Acetogenins from Annonaceae plants: potent antitumor and neurotoxic compounds

Endophytic fungi as a potential source of anti-cancer drug

Endophytes are considered one of the major sources of bioactive compounds used in different aspects of health care including cancer treatment. When colonized, they either synthesize these bioactive compounds as a part of their secondary metabolite production or augment the host plant machinery in synthesising such bioactive compounds. Hence, the study of endophytes has drawn the attention of the scientific community in the last few decades. Among the endophytes, endophytic fungi constitute a major portion of endophytic microbiota. This review deals with a plethora of anti-cancer compounds derived from endophytic fungi, highlighting alkaloids, lignans, terpenes, polyketides, polyphenols, quinones, xanthenes, tetralones, peptides, and spirobisnaphthalenes. Further, this review emphasizes modern methodologies, particularly omics-based techniques, asymmetric dihydroxylation, and biotic elicitors, showcasing the dynamic and evolving landscape of research in this field and describing the potential of endophytic fungi as a source of anticancer drugs in the future.

Scientific Advances in the Last Decade on the Recovery, Characterization, and Functionality of Bioactive Compounds from the Araticum Fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.)

Araticum (Annona crassiflora Mart.) is a native and endemic species to Brazilian Cerrado whose fruits have high sensorial, nutritional, bioactive, and economic potential. Its use in local folk medicine, associated with recent scientific findings, has attracted growing interest from different industrial sectors. Therefore, understanding the scientific advances achieved so far and identifying gaps to be filled is essential to direct future studies and transform accumulated knowledge into innovative technologies and products. In this review, we summarize the phytochemical composition, bioactivities, and food products from araticum fruit that have been reported in the scientific literature over the past 10 years. The compiled data showed that araticum fruit parts contain a wide range of bioactive compounds, particularly phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, carotenoids, phytosterols, and tocols. These phytochemicals contribute to different biological activities verified in araticum fruit extracts/fractions, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, antidyslipidemic, antinociceptive, hepatoprotective, healing of the cutaneous wound, antibacterial, and insecticide effects. Despite the promising findings, further studies-particularly toxicological (especially, with byproducts), pre-clinical, and clinical trials-must be conducted to confirm these biological effects in humans and assure the safety and well-being of consumers.

Evaluation of Genotoxicity and Toxicity of Annona muricata L. Seeds and In Silico Studies

Cancer is a multifactorial organic dysfunction for which great efforts are being devoted in searching for new treatments and therapeutic adjuvants. Annona muricata is a fruit that has promising activity against several types of cancer, as it contains acetogenins, the metabolite group associated with this action. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate, in experimental models, the toxic behavior of an extract and fraction rich in acetogenins from A. muricata seeds and study the acetogenin, Annonacin, in silico. Phytochemical characterization was made by thin layer chromatography, spectroscopy in the infrared region and nuclear magnetic resonance. Toxicity was evaluated by tests of Allium cepa and Artemia salina, and in silico studies using the SwissDock servers DockThor, PharmMapper, ADMETLab, PreADME, Osiris and ProTox. The extract and fraction showed genotoxic activity against meristematic cells of A. cepa, reducing the mitotic index; however, the extract produced great deleterious effects on the system, even causing cell necrosis. In A. Saline, the extract was more toxic than the fraction, but both samples were considered toxic. Annonacin was effectively linked to complex I, and presented different activities regarding toxicity. Thus, the results of this study are promising, highlighting the anticancer potential of acetogenins.

A Review on Traditionally Used African Medicinal Plant Annickia chlorantha, Its Phytochemistry, and Anticancer Potential

Annickia chlorantha Setten & P.J.Maas belongs to the Annonaceae family and is a multi-purpose medicinal plant, which has been extensively used for the traditional treatment option for malaria in western and central Africa. Its phytochemical composition is dominated particularly by various biologically active protoberberines and acetogenins. This review aims to provide a comprehensive review on the traditional uses, phytochemical profiles, and the toxicology of this plant from a myriad of available publications. Even after its tremendous applications against several different human ailments, this plant has been underestimated for its anticancer potential. Herein, based on the phytochemical composition, we discuss the probable mode of mechanism for its antiproliferative activity, which highlights its importance for cytotoxicity screenings against cancer cells. Additionally, this article discusses several research questions and suggests the future directions of its applications in medicinal plant-based anticancer research.