Antibacterial Potency of an Active Compound from Sansevieria trifasciata Prain: An Integrated In Vitro and In Silico Study.

Sansevieria trifasciata Prain holds great potential as a valuable asset in pharmaceutical development. In this study, our focus is to explore and assess the antibacterial activity of various components derived from this plant, including extracts, fractions, subfractions, and isolates, explicitly targeting two common bacteria: Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus. The isolated compound, identified as a derivative pyridone alkaloid (5-methyl-11-(2-oxopyridin-1(2H)-yl)undecaneperoxoicacid), demonstrates notable antibacterial effects. The extracts, fractions, subfractions, and isolates reveal significant bacterial growth reductions (p < 0.05). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for Escherichia coli were 1.95 ppm, 3.9 ppm, 15.62 ppm, and 7.81 ppm, respectively, while the MIC values for Streptococcus aureus were 1.95 ppm, 1.95 ppm, 15.62 ppm, and 7.81 ppm, respectively. Computational analysis showed the isolates' interaction with key residues on the active site of ß-ketoacyl-ACP synthase from Escherichia coli and TyrRS from Streptococcus aureus. The findings indicate that the isolates exhibit a strong affinity for specific residues, including His333, Cys163, and Phe392 in ß-ketoacyl-ACP synthase, as well as Arg88, His117, Glu160, and Gln213 in TyrRS. Comparative energy calculations using MMPBSA demonstrate the isolates' favorable binding energy (-104,101 kJ/mol for ß-ketoacyl-ACP synthase and -81,060 kJ/mol for TyrRS) compared to ciprofloxacin. The elucidated antibacterial activity and molecular interactions of the isolates present valuable knowledge for future in vitro studies, facilitating the development of novel antibacterial agents targeting diverse bacterial strains.

Phytochemical Analysis and Immunomodulatory Potential on Diabetic-Infected Tuberculosis by Fruit Etlingera rubroloba A.D. Poulsen.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> <i> Etlingera rubroloba</i> (<i>E. rubroloba</i>) A.D. Poulsen is an endemic plant in South-East Sulawesi and is a newly discovered species. This plant is expected to have the potential as an immunomodulator in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), which can prevent tuberculosis infection by increasing the phagocytic function of macrophage cells and interleukin-12 (IL-12) levels. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract of the fruit of <i>E. rubroloba</i> A.D. Poulsen using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was carried out. The immunomodulatory potential <i>in vivo</i> on BALB/c mice model DM was carried out by oral induction of TB antigen with extract dose, control positive, negative and normal groups. Furthermore, the phagocytic activity of macrophage cells can be seen with a microscope and the levels of IL-12 with the Elisa kit. <b>Results:</b> The results showed the ethanol extract of the fruit of <i>E. rubroloba</i> contained eight chemical compounds and had potential as immunomodulators in BALB/c DM mice induced by TB antigen by increasing the phagocytic activity of macrophage cells and levels of IL-12, which were significantly different from the negative control (p<0.05). <b>Conclusion:</b> The chemical composition of the ethanol extract of the fruit of <i>E. rubroloba</i> has the potential as an immunomodulator in TB antigen-induced DM <i>in vivo</i>.

Antiproliferation Activity and Apoptotic Mechanism of Soursop (Annona muricata L.) Leaves Extract and Fractions on MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells.

INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women globally, and the incidence rate has increased annually. Traditional medicine is frequently used as a cancer treatment, and soursop or Annona muricata L (A. muricata) is a traditional medicinal plant that has been widely used as an anticancer treatment and requires more thorough study. METHODS: In this research, we prepared ethanol extract and three solvents, ie, ethyl acetate, n-hexane and water fractions of A. muricata leaves and assessed their antiproliferation and cytotoxic activity on MCF7 breast cancer cells compared with that on CV1 normal kidney cells; observation of cell morphology by stained with mixture of propidium iodide and 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole indicated that this treatment induced an ongoing process of apoptotic cell death in MCF7 cells. To clarify the cell death mechanism via apoptosis, we assessed the mRNA expression in the caspase cascade of caspase-9, caspase-3, and PARP-1, and anti-apoptotic, Bcl-2 which mediated cytotoxic activity of extracts and ethyl acetate fractions of A. muricata leaves against MCF7 cells. RESULTS: The ethanol extract, ethyl acetate, n-hexane, and water fractions of A. muricata leaves had IC50 values of 5.3, 2.86, 3.08, and 48.31 µg/mL, respectively, in MCF7 cells but had no activity in CV1 cells. The high cytotoxic activity of A. muricata leaves was reflected by changes in the morphology of cancer cells that appeared after 6 h exposure to A. muricata leaf extract and ethyl acetate fraction; the membrane and nucleus of cells undergoing apoptosis were characterized by the rupture and loss of membranes and nuclei. The mechanism that mediates this cytotoxic activity in MCF7 cells was mediated through a decrease in the expression of Bcl-2 mRNA and an increase in caspase-9 and caspase-3 mRNA expression. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the leaves of the medicinal plant A. muricata contained compounds that on extraction exerted a highly effective activity as an anticancer treatment for breast cancer via induced apoptotic cell death.

Simultaneous Use of Herbal Medicines and Antihypertensive Drugs Among Hypertensive Patients in the Community: A Review.

In various countries, approximately 80% of patients use herbal medicine, both in single form or in combination with antihypertensive drugs, for the treatment of hypertension. Therefore, this research summarized studies on the simultaneous use of herbal medicines and antihypertensive drugs among hypertensive patients in the community. A literature search was conducted on PubMed in April 2020, and the following keywords were used: "herbal medicines" and "antihypertensive patients." In total, 15 of 263 articles were found to be eligible in the initial research. Results showed that studies were performed in different countries worldwide including America and those in Europe, Asia, and Africa between 1960 and 2020. The factors associated with the use of herbal medicines and antihypertensive drugs were age, gender, education level, income, and residence. Herbal medicines and antihypertensive drugs are simultaneously utilized primarily due to their safety and high efficacy. Herbal medicine is frequently recommended by friends or colleagues, herbalists, advertisements, and health workers. Garlic is the most common herbal medicine used along with antihypertensive drugs. The side effects of combination therapy with herbal medicines and prescription drugs for the management of antihypertension include shortness of breath and cough, ulcers, diarrhea, knee cramps, and abdominal discomfort. The lack of communication between patients and health care workers could cause an increase in the simultaneous use of herbal medicines and antihypertensive drugs. Therefore, effective communication among health care workers and appropriate care are important in preventing the side effects and other risks of combined therapy.