Canfieldite Ag8SnS6 nanoparticles with high light absorption coefficient and quantum yield

Canfieldite Ag8SnS6 (STS) nanocubes were prepared by the solution decomposition of precursors using heat-up and hot injection protocols employing coordinating solvents (oleylamine - OLA and dodecanethiol - DT) to afford monodispersed silver tin sulfide (STS) nanoparticles. The phase and shape of nanoparticles were tuned by varying reactants' temperature and mole ratios. The powder X-ray diffraction (p-XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis indicate phase pure orthorhombic Ag8SnS6 nanocrystals with nearly monodispersed particles ranging between 12 and 50 nm. The p-XRD patterns for the STS nanoparticles obtained by the heat-up method exhibited enhanced peak broadening than the hot injection route, accounting for the corresponding quantum confinement effects. Likewise, the (124), (227) and (266) planes of the reflections in OLA/DT capped STS crystals appeared well resolved, indicating that seed growth of a transitional Ag2S might be involved in the formation of the ternary chalcogenides. The values of the energy bandgap (Eg) were found in the range of 1.16–2.60 eV. At the same time, the STS nanoparticles exhibited high photon absorption and low quantum yield potentials, making them a possible candidate for photovoltaic cells and enhanced photoelectrochemical performance

δ-Tocotrienol feeding modulates gene expression of EIF2, mTOR, protein ubiquitination through multiple-signaling pathways in chronic hepatitis C patients

Abstract Background δ-Tocotrienol is a naturally occurring proteasome inhibitor, which has the capacity to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in several cancer cells obtained from several organs of humans, and other cancer cell lines. Moreover, results of plasma total mRNAs after δ-tocotrienol feeding to hepatitis C patients revealed significant inhibition in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, VCAM1, proteasome subunits) and induction in the expression of ICAM1 and IFN-γ after post-treatment. This down-regulation of proteasome subunits leads to autophagy, apoptosis of immune cells and several genes. The present study describes RNA-sequence analysis of plasma total mRNAs obtained from δ-tocotrienol treatment of hepatitis C patients on gene expression regulated by proteasome. Methods Pooled specimens of plasma total mRNAs of pre-dose versus post-dose of δ-tocotrienol treatment of hepatitis C patients were submitted to RNA-sequence analyses. The data based on > 1 and 8-fold expression changes of 2136 genes were uploaded into “Ingenuity Pathway Analyses (IPA)” for core analysis, which describes possible canonical pathways, upstream regulators, diseases and functional metabolic networks. Results The IPA of “molecules” indicated fold change in gene expression of 953 molecules, which covered several categories of biological biomarkers. Out of these, gene expression of 220 related to present study, 12 were up-regulated, and 208 down-regulated after δ-tocotrienol treatment. The gene expression of transcription regulators (ceramide synthase 3 and Mohawk homeobox) were up-regulated, and gene expression of 208 molecules were down-regulated, involved in several biological functions (HSP90AB1, PSMC3, CYB5R4, NDUFB1, CYP2R1, TNFRF1B, VEGFA, GPR65, PIAS1, SFPQ, GPS2, EIF3F, GTPBP8, EIF4A1, HSPA14, TLR8, TUSSC2). IPA of “causal network” indicated gene regulators (676), in which 76 down-regulated (26 s proteasomes, interleukin cytokines, and PPAR-ligand-PPA-Retinoic acid-RXRα, PPARγ-ligand-PPARγ-Retinoic acid-RARα, IL-21, IL-23) with significant P-values. The IPA of “diseases and functions” regulators (85) were involved with cAMP, STAT2, 26S proteasome, CSF1, IFNγ, LDL, TGFA, and microRNA-155-5p, miR-223, miR-21-5p. The IPA of “upstream analysis” (934) showed 57 up-regulated (mainly 38 microRNAs) and 64 gene regulators were down-regulated (IL-2, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IL-18, IL-21, IL-24, IL-27, IL-32), interferon β-1a, interferon γ, TNF-α, STAT2, NOX1, prostaglandin J2, NF-κB, 1κB, TCF3, and also miRNA-15, miRNA-124, miRNA-218-5P with significant activation of Z-Score (P < 0.05). Conclusions This is first report describing RNA-sequence analysis of δ-tocotrienol treated plasma total mRNAs obtained from chronic hepatitis C patients, that acts via multiple-signaling pathways without any side-effects. These studies may lead to development of novel classes of drugs for treatment of chronic hepatitis C patients

Proteasome inhibitors modulate anticancer and anti-proliferative properties via NF-kB signaling, and ubiquitin-proteasome pathways in cancer cell lines of different organs

Abstract Background Cancer is second most common cause of death in the United State. There are over 100 different types of cancer associated with different human organs, predominantly breast, liver, pancreas, prostate, colon, rectum, lung, and stomach. We have recently reported properties of pro-inflammatory (for treatment of various types of cancers), and anti-inflammatory (for cardiovascular disease and diabetes) compounds. The major problem associated with development of anticancer drugs is their lack of solubility in aqueous solutions and severe side effects in cancer patients. Therefore, the present study was carried out to check anticancer properties of selected compounds, mostly aqueous soluble, in cancer cell lines from different organs. Methods The anticancer properties, anti-proliferative, and pro-apoptotic activity of novel naturally occurring or FDA approved, nontoxic, proteasome inhibitors/activators were compared. In addition to that, effect of δ-tocotrienol on expression of proteasome subunits (X, Y, Z, LMP7, LMP2, LMP10), ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and TNF-α using total RNAs derived from plasmas of hepatitis C patients was investigated. Results Our data demonstrated that following compounds are very effective in inducing apoptosis of cancer cells: Thiostrepton, dexamethasone, 2-methoxyestradiol, δ-tocotrienol, quercetin, amiloride, and quinine sulfate have significant anti-proliferation properties in Hela cells (44% - 87%) with doses of 2.5–20 μM, compared to respective controls. Anti-proliferation properties of thiostrepton, 2-methoxyestradiol, δ-tocotrienol, and quercetin were 70% - 92%. However, thiostrepton, dexamethasone, 2-methoxyestradiol, δ-tocotrienol, quercetin, and quinine sulphate were effective in pancreatic, prostate, breast, lungs, melanoma, Β-lymphocytes, and T-cells (Jurkat: 40% to 95%) compared to respective controls. In lung cancer cells, these compounds were effective between 5 and 40 μM. The IC50 values of anti-proliferation properties of thiostrepton in most of these cell lines were between doses of 2.5–5 μM, dexamethasone 2.5–20 μM, 2-methoxyestradiol 2.5–10 μM, δ-tocotrienol 2.5–20 μM, quercetin 10–40 μM, and (−) Corey lactone 40–80 μM. In hepatitis C patients, δ-tocotrienol treatment resulted in significant decrease in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conclusions These data demonstrate effectiveness of several natural-occurring compounds with anti-proliferative properties against cancer cells of several organs of humans. Thiostrepton, dexamethasone, 2-methoxyestradiol, δ-tocotrienol and quercetin are very effective for apoptosis of cancer cells in liver, pancreas, prostate, breast, lung, melanoma, Β-lymphocytes and T-cells. The results have provided an opportunity to test these compounds either individually or in combination as dietary supplements in humans for treatment of various types of cancers

Metabolic Profiling by GC-MS, In Vitro Biological Potential, and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Verbena officinalis

Verbena officinalis L. is a traditionally important medicinal herb that has a rich source of bioactive phytoconstituents with biological benefits. The objective of this study was to assess the metabolic profile and in vitro biological potential of V. officinalis. The bioactive phytoconstituents were evaluated by preliminary phytochemical studies, estimation of polyphenolic contents, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of all fractions (crude methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) of V. officinalis. The biological investigation was performed by different assays including antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP), enzyme inhibition assays (urease and &alpha;-glucosidase), and hemolytic activity. The ethyl acetate extract had the maximum concentration of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (394.30 &plusmn; 1.09 mg GAE&middot;g&minus;1 DE and 137.35 &plusmn; 0.94 mg QE&middot;g&minus;1 DE, respectively). Significant antioxidant potential was observed in all fractions by all four antioxidant methods. Maximum urease inhibitory activity in terms of IC50 value was shown by ethyl acetate fraction (10 &plusmn; 1.60 &micro;g mL&minus;1) in comparison to standard hydroxy urea (9.8 &plusmn; 1.20 &micro;g&middot;mL&minus;1). The n-hexane extract showed good &alpha;-glucosidase inhibitory efficacy (420 &plusmn; 20 &micro;g&middot;mL&minus;1) as compared to other extract/fractions. Minimum hemolytic activity was found in crude methanolic fraction (6.5 &plusmn; 0.94%) in comparison to positive standard Triton X-100 (93.5 &plusmn; 0.48%). The GC-MS analysis of all extract/fractions of V. officinalis including crude methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions, resulted in the identification of 24, 56, 25, and 9 bioactive compounds, respectively, with 80% quality index. Furthermore, the bioactive compounds identified by GC-MS were analyzed using in silico molecular docking studies to determine the binding affinity between ligands and enzymes (urease and &alpha;-glucosidase). In conclusion, V. officinalis possesses multiple therapeutical potentials, and further research is needed to explore its use in the treatment of chronic diseases