Antimalarial, antiplasmodial and analgesic activities of root extract of Alchornea laxiflora

Context: Alchornea laxiflora (Benth.) Pax. & Hoffman (Euphorbiaceae) root decoctions are traditionally used in the treatment of malaria and pain in Nigeria. Objective: To assess the antimalarial, antiplasmodial and analgesic potentials of root extract and fractions against malarial infections and chemically-induced pains. Material and methods: The root extract and fractions of Alchornea laxiflora were investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei infection in mice, antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine sensitive (Pf 3D7) and resistant (Pf INDO) strains of Plasmodium falciparum using SYBR green assay method and analgesic activity against experimentally-induced pain models. Acute toxicity study of the extract, cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells and GCMS analysis of the active fraction were carried out. Results: The root extract (75–225 mg/kg, p.o.) with LD50 of 748.33 mg/kg exerted significant (p 100 μg/mL. The crude extract and ethyl acetate fraction exerted significant (p < 0.05–0.001) analgesic activity in all pain models used. Discussion and conclusions: These results suggest that the root extract/fractions of A. laxiflora possess antimalarial, antiplasmodial and analgesic potentials and these justify its use in ethnomedicine to treat malaria and pain

Antimalarial and antiplasmodial activity of husk extract and fractions of Zea mays

Context: Zea mays L. (Poacae) husk decoctions are traditionally used in the treatment of malaria by various tribes in Nigeria. Objective: To assess the antimalarial and antiplasmodial potentials of the husk extract and fractions on malaria parasites using in vivo and in vitro models. Materials and methods: The ethanol husk extract and fractions (187–748 mg/kg, p.o.) of Zea mays were investigated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei using rodent (mice) malaria models and in vitro activity against chloroquine sensitive (Pf 3D7) and resistant (Pf INDO) strains of Plasmodium falciparum using the SRBR green assay method. Median lethal dose and cytotoxic activities against HeLa and HEKS cells were also carried out. The GCMS analysis of the most active fraction was carried out. Results: The husk extract (187–748 mg/kg, p.o.) with LD50 of 1874.83 mg/kg was found to exert significant (p 100 μg/mL against both HeLa and HEKS cell lines. Discussion and conclusion: These results suggest that the husk extract/fractions of Zea mays possesses antimalarial and antiplasmodial activities and these justify its use in ethnomedicine to treat malaria infections

Cytotoxic Property of Surfactant-Cobalt(III) Complexes on a Human Breast Cancer Cell Line

The cancer chemotherapeutic potential of surfactant-cobalt(III) complexes, cis-[Co(bpy)(2)(C14H29NH2)Cl](ClO4)(2) center dot 3 H2O (1) and cis-[Co(phen)(2)(C14H29NH2)Cl](ClO4)(2) center dot 3 H2O (2) (bpy 2,2 '-bipyridine, phen 1,10-phenanthroline) on MCF-7 breast cancer cell was determined adopting MTT assay and specific staining techniques. The complexes affected the viability of the cells significantly and the cells succumbed to apoptosis as seen in the changes in the nuclear morphology and cytoplasmic features. Since the complex 2 appeared to be more potent, further assays were carried out on the complex 2. Single-cell electrophoresis indicated DNA damage. The translocation of phosphatidyl serine and loss of mitochondrial potential was revealed by annexin V-Cy3 staining and JC-1 staining respectively. Western blot analysis revealed up-regulation of pro-apoptotic p53 and down-regulation of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. Taken together, the surfactant-cobalt(III) complex 2 would be a potential candidate for further investigation for application as a chemotherapeutic for cancers in general and estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer in particular

Morphology and Doping Level of Electropolymerized Biselenophene-Flanked 3,4- Ethylenedioxythiophene Polymer: Effect of Solvents and Electrolytes

Biselenophene-flanked 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) based polymer films were obtained by electrochemical polymerization. The effects of polymerization conditions such as supporting electrolytes and solvents on doping level, optical property and morphology of the polymer films were systematically studied. Interestingly, we found that polymer prepared by using different supporting electrolytes (TBAPF(6), TBABF(4) and TBACIO(4)) has significant effects on the doping level of the polymer films, whereas electropolymerized solvents (acetonitrile and dichloromethane) has no such effects on doping level. The polymer films show reversible dedoping and doping behavior upon treatment with hydrazine hydrate and iodine respectively. Biselenophene-flanked EDOT polymer shows a band gap of about 1.6 eV which is comparable to poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and parent polyselenophene, whereas finetuning of HOMO and LUMO energy levels has been found. In contrast, we observed that electropolymerized solvent has a major effect on morphology of the polymer films, while supporting electrolyte has very minor effects on the morphology. The surface morphologies of the polymer films were characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and atomic force microscope (AFM) techniques. We also present an efficient synthesis of bisthiophene-flanked bridged EDOT (ETTE), and biselenophene-flanked bridged EDOT (ESeSeE), and their electrochemical polymerization, characterizations and throughout comparison where applicable. A density functional theory (DFT) calculation of the corresponding polymers and a comparison with polythiophene (PT), polyselenophene (PSe), PEDOT and EDOT- based copolymers (PETE and PESeE) has been made