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Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers exhibit anti-inflammatory properties within the central nervous system (CNS). This study investigated the effects of CLA isomers c9,t11 and t10,c12 on fatty acid (FA) and N-acylethanolamine (NAE) profiles and their association with pro-inflammatory molecule expression in BV-2 microglia cell line, the CNS's resident immune cells responsible for maintaining neuronal activity and immune homeostasis. BV-2 cells were treated with 25 μM of c9,t11-CLA, t10,c12-CLA, or oleic acid (OA) for 24 h, followed by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. After treatment, the cell's FA and NAE profiles and pro-inflammatory molecule expression were analyzed. Our results demonstrated that CLA isomers mitigate LPS-induced morphological changes in BV-2 cells and reduce gene expression and protein levels of inflammatory markers. This effect was linked to an upregulation of acyl-CoA oxidase 1, a key enzyme in the anti-inflammatory peroxisomal beta-oxidation pathway that efficiently metabolizes CLA isomers. Notably, t10,c12-CLA significantly suppressed stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, impacting monounsaturated fatty acid synthesis. The NAEs profile was remarkably altered by CLA isomers, with a significant release of the anti-neuroinflammatory mediator docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)-derived N-acylethanolamine (DHAEA). In conclusion, our findings suggest that the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of CLA isomers are due to their unique influences on FA metabolism and the modulation of bioactive FA-derived NAEs, highlighting a potential strategy for nutritional intervention in conditions characterized by neuroinflammation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, heterocyclic compounds containing a benzothiophene scaffold were designed and synthetized, and their inhibitory activity against cholinesterases (ChE) and the viability of SH-SY5Y cells have been evaluated. Benzothiophenes 4a–4i and benzothiophene-chalcone hybrids 5a–5i were tested against both acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), revealing interesting structure–activity relationships. In general, benzothiophene–chalcone hybrids from series 5 proved to be better inhibitors of both enzymes, with compound 5f being the best AChE inhibitor (IC50 = 62.10 μM) and compound 5h being the best BChE inhibitor (IC50 = 24.35 μM), the last one having an IC50 similar to that of galantamine (IC50 = 28.08 μM), the reference compound. The in silico ADME profile of the compounds was also studied. Molecular docking calculations were carried out to analyze the best binding scores and to elucidate enzyme–inhibitors' interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oxidative stress can damage neuronal cells, greatly contributing to neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). In this study, the protective activity of arzanol, a natural prenylated α-pyrone-phloroglucinol heterodimer, was evaluated against the H2O2-induced oxidative damage in trans-retinoic acid-differentiated (neuron-like) human SH-SY5Y cells, widely used as a neuronal cell model of neurological disorders. The pre-incubation (for 2 and 24 h) with arzanol (5, 10, and 25 μM) significantly preserved differentiated SH-SY5Y cells from cytotoxicity (MTT assay) and morphological changes induced by 0.25 and 0.5 mM H2O2. Arzanol reduced the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) induced by 2 h oxidation with H2O2 0.5 mM, established by 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay. The 2 h incubation of differentiated SH-SY5Y cells with H2O2 determined a significant increase in the number of apoptotic cells versus control cells, evaluated by propidium iodide fluorescence assay (red fluorescence) and NucView® 488 assay (green fluorescence). Arzanol pre-treatment (2 h) exerted a noteworthy significant protective effect against apoptosis. In addition, arzanol was tested, for comparison, in undifferentiated SH-SY5Y cells for cytotoxicity and its ability to protect against H2O2-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the PubChem database and freely accessible web tools SwissADME and pkCSM-pharmacokinetics were used to assess the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties of arzanol. Our results qualify arzanol as an antioxidant agent with potential neuroprotective effects against neuronal oxidative stress implicated in NDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the chemical composition, nutritional, and biological properties of extracts obtained from A. melanocarpa berries using different extraction methods and solvents. Hydrodistillation and supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 allowed us to isolate fruit essential oil (HDEX) and fixed oil (SFEEX), respectively. A phenol-enriched extract was obtained using a mild ultrasound-assisted maceration with methanol (UAMM). The HDEX most abundant component, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS), was italicene epoxide (17.2%), followed by hexadecanoic acid (12.4%), khusinol (10.5%), limonene (9.7%), dodecanoic acid (9.7%), and (E)-anethole (6.1%). Linoleic (348.9 mg/g of extract, 70.5%), oleic (88.9 mg/g, 17.9%), and palmitic (40.8 mg/g, 8.2%) acids, followed by α-linolenic and stearic acids, were the main fatty acids in SFEEX determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a photodiode array detector and an evaporative light scattering detector (HPLC-DAD/ELSD). HPLC-DAD analyses of SFEEX identified β-carotene as the main carotenoid (1.7 mg/g), while HPLC with fluorescence detection (FLU) evidenced α-tocopherol (1.2 mg/g) as the most abundant tocopherol isoform in SFEEX. Liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-MS (LC-ESI-MS) analysis of UAMM showed the presence of quercetin-sulfate (15.6%, major component), malvidin 3-O-(6-O-p-coumaroyl) glucoside-4-vinylphenol adduct (pigment B) (9.3%), di-caffeoyl coumaroyl spermidine (7.6%), methyl-epigallocatechin (5.68%), and phloretin (4.1%), while flavonoids (70.5%) and phenolic acids (23.9%) emerged as the most abundant polyphenol classes. UAMM exerted a complete inhibition of the cholesterol oxidative degradation at 140 °C from 75 μg of extract, showing 50% protection at 30.6 μg (IA50). Furthermore, UAMM significantly reduced viability (31–48%) in A375 melanoma cells in the range of 500–2000 μg/mL after 96 h of incubation (MTT assay), with a low toxic effect in normal HaCaT keratinocytes. The results of this research extend the knowledge of the nutritional and biological properties of A. melanocarpa berries, providing useful information on specific extracts for potential food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Skin oxidative stress results in structural damage, leading to premature senescence, and pathological conditions such as inflammation and cancer. The plant‐derived prenylated pyrone–phloroglucinol heterodimer arzanol, isolated from Helichrysum italicum ssp. microphyllum (Willd.) Nyman aerial parts, exhibits anti‐inflammatory, anticancer, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. This study explored the arzanol protection against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) induced oxidative damage in HaCaT human keratinocytes in terms of its ability to counteract cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. Arzanol safety on HaCaT cells was preliminarily examined by the 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and microscopic observation. The arzanol pre‐incubation (5–100 μM, for 24 h) did not induce cytotoxicity and morphological alterations. The phloroglucinol, at 50 μM, significantly protected keratinocytes against cytotoxicity induced by 2 h‐incubation with 2.5 and 5 mM H2O2, decreased cell ROS production induced by 1 h‐exposure to all tested H2O2 concentrations (0.5–5 mM), as determined by the 2′,7′‐dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) assay, and lipid peroxidation (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARS] method). The 2‐h incubation of keratinocytes with H2O2 determined a significant increase of apoptotic cells versus control cells, evaluated by NucView® 488 assay, from the dose of 2.5 mM. Moreover, an evident mitochondrial membrane potential depolarization, monitored by fluorescent mitochondrial dye MitoView™ 633, was assessed at 5 mM H2O2. Arzanol pre‐treatment (50 μM) exerted a strong significant protective effect against apoptosis, preserving the mitochondrial membrane potential of HaCaT cells at the highest H2O2 concentrations. Our results validate arzanol as an antioxidant agent for the prevention/treatment of skin oxidative‐related disorders, qualifying its potential use for cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical applications. The 2 h‐exposure of human HaCaT keratinocytes to H2O2 induced cytotoxicity, morphological alterations, ROS production, apoptosis, and mitochondrial depolarization. Pre‐treatment (24 h) of keratinocytes with the phloroglucinol arzanol (50 μM), obtained from Helichrysum italicum ssp. microphyllum (Willd.) Nyman, preserved against H2O2‐induced oxidative damage. The phloroglucinol significantly protected keratinocytes against cytotoxicity induced by 2‐h incubation with 2.5 and 5 mM H2O2, decreased cell ROS production induced by 0.5–5 mM H2O2, and significantly reduced apoptotic cell number and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melanoma is a skin cancer caused by the malignant transformation of melanocytes and cutaneous melanoma represents the most aggressive and deadliest type of skin cancer with an increasing incidence worldwide. The main purpose of the present research was to evaluate the anticancer effects of the natural bioactive compounds xanthomicrol (XAN) and eupatilin (EUP) in human A375 malignant skin melanoma cells, a cell line widely used as an in vitro model of cutaneous melanoma. XAN and EUP are lipophilic methoxylated flavones with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor properties. The effects of XAN and EUP on cell viability, morphology, lipid profile, oxidative status, apoptosis, and mitochondrial membrane polarization were determined and compared in A375 cells. At 24 h-incubation (MTT assay), XAN significantly reduced viability at the dose range of 2.5–200 μM, while EUP showed a significant cytotoxicity from 25 μM. Moreover, both methoxylated flavones induced (at 10 and 25 μM, 24 h-incubation) marked cell morphological alterations (presence of rounded and multi-nucleated cells), signs of apoptosis (NucView 488 assay), and a noteworthy mitochondrial membrane depolarization (MitoView 633 assay), coupled to a marked lipid profile modulation, including variations in the ratio of phospholipid/cholesterol and a decrease in the oleic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acid amounts. Moreover, a remarkable time-dependent ROS generation (2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate assay) was observed during 3 h-incubation of A375 cancer cells in the presence of XAN and EUP (10 and 25 μM). Our results confirm the potential antitumor effect of natural EUP and XAN in cutaneous melanoma by the activation of multiple anticancer mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background It has recently been demonstrated that the fate of adult cells is not restricted to their tissues of origin. In particular, it has been shown that bone marrow stem cells can give rise to cells of different tissues, including neural cells, hepatocytes and myocytes, expanding their differentiation potential. Results In order to identify factors able to lead differentiation of stem cells towards cells of neural lineage, we isolated stromal cells from human adult bone marrow (BMSC). Cells were treated with: (1) TPA, forskolin, IBMX, FGF-1 or (2) retinoic acid and 2-mercaptoethanol (BME). Treatment (1) induced differentiation into neuron-like cells within 24 hours, while a longer treatment was required when using retinoic acid and BME. Morphological modifications were more dramatic after treatment (1) compared with treatment (2). In BMSC both treatments induced the expression of neural markers such as NF, GFAP, TUJ-1 and neuron-specific enolase. Moreover, the transcription factor Hes1 increased after both treatments. Conclusion Our study may contribute towards the identification of mechanisms involved in the differentiation of stem cells towards cells of neural lineage.

Objectives: Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) isomers have been shown to possess anti-inflammatory activity in the central nervous system. In this study, we aimed to evaluate whether modulation of the fatty acid profile by the CLA isomers c9,t11 or t10,c12CLA was associated with changes in the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules in human astrocytes. Methods: Cultured astrocytes were treated for 6 days with 100 µM fatty acids (c9,t11CLA or t10,c12CLA or oleic acid). Following the treatment, the fatty acid profile of the cell and pro-inflammatory molecule expression were assessed. Results: Only the t10,c12CLA isomer induced a significant decrease in arachidonic acid and increased the ratio of docosahexaenoic acid/eicosapentaenoic acid, which constitutes indirect evidence of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activation. Inhibition of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and RANTES expression was observed in astrocytes treated with c9,t11CLA and t10,c12CLA. Discussion: Current data demonstrate that CLA isomers, particularly t10,c12, may affect neuroinflammation by reducing the pro-inflammatory molecules in cultured astrocytes, suggesting a potential nutritional role of CLA isomers in modulating the astrocyte inflammatory response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]