Phytochemical potential of Daphne gnidium in inhibiting growth of melanoma cells and enhancing melanogenesis of B16-F0 melanoma

In this study, we have investigated inhibitory capacity of ethyl acetate, total oligomer flavonoid (TOF), aqueous extracts and beta amyrin acetate, a triterpene isolated from ethyl acetate extract obtained from leaves of Daphne gnidium, on mouse melanoma (B16-F0 and B16-F10 cells) proliferation. Influence of these products on percentage cell distribution in cycle phases and melanogenesis was also studied. Cell viability was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay, and flow cytometry was used to analyse effects of tested compounds on progression through the cell cycle. In addition, amounts of melanin and tyrosinase were measured spectrophotometrically at 475 nm. Ethyl acetate, TOF and aqueous extracts exhibited significant anti-proliferative activity after incubation with the two types of tumour skin cells B16-F0 and B16-F10. Furthermore, cell cycle analysis revealed that cells treated with ethyl acetate and TOF extracts were arrested predominantly in G2-M phase. Ethyl acetate extract has also the ability to enhance melanogenesis and tyrosinase activity of B16-F0 melanoma cells. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Morphological variation of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces from hydatid cysts of human and various domestic animals in Jordan

, and 1988. Morphological variation of Echinococcus granulosus protoscoleces from hydatid cysts of human and various domestic animals in Jordan. International Journal for Parasitology 18: 1111–1114. Rostellar hook morphology of protoscoleces was employed to study the possible existence of Echinococcus granulosus strains in humans and various domestic animals in Jordan. A distinct form in the donkey was evident as the protoscoleces from this host did not share any characteristics with those from the other hosts examined. Sheep, goats and cattle appeared to be affected by another form since the protoscoleces from their hydatid cysts shared six out of nine characteristics studied. Protoscoleces of camel and human cysts shared seven out of nine characteristics studied and they were different in six characteristics from protoscoleces from other hosts. Differences observed among the three forms may reflect strain variation of E. granulosus in this country.     

Roots volatiles and fatty acids of coriander (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Coriandrum sativum</Emphasis> L.) grown in saline medium

An hydroponic culture was conducted to investigate the effect of saline stress on the essential oil and fatty acid composition of Tunisian coriander (Coriandrum sativum L.) roots. Ten days old coriander seedlings were treated during 3 weeks with different NaCl concentrations (0, 25, 50 and 75 mM). Roots volatile components and fatty acids were analyzed. The essential oil yield was 0.06% in the control, on the basis of dry matter weight, and did not changed at low concentration (25 mM), while it increased significantly with increasing NaCl concentrations to reach 0.12 and 0.21% at 50 and 75 mM NaCl, respectively. The major volatile component was (E)-2-dodecenal with 52% of total essential oil constituents, followed by decanal, dodecanal, (E)-2-tridecenal and (E)-2-dodecenal. Further, the amount of these compounds was affected differently by the NaCl level. Total fatty acid amount of coriander roots increased significantly only with 50 and 75 mM NaCl. Three major fatty acids: linoleic (43%), oleic (25.5%) and palmitic (21.6%) were identified. Linoleic acid amount remains unchanged at 25 mM, while it increased with raising NaCl concentrations. However, oleic acid amount decreased only at 25 mM and no effect was observed at 50 and 75 mM. Fatty acid percentages were differently affected by salt. The oleic/linoleic ratio was reduced with raising NaCl concentrations.     

Developing the Bias Blind Spot: Increasing Skepticism towards Others

Two experiments with eighty-eight 7- to 10-year-olds examined the bias blind spot in children. Both younger and older children rated themselves as less likely than a specific other (Experiment 1) or an average child (Experiment 2) to commit various biases. These self-other differences were also more extreme for biased behaviors than for other behaviors. At times, older children demonstrated stronger self-other differences than younger children, which seemed primarily driven by older children’s judgments about bias in others. These findings suggest that, although the bias blind spot exists as soon as children recognize other-committed biases, what changes over development is how skeptical children are towards others.     

Antimutagenic and Antioxidant Potentials of Teucrium ramosissimum Essential Oil

The mutagenic and antimutagenic effects of the essential oil extracted from the aerial parts of Teucrium ramosissimum were evaluated by the bacterial reverse mutation assay in Salmonella typhimurium TA98, TA100, and TA1535, with and without exogenous metabolic activation (S9 fraction). The T. ramosissimum essential oil showed no mutagenic effect. In contrast, our results established that it possessed antimutagenic effects against sodium azide (SA), aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), and 4‐nitro‐o‐phenylenediamine (NOPD). The antioxidant capacity of the tested essential oil was evaluated using enzymatic, i.e., the xanthine/xanthine oxidase (X/XOD) assay, and nonenzymatic systems, i.e., the nitro‐blue tetrazolium (NBT)/riboflavin and the DPPH assays. A moderate free radical‐scavenging activity was observed towards DPPH^. and O$\rm{{_{2}^{{^\cdot} -}}}$ . In contrast, T. ramosissimum essential oil showed no effect for all the tested concentrations in the X/XOD assay.     

Variation in volatiles of Astragalus gombiformis Pomel

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation (Clevenger apparatus) from aerial parts of Astragalus gombiformis were analysed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). This study showed that the A. gombiformis essential oils are complex mixtures of important natural compounds, which varied qualitatively and quantitatively between cultivated and wild plants and between phenological stages of development. All analysed oils are characterized by the constant presence of phytol, 6,10,14-trimethyl-2-pentadecanone, 4-terpineol, and gamma-terpinene. This study is the first report on the chemical composition of essential oils from A. gombiformis and indicates that these oils should be more studied.     

Germination responses of Diplotaxis harra to temperature and salinity

Diplotaxis harra (Forssk.) Boiss, an annual herb in the family of Brassicaceae, is widely distributed in many sandy and gypseous areas in southern Tunisia. Laboratory experiments were carried out to assess the effects of temperature and salinity on seed germination and recovery responses after seed transfer to distilled water. The germination responses of the seeds in complete darkness were determined over a wide range of temperatures (5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 °C) and salinities (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 mM NaCl). Germination was inhibited by either an increase or decrease in temperature from the optimal temperature (15 °C). Highest germination percentages were obtained under non-saline conditions and an increase in NaCl concentrations progressively inhibited seed germination. Rate of germination decreased with an increase in salinity at all temperatures but comparatively higher rates were obtained at 15 °C. Salt stress decreased both the percentage and the rate of germination. An interaction between salinity and temperature yielded no germination at 200 mM NaCl. Seeds were transferred from salt solution to distilled water after 20 days, and those from low salinities recovered at all temperatures. At NaCl concentration of 200 mM, the recovery of germination was completely inhibited.     

Phylogenetic affiliation of the desert truffles <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picoa juniperi</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picoa lefebvrei</Emphasis>

The molecular phylogeny and comparative morphological studies reported here provide evidence for the recognition of the genus Picoa, an hypogeous desert truffle, in the family Pyronemataceae (Ascomycota, Pezizales). Picoa juniperi and Picoa lefebvrei were reassigned to the genus Picoa based on large subunit (LSU) sequence (28S) rDNA and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA (including the partial 18S, ITS1, ITS2, 5.8S gene, and partial 28S of the nuclear rDNA) data. Morphological studies of spores, asci, perida, and gleba revealed high similarities between P. lefebvrei and P. juniperi, thereby confirming the membership of both species in the genus Picoa. These two species were primarily distinguishable based on ascospore ornamentation.     

Inhibition of proinflammatory macrophage responses and lymphocyte proliferation in vitro by ethyl acetate leaf extract from Daphne gnidium

Medicinal plants are considered immunomodulatory as they display various biological activities. There is no report addressing the anti-inflammatory effects of Daphne gnidium. In this study, we investigated the effects of D. gnidium ethyl acetate (EA) leaf extract on mice immune cell function in vitro. Production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2-derived prostaglandinE2 (PGE2) and iNOS-II-synthesised nitric oxide (NO) were examined. EA extract effect on mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was also investigated. We reported for the first time that D. gnidium EA leaf extract dose-dependently inhibits macrophage proinflammatory function by reducing LPS-induced production of IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2-derived PGE2 and iNOS-II-synthesised NO. Mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was also dose-dependently inhibited by the extract. Lectin-induced response appears to be more sensitive to the suppressive effects of the extract than LPS-stimulated response. Collectively, these results demonstrate that D. gnidium EA leaf extract acts as an in vitro anti-inflammatory factor by inhibiting mice macrophage and lymphocyte activities.