Anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties of indanone derivative isolated from Fernandoa adenophylla in vitro and in silico studies

Fernandoa adenophylla, due to the presence of phytochemicals, has various beneficial properties and is used in folk medicine to treat many conditions. This study aimed to isolate indanone derivative from F. adenophylla root heartwood and assess in-vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic characteristics at varying concentrations. Heat-induced hemolysis and glucose uptake by yeast cells assays were conducted to evaluate these properties. Besides, docking analyses were performed on four molecular targets. These studies were combined with molecular dynamics simulations to elucidate the time-evolving inhibitory effect of selected inhibitors within the active pockets of the target proteins (COX-1 and COX-2). Indanone derivative (10-100 µM) inhibited the lysis of human red blood cells from 9.12 ± 0.75 to 72.82 ± 4.36% and, at 5-100 µM concentrations, it significantly increased the yeast cells' glucose uptake (5.16 ± 1.28% to 76.59 ± 1.62%). Concluding, the isolated indanone might act as an anti-diabetic agent by interacting with critical amino acid residues of 5' adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), and it showed a binding affinity with anti-inflammatory targets COX-1, COX-2, and TNF-α. Besides, the obtained results may help to consider the indanone derivative isolated from F. adenophylla as a promising candidate for drug delivery, subject to outcomes of further in vivo and clinical studies.

Sperm chromosomal abnormalities in patients with unexplained recurrent abortions

Cytogenetic studies showed that about half of concepti were chromosomally abnormal in first trimester abortions. Sperm chromosomal abnormalities in men with normal karyotype could occur during spermatogenesis. The objective of this study was to evaluate sperm chromosomal abnormalities in patients with unexplained recurrent abortions. A total of 14 couples with normal karyotype, and negative workup for endocrine, immune and anatomical causes of recurrent abortion was investigated. Semen analysis was performed and chromosomal abnormalities were assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization for chromosomes 13, 18, 21, X and Y. The average number of abortions was 5.8. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities was 16.5% that was higher when compared to baseline (4.6%). In conclusion, a high rate of sperm chromosomal abnormalities was observed in recurrent abortion patients. These abnormalities might form during spermatogenesis since all patients had normal karyotype. Sperm chromosomal abnormality analysis can be included into recurrent abortion workup when no other cause is detected.