Berry Juice as a Protective Agent Against Neurodegeneration.

: berries are edible fruits from the Iberian Atlantic coast, characterized by a rich polyphenolic composition, which endows their juice with potential protective effects against neurodegeneration. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of the relatively lesser-known berries as a novel neuroprotective agent against neurodegenerative diseases. : The phenolic compounds of the juice were characterized using UHPLC-HRMS (Orbitrap).

Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of L. Rhizome Hexane Extract.

The rhizomes of have traditionally been used for the treatment of several ailments involving inflammation. However, to the best of our knowledge, their chemical composition and pharmacological properties have not been studied until now. As a first approach, this study analyses the rhizome hexane extract phytochemistry and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities in HepG2 and RAW 264.

Neuroprotective Potential of Verbascoside Isolated from L. Leaves through Its Enzymatic Inhibition and Free Radical Scavenging Ability.

The phenomenon of today's ageing population has increased interest in the search for new active substances that delay the onset and development of neurodegenerative diseases. In this respect, the search for natural compounds, mainly phenolic compounds, with neuroprotective activity has become the focus of growing interest. Verbascoside is a phenylethanoid that has already presented several pharmacological activities.

Chalcones as Promising Lead Compounds on Cancer Therapy.

Chalcones constitute a group of phenolic compounds that command an increasing interest on cancer research. Natural chalcones are widespread through the plant kingdom. The most abundant and investigated chalcones are isoliquiritigenin, flavokawain and xanthohumol, which are present in the Fabaceae, Piperaceae, Cannabaceae, and Moraceae families.

Induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in human colon carcinoma cells by Corema album leaves.

The leaves of Corema album (Ericaceae), an endemic shrub which grows in Atlantic coastal areas of the Iberian Peninsula, are rich in flavonoids and other secondary metabolites. Silica gel column chromatography of the ethyl acetate extract from dried leaves was performed and a flavonic active fraction was obtained. The cytotoxic activity of this fraction was assessed using the colon cancer cell lines HCT116 and HT29.

Cytotoxic activity of dihydrochalcones isolated from Corema album leaves against HT-29 colon cancer cells.

During our search for cytotoxic compounds from Andalusian vascular plants, the ethyl acetate extract from the leaves of Corema album (L.) D. Don (Ericaceae) was selected for its cytotoxic activity against the HT-29 human colon adenocarcinoma cell line.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Retama monosperma in acute ulcerative colitis in rats.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), which includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease, is a chronic intestinal disorder resultant from a dysfunctional epithelial, innate and adaptive immune response to intestinal microorganisms. Current IBD treatment presents limitations in both efficacy and safety that stimulated for new active drugs. Retama spp.

Yeast as a biosensor of detoxification: a tool for identifying new compounds that revert multidrug resistance.

During tumour progression, cells accumulate secondary mutations and/or chromosomal aberrations that generate genetic diversity within the tumour cell population. This may result in the acquisition of new properties that increase tumour malignancy, such as invasiveness or resistance to chemotherapy. One of the important mechanisms of chemotherapy resistance is overexpression or biochemical activation of ABC family transporters.

Pro-oxidant natural products as anticancer agents.

Cancer cells produce high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that lead to a state of increased basal oxidative stress. Since this state of oxidative stress makes cancer cells vulnerable to agents that further augment ROS levels, the use of pro-oxidant agents is emerging as an exciting strategy to selectively target tumor cells. Natural products have provided a significant contribution to the development of several drugs currently used in cancer chemotherapy.

Vasorelaxant effects of harmine and harmaline extracted from Peganum harmala L. seeds in isolated rat aorta.

The present work describes the mechanisms involved in the vasorelaxant effect of harmine and harmaline. These alkaloids induce in a dose-dependent manner the relaxation in the aorta precontracted with noradrenaline or KCl. However, the removal of endothelium or pre-treatment of intact aortic ring with L-NAME (inhibitor of NOSe synthetase) or with indomethacin (non-specific inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase), reduces significantly the vasorelaxant response of harmaline but not harmine.

Antioxidant activity of Plantago bellardii All.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant activity of the methanol extract of Plantago bellardii All. aerial parts. This was assessed by two different tests, scavenging of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical, and inhibition of lipid peroxidation on liposomes prepared from bovine brain extract.

Iridoids as DNA topoisomerase I poisons.

The discovery of new topoisomerase I inhibitors is necessary since most of the antitumor drugs are targeted against type II and only a very few can specifically affect type I. Topoisomerase poisons generate toxic DNA damage by stabilization of the covalent DNA-topoisomerase cleavage complex and some have therapeutic efficacy in human cancer. Two iridoids, aucubin and geniposide, have shown antitumoral activities, but their activity against topoisomerase enzymes has not been tested.

Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts obtained from Plantago species.

Antioxidative activities of methanol extracts from five Plantago species (P. afra, P. coronopus, P.

Curcumin as a DNA topoisomerase II poison.

Curcumin, the major active component of the spice turmeric, is recognised as a safe compound with great potential for cancer chemoprevention and cancer therapy. It induces apoptosis, but its initiation mechanism remains poorly understood. Curcumin has been assessed on the human cancer cell lines, TK-10, MCF-7 and UACC-62, and their IC50 values were 12.

Anti-tumour activity of Digitalis purpurea L. subsp. heywoodii.

Recent research has shown the anticancer effects of digitalis compounds suggesting their possible use in medical oncology. Four extracts obtained from the leaves of Digitalis purpurea subsp. heywoodii have been assessed for cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines, using the SRB assay.

Cytotoxic effect of Plantago spp. on cancer cell lines.

Methanolic extracts from seven Plantago species used in traditional medicine for the treatment of cancer, were evaluated for cytotoxic activity against three human cancer cell lines recommended by the National Cancer Institute (NCI, USA). The results showed that Plantago species exhibited cytotoxic activity, showing a certain degree of selectivity against the tested cells in culture. Since the flavonoids are able to strongly inhibit the proliferation of human cancer cell lines, we have identified luteolin-7-O-beta-glucoside as major flavonoid present in most of the Plantago species.