Browsing by Author "Nakurte, Ilva"

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    The Cultivation of Chelidonium majus L. Increased the Total Alkaloid Content and Cytotoxic Activity Compared with Those of Wild-Grown Plants
    (2021-09) Krizhanovska, Valerija; Sile, Inga; Kronberga, Arta; Nakurte, Ilva; Mezaka, Ieva; Dambrova, Maija; Pugovics, Osvalds; Grinberga, Solveiga; Department of Applied Pharmacy; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
    The effect of cultivation practises on both the phytochemical profile and biological activity of aqueous ethanol extracts of Chelidonium majus L. was studied. Extracts were prepared from aerial parts of the same plant population collected in the wild and grown under organic farming conditions. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of alkaloids and flavonoid derivatives were performed by LC/MS methods, and the cytotoxicity of lyophilised extracts was studied in B16-F10, HepG2, and CaCo-2 cells. Coptisine was the dominant alkaloid of extracts prepared from wild-grown plants, whereas after cultivation, chelidonine was the most abundant alkaloid. The total alkaloid content was significantly increased by cultivation. Ten flavonol glycoconjugates were identified in C. majus extracts, and quantitative analysis did not reveal significant differences between extracts prepared from wild-grown and cultivated specimens. Treatment with C. majus extracts resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cytotoxicity in all three cell lines. The extracts prepared from cultivated specimens showed higher cytotoxicity than the extracts prepared from wild-grown plants. The strongest cytotoxic effect of cultivated C. majus was observed in B16-F10 cells (IC50 = 174.98 ± 1.12 µg/mL). Cultivation-induced differences in the phytochemical composition of C. majus extracts resulted in significant increases in the cytotoxic activities of the preparations.
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    Exploring the Potential of Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Matricaria chamomilla White Ray Florets as a Source of Bioactive (Cosmetic) Ingredients
    (2023-05-12) Pastare, Laura; Berga, Marta; Kienkas, Liene; Boroduskis, Martins; Ramata-Stunda, Anna; Reihmane, Dace; Senkovs, Maris; Skudrins, Gundars; Nakurte, Ilva
    Aromatic and medicinal plants are a great source of useful bioactive compounds for use in cosmetics, drugs, and dietary supplements. This study investigated the potential of using supercritical fluid extracts obtained from Matricaria chamomilla white ray florets, a kind of industrial herbal byproduct, as a source of bioactive cosmetic ingredients. Response surface methodology to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction process by analyzing the impact of pressure and temperature on yield and the main bioactive compound groups were used. High-throughput 96-well plate spectrophotometric methods were used to analyze the extracts for total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars, as well as their antioxidant capacity. Gas chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to determine the phytochemical composition of the extracts. The extracts were also analyzed for antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity, phototoxicity, and melanin content. Statistical analysis was performed to establish correlations between the extracts and develop models to predict the targeted phytochemical recovery and chemical and biological activities. The results show that the extracts contained a diverse range of phytochemical classes and had cytotoxic, proliferation-reducing, and antimicrobial activities, making them potentially useful in cosmetic formulations. This study provides valuable insights for further research on the uses and mechanisms of action of these extracts.
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    In Vitro Safety and Efficacy Evaluation of a Juniperus communis Callus Culture Extract and Matricaria recutita Processing Waste Extract Combination as a Cosmetic Ingredient
    (2024-01-18) Ramata-Stunda, Anna; Boroduskis, Martins; Pastare, Laura; Berga, Marta; Kienkas, Liene; Patetko, Liene; Skudrins, Gundars; Reihmane, Dace; Nakurte, Ilva
    For skin health promotion and cosmetic applications, combinations of plant cell extracts are extensively utilized. As most natural ingredient suppliers offer crude extracts from individual plants or specific isolated compounds, the potential interactions between them are assessed in the development phase of cosmetic products. The industry seeks extract combinations that have undergone optimization and scrutiny for their bioactivities. This study presents a combination of two sustainably produced botanical ingredients and outlines their chemical composition, in vitro safety, and bioactivity for skin health enhancement. The amalgamation comprises the extract of Matricaria recutita processing waste and the extract from Juniperus communis callus culture. Chemical analysis revealed distinct compounds within the extracts, and their combination led to a broader array of potentially synergistic compounds. In vitro assessments on skin cells demonstrated that the combination possesses robust antioxidant properties and the ability to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation, along with regulating collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) production by dermal fibroblasts. The identified traits of this combination render it an appealing cosmetic component. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case when the extracts derived from medicinal plant processing waste and biotechnological plant cell cultivation processes have been combined and evaluated for their bioactivity.
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    Phenolic Content and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cultivated and Wild-Type Galium odoratum Extracts in Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages
    (2024-11-25) Razživina, Valērija; Vasiljeva, Anna; Kronberga, Arta; Skudrins, Gundars; Nakurte, Ilva; Žogota, Marta; Mezaka, Ieva; Pugovics, Osvalds; Grinberga, Solveiga; Dambrova, Maija; Sīle, Inga; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry; Laboratory of Finished Dosage Forms; Department of Applied Pharmacy
    Galium odoratum, commonly known as sweet woodruff, is a perennial herbaceous plant that contains coumarin and is recognized for its medicinal properties. In this study, the influence of sunlight exposure on the phytochemical composition and anti-inflammatory potential of G. odoratum extracts is assessed. The extracts from cultivated and wild-grown plants were analyzed via chromatographic and mass spectrometric methods. In addition, the total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and effects on macrophage polarization were assessed. The results revealed that while coumarin levels remain stable regardless of environmental conditions, phenolic content and antioxidant activity increase significantly under sun-grown conditions, with chlorogenic acid and rutin identified as major contributing compounds. Additionally, the extracts exhibited anti-inflammatory activity, effectively reducing the M1 macrophage population involved in inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that controlled sunlight exposure can enhance the bioactive profile of G. odoratum. This research highlights the critical role of environmental management in optimizing the medicinal properties of G. odoratum, providing a foundation for its future use in natural therapeutic applications.
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    Primary culture of avian embryonic heart forming region cells to study the regulation of vertebrate early heart morphogenesis by vitamin A
    (2014-02-19) Cakstina, Inese; Riekstina, Una; Boroduskis, Martins; Nakurte, Ilva; Ancans, Janis; Zile, Maija H.; Muiznieks, Indrikis
    Background: Important knowledge about the role of vitamin A in vertebrate heart development has been obtained using the vitamin A-deficient avian in ovo model which enables the in vivo examination of very early stages of vertebrate heart morphogenesis. These studies have revealed the critical role of the vitamin A-active form, retinoic acid (RA) in the regulation of several developmental genes, including the important growth regulatory factor, transforming growth factor-beta2 (TGFβ2), involved in early events of heart morphogenesis. However, this in ovo model is not readily available for elucidating details of molecular mechanisms determining RA activity, thus limiting further examination of RA-regulated early heart morphogenesis. In order to obtain insights into RA-regulated gene expression during these early events, a reliable in vitro model is needed. Here we describe a cell culture that closely reproduces the in ovo observed regulatory effects of RA on TGFβ2 and on several developmental genes linked to TGFβ signaling during heart morphogenesis. Results: We have developed an avian heart forming region (HFR) cell based in vitro model that displays the characteristics associated with vertebrate early heart morphogenesis, i.e. the expression of Nkx2.5 and GATA4, the cardiogenesis genes, of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A), the vasculogenesis gene and of fibronectin (FN1), an essential component in building the heart, and the expression of the multifunctional genes TGFβ2 and neogenin (NEO). Importantly, we established that the HFR cell culture is a valid model to study RA-regulated molecular events during heart morphogenesis and that the expression of TGFβ2 as well as the expression of several TGFβ2-linked developmental genes is regulated by RA. Conclusions: Our findings reported here offer a biologically relevant experimental in vitro system for the elucidation of RA-regulated expression of TGFβ2 and other genes involved in vertebrate early cardiovascular morphogenesis.
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    Wild-Grown and Cultivated Glechoma hederacea L. : Chemical Composition and Potential for Cultivation in Organic Farming Conditions
    (2022-03-01) Sile, Inga; Krizhanovska, Valerija; Nakurte, Ilva; Mezaka, Ieva; Kalane, Laura; Filipovs, Jevgenijs; Vecvanags, Alekss; Pugovics, Osvalds; Grinberga, Solveiga; Dambrova, Maija; Kronberga, Arta; Department of Applied Pharmacy; Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
    Glechoma hederacea L. is a medicinal plant that is known in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, and anticancer properties. This study evaluated the potential for commercial production of G. hederacea and compared the chemical composition and activity of 70% ethanol extracts and steam-distilled essential oils from wild-grown and cultivated G. hederacea collected in different harvesting periods. The main compounds identified in the 70% ethanol extracts were phenolic acids (chlorogenic and rosmarinic acids) and flavonoid O-glycosides. The essential oil varied in the three accessions in the range of 0.32-2.98 mL/kg -1 of dry weight. The extracts possessed potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in LPS-treated bone-marrow-derived macrophages. The results of flow cytometry show that extracts from different vegetation periods reduced the conversion of macrophages to the proinflammatory phenotype M1. The chemical composition varied the most with the different harvesting periods, and the most suitable periods were the flowering and vegetative phases for the polyphenolic compounds and essential oils, respectively. G. hederacea can be successfully grown under organic farming conditions, and cultivation does not significantly affect the chemical composition and biological activity compared to wild-grown plants.