The Cytotoxic Activity of Dammarane-Type Triterpenoids Isolated from the Stem Bark of Aglaia cucullata (Meliaceae).

The Aglaia genus, a member of the Meliaceae family, is generally recognized to include a number of secondary metabolite compounds with diverse structures and biological activities, including triterpenoids. Among the members of this genus, Aglaia cucullata has been reported to have unique properties and thrives exclusively in mangrove ecosystems. This plant is also known to contain various metabolites, such as flavaglines, bisamides, and diterpenoids, but there are limited reports on the isolation of triterpenoid compounds from its stem bark. Therefore, this research attempted to isolate and elucidate seven triterpenoids belonging to dammarane-type (1-7) from the stem bark of Aglaia cucullata. The isolated compounds included 20S,24S-epoxy-3α,25-dihydroxy-dammarane (1), dammaradienone (2), 20S-hydroxy-dammar-24-en-3-on (3), eichlerianic acid (4), (20S,24RS)-23,24-epoxy-24-methoxy-25,26,27-tris-nor dammar-3-one (5), 3α-acetyl-cabraleahydroxy lactone (6), and 3α-acetyl-20S,24S-epoxy-3α,25-dihydroxydammarane (7). Employing spectroscopic techniques, the chemical structures of the triterpenoids were identified using FTIR, NMR, and HRESITOF-MS. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1-7 was tested with the PrestoBlue cell viability reagent against MCF-7 breast cancer, B16-F10 melanoma, and CV-1 normal kidney fibroblast cell lines. The results displayed that compound 5 had the highest level of bioactivity compared to the others. Furthermore, the IC50 values obtained were more than 100 µM, indicating the low potential of natural dammarane-type triterpenoids as anticancer agents. These findings provided opportunities for further studies aiming to increase their cytotoxic activities through semi-synthetic methods.

Antibacterial Activity Test of Extracts and Fractions of Cassava Leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) against Clinical Isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes Causing Acne.

This study is aimed at determining antibacterial activity from ethanol extracts and the most active fraction of cassava leaves against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Propionibacterium acnes. Research carried out by the experimental method involved determination of plants, extraction with maceration method, fractionation with liquid-liquid extraction, antibacterial activity testing of extracts and fractions by agar diffusion method, determination of most active fraction from the extract, and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) testing of most active fraction by microdilution method. The results showed that ethanol extracts of cassava leaves had antibacterial activity against both bacteria with the most active fraction indicated by ethyl acetate. MIC values of ethyl acetate fraction against S. epidermidis were in the concentration range of 2.5%-5.0% (w/v) and against P. acnes were in the concentration range of 1.25%-2.5% (w/v). The MBC value of ethyl acetate fraction against S. epidermidis was at a concentration of 5% (w/v), while P. acnes was at a concentration of 2.5% (w/v). From the results of this study, it can be concluded that the ethanol extract of cassava leaves (Manihot esculenta Crantz) has antibacterial activity against clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as on Propionibacterium acnes. The fraction with the best activity from the ethanol extract of cassava leaves to the two test bacteria was shown by ethyl acetate fraction. It is suggested that cassava leaves are possible to be developed into standardized antiacne herbal.