The study prepared a nanoemulsion with a diterpenoid isoprenoid alcohol called phytol (PYT) and subsequently tested it for antioxidant capacity. For this, PYT-loaded nanoemulsion was prepared by phase inversion method and both PYT-containing nanoemulsion (PNE) and PYT-free nanoemulsion (PFNE) (2-16 µM) were tested for antiradical activity (DPPH•: 1,1-dipheny-picrylhydrazyl radical; ABTS•+: azino-bisethylbenzthiazoline-sulfonic acid; •OH: hydroxyl radical scavenging; NO•: nitrite oxide radical), lipid peroxidation (LP), reduction potential (RP), and inhibition of hemolysis (HL) in rat erythrocytes in comparison with an α-tocopherol analogue (Trolox -TRO -positive control). In addition, an in vivo test was performed with wildtype and deficient Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains using hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) as a stressor. Results suggest that PNE exhibited higher antioxidant than the PFNE. Increasing doses reveled antioxidant capacity in a dose-dependent manner. In the S. cerevisiae study, both PFNEand PNE-treated groups exhibited decreased rates of survival with the highest doses, whichever in the presence of stressor increased the survival rates, which indicates antioxidative defense capacity of PYT. In this occasion, PNE exhibited prominent antioxidative defense in the presence of stressor rather than PFNE. In conclusion, PYT exhibited potential antioxidant activity but at high concentration it was toxic to the yeast cells. The production of PYT-nanoemulsions may be relevant to the pharmaceutical sciences.

The results revealed that different fractions of Commelina diffusa Burm. f. produced significant (p<0.001, p<0.01, p<0.05, p<0.02 and p<0.5) inhibitory activity against the test bacteria and fungi. Methanolic fraction produced the highest zone of inhibition against the test bacteria (11 to 19 mm) which was followed by diethyl etheric extract (3 to 9 mm) and petroleum etheric extract (1 to 2 mm). Again, the methanolic extract showed the highest activity (the lowest MICs; 15.62 to 62.5 μg/μl) against seven species among the 11. In case of diethyl etheric and petroleum etheric fractions MICs were found to be (15.62 to 125 μg/μl) and (31.25 to 500 μg/μl), respectively. The diethyl etheric fraction showed the highest zone of inhibition against the fungi (15 to 19 mm) which was followed by methanolic extract (12 to 19 mm) and petroleum etheric extract (1 to 9 mm). Against the fungi the diethyl etheric extract showed the highest activity (i.e. the lowest MICs; 15.62 to 31.25 μg/μl). In case of methanolic and petroleum etheric fractions minimum inhibitory concentrations were found to be (15.62 to 125 μg/μl) and (31.25 to 250 μg/μl), respectively.

Anacardium occidentale L. is a tree native to Brazil, which is rich in phenolic lipids. Nowadays, the cashew bark (Cashew Nut Shell Liquid) has received great attention in the pharmaceutical industry, due to its economy, abundance and important chemical compounds. Net of cashew nut shell is classified according to the method of production of: (1) net of the shell of natural cashew nut (60-65% anacardic acid; 15-20% cardol and 10% of cardanol) and (2) liquid from the technical cashew nut shell (60-65% of cardanol, 15-20% cardol and 10% of polymeric material). This work aims to report the pharmacological properties of liquids from cashew nut shells. Results suggest that both liquids have antifungal, antibacterial, antiparasitic, anti-tumor, antiulcerogenic, molluscicides, antimutagenic and antioxidant activities. Natural cashew nut liquid is non-genotoxic, whereas technical liquid is genotoxic in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, although there is no evidence of their mutagenic effects on eukaryotic cells. In conclusion, the excellent antioxidant and non-mutagenic activities of cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) provide opportunities for CNSL in the cosmetic and/or pharmaceutical industries, but continuous study is needed to allow safe and efficacious preparations.

Cancer is one of the most leading causes of death worldwide. Morinda citrifolia was reported to have antitumor effects. Cisplatin (CDDP), Doxorubicin (DOX) and Cyclophosphamid (CPA) are the known effective chemotherapeutics, despite of having several side effects. This study evaluated antitumoral and oxidative effects of the aqueous extract of the fruit of M. critrifolia (AEMC) (15, 30, 60 and 120 µg/mL) in comparision to CDDP (1 and 5 μg/mL), CPA (20 μg/mL), DOX (2 μg/mL) and CPA + DOX (20:2 μg/mL) in Sarcoma 180 cells and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, respectively. Cytogenetic damage and DNA fragmentation were evaluated with cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay and comet assay, respectively. In addition, S. cerevisiae strains were used in oxidative damage evaluation. AEMC induced cytogenetic damage with the increased formation of micronuclei, nuclear buds and nucleoplasmic bridges compared to the antineoplastics tested. AEMC at 120 µg/ mL induced significant (p<0.05) DNA damage in Sarcoma 180 cells similar to the CDDP, as well as oxidative damage in S. cerevisiae strain deficient in mitochondrial superoxide dismutase (Sod2∆) and cytosolic catalase (Cat1∆). The bioactive compounds present in AEMC such as gallic, caffeic, chlorogenic, ellagic acid and rutin might be responsible for AEMC's antitumoral activity.

This review aimed at summarizing the therapeutic potentials in a mechanistic context of a vastly studied quinone, naturally derived product from the seed oil of Nigella sativa called thymoquinone (TQ). The proposed underlyng mechanism may be attributed to its lowdose-mediated antioxidative effect while pro-oxidative at high doses. The TQ is able to form unstable and stable redox compounds in the presence of a variety of internal or external factors such as light, pH, catalyst. Antioxidant-mediated cytoprotectivity while pro-oxidative effect mediated cytotoxicity are the features of TQ with the possibility of redox balancing capacity. In addition, induced autophagy with the redox balancing potential may be a novel consideration in the cancer chemotherapy. Up to date investigated therapeutic potentials of TQ are-antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, immunomodulatory, neuro-, gastro-, cardio-, hepato-and nephroprotective. It also imparts beneficial effects in oral hygene, metabolic disorders, diabetes (especially type 2), reproductive and respiratory tract disorders, fibrosis, bone formation and decay. TQ needs clinical trial reports, despite of having a massive animal model data, combinatorial effects with some currently used chemotherapeutic agents as well as action against resistant antibiotics making TQ interesting. TQ should be taken into pharmaceutical account as a novel drug to be developed for clinical trials.

Cancer is a public health global problem. Cyclophosphamide (CPA) and Doxorubicin (DOX) are used in chemotherapy, especially by generating reactive oxygen species. The clinical use of ascorbic acid during chemotherapy also raises several controversies due to its antagonistic effects on antineoplastic agent. In this sense, this study aims to evaluate the effects of ascorbic acid (2 µg/mL) on the modulation of cytogenetic damage induced by CPA (20 µg/mL) and DOX (2 µg/ mL), as well as their interaction (AC protocol) on Sarcoma 180 tumor cells. Cytogenetic damage classified as apoptosis, necrosis, micronuclei, buds and nucleoplasmic bridges were linked to the CytokinesisBlock Micronucleus Assay application. CPA and DOX induce significant (p<0.05) increases in apoptosis, necrosis and micronuclei in the cell types tested. The damage on Sarcoma 180 cells was modulated by ascorbic acid with percentage modulation in more than 70% of CPA relative to apoptosis and micronuclei, and 32% to necrosis. The damage of DOX has been modulated by 70% to apoptosis, 40% to necrosis, rather than micronuclei, whereas, in AC protocol, modulations were observed by 52% to apoptosis and 32% and 40% to necrosis and micronuclei, respectively. There was no significance in relation to the nuclear buds and nucleoplasmic bridges. In addition, ascorbic acid did not show any effect. These results are other studies, which indicate hazards to chemotherapy effectiveness due to the antioxidant effects

Cellular injury associated with oxidative stress has been related in the etiology and progression of many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Shell of cashew nut releases the alkylphenols oil, known as cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL), which can be characterized according to the method of production such as technical (tCNSL) and in natural (iCNSL) types. This study aimed to characterize the chemical constituents in both liquids by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and to evaluate the net effect of them in proficient (SODWT) and deficient (Sod1∆, Sod2∆, Cat1∆, Sod1∆Sod2∆, Sod1∆Cat1∆) Saccharomyces cerevisiae oxidative damaged induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 (10 mM); stressor) at concentrations of 17.37, 34.7 and 69.5 µg/ml in pre-, co-and post-treatment. Both iCNSL and tCNSL produced no oxidizing effect to the tested yeast strains, otherwise they protected against damage induced by stressor (STR). However, tCNSL was found more prominent than the iCNSL in restorative activity. In conclusion, CNSLs (iCNSL/tCNSL) exhibited excellent protective, antioxidant and repair capabilities compared to the damage induced by STR in S. cerevisiae cells, thus may be a suggestion for its biotechnological production especially for pharmaceutical account.

Morinda citrifolia ((Family: Rubiaceae)) is extensively used in traditional medicine due to its antiinflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumoral, and anti-hypertensive activities. However, there is no substantial data about hepatotoxic and toxicogenetic effects. This study evaluated biochemical changes and hepatotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic effects of aqueous extract of the fruit of M. citrifolia (AEMC) in liver, bone marrow, and peripheral blood cells. Animals (Rattus novergicus, 5 males and 5 females) were divided into negative control, positive control (Cyclophosphamide 25 mg/kg), and AEMC (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg, by gavage). AEMC induced increase of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), especially at 10 mg/kg in female (174.8 ± 50.7, 221.4 ± 24.6, and 174.7 ± 14.3 U/L) and male (156.5 ± 21.6, 183.7 ± 21.5, and 147.3 ± 17.8 U/L) (p<0.05). Histological analysis of livers showed inflammatory cell infiltration, nuclear fragmentation, microvacuolization, cellular swelling, points of inflammatoy necrosis, and discrete microvesicular steatosis. DNA damage in hepatocytes was found in both genders, mainly at 10 mg/kg (Frequency of Damage: 78.1 ± 4.5 and 70.4 ± 7.3%; Index of Damage: 107.6 ± 14.2 and 136.0 ± 26.9 for male and female, respectively). Similar results were observed in bone marrow cells. The AEMC 5 and 10 mg/kg induced micronucleus formation (4.4 ± 0.8 and 7.8 ± 1.1; 7.4 ± 1.1 and 9.6 ± 1.4 for peripheral blood and bone marrow cells, respectively) (p<0.05). These findings suggest clastogenic and/or aneugenic effects and genetic instability activated by AEMC, indicating precaution regarding the consumption of formulations or folk preparations based on this plant.