Biological Evaluation of Black Chokeberry Extract Free and Embedded in Two Mesoporous Silica-Type Matrices

Recent development of carrier materials in anthocyanins encapsulation applications: A comprehensive literature review

Anthocyanins are natural polyphenols belonging to the flavonoid family that possess a variety of putative health benefits when consumed in a balanced diet. However, applications of anthocyanins in, for example, functional foods are limited due to poor stability, degradation, and low transmembrane efficiency. To maintain bioactivities of anthocyanins and optimize their use, various carrier materials have been developed. Here, we reviewed the uses of the different carrier materials (organic/inorganic, micro/nano) for anthocyanin encapsulation and delivery over the past five years. The performance of different materials and interactions between anthocyanins and these materials are described. Lastly, we give our perspective on the future development trend of anthocyanin encapsulation strategies.

The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Wild Bilberry Fruit Extracts Embedded in Mesoporous Silica-Type Supports: A Stability Study

Polyphenolic extracts from wild bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) have shown antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, but they are prone to degradation when exposed to environmental factors, limiting their use in biomedical applications. To overcome this issue, this study proposed the embedding of wild bilberry fruit ethanolic extracts in pristine mesoporous silica functionalized with organic groups (mercaptopropyl and propionic acid), as well as coated with fucoidan, a biopolymer. Herein, we report a stability study of free and incorporated extracts in mesoporous silica-type supports in high-humidity atmospheres at 40 °C up to 28 days, using HPLC analysis, thermal analysis, and radical scavenging activity determination. Better chemical and thermal stability over time was observed when the extracts were incorporated in mesoporous silica-type supports. After 12 months of storage, higher values of antioxidant activity were determined for the extract embedded in the supports, silica modified with mercaptopropyl groups (MCM-SH), and fucoidan-coated silica (MCM-SH-Fuc) than that of the free extract due to a synergistic activity between the support and extract. All encapsulated extracts demonstrated remarkable effects in reducing NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. The treatment with extract embedded in MCM-SH-Fuc in a dose of 10 μg/mL surpassed the effect of free extract in the same concentration. For the extract encapsulated in an MCM-SH support, a lower IC50 value (0.69 μg/mL) towards COX-2 was obtained, comparable with that of Indomethacin (0.6 μg/mL). Also, this sample showed a higher selectivity index (2.71) for COX-2 than the reference anti-inflammatory drug (0.98). The developed formulations with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties could be further used in nutraceuticals.

Recent Updates Regarding the Antiproliferative Activity of Galium verum Extracts on A375 Human Malignant Melanoma Cell Line

The biological activity of Galium verum herba was exerted on various tumor cell lines with incredible results, but their potential effect on malignant melanoma has not been established yet. Therefore, the current study was structured in two directions: (i) the investigation of the phytochemical profile of diethyl ether (GvDEE) and butanol (GvBuOH) extracts of G. verum L. and (ii) the evaluation of their biological profile on A375 human malignant melanoma cell line. The GvDEE extract showed an FT-IR profile different from the butanol one, with high antioxidant capacity (EC50 of GvDEE = 0.12 ± 0.03 mg/mL > EC50 of GvBuOH = 0.18 ± 0.05 mg/mL). The GvDEE extract also showed antimicrobial potential, especially against Gram-positive bacteria strains, compared to the butanol extract, which has no antimicrobial activity against any bacterial strain tested. The results regarding the antitumor potential showed that both extracts decreased A375 cell viability largely (69% at a dose of 55 µg/mL of the GvDEE extract). Moreover, both extracts induce nuclear fragmentation by forming apoptotic bodies and slight chromatin condensation, which is more intense for GvDEE. Considering the results, one can state that the Galium verum herba possesses antitumor effects on the A375 human malignant melanoma cell line, a promising phytocompound for the antitumor approach to skin cancer.

Phytochemical and Nutraceutical Screening of Ethanol and Ethyl Acetate Phases of Romanian Galium verum Herba (Rubiaceae)

Galium species are used worldwide for their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and antiparasitic properties. Although this plant has demonstrated its antitumor properties on various types of cancer, its biological activity on cutaneous melanoma has not been established so far. Therefore, the present study was designed to investigate the phytochemical profile of two extracts of G. verum L. herba (ethanolic and ethyl acetate) as well as the biological profile (antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor effects) on human skin cancer. The extracts showed similar FT-IR phenolic profiles (high chlorogenic acid, isoquercitrin, quercitrin, and rutin), with high antioxidant capacity (EC50 of ethyl acetate phase (0.074 ± 0.01 mg/mL) > ethanol phase (0.136 ± 0.03 mg/mL)). Both extracts showed antimicrobial activity, especially against Gram-positive Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus bacilli strains, the ethyl acetate phase being more active. Regarding the in vitro antitumor test, the results revealed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against A375 melanoma cell lines, more pronounced in the case of the ethyl acetate phase. In addition, the ethyl acetate phase stimulated the proliferation of human keratinocytes (HaCaT), while this effect was not evident in the case of the ethanolic phase at 24 h post-stimulation. Consequently, G. verum l. could be considered a promising phytocompound for the antitumor approach of cutaneous melanoma.

Microencapsulated Bilberry and Chokeberry Leaf Extracts with Potential Health Benefits

The aim of the research was to develop microencapsulated powders of bilberry and chokeberry extracts via the spray drying technique. Two biopolymers, pectin alone and in combination with HP-β-CD, were used to preserve the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, photoprotective, and antimicrobial bioactivity of the berry leaf extracts. Moreover, the formed powders were characterized in terms of technological, chemical, and several biological properties. The obtained micro-sized powders (mean average particle diameter from 3.83 to 5.94 µm) demonstrated a process yield of up to 73%. The added biopolymers improved the flowability and cohesive properties of the powders and increased their thermal stability to 170 °C. The total content of polyphenolics in the powders ranged from 323.35 to 367.76 mg GAE/g DW for bilberry and from 186.85 to 227.59 mg GAE/g DW for chokeberry powders; meanwhile, chlorogenic acid was the predominant compound in powders. All samples showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 values ranged from 5.00 to 19.59 µg/mL) compared with the reference standard. The study confirmed that spray drying is a suitable method for the preservation of the polyphenolic-rich extracts, while the addition of carriers has a positive effect on the improvement of microencapsulated powders' properties.

Optimisation of Polyphenols Extraction from Wild Bilberry Leaves-Antimicrobial Properties and Stability Studies

Polyphenolic extracts from natural sources have received great interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. A method to reduce their variability is to use the design of experiments which allows a limited number of experiments to be performed while exploring the experimental space. Firstly, a 23-full factorial model was used to investigate the polyphenols extraction from wild bilberry leaves. Spectrophotometric data (the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, chlorophyll and radical scavenger activity) and extraction yield were used as responses, and six statistical models were determined depending on the two numerical factors (temperature and alcohol % of ethanol-water mixture) being significant (p < 0.05) in all cases. Numerical optimisation performed by Design Expert 13 software correlates well with the chemical profile determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and the amount of the polyphenol. Afterwards, under the optimised conditions, an extract was prepared in three extraction steps for which composition, chemical stability and antimicrobial properties were evaluated. The antimicrobial potential of the extract was compared with that of the standard compounds (rutin and chlorogenic acid), and the results supported a synergistic effect of the extract components.

Health Benefits of Antioxidant Bioactive Compounds in the Fruits and Leaves of Lonicera caerulea L. and Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot

Lonicera caerulaea L. and Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliot fruits are frequently used for their health benefits as they are rich in bioactive compounds. They are recognized as a source of natural and valuable phytonutrients, which makes them a superfood. L. caerulea presents antioxidant activity three to five times higher than other berries which are more commonly consumed, such as blackberries or strawberries. In addition, their ascorbic acid level is the highest among fruits. The species A. melanocarpa is considered one of the richest known sources of antioxidants, surpassing currants, cranberries, blueberries, elderberries, and gooseberries, and contains one of the highest amounts of sorbitol. The non-edible leaves of genus Aronia became more extensively analyzed as a byproduct or waste material due to their high polyphenol, flavonoid, and phenolic acid content, along with a small amount of anthocyanins, which are used as ingredients in nutraceuticals, herbal teas, bio-cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, food and by the pharmaceutical industry. These plants are a rich source of vitamins, tocopherols, folic acid, and carotenoids. However, they remain outside of mainstream fruit consumption, being well known only to a small audience. This review aims to shed light on L. caerulaea and A. melanocarpa and their bioactive compounds as healthy superfoods with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antimicrobial, and anti-diabetic effects, and hepato-, cardio-, and neuro-protective potential. In this view, we hope to promote their cultivation and processing, increase their commercial availability, and also highlight the ability of these species to be used as potential nutraceutical sources, helpful for human health.

Nanoplatforms for Irinotecan Delivery Based on Mesoporous Silica Modified with a Natural Polysaccharide

Natural compounds are an important source of beneficial components that could be used in cancer therapy along with well-known cytostatic agents to enhance the therapeutic effect while targeting tumoral tissues. Therefore, nanoplatforms containing mesoporous silica and a natural polysaccharide, ulvan, extracted from Ulva Lactuca seaweed, were developed for irinotecan. Either mesoporous silica-ulvan nanoplatforms or irinotecan-loaded materials were structurally and morphologically characterized. In vitro drug release experiments in phosphate buffer solution with a pH of 7.6 emphasized the complete recovery of irinotecan in 8 h. Slower kinetics were obtained for the nanoplatforms with a higher amount of natural polysaccharide. Ulvan extract proved to be biocompatible up to 2 mg/mL on fibroblasts L929 cell line. The irinotecan-loaded nanoplatforms exhibited better anticancer activity than that of the drug alone on human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT-29), reducing their viability to 60% after 24 h. Moreover, the cell cycle analysis proved that the irinotecan loading onto developed nanoplatforms caused an increase in the cell number trapped at G0/G1 phase and influenced the development of the tumoral cells.

Antioxidant-Loaded Mesoporous Silica-An Evaluation of the Physicochemical Properties

The dangerous effects of oxidative stress can be alleviated by antioxidants—substances with the ability to prevent damage caused by reactive oxygen species. The adsorption of antioxidants onto nanocarriers is a well-known method that might protect them against rough environ-mental conditions. The aim of this study was to investigate the adsorption and desorption of gallic acid (GA), protocatechuic acid (PCA), chlorogenic acid (CGA), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA) using commercially available mesoporous silica materials (MSMs), both parent (i.e., SBA-15 and MCM-41) and surface functionalized (i.e., SBA-NH2 and SBA-SH). The MSMs loaded with active compounds were characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermoporometry (TPM), and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-CAD) was used to evaluate the performance of the adsorption and desorption processes. The antioxidant potential was investigated using the Folin−Ciocalteu (FC) spectrophotometric method. Among the studied MSMs, the highest adsorption of GA was observed for amine-modified SBA-15 mesoporous silica. The adsorption capacity of SBA-NH2 increased in the order of PCA, 4-HBA < GA < CGA. Different desorption effectiveness levels of the adsorbed compounds were observed with the antioxidant capacity preserved for all investigated compounds.

Antimicrobial activity, in vitro anticancer effect (MCF-7 breast cancer cell line), antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory potentials of Populus nigra L. buds extract

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential, antimicrobial activity, the in vitro anticancer effect (tested on MCF-7 breast cancer cell line), as well as the antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory potential of Populus nigra L. bud (Pg) extract collected from the western part of Romania.

RESULTS

Populus nigra L. bud extract presents an important antioxidant activity, due to the rich phytochemical composition. Regarding the biological activity, results have shown that poplar bud extract presents a significant inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria and a dose-dependent decrease of MCF-7 tumor cell viability with an IC₅₀ of 66.26 μg/mL, while not affecting healthy cells. Phenomena of early apoptotic events at the maximum concentration tested (150 μg/mL) were detected by Annexin V-PI double staining. The extract induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest. In addition, Pg extract showed antiangiogenic potential on the chorioallantoic membrane. Also, at the highest concentration (150 μg/mL), good tolerability and no signs of toxicity upon vascular plexus were observed. Moreover, in low concentrations, the Pg extract had immunomodulatory activity on primary human dendritic cells by upregulating IL-12 and IL-23 subunits.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that poplar bud extract elicited antioxidant activity, antitumor properties on the breast cancer cell line, followed by an antiangiogenic effect and an immunomodulatory potential on human primary dendritic cells. The biological activity of Populus nigra L. buds extract may open new directions of research on the topic addressed.

Mesoporous Calcium-Silicate Nanoparticles Loaded with Low-Dose Triton-100+Ag+ to Achieve Both Enhanced Antibacterial Properties and Low Cytotoxicity for Dentin Disinfection of Human Teeth

Mesoporous calcium-silicate nanoparticles (MCSNs) are excellent biomaterials for controlled drug delivery and mineralization induction. In this study, MCSNs were loaded with low-dose silver ion (Ag⁺) and Triton X-100 (TX-100) as the M-AgTX to achieve both enhanced antibacterial properties and low cytotoxicity for dentin disinfection. The physicochemical property, biocompatibility, infiltration ability into dentinal tubules, anti-bacterial ability against both planktonic Enterococcusfaecalis (E. faecalis) and its biofilm on dentin, effects on dentin microhardness and in vitro mineralization property were systematically investigated. Results confirmed that the MCSNs and M-AgTX nanoparticles showed typical morphology of mesoporous materials and exhibited sustained release of chemicals with an alkaline pH value over time. M-AgTX also exhibited excellent biocompatibility on MC3T3-E1 cells and could eliminate 100% planktonic E. faecalis after 48-h treatment. On dentin slices, it could enter dentinal tubules by ultrasonic activation and inhibit the growth of E. faecalis on dentin. M-AgTX could completely inactive 28-day E. faecalis biofilm. TEM confirmed the destruction of cell membrane integrity and Ag⁺ infiltration into bacteria by M-AgTX. Besides, dentin slices medicated with M-AgTX nanoparticles displayed an increased microhardness. After being immersed in SBF for 7 days, apatite crystals could be observed on the surface of the material tablets. M-AgTX could be developed into a new multifunctional intra-canal medication or bone defect filling material for infected bone defects due to its sustained release profile, low cytotoxicity, infiltration ability, enhanced anti-bacterial and mineralization features.

Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles and Mesoporous Bioactive Glasses for Wound Management: From Skin Regeneration to Cancer Therapy

Exploring new therapies for managing skin wounds is under progress and, in this regard, mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) and mesoporous bioactive glasses (MBGs) offer great opportunities in treating acute, chronic, and malignant wounds. In general, therapeutic effectiveness of both MSNs and MBGs in different formulations (fine powder, fibers, composites etc.) has been proved over all the four stages of normal wound healing including hemostasis, inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling. The main merits of these porous substances can be summarized as their excellent biocompatibility and the ability of loading and delivering a wide range of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic bioactive molecules and chemicals. In addition, doping with inorganic elements (e.g., Cu, Ga, and Ta) into MSNs and MBGs structure is a feasible and practical approach to prepare customized materials for improved skin regeneration. Nowadays, MSNs and MBGs could be utilized in the concept of targeted therapy of skin malignancies (e.g., melanoma) by grafting of specific ligands. Since potential effects of various parameters including the chemical composition, particle size/morphology, textural properties, and surface chemistry should be comprehensively determined via cellular in vitro and in vivo assays, it seems still too early to draw a conclusion on ultimate efficacy of MSNs and MBGs in skin regeneration. In this regard, there are some concerns over the final fate of MSNs and MBGs in the wound site plus optimal dosages for achieving the best outcomes that deserve careful investigation in the future.

Symmetrical Antioxidant and Antibacterial Properties of Four Romanian Cruciferous Extracts

Four alcoholic extracts from Romanian Cruciferous species—cabbage, acclimatized broccoli, black radish and cauliflower—were obtained in a microwave field. The extracts showed good and symmetric antioxidant activity (0.97–1.13 mmol/L TE) and good phenolic content (1001–1632 mg GAE/L). For the HPLC method, the limit of detection (LOD), limit of quantitation (LOQ) and recovery degree were established. The small values of LOD and LOQ indicated a great fit of data. The HPLC method achieved satisfactory quantitative recoveries in the range of 96%–122%, except for the lowest sinigrin concentration (8.774 µg/mL). The presence of metals in the studied extracts falls within the allowed limits. The four Cruciferous extracts showed good and slightly asymmetric antibacterial activities against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including strains with known resistance to antibiotics. Moreover, greater inhibitory effects were exhibited against Gram-negative bacteria. Asymmetrically, no inhibition was observed on the fungal strains. Therefore, the present results may suggest that some alcoholic extract formulas of cabbage and black radish (presenting good antibacterial activity) might be helpful in the antimicrobial fight and could be successfully used on selected cases and strains.

Delivery of Natural Agents by Means of Mesoporous Silica Nanospheres as a Promising Anticancer Strategy

Natural prodrugs derived from different natural origins (e.g., medicinal plants, microbes, animals) have a long history in traditional medicine. They exhibit a broad range of pharmacological activities, including anticancer effects in vitro and in vivo. They have potential as safe, cost-effective treatments with few side effects, but are lacking in solubility, bioavailability, specific targeting and have short half-lives. These are barriers to clinical application. Nanomedicine has the potential to offer solutions to circumvent these limitations and allow the use of natural pro-drugs in cancer therapy. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNs) of various morphology have attracted considerable attention in the search for targeted drug delivery systems. MSNs are characterized by chemical stability, easy synthesis and functionalization, large surface area, tunable pore sizes and volumes, good biocompatibility, controlled drug release under different conditions, and high drug-loading capacity, enabling multifunctional purposes. In vivo pre-clinical evaluations, a significant majority of results indicate the safety profile of MSNs if they are synthesized in an optimized way. Here, we present an overview of synthesis methods, possible surface functionalization, cellular uptake, biodistribution, toxicity, loading strategies, delivery designs with controlled release, and cancer targeting and discuss the future of anticancer nanotechnology-based natural prodrug delivery systems.