35 research outputs found
Garlic (Allium sativum L.) as an Ally in the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases
No full textFor centuries, garlic (Allium sativum) has been used both as a traditional remedy for most health-related ailments and for culinary purposes. Current preclinical investigations have suggested that dietary garlic intake has beneficial health effects, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiobesity, antidiabetic, antiallergic, cardioprotective, and hepatoprotective effects. Its therapeutic potential is influenced by the methods of use, preparation, and extraction. Of particular importance is the Aged Garlic Extract (AGE). During the aging process, the odorous, sour, and irritating compounds in fresh raw garlic, such as allicin, are naturally converted into stable and safe compounds that have significantly greater therapeutic effects than fresh garlic. In AGE, S-allylcysteine (SAC) and S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC) are the major water-soluble organosulfurized compounds (OSCs). SAC has been extensively studied, demonstrating remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory capacities. Recently, AGE has been suggested as a promising candidate for the maintenance of immune system homeostasis through modulation of cytokine secretion, promotion of phagocytosis, and activation of macrophages. Since immune dysfunction plays an important role in the development and progress of various diseases, given the therapeutic effects of AGE, it can be thought of exploiting its immunoregulatory capacity to contribute to the treatment and prevention of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD)
Food Contamination: An Unexplored Possible Link between Dietary Habits and Parkinson’s Disease
No full textImportance of a healthy lifestyle in maintaining the population’s well-being and health, especially in terms of balanced nutrition, is well known. Food choice of and dieting habits could impact disease management, which is especially true for Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, nowadays, it is not that simple to maintain a balance in nutrition, and the idea of a healthy diet tends to fade as the consequence of a western lifestyle. This should not only be dealt with in the context of food choice, but also from an environmental point of view. What we put into our bodies is strictly related to the quality of ecosystems we live in. For these reasons, attention should be directed to all the pollutants, which in many cases, we unknowingly ingest. It will be necessary to explore the interaction between food and environment, since human activity also influences the raw materials destined for consumption. This awareness can be achieved by means of an innovative scientific approach, which involves the use of new models, in order to overcome the traditional scientific investigations included in the study of Parkinson’s disease
Personal Care Products as a Contributing Factor to Antimicrobial Resistance: Current State and Novel Approach to Investigation
No full textAntimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the world’s industrialized nations’ biggest issues. It has a significant influence on the ecosystem and negatively affects human health. The overuse of antibiotics in the healthcare and agri-food industries has historically been defined as a leading factor, although the use of antimicrobial-containing personal care products plays a significant role in the spread of AMR. Lotions, creams, shampoos, soaps, shower gels, toothpaste, fragrances, and other items are used for everyday grooming and hygiene. However, in addition to the primary ingredients, additives are included to help preserve the product by lowering its microbial load and provide disinfection properties. These same substances are released into the environment, escaping traditional wastewater treatment methods and remaining in ecosystems where they contact microbial communities and promote the spread of resistance. The study of antimicrobial compounds, which are often solely researched from a toxicological point of view, must be resumed considering the recent discoveries, to highlight their contribution to AMR. Parabens, triclocarban, and triclosan are among the most worrying chemicals. To investigate this issue, more effective models must be chosen. Among them, zebrafish is a crucial study system because it allows for the assessment of both the risks associated with exposure to these substances as well as environmental monitoring. Furthermore, artificial intelligence-based computer systems are useful in simplifying the handling of antibiotic resistance data and speeding up drug discovery processes
Plants with Antimicrobial Activity against Escherichia coli, a Meta-Analysis for Green Veterinary Pharmacology Applications
No full text: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a critical global health threat, necessitating innovative strategies to combat infectious diseases. Plants and their extracts offer alternatives/support to traditional antibiotics, and their diverse phytocomplexes with antimicrobial properties can be exploited. The Mediterranean hosts a high number of biodiverse plant species known for their bioactive compounds. This study focuses on identifying plant species and phytochemical constituents with antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). Utilizing a systematic literature review and meta-analysis approach, we screened 3037 entries, yielding 70 studies suitable for MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) annotation. The results highlighted Lavandula spp., Plectranthus spp. and Lupinus jaimehintoniana as the most effective plants with average MICs of, respectively, 0.144 mg/mL, 0.260 mg/mL, and 0.140 mg/mL. These results might help to fight AMR via the discovery of complementary natural antimicrobial agents to support the development of green veterinary pharmacology. Further exploration of these resources promises valuable insights for future support to antimicrobial strategies
The Invisible Influence: Can Endocrine Disruptors Reshape Behaviors Across Generations?
No full textAmong the numerous compounds released as a result of human activities, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have attracted particular attention due to their widespread detection in human biological samples and their accumulation across various ecosystems. While early research primarily focused on their effects on reproductive health, it is now evident that EDCs may impact neurodevelopment, altering the integrity of neural circuits essential for cognitive abilities, emotional regulation, and social behaviors. These compounds may elicit epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation, that result in altered expression patterns, potentially affecting multiple generations and contribute to long-term behavioral phenotypes. The effects of EDCs may occur though both direct and indirect mechanisms, ultimately converging on neurodevelopmental vulnerability. In particular, the gut–brain axis has emerged as a critical interface targeted by EDCs. This bidirectional communication network integrates the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. By altering the microbiota composition, modulating immune responses, and triggering epigenetic mechanisms, EDCs can act on multiple and interconnected pathways. In this context, elucidating the impact of EDCs on neurodevelopmental processes is crucial for advancing our understanding of their contribution to neurological and behavioral health risks
Artemisia Umbelliformis SSP. Eriantha extract inhibits hepatocarcinoma cell growth and invasion
No full textObjective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent primary malignant disease of the liver and the second leading cause of cancer related mortality in the world. Discovering new compounds able to improve patient survival, alone or in combination, represents a priority. Artemisia annua L., a plant acknowledged for its antimalarial effects, also shows important anticancer activities towards several kinds of tumors, including hepatocarcinoma. The aim of this study was to verify the antitumoral potential of other plants of Artemisia genus, such as the Central Apennine subendemic species A. umbelliformis ssp. eriantha (Ten.) Vallès-Xirau & Oliva Brañas. Methods: Two hepatocarcinoma cell lines, HepG2 and Huh7, and a differentiated hepatocyte line, HepaRG, were used. Following treatment with alcoholic extracts of the aerial parts of the plant, cell proliferation was evaluated by neutral red assay, cell cycle and apoptosis by flow cytometry, cell migration by wound healing assay, and expression of cell cycle and apoptosis molecules by Western blotting. Results: Treatment reduced cell growth of both HepG2 and Huh7 cells, with no effect on the differentiated HepaRG cells. In addition, Huh7 cells also exhibited lower healing after scratch wound, increased apoptotic cell fraction and elevated p21, p27 and p53 expression. Conclusions: A.umbelliformis ssp. eriantha extract interferes with key factors of hepatocyte proliferation and invasion and emerges as a promising adjuvant for prevention and/or treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma
Sodium valproate exposure influences the expression of pparg in the zebrafish model
No full textValproic acid (VPA) is an anti-epileptic drug used alone or in combination with other medications to treat seizures, mania, and bipolar disorder. VPA recognized as a teratogenic chemical can cause severe birth defects mainly affecting the brain and spinal cord when administered during pregnancy. However, the potential mechanisms of developmental toxicity are still less studied, and in the present study, the influence of VPA exposure was evaluated on zebrafish early-life stages. Zebrafish were exposed to two sublethal concentrations of sodium valproate (SV) (0.06 mM and 0.15 mM) from 24 hours post-fertilization (hpf) to 96 hpf and the SV teratogenic potential was investigated through morphometric analysis of zebrafish larvae combined with the evaluation of cartilage profile. Moreover, the effect of SV on the transcription level of pparg was also performed. The results of the study showed the teratogenic potential of SV, which disrupts the morphometric signature of the head and body. The marked distortion of cartilage structures was paralleled to a malformation of telencephalon and optic tectum in both concentrations suggesting a high teratogen effect of SV on the brain. These data were further confirmed by the increased expression of pparg in the zebrafish head. Overall, the present study confirms the teratogenic activity of SV in the zebrafish model and, for the first time, points out the potential protective role of pparg in the SV dose-dependent toxicity
Type 4 phosphodiesterases: a possible role in hepatocyte transformation
No full textType 4 phosphodiesterases (PDE4) constitute a major class of hydrolases involved in modulation of intracellular signaling pathways mediated by cAMP, an important intracellular second messenger with key cellular functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. Expressed in most human tissues and abundant in liver, PDE4 has been proposed as a therapeutic target for a variety of human tumors, while the role in liver tumorigenesis remains to be defined (1). With the aim of shedding light on the role of PDE4 in hepatocyte transformation and survival, as well as on liver tumor aggressiveness, cAMP levels and cAMP-PDE activity were measured in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HCC) of different origin (HepG2, Hep3B and Huh7.5) and in the terminally differentiated cell line HepaRG. Rapidly proliferating HCC cells (Hep3B and Huh7.5) exhibit significantly decreased levels of total cAMP and elevated PDE activity, PDE4 in particular. Western blot analysis using antibodies specific for the different PDE4 isoforms (A, B, C and D) showed highly increased levels of PDE4A and PDE4D proteins in Hep3B and Huh7.5 cells, compared to the less tumorigenic HepG2 and HepaRG, with major changes found in the higher MW splicing variants of both isoforms. These data indicated a connection between expression of PDE4A and PDE4D isoforms and the degree of tumor aggressiveness. SiRNA-mediated silencing of PDE4D expression appreciably slowed HCC growth through differential modulation of molecules with a key role in cell cycle progression and survival. RNAi experiments for silencing of the PDE4A gene are currently underway to investigate in addition the role of PDE4A overexpression in hepatocyte growth, thus providing a more inclusive depiction of type 4 phosphodiesterase role in hepatocyte transformation and tumorigenesis. 1. Massimi M et al. J Cell Biochem 2017, 118:1401–1411
Oxysterols Profile in Zebrafish Embryos Exposed to Triclocarban and Propylparaben—A Preliminary Study
No full textOxysterols have long been considered as simple by-products of cholesterol metabolism, but they are now fully designed as bioactive lipids that exert their multiple effects through their binding to several receptors, representing endogenous mediators potentially involved in several metabolic diseases. There is also a growing concern that metabolic disorders may be linked with exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs). To date, there are no studies aimed to link EDCs exposure to oxysterols perturbation—neither in vivo nor in vitro studies. The present research aimed to evaluate the differences in oxysterols levels following exposure to two metabolism disrupting chemicals (propylparaben (PP) and triclocarban (TCC)) in the zebrafish model using liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Following exposure to PP and TCC, there were no significant changes in total and individual oxysterols compared with the control group; however, some interesting differences were noticed: 24-OH was detected only in treated zebrafish embryos, as well as the concentrations of 27-OH, which followed a different distribution, with an increase in TCC treated embryos and a reduction in zebrafish embryos exposed to PP at 24 h post-fertilization (hpf). The results of the present study prompt the hypothesis that EDCs can modulate the oxysterol profile in the zebrafish model and that these variations could be potentially involved in the toxicity mechanism of these emerging contaminants
Embryonic and larval exposure to propylparaben induces developmental and long-term neurotoxicity in the zebrafish model
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