Cytotoxicity of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea against Human Cancer Cell Lines A549, EJ138, Hepg2 and MCF7

Background: The current study was undertaken to assess the cytotoxicity of the leaves of Libyan Juniperus phoenicea (Cupressaceae) against human cancer cell lines. Methods: The cytotoxicity of the n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the leaves of J. phoenicea (JP), obtained from sequential Soxhlet extractions, was assessed against four human cancer cell lines: EJ138 (human bladder carcinoma), HepG2 (human liver hepatocellular carcinoma), A549 (human lung carcinoma) and MCF7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) using the MTT assay. Results: The cell line A549 was the most sensitive to the JP extracts, with the highest level of cytotoxicity with the IC50 values of 16, 13 and 100 μg/mL for the DCM, n-hexane and MeOH extracts, respectively. However, generally the most potent cytotoxic extract across the other cells tested was the n-hexane extract, followed by the DCM extract, whilst the MeOH extracts showed little or no cytotoxicity. The percentage of viability of cells decreased as the concentration of test compounds increased. The cytotoxicity of various chromatographic fractions from the extracts was also studied against the A459 cells. For the n-hexane fractions, the IC50 values were 160, 62, 90, 30, 9.5 and 40 μg/mL for fractions 1 to 5 and 7, respectively. Fractions 4 and 5 showed the greatest effect. DCM fractions 2, 3 and 4 had the IC50 values of 60, 92 and 19 μg/mL, respectively, and DCM fractions 5 to 8 were non-cytotoxic. Fractions 1 and 2 of the MeOH extract were non-cytotoxic, whereas cytotoxicity was observed for fractions 3 and 4 with IC50 values of 50 and 85 μg/mL, respectively. Conclusion: The outcome of the present study suggested that the JP leaves possess cytotoxic activities. The high level of cytotoxicity of the n-hexane and DCM extracts suggested that lipophilicity might affect the cytotoxicity of JP, where the less polar compounds had the strongest cytotoxicity

Coriandrum sativum L., essential oil as a promising source of bioactive compounds with GC/MS, antioxidant, antimicrobial activities: in vitro and in silico predictions

Introduction:Coriandrum sativum L. essential oil (CS-EO) is being evaluated in vitro for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and its volatile compounds are to be identified as part of this exploratory study.Methods: The processes underlying the in vitro biological properties were explained using in silico simulations, including drug-likeness prediction, molecular docking, and pharmacokinetics (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity—ADMET). Chemical screening of CS-EO was conducted using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Five in vitro complementary techniques were used to assess the antioxidant activity of CS-EO: reducing power (RP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, β-Carotene bleaching test (BCBT), and phosphomolybdenum assay (TAC).Results: According to GC-MS analysis, linalool (59.04%), γ-Terpinene (13.02%), and α-Pinene (6.83%) are the main constituents of CS-EO. Based on the in vitro antioxidant assay results, CS-EO has been found to have a superior antioxidant profile. Its estimated scavenging rates for ABTS+ are 0.51 ± 0.04 mg/mL, BCBT is 9.02 ± 0.01 mg/mL, and CS-EO is 1.52 ± 0.14 mg/mL. C. sativum demonstrated 6.13 ± 0.00 μg/mL for reducing power and 213.44 ± 0.45 mg AAE/mL for total antioxidant activity. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of CS-EO was assessed against five strains, including two gram-positive bacteria, two gram-negative bacteria, and one fungal strain (Candida albicans). Significant antibacterial and antifungal activities against all strains were found using the disc-diffusion assay, with zones of inhibition larger than 15 mm. The microdilution test highlighted the lowest MIC and MBC values with gram-positive bacteria, ranging from 0.0612 to 0.125% v/v for MIC and 0.125% v/v for MBC. The fungal strain’s MFC was 1.0% v/v and its MIC was measured at 0.5%. Based on the MBC/MIC and MFC/MIC ratios, CS-EO exhibits bactericidal and fungicidal activity. The ADMET study indicates that the primary CS-EO compounds are good candidates for the development of pharmaceutical drugs due to their favorable pharmacokinetic properties.Conclusion: These results point to a potential application of this plant as a natural remedy and offer empirical backing for its traditional uses. It is a promising environmentally friendly preservative that can be used extensively in the food and agricultural industries to prevent aflatoxin contamination and fungal growth in stored goods

Successful Treatment of Fournier’s Gangrene in Child with Relapsed Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Case Report and Review of the Literature

Julia Kołodziejczyk,1,* Jakub Czarny,1,* Stanisław Królak,1 Sandra Rutkowska,2 Sebastian Moryciński,3 Przemysław Mańkowski,3 Alicja Bartkowska-Śniatkowska,4 Jacek Wachowiak,2 Katarzyna Derwich,2 Olga Zając-Spychała2 1Student Scientific Society, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 2Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Carol Jonscher’s Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 3Department of Pediatric Surgery, Traumatology and Urology, Carol Jonscher’s Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland; 4Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Carol Jonscher’s Clinical Hospital, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland*These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Julia Kołodziejczyk, Student Scientific Society, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Szpitalna Str. 27/33, 60-572, Poznan, Poland, Email [email protected]: Neutropenia associated with onco-hematological treatment may contribute to high-mortality infections, especially caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. In a 4-year-old girl treated due to early isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapse of B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, skin lesions with traits of Fournier’s gangrene caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA). The patient was treated with broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy and the wound was debrided and treated with VAC (vacuum-assisted closure) successfully. Despite further intensive anticancer treatment complicated by reactivation of PsA infection, there was no other episode of invasive infection anymore and, nowadays, the patient has been in complete remission for 13 months. The aim of this report is to mention that Fournier’s gangrene is a rapid and potentially fatal infectious complication of chemotherapy in onco-hematological pediatric patients, especially if caused by MDR (multidrug-resistant) pathogens. Successful treatment of this necrotizing fasciitis saves a patient’s life and allows to continue an effective anticancer therapy.Keywords: Fournier’s gangrene, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multidrug resistance, therapy, child, acute lymphoblastic leukemi

Chemical composition and antibacterial activity of essential oils from the medicinal plant Mentha cervina L. grown in Portugal

Mentha cervina is a medicinal plant traditionally used in Portugal in folk medicine, in different gastric disorders and inflammations of the respiratory tract. In order to validate those traditional uses, M. cervina essential oils (EOs) were characterized by GC and GC–MS and their antimicrobial activity was tested against 23 bacterial strains (including multiresistant strains). The EOs were dominated by the monoterpenes pulegone (52–75%), isomenthone (8–24%), limonene (4–6%), and menthone (1–2%). The antibacterial activity of these EOs was compared to that of the main components standards. The most effective antibacterial activity was expressed by the EOs against the Gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and Acinetobacter baumanni, with MIC values of 1 mg/ml. The EOs complex mixtures were more active than the individual aromatic components supporting the hypothesis that the EOs antibacterial activity is a function of the synergistic effect of their different aromatic components. These results show the potential role of M. cervina EOs as antibacterial agents and validate the traditional use of this plant

Pharmacological activities of chemically characterized essential oils from Haplophyllum tuberculatum (Forssk.)

The present work aimed at characterizing the phytochemical composition of Haplophyllum tuberculatum essential oil (HTEO), assessing its antifungal activity against various fungal strains, evaluating its insecticidal and repulsive properties against Callosobruchus maculatus, and determine its antioxidant capacity. To this end, Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis detected 34 compounds in HTEO, with β-Caryophyllene being the major constituent (36.94%). HTEO demonstrated predominantly modest antifungal effects, however, it sustains notable activity, particularly against Aspergillus flavus, with an inhibition rate of 76.50% ± 0.60%. Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged from 20.53 ± 5.08 to 76.26 ± 5.08 mg/mL, effectively inhibiting fungal growth. Furthermore, the antifungal, and antioxidant activities of HTEO were evaluated in silico against the proteins Aspergillus flavus FAD glucose dehydrogenase, and beta-1,4-endoglucanase from Aspergillus niger, NAD(P)H Oxidase. Moreover, HTEO displayed strong insecticidal activity against C. maculatus, with contact and inhalation tests yielding LC50 values of 30.66 and 40.28 μL/100g, respectively, after 24 h of exposure. A dose of 5 μL/100g significantly reduced oviposition (48.85%) and inhibited emergence (45.15%) compared to the control group. Additionally, HTEO exhibited a high total antioxidant capacity of 758.34 mg AAE/g EO, highlighting its antioxidant potential. Insilico results showed that the antifungal activity of HTEO is mostly attributed to γ-Cadinene and p-Cymen-7-ol, while antioxidant is attributed to α-Terpinyl isobutyrate displayed. Overall, HTEO offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly alternative to synthetic products used to manage diseases

Beaver Castor fiber L. 1758 as a factor supporting re-naturalisation of habitats in the upper valley of San river

W połowie lat 70. ubiegłego wieku, nad górnym Sanem, na obszarze ok. 1500 ha, rozpoczęto tworzenie fermy rolno-hodowlanej „Igloopol”. Spośród prowadzonych zabiegów gospodarczych szczególnie niekorzystne dla lokalnego środowiska były melioracje wodne i agrotechniczne. Po kilkunastu latach ferma upadła, a po kilku następnych, w listopadzie 1999 roku, została ostatecznie przekazana do Bieszczadzkiego Parku Narodowego. Zgodnie z wytycznymi planu ochrony Parku opracowano założenia postępowania w dolinie Sanu określone jako program renaturyzacji, w którym m.in. za istotne przyjęto: 1) sanację stosunków wodnych, 2) aktywną ochronę cennych elementów przyrodniczych i kulturowych, 3) inicjację odtwarzania zarośli i zadrzewień łęgowych. Prace renaturyzacyjne w dolinie rozpoczęto w 1992 r. Miały one na celu zabezpieczenie torfowisk wysokich i polegały one na usypaniu przetamowań ziemnych na rowach opasujących i odwadniających 8 torfowisk. Po przejęciu terenów „Igloopolu” w 1999 r., BdPN kontynuował zabiegi renaturyzacyjne polegające głównie na spowalnianiu spływu wód powierzchniowych (zastawki ziemne) i odtwarzaniu zbiorowisk łęgowych. Jesienią 1992 r., w leśnictwie Górny San BdPN, rozpoczynając program reintrodukcji bobra europejskiego wsiedlono 2 rodziny, a następnie corocznie zasilano lokalną populację nowymi osobnikami z Suwalszczyzny. Spodziewano się, że bóbr będzie pełnił istotną rolę w procesie renaturyzacji doliny. Po kilku latach obserwacji, oceniając efekty obecności bobrów uzyskano wyniki, które w pełni potwierdziły słuszność tych założeń. Działalność bobrów, w szczególności budowanie tam na ciekach wodnych i tworzenie rozlewisk (stawów bobrowych), doprowadziła do znacznego wzrostu retencji wody, spowolnienia przepływu wód oraz zwiększenia sedymentacji osadów dennych. Zmiany w środowisku wywołane przez bobry w istotny sposób przyczyniły się do wzrostu różnorodności biologicznej – zwiększyła się liczba gatunków flory higrofilnej i gatunków zwierząt związanych ze środowiskiem wodnym. Niniejszy artykuł jest próbą podsumowania dotychczasowych efektów wprowadzenia bobra europejskiego jako elementu procesu renaturyzacji doliny górnego Sanu w Bieszczadach.In the mid 70ties of the last century, an agricultural-breeding enterprise „Igloopol” has been established along the upper run of San River, over the area of about 1500 ha. Among its activities, particularly detrimental for the local environment were land transformations connected with excessive drainage. The enterprise went bankrupt after more than ten years of its existence, and finally in November 1999, this area has been included into the Bieszczadzki National Park. According to the conservation plan of the Park, elaborated was a framework for the management of the San river valley, named as „re-naturalisation program” of which, significant components were: 1) restoration of natural water conditions, 2) active protection of valuable natural and cultural items, 3) initiation of a restoration of woodlands and riparian habitats. Re-naturalisation works initiated in 1992 were focused on conservation of high peat bogs, and involved construction of earth dams across drainage ditches at eight peat bogs. After taking over the area of former „Igloopol”, Bieszczadzki N.P. continued efforts to slow down the outflow of surface waters, the restoration of small woodlands and riparian habitats. In the autumn of 1992, in the forestry Upper San of Bieszczadzki N.P., as a beginning of beaver restitution program, 2 beaver families were introduced. In following years this population has been supplemented with new individuals resettled from Suwałki region. Expectations, that beavers will play an important role in re-naturalisation of this valley, were fully confirmed with observations collected over next several years. Especially, the damming of local watercourses and creation of beaver ponds improved the water retention, contributed to slower outflow of surface waters, and increased the accumulation rate of bottom sediments. Environmental changes resulting from beavers’ presence, significantly enhanced also the level of biodiversity, especially due to the higher number of hydrophytic plant species and animals connected with riparian habitats. This paper is an attempt to summarise the effects of beaver introduction as a component of re-naturalisation process of the upper valley of San River