Enhanced Bioactivity of Rosemary, Sage, Lavender, and Chamomile Essential Oils by Fractionation, Combination, and Emulsification

This study aimed to increase the bioactivity of essential oils by fractionation, combination, and emulsification. In this regard, pharmaceutical quality Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary), Salvia sclarea L. (clary sage), Lavandula latifolia Medik. (spike lavender), and Matricaria chamomilla L. (chamomile) essential oils were fractionated by vacuum-column chromatography. The main components of the essential oils were verified, and their fractions were characterized by thin layer chromatography, gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Besides, oil-in-water (O/W) emulsions of essential oils and diethyl ether fractions were obtained by the self-emulsification method, followed by droplet size, polydispersity index, and zeta potential value measurements. The in vitro antibacterial effects of the emulsions and binary combinations (10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, 50:50, 60:40, 70:30, 80:20, 90:10, v:v) against Staphylococcus aureus were determined by microdilution. In addition, the in vitro anti-biofilm, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects of emulsion formulations were evaluated. According to the experimental results, fractionation and emulsification enhanced essential oil in vitro antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects due to increased solubility and nano-sized droplets. Among 22 different emulsion combinations, 1584 test concentrations resulted in 21 cases of synergistic effects. The mechanism of the increase in biological activities was hypothesized to be higher solubility and stability of the essential oil fractions. Food and pharmaceutical industries may benefit from the procedure proposed in this study.

An Investigation Into the Degree of Sinus Mucosal Delivery of Inhaled Black Cumin Volatile and Peppermint Essential Oils

The aim of this study was to investigate the quantity of volatile components reaching the sinus mucosa (SM) by inhalation, which is responsible for the therapeutic effect, as a first step toward targeted drug design. In this study, 18 Wistar-Albino female rats with an average weight between 200 and 250 g were used. The rats to be used in the study were randomized: Black cumin (BC) essential oil group (group 1) (n = 6), Peppermint essential oil (PEO) group (group 2) (n = 6), and Control (group 3) (n = 6). Volatile oils were inhaled in group 1 and 2; in the control group volatile oils were not inhaled. In all groups, SM was removed and essential volatile oil composition was determined. In group 1, α-pinene was identified as the principal component in the gas phase from five different glass bottles containing SM. The data obtained were evaluated using the single sample T-test and results show that the α-pinene component in the group of inhaled BC essential oil reached significance (P < .001) when compared with the control group. The active component of the BC essential oil could not be identified as thymoquinone. In group 2, eucalyptol (1,8-cineole) was identified as the principal component in the gas phase from five different glass bottles containing SM. The data obtained were evaluated using the single sample T-test and it was found that the eucalyptol component in the group which inhaled PEO reached statistical significance (P < .001) compared with the control group. In group 3, no volatile oil compounds were detected. We have demonstrated that both oils (BC and peppermint) are delivered to the SM. There is a need for the optimum dose to be clarified by different methods of measurement than those used in the spectrometric data we have obtained. We are convinced that our work will lead to pharmacological, toxicological, and subsequent clinical trials in this area.

Synergistic antibacterial combination of Lavandula latifolia Medik. essential oil with camphor

Combination of various compounds and essential oils for pharmaceutical formulations withdraw attention. In this present study, it was aimed to evaluate the in vitro potential synergistic antibacterial effect of Lavandula latifolia (spike lavender) essential oil with camphor by using the checkerboard method against the human pathogens; Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Pharmacopoeia quality L. latifolia essential oil and racemic camphor were analyzed and verified by GC-FID and GC/MS, simultaneously. In vitro antibacterial activity of essential oil and camphor (MIC range: 0.16-20 mg/mL) and standard antimicrobial clarithromycin (MIC range: 0.125-16 μg/mL) were carried out by broth microdilution against S. aureus and L. monocytogenes standard strains, respectively. Resulting antibacterial effects were evaluated for their fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs) as antagonistic, additive and synergistic effects. The analytical results showed that the major component of essential oil was linalool (45.2%) and 1,8-cineole (25.6%). Antibacterial effects of essential oil were determined as MIC 1.25-5 mg/mL. As a result of the experiments, L. latifolia essential oil-camphor combinations were identified as "synergistic (FIC ≤ 0.5), and additive (0.5 < FIC ≤ 1)" in the respective combinations, suggesting further evaluation for formulations for potential antimicrobial applications in food and pharmaceuticals.

Secondary metabolites from Verbascum bugulifolium Lam. and their bioactivities

Five iridoid glycosides catalpol (1), specioside (2), ajugol (3), ajugoside (4), 8-O-acetylharpagide (5), two phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside (6) and glucopyranosyl-(1→G_i-6)-martynoside (7), four flavonoids, luteolin (8), luteolin 7-O-β-glucopyranoside (9), luteolin 7-O-rutinoside (10), apigenin 7-O-rutinoside (11), quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (12) and β-sitosterol (13) were isolated from the aerial parts of Verbascum bugulifolium Lam. for the first time. Their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS experiments. The extracts, and the isolates were evaluated for their in vitro antioxidant (DPPH•, ABTS• and CUPRAC), anti-inflammatory (LOX inhibition) and antimicrobial activities. Compounds 6 and 8 showed the highest antioxidant activity in all tests, where luteolin (8) showed the relatively best anti-inflammatory activity compared to other samples with 54.1 ± 5.0% inhibition at 1 µg/mL. All the tested compounds showed weak antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms. This is the first phytochemical and bioactivity study on V. bugulifolium.[Figure: see text].

Secondary metabolites from the aerial parts of Sideritis germanicopolitana and their in vitro enzyme inhibitory activities

Three iridoid glycosides, 5-allosyloxy-aucubine (1), melittoside (2), ajugol (3), five phenylethanoid glycosides, verbascoside (4), martynoside (5), leucoseptoside A (6), lamalboside (7), decaffeoylverbascoside (8), four flavonoids, xanthomicrol (9), isoscutellarein 7-O-[6'''-O-acetyl-β-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-glucopyranoside (10), 4'-O-methylisoscutellarein 7-O-[6'''-O-acetyl-β-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-glucopyranoside (11), 3'-hydroxy-4'-O-methylisoscutellarein 7-O-[6'''-O-acetyl-β-allopyranosyl-(1→2)]-β-glucopyranoside (12), and two lignan glycosides dehydrodiconiferylalcohol 4-O-β-D-glucopyranose (13) and pinoresinol 4'-O-β-glucopyranoside (14) were isolated from the aerial parts of Sideritis germanicopolitana. Their structures were determined on the basis of detailed NMR and HRESIMS analyses. To our knowledge, all compounds are being reported for the first time from S. germanicopolitana, while the isolated lignans (13 and 14) are new for the genus Sideritis. In vitro evaluation of AChE, BChE and LOX inhibitory effects of all the tested compounds (1-14) resulted in low to moderate activities.

Albumin Based Nanoparticles for Detection of Pancreatic Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Molecular imaging of cancer cells using effective drug targeting systems are most interested research area in recent years. Albumin protein is a soluble and most abundant protein in circulatory system. It has a ligand-binding function and acts as a transport protein. Researchers are interested in developing albumin based nanostructured specific anti-tumor drugs in cancer therapy. Pancreatic cancer treatment or drug design for targeted pancreatic cancer cell has great importance due to it has a high mortality rate comparing other cancer types.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, our goal is to develop new targeting nanoparticles based on the conjugation of albumin and Hyaluronic Acid (HA) for pancreatic cancer cells.

METHOD

In this article, we proposed a new technique for conjugation of albumin (BSA) and HA in nano formation. Firstly, cationic BSA is synthesized. Then, BSA-HA conjugation is obtained by interacted cationic BSA with 1000 ppm HA. Secondly, nano BSA-HA particles and nano BSA particles were synthesized according to AmiNoAcid Decorated and Light Underpinning Conjugation Approach (ANADOLUCA) method which provides a special cross-linking strategy for biomolecules using ruthenium-based amino acid monomer haptens. After characterization studies, in vitro cytotoxic activity of synthesized nano BSA-HA particles were determined for PANC-1 ATCC^® CRL146 cells.

RESULTS

According to the data, nano BSA and nano BSA-HA particles synthesized uniquely using special ruthenium-based amino acid decorated cross-linking agent, (MATyr)2-Ru-(MATyr)2.based on ANDOLUCA method. Characterization results showed that there was not any change in protein folding structures during nano formation process. In addition, nano protein particles gained fluorescence feature. When interacting synthesized nano BSA and nano BSA-HA particles with pancreatic cells, it was found that BSA nanoparticles were usually around cells and membranes, but BSA-HA nanoparticles were identified around the cells, in the cytoplasm inside the cell, and next to the cell nucleus. So, nano BSA-HA particles could be used as cancer cell imaging agent for PANC-1 ATCC^® CRL146 cells.

CONCLUSION

The satisfactory conclusion of this study is that synthesized nano BSA-HA particles are fundamental materials for targeting pancreatic cancer cells due to HA receptors located on pancreatic cancer cells and imaging agents due to fluorescence feature of the BSA-HA nanoparticles.

Evaluation of Lavandula stoechas L. subsp. stoechas L., Mentha spicata L. subsp. spicata L. essential oils and their main components against sinusitis pathogens

Lavandula stoechas subsp. stoechas and Mentha spicata subsp. spicata are used for the treatment of sinusitis in Turkish folk medicine. The components of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation were determined by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID), gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and thin layer chromatography (TLC). Major components of L. stoechas and M. spicata oils were determined as camphor (46.7%) and carvone (60.6%), respectively. The antibacterial activity of essential oils and their main components were tested against the common selected sinusitis pathogens Streptococcus pneumoniae, Streptococcus pyogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa using in vitro agar diffusion, microdilution, and vapor diffusion methods. As a result, the tested plant materials, which are locally and natively used against sinusitis, were relatively mild antibacterial (in vitro MICs 310–1250 μg/mL) in action. To use essential oils and their components safely in sinusitis therapy, further detailed in vivo experiments are needed to support their efficacy.

The role of oxidative stress in premalignant lesions

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION

The authors aimed to evaluate serum total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant status (TAS), and oxida- tive stress index (OSI) in women with abnormal cervical cytology, to determine the association between serum oxidant and antioxidant status of these women, and the progression of abnormal cervical cytology.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 75 women enrolled in the study: 20 women with a determination of atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASCUS), 20 women with low squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL), 15 women with high squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) and 20 healthy controls. Serum TOS and TAS were determined and OSI was calculated as the indicator of degree of oxidative stress.

RESULTS

Serum TOS levels and OSI were highest in the HSIL group and there was a trend toward increasing serum TOS levels and OSI from ASCUS to HSIL group.

CONCLUSION

The authors demonstrated that increased oxidative stress with altered antioxidant level is associated with abnormal cervical cytology. Serum oxidant and antioxidant status may provide guidance as a simple and cost-effective method for follow-up, treatment, and recommendation in all stages of lesions.

Secondary Metabolites from the Leaves of Digitalis viridiflora

A new phenylethanoid glycoside, named digiviridifloroside (1), was isolated from the leaves of Digitalis viridiflora Lindley along with a known phenylethanoid glycoside calceolarioside A (2), two flavonoid glycosides, scutellarein 7- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) and hispidulin 7- O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), two cleroindicins, cleroindicins B (5) and F (6), a nucleoside, adenosine (7), as well as a mixture of β-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-4- O-caffeoyl-α/β -glucopyranose and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol. The structure of the new compound was established as 3,4-dihydroxy-β-phenylethoxy-6- O-( E)-feruloyl-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-4- O-( E)-caffeoyl-β-glucopyranoside (1) based on extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, as well as HR-ESI-MS. Digiviridifloroside represents a rare type of phenylethanoid glycoside which bears two aromatic acyl units in its structure. In addition to phytochemical studies, the isolates were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against three pathogenic bacteria and three yeast strains using a microdilution method. Among the tested compounds, 5 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus NRRLB 3711 with a MIC value of 25 μg/mL, whereas compounds 5 and 6 showed relatively high anticandidal activity against Candida strains with MIC values down to 12.5 μg/mL, in comparison to the standard antimicrobial compounds.

Secondary Metabolites from the Leaves of Digitalis viridiflora

A new phenylethanoid glycoside, named digiviridifloroside (1), was isolated from the leaves of Digitalis viridiflora Lindley along with a known phenylethanoid glycoside, calceolarioside A (2), two flavonoid glycosides, scutellarein 7-Ο-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) and hispidulin 7-0-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), two cleroindicins, cleroindicins B (5) and F (6), a nucleoside, adenosine (7), as well as a mixture of β-glucopyranosyl-(1-6)-4-O-caffeoyl-α/β glucopyranose and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol. The structure of the new compound was established as 3,4-dihydroxy-β-phenylethoxy-6-O-(E)-feruloyl-β- glucopyranosyl-(l->6)-4-0-(E)-caffeoyl-β-glucopyranoside (1) based on extensive ID- and 2D-NMR spectroscopy, as well. as HR-ESI-MS. Digiviridifloroside represents a rare type of phenylethanoid glycoside which bears two aromatic acyl units in its structure. In addition to phytochemical studies, the isolates were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activities against three pathogenic bacteria and three yeast strains using a microdilution method. Among the tested compounds, 5 exhibited moderate antibacterial activity against Bacillus cereus NRRLB 3711 with a MIC value of 25 μg/mL, whereas compounds 5 and 6 showed relatively high anticandidal activity against Candida strains with MIC values down to 12.5 μg/mL, in comparison to the standard antimicrobial compounds.

Does tamoxifen citrate prevent pulmonary fibrosis due to silica inhalation?

BACKGROUND

As shown in several studies, besides being used in breast cancer, tamoxifen is also known for its antifibrotic effects via reducing the serum TGF-beta levels. We investigated the possible preventive effect of tamoxifen in rats exposed to silica particles depending on the antifibrotic effect.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 102 adult female Wistar Albino rats were divided into five groups. First two groups (control and tmx) were free of silica and the last three groups (slc, tmx1 and tmx 10) were exposed to crystalline silica. The rats in tmx, tmx1 and tmx10 groups received 10 mg/kg, 1 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg of body weight tamoxifen, respectively. On day 84, all rats were sacrified and tissue samples were obtained together with blood samples. The differences in serum TGF-β levels, histological grades of fibrosis and inflammation in the lung and liver tissues together with addional biochemical markers were calculated between the groups.

RESULTS

Silicosis occurred in slc, tmx1 and tmx10 groups in 100%, 91.7% and 52.1%, respectively. Liver fibrosis did not occur. The highest mean lung fibrosis scores were obtained in slc group while the scores were lower in tmx1 group and the lowest in tmx10 within silica-exposed rats. Nevertheless, the inflammation scores were higher in tamoxifen-administered rats in a dose-dependent pattern.

CONCLUSION

Silica inhalation did not result in liver fibrosis. Tamoxifen is found to prevent lung fibrosis and reduce serum TGFβ-1 levels while increasing lung inflammation (Tab. 3, Fig. 3, Ref. 27).

IgG-anti-IgA antibodies: an autoimmune finding in patients with psoriasis vulgaris

AIM

Psoriasis is thought to be an autoimmune disease caused by inappropriate activation of the cellular immune system. In this study, we aimed to search out IgG-anti-IgA antibody levels, serum immunoglobulins and antinuclear antibodies (ANA).

METHODS

The study enrolled 38 psoriasis vulgaris patients and 40 healthy controls.

RESULTS

Mean IgG-anti-IgA levels were significantly higher in psoriasis patients. The frequency of positive ANA testing was 21.1%; however, there was no correlation between IgG-anti-IgA antibody levels and ANA positivity. Only one patient had low IgA levels without high IgG-anti-IgA concentrations.

CONCLUSION

The data about high IgG-anti-IgA antibody levels are noteworthy for a new evidence of autoimmune mechanism.

Determination of cut-off titers and agreement between immunofluorescence and immunoblotting methods for detecting antinuclear antibodies in children

Detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) is a diagnostic adjunct in patients with suspected autoimmune connective tissue diseases, and various detection methods are in use. The aim of this study was to analyze the agreement between the ANA immunoflourescence (IF) and immunoblotting (IB) methods and determine cut-off for children subjects in a laboratory setting. We evaluated 729 serum samples that were analyzed by both ANA IF and IB. The results were evaluated by chi(2) test and, for agreement, kappa index was used. Frequencies determined for both 1:40-1:100 cut-off titers of ANA IF in relation to IB testing supported the idea that 1:100 starting dilution should be recommended in children subjects for ANA IF method and antigen specific immunoblot testing was needed, especially for some of the ANA IF negative samples. Agreement between the two methods, especially with homogenous, granular, and nucleolar ANA IF patterns, was statistically significant.

A novel Y331X nonsense mutation in TNFRSF1A gene in two unrelated Turkish families with periodic fever syndrome

The autoinflammatory disorders differ in severity, as well as age of onset, duration, and manifestations, but they all share some common features: recurring fever peaks, inflammation of serosal membranes, musculoskeletal involvement, varying types of skin rash, amyloidosis as a sequel of the disease. TRAPS is very rare in Turkish population and we present two unrelated Turkish children with similar clinical phenotypes and laboratory findings related with autoinflammatory disorders and with novel p. Y331X mutation in TNFRSF1A gene. Both of the patients were male and they had recurrent fever without abdominal pain and arthralgia. Full cDNA and exon-intron binding regions of TNFRSF1A, MEFV, MVK, CIAS1 genes were analysed by direct DNA sequencing methods in order to differentiate TRAPS, FMF, HIDS, CINCA/MWS/FCAS respectively. We screened ten exons of TNFRSF1A gene, and detected a heterozygous c.1080C>G nucleotide substitution in exon 10 in both of the unrelated patients, resulting p.Y360X nonsense (protein truncated) mutation. According to classical TNFRSF1A gene nomenclature and the agreement of 30th amino acid as the first one, it is accepted as p.Y331X. It was interesting to determine same mutations in fathers of two patients. In one of the cases, E148Q heterozygous mutation, which is one of the disease-causing mutations of MEFV gene, was detected. No nucleotide substitution was identified in exon and exon-intron splicing regions encoding 396 amino acid of MVK gene in both of the patients. In CIAS1 gene, two different nucleotide substitutions resulting synonymous amino acid mutation were detected in exon 3: c.[732G>A] and c.[786A>G] nucleotide substitutions and compatible p.A242A (according to c.DNA p.A244A) and p.R260R (according to c.DNA p.R262R) synonymous amino acid mutations. These nucleotide substitutions were also detected in parents and were reported to be normal variations in Turkish population. In conclusion, in Turkish patients, with dominantly inherited recurrent fever, TRAPS is a diagnosis worthy of attention and novel mutations have to be reported with phenotype associations.

Preparation and application of poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide)/κ-Carrageenan hydrogels for immobilization of lipase

In the present of this study, two novel polymeric matrixes that are poly(N,N-dimethylacrylamide-co-acrylamide) and poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-acrylamide)/kappa-Carrageenan was synthesized and applied for immobilization of lipase. For the immobilization of enzyme, two different immobilization procedures have been carried out via covalently binding and entrapment methods. On the free and immobilized enzymes activities, optimum pH, temperature, storage and thermal stability was investigated. The optimum temperature for free, covalently immobilized and entrapped enzymes was found to be 30, 35 and 30 degrees C, respectively. Optimum pH for both free and immobilized enzymes was also observed at pH 8. Maximum reaction rate (Vmax) and Michaelis-Menten constant (Km) were determined for free and immobilized lipases. Furthermore, the reuse numbers of immobilized enzymes also studied. It was observed that after 40th use in 5 days, the retained activities for covalently immobilized and entrapped lipases were found as 39% and 22%, respectively. Storage and thermal stability of enzyme was also increased by as a result of immobilization procedures.

Fatal peritonitis due to Trichoderma sp. in a patient undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

We describe a rare case of peritonitis caused by an unusual fungus, Trichoderma sp., in a patient on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Management of the patient consisted of Tenckhoff catheter removal and antifungal chemotherapy, but the patient died.