Biochemical, haematological and histopathological studies of extract of Ageratum conyzoides L. in Sprague Dawley rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the safety potential of the leaf extract of Ageratum conyzoides Linnaeus in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats using biochemical, haematological and histological indices of toxicity. Four groups of seven male SD rats per group were used for the study. To group A was administered 0.25% CMC-Na/ kg body weight and was used as the control group, while groups B, C and D were respectively administered with 500, 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the ethanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides by gastric intubation for 14 days. Animals were subsequently anaesthetized, blood samples were collected for biochemical and haematological assays; organs were isolated and weighed, while the liver, kidney and spleen were processed for histopathological studies. Aspartate amino transferase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the groups treated with 1000 and 1500 mg/kg body weight of the extract. Furthermore, there was a significant (p < 0.05) elevation in white blood cell count, mean platelet volume and % platelet distribution width. Histopathological studies indicated various degrees of hepatocellular necrosis in all the treated groups accompanied by significant increases in the weight of liver and spleen. The results showed that the ethanolic leaf extract of A. conyzoides significantly alters the biomarkers of cardiac and skeletal muscle disorders, and higher doses could induce liver cell injury

Antitumor Cyclic Hexapeptides from Rubia Plants: History, Chemistry, and Mechanism (2005–2011)

Rubiaceae-type cyclopeptides (RAs), cyclic hexapeptides from Rubia plants, have shown potential antitumor activity in vitro and in vivo. Based on the review about plant cyclopeptides (Chem. Rev., 2006, 106: 840), this mini-review will highlight new progress on the discovery, synthesis, and mechanism of RAs isolated during 2005 to 2011, covering recent work in our group

Mirror-Image 5S Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

After realizing mirror-image genetic replication, transcription, and reverse transcription, the biggest challenge in establishing a mirror-image version of the central dogma is to build a mirror-image ribosome-based translation machine. Here, we chemically synthesized the natural and mirror-image versions of three ribosomal proteins (L5, L18, and L25) in the large subunit of the Escherichia coli ribosome with post-translational modifications. We show that the synthetic mirror-image proteins can fold in vitro despite limited efficiency and assemble with enzymatically transcribed mirror-image 5S ribosomal RNA into ribonucleoprotein complexes. In addition, the RNA-protein interactions are chiral-specific in that the mirror-image ribosomal proteins do not bind with natural 5S ribosomal RNA and vice versa. The synthesis and assembly of mirror-image 5S ribonucleoprotein complexes are important steps towards building a functional mirror-image ribosome

Cytotoxic flavonoids from the young twigs and leaves of Caesalpinia bonduc (Linn) Roxb

The extraction, fractionation and recognition of flavonoids from the ethanolic extract of young twigs and leaves of C. bonduc were carried out. In addition, cytotoxic study of the flavonoids on two cancer cell lines, BGC-823 and HeLa was carried our using sulphorhodamine B assay. Seven flavonoids, six of which are being reported for the first time in this plant, were isolated. Their structures were identified by MS and NMR spectroscopic methods. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and water fractions exhibited moderate cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells. Five compounds showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa cell in comparison with Paclitaxel, while only one compound showed a good degree of cytotoxic activity against BGC-823 cell in comparison to Paclitaxel. The results obtained showed a structure - activity relationship

Licochalcone A exerts antitumor activity in bladder cancer cell lines and mice models

Purpose: To investigate the effect of licochalcone A (LA) on the inhibition of cell proliferation and ERK1/2 phosphorylation in bladder carcinoma cell lines.Methods: Cell viability was investigated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Dye-binding method was used to examine the concentration of proteins. Lymphocytes were extracted from mice and after surface staining were subjected to BD fixation and permeabilization for intracellular staining. Flow cytometry was used to measure cellular fluorescence.Results: MTT results revealed a significant decrease in the proliferation of UM-UC-3, J82 and HT-1197 cell lines on treatment with LA. LA also induced reduction in phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in all three carcinoma cell lines. In the mouse model, licochalcone A treatment via intraperitoneal (ip) administration induced a significant decrease in the level of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Comparison of the mouse interferon-α (IFN-α)-treated and LA-treated groups revealed that LA treatment caused enhancement of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) activity similar to that of IFN-α. Administration of UM-UC-3 cells in C3H/HeN mice resulted in marked reduction in the counts for splenocytes and CD4+ CD25+ Foxp3+ T (regulatory T cells) cell proportion in LA-treated mice compared to untreated control group.Conclusion: Licochalcone A may be of therapeutic importance for the prevention of bladder carcinoma. However, studies are required to ascertain the compound’s usefulness in this regard.Keywords: Licochalcone A, Bladder carcinoma, Splenocytes, Phosphorylation, Cell proliferation, Interfero

Nutrient metabolism, mass balance, and microbial structure community in a novel denitrifying phosphorus removal system based on the utilizing rules of acetate and propionate

The effect of acetate (HAc) and propionate (HPr) on denitrifying phosphorus removal (DPR) was evaluated in a novel two-sludge A2/O - MBBR (anaerobic/anoxic/oxic - moving bed biofilm reactor) system. Results showed that it was the carbon source transformation and utilization especially the composition of poly-β-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA) (mainly poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and poly-bhydroxyvalerate (PHV)) decided DPR performance, where the co-exist of HAc and HPr promoted the optimal nitrogen (85.77%) and phosphorus (91.37%) removals. It facilitated the balance of PHB and PHV and removing 1 mg NO3− (PO43−) consumed 3.04–4.25 (6.84–9.82) mgPHA, where approximately 40–45% carbon source was saved. Mass balance revealed the main metabolic pathways of carbon (MAn,C (consumed amount in anaerobic stage) and MA-O,C (consumed amount in anoxic and oxic stages): 66.38–76.19%), nitrogen (MDPR,N (consumed amount in DPR): 57.01–65.75%), and phosphorus (MWS,P (discharged amount in waste sludge): 81.05–85.82%). Furthermore, the relative abundance and microbial distribution were assessed to elucidate DPR mechanism (e.g. Accumulibacter, Acinetobacter, Dechloromonas, Competibacter, and Defluviicoccus) in the A2/O reactor and nitrification performance (e.g. Nitrosomonas, Nitrosomonadaceae and Nitrospira) in the MBBR. Carbon source was demonstrated as the key point to stimulate the biodiversity and bioactivity related to DPR potential, and the operational strategy of carbon source addition was proposed based on the utilizing rules of HAc and HPr