Phytochemical profile, in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial activities of different extracts of an Algerian endemic: Teucrium atratum

Teucrium atratum Pomel. is a species belonging to the Lamiaceae family used in Algerian folk medicine. The present work essentially aimed to assess the phenolic composition and to evaluate some of the biological effects of different extracts, never previously studied, of T. atratum growing in Algeria. High levels of total phenolic and flavonoids were recorded in the hydromethanolic extract. Chlorogenic acid, isoquercetin, coumarin, cinnamic acid, quercetin dihydrate, and catechin were identified in the methanolic extract by mean of HPLC. The antioxidant activity assessed showed that the methanolic extract was the most active, while, the hydromethanolic extract showed a great power to reduce iron. In addition, all extracts had a significant antibacterial effect against the four tested bacterial strains, with Staphylococcus aureus as the most sensitive one. These findings can be a starting point to evaluate the plant as a source of natural bioactive compounds with antioxidant and antibacterial effects.

Cytotoxic Effect of Andrographis paniculata Associated with 2-Aminoethyl Dihydrogen Phosphate in Triple-Negative Breast Cells

Cancer stands out as a major global public health concern and a significant impediment to increasing life expectancy worldwide. Natural bioactives derived from plants are renowned for their efficacy in treating various types of cancer. Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) is a well-known plant traditionally employed in diverse medical systems across the globe. The 2-AEH2P monophosphoester, a molecule intricately involved in phospholipid turnover, demonstrates antiproliferative effects across a broad spectrum of cancer types. This study aims to assess the antitumor, antiproliferative, and pharmacological effects of andrographolide at different concentrations, both individually and in conjunction with 2-aminoethyl dihydrogen phosphate. The cytotoxicity of the treatments was evaluated using the colorimetric MTT method, cell cycle phases, mitochondrial electrical potential, and markers expression via flow cytometry, while the pharmacological effects were assessed using SynergyFinder software 3.0. Treatments with A. paniculata, isolated at concentrations of 10%, 30%, and 50% of andrographolide, induced cell death in tumor cells, resulting in a reduction in mitochondrial electrical potential and alterations in cell cycle phases, particularly a decrease in the population of MDA MB-231 cells in the G0/G1 phase. The combination treatments exhibited significant cytotoxicity toward tumor cells, with minimal toxicity observed in normal fibroblast cells FN1. This led to a reduction in mitochondrial electrical potential and cell cycle arrest in the S phase for MDA MB-231 cells. Across all concentrations, the combined treatments demonstrated a synergistic pharmacological effect, underscoring the efficacy of the association. There was a change in the markers involved in cell death, such as p53, caspase 3, Bcl-2, and cytochrome c, suggesting the induction of regulated cell death. Markers associated with progression and proliferation, such as cyclin D1 and p21, corroborate the findings for cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest.

Oral Treatment with Plant-Derived Exosomes Restores Redox Balance in H2O2-Treated Mice

Plant-derived exosomes (PDEs) are receiving much attention as a natural source of antioxidants. Previous research has shown that PDEs contain a series of bioactives and that their content varies depending on the fruit or vegetable source. It has also been shown that fruits and vegetables derived from organic agriculture produce more exosomes, are safer, free of toxic substances, and contain more bioactives. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of orally administered mixes of PDE (Exocomplex^®) to restore the physiological conditions of mice treated for two weeks with hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), compared with mice left untreated after the period of H₂O₂ administration and mice that received only water during the experimental period. The results showed that Exocomplex^® had a high antioxidant capacity and contained a series of bioactives, including Catalase, Glutathione (GSH), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Ascorbic Acid, Melatonin, Phenolic compounds, and ATP. The oral administration of Exocomplex^® to the H₂O₂-treated mice re-established redox balance with reduced serum levels of both reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but also a general recovery of the homeostatic condition at the organ level, supporting the future use of PDE for health care.

Deciphering the interaction mechanism of natural actives against larval proteins of Aedes aegypti to identify potential larvicides: a computational biology analysis

Aedes aegypti is the target for repellents to curb incidences of vector-borne diseases. Stopping breeding of this mosquito species at its larval stages helps in controlling spread of insect-borne diseases. Therefore, the present study focused on deciphering the mechanism of interaction of selected natural actives against larval proteins of A. aegypti to identify potential natural alternative larvicides. 65 larval proteins were identified from literature, whose structures were modelled and validated using RaptorX and ProCheck. 11 natural actives were selected for predicting their ligand properties and toxicities via Toxicity Estimation Software Tool and ProTox-II. Molecular docking studies were carried out using POAP followed by 100 ns molecular dynamic simulation studies for top three best docked complexes to better understand the robustness of docking, complex stabilities and molecular mechanisms of interactions. Toxicity predictions revealed that 6 molecules belonged to toxicity class 4, and five to toxicity class 5, implying that they were all safe to use. Complexes goniothalamin-translation elongation factor (-10 kcal/mol), andrographolide-acetyl-CoA C-myristoyltransferase (-9.2 kcal/mol) and capillin-translation elongation factor (-8.4 kcal/mol) showed best binding energies. When simulated, capillin-translation elongation factor showed most stability, while the remaining two also evidenced robust docking. Evolutionary studies for top two larval proteins disclosed 100 other insect species in which these proteins can be targeted using various larvicides. Protein-protein interaction network analysis revealed several protein pathways that might be affected due to aforesaid naturals. Therefore, this study provides computational insights into the molecular interaction of naturals against larval proteins, acting as potential natural larvicides.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Extracts From Sea Cucumbers and Tunicates Induce a Pro-osteogenic Effect in Zebrafish Larvae

Bone metabolic disorders such as osteoporosis are characterized by the loss of mineral from the bone tissue leading to its structural weakening and increased susceptibility to fractures. A growing body of evidence suggests that inflammation and oxidative stress play an important role in the pathophysiological processes involved in the rise of these conditions. As the currently available therapeutic strategies are often characterized by toxic effects associated with their long-term use, natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds such as polyphenols promise to be a valuable alternative for the prevention and treatment of these disorders. In this scope, the marine environment is becoming an important source of bioactive compounds with potential pharmacological applications. Here, we explored the bioactive potential of three species of holothurians (Echinodermata) and four species of tunicates (Chordata) as sources of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds with a particular focus on polyphenolic substances. Hydroethanolic and aqueous extracts were obtained from animals' biomass and screened for their content of polyphenols and their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Hydroethanolic fractions of three species of tunicates displayed high polyphenolic content associated with strong antioxidant potential and anti-inflammatory activity. Extracts were thereafter tested for their capacity to promote bone formation and mineralization by applying an assay that uses the developing operculum of zebrafish (Danio rerio) to assess the osteogenic activity of compounds. The same three hydroethanolic fractions from tunicates were characterized by a strong in vivo osteogenic activity, which positively correlated with their anti-inflammatory potential as measured by COX-2 inhibition. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of polyphenol-rich hydroethanolic extracts obtained from three species of tunicates as a substrate for the development of novel drugs for the treatment of bone disorders correlated to oxidative stress and inflammatory processes.

Nanovesicles from Organic Agriculture-Derived Fruits and Vegetables: Characterization and Functional Antioxidant Content

Dietary consumption of fruits and vegetables is related to a risk reduction in a series of leading human diseases, probably due to the plants' antioxidant content. Plant-derived nanovesicles (PDNVs) have been recently receiving great attention regarding their natural ability to deliver several active biomolecules and antioxidants. To investigate the presence of active antioxidants in fruits, we preliminarily analyzed the differences between nanovesicles from either organic or conventional agriculture-derived fruits, at equal volumes, showing a higher yield of nanovesicles with a smaller size from organic agriculture-derived fruits as compared to conventional ones. PDNVs from organic agriculture also showed a higher antioxidant level compared to nanovesicles from conventional agriculture. Using the PDNVs from fruit mixes, we found comparable levels of Total Antioxidant Capacity, Ascorbic Acid, Catalase, Glutathione and Superoxide Dismutase 1. Finally, we exposed the nanovesicle mixes to either chemical or physical lytic treatments, with no evidence of effects on the number, size and antioxidant capacity of the treated nanovesicles, thus showing a marked resistance of PDNVs to external stimuli and a high capability to preserve their content. Our study provides for the first time a series of data supporting the use of plant-derived nanovesicles in human beings' daily supplementation, for both prevention and treatment of human diseases.

Anthocyanin-Related Pigments: Natural Allies for Skin Health Maintenance and Protection

Human skin is commonly described as a particularly dynamic and complex environment, with a physiological balance continuously orchestrated by numerous internal and external factors. Intrinsic aging, exposure to UV radiation and skin pathogens are some of the key players that account for dermatological alterations and ailments. In this regard, this study intended to explore the potential skin-health beneficial properties of a group of molecules belonging to the anthocyanin family: cyanidin- and malvidin-3-O-glucosides and some of their structurally related pigments, resulting in a library of compounds with different structural properties and color hues. The inclusion of both purified compounds and crude extracts provided some insights into their distinctive effects when tested as individual agents or as part of multicomponent mixtures. Overall, most of the compounds were found to reduce biofilm production by S. aureus and P. aeruginosa reference strains, exhibit UV-filter capacity, attenuate the production of reactive oxygen species in human skin keratinocytes and fibroblasts and also showed inhibitory activity of skin-degrading enzymes, in the absence of cytotoxic effects. Carboxypyranocyanidin-3-O-glucoside stood out for its global performance which, combined with its greater structural stability, makes this a particular interesting compound for potential incorporation in topical formulations. Results provide strong evidence of the skin protective effects of these pigments, supporting their further application for cosmeceutical purposes.