Essential oils of Salvia bracteata and Salvia rubifolia from Lebanon: Chemical composition,antimicrobial activity and inhibitory effect on human melanoma cells

Aim of the study

Salvia bracteata Banks et Sol. and Salvia rubifolia Boiss. are known in folk medicine of Lebanon for the treatment of microbial infections, cancer, urinary and pulmonary problems. In the present study the chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from aerial parts of Salvia bracteata and Salvia rubifolia collected in Lebanon were evaluated. The oils were also tested for their potential antiproliferative effects against M14 human melanoma cells.

Material and methods

The oils were studied by GC and GC–MS and their antibacterial activity (MIC and MBC) was tested against ten bacteria species using the broth dilution method. The inhibitory effect on human melanoma cells (measurement of cell vitality, cell membrane integrity and genomic DNA fragmentation) was studied using MTT assay, calculation of LDH release and COMET assay.

Results

The oils showed a good antibacterial activity (MIC = 50 μg/ml) against Gram+ bacteria. They besides exhibited an inhibitory effect on the human cancer cells examined inducing also apoptotic cell death, but the oil of Salvia rubifolia was significantly (p < 0.001) more active as compared to the oil of Salvia bracteata.

Conclusion

The results on the pharmacological activities of these Salvia species provide an in vitro scientific support for the use of these plants in traditional herbal preparations.     

Expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat astrocyte cultures treated with Levetiracetam

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of Levetiracetam, a new antiepileptic drug, on the synthesis of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in rat cortical astrocyte cultures. The astrocytes were treated for 48 h with different concentrations of Levetiracetam and the expression of BDNF and iNOS was analyzed by immunostaining and immunoblotting analyses. We observed that Levetiracetam is able to stimulate expression of both BDNF and iNOS in a concentration-dependent manner on rat cortical astrocyte cultures. For the BDNF, this effect appears at very low concentrations (1 and 10 microgram/ml), while expression of iNOS appears only at higher dosages (50 microgram/ml). We conclude that Levetiracetam might exert neuroprotective effects, at least in part, via stimulation of neurotrophic factors, thus reducing the extent of inflammation and neuronal death under pathological conditions such as epilepsy.     

Assessment of environmental stress in Parablennius sanguinolentus (Pallas, 1814) of the Sicilian Ionian coast

The blenny Parablennius sanguinolentus was selected as a useful bioindicator of environmental pollution. Chemical parameters in water and sediments from three different sampling sites along the Sicilian Ionian coast were determined and metal concentrations in fish muscle were measured. DNA fragmentation and oxidation in erythrocytes and hepatocytes was determined by the Comet assay and HSP70 expression levels were evaluated in the liver. The results show an increased level of chromium in sediments and high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in water at one site. The bioaccumulation of metals in muscle tissue shows high concentrations of lead in some samples. A high percentage of DNA damage in blood and liver cells, as well as high hepatic levels of HSP70, were found in all the sites. The results demonstrate the usefulness of an integrated chemical and biological approach for the determination of environmental stress.     

Fluoro-edenite fibers induce expression of Hsp70 and inflammatory response

Many asbestos-like mineral fibers have been detected in the air of mountainous and volcanic areas of Italy and other parts of the world. These fibers have been suspected to be the cause of increased incidences of lung cancer and other lung diseases in these areas. However, the mechanisms of the cellular response and defense following exposure to these microscopic fibers have not been characterized. We continue to study these mechanisms to be able to propose preventive strategies in large populations. The objective of the present study was to determine comparatively biological responses of mesothelial Met-5A and monocyte-macrophage J774 cells following exposure to two types of fluoro-edenite fibers having low and high iron content (labeled 19 and 27, respectively) obtained from Biancavilla (Sicily, Italy). The reference fiber was a non-iron fibrous tremolite from Val di Susa (Piemonte, Italy). The cells were treated with 5, 50, and 100 mug of fibrous matter per 1 ml for 72 hr. We identified several key mechanisms by which cells responded and counteracted the injury induced by these fibers. The fibers caused induction of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), stimulated formation of reactive oxygen species (detected by using DCFH-DA as a fluorescent probe) and NO* (measured as nitrite). Exposure of cells to the fibers induced lactate dehydrogenase activity and decreased viability. The fluoro-endenite type 27 was the most potent fiber tested, which indicated that iron and possibly manganese contribute significantly to this fiber toxicity. The J774 cells were more sensitive to fluoro-edenite than Met-5A cells suggesting that the primary site of the fiber-induced inflammatory response could be the macrophage rather than the pulmonary epithelium. Fluoro-edenite produces more biological alterations with respect to non-iron tremolite. Hsp70 and free radicals could be important factors in the context of mineral fiber-induced acute lung injury leading possibly to mutagenic effects. We anticipate that pharmacological blockade of the fiber-dependent cellular responses could in long term offer preventive approach to combat lung diseases induced by these fibers.     

Attenuation of perseverative behavior after repeated amphetamine treatment: Tolerance or attentional deficits?

When permitted to explore an 8-arm radial maze, animals exhibited a systematic pattern of exploration characterized by preference for the most novel arms (spontaneous alternation) and entry into immediately adjacent arms (adjacent alternation). Acute treatment with moderate dosages of amphetamine reduced the proportion of both types of alternation responses and induced marked stimulus perseveration, i.e., consecutive entries between pairs of arms. Prior exposure to the apparatus enhanced the degree of perseveration ordinarily observed, and provoked perseveration after low doses of the drug. In contrast to acute drug treatment, perseveration was reduced after chronic amphetamine administration. However, chronic amphetamine treatment did not appear simply to reduce the potency of the drug. In contrast to the effects of apparatus pre-exposure on the degree of perseveration induced by acute amphetamine treatment, the degree of perseveration was not enhanced by pre-exposure to the maze in mice with a history of chronic amphetamine administration. Moreover, the exploratory pattern evident in chronically treated animals differed from that of control animals even when tested in the nondrug state. That is, animals chronically treated with amphetamine and tested with saline exhibited alternation scores which did not deviate from chance. These data suggest that chronic amphetamine treatment alters the way in which organisms attend, or respond, to environmental stimuli.     

Role of sooty mold fungi in accumulation of fine-particle-associated PAHs and metals on deciduous leaves

The focus of this research was on elucidation of the role of deciduous tree ecosystems in accumulation of fine-particle-associated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals on leaves of deciduous trees. The studied species were Tilia x euchlora (frequently infested by sooty mold fungi) and Pyrus calleryana (unaffected by sooty mold fungi). The selected species have similar leaf morphology and were exposed to identical environmental conditions. Intra-species comparison showed that moldy linden leaves accumulate significantly higher amounts of PAHs and metals than unaffected linden leaves. Inter-species comparison revealed that in the absence of sooty mold fungi, physico-chemical properties of epicuticular waxes, rather than the amounts of waxes, might play an important role in accumulation of particulate matter on leaves. The accumulation and/or degradation of a number of high-molecular-weight (HMW) PAHs on leaves was temperature dependent. The results show that the presence of sooty mold fungi on deciduous leaves alters either the accumulation modes and/or degradation pathways of PAHs on deciduous leaves.     

The importance of echocardiographic evaluation of pericardial effusion associated with mitral valve pseudoprolapse in patients with chronic renal failure

To evaluate the clinical course of pericarditis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), we studied echocardiography in 64 CKD patients and subdivided them into four groups according to their CKD condition and presence of effusion: 14 (22%) patients with pericardial effusion that formed during conservative treatment of CKD patients, 12 (19%) patients who developed the effusion while on regular hemodialysis, 31 (48%) CKD patients without pericardial effusion, and seven (11%) CKD patients with minimal effusion. In addition, the patients were then re- subdivided according to the amount of pericardial effusion into those with small amount, up to 1 cm echo- free space (EFS) (17 (27%) patients); with medium size pericardial effusion (9 (14%) patients); with large amount of pericardial effusion, above 2 cm (four (6%) patients); and with thickened pericardium (4 (6%) patients), three (5%) of whom were without pericardial effusion and one (2%) was with minimal effusion. Nine (15%) patients revealed signs of mitral valve prolapse. The presence of EFS between the posterior epicardium and pericardium during the entire cardiac cycle was found in 31 (48%) patients. We conclude that the presence of a positive EFS without other clinical symptoms does not confirm with certainty the presence of pericarditis in CKD patients.     

Giant left atrial myxoma in an elderly patient: natural history over a 7-year period

We present the case of a 71-year-old woman with a 7-year history of a giant left atrial myxoma. The myxoma was attached to the atrial septum and occupied almost the entire left atrial cavity. The patient was hospitalized 4 times because of dyspnea on exertion, palpitations, fatigue, general asthenia, and weight loss. During prior hospitalizations, the patient had refused cardiac surgery. She developed several complications, including atrial fibrillation, mitral and tricuspid regurgitation, mesenteric embolism, pulmonary edema, and thrombotic stroke. We herein describe the natural history of left atrial myxoma in an elderly patient over a 7-year period.