Phytochemical Composition and Antibacterial Activity of Barleria albostellata C.B. Clarke Leaf and Stem Extracts.

Barleria albostellata (Acanthaceae) is a shrub located in South Africa and is relatively understudied. However, plants within this genus are well known for their medicinal and ethnopharmacological properties. This study aimed to characterise the phytochemical compounds and antibacterial efficacies of B. albostellata. Phytochemical analysis, fluorescence microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis were performed to determine the composition of compounds that may be of medicinal importance. Crude leaf and stem extracts (hexane, chloroform and methanol) were subjected to an antibacterial analysis against several pathogenic microorganisms. The qualitative phytochemical screening of leaf and stem extracts revealed the presence various compounds. Fluorescence microscopy qualitatively assessed the leaf and stem powdered material, which displayed various colours under bright and UV light. GC-MS chromatograms represents 10-108 peaks of various compounds detected in the leaf and stem crude extracts. Major pharmacologically active compounds found in the extracts were alpha-amyrin, flavone, phenol, phytol, phytol acetate, squalene and stigmasterol. Crude extracts positively inhibited Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Significance was established at p < 0.05 for all concentrations and treatments. These results indicate that the leaves and stems of B. albostellata are rich in bioactive compounds, which could be a potential source of antibacterial agents for treating various diseases linked to the pathogenic bacteria studied. Future discoveries from this plant could advance the use of indigenous traditional medicine and provide novel drug leads.

Synthesis, Characteristation and Biological Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Generated Using the Leaf and Stembark Extract of Combretum erythrophyllum.

BACKGROUND: Medicinal plants are known to contain numerous phytometabolites with suggested pharmacological value. Literature suggests that the medicinal use of phytometabolites in its natural state has limited success due to poor absorption rates. Currently, the focus lies on synthesizing phytometabolites extracted from medicinal plants and silver ions to generate nano-scale carriers with specialized properties. Thus, the nano-synthesis of phytometabolites with silver (Ag+) ions is proposed. The use of silver is promoted due to its known antibacterial and antioxidant effectiveness, among many. Nanotechnology allows for the green generation of nano-scaled particles that are able to penetrate target areas due to its size and unique structure. Therefore, this study aimed to generate a novel protocol for the synthesis of AgNP's using the leaf and stembark extracts of C. erythrophyllum. In addition, the biological activity of the generated nanoparticles was evaluated. OBJECTIVES: To synthesis silver nanoparticles (AgNP's) using the leaf and stembark extracts of Combretum erythrophyllum. The relative shape, size, distribution, and zeta potential of the synthesised particles were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and UV Spectrophotometry (UV -vis). To screen the synthesised particles for its potential antibacterial, apoptotic and cytotoxic properties. METHODS: A novel protocol for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNP's) using the leaf and stembark extracts of Combretum erythrophyllum was established. The generated AgNP's were characterised using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), Nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and UV Spectrophotometry (UV -vis). Furthermore, the AgNP's were evaluated for their antibacterial, cytotoxic and apoptotic activity against a range of bacterial strains and cancer cells. Characterisation was based upon particle size, shape and elemental silver composition. RESULTS: Within the stembark extract, synthesised nanoparticles were large, spherical in shape and dense in elemental silver composition. While synthesised nanoparticles of the leaf extract were small to medium in size, varied in shape established and contained minimal quantities of silver (substantiated by the TEM and NTA results). Furthermore, it was established that the synthesized nanoparticles exhibited high antibacterial properties due to the conducted antibacterial assay. The FTIR analysis revealed the presence of numerous functional groups within active compounds found in the synthesised extracts. Functional groups found varied between the leaf and stembark extracts, each with proposed pharmacological activity. CONCLUSION: Presently, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are continuously evolving thus, posing as a threat to conventional drug delivery systems. Nanotechnology provides a platform that enables the formulation of a low-toxicity and hypersensitive drug delivery system. Further studies evaluating the biological activity of extracts of C. erythrophyllum synthesized with silver nanoparticles could enhance its proposed pharmaceutical value.

The essential oils of Grewia Lasiocarpa E. Mey. Ex Harv.: chemical composition, in vitro biological activity and cytotoxic effect on Hela cells.

The chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves and stem bark of Grewia lasiocarpa was determined for the first time in this study. The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and identified by GC-MS and FTIR. The antibacterial, antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of essential oils were determined. The major compounds identified were phytol (22.6%); α-farnesene (8.62%); n-hexadecanoic acid (7.24%); farnesol (4.61%) in the leaves, and 2-methylheptadecane (7.24%); heptacosane (7.60%); heptadecane, 2,6,10,14-tetramethyl (7.30%). The presence of aromatic, alkanes and phenolic compounds were revealed by FTIR analysis. The in silico oral prediction shows that some of the components are orally safe. The essential oil from the leaves showed cytotoxic activity at 1mg/mL(IC50 =555.70 µg/mL) against HeLa cells. The oils exhibited no significant antioxidant activity (IC50 >1 000 µg/mL) with <100 mg/g GAE of total phenol. The essential oils showed different degrees of activities against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 314588) at 10 µg/mL, 5 µg/mL and 2.5 µg/mL. These results might provide a future reference basis for further exploration of more of its medicinal application.

Targeted next-generation sequencing identified novel mutations in triple-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Mutations in JAK2, MPL and CALR genes have been identified in the majority of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients, and patients negative for these three mutations are the so-called triple-negative (TN) MPN. In this study, we examined the mutational profiles of 16 triple-negative MPN patients including 7 essential thrombocythemia (ET), 1 primary myelofibrosis and 8 polycythemia vera (PV). Targeted next-generation sequencing was performed using the ACTOnco Comprehensive Cancer Panel (Ion AmpliSeq Comprehensive Cancer Panel, Life Technologies) to target all coding exons of 409 cancer-related genes. Overall, 30 nonsynonymous somatic mutations were detected in 12 (75%) patients with a range of 1-5 mutations per sample. Notably, one ET patient was found to have JAK2V617F and KITP551L mutations at very low allele frequency. One MPLP70L and 1 MPLM602T mutations were identified each in 1 ET and 1 PV, respectively. Other recurrent mutations were also identified including KMT2C, KMT2D, IRS2, SYNE1, PDE4DIP, SETD2, ATM, TNFAIP3 and CCND2. In addition, germline mutations were also found in some cancer-related genes. Copy number changes were rare in this cohort of TN MPNs. In conclusion, both somatic and germline mutations can be detected in TN MPN patients.

Antroquinonol from ethanolic extract of mycelium of Antrodia cinnamomea protects hepatic cells from ethanol-induced oxidative stress through Nrf-2 activation.

AIM OF THE STUDY: In recent years, the medicinal mushroom Antrodia cinnamomea, known as "niu-chang chih" has received much attention with regard to its possible health benefits; especially its hepatoprotective effects against various drugs, toxins, and alcohol induced liver diseases. However, the molecular mechanism underlying this protective effect of Antrodia cinnamomea and its active compound antroquinonol was poorly understood. In the present study we evaluated to understand the hepatoprotective efficacy of antroquinonol and ethanolic extracts of mycelia of Antrodia cinnamomea (EMAC) in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The protective mechanism of antroquinonol and EMAC against ethanol-induced oxidative stress was investigated in cultured human hepatoma HepG2 cells and ICR mice model, respectively. HepG2 cells were pretreated with antroquinonol (1-20µM) and oxidative stress was induced by ethanol (100mM). Meanwhile, male ICR mice were pretreated with EMAC for 10 days and hepatotoxicity was generated by the addition of ethanol (5g/kg). Hepatic enzymes, cytokines and chemokines were determined using commercially available assay kits. Western blotting and real-time PCR were subjected to analyze HO-1 and Nr-2 expression. EMSA was performed to monitor Nrf-2 ARE binding activity. Possible changes in hepatic lesion were observed using histopathological analysis. RESULTS: Antroquinonol pretreatment significantly inhibited ethanol-induced AST, ALT, ROS, NO, MDA production and GSH depletion in HepG2 cells. Western blot and RT-PCR analysis showed that antroquinonol enhanced Nrf-2 activation and its downstream antioxidant gene HO-1 via MAPK pathway. This mechanism was then confirmed in vivo in an acute ethanol intoxicated mouse model: serum ALT and AST production, hepatocellular lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion was prevented by EMAC in a dose-dependent manner. EMAC significantly enhanced HO-1 and Nrf-2 activation via MAPKs consistent with in vitro studies. Ethanol-induced hepatic swelling and hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes was significantly inhibited by EMAC in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide a scientific basis for the hepatoprotective effects of Antrodia cinnamomea. Data also imply that antroquinonol, a potent bioactive compound may be responsible for the hepatoprotective activity of Antrodia cinnamomea. Moreover, the present study highly supported our traditional knowledge that Antrodia cinnamomea as a potential candidate for the treatment of alcoholic liver diseases.

Hypersensitivity reactions to oxaliplatin: a case report and the success of a continuous infusional desensitization schedule.

Oxaliplatin is a third-generation platinum analog that is used mainly to treat advanced colorectal cancer. The reported incidence of hypersensitivity reactions to oxaliplatin, especially after multiple cycles of therapy, is less than 1%. We report a patient with metastatic colon cancer who developed a hypersensitivity reaction to oxaliplatin during the sixth cycle of combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin, high-dose 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin. The same reaction occurred again after re-exposure to oxaliplatin 2 weeks later even with prophylactic administration of steroids and H1 antihistamines. After failing third-line treatment with oral tegafur-uracil, we desensitized the patient by using a fixed-rate 24-h continuous infusion of dilute oxaliplatin (0.15 mg/ml), in addition to steroids and H1 antihistamines. He had no hypersensitivity reaction during or after that infusion or when the same concentration was infused in the same way 2 weeks later. Because his condition subsequently deteriorated and the cancer progressed, no further oxaliplatin was given. Our experience does demonstrate, however, that a fixed-rate 24-h continuous infusion of oxaliplatin in a low concentration may prevent a hypersensitivity reaction in a previously sensitized patient.

African traditional healers: what health care professionals need to know.

Traditional healing has always been a component of health care. In South Africa, traditional healers can obtain licences to practise but very little groundwork has been done to integrate Westernized medicine with traditional healing. The actual contribution of traditional healers to health care in the province of Kwa-Zulu Natal or South Africa is not known. This study determined the role of traditional healers in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, the number of patients who consulted traditional healers, the types of conditions treated and the frequency of consultations. The opinions about physiotherapy of the patients who frequently consult traditional healers were also explored. Data were collected from 30 traditional healers and their 300 patients by means of questionnaires and interviews. The results show 70% of the patients would consult traditional healers as a first choice. Sangomas were the most popular type of healers and had as many as 20 patients per day. A significantly large number of patients consulted traditional healers for potentially life-threatening conditions. The patients knew very little or nothing about physiotherapy. We conclude that traditional healing is an integral component of health care in South Africa. Health care professionals need to be proactive in integrating traditional healing with Westernized practices to promote health for all.