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The aqueous extract of the Argentinean native plant, Prosopis strombulifera (PsAE), presents cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines by inducing cytostasis, necrosis and apoptosis; with diminution of clonogenic survival; without genotoxic effects nor oral animal toxicity. Until now, the chemical extract composition and its in vivo antitumoral properties remain unknown; these studies are the aim of the current work. The PsAE was characterized by chemical fingerprinting and the metabolome was identified by tandem UHPLC-PDA-HESI-Q-orbitrap® mass spectrometry. Colorectal tumors were induced by DMH administration and melanomas resulted from B16-F0 S.C. cells injection; then, animals were treated orally with PsEA. To correlate in vivo results with in vitro cytotoxicity, B16-F0 cell were cultured to determine: cell proliferation and viability by dye exclusion assays, MTT and CFSE dilution; cell cycle distribution by flow cytometry; and immunoblotting of p21cip1, PCNA, cleaved caspase 3, cleaved PARP and TUBA1A. Based on UHPLC-OT-MS and PDA analysis, twenty-six compounds were identified, including: 5 simple organic acids, 4 phenolic acids, 4 procyanidins, 11 flavonoids, and 2 oxylipins. On C57BL6 mice, PsAE significantly increases the median survival on colorectal cancer and reduces the final volume and weight of melanomas. Over cultured cells, the treatment induce over-expression of p21, cytostasis by G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; while, on in vivo melanomas, treatment up-regulates p21 and slightly decreases PCNA. In conclusion, PsAE is composed by phenolic compounds which demonstrate cytotoxic and antitumoral properties when is orally administrated. Presented results support future research of PsAE as a potential phytomedicine for cancer treatment., Cancer research; Cell biology; Toxicology; Cell culture; Cell death; Cytotoxicity; Chemotherapy; UHPLC-Q-OT fingerprinting; Phenolic compounds; Colorectal cancer; Melanoma; Antitumoral plants; Prosopis.

Thyroid pathologies have deleterious effects on lactation. Especially hypothyroidism (HypoT) induces premature mammary involution at the end of lactation and decreases milk production and quality in mid lactation. Milk synthesis is controlled by JAK2/STAT5 signaling pathway and prolactin (PRL), which activates the pathway. In this work we analyzed the effect of chronic 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU)-induced HypoT on PRL signaling pathway on mammary glands from rats on lactation (L) days 2, 7 and 14. HypoT decreased prolactin receptor expression, and expression and activation of Stat5a/b protein. Expression of members of the SOCS-CIS family, inhibitors of the JAK-STAT pathway, decreased in L2 and L7, possibly as a compensatory response of the mammary cells to maintain PRL responsiveness. However, on L14, the level of these inhibitors was normal and the transcription of α-lactoalbumin (lalba), a target gene of the PRL pathway, decreased by half. HypoT altered the transcriptional capacity of the cell and decreased mRNA levels of Prlr and Stat5b on L14. Stat5b gene has functional thyroid hormone response elements in the regulatory regions, that bind thyroid hormone receptor β (TRβ) differentially and in a thyroid hormone dependent manner. The overall decrease in the PRL signaling pathway and consequently in target gene (lalba) mRNA transcription explain the profound negative impact of HypoT on mammary function through lactation. Fil: Campoverde Arbocco, Fiorella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina Fil: Persia, Andres. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina Fil: Hapon, María Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina Fil: Jahn, Graciela Alma. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Medicina y Biología Experimental de Cuyo; Argentina

The aim of the present study was to determine whether dehydroleucodine, xanthatin and 3-benzyloxymethyl-5H-furan-2-one inhibit the activation of human leukemic LAD2 mast cells induced by compound 48/80 or the calcium ionophore A23187. LAD2 cells were preincubated in the presence of test drugs and then challenged with the secretagogues. This study provides the first evidence in favor of the view that dehydroleucodine and xanthatin inhibit the degranulation of LAD2 cells, thus acting as human mast cell stabilizers. These molecules could be effective in the treatment of human diseases associated with inappropriate mast cell activation.