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.

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.

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.

Plant-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles: unlocking their pharmacological potential-a comprehensive review

In recent times, nanoparticles have experienced a significant upsurge in popularity, primarily owing to their minute size and their remarkable ability to modify physical, chemical, and biological properties. This burgeoning interest can be attributed to the expanding array of biomedical applications where nanoparticles find utility. These nanoparticles, typically ranging in size from 10 to 100 nm, exhibit diverse shapes, such as spherical, discoidal, and cylindrical configurations. These variations are not solely influenced by the manufacturing processes but are also intricately linked to interactions with surrounding stabilizing agents and initiators. Nanoparticles can be synthesized through physical or chemical methods, yet the biological approach emerges as the most sustainable and eco-friendly alternative among the three. Among the various nanoparticle types, silver nanoparticles have emerged as the most encountered and widely utilized due to their exceptional properties. What makes the synthesis of silver nanoparticles even more appealing is the application of plant-derived sources as reducing agents. This approach not only proves to be cost-effective but also significantly reduces the synthesis time. Notably, silver nanoparticles produced through plant-mediated processes have garnered considerable attention in recent years due to their notable medicinal capabilities. This comprehensive review primarily delves into the diverse medicinal attributes of silver nanoparticles synthesized using plant-mediated techniques. Encompassing antimicrobial properties, cytotoxicity, wound healing, larvicidal effects, anti-angiogenesis activity, antioxidant potential, and antiplasmodial activity, the paper extensively covers these multifaceted roles. Additionally, an endeavor is made to provide an elucidated summary of the operational mechanisms underlying the pharmacological actions of silver nanoparticles.

Two new rotenoid glycosides from the rhizomes of Stemona curtisii Hook. f

Two new rotenoid glycosides named stemonal 11-O-β-D-glucopyranoside and 6-O-methylstemonal 11-O-β-D-glucopyranoside together with ten known metabolites were isolated from the rhizomes of Stemona curtisii. The chemical structures of the new compounds were elucidated based on the analysis of their 1D and 2D NMR and HRESIMS, while the sugar unit and absolute configuration were determined by chemical hydrolysis and ECD analysis. Among the tested compounds for anti-α-glucosidase assay, stemonal showed an inhibitory effect (IC50 = 38.67 µM), which is 2.4-fold more potent than acarbose. Cytotoxic evaluation against the lung adenocarcinoma A549 cell line indicated that none of the compounds were strongly active to suppress the cancer cell growth at 100 µM. This work describes the occurrence of rotenoids bearing a sugar moiety, which are reported for the first time in the genus Stemona. The isolated compound's α-glucosidase inhibitory potential provides insight for further investigation of natural rotenoids as anti-diabetic agents.

Ethnomedicinal Importance of Patuletin in Medicine: Pharmacological Activities and Analytical Aspects

BACKGROUND

Plant-derived bioactive molecules have been a major source of therapeutic agents for human and veterinarian purposes. Different traditional medicine system across the globe had relied on natural resources to meet their demand of healthcare. Still in modern world, pharmaceutical industries look for phytochemicals to develop new drugs. The current review explores patuletin, a flavonoid for its diverse reported pharmacological activities along with its analytical techniques.

METHODS

Scientific data published on patuletin was collected from Scopus, Science Direct, Pubmed, Google, and Google Scholar. The collected data were analyzed and arranged as per specific pharmacological activities performed using in-vitro or in-vivo methods. Analytical methods of patuletin have been presented next to pharmacological activities Results: Available scientific literature indicates patuletin has anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, genotoxic, hepatoprotective, antiproliferative, antiplatelet, antinociceptive, and antioxidant activity. In addition to these activities, its biological potential on breast cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, aldose reductase, and different types of microorganisms has been also presented in this work. Analytical data on patuletin signified the importance of patuletin for the standardization of herbal products and derived medicine.

CONCLUSION

It may be concluded that patuletin with its diverse biological activities and readily available analytical methods, holds the potential to be translated into a new drug entity.

Phenolic and flavonoid compounds from the fruit shell of Camellia oleifera

A new phenolic compound oleiphenol (1), and a new dihydrochalcone oleifechalcone (2) along with seven known compounds (3-9) were isolated from the fruit shell of Camellia oleifera Abel. The planar structures of compounds 1 and 2 were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic analyses (IR, UV, NMR, and HR-ESI-MS) and comparison with literature data. The absolute configurations of the new structures were determined by ECD calculations and chemical methods. In addition, compounds 1-9 underwent a series of pharmacological activity tests, including cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, anti-RSV and antioxidant activities.

Cellular and DNA Toxicity Study of Triphenyltin Ethyl Phenyl Dithiocarbamate and Triphenyltin Butyl Phenyl Dithiocarbamate on K562, Leukemia Cell Line

INTRODUCTION

Continuous research for new effective drugs to treat cancer has improved our understanding on the mechanism of action of these drugs and paved new potential for their application in cancer treatments. In this study, organotin compounds known as triphenyltin ethyl phenyl dithiocarbamate and triphenyltin butyl phenyl dithiocarbamate were investigated for their toxicity on leukemia cell line (K562) and non-cancerous cell line (Chang liver cell and lung fibroblast, V79 cell).

METHODS

MTT assay was performed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of both compounds toward the cells after 24, 48 and 72 hours of exposure or treatment. The alkaline comet assay was conducted to determine the DNA damage on K562 cells after been exposed to both compounds for 30, 60 and 90 minutes.

RESULTS

The IC50 values obtained from K562 cells ranged from 0.01 to 0.30 μM, whereas for both Chang liver cell and lung fibroblast V79 cell, the values ranged from 0.10 to 0.40 μM. For genotoxicity evaluation, the percentage of damaged DNA is measured as an average of tail moment, and was found to be within 1.20 to 2.20 A.U while the percentage of DNA intensity ranging from 1.50 to 3.50% indicating no genotoxic effects.

CONCLUSION

Both compounds are cytotoxic toward leukemia cells and non-cancerous cells but do not exert their genotoxic effects towards leukemia cell.

Comprehensive Review on the Genus Haloxylon: Pharmacological and Phytochemical Properties

AIMS

This review aimed to review the biological, pharmacological, and phytochemical aspects of the genus Haloxylon.

BACKGROUND

Plants of the genus Haloxylon have been used for a long time in traditional medicine, and they are distributed in the western Mediterranean region to the Middle East, Iran, Mongolia, Burma, and southwest China. The studied parts of Haloxylon species include aerial parts, leaves, branches, seeds, roots, rhizosphere, soil, and whole plants, used to treat several diseases, including sexual disorders, hepatobiliary disorders, eye disorders, skin diseases and hemorrhoids, diarrhea, and effective in the treatment of various ailments such as snake bite, stomach ache, diabetes, wounds, earache and sciatica pain, windbreak dune fixation, feeding of livestock and firewood.

OBJECTIVES

Till now, no review on the genus Haloxylon has been conducted. This review aimed to provide updated information on the genus Haloxylon, including traditional medicinal uses, valorization and exploitation of medicinal plants, phytochemistry, botanical characterization, pharmacological and toxicological research focusing on the medicinal properties of several Haloxylon species, especially their antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antifungal activities, as well as the effect of each bioactive molecule isolated from these species and their pharmacological use, including the preclinical evaluation of new drugs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present work was conducted using various scientific databases, including Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, Google Scholar, etc. Correct plant names were verified from plantlist.org. The results of this search were interpreted, analyzed, and documented based on the obtained bibliographic information.

RESULTS

Among all species of the Chenopodiaceae family, 6 species of the Haloxylon genus have approved antioxidant activity, 5 species have antibacterial activity, 3 species have anti-inflammatory activity, 2 species have cytotoxic activity, and 3 species have antifungal activity. The majority of the chemical constituents of this plant include flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, saponins, glycosides, and tannins. Among them, the main bioactive constituents would be present in the alkaloid fraction. The study of more than 9 Haloxylon plants has identified more than 46 compounds. Pharmacological research proved that crude extracts and some pure compounds obtained from Haloxylon had activities for the treatment of different diseases. The objective of the present study was focused on antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antifungal diseases. From the study of the phytochemistry of the Haloxylon family, it was concluded that all studied plants had active compounds. Among them, 11 isolated molecules have medicinal activities with antioxidant properties, 10 molecules showed antibacterial effects, more than 6 molecules have anti-inflammatory properties, more than 9 isolated molecules have medicinal activities against cytotoxic diseases, and more than 28 molecules have antifungal effects. Therefore, the safety of Haloxylon herbal medicine should be considered a top priority in the early stages of development and clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

Several previously conducted studies have validated multiple traditional uses of Haloxylon species. Further research is needed on Haloxylon plants before they can be fully utilized in the clinic as a potent drug candidate, as researchers are mainly focusing on alkaloids, diterpenoids, and triterpenoids, whereas there are many other types of compounds that may possess novel biological activities.

Melinjo Seeds (Gnetum gnemon L.) Antioxidant Activity and Cytotoxic Effects on MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells: A Study Based on Tracing of Resveratrol Compound

Introduction

Breast cancer is one of the deadliest cancers worldwide. One of the polyphenols, namely, resveratrol, has been proven to have anticancer activity. Melinjo seeds which contain resveratrol need to be tested for their potential as an anti-breast cancer agent. This study aims to determine the antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect of melinjo seeds based on solvent variations and resveratrol tracing.

Methods

Extraction of melinjo seeds was performed using the soxhletation method. Antioxidant test was performed using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil method. The in vitro cytotoxic test was carried out using the microtetrazolium method. Cytotoxic test was carried out on MCF-7 breast cancer cells using a concentration range of melinjo seeds between 31,25 and 1000 μg/mL. Antioxidant and anticancer potentials are expressed in inhibitory concentration (IC)50 values. Resveratrol was traced using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (Prep-HPLC).

Results

Melinjo seed ethanol extract provided the largest total phenolics (126,154 ± 0,865 mg GAE/g sample) and total flavonoids (44,576 ± 0,611 mg QE/g sample) among all solvent fractions. The antioxidant activity of melinjo seeds from ethanol extract, n-hexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and ethanol fraction was 263,307 ppm, 317,595 ppm, 160,878 ppm, and 181,159 ppm, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of melinjo seeds showed the strongest cytotoxic effect (94.6 μg/mL) among all extracts and solvent fractions. Prep-HPLC showed that the ethanol extract of melinjo seeds contained resveratrol, while the ethanol and ethyl acetate fractions of melinjo seeds were thought to contain resveratrol derivatives.

Conclusion

The antioxidant activity of melinjo seeds showed a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 cells, which varied based on solvent polarity and total phenolic and total flavonoid. The ethyl acetate fraction which is thought to contain resveratrol derivatives provides the most potent antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect. These results indicate that melinjo seeds containing resveratrol and its derivatives have the potential for anticancer of the breast. Further studies are still needed in determining the structure of resveratrol compounds and their derivatives to ensure their biological activity and mechanism of action.

Micronuclei as an indicator of genotoxic change in epithelial cells of buccal mucosa after panoramic radiographs

BACKGROUND

The radiation released at the time of dental panoramic radiographs causes genotoxic and cytotoxic effects on epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE

This research aimed to evaluate the changes in the frequencies of micronucleated cells in patients' buccal epithelial cells following dental panoramic radiography.

METHODS

74 patients were recruited for the study who were advised for panoramic radiographs. Using a wooden spatula, the buccal epithelial cells were scraped from both cheeks before to panoramic radiation exposure and ten days after the panoramic radiation exposure. Giemsa stain was used to stain the cells, and 500 cells were scored on a slide to determine the frequency of micronuclei. To determine the difference between the frequency of micronuclei before and after radiation exposure, a paired t-test was used in the statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The proportion of micronuclei cells was 0.11% before radiation exposure and 0.57% following radiation exposure after 10 days. A statistically significant increase in the frequencies of micronuclei was noted after radiation exposure values.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the genotoxicity of epithelial cells with dental panoramic radiation exposure. It is advised to reduce the use of such radiographs and to use only when there is no other diagnostic tool that is helpful or when absolutely essential.