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The aim of this study was to analyze the functional properties of newly obtained films based on sodium alginate and lecithin with the addition of antioxidant-rich coffee extracts and to verify their potential as safe edible food packaging materials. In our study, we developed alginate–lecithin films enriched with green or roasted coffee bean extracts. The roasting process of coffee beans had a significant impact on the total phenolic content (TPC) in the studied extracts. The highest value of TPC (2697.2 mg GAE/dm3), as well as antioxidant activity (AA) (17.6 mM T/dm3), was observed for the extract of light-roasted coffee beans. Films with the addition of medium-roasted coffee extracts and baseline films had the highest tensile strength (21.21 ± 0.73 N). The addition of coffee extract improved the barrier properties of the films against UV light with a decrease in the transmittance values (200–400 nm), regardless of the type of extract added. Studies on Caco-2, HepG2 and BJ cells showed that digestated films were non-cytotoxic materials (100–0.1 μg/cm3) and had no negative effect on cell viability; an increase was noted for all cell lines, the highest after 48 h in a dose of 1 μg/cm3 for a film with medium-roasted coffee (194.43 ± 38.30) for Caco-2. The tested films at 20% digestate concentrations demonstrated the ability to reduce nitric oxide (NO) production in the RAW264.7 cell line by 25 to 60% compared to the control. Each of the tested films with coffee extracts had growth inhibitory properties towards selected species of bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several Ranunculaceae species are used in folk medicine to eliminate pathologies associated with oxidative stress as well as parasitic infections; however, a number of studies confirming their pharmacological properties is limited. In this study, 19 ethanolic extracts obtained from 16 Ranunculaceae species were assayed for in vitro antioxidant, antiproliferative, and antiparasitic potential. The maximum antioxidant potential in both oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays was observed for Aconitum toxicum extract [half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) 18.7 and 92.6 μg/mL]. Likewise, Anemone transsilvanica extract exerted the most promising antiproliferative activity against Caco-2 (IC50 46.9 μg/mL) and HT29 (IC50 70.2 μg/mL) cell lines in 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. Additionally, a dual antioxidant and cytotoxicity effect was demonstrated for Aconitum moldavicum and Caltha palustris extracts. Whilst the efficacy of extracts was modest against Trypanosoma brucei (IC50 ranging from 88.8 to 269.3 µg/mL), several extracts exhibited high potency against Leishmania infantum promastigotes (Aconitum vulparia IC50 18.8 µg/mL). We also tested them against the clinically relevant intracellular stage and found extract of A. vulparia to be the most effective (IC50 29.0 ± 1.1 µg/mL). All tested extracts showed no or low toxicity against FHs 74Int normal cell line (IC50 ranging from 152.9 to >512 µg/mL). In conclusion, we suggest the above-mentioned plant extracts as potential candidates for development of novel plant-based antioxidant and/or antiproliferative and/or antileishmanial compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Essential oils (EOs) have great potential in inhalation therapy for the treatment of respiratory infections. However, innovative methods for evaluation of antimicrobial activity of their vapors are still needed. The current study reports validation of the broth macrodilution volatilization method for assessment of the antibacterial properties of EOs and shows the growth-inhibitory effect of Indian medicinal plants against pneumonia-causing bacteria in liquid and vapor phase. Among all samples tested, Trachyspermum ammi EO exhibits the strongest antibacterial effect against Haemophilus influenzae, with minimum inhibitory concentrations of 128 and 256 µg/mL in the liquid and vapor phases, respectively. Furthermore, Cyperus scariosus EO is found to be nontoxic to normal lung fibroblasts assessed by modified thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide assay. Chemical analysis performed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry identified α-citral, cyperotundone, and thymol as the main constituents of Cymbopogon citratus, C. scariosus, and T. ammi EOs, respectively. In addition, β-cymene is identified as the major compound of T. ammi EO vapors when analyzed using solid-phase microextraction and gas-tight syringe sampling techniques. This study demonstrates the validity of the broth macrodilution volatilization method for antimicrobial screening of volatile compounds in the vapor phase and suggests the therapeutic potential of Indian medicinal plants in inhalation therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants mentioned in this study have numerous records in traditional Peruvian medicine being used in treatment of cancer and other diseases likely to be associated with oxidative stress. Amongst the eight plant species tested, only Dysphania ambrosioides exhibited combinatory antioxidant and anti-proliferative effect on a broad spectrum of cancer cells (DPPH and ORAC values = 80.6 and 687.3 μg TE/mg extract, respectively; IC50 against Caco-2, HT-29 and Hep-G2 = 129.2, 69.9 and 130.6, respectively). Alkaloids and phenolic compounds might significantly contribute to anticancer/antioxidant activity of this plant. The results justify the traditional medicinal use of this plant. Our findings further suggest that D. ambrosioides might serve as a prospective material for further development of novel plant-based antioxidant and/or anti-proliferative agents. Detailed analysis of chemical composition together with toxicology assessments and in vivo antioxidant/anti-proliferative activity of this plant should be carried out in order to verify its potential practical use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND Extensive application of pyrethroids to control Varroa destructor, an invasive mite devastating bee colonies, has resulted in a global spread of resistant mite populations. In this study, we analyzed the spatio‐temporal dynamics of resistant V. destructor populations in Czechia, stemming from the L925V mutation. Mites were collected during 2011–2018 directly or from winter beeswax debris, and polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR–RFLP) and densitometry was used to detect the L925V mutation. RESULTS: Pooled samples of 10 mites were classified, based on their PCR–RFLP patterns, as tau‐fluvalinate‐sensitive (56%), resistant (9%), or mixed (35%), with the latter including sensitive and resistant homo‐ and heterozygotes. We identified two zones with higher frequencies of resistance, one in southern Moravia and the other in Bohemia. The mutant populations were evenly distributed throughout the monitored districts, with a few temporal and spatial local fluctuations. The greatest increase in resistance was observed in 2016, following massive losses of bee colonies in the winter of 2015. This event appeared to be closely associated with fluctuations in resistant mite populations and their dispersion. CONCLUSION: Two outbreaks of resistance were detected in Czechia; however, the amount of applied tau‐fluvalinate was not correlated with the frequency of resistance in mites. There was no remarkable increase in mite resistance in 2011–2018, although the use of tau‐fluvalinate increased 40‐fold between 2011 and 2015. PCR–RFLP analysis, performed on mites present in beeswax debris, is a suitable method for monitoring the L925V mutation in V. destructor. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry By PCR‐RFLP the mutation in the sodium channel gene connected to tau‐fluvaliante resistance was identified in the Varroa destructor from beeswax debris samples. Two resistant outbreaks were found in Czechia. There was no remarkable increase of resistance of mites in from 2011 to 2018 although use of fluvalinate increased 5‐fold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ContextSome mushrooms of the order Polyporales are known for their immunomodulatory actions. ObjectiveThe objective of this study is to evaluate thein vitrophagocytic and cytotoxic effects of extracts from polyporales native to Central Europe. Materials and methodsThe effects of ethanol extracts from 27 polypore species on opsonized zymosan-induced phagocytosis of isolated human neutrophils were tested by a chemiluminescence method. Colon epithelial cell lines, Caco-2 and HT-29, were used for cytotoxicity assays, and extracts were chemically characterized in terms of total phenolic and β-glucan content. ResultsWe observed phagocytosis or respiratory burst enhancing activity in 17 extracts, of which five species, namelyAurantiporus fissilis(Berk. & M.A. Curtis) H. Jahn ex Ryvarden,Trametes gibbosa(Pers.) Fr.,Piptoporus betulinus(Bull.) P. Karst,Neolentinus lepideus(Fr.) Redhead & Ginns,Polyporus squamosus(Huds.) Fr., significantly increased phagocytosis in granulocytes by 205, 181, 158, 155 and 141%, respectively. The β-glucan content of the three most potent extracts was 58, 42 and 74 mg/g, respectively, and the polyphenol content was 155.6, 133.5 and 155.2 μmol of gallic acid equivalent/g, respectively. Some extracts showed cytotoxic activity, with higher cytotoxicity in Caco-2 than in HT-29 cells. Pycnoporus cinnabarinus(Jacq.) P. Karst. extract was cytotoxic to both cell lines, with IC50values of 81 and 31 μg/mL, respectively. Discussion and conclusionThe most promising extracts were fromN. lepideusandPolyporus squamosus, which are edible species and may be considered safe. Our findings support their use as culinary preparations or food supplements for various immunological gut disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty-six isoquinoline alkaloids, of eleven structural types isolated in our laboratory, have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity against two cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cancer cells), as well as against normal human lung fibroblast cells. Only scoulerine, aromoline, berbamine and parfumidine showed significant cytotoxic effects, but only scoulerine was active against both Caco-2 and Hep-G2 cells (IC50 values 6.44 ± 0.87 and 4.57 ± 0.42, respectively). Unfortunately, except for parfumidine, the other active alkaloids were also cytotoxic to the normal human lung fibroblast cells.