Evidence-based Anticancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011
... Sativum (Garlic) for Cancer Patients Anna Herman-Antosiewicz, Anna Kawiak and Jędrzej Antosie... more ... Sativum (Garlic) for Cancer Patients Anna Herman-Antosiewicz, Anna Kawiak and Jędrzej Antosiewicz ... The Codex Ebers, an Egiptian medical text dating to 1500 BC, men-tions garlic as a remedy for skin diseases, poisoning, heart problems, and ab-normal growths (tumors). ...
Applied microbiology and biotechnology, Jan 29, 2015
A family of N-methylpyrrolidinium fullerene iodide salts has been intensively studied to determin... more A family of N-methylpyrrolidinium fullerene iodide salts has been intensively studied to determine their applicability in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT). This study examined in vitro the efficacy of a C60 fullerene functionalized with one methylpyrrolidinium group to kill upon irradiation with white light gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, as well as fungal cells, and the corresponding mechanism of the fullerene bactericidal action. The in vitro studies revealed that the high antistaphylococcal efficacy of functionalized fullerene could be linked to their ability to photogenerate singlet oxygen and superoxide anion. Following Staphylococcus aureus photoinactivation, no modifications of its genomic DNA were detected. In contrast, photodamage of the cell envelope seemed to be a dominant mechanism of bactericidal action. In in vivo studies, a 2 log10 reduction in the average bioluminescent radiance between treated and non-treated mice was reached. One day post APDT tr...
The worldwide rise in the antibiotic resistance of bacteria forces the development of alternative... more The worldwide rise in the antibiotic resistance of bacteria forces the development of alternative antimicrobial treatments. A potential approach is photodynamic inactivation (PDI). The aim of the present study was to determine the phototoxicity of protoporphyrin diarginate (PPArg(2)) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and human dermal fibroblasts. Different concentrations (0 to 20 microM) of PPArg(2) and light dose of 6 J cm(-2) were tested. Cell viability was evaluated using the methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay. Incubation with 10 microM followed by illumination yielded a 3.6 log(10)-unit reduction in the viable count for Staphylococcus aureus. At the same experimental conditions, only 22.5% of the fibroblasts were photoinactivated. Protoporphyrin diarginate at concentrations up to 20 microM demonstrated no toxicity towards S. aureus or fibroblasts when not irradiated. These results suggest that the protoporphyrin diarginate exerts a high bactericidal effect a...
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as key molecules, which can selectively modify... more Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as key molecules, which can selectively modify proteins and therefore regulate cellular signalling including apoptosis. Plumbagin, a naphthoquinone exhibiting antitumor activity, is known to generate ROS and has been found to inhibit the activity of topoisomerase II (Topo II) through the stabilization of the Topo II-DNA cleavable complex. The objective of this research was to clarify the role of ROS and Topo II inhibition in the induction of apoptosis mediated by plumbagin. As determined by the comet assay, plumbagin induced DNA cleavage in HL-60 cells, whereas in a cell line with reduced Topo II activity-HL-60/MX2, the level of DNA damage was significantly decreased. The onset of DNA strand break formation in HL-60 cells was delayed in comparison with the generation of intracellular ROS. In HL-60/MX2 cells, ROS were generated at a similar rate, whereas a significant reduction in the level of DNA damage was detected. The pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuated plumbagin-induced DNA damage, pointing out to the involvement of ROS generation in cleavable complex formation. These results suggest that plumbagin-induced ROS does not directly damage DNA but requires the involvement of Topo II. Furthermore, experiments carried out using light spectroscopy indicated no direct interactions between plumbagin and DNA. The induction of apoptosis was significantly delayed in HL-60/MX2 cells indicating the involvement of Topo II inhibition in plumbagin-mediated apoptosis. Thus, these findings strongly suggest ROS-mediated inhibition of Topo II as an important mechanism contributing to the apoptosis-inducing properties of plumbagin.
An efficient protocol for the micropropagation of Drosera anglica, D. binata and D. cuneifolia is... more An efficient protocol for the micropropagation of Drosera anglica, D. binata and D. cuneifolia is described. Proliferation was obtained from leaf segments and shoot tips, which served as initial explants. The regeneration capacity of explants was influenced by factors such as ...
Four O-acylated flavonol glycosides, new in the plant kingdom, were isolated from the needles of ... more Four O-acylated flavonol glycosides, new in the plant kingdom, were isolated from the needles of Pseudotsuga menziesii. Their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data as: daglesioside I [kaempferol 3-O-[2",5"-O-(4''',4(IV)-dihydroxy)-beta-truxinoyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside] (1), daglesioside II [kaempferol 3-O-[2",5"-O-(4"'-hydroxy)-beta-truxinoyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside] (2), daglesioside III [kaempferol 3-O-[2",5"-di-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside] (3), and daglesioside IV [kaempferol 3-O-[3",6"-di-O-(E)-cinnamoyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (4). In addition, the known flavonoids (E)-tiliroside, (E)-ditiliroside, astragalin (kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1 and 3 was evaluated towards the HL-60, HeLa, and MDA-MB468 cell lines.
Salicis Cortex, made from willow bark is a herbal remedy, which is standardised based on the cont... more Salicis Cortex, made from willow bark is a herbal remedy, which is standardised based on the content of salicin, a compound with analgesic and antiphlogistic properties. However, clinical trials suggest that other compounds also present in Salicis Cortex can contribute to the pharmacological effects. To characterise the composition of phenolic acids in the barks of different species and clones from the genus Salix by use of chromatographic methods--HPTLC and HPLC. The phenolic acid composition was analysed by MGD (multiple gradient development)-HPTLC technique. The separation was performed on HPTLC Diol plates with gradient elution using a mixture of chloroform:hexane:ethyl acetate with increasing concentration of ethyl acetate from 10 to 25%. Derivatisation with thymol reagent was employed for the first time for specific detection of phenolic acids containing methoxyl groups. The presence of all phenolic acids previously reported in the genus Salix was confirmed, namely p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acids. Furthermore, pyrocatechol as a constituent of willow bark was revealed. The highest concentration of this compound was observed in the S. purpurea bark (2.25 mg/g). The presence of a relatively high content of pyrocatechol in Salix species may raise doubts about the safe application of this herbal medicine.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common etiological factor in infections of burns and other chronic wou... more Staphylococcus aureus is a common etiological factor in infections of burns and other chronic wounds. The development of an effective and fast-acting treatment would be enormously beneficial and is highly desired. We focused on testing the bactericidal efficacy of photoinactivation using a known photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX, PPIX) in sequential combination with silver nanoparticles against S. aureus. Using PPIX-based photoinactivation followed by silver nanoparticles we obtained a high bactericidal effect (7 log10 units reduction) with limited harmful effects on human epidermal keratinocytes. Moreover, we observed that the use of silver nanoparticles prevents bacterial re-growth 24 h post-PDI treatment. A sequential combination of photoinactivation and silver nanoparticles represents a potentially effective antibacterial approach.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death-related cancers in women. Approximately 30% of breast... more Breast cancer is the leading cause of death-related cancers in women. Approximately 30% of breast cancers overexpress the Her2 oncogene, which is associated with a poor prognosis and increased resistance to chemotherapy. Plumbagin (1), a constituent of species in the plant genera Drosera and Plumbago, displays antineoplastic activity toward various cancers. The present study was aimed at determining the anticancer potential of 1 toward Her2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and defining the mode of cell death induced in these cells. The results showed that 1 exhibited high antiproliferative activity toward the Her2-overexpressing cell lines SKBR3 and BT474. The antiproliferative activity of 1 was associated with apoptosis-mediated cell death, as revealed by caspase activation and an increase in the sub-G1 fraction of the cell cycle. Compound 1 increased the levels of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins and decreased the level of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in SKBR3 and BT474 cells. Thus, these findings indicate that 1 induces apoptosis in Her2-overexpressing breast cancers through the mitochondrial-mediated pathway and suggest its potential for further investigation for the treatment of Her2-overexpressing breast cancer.
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, 2004
Summary Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to verify the clonal fidelity o... more Summary Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to verify the clonal fidelity of two micropropagated Drosera species, D. anglica and D. binata, which were regenerated by adventitious budding from leaf explants and shoot tips, respectively. ...
Evidence-based Anticancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2011
... Sativum (Garlic) for Cancer Patients Anna Herman-Antosiewicz, Anna Kawiak and Jędrzej Antosie... more ... Sativum (Garlic) for Cancer Patients Anna Herman-Antosiewicz, Anna Kawiak and Jędrzej Antosiewicz ... The Codex Ebers, an Egiptian medical text dating to 1500 BC, men-tions garlic as a remedy for skin diseases, poisoning, heart problems, and ab-normal growths (tumors). ...
Applied microbiology and biotechnology, Jan 29, 2015
A family of N-methylpyrrolidinium fullerene iodide salts has been intensively studied to determin... more A family of N-methylpyrrolidinium fullerene iodide salts has been intensively studied to determine their applicability in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT). This study examined in vitro the efficacy of a C60 fullerene functionalized with one methylpyrrolidinium group to kill upon irradiation with white light gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, as well as fungal cells, and the corresponding mechanism of the fullerene bactericidal action. The in vitro studies revealed that the high antistaphylococcal efficacy of functionalized fullerene could be linked to their ability to photogenerate singlet oxygen and superoxide anion. Following Staphylococcus aureus photoinactivation, no modifications of its genomic DNA were detected. In contrast, photodamage of the cell envelope seemed to be a dominant mechanism of bactericidal action. In in vivo studies, a 2 log10 reduction in the average bioluminescent radiance between treated and non-treated mice was reached. One day post APDT tr...
The worldwide rise in the antibiotic resistance of bacteria forces the development of alternative... more The worldwide rise in the antibiotic resistance of bacteria forces the development of alternative antimicrobial treatments. A potential approach is photodynamic inactivation (PDI). The aim of the present study was to determine the phototoxicity of protoporphyrin diarginate (PPArg(2)) against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and human dermal fibroblasts. Different concentrations (0 to 20 microM) of PPArg(2) and light dose of 6 J cm(-2) were tested. Cell viability was evaluated using the methylthiazoletetrazolium (MTT) assay. Incubation with 10 microM followed by illumination yielded a 3.6 log(10)-unit reduction in the viable count for Staphylococcus aureus. At the same experimental conditions, only 22.5% of the fibroblasts were photoinactivated. Protoporphyrin diarginate at concentrations up to 20 microM demonstrated no toxicity towards S. aureus or fibroblasts when not irradiated. These results suggest that the protoporphyrin diarginate exerts a high bactericidal effect a...
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as key molecules, which can selectively modify... more Reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been recognized as key molecules, which can selectively modify proteins and therefore regulate cellular signalling including apoptosis. Plumbagin, a naphthoquinone exhibiting antitumor activity, is known to generate ROS and has been found to inhibit the activity of topoisomerase II (Topo II) through the stabilization of the Topo II-DNA cleavable complex. The objective of this research was to clarify the role of ROS and Topo II inhibition in the induction of apoptosis mediated by plumbagin. As determined by the comet assay, plumbagin induced DNA cleavage in HL-60 cells, whereas in a cell line with reduced Topo II activity-HL-60/MX2, the level of DNA damage was significantly decreased. The onset of DNA strand break formation in HL-60 cells was delayed in comparison with the generation of intracellular ROS. In HL-60/MX2 cells, ROS were generated at a similar rate, whereas a significant reduction in the level of DNA damage was detected. The pretreatment of cells with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) attenuated plumbagin-induced DNA damage, pointing out to the involvement of ROS generation in cleavable complex formation. These results suggest that plumbagin-induced ROS does not directly damage DNA but requires the involvement of Topo II. Furthermore, experiments carried out using light spectroscopy indicated no direct interactions between plumbagin and DNA. The induction of apoptosis was significantly delayed in HL-60/MX2 cells indicating the involvement of Topo II inhibition in plumbagin-mediated apoptosis. Thus, these findings strongly suggest ROS-mediated inhibition of Topo II as an important mechanism contributing to the apoptosis-inducing properties of plumbagin.
An efficient protocol for the micropropagation of Drosera anglica, D. binata and D. cuneifolia is... more An efficient protocol for the micropropagation of Drosera anglica, D. binata and D. cuneifolia is described. Proliferation was obtained from leaf segments and shoot tips, which served as initial explants. The regeneration capacity of explants was influenced by factors such as ...
Four O-acylated flavonol glycosides, new in the plant kingdom, were isolated from the needles of ... more Four O-acylated flavonol glycosides, new in the plant kingdom, were isolated from the needles of Pseudotsuga menziesii. Their structures were established by 1D and 2D NMR and MS data as: daglesioside I [kaempferol 3-O-[2",5"-O-(4''',4(IV)-dihydroxy)-beta-truxinoyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside] (1), daglesioside II [kaempferol 3-O-[2",5"-O-(4"'-hydroxy)-beta-truxinoyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside] (2), daglesioside III [kaempferol 3-O-[2",5"-di-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]-alpha-L-arabinofuranoside] (3), and daglesioside IV [kaempferol 3-O-[3",6"-di-O-(E)-cinnamoyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside] (4). In addition, the known flavonoids (E)-tiliroside, (E)-ditiliroside, astragalin (kaempferol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside), isorhamnetin, kaempferol, and quercetin were identified. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1 and 3 was evaluated towards the HL-60, HeLa, and MDA-MB468 cell lines.
Salicis Cortex, made from willow bark is a herbal remedy, which is standardised based on the cont... more Salicis Cortex, made from willow bark is a herbal remedy, which is standardised based on the content of salicin, a compound with analgesic and antiphlogistic properties. However, clinical trials suggest that other compounds also present in Salicis Cortex can contribute to the pharmacological effects. To characterise the composition of phenolic acids in the barks of different species and clones from the genus Salix by use of chromatographic methods--HPTLC and HPLC. The phenolic acid composition was analysed by MGD (multiple gradient development)-HPTLC technique. The separation was performed on HPTLC Diol plates with gradient elution using a mixture of chloroform:hexane:ethyl acetate with increasing concentration of ethyl acetate from 10 to 25%. Derivatisation with thymol reagent was employed for the first time for specific detection of phenolic acids containing methoxyl groups. The presence of all phenolic acids previously reported in the genus Salix was confirmed, namely p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic, cinnamic, p-coumaric, ferulic and caffeic acids. Furthermore, pyrocatechol as a constituent of willow bark was revealed. The highest concentration of this compound was observed in the S. purpurea bark (2.25 mg/g). The presence of a relatively high content of pyrocatechol in Salix species may raise doubts about the safe application of this herbal medicine.
Staphylococcus aureus is a common etiological factor in infections of burns and other chronic wou... more Staphylococcus aureus is a common etiological factor in infections of burns and other chronic wounds. The development of an effective and fast-acting treatment would be enormously beneficial and is highly desired. We focused on testing the bactericidal efficacy of photoinactivation using a known photosensitizer (protoporphyrin IX, PPIX) in sequential combination with silver nanoparticles against S. aureus. Using PPIX-based photoinactivation followed by silver nanoparticles we obtained a high bactericidal effect (7 log10 units reduction) with limited harmful effects on human epidermal keratinocytes. Moreover, we observed that the use of silver nanoparticles prevents bacterial re-growth 24 h post-PDI treatment. A sequential combination of photoinactivation and silver nanoparticles represents a potentially effective antibacterial approach.
Breast cancer is the leading cause of death-related cancers in women. Approximately 30% of breast... more Breast cancer is the leading cause of death-related cancers in women. Approximately 30% of breast cancers overexpress the Her2 oncogene, which is associated with a poor prognosis and increased resistance to chemotherapy. Plumbagin (1), a constituent of species in the plant genera Drosera and Plumbago, displays antineoplastic activity toward various cancers. The present study was aimed at determining the anticancer potential of 1 toward Her2-overexpressing breast cancer cells and defining the mode of cell death induced in these cells. The results showed that 1 exhibited high antiproliferative activity toward the Her2-overexpressing cell lines SKBR3 and BT474. The antiproliferative activity of 1 was associated with apoptosis-mediated cell death, as revealed by caspase activation and an increase in the sub-G1 fraction of the cell cycle. Compound 1 increased the levels of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family of proteins and decreased the level of the antiapoptotic Bcl-2 protein in SKBR3 and BT474 cells. Thus, these findings indicate that 1 induces apoptosis in Her2-overexpressing breast cancers through the mitochondrial-mediated pathway and suggest its potential for further investigation for the treatment of Her2-overexpressing breast cancer.
In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant, 2004
Summary Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to verify the clonal fidelity o... more Summary Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were used to verify the clonal fidelity of two micropropagated Drosera species, D. anglica and D. binata, which were regenerated by adventitious budding from leaf explants and shoot tips, respectively. ...
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