Christmas Tree Bio-Waste as a Power Source of Bioactive Materials with Anti-Proliferative Activities for Oral Care
Bartosz Tylkowski,
Piotr Konopka,
Malgorzata Maj,
Lukasz Kazmierski,
Monika Skrobanska,
Xavier Montane,
Marta Giamberini,
Anna Bajek,
Renata Jastrzab
Affiliations
Bartosz Tylkowski
Eurecat, Centre Tecnològic de Catalunya, Marcelli Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Piotr Konopka
Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 8, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
Malgorzata Maj
Tissue Engineering Department, Chair of Urology and Andrology, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Karlowicza str 24, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Lukasz Kazmierski
Tissue Engineering Department, Chair of Urology and Andrology, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Karlowicza str 24, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Monika Skrobanska
Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 8, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
Xavier Montane
Departament de Química Analítica i Química Orgànica, Facultat de Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Carrer Marcelli Domingo s/n, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Marta Giamberini
Department of Chemical Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, Campus Sescelades, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Anna Bajek
Tissue Engineering Department, Chair of Urology and Andrology, The Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Karlowicza str 24, 85-092 Bydgoszcz, Poland
Renata Jastrzab
Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Uniwersytetu Poznanskiego 8, 61-614 Poznan, Poland
According to the American Cancer Society, roughly 54,000 new cases of oral cavity or oropharyngeal cancers have been detected in the United States of America in 2021, and they will cause about 10,850 deaths. The main therapies for cancer management, such as surgery and radio- and chemotherapy, have some own benefits, albeit they are often destructive for surrounding tissues; thus, deep investigations into non-surgical treatments for oral cavities are needed. Biologically active compounds (BACs) extracted from European Spruce needles were analyzed to determine the total phenolic and flavonoid content and were used as additional ingredients for oral hygiene products. An anti-proliferation investigation was carried out using extracts containing BACs with the use of several cell lines (cancer and a normal one). ESI-MS studies on BACs showed that luteolin, a natural flavonoid compound with anti-tumorigenic properties against various types of tumors, is the predominant component of the extracts. MTT, BrdU, and LIVE/DEAD studies demonstrated that BAC extracts obtained from Christmas tree needles possess anticancer properties against squamous cell carcinoma (with epithelial origins). We proved that BAC extracts contain high amounts of luteolin, which induces cytotoxicity toward cancer cells; along with their high selectivity, robustness, and nontoxicity, they are very promising materials in oral health applications.
