Efficacy and mechanisms of alpha-solasonine-and alpha-solamargine-induced cytolysis on two strains of Trypanosoma cruzi

Anticancer effects of solasonine: Evidence and possible mechanisms

The effectiveness and safety of traditional Chinese medicine's active ingredients in anti-tumor effects have attracted widespread attention worldwide. Solasonine is the main anti-tumor component of the traditional Chinese medicine Solanum nigrum L, which can inhibit tumor cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, induce ferroptosis in tumor cells, and inhibit of tumor cell metastasis, thereby inhibiting tumor progression. Therefore, we summarized anti-tumor mechanisms and targets of solasonine to provide new ideas and theoretical basis for its further development and application.

Genetic Diversity and Utilization of Cultivated Eggplant Germplasm in Varietal Improvement

Eggplant is the fifth economically most important vegetable in the Solanaceae family after tomato, potato, chili, and tobacco. Apart from the well-cultivated brinjal or aubergine eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), two other underutilized eggplant species, the African eggplant (S. macrocarpon L.) and the scarlet eggplant (S. aethiopicum L.), were also cultivated with local importance where the leaves and fruits are used for food and medicinal purposes. The major objectives of the eggplant breeding program are to improve fruit quality, increase yield performance through heterosis breeding, and introduce pest and disease resistances from wild relatives. Europe and Asia hold a wide collection of germplasm resources with significant potential for genetic improvement. While cultivated eggplant is susceptible to several fungi and bacteria, many wild relatives offer potential resistance to these pathogens. In this paper, we review the genetic resources and diversity of cultivated eggplant and its wild relatives. As a point of departure, we examine the economic importance, domestication, taxonomy characterization, and relationships of the crop and its wild relatives. The importance of evaluating and safeguarding wild relatives is highlighted, as crop wild relatives are highly underrepresented. A key section in this study is an overview dedicated to genetic resources, resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses, pre-breeding, and breeding for sustainable eggplant production.

Assessing the cytotoxic potential of glycoalkaloidic extract in nanoparticles against bladder cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

This study proposed to use the nanotechnology to deliver glycoalkaloidic extract (AE) to bladder cancer cells, evaluating their activity in 2D and 3D models and the biological mechanism of cell death.

METHODS

NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation method using polylactic acid (PLA) and characterized considering their size, charge, particle concentration and stability. The cytotoxicity was evaluated in 2D and 3D model, and the apoptosis and cell cycle were investigated using flow cytometry.

KEY FINDINGS

NPs loading AE (NP-AE) had diameter around 125 ± 6 nm (PdI <0.1) and negative charge. The encapsulation efficiency of SM and SS was higher than 85% for both compounds. The obtained formulation showed a significant in-vitro cytotoxic effect against RT4 cells in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ two fold lower than the free AE. The cytotoxic effect of NP-AE was mediated by apoptosis and cell cycle arrested in the S phase. RT4 cells cultured under 3D conditions exhibited a higher resistance to the treatments (IC₅₀ ~ three fold higher than in 2D cell culture).

CONCLUSION

The NP-AE might be a promising nanocarrier to load and deliver glycoalkaloids against bladder cancer.

Flavonoids induce cell death in Leishmania amazonensis: in vitro characterization by flow cytometry and Raman spectroscopy

Leishmaniasis comprises a group of infectious diseases with worldwide distribution, of which both the visceral and cutaneous forms are caused by Leishmania parasites. In the absence of vaccines, efficacious chemotherapy remains the basis for leishmaniasis control. The available drugs are expensive and associated with several secondary adverse effects. Due to these limitations, the development of new antileishmanial compounds is imperative, and plants offer various perspectives in this regard. The present study evaluated the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of flavonoids isolated from Solanum paludosum Moric. and investigated the mechanisms of cell death induced by them. These compounds were evaluated in vitro for their antileishmanial activity against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes and they showed prominent leishmanicidal activity. The EtOAc fraction, gossypetin 3,7,8,4'-tetra-O-methyl ether (1), and kaempferol 3,7-di-O-methyl ether (3) were selected to be used in an in vitro assay against L. amazonensis amastigotes and cell death assays. The flavonoids (1) and (3) presented significant activity against L. amazonensis amastigotes, exhibiting the IC₅₀ values of 23.3 ± 4.5 μM, 34.0 ± 9.6 μM, and 10.5 ± 2.5 μM for the EtOAc fraction, (1), and (3), respectively, without toxic effects to the host cells. Moreover, (1) and (3) induced blocked cell cycle progression at the G1/S transition, ultimately leading to G1/G0 arrest. Flavonoid (3) also induced autophagy. Using Raman spectroscopy in conjunction with principal component analysis, the biochemical changes in the cellular components induced by flavonoids (1) and (3) were presented. The obtained results indicated that the mechanisms of action of (1) and (3) occurred through different routes. The results support that the flavonoids derived from S. paludosum can become lead molecules for the design of antileishmanial prototypes.

Flora do Ceará, Brasil: Solanum (Solanaceae)

Resumo Neste trabalho é apresentado o levantamento dos representantes de Solanum (Solanaceae) como parte do projeto “Flora do Ceará”. Estudos morfológicos, coletas e observações de campo foram realizados. As identificações foram baseadas em bibliografia especializada, complementada pela análise de coleções de herbários nacionais e internacionais, incluindo espécimes-tipo. No Ceará, Solanum está representado por 31 espécies, das quais 26 ocorrem em Unidades de Conservação, e dez táxons são novos registros. Chave de identificação, comentários, ilustrações e imagens das espécies são fornecidas.

Health benefits and bioactive compounds of eggplant

Eggplant is a vegetable crop that is grown around the world and can provide significant nutritive benefits thanks to its abundance of vitamins, phenolics and antioxidants. In addition, eggplant has potential pharmaceutical uses that are just now becoming recognized. As compared to other crops in the Solanaceae, few studies have investigated eggplant's metabolic profile. Metabolomics and metabolic profiling are important platforms for assessing the chemical composition of plants and breeders are increasingly concerned about the nutritional and health benefits of crops. In this review, the historical background and classification of eggplant are shortly explained; then the beneficial phytochemicals, antioxidant activity and health effects of eggplant are discussed in detail.

Comparative Molluscicidal and Schistosomicidal Potentiality of Two Solanum Species and Its Isolated Glycoalkaloids

Schistosomiasis is the most noteworthy parasitic disease after malaria. Furthermore, the significant activity of the genus Solanum against Schistosoma worms and its intermediate host snails reinforced the study of Solanum seaforthianum Andr. (SS) and Solanum macrocarpon L. (SM) for their molluscicidal and schistosomicidal potentiality. In this study, different extracts, fractions and isolated compounds of both Solanum species are evaluated for the molluscicidal and schistosomicidal potentialities. The niclosamide was used as positive molluscicide control against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails. Different extracts, fractions, or isolated compounds were used at a concentration of 100 μg/ml and dead snails were counted in each case. On the other hand, washed and sterilized Schistosoma mansoni adult worms were used in three replicates, and three worm pairs were placed in each well with 2 ml test solution of 100 μg/ml concentration. Positive (praziquantel [PZQ] 0.2 ug/ml) and negative controls were concurrently used and examined daily for 3 days for viability. The mortality rate was calculated and then both LC₅₀ and LC₉₀ were determined in triplicates. Highest potency was indicated to total glycoalkaloid (TGA) fraction of SM followed by TGA of SS. On the other hand, TGA fractions of both species showed higher potency than other extracts and isolated compounds. Meanwhile, solasodine-free aglycone showed declined activity compared to its glycosides. Promising molluscicidal and schistosomicidal activities were displayed which are attributed to the glycoalkaloid content. Therefore, this study can efficiently contribute toward validation of the traditional use of SS and SM in schistosomiasis control.

Bioactive Compounds Found in Brazilian Cerrado Fruits

Functional foods include any natural product that presents health-promoting effects, thereby reducing the risk of chronic diseases. Cerrado fruits are considered a source of bioactive substances, mainly phenolic compounds, making them important functional foods. Despite this, the losses of natural vegetation in the Cerrado are progressive. Hence, the knowledge propagation about the importance of the species found in Cerrado could contribute to the preservation of this biome. This review provides information about Cerrado fruits and highlights the structures and pharmacologic potential of functional compounds found in these fruits. Compounds detected in Caryocar brasiliense Camb. (pequi), Dipteryx alata Vog. (baru), Eugenia dysenterica DC. (cagaita), Eugenia uniflora L. (pitanga), Genipa americana L. (jenipapo), Hancornia speciosa Gomes (mangaba), Mauritia flexuosa L.f. (buriti), Myrciaria cauliflora (DC) Berg (jabuticaba), Psidiumguajava L. (goiaba), Psidium spp. (araçá), Solanum lycocarpum St. Hill (lobeira), Spondias mombin L. (cajá), Annona crassiflora Mart. (araticum), among others are reported here.

An UPLC-MS/MS method for determination of solasonine in rat plasma and its application of a pharmacokinetic and bioavailability study

Solasonine, a known glycoalkaloid, is a potential anti-cancer agent. In this work, a simple, sensitive and fast ultra performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the quantitative determination of solasonine in rat plasma. Plasma samples were processed with a protein precipitation. The separation was achieved by an ACQUITY HSS T3 (100×2.1mm, 1.8μm) column with a gradient mobile phase consisting of 0.1% formic acid and acetonitrile. Detection was carried out using positive-ion electrospray tandem mass spectrometry via multiple reaction monitoring (MRM). The validated method had an excellent linearity in the range of 0.1-500ng/mL (R(2)>0.994) with a low limit of detection (0.1ng/mL) and lower limit of quantification (0.5ng/mL). The extraction recovery was in the range of 92.4-94.9% for solasonine and 91.9% for dendrobine (internal standard, IS). The intra- and inter-day precision was below 9.8% and accuracy was from 86.0% to 94.3%. No notable matrix effect and astaticism was observed for solasonine. The method has been successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic and bioavailability study of solasonine in rats for the first time, which provides the basis for the further development and application of solasonine.

In vitro trypanocidal activity of solamargine and extracts from Solanum palinacanthum and Solanum lycocarpum of Brazilian cerrado

The present investigation was to evaluate the potential trypanocidal activity of crude ethanolic extract of the fruits of Solanum palinacanthum, Solanum lycocarpum and the glycoalcaloid, solamargine. S. palinacanthum and S. lycocarpum fruit powders were submitted to exhaustively extraction with 96% ethanol and solamargine were isolated from the extract of S. palinacanthum. Both extracts and solamargine were analysed for trypanocidal activity by using MTT colorimetric assay. Extracts of S. palinacanthum showed to be more active (IC50 = 175.9 µg.ml-1) than S. lycocarpum (IC50 = 194.7 µg.ml-1). Solamargine presented a strong activity (IC50 = 15.3 µg.ml-1), which can explain the better activity of the both extracts. Benznidazol (IC50 = 9.0 µg.ml-1) is the only drug used to treat Chagas' disease. These findings demonstrate for the first time that ethanol extracts obtained from both fruits of S. palinacanthum and S. lycocarpum and also solamargine have a potential anti-trypanosomal activity.

In vitro leishmanicidal and cytotoxic activities of the glycoalkaloids from Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) fruits

Leishmaniasis is an infection caused by a protozoan parasite of the genus Leishmania and is the second most prevalent parasitic protozoal disease after malaria in the world. We report the in vitro leishmanicidal activity on promastigote forms of Leishmania amazonensis and cytotoxicity, using LLCMK2 cells, of the glycoalkaloids from the fruits of Solanum lycocarpum, determined by colorimetric methods. The alkaloidic extract was obtained by acid-base extraction; solamargine and solasonine were isolated by silica-gel chromatography, followed by reversed-phase HPLC final purification. The alkaloidic extract, solamargine, solasonine, as well as the equimolar mixture of the glycoalkaloids solamargine and solasonine displayed leishmanicidal activity against promastigote forms of L. amazonensis, whereas the aglycone solasodine was inactive. After 24 and 72 h of incubation, most of the samples showed lower cytotoxicities (IC50 6.5 to 124 μM) as compared to leishmanicidal activity (IC50 1.1 to 23.6 μM). The equimolar mixture solamargine/solasonine was the most active with an IC50 value of 1.1 μM, after 72 h. Likewise, solamargine was the most active after 24 h with an IC50 value of 14.4 μM, both in comparison with the positive control amphotericin B.

Chemical and bioactive quality traits during fruit ripening in eggplant (S. melongena L.) and allied species

A chemical and bioactive quality evaluation of phytochemicals content of 10 eggplant lines and three allied species (S. sodomaeum, S. aethiopicum and S. integrifolium) was performed. The eggplant lines were divided into the two subgroups of delphinidin-3-rutinoside (D3R) and nasunin (NAS) typologies, on the basis of the anthocyanin detected in their fruit skin. The allied species had higher glycoalkaloids content, lower soluble solids and PPO activity and absence of anthocyanins compared to the eggplant lines; S. sodomaeum stood out for high phenols content. Orthogonal contrast revealed a higher sugar content and low PPO activity in NAS- compared to D3R-typologies, whereas higher chlorogenic acid and anthocyanin contents were present in D3R-typologies. The main effect of the ripening was a decrease in phenols and in the PPO activity, not evidenced in S. sodomaeum, and an increase of glycoalkaloids in overripe fruits. A good relationship was found between superoxide anion scavenging capacity and chlorogenic acid. This study highlighted the pattern of accumulation, also evidencing variations, of several phytochemicals during the eggplant fruit development and ripening.

A Validated Reverse Phase HPLC Analytical Method for Quantitation of Glycoalkaloids in Solanum lycocarpum and Its Extracts

Solanum lycocarpum (Solanaceae) is native to the Brazilian Cerrado. Fruits of this species contain the glycoalkaloids solasonine (SN) and solamargine (SM), which display antiparasitic and anticancer properties. A method has been developed for the extraction and HPLC-UV analysis of the SN and SM in different parts of S. lycocarpum, mainly comprising ripe and unripe fruits, leaf, and stem. This analytical method was validated and gave good detection response with linearity over a dynamic range of 0.77-1000.00 μg mL(-1) and recovery in the range of 80.92-91.71%, allowing a reliable quantitation of the target compounds. Unripe fruits displayed higher concentrations of glycoalkaloids (1.04% ± 0.01 of SN and 0.69% ± 0.00 of SM) than the ripe fruits (0.83% ± 0.02 of SN and 0.60% ± 0.01 of SM). Quantitation of glycoalkaloids in the alkaloidic extract gave 45.09% ± 1.14 of SN and 44.37% ± 0.60 of SM, respectively.

Bioactivities of glycoalkaloids and their aglycones from Solanum species

Potatoes, tomatoes, and aubergines are all species of the Solanum genus and contain a vast array of secondary metabolites including calystegine alkaloids, phenolic compounds, lectins, and glycoalkaloids. Glycoalkaloids have been the subject of many literature papers, occur widely in the human diet, and are known to induce toxicity. Therefore, from a food safety perspective further information is required regarding their analysis, toxicity, and bioavailability. This is especially important in crop cultivars derived from wild species to prevent glycoalkaloid-induced toxicity. A comprehensive review of the bioactivity of glycoalkaloids and their aglycones of the Solanum species, particularly focused on comparison of their bioactivities including their anticancer, anticholesterol, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, and antipyretic effects, toxicity, and synergism of action of the principal Solanum glycoalkaloids, correlated to differences of their individual molecular structures is presented.

In vivo antimalarial activities of glycoalkaloids isolated from Solanaceae plants

CONTEXT

Malaria is one of the most common and serious protozoan tropical diseases. Multi-drug resistance remains pervasive, necessitating the continuous development of new antimalarial agents.

OBJECTIVE

Many glycosides, such as triterpenoid saponins, were shown to have antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. This study was to elucidate the ability of five glycoalkaloids against Plasmodium yoelii and develop new antimalarial lead compounds.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Glycoalkaloids were isolated from three kinds of Solanaceae plants: chaconine and solanine were isolated from Solanum tuberosum L. sprouts, solamargine and solasonine from Solanum nigrum L. fruit, tomatine from Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. fruit. The five isolated glycoalkaloids were evaluated against Plasmodium yoelii 17XL in mice with 4-day parasitemia suppression test in different concentrations.

RESULTS

Chaconine showed a dose-dependent suppression of malaria infection, ED50, 4.49 mg/kg; therapeutic index (TI), approximately 9. At a dose of 7.50 mg/kg, the parasitemia suppressions of chaconine, tomatine, solamargine, solasonine and solanine were 71.38, 65.25, 64.89, 57.47 and 41.30%, respectively. At 3.75 mg/kg, the parasitemia suppression of chaconine was 42.66%, but the derivative, chaconine-6-O-sulfate, appeared to show no antimalarial activity. Simultaneous administration of chaconine and solanine in 1:1 did not show any synergistic effects.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results showed that the glycoalkaloids with chacotriose (chaconine and solamargine) were more active than those with solatriose (solanine and solasonine). Chaconine was the most active among the five glycoalkaloids. We propose that the activity is dependent upon non-specific carbohydrate interactions. The 6-OH of chaconine is important for antimalarial activity.

Alpha-solasonine and alpha-solamargine contents of gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L.) and scarlet (Solanum aethiopicum L.) eggplants

The gboma (Solanum macrocarpon L.) and scarlet eggplants (Solanum aethiopicum L.), which form part of the traditional sub-Saharan African culture, are two of the many neglected crops with potential for increased cultivation or as a genetic resource for improving agronomic traits of the common eggplant. This work is focused on the analysis of glycoalkaloid levels in S. macrocarpon and S. aethiopicum to assess their safety. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to quantify glycoalkaloids in S. macrocarpon and S. aethiopicum compared to Solanum melongena L. Fruits of S. aethiopicum and S. melongena contained 0.58-4.56 mg/100 g of alpha-solamargine and 0.17-1 mg/100 g of alpha-solasonine, on a wet basis. S. macrocarpon fruits had much higher values of alpha-solamargine (124-197 mg/100 g) and alpha-solasonine (16-23 mg/100 g). However, the proportions of alpha-solamargine and alpha-solasonine of S. melongena and S. macrocarpon were similar (76-89% of alpha-solamargine), whereas in S. aethiopicum fruit composition was more variable (48-89% of alpha-solamargine). According to these results, the glycoalkaloid levels of S. macrocarpon fruits are 5-10 times higher than the value considered to be safe in foods and might not be considered suitable for human consumption; however, the glycoalkaloid levels of S. aethiopicum were similar to those of S. melongena (about 14% of values considered as toxic) and could be considered as safe for consumption. The incorporation of the cultivated African S. aethiopicum into eggplant breeding programs to develop improved varieties of the common eggplant may represent an alternative to crossing with wild species.

Alkaloids induce programmed cell death in bloodstream forms of trypanosomes (Trypanosoma b. brucei)

The potential induction of a programmed cell death (PCD) in Trypanosoma b. brucei by 55 alkaloids of the quinoline, quinolizidine, isoquinoline, indole, terpene, tropane, steroid, and piperidine type was studied by measuring DNA fragmentation and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential. For comparison, the induction of apoptosis by the same alkaloids in human leukemia cells (Jurkat APO-S) was tested. Several alkaloids of the isoquinoline, quinoline, indole and steroidal type (berberine, chelerythrine, emetine, sanguinarine, quinine, ajmalicine, ergotamine, harmine, vinblastine, vincristine, colchicine, chaconine, demissidine and veratridine) induced programmed cell death, whereas quinolizidine, tropane, terpene and piperidine alkaloids were mostly inactive. Effective PCD induction (EC(50) below 10 microM) was caused in T. brucei by chelerythrine, emetine, sanguinarine, and chaconine. The active alkaloids can be characterized by their general property to inhibit protein biosynthesis, to intercalate DNA, to disturb membrane fluidity or to inhibit microtubule formation.

Toxic Chemical Compounds of the Solanaceae

The Solanaceae is comprised of some 2500 species of cosmopolitan plants, especially native to the American continent. They have great value as food, like the well-known potato, tomato and eggplants, and medicines, like species of Atropa, Withania and Physalis, but many plants of this family are toxic, and sometimes lethal to mammals, in particular to man. Some of them also produce hallucinations and perceptual changes. The toxic species of this family are characterized by the occurrence of a variety of chemical compounds, some of which are responsible for the toxicity and lethality observed after ingestion, while others are suspected to be toxic. In this review, the following toxic compounds belonging to different members of the Solanaceae family are described: Tropane alkaloids ( Atropa, Datura, Hyoscyamus, Mandragora); pyrrolidine and pyrrolic alkaloids ( Nierembergia, Physalis, Solanum); protoalkaloids ( Nierembergia); glycoalkaloids ( Lycopersicon, Solanum); nicotine ( Nicotiana); cardenolides ( Cestrum, Nierembergia); capsaicinoids ( Capsicum); kaurene-type tetracyclic diterpenes ( Cestrum); steroidal glycosides ( Cestrum, Solanum); 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and vitamin D3 ( Cestrum, Solanum, Nierembergia); and withasteroids, withanolides ( Withania), and physalins ( Physalis). Other bioactive chemical constituents of members of this family are sugar esters and lectins. Phenylpropanoids are not included in this paper.