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Rodrigues AM, Mendes AR, Caeiro MF, Figueiredo AC, Ascensão L. New Reports on the Portuguese Endemic Species, Santolina impressa: Secretory Structures, Essential Oil Composition and Antiviral Activity. Plants (Basel) 2023; 12:2391. [PMID: 37446952 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Santolina impressa is an aromatic Asteraceae species endemic to Portugal, traditionally used for its anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of this study was to characterize S. impressa secretory structures, analyze the essential oil (EO) from the aerial organs, and evaluate its antiviral activity against herpes simplex viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2. Secretory structures were investigated by light and scanning microscopy, and the secretion was histochemically characterized. The EO from the aerial organs in full blooming was analyzed by gas chromatography with flame ionization detection and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Antiviral assays were performed by direct contact with viral suspensions (virucidal effect), and in infected Vero E6 cells, at different time periods during the viral replication cycle. Two types of secretory structures were described, biseriate glandular trichomes and secretory ducts, producing an oleoresin and a resin rich in flavonoids, respectively. Fifty compounds were identified in S. impressa EO, accounting for 87% of the total constituents. Monoterpenes constituted the main EO fraction (82%), with β-pinene (13%) and β-phellandrene (10%) being their major components. The EO interacted with HSV-1 and HSV-2 in a dose-dependent manner, thereby inactivating both viral infections. The EO did not evidence a virucidal effect but inhibited the HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection in Vero cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, further studies are needed to investigate the mode of action in the replication cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Margarida Rodrigues
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), DBV, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Rita Mendes
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), DBV, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Filomena Caeiro
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), DBV, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Figueiredo
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), DBV, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa (FCUL), DBV, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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2
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Lopes J, Ferreira-Gonçalves T, Ascensão L, Viana AS, Carvalho L, Catarino J, Faísca P, Oliva A, de Barros DPC, Rodrigues CMP, Gaspar MM, Reis CP. Safety of Gold Nanoparticles: From In Vitro to In Vivo Testing Array Checklist. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041120. [PMID: 37111608 PMCID: PMC10141475 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have aroused the interest of many researchers due to their unique physicochemical and optical properties. AuNPs are being explored in a variety of biomedical fields, either in diagnostics or therapy, particularly for localized thermal ablation of cancer cells after light irradiation. Besides the promising therapeutic potential of AuNPs, their safety constitutes a highly important issue for any medicine or medical device. For this reason, in the present work, the production and characterization of physicochemical properties and morphology of AuNPs coated with two different materials (hyaluronic and oleic acids (HAOA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA)) were firstly performed. Based on the above importantly referred issue, the in vitro safety of developed AuNPs was evaluated in healthy keratinocytes, human melanoma, breast, pancreatic and glioblastoma cancer cells, as well as in a three-dimensional human skin model. Ex vivo and in vivo biosafety assays using, respectively, human red blood cells and Artemia salina were also carried out. HAOA-AuNPs were selected for in vivo acute toxicity and biodistribution studies in healthy Balb/c mice. Histopathological analysis showed no significant signs of toxicity for the tested formulations. Overall, several techniques were developed in order to characterize the AuNPs and evaluate their safety. All these results support their use for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Lopes
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Tânia Ferreira-Gonçalves
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM Lisboa), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana S. Viana
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lina Carvalho
- Central Testing Laboratory, Campus Universitário de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - José Catarino
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, R. Q.ta Grande 6 2780, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Abel Oliva
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Dragana P. C. de Barros
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier (ITQB), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines, iMed.ULisboa—Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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3
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García C, Bernardes CES, Piedade MF, Fumagalli G, Colombo E, Díaz-Lanza AM, Reis CP, Correia I, Ascensão L, Passarella D, da Piedade MEM, Rijo P. Dehydroroyleanone as a Building Block for a Drug Delivery Platform Based on Self-Assembled Nanoparticles: Structural Studies and Chemical Modification. ACS Omega 2022; 7:44180-44186. [PMID: 36506152 PMCID: PMC9730763 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c05353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
6,7-Dehydroroyleanone (DHR) is a caspase-induced cytotoxic abietane diterpene, frequently found on Plectranthus spp. A pharmaceutical formulation consisting of a DHR-squalene conjugate was synthesized and analyzed by different techniques such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The facile production of the dispersion of DHR-squalene conjugate nanoparticles in phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) suggests that this nanodelivery platform may be an effective system to improve the solubility and bioavailability of DHR, so that therapeutical systemic levels may be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina García
- CBIOS—Universidade
Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences & Health
Technologies, 1749-024Lisboa, Portugal
- Departamento
de Ciencias Biomédicas (Área de Farmacología;
Nuevos A̅gentes Antitumorales, Acción Tóxica Sobre
Células Leucémicas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km. 33,600, 28805Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España
| | - Carlos E. S. Bernardes
- Centro
de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento
de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade
de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016Lisboa, Portugal
| | - M. Fátima
M. Piedade
- Centro
de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento
de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade
de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro
de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto
Superior Técnico, Universidade de
Lisboa, 1049-001Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Gaia Fumagalli
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università Degli Studi
di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Eleonora Colombo
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università Degli Studi
di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Ana M. Díaz-Lanza
- Departamento
de Ciencias Biomédicas (Área de Farmacología;
Nuevos A̅gentes Antitumorales, Acción Tóxica Sobre
Células Leucémicas, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Alcalá de Henares, Ctra. Madrid-Barcelona km. 33,600, 28805Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, España
| | - Catarina P. Reis
- Instituto
de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto
de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Isabel Correia
- Centro
de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Instituto
Superior Técnico, Universidade de
Lisboa, 1049-001Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro
de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Daniele Passarella
- Dipartimento
di Chimica, Università Degli Studi
di Milano, Via Golgi 19, 20133Milano, Italy
| | - Manuel E. Minas da Piedade
- Centro
de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Departamento
de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade
de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- CBIOS—Universidade
Lusófona’s Research Center for Biosciences & Health
Technologies, 1749-024Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto
de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade
de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003Lisboa, Portugal
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Pinto S, Gaspar MM, Ascensão L, Faísca P, Reis CP, Pacheco R. Nanoformulation of Seaweed Eisenia bicyclis in Albumin Nanoparticles Targeting Cardiovascular Diseases: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:608. [PMID: 36286431 PMCID: PMC9605150 DOI: 10.3390/md20100608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products, especially those derived from seaweeds, are starting to be seen as effective against various diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This study aimed to design a novel oral formulation of bovine albumin serum nanoparticles (BSA NPs) loaded with an extract of Eisenia bicyclis and to validate its beneficial health effects, particularly targeting hypercholesterolemia and CVD prevention. Small and well-defined BSA NPs loaded with Eisenia bicyclis extract were successfully prepared exhibiting high encapsulation efficiency. Antioxidant activity and cholesterol biosynthesis enzyme 3-hydroxy-3 methylutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) inhibition, as well as reduction of cholesterol permeation in intestinal lining model cells, were assessed for the extract both in free and nanoformulated forms. The nanoformulation was more efficient than the free extract, particularly in terms of HMGR inhibition and cholesterol permeation reduction. In vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo assays in Wistar rats were performed to evaluate its safety and overall effects on metabolism. The results demonstrated that the Eisenia bicyclis extract and BSA NPs were not cytotoxic against human intestinal Caco-2 and liver HepG2 cells and were also safe after oral administration in the rat model. In addition, an innovative approach was adopted to compare the metabolomic profile of the serum from the animals involved in the in vivo assay, which showed the extract and nanoformulation's impact on CVD-associated key metabolites. Altogether, these preliminary results revealed that the seaweed extract and the nanoformulation may constitute an alternative natural dosage form which is safe and simple to produce, capable of reducing cholesterol levels, and consequently helpful in preventing hypercholesterolemia, the main risk factor of CVDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Pinto
- Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Avenida Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed. ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologia, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
- CBIOS-Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologia, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed. ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Avenida Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Pacheco
- Departamento de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa (ISEL), Avenida Conselheiro Emídio Navarro 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Institute of Molecular Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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5
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Ferreira-Gonçalves T, Gaspar MM, Coelho JMP, Marques V, Viana AS, Ascensão L, Carvalho L, Rodrigues CMP, Ferreira HA, Ferreira D, Reis CP. The Role of Rosmarinic Acid on the Bioproduction of Gold Nanoparticles as Part of a Photothermal Approach for Breast Cancer Treatment. Biomolecules 2022; 12:71. [PMID: 35053219 PMCID: PMC8773507 DOI: 10.3390/biom12010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a high-burden malignancy for society, whose impact boosts a continuous search for novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools. Among the recent therapeutic approaches, photothermal therapy (PTT), which causes tumor cell death by hyperthermia after being irradiated with a light source, represents a high-potential strategy. Furthermore, the effectiveness of PTT can be improved by combining near infrared (NIR) irradiation with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) as photothermal enhancers. Herein, an alternative synthetic method using rosmarinic acid (RA) for synthesizing AuNPs is reported. The RA concentration was varied and its impact on the AuNPs physicochemical and optical features was assessed. Results showed that RA concentration plays an active role on AuNPs features, allowing the optimization of mean size and maximum absorbance peak. Moreover, the synthetic method explored here allowed us to obtain negatively charged AuNPs with sizes favoring the local particle accumulation at tumor site and maximum absorbance peaks within the NIR region. In addition, AuNPs were safe both in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the synthesized AuNPs present favorable properties to be applied as part of a PTT system combining AuNPs with a NIR laser for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Ferreira-Gonçalves
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.); (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.); (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
| | - João M. P. Coelho
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.M.P.C.); (H.A.F.)
| | - Vanda Marques
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.); (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
| | - Ana S. Viana
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Lina Carvalho
- Central Testing Laboratory, University of Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.); (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
| | - Hugo Alexandre Ferreira
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.M.P.C.); (H.A.F.)
| | - David Ferreira
- Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Departamento de Desporto e Saúde, Escola de Saúde e Desenvolvimento Humano, Universidade de Évora, Largo dos Colegiais, 7004-516 Évora, Portugal;
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Professor Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.); (V.M.); (C.M.P.R.)
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.M.P.C.); (H.A.F.)
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6
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Ferraz AR, Pacheco R, Vaz PD, Pintado CS, Ascensão L, Serralheiro ML. Melanin: Production from Cheese Bacteria, Chemical Characterization, and Biological Activities. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:ijerph182010562. [PMID: 34682308 PMCID: PMC8535951 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Pigments are compounds of importance to several industries, for instance, the food industry, where they can be used as additives, color intensifiers, and antioxidants. As the current trend around the world is shifting to the use of eco-friendly commodities, demand for natural dyes is increasing. Melanins are pigments that are produced by several microorganisms. Pseudomonas putida ESACB 191, isolated from goat cheese rind, was described as a brown pigment producer. This strain produces a brown pigment via the synthetic Müeller-Hinton Broth. This brown compound was extracted, purified, analyzed by FTIR and mass spectrometry, and identified as eumelanin. The maximum productivity was 1.57 mg/L/h. The bioactivity of eumelanin was evaluated as the capacity for scavenging free radicals (antioxidant activity), EC50 74.0 ± 0.2 μg/mL, and as an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, with IC50 575 ± 4 μg/mL. This bacterial eumelanin did not show cytotoxicity towards A375, HeLa Kyoto, HepG2, or Caco2 cell lines. The effect of melanin on cholesterol absorption and drug interaction was evaluated in order to understand the interaction of melanin present in the cheese rind when ingested by consumers. However, it had no effect either on cholesterol absorption through an intestinal simulated barrier formed by the Caco2 cell line or with the drug ezetimibe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Ferraz
- BioISI—Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 016, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.R.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Rita Pacheco
- BioISI—Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 016, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.R.F.); (R.P.)
- Área Departamental de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Av. Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro D. Vaz
- Fundação Champalimaud, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Cristina S. Pintado
- Escola Superior Agrária (ESA), Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco (IPCB), Quinta da Sra. de Mércoles, Apartado 119, 6001-909 Castelo Branco, Portugal;
- CERNAS/IPCB, Centro de Recursos Naturais, Ambiente e Sociedade/Instituto Politécnico de Castelo Branco, Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral 12, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro para o Estudo do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Maria Luisa Serralheiro
- BioISI—Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 016, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.R.F.); (R.P.)
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-21-7500935
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Pedro B, Guedes L, André R, Gaspar H, Vaz P, Ascensão L, Melo R, Luísa Serralheiro M. Undaria pinnatifida (U. pinnatifida) bioactivity: Antioxidant, gastro-intestinal motility, cholesterol biosynthesis and liver cell lines proteome. J Funct Foods 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2021.104567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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8
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Amaral M, Charmier AJ, Afonso RA, Catarino J, Faísca P, Carvalho L, Ascensão L, Coelho JMP, Gaspar MM, Reis CP. Gold-Based Nanoplataform for the Treatment of Anaplastic Thyroid Carcinoma: A Step Forward. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:1242. [PMID: 33808984 PMCID: PMC8218498 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13061242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) is a very rare subtype of thyroid carcinoma and one of the most lethal malignancies. Poor prognosis is mainly associated with its undifferentiated nature, inoperability, and failing to respond to the typically used therapies for thyroid cancer. Photothermal Therapy (PTT) entails using light to increase tissues' temperature, leading to hyperthermia-mediated cell death. Tumours are more susceptible to heat as they are unable to dissipate it. By using functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) that transform light energy into heat, it is possible to target the heat to the tumour. This study aims to formulate ATC-targeted AuNPs able to convert near-infrared light into heat, for PTT of ATC. Different AuNPs were synthetized and coated. Size, morphology, and surface plasmon resonances band were determined. The optimized coated-AuNPs were then functionalized with ligands to assess ATC's specificity. Safety, efficacy, and selectivity were assessed in vitro. The formulations were deemed safe when not irradiated (>70% cell viability) and selective for ATC. However, when irradiated, holo-transferrin-AuNPs were the most cytotoxic (22% of cell viability). The biodistribution and safety of this formulation was assessed in vivo. Overall, this novel formulation appears to be a highly promising approach to evaluate in a very near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Adília J. Charmier
- DREAMS, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Ricardo A. Afonso
- Ciências Funcionais e Alvos Terapêuticos, NOVA Medical School Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM), Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal;
- Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516 Caparica, Portugal
| | - José Catarino
- Laboratório Veterinário, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária—Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias/DNAtech, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.C.); (P.F.)
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Laboratório Veterinário, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária—Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias/DNAtech, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal; (J.C.); (P.F.)
| | - Lina Carvalho
- Central Testing Laboratory, Campus de Santiago, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - João M. P. Coelho
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - M. Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.A.); (M.M.G.)
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal;
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9
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Costa E, Ferreira-Gonçalves T, Cardoso M, Coelho JMP, Gaspar MM, Faísca P, Ascensão L, Cabrita AS, Reis CP, Figueiredo IV. A Step Forward in Breast Cancer Research: From a Natural-Like Experimental Model to a Preliminary Photothermal Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9681. [PMID: 33353068 PMCID: PMC7765974 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed malignancies and common causes of cancer death in women. Recent studies suggest that environmental exposures to certain chemicals, such as 7,12-Dimethylbenzanthracene (DMBA), a chemical present in tobacco, may increase the risk of developing breast cancer later in life. The first-line treatments for breast cancer (surgery, chemotherapy or a combination of both) are generally invasive and frequently associated with severe side effects and high comorbidity. Consequently, novel approaches are strongly required to find more natural-like experimental models that better reflect the tumors' etiology, physiopathology and response to treatments, as well as to find more targeted, efficient and minimally invasive treatments. This study proposes the development and an in deep biological characterization of an experimental model using DMBA-tumor-induction in Sprague-Dawley female rats. Moreover, a photothermal therapy approach using a near-infrared laser coupled with gold nanoparticles was preliminarily assessed. The gold nanoparticles were functionalized with Epidermal Growth Factor, and their physicochemical properties and in vitro effects were characterized. DMBA proved to be a very good and selective inductor of breast cancer, with 100% incidence and inducing an average of 4.7 tumors per animal. Epigenetic analysis showed that tumors classified with worst prognosis were hypomethylated. The tumor-induced rats were then subjected to a preliminary treatment using functionalized gold nanoparticles and its activation by laser (650-900 nm). The treatment outcomes presented very promising alterations in terms of tumor histology, confirming the presence of necrosis in most of the cases. Although this study revealed encouraging results as a breast cancer therapy, it is important to define tumor eligibility and specific efficiency criteria to further assess its application in breast cancer treatment on other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Costa
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (E.C.); (I.V.F.)
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.C.); (A.S.C.)
- iMed.ULisboa– Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.)
- Vasco da Gama Research Group (CIVG), Vasco da Gama University School (EUVG), 3020-210 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Tânia Ferreira-Gonçalves
- iMed.ULisboa– Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Miguel Cardoso
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.C.); (A.S.C.)
- Dentistry Area, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Biophysics Institute, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João M. P. Coelho
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- iMed.ULisboa– Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (ULHT)/IGC, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Campo Grande, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - António S. Cabrita
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (M.C.); (A.S.C.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- iMed.ULisboa– Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (T.F.-G.); (M.M.G.)
- Instituto de Biofísica e Engenharia Biomédica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Isabel V. Figueiredo
- Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Care Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (E.C.); (I.V.F.)
- Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
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10
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Mota AH, Duarte N, Serra AT, Ferreira A, Bronze MR, Custódio L, Gaspar MM, Simões S, Rijo P, Ascensão L, Faísca P, Viana AS, Pinto R, Kumar P, Almeida AJ, Reis CP. Further Evidence of Possible Therapeutic Uses of Sambucus nigra L. Extracts by the Assessment of the In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Its PLGA and PCL-Based Nanoformulations. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:E1181. [PMID: 33291738 PMCID: PMC7761993 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12121181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sambucus nigra L. is widely used in traditional medicine with different applications. However, confirmative studies are strongly required. This study aimed to assess the biological activities of the S. nigra flower's extract encapsulated into two different types of nanoparticles for optimizing its properties and producing further evidence of its potential therapeutic uses. Different nanoparticles (poly(lactide-co-glycolide, PLGA) and poly-Ɛ-caprolactone (PCL), both with oleic acid, were prepared by emulsification/solvent diffusion and solvent-displacement methods, respectively. Oleic acid was used as a capping agent. After the nanoparticles' preparation, they were characterized and the biological activities were studied in terms of collagenase, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory, and in vitro cell viability. Rutin and naringenin were found to be the major phenolic compounds in the studied extract. The encapsulation efficiency was higher than 76% and revealed to have an impact on the release of the extract, mainly for the PLGA. Moreover, biochemical and histopathological analyses confirmed that the extract-loaded PLGA-based nanoparticles displayed the highest anti-inflammatory activity. In addition to supporting the previously reported evidence of potential therapeutic uses of S. nigra, these results could draw the pharmaceutical industry's interest to the novelty of the nanoproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Henriques Mota
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Noélia Duarte
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Ana Teresa Serra
- IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, Estação Agronómica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.T.S.); (A.F.)
| | - António Ferreira
- IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, Estação Agronómica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.T.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Maria Rosário Bronze
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
- IBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Av. da República, Estação Agronómica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; (A.T.S.); (A.F.)
| | - Luísa Custódio
- Centre of Marine Sciences, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, University of Algarve, Ed. 7, Campus of Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal;
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Sandra Simões
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Pedro Faísca
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária—Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias/DNAtech Laboratório Veterinário, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Ana Silveira Viana
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Rui Pinto
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
- Joaquim Chaves Saude. Dr. Joaquim Chaves, Laboratório de Análises Clínicas, 1495-068 Miraflores-Algés, Portugal
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, School of Therapeutic Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa;
| | - António José Almeida
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- iMED, ULisboa, Research Institute for Medicines, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.H.M.); (N.D.); (M.R.B.); (M.M.G.); (S.S.); (P.R.); (R.P.); (A.J.A.)
- IBEB, Biophysics and Biomedical Engineering, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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11
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André R, Guedes L, Melo R, Ascensão L, Pacheco R, Vaz PD, Serralheiro ML. Effect of Food Preparations on In Vitro Bioactivities and Chemical Components of Fucus vesiculosus. Foods 2020; 9:foods9070955. [PMID: 32708417 PMCID: PMC7404634 DOI: 10.3390/foods9070955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fucus vesiculosus is a brown macroalgae used in food and generally considered safe to be consumed, according to EU Directive (EC 258/97). The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of food preparation on F.vesiculosus of different origins on what concerns its chemical constituents and final bioactivities. The aqueous extract of the seaweeds were obtained at different temperatures, similar to food preparation and then purified by SPE. The compound identification was carried out by Liquid Chromatography High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) and algae extracts microstructure were observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The activities were determined by using antioxidant activity, inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and 3-hidroxi-3-methyl-glutaril-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase (HMGR) together with Caco-2 cells line simulating the intestinal barrier. The activity of AChE and the HMGR were inhibited by the extracts giving IC50 values of 15.0 ± 0.1 µg/mL and 4.2 ± 0.1 µg/mL, respectively and 45% of the cholesterol permeation inhibition. The main compounds identified were phlorotannins and peptides derivatives. The mode of preparation significantly influenced the final bioactivities. Moreover, the in vitro results suggest that the preparation of F. vesiculosus as a soup could have hypercholesterolemia lowering effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca André
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.A.); (L.G.); (R.P.)
| | - Laura Guedes
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.A.); (L.G.); (R.P.)
| | - Ricardo Melo
- Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre (MARE), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Rita Pacheco
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.A.); (L.G.); (R.P.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ISEL—Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Rua Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro D. Vaz
- Champalimaud Foundation, Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Maria Luísa Serralheiro
- BioISI—Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.A.); (L.G.); (R.P.)
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, C8 bldg, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-21-750-0935
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12
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Pereira F, Figueiredo T, de Almeida RFM, Antunes CAC, Garcia C, Reis CP, Ascensão L, Sobral RG, Rijo P. Unveiling the Mechanism of Action of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone on an MRSA/VISA Strain: Membrane and Cell Wall Interactions. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10070983. [PMID: 32630112 PMCID: PMC7408375 DOI: 10.3390/biom10070983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of cases of failure in the treatment of infections associated with resistant bacteria is on the rise, due to the decreasing efficacy of current antibiotics. Notably, 7α-Acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone (AHR), a diterpene isolated from different Plectranthus species, showed antibacterial activity, namely against Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains. The high antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity render this natural compound an interesting alternative against resistant bacteria. The aim of this study is to understand the mechanism of action of AHR on MRSA, using the MRSA/Vancomycin-intermediate S. aureus (VISA) strain CIP 106760, and to study the AHR effect on lipid bilayers and on the cell wall. Although AHR interacted with lipid bilayers, it did not have a significant effect on membrane passive permeability. Alternatively, bacteria treated with this royleanone displayed cell wall disruption, without revealing cell lysis. In conclusion, the results gathered so far point to a yet undescribed mode of action that needs further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Pereira
- Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (F.P.); (C.G.); (C.P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Teresa Figueiredo
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida, UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2825-149 Caparica, Portugal;
| | - Rodrigo F. M. de Almeida
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.F.M.d.A.); (C.A.C.A.)
| | - Catarina A. C. Antunes
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; (R.F.M.d.A.); (C.A.C.A.)
| | - Catarina Garcia
- Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (F.P.); (C.G.); (C.P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Catarina P. Reis
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Institute of Biophysics and Biomedical Bioengeneering (IBEB), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Rita G. Sobral
- Departamento de Ciências da Vida, UCIBIO@REQUIMTE, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2825-149 Caparica, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (R.G.S.); (P.R.); Tel.: +351-212-948-530 (R.G.S.); +351-217515500 (P.R.); Fax: +351-212-954-461 (R.G.S.); +351-217577006 (P.R.)
| | - Patricia Rijo
- Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies (CBIOS), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande, 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (F.P.); (C.G.); (C.P.R.)
- Instituto de Investigação do Medicamento (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (R.G.S.); (P.R.); Tel.: +351-212-948-530 (R.G.S.); +351-217515500 (P.R.); Fax: +351-212-954-461 (R.G.S.); +351-217577006 (P.R.)
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13
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Rodrigues AM, Vieira Falé PL, Madeira P, Pacheco R, Florêncio MH, Ascensão L, Marques Serralheiro ML. Phenolic profile and biological activities of decoctions from Santolina impressa, a Portuguese endemic species. J Herb Med 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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14
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Santos-Rebelo A, Kumar P, Pillay V, Choonara YE, Eleutério C, Figueira M, Viana AS, Ascensão L, Molpeceres J, Rijo P, Correia I, Amaral J, Solá S, Rodrigues CMP, Gaspar MM, Reis CP. Development and Mechanistic Insight into the Enhanced Cytotoxic Potential of Parvifloron D Albumin Nanoparticles in EGFR-Overexpressing Pancreatic Cancer Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11111733. [PMID: 31694306 PMCID: PMC6895893 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11111733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2019] [Revised: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal cancers, with an extremely poor prognosis. The development of more effective therapies is thus imperative. Natural origin compounds isolated from Plectranthus genus, such as parvifloron D (PvD), have cytotoxic and antiproliferative activity against human tumour cells. However, PvD is a very low water-soluble compound, being nanotechnology a promising alternative strategy to solve this problem. Therefore, the aim of this study was to optimize a nanosystem for preferential delivery of PvD to pancreatic tumour cells. Albumin nanoparticles (BSA NPs) were produced through a desolvation method. Glucose cross-linking and bioactive functionalization profiles of BSA platform were elucidated and analysed using static lattice atomistic simulations in vacuum. Using the optimized methodology, PvD was encapsulated (yield higher than 80%) while NPs were characterized in terms of size (100–400 nm) and morphology. Importantly, to achieve a preferential targeting to pancreatic cancer cells, erlotinib and cetuximab were attached to the PvD-loaded nanoparticle surface, and their antiproliferative effects were evaluated in BxPC3 and Panc-1 cell lines. Erlotinib conjugated NPs presented the highest antiproliferative effect toward pancreatic tumour cells. Accordingly, cell cycle analysis of the BxPC3 cell line showed marked accumulation of tumour cells in G1-phase and cell cycle arrest promoted by NPs. As a result, erlotinib conjugated PvD-loaded BSA NPs must be considered a suitable and promising carrier to deliver PvD at the tumour site, improving the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Santos-Rebelo
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.S.-R.); (P.R.)
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Ctra. A2 km 33,600 Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
| | - Pradeep Kumar
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; (P.K.); (V.P.); (Y.E.C.)
| | - Viness Pillay
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; (P.K.); (V.P.); (Y.E.C.)
| | - Yahya E. Choonara
- Wits Advanced Drug Delivery Platform Research Unit, Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Therapeutics Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 7 York Road, Parktown 2193, South Africa; (P.K.); (V.P.); (Y.E.C.)
| | - Carla Eleutério
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.E.); (M.F.)
| | - Mariana Figueira
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.E.); (M.F.)
| | - Ana S. Viana
- CQB, CQE, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Lia Ascensão
- CESAM, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências, Campo Grande 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Jesús Molpeceres
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Ctra. A2 km 33,600 Campus Universitario, 28871 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal; (A.S.-R.); (P.R.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Isabel Correia
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Universidade de Lisboa,1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal;
| | - Joana Amaral
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Susana Solá
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Cecília M. P. Rodrigues
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Maria Manuela Gaspar
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (C.E.); (M.F.)
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 1649-003 Lisboa, Portugal; (J.A.); (S.S.); (C.M.P.R.); (M.M.G.)
- IBEB, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-217-946-400; Fax: +351-217-946-470
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Brito E, Silva A, Falé PLV, Pacheco R, Serralheiro A, Haris PI, Ascensão L, Serralheiro ML. Serum Albumin Modulates the Bioactivity of Rosmarinic Acid. J Med Food 2018; 21:801-807. [PMID: 29431576 DOI: 10.1089/jmf.2017.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rosmarinic acid (RA) is a phenolic compound with biological activity. The objective of the present study was to investigate whether this compound kept its biological activity in the presence of proteins. For this purpose, bovine serum albumin (BSA) was used as a model protein, and the capacity of the RA to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and affect antioxidant activity was evaluated in the absence and presence of BSA. A mixture of phenolic compounds containing RA, obtained from a medicinal plant was added to this study. The AChE inhibitory activity of RA was reduced by ∼57% in the presence of BSA, while the antioxidant activity increased. These results lead to the investigation of the effect of RA on the BSA structure using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). At 37°C and higher temperatures, RA caused a decrease in the temperature modifications on the protein structure. Furthermore, FTIR and native-gel analysis revealed that protein aggregation/precipitation, induced by temperature, was reduced in the presence of RA. The novelty of the present work resides in the study of the enzyme inhibitory activity and antioxidant capacity of polyphenols, such as RA, in the presence of a protein. The findings highlight the need to consider the presence of proteins when assessing biological activities of polyphenols in vitro and that enzyme inhibitory activity may be decreased, while the antioxidant capacity remains or even increases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Brito
- 1 Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, Lisbon , Portugal
| | - André Silva
- 1 Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Pedro Luis Vieira Falé
- 1 Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, Lisbon , Portugal
- 2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon , Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
- 3 BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon , Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Rita Pacheco
- 1 Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, Lisbon , Portugal
- 3 BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon , Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
- 4 Department of Chemical Engineering, High Institute of Engineering of Lisbon (ISEL) , Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Parvez I Haris
- 6 Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, De Montfort University , Leicester, United Kingdom
| | - Lia Ascensão
- 7 Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon , Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria Luísa Serralheiro
- 1 Center of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon, Campo Grande, Lisbon , Portugal
- 2 Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon , Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
- 3 BioISI-Biosystems and Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Lisbon , Campo Grande, Lisbon, Portugal
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Brito E, Gomes E, Falé PL, Borges C, Pacheco R, Teixeira V, Machuqueiro M, Ascensão L, Serralheiro MLM. Bioactivities of decoctions from Plectranthus species related to their traditional use on the treatment of digestive problems and alcohol intoxication. J Ethnopharmacol 2018; 220:147-154. [PMID: 29626671 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Decoctions of Plectranthus species are traditionally ingested after large meals for treatment of food digestion and alcohol abuse. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims at associating the digestion-related ethno-uses of Plectranthus species decoctions to molecular mechanism that might explain them: easing digestion (AChE inhibition) and treating hangover (ADH inhibition) MATERIAL AND METHODS: Decoctions from Plectranthus species were analysed for their alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) inhibition and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, related with alcohol metabolism and intestinal motility, respectively. Identification of the active components was carried out by LC-MS/MS and the docking studies were performed with AChE and the bioactive molecules detected. RESULTS All decoctions inhibited ADH activity. This inhibition was correlated with their rosmarinic acid (RA) content, which showed an IC50 value of 19 μg/mL, similar to the reference inhibitor CuCl2. The presence of RA also leads to most decoctions showing AChE inhibiting capacity. P. zuluensis decoction with an IC50 of 80 μg/mL presented also medioresinol, an even better inhibitor of AChE, as indicated by molecular docking studies. Furthermore, all decoctions tested showed no toxicity towards two human cell lines, and a high capacity to quench free radicals (DPPH), which also play a helpful in the digestive process, related with their RA content. CONCLUSIONS All activities presented by the RA-rich Plectranthus decoctions support their use in treating digestion disorders and P. barbatus could explain its use also for alleviating hangover symptoms. Medioresinol, which is present in P. zuluensis, exhibited a significant AChE inhibition and may provide, in the future, a new lead for bioactive compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa Brito
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Emma Gomes
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro L Falé
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal.
| | - Carlos Borges
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rita Pacheco
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Área Departamental de Engenharia Química, Instituto Superior de Engenharia de Lisboa, Av. Conselheiro Emídio Navarro, 1959-007 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vitor Teixeira
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Machuqueiro
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Maria Luisa M Serralheiro
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal; BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, Campo Grande C8, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Silva L, Rodrigues AM, Ciriani M, Falé PLV, Teixeira V, Madeira P, Machuqueiro M, Pacheco R, Florêncio MH, Ascensão L, Serralheiro MLM. Correction to: Antiacetylcholinesterase activity and docking studies with chlorogenic acid, cynarin and arzanol from Helichrysum stoechas (Asteraceae). Med Chem Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-018-2159-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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18
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Mota AH, Silva CO, Nicolai M, Baby A, Palma L, Rijo P, Ascensão L, Reis CP. Design and evaluation of novel topical formulation with olive oil as natural functional active. Pharm Dev Technol 2017; 23:794-805. [DOI: 10.1080/10837450.2017.1340951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Henriques Mota
- CBiOS – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Ctra, Universidad Complutense, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Catarina Oliveira Silva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Alcalá, Ctra, Universidad Complutense, Alcalá de Henares, Spain
| | - Marisa Nicolai
- CBiOS – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - André Baby
- Departmento Farmácia, Escola de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Lídia Palma
- CBiOS – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Patrícia Rijo
- CBiOS – Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Lisboa, Portugal
- iMed.ULisboa - Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C2, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Catarina Pinto Reis
- iMed.ULisboa - Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, Lisboa, Portugal
- IBEB - Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Portugal
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Henriques J, Ribeiro MJ, Falé PL, Pacheco R, Ascensão L, Florêncio MH, Serralheiro MLM. Valorization of kiwifruit production: leaves of the pruning branches of Actinidia deliciosa as a promising source of polyphenols. Eur Food Res Technol 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s00217-017-2845-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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20
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Rodrigues AM, Mendes MD, Lima AS, Barbosa PM, Ascensão L, Barroso JG, Pedro LG, Mota MM, Figueiredo AC. Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinaster, Pinus pinea and Pinus sylvestris Essential Oils Chemotypes and Monoterpene Hydrocarbon Enantiomers, before and after Inoculation with the Pinewood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Chem Biodivers 2016; 14. [PMID: 27623247 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201600153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, is the causal agent of pine wilt disease, a serious threat to global forest populations of conifers, especially Pinus spp. A time-course study of the essential oils (EOs) of 2-year-old Pinus halepensis, Pinus pinaster, Pinus pinea and Pinus sylvestris following inoculation with the PWN was performed. The constitutive and nematode inoculation induced EOs components were analyzed at both the wounding or inoculation areas and at the whole plant level. The enantiomeric ratio of optically active main EOs components was also evaluated. External symptoms of infection were observed only in P. pinaster and P. sylvestris 21 and 15 days after inoculation, respectively. The EO composition analysis of uninoculated and unwounded plants revealed the occurrence of chemotypes for P. pinaster, P. halepensis and P. sylvestris, whereas P. pinea showed a homogenous EO composition. When whole plants were evaluated for EO and monoterpene hydrocarbon enantiomeric chemical composition, no relevant qualitative and quantitative differences were found. Instead, EO analysis of inoculated and uninoculated wounded areas revealed an increase of sesquiterpenes and diterpenic compounds, especially in P. pinea and P. halepensis, comparatively to healthy whole plants EOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Rodrigues
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa
| | - Marta D Mendes
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa
| | - Ana S Lima
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa.,Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Escola Superior Agrária, Centro de Investigação Montanha, Campus Santa Apolónia, Apartado 1172, PT-5031-855, Bragança
| | - Pedro M Barbosa
- NemaLab, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), Universidade de Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, Apartado 94, PT-7002-554, Évora
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa
| | - José G Barroso
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa
| | - Luis G Pedro
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa
| | - Manuel M Mota
- NemaLab, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), Universidade de Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, Apartado 94, PT-7002-554, Évora.,Departamento Ciências da Vida, Universidade Lusófona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, EPCV, Campo Grande 376, PT-1749-024, Lisboa
| | - A Cristina Figueiredo
- Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV), Edifício C2, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016, Lisboa
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Arantes AA, Falé PL, Costa LC, Pacheco R, Ascensão L, Serralheiro ML. Inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase activity and cholesterol permeation through Caco-2 cells by caffeoylquinic acids from Vernonia condensata leaves. Revista Brasileira de Farmacognosia 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bjp.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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22
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Mendes A, Lopo S, Ascensão L, Fale P, Serralheiro M, Caeiro M. Evaluation of the antiviral activity of an aqueous extract from Solidago virgaurea against Herpes simplex virus type 2. J Clin Virol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcv.2016.08.267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Rodrigues AM, Silva L, Falé PL, Serralheiro ML, Ascensão L. Glandular Trichomes and Biological Activities in Helichrysum italicum and H. stoechas, Two Asteraceae Species Growing Wild in Portugal. Microsc Microanal 2015; 21 Suppl 5:91-92. [PMID: 26227726 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927615014269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Rodrigues
- 1Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa,Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV),Campo Grande,1749-016 Lisboa,Portugal
| | - Letícia Silva
- 2Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa,Edifício C8,Campo Grande,1749-016 Lisboa,Portugal
| | - Pedro Lv Falé
- 2Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa,Edifício C8,Campo Grande,1749-016 Lisboa,Portugal
| | - Maria L Serralheiro
- 2Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa,Edifício C8,Campo Grande,1749-016 Lisboa,Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- 1Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar (CESAM), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa,Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (CBV),Campo Grande,1749-016 Lisboa,Portugal
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da Silva IV, Barbosa P, Mota M, Ascensão L. Histological Changes in Stems of Pinus sylvestris Seedlings Infected with a Virulent Isolate of the Pinewood Nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus. Microsc Microanal 2015; 21 Suppl 5:97-98. [PMID: 26227729 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927615014294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Inês Vieira da Silva
- 1Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (IBB), Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Pedro Barbosa
- 2NemaLab/ICAAM, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Manuel Mota
- 2NemaLab/ICAAM, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas, Universidade de Évora, Núcleo da Mitra, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- 1Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (IBB), Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Faria JMS, Sena I, Vieira da Silva I, Ribeiro B, Barbosa P, Ascensão L, Bennett RN, Mota M, Figueiredo AC. In vitro co-cultures of Pinus pinaster with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus: a biotechnological approach to study pine wilt disease. Planta 2015; 241:1325-36. [PMID: 25677754 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-015-2257-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 01/31/2015] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Co-cultures of Pinus pinaster with Bursaphelenchus xylophilus were established as a biotechnological tool to evaluate the effect of nematotoxics addition in a host/parasite culture system. The pinewood nematode (PWN), Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, the causal agent of pine wilt disease (PWD), was detected for the first time in Europe in 1999 spreading throughout the pine forests in Portugal and recently in Spain. Plant in vitro cultures may be a useful experimental system to investigate the plant/nematode relationships in loco, thus avoiding the difficulties of field assays. In this study, Pinus pinaster in vitro cultures were established and compared to in vivo 1 year-old plantlets by analyzing shoot structure and volatiles production. In vitro co-cultures were established with the PWN and the effect of the phytoparasite on in vitro shoot structure, water content and volatiles production was evaluated. In vitro shoots showed similar structure and volatiles production to in vivo maritime pine plantlets. The first macroscopic symptoms of PWD were observed about 4 weeks after in vitro co-culture establishment. Nematode population in the culture medium increased and PWNs were detected in gaps of the callus tissue and in cavities developed from the degradation of cambial cells. In terms of volatiles main components, plantlets, P. pinaster cultures, and P. pinaster with B. xylophilus co-cultures were all β- and α-pinene rich. Co-cultures may be an easy-to-handle biotechnological approach to study this pathology, envisioning the understanding of and finding ways to restrain this highly devastating nematode.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge M S Faria
- Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, DBV, CESAM, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal, C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016, Lisbon, Portugal,
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Mota L, Figueiredo AC, Pedro LG, Barroso JG, Miguel MG, Faleiro ML, Ascensão L. Volatile-oils composition, and bioactivity of the essential oils of Plectranthus barbatus, P. neochilus, and P. ornatus grown in Portugal. Chem Biodivers 2015; 11:719-32. [PMID: 24827682 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201300161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Volatile-oils chemical composition and bioactivity of the essentail oils from Plectranthus barbatus, P. neochilus, and P. ornatus (Lamiaceae) were assessed. Aerial parts from these three related Plectranthus species were collected from cultivated plants grown in Portugal, during vegetative and flowering phases. Volatiles, isolated by distillation-extraction, were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Monoterpene hydrocarbons (12-74%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (4-45%) constituted the main fractions in all volatiles. α-Pinene (3; 12-67%), oct-1-en-3-ol (6; traces-28%), β-pinene (7; 0.1-22%), and β-caryophyllene (50; 7-12%) dominated P. barbatus volatiles. P. neochilus major volatile components were α-terpenyl acetate (41; traces-48%), α-thujone (2; 2-28%), β-caryophyllene (50; 2-28%), β-pinene (7; 1-25%), and α-pinene (3; 1-19%). Oct-1-en-3-ol (6; 13-31%), β-pinene (7; 11-24%), α-pinene (3; 11-19%), and β-caryophyllene (50; traces-11%) were the main constituents from P. ornatus volatiles. These chemical compositions were rather different from those previously found for specimens harvested in Africa and Brazil. Moreover, the volatiles from the flowers are herewith reported for the first time. Essential oils, isolated by hydrodistillation from leaves and stems, showed a yellowish color and unpleasant odor, with yields ranging from 0.08% to 0.84% (v/dry weight). Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils were evaluated by DPPH· and TBARS assays, and agar disc-diffusion method, respectively. Results showed low or moderate antioxidant capacity and significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Mota
- Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal, IBB, Campo Grande, PT-1749-016 Lisboa, (phone: +351 21 750 00 00; fax: +351 21 750 00 48)
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Reis CP, Gomes A, Rijo P, Candeias S, Pinto P, Baptista M, Martinho N, Ascensão L. Development and evaluation of a novel topical treatment for acne with azelaic acid-loaded nanoparticles. Microsc Microanal 2013; 19:1141-1150. [PMID: 23673203 DOI: 10.1017/s1431927613000536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Azelaic acid (AzA) is used in the treatment of acne. However, side effects and low compliance have been associated with several topical treatments with AzA. Nanotechnology presents a strategy that can overcome these problems. Polymeric nanoparticles can control drug release and targeting and reduce local drug toxicity. The aim of this study was to produce and evaluate an innovative topical treatment for acne with AzA-loaded poly-DL-lactide/glycolide copolymer nanoparticles. A soft white powder of nanoparticles was prepared. The mean size of loaded nanoparticles was < 400 nm and zeta potential was negative. Spherical nanoparticles were observed by scanning electron microscopy. Encapsulation efficiency was around 80% and a strong interaction between the polymer and the drug was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetric analysis. In vitro drug release studies suggested a controlled and pulsatile release profile. System efficacy tests suggested similar results between the loaded nanoparticles and the nonencapsulated drug against the most common bacteria associated with acne. Cytotoxicity of AzA-loaded nanoparticles was concentration dependent, although not pronounced. The occluded patch test seemed to indicate that the formulation excipients were safe and thus AzA-loaded nanoparticles appear to be an efficient and safe treatment for acne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Pinto Reis
- Laboratory of Nanoscience and Biomedical Nanotechnology (LNBN), CBIOS, Universidade Lusófona, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal
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Mota L, Figueiredo AC, Pedro LG, Barroso JG, Ascensão L. Glandular trichomes, histochemical localization of secretion, and essential oil composition inPlectranthus grandidentatusgrowing in Portugal. FLAVOUR FRAG J 2013. [DOI: 10.1002/ffj.3175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Luísa Mota
- Universidade de Lisboa; Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, IBB, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal; Campo Grande; 1749-016; Lisboa; Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Figueiredo
- Universidade de Lisboa; Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, IBB, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal; Campo Grande; 1749-016; Lisboa; Portugal
| | - Luis G. Pedro
- Universidade de Lisboa; Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, IBB, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal; Campo Grande; 1749-016; Lisboa; Portugal
| | - José G. Barroso
- Universidade de Lisboa; Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, IBB, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal; Campo Grande; 1749-016; Lisboa; Portugal
| | - Lia Ascensão
- Universidade de Lisboa; Faculdade de Ciências de Lisboa, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, IBB, Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal; Campo Grande; 1749-016; Lisboa; Portugal
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Falé PLV, Ascensão L, Serralheiro ML, Haris PI. Interaction between Plectranthus barbatus herbal tea components and acetylcholinesterase: binding and activity studies. Food Funct 2013; 3:1176-84. [PMID: 22801419 DOI: 10.1039/c2fo30032j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Plectranthus barbatus water extracts, have been used as herbal teas, for the treatment of various diseases. In a previous study it was demonstrated that antioxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase active extract constituents and their metabolites were found in the plasma of rats after P. barbatus tea intraperitoneal administration. Consequently, a decrease in brain acetylcholinesterase activity occurred. The aim of the present research is to elucidate how P. barbatus extract components interact with acetylcholinesterase. The estimated thermodynamic parameters suggest that the main intermolecular interaction is hydrophobic association, although hydrogen bonds between flavonoids and the active gorge of the acetylcholinesterase molecule seem to occur and have a great impact on acetylcholinesterase inhibition. The hydroxyl positions in flavonoids seem to be of utmost importance for enzyme inhibition, as they interact with specific amino acid residues in the active gorge. FTIR analysis showed that the plant extract components do not interfere with the secondary structure of the enzyme, but decreases the rate of hydrogen-deuterium exchange, possibly by decreasing solvent accessibility in the acetylcholinesterase active gorge. The spectroscopic data complements docking studies of acetylcholinesterase inhibition by plant phenolic compounds, clarifying the dominant interactions between enzyme and inhibitor and the most important structural features of the inhibitor molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro L V Falé
- Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal (IBB), Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, Lisboa, Portugal
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Abstract
Herbal teas are usually complex mixtures of therapeutically active compounds. The present study is focused on the interference of flavonoids on the bioavailability of rosmarinic acid, as these types of compounds are often present together in decoctions of medicinal plants, namely Lamiaceae species. The bioavailability of rosmarinic acid was analysed in the decoction of P. barbatus and in mixtures with apigenin and luteolin. Rosmarinic acid in the herbal tea showed a 43% bioavailability through the Caco-2 cells when luteolin and apigenin were approximately 30 μM each. In the artificial mixtures the bioavailability could be increased to 90% when the concentration of flavonoids was increased to 90 μM. The co-administration of substrates of known intestinal transport systems, Pgp, Oatp and MCT, showed that the extract components not only modulated the activity of these transporters but also their own bioavailability was dependent on them. Our results demonstrate that plant extracts with a high diversity of polyphenol compounds may have higher bioavailability than that predicted by the isolated compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro L Falé
- Centro Química e Bioquímica da Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Edifício C8, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Falé PLV, Madeira PJA, Florêncio MH, Ascensão L, Serralheiro MLM. Function of Plectranthus barbatus herbal tea as neuronal acetylcholinesterase inhibitor. Food Funct 2011; 2:130-6. [PMID: 21779558 DOI: 10.1039/c0fo00070a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to determine the function of Plectranthus barbatus (Lamiaceae) herbal tea as inhibitor of the brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. To accomplish this objective the herbal tea as well as its main component, rosmarinic acid were administered to laboratory animals (rats) and the effect on the brain AChE activity was evaluated. The study of the herbal tea metabolites in the plasma and also in the brain was undertaken. The herbal water extract was administered intragastrically and also intraperitoneally. When the plant extract was intragastrically administered, vestigial amounts of metabolites from P. barbatus extract compounds were present in rat plasma, but none were found in brain, although inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase activity was detected. However, when P. barbatus extract was administered intraperitoneally, all its compounds were found in plasma, and rosmarinic acid was found in brain. The highest concentrations of compounds/metabolites were found 30 min after administration. An inhibition of 29.0 ± 2.3% and 24.9 ± 3.7% in brain acetylcholinesterase activity was observed 30 and 60 min after intraperitoneal administration, respectively. These values were higher than those expected, taking into account the quantity of rosmarinic acid detected in the brain, which suggests that other active extract compounds or metabolites may be present in non-detectable amounts. These results prove that the administration of P. barbatus aqueous extract can reach the brain and act as AChE inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro L V Falé
- Centro de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Porfírio S, Falé PL, Madeira PJA, Florêncio MH, Ascensão L, Serralheiro MLM. Antiacetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities of Plectranthus barbatus tea, after in vitro gastrointestinal metabolism. Food Chem 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Carmo-Silva AE, Francisco A, Powers SJ, Keys AJ, Ascensão L, Parry MAJ, Arrabaça MC. Grasses of different C4 subtypes reveal leaf traits related to drought tolerance in their natural habitats: Changes in structure, water potential, and amino acid content. Am J Bot 2009; 96:1222-35. [PMID: 21628271 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.0800224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Three grasses (Poaceae) of different C(4) subtypes, Paspalum dilatatum (NADP-malic enzyme [ME]), Cynodon dactylon (NAD-ME) and Zoysia japonica (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase), occur in natural habitats that differ in annual rainfall. Their leaf characteristics were studied to identify traits related to drought tolerance. Plants were grown in pots, and water deficit was gradually induced by withholding water. Leaves of Z. japonica had the greatest and P. dilatatum the lowest relative dry matter content. Transverse sections of leaves that developed during the water deficit showed little change compared to control leaves, consistent with low phenotypic plasticity. Anatomical features distinguished the three species, with xeromorphic characteristics most strongly represented in Z. japonica. The leaf relative water content (RWC) decreased with the soil water content similarly for the three grasses. However, at 80% RWC, the leaf water potential was -3.1 MPa for Z. japonica and only -1.3 MPa for P. dilatatum and C. dactylon. Soluble amino acids, especially proline, increased as RWC decreased in leaves of C. dactylon and Z. japonica. Phenylalanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine increased more in Z. japonica than in the other two species. The results provide evidence that C. dactylon and, especially, Z. japonica have evolved leaf traits better suited to arid habitats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana E Carmo-Silva
- Centro de Engenharia Biológica (CEB) and Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Falé PL, Borges C, Madeira PJA, Ascensão L, Araújo MEM, Florêncio MH, Serralheiro MLM. Rosmarinic acid, scutellarein 4′-methyl ether 7-O-glucuronide and (16S)-coleon E are the main compounds responsible for the antiacetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activity in herbal tea of Plectranthus barbatus (“falso boldo”). Food Chem 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2008.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Ascensão L, Francisco A, Cotrim H, Pais MS. Comparative structure of the labellum in Ophrys fusca and O. lutea (Orchidaceae). Am J Bot 2005; 92:1059-67. [PMID: 21646127 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.92.7.1059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The morphology and anatomy of the labellar epidermal cells and the way in which they are arranged are described in an attempt to locate and characterize the osmophore in Ophrys fusca and O. lutea. The micromorphology of the labellum of these two species is similar. Four types of epidermal cells are present on the adaxial surface of the labellum. Long unicellular trichomes with straight tips cover the basal region of the labellum, whereas short unicellular trichomes with polygonal flattened bases form the reflective median speculum. The apical region of the labellum possesses a villous indumentum of long acuminate trichomes with bent or sinuate tips. Large smooth-walled, dome-shaped papillae occur on the margins and on the distal region of the abaxial surface of the labellum. These remarkable papillae have high polarity; the protoplasm at the apex of each cell contains several small vacuoles, while a prominent nucleus surrounded by numerous hypertrophied amyloplasts occurs at the opposite end of the cell. Positive reactions to Vogel's staining test and to Sudan black B enabled us to conclude that the osmophores of both species are composed of these peculiar secretory epidermal cells and by two or three subsecretory layers of parenchyma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia Ascensão
- Centro de Biotecnologia Vegetal, Departamento de Biologia Vegetal, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, Bloco C2, Campo Grande, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal
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Camejo-Rodrigues J, Ascensão L, Bonet MA, Vallès J. An ethnobotanical study of medicinal and aromatic plants in the Natural Park of "Serra de São Mamede" (Portugal). J Ethnopharmacol 2003; 89:199-209. [PMID: 14611883 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-8741(03)00270-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This paper reports an ethnobotanical study conducted in the year 2000 in the Natural Park of "Serra de São Mamede" (Portugal). Informal interviews involving 45 informants provided data about 165 useful plants, 150 of which had medicinal and/or aromatic use. Two hundred and twenty-four popular names were noted, 98 of which had not been documented before. The most relevant plants are mentioned in this paper, along with their local names, the parts of them used, popular uses (or troubles treated), preparation and administration processes, and citation frequency. This is the first study of medicinal and aromatic plants in Portugal to use ethnobotanical methodology.
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Pedro LG, Barroso JG, Marques NT, Ascensão L, Pais MSS, Scheffer JJ. Composition of the Essential Oil from Sepals ofLeonotis leonurusR. Br. Journal of Essential Oil Research 1991. [DOI: 10.1080/10412905.1991.9697985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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