Publications by authors named "Ana J Araujo"

Hydroxyurea (HU) exerts unique and diverse biological effects as an anti-leukemic agent, irradiation sensitizer, and HbS inducer in patients with sickle cell anemia. Herein, we assessed the potential toxicogenic and/or oxidant effects of hydroxyurea associated with ascorbic acid by examinations in and human cancer cells and systemically on mice tissues. Growing roots and HCT-116 colorectal tumor cells were examined after HU and HU plus ascorbic acid exposure.

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Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide and is considered a major public health problem. Despite the significant advances in cancer research, the conventional cancer treatment approaches often lead to serious side effects that affect the quality of life of cancer patients. Thus, searching for new alternatives for cancer treatment is crucial to minimize these problems.

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  • Withanolides, steroidal lactones from the Solanaceae family, have significant medicinal properties, and this study focuses on isolating and characterizing three specific withanolides, including newly identified compounds.
  • The researchers used techniques like NMR and X-ray diffraction to determine the structures of these withanolides and tested their effects on cell proliferation and migration.
  • Notably, 18--methyl-withaphysalin F showed significant cytotoxic effects on MDA-MB-231 cancer cells, indicating potential for new cancer treatments through further molecular modifications.
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In this study, we report the synthesis and characterization of pH-responsive nanoconjugates for targeted drug delivery. Galactomannan extracted from D. regia seeds was oxidized to form aldehyde groups, achieving a percentage of oxidation of 25.

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The understanding of cancer immunity and antitumor factors generated by natural polysaccharides is not yet fully comprehended. Polysaccharides, like cashew gum (CG), can exhibit immunomodulatory action and may assist in the antitumor process and side effects relieve. This study aimed to determine the antitumor effect of CG alone or in combination with cyclophosphamide (CTX), and its interactions with immune cells, in a murine melanoma model, using the B16-F10 cell line.

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Wounds represent a growing global issue demanding increased attention. To expedite wound healing, technologies are under development, and light emitting diode (LED) devices of varying wavelengths are being explored for their stimulating influence on the healing process. This article presents a systematic literature review aiming to compile, organize, and analyze the impacts of LED devices on wound healing.

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In the present study, the effect of sulfonamide-chalcone 185 (SSC185) was investigated against B16-F10 metastatic melanoma cells aggressive actions, besides migration and adhesion processes, by in silico and in vitro assays. In silico studies were used to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile and possible targets of SSC185, using the pkCSM web server, and docking simulations with AutoDock Tools. Furthermore, the antimetastatic effect of SSC185 was investigated by in vitro experiments using MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-Diphenyltetrazolium Bromide), colony, scratch, and cell adhesion assays, and atomic force microscopy (AFM).

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Hydrogels made with depolymerized guar gum, oxidized with theoretical oxidation degrees of 20, 35 and 50 %, were obtained via Schiff's base reaction with N-succinyl chitosan. The materials obtained were subjected to characterization by FT-IR, rheology, swelling, degradation, and morphology. Additionally, their gelation time categorized all three hydrogels as injectable.

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Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the antibacterial and antibiofilm potential of cordiaquinones B, E, L, N, and O against different Staphylococci strains, in addition to analyzing in silico the observed effect.

Methods And Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined according to CLSI guidelines. The inhibition of biofilm formation was investigated at sub-MICs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Tree-exuded gums, particularly cashew gum from Anacardium trees in Brazil, are valuable natural polymers used in food and pharmaceuticals, known for their useful properties like hydro-solubility.
  • Researchers aimed to enhance the properties of cashew gum by chemically modifying it through an amine reaction, which was verified using various analytical techniques, including NMR and infrared spectroscopy.
  • The modification improved the gum's molar mass and thermal stability without inducing cytotoxic effects on macrophage cells at concentrations lower than 50.0 mg/L.
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Background: New chalcones have been developed from the insertion of organic groups, among them sulfonamides, presenting varied biological activity.

Objective: The aim of this work was to determine the antitumor potential of a new synthetic sulfonamide chalcone (SSC185) against a colorectal metastatic lymph node-derived colorectal cancer cell line (SW-620).

Methods: Synthesis and characterization, including crystallography, of SSC185 were performed.

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Stimulus-responsive nanoparticles stand out in studies for cancer treatment since these systems can promote a selective release of the drug in tumor tissues and cells, minimizing the effects caused by conventional chemotherapy. Dextran-graft-poly (N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers were synthesized via Schiff base formation. The synthesis of copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and the analyses of dynamic light scattering (DLS) showed that the copolymers were thermal and pH dual-responsive.

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Polysaccharide based copolymers have been the focus of several research, particularly for the development of drug delivery systems. This study reports on the preparation of nanoparticles from an amphiphilic copolymer obtained by the poly(ε-caprolactone) graft in the structure of cashew gum, via ring-opening polymerization. The synthesis of copolymers was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and nuclear magnetic resonance.

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Leishmaniasis is caused by several protozoan species of Leishmania, and being endemically present in 98 countries around the world, it is also a severe public-health problem. The available antileishmanial drugs are toxic and yet present risks of recurrent infection. Efforts to find new, effective, and safe oral agents for the treatment of leishmaniasis are continuing throughout the world.

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  • * The study investigates the effects of methyl gallate (MG) on Leishmania (L.) amazonensis in vitro, testing its ability to inhibit both the promastigote and amastigote forms of the parasite while assessing its safety in macrophage cells.
  • * Results show that MG is highly effective against the parasites with lower cytotoxicity compared to standard drugs, and it works by enhancing immune responses and cellular activities in macrophages, suggesting it could be an innovative treatment option for leishmaniasis.
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Three new 3-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-oxindole (1 and 2) and 4-hydroxy-pyran-2-one (3) derivatives, along with the known 3-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-oxindole (4) and 6-methoxy-N-methylisatin (5) were isolated from a marine Salinispora arenicola strain from sediments of the St. Peter and St. Paul Archipelago, Brazil.

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Alendronate is a bisphosphonate widely used for the treatment of osteoporosis; however, one of its main adverse reactions is gastric ulcer. Metformin is an oral antihyperglycemic agent that has several beneficial effects, including healing, gastroprotective and anti-tumoral action. This study aimed to evaluate the gastroprotective activity of metformin in alendronate-induced gastric damage in normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats.

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Previous studies have reported the anti-obesity effects of α, β-Amyrin in high fat-fed mice. This study aimed to evaluate whether α, β-Amyrin has an anti-adipogenic effect in 3T3-L1 murine adipocytes and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms. 3T3-L1 pre-adipocytes were differentiated in a medium containing insulin, dexamethasone, and 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine.

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Natural steroids and triterpenes such as b-sitosterol, stigmasterol, lupeol, ursolic and betulinic acids were transformed into its hexanoic and oleic esters, to evaluate the influence of chemical modification towards the cytotoxic activities against tumor cells. The derivatives were evaluated against five tumor cell lines [OVCAR-8 (ovarian carcinoma); SF-295 (glioblastoma); HCT-116 (colon adenocarcinoma); HL-60 (leukemia); and PC-3 (prostate carcinoma)] and the results showed only betulinic acid hexyl ester exhibits cytotoxic potential activity.

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Two new steroidal saponins, (25R)-spirost-5-ene-3β,26β-diol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-β-D-glucopyranoside (1) and (25R)-spirost-6-ene-3β,5β-diol 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-[(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl]-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), along with the known diosgenin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), chonglouoside SL-5 (4) and Paris saponin Pb (5) were isolated from the leaves of Cestrum laevigatum. The structures of the compounds were determined using spectroscopic analyses including HRESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR data, followed by comparison with data from the literature. Among them, two are particularly unique, compound 1 is the first (6)Δ-spirostanol saponin and compound 2 has an unusual C-26 hydroxyl in the (5)Δ-spirostanol skeleton.

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Article Synopsis
  • Herbal compounds with triterpenes, like resin from Protium heptaphyllum (RPH), are known to support glucose and lipid metabolism and may help with metabolic disorders.
  • In a study with mice on a high-fat diet, those treated with RPH experienced significant reductions in body weight, fat accumulation, and harmful blood markers while showing increased ghrelin and decreased insulin levels.
  • RPH also reduced inflammation-related proteins and inhibited fat accumulation in lab studies, suggesting its antiobesity effects are linked to hormonal regulation and reduced inflammation.
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Since the 1960s, fungal infections have become a major worldwide public health problem. Antifungal treatments have many limitations, such as toxicity and resistance. Matayba guianensis Aublet (Sapindaceae) was chemically investigated as part of our ongoing search for lead molecules against fungi in the Brazilian Cerrado biome.

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Neospora caninum is an apicomplexan protozoan parasite that is one of the most important infectious causes of abortion in both dairy and beef cattle in many countries. The objectives of this longitudinal study were to determine the prevalence, rates of vertical and horizontal transmission of N. caninum and hazard for culling of N.

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