Ent-Clerodane Diterpenes from the Bark of Croton oligandrus Pierre ex Hutch. and Assessment of Their Cytotoxicity against Human Cancer Cell Lines.

New clerodane diterpenes, 12-epi-megalocarpodolide D (2) and an epimeric mixture of crotonolins A (3) and B (4), were isolated from the bark of Croton oligandrus following a bioassay-guided isolation protocol. Known compounds, megalocarpodolide D (1), 12-epi-crotocorylifuran (5), cluytyl-ferulate (6), hexacosanoyl- ferulate (7), vanillin (8), acetyl-aleuritolic acid (9) and lupeol (10), were also isolated. The structures of the isolated compounds (1-10) were elucidated by spectroscopic means. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-10 was assessed against A549, MCF7, PC3 and PNT2 cell lines using the MTT assay. Compounds 1 and 2 showed moderate levels of activity against both A549 and MCF7 cells with 1 being the most active with IC50 values of 63.8 ± 13.8 and 136.2 ± 22.7 µM against A549 and MCF7 cells, respectively. The epimeric mixture of 3 and 4 was moderately active against A549 and PC3 cells (IC50 = 128.6 ± 31.0 and 111.2 ± 2.9 µM, respectively).

Advances in glioblastoma multiforme: Integrating therapy and pathology perspectives.

Glioblastoma, a highly lethal form of brain cancer, is characterized by its aggressive growth and resistance to conventional treatments, often resulting in limited survival. The response to therapy is notably influenced by various patient-specific genetic factors, underscoring the disease's complexity. Despite the utilization of diverse treatment modalities such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, many patients experience local relapse, emphasizing the critical need for improved therapeutic strategies to effectively target these formidable tumors. Recent years have witnessed a surge in interest in natural products derived from plants, particularly alkaloids, for their potential anticancer effects. Alkaloids have shown promise in cancer chemotherapy by selectively targeting crucial signaling pathways implicated in tumor progression and survival. Specifically, they modulate the NF-κB and MAPK pathways, resulting in reduced tumor growth and altered gene expression across various cancer types. Additionally, alkaloids exhibit the capacity to induce cell cycle arrest, further impeding tumor proliferation in several malignancies. This review aims to delineate recent advances in understanding the pathology of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) and to explore the potential therapeutic implications of alkaloids in managing this deadly disease. By segregating discussions on GBM pathology from those on alkaloid-based therapies, we provide a structured overview of the current challenges in GBM treatment and the promising opportunities presented by alkaloid-based interventions. Furthermore, we briefly discuss potential future directions in GBM research and therapy beyond alkaloids, including emerging treatment modalities or areas of investigation that hold promise for improving patient outcomes. In conclusion, our efforts offer hope for enhanced outcomes and improved quality of life for GBM patients through alkaloid-based therapies. By integrating insights from pathology and therapeutic perspectives, we underscore the significance of a comprehensive approach in addressing this devastating disease.

Antileishmanial anthraquinones from the rhyzomes of Rumex abyssinicus Jacq (Polygonaceae).

Phytochemical investigation of the rhyzomes of Rumex abyssinicus (Polygonaceae) afforded six anthraquinones viz chrysophanol (1), physcion (2), emodin (3), mixture of physcion-8-O-ß,D-glucopyranoside (4) and chrypsophanol-8-O-ß,D-glucopyranoside (5), and emodin-8-O-ß,D-glucopyranoside (6). All the compounds were characterised and identified by comparison of their MS and NMR data with available literature data. The isolated compounds were evaluated for their antileishmanial activity. Emodin (3) was the most active compounds with IC50 13.82 and 0.26 µg/mL against Leishmania donovani amastigotes and promastigotes, respectively. Emodin-8-O-ß,D-glucopyranoside (6) also showed a moderate activity with IC50 27.53 and 37.08 µg/mL. This is the first report of antileishmanial compounds from R. abyssinicus and the antileishmanial activities of compounds 2, 4, 5 and 6 are here reported for the first time.