Cinnamic acid derivatives are an important class of biologically active compounds, playing an important role in the plants' development, but may also present a wide range of actions: antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiinflamatory, antitumoral. The present study investigated the toxicity of ten cinnamic acid derivatives on Phaseolus vulgaris, this being the first step in evaluating their pharmacotoxicological potential (usually, plant toxicity tests are used for ecotoxicity assessment, but they can also provide some useful general information about the toxic potential of a pharmaceutical substance to living organisms). The bean seeds were exposed to three different concentrations of each substance (28.6 μg/cm 2 , 57.3 μg/cm 2 , 114.6 μg/cm 2 ). All the tests were conducted in Petri dishes, using an artificial substrate (Whatman filter paper) impregnated with the investigated compounds. The analyzed elements were seedling length, root length, percentage of seeds that developed into seedlings, fresh seedling weight and the total polyphenols content. The tested compounds showed phytotoxic effects, inhibiting the growth of the plants and the biosynthesis of polyphenols as compared to the control. The substances with high logP values showed greater phytotoxic potential, but to establish an exact correlation between hydrophobicity and toxicity of the molecules a QSAR analysis must be further done.

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Kumar et al., 2010). The Triticum test has 2 targets: toxicity and mutagenicity assessment. Toxicity is associated with growth inhibition, while mutagenicity is correlated with the rate of chromosome disturbances (Fiskesjo, 1985).Cinnamic acid derivatives are important compounds with a wide range of biological activities: antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antiinflammatory, and antitumoral (Da Cunha et al., 2004;Narasimhan et al., 2004;Xu et al., 2005;Sharma, 2011). Some cinnamic acid derivatives are naturally occurring substances found in various plants. Cinnamic acid can also be found in free form, but it is especially common in the form of esters. Cinnamic esters are obtained from various plant sources and are very important in perfumery, the cosmetic industry, and pharmaceutics. Methyl caffeate is found in Gaillardia pulchella, Gochnatia rusbyana, Notopterygium incisum, and the fruits of Linum usitatissimum and is reported to possess both antitumor and antimicrobial activities. Ethyl 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamate, found in Piper longum, has an important role in controlling inflammatory diseases (Sharma, 2011).Hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic, and coumaric) and their derivatives are extremely potent natural antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agents. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) from propolis is only one example of an extremely potent biologically active natural cinnamic acid derivative (Bankova, 2009). The aim of this paper was to evaluate the phytotoxic and mutagenic effects of 5 cinnamic acid derivatives [cinnamic acid (I), 2,3-dibromo-3-phenyl-propanoic acid (II), 2,3-dibromo-3-(3-bromophenyl)-propanoic acid (III), 2,3-dibromo-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid (IV), and 2,3-dibromo-3-(3-bromo-4-hydroxy-5methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid (V)] in order to obtain Abstract: Five cinnamic acid derivatives [cinnamic acid, 2,3-dibromo-3-phenyl-propanoic acid, 2,3-dibromo-3-(3-bromophenyl)propanoic acid, 2,3-dibromo-3-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid, and 2,3-dibromo-3-(3-bromo-4-hydroxy-5methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid] were found to be active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, and their minimal bactericidal concentrations were determined (100 µg/mL). The first step in assessing their toxicological potential was the phytotoxicity and genotoxicity evaluation on Triticum aestivum. Wheat seeds were exposed to solutions of the tested compounds (100 µg/mL) for 24 and 48 h. The development of roots and seedlings, germination percentage, mitotic index, chromosomal aberrations, and total polyphenol content were analyzed. The substances caused in most experimental cases a slight inhibition in the growth of the tested plantlets in comparison to the control, with the exception of 2,3-dibromo-3-(3-bromo-4-hydroxy-5-methoxyphenyl)-propanoic acid (48 h of exposure). All compounds inhibited the germination process and mitotic activity. No aberrant metaphases were generated, but abnormal anatelophases appeared, and 4 types of chromosomal aberrations were identified: chromosome bridges,...

Electronic nicotine delivery systems first appeared on the market in 2003 and have been promoted as healthier alternatives to conventional tobacco cigarettes. The rapid evolution of technology for these products generated a wide variety of models, and electronic cigarettes have quickly gained worldwide popularity. However, research regarding the effects of both short-term and long-term exposure revealed a wide variety of potential negative effects on human health, and the first system to be affected by these electronic smoking devices is the oral cavity. This review makes an up-to-date extensive presentation of the possible mechanisms that associate electronic cigarette smoking with increased prevalence and progression of oral cancer. Oxidative stress, inflammation response, and DNA damage are the main mechanisms that explain e-cigarettes’ cytotoxicity, but there are still questions to be answered. At present, tens of thousands of e-liquids are available, with distinct compositions, which makes the research even more challenging. Another aspect approached in the present paper is the effect of nicotine on chemotherapy drug resistance. Nicotine activates nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, consecutively inhibiting apoptosis, increasing tumor cells proliferation and survival, and reducing the effects of chemotherapy drugs.

Dermatophyte infections represent an important public health concern, affecting up to 25% of the world’s population. Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes are the predominant dermatophytes in cutaneous infections, with a prevalence accounting for 70% of dermatophytoses. Although terbinafine represents the preferred treatment, its clinical use is hampered by side effects, drug–drug interactions, and the emergence of resistant clinical isolates. Combination therapy, associating terbinafine and essential oils (EOs), represents a promising strategy in the treatment of dermatophytosis. In this study, we screened the potential of selected Apiaceae EOs (ajowan, coriander, caraway, and anise) to improve the antifungal activity of terbinafine against T. rubrum ATCC 28188 and T. mentagrophytes ATCC 9533. The chemical profile of EOs was analyzed by gas chromatography. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of EOs/main compounds were determined according to EUCAST-AFST guidelines, with minor modifications. The checkerboard microtiter method was used to identify putative synergistic combinations of EOs/main constituents with terbinafine. The influence of EOs on the viability and pro-inflammatory cytokine production (IL-1β, IL-8 and TNF-α) was determined using an ex vivo human neutrophils model. The binary associations of tested EOs with terbinafine were found to be synergistic against T. rubrum, with FICI values of 0.26–0.31. At the tested concentrations (6.25–25 mg/L), EOs did not exert cytotoxic effects towards human neutrophils. Anise EO was the most potent inhibitor of IL-1β release (46.49% inhibition at 25 mg/L), while coriander EO displayed the highest inhibition towards IL-8 and TNF-α production (54.15% and 54.91%, respectively). In conclusion, the synergistic combinations of terbinafine and investigated Apiaceae EOs could be a starting point in the development of novel topical therapies against T. rubrum-related dermatophytosis.

The present review summarizes the literature data regarding the application of Triticum aestivum assay as an alternative method for toxicity assessment of environmental pollutants or potential therapeutic agents. Plant bioassays present several advantages among other biological assays (simplicity, low cost, rapid test activation, a wide array of assessment endpoints). They present a good correlation with animal and human cells models, and are a reliable tool for genotoxicity assessment. Furthermore, in the context of toxicology guidelines that promote the substitution of assays using animal models with other bioassays, genotoxicity assays using higher plants models have gained in popularity. The present review focuses on three major aspects regarding Triticum aestivum assay - its utility in environmental pollution monitoring, its application in genotoxicity assessment studies, and its application in phytotoxicity evaluation of nanomaterials.   ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********

The present studies aimed the effects of tyrphostin AG 494 and tyrphostin AG 1295 on apoptosis of mouse pro-B lymphocytes. The actual scientific literature lacks such data. Tyrphostin AG 494 is an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor pathways and tyrphostin AG 1295 is an inhibitor of platelet-derived growth factor receptor pathways. Our obtained data demonstrated that tyrphostin AG 1295 was less effective in preventing the apoptosis of murine pro-B cells, triggered by the combination of Cytoporone B (NR4A1 agonist) and Cyclosporine A. In contrast, tyrphostin AG 494 had a stronger inhibitory effect on the apoptosis of the same cells, when administered for 24 hours. Thus, when blocking the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor pathways, the inductive apoptotic effects of Cytoporone B and Cyclosporine A are reduced. Thus, we could conclude that such inhibition will increase the resistance to apoptosis of pro-B cells. Thus, such a resistance to apoptosis could be experimentally acquired by hematopoietic cells.

The growing popularity of electronic cigarettes has raised several public health concerns, including the risks associated with heavy metals exposure via e-liquids and vapors. The purpose of this study was to determine, using atomic absorption spectrometry, the concentrations of Pb, Ni, Zn, and Co in some commercially available e-liquid samples from Romania immediately after purchase and after storage in clearomizers. Lead and zinc were found in all investigated samples before storage. The initial concentrations of Pb ranged from 0.13 to 0.26 mg L−1, while Zn concentrations were between 0.04 and 0.07 mg L−1. Traces of nickel appeared in all investigated e-liquids before storage but in very small amounts (0.01–0.02 mg L−1). Co was below the detection limits. We investigated the influence of the storage period (1, 3, and 5 days), storage temperature (22 °C and 40 °C), and type of clearomizer. In most cases, the temperature rise and storage period increase were associated with higher concentrations of heavy metals. This confirms that storage conditions can affect metal transfer and suggests that the temperature of storage is another parameter that can influence this phenomenon.