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Biomedical subjects

F Menichini

Publications and source records attributed to F Menichini.

13 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of methanolic extract and fractions from Senecio gibbosus subsp. gibbosus (GUSS) DC.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the methanolic extract and fractions of Senecio gibbosus subsp. gibbosus aerial parts. The antioxidant activity was assessed by means of two different tests: (1) bleaching of the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical; and (2) lipid peroxidation of liposomes which were prepared from bovine brain extract. In both tests used methanolic extract and AcOEt fraction showed a significant antioxidant effect. The cytotoxic activity of the methanolic extract and fractions was carried out using the SRB assay. The methanolic extract demonstrated a good cytotoxic activity against human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and human prostate cancer cell line (LNCaP). Dichloromethane and AcOEt fractions showed the greatest cytotoxic activity, particularly on LNCaP cell line.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Bioactive extracts from Senecio samnitum Huet.

The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of extracts from Senecio samnitum Huet are reported. Extracts from S. samnitum were able to inhibit the in vitro proliferation of four human tumor cell lines. The dichloromethane extract demonstrated effective cytotoxic activity with IC50 of 22.89 microg mL(-1) on the Caco-2 cell line and the EtOAc extract had IC50 value of 11.91 microg mL(-1) against the COR-L23 cell line. The n-hexane extract displayed the best antibacterial activity against Gram positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus. The antifungal activity of all extracts was also seen, particularly against the dermatophytes Trichophyton tonsurans and Microsporum gypseum for the methanol and n-hexane extracts.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

Comparative chemical composition and variability of biological activity of methanolic extracts from Hypericum perforatum L.

The biovariability of Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's Wort) grown wild in Calabria and Sardinia (Italy) was reported with the aim to characterize the species through the isolation, detection, and quantitative evaluations of chemical markers (hypericin, quercetin, rutin) by HPLC analysis. Antioxidant activity of the methanolic H. perforatum extracts showed that the Calabrian samples were more active than those from Sardinia. The antibacterial activity evidenced the best performance on the gram positive bacteria with a MIC value of 50 microg/mL. Moreover, antifungal activity of all the extracts was also tested which showed interesting results particularly on the phytopathogene fungus P. ultimum. The variability shown by the samples could be attributed to environmental factors such as chemical-physical properties, composition of the soil, geographical coordinate, altitude, and solar exposure. The phytochemical analysis and the biological activity data suggested a possible use of H. perforatum extracts in the alimentary, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical fields.

Anthracenes↗
PubMed2005

Influence of environmental factors on composition of volatile constituents and biological activity of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don (Asteraceae).

The biovariability of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) Don grown wild in Calabria and Sardinia (Italy) was reported. This species has been characterized through the detection, isolation and quantitative evaluation of chemical markers (alpha-terpinolene, trans-cariophyllene and neryl acetate) by GC and GC-MS. Antioxidant activity of the methanolic H. italicum extracts using DPPH and beta-carotene bleaching test showed that the Calabrian samples were more active than those from Sardinia. The antibacterial activity of all extracts evidenced the best performance on the Gram positive bacteria particularly on Micrococcus luteus. Moreover, antifungal activity of all extracts was also tested evidencing important results particularly on the phytopathogene fungus Pythium ultimum. In general, as regards the antifungal activity, the extracts from Sardinia were more active than those from Calabria. The phytochemical analysis and the biological activity data suggested a possible use of these plant matrices in alimentary, cosmetic and pharmaceutical fields.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2005

In-vitro antiproliferative effects on human tumour cell lines of extracts and jacaranone from Senecio leucanthemifolius Poiret.

We have studied the cytotoxic activity of extracts and jacaranone from Senecio leucanthemifolius Poiret. Extracts from S. leucanthemifolius were able to inhibit the in-vitro proliferation of a series of human tumour cell lines. The dichloromethane extract demonstrated effective cytotoxic activity with an IC50 of 20.1 microg mL(-1) on the large cell carcinoma cell line COR-L23. The ethyl acetate extract showed an IC50 value of 5.0 microg mL(-1) and the butanol extract an IC50 value of 6.4 microg mL(-1) on the same cell line. A major active constituent of the dichloromethane extract was shown to be jacaranone, which was demonstrated to have a very strong activity against all of the tumour cell lines with IC50 values between 2.86 and 3.85 microg mL(-1), although it did not account for all the activity observed. Constituents of S. leucanthemifolius extracts were identified by GC/MS analysis and NMR.

Benzoquinones↗
PubMed2004

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of Retama raetam subsp. Gussonei.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the methanol extracts of Retama raetam subsp. gussonei leaves and seeds. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was assessed by means of two different tests: (1) bleaching of the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) radical; and (2) lipid peroxidation of liposomes which were prepared from bovine brain extract. In both tests used leaves extract showed a significant antioxidant effect. The extract of leaves also demonstrated a good cytotoxic activity against COR-L23 (large cell carcinoma) cell line.

Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic↗
PubMed2000

Antimicrobial activity of crude extracts and pure compounds of Hypericum hircinum.

The antimicrobial activity of the n-hexane (H) and chloroform (C) extracts, the methanol extract (M) and its ethyl acetate (E) and n-butanol (B) fractions, and six isolated constituents of the aerial parts of Hypericum hircinum was investigated using an agar diffusion method. The maximum activity was exhibited by the methanolic extract against Staphylococcus aureus, while all pure constituents showed no antimicrobial activity against the tested microorganisms.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1999

HPLC with fluorescence detection of methamphetamine and amphetamine in segmentally analyzed human hair.

A sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for determining methamphetamine and its major metabolite, amphetamine, in abusers' hair segments was developed. Methamphetamine and amphetamine in hair samples collected from addicts were extracted into acidified methanol, derivatized with 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride, separated isocratically on an ODS column using TRIS-HCl buffer (0.1 mol dm-3, pH 7.0)-methanol (30 + 70 v/v) as the mobile phase and the derivatives were detected fluorimetrically at 440 nm (lambda ex 330 nm). Calibration curves obtained by using control human hair spiked with standard solutions were linear (r > or = 0.999) up to at least 676.1 ng mg-1 for amphetamine and 746.1 ng mg-1 for methamphetamine. The detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 51.4 and 74.6 pg mg-1 hair for amphetamine and methamphetamine, respectively. Using control hair spiked with standard solutions, the intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (n = 5) were < or = 8.6% for both the target compounds. The method was successfully applied to the segmental analyses of methamphetamine abusers' hair samples.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1998

Enantioselective high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection of methamphetamine and its metabolites in human urine.

A simple, rapid and highly sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic method with fluorescence detection for determining the enantiomers of methamphetamine and its major metabolites, amphetamine and p-hydroxymethamphetamine, in urine samples was developed. Using a newly developed reagent for amines, namely, 4-(4,5-diphenyl-1H-imidazol-2-yl)benzoyl chloride, six enantiomers were derivatized under mild conditions (i.e., 10 min at room temperature, pH 9.0) and separated isocratically on a cellulose tris(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate) coated silica gel column following a pre-separation on an ODS column within 42 min, and the effluent was monitored at 440 nm (lambda ex 330 nm). Calibration curves for these derivatives using spiked human urine were linear in the range 0.05-100 mumol dm-3 with correlation coefficients > or = 0.999. The detection limits at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3 were 2.8-8.8 fmol per 5 microliters injection. The relative standard deviations of within- (n = 6) and between-day (n = 5) variations were < or = 7.4%. The method was successfully applied to discriminate between (S)-(+)-methamphetamine and its corresponding metabolites found in abusers' urine and their antipodes in a sample taken from a Parkinsonian patient on selegiline (Deprenyl) therapy.

Amphetamine↗
PubMed1993

In vitro biological activities of arglabin, a sesquiterpene lactone from the Chinese herb Artemisia myriantha Wall. (Asteraceae).

The immunomodulating properties of arglabin, a sesquiterpene lactone isolated from Artemisia myriantha Wall. (Asteraceae) were investigated using the murine macrophage tumor line J774.1. Arglabin-stimulated macrophages displayed a strong cytotoxic activity and the lowest doses (1.25 micrograms/mL and 0.125 micrograms/mL) induced a significant stimulation of cell mitochondrial metabolism, which correlated with [3H]TdR uptake by J774.1 cells under the same experimental conditions. In addition, the secretion of cytokines involved in host defence mechanisms--IL-1, TNF-alpha, and IL-2--was investigated upon incubation of J774-1 cells with arglabin. Arglabin triggered the production of the three cytokines from J774-1 cells. However, the pattern of cytokine secretion differed to some extent, according to the methodology used for cytokine measurement: either traditional bioassay or specific immunoassay (ELISA). Our data emphasize a possible proliferative effect of arglabin in the traditional bioassays, at least for the highest concentrations used. The results were verified with specific ELISA immunoassays. Using either method, lower concentrations of arglabin (ranging from 12.5 micrograms/mL to 0.125 micrograms/mL) were the most effective in inducing IL-1, TNF-alpha, or IL-2 secretion. In addition, preliminary data on phagocytosis showed that arglabin enhanced the uptake of fluorescent latex beads by J774.1 cells.

Animals↗