The synthesis, characterization, acute toxicity, antitumor activity, and histopathological analysis of a novel dinuclear platinum(2+) complex - [Pt(DACH-κ2N)µ-(C4H2O6-κ4O)Pt(DACH-κ2N)] - is reported. Through acute toxicity tests, it was possible to place the platinum complexes into categories according to the OECD protocol. The dinuclear complex was classified in category 2 (cisplatin - category 1; and oxaliplatin - category 2). Analyzing the interaction between dsDNA and dinuclear complex was observed an Tm increase, suggesting that the dinuclear complex-dsDNA interact probably through of the interstrand form. Evaluations of tumor masses extracted from mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma demonstrated a percent of tumor inhibition similar for cisplatin and oxaliplatin, but statistically different and superior for the case of the dinuclear complex. Cisplatin and oxaliplatin showed 41.4 and 40.8% inhibition, respectively, while the dinuclear complex presented 66.3%. The histopathological analysis demonstrated that the group treated with cisplatin showed more significant tissue damage, moderate hepatic steatosis, and nephritis. The livers, spleens, and kidneys of the animals treated with the dinuclear complex were within the normality range with no tissue lesions, and absence of metastasis.

In this article the synthesis, characterization, acute toxicity, and antitumor activity of the novel Ru3+ complex are described. Through the acute toxicity tests, it was possible to fit the complexes into categories according to the OECD protocol guideline 423. The cisplatin complex was classified in category 1 and the sodium diaquodimalonateruthenate(3+) - Na[Ru(H2O)2(Mal-κ2O)2] - was classified in category 4. This result demonstrates the lower toxicity achieved by the ruthenium complex in comparison with metallopharmaceuticals compound. Evaluations of tumor masses extracted from mice inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma demonstrated percent inhibition lowest to cisplatin. Cisplatin showed 58% inhibition (1 mg/kg), while Na[Ru(H2O)2(Mal-κ2O)2] complex (5 mg/kg) presented 77%.

The synthesis, characterization, cytotoxicity and antitumor activity of platinum(II) complexes coordinated to O-glycoside and analogous is reported. Through the acute toxicity tests, it was possible to fit the complexes into categories according to the OECD protocol. The cis-[PtCl2(C6H14S2O2)-κ2S] complex was classified in category 3 and the cis-[PtCl2(C26H38O12S2)-κ2S] complex was classified in category 4. This result demonstrates the lower toxicity achieved by the glycoside in comparison with its analogous system. Evaluations of tumor masses extracted from mice inoculated with Ehrlich carcinoma demonstrated percent inhibition similar to cisplatin and synthesized platinum complexes. Cisplatin showed 59% inhibition, while cis-[PtCl2(C6H14S2O2)-κ2S] and cis-[PtCl2(C26H38O12S2)-κ2S] complexes presented 57% and 59%, respectively. Although the glycosidic compounds exhibit tumor activity, reported in the literature, the presence of platinum ion was shown to be determinant for antitumor action according with the compounds tested, since the glycosidic ligand presented tumor inhibition of only 38%, with a similar antitumor activity in relation to cisplatin.

This paper presents an investigation on the cytotoxic activity in human tumor cell from dichloromethane, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, water extracts, and hexane and chloroform fractions from green, brown and red algae collected at Riacho Doce Beach, north coast of Alagoas, Brazil, against the cancer cells K562 (chronic myelocytic leukemia), HEp-2 (laryngeal epidermoid carcinoma) and NCI-H292 (human lung mucoepidermoid carcinoma) through the MTT colorimetric method. The dichloromethane extract and chloroform fraction of Hypnea musciformis showed the best cytotoxic activity against K562 (3.8±0.2 µg.mL-1 and 6.4±0.4 µg.mL-1, respectively). Dichloromethane extracts of Dictyota dichotoma (16.3±0.3 µg.mL-1) and the chloroform fraction of H. musciformis (6.0±0.03 µg.mL-1) and chloroform fraction of P. gymnospora (8.2±0.4) were more active against HEp-2 as well as ethanol extracts of P. gymnospora (15.9±2.8 µg.mL-1) and chloroform fraction of H. musciformis (15.0±1.3 µg.mL-1) against the cell NCI-H292. The constituents with higher anticancer action are present in the extracts of dichloromethane and chloroform and in the chloroform fraction of H. musciformis, Digenea simplex, P. gymnospora, and D.dichotoma. In the case of the seaweed S. vulgare, the anticancer constituents are present in the aqueous extract.

Cissus sicyoides pertence à família das Vitaceae. É conhecido popularmente como "insulina, cipó-puca, bejuco caro, puci, anil trepador". Esta planta apresenta efeito vasoconstritor eatividade antibacteriana. No Brasil, C. sicyoides foi avaliado pelas suas propriedades anticonvulsivante e anti-diabética. Estudos fitoquímicos identificaram e isolaram a partir de suas partes aéreas o sitoesterol e o resveratrol compostos que são apontados por apresentar atividade antitumoral. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as atividades citotóxica e antitumoral do extrato hidroalcoólico Cissus sicyoides bem como a sua capacidade de recrutar leucócitos para os tecidos lesados. Cissus sicyoides não demonstrou atividade citotóxica, mas apresentou uma inibição do crescimento tumoral frente aos tumores testados. O extrato teve um forte efeito quimiotático 24 h após o tratamento. O extrato hidroalcoólico de Cissus sicyoides apresentou atividade antitumoral, relacionada ao recrutamento de linfócitos T para o local da lesão sugerindo que esta atividade esteve relacionada à ativação da linhagem linfóide.

Cissus sicyoides L. pertains to the Vitaceae family. It is popularly known as "insulina, cipo-pucá, bejuco caro, puci, anil trepador". A vasoconstrictor effect and an antibacterial activity have also been allocated to it. In Brazil, C. sicyoides was evaluated for its anticonvulsant and anti-diabetc properties. Phytochemistry studies identified and isolated sitosterol and resveratrol compounds from its aerial parts which are pointed out as having antitumor activities. The goal of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic and antitumor activities of Cissus sicyoides hydroalcoholic extract as well as its ability to repair leukocytes cells to injured tissue. Cissus sicyoides did not demonstrate cytotoxic activity but showed an inhibition of tumor growth in face of the tumors tested. The extract had a strong chemotactic effect on the twenty four hours period after treatment. The hidroalchoolic extract of Cissus sicyoides presented antitumor activity which was prompted by T lymphocytes recruitment to the local lesion and suggests a new pathway to antitumor activity by activation of lymphoid lineage.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown (Verbenaceae), amplamente distribuída em todo o território brasileiro, é conhecida popularmente como erva cidreira e utilizada na medicina popular como analgésica, febrífuga, antiinflamatória, antigripal e nas afecções hepáticas. Extratos brutos foram preparados a partir de plantas cultivadas, de modo padronizado, em horta medicinal do Laboratório de Fitoterapia da Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuária (IPA) para a verificação da atividade antimicrobiana, in vitro, pelo método de difusão em disco de papel. A concentração inibitória mínima (CIM) foi determinada para os extratos que exibiram melhores atividades. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que os extratos clorofórmico, acetônico e etanólico da raiz foram ativos frente a Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Candida albicans e Monilia sitophila e os extratos hexânicos, etanólicos e metanólicos das folhas inibiram S. aureus, M. luteus, B. subtilis, M. smegmatis e M. sitophila. A menor concentração inibitória (CIM = 31,2 µg/mL), foi obtida para o extrato clorofórmico da raiz frente a B. subtilis e M. luteus.

Lippia alba (Mill.) N. E. Brown (Verbenaceae), commonly known as "erva cidreira", is widely distributed throughout Brazil and is used in folk medicine as an analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cold remedy, as well as to reduce fevers and treat hepatic afflictions. Crude extracts of L. alba were prepared from plants cultivated in the medicinal garden of the Laboratório de Fitoterapia of the Empresa Pernambucana de Pesquisa Agropecuária (IPA), State of Pernambuco, Brazil, using standard techniques to test their in vitro antibacterial activity using the paper disk-diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined for those extracts demonstrating the highest activity. The results demonstrated that the chloroform, acetone and ethanol extracts of root material were active against the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, Mycobacterium smegmatis, Candida albicans and Monilia sitophila, while the hexane, ethanol and methanol extracts of leaves inhibited the growth of S. aureus, M. luteus, B. subtilis, M. smegmatis and M. sitophila. The lowest inhibitory concentration (MIC = 31.2 µg/mL) was obtained with the chloroform root extract against B. subtilis and M. luteus.