Therapeutic Efficacy of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Flowers to Inhibit Proliferation of Acute and Chronic Primary Human Leukemia Cells, with Adipocyte Differentiation and in Silico Analysis of Interactions between Survivin Protein and Selected Secondary Metabolites

Mitochondria mediated inhibitory effect of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (L.) flower extract against breast adenocarcinoma and T-cell lymphoma: An in vitro and in vivo study

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (L.) heals mouth ulcers. Its tinctures promote gastric secretions, and improve lung expectoration when taken orally. It has traditionally been used to treats scabies and other skin problems. The leaves of NAT(L.) plant are used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat sciatica, chronic fever, rheumatism, internal worm infections, and as a laxative, diaphoretic, and diuretic. The bark used in treatment of snakebite and bronchitis. In addition to traditional uses, pharmacologically this plant has potent antimalarial, antiarthritic, anticancer and antidiabetic activity. However, the mechanistic antiproliferative potentials of NAT(L.) flower as anticancer therapeutics has not yet been explored.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The current study is based on a broad range of scientific literature that highlights the nutritional and therapeutic benefits of NAT (L.). Present investigation was carried out to determine the therapeutic efficacy of NAT (L.) against breast adenocarcinoma cells and T-cell lymphoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The ethyl-acetate extract of NAT(L.) was tested against breast cancer cells to assess the anticancer potential. To evaluate apoptosis, intracellular ROS levels and mitochondrial dynamics, fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were employed. Additionally, cell cycle analysis and western blotting were also performed. Furthermore, in vivo antitumor efficacy of flower extracts was investigated in T-cell lymphoma-bearing BALB/c mice model.

RESULTS

Our present study revealed that NAT (L.) exert anticancer activity against breast cancer cells effectively at IC50 320 μg/ml while having less impact on normal cells with IC50 more than 480 μg/ml. Fluorescence imaging showed that NAT (L.) treatment elicits a concentration-dependent rise in the occurrence of apoptotic cell deaths with altered mitochondrial dynamics and was subsequently confirmed by flow cytometry. Further, flow cytometric analysis delineates ethyl acetate flower extract exposure promotes arrest of cells in S phase of the cell cycle. The differential expression of apoptotic proteins such as Bax, Bcl-2, cleaved PARP-1, cleaved caspase 3, Cytochrome-c, p53 and VEGF A were influenced by NAT (L.) treatment. The in vivo antitumor activity study delineates that NAT(L.) therapy significantly increased the life span of T-cell lymphoma bearing mice while reducing tumor load and belly size growth pattern without causing significant other distinct side effects as evident by histopathological studies.

CONCLUSION

Our current findings unveil that NAT(L.) ethyl acetate flower extract potentially induces mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis, promote cell cycle arrest, reduces tumor load of mice, enhances survivability and could be a promising agent against the triple negative breast cancer and lymphoma.

Depiction of new flavonoids from Nyctanthus arbor-tristis, their antimicrobial activity and drug-likeness prediction

Bioactive compounds derived from medicinal plants, such as alkaloids, tannins and flavonoids, possess significant medicinal properties. These compounds have a broad and versatile impact on human nutrition and physiology, contributing to the treatment and management of various diseases. The isolation, structure elucidation and inhibition studies of two novel flavonoids against specific microorganisms, from the leaves of Nyctanthus arbor-tristis are reported in this study. It has been observed for the first time that the presence of an acyl aliphatic moiety, along with the O- glycoside unit at C-7, and the hydroxyl group at C-5, C-4' position in apigenin significantly enhanced antimicrobial activity. Moreover, bioactivity was also investigated through 'Molinspiration' on various parameters followed by the 'rule of five'. This study can be used to highlight the need for the potential development of natural therapeutic products with fewer side effects.

Anti-cancer Application of Nat-ZnFe2O4 Nanoparticles on 2D Tumor Models

Metal/Metal Oxide nanoparticles (M/MO NPs) exhibit potential biomedical applications due to their tunable physicochemical properties. Recently, the biogenic synthesis of M/MO NPs has gained massive attention due to their economical and eco-friendly nature. In the present study, Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Nat) flower extract-derived Zinc Ferrite NPs (Nat-ZnFe2O4 NPs) were synthesized and physicochemically characterized by FTIR, XRD, FE-SEM, DLS, and other instruments to study their crystallinity, size, shape, net charge, presence of phytocompounds on NP's surface and several other features. The average particle size of Nat-ZnFe2O4 NPs was approx. 25.87 ± 5.67 nm. XRD results showed the crystalline nature of Nat-ZnFe2O4 NPs. The net surface charge on NPs was -13.28 ± 7.18 mV. When tested on mouse fibroblasts and human RBCs, these NPs were biocompatible and hemocompatible. Later, these Nat-ZnFe2O4 NPs exhibited potent anti-neoplastic activity against pancreatic, lung, and cervical cancer cells. In addition, NPs induced apoptosis in tested cancer cells through ROS generation. These in vitro studies confirmed that Nat-ZnFe2O4 NPs could be used for cancer therapy. Moreover, further studies are recommended on ex vivo platforms for future clinical applications.

Phytochemical Screening of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis Plant Extracts and Their Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activity Analysis

Nyctanthes arbor-tristis, alias "Vishnu Parijat," is a medicinal plant used to treat various inflammation-associated ailments and to combat innumerable infections in the traditional system of medicine. In the present study, we collected the samples of N. arbor-tristis from the lower Himalayan region of Uttarakhand, India, and carried out their molecular identification through DNA barcoding. To examine the antioxidant and antibacterial activities, we prepared the ethanolic and aqueous extracts (from flowers and leaves) and performed their phytochemical analysis by using different qualitative and quantitative approaches. The phytoextracts showed marked antioxidant potential, as revealed by a comprehensive set of assays. The ethanolic leaf extract showed marked antioxidant potential towards DPPH, ABTS, and NO scavenging (IC50 = 30.75 ± 0.006, 30.83 ± 0.002, and 51.23 ± 0.009 μg/mL, respectively). We used TLC-bioautography assay to characterize different antioxidant constituents (based on their Rf values) in the chromatograms ran under different mobile phases. For one of the prominent antioxidant spots in TLC bioautography, GC-MS analysis identified cis-9-hexadecenal and n-hexadecanoic acid as the major constituents. Furthermore, in antibacterial study, the ethanolic leaf extract showed marked activity against Aeromonas salmonicida (113.40 mg/mL of extract was equivalent to 100 μg/mL of kanamycin). In contrast, the ethanolic flower extract showed considerable antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (125.85 mg/mL of extract ≡100 μg/mL of kanamycin). This study presents the phylogenetic account and unravels the antioxidant-related properties and antibacterial potential of N. arbor-tristis.

Carbon nanoprobe derived from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis flower: Unveiling the surface defect-derived fluorescence

Dual Emissive (green and blue) Carbon dots (C-Dots) aka g-CD and b-CD were synthesized using flowers of Nyctanthes arbortristis as the sole precursor via hydrothermal method without the aid of any external passivating agent. In the present report, the effect of time and temperature on the hydrothermal reaction was evaluated in order to modulate the surface defects that could lead to dual emissions. To gauge the nature, size, morphology, and optoelectronic characteristics, the C-Dots were characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-Vis spectroscopy and Fluorescence spectroscopy. The fluorescence studies of both the Carbon Dots revealed their excitation-dependent emission characteristics with the bathochromic shift. Furthermore, both g-CD and b-CD could effectively be utilized as efficient fluorescent probes for the selective and sensitive detection of Fe3+. These fluorescent nanoprobes could selectively detect Fe3+ over a wide range of concentrations (3 µM to 100 µM) with limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.06 µM and 0.70 µM respectively. These tuneable Carbon Dots having wider solubilities would open a new avenue as Nanosensors for real-time applications.

Yeast-Hydrolysate-Derived 1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic Acid Inhibits Fat Accumulation during Adipocyte Differentiation

This study aimed to investigate the impact of yeast hydrolysate (YH) on lipogenesis, elucidate its mechanistic action, and identify the active compounds responsible for its anti-adipogenic effects. YH (2 mg/mL) significantly reduced Oil Red O-stained lipids. YH (2 mg/mL) also downregulated C/EBPβ and upregulated KLF2, both of which are early adipogenic factors. Moreover, YH (2 mg/mL) decreased C/EBPα, PPARγ, FABP4, FAS, ACC, and HMGCR mRNA expression. Additionally, YH significantly downregulated SEBP1c and SREBP2 and their target genes, which govern fatty acid and cholesterol metabolism; however, 2 mg/mL YH had a greater suppressive effect on SREBP1c than on SREBP2. YH (2 mg/mL) also significantly reduced the mRNA level of G6PD and malic enzyme, which are enzymes that synthesize NADPH for lipid synthesis, compared with the control. Furthermore, 1-methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic acid (MTCA) was identified as the active compound with anti-adipogenic effects using solvent fractionation and chromatographic analysis of YH, and 1.1 μg/mL MTCA significantly downregulated SREBP1c/SREBP2 mRNAs by 47.8% and 69.2%, respectively, along with the target genes FAS, ACC, and HMGCR by 79.0%, 77.0%, and 40.9%, respectively. Collectively, YH effectively suppressed adipogenic lipid storage by downregulating SREBP- and NADPH-synthesizing genes. These findings suggest that YH containing MTCA has the potential to act as an anti-obesity agent.

Ethanol Extract of Licorice Alleviates HFD-Induced Liver Fat Accumulation in Association with Modulation of Gut Microbiota and Intestinal Metabolites in Obesity Mice

As a traditional Chinese medicine, licorice is often used in functional foods for its health benefits. However, the role of gut microbiota in the efficacy of licorice has not yet been fully elucidated. We hypothesized that the involvement of intestinal flora may be a key link in licorice ethanol extract (LEE)-induced health benefits. The aim of this study was to investigate whether LEE improves hepatic lipid accumulation in obese mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and whether the gut microbiota plays a key role in LEE treatment. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed HFD for liver fat accumulation and then treated with LEE. The same experiments were later performed using pseudo-sterile mice to verify the importance of gut flora. Supplementation with LEE improved the obesity profile, lipid profile and liver fat accumulation in HFD mice. In addition, LEE treatment improved intestinal flora dysbiosis caused by HFD in mice, as evidenced by a decrease in the percentage of Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes and an increase in the abundance of known anti-obesity-related bacteria. However, LEE failed to exhibit a therapeutic effect in pseudo-sterile mice. The results of the cellular assay showed that glycyrrhetic acid (GA), the main conversion product of glycyrrhizin (GL), was more effective in reducing fat accumulation and intracellular TG content in hepatocytes compared to GL. In conclusion, our data suggest that LEE attenuates obesity and hepatic fat accumulation in HFD mice, which may be associated with modulating the composition of gut microbiota and the conversion of LLE by the intestinal flora.

Antiobesity Potential of Bioactive Constituents from Dichloromethane Extract of Psoralea corylifolia L. Seeds

Purpose

Effectively controlling the accumulation of adipose tissue can be a therapeutic strategy for treating obesity, which is a global problem. The present study was designed for comparative assessment of in vitro antiobesity activities of the Psoralea corylifolia-dichloromethane seed extract (DCME) and the isolated phytochemicals, bakuchiol, isopsoralen, and psoralen, through antiadipogenesis and pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibition assays. Material and Methods. In vitro pancreatic lipase activity was determined spectrophotometrically by measuring the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl butyrate (p-NPB) to p-nitrophenol at 405 nm, and adipogenesis was assayed in 3 T3-L1 adipocytes (by using Oil Red O staining) using P. corylifolia-dichloromethane seed extract (DCME) and individual compounds, isolated from the extract.

Result

Antilipase as well as antiadipogenesis activity was displayed by both the DCME and the compounds. Maximum antilipase property was recorded in DCME (26.02 ± .041%) at 100 μg/ml, while, among the isolated compounds, bakuchiol exhibited a higher activity (24.2 ± 0.037%) at 100 μg/ml concentration, compared to other isolates. DCME was found to exhibit antiadipogenesis property, 75 ± 0.003% lipid accumulation, compared to the control at 100 μg/ml dose. Bakuchiol, isopsoralen, and psoralen inhibited the lipid accumulation in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes, 78.06 ± 0.002%, 80.91 ± 0.004%, and 80.91 ± 0.001%, respectively, lipid accumulation in comparison to control at 25 μM dose.

Conclusion

The present study highlights the antiobesity potential of P. corylifolia and its active constituents. Thus, it can be concluded that P. corylifolia has the potential to treat obesity and related diseases; however, further research on dose standardization and clinical trials are required.

A Novel In Silico Benchmarked Pipeline Capable of Complete Protein Analysis: A Possible Tool for Potential Drug Discovery

Simple Summary

Protein interactions govern the majority of an organism’s biological processes. Therefore, to fully understand the functionality of an organism, we must know how proteins work at a molecular level. This study assembled a protocol that enables scientists to construct a protein’s tertiary structure easily and subsequently to investigate its mechanism and function. Each step involved in prediction, validation, and functional analysis of a protein is crucial to obtain an accurate result. We have dubbed this the trifecta analysis. It was clear early in our research that no single study in the literature had previously encompassed the complete trifecta analysis. In particular, studies that recommend free, open-source tools that have been benchmarked for each step are lacking. The present study ensures that predictions are accurate and validated and will greatly benefit new and experienced scientists alike in obtaining a strong understanding of the trifecta analysis, resulting in a domino effect that could lead to drug development.

Abstract

Current in silico proteomics require the trifecta analysis, namely, prediction, validation, and functional assessment of a modeled protein. The main drawback of this endeavor is the lack of a single protocol that utilizes a proper set of benchmarked open-source tools to predict a protein’s structure and function accurately. The present study rectifies this drawback through the design and development of such a protocol. The protocol begins with the characterization of a novel coding sequence to identify the expressed protein. It then recognizes and isolates evolutionarily conserved sequence motifs through phylogenetics. The next step is to predict the protein’s secondary structure, followed by the prediction, refinement, and validation of its three-dimensional tertiary structure. These steps enable the functional analysis of the macromolecule through protein docking, which facilitates the identification of the protein’s active site. Each of these steps is crucial for the complete characterization of the protein under study. We have dubbed this process the trifecta analysis. In this study, we have proven the effectiveness of our protocol using the cystatin C and AChE proteins. Beginning with just their sequences, we have characterized both proteins’ structures and functions, including identifying the cystatin C protein’s seven-residue active site and the AChE protein’s active-site gorge via protein–protein and protein–ligand docking, respectively. This process will greatly benefit new and experienced scientists alike in obtaining a strong understanding of the trifecta analysis, resulting in a domino effect that could expand drug development.

Evaluation of quercetin omega-6 and -9 esters on activity and structure of mushroom tyrosinase: Spectroscopic and molecular docking studies

Quercetin is one of the most ubiquitous dietary flavonoids widely distributed in plants and foods of plant origin, and is a potent tyrosinase inhibitor. Quercetin fatty esters could lead to an improve in quercetin lipophilicity which could positively affect its pharmacological activity. In this study, the inhibitory effect of two novel esters of quercetin-linoleic acid (ligand A) and quercetin-oleic acid (ligand B) has been investigated on structure and diphenolase activity of mushroom tyrosinase (MT) by experimental and molecular docking techniques. The inhibitory kinetics study using UV-visible spectrophotometry in the presence of its substrate 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-dopa), revealed that both esters successfully inhibit the activity of tyrosinase and reduce the formation of dopaquinone. Results showed that the binding of ligands to MT induced rearrangement and conformational changes of the enzyme. Thermodynamic parameters of these interactions (K_a , ∆G°, ∆H° and ∆S°) were obtained at pH = 6.8 and temperatures of 298 and 310 K. Molecular docking studies further was applied to calculation of binding energies (ΔG_bA  = -21.84 kJ/mol, ΔG_bB  = -20.92 kJ/mol), inhibition constant values (K_IA  = 160 µM, K_IB  = 220 µM) and the special binding site. It can be deduced that ligands act as a potential tyrosinase inhibitor and it was found that the best possible interaction condition with binding modes visualize was achieved by ligand A and exhibited the potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity. These findings may be helpful to understand the inhibition mechanism of quercetin fatty acids esters on tyrosinase and provide a convenient screening method to differentiate phenolic tyrosinase inhibitors. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Bioavailability and antioxidant activity of conjugated fatty acids with their bioequivalence in several biological effects and metabolic processes such as beta-oxidation from various forms has been reported to be highly variable and useful. Quercetin shows beneficial role in human health, but its biological effects in vivo is limited by poor bioavailability, low skin permeability and solubility. This study design new tyrosinase inhibitors which helpful to functional research of unsaturated fatty acid esters in the treatment of inflammatory diseases and hyperpigmentation disorders. In addition, undesirable enzymatic browning of plant derived-foods by tyrosinase causes a decrease in market value and economic loss of food products. The results suggest that the conjugation of quercetin with linoleic and oleic acids resulted in novel stronger tyrosinase inhibitors which may have therapeutic applications and replacement of toxic tyrosinase inhibitors and contribute as anti- browning agents in food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.

Inhibition and interactions of alpha-amylase by daucosterol from the peel of Chinese water chestnut (Eleocharis dulcis)

The alpha-amylase inhibitory effect of daucosterol purified from the peel of Chinese water chestnut (CWC), a common Chinese vegetable, was assessed. The alpha-amylase inhibitory properties were elucidated by enzyme inhibition, fluorescence quenching and molecular docking experiments. It was found that three saponins from CWC peel exhibited potent inhibitory activity on alpha-amylase and daucosterol was found to be the main inhibitory factor against alpha-amylase with a mixed-type mode. Strong fluorescence quenching of alpha-amylase was observed under static fluorescence quenching with hydrophobic interactions with daucosterol. Molecular docking revealed that the conformation of daucosterol in the high-affinity sites I and II of alpha-amylase was optimum, and hydrophobic interactions were produced by daucosterol aglycone, and hydrogen bonding by the β-D-glucopyranosyl residue. Ingested daucosterol suppressed the elevation of blood glucose levels through inhibition of alpha-amylase in the small intestine in starch-loaded mice. This study provides data supporting the potential benefit of daucosterol from CWC peel in the treatment of diabetes.

Cephalotaxine Inhibits the Survival of Leukemia Cells by Activating Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway and Inhibiting Autophagy Flow

Cephalotaxine (CET) is a natural alkaloid with potent antileukemia effects. However, its underlying molecular mechanism has not been well understood. In this study, we verified that CET significantly inhibited the viability of various leukemia cells, including HL-60, NB4, Jurkat, K562, Raji and MOLT-4. RNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis revealed that CET causes mitochondrial function change. Mechanism research indicated that CET activated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway by reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential, downregulating anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein and upregulating pro-apoptotic Bak protein. In addition, the autophagy signaling pathway was highly enriched by RNA-seq analysis. Then, we found that CET blocked the fluorescence colocation of MitoTracker Green and LysoTracker Red and upregulated the level of LC3-II and p62, which indicated that autophagy flow was impaired. Further results demonstrated that CET could impair lysosomal acidification and block autophagy flow. Finally, inhibiting autophagy flow could aggravate apoptosis of HL-60 cells induced by CET. In summary, this study demonstrated that CET exerted antileukemia effects through activation of the mitochondria-dependent pathway and by impairing autophagy flow. Our research provides new insights into the molecular mechanisms of CET in the treatment of leukemia.

Medicinal Plants with Anti-Leukemic Effects: A Review

Leukemia is a leukocyte cancer that is characterized by anarchic growth of immature immune cells in the bone marrow, blood and spleen. There are many forms of leukemia, and the best course of therapy and the chance of a patient’s survival depend on the type of leukemic disease. Different forms of drugs have been used to treat leukemia. Due to the adverse effects associated with such therapies and drug resistance, the search for safer and more effective drugs remains one of the most challenging areas of research. Thus, new therapeutic approaches are important to improving outcomes. Almost half of the drugs utilized nowadays in treating cancer are from natural products and their derivatives. Medicinal plants have proven to be an effective natural source of anti-leukemic drugs. The cytotoxicity and the mechanisms underlying the toxicity of these plants to leukemic cells and their isolated compounds were investigated. Effort has been made throughout this comprehensive review to highlight the recent developments and milestones achieved in leukemia therapies using plant-derived compounds and the crude extracts from various medicinal plants. Furthermore, the mechanisms of action of these plants are discussed.

Antimicrobial activity of Plumbago indica and ligand screening of plumbagin against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

In this study, the antimicrobial properties of Plumbago indica root bark against bacterial strains and a fungal strain were investigatedusing the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and column chromatography analyses were conducted to identify and isolate the active compounds. A docking study was performed to identify possible interactions between the active compound and DNA gyrase using the Schrödinger Glide docking program. Both methanol extract and the ethyl acetate fraction of the root bark showed significant antimicrobial activity against the gram-positive bacteria than against the gram-negative bacteria and the fungal strain. The active compound was identified as plumbagin. A disc diffusion assay of plumbagin revealed potent antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Molecular docking of plumbagin revealed high specificity towards the DNA gyrase binding site with a high fitness score and a minimum energy barrier of -7.651 kcal/mol. These findings indicate that P. indica exhibits significant antimicrobial activity, primarily due to the presence of plumbagin. The specificity of plumbagin toward DNA gyrase in S. aureus indicates the feasibility of utilizing P. indica for developing new drug leads against drug resistant microbial strain. Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.