Trends and challenges in phytotherapy and phytocosmetics for skin aging

Oxidative stress and inflammation mostly contribute to aging and age-related conditions including skin aging. The potential of natural products in the form of naturally-derived cosmetics, cosmeceuticals, and nutricosmetics have, however, not been fully harnessed. This review, thus, critically analyzes the potential roles of natural products in inflammation-related skin aging diseases due to the increasing consumers’ concerns and demands for efficacious, safe, natural, sustainable, and religiously permitted alternatives to synthetic products. The information and data were collated from various resources and literature databases such as PubMed, Science Direct, Wiley, Springer, Taylor and Francis, Scopus, Inflibnet, Google, and Google Scholar using relevant keywords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The role of green extraction solvents as promising alternatives is also elucidated. The potential enhancements of the bioavailability, stability, solubility and controlled release profile of the bioactives using different delivery systems are also presented. The current potential global market value, motivators, drivers, trends, challenges, halal, and other regulatory certifications for cosmeceuticals and nutricosmetics are equally discussed. The adoption of the suggested extractions and delivery systems would enhance the stability, bioavailability, and target delivery of the bioactives.     

Symbiotic interaction of endophytic bacteria with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and its antagonistic effect on Ganoderma boninense

Endophytic bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginosa UPMP3 and Burkholderia cepacia UMPB3), isolated from within roots of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) were tested for their presymbiotic effects on two arbuscular mcorrhizal fungi, Glomus intraradices UT126 and Glomus clarum BR152B). These endophytic bacteria were also tested for antagonistic effects on Ganoderma boninense PER 71, a white wood rot fungal pathogen that causes a serious disease in oil palm. Spore germination and hyphal length of each arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) pairing with endophytic bacteria was found to be significantly higher than spores plated in the absence of bacteria. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the endophytic bacteria were scattered, resting or embedded on the surface hyaline layer or on the degraded walls of AMF spores, possibly feeding on the outer hyaline spore wall. The antagonistic effect of the endophytic bacteria was expressed as severe morphological abnormalities in the hyphal structures of G. boninense PER 71. The effects of the endophytic bacteria on G. boninense PER 71 hyphal structures were observed clearly under SEM. Severe inter-twisting, distortion, lysis and shriveling of the hyphal structures were observed. This study found that the effect of endophytic bacteria on G. intraradices UT126 and G. clarum BR152B resembled that of a mycorrhiza helper bacteria (MHB) association because the association significantly promoted AMF spore germination and hyphal length. However, the endophytic bacteria were extremely damaging to G. boninense PER 71.     

Improvement of Bacillus thuringiensis δ-endotoxins Synthesis Yields Through Acquisition of Erythromycin Resistance

The acquisition of the erythromycin resistance by Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki improved yields of δ-endotoxins in sporulating cells ranging from 134 to 215%. Resistance to erythromycin decreased the final spore count by at least 50%. Consequently, erythromycin resistance is an efficient tool for the improvement of bioinsecticides yields with a high ratio of δ-endotoxins to spores. Revisions requested 31 October 2005; Revisions received 28 November 2005     

Selection and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains toxic against pyralid stored‐product pests

In this study, we present the selection and the characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis strains toxic against pyralid pests of stored products. Among 201 new B. thuringiensis strains isolated from different countries, two strains (BLB249 and BLB384) showed greater toxicity than the commercialized strain B. thuringiensis kurstaki HD1 against Ephestia kuehniella larvae. Morphological, molecular and biochemical investigations revealed that these strains were similar to HD1 but presented different cry gene content. Additional bioassays revealed that only strain BLB249 displayed higher toxicity than HD1 against Plodia interpunctella larvae. The study of Cry protoxin activation by midgut proteases of E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella larvae supported that higher toxicity of BLB249 and BLB384 strains compared to HD1 was not due to differential protoxin activation. Moreover, the toxic strains produced δ‐endotoxins and spores in similar amounts to HD1. Interestingly, the δ‐endotoxin production and the yield of BUPM26 strain were 32.87% and 35.12% greater than that of HD1. The potent insecticidal activities of BLB249 and BLB384 strains and the high level of δ‐endotoxin production by BUPM26 strain make them excellent candidates for use against E. kuehniella and P. interpunctella larvae.     

Cytogenetic effect of the anticancer drug epirubicin on Chinese hamster cell line in vitro

The present study demonstrated the cytogenetic effect of the anticancer drug epirubicin on cultures of Chinese hamster cell line in vitro. The cultures were exposed to the drug for 24 h at three final concentrations; 10, 20 and 40 microg/ml. All treatments were carried out in the absence of any exogenous metabolic activation system.The different types of structural chromosomal aberrations, including gaps, breaks, deletions and fragments were increased in epirubicin-treated cultures. This increase was dose dependent where there was a positive correlation between increased drug concentration and induction of structural chromosomal aberrations. Also, the numerical chromosomal aberrations, including hypodiploidy and hyperdiploidy, were increased significantly in epirubicin-treated cultures. Like structural aberrations, the increase of numerical chromosomal aberrations was also dose-dependent.The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges in cultures treated with epirubicin increased significantly and this increase was dose-dependent. On the other hand, the epirubicin significantly decreased the mitotic index in treated cultures of Chinese hamster cell line.     

Polymorphic microsatellite loci from an indigenous Asian fungus-growing termite, Macrotermes gilvus (Blattodea: Termitidae) and cross amplification in related taxa

The fungus-growing termite, Macrotermes gilvus (Hagen), an indigenous species from Southeast Asia distributed from Myanmar to Indonesia and the Philippines, offers great potential as an ecological model system to elucidate the effects of geography on gene flow within this region. We used next generation sequencing (Roche 454 pyrosequencing) to identify microsatellite markers from the genomic DNA of M. gilvus. A modest sequencing volume generated 34,122 reads, with 1,212 (3.6%) reads contains microsatellites with di-, tri-, tetra-, penta-, and hexa-nucleotide repeat motifs. Thirty-seven loci were selected for primer development and tested for polymorphism across 22 colonies of M. gilvus. Eleven loci were found to be polymorphic with 2-4 alleles per locus. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged between 0.091-0.727 and 0.090-0.540, respectively. Cross taxa amplification was successful across a panel of four related termite species and four multiplex groups were designed for future population genetic studies. These markers will open new avenues for the study of phylogeography and population genetics of this fungus-growing termite. This study also has effectively demonstrated the use of 454 pyrosequencing for the rapid development of informative microsatellite markers from a termite genome.     

PIVL,a new serine protease inhibitor from Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea venom,impairs motility of human glioblastoma cells

A novel Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor, termed PIVL, was purified to homogeneity from the venom of the Tunisian snake Macrovipera lebetina transmediterranea. It is a monomeric polypeptide chain cross-linked by three disulfide linkages with an isotope-averaged molecular mass of 7691.7 Da. The 67-residue full-length PIVL sequence was deduced from a venom gland cDNA clone. Structurally, PIVL is built by a single Kunitz/BPTI-like domain. Functionally, it is able to specifically inhibit trypsin activity. Interestingly, PIVL exhibits an anti-tumor effect and displays integrin inhibitory activity without being cytotoxic. Here we show that PIVL is able to dose-dependently inhibit the adhesion, migration and invasion of human glioblastoma U87 cells. Our results also show that PIVL impairs the function of αvβ3 and to a lesser extent, the activity of αvβ6, αvβ5, α1β1 and α5β1 integrins. Interestingly, we demonstrate that the ⁴¹RGN⁴³ motif of PIVL is likely responsible for its anti-cancer effect. By using time lapse videomicroscopy, we found that PIVL significantly reduced U87 cells motility and affected cell directionality persistence by 68%. These findings reveal novel pharmacological effects for a Kunitz-type serine proteinase inhibitor.     

Clonal analysis of adult human olfactory neurosphere forming cells

Olfactory neuroepithelium (ONe) is unique because it contains progenitor cells capable of mitotic division that replace damaged or lost neurons throughout life. We isolated populations of ONe progenitors from adult cadavers and patients undergoing nasal sinus surgery that were heterogeneous and consisted of neuronal and glial progenitors. Progenitor lines have been obtained from these cultures that continue to divide and form nestin positive neurospheres. In the present study, we used clonal and population analyses to probe the self-renewal and multipotency of the neurosphere forming cells (NSFCs). NSFCs plated at the single cell level produced additional neurospheres; dissociation of these spheres resulted in mitotically active cells that continued to divide and produce spheres as long as they were subcultured. The mitotic activity of clonal NSFCs was assessed using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. Lineage restriction of the clonal cultures was determined using a variety of antibodies that were characteristic of different levels of neuronal commitment: β-tubulin isotype III, neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and microtubule associated protein (MAP2), or glial restriction: astrocytes, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); and oligodendrocytes, galactocerebroside (GalC). Furthermore, nestin expression, a marker indicative of progenitor nature, decreased in defined medium compared to serum-containing medium. Therefore, adult human ONe-derived neural progenitors retain their capacity for self-renewal, can be clonally expanded, and offer multipotent lineage restriction. Therefore, they are a unique source of progenitors for future cell replacement strategies in the treatment of neurotrauma and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Kinetic behaviour of free lipase and mica-based immobilized lipase catalyzing the synthesis of sugar esters

The utilization of natural mica as a biocatalyst support in kinetic investigations is first described in this study. The formation of lactose caprate from lactose sugar and capric acid, using free lipase (free-CRL) and lipase immobilized on nanoporous mica (NER-CRL) as a biocatalyst, was evaluated through a kinetic study. The apparent kinetic parameters, K(m) and V(max), were determined by means of the Michaelis-Menten kinetic model. The Ping-Pong Bi-Bi mechanism with single substrate inhibition was adopted as it best explains the experimental findings. The kinetic results show lower K(m) values with NER-CRL than with free-CRL, indicating the higher affinity of NER-CRL towards both substrates at the maximum reaction velocity (V(max,app)>V(max)). The kinetic parameters deduced from this model were used to simulate reaction rate data which were in close agreement with the experimental values.     

Phenolic Profiling,Antioxidant, and Antibacterial Activities of Selected Medicinal Plants from Tunisia

Phytochemical screening of aqueous extract from six medicinal wild plants grown in South-eastern of Tunisia: Atriplex halimus, Teucrium polium, Moricandia arvensis, Deverra tortuoa, Haplophyllum tuberculatum and Polygonum equisetiforme were evaluated. Both decoction and ultrasound assisted extraction were used. Antioxidant, antibacterial proprieties, and phenolic profiling, using LC-ESI-MS method, were assessed. Total polyphenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins contents ranged from 7.47±0.19 to 22.25±0.49 mg GAE/g Dw, 5.47±0.06 to 7.55±0.07 mg RE/g Dw, and 0.33±0.02 to 19.43±0.64 mg TAE/g Dw, respectively. Moreover, the reducing power and DPPH tests showed that P. equisetiforme (EC₅₀: 12.50±0.50 μg/ml; DPPH⋅⁺: 213.49±4.24 mg TEAC/g DW), T. polium (EC₅₀: 25.00±1.00 μg/ml; DPPH⋅⁺: 181.39±9.47 mg TEAC/g DW) as well as H. tuberculatum (EC₅₀: 56.25±0.25 μg/ml; DPPH⋅⁺: 177.83±5.85 mg TEAC/g DW) extracts were the most effective natural antioxidants. For anti-bacterial activity, the ultrasonic extract of H. tuberculatum showed the highest activity against both P. aeruginosa (13.50±0.71 mm) and S. aureus (13.00±0.00 mm) at 10 mg/ml. Furthermore 24 phenolic compounds were identified, with predominance of quinic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, trans-ferulic acid, catechin (+), trans-cinnamic and silymarin. These results were further consolidated by to heatmap clustering with P. equisetiforme, H. tuberculatum, T. polium as the main antioxidant and antibacterial sources which supports their domestication and industrial use.