Cyclic diarylheptanoids from Myrica javanica: isolation, transformation, and bioactivity evaluation

Three cyclic diarylheptanoids, myricanol (1), myricanone (2), and porson (3), were isolated from Myrica javanica (Myricaceae). As a major component, myricanol (1) was obtained from dry powdered bark and twigs (up to 1.6%). Transformation of myricanol (1) afforded 5-prenylmyricanol (4) and 5-benzylmyricanol (5) in 84.5% and 65% yields, respectively. The bioactivities of the isolated cyclic diarylheptanoids and their derivatives were investigated to determine their cytotoxicity and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) scavenging activities. The cytotoxicity assay against murine leukaemia P-388 cells demonstrated that compounds 4 and 5 showed an almost two-fold increase in the activity of their parent molecule (1), with an IC50 value of 12 µM. Furthermore, the free radical scavenging assay showed that myricanol (1) had the highest radical scavenging activity, revealing the importance of the free phenolic group (IC50 39.3 µM).

Two undescribed constituents from Salvia castanea Diels and evaluation of their cytotoxic activity

One previously undescribed abietane diterpene alkaloid containing an oxazole ring (1), one unreported abietane diterpene (2), and nine known abietane diterpenes (3-11) were isolated from the roots and rhizomes of Salvia castanea Diels. Their structures and absolute configurations were elucidated by a combination of HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, and ECD. All compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against several human cancer cell lines (HepG2, A549, H460, MCF7, PC3, and Hela). The results showed that 1 exhibited a moderate cytotoxic effect on HepG2 cells (IC50: 14.22 ± 1.05 μM) and was able to inhibit the cell growth of MCF7 and Hela cells by 35.08% and 47.26% respectively, at a concentration of 20 μM, while other compounds showed low cytotoxic activity.

The Cytoprotective and Cytotoxic Functions of Autophagy in Response to mTOR Inhibitors

The inhibitors of mammalian target of rapapmycin (mTOR), everolimus, temsirolimus and rapamycin, have a wide range of clinical utility; however, as is inevitably the case with other chemotherapeutic agents, resistance development constrains their effectiveness. One putative mechanism of resistance is the promotion of autophagy, which is a direct consequence of the inhibition of the mTOR signaling pathway. Autophagy is primarily considered to be a cytoprotective survival mechanism, whereby cytoplasmic components are recycled to generate energy and metabolic intermediates. The autophagy induced by everolimus and temsirolimus appears to play a largely protective function, whereas a cytotoxic function appears to predominate in the case of rapamycin. In this review we provide an overview of the autophagy induced in response to mTOR inhibitors in different tumor models in an effort to determine whether autophagy targeting could be of clinical utility as adjuvant therapy in association with mTOR inhibition.

Cytotoxic Pentaketide-Sesquiterpenes from the Marine-Derived Fungus Talaromyces variabilis M22734

Talaromyces, a filamentous fungus widely distributed across terrestrial and marine environments, can produce a diverse array of natural products, including alkaloids, polyketones, and polyketide-terpenoids. Among these, chrodrimanins represented a typical class of natural products. In this study, we isolated three previously undescribed pentaketide-sesquiterpenes, 8,9-epi-chrodrimanins (1-3), along with eight known compounds (4-11). The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), while their absolute configurations were determined through X-ray crystallography and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) computations. The biosynthetic pathways of compounds 1-3 initiate with 6-hydroxymellein and involve multiple stages of isoprenylation, cyclization, oxidation, and acetylation. We selected four strains of gastrointestinal cancer cells for activity evaluation. We found that compound 3 selectively inhibited MKN-45, whereas compounds 1 and 2 exhibited no significant inhibitory activity against the four cell lines. These findings suggested that 8,9-epi-chrodrimanins could serve as scaffold compounds for further structural modifications, potentially leading to the development of targeted therapies for gastric cancer.

Can Simulated Microgravity and Darkness Conditions Influence the Phytochemical Content and Bioactivity of the Sprouts?-A Preliminary Study on Selected Fabaceae Species

Sprouts' consumption has become popular due to their wide availability, easy cultivation process, and proven biological activity. Moreover, stress factors, such as limited access to light or disturbed gravity during growth, may contribute to the increased activity and the synthesis of bioactive compounds. In this study, for the first time, the examination of the impact of darkness and simulated microgravity conditions on the white clover sprouts from the Fabaceae family was conducted. Among several species, used in the preliminary attempts, only white clover was satisfactory sprouting in the disturbed gravity conditions, and thus was chosen for further examination. A random positioning machine setup was used during the cultivation process to simulate microgravity conditions. Additionally, the sprouts were cultivated in total darkness. Simulated microgravity and/or darkness during the first few days of the sprouts' growth caused biomass reduction, the increased synthesis of bioactive compounds (isoflavones and phenolics), and changes in the level of abscisic acid and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase. Moreover, it increased the antioxidant properties of the sprouts, while the enhancement of their cytotoxic impact was observed only for androgen-dependent prostate cancer LNCaP cells. To conclude, the presented results are promising in searching for novel functional food candidates and further studies are necessary, directed at other plant families.

2-(4-Nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3(2H)-one: A Promising Selective Agent against Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Liver cancer ranks among the most prevalent malignancies globally and stands as a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Numerous isothiazolone derivatives and analogues have been synthesized and investigated for their potential as anticancer agents; however, limited data exist regarding their efficacy against liver cancer. In the present study, two nitrophenyl-isothiazolones, the 5-benzoyl-2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3(2H)-one (IsoA) and the 2-(4-nitrophenyl)isothiazol-3(2H)-one (IsoB), were preliminarily investigated for their cytotoxicity against hepatoma human (Huh7) cells as a liver cancer model and Immortalized Human Hepatocytes (IHHs) as a model of non-cancerous hepatocytes. IsoB, derived from IsoA after removal of the benzoyl moiety, demonstrated the highest cytotoxic effect against Huh7 cells with CC50 values of 19.3 μΜ at 24 h, 16.4 μΜ at 48 h, and 16.2 μΜ at 72 h of incubation, respectively. IsoB also exhibited selective toxicity against the liver cancerous Huh7 cells compared to IHH cells, reinforcing its role as a potent and selective anticancer agent. Remarkably, the cytotoxicity of IsoB was higher when compared with the standard chemotherapeutical agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), which also failed to exhibit higher toxicity against the liver cancerous cell lines. Moreover, IsoB-treated Huh7 cells presented a noteworthy reduction in mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) after 48 and 72 h, while mitochondrial superoxide levels showed an increase after 24 h of incubation. The molecular mechanism of the IsoB cytotoxic effect was also investigated using RT-qPCR, revealing an apoptosis-mediated cell death along with tumor suppressor TP53 overexpression and key-oncogene MYCN downregulation.

4-Propyl- and 4-phenylcoumarins from mesua lepidota T. Anderson and their cytotoxic activity

Two new 4-phenylcoumarins, mesulepidotins A (1) and B (2), one new 4-propylcoumarin, mesulepidotin C (3), and one known 4-phenylcoumarin (4) were isolated from Mesua lepidota stem barks. The structures of 4-propyl- and 4-phenylcoumarins were identified by analysing 1D and 2D NMR spectra combined with high-resolution ESIMS data. Compounds 1-4 were assayed to MCF-7 and HeLa cells for their cytotoxic activity. Mesulepidotin A (1) showed high activity with an IC50 value of 1.59 and 1.41 µM, respectively.

Pharmaceutical Properties and Phytochemical Profile of Extract Derived from Purple Leaf Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff

Objective

Graptophyllum pictum (L.) Griff is a medicinal shrub belonging to the Acanthaceae family and is traditionally used to treat various diseases. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the pharmaceutical properties and phytochemical profiles of the methanolic extract of G. pictum.

Materials and Methods

G. pictum leaves was extracted using methanol. Antioxidant, cytotoxic on Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 (MCF-7) and HepG2, antidiabetic, and antibacterial properties were evaluated in vitro. Chemical profile of the extract was identified through qualitative (for phytochemicals), quantitative (for phenolic and flavonoid content), and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.

Results

The results showed that the extract had potent antioxidant activity against 2,2-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals with IC50 values of 49.00 ± 3.20 µg/mL and 70.18 ± 3.27 µg/mL, respectively. It also exhibited cytotoxic effects on human breast (MCF-7) and liver (HepG2) carcinoma cells with growth inhibition percentages of 74.29 ± 1.53% and 64.90 ± 1.94%, respectively. The antidiabetic assay showed that the extract had inhibitory effects on α-glucosidase activity with IC50 value 194.59 ± 15.59 µg/mL, indicating its potential to be developed as an antidiabetic agent. Furthermore, it had antibacterial properties against four test strains, and the highest activity was found against Bacillus subtilis American Type Culture Collection 19659, with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values of 625 µg/mL and 1250 µg/mL, respectively. Phytochemical tests indicated the presence of alkaloids, flavonoid and terpenoids in the extract, with total phenolic content and total flavonoid content of 41.17 ± 2.38 mg gallic acid equivalents/g and 26.52 ± 0.61 mg quercetin equivalent/g, respectively. GC-MS analysis revealed that it contained several active compounds, including eicosane, 2,4-Di-tert-butylphenol, hentriacontane, tetracosane, octacosane, sulfurous acid, 2-methylhexacosane, docosane, heneicosane, 1-propene-1,2,3-tricarboxylic acid, tributyl ester, and pentacosane.

Conclusion

The extract derived from G. pictum leaves was a potential source of therapeutic compounds, particularly for antioxidant, antidiabetic, anticancer, and antibacterial agents.

Evaluation of cytotoxic effect of siphonochilone from African ginger: an in vitro analysis

Plants provide a wide array of compounds that can be explored for potential anticancer properties. Siphonochilone, a furanoterpene that represents one of the main components of the African plant Siphonochilus aethiopicus, shows numerous health benefits. However, to date, its antiproliferative properties have not been tested. The aim of this study was to analyze the cytotoxic effects of siphonochilone on a panel of cancer cell lines and its underlying mechanism of action. Our results demonstrated that siphonochilone exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on pancreatic, breast, lung, colon, and liver cancer cell lines showing a IC50 ranging from 22 to 124 μM at 72 h of treatment and highlighting its cytotoxic effect against MCF7 and PANC1 breast and pancreas cancer cell lines (22.03 and 39.03 μM, respectively). Cell death in these tumor lines was mediated by apoptosis by the mitochondrial pathway, as evidenced by siphonochilone-induced depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. In addition, siphonochilone treatment involves the generation of reactive oxygen species that may contribute to apoptosis induction. In this work, we described for the first time the cytotoxic properties of siphonochilone and provided data about the molecular processes of cell death. Although future studies will be necessary, our results support the interest in this molecule in relation to their clinical application in cancer, and especially in breast and pancreatic cancer.

Evasion of NKG2D-mediated cytotoxic immunity by sarbecoviruses

SARS-CoV-2 and other sarbecoviruses continue to threaten humanity, highlighting the need to characterize common mechanisms of viral immune evasion for pandemic preparedness. Cytotoxic lymphocytes are vital for antiviral immunity and express NKG2D, an activating receptor conserved among mammals that recognizes infection-induced stress ligands (e.g., MIC-A/B). We found that SARS-CoV-2 evades NKG2D recognition by surface downregulation of MIC-A/B via shedding, observed in human lung tissue and COVID-19 patient serum. Systematic testing of SARS-CoV-2 proteins revealed that ORF6, an accessory protein uniquely conserved among sarbecoviruses, was responsible for MIC-A/B downregulation via shedding. Further investigation demonstrated that natural killer (NK) cells efficiently killed SARS-CoV-2-infected cells and limited viral spread. However, inhibition of MIC-A/B shedding with a monoclonal antibody, 7C6, further enhanced NK-cell activity toward SARS-CoV-2-infected cells. Our findings unveil a strategy employed by SARS-CoV-2 to evade cytotoxic immunity, identify the culprit immunevasin shared among sarbecoviruses, and suggest a potential novel antiviral immunotherapy.

Untargeted metabolomics using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS for identifying cytotoxic compounds on MCF-7 breast cancer cells from Annona muricata Linn leaf extracts as potential anticancer agents

INTRODUCTION

The leaves of Annona muricata L., known as "soursop" or "sirsak" in Indonesia, are used traditionally for cancer treatment. However, the bioactive components remain largely unidentified.

OBJECTIVE

This study used untargeted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)-based metabolomics to identify potential cytotoxic compounds in A. muricata leaf extracts on MCF-7 breast cancer cells in vitro.

METHODS

A. muricata leaves were macerated with water, 99% ethanol, and aqueous mixtures containing 30%, 50%, and 80% ethanol. Cytotoxic activity of the extracts against MCF-7 breast cancer cells was determined using the MTT assay. Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Q-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-HRMS) was used to characterize the metabolite composition of each extract. The correlations between metabolite profile and cytotoxic activities were evaluated using orthogonal partial least square discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA). The binding of these bioactive compounds to the tumorigenic alpha-estrogen receptor (3ERT) was then evaluated by in silico docking simulations.

RESULTS

Ninety-nine percent ethanol extracts demonstrated the greatest potency for reducing MCF-7 cell viability (IC50 = 22 μg/ml). We detected 35 metabolites in ethanol extracts, including alkaloids, flavonoids, and acetogenins. OPLS-DA predicted that annoreticuin, squadiolin C, and xylopine, and six unknown acetogenin metabolites, might reduce MCF-7 cell viability. In silico analysis predicted that annoreticuin, squadiolin C, and xylopine bind to 3ERT with an affinity comparable to doxorubicin.

CONCLUSION

Untargeted metabolomics and in silico modeling identified cytotoxic compounds on MCF-7 cells and binding affinity to 3ERT in A. muricata leaf extracts. The findings need to be further verified to prove the screening results.

Important Factors Affecting Induction of Cell Death, Oxidative Stress and DNA Damage by Nano- and Microplastic Particles In Vitro

We have described the influence of selected factors that increase the toxicity of nanoplastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs) with regard to cell viability, various types of cell death, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction, and genotoxicity. These factors include plastic particle size (NPs/MPs), zeta potential, exposure time, concentration, functionalization, and the influence of environmental factors and cell type. Studies have unequivocally shown that smaller plastic particles are more cytotoxic, penetrate cells more easily, increase ROS formation, and induce oxidative damage to proteins, lipids, and DNA. The toxic effects also increase with concentration and incubation time. NPs with positive zeta potential are also more toxic than those with a negative zeta potential because the cells are negatively charged, inducing stronger interactions. The deleterious effects of NPs and MPs are increased by functionalization with anionic or carboxyl groups, due to greater interaction with cell membrane components. Cationic NPs/MPs are particularly toxic due to their greater cellular uptake and/or their effects on cells and lysosomal membranes. The effects of polystyrene (PS) vary from one cell type to another, and normal cells are more sensitive to NPs than cancerous ones. The toxicity of NPs/MPs can be enhanced by environmental factors, including UV radiation, as they cause the particles to shrink and change their shape, which is a particularly important consideration when working with environmentally-changed NPs/MPs. In summary, the cytotoxicity, oxidative properties, and genotoxicity of plastic particles depends on their concentration, duration of action, and cell type. Also, NPs/MPs with a smaller diameter and positive zeta potential, and those exposed to UV and functionalized with amino groups, demonstrate higher toxicity than larger, non-functionalized and environmentally-unchanged particles with a negative zeta potential.

Microwave-Assisted Atom Transfer Radical Cyclization in the Synthesis of 3,3-Dichloro-γ- and δ-Lactams from N-Alkenyl-Tethered Trichloroacetamides Catalyzed by RuCl2(PPh3)3 and Their Cytotoxic Evaluation

An expeditious synthesis of γ- and δ-lactams from tethered alkenyl trichloroacetamides in the presence of 5% of RuCl2(PPh3)3 is reported. In this investigation we have demonstrated that microwave activation significantly enhances reaction rates, leading to the formation of the corresponding lactams in yields ranging from good to excellent. Thus, we have been able to prepare a wide range of lactams, including indole and morphan bicyclic scaffolds, where the corresponding reactions were completely diastereoselective. This process was successfully extended to α,α-dichloroamides without affecting either their yield or their diastereoselectivity. Some of the lactams prepared in this work were evaluated for their hemolytic and cytotoxic responses. All compounds were found to be non-hemolytic at the tested concentration, indicating their safety profile in terms of blood cell integrity. Meanwhile, they exhibited interesting cytotoxicity responses that depend on both their lactam structure and cell line. Among the molecules tested, γ-lactam 2a exhibited the lowest IC50 values (100-250 µg/mL) as a function of its cell line, with promising selectivity against squamous carcinoma cells (A431) in comparison with fibroblasts (3T3 cell line).

Cytotoxic and Antibacterial Meroterpenoids Isolated from the Marine-Derived Fungus Talaromyces sp. M27416

Three novel meroterpenoids, taladrimanins B-D (1-3), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Talaromyces sp. M27416, alongside three biogenetically related compounds (4-6). We delineated taladrimanin B's (1) structure using HRESIMS and NMR, confirmed its configuration via quantum chemical NMR analysis and DP4+ methodology, and verified it through X-ray crystallography. ECD calculations determined the absolute configuration of compound 1, while comparative NMR and ECD analyses elucidated the absolute configurations of 2 and 3. These compounds are drimane-type meroterpenoids with a C10 polyketide unit (8R-configuration). We proposed a biosynthetic pathway and noted that compound 1 showed cytotoxic activity against MKN-45 and 5637 cell lines and selective antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus CICC 10384.

Hemisynthesis and cytotoxic evaluation of manoyl oxide analogs from sclareol: effect of two tertiary hydroxyls & Heck coupling on cytotoxicity

Sclareol, a bioactive diterpene alcohol isolated from Salvia sclarea, was subjected to structural modification and cytotoxic evaluation. Boron-Heck-coupled analogs of manoyl oxide were prepared from sclareol in a two-step reaction scheme. In the first step manoyl oxide was prepared from sclareol using cerium (IV) ammonium nitrate. Further the structural modification of manoyl oxide via Palladium (II) catalysed Boron-Heck coupling reaction produced a new series of compounds. All the synthesised compounds were screened for in vitro cytotoxic evaluation against four cancer cell lines HCT-116, MCF-7, MDA-MB231and MDA-MB468. The results showed that manoyl oxide is less active than sclareol. Sclareol shows an IC50 of 2.0 µM compared to manoyl oxide with an IC50 of 50 µM against the MCF-7 cell line. From the results it was inferred that the presence of two tertiary hydroxyls in sclareol are necessary for its cytotoxic activity and Heck coupled analogs are more active than sclareol and manoyl oxide.

Risk Factors Associated with Chemotherapy-Induced Nausea and Vomiting Among Women with Breast Cancer Receiving Highly Emetogenic Chemotherapy: Individual Patient-Based Analysis of Three Prospective Antiemetic Trials

Purpose

Although risk factors related to chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) have been identified in previous studies, only a few studies have evaluated the risk factors associated with contemporary antiemetic prophylaxis, including olanzapine/aprepitant- or NEPA-containing regimens. This study aimed to identify the risk factors associated with CINV development in Chinese breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

Methods

Data from 304 patients enrolled in 3 previously reported prospective antiemetic studies were included. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to predict risk factors associated with CINV occurrence. Additionally, the likelihood of treatment failure in relation to the number of risk factors in individual patients was evaluated.

Results

Multivariate analysis of the entire study group revealed that obesity status (defined as body mass index/= 25.0 kg/m2) and the use of olanzapine/aprepitant- or NEPA-containing anti-emetic regimens were associated with a high likelihood, while a history of motion sickness was associated with a lower likelihood, complete response (CR), and "no nausea" in the overall phase. A history of vomiting during pregnancy was also associated with a lower likelihood of an overall CR. Patients with an increasing number of risk factors had a higher likelihood of treatment failure and shorter time to first vomiting. Those who did not achieve CR and "no nausea" in the first cycle were less likely to achieve these parameters in the subsequent cycle of chemotherapy.

Conclusion

The present study confirmed previously reported risk factors for CINV in Chinese breast cancer patients receiving doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Further optimization of CINV control is required for patients with identifiable risk factors; olanzapine/aprepitant- or NEPA- containing prophylaxis are the preferred contemporary anti-emetics regimens for Chinese breast cancer patients undergoing doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Activity of Nanoformulated Chamomile and Green Tea-Based Mouthwash: An In Vitro Study

Introduction Nanotechnology plays a significant role in the biomedical and dental fields, offering numerous benefits to humans. Particularly, nanoparticles synthesised through green methods involving herbal formulations present promising advantages. Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) demonstrate strong antibacterial properties. Utilising treatments incorporating chamomile tea and green tea may potentially reduce toxicity while enhancing antibacterial effectiveness against oral infections. This study aimed to develop a mouthwash containing ZnONPs, followed by an evaluation of both its cytotoxicity and antibacterial effectiveness. Materials and methods This study was conducted at Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Science, Chennai, India. In the synthesis of ZnONPs, a formulation consisting of chamomile tea and green tea was employed. Subsequently, these synthesised nanoparticles were used in the preparation of mouthwash. An antimicrobial test of the produced ZnONPs was carried out using the agar well diffusion technique for oral pathogens. For analysis of cytotoxicity, brine shrimps were used in an assay, and comparisons were made with a commercially available mouthwash. Results The antimicrobial properties were assessed, and the formulated mouthwash demonstrated a zone of inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus (20 mm), Enterococcus faecalis (11 mm), Streptococcus mutans (15 mm) and Candida albicans (13 mm), when the agar well diffusion assay was carried out. Furthermore, the formulated mouthwash exhibited lower cytotoxicity compared to the commercially available mouthwash when cytotoxicity was checked in brine shrimps. Conclusion In our study, the ZnONP synthesis with chamomile tea and green tea showed notable antibacterial and antifungal effects. In addition, lower toxicity was observed compared to the commercially available mouthwash. These findings suggest that mouthwash formulated with green-synthesis ZnONPs could serve as a viable alternative to synthetic mouthwash options. As a result, it is suggested that ZnONPs could be employed in mouthwash formulations at concentrations of 40 µL.

The ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, and pharmacological properties of the genus Bersama: current review and future perspectives

Bersama (Melianthaceae) has been used in traditional medicine for a wide range of ailments, including blood purifier, immune booster, psychotropic medication, and treatment for malaria, hepatitis, infertility, diabetes, impotency, meningitis, and stroke. This review gathers fragmented information from the literature on ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of the Bersama genus. It also explores the therapeutic potential of the Bersama genus in ethnophytopharmacology, allowing for further investigation. All the available information published in the English language on Bersama genus was compiled from electronic databases such as Academic Journals, Ethnobotany, Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and library search using the following keywords: "Bersama genus," "traditional use," "phytochemistry," "pharmacological effects," and "toxicology". The ethnomedical applications of the Bersama genus have been recorded, and it has been used traditionally for more than 30 different types of ailments. Thus far, more than 50 compounds have been isolated from the genus. Cardiac glycosides and terpenoids are the main compounds isolated from the Bersama genus. Different plant parts of Bersama genus extracts demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, antimalarial, antidiabetic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activity. Exemplary drug leads from the genus include mangiferin and quercetin-3-O-arabinopyranoside, both of which have antioxidant activities. Bersama genus has long been used to cure a wide range of ailments. Bersama genus extracts and phytochemicals have been found to have promising pharmacological activities. Further study on promising crude extracts and compounds is required to develop innovative therapeutic candidates.

Phyto-pharmacological evaluation and characterization of the methanolic extract of the Baccaurea motleyana Müll. Arg. seed: promising insights into its therapeutic uses

Introduction: Plants and their extracts have been integral to the development of medicinal treatments throughout history, offering a vast array of compounds for innovative therapies. Baccaurea motleyana Müll. Arg., commonly known as Rambai, is an evergreen tree with economic importance in the Old-World Tropics. Method: The study investigates its phytochemical composition through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) and evaluates its pharmacological properties, including antidiabetic, antidiarrheal, antimicrobial, and antidepressant effects. Result and Discussion: The GC-MS analysis revealed 15 bioactive compounds in the methanol extract, with Phenol, 3,5-bis(1,1-dimethylethyl)-, Methyl stearate, and Hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester being the predominant ones. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrated significant activity in the ethyl acetate fraction. Antimicrobial assays indicated mild to moderate antibacterial activity. In vivo studies on mice revealed significant hypoglycemic, antidiarrheal, and antidepressant properties. Molecular docking studies against EGFR, DHFR, GLUT-3, KOR, and MOA identified promising compounds with potential therapeutic effects. The identified compounds exhibited favorable ADME/T properties, emphasizing their potential for drug development. The study underscores the promising therapeutic potential of Baccaurea motleyana, showcasing its diverse bioactive compounds with significant medicinal properties. Conclusion: These findings lay the groundwork for future research, emphasizing the exploration of B. motleyana as a source of natural remedies for addressing prevalent health conditions.

An axon-T cell feedback loop enhances inflammation and axon degeneration

Inflammation is closely associated with many neurodegenerative disorders. Yet, whether inflammation causes, exacerbates, or responds to neurodegeneration has been challenging to define because the two processes are so closely linked. Here, we disentangle inflammation from the axon damage it causes by individually blocking cytotoxic T cell function and axon degeneration. We model inflammatory damage in mouse skin, a barrier tissue that, despite frequent inflammation, must maintain proper functioning of a dense array of axon terminals. We show that sympathetic axons modulate skin inflammation through release of norepinephrine, which suppresses activation of γδ T cells via the β2 adrenergic receptor. Strong inflammatory stimulation-modeled by application of the Toll-like receptor 7 agonist imiquimod-causes progressive γδ T cell-mediated, Sarm1-dependent loss of these immunosuppressive sympathetic axons. This removes a physiological brake on T cells, initiating a positive feedback loop of enhanced inflammation and further axon damage.

Secondary metabolites from the deep-sea derived fungus Aspergillus terreus MCCC M28183

Aspergillus fungi are renowned for producing a diverse range of natural products with promising biological activities. These include lovastatin, itaconic acid, terrin, and geodin, known for their cholesterol-regulating, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, and antibiotic properties. In our current study, we isolated three dimeric nitrophenyl trans-epoxyamides (1-3), along with fifteen known compounds (4-18), from the culture of Aspergillus terreus MCCC M28183, a deep-sea-derived fungus. The structures of compounds 1-3 were elucidated using a combination of NMR, MS, NMR calculation, and ECD calculation. Compound 1 exhibited moderate inhibitory activity against human gastric cancer cells MKN28, while compound 7 showed similar activity against MGC803 cells, with both showing IC50 values below 10 μM. Furthermore, compound 16 exhibited moderate potency against Vibrio parahaemolyticus ATCC 17802, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 7.8 μg/mL. This promising research suggests potential avenues for developing new pharmaceuticals, particularly in targeting specific cancer cell lines and combating bacterial infections, leveraging the unique properties of these Aspergillus-derived compounds.

Diving into paclitaxel: isolation and screening content from Taxus sumatrana at Singgalang Conservation Center, West Sumatra

The report features the first isolation of paclitaxel from wood of conservated Taxus sumatrana. The T. sumatrana is a nationally protected endemic plant that has been successfully cultivated outside its natural habitat at the Singgalang Conservation Centre in West Sumatra. The paclitaxel was utilised as a reference standard for evaluating its presence in different parts of T. sumatrana. This analysis exhibits that the acetone extract from T. sumatrana bark contained the highest paclitaxel concentration, measuring about 0.473 ± 0.031 ppm. The isolated paclitaxel demonstrated potent cytotoxic activity against A549, HeLa, and MCF7 cancer cells, by IC50 values of 3.26 ± 0.334, 2.85 ± 0.257, and 3.81 ± 0.013 μM, respectively. This outcome provides scientific support for conservation programs and campaigns for the community to engage in conservation efforts.

Predicting fungal secondary metabolite activity from biosynthetic gene cluster data using machine learning

Fungal secondary metabolites (SMs) contribute to the diversity of fungal ecological communities, niches, and lifestyles. Many fungal SMs have one or more medically and industrially important activities (e.g., antifungal, antibacterial, and antitumor). The genes necessary for fungal SM biosynthesis are typically located right next to each other in the genome and are known as biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs). However, whether fungal SM bioactivity can be predicted from specific attributes of genes in BGCs remains an open question. We adapted machine learning models that predicted SM bioactivity from bacterial BGC data with accuracies as high as 80% to fungal BGC data. We trained our models to predict the antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic/antitumor bioactivity of fungal SMs on two data sets: (i) fungal BGCs (data set comprised of 314 BGCs) and (ii) fungal (314 BGCs) and bacterial BGCs (1,003 BGCs). We found that models trained on fungal BGCs had balanced accuracies between 51% and 68%, whereas training on bacterial and fungal BGCs had balanced accuracies between 56% and 68%. The low prediction accuracy of fungal SM bioactivities likely stems from the small size of the data set; this lack of data, coupled with our finding that including bacterial BGC data in the training data did not substantially change accuracies currently limits the application of machine learning approaches to fungal SM studies. With >15,000 characterized fungal SMs, millions of putative BGCs in fungal genomes, and increased demand for novel drugs, efforts that systematically link fungal SM bioactivity to BGCs are urgently needed.IMPORTANCEFungi are key sources of natural products and iconic drugs, including penicillin and statins. DNA sequencing has revealed that there are likely millions of biosynthetic pathways in fungal genomes, but the chemical structures and bioactivities of >99% of natural products produced by these pathways remain unknown. We used artificial intelligence to predict the bioactivities of diverse fungal biosynthetic pathways. We found that the accuracies of our predictions were generally low, between 51% and 68%, likely because the natural products and bioactivities of only very few fungal pathways are known. With >15,000 characterized fungal natural products, millions of putative biosynthetic pathways present in fungal genomes, and increased demand for novel drugs, our study suggests that there is an urgent need for efforts that systematically identify fungal biosynthetic pathways, their natural products, and their bioactivities.

Camellia annamensis (Theaceae): phytochemical analysis, cytotoxic, antioxidative, and antimicrobial activities

Cytotoxic, antioxidative, and antimicrobial activities of Camellia annamensis, and its chemical compositions were first provided in the current study. Phenolic contents in the methanol extracts of its leaves and flowers were 222.73 ± 0.09 and 64.44 ± 0.08 mg GAE/g extract, whereas flavonoid contents in these parts were 108.80 ± 0.28 and 131.26 ± 0.39 mg rutin/g extract, respectively. By using HPLC-DAD analysis, gallic acid (43.72 ± 0.09 - 81.89 ± 1.83 mg/g) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (67.31 ± 1.26 - 70.68 ± 7.82 mg/g) were identified as the major compounds. C. annamensis leaf and flower extracts were moderately cytotoxic against A549, HT-29, SK-Mel-2, MCF-7, HepG2, HeLa, and MKN-7. Particularly, they are better than the standards trolox (IC50 7.57 ± 0.23 µg/mL) in lipid peroxidation inhibitory evaluation, and streptomycin (IC50/MIC = 45.34-50.34/128-256 µg/mL) in antimicrobial assay against the Gram-positive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis ATCC299212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC25923, and the Gram-negative bacterium Salmonella enterica ATCC13076.

Preclinical Evaluation of Zn(II) Self-Assemblies with Selective Cytotoxic Activity Against Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Ovo

Dipodal pyridylthiazole amine ligands L1 and L2 both form different metallo-supramolecular self-assemblies with Zn2+ and Cu2+ and these are shown to be toxic and selective towards cancer cell lines in vitro. Furthermore, potency and selectivity are highly dependent upon the metal ions, ligand system and bound anion, with significant changes in chemosensitivity and selectivity dependent upon which species are employed. Importantly, significant anti-tumor activity was observed in ovo at doses that are non-toxic.