Ecdysone modulates both ultrastructural arrangement of hindgut and attachment of Trypanosoma cruzi DM 28c to the rectum cuticle of Rhodnius prolixus fifth-instar nymph.

Studies on the effects of azadirachtin treatment, ecdysone supplementation and ecdysone therapy on both the ultrastructural organization of the rectum in 5th-instar nymph of Rhodnius prolixus and the ex vivo attachment behavior of Trypanosoma cruzi under these experimental conditions were carried out. Control insects had a typical and significant organization of the rectum cuticle consisted of four main layers (procuticle, inner epicuticle, outer epicuticle, and wax layer) during the entire period of the experiment. Both azadirachtin treatment and ecdysone supplementation avoid the development of both outer epicuticle and wax layer.

Myrtenal-induced V-ATPase inhibition - A toxicity mechanism behind tumor cell death and suppressed migration and invasion in melanoma.

Background: Metastatic tumor cells have acidic extracellular pH and differential electrochemical H gradients generated across their cell membranes by V-type H-ATPases. This study shows that inhibition of the V-ATPases by the plant-derived monoterpene Myrtenal results in tumor cell death and decreased metastatic dissemination in mice.

Methods: The Myrtenal anticancer toxicity was evaluated in vitro using murine (B16F0 and B16F10) and human (SkMel-5) melanoma cell lines, and in in vivo mouse metastatic dissemination model.