Targeting antimalarial metabolites from the actinomycetes associated with the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia siphonella using a metabolomic method

Malaria is a persistent illness that is still a public health issue. On the other hand, marine organisms are considered a rich source of anti‑infective drugs and other medically significant compounds. Herein, we reported the isolation of the actinomycete associated with the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia siphonella. Using "one strain many compounds" (OSMAC) approach, a suitable strain was identified and then sub-cultured in three different media (M1, ISP2 and OLIGO). The extracts were evaluated for their in-vitro antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum strain and subsequently analyzed by Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS). In addition, MetaboAnalyst 5.0 was used to statistically analyze the LC-MS data. Finally, Molecular docking was carried out for the dereplicated metabolites against lysyl-tRNA synthetase (PfKRS1). The phylogenetic study of the 16S rRNA sequence of the actinomycete isolate revealed its affiliation to Streptomyces genus. Antimalarial screening revealed that ISP2 media is the most active against Plasmodium falciparum strain. Based on LC-HR-MS based metabolomics and multivariate analyses, the static cultures of the media, ISP2 (ISP2-S) and M1 (M1-S), are the optimal media for metabolites production. OPLS-DA suggested that quinone derivatives are abundant in the extracts with the highest antimalarial activity. Fifteen compounds were identified where eight of these metabolites were correlated to the observed antimalarial activity of the active extracts. According to molecular docking experiments, saframycin Y3 and juglomycin E showed the greatest binding energy scores (-6.2 and -5.13) to lysyl-tRNA synthetase (PfKRS1), respectively. Using metabolomics and molecular docking investigation, the quinones, saframycin Y3 (5) and juglomycin E (1) were identified as promising antimalarial therapeutic candidates. Our approach can be used as a first evaluation stage in natural product drug development, facilitating the separation of chosen metabolites, particularly biologically active ones.

Development and Evaluation of a Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System for Sinapic Acid with Improved Antiviral Efficacy against SARS-CoV-2

This study aimed to develop a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNE) for sinapic acid (SA) to improve its solubility and antiviral activity. Optimal components for the SA-SNE formulation were selected, including Labrafil as the oil, Cremophor EL as the surfactant, and Transcutol as the co-surfactant. The formulation was optimized using surface response design, and the optimized SA-SNE formulation exhibited a small globule size of 83.6 nm, high solubility up to 127.1 ± 3.3, and a 100% transmittance. In vitro release studies demonstrated rapid and high SA release from the formulation. Pharmacokinetic analysis showed improved bioavailability by 2.43 times, and the optimized SA-SNE formulation exhibited potent antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. The developed SA-SNE formulation can enhance SA's therapeutic efficacy by improving its solubility, bioavailability, and antiviral activity. Further in silico, modeling, and Gaussian accelerated molecular dynamics (GaMD)-based studies revealed that SA could interact with and inhibit the viral main protease (Mpro). This research contributes to developing effective drug delivery systems for poorly soluble drugs like SA, opening new possibilities for their application via nebulization in SARS-CoV-2 therapy.

Modulation of mi-RNA25/Ox-LDL/NOX4 signaling pathway by polyphenolic compound Hydroxytyrosol as a new avenue to alleviate cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury, a mechanistic study in rats

Acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by Cis is considered one of the most severe adverse effects, which restricts its use and efficacy. This study seeks to examine the potential reno-protective impact of phenolic compound Hydroxytyrosol (HT) against Cis-induced AKI and the possible involvement of the mi-RNA25/Ox-LDL/NOX4 pathway elucidating the probable implicated molecular mechanisms. Forty rats were placed into 5 groups. Group I received saline only. Group II received Cis only. Group III, IV, and V received 20, 50, and 100 mg/kg b.w, of HT, respectively, with Cis delivery. NOX4, Ox-LDL, and gene expression of mi-RNA 25, TNF-α, and HO-1 in renal tissue were detected. HT showed reno-protective effect and significantly upregulated mi-RNA 25 and HO-1 as well as decreased the expression of NOX4, Ox-LDL, and TNF-α. In conclusion, HT may be promising in the fight against Cis-induced AKI through modulation of mi-RNA25/Ox-LDL/NOX4 pathway.

Phthalazone tethered 1,2,3-triazole conjugates: In silico molecular docking studies, synthesis, in vitro antiproliferative, and kinase inhibitory activities

New phthalazone tethered 1,2,3-triazole derivatives 12-21 were synthesized utilizing the Cu(I)-catalyzed click reactions of alkyne-functionalized phthalazone 1 with functionalized azides 2-11. The new phthalazone-1,2,3-triazoles structures 12-21 were confirmed by different spectroscopic tools, like IR; 1H, 13C, 2D HMBC and 2D ROESY NMR; EI MS, and elemental analysis. The antiproliferative efficacy of the molecular hybrids 12-21 against four cancer cell lines was evaluated, including colorectal cancer, hepatoblastoma, prostate cancer, breast adenocarcinoma, and the normal cell line WI38. The antiproliferative assessment of derivatives 12-21 showed potent activity of compounds 16, 18, and 21 compared to the anticancer drug doxorubicin. Compound 16 showed selectivity (SI) towardthe tested cell lines ranging from 3.35 to 8.84 when compared to Dox., that showed SI ranged from 0.75 to 1.61. Derivatives 16, 18 and 21 were assessed towards VEGFR-2 inhibitory activity and result in that derivative 16 showed the potent activity (IC50 = 0.123 µM) in comparison with sorafenib (IC50 = 0.116 µM). Compound 16 caused an interference with the cell cycle distribution of MCF7 and increased the percentage of cells in S phase by 1.37-fold. In silico molecular docking of the effective derivatives 16, 18, and 21 against vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2) confirmed the formation of stable protein-ligand interactions within the pocket.

Aloin A inhibits SARS CoV-2 replication by targeting its binding with ACE2 - Evidence from modeling-supported molecular dynamics simulation

The current study aimed to expand on the recently published results and assess the inhibitory efficacy of aloin A against SARS CoV-2. In vitro testing of aloin A against SARS CoV-2 proteases (i.e., MPro and PLPro) showed weak to moderate activity (IC50 = 68.56 ± 1.13 µM and 24.77 ± 1.57 µM, respectively). However, aloin A was able to inhibit the replication of SARS CoV-2 in Vero E6 cells efficiently with an IC50 of 0.095 ± 0.022 µM. Depending on the reported poor permeability of aloin A alongside its insignificant protease inhibitory activities presented in this study, we ran a number of extensive virtual screenings and physics-based simulations to determine the compound's potential mode of action. As a result, RBD-ACE2 was identified as a key target for aloin A. Results from 600 ns-long molecular dynamics (MD) simulation experiments pointed to aloin A's role as an RBD-ACE2 destabilizer. Therefore, the results of this work may pave the way for further development of this scaffold and the eventual production of innovative anti-SARS CoV-2 medicines with several mechanisms of action.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Metabolomic Profiling, In Vitro Antimalarial Investigation and In Silico Modeling of the Marine Actinobacterium Strain Rhodococcus sp. UR111 Associated with the Soft Coral Nephthea sp

Malaria is a persistent illness with a great public health concern. To combat this fatal disease, developing effective antimalarial medications has become a necessity. In the present study, we described the actinomycetes associated with the Red Sea soft coral Nephthea sp. and isolated a strain that was sub-cultured in three different media (M1, ISP2, and OLIGO). Actinomycete isolate's phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene revealed that it belongs to the genus Rhodococcus. In vitro screening of the antimalarial activity for three extracts against Plasmodium falciparum was carried out. Non-targeted metabolomics for the chemical characterization of the isolated actinomycete species UA111 derived extracts were employed using high-resolution liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS) for dereplication purposes. Additionally, statistical analysis of the vast LC-MS data was performed using MetaboAnalyst 5.0. Finally, an in silico analysis was conducted to investigate the potential chemical compounds that could be the source of the antimalarial potential. The results revealed that ISP2 media extract is the most effective against Plasmodium falciparum, according to antimalarial screening (IC50 8.5 µg/mL), in contrast, OLIGO media extract was inactive. LC-HRMS-based metabolomics identified a range of metabolites, mainly alkaloids, from the genus Rhodococcus. On the other hand, multivariate analysis showed chemical diversity between the analyzed samples, with ISP2 extract being optimal. The docking analysis was able to anticipate the various patterns of interaction of the annotated compounds with three malarial protein targets (P. falciparum kinase, P. falciparum cytochrome bc1 complex, and P. falciparum lysyl-tRNA synthetase). Among all of the test compounds, perlolyrine (11) and 3097-B2 (12) displayed the best docking profiles. In conclusion, this work demonstrated the value of the established method for the metabolic profiling of marine actinomycetes using the data from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), which helps to streamline the difficult isolation stages required for their chemical characterization. In addition, the antimalarial efficacy of this strain has intriguing implications for future pharmaceutical development.

Partial Synthetic PPARƳ Derivative Ameliorates Aorta Injury in Experimental Diabetic Rats Mediated by Activation of miR-126-5p Pi3k/AKT/PDK 1/mTOR Expression

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) is a world wild health care issue marked by insulin resistance, a risk factor for the metabolic disorder that exaggerates endothelial dysfunction, increasing the risk of cardiovascular complications. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor PPAR) agonists have therapeutically mitigated hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia in T2D patients. Therefore, we aimed to experimentally investigate the efficacy of newly designed synthetic PPARα/Ƴ partial agonists on a High-Fat Diet (HFD)/streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D. Female Wistar rats (200 ± 25 g body weight) were divided into four groups. The experimental groups were fed the HFD for three consecutive weeks before STZ injection (45 mg/kg/i.p) to induce T2D. Standard reference PPARƳ agonist pioglitazone and the partial synthetic PPARƳ (PIO; 20 mg/kg/BW, orally) were administered orally for 2 weeks after 72 h of STZ injection. The aorta tissue was isolated for biological ELISA, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting investigations for vascular inflammatory endothelial mediators endothelin-1 (ET-1), intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, and anti-inflammatory vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), as well as microRNA126-5p and p-AKT/p-Pi3k/p-PDK-1/p-mTOR, endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (eNOS) immunohistochemical staining all are coupled with and histopathological examination. Our results revealed that HFD/STZ-induced T2D increased fasting blood glucose, ET-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin, and VIP levels, while decreasing the expression of both microRNA126-5p and p-AKT/p-Pi3k/p-PDK-1/p-mTOR phosphorylation. In contrast, the partial synthetic PPARƳ derivative evidenced a vascular alteration significantly more than reference PIO via decreasing (ET-1), ICAM-1, E-selectin, and VIP, along with increased expression of microRNA126-5p and p-AKT/p-Pi3k/p-PDK-1/p-mTOR. In conclusion, the partial synthetic PPARƳ derivative significantly affected HFD/STZ-induced T2D with vascular complications in the rat aorta.

LC/MS Profiling and Gold Nanoparticle Formulation of Major Metabolites from Origanum majorana as Antibacterial and Antioxidant Potentialities

Origanum majoranum L. is a Lamiaceae medicinal plant with culinary and ethnomedical applications. Its biological and phytochemical profiles have been extensively researched. Accordingly, this study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and the antibacterial and antioxidant properties of O. majoranum high features, as well as to search for techniques for activity optimization. A metabolomics study of the crude extract of O. majoranum using liquid chromatography-high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (LC ± HR ± ESI ± MS) was conducted. Five fractions (petroleum ether, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous) were derived from the total extract of the aerial parts. Different chromatographic methods and NMR analysis were utilized to purify and identify the isolated phenolics (high features). Moreover, the antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant activity of phenolics were performed. Results showed that metabolomic profiling of the crude extract of O. majoranum aerial parts revealed the presence of a variety of phytochemicals, predominantly phenolics, resulting in the isolation and identification of seven high-feature compounds comprising two phenolic acids, rosmarinic and caffeic acids, one phenolic diterpene, 7-methoxyepirosmanol, in addition to four flavonoids, quercetin, hesperitin, hesperidin, and luteolin. On the other hand, 7-methoxyepirosmanol (OM₁) displayed the most antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. Such a phenolic principal activity improvement seems to be established after loading on gold nanoparticles.

Radiolabeling, biological distribution, docking and ADME studies of 99mTc-Ros as a promising natural tumor tracer

Rosmarinic acid (Ros) is one of phenolic metabolites with powerful potency as an anticancer agent, with different mechanisms to diminish the cancer cells. This current study represents radiolabeling of Ros with 99mTc using SnCl2 in pH4 for 15 min at 60 °C, The yield up to 92.2%. Biological evaluation in normal and cancer mice revealed the localization of the tracer in tumor tissue. Furthermore, docking and ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion) studies were performed, The resulted data clarifies the use of Ros as a promissing natural tracer.

Chitosan Silver and Gold Nanoparticle Formation Using Endophytic Fungi as Powerful Antimicrobial and Anti-Biofilm Potentialities

Nanotechnology is emerging as a new technology with encouraging innovations. Global antibiotic use has grown enormously, with antibiotic resistance increasing by about 80 percent. In view of this alarming situation, intensive research has been carried out into biogenic nanoparticles and their antibacterial, antifungal, and antitumor activities. Many methods are available to enhance stability and dispersion via peroration of conjugate with a polymer, such as chitosan, and other bioactive natural products. Two marine fungi were isolated and identified as Aspergillus sp. and Alternaria sp. via sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. In this work, these strains were used to form the conjugation of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Aspergillus sp. Silv2 extract and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) from Alternaria sp. Gol2 extracts with chitosan to prepare chitosan–AgNPs and chitosan–AuNP conjugates. A variety of imaging and analytical methods, such as UV–vis, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), FTIR spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were utilized to characterize biogenic nanoparticles and conjugates. The biosynthesized Ag and Au nanoparticles along with the prepared conjugates were evaluated for their antimicrobial effects on Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial isolates, including Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Both chitosan–AgNP and AuNP showed powerful antimicrobial activities compared to the control. On the other hand, chitosan–AgNP conjugation had better antibacterial ctivity than chitosan–AuNPs, which exhibited moderate activity against S. aureus and very low activity against E. coli. Furthermore, the antibiofilm potentials of the prepared conjugates were tested against four biofilm-forming bacteria, including P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, E. coli, and S. aureus. The obtained results indicate that the chitosan–AgNP showed a promising anti-biofilm activities on all strains, especially S. aureus, while chitosan–AuNP conjugates showed moderate anti-biofilm against B. subtilis and weak activities against the other three strains. These results showed the superiority of chitosan–AgNP as a promising antibacterial as well as biofilm formation inhibitors.

In Silico-Based Discovery of Natural Anthraquinones with Potential against Multidrug-Resistant E. coli

E. coli is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes different human infections. Additionally, it resists common antibiotics due to its outer protective membrane. Natural products have been proven to be efficient antibiotics. However, plant natural products are far less explored in this regard. Accordingly, over 16,000 structures covering almost all African medicinal plants in AfroDb in a structural-based virtual screening were used to find efficient anti-E. coli candidates. These drug-like structures were docked into the active sites of two important molecular targets (i.e., E. coli’s Ddl-B and Gyr-B). The top-scoring hits (i.e., got docking scores < −10 kcal/mol) produced in the initial virtual screening (0.15% of the database structures for Ddl-B and 0.17% of the database structures for Gyr-B in the database) were further refined using molecular dynamic simulation-based binding free energy (ΔG) calculation. Anthraquinones were found to prevail among the retrieved hits. Accordingly, readily available anthraquinone derivatives (10 hits) were selected, prepared, and tested in vitro against Ddl-B, Gyr-B, multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli, MRSA, and VRSA. A number of the tested derivatives demonstrated strong micromolar enzyme inhibition and antibacterial activity against E. coli, MRSA, and VRSA, with MIC values ranging from 2 to 64 µg/mL. Moreover, both E. coli’s Ddl-B and Gyr-B were inhibited by emodin and chrysophanol with IC₅₀ values comparable to the reference inhibitors (IC₅₀ = 216 ± 5.6, 236 ± 8.9 and 0.81 ± 0.3, 1.5 ± 0.5 µM for Ddl-B and Gyr-B, respectively). All of the active antibacterial anthraquinone hits showed low to moderate cellular cytotoxicity (CC₅₀ > 50 µM) against human normal fibroblasts (WI-38). Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) experiments were carried out to reveal the binding modes of these inhibitors inside the active site of each enzyme. The findings presented in this study are regarded as a significant step toward developing novel antibacterial agents against MDR strains.

Development and Greenness Assessment of HPLC Method for Studying the Pharmacokinetics of Co-Administered Metformin and Papaya Extract

Foods with medical value have been proven to be beneficial, and they are extensively employed since they integrate two essential elements: food and medication. Accordingly, diabetic patients can benefit from papaya because the fruit is low in sugar and high in antioxidants. An RP-HPLC method was designed for studying the pharmacokinetics of metformin (MET) when concurrently administered with papaya extract. A mobile phase of 0.5 mM of KH2PO4 solution and methanol (65:35, v/v), pH = 5 ± 0.2 using aqueous phosphoric acid and NaOH, and guaifenesin (GUF) were used as an internal standard. To perform non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis, the Pharmacokinetic program (PK Solver) was used. The method's greenness was analyzed using two tools: the Analytical GREEnness calculator and the RGB additive color model. Taking papaya with MET improved the rate of absorption substantially (time for reaching maximum concentration (Tmax) significantly decreased by 75% while maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) increased by 7.33%). The extent of absorption reduced by 22.90%. Furthermore, the amount of medication distributed increased (30.83 L for MET concurrently used with papaya extract versus 24.25 L for MET used alone) and the clearance rate rose by roughly 13.50%. The results of the greenness assessment indicated that the method is environmentally friendly. Taking papaya with MET changed the pharmacokinetics of the drug dramatically. Hence, this combination will be particularly effective in maintaining quick blood glucose control.

Anti-Cancer and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of the Green Synthesized Silver Nanoparticles of the Red Sea Sponge Phyllospongia lamellosa Supported by Metabolomics Analysis and Docking Study

BACKGROUND

The Red Sea sponges have been endorsed as a plentiful source of bioactive compounds with promising anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities; therefore, exploring their potential as a source of anti-cancer metabolites has stimulated a growing research interest.

PURPOSE

To investigate the anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory potential of the Red Sea sponges, in their bulk and silver nanostructure. Metabolomics analysis of the selected sponge followed by molecular docking studies, will be conducted to explore and predict the secondary metabolites that might provide its capability of inhibiting cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prepared a chloroform extract (CE) and ethyl acetate extract (EE) of the Red Sea sponge Phyllospongia lamellosa synthesized silver nanoparticles. The prepared silver nanoparticles were characterized through UV-vis spectrophotometric, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses. Testing for their anti-cancer activities was performed against MCF-7, MDB-231, and MCF-10A cells. Anti-inflammatory activity against COX-1 and 2 was assessed. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics analysis and molecular docking were also applied.

Flavonoid-Coated Gold Nanoparticles as Efficient Antibiotics against Gram-Negative Bacteria-Evidence from In Silico-Supported In Vitro Studies

Flavonoids are a class of bioactive plant-derived natural products that exhibit a broad range of biological activities, including antibacterial ones. Their inhibitory activity toward Gram-positive bacterial was found to be superior to that against Gram-negative ones. In the present study, a number of flavonoid-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) were designed to enhance the antibacterial effects of chrysin, kaempferol, and quercetin against a number of Gram-negative bacteria. The prepared GNPs were able to conjugate to these three flavonoids with conjugation efficiency ranging from 41% to 80%. Additionally, they were able to exert an enhanced antibacterial activity in comparison with the free flavonoids and the unconjugated GNPs. Quercetin-coated GNPs were the most active nano-conjugates and were able to penetrate the cell wall of E. coli. A number of in silico experiments were carried out to explain the conjugation efficiency and the antibacterial mechanisms of these flavonoids as follows: (i) these flavonoids can efficiently bind to the glutathione linker on the surface of GNPs via H-bonding; (ii) these flavonoids, particularly quercetin, were able to increase the bacterial membrane rigidity, and hence decrease its functionality; (iii) these flavonoids can inhibit E. coli's DNA gyrase (Gyr-B) with IC50 values ranging from 0.9 to 3.9 µM. In conclusion, these bioactive flavonoid-based GNPs are considered to be very promising antibiotic candidates for further development and evaluation.

Cnicin as an Anti-SARS-CoV-2: An Integrated In Silico and In Vitro Approach for the Rapid Identification of Potential COVID-19 Therapeutics

Since the emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in 2019, it has remained a significant global threat, especially with the newly evolved variants. Despite the presence of different COVID-19 vaccines, the discovery of proper antiviral therapeutics is an urgent necessity. Nature is considered as a historical trove for drug discovery, especially in global crises. During our efforts to discover potential anti-SARS CoV-2 natural therapeutics, screening our in-house natural products and plant crude extracts library led to the identification of C. benedictus extract as a promising candidate. To find out the main chemical constituents responsible for the extract's antiviral activity, we utilized recently reported SARS CoV-2 structural information in comprehensive in silico investigations (e.g., ensemble docking and physics-based molecular modeling). As a result, we constructed protein-protein and protein-compound interaction networks that suggest cnicin as the most promising anti-SARS CoV-2 hit that might inhibit viral multi-targets. The subsequent in vitro validation confirmed that cnicin could impede the viral replication of SARS CoV-2 in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC50 value of 1.18 µg/mL. Furthermore, drug-like property calculations strongly recommended cnicin for further in vivo and clinical experiments. The present investigation highlighted natural products as crucial and readily available sources for developing antiviral therapeutics. Additionally, it revealed the key contributions of bioinformatics and computer-aided modeling tools in accelerating the discovery rate of potential therapeutics, particularly in emergency times like the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent updates on the bioactive compounds of the marine-derived genus Aspergillus

The genus Aspergillus is widely distributed in terrestrial and marine environments. In the marine environment, several Aspergillus species have proved their potential to produce a plethora of secondary metabolites including polyketides, sterols, fatty acids, peptides, alkaloids, terpenoids and miscellaneous compounds, displaying a variety of pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial, cytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity. From the beginning of 2015 until December 2020, about 361 secondary metabolites were identified from different marine Aspergillus species. In our review, we highlight secondary metabolites from various marine-derived Aspergillus species reported between January 2015 and December 2020 along with their biological potential and structural aspects whenever applicable.

The genus Aspergillus is widely distributed in terrestrial and marine environments.

Comparative phytochemical analysis of five Egyptian strawberry cultivars (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.) and antidiabetic potential of Festival and Red Merlin cultivars

This work aims to explore the differences in phytochemical composition and biological properties of five strawberry hybrids (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), and highlights the non-edible part (byproduct) as a source of self-remedy natural herb along with fruits. HPLC/DAD/HRESIMS technique was used in the dereplication of ten ethanolic extracts of five strawberry cultivars leaves and fruits (Festival, Red Merlin, Suzana, Tamar and Winter Dawn). Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were established using Folin–Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Ethanolic extracts of leaves and fruits from Festival and Red Merlin cultivars were selected to investigate their anti-hyperglycemic activity using streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oxidative stress markers, lipid profile and kidney and liver function tests were assessed. The results revealed different chemical profiles of ten samples with the identification of 37 metabolites, represented mainly as flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives. Phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of seven known phenolic compounds; quercetin, kaempferol, p-coumaric acid, p-tyrosol, methyl gallate, trans-tiliroside and eutigoside A. Suzana cultivar was the richest cultivar with flavonoids and total phenolics except for the total flavonoid content in leaves referred to Festival cultivar. Ethanolic extract of leaves, especially Festival cultivar was the most bioactive one. The results established the role of strawberry leaves along with fruits as an antioxidant and hypoglycemic natural remedy.

This work aims to explore the differences in phytochemical composition and biological properties of five strawberry hybrids (Fragaria × ananassa Duch.), and highlights the non-edible part (byproduct) as a source of self-remedy natural herb along with fruits.

Sinapic Acid Suppresses SARS CoV-2 Replication by Targeting Its Envelope Protein

SARS CoV-2 is still considered a global health issue, and its threat keeps growing with the emergence of newly evolved strains. Despite the success in developing some vaccines as a protective measure, finding cost-effective treatments is urgent. Accordingly, we screened a number of phenolic natural compounds for their in vitro anti-SARS CoV-2 activity. We found sinapic acid (SA) selectively inhibited the viral replication in vitro with an half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value of 2.69 µg/mL with significantly low cytotoxicity (CC50 = 189.3 µg/mL). Subsequently, we virtually screened all currently available molecular targets using a multistep in silico protocol to find out the most probable molecular target that mediates this compound's antiviral activity. As a result, the viral envelope protein (E-protein) was suggested as the most possible hit for SA. Further in-depth molecular dynamic simulation-based investigation revealed the essential structural features of SA antiviral activity and its binding mode with E-protein. The structural and experimental results presented in this study strongly recommend SA as a promising structural motif for anti-SARS CoV-2 agent development.

Metabolomic profiling, biological evaluation of Aspergillus awamori, the river Nile-derived fungus using epigenetic and OSMAC approaches

LC-HRMS-based metabolomics approach was applied to the river Nile-derived fungus Aspergillus awamori after its fermentation on four different media and using four epigenetic modifiers as elicitors. Thereafter, a comprehensive multivariate statistical analysis such as PCA, PLS-DA and OPLS-DA were employed to explain the generated metabolomic data (1587 features). PCA showed that the fungus displayed a unique chemical profile in each medium or elicitor. Additionally, PLS-DA results revealed the upregulated metabolites under each of these conditions. Results indicated that both rice and malt dextrose agar were recognized as the best media in terms of secondary metabolites diversity and showed better profiles than the four applied epigenetic modifiers, of which nicotinamide was the best secondary metabolite elicitor. Testing the antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of all A. awamori-derived extracts revealed that using epigenetic modifiers can induce antimicrobial metabolites against S. aureus and E. coli, whereas using rice, malt dextrose or nicotinamide can induce groups of cytotoxic metabolites. OPLS-DA results assisted in the putative identification of the induced metabolites that could be responsible for these observed inhibitory activities. This study highlighted how powerful the OSMAC approach in maximizing of the chemical diversity of a single organism. Furthermore, it revealed the power of metabolomics in tracing, profiling and categorizing such chemical diversity and even targeting the possible bioactive candidates which require further scaling up studies in the future.

LC-HRMS-based metabolomics approach was applied to the river Nile-derived fungus Aspergillus awamori after its fermentation on four different media and using four epigenetic modifiers as elicitors.

Ecological HPLC method for analyzing an antidiabetic drug in real rat plasma samples and studying the effects of concurrently administered fenugreek extract on its pharmacokinetics

Currently, the total number of diabetic people worldwide is constantly increasing. Metformin (MET) is known to be a first-line antidiabetic drug with varied, wide-reaching applications. Concurrent administration of phytomedicines such as fenugreek extract with synthetic drugs is very common. It is reported that concomitant administration of fenugreek extract with metformin maintains lower blood glucose levels than metformin alone. In this work, an ecofriendly RP-HPLC method was established to study and compare the pharmacokinetics of metformin with and without the contemporary administration of fenugreek extract using rat as an animal model. In the developed method, a solvent mixture of 0.5 mM KH₂PO₄ solution : methanol (65 : 35, v/v) was used as a mobile phase and guaiphenesin was used as an internal standard. The plasma concentration–time curve was plotted, and non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis was performed using PKSolver. The results of the pharmacokinetic study showed that concurrent administration of fenugreek significantly increased the bioavailability of metformin and doubled the time required to reach the peak plasma concentration (T_max). Moreover, the volume of drug distribution decreased by about 70%, while its rate of clearance decreased by about 55.96%. Accordingly, the administration of fenugreek in combination with metformin significantly affected the pharmacokinetics of metformin, and this combination will be very useful in controlling blood glucose levels in diabetic patients. The greenness of the method was assessed using the Analytical Eco-Scale, Analytical Method Volume Intensity (AMVI), and National Environmental Method Index (NEMI), and all results affirmed that the method can be considered to be ecological.

The combination of fenugreek extract and metformin can be considered as an auspicious treatment for satisfactory diabetes control and minimizing the expected long-term complications of metformin.

Design, synthesis and mechanistic study of new benzenesulfonamide derivatives as anticancer and antimicrobial agents via carbonic anhydrase IX inhibition

Changes in gene expression cause uncontrolled cell proliferation and consequently tumor hypoxia. The tumor cells shift their metabolism to anaerobic glycolysis with a significant modification in pH. Therefore, an over expression of carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) genes was detected in many solid tumors. Accordingly, selective inhibition of CA IX can be a useful target for discovering novel antiproliferative agents. The present study described the synthesis of new aryl thiazolone–benzenesulfonamides 4a–j as well as their carbonic anhydrase IX inhibitory effect. All the designed derivatives were evaluated for their anti-proliferative activity against triple-negative breast cancer cell line (as MDA-MB-231) and another breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) in addition to normal breast cell line MCF-10A. Compounds 4b–c, 4e, 4g–h showed significant inhibitory effect against both cancer cell lines at concentration ranges from 1.52–6.31 μM, with a high selectivity against breast cancer cell lines ranges from 5.5 to 17.5 times. Moreover, three sulfonamides derivatives 4e, 4g and 4h showed excellent enzyme inhibition against CA IX with IC₅₀ 10.93–25.06 nM and against CA II with IC₅₀ 1.55–3.92 μM that revealed their remarkable selectivity for CA IX over CA II. Additionally, 4e was able to induce apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 with a significant increase in the annexin V-FITC percent by 22 fold as compared with control. Cellular uptake on MDA-MB-231 cell lines were carried out using HPLC method on the three active compounds (4e, 4g and 4h). On the other hand inhibition of one or more CAs present in bacteria was reported to interfere with bacterial growth. So, the new benzenesulfonamides were evaluated against their antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities. Analogues 4e, 4g and 4h exhibited significant inhibition at 50 μg mL⁻¹ concentration with 80.69%, 69.74% and 68.30% against S. aureus compared to the positive control CIP which was 99.2%, while compounds 4g and 4h showed potential anti-biofilm inhibition 79.46% and 77.52% against K. pneumonia. Furthermore, the designed compounds were docked into CA IX (human) protein (PDB ID: 5FL6) and molecular modeling studies revealed favorable binding interactions for the active inhibitors. Finally, the predictive ADMET studies showed that, compounds 4e, 4g and 4h possessed promising pharmacokinetic properties.

New benzenesulfonamide derivatives as anticancer and antimicrobial agents via CA IX inhibition.

Premna odorata extract as a protective agent on neurotoxic effect of aluminum: neurochemical, molecular, and histopathological alterations

Premna odorata Blanco (Lamiaceae) is an ethnomedicinal plant, where some reports claimed their anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antituberculosis effects, without investigating its role on the brain. Therefore, forty mature male rats were equally divided into 4 groups; the 1st was kept as control. Rats in groups 2 and 4 were orally given P. odorata extract daily at a dose of 500 mg/kg B.W., while those in groups 3 and 4 were daily administrated aluminum chloride "AlCl₃" (70 mg/kg B.W.). The treatments extended for 30 successive days. At the end of the experimental period, brain samples were collected for biochemical assay of glutathione reductase (GSH), catalase, malondialdehyde (MDA), and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE). Besides, monoamines (norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin), amino acids (glutamine, serine, arginine, taurine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)), neurotransmitters, DNA damage, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α genes were estimated. Moreover, brain samples were obtained for histopathological investigation. Aluminum toxicity resulted in a decline of GSH concentration, elevation of MDA, and AChE activity. Except for GABA which exhibited a significant decrease, there was a marked increase in the measured amino acid and monoamine neurotransmitters. Also, an increase in mRNA expressions of TNF-α and COX-2 was detected. It was noticed that Premna odorata extract reduced the oxidative stress and counteracted the augmentations in AChE caused by AlCl₃. Marked improvements in most measured neurotransmitters with downregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression were recorded in P. odorata + AlCl₃ group. Premna odorata restores the altered histopathological feature induced by AlCl₃. In conclusion, the present findings clarify that P. odorata extract could be important in improving and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders as it was able to reduce oxidative stress, DNA damage, biochemical alterations, and histopathological changes in rats exposed to AlCl₃ toxicity.

Correction: Triple-negative breast cancer suppressive activities, antioxidants and pharmacophore model of new acylated rhamnopyranoses from Premna odorata

Correction for ‘Triple-negative breast cancer suppressive activities, antioxidants and pharmacophore model of new acylated rhamnopyranoses from Premna odorata’ by Abeer H. Elmaidomy et al., RSC Adv., 2020, 10, 10584–10598. DOI: 10.1039/D0RA01697G

Sterols and Triterpenes: Antiviral Potential Supported by In-Silico Analysis

The acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) caused severe panic all over the world. The coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak has already brought massive human suffering and major economic disruption and unfortunately, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19 so far. Herbal medicines and purified natural products can provide a rich resource for novel antiviral drugs. Therefore, in this review, we focused on the sterols and triterpenes as potential candidates derived from natural sources with well-reported in vitro efficacy against numerous types of viruses. Moreover, we compiled from these reviewed compounds a library of 162 sterols and triterpenes that was subjected to a computer-aided virtual screening against the active sites of the recently reported SARS-CoV-2 protein targets. Interestingly, the results suggested some compounds as potential drug candidates for the development of anti-SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.

Rosmarinic acid attenuates chromium-induced hepatic and renal oxidative damage and DNA damage in rats

Hexavelant chromium (Cr (V1)) is a widely distributed environmental pollutant inducing damage in different organs of human and animals. The current study was designed to investigate the mechanistic role of rosmarinic acid (RA) to diminish chromium-induced hepatorenal oxidative damage and preneoplastic lesions in rats. Plant material was collected, identified, and extracted. The isolated RA was elucidated relying on the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic data. Twenty-eight male Wistar rats received the following materials daily via oral gavage for 60 days; (Gp1): normal saline, (Gp2) 25 mg/kg.bwt RA, (Gp3) 10 mg/kg.bwt potassium dichromate (K2 Cr2 O7 ), (Gp4) K2 Cr2 O7  + RA. All rats were euthanized at the end of the experiment by cervical dislocation and the liver and kidney were collected. Prolonged continuous exposure of rats to chromium-induced oxidant/antioxidant imbalance manifested by significant elevation of malondialdehyde with reduction in reduced glutathione levels. Remarkable histopathological alterations in the liver and kidney tissue sections were recorded and confirmed by overexpression of the immunohistochemical staining of caspase-3, placental glutathione-S transferase, proliferating cell nuclear antigen together with a significant downregulation of nuclear factor erythroid-2 related factor 2 (Nrf2) gene and upregulation of nibrin gene. Observable improvements in the entire toxicopathological parameters were recorded in group cotreated with RA. Our findings revealed that Cr-induced preneoplastic lesions on the liver and kidney tissues of rats when exposed daily for long period of time, as well as confirmed the ability of RA to alleviate this toxicity through upregulation of Nrf2 pathway and its powerful antioxidant effects.

The impact of COVID-19 on transfusion-dependent thalassemia patients of Karachi, Pakistan: A single-center experience

Objectives

With the advent of COVID-19 in Pakistan, the already fragmented blood transfusion services (BTS) received a severe blow, putting the lives of transfusion-dependent thalassemia children on stake. This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 on blood transfusion therapy (BTT) of thalassemia patients and suggest ways to ensure safe and reliable blood supplies amid such health crises.

Material and methods

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2019 (before COVID-19) to July 2020 (during COVID-19) based on the data provided by a thalassemia center, named Help International Welfare Trust, Karachi, Pakistan. SPSS version 24.0 was used for the data analysis. Data were described in the form of means and percentages.

Results

There was a significant reduction in the consumption of PRBCs bags after the emergence of COVID-19 (P = 0.002). Moreover, the number of thalassemia patients receiving BTT was dropped by 10.56% during the pandemic. There was a strong negative correlation observed between the rising cases of COVID-19 in Pakistan and the number of patients missing their therapy sessions (r = −0.914, P = 0.030). A considerable decline in the reserves of all Rhesus-negative blood groups amid the COVID-19 outbreak was also observed.

Conclusion

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely affected the already suboptimal care catered to thalassemia patients in Karachi, Pakistan. The fear of the virus contraction coupled with the lockdown and restricted mobility has disrupted the entire transfusion chain from donor to the recipient. Collaborated efforts by the government and healthcare authorities are essential to ensure sufficient blood for thalassemia patients amid the pandemic.

Exploration of Chemical Diversity and Antitrypanosomal Activity of Some Red Sea-Derived Actinomycetes Using the OSMAC Approach Supported by LC-MS-Based Metabolomics and Molecular Modelling

In the present study, we investigated the actinomycetes associated with the Red Sea-derived soft coral Sarcophyton glaucum in terms of biological and chemical diversity. Three strains were cultivated and identified to be members of genera Micromonospora, Streptomyces, and Nocardiopsis; out of them, Micromonospora sp. UR17 was putatively characterized as a new species. In order to explore the chemical diversity of these actinobacteria as far as possible, they were subjected to a series of fermentation experiments under altering conditions, that is, solid and liquid fermentation along with co-fermentation with a mycolic acid-containing strain, namely Nocardia sp. UR23. Each treatment was found to affect these actinomycetes differently in terms of biological activity (i.e., antitrypanosomal activity) and chemical profiles evidenced by LC-HRES-MS-based metabolomics and multivariate analysis. Thereafter, orthogonal projections to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) suggested a number of metabolites to be associated with the antitrypanosomal activity of the active extracts. The subsequent in silico screenings (neural networking-based and docking-based) further supported the OPLS-DA results and prioritized desferrioxamine B (3), bafilomycin D (10), and bafilomycin A1 (11) as possible antitrypanosomal agents. Our approach in this study can be applied as a primary step in the exploration of bioactive natural products, particularly those from actinomycetes.

Flavonoids as Potential anti-MRSA Agents through Modulation of PBP2a: A Computational and Experimental Study

Recently, the interest in plant-derived antimicrobial agents has increased. However, there are no sufficient studies dealing with their modes of action. Herein, we investigate an in-house library of common plant-based phenolic compounds for their potential antibacterial effects against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a widespread life-threatening superbug. Flavonoids, which are considered major constituents in the plant kingdom, were found to be a promising class of compounds against MRSA, particularly the non-glycosylated ones. On the other hand, the glycosylated derivatives, along with the flavonolignan silibinin A, were able to restore the inhibitory activity of ampicillin against MRSA. To explore the mode of action of this class, they were subjected to an extensive inverse virtual screening (IVS), which suggested penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a) as a possible target that mediates both the antibacterial and the antibiotic-synergistic effects of this class of compounds. Further molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation experiments were conducted to support the primary IVS and the in vitro results and to study their binding modes with PBP2a. Our findings shed a light on plant-derived natural products, notably flavonoids, as a promising and readily available source for future adjuvant antimicrobial therapy against resistant strains.

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Terpene- and Polyphenol-Rich Premna odorata Leaves on Alcohol-Inflamed Female Wistar Albino Rat Liver

Premna odorata Blanco (Lamiaceae) is an ethnomedicinal plant native to different tropical regions. Although some reports addressed their anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antituberculotic effects, their hepatoprotective potential is yet to be discovered. Accordingly, this study investigated the crude extract and different fractions of the plant leaves; metabolic profiling using liquid chromatography/high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (LC–HRESIMS) analysis, in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) properties for the dereplicated metabolite via online PreADMET program, ROS scavenger activity on the Hep G2 human liver cancer cell line, and the possible hepatic cellular treatment effects in alcohol-inflamed liver female Wistar albino rats. Metabolic profiling dereplicated a total of 28 metabolites from the crude extract and its various fractions. In silico ADMET and ROS scavenger activity screening suggested plant metabolites are of potential bioactivity. In vivo hepatic treatment with crude, defatted crude, and n-hexane leave extracts suggested all extracts significantly improved liver damage, which was indicated by the reduction of elevated serum levels of bilirubin, AST, ALT, ALP, CRP, TNF-α, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and MDA. The reduced levels of GSH and TAC were normalized during the study. Histological examinations of liver tissue showed collagen fiber distribution nearly back to its normal pattern. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials of Premna odorata extracts could be partly related to the combined effects of these phytochemicals or their synergistic interactions.

Microbial Natural Products as Potential Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease (Mpro)

The main protease (Mpro) of the newly emerged severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was subjected to hyphenated pharmacophoric-based and structural-based virtual screenings using a library of microbial natural products (>24,000 compounds). Subsequent filtering of the resulted hits according to the Lipinski's rules was applied to select only the drug-like molecules. Top-scoring hits were further filtered out depending on their ability to show constant good binding affinities towards the molecular dynamic simulation (MDS)-derived enzyme's conformers. Final MDS experiments were performed on the ligand-protein complexes (compounds 1-12, Table S1) to verify their binding modes and calculate their binding free energy. Consequently, a final selection of six compounds (1-6) was proposed to possess high potential as anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug candidates. Our study provides insight into the role of the Mpro structural flexibility during interactions with the possible inhibitors and sheds light on the structure-based design of anti-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) therapeutics targeting SARS-CoV-2.

Induction of Antibacterial Metabolites by Co-Cultivation of Two Red-Sea-Sponge-Associated Actinomycetes Micromonospora sp. UR56 and Actinokinespora sp. EG49

Liquid chromatography coupled with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRESMS)-assisted metabolomic profiling of two sponge-associated actinomycetes, Micromonospora sp. UR56 and Actinokineospora sp. EG49, revealed that the co-culture of these two actinomycetes induced the accumulation of metabolites that were not traced in their axenic cultures. Dereplication suggested that phenazine-derived compounds were the main induced metabolites. Hence, following large-scale co-fermentation, the major induced metabolites were isolated and structurally characterized as the already known dimethyl phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylate (1), phenazine-1,6-dicarboxylic acid mono methyl ester (phencomycin; 2), phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (tubermycin; 3), N-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-acetamide (9), and p-anisamide (10). Subsequently, the antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxic properties of these metabolites (1–3, 9, and 10) were determined in vitro. All the tested compounds except 9 showed high to moderate antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, whereas their cytotoxic effects were modest. Testing against Staphylococcus DNA gyrase-B and pyruvate kinase as possible molecular targets together with binding mode studies showed that compounds 1–3 could exert their bacterial inhibitory activities through the inhibition of both enzymes. Moreover, their structural differences, particularly the substitution at C-1 and C-6, played a crucial role in the determination of their inhibitory spectra and potency. In conclusion, the present study highlighted that microbial co-cultivation is an efficient tool for the discovery of new antimicrobial candidates and indicated phenazines as potential lead compounds for further development as antibiotic scaffold.

Likelihood inference for pollutant loading under type I censoring

Exposure to toxic contaminants in the environment harms human and animal health and disturbs the integrity and function of the impacted ecosystem. The impact could be local, regional, and global. The concentration of a toxic substance below or above detection limits or thresholds in environmental samples is frequently recorded as non-detect. We discuss inferences based on exact and modified likelihood methods for the location-scale family with values below the detection limit, and as a special case for the normal distribution with a comparison between the methods. We demonstrate the procedure using Niagara River monitoring data.

Induction of Cryptic Antifungal Pulicatin Derivatives from Pantoea agglomerans by Microbial Co-Culture

Microbial co-culture or mixed fermentation proved to be an efficient strategy to expand chemical diversity by the induction of cryptic biosynthetic pathways, and in many cases led to the production of new antimicrobial agents. In the current study, we report a rare example of the induction of silent/cryptic bacterial biosynthetic pathway by the co-culture of Durum wheat plant roots-associated bacterium Pantoea aggolomerans and date palm leaves-derived fungus Penicillium citrinum. The initial co-culture indicated a clear fungal growth inhibition which was confirmed by the promising antifungal activity of the co-culture total extract against Pc. LC-HRMS chemical profiling demonstrated a huge suppression in the production of secondary metabolites (SMs) of axenic cultures of both species with the emergence of new metabolites which were dereplicated as a series of siderophores. Large-scale co-culture fermentation led to the isolation of two new pulicatin derivatives together with six known metabolites which were characterised using HRESIMS and NMR analyses. During the in vitro antimicrobial evaluation of the isolated compounds, pulicatin H (2) exhibited the strongest antifungal activity against Pc, followed by aeruginaldehyde (1) and pulicatin F (4), hence explaining the initial growth suppression of Pc in the co-culture environment.

Testicular Caspase-3 and β-Catenin Regulators Predicted via Comparative Metabolomics and Docking Studies

Many routes have been explored to search for effective, safe, and affordable alternatives to hazardous female contraceptives. Herbal extracts and their secondary metabolites are some of the interesting research areas to address this growing issue. This study aims to investigate the effects of ten different plant extracts on testicular spermatogenesis. The correlation between the chemical profile of these extracts and their in vivo effect on male reproductive system was evaluated using various techniques. Approximately 10% of LD₅₀ of hydro-methanolic extracts were orally administrated to rats for 60 days. Semen parameters, sexual organ weights, and serum levels of male sex hormones in addition to testes histopathology, were evaluated. Moreover, metabolomic analysis using (LC-HRESIMS), multivariate analysis (PCA), immunohistochemistry (caspase-3 and β-catenin), and a docking study were performed. Results indicated that three plant extracts significantly decreased epididymal sperm density and motility. Moreover, their effects on testicular cells were also assured by histopathological evaluations. Metabolomic profiling of the bioactive plant extracts showed the presence of diverse phytochemicals, mostly oleanane saponins, phenolic diterpenes, and lupane triterpenes. A docking study on caspase-3 enzyme showed that oleanane saponins possessed the highest binding affinity. An immunohistochemistry assay on β-catenin and caspase-3 indicated that Albizzia lebbeck was the most active extract for decreasing immunoexpression of β-catenin, while Rosmarinus officinalis showed the highest activity for increasing immunoexpression of caspase-3. The spermatogenesis decreasing the activity of A. lebbeck, Anagallis arvensis, and R. officinalis can be mediated via up-regulation of caspase-3 and down-regulation of β-catenin existing in testis cells.

Saccharomonosporine A inspiration; synthesis of potent analogues as potential PIM kinase inhibitors

Saccharomonosporine A was recently reported as a natural anti-cancer agent working through inhibition of a Proviral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus-1 (PIM-1) kinase. Structural bioisosteres of this natural product were synthesized and tested against PIM kinase enzymes. They showed potent inhibitory activity against all the known PIM kinases (PIM-1, 2 and 3) with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.22 to 2.46 μM. Compound 5 was the most potent pan-inhibitor with IC₅₀ values of 0.37, 0.41, and 0.3 μM, against PIM-1, 2, 3 respectively. Compounds 4–6 were tested for their cytotoxic activities against 3 cell lines: H1650, HT-29, and HL-60. Compound 5 exhibited significant cytotoxic activity against human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29 and the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60, with IC₅₀ μM values of 1.4 and 1.7 respectively. Molecular docking and homology modeling studies were carried out to confirm the affinity of these synthesized compounds to the three different PIM kinases. Additionally, a number of in silico predictions, ADME/Tox, were adopted to evaluate their drug-likeness.

The E isomer of compound 5 exhibited a potent inhibitory effect against PIM kinase isoforms of IC₅₀s 0.30–0.41 μM.

Nature as a treasure trove of potential anti-SARS-CoV drug leads: a structural/mechanistic rationale

Potential drug candidates derived from natural sources are posed for the development of anti-SARS CoV-2 therapeutics.

Triple-negative breast cancer suppressive activities, antioxidants and pharmacophore model of new acylated rhamnopyranoses from Premna odorata

Phytochemical investigation of Premna odorata Blanco “Lamiaceae” young stems afforded four new acylated rhamnopyranoses 1–4, along with fourteen known compounds 5–19.

Pharmacological and natural products diversity of the brown algae genus Sargassum

Sargassum (F. Sargassaceae) is an important seaweed excessively distributed in tropical and subtropical regions.

The genus Micromonospora as a model microorganism for bioactive natural product discovery

This review covers the development of the genus Micromonospora as a model for natural product research and the timeline of discovery progress from the classical bioassay-guided approaches through the application of genome mining and genetic engineering techniques that target specific products. It focuses on the reported chemical structures along with their biological activities and the synthetic and biosynthetic studies they have inspired. This survey summarizes the extraordinary biosynthetic diversity that can emerge from a widely distributed actinomycete genus and supports future efforts to explore under-explored species in the search for novel natural products.

We explore the genus Micromonospora as a model for natural product research and the discovery progress from the classical bioassay-guided approaches through to the application of genome mining and genetic engineering techniques that target specific products.

Metabolomic Profiling and Cytotoxic Tetrahydrofurofuran Lignans Investigations from Premna odorata Blanco

Metabolomic profiling of different Premna odorata Blanco (Lamiaceae) organs, bark, wood, young stems, flowers, and fruits dereplicated 20, 20, 10, 20, and 20 compounds, respectively, using LC–HRESIMS. The identified metabolites (1–34) belonged to different chemical classes, including iridoids, flavones, phenyl ethanoids, and lignans. A phytochemical investigation of P. odorata bark afforded one new tetrahydrofurofuran lignan, 4β-hydroxyasarinin 35, along with fourteen known compounds. The structure of the new compound was confirmed using extensive 1D and 2D NMR, and HRESIMS analyses. A cytotoxic investigation of compounds 35–38 against the HL-60, HT-29, and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, using the MTT assay showed that compound 35 had cytotoxic effects against HL-60 and MCF-7 with IC₅₀ values of 2.7 and 4.2 µg/mL, respectively. A pharmacophore map of compounds 35 showed two hydrogen bond acceptor (HBA) aligning the phenoxy oxygen atoms of benzodioxole moieties, two aromatic ring features vectored on the two phenyl rings, one hydrogen bond donor (HBD) feature aligning the central hydroxyl group and thirteen exclusion spheres which limit the boundaries of sterically inaccessible regions of the target’s active site.

Bioactive Brominated Oxindole Alkaloids from the Red Sea Sponge Callyspongia siphonella

In the present study, LC-HRESIMS-assisted dereplication along with bioactivity-guided isolation led to targeting two brominated oxindole alkaloids (compounds 1 and 2) which probably play a key role in the previously reported antibacterial, antibiofilm, and cytotoxicity of Callyspongia siphonella crude extracts. Both metabolites showed potent antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 8 and 4 µg/mL) and Bacillus subtilis (MIC = 16 and 4 µg/mL), respectively. Furthermore, they displayed moderate biofilm inhibitory activity in Pseudomonasaeruginosa (49.32% and 41.76% inhibition, respectively), and moderate in vitro antitrypanosomal activity (13.47 and 10.27 µM, respectively). In addition, they revealed a strong cytotoxic effect toward different human cancer cell lines, supposedly through induction of necrosis. This study sheds light on the possible role of these metabolites (compounds 1 and 2) in keeping fouling organisms away from the sponge outer surface, and the possible applications of these defensive molecules in the development of new anti-infective agents.

Extreme environments: microbiology leading to specialized metabolites

The prevalence of multidrug-resistant microbial pathogens due to the continued misuse and overuse of antibiotics in agriculture and medicine is raising the prospect of a return to the preantibiotic days of medicine at the time of diminishing numbers of drug leads. The good news is that an increased understanding of the nature and extent of microbial diversity in natural habitats coupled with the application of new technologies in microbiology and chemistry is opening up new strategies in the search for new specialized products with therapeutic properties. This review explores the premise that harsh environmental conditions in extreme biomes, notably in deserts, permafrost soils and deep-sea sediments select for micro-organisms, especially actinobacteria, cyanobacteria and fungi, with the potential to synthesize new druggable molecules. There is evidence over the past decade that micro-organisms adapted to life in extreme habitats are a rich source of new specialized metabolites. Extreme habitats by their very nature tend to be fragile hence there is a need to conserve those known to be hot-spots of novel gifted micro-organisms needed to drive drug discovery campaigns and innovative biotechnology. This review also provides an overview of microbial-derived molecules and their biological activities focusing on the period from 2010 until 2018, over this time 186 novel structures were isolated from 129 representatives of microbial taxa recovered from extreme habitats.

Chemical Profiling and Biological Screening of Some River Nile Derived-Microorganisms

AIMS

Chemical and biological studies of the River Nile derived-microorganisms are limited. Hence, this work was carried out to screen the River Nile habitat. Identification of the isolated organisms, chemical profiling of their ethyl acetate extracts as well as screening of their antimicrobial, antileishmanial, antitrypanosomal, and antimalarial activities were investigated.

METHODS

Identification of the microbial isolates were carried out using bacterial 16S rRNA and fungal 18S rRNA gene sequencing. Chemical profiling of the EtOAc extracts using LC-HRESIMS spectroscopy was carried out. The in vitro antimicrobial screening using the modified version of the CLSI method, antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activities were screened using Leishmania donovani promastigote assay, L. donovani axenic amastigote assay, Trypanosoma brucei trypamastigotes assay and THP1 toxicity assay. The in vitro antimalarial activities against D6 (chloroquine sensitive) and W2 (chloroquine-resistant) strains of Plasmodium falciparum were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seven isolated microorganisms were identified as Streptomyces indiaensis, Bacillus safensis, B. anthracis, Bacillus sp., and Aspergillus awamori. Chemical investigation of different extracts showed several bioactive compounds, identified as; nigragillin, 5-caboxybenzofuran and dyramide B from A. awamori and actinopolysporin B from S. indiaensis. On the other hand many nitrogenous compounds with high molecular weights showed no hits that may correspond to new long chain and/or cyclic peptides. The EtOAc extract of B. safensis fermentation broth showed the highest activity against P. falciparum D6 and P. falciparum W2 (IC50 = 25.94 and 27.28 μg/mL, respectively), while two isolates S. indiaensis and Bacillus sp. RN-011 extracts showed the highest antitrypanosomal activity (IC50 = 0.8 and 0.96 μg/mL).

CONCLUSION

The River Nile could be a new source for production of promising bioactive leading compound where antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities may be correlated.

New Pim-1 Kinase Inhibitor From the Co-culture of Two Sponge-Associated Actinomycetes

Saccharomonospora sp. UR22 and Dietzia sp. UR66, two actinomycetes derived from the Red Sea sponge Callyspongia siphonella, were co-cultured and the induced metabolites were monitored by HPLC-DAD and TLC. Saccharomonosporine A (1), a novel brominated oxo-indole alkaloid, convolutamydine F (2) along with other three known induced metabolites (3-5) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of Saccharomonospora sp. UR22 and Dietzia sp. UR66 co-culture. Additionally, axenic culture of Saccharomonospora sp. UR22 led to isolation of six known microbial metabolites (6-11). A kinase inhibition assay results showed that compounds 1 and 3 were potent Pim-1 kinase inhibitors with an IC₅₀ value of 0.3 ± 0.02 and 0.95 ± 0.01 μM, respectively. Docking studies revealed the binding mode of compounds 1 and 3 in the ATP pocket of Pim-1 kinase. Testing of compounds 1 and 3 displayed significant antiproliferative activity against the human colon adenocarcinoma HT-29, (IC₅₀ 3.6 and 3.7 μM, respectively) and the human promyelocytic leukemia HL-60, (IC₅₀ 2.8 and 4.2 μM, respectively). These results suggested that compounds 1 and 3 act as potential Pim-1 kinase inhibitors that mediate the tumor cell growth inhibitory effect. This study highlighted the co-cultivation approach as an effective strategy to increase the chemical diversity of the secondary metabolites hidden in the genomes of the marine actinomycetes.

Characterization of natural bioactive compounds produced by isolated bacteria from compost of aromatic plants

AIMS

This study aimed to highlight the importance of compost from aromatic plants as a stunning source for several bio active compounds generated from their inhabited thermophilic bacteria. Some of the isolated compounds could have a potential role in the treatment of microbial infections.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of forty different thermophilic bacteria were isolated from compost samples during their thermophilic stage. These isolates were tested for their antimicrobial capabilities against different Gram-positive and -negative bacteria using agar diffusion and double layer agar methods. The potential isolates were further identified based on morphological, biochemical and 16S rRNA gene sequencing methods. They were subjected to submerged state fermentation and the total crude metabolites were recovered using ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extraction. All bioactive metabolites were identified using liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS). It was observed that 2 out of 40 isolates were remarkably active against Gram-positive bacteria. These isolates were genetically identified as Bacillus species and their different active metabolites were characterized in the EtOAc extracts using LC-HRMS.

CONCLUSION

Liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of EtOAc extracts revealed the presence of active metabolites that are responsible for antimicrobial activities.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time to identify bioactive antimicrobial metabolites from retrieved compost micro-organisms in Egypt. So, compost could be a beneficial area for research as a reliable and continuous natural source for different uncountable communities of bacteria.

Epigenetic Modifiers Induce Bioactive Phenolic Metabolites in the Marine-Derived Fungus Penicillium brevicompactum

Fungi usually contain gene clusters that are silent or cryptic under normal laboratory culture conditions. These cryptic genes could be expressed for a wide variety of bioactive compounds. One of the recent approaches to induce production of such cryptic fungal metabolites is to use histone deacetylases (HDACs) inhibitors. In the present study, the cultures of the marine-derived fungus Penicillium brevicompactum treated with nicotinamide and sodium butyrate were found to produce a lot of phenolic compounds. Nicotinamide treatment resulted in the isolation and identification of nine compounds 1–9. Sodium butyrate also enhanced the productivity of anthranilic acid (10) and ergosterol peroxide (11). The antioxidant as well as the antiproliferative activities of each metabolite were determined. Syringic acid (4), sinapic acid (5), and acetosyringone (6) exhibited potent in vitro free radical scavenging, (IC₅₀ 20 to 30 µg/mL) and antiproliferative activities (IC₅₀ 1.14 to 1.71 µM) against HepG2 cancer cell line. Furthermore, a pharmacophore model of the active compounds was generated to build up a structure-activity relationship.