Kigelia africana fruit fractions inhibit in vitro alpha-glucosidase activity: a potential natural alpha-glucosidase inhibitor.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes affects 75% of people in low-income countries, where conventional drugs like metformin are available, but newer drugs like alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are not accessible to most Southern African patients. AIM: To evaluate the α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities of fractionated aqueous extracts of Kigelia africana fruit (KAFE) and their phytochemical fingerprints using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied K. africana fruit fractions' inhibitory effects on alpha-glucosidase and alpha-amylase using bioassay-guided fractionation, and analyzed their phytochemical profiles with GC-MS. KEY FINDINGS: Both the aqueous extract and ethyl acetate fraction of the aqueous extract exhibited a low dose-dependent inhibition of alpha-amylase activity (p < 0.0001). At a concentration of 500 µg/mL, the aqueous extract caused an alpha-glucosidase inhibition of 64.10 ± 2.7%, with an estimated IC50 of 193.7 µg/mL, while the ethyl acetate fraction had an inhibition of 89.82 ± 0.8% and an estimated IC50 of 10.41 µg/mL. The subfraction G, which had the highest alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity at 85.10 ± 0.7%, had significantly lower activity than the ethyl acetate fraction. The most bioactive fraction was found to contain 11"(2-cyclopenten-1-yl) undecanoic acid, ( +)- and cyclopentane undecanoic acid as well as the indole alkaloids Akuammilan-17-ol-10-methoxy, N-nitroso-2-methyl-oxazolidine and epoxide Oxirane2.2″ -(1.4-butanediyl) bis-. CONCLUSION: The K. africana fruit fraction demonstrated significant alpha-glucosidase inhibitory activity, while its alpha-amylase inhibitory activity was limited. This study suggests a potential natural alpha-glucosidase inhibitor and phytocompounds that could serve as leads for developing antidiabetic agents.

Inhibitory Effects on Staphylococcus aureus Sortase A by Aesculus sp. Extracts and Their Toxicity Evaluation.

A promising strategy for combating bacterial infections involves the development of agents that disarm the virulence factors of pathogenic bacteria, thereby reducing their pathogenicity without inducing direct lethality. Sortase A, a crucial enzyme responsible for anchoring virulence factors to the cell surface of several pathogenic bacteria, has emerged as a possible target for antivirulence strategies. A series of hippocastanum species (Aesculus pavia, A. parviflora, Aesculus x carnea, and A. hippocastanum) were used to prepare ethanol- and water-based extracts for assessing their effect on Staphylococcus aureus sortase A. The extracts were characterized through HPLC analysis, and their polyphenols content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. The specific toxicity profile was evaluated in Daphnia magna using the median lethal concentration (LC50) and against the fibroblast MRHF cell line. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values on sortase A, determined after 30 min of incubation, ranged from 82.70 to 304.31 µg/mL, with the A. pavia water extract exhibiting the highest inhibitory effect. The assessment of the A. pavia water extract on human fibroblasts revealed no significant signs of toxicity, even at a concentration of 500 µg/mL. This reduced toxicity was further validated through the Daphnia assay. These findings highlight the low toxicity and the potential of this extract as a promising source of future development of bacteria antivirulence solutions.

Exploring four South African Croton species for potential anti-inflammatory properties: in vitro activity and toxicity risk assessment.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: The African Continent harbours approximately 26 Croton species. Many Croton species are used in traditional medicine in southern Africa to treat a variety of ailments including malaria, tuberculosis, microbial infection and inflammation. Considering the high diversity of the genus Croton, the ethnopharmacological information available on southern African species is rather limited. Furthermore, the potential for novel anti-inflammatory drug scaffolds has not previously been investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the study was to evaluate the potential of four South African Croton species extracts (Croton gratissimus, Croton pseudopulchellus, Croton sylvaticus, and Croton steenkampianus) for anti-inflammatory activity targeting the TLR4 signalling pathway and to assess the potential risk for hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity using an in vitro cellomics approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Leaf extracts of C. gratissimus, C. pseudopulchellus, C. sylvaticus and C. steenkampianus were prepared using methanol and chloroform (1:1, v/v). The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using LPS induced nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages, while the hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity was evaluated using multi-parameter end point analysis in C3A and Vero cells, respectively. Mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial mass, oxidative stress, lysosomal content and lipid accumulation were used as markers to assess the risk for hepatotoxicity. RESULTS: All four species attenuated nitric oxide production with negligible cytotoxicity. However, C. gratissimus yielded the most favorable profile. Cell density was significantly reduced in both C3A and Vero cells with the C. gratissimus extract providing a suitable toxicity profile amenable to further high content analysis. While there was no meaningful effect on mitochondrial dynamics, a strong dose dependent increase in lipid content, paralleled by an expansion of the lysosomal compartment, identifies a potential risk for steatosis. Risk for genotoxicity was investigated using the micronucleus assay which revealed a dose dependent increase in micronuclei formation. Changes in nuclear morphology and cell ploidy further strengthens the associated risk for genotoxicity and suggests the extract from C. gratissimus may function as an aneugen. Collectively, the data demonstrates that although the selected species possess anti-inflammatory components, the risk for possible hepatotoxic and genotoxic side effects may negate their prospect towards further drug development.

Evaluation of the wound healing properties of South African medicinal plants using zebrafish and in vitro bioassays.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: In South Africa, medicinal plants have a history of traditional use, with many species used for treating wounds. The scientific basis of such uses remains largely unexplored. AIM OF THE STUDY: To screen South African plants used ethnomedicinally for wound healing based on their pro-angiogenic and wound healing activity, using transgenic zebrafish larvae and cell culture assays. MATERIALS AND METHODS: South African medicinal plants used for wound healing were chosen according to literature. Dried plant material was extracted using six solvents of varying polarities. Pro-angiogenesis was assessed in vivo by observing morphological changes in sub-intestinal vessels after crude extract treatment of transgenic zebrafish larvae with vasculature-specific expression of a green fluorescent protein. Subsequently, the in vitro anti-inflammatory, fibroblast proliferation and collagen production effects of the plant extracts that were active in the zebrafish angiogenesis assay were investigated using murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) and human fibroblast (MRHF) cell lines. RESULTS: Fourteen plants were extracted using six different solvents to yield 84 extracts and the non-toxic (n=72) were initially screened for pro-angiogenic activity in the zebrafish assay. Of these plant species, extracts of Lobostemon fruticosus, Scabiosa columbaria and Cotyledon orbiculata exhibited good activity in a concentration-dependent manner. All active extracts showed negligible in vitro toxicity using the MTT assay. Lobostemon fruticosus and Scabiosa columbaria extracts showed noteworthy anti-inflammatory activity in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The acetone extract of Lobostemon fruticosus stimulated the most collagen production at 122% above control values using the MRHF cell line, while all four of the selected extracts significantly stimulated cellular proliferation in vitro in the MRHF cell line. CONCLUSIONS: The screening of the selected plant species provided valuable preliminary information validating the use of some of the plants in traditional medicine used for wound healing in South Africa. This study is the first to discover through an evidence-based pharmacology approach the wound healing properties of such plant species using the zebrafish as an in vivo model.

Comprehensive in vitro antidiabetic screening of Aspalathus linearis using a target-directed screening platform and cellomics.

The antidiabetic potential of Aspalathus linearis has been investigated for over a decade, however, its characterisation remains incomplete with results scattered across numerous journals making the information difficult to compare and integrate. To explore whether any potential antidiabetic mechanisms for A. linearis have been neglected and to compare the suitability of extracts of green and "fermented" A. linearis as potential antidiabetic treatment strategies, this study utilised a comprehensive in vitro antidiabetic target-directed screening platform in combination with high content screening and analysis/cellomics. The antidiabetic screening platform consisted of 20 different screening assays that incorporated 5 well-characterised antidiabetic targets i.e. the intestine, liver, skeletal muscle, adipose tissue/obesity and pancreatic ß-cells. Both the green and fermented extracts of A. linearis demonstrated very broad antidiabetic mechanisms as they revealed several promising activities that could be useful in combatting insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress, protein glycation and pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction and death - with a strong tendency to attenuate postprandial hyperglycaemia and the subsequent metabolic dysfunction which arises as a result of poor glycaemic control. The green extract was more successful at combatting oxidative stress in INS-1 pancreatic ß-cells and enhancing intracellular calcium levels in the absence of glucose. Conversely, the fermented extract demonstrated a greater ability to inhibit α-glucosidase activity as well as palmitic acid-induced free fatty acid accumulation in C3A hepatocytes and differentiated L6 myotubes, however, further studies are required to clarify the potentially toxic and pro-inflammatory nature of the fermented extract.

Isolation and characterisation of altissimin: a novel cytotoxic flavonoid C-apioglucoside from Drimia altissima (Asparagaceae).

Flavonoids are a class of biologically active compounds with various proven nutraceutical benefits. In flavonoid C-glycosides, the aglycones are attached to sugar residues via cleavage-resistant C-C bonds which alter typical flavonoid pharmacokinetic properties. In these compounds, the combination of biological activities from the flavonoid moieties and sugar residues create unique and more diverse biological functions than those of O-glycosylated and unsubstituted flavonoids. Through a series of reverse phase chromatography techniques and various spectroscopic methods, the phytochemical investigation of Drimia altissima (L.F.) Ker Gawl., a specie from the Asparagaceae family, led to the isolation and chemical characterisation of a novel C-glucosylflavonoid, altissimin, with a unique apioglucoside arrangement to the apigenin aglycone. Altissimin was found to possess strong in vitro anti-proliferative activity against HeLa cervical cancer cells.

Bioguided chemical characterization of pequi (Caryocar brasiliense) fruit peels towards an anti-diabetic activity.

Pequi fruit peels are an underexploited source of polyphenols. The anti-diabetic potential of an extract and fractions from the peels were evaluated in a panel of assays. The extract and fractions thereof inhibited the release of cytokines involved in insulin resistance - TNF, IL-1ß, and CCL2 - by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated THP-1 cells. The ethyl acetate fraction inhibited in vitro α-glucosidase (pIC50 = 4.8 ± 0.1), an enzyme involved in the metabolization of starch and disaccharides to glucose, whereas a fraction enriched in tannins (16C) induced a more potent α-glucosidase inhibition (pIC50 = 5.3 ± 0.1). In the starch tolerance test in mice, fraction 16C reduced blood glucose level (181 ± 10 mg/dL) in comparison to the vehicle-treated group (238 ± 11 mg/dL). UPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analyses disclosed phenolic acids and tannins as constituents, including corilagin and geraniin. These results highlight the potential of pequi fruit peels for developing functional foods to manage type-2 diabetes.

Wild-Type Zebrafish (Danio rerio) Larvae as a Vertebrate Model for Diabetes and Comorbidities: A Review.

Zebrafish have become a popular alternative to higher animals in biomedical and pharmaceutical research. The development of stable mutant lines to model target specific aspects of many diseases, including diabetes, is well reported. However, these mutant lines are much more costly and challenging to maintain than wild-type zebrafish and are simply not an option for many research facilities. As an alternative to address the disadvantages of advanced mutant lines, wild-type larvae may represent a suitable option. In this review, we evaluate organ development in zebrafish larvae and discuss established methods that use wild-type zebrafish larvae up to seven days post fertilization to test for potential drug candidates for diabetes and its commonly associated conditions of oxidative stress and inflammation. This provides an up to date overview of the relevance of wild-type zebrafish larvae as a vertebrate antidiabetic model and confidence as an alternative tool for preclinical studies. We highlight the advantages and disadvantages of established methods and suggest recommendations for future developments to promote the use of zebrafish, specifically larvae, rather than higher animals in the early phase of antidiabetic drug discovery.

Anti-Cancer Activity of a 5-Aminopyrazole Derivative Lead Compound (BC-7) and Potential Synergistic Cytotoxicity with Cisplatin against Human Cervical Cancer Cells.

The use of some very well-known chemotherapeutic agents, such as cisplatin, is limited by toxicity in normal tissues and the development of drug resistance. In order to address drug resistance and the side-effects of anti-cancer agents, recent research has focused on finding novel combinations of anti-cancer agents with non-overlapping mechanisms of action. The cytotoxic effect of the synthetic 5-aminopyrazole derivative N-[[3-(4-bromophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-5-yl]-carbamothioyl]-4-chloro-benzamide (BC-7) was evaluated by the bis-Benzamide H 33342 trihydrochloride/propidium iodide (Hoechst 33342/PI) dual staining method against HeLa, MeWo, HepG2, Vero, and MRHF cell lines. Quantitative fluorescence image analysis was used for the elucidation of mechanism of action and synergism with cisplatin in HeLa cells. BC-7 displayed selective cytotoxicity towards HeLa cells (IC50 65.58 ± 8.40 µM) and induced apoptosis in a mitochondrial- and caspase dependent manner. This was most likely preceded by cell cycle arrest in the early M phase and the onset of mitotic catastrophe. BC-7 increased the cytotoxic effect of cisplatin in a synergistic manner with combination index (CI) values less than 0.9 accompanied by highly favourable dose reduction indices. Therefore, the results obtained support the implication that BC-7 has potential anti-cancer properties and that combinations of BC-7 with cisplatin should be further investigated for potential clinical applications.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Phytopharmacological Potential of Sargassum incisifolium for the Treatment of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background: Comprised of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) are characterized by chronic inflammation of the gastro-intestinal tract, which often results in severe damage to the intestinal mucosa. This study investigated metabolites from the South African endemic alga, Sargassum incisifolium, as potential treatments for IBD. Phytochemical evaluation of S. incisifolium yielded prenylated toluhydroquinones and toluquinones, from which semi-synthetic analogs were derived, and a carotenoid metabolite. The bioactivities of S. incisifolium fractions, natural products, and semi-synthetic derivatives were evaluated using various in vitro assays. Methods: Sargahydroquinoic acid isolated from S. incisifolium was converted to several structural derivatives by semi-synthetic modification. Potential modulation of IBD by S. incisifolium crude fractions, natural compounds, and sargahydroquinoic acid analogs was evaluated through in vitro anti-inflammatory activity, anti-oxidant activity, cytotoxicity against HT-29 and Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells, and PPAR-γ activation. Results: Sargahydroquinoic acid acts on various therapeutic targets relevant to IBD treatment. Conclusions: Conversion of sargahydroquinoic acid to sarganaphthoquinoic acid increases peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) activity, compromises anti-oxidant activity, and has no effect on cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines.

In Vitro Anti-proliferative Activity and Mechanism of Action of Anemone nemorosa.

Anemone nemorosa is part of the Ranunculaceae genus Anemone (order Ranunculales) which comprises more than 150 species. Various parts of the plant have been used for the treatment of numerous medical conditions such as headaches, tertian agues, rheumatic gout, leprosy, lethargy, eye inflammation as well as malignant and corroding ulcers. The Anemone plants have been found to contain various medicinal compounds with anti-cancer, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant and anti-microbial activities. To date there has been no reported evidence of its use in the treatment of cancer. However, due to the reported abundance of saponins which usually exert anti-cancer activity via cell cycle arrest and the induction of apoptosis, we investigated the mode of cell death induced by an aqueous A. nemorosa extract by using HeLa cervical cancer cells. Cisplatin was used as a positive control. With a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.33 ± 2.480 µg/mL, treatment with A. nemorosa yielded a delay in the early mitosis phase of the cell cycle. Apoptosis was confirmed through fluorescent staining with annexin V-FITC. Apoptosis was more evident with A. nemorosa treatment compared to the positive control after 24 and 48 h. Tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester staining showed a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential at 24 and 48 h. The results obtained imply that A. nemorosa may have potential anti-proliferative properties.

The Akt pathway in oncology therapy and beyond (Review).

Protein kinase B (Akt), similar to many other protein kinases, is at the crossroads of cell death and survival, playing a pivotal role in multiple interconnected cell signaling mechanisms implicated in cell metabolism, growth and division, apoptosis suppression and angiogenesis. Akt protein kinase displays important metabolic effects, among which are glucose uptake in muscle and fat cells or the suppression of neuronal cell death. Disruptions in the Akt­regulated pathways are associated with cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The regulation of the Akt signaling pathway renders Akt a valuable therapeutic target. The discovery process of Akt inhibitors using various strategies has led to the identification of inhibitors with great selectivity, low side­effects and toxicity. The usefulness of Akt emerges beyond cancer therapy and extends to other major diseases, such as diabetes, heart diseases, or neurodegeneration. This review presents key features of Akt structure and functions, and presents the progress of Akt inhibitors in regards to drug development, and their preclinical and clinical activity in regards to therapeutic efficacy and safety for patients.

In Vitro Antidiabetic Activity and Mechanism of Action of Brachylaena elliptica (Thunb.) DC.

In South Africa, the number of people suffering from diabetes is believed to be rising steadily and the current antidiabetic therapies are frequently reported to have adverse side effects. Ethnomedicinal plant use has shown promise for the development of cheaper, cost-effective antidiabetic agents with fewer side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antidiabetic activity and mechanism of action of aqueous leaf extract prepared from Brachylaena elliptica. The potential of the extract for cytotoxicity was evaluated using MTT assay in HepG2 cells. The effects of the plant extract on glucose utilization in HepG2 cells and L6 myotubes, triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1, INS-1 proliferation, glucose metabolism in INS-1 cells, and NO production in RAW macrophages were also investigated using cell culture procedures. The inhibitory effects of the extract on the activities of different enzymes including alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, pancreatic lipase, dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), collagenase, and CYP3A4 enzymes were evaluated. The extract also tested against protein glycation using standard published procedure. The plant extract displayed low level of toxicity, where both concentrations tested did not induce 50% cell death. The extract caused a significant increase in glucose uptake in HepG2 liver cells, with efficacy significantly higher than the positive control, berberine. The crude extract also displayed no significant effect on muscle glucose uptake, triglyceride accumulation in 3T3-L1, glucose metabolism in INS-1 cells, alpha-amylase, alpha-glucosidase, DPP-IV, lipase, protein glycation, and collagenase compared to the respective positive controls. The extract displayed a proliferative effect on INS-1 cells at 25 µg/ml when compared to the negative control. The plant also produced a concentration-dependent reduction in NO production in RAW macrophages and also demonstrated weak significant inhibition on CYP3A4 activity. The findings provide evidence that B. elliptica possess antidiabetic activity and appear to exact its hypoglycemic effect independent of insulin.

Gelatin as a convenient surrogate protein to model the in vitro effects of advanced glycation end-product formation.

Protein glycation has been implicated in skin ageing and several other disease states; however, the slow rate of glycation end-product formation makes in vitro studies challenging and often impractical. Gelatin, a denatured form of collagen, was identified as a convenient glycation surrogate amenable to cell culture conditions. The suitability of glycated gelatin to model the effects of AGE formation was verified using RAW 264.7 macrophages which revealed a remarkable correlation to previously documented effects. Effects of glycated gelatin on the central role of NF-ĸB and its downstream consequences (COX-2 and CD86) confirmed the pro-inflammatory nature of advanced glycation end-products. Together, these findings provide confidence that this model could prove a valuable tool to study the poorly understood mechanisms characterizing cellular dysfunction in response to AGE accumulation.

Potential Therapeutic Benefits of Green and Fermented Rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) in Dermal Wound Healing.

The process of wound healing constitutes an ordered sequence of events that provides numerous opportunities for therapeutic intervention to improve wound repair. Rooibos, Aspalathus linearis, is a popular ingredient in skin care products, however, little scientific data exists exploring its therapeutic potential. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of fermented and aspalathin-enriched green rooibos in various in vitro models representative of dermal wound healing. Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with fermented rooibos resulted in increased nitric oxide production as well as increased levels of cellular inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2, which are typical markers for classically activated macrophages. In contrast, the green extract was devoid of such activity. Using glycated gelatin as a model to mimic diabetic wounds, only the green extract showed potential to reduce cyclooxygenase-2 levels. Considering the role of reactive oxygen species in wound healing, the effects of rooibos on oxidative stress and cell death in human dermal fibroblasts was evaluated. Both fermented and green rooibos decreased cellular reactive oxygen species and attenuated apoptotic/necrotic cell death. Our findings highlight several properties that support the therapeutic potential of rooibos, and demonstrate that green and fermented rooibos present distinctly different properties with regards to their application in wound healing. The proinflammatory nature of fermented rooibos may have therapeutic value for wounds characterised with a delayed initial inflammatory phase, such as early diabetic wounds. The green extract is more suited to wounds burdened with excessive inflammation as it attenuated cyclooxygenase-2 levels and effectively protected fibroblasts against oxidative stress.

Antifungal and antiproliferative activities of endophytic fungi isolated from the leaves of Markhamia tomentosa.

CONTEXT: Plants harbor endophytes with potential bioactivity. Markhamia tomentosa (Benth) K. Schum ex. Engl. (Bignoniaceae) is reported to possess antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities. OBJECTIVE: The antifungal and antiproliferative properties of endophytic fungi extracts and fractions from M. tomentosa were evaluated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Endophytic fungi were isolated from the leaves of M. tomentosa and identified by ITS-rDNA sequence analysis. The antagonistic effect of the fungal strains was investigated against pathogenic fungi viz, Fusarium oxysporum, Sclerotinia sclerotiorium, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea using the dual culture assay for 5-7 days. Antiproliferative effect of the fungal extracts and fractions (3.91-250 µg/mL) on HeLa cancer cell line was tested and IC50 was calculated. Poisoning food assay and antifeedant activity against the pathogenic fungi and Spodoptera litura larvae, for 7 days and 2 h, respectively, was also tested at concentrations of 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL. RESULTS: Fungal endophytes Trichoderma longibrachiatum and Syncephalastrum racemosum were isolated from the leaves of M. tomentosa. Isolated endophytic fungal strains and solvent extracts showed MIC value of 1000 µg/mL against tested pathogenic fungi in the dual culture and poisoning food assays. Methanol fraction of S. racemosum isolate showed the most effective antiproliferative activity with IC50 of 43.56 µg/mL. Minimal feeding deterrent activity against S. litura larvae was also observed. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: These findings showed that the leaves of Markhamia tomentosa harbor strains of endophytic fungi with promising health benefits, and suggest their antifungal and antiproliferative effects against pathogenic fungi and HeLa cancer cell line.

The apoptotic and autophagic properties of two natural occurring prodrugs, hyperoside and hypoxoside, against pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Pancreatic cancer is only the 12th most common cancer, but the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the world. This is due to late prognosis, poor response to chemotherapy and early metastases. Natural prodrugs may play an important role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The main aim of this study was to determine the cytotoxicity of five natural prodrugs, namely harpagoside, hyperoside, hypoxoside, oleuropein and polydatin, by investigating apoptosis and autophagy as possible mechanism/s of action. Hypoxoside and hyperoside have shown selective cytotoxicity at IC50 values of ∼25 and 50µM against INS-1 and MIA PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells, respectively. Hypoxoside and hyperoside induced G2/M phase arrest and caspase-3 activation in INS-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells, respectively. Hoechst/phalloidin staining confirmed morphological changes, including condensed chromatin multinucleation, membrane blebbing and loss of cytoskeletal arrangement in INS-1 and MIA PaCa-2 cells. Acridine orange staining was absent in INS-1 (hypoxoside) and MIA PaCa-2 (hyperoside) treated cells, whereas LC3B expression was not significantly increased. INS-1 and MIA PaCa-2 treated cells favour the cell death pathway, apoptosis, over the cell survival pathway, autophagy.

Anticancer potential of selected Fallopia Adans species.

The aim of the present study was to determine the anticancer potential of three species belonging to the Fallopia genus (Polygonaceae): Fallopia convolvulus (F. convolvulus, Fallopia dumetorum (F. dumetorum) and Fallopia aubertii (F. aubertii). For this purpose, crude extracts were obtained and characterized for their phenolic and flavonoid total content and examined for their anticancer activity on three tumor cell lines: breast cancer (MCF7), colon carcinoma (Caco-2) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. The cytotoxic potential of the three species was assessed by MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and by the evaluation of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The acute toxicity of the extracts was evaluated using one in vitro cell model (Vero cells, an African Green monkey kidney cell line) and two invertebrate in vivo models (Daphnia magna and Artemia salina). The highest total phenolic and flavonoid content was found in the F. aubertii flower extracts. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts from F. aubertii and F. convolvulus on all three cell lines were examined at concentrations ranging from 3 to 300 µg/ml. G2/M cell cycle arrest was induced by all the extracts, and a significant increase in the subG1 cell population was observed. The hydroethanolic extract from the flowers of F. aubertii induced cell apoptosis more rapidly than the other extracts. The MMP indicates the involvement of the mitochondria in the induction of apoptosis. A positive correlation between the total phenolic content of the extracts and the IC50 values against the HeLa cells was also noted. None of the extracts exhibited significantly toxic effects. Considering the antitumor potential of F. aubertii and F. convolvulus, these two species may represent a good source of plant extracts with anticancer properties.

Cytotoxicity of syringin and 4-methoxycinnamyl alcohol isolated from Foeniculum vulgare on selected human cell lines.

This study was carried out to determine the cytotoxic effect of seven plant extracts and the isolated compounds - syringin and 4-methoxycinnamyl alcohol - on cancerous and non-cancerous cells. The ethanol extract of Foeniculum vulgare was found to exhibit the most significant toxicity with an IC50 value of 19.97 µg/mL on HeLa cells. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of two compounds, syringin (1) and 4-methoxycinnamyl alcohol (2). Both compounds showed toxicity against MCF-7, HeLa and DU145 cancer cell line. The results showed that compound 2 showed high toxicity against all the cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 14.24, 7.82 and 22.10 µg/mL, respectively. 4-Methoxycinnamyl alcohol also showed no apoptotic effect in cell cycle analysis after 48 h at a concentration of 10 µg/mL. However, DNA fragmentation study revealed that necrosis took place at a concentration of 10 µg/mL after 48 h exposure.

Antiproliferative mechanism of the methanolic extract of Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. (Fabaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Enterolobium cyclocarpum (Jacq.) Griseb. is a tropical tree that has folkloric implications against many ailments and diseases including cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To explore the ethnopharmacological claims against cancer, the cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract of the leaves, was investigated using the brine shrimp lethality assay, MTT assay using cervical (HeLa) and breast (MCF7) cancer cell lines, cell cycle analysis and Annexin V-FITC/PI assay. RESULTS: In the brine shrimp lethality assay, the extract showed cytotoxic activity with LC50 value of 31.63 µg/mL. Significant growth inhibition was observed in both cell lines with IC50 values of 2.07 ± 1.30 µg/mL and 11.84 ± 1.18 µg/mL for HeLa and MCF7, respectively. Cell cycle analysis indicated that HeLa cells were arrested in the G2/M phase while MCF7 cells arrested in the G1/G0 phase. The Annexin V-FITC/PI assay revealed phosphatidylserine translocation in both cell lines and thus apoptosis induction upon treatment with the extract. CONCLUSION: The study demonstrated the potential antiproliferative activity of Enterolobium cyclocarpum thereby supporting the traditional claim and provides basis for further mechanistic studies and isolation of active constituents.