Angiogenic activity of latex from Euphorbia tirucalliLinnaeus 1753 (Plantae, Euphorbiaceae)

Natural rubber latex-based biomaterials for drug delivery and regenerative medicine: Trends and directions

Natural Rubber Latex (NRL) has shown to be a promising biomaterial for use as a drug delivery system to release various bioactive compounds. It is cost-effective, easy to handle, biocompatible, and exhibits pro-angiogenic and pro-healing properties for both soft and hard tissues. NRL releases compounds following burst and sustained release kinetics, exhibiting first-order release kinetics. Moreover, its pore density can be adjusted for tailored kinetics profiles. In addition, biotechnological applications of NRL in amblyopia, smart mattresses, and neovaginoplasty have demonstrated success. This comprehensive review explores NRL's diverse applications in biotechnology and biomedicine, addressing challenges in translating research into clinical practice. Organized into eight sections, the review emphasizes NRL's potential in wound healing, drug delivery, and metallic nanoparticle synthesis. It also addresses the challenges in enhancing NRL's physical properties and discusses its interactions with the human immune system. Furthermore, examines NRL's potential in creating wearable medical devices and biosensors for neurological disorders. To fully explore NRL's potential in addressing important medical conditions, we emphasize throughout this review the importance of interdisciplinary research and collaboration. In conclusion, this review advances our understanding of NRL's role in biomedical and biotechnological applications, offering insights into its diverse applications and promising opportunities for future development.

Graphene oxide-encapsulated baghdadite nanocomposite improved physical, mechanical, and biological properties of a vancomycin-loaded PMMA bone cement

Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) bone cement is commonly used in orthopedic surgeries to fill the bone defects or fix the prostheses. These cements are usually containing amounts of a nonbioactive radiopacifying agent such as barium sulfate and zirconium dioxide, which does not have a good interface compatibility with PMMA, and the clumps formed from these materials can scratch metal counterfaces. In this work, graphene oxide encapsulated baghdadite (GOBgh) nanoparticles were applied as radiopacifying and bioactive agent in a PMMA bone cement containing 2 wt.% of vancomycin (VAN). The addition of 20 wt.% of GOBgh (GOBgh20) nanoparticles to PMMA powder caused a 33.6% increase in compressive strength and a 70.9% increase in elastic modulus compared to the Simplex® P bone cement, and also enhanced the setting properties, radiopacity, antibacterial activity, and the apatite formation in simulated body fluid. In vitro cell assessments confirmed the increase in adhesion and proliferation of MG-63 cells as well as the osteogenic differentiation of human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells on the surface of PMMA-GOBgh20 cement. The chorioallantoic membrane assay revealed the excellent angiogenesis activity of nanocomposite cement samples. In vivo experiments on a rat model also demonstrated the mineralization and bone integration of PMMA-GOBgh20 cement within four weeks. Based on the promising results obtained, PMMA-GOBgh20 bone cement is suggested as an optimal sample for use in orthopedic surgeries.

Keratin- and VEGF-Incorporated Honey-Based Sponge-Nanofiber Dressing: An Ideal Construct for Wound Healing

To overcome the drawbacks of single-layered wound dressings, bilayer dressings are now introduced as an alternative to achieve effective and long-term treatment. Here, a bilayer dressing composed of electrospun nanofibers in the bottom layer (BL) and a sponge structure as the top layer (TL) is presented. Hydrophilic poly(acrylic acid) (PAAc)-honey (Hny) with interconnected pores of 76.04 μm was prepared as the TL and keratin (Kr), Hny, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were prepared as the BL. VEGF indicates a gradual release over 7 days, promoting angiogenesis, as proven by the chick chorioallantoic membrane assay and in vivo tissue histomorphology observation. Additionally, the fabricated dressing material indicated a satisfactory tensile profile, cytocompatibility for human keratinocyte cells, and the ability to promote cell attachment and migration. The in vivo animal model demonstrated that the full-thickness wound healed faster when it was covered with PAAc-Hny/Hny-Kr-VEGF than in other groups. Additionally, faster blood vessel formation, collagen synthetization, and epidermal layer generation were also confirmed, which have proven efficient healing acceleration in wounds treated with synthesized bilayer dressings. Our findings indicated that the fabricated material can be promising as a functional wound dressing.

An antibacterial Multi-Layered scaffold fabricated by 3D printing and electrospinning methodologies for skin tissue regeneration

A multi-layered scaffold can mimic the hierarchical structure of the skin, accelerate the wound healing, and protect the skin against contamination and infection. In this study, a three-layered (3L) scaffold was manufactured through a combination of 3D printing and electrospinning technique. A top layer of polyurethane (PU) nanofibrous coating for the prevention of micro-organism penetration was created through electrospining. The middle layer was prepared through the 3D printing of Pluronic F127-quaternized chitosan-silver nitrate nanoparticles (F127-QCS-AgNO3), as the porous absorbent and antibacterial layer. A bottom layer of core-shell nanofibrous structure of F127-mupirocin/pectin-keratin (F127-Mup/Pec-Kr) for tissue regeneration and enable antibacterial activity was coated onto the middle layer. A range of techniques were applied to fully characterize the resultant structure. The average tensile strength and elastic modulus of the 3L scaffold were measured as 0.65 ± 0.08 MPa and 9.37 ± 2.33 MPa, respectively. The release of Ag ions, mupirocin (Mup), and the antibacterial activity of the dressings was investigated. According to the results, the highest rate of cell adhesion and viability, and angiogenic potential among the studied samples were related to the 3L scaffold, which was also found to significantly accelerate the wound healing.

Antiangiogenic Potential of Troxerutin and Chitosan Loaded Troxerutin on Chorioallantoic Membrane Model

Angiogenesis is crucial to the development of cancer because it allows the transport of oxygen, nutrients, and growth factors as well as the spread of tumors to distant organs. Inhibitors of angiogenesis prevent the formation of blood vessels that allow tumor cells to shrink, rather than promote tumor growth. Chitosan acts as a carrier for many drugs, since the compound has various properties such as biodegradable, less toxicity, more stable, simple, easy to prepare, and biocompatible. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the efficacy of chitosan nanoparticles encapsulated with troxerutin (Chi-Trox NPs) against angiogenesis and cancer in ova chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model. Chi-Trox NPs were synthesized using a nanoprecipitation method and were characterized by various analyses. 24 hours' fertilized eggs (6 eggs/group) were treated with native Trox and Chi-Trox NPs for 5 days. The antiangiogenic activity was evaluated by morphometric, histopathological, immunohistochemical (CD104 and vimentin), and mRNA expression of MMP and FGF2 using RT-PCR. The anticancer activity was evaluated by histopathological, immunohistochmical (CD44), and mRNA expression of FGF2 and MMP. The synthesized chitosan NPs were successfully encapsulated with troxerutin, and the loading efficiency of chitosan NPs was found to be 86.4 ± 0.12% and 13.2 ± 0.16% respectively. Morphometric analysis of Chi-Trox NPs showed a considerable decrease in the number of blood vessels compared with control and native Trox. The histopathological observation of CAM confirmed that Chi-Trox NPs induce a significant reduction in inflammatory cells and the thickness of blood capillaries compared to control and native Trox. The immunohistochemical evaluation of CAM revealed Chi-Trox decreased CD104, vimentin and CD44 protein levels were compared with control and native Trox. Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of FGF2 and MMP were significantly downregulated compared to their native forms. From the obtained results, Chi-Trox NPs possess significant inhibition of angiogenesis and can be used as therapeutic agents for cancer in the future.

Tap the sap - investigation of latex-bearing plants in the search of potential anticancer biopharmaceuticals

Latex-bearing plants have been in the research spotlight for the past couple of decades. Since ancient times their extracts have been used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. Currently they serve as promising candidates for cancer treatment. Up to date there have been several in vitro and in vivo studies related to the topic of cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of extracts from latex-bearing plants towards various cell types. The number of clinical studies still remains scarce, however, over the years the number is systematically increasing. To the best of our knowledge, the scientific community is still lacking in a recent review summarizing the research on the topic of cytotoxicity and anticancer activity of latex-bearing plant extracts. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review the current knowledge on in vitro and in vivo studies, which focus on the cytotoxicity and anticancer activities of latex-bearing plants. The vast majority of the studies are in vitro, however, the interest in this topic has resulted in the substantial growth of the number of in vivo studies, leading to a promising number of plant species whose latex can potentially be tested in clinical trials. The paper is divided into sections, each of them focuses on specific latex-bearing plant family representatives and their potential anticancer activity, which in some instances is comparable to that induced by commonly used therapeutics currently available on the market. The cytotoxic effect of the plant's crude latex, its fractions or isolated compounds, is analyzed, along with a study of cell apoptosis, chromatin condensation, DNA damage, changes in gene regulation and morphology changes, which can be observed in cell post plant extract addition. The in vivo studies go beyond the molecular level by showing significant reduction of the tumor growth and volume in animal models. Additionally, we present data regarding plant-mediated biosynthesis of nanoparticles, which is regarded as a new branch in plant latex research. It is solely based on the green-synthesis approach, which presents an interesting alternative to chemical-based nanoparticle synthesis. We have analyzed the cytotoxic effect of these particles on cells. Data regarding the cytotoxicity of such particles raises their potential to be involved in the design of novel cancer therapies, which further underlines the significance of latex-bearing plants in biotechnology. Throughout the course of this review, we concluded that plant latex is a rich source of many compounds, which can be further investigated and applied in the design of anticancer pharmaceuticals. The molecules, to which this cytotoxic effect can be attributed, include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, proteases, nucleases and many novel compounds, which still remain to be characterized. They have been studied extensively in both in vitro and in vivo studies, which provide an excellent starting point for their rapid transfer to clinical studies in the near future. The comprehensive study of molecules from latex-bearing plants can result in finding a promising alternative to several pharmaceuticals on the market and help unravel the molecular mode of action of latex-based preparations.

Euphorbia species latex: A comprehensive review on phytochemistry and biological activities

The genus Euphorbia includes about 2,000 species commonly widespread in both temperate and tropical zones that contain poisonous milky juice fluid or latex. Many species have been used in traditional and complementary medicine for the treatment of various health issues such as dropsy, paralysis, deafness, wounds, warts on the skin, and amaurosis. The medicinal applications of these species have been attributed to the presence of various compounds, and most studies on Euphorbia species have focused on their latex. In this review, we summarize the current state of knowledge on chemical composition and biological activities of the latex from various species of the genus Euphorbia. Our aim was to explore the applications of latex extracts in the medical field and to evaluate their ethnopharmacological potential. The databases employed for data collection, are obtained through Web of Science, PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct and Scopus, from 1983 to 2022. The bibliographic data indicate that terpenoids are the most common secondary metabolites in the latex. Furthermore, the latex has interesting biological properties and pharmacological functions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, free radical scavenger, cytotoxic, tumor, anti-inflammatory, healing, hemostatic, anti-angiogenic, insecticidal, genotoxic, and mutagenic activities. However, the role of other components in the latex, such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, saponins, and flavonoids, remains unknown, which limits the application of the latex. Future studies are required to optimize the therapeutic use of latex extracts.

Effect of aqueous extracts of Ficus vogeliana Miq and Tieghemella africana Pierre in 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene -induced skin cancer in rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality. Tieghemella africana and Ficus vogeliana are used in traditional medicine to treat cancers.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the antioxidant, antiangiogenic and anti-tumor activities of these plant extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To achieve it, phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity and antiangiogenic activity were assessed. Thereafter, the anti-tumor activity was determined using skin tumorigenesis induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene.

RESULTS

The phytochemical result analysis showed that both plant extracts were rich in polyphenols, alkaloids and terpene compounds and possessed good antioxidant activity based on DPPH radical scavenging (IC₅₀ = 9.70 μg/mL and 4.60 μg/mL and AAI values of 5.20 and 10.88) and strong total antioxidant capacity (115.44 VtCE (mg)/g of dry plant extract and 87.37 VtCE (mg)/g of dry plant extract, respectively). Additionally, both plant extracts possessed antiangiogenic activities (IC₅₀ = 53.43 μg/mL and 92.68 μg/mL, respectively), which correlated with significant antitumor activities when using 35 mg/kg (65.02% and 77.54%) and 70 mg/kg of extracts (81.07% and 88.18%).

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, this study illustrates the promising usage of Tieghemella africana and Ficus vogeliana plant extracts in treating skin cancer. However, further characterization of the extracts must be performed to isolate the most active anticancer compound.

Inhibitory Effects of Euphorbia tirucalli Lineu (Euphorbiaceae) Diluted Latex on Human and Canine Melanoma Cells

Euphorbia tirucalli Lineu (Euphorbiaceae) is a tropical and subtropical ornamental and toxic plant. E. tirucalli produces a latex that is commonly used to treat neoplasms. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of diluted E. tirucalli latex (DETL) on human (SK-MEL-28) and canine (CBMY) melanoma cells. SK-MEL-28 (3 × 10³ cells/well) and CBMY (6 × 10³ cells/well) were cultivated in 96-well plates. The cells were treated with 50 μl/well of dilutions (1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256, and 1/512) of a standard solution containing 1 mg/mL of the E. tirucalli latex (ETL) in DMEM. Control group cells received 50 μl/well of DMEM. After 24, 48, and 72 h of treatment, cell viability was assessed by the MTT assay. There was a significant decrease in viability at 48 and 72 hours after treatment for human melanoma cells and at 24, 48, and 72 hours for canine cells, mainly in higher dilutions of ETL. Human melanoma cells presented a typical U shape curve, characteristic of hormesis. To our knowledge, this is the first study showing inhibitory effects of DETL on canine melanoma cells. Therefore, DETL is a potentially new antineoplastic drug.

Developing affordable and accessible pro-angiogenic wound dressings; incorporation of 2 deoxy D-ribose (2dDR) into cotton fibres and wax-coated cotton fibres

The absorption capacity of cotton dressings is a critical factor in their widespread use where they help absorb wound exudate. Cotton wax dressings, in contrast, are used for wounds where care is taken to avoid adhesion of dressings to sensitive wounds such as burn injuries. Accordingly, we explored the loading of 2-deoxy-D-ribose (2dDR), a small sugar, which stimulates angiogenesis and wound healing in normal and diabetic rats, into both types of dressings and measured the release of it over several days. The results showed that approximately 90% of 2dDR was released between 3 and 5 days when loaded into cotton dressings. For wax-coated cotton dressings, several methods of loading of 2dDR were explored. A strategy similar to the commercial wax coating methodology was found the best protocol which provided a sustained release over 5 days. Cytotoxicity analysis of 2dDR loaded cotton dressing showed that the dressing stimulated metabolic activity of fibroblasts over 7 days confirming the non-toxic nature of this sugar-loaded dressings. The results of the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay demonstrated a strong angiogenic response to both 2dDR loaded cotton dressing and to 2dDR loaded cotton wax dressings. Both dressings were found to increase the number of newly formed blood vessels significantly when observed macroscopically and histologically. We conclude this study offers a simple approach to developing affordable wound dressings as both have the potential to be evaluated as pro-active dressings to stimulate wound healing in wounds where management of exudate or prevention of adherence to the wounds are clinical requirements.