AIM: This study aimed to investigate the phenolic composition, antioxidant capacity, and toxicity of aqueous extracts of Calamintha nepeta L. leaves and their potential vasorelaxant effects. METHODS: Aqueous extracts of Calamintha nepeta L. were prepared by three extraction methods: decoction, infusion, and maceration. The total phenolic contents of the extracts and their antioxidant properties were investigated. The toxicity was evaluated by Artemia salina lethality bioassay. The decoction extract was analyzed by HPLC for its chemical profile and was also used to evaluate the vasorelaxant effect on thoracic aortic rings isolated from healthy Sprague Dawley rats. Pre-contraction was induced by phenylephrine, followed by cumulative doses of the extract (0.001 up to 250 μg/ml). RESULTS: Aqueous extracts of Calamintha nepeta L. showed noticeable radical scavenging and chelating activities. However, the decoction extract exhibited the most powerful antioxidant capacity. No toxicity was recorded for the extracts obtained by decoction and infusion. Caffeic acid, quercetin, and rosmarinic acid were the main identified compounds. Notably, the aqueous extract obtained by decoction induced significant relaxation in endothelium-intact aortic rings at lower concentrations, and at higher concentrations in denuded aortic rings. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that Calamintha nepeta L. extracted with a decoction method possesses potent antioxidant capacity and has an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect.
- MeSH
- antioxidancia * farmakologie chemie izolace a purifikace MeSH
- aorta thoracica účinky léků MeSH
- Artemia účinky léků MeSH
- fenoly farmakologie izolace a purifikace chemie MeSH
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- listy rostlin chemie MeSH
- potkani Sprague-Dawley * MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- vazodilatancia * farmakologie chemie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- krysa rodu rattus MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
The present study is the first survey on the role of Artemia franciscana Kellogg as intermediate host of helminth parasites in its native geographical range in North America (previous studies have recorded nine cestode and one nematode species from this host in its invasive habitats in the Western Mediterranean). Samples of Artemia franciscana were collected from four sites in the Great Salt Lake (GSL), Utah, across several months (June-September 2009). A. franciscana serves as intermediate host of five helminth species in this lake. Four of them are cestodes: three hymenolepidids, i.e. Confluaria podicipina (Szymanski, 1905) (adults parasitic in grebes), Hymenolepis (sensu lato) californicus Young, 1950 (adults parasitic in gulls), Wardium sp. (definitive host unknown, probably charadriiform birds), and one dilepidid, Fuhrmannolepis averini Spassky et Yurpalova, 1967 (adults parasitic in phalaropes). In addition, an unidentified nematode of the family Acuariidae was recorded. Confluaria podicipina is the most prevalent and abundant parasite at all sampling sites, followed by H. (s. l.) californicus. The species composition of the parasites and the spatial variations in their prevalence and abundance reflect the abundance and distribution of aquatic birds serving as their definitive hosts. The temporal dynamics of the overall helminth infections exhibits the highest prevalence in the last month of study at each site (August or September). This native population of A. franciscana from GSL is characterised with higher prevalence, intensity and abundance of the overall cestode infection compared to the introduced populations of this species in the Palaearctic Region. The values of the infection descriptors in the native population of A. franciscana are slightly lower or in some cases similar to those of the Palaearctic species Artemia parthenogenetica Barigozzi (diploid populations) and Artemia salina (Linnaeus) in their native habitats.
- MeSH
- Artemia * parazitologie MeSH
- Cestoda klasifikace růst a vývoj MeSH
- cizopasní červi * klasifikace růst a vývoj MeSH
- helmintózy zvířat epidemiologie klasifikace MeSH
- hlístice MeSH
- hostitelská specificita MeSH
- larva klasifikace MeSH
- ptáci parazitologie MeSH
- statistika jako téma MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Spojené státy americké MeSH
Eubranchipus grubii (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca) is an omnivorous filter feeder whose life span lasts no more than 12 weeks. Adult males and females of E. grubii were used for ultrastructural studies of the midgut epithelium and an analysis of autophagy. The midgut epithelium is formed by columnar digestive cells and no regenerative cells were observed. A distinct regionalization in the distribution of organelles appears - basal, perinuclear and apical regions were distinguished. No differences in the ultrastructure of digestive cells were observed between males and females. Autophagic disintegration of organelles occurs throughout the midgut epithelium. Degenerated organelles accumulate in the neighborhood of Golgi complexes, and these complexes presumably take part in phagophore and autophagosome formation. In some cases, the phagophore also surrounds small autophagosomes, which had appeared earlier. Fusion of autophagosomes and lysosomes was not observed, but lysosomes are enclosed during autophagosome formation. Autophagosomes and autolysosomes are discharged into the midgut lumen due to apocrine secretion. Autophagy plays a role in cell survival by protecting the cell from cell death.
- MeSH
- Anostraca fyziologie ultrastruktura MeSH
- autofagie MeSH
- epitel patofyziologie ultrastruktura MeSH
- fagozomy ultrastruktura MeSH
- gastrointestinální trakt fyziologie ultrastruktura MeSH
- transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Česká republika MeSH
Heterocytous cyanobacteria from various habitats were screened for toxicity to brine shrimp Artemia salina and the murine lymphoblastic cell line Sp/2 in order to compare these two testing models for evaluation of risk posed by cyanobacteria to human health. Methanol extracts of biomass and cultivation media were tested for toxicity and selected extracts were fractionated to determine the active fraction. We found a significant toxic effect to A. salina and to Sp/2 cells in 5.2% and 31% of studied extracts, respectively. Only 8.6% of the tested strains were highly toxic to both A. salina and the Sp/2 cell line, and only two of the tested strains were toxic to A. salina and not to the murine cell line. Therefore, it is likely that the toxic effect of cyanobacterial secondary metabolites mostly targets basal metabolic pathways present in mammal cells and so is not manifested in A. salina. We conclude that it is insufficient to monitor cytotoxicity of cyanobacteria using only the brine shrimp bioassay as was usual in the past, since cytotoxicity is a more frequent feature in cyanobacteria in comparison with toxicity to A. salina. A. salina toxicity test should not be used when estimating the possible health risk for humans. We suggest that in vitro mammal cells be used for these purposes.
- MeSH
- Artemia účinky léků MeSH
- bakteriální toxiny toxicita MeSH
- buněčné linie MeSH
- dlouhověkost účinky léků MeSH
- hodnocení rizik metody MeSH
- larva účinky léků růst a vývoj MeSH
- lymfocyty účinky léků metabolismus MeSH
- mikrocystiny toxicita MeSH
- mořské toxiny toxicita MeSH
- myši MeSH
- reprodukovatelnost výsledků MeSH
- sinice chemie metabolismus MeSH
- testy toxicity MeSH
- viabilita buněk účinky léků MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- srovnávací studie MeSH
Use of the crustacean Artemia franciscana for alternative biotests of the second generation was studied, and possible experimental design and applications of such tests outlined. In addition to the classical use in ecotoxicology, the test can be used in pharmacology as well, or to monitor the effects of ionizing radiation in co-exposure with some chemical compounds. The synergistic effect of co-exposure of PCB (DELOR 103), cadmium chloride and potassium dichromate with beta 89Sr irradiation was shown. We also demonstrated the anti-oxidative and pro-oxidative effects of the ascorbic acid in dependence on its concentration. Use of the pharmaco-toxicological screening in search for the novel inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases was demonstrated as well, showing that Artemia franciscana may be used as a suitable biosensor instead of the expensive tests on higher vertebrates.
- Klíčová slova
- DELOR 103, letalita, synergický efekt, biotesty,
- MeSH
- Artemia * MeSH
- chlorid kademnatý toxicita MeSH
- dvojchroman draselný toxicita MeSH
- inhibiční proteiny cyklin-dependentních kinas toxicita MeSH
- ionizující záření MeSH
- kyselina askorbová aplikace a dávkování farmakologie MeSH
- peroxid vodíku MeSH
- radioizotopy stroncia toxicita MeSH
- testy toxicity * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The thiophene polyacetylene (E)-1-[5-(hept-5-en-1,3-diynyl)-2-thienyl]ethan-1,2-diol, isolated from the roots of Leuzea carthamoides, showed phototoxic activity in the assay systems of histidine photo-oxidation, Artemia and Tubifex assays. The effects were compared with the standard photosensitizer xanthotoxin.
- MeSH
- Artemia účinky léků MeSH
- ethanol analogy a deriváty chemie izolace a purifikace MeSH
- financování organizované MeSH
- fotosenzibilizující látky toxicita MeSH
- histidin metabolismus MeSH
- kořeny rostlin chemie MeSH
- LD50 MeSH
- Leuzea chemie toxicita MeSH
- methoxsalen chemie MeSH
- Oligochaeta účinky léků MeSH
- oxidace-redukce účinky léků MeSH
- rostlinné extrakty chemie toxicita MeSH
- thiofeny chemie izolace a purifikace toxicita MeSH
- ultrafialové záření MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- srovnávací studie MeSH
Cyklin-dependentní kinázy hrají nezbytnou roli v kontrole buněčného cyklu. Inhibitory cyklin-dependentních kináz (CDK) přímo ovlivňují dělení buňky a jeví se jako nadějná cytostatika. V práci je uvedeno porovnání toxicity nově syntetizovaných inhibitorů vůči toxicitě již delší dobou známého „olomoucinu“, jenž byl testován in vitro. Jako screeningová metoda byl použit biotest II. generace na Artemia salina. V pokusech byla použita voda o salinitě 0,9 % a pro každou testovanou látku se použito 50 ks naupliových stadií A. salina. S toxicitou olomoucinu byly porovnávány čtyři nově syntetizované deriváty purinu s inhibičními účinky na CDK. Jelikož se jedná o substance velmi těžce rozpustné či prakticky nerozpustné ve vodě, osvědčil se v našich pokusech jako látka zprostředkující rozpouštění (kosolvent) dimethylsulfoxid. Každých 24 hodin po dobu 5 dnů byla sledována letalita. Mezi toxicitami sledovaných látek byly nalezeny statisticky průkazné rozdíly.
The cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play a significant role in the control of the cell cycle. The inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinases directly affect cell division and seem to be promising cytostatics. This paper presents a comparison of the toxicity of newly synthesized inhibitors and that of the long-time known olomoucine which was tested in vitro. The second generation Artemia salina biotest was used as a screening method. In the experiments, water with 0.9 percent salinity was applied and 50 pieces of A. salina nauplii stages were used. Four newly prepared purine derivatives with the inhibitory effect on CDKs were compared to the toxicity of olomoucine. As these substances are hardly soluble or practically insoluble in water, dimethyl sulfoxide proved successful as a cosolvent in our experiments. Lethality was monitored at 24–hour intervals for 5 days. Evident differences were found in the toxicities of the substances observed.
- MeSH
- Artemia růst a vývoj účinky léků MeSH
- buněčný cyklus fyziologie účinky léků MeSH
- cyklin-dependentní kinasy antagonisté a inhibitory aplikace a dávkování toxicita MeSH
- larva růst a vývoj účinky léků MeSH
- mortalita MeSH
- puriny chemická syntéza chemie toxicita MeSH
- soli aplikace a dávkování chemie MeSH
- testy toxicity metody statistika a číselné údaje MeSH
- voda chemie MeSH
- MeSH
- analýza přežití MeSH
- Artemia fyziologie MeSH
- biochemické jevy MeSH
- biofyzika MeSH
- ultrazvuk klasifikace škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Publikační typ
- srovnávací studie MeSH
- MeSH
- angiografie MeSH
- Artemia MeSH
- dolní končetina krevní zásobení MeSH
- Publikační typ
- přehledy MeSH
