Methods and Results:

The anti-EV71 activity of tested compounds was evaluated by a cytopathic effect reduction method. Our results demonstrated that flowers’ extracts of W. fruticosa exerted strong anti-EV71 activity, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of 1 center dot 2 mu g ml-1 and no cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 mu g ml-1, and the derived therapeutic index (TI) was more than 83 center

dot 33. Rivabirin showed no antiviral activity against EV71. Furthermore, GA isolated from W. fruticosa GSK1210151A flowers exhibited a higher anti-EV71 activity than the extract of W. fruticosa flowers, with an IC(50) of 0 center dot 76 mu g ml-1 and no cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 mu g ml-1, and the derived TI was 99 center dot 57.

Conclusions:

This study

demonstrated that flower extracts of W. fruticosa possessed anti-EV71 activity and GA isolated from these flowers showed stronger anti-EV71 activity than that the extracts.

Significance and Impact of the Study:

Our results suggest that the GA from W. fruticosa flowers may be used as a potential antiviral agent.”
“Environmental chemicals have a potential impact on children’s health as the developing brain is much more vulnerable to injury PND-1186 caused by different classes of chemicals than the adult brain. This vulnerability is partly due to the fact that very complex processes of cell development and maturation take place within a tightly controlled time frame. So different stages of brain development are susceptible to toxic effects at different time points. Additionally the adult brain is well

protected against chemicals by the blood brain barrier (BBB) whereas the placenta only partially protects against harmful chemical exposure. Many metals easily cross the placenta and BBB barrier since even after the birth BBB is not entirely differentiated (until about 6 months after birth). Additionally, the susceptibility of infants and children is due to increased exposure, augmented absorption Ribonucleotide reductase rates, and less efficient ability of defense mechanism in comparison to adults.

The In Vitro Session during the 12th International Neurotoxicology Association meeting (Jerusalem, June, 2009) provided the opportunity to discuss the new challenges that have to be faced to create new type of safety assessments for regulatory requirements. The integration of various tests into testing strategies as well as combination of information-rich approaches with bioinformatics was discussed. Furthermore relevant models and endpoints for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) evaluation using in vitro approach were presented. The primary neuronal cultures of cerebellar granule cells (CGCs) as well as 3D aggregate model and the possible application of human embryonic and adult stem cells was discussed pointing out the potential of these models to be used for DNT testing.