Ephedra alata Decne. belongs to the Ephedraceae family. It is a species of Ephedra that grows mostly in the desert. Today, the main importance of Ephedra species in the medical field is due to the presence of the alkaloids derived from phenyl-alanine, which act on the sympathetic nervous system as a sympathomimetic. The aim of this study was to conduct a phytochemical characterization of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial part of Ephedra alata Decne., which is indigenous to Tunis, that involves the total phenolic content, individual phenolic content, and antioxidant activity as well as a biological screening for the evaluation of the antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. The results show that the hydroalcoholic extract contains polyphenolic phytocompounds (156.226 ± 0.5 mgGAE/g extract) and elicits antioxidant activity (7453.18 ± 2.5 μmol Trolox/g extract). The extract acted as a bacteriostatic agent against all tested bacterial strains, but was bactericidal only against the Gram-positive cocci and Candida spp. In the set experimental parameters, the extract presents antiproliferative, pro-apoptotic, and cytotoxic potential against the MCF-7 human breast cancer cell line.
The link between melanoma development and the use of oral combined contraceptives is not fully elucidated, and the data concerning this issue are scarce and controversial. In the present study, we show that the components of oral contraceptives, ethinylestradiol (EE), levonorgestrel (LNG), and their combination (EE + LNG) ± UVB (ultraviolet B radiation) induced differential effects on healthy (human keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and primary epidermal melanocytes, and murine epidermis cells) and melanoma cells (human—A375 and murine—B164A5), as follows: (i) at low doses (1 µM), the hormones were devoid of significant toxicity on healthy cells, but in melanoma cells, they triggered cell death via apoptosis; (ii) higher doses (10 µM) were associated with cytotoxicity in all cells, the most affected being the melanoma cells; (iii) UVB irradiation proved to be toxic for all types of cells; (iv) UVB irradiation + hormonal stimulation led to a synergistic cytotoxicity in the case of human melanoma cells—A375 and improved viability rates of healthy and B164A5 cells. A weak irritant potential exerted by EE and EE + LNG (10 µM) was assessed by the means of a chick chorioallantoic membrane assay. Further studies are required to elucidate the hormones’ cell type-dependent antimelanoma effect and the role played by melanin in this context.
A series of Cu(II), Co(II), Pd(II), Pt(II), Zn(II), Cd(II) and Fe(III) complexes were designed and synthesized using Schiff base 1‐phenyl‐2,3‐dimethyl‐4‐(N‐3‐formyl‐6‐methylchromone)‐3‐pyrazolin‐5‐one (HL). The new metal complexes were investigated using various physicochemical techniques including elemental and thermal analyses, molar electric conductivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements, as well as spectroscopic methods. Also, the crystal structures of ligand HL and the Pd(II) complex were determined using single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analysis. For all compounds, the antimicrobial activity was studied against a series of standard strains: Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida albicans, Candida krusei and Cryptococcus neoformans. The in vitro antiproliferative activity of the ligand and complexes was evaluated against ten cancer cell lines: MSC, A375, B16 4A5, HT‐29, MCF‐7, HEp‐2, BxPC‐3, RD, MDCK and L20B. At 10 μM concentration a significant cytotoxic effect of the Co(II), Pd(II) and Cd(II) complexes was observed against B16 4A5 murine melanoma cells. The Zn(II) complex is active against HEp‐2, RD and MDCK cancer cell lines, where IC50 values vary between 1.0 and 77.6 and for BxPC‐3 the activity index versus doxorubicin is 3.7 times higher.
Background: This study was designed as a continuation of a complex investigation about the phytochemical composition and biological activity of chamomile, parsley and celery extracts against A375 human melanoma and dendritic cells. Objective: The main aim was the evaluation of the antimicrobial potential of selected extracts as well as the in vitro anticancer activity against MCF7 human breast cancer cells. Methods: In order to complete the picture regarding the phytochemical composition molecular fingerprint was sketched out by the help of FTIR spectroscopy The activity of two enzymes (acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase) after incubation with the three extracts was spectrophotometrically assessed. The antimicrobial potential was evaluated by disk diffusion method. The in vitro anti-cancer potential against MCF7 human breast cancer cells was appraised by MTT, LDH, wound healing, cell cycle, DAPI, Annexin-V-PI assays. Results: Results showed variations between the investigated extracts in terms of inhibitory activity against enzymes such as acetyl- and butyrilcholinesterase. Chamomile and parsley extracts were active only against tested Gram-positive cocci, while all tested extracts displayed antifungal effects. Among the screened samples at the highest tested concentration, namely 60 µg/mL parsley was the most active extract in terms of reducing the viability of MCF7 - human breast adenocarcinoma cell line and inducing the release of lactate dehydrogenase. On the other hand chamomile and celery extracts manifested potent anti-migratory effects. Furthermore, celery extract was the most active in terms of total apoptotic events, while chamomile extract induced the highest necrosis rate. Conclusion: The screened samples containing phytochemicals belonging in majority to the class of flavonoids and polyphenols can represent candidates for antimicrobial and anticancer agents.
The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the biological activity of thyme aqueous extract as compared to the silver nanoparticles obtained on it on four different cancer lines: non-melanoma skin cancer (A431 cell line), melanoma skin cancer (A375cell line), hormone dependent breast cancer (MCF-7 cell line), and non-hormone dependent breast cancer (MDA-MB-231 cell line). Of particular importance in the study of biological activity is the chemical composition. Formulas rich in compounds of classes like those of flavonoids are recognized for their efficacy and important antioxidant effect. The extract tested at various concentrations ranging from 10-1000 �g/mL exhibited a pronounced effect only on MCF-7 cells at the highest concentration tested and regarding the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles, the effect can be noted even at 1 � M also only in the case of MCF-7 cells.
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