Ultrasonically-Assisted and Conventional Extraction from Erodium Glaucophyllum Roots Using Ethanol:Water Mixtures: Phenolic Characterization, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

Use of sisal industrial waste (Agave sisalana Perrine) in sustainable and multifunctional cosmetic products

OBJECTIVE

Sisal is a common stiff fibre produced around the world, corresponding to approximately 70% of the commercial production of all fibres of this type. The fibres are extracted from the leaves of Agave sisalana, from which approximately 4% of their weight is obtained, with the remaining 96% considered to be residues from the process of the sisal industry. The objective of this work was to obtain a polyphenol-enriched extract from the A. sisalana residue by ultrasonically assisted extraction, characterize it chemically, evaluate in vitro antioxidant activity, and develop safe and stable photoprotective formulations for future application in cosmetic preparations.

METHODS

Ultrasonic extraction of solid plant material was performed using 50% ethanol/water (v/v). The extract was chemically characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography equipment associated with classical molecular networking and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant activity by different methodologies. Ten formulations were prepared, varying the component concentrations and the shear time. The 1.0% sisal extract was incorporated into the most stable formulations, and preliminary and accelerated stability were evaluated. The emulsions were investigated for safety by assessment of primary accumulated dermal irritability and sensitization and a dermatological clinical study of phototoxicity and photosensitization. The photoprotective formulations containing or not containing the extract that were stable after 90 days had their in vivo sun protection factor (SPF), UVA protection factor, critical wavelength, and protection against visible and blue light determined.

RESULTS

Ultrasound extraction using 50% ethanol/water (EH 50) as an extractor vehicle showed the best yield. The extract exhibited a concentration of phenolic compounds (77.93 mg of equivalent to the standard gallic acid/g) and showed in vitro antioxidant activity. Emulsions without and with 1.0% sisal extract remained stable and safe. The addition of the extract to the photoprotective formulation statistically increased the SPF when compared to the formulation without the extract and offered protection against UVA radiation, critical wavelengths, and absorption of visible and blue light.

CONCLUSION

Based on the findings, the solid residue of A. sisalana may be indicated as a component of photoprotective and antioxidant cosmetic formulations.

Molecular Evidence of Breast Cancer Cell Proliferation Inhibition by a Combination of Selected Qatari Medicinal Plants Crude Extracts

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common malignancy, and conventional medicine has failed to establish efficient treatment modalities. Conventional medicine failed due to lack of knowledge of the mechanisms that underpin the onset and metastasis of tumors, as well as resistance to treatment regimen. However, Complementary and Alternative medicine (CAM) modalities are currently drawing the attention of both the public and health professionals. Our study examined the effect of a super-combination (SC) of crude extracts, which were isolated from three selected Qatari medicinal plants, on the proliferation, motility and death of BC cells. Our results revealed that SC attenuated cell growth and caused the cell death of MDA-MB-231 cancer cells when compared to human normal neonatal fibroblast cells. On the other hand, functional assays showed that SC reduced BC cell migration and invasion, respectively. SC-inhibited cell cycle and SC-regulated apoptosis was most likely mediated by p53/p21 pathway and p53-regulated Bax/BCL-2/Caspace-3 pathway. Our ongoing experiments aim to validate these in vitro findings in vivo using a BC-Xenograft mouse model. These findings support our hypothesis that SC inhibited BC cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. These findings lay the foundation for further experiments, aiming to validate SC as an effective chemoprevention and/or chemotherapeutic strategy that can ultimately pave the way towards translational research/clinical trials for the eradication of BC.

Therapeutic Effect of Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles Using Erodium glaucophyllum Extract against Oral Candidiasis: In Vitro and In Vivo Study

Oral candidiasis (OC) is a fungal infection caused by an opportunistic fungi Candida albicans, which is found in the normal flora of healthy people. In this study, we examined the anti-candidal effect of green synthesized silver nanoparticles using leaf extract of Erodium glaucophyllum (EG-AgNPs) against C. albicans in vitro and in vivo. EG-AgNPs were synthesized for the first time using E. glaucophyllum extract and characterized by imaging (transmission electron microscopy (TEM), UV-VIS spectroscopy, zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Energy dispersive x-ray analysis (EDX), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). A mouse model of OC was used for in vivo study. The agar well diffusion method showed the anti-candidal activity of EG-AgNPs against C. albicans with MIC 50 µg/mL. EG-AgNPs inhibited the dimorphic transition of C. albicans and suppressed the formation of biofilm by 56.36% and 52%, respectively. Additionally, EG-AgNPs significantly inhibited the production of phospholipases and proteinases by 30% and 45%, respectively. EG-AgNPs cause cytoplasm disintegration and deterioration of cell wall as imaged by SEM and TEM. Interestingly, EG-AgNPs did not display any cytotoxicity on the human gingival fibroblast-1 HGF-1 cell line at MIC concentrations. Topical treatment of the tongue of the OC mouse model with EG-AgNPs showed significant reduction in candidal tissue invasion, less inflammatory changes, and no tissue modification, in association with marked low scare and hyphal counts as compared to control group. In conclusion, our data demonstrated the potent inhibitory action of EG-AgNPs on the growth and morphogenesis of C. albicans in vitro and in vivo. Thus, EG-AgNPs represent a novel plausible therapeutic approach for treatment of OC.

Lactobacillus casei extracellular vesicles stimulate EGFR pathway likely due to the presence of proteins P40 and P75 bound to their surface

In the complex interplay of beneficial bacteria with the host, there are few examples of bacterial metabolites and effector molecules that have been consistently identified. Protective effects on the intestinal epithelium have been ascribed to P40 and P75, two well characterized cell wall muramidases, present in the culture supernatant of strains belonging to the taxon Lactobacillus casei/paracasei/rhamnosus. This work reports that Lactobacillus casei BL23 extracellular vesicles (BL23 EVs) have a small size (17–20 nm or 24–32 nm, depending on the method used) and contain lipoteichoic acid (LTA). Interestingly, all detected P40 and most of P75 were associated to EVs and possibly located at their external surface, as shown by proteinase K digestion. Biosensor assays showed that both proteins bind LTA and vesicles, suggesting that they could bind to ligands like LTA present on BL23 EVs. Native BL23 EVs have a moderate proinflammatory effect and they were able to induce phosphorylation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), showing an effect similar to purified P40 and P75 and leading to the conclusion that the activity described in the supernatant (postbiotic) of these bacteria would be mainly due to P40 and P75 bound to EVs.

Bacterial growth and biological properties of Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Ziziphus lotus are modulated by extraction conditions

The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial activity and biological properties of two traditional Saharian plants (Cymbopogon schoenanthus and Ziziphus lotus). The plant extracts were obtained by using a different combination of extraction methods (conventional vs. ultrasound-assisted) and solvents (water vs. ethanol:water (50:50, v/v)). The antioxidant profile, anti-inflammatory activity and impact on bacterial growth (foodborne and probiotic bacteria) of the obtained extracts were assessed. The plant species showed the hierarchically more important role in determining the biological properties of the extracts, followed by extraction solvent and extraction conditions. Conventional Z. lotus hydroethanolic extracts showed the highest total phenolic content (20.4 mg GAE/g), while Z. lotus ethanol extracts from ultrasound-assisted process presented the highest content of carotenoids (0.15 mg/g). In addition, ultrasound-assisted Z. lotus hydroethanolic extracts presented the highest in vitro radical scavenging activity, being 7.93 mmol Trolox/g. Multivariate analysis statistics (PCA) showed that both the extraction methodology and the solvent used strongly affected the bacterial growth. Z. lotus mainly decreased the growth rate of S. aureus and L. innocua. Interestingly, the aqueous extracts of this plant as well as those from C. schoenanthus, obtained by conventional extraction, significantly increased the growth rate and the maximal optical density of L. casei. Aqueous extracts of both Z. lotus and C. schoenanthus slightly influenced the growth of Bifidobacterium. Overall, the extracts of these plants showed selective activities with respect to pathogens and probiotic bacteria and may provide an advantage both in terms of antimicrobial and prebiotic activity.