Synergy between rhinacanthins from Rhinacanthus nasutus in inhibition against mosquito cytochrome P450 enzymes

Inhibition of Cytochrome P450s by Strobilanthes crispus Sub-Fraction (F3): Implication for Herb-Drug Interaction

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Strobilanthes crispus Blume sub-fraction (F3) has been reported to be cytotoxic against cancer cells and to cause murine mammary tumor regression. Potential utilization of F3 as an adjuvant in breast cancer treatment to alleviate chemotherapeutic drug resistance is currently hampered by potential cytochrome P450 (CYP)-mediated herb-drug interactions (HDIs). The current study assessed the inhibitory potency of F3 towards five CYP enzymes involved in tamoxifen metabolism.

METHODS

Potential CYP inhibition by F3 was first determined using fluorescence assays, using known CYP inhibitors as reference. To further ascertain the inhibitory potency and mode of inhibition, high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis of specific metabolites of a CYP probe substrate was conducted.

RESULTS

The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values indicate that F3 exhibited relatively weak inhibition on CYP2B6, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, and CYP3A4. Highest susceptibility to inhibition by F3 was observed for CYP2C9, where the IC₅₀ value from fluorescence-based assay was 35-fold higher than control. Further analysis by HPLC-MS/MS revealed relatively weak mixed-type inhibition of F3 on CYP2C9, as indicated by IC₅₀ and inhibition constant (K_I) values. The risk of clinically significant CYP2C9 inhibition by F3 was then predicted based on the attained K_I value and the presumed amount of F3 absorbed from S. crispus leaves following consumption. The calculated maximum plasma concentration to inhibition constant C_max/K_I) ratio suggests that F3 consumption could potentially result in clinically significant drug interactions with medications metabolized by CYP2C9.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, the results revealed a low probability of inhibition by F3 on CYP enzymes involved in tamoxifen metabolism. However, further in vivo investigation is necessary for potential F3 interaction with CYP2C9. The utility of a preliminary in vitro approach in the assessment of potential HDI was demonstrated in this study.

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity against Aedes mosquitoes of essential oils from Arisaema fargesii

BACKGROUND

Dengue fever is caused by the spread of dengue virus by Aedes mosquito vectors. Currently, the most effective way to control dengue is by preventing mosquitoes from spreading the disease. Arisaema fargesii is a Chinese herbal medicine commonly used to repel mosquitoes. In our laboratory, anti-mosquito chemical components were extracted from A. fargesii, and the effects of these substances on mosquito larvae were examined.

RESULTS

In total, 48 compounds corresponding to 98.79% of the total oil were identified and the major compounds identified were linalool (12.38%), carvacrol (8.27%), eugenol (5.21%), and β-selinene (5.36%). Essential oil had larvicidal activity against Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus with LC₅₀ values of 40.49 mg/L, 47.01 mg/L, respectively. The LC₅₀ values of carvacrol, eugenol, linalool and β-selinene were 32.78, 56.34, 70.56, 136.03 mg/L against Ae. aegypti larvae, and 39.08, 52.07, 82.34, 151.74 mg/L, respectively, against Ae. albopictus larvae. Biochemical assays of Aedes larvae showed that the activities of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), monooxygenases (MO), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), p-Nitrophenyl acetate (p-NPA) esterase, α-esterase and β-esterase were significantly affected by carvacrol. Essential oil induced the detoxification mechanism for the action of GST and MO.

CONCLUSION

The result indicates that essential oil of A. fargesii and its isolated constituent have good inhibitory effects on the defense enzymes of Aedes mosquito larvae. A. fargesii essential oil can be used to control Aedes mosquito larvae to prevent the spread of dengue fever. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

In vitro and in silico studies of naphthoquinones and peptidomimetics toward Plasmodium falciparum plasmepsin V

Plasmodium proteases play both regulatory and effector roles in essential biological processes in this important pathogen and have long been investigated as drug targets. Plasmepsin V from P. falciparum (PfPMV) is an essential protease that processes proteins for export into the host erythrocyte and is a focus of ongoing drug development efforts. In the present study, recombinant protein production, inhibition assays, binding studies as well as molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation studies were used to investigate the mode of binding of a PEXEL-based peptidomimetic and naphthoquinone compounds to PfPMV. Consistent with our previous study, refolded PfPMVs were produced with functional characteristics similar to the soluble counterpart. Naphthoquinone compounds inhibited PfPMV activity by 50% at 50 μM but did not affect pepsin activity. The IC₅₀ values of compounds 31 and 37 against PfPMV were 22.25 and 68.94 μM, respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed that PEXEL peptide interacted with PfPMV active site residues via electrostatic interactions while naphthoquinone binding preferred van der Waal interactions. P₁'-Ser of the PfEMP2 substrate formed an additional H-bond with Asp365 promoting the catalytic efficiency. Additionally, the effect of metal ions on the secondary structure of PfPMV was examined. Our results confirmed that Hg²⁺ ions reversibly induced the changes in secondary structure of the protein whereas Fe³⁺ ions induced irreversibly. No change was observed in the presence of Ca²⁺ ions. Overall, the results here suggested that naphthoquinone derivatives may represent another source of antimalarial inhibitors targeting aspartic proteases but further chemical modifications are required.