Search

In the present study, we performed comprehensive LC-MS chemical profiling and biological tests of Vepris boiviniana leaves and stem bark extracts of different polarities. In total, 60 bioactive compounds were tentatively identified in all extracts. The 80% ethanolic stem bark extract exhibited the highest activity in the ABTS assay, equal to 551.82 mg TE/g. The infusion extract of stem bark consistently demonstrated elevated antioxidant activity in all assays, with values ranging from 137.39 mg TE/g to 218.46 mg TE/g. Regarding the enzyme inhibitory assay, aqueous extracts from both bark and leaves exhibited substantial inhibition of AChE, with EC 50 values of 2.41 mg GALAE/g and 2.25 mg GALAE/g, respectively. The 80% ethanolic leaf extract exhibited the lowest cytotoxicity in VERO cells (CC 50 : 613.27 µg/mL) and demonstrated selective cytotoxicity against cancer cells, particularly against H1HeLa cells, indicating potential therapeutic specificity. The 80% ethanolic bark extract exhibited elevated toxicity in VERO cells but had reduced anticancer selectivity. The n-hexane extracts, notably the leaves' n-hexane extract, displayed the highest toxicity towards non-cancerous cells with selectivity towards H1HeLa and RKO cells. In viral load assessment, all extracts reduced HHV-1 load by 0.14-0.54 log and HRV-14 viral load by 0.13-0.72 log, indicating limited antiviral activity. In conclusion, our research underscores the diverse bioactive properties of Vepris boiviniana extracts, exhibiting potent antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxicity potential against cancer cells.

A growing number of studies reveal that oxidative stress is associated with viral infections or cancer development. However, there are few reports assessing the relationships between oxidative stress, viral infection, and carcinogenesis. The present study analyzed the level of total antioxidant status (TAS) as well as the activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in patients with oropharyngeal cancer both Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-positive and EBV-negative in comparison with the control group. The correlations between these parameters and EBV type (wild-type LMP1 (wt-LMP1) or LMP1 with deletion (del-LMP1)), level of antibodies against EBV, the degree of tumor differentiation, and TNM classification were also investigated. Fresh frozen tumor tissue samples collected from 66 patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma were tested using nested PCR assay for EBV DNA detection. Spectrophotometric methods were used to measure TAS values as well as SOD and GPx activities in homogenates of tissue, using diagnostic kits produced by Randox Laboratories. Sera from all individuals were investigated using ELISA method to detect the presence of Epstein-Barr virus capsid antigen (EBVCA) IgM and IgG, Epstein-Barr virus nuclear antigen (EBNA) IgG, and early antigen (EA) IgG antibodies. The level of TAS and activities of antioxidant enzymes (GPx and SOD) were significantly decreased in tissues with oropharyngeal cancer, particularly in EBV-positive cases. In 82.3% of patients, wt-LMP1 was detected. Significantly lower TAS, GPx, and SOD values were stated in patients infected with wild-type EBV. The presence of antibodies against early antigen (anti-EA) was detected in over 80% of patients, which suggests reactivation of EBV infection. The correlation between the degree of tumor differentiation and TN classification, especially in EBV-positive patients, was also observed. Determination of these parameters may be useful in evaluating tumor burden in patients with various stages of oropharyngeal cancer and could be an important prognostic factor. Future studies are needed to understand the role of EBV lytic reactivation induced by oxidative stress.

Essential oils (EO) possess a wide range of biological activities. However, their application in aqueous media is often limited due to their hydrophobicity and volatile character. This study was designed to prepare stable, water-dilutable microemulsions (ME) containing essential oils of citronella (Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle), mint (Mentha x piperita L. 'Multimentha') and eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) and to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. The comparison of cytotoxicity of EO solubilised in microemulsions and in dimethyl sulfoxide as well as the recovery of volatiles from cells culture medium over time was also performed. The clear ME were obtained in a range between 10% and 50% of aqueous phase for citronella EO and up to 60% of aqueous phase for mint and eucalyptus EO, in all ratios of Tween 80 to oil phase (from 5:1 to 9:1). Microemulsions of EO (EO/ME) showed higher antioxidant activity compared to EO. The increase in activity was 13.96%, 22.25% and 45.60% for eucalyptus, mint and citronella EO, respectively. The analysis of cytotoxicity profiles of EO/ME and EO/DMSO in Vero and HeLa cell lines showed differences in activity, however, they were statistically significant only in case of mint EO. Furthermore, it can be concluded that after 24 h of incubation ME vehicle itself was responsible for the observed cytotoxic effect. At the same time ME provided good solubility of constituents of EO and diminished evaporation of volatiles from culture medium., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Introduction and Objective: Lithium is used in medicine but its application may cause diverse side effects. Selenium has been found to show protective properties against negative influence of different harmful factors. This study was aimed at evaluating the influence of non-toxic dose of lithium on antioxidant parameters in FaDu (ATCC HTB-43) and Vero (ECACC No. 84113001) cell lines as well as the possible protective effect of non-toxic concentration of sodium selenite., Material and Methods: The cells were subjected to 0.17 mmol/L of Li 2 CO 3 and/or 2.9 µmol/L of Na 2 SeO 3 · 5H 2 O for Vero as well as 0.47 mmol/L of Li 2 CO 3 and/or 3.0 µmol/L of Na 2 SeO 3 · 5H 2 O for FaDu cells. The incubation was continued for the subsequent 72 h. In the cells total antioxidant status (TAS) values, activities of antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) as well as the reduced glutathione concentration (GSH) were determined., Results and Conclusion: In Vero cells lithium decreased all studied parameters, particularly GPx. Selenium co-treatment showed a distinct protective effect. In FaDu cells the similar effect was observed only in case of GSH. The results point to differences in action of lithium and selenium in physiological and pathological state. As long-term lithium therapy is applied in psychiatric patients the results regarding Vero line let suggest that selenium might be considered as an adjuvant alleviating side effects of Li-treatment.