The pathophysiology of inflammation and oxidative stress generated during different types of cancers and anticancer treatments is well documented. Traditionally, grape pomace is used for animal feed, ...organic fertilizers, ethanol production or is disposed as waste. Because grape pomace is a rich source of antioxidant compounds, the purpose of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative effects of fresh and fermented grape pomace extracts of two
L. varieties Fetească neagră and Pinot noir cultivated in Romania. Firstly, grape pomace phytochemical analysis and
antioxidant tests were performed. Secondly, the effect of a seven-day pretreatment with grape pomace extracts on the turpentine oil-induced inflammation in rats was assessed by measuring total oxidative status, total antioxidant response, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, nitric oxide and 3-nitrotyrosine. Thirdly, the antiproliferative properties were evaluated on human lung carcinoma (A549), human breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231), murine melanoma (B164A5), and keratinocyte (HaCat) cell lines. Fetească neagră and Pinot noir grape pomace extracts have a rich content of polyphenols and
antioxidant effect. Fermented samples had higher polyphenol content, but fresh samples had better antioxidant activity. Pretreatment with grape pomace extracts reduced inflammation-induced oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent way, fresh samples being more efficient. The malignant cells' proliferation was inhibited by all grape pomace extracts, fermented Fetească neagră extracts having the strongest effect. Conclusion: fresh and fermented pomace extracts of
L. varieties Fetească neagră and Pinot noir cultivated in a Romanian wine region have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiproliferative effects.
Research into the biodeteriorative potential of fungi can serve as an indicator of the condition of heritage items. Biodeterioration of canvas paintings as a result of fungal metabolic activity is ...understudied with respect to both the species diversity and mechanisms involved. This study brings new evidence for the physiology of fungi biodeteriorative capacity of canvas paintings. Twenty-one fungal isolates were recovered from four oil paintings (The Art Museum, Cluj-Napoca) and one gouache painting (private collection), dating from the 18th to 20th centuries. The species, identified based on the molecular markers Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS), beta-tubulin (tub2), or translation elongation factor 1 (TEF-1), are common colonisers of canvas paintings or indoor environments (e.g., Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp.). Fungi enzymatic profiles were investigated by means of hydrolysable substrates, included in culture media or in test strips, containing components commonly used in canvas paintings. The pigment solubilisation capacity was assessed in culture media for the primary pigments and studied in relation to the organic acid secretion. Caseinases, amylases, gelatinases, acid phosphatase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase, and β-glucosidase were found to be the enzymes most likely involved in the processes of substrate colonisation and breakdown of its components. Aureobasidium genus was found to hold the strongest biodeteriorative potential, followed by Cladosporium, Penicillium, Trichoderma, and Aspergillus. Blue pigment solubilisation was detected, occurring as a result of organic acids secretion. Distinct clusters were delineated considering the metabolic activities detected, indicating that fungi specialise in utilisation of certain types of substrates. It was found that both aged and modern artworks are at risk of fungal biodeterioration, due to the enzymatic activities’ diversity and intensity, pigment solubilisation capacity or pigment secretion.
Grape pomace is a potential source of natural antioxidant agents. Phenolic compounds and antioxidant and cardioprotective properties of fresh and fermented pomace extracts obtained from Vitis ...vinifera L. red variety Fetească neagră grown in Romania in 2015 were investigated. Grape pomace extracts total phenolic index, total tannins, total anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, flavan-3-ol monomers, stilbenes, and DPPH free radical scavenger were measured. The effect of a seven-day pretreatment with grape pomace extracts on the isoprenaline-induced infarct-like lesion in rats was assessed by ECG monitoring, serum levels of creatine kinase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase. Total serum oxidative status, total antioxidant response, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, and nitric oxide have been also assessed. Higher phenolic content and antioxidant activity were found in fermented pomace extracts when compared to fresh pomace extracts. Pretreatment with grape pomace extracts significantly improved cardiac and oxidative stress parameters. In conclusion, Fetească neagră pomace extracts had a good in vitro antioxidant activity due to an important phenolic content. In vivo, the extracts had cardioprotective effects against isoprenaline-induced infarct-like lesion by reducing oxidative stress, fresh pomace extracts having a better effect.
: Previous studies demonstrated antioxidant activities for flaxseed and flaxseed oil. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prophylactic and therapeutic anti-inflammatory and antioxidant ...effects of flaxseed ethanol extract in acute experimental inflammation.
: The in vivo anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity was evaluated on a turpentine-induced acute inflammation (6 mL/kg BW, i.m.) by measuring serum total oxidative status, total antioxidant reactivity, oxidative stress index, malondialdehyde, total thiols, total nitrites, 3-nitrotyrosine, and NFkB. The experiment was performed on nine groups (n = 5) of male rats: negative control; inflammation; three groups with seven days of flaxseed extract (100%, 50%, 25%) pretreatment followed by inflammation on day eight; three groups of inflammation followed by seven days of treatment with flaxseed extract (100%, 50%, 25%); inflammation followed by seven days of treatment with diclofenac (20 mg/kg BW).
: Flaxseed extract anti-inflammatory activity was better in the therapeutic plan than in the prophylactic one, and consisted of NO, 3NT, and NF-κB reduction in a dose dependent way. ROS was reduced better in the therapeutic flaxseed extracts administration, and antioxidants were increased by the prophylactic flaxseed extracts administration. Both, ROS and antioxidants were influenced more by the total flaxseed extract, which was also more efficient than diclofenac.
: flaxseed extract prophylaxis has a useful antioxidant activity by increasing the antioxidants, and flaxseed extract therapy has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities by reducing NF-κB, RNS, and ROS.
Onychomycosis is a major health problem due to its chronicity and resistance to therapy. Because some cases associate paronychia, any therapy must target the fungus and the inflammation. Medicinal ...plants represent an alternative for onychomycosis control. In the present work the antifungal and antioxidant activities of
extract against
(Wick.) Kurtzman & M. Suzuki and
(A. Jörg.) F.C. Harrison, isolated for the first time from a toenail onychomycosis case, were investigated. The fungal species were confirmed by DNA molecular analysis.
minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and ultrastructural effects were examined. At the MIC concentration (120 mg/mL) the micrographs indicated severe structural alterations with cell death. The antioxidant properties of the
extract were evaluated is a rat turpentine oil induced inflammation, and compared to an anti-inflammatory drug, diclofenac, and the main compound from the extract, allicin.
reduced serum total oxidative status, malondialdehyde and nitric oxide production, and increased total thiols. The effects were comparable to those of allicin and diclofenac. In conclusion, the garlic extract had antifungal effects against
and
, and antioxidant effect in turpentine-induced inflammation. Together, the antifungal and antioxidant activities support that
is a potential alternative treatment in onychomycosis.
► A new laccase was isolated from Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. ► This is the first to be classified as ‘yellow’ based on UV–vis yet ‘blue’ based on EPR. ► This laccase has a sequence not previously ...annotated as such in S. sclerotiorum. ► Good catalytic parameters and high activity in liquid culture offer promise for applications.
Reported here are the production, purification and characterization of a laccase from the phytophathogenic fungus Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. This laccase is identified by mass spectrometry with a sequence coverage of 74.9% (458/577 AA) revealing that the protein is identical or highly homologous to a predicted oxidoreductase from this species (A7EM18 in the Uniprot database); the closest homologous protein previously isolated from a fungus is the Melanocarpus albomyces, with only 35% identity. The UV–vis spectral features of this laccase classify it as a “yellow” one. The EPR spectrum nevertheless demonstrates resemblance to blue laccases – including the type 1 center not detectable in UV–vis spectra. The presence of type 3 coppers was proven by fluorescence spectrum and by 330nm band in UV–vis. The purified laccase has an apparent molecular mass of 70kDa and appears as a monomer. The values of KM and kcat were determined for ABTS, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, p-phenylenediamine and guaicol and are typical of a laccase. The optimal pH value is around 4 except for ABTS, for which activity is linearly increasing with acidity. The high laccase activity in liquid culture makes S. sclerotiorum a useful source of laccase for practical applications.
Identification and quantitative analysis of the phenolic compounds from Hedera helix L. (ivy) flower and fruit ethanol extracts by LC/MS, in vitro germination and growth inhibition effects on ...Aspergillus <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">niger</st1:place></st1:country-region> , Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. tulipae , Penicillium gladioli and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were performed. In the non-hydrolyzed samples of flower and fruit extracts were determined, in different amounts, five polyphenols (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutoside, quercetol and kaempferol) while quercitrin was identified only in the ivy flower extract. The hydrolyzed samples of the same ivy extracts indicated four phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, quercetol and kaempferol), in different concentrations, whereas sinapic acid was only detected in the ivy fruit extract. The antifungal activity of the fresh flower extract was stronger than that of the fresh fruit extract and was compared to that of an antimycotic drug.
Identification and quantitative analysis of the phenolic compounds from Hedera helix L. (ivy) flower and fruit ethanol extracts by LC/MS, in vitro germination and growth inhibition effects on ...Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. tulipae, Penicillium gladioli and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum were performed. In the non-hydrolyzed samples of flower and fruit extracts were determined, in different amounts, five polyphenols (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutoside, quercetol and kaempferol) while quercitrin was identified only in the ivy flower extract. The hydrolyzed samples of the same ivy extracts indicated four phenolic compounds (p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, quercetol and kaempferol), in different concentrations, whereas sinapic acid was only detected in the ivy fruit extract. The antifungal activity of the fresh flower extract was stronger than that of the fresh fruit extract and was compared to that of an antimycotic drug.
Medicinal plants are often used as reducing agents to prepare metal nanoparticles through green-synthesis due to natural compounds and their potential as chemotherapeutic drugs. Thus, three types of ...eco-friendly Ag-MnO2 nanoparticles (Ag-MnO2NPs) were synthesized using C. majus (CmNPs), V. minor (VmNPs), and a 1:1 mixture of the two extracts (MNPs). These NPs were characterized using S/TEM, EDX, XRD, and FTIR methods, and their biological activity was assessed in vitro on normal keratinocytes (HaCaT) and skin melanoma cells (A375). All synthesized NPs had manganese oxide in the middle, and silver oxide and plant extract on the exterior. The NPs had different forms (polygonal, oval, and spherical), uniformly distributed, with crystalline structures and different sizes (9.3 nm for MNPs; 10 nm for VmNPs, and 32.4 nm for CmNPs). The best results were obtained with VmNPs, which reduced the viability of A375 cells up 38.8% and had a moderate cytotoxic effect on HaCaT (46.4%) at concentrations above 500 µg/mL. At the same concentrations, CmNPs had a rather proliferative effect, whereas MNPs negatively affected both cell lines. For the first time, this paper proved the synergistic action of the combined C. majus and V. minor extracts to form small and uniformly distributed Ag-MnO2NPs with high potential for selective treatments.
Microbial infections affect both the human population and animals. The appearance of more and more microbial strains resistant to classical treatments led to the need to develop new treatments.
...plants are known for their antimicrobial properties due to their high content of thiosulfinates, especially allicin, polyphenols or flavonoids. The hydroalcoholic extracts of six
species obtained by cold percolation were analyzed regarding their phytochemical compounds and antimicrobial activity. Among the six extracts,
L. and
L. have similar contents of thiosulfinates (approx. 300 μg allicin equivalents/g), and the contents of polyphenols and flavonoids were different between the tested species. The HPLC-DAD method was used to detail the phytochemical composition of species rich in thiosulfinates.
is richer in allicin (280 μg/g) than
(130 μg/g). The antimicrobial activity of
and
extracts against
,
,
and
can be correlated with the presence of large amounts of thiosulfinates. Both extracts have shown results against
species (inhibition zones of 20-35 mm) and against Gram-positive bacteria,
(inhibition zones of 15-25 mm). These results demonstrate the antimicrobial effect of the extracts and suggest their use as an adjuvant treatment for microbial infections.