by intraperitoneal (i.p.) and oral administration, decreased significantly the cell density, and showed 391.5±237 x 105 cells/mL and 580±208 x 105 cells/mL, respectively. The results confirm the cytotoxic effect of bikaverin on cancer cell lines and contribute to show the potential of bikaverin as antitumoral compound in BALB/c mice inoculated with L5178Y lymphoma cells.

Association of rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms of ESR1 gene in breast cancer of Mexican population

PURPOSE

The rs2234693 and rs9340799 ESR1 polymorphisms have shown contradictory results in studies of breast cancer (BC). The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and association of ESR1 polymorphisms (rs2234693 and rs9340799) in BC patients of Mexican population.

METHODS

PCR was used to genotype rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms in the ESR1 gene in Mexican healthy subjects and breast cancer (BC) patients.

RESULTS

The frequency of cases and control groups of rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms in the ESR1 was similar, and none has shown any association with increased BC risk (p>0.05), although the association between the haplogenotypes (rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms) and BC patients with miscarriages [CTAG variant, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.83 (95%CI 1.17-2.86);p=0.011] and tobacco consumption [CCGG variant, adjusted OR 1.88 (95%CI 1.11-3.19);p=0.018] was evident. Also, the homozygous genotype TT [rs2234693, OR 1.49 (95%CI 1.02-2.19);p=0.042] and GG [rs9340799, OR 2.85 (95%CI 1.144-7.10);p=0.024] showed marginal association with BC, indicating that these factors may contribute significantly to the susceptibility of risk to BC. The TA haplotype was more common in controls than in CG. BC patients with a frequency around 0.71 among study groups, but without significant difference (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms in the ESR1 gene were not associated with susceptibility for BC. However, the haplogenotypes CTAG and CCGG of rs2234693 and rs9340799 polymorphisms could contribute significantly to the susceptibility of risk in BC positive at miscarriage and tobacco consumption in this sample population.

Cyclophosphamide boluses induce micronuclei expression in buccal mucosa cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus independent of cytochrome P450 2D6 status

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of cyclophosphamide (CYC) and the influence of CYP2D6 polymorphism on micronuclei expression in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

METHODS

Micronuclei (MN) assays were performed in oral mucosa sweeps of 49 patients with SLE, receiving and not receiving CYC therapy, and 43 healthy controls. In patients receiving CYC the MN assay was repeated 14 days after CYC administration. SLE patients underwent determination of the CYP2D6 allele expressed in peripheral blood by polymerase chain reaction amplification. These results were compared with CYP2D6 distribution in a healthy population from the same geographic area. The results were analyzed by Mann-Whitney U and chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Twenty-four patients with SLE received CYC boluses. The mean age of SLE patients was 32 +/- 10 years; mean disease duration was 7 +/- 6 years. Basal expression of MN was similar in the groups investigated and increased significantly in those exposed to CYC (CYC group 44%, no CYC group 5%, healthy controls 9%; p = 0.001). We found no association between the CYP2D6 allele expressed and MN induction. Poor metabolizers were overrepresented in SLE subjects as compared with 139 healthy controls (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Genotoxicity, as assessed by the MN assay, is increased in patients with SLE after CYC boluses. The CYP2D6 allele expressed in SLE patients does not have a role in CYC induced chromosomal injury.