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BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Oct 2022The leaf of Ceylon cinnamon (true cinnamon) is traditionally claimed for a variety of health benefits. However, reported scientific information is scanty and needs...
BACKGROUND
The leaf of Ceylon cinnamon (true cinnamon) is traditionally claimed for a variety of health benefits. However, reported scientific information is scanty and needs urgent attention for value addition.
METHODS
Ethanolic (95%) and Dichloromethane:Methanol (DM, 1:1 v/v) leaf extracts of Ceylon cinnamon were evaluated for a range of medically important bioactivities namely anti-inflammatory [nitric oxide scavenging activity (NOSA), superoxide scavenging activity (SCA), COX1 and COX2 inhibition], growth inhibition & cytotoxicity against MCF7, HePG2 and AN3CA carcinoma cell lines, glutathionase-S-transferase (GST) inhibition and antilipidemic (anti-HMG-CoA reductase, anti-lipase, anti-cholesterol esterase, and cholesterol micellization inhibition) properties in vitro (n = 3). Further, a range of bioactive compounds in both leaf extracts was also quantified (n = 3).
RESULTS
Both leaf extracts had all the investigated bioactive compounds and possessed moderately potent bioactivities compared to the reference drugs used in the study. Ethanolic leaf extract (ELE) exhibited the highest activities (IC μg/mL) for NOSA (40.26 ± 0.52), SCA (696.24 ± 40.02), cholesterol esterase inhibition (110.19 ± 1.55), cholesterol micellization inhibition (616.69 ± 7.09), GST inhibition (403.78 ± 2.70) and growth inhibition (GI: 144.84 ± 1.59-269.00 ± 0.51) & cytotoxicity (LC: 355.44 ± 9.38-717.71 ± 23.69) against studied cancer cell lines. In contrast, COX1 & COX2 (IC 6.62 ± 0.85 and 44.91 ± 3.06 μg/mL) and HMG-CoA reductase & lipase inhibitory activities (36.72 ± 4.74 and 19.71 ± 0.97% inhibition at 200 and 600 μg/mL) were highest in DM extract. ELE also showed the highest quantities (0.81 ± 0.06-104.38 ± 1.79) of tested compounds (mg/g extract) where eugenol was the highest and gallic acid was the lowest among quantified.
CONCLUSION
Both leaf extracts of Ceylon cinnamon had all the tested bioactive compounds and possess all the investigated bioactivities. This is the 1st study to report all the investigated bioactivities of the leaf of Ceylon Cinnamon.
Topics: Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cinnamomum zeylanicum; Coenzyme A; Cyclooxygenase 2; Esterases; Eugenol; Gallic Acid; Methanol; Methylene Chloride; Nitric Oxide; Oils, Volatile; Oxidoreductases; Plant Extracts; Superoxides; Transferases
PubMed: 36195907
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-022-03728-5 -
ACS ES&T Water Aug 2021We investigated patterns of volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination in drinking water systems affected by the California 2018 Camp Fire. We performed spatial...
We investigated patterns of volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination in drinking water systems affected by the California 2018 Camp Fire. We performed spatial analysis of over 5000 water samples collected over a 17 month period by a local water utility, sampled tap water for VOCs in approximately 10% ( = 136) of standing homes, and conducted additional nontargeted chemical analysis of 10 samples. Benzene contamination was present in 29% of service connections to destroyed structures and 2% of service connections to standing homes. A spatial pattern was apparent. Tap water in standing homes 11 months after the fire contained low concentrations of benzene in 1% of samples, but methylene chloride was present in 19% of samples, including several above regulatory limits. Elevated methylene chloride was associated with greater distance from the water meter to the tap, longer stagnation time, and the presence of a destroyed structure on the service connection; it was inversely associated with certain trihalomethanes. Nontargeted analysis identified multiple combustion byproducts in the water at 2/10 homes. Our findings support the hypothesis that pyrolysis and smoke intrusion from depressurization contributed to the benzene contamination. Further research is needed to test the hypothesis that methylene chloride may be generated from the dehalogenation of disinfection byproducts stagnating in galvanized iron pipes.
PubMed: 34423333
DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.1c00129 -
Royal Society Open Science Jul 2018Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly is the technology used in intermolecular static electricity, hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds and other polymer interactions during film...
Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly is the technology used in intermolecular static electricity, hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds and other polymer interactions during film assembling. This technology has been widely studied in the drug carrier field. Given their use in drug delivery systems, the biocompatibility of these potential compounds should be addressed. In this work, the primary biocompatibility of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-(poly-L-orithine/fucoidan) [PLGA-(PLO/fucoidan)] core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated. Atomic force microscopy revealed the PLGA-(PLO/Fucoidan) NPs to be spherical, with a uniform size distribution and a smooth surface, and the NPs were stable in physiological saline. The residual amount of methylene chloride was further determined by headspace gas chromatography, in which the organic solvent can be volatilized during preparation. Furthermore, cell viability, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, haemolysis and mouse systemic toxicity were all assessed to show that PLGA-(PLO/fucoidan) NPs were biocompatible with cells and mice. Therefore, these NPs are expected to have potential applications in future drug delivery systems.
PubMed: 30109086
DOI: 10.1098/rsos.180320 -
Poultry Science Apr 2023This study evaluated the effect of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract) and its delivery route (in-feed or in ovo) on hatch and growth performance, blood...
The effect of Bacillus subtilis and its delivery route on hatch and growth performance, blood biochemistry, immune status, gut morphology, and microbiota of broiler chickens.
This study evaluated the effect of probiotics (Bacillus subtilis fermentation extract) and its delivery route (in-feed or in ovo) on hatch and growth performance, blood biochemistry, immune status, gut morphology, and microbiota of broiler chickens. Hatching eggs were incubated for 21 d. On d 12, viable eggs were randomly allotted to 4 groups: the noninjected, in ovo saline (S), in ovo Bacillus subtilis 1 (P1), and in ovo Bacillus subtilis 2 (P2). On d 18, S, P1, and P2 groups received 0.2 mL saline diluent, 10 × 10, and 20 × 10 CFU of the bacterium via the amnion, respectively. At hatch, chicks were re-allotted to 5 new treatment groups: P1, P2, 0.005% in-feed Bacillus subtilis extract (P3), 0.05% in-feed bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD,), and corn-wheat-soybean diet negative control (NC) in 9 replicate pens (22 birds/pen) and raised for 35 d. Hatch parameters were assessed on d 0, and growth performance indices measured weekly. On d 25, 1 bird/cage was euthanized, and samples collected for further analysis. Data were analyzed by generalized linear model. Treatments S and P2 recorded higher (P = 0.01) chick BW/ Egg Weight values compared to the non-injected eggs. P3 and P2 reduced (P = 0.02) FI at week 5 compared to the NC treatment. However, no change in average body weight gain (ABG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were observed during the same period. At d 35, while BMD treatment showed a tendency (P = 0.09) to increase FI compared to the NC treatment, ABG and FCR were similar for all treatments. Blood sodium and chloride levels were increased (P < 0.05) by the BMD treatment compared to the NC treatment. Compared to other treatments, BMD and P3 treatments increased (P < 0.001) jejunal and ileal villus height to crypt depth ratios, respectively. However, P1 and P2 increased (P < 0.001) villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum compared to NC treatment. Treatments did not affect gut microbial diversity; however, BMD treatment increased (P < 0.05) the proportion of bacteria in the genus Enterococcus in the ileum and reduced (P < 0.05) the proportion of bacteria in the genus Streptococcus in the ceca. All probiotics treatments (irrespective of route and dose) reduced (P < 0.001) the levels of serum IgG compared to the NC treatment. However, P1 and P2 had the lowest numerical decrease in serum IgG concentrations, suggesting that Bacillus subtilis (especially in ovo delivered) might provide broiler chickens with better immunological protection by neutralizing pathogenic organisms that could result in the production of natural antibodies.
Topics: Animals; Chickens; Bacillus subtilis; Diet; Probiotics; Microbiota; Immunoglobulin G; Animal Feed
PubMed: 36736137
DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.102473 -
Scientific Reports Mar 2022The purpose of this study was to test the nematicidal activity of extracts of two marine algae (Colpomenia sinuosa and Corallina mediterranea) and their synthesized...
The purpose of this study was to test the nematicidal activity of extracts of two marine algae (Colpomenia sinuosa and Corallina mediterranea) and their synthesized silver nanoparticles against root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) that infest tomato plants. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that nanoparticles had aggregated into anisotropic Ag particles, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that the particle sizes were less than 40 nm. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed that the obtained nanoparticles had a sharp absorbance between 440 and 4000 cm, with 13 distinct peaks ranging from 474 to 3915 cm. Methylene chloride extracts and nanoparticles synthesized from both algae species were used to treat M. incognita. C. sinuosa nanoparticles had the highest nematicidal activity of any treatment. Furthermore, and in contrast to other treatments, C. sinuosa nanoparticles reduced the number of nematode galls, egg-masses per root, and eggs/egg mass, while also improving plant growth parameters. C. sinuosa's methylene chloride extract was more active than C. mediterranea's, and the most effective eluent of this solvent was hexane: methylene chloride: ethyl acetate (1: 0.5: 0.5, v/v/v). When applied to M. incognita, the third fraction of this eluent was the most effective, resulting in 87.5% mortality after 12 h and 100% mortality after 24 and 72 h of exposure. The presence of seven bioactive constituents was discovered during the analysis of this fraction. In conclusion, the silver nanoparticles synthesized from C. sinuosa could be used as alternative chemical nematicides.
Topics: Animals; Antinematodal Agents; Solanum lycopersicum; Metal Nanoparticles; Methylene Chloride; Plant Extracts; Seaweed; Silver; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Tylenchoidea
PubMed: 35264583
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06600-1 -
Environment International Sep 2019Potentially carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants (air toxics) have been inconsistently associated with breast cancer. Whether metabolic factors modify these...
INTRODUCTION
Potentially carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants (air toxics) have been inconsistently associated with breast cancer. Whether metabolic factors modify these associations is unknown. We studied 29 non-metallic air toxics classified as mammary gland carcinogens in animal studies in relation to breast cancer risk.
METHODS
Participants included 49,718 women from the Sister Study. Census tract air toxic concentration estimates from the 2005 National Air Toxics Assessment were linked to enrollment residential addresses. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for individual air toxics were estimated using Cox regression. Body mass index (BMI) was considered a potential modifier. Relevant mixtures were identified using classification trees.
RESULTS
Over follow-up (average = 8.4 years), 2975 women were newly diagnosed with breast cancer (invasive or ductal carcinoma in situ). Several air toxics, including methylene chloride, polycyclic organic matter, propylene dichloride, and styrene, were associated with increased risk. Of these, methylene chloride was most consistently associated with risk across multiple analyses. It was associated with overall (HR = 1.21 (95%CI = 1.07-1.38)) and estrogen receptor positive (ER+) invasive breast cancer (HR = 1.28 (95%CI = 1.08-1.52)) in individual pollutant models, although no dose-response was observed. Associations were stronger among overweight/obese (vs. non-overweight/obese) women (p < 0.05) for six air toxics. The classification tree identified combinations of age, methylene chloride, BMI, and four other toxics (propylene dichloride, ethylene dibromide, ethylidene dichloride, styrene) related to overall breast cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
Some non-metallic air toxics, particularly methylene chloride, were associated with the hazard for overall and ER+ breast cancer. Overweight/obese women may be particularly susceptible to air toxics.
Topics: Air Pollutants; Air Pollution; Breast Neoplasms; Carcinogens; Cohort Studies; Female; Humans
PubMed: 31226564
DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.06.007 -
International Journal of Environmental... Sep 2022The synthesis and characterization of novel graphene oxide coupled to TiO (GO-TiO) was carried out in order to better understand the performance of this photocatalyst,...
The synthesis and characterization of novel graphene oxide coupled to TiO (GO-TiO) was carried out in order to better understand the performance of this photocatalyst, when compared to well-known TiO (P25) from Degussa. Thus, its physical-chemical characterization (FTIR, XRD, N isotherms and electrochemical measurements) describes high porosity, suitable charge and high electron mobility, which enhance pollutant degradation. In addition, the importance of the reactor set up was highlighted, testing the effect of both the irradiated area and distance between lamp and bulb solution. Under optimal conditions, the model drug methylthioninium chloride (MC) was degraded and several parameters were assessed, such as the water matrix and the catalyst reutilization, a possibility given the addition of HO. The results in terms of energy consumption compete with those attained for the treatment of this model pollutant, opening a path for further research.
Topics: Catalysis; Environmental Pollutants; Hydrogen Peroxide; Methylene Blue; Titanium; Water
PubMed: 36231173
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191911874 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2021Based on previous investigations where bis-bibenzyls isolated from liverworts showed various biological activities (cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and antiviral), we...
Based on previous investigations where bis-bibenzyls isolated from liverworts showed various biological activities (cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and antiviral), we investigated their cytotoxic activity in several human cancer cell lines. From the methylene-chloride/methanol extract of the liverwort , three bis-bibenzyls of the perrottetin type were isolated, namely perrottetin E, 10'-hydroxyperrottetin E, and 10,10'-dihydroxyperrottetin E. The last two were found for the first time in this species. Their structures were resolved using 1D and 2D NMR, as well as by comparison with data in the literature. Cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was tested on three human leukemia cell lines, HL-60 (acute promyelocytic leukemia cells), U-937 (acute monocytic leukemia cells), and K-562 (human chronic myelogenous leukemia cells), as well as on human embryonal teratocarcinoma cell line (NT2/D1) and human glioblastoma cell lines A-172 and U-251, and compared to the previously isolated bis-bibenzyls (perrottetins) of similar structure. The isolated compounds exhibited modest activity against leukemia cells and significant activity against NT2/D1 and A-172. Overall, the most active cytotoxic compounds in this investigation were perrottetin E (1), isolated in this work from , and perrottetin F phenanthrene derivative (7), previously isolated from and added for a comparison of their cytotoxic activity.
PubMed: 34073157
DOI: 10.3390/plants10061063 -
Risk Analysis : An Official Publication... Jul 2019We review approaches for characterizing "peak" exposures in epidemiologic studies and methods for incorporating peak exposure metrics in dose-response assessments that... (Review)
Review
We review approaches for characterizing "peak" exposures in epidemiologic studies and methods for incorporating peak exposure metrics in dose-response assessments that contribute to risk assessment. The focus was on potential etiologic relations between environmental chemical exposures and cancer risks. We searched the epidemiologic literature on environmental chemicals classified as carcinogens in which cancer risks were described in relation to "peak" exposures. These articles were evaluated to identify some of the challenges associated with defining and describing cancer risks in relation to peak exposures. We found that definitions of peak exposure varied considerably across studies. Of nine chemical agents included in our review of peak exposure, six had epidemiologic data used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in dose-response assessments to derive inhalation unit risk values. These were benzene, formaldehyde, styrene, trichloroethylene, acrylonitrile, and ethylene oxide. All derived unit risks relied on cumulative exposure for dose-response estimation and none, to our knowledge, considered peak exposure metrics. This is not surprising, given the historical linear no-threshold default model (generally based on cumulative exposure) used in regulatory risk assessments. With newly proposed US EPA rule language, fuller consideration of alternative exposure and dose-response metrics will be supported. "Peak" exposure has not been consistently defined and rarely has been evaluated in epidemiologic studies of cancer risks. We recommend developing uniform definitions of "peak" exposure to facilitate fuller evaluation of dose response for environmental chemicals and cancer risks, especially where mechanistic understanding indicates that the dose response is unlikely linear and that short-term high-intensity exposures increase risk.
Topics: Acrylonitrile; Air Pollutants; Benzene; Environmental Exposure; Epidemiologic Studies; Ethylene Oxide; Formaldehyde; Humans; Leukemia; Lymphoma; Methylene Chloride; Neoplasms; Risk Assessment; Styrene; Trichloroethylene; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency
PubMed: 30925210
DOI: 10.1111/risa.13294 -
Environmental Health Perspectives Feb 2015The U.S. EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) completed an updated toxicological review of dichloromethane in November 2011. (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
The U.S. EPA's Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) completed an updated toxicological review of dichloromethane in November 2011.
OBJECTIVES
In this commentary we summarize key results and issues of this review, including exposure sources, identification of potential health effects, and updated physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling.
METHODS
We performed a comprehensive review of primary research studies and evaluation of PBPK models.
DISCUSSION
Hepatotoxicity was observed in oral and inhalation exposure studies in several studies in animals; neurological effects were also identified as a potential area of concern. Dichloromethane was classified as likely to be carcinogenic in humans based primarily on evidence of carcinogenicity at two sites (liver and lung) in male and female B6C3F1 mice (inhalation exposure) and at one site (liver) in male B6C3F1 mice (drinking-water exposure). Recent epidemiologic studies of dichloromethane (seven studies of hematopoietic cancers published since 2000) provide additional data raising concerns about associations with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Although there are gaps in the database for dichloromethane genotoxicity (i.e., DNA adduct formation and gene mutations in target tissues in vivo), the positive DNA damage assays correlated with tissue and/or species availability of functional glutathione S-transferase (GST) metabolic activity, the key activation pathway for dichloromethane-induced cancer. Innovations in the IRIS assessment include estimation of cancer risk specifically for a presumed sensitive genotype (GST-theta-1+/+), and PBPK modeling accounting for human physiological distributions based on the expected distribution for all individuals 6 months to 80 years of age.
CONCLUSION
The 2011 IRIS assessment of dichloromethane provides insights into the toxicity of a commonly used solvent.
Topics: Carcinogens, Environmental; Environmental Pollutants; Humans; Lung Neoplasms; Methylene Chloride; Models, Theoretical; Mutagenicity Tests; Neoplasms; Risk Assessment; United States; United States Environmental Protection Agency
PubMed: 25325283
DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1308030