Essential oil and plant extract of oregano as agents influencing the virulence factors of Candida albicans.

Candida albicans, a polymorphic yeast, is a physiological component of the human and animal commensal microbiome. It is an etiological factor of candidiasis, which is treated by azole antifungals. Growing resistance to azoles is a reason to look for other alternative treatment options.

Usnic Acid Isolated from (Du Rietz) Reduced In Vitro Angiogenesis in VEGF- and bFGF-Stimulated HUVECs and Ex Ovo in Quail Chorioallantoic Membrane (CAM) Assay.

Natural products include a diverse set of compounds of drug discovery that are currently being actively used to target tumor angiogenesis. In the present study, we evaluated the anti-angiogenic activities of secondary metabolite usnic acid isolated from We investigated the in vitro effects on proliferation, migration, and tube formation of VEGF- and bFGF-stimulated HUVECs. Ex ovo anti-angiogenic activity was evaluated using the CAM assay.

Potential Effect of (L.) Zopf Extract and Metabolite Physodic Acid on Tumour Microenvironment Modulation in MCF-10A Cells.

Lichens comprise a number of unique secondary metabolites with remarkable biological activities and have become an interesting research topic for cancer therapy. However, only a few of these metabolites have been assessed for their effectiveness against various in vitro models. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to assess the effect of extract (L.

Toxicity of Diclofenac in the Fern Azolla filiculoides and the Lichen Xanthoria parietina.

This study investigated the occurrence of toxicity, expressed as damage to the photosynthetic apparatus, in the aquatic fern Azolla filiculoides and the lichen Xanthoria parietina following treatments with diclofenac at different concentrations (0.1, 1, 10 and 100 mg/L) and different exposure times (24, 48, 72 and 240 h). Measurements of photosynthetic efficiency, chlorophyll content and chlorophyll degradation indicated dose- and time-dependent toxicity, since significant differences with control samples as well as among treatments, emerged mainly for the highest concentration (100 mg/L) and the longest time (240 h).

Short-term influence of Cu, Zn, Ni and Cd excess on metabolism, ultrastructure and distribution of elements in lichen Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms that are very sensitive to heavy metal pollution. However, there is little evidence of how heavy metal pollution affects the physiological status, ultrastructural changes and distribution of elements in the layers of lichen thalli. For this purpose we simulated metal pollution to lichens and studied its impact on Xanthoria parietina.

Lichen secondary metabolites are responsible for induction of apoptosis in HT-29 and A2780 human cancer cell lines.

Lichens are a known source of approximately 800 unique secondary metabolites, many of which play important ecological roles, including regulating the equilibrium between symbionts. However, only a few of these compounds have been assessed for their effectiveness against various in vitro cancer models. Moreover, the mechanisms of biological activity of lichen secondary metabolites on living cells (including cancer cells) are still almost entirely unknown.

Variable responses of different human cancer cells to the lichen compounds parietin, atranorin, usnic acid and gyrophoric acid.

One of the ways for searching for potentially new anti-cancer drugs is the testing of various naturally synthesized compounds. Lichens are a source of unique chemical agents of which some have already been proved to be effective against various cancer in vitro models. Our study reports on the sensitivity of up to nine human cancer cell lines (A2780, HeLa, MCF-7, SK-BR-3, HT-29, HCT-116 p53(+/+), HCT-116 p53(-/-), HL-60 and Jurkat) to the anti-proliferative/cytotoxic effects of four typical secondary metabolites of lichens (parietin, atranorin, usnic acid and gyrophoric acid).

Host use of a specialist lichen-feeder: dealing with lichen secondary metabolites.

Host use by herbivores is largely determined by host properties such as nutrient content and chemical defence against foragers. The impacts of these attributes on a herbivore may largely depend on its life cycle stage. Lichen species are known to differ in nutritional quality and level of chemical defence and, consequently, vary as fodder for herbivores.

Comparison of the phytotoxic effects of usnic acid on cultures of free-living alga Scenedesmus quadricauda and aposymbiotically grown lichen photobiont Trebouxia erici.

The phytotoxic effects of the lichen secondary metabolite-usnic acid on cultures of free living alga-Scenedesmus quadricauda (UTEX 76) and aposymbiotically grown lichen photobiont Trebouxia erici (UTEX 911) were assessed. We found a relatively strong inhibition effect of usnic acid on the growth of alga Scenedesmus, accompanied by an increase of cell size, an alteration of assimilation pigment composition, followed by strong degradation of chlorophyll a, a decrease of chlorophyll a fluorescence, and an increase of reactive oxygen species in the cells. The content of soluble proteins remained a stable parameter.

Photobiont diversity in lichens from metal-rich substrata based on ITS rDNA sequences.

The photobiont is considered as the more sensitive partner of lichen symbiosis in metal pollution. For this reason the presence of a metal tolerant photobiont in lichens may be a key factor of ecological success of lichens growing on metal polluted substrata. The photobiont inventory was examined for terricolous lichen community growing in Cu mine-spoil heaps derived by historical mining.