Browsing by Author "Alberício, Fernando"
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- Antioxidant activity and in vitro inhibition of tumor cell growth by leaf extracts from the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua)Publication . Custódio, Luísa; Fernandes, Eliana; Escapa, Ana Luísa; López-Avilés, Sandra; Fajardo, Alba; Aligué, Rosa; Alberício, Fernando; Romano, AnabelaThe methanol leaf extracts of female cultivars of the carob tree [Ceratonia siliqua L. (Fabaceae)] and of hermaphrodite and male trees were investigated for their contents of phenolic compounds, their in vitro antioxidant activity, measured by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging and linoleic acid system assays, and their in vitro tumor growth inhibition on HeLa cells. The different cultivars and trees showed high levels of phenols, and considerable variations in the amount of these compounds. The extracts showed significant radical scavenging activity (RSA), which was not significantly affected by the gender of the tree. From the female cultivars tested, Galhosa exhibited the highest RSA. Gender significantly affected the antioxidant activity of the extracts measured by the linoleic acid system assay, and males and hermaphrodites showed the highest activities. The extracts displayed a remarkable ability to inhibit tumor cell proliferation, and their bioactivity varied with different cultivars or trees tested. Extracts from male and hermaphrodite trees exhibited higher capacity to inhibit the proliferation of HeLa cells than the female cultivars.
- Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of carob tree fruit pulps are strongly influenced by Gender and cultivarPublication . Custódio, Luísa; Fernandes, Eliana; Escapa, Ana Luísa; Fajardo, Alba; Aligué, Rosa; Alberício, Fernando; Neng, Nuno Rosa; Nogueira, José Manuel F.; Romano, AnabelaExtracts from fruit pulps of six female cultivars and two hermaphrodite Portuguese carob trees [(Ceratonia siliqua L., Fabaceae)] exhibited strong antioxidant activity and were rich in phenolic compounds. The extracts decreased the viability of different human cancer cell lines on a dose- and time-dependent manner. Gender and cultivar significantly influenced the chemical content and the biological activities of the extracts. Extracts from hermaphrodite trees had a higher content of phenolic compounds, and exhibited higher antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. Among. females, cv. Aida had the highest radical scavenging activity and total content of phenolics, Mulata the highest capacity to inhibit lipid oxidation and Gasparinha the strongest cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells. The decrease in cell viability was associated with apoptosis on HeLa and MDA-MB-231 lines. (+)-Catechin and gallic acid (GA) were the main compounds identified in the extracts, and GA contributed to the antioxidant activity. Our results show that the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of carob tree fruit pulps are strongly influenced by gender and cultivar, and provide new knowledge about the advantages of hermaphrodite trees over female cultivars, namely, as a source of compounds with biological interest, which may represent an increase of their agronomic interest.
- Antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic activity of Drosophyllum lusitanicum extractsPublication . Gonçalves, Sandra; Xavier, Celine; Costa, Patrícia; Alberício, Fernando; Romano, AnabelaThis study was designed to determine the antioxidant, anti-proliferative, cytotoxic and apoptogenic properties of aqueous, methanol and hexane extracts from Drosophyllum lusitanicum leaves. Assays showed that the methanol extract had the highest antioxidant activity (F-C: 1188.06 ± 52.96 μmolGAE/mgextract; TEAC: 432.23 ± 6.71 μmolTE/mgextract; ORAC: 764.18 ± 61.18 μmolTE/mgextract)and the hexane extract had the lowest (F-C: 20.16 ± 1.62 μmolGAE/mgextract; TEAC: 20.94 ± 1.73 μmolTE/mgextract; ORAC: 50.66 ± 0.91 μmolTE/mgextract). The effect of plant extracts on HeLa cells proliferation and viability was evaluated by the crystal violet and WST-1 assays, respectively and apoptotic cells were determined using PI staining of DNA fragmentation by flow cytometry (sub-G1 peak). It was observed that the methanol extract inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis on human cervical adenocarcinoma HeLa cells. Moreover, results indicated that the D. lusitanicum hexane extract exhibited cytotoxic effects on HeLa cells via apoptosis and also arrested cell cycle progression in G2/M phase. As damaging events are frequently correlated with oxidative stress, the prevalence of both antioxidant and anti-proliferative properties in the same plant species could be beneficial in terms of rational, preventive or therapeutic purposes. Thus D. lusitanicum may be a potential candidate in the field of anticancer drug discovery.
- Extracts from Quercus sp acorns exhibit in vitro neuroprotective features through inhibition of cholinesterase and protection of the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y from hydrogen peroxide-induced cytotoxicityPublication . Custódio, Luísa; Patarra, João; Alberício, Fernando; Neng, Nuno Rosa; Nogueira, José Manuel F.; Romano, AnabelaIn this work non polar (hexane) and polar (methanol and hot water) extracts of cork oak (Quercus suber) and holm oak (Quercus ilex) acorns were evaluated for the first time for in vitro neuroprotective properties, by determining their in vitro inhibitory activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and their capacity to attenuate hydrogen peroxide-induced injury in the human dopaminergic cell line SH-SY5Y. Total content of phenolics, tannins and flavonoids, HPLC profile of the main phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity were also determined. The methanol extracts showed inhibitory activities against AChE and BChE. The best results toward AChE were obtained with cork oak extract (69.4% inhibition at the concentration of 1 mg/ml), while for BChE the highest inhibition (46% inhibition at the concentration of I mg/ml) was obtained with holm oak. Moreover, methanol extracts were able to prevent oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity in SH-S5SY cells. The methanol extract of holm oak exhibited the highest RSA, with values of 63.8% and 49.7% on DPPH and ABTS radicals at the concentration of 1 mg/ml, respectively. In general the extracts exhibited no reducing potential. The methanol extract from cork oak acorns had the highest content in phenolic compounds (25.2 mg GAE/g, DW), while the water extracts had the maximum level of flavonoids (1.7 mg RE/g, DW). Tannins were present in higher amounts in the water extract of holm oak (91.6 CE/g, DW). The main compounds in the methanol extract from holm oak acorns were (-)-epicatechin and catechol, while gallic acid and (+)-catechin were the main constituents of the methanol extract from cork oak acorns. Our results indicate that cork and holm oak acorns provide a valuable source of biomolecules useful for alleviating symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative ailments. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
- In vitro cytotoxic effects and apoptosis induction by a methanol leaf extract of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.)Publication . Custódio, Luísa; Escapa, Ana Luísa; Fernandes, Eliana; Fajardo, Alba; Aligué, Rosa; Alberício, Fernando; Neng, Nuno Rosa; Nogueira, José Manuel F.; Romano, AnabelaThis research evaluated the in vitro apoptotic inducing properties of a methanol leaf extract of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) on a human cervical adenocarcinoma cell line (HeLa). The cell viability effect on a prostate (DU-145), breast (MDA-MB-231) and colon cell line (HCT-166) was also assessed. The effect of the extract on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by HeLa cells was studied, and a phytochemical evaluation was made by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection (HPLC). Total mean yield of identified phenols was 261.1 mg/g DW, and (+)-catechin was the major compound (76.8 mg/g DW). The extract decreased cell viability in a dose-and time-dependent manner, and a more pronounced effect on HeLa line was observed. In vitro cytotoxic activity was associated with apoptosis, but not to the increase of ROS production. Among the tested compounds identified in the extract, the highest activity was detected with gallic acid (GA), (+)-catechin and quercetin, with reductions in HeLa cells viability down to 8.0, 11.9 and 27.1%, respectively. This is the first report on the apoptotic activity of a leaf extract of carob tree on a human cancer cell line, suggesting that it may be a potential source of chemopreventive compounds.
- Report of in vitro antileishmanial properties of Iberian macroalgaePublication . Bruno De Sousa, Carolina; Lago, João Henrique G.; Macridachis, Jorge; Oliveira, Marta; Brito, Luis; Vizetto-Duarte, C; Florindo, Claudia; Hendrickx, Sarah; Maes, Louis; Morais, Thiago; Uemi, Miriam; Neto, Luís; Dionísio, Lídia; Cortes, Sofia; Barreira, Luísa; Custódio, Luísa; Alberício, Fernando; Campino, Lenea; Varela, JoãoHere is reported the anti Leishmania infantum activity of 48 hexane, CH2Cl2 and MeOH extracts from 16 macroalgae collected on the Iberian Coast. Seven hexane and CH2Cl2Cystoseira baccata, Cystoseira barbata, Cystoseira tamariscifolia, Cystoseira usneoides, Dictyota spiralis and Plocamium cartilagineum extracts were active towards promastigotes (IC50 29.8-101.8 μg/mL) inducing strong morphological alterations in the parasites. Hexane extracts of C. baccata and C. barbata were also active against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 5.1 and 6.8 μg/mL, respectively). Fatty acids, triacylglycerols, carotenoids, steroids and meroterpenoids were detected by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and gas chromatography in the Cystoseira extracts. These results suggest that Cystoseira macroalgae contain compounds with antileishmanial activity, which could be explored as scaffolds to the development of novel sources of antiparasitic derivatives.
- Sapwood of carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) as a potential source of bioactive compoundsPublication . Custódio, Luísa; Escapa, Ana Luísa; Patarra, João; Aligué, Rosa; Alberício, Fernando; Neng, Nuno Rosa; Nogueira, José Manuel F.; Romano, AnabelaMethanol (ME) and hot water extracts (WE) of carob tree sapwood (Ceratonia siliqua L.) exhibited high antioxidant activity and were rich in phenolic compounds, with the main compounds identified by HPLC/DAD as gentisic acid and (-)-epicatechin. The ME displayed a high in vitro antitumor activity against human tumoural cell lines and reduced intracellular ROS production by HeLa cells after treatment with H2O2. (-)-Epicatechin was shown to contribute to the cytotoxic activity of the ME. This is the first report on the biological activity of carob tree sapwood.