Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Properties of Natural Bioactive Monoterpenes Nerol, Estragole, and 3,7-Dimethyl-1-Octanol

The therapeutic potential of medicinal plants is noted because of the presence of varieties of biochemicals. The monoterpenes, like nerol, estragole, and 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol, have been reported for antimicrobial, antifungal, anthelmintic, and antioxidant activities. This study evaluated the toxic, cytotoxic, and oxidant/antioxidant effects of these compounds by several in vitro (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric reducing potential), ex vivo (hemolysis), and in vivo (Artemia Salina and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) assays. Results suggest that estragole and 3,7-dimethyl-1-octanol at 31.25-500 μg/mL did not exhibit significant cytotoxic effects in the A. Salina and hemolysis tests. Nerol showed significant cytotoxic effects on these test systems at all test concentrations. The monoterpenes showed radical (ABTS•+ and DPPH•) scavenging capacities in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro tests. However, they did not oxidize the genetic material of S. cerevisiae (SODWT, Sod1Δ, Sod2Δ, Sod1/Sod2Δ, Cat1Δ, and Cat1Δ/Sod1Δ) lines. Among the three monoterpenes, nerol may be a good candidate for antioxidant and anti-tumor therapies.

Retinol palmitate against toxicogenic damages of antineoplastic drugs on normal and tumor cells

The lack of tissue selectivity of anticancer drugs generates intense collateral and adverse effects of cancer patients, making the incorporation of vitamins or micronutrients into the diet of individuals to reduce side or adverse effects of antineoplastics. The study aimed to evaluate the effects of retinol palmitate (RP) on the toxicogenic damages induced by cyclophosphamide (CPA), doxorubicin (DOX) and its association with the AC protocol (CPA + DOX), in Sarcoma 180 (S-180) tumor cell line, using the micronuclei test with a block of cytokinesis (CBMN); and in non-tumor cells derived from Mus musculus using the comet assay. The results suggest that CPA, DOX and AC protocol induced significant toxicogenic damages (P < 0.05) on the S-180 cells by induction of micronuclei, cytoplasmic bridges, nuclear buds, apoptosis, and cell necrosis, proving their antitumor effects, and significant damage (P < 0.001) to the genetic material of peripheral blood cells of healthy mice, proving the genotoxic potential of these drugs. However, RP modulated the toxicogenic effects of antineoplastic tested both in the CBMN test (P < 0.05), at the concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 IU/mL; as in the comet assay (P < 0.001) at the concentration of 100 IU/kg for the index and frequency of genotoxic damage. The accumulated results suggest that RP reduced the action of antineoplastics in non-tumor cells as well as the cytotoxic, mutagenic, and cell death in neoplastic cells.

Mutagenic, antioxidant and wound healing properties of Aloe vera

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Aloe vera is a widely used medicinal plant for its various biological activities. This study evaluate possible mutagenic and healing effects of the aqueous extract of A. vera (AEAV) in mice and its oxidant/antioxidant potential in different proficient and deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The AEAV was topically treated on the wounded skin surface of male albino mice at doses of 10 and 50 mg/kg for seven successive days. The control group was similarly treated with 0.9% NaCl solution. For oxidative/anti-oxidative evaluation, both proficient and deficient strains of S. cerevisiae [cytoplasmic and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase mutant (SOD: Sod1Δ and Sod2Δ), cytoplasmic catalase mutant (CAT: Cat1Δ)], two double defective mutants of Sod1 and Sod2 and Sod1 and Cat1 genes along with a wild-type strains were used.

RESULTS

The healing property of AEAV was observed at the dose of 50 mg/kg but at the same dose it showed mutagenic and cytotoxic effects in peripheral blood. AEAV did not produce the oxidizing effect, except in the mutated CAT strain at highest concentration (50 mg/kg).

CONCLUSION

The high concentration of AEAV showed mutagenicity and cytotoxicity. Beside, the healing capacity is believed to be due to its anti-oxidative defense mechanism.

Cytogenotoxicological defense of retinyl palmitate in the front damage of antineoplastics

Cancer, the multifactorial pathology and to date is the most lethal causes of death in the world. Cyclophosphamide (CPA) and doxorubicin (DOX) are the individually or combindly used two anticancer drugs. The antineoplastic drugs-mediated genetic instability can be overcome by using antioxidants. The study evaluated the cytogenotoxic modulatory potentials of retinyl palmitate (RP) caused by CPA and DOX in Swiss mice. For this, adult Mus musculus of either sex were divided equally regarding to the gender. Toxicogenetic effects were induced by the intraperitoneal (i.p.) administration of the CPA (20mg/kg) and/or DOX (2mg/kg), following to test for comet assay and micronucleus test in bone marrow cells after 48h (DOX) and 7h (CPA) of the administration of RP (100 IU/kg). Both CPA and DOX significantly (p<0.05) increased with the index and frequency of damages, clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects with the augmenting of micronuclei, demonstrating the cytotoxicity interference on the ratio of normochromatic to polychromatic erythrocytes and bone marrow cells of mice, that were found to reduce in RP treatment groups. In conclusion, RP has a modulatory effect on CPA and DOX-mediated cytogenotoxic events. The findings may be a good indication to manage the antioneoplastic drug-induced stress mediated detrimental effects by using RP, especially as a side effect minimizer.

Physico-chemical and genotoxicity analysis of Guaribas river water in the Northeast Brazil

River pollution in Brazil is significant. This study aimed to evaluate the physico-chemical and genotoxic profiles of the Guaribas river water, located in Northeast Brazil (State of Piauí, Brazil). The study conducted during the dry and wet seasons to understand the frequency of pollution throughout the year. Genotoxicity analysis was done with the blood of Oreochromis niloticus by using the comet assay. Water samples were collected from upstream, within and downstream the city Picos. The results suggest a significant (p < 0.05) genotoxic effect of the Guaribas river water when compared to the control group. In comparison to the control group, in the river water we found a significant increase in metals such as - Fe, Zn, Cr, Cu and Al. In conclusion, Guaribas river carries polluted water, especially a large quantity of toxic metals, which may impart the genotoxic effect.