Project description:<p>The history of lichen compound identification has long relied on techniques such as spot tests and TLC, which have been surpassed in sensitivity and accuracy by modern metabolomic techniques such as high-resolution MS/MS. In 2019, Olivier-Jimenez et al. released the Lichen DataBase (LDB), a library containing the Q-TOF MS/MS spectra of 251 metabolites on the GNPS and MetaboLights platforms, that has been widely used for the identification of lichen-derived unknowns. To increase the compound coverage, we have generated the Orbitrap MS/MS spectra of a further 534 lichen-derived compounds from the metabolite library of Jack Elix, housed at the CANB herbarium (Canberra, Australia). This included 399 unique metabolites that are not in the LDB, bringing the total number combined to 650. Technical validation was achieved by investigating the compounds in three Australian lichen extracts using the Library Search and Molecular Networking tools on the GNPS platform. This update provides a much larger database for lichen compound identification, which we envisage will allow refining of the chemotaxonomy framework and contribute to compound discovery.</p>
Project description:Lichens are a source of secondary metabolites with significant pharmacological potential. Data regarding their possible application in glioblastoma (GBM) treatment are, however scarce. The study aimed to analyze the mechanism of action of six lichen secondary metabolites: atranorin, caperatic acid, physodic acid, squamatic acid, salazinic acid, and lecanoric acid using two- and three-dimensional GBM cell line models. The Parallel Artificial Membrane Permeation Assay was used to predict the blood-brain barrier penetration ability of the tested compounds. Their cytotoxicity was analyzed using MTT test on A-172, T98G, and U-138 MG cells. Flow cytometry was applied for the analysis of oxidative stress, cell cycle distribution, and apoptosis, whereas qPCR and microarrays detected the induced transcriptomic changes. Our data confirm the ability of lichen secondary metabolites to cross the blood-brain barrier and exert cytotoxicity against GBM cells. Moreover, the compounds generated oxidative stress, interfered with the cell cycle, and induced apoptosis in T98G cells. They also inhibited Wnt/β-catenin pathway, and this effect was even stronger in case of a co-treatment with temozolomide. Transcriptomic changes in cancer related genes induced by caperatic acid and temozolomide were the most pronounced. Lichen secondary metabolites, in particular caperatic acid should be further analyzed as potential anti-GBM agents.
Project description:Comparing gene expression in Oral and genital lichen planus with normal oral and genital epithelium trying to idenitfy differently expressed genes in lichen planus compared to normal epithelium Total RNA obtained from oral and genital lichen planus epithelium compared with normal oral and genital epithelium
Project description:<p>While analytical techniques in natural products research massively shifted to liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, lichen chemistry remains reliant on limited analytical methods, Thin Layer Chromatography being the gold standard. To meet the modern standards of metabolomics within lichenochemistry, we announce the publication of an open access MS/MS library with 250 metabolites, coined LDB for Lichen DataBase, providing a comprehensive coverage of lichen chemodiversity. These were donated by the Berlin Garden and Botanical Museum from the collection of Siegfried Huneck to be analyzed by LC-MS/MS. Spectra at individual collision energies were submitted to MetaboLights while merged spectra were uploaded to the GNPS platform (CCMSLIB00004751209 to CCMSLIB00004751517). Technical validation was achieved by dereplicating three lichen extracts using a Molecular Networking approach, revealing the detection of eleven unique molecules that would have been missed without LDB implementation to the GNPS. From a chemist's viewpoint, this database should help streamlining the isolation of formerly unreported metabolites. From a taxonomist perspective, the LDB offers a versatile tool for the chemical profiling of newly reported species.</p>
Project description:We compared the transcriptomes of tissues from Oral lichen planus patients with immunosuppressive therapy to reveal the biological mechanism of oral lichen planus treatment.
Project description:In this study, we have characterized and compared the effects of differently prepared chamomile extracts and characteristic pure compounds on the T cell redox milieu as well as on the migration, activation, proliferation, and cytokine production of primary human T cells. Futhermore, nCounter based gene expression profiling was performed on the most promising extracts (Chamomile aqueous total fermented-CT, aqueous toot fermented-CR, and ethanolic flower-CF) and pure compounds (Apigenin-Ap and Chamazulene-Cz) to identify the genes related to different T cell functions, that were targeted by the different treatment conditions.
Project description:Comparing gene expression in Oral and genital lichen planus with normal oral and genital epithelium trying to idenitfy differently expressed genes in lichen planus compared to normal epithelium
Project description:In this study, we compared microRNA (miRNA) profiles of salivary exosomes of patients with oral lichen planus with those of healthy controls. Saliva samples from 16 patients with oral lichen planus and 8 healthy controls were divided into 2 sets and were examined by performing miRNA microarray analysis. Examination of 8 oral lichen planus patients and 4 healthy controls. Each patient and control represent pooled RNAs from salivary exosomes of 8 patients and 4 healthy controls, respectively. Please note that each set (i.e. set1 and set2) was analysed independently.