Ethyl acetate extract of Clausena execavata promotes growth inhibition of Burkitt's lymphoma cell line via apoptotic activities / El extracto de acetato de etilo de Clausena excavata promueve la inhibición del crecimiento de la línea celular del linfoma de Burkitt a través de actividades apoptóticas

Clausena excavata is a famous folklore medicinal plant in Asian region that is being used for the treatment of different disorders. This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of leaf extracts via MTT assay, as well as the in vitro apoptotic activities of the ethyl acetate C. excavata leaf extract (EACE) on human Burkitt's lymphoma, Raji, cell line using annexin-V-FITC/propidium iodide flow cytometric assays. Pro-apoptotic (BAX) and anti-apoptotic (BCL-2, c-MYC) gene expressions were determined via real-time quantitative PCR. Phytochemical screening was done by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). EACE has the lowest IC50 (19.3 ± 0.35 µg/mL) among extracts. EACE-treated Raji cells after 48 h underwent apoptosis as evident by loss of cell viability and increase in the percentage of early and late apoptotic cells. The results also showed EACE mediated decreased in the BCL-2 and c-MYC gene expressions and increased in the BAX gene. C. excavata is a potential treatment for Burkitt lymphoma through activation of apoptosis.

Clausena excavata es una planta medicinal tradicional famosa en la región asiática que se utiliza para el tratamiento de diferentes trastornos. Este estudio investigó los efectos citotóxicos de los extractos de hojas a través del ensayo MTT, así como las actividades apoptóticas in vitro del extracto de hoja de acetato de etilo de C. excavata (EACE) en la línea celular de linfoma de Burkitt humano, Raji, usando citometría de flujo de yoduro de anexina-V-FITC/propidio. Las expresiones génicas proapoptóticas (BAX) y antiapoptóticas (BCL-2, c-MYC) se determinaron mediante PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real. El cribado fitoquímico se realizó mediante cromatografía de gases-espectrometría de masas (GC-MS). EACE tiene el IC50más bajo (19,3 ± 0,35 µg/mL) entre los extractos. Las células Raji tratadas con EACE después de 48 h sufrieron apoptosis como es evidente por la pérdida de viabilidad celular y el aumento en el porcentaje de células apoptóticas tempranas y tardías. Los resultados también mostraron una disminución mediada por EACE en las expresiones de los genes BCL-2 y c-MYC y un aumento en el gen BAX. C. excavata es un tratamiento potencial para el linfoma de Burkitt a través de la activación de la apoptosis.

Zerumbone-Loaded Nanostructured Lipid Carrier Gel Enhances Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats.

This study investigated the healing effects of topical application of zerumbone, a well-known anti-inflammatory compounds loaded on nanostructured lipid carrier gel (Carbopol 940) (ZER-NLCG) on excisional wounds in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Diabetic rats with inflicted superficial skin wound were topically treated with ZER-NLCG, empty NLCG, and silver sulfadiazine cream (SSDC) once daily for 21 days. Wound tissue samples were analyzed for proinflammatory cytokines, namely, interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 ß (IL-1ß), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hydroxyproline contents, catalase, superoxide dismutase activities, and lipid peroxidation level, and were subjected to histopathological analysis, respectively. Among the treated groups, ZER-NLCG was the most effective at decreasing proinflammatory cytokine level and inflammatory cell infiltration while increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, hydroxyproline content, and granulation of wound tissues of diabetic rats. ZER-NLCG is a potent formulation for the enhancement of wound healing in diabetic rats through its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and tissue repair activities.

Anti-Enterococcus Faecalis, Cytotoxicity, Phytotoxicity, and Anticancer Studies on Clausena excavata Burum. f. (Rutaceae) Leaves.

BACKGROUND: Clausena excavata Burum. f. has long been applied in ethnomedicine for the treatment of various disorders like rhinitis, headache, cough, wound healing, fever, and detoxification. This study is aimed at investigating the antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 49532 using AlamarBlue assay and atomic force microscopy (AFM) as well as the cytotoxicity, anticancer, and phytotoxicity of C. excavata. METHOD: Bacterial cell viability was performed by using microplate AlamarBlue assay. Atomic force microscopy was used to determine morphological changes in the surface of bacterial cells. Cytotoxicity and phytotoxicity were determined by brine shrimp lethality and Lemna minor bioassay. Caco-2 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) cell line was used for the evaluation of the anticancer effects. RESULT: Among the fractions tested, ethyl acetate (EA) fraction was found to be active with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 750 µg/mL against E. faecalis, but other fractions were found to be insensitive to bacterial growth. Microscopically, the EA fraction-treated bacteria showed highly damaged cells with their cytoplasmic content scattered all over. The LC50 value of the EA fraction against brine shrimp was more than 1000 µg/mL showing the nontoxic nature of this fraction. Chloroform (CH), EA, and methanol (MOH) fractions of C. excavata were highly herbicidal at the concentration of 1000 µg/mL. EA inhibited Caco-2 cell line with an IC50 of 20 µg/mL. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to reveal anti-E. faecalis property of EA fraction of C. excavata leaves, natural herbicidal, and anticancer agents thus highlight the potential compound present in its leaf which needs to be isolated and tested against multidrug-resistant E. faecalis.

Prophylactic effects of Clausena excavata Burum. f. leaf extract in ethanol-induced gastric ulcers.

Clausena excavata is a natural herb with both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. It has been used for decades in folkloric practice for the amelioration of various ailments. In this study, the gastroprotective activity of methanolic extract of C. excavata leaves (MECE) was determined in the Sprague Dawley rat ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Rats were pretreated with a single dose of vehicle (5% Tween 20), 20 mg/mL omeprazole, 400 and 200 mg/mL of MECE dissolved in 5% Tween 20. Ulcer was induced with 5 mL/kg of ethanol and stomach tissue was obtained after 1 hour. Histological examination was done on hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff, and immunochemically stained gastric mucosal tissues. Prostaglandin E2, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and lipid peroxidation levels of the gastric tissue homogenates were also determined. Significantly (P<0.05) smaller ulcer areas, less intense edema, and fewer leukocytes' infiltration were observed in MECE- and omeprazole-treated than in untreated gastric mucosa with ulcer. The gastric pH, mucus production, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase contents increased, while the lipid peroxidation content decreased as a result of MECE treatment. Bcl-2-associated X protein was underexpressed, while heat shock protein 70 and transforming growth factor-beta protein were overexpressed in the ulcerated gastric mucosa tissues treated with omeprazole and MECE. Similarly, there was a reduction in the levels of tumor necrotic factor-alpha and interleukin-6, while the level of interleukin-10 was increased. This study showed that the gastroprotective effect of MECE is achieved through inhibition of gastric juice secretion and ulcer lesion development, stimulation of mucus secretion, elevation of gastric pH, reduction of reactive oxygen species production, inhibition of apoptosis in the gastric mucosa, and modulation of inflammatory cytokines.

Effect of Clausena excavata Burm. f. (Rutaceae) leaf extract on wound healing and antioxidant activity in rats.

Clausena excavata is a well-known plant used in folkloric medicine for the treatment of different ailments. This study aimed to determine the in vitro cytoxicity of its leaf solvent extracts as well as the in vivo wound healing and antioxidant activities of the methanolic extracts of C. excavata (MECE). HaCaT (keratocyte) and Vero cell lines were used for evaluation of the in vitro cytotoxic effects, while the in vivo wound healing and antioxidant activities were determined in skin wounds inflicted on rats. Twenty adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups of four animals each. Approximately 3.14 cm(2) excisional wound was inflicted on the nape of each rat following anesthesia. The treatment groups received topical application of MECE at 50 mg/mL (MECE-LD [low dose]), 100 mg/mL (MECE-MD [medium dose]), and 200 mg/mL (MECE-HD [high dose]), while the negative control group was treated with gum acacia in normal saline and the positive control group with intrasite gel. Wound contraction was evaluated on days 5, 10, and 15 after wound infliction, and tissue from wound area was collected at day 15 post-wound infliction for antioxidant enzyme evaluation and histopathological analyses. Generally, Vero cells were more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of the solvent extracts as compared with HaCaT cells. Chloroform (CH) and ethyl acetate (EA) extracts of C. excavata were toxic to HaCaT cells at 200 and 400 µg/mL, but the same concentrations showed higher (P<0.05) viability in Vero cells. There was significantly (P<0.01) greater wound contraction at days 10 and 15 post-wound infliction in all the treatment groups than in the control groups. Histopathologically, the MECE-HD-treated wound showed significantly (P<0.05) lesser inflammatory cell proliferation, degeneration, and distribution of granulation tissue than other groups. Similarly, the degree of collagen maturation, angiogenesis, and collagen distribution were significantly (P<0.05) lower in MECE-HD than in other groups. The MECE-HD, MECE-MD, and intrasite treatment groups showed a significantly (P<0.05) higher number of VEGF-positive and TGF-ß1-positive cells in the skin wound than the control groups. The activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase were significantly (P<0.01) higher in the MECE-HD and intrasite treatment groups than in the other groups. Lipid peroxidase activity of the treated groups was significantly (P<0.01) lower than that in the control group. The study showed that MECE is a potent wound healing agent through anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that enhanced the rate of wound contraction, re-epithelialization, and collagen deposition. The effect of MECE is suggested to be due to its high polyphenolic compound content.