Reactive Oxygen Species-Mediated Cytotoxicity in Liver Carcinoma Cells Induced by Silver Nanoparticles Biosynthesized Using Schinus molle Extract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common primary liver malignancy and is ranked as the third most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Schinus molle (S. mole) L. is an important medicinal plant that contains many bioactive compounds with pharmacological properties. The role of S. molle leaf extract in the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) was determined. The biosynthesized AgNPs were thoroughly characterized by UV–vis spectrophotometry, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and dynamic light scattering (DLS) techniques. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effect of the biosynthesized AgNPs using S. molle (SMAgNPs) against HepG2 liver cancer cells was investigated. Reactive oxygen species generation, apoptosis induction, DNA damage, and autophagy activity were analyzed. The results clearly showed that the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles inhibited the proliferation of HepG2 by significantly (p < 0.05) inducing oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, DNA damage, apoptosis, and autophagy in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These findings may encourage integrating the potential of natural products and the efficiency of silver nanoparticles for the fabrication of safe, environmentally friendly, and effective anticancer agents.

Schinus molle seedlings production: Influence of slow release and conventional fertilizers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different formulations of slow-release and conventional fertilizer in Schinus molle seedlings production. The experiment was conducted at São Paulo State University, School of Engineering, municipality of Ilha Solteira, Brazil, in a Pad & Fan greenhouse type (Average Temp. 26 °C and 55% RH). The seedlings were grown in the same cited environment in polyethylene trays filled with commercial substrate. When seedlings presented 3-4 leaves, 30 days after sowing they were transplanted to 4 L plastic bags, with the following treatments: T1 = Control, T2 = Osmocote® 3M (14-14-14), T3 = Basacote® 3M (15-09-12) and T4 = TecNutri® conventional fertilizer (05-13-13). Mixture of soil + commercial substrate (1:1) formed the substrate and fertilizer at a dosage of 3 g L-1 was used. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 treatments and 06 replications and evaluations were performed 55 days after planting. The following characteristics were analysed: plant height, stem diameter (mm), plant height and stem diameter ratio and number of leaves. For 55 days seedlings the best treatment was the conventional fertilizer TecNutri®

A global assessment of the potential distribution of naturalized and planted populations of the ornamental alien tree Schinus molle

The Peruvian Peppertree (Schinus molle L.) is an evergreen tree native to semiarid environments of Peru and Bolivia in South America. This tree has been introduced and widely planted for ornamental and forestry purposes in several semiarid regions of the world because its seedlings are easily established and have a high survival rate; it also grows quickly, and it is tolerant of dry climates. We compared the global and regional niches of naturalized and planted populations of S. molle in order to examine the invasive stages and potential distribution of this species in four regions of the world. This work provides a novel approach for understanding the invasion dynamics of S. molle in these areas and elucidates the ecological processes that bring about such invasions. Most naturalized and planted populations were found to be in equilibrium with the environment. In its native range as well as in Australia and South Africa the models of the coverage area of habitat suitability for natural populations were the highest, whereas the coverage area of planted populations was lower. For planted populations in Australia and South Africa, a large percentage of predicted presences fell within sink populations. The invasion stages of S. molle vary across regions in its adventive range; this result may be attributable to residence time as well as climatic and anthropic factors that have contributed to the spread of populations.

Evaluación preliminar de 10 plantas medicinales del Valle del Mantaro mediante el método cualitativo (fitoquímico) para uso farmacéutico

Objetivo: Determinar preliminarmente 10 plantas medicinales del Valle del Mantaro mediante el método cualitativo (fitoquímico) para uso farmacéutico. Material y Métodos: Cualitativo (fitoquímico) para uso farmacéutico. Resultados: La actividad farmacognósicas de las plantas medicinales son utilizadas en el Valle del Mantaro: Xanthium spinosum (Juan alonso) como antitumoral y anticancerígena, Equisetum arvense (Cola de caballo) como osteoporosis, coagulación sanguínea Mentha sativa L (Hierba buena) para el nerviosismo, Rumex crispus L. (Cuturrumasa) como antiinflamatorio, Piper aduncum (Matico) como antiviral, Centauriun erythraea Rafn. (Canchalagua) como antitumorales, antidiabéticas, Schinus molle (Molle) como antirreumático, Psoralea glandulosaxonomía (Culen) como hipoglucemiente, Minthostachys mollis (Inca muña) como antireumático y acción carminativa, Taraxacum officinale (Diente de león) como hipoglucemiante. Conclusiones: De acuerdo al análisis fitoquímico de las plantas, confirman la actividad farmacológica para el uso medicinal: Xanthium spinosum (Juan Alonso), Equisetum arvense (Cola de caballo), Mentha sativa L. (Hierba buena), Rumex crispus L. (Cuturrumasa), Piper aduncum (Matico), Centauriun erythraea Rafn (Canchalagua), Schinus molle (Molle), Psoralea glandulosaxonomía (Culen), Minthostachys mollis (Inca Muña) y Taraxacum officinale (Diente de León). El uso de las plantas medicinales en el Valle del Mantaro por sus metabolitos secundarios pueden asociarse a prometedoras actividades medicinales como: antitumorales, anticancerígenos, osteoporosis, antiviral, antidiabéticas, antirreumático; siendo candidatos para estudios con mayor profundidad fitoquímica y farmacobiólogica.

Diversidad, estructura y servicios ecosistémicos del arbolado en cuatro parques de Texcoco mediante i-Tree Eco

El objetivo fue conocer la estructura, diversidad y los servicios ecosistémicos del arbolado en cuatro parques de la ciudad de Texcoco de Mora, Estado de México. Se realizó un censo y análisis de los árboles existentes en las áreas verdes seleccionadas. Se determinó una población arbórea compuesta por 391 individuos, pertenecientes a 19 familias y 34 especies. Los taxones más comunes fueron Ficus benjamina (23 %), Schinus molle (13.8 %), Hesperocyparis lusitanica (10.2 %) y Ligustrum lucidum (10 %). El índice de Simpson (1-D) presentó un valor de 0.73 y el índice de Shannon-Wiener H’= 3.89, lo que indica una alta diversidad. Las tres especies más abundantes sobrepasan la regla de diversidad 10-20-30 de Santamour. Se estimaron tres servicios ecosistémicos principales a través del software i-Tree Eco v6: almacén de C, captura de C y producción de O2. El arbolado evaluado almacenó 28.85 Mg C ha-1, capturó 2.56 Mg C año-1 y produjo un total de 6 Mg O2 año-1. Además de lo anterior, se calculó que los árboles removieron un total de 0.06 Mg año-1 de contaminantes y contribuyeron a reducir la escorrentía del agua de lluvia en 107.9 m3 año-1. La información generada es útil para la administración y conservación del recurso arbóreo, así como en la valoración del arbolado de la ciudad de Texcoco.

Xilotecnia de la madera de Schinus molle L. de una plantación forestal comercial en Hidalgo, México

El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo determinar las características anatómicas, las propiedades físicas, así como estimar las propiedades mecánicas, de la madera de cuatro árboles de Schinus molle L. (pirú) provenientes de una plantación forestal comercial en Tolcayuca, Hidalgo, México. El estudio se realizó en el Laboratorio de Anatomía y Tecnología de la Madera de la División de Ciencias Forestales de la Universidad Autónoma Chapingo. Como resultado se obtuvo que el color de la madera en la albura es rosado, en el duramen es de color café. La madera no tiene olor y sabor característicos, es de brillo medio, veteado pronunciado, hilo inclinado y textura media. La porosidad es semidifusa y el parénquima axial difuso y escaso. Los radios son uniseriados, biseriados y triseriados. Los vasos son cortos, muy abundantes, las fibras son medianas y finas. Se obtuvo una densidad básica de 0.54 y poder calorífico de 17.246 MJ kg-1 La dureza lateral y en extremos (longitudinal) en condición verde se clasificó como media y baja respectivamente, a 12% de contenido de humedad, se clasificó como media y alta respectivamente; la madera de pirú se clasificó como muy buena para pulpa y papel. La contracción volumétrica total se clasificó como media, la contracción tangencial total: muy alta y la contracción radial total: alta. La relación de anisotropía se clasificó como alta. El punto de saturación de la fibra se describió normal. Por sus características y propiedades de la madera se puede utilizar en la fabricación de muebles, mangos de herramientas y pisos.

Analysis of the Chemical, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Pink Pepper (Schinus molle L.)

Here, we compared the chemical properties and antioxidant effects of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) and pink pepper (Schinus molle L.). Additionally, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of pink pepper were measured to determine nutraceutical potential. Pink peppers from Brazil (PPB), India (PPI), and Sri Lanka (PPS) had higher Hunter a* (redness) values and lower L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) values than black pepper from Vietnam (BPV). Fructose and glucose were detected in PPB, PPI, and PPS, but not in BPV. PPB, PPI, and PPS had greater 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical scavenging stabilities and higher total phenolic contents than BPV. BPV had higher levels of piperine than the pink peppers. Gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, epicatechin, and p-coumaric acid were detected only in the three pink peppers. PPB significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced reactive oxygen species production with increased Nrf2 translocation from cytosol to nucleus and heme oxygenase-1 expression. PPB and PPS significantly suppressed lipopolysaccharide-induced nitrite production and nitric oxide synthase expression by suppressing phosphorylation of p38 without affecting cell viability. Additionally, PPB and PPS significantly suppressed ultraviolet B-induced cyclooxygenase-2 expression by affecting the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 without cell cytotoxicity. These results suggest that pink pepper is a potential nutraceutical against oxidative and inflammatory stress.

LANDSCAPE USE AND AESTHETICAL VALUE OF SURVEYED WOODY ORNAMENTAL PLANTS IN CAIRO FESTIVAL CITY - CAIRO - EGYPT IN LANDSCAPE GARDENING

Sustainability and successful utilize of plants in gardens and landscape will be achieved by using proper plant in the right place. Hence landscape uses and aesthetical values of plants must be determined. Therefore, the present study were conducted to survey woody ornamental plants located in Cairo Festival City gardens, CairoGovernorate, Egypt through 2018 and 2019 as well as to determine their uses and values in terms of landscaping. Form beauty, ornamental foliage, ornamental fruit, ornamental flowers, and fragrance were took as aesthetical values parameters while landscape uses were recorded by the existing uses and potential uses of each plant. As a result of the study, totally 83 woody plant species belong to 33 families were recorded and they follow trees (40%), palms (12%), shrubs (41%), and vines (7%). Moreover, it has been found that Schinus molle, Plumeria alba, and Duranta erecta are attractive for four parameters of aesthetical value and the most of species are attractive for their ornamental foliage (32%). Also, Tecoma capensis, Cupressus sempervirens, Ficus benjamina, Plumbago auriculataare detected to be in nine different landscape uses and the most of species are recommended to be used as a specimen (68 species).