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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023Given that cancer is a disease that is rampant in the world and especially in Africa, where the population has enormous difficulty treating it, plants are a safer and...
Given that cancer is a disease that is rampant in the world and especially in Africa, where the population has enormous difficulty treating it, plants are a safer and less expensive alternative. Cassava is a plant species valued in Benin because of its numerous medicinal and nutritional virtues. This study evaluated the biological activities of amygdalin from the organs of three cassava varieties most commonly produced in Benin (BEN, RB, and MJ). HPLC analysis was used to quantify amygdalin in cassava organs and derivatives. Phytochemical screening was performed to determine secondary metabolite groups. DPPH and FRAP methods were used to assess antioxidant activity. Cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested on larvae. The anti-inflammatory activity was evaluated in vivo in an albino mouse paw edema model induced by 5% formalin. The anticancer activity was evaluated in vivo on Wistar rats rendered cancerous by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH) using 5-fluorouracil as a reference molecule. The results showed that the organs of all three-cassava varieties contained glycosides, flavonoids, saponosides, steroids, tannins, coumarins, and cyanogenic derivatives. Young stems and fresh cassava leaves had the highest amygdalin concentrations, with 11,142.99 µg 10 g and 9251.14 µg 10 g, respectively. The derivative was more concentrated in amygdalin, with a content of 401.56 µg 10 g than the other derivatives. The antioxidant activity results showed that the amygdalin extracts were DPPH radical scavengers with IC values ranging from 0.18 mg mL to 2.35 mg mL. The cytotoxicity test showed no toxicity of the extracts toward shrimp larvae. Administration of amygdalin extracts from the leaves of BEN and MJ varieties prevents inflammatory edema. The percentages of edema inhibition varied between 21.77% and 27.89%. These values are similar ( > 0.05) to those of acetylsalicylic acid (25.20%). Amygdalin extract of the BEN variety significantly ( < 0.0001) reduces edema. Both BEN extracts inhibited cancer induction with DMH. In preventive and curative treatments, rats fed with amygdalin extracts showed low anti-cancer activity under the effect of DMH and a significant difference in biochemical results. Thus, the organs of all three cassava varieties studied have secondary metabolites and good antioxidant activity. The leaves contain high levels of amygdalin and can be used as anti-inflammatory and anticancer agents.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Antioxidants; Plant Extracts; Manihot; Amygdalin; Benin; Rats, Wistar; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Edema
PubMed: 37299029
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114548 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023In this study, isomerization conditions, cytotoxic activity, and stabilization of amygdalin from peach kernels were analyzed. Temperatures greater than 40 °C and pHs...
In this study, isomerization conditions, cytotoxic activity, and stabilization of amygdalin from peach kernels were analyzed. Temperatures greater than 40 °C and pHs above 9.0 resulted in a quickly increasing isomer ratio (L-amygdalin/D-amygdalin). At acidic pHs, isomerization was significantly inhibited, even at high temperature. Ethanol inhibited isomerization; the isomer rate decreased with the ethanol concentration increasing. The growth-inhibitory effect on HepG2 cells of D-amygdalin was diminished as the isomer ratio increased, indicating that isomerization reduces the pharmacological activity of D-amygdalin. Extracting amygdalin from peach kernels by ultrasonic power at 432 W and 40 °C in 80% ethanol resulted in a 1.76% yield of amygdalin with a 0.04 isomer ratio. Hydrogel beads prepared by 2% sodium alginate successfully encapsulated the amygdalin, and its encapsulation efficiency and drug loading rate reached 85.93% and 19.21%, respectively. The thermal stability of amygdalin encapsulated in hydrogel beads was significantly improved and reached a slow-release effect in in vitro digestion. This study provides guidance for the processing and storage of amygdalin.
Topics: Amygdalin; Prunus persica; Isomerism; Plant Extracts; Hydrogels
PubMed: 37299025
DOI: 10.3390/molecules28114550 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies May 2023Breast cancer (BC) cells often develop multiple mechanisms of chemo- and radio-resistance during tumor progression, which is the major reason for the failure of breast...
Amygdalin-folic acid-nanoparticles inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer and enhance the effect of radiotherapy through the modulation of tumor-promoting factors/ immunosuppressive modulators in vitro.
INTRODUCTION
Breast cancer (BC) cells often develop multiple mechanisms of chemo- and radio-resistance during tumor progression, which is the major reason for the failure of breast cancer therapy. Targeted nanomedicines have tremendous therapeutic potential in BC treatment over their free drug counterparts. Searching for chemo- and radio-sensitizers to overcome such resistance is therefore urgently required. The goal of this study is to evaluate and compare the radio-sensitizer efficacy of amygdalin-folic acid nanoparticles (Amy-F) on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The effects of Amy-F on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and IC50 were assessed using MTT assay. The expression of proteins involved in several mechanisms induced by Amy-F in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, including growth inhibition, apoptosis, tumor growth regulators, immuno-modulators, and radio-sensitizing activities were evaluated via flow cytometry and ELISA assay.
RESULTS
Nanoparticles demonstrated sustained Amy-F release properties and apparent selectivity towards BC cells. Cell-based assays revealed that Amy-F markedly suppresses cancer cell growth and improves radiotherapy (RT) through inducing cell cycle arrest (G1 and sub-G1), and increases apoptosis as well as reduces the proliferation of BC by down-regulating mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK/P38), iron level (Fe), nitric oxide (NO), and up-regulating the reactive oxygen species level (ROS). Amy-F has also been shown to suppress the expression of the cluster of differentiation (CD4 and CD80), and interfere with the Transforming growth factor beta (TGF- β)/Interferon-gamma (INF-g)/Interleukin-2 (IL-2)/Interleukin-6 (IL-6)/Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induced suppression in its signaling hub, while up-regulating natural killer group 2D receptor (NKG2D) and CD8 expression.
CONCLUSIONS
Collectively, the novel Amy-F either alone or in combination with RT abrogated BC proliferation.
Topics: Humans; Female; Breast Neoplasms; Amygdalin; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; Cell Proliferation; Nanoparticles
PubMed: 37210478
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03986-x -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology Oct 2023Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Chuanxiong, LC), as an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can not only be used as a monarch herb but also be used as a classic...
Insight of "Yin-Jing" medical property ofLigusticum chuanxiong Hort. via pharmacokinetics and tissue distributions by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Chuanxiong, LC), as an important traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), can not only be used as a monarch herb but also be used as a classic "Yin-Jing" () medicine in compound prescriptions, e.g., Buyang Huanwu Decoction (BHD). Although LC has the effect of guiding components into the brain in BHD, there is still a lack of scientific evidence on this "Yin-Jing" effects. Herein, we used pharmacokinetics and tissue distributions to investigate "Yin-Jing" effects of LC. To simplify the study, four major constituents in BHD, i.e., Calycosin (CA), astragaloside IV (AI), paeoniflorin (PA), and amygdalin (AM) were combined to form a simple compound (abbreviated as CAPA here) to replace the original BHD in this paper. The Yin-Jing medical property of LC was confirmed by the compatibility of CAPA with LC or its different fractions (Fr. A ∼ Fr. F).
AIM OF THE STUDY
To explore the "Yin-Jing" medical property of LC via pharmacokinetics and tissue distributions by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-QQQ-MS).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The contents of CA, AI, PA, and AM were simultaneously determined by the established and validated UPLC-QQQ-MS method in different rat tissues and plasma after administration of CAPA with the combination of LC or Fr. A ∼ Fr. F. The pharmacokinetic parameters, e.g., T, C, AUC and MRT, were calculated to evaluate the efficiency of "Yin-Jing".
RESULTS
The C and AUC of CA, AI, PA, and AM were remarkably increased in rat brain tissues compared with those of the control group after compatibility of LC. This demonstrated that LC has the Yin-Jing effects on brain tissues. Additionally, Fr. B or Fr. C might be the material basis by specifically studying the distributions of CA, AI, PA, and AM in brain tissue based on mutual compatibility. The effects of Fr. B and Fr. C on distributions of these constituents in other tissues or plasma was also studied to verify the effects of Yin-Jing of LC. The results showed that the same upward trend is found in heart, liver and plasma, but the intensity is insignificant as that in brain tissue. Furthermore, the C and AUC of some analytes in the rat spleen, lung, and kidney were significantly decreased compared with the control group (P < 0.05 or 0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
LC has the function of Yin-Jing, especially guiding the components into the brain tissue. Moreover, Fr. B and Fr. C is suggested to be the pharmacodynamic material basis for the effect of Yin-Jing of LC. These finding explained that it was recommended to add LC into some prescriptions for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases caused by Qi deficiency and blood stasis. This has laid a certain foundation for the research on the Yin-Jing efficacy of LC to better clarify the theory of TCM and guide the clinical application of Yin-Jing drugs.
Topics: Rats; Animals; Tissue Distribution; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Chromatography, Liquid; Mass Spectrometry; Medicine, Chinese Traditional
PubMed: 37172919
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116569 -
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis Jun 2023Amygdalin (AMY), a plant secondary metabolite containing nitrile, is a major component of the seeds of Rosaceae family plants. It is known that this compound has many...
Amygdalin (AMY), a plant secondary metabolite containing nitrile, is a major component of the seeds of Rosaceae family plants. It is known that this compound has many pharmacological activities such as cancer prevention, antipyretic, and cough suppressant. In this study, the genotoxic and modulatory effects of amygdalin were assessed by chromosomal aberration (CA), sister chromatid exchange (SCE), and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay (CBMN) assays using human peripheral lymphocytes (HPLs) in the absence and presence of metabolic activator (S9 mix). Lymphocytes were exposed to various concentrations of amygdalin (0.86, 1.72, 3.43, 6.86, and 13.75 μg/mL) alone and in combination with mitomycin-C (MMC, 0.20 μg/mL) or cyclophosphamide (CP, 12 μg/mL). The mitotic index (MI), replication index (RI), cytokinesis-block proliferation index (CBPI), and cytostasis were also evaluated to determine cytotoxicity. Amygdalin alone did not exhibit genotoxic and cytotoxic effects at all the tested concentrations both in the absence and presence of the S9 mix. In contrast, amygdalin significantly reduced the frequencies of CA (especially at 48 h treatments), SCE, and MN (except 0.86 μg/mL in pre- and simultaneous treatment) induced by MMC in all the tested concentrations and treatment protocols. It has also considerably decreased CP-induced CA and SCE frequencies at all the concentrations (except 0.86 μg/mL) in simultaneous treatment. This study demonstrated that amygdalin alone was not genotoxic, on the contrary, it has revealed modulatory effects against chemotherapy agents that induced genomic damage in human lymphocytes, suggesting its chemopreventive potential.
Topics: Humans; Amygdalin; Mutagens; Lymphocytes; Micronucleus Tests; Chromosome Aberrations; Cells, Cultured
PubMed: 37161892
DOI: 10.1002/em.22543 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023Almond [ Miller (D. A. Webb), syn. L.)] is the major tree nut crop worldwide in terms of production and cultivated area. Almond domestication was enabled by the...
Almond [ Miller (D. A. Webb), syn. L.)] is the major tree nut crop worldwide in terms of production and cultivated area. Almond domestication was enabled by the selection of individuals bearing sweet kernels, which do not accumulate high levels of the toxic cyanogenic glucoside amygdalin. Previously, we showed that the () gene, controlling the kernel taste in almond, encodes a basic helix loop helix (bHLH) transcription factor regulating the amygdalin biosynthetic pathway. In addition, we characterized a dominant allele of this gene, further referred to as , which originates from a C→T missense mutation and confers the sweet kernel phenotype. Here we provide evidence indicating that the allele further referred to as , originally detected in the cultivar "Atocha" and arising from a T→G missense mutation, is also dominantly inherited and confers the sweet kernel phenotype in almond cultivated germplasm. The use of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data from genotyping by sequencing (GBS) for population structure and hierarchical clustering analyses indicated that occurs in a group of related genotypes, including the widespread cultivar "Texas", descending from the same ancestral population. KASP and dual label functional markers were developed for the accurate and high-throughput selection of the and alleles, and the genotyping of a panel of 134 almond cultivars. Overall, our results provide further insights on the understanding of the almond cultivation history. In addition, molecular marker assays and genotypic data presented in this study are expected to be of major interest for the conduction of almond breeding programs, which often need to select sweet kernel individuals in segregant populations.
PubMed: 37123837
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1171195 -
Heliyon Apr 2023Loquat is a high-value fruit tree with medicine and fruit homology. Loquat flowers with special fragrance, strong cold resistance and rich in various bioactive...
Loquat is a high-value fruit tree with medicine and fruit homology. Loquat flowers with special fragrance, strong cold resistance and rich in various bioactive components, are valuable agricultural auxiliary products and have been widely used for making floral teas and beverages in recent years. In this study, we found the concentration of active components increased from the floral buds to initial flowers along with flower development, the bioactives of initial flowers were the richest in four flowering stages, and loquat flowers contained major volatile components such as alcohols, aldehydes and esters, which are the source of fragrance. When extract with hot water, the most efficient method was 80 °C for 30 min or boiling water within 2 h. For Baijiu (56% Vol), the best solid-to-liquid ratio was 3:100 (Dry flower: Baijiu) in 6-12 h. Baijiu achieved higher bioactive content than water extraction, the amygdalin concentration in Baijiu reached 0.3 mg/mL.
PubMed: 37012910
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14701 -
International Journal of Biological... Jun 2023In this study, PLA/PEG nanofibers (NFs) loaded with amygdalin (AMG) and bitter almond kernels extract were produced by electrospinning to prevent local breast cancer...
In this study, PLA/PEG nanofibers (NFs) loaded with amygdalin (AMG) and bitter almond kernels extract were produced by electrospinning to prevent local breast cancer recurrence, and the effect of produced NFs on the MCF-7 cell line was investigated in vitro. The electrospun NFs were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermal analysis (DSC) and tensile strength and physical analyzes were performed. Loading of AMG to nanofibers increased fiber diameters from 827.93 ± 174.507 nm to 1855.32 ± 291.057 μm. When drug release results were analyzed, the NFs showed a controlled release profile extending up to 10 h. The encapsulation efficiency of AMG-loaded NFs was calculated at 100 ± 0,01 %, 94 ± 0,02 %, and 88 ± 0,02 %. When in vitro cytotoxicity results were analyzed, showed that all NFs are effective in inducing cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Importantly, 20 mg AMG-loaded NFs displayed effectively higher cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cells relative to the other NFs. Considering all the results, AMG-loaded NFs can give sustained release of drugs at the local sites. Therefore, AMG-loaded nanofibers can reduce the risk of local recurrence of cancer after surgery and can be directly implanted into solid tumor cells for treatment.
Topics: Humans; Female; Polyethylene Glycols; Amygdalin; Nanofibers; Breast Neoplasms; Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; Polyesters
PubMed: 37001771
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124201 -
Journal of Ethnopharmacology May 2023Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu Maxim., Ku xingren, bitter almond, ASA) is an important medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is... (Review)
Review
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE
Armeniacae Semen Amarum (Prunus armeniaca L. var. ansu Maxim., Ku xingren, bitter almond, ASA) is an important medicine in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It is widely used because of its remarkable curative effect in relieving cough and asthma, moistening intestines and defecating.
AIM OF THE REVIEW
This review aims to enlighten the deeper knowledge about ASA, giving a comprehensive overview of its traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology for future investigation of plant-based drugs and therapeutic applications.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The databases used are Web of Science, PubMed, Baidu academic, Google academic, CNKI, Wanfang and VIP . In addition, detailed information on ASA was obtained from relevant monographs such as Chinese Pharmacopoeia.
RESULTS
The active components of ASA mainly include amygdalin, bitter almond oil, essential oil, protein, vitamin, trace elements and carbohydrates. The pharmacological studies have shown that ASA has beneficial effects such as antitussive, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antitumour, cardioprotective, antifibrotic, immune regulatory, bowel relaxation, insecticidal, etc. CONCLUSIONS: Many reports have been published on ASA's various active ingredients and biological uses. However, only a few reviews on its phytoconstituents and pharmacological uses. In addition, the exploration and development of ASA in other fields also deserve more attention in future research.
Topics: Seeds; Drugs, Chinese Herbal; Medicine, Chinese Traditional; Amygdalin; Phytochemicals; Ethnopharmacology
PubMed: 36806484
DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116265 -
International Journal of Systematic and... Feb 2023Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been recognized as a potential health risk and are widespread in nature due to their intrinsic chemical stability and high...
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been recognized as a potential health risk and are widespread in nature due to their intrinsic chemical stability and high recalcitrance to degradation. A taxonomic study was carried out on strain P9, which was isolated from a PAH-degrading consortium, enriched from the mangrove sediment from Zhangzhou, PR China. The isolate was chemoheterotrophic, aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, short-rod shaped, and motile by one polar flagellum. Growth was observed at salinities from 0.5-6.0 % (optimum, 3 %), at pH 4-9 (optimum, pH 7) and at 10-41 °C (optimum, 25-30 °C). It did not synthesize bacteriochlorophyll a. Catalase and oxidase activities were positive. Acid was produced from starch, amygdalin, arbutin, cellobiose, d-fructose, maltose, d-mannitol, melezitose, melibiose, raffinose, d-ribose, sucrose, trehalose, d-xylose, aesculin ferric citrate, gentiobiose, glycogen, l-arabinose, l-rhamnose, methyl -d-glucopyranoside, methyl -d-xylopyranoside, -acetylglucosamine and salicin, and weakly positive for d-arabitol, d-galactose, lactose, turanose and glycerol. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain P9 fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species and formed an independent cluster with , which was distinct from other members of the family . The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain P9 was most closely related to HTCC 260 (96.7 %), and other species of the genus (95.7-94.2 %). Strain P9 had the highest digital DNA-DNA hybridization value with CGMCC 1.12377 (25.0 %) and the highest average nucleotide identity (ANIb and ANIm) values with CGMCC 1.12377(80.3 and 85.8 %, respectively). The sole respiratory quinone was quinone 10. The dominant fatty acids were C 7 (61.4 %), C (17.5 %) and C 8 cyclo (7.6 %). The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 65.8 mol%. In the polar lipid profile, phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, aminolipid, glycolipid and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major compounds. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain P9 represents a novel species of the genus , for which the name sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P9 (=CCTCC AB 209290=LMG 25701=MCCC 1F01055).
Topics: Fatty Acids; Seawater; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Phylogeny; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Bacterial Typing Techniques; DNA, Bacterial; Base Composition; Sequence Analysis, DNA; Phospholipids; Quinones; Rhodobacteraceae
PubMed: 36790415
DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005716