Metabolomic comparison of selected Helichrysum species to predict their antiviral properties

From the Helichrysum genus 600 species occur in Africa of which 244 species are found in South Africa. The most commonly used Helichrysum species for medicinal purposes are H. cymosum, H. odoratissimum, H. petiolare and H. nudifolium. The medicinal uses include the treatment of coughs, colds, fever, infection, headaches, menstrual pain and are very popular for wound dressing. Previous published research has shown that H. aureonitens has antiviral properties against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). In this study, further investigation into the Helichrysum species was undertaken, to establish the active constituents responsible for anti-HSV activity using a metabolomics approach. The cytotoxicity of 12 Helichrysum species was investigated and ranged from <3.125 μg/ml to 277.8 μg/ml on the vero cell line. The 12 Helichrysum species also showed various levels of antiviral activity against HSV, with both the water-methanol and chloroform extracts of H. adenocarpum subsp. adenocarpum being the most active extract at 25 μg/ml. In this study the activity of Helichrysum species against HIV-1 RT was also investigated. Helichrysum populifolium was the most active extract, inhibiting the HIV-1 RT enzyme by 63.78 % at 200 μg/ml. The bioactivity data and the spectral nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data of al the Helichrysum species from this study was analysed using the SIMCA-P software to discriminate between the different species on the basis of their bioactivity and chemical composition. The samples did not group well on Principal Component Analysis (PCA) but did separate well using the Orthogonal Projection to Latent Structure – Discriminate Analysis (OPLS-DA) on the basis of their activity and NMR spectra data. From the OPLS scoring plots analysis, contribution plots were created which indicated regions responsible for the difference between the species, with these regions being investigated to identify the bioactive constituents. It was thus possible to use metabolomics to discriminate between samples on the basis of their activity and show that it could probably be used in future as a tool to identify active ingredients in medicinal plants and accelerate drug discovery. CopyrightDissertation (MSc)--University of Pretoria, 2009.Plant Scienceunrestricte

NMR-based metabolomics as a quality control tool for herbal products

The full potential of the herbal market is mainly not realised due to the lack of knowledge of the chemical composition of most herbal products. The growth potential of the herbal medicine industry can only be achieved if the composition of herbal medicine is standardised to ensure proper quality control and accountability. Plant-based nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics is one such way of ensuring quick and reliable quality control and metabolite profiling to ensure quality and reproducibility of herbal medicine. Nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics is robust and relatively easy to use, thus ensuring that herbal medicine can be verified and quality controlled much quicker and more accurate than is currently the case. Although nuclear magnetic resonance is not as sensitive as other analytical techniques such as liquid chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectroscopy, it is far more reproducible, non-destructive, covers a much wider dynamic range and sample preparation is simpler and quicker to use. Economical development of herbal medicine and the use of nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics should go hand in hand for a better future for herbal medicine. In this review an introduction is given to herbal extracts as therapeutic agents and to the quality control aspects of herbal medicine by means of metabolomics. The experimental methodology for plant metabolomics which covers extraction, nuclear magnetic resonance analysis and multivariate data analysis is also discussed. Some examples are given on the possible applications of nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics in the industry and finally the future of nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics is discussed regarding advances in research and development.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/sajbhb2016Plant Scienc

Identification of anti-HIV biomarkers of Helichrysum species by NMR-based metabolomic analysis

Several species of the Helichrysum genus have been used ethnobotanically to treat conditions that we today know have been caused by viral infections. Since HIV is a modern disease with no ethnobotanical history, we commenced with a study on the antiHIV activity of several Helichrysum species. Drug discovery of small molecules from natural resources that is based on the integration of chemical and biological activity by means of metabolomical analyses, enables faster and a more cost-effective path to identify active compounds without the need for a long process of bioassay-guided fractionation. This study used metabolomics to identify anti-HIV compounds as biomarkers from 57 Helichrysum species in a combined study of the chemical and biological data of two previous studies. In the OPLS-DA and hierarchical cluster analyses, anti-HIV activity data was included as a secondary observation, which assisted in the correlation of the phytochemical composition and biological activity of the samples. Clear grouping revealed similarity in chemical composition and bioactivity of the samples. Based on the biological activity of polar extracts, there was a distinct phytochemical difference between active and non-active groups of extracts. This NMR-based metabolomic investigation showed that the chlorogenic acids, compounds with cinnamoyl functional groups, and quinic acid were the most prominent compounds in the Helichrysum species with anti-HIV activity. This study further revealed that the chlorogenic acid type compounds and quinic acid are biomarkers for anti-HIV activity.The National Research Foundation of South Africa.https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacologydm2022Plant Production and Soil Scienc

Untargeted metabolomic profiling of Sphagnum fallax reveals novel antimicrobial metabolites

Sphagnum mosses dominate peatlands by employing harsh ecosystem tactics to prevent vascular plant growth and microbial degradation of these large carbon stores. Knowledge about Sphagnum-produced metabolites, their structure and their function, is important to better understand the mechanisms, underlying this carbon sequestration phenomenon in the face of climate variability. It is currently unclear which compounds are responsible for inhibition of organic matter decomposition and the mechanisms by which this inhibition occurs. Metabolite profiling of Sphagnum fallax was performed using two types of mass spectrometry (MS) systems and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR). Lipidome profiling was performed using LC-MS/MS. A total of 655 metabolites, including one hundred fifty-two lipids, were detected by NMR and LC-MS/MS-329 of which were novel metabolites (31 unknown lipids). Sphagum fallax metabolite profile was composed mainly of acid-like and flavonoid glycoside compounds, that could be acting as potent antimicrobial compounds, allowing Sphagnum to control its environment. Sphagnum fallax metabolite composition comparison against previously known antimicrobial plant metabolites confirmed this trend, with seventeen antimicrobial compounds discovered to be present in Sphagnum fallax, the majority of which were acids and glycosides. Biological activity of these compounds needs to be further tested to confirm antimicrobial qualities. Three fungal metabolites were identified providing insights into fungal colonization that may benefit Sphagnum. Characterizing the metabolite profile of Sphagnum fallax provided a baseline to understand the mechanisms in which Sphagnum fallax acts on its environment, its relation to carbon sequestration in peatlands, and provide key biomarkers to predict peatland C store changes (sequestration, emissions) as climate shifts.Microbiomes in Transition; Office of Biological and Environmental ResearchOpen access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]

Tumor-Infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in early breast cancer patients: high CD3+ , CD8+ , and Immunoscore are associated with a pathological complete response

BACKGROUND : Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes are associated with a better prognosis in early triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). These cells can be enumerated in situ by the “Immunoscore Clinical Research” (ISCR). The original Immunoscore® is a prognostic tool that categorizes the densities of CD3+ and CD8+ cells in both the invasive margin (IM) and center of the tumor (CT) in localized colon cancer, yielding a five-tiered classification (0–4). We evaluated the prognostic potential of ISCR and pathological complete response (pCR) following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). METHODS : The cohort included 53 TNBC, 32 luminal BC, and 18 HER2-positive BC patients undergoing NACT. Pre-treatment tumor biopsies were immune-stained for CD3+ and CD8+ T-cell markers. Quantitative analysis of these cells in different tumor locations was performed using computer-assisted image analysis. RESULTS : The pCR rate was 44%. Univariate analysis showed that primary tumor size, estrogen-receptor negative, progesteronereceptor negative, luminal vs. HER2-positive vs. TNBC, high Ki-67, high densities (cells/mm2 ) of CD3 CT, CD8+ CT, CD3+ IM, and CD8+ IM cells were associated with a high pCR. ISCR was associated with pCR following NACT. A multivariate model consisting of ISCR and the significant variables from the univariate analysis showed a significant trend for ISCR; however, the low sample size did not provide enough power for the model to be included in this study. CONCLUSIONS : These results revealed a significant prognostic role for the spatial distributions of the CD3+ , and CD8+ lymphocytes, as well as the ISCR in relation to pCR following NACT.Medical Oncology Centre of Rosebankhttps://www.mdpi.com/journal/cancersdm2022Immunolog

Soil Metabolome Response to Whole-Ecosystem Warming at the Spruce and Peatland Responses Under Changing Environments Experiment

While peatlands have historically stored massive amounts of soil carbon, warming is expected to enhance decomposition, leading to a positive feedback with climate change. In this study, a unique whole-ecosystem warming experiment was conducted in northern Minnesota to warm peat profiles to 2 m deep while keeping water flow intact. After nearly 2 y, warming enhanced the degradation of soil organic matter and increased greenhouse gas production. Changes in organic matter quality with warming were accompanied by a stimulation of methane production relative to carbon dioxide. Our results revealed increased decomposition to be fueled by the availability of reactive carbon substrates produced by surface vegetation. The elevated rates of methanogenesis are likely to persist and exacerbate climate warming

The only African wild tobacco, Nicotiana africana: Alkaloid content and the effect of herbivory

Herbivory in some Nicotiana species is known to induce alkaloid production. This study examined herbivore-induced defenses in the nornicotine-rich African tobacco N. africana, the only Nicotiana species indigenous to Africa. We tested the predictions that: 1) N. africana will have high constitutive levels of leaf, flower and nectar alkaloids; 2) leaf herbivory by the African bollworm Helicoverpa armigera will induce increased alkaloid levels in leaves, flowers and nectar; and 3) increased alkaloid concentrations in herbivore-damaged plants will negatively affect larval growth. We grew N. africana in large pots in a greenhouse and exposed flowering plants to densities of one, three and six fourth-instar larvae of H. armigera, for four days. Leaves, flowers and nectar were analyzed for nicotine, nornicotine and anabasine. The principal leaf alkaloid was nornicotine (mean: 28 µg/g dry mass) followed by anabasine (4.9 µg/g) and nicotine (0.6 µg/g). Nornicotine was found in low quantities in the flowers, but no nicotine or anabasine were recorded. The nectar contained none of the alkaloids measured. Larval growth was reduced when leaves of flowering plants were exposed to six larvae. As predicted by the optimal defense theory, herbivory had a localized effect and caused an increase in nornicotine concentrations in both undamaged top leaves of herbivore damaged plants and herbivore damaged leaves exposed to one and three larvae. The nicotine concentration increased in damaged compared to undamaged middle leaves. The nornicotine concentration was lower in damaged leaves of plants exposed to six compared to three larvae, suggesting that N. africana rather invests in new growth as opposed to protecting older leaves under severe attack. The results indicate that the nornicotine-rich N. africana will be unattractive to herbivores and more so when damaged, but that potential pollinators will be unaffected because the nectar remains alkaloid-free even after herbivory

Identification of anti-HIV compounds in Helichrysum species (Asteraceae) by means of NMR-based metabolomic guided fractionation

The plant kingdom contributes significantly to the natural products that are used for the treatment of a large number of ailments and disease across the globe. Included in these species is the Helichrysum genus (Asteraceae), which comprises of more then 600 species across Africa of which 244 species are found in South Africa. Helichrysum species are used in many cases for the treatment of coughs, colds, fever, infection, headaches, menstrual pain and are also very popular for wound dressing due to their potential antibacterial properties. The most common Helichrysum species used in traditional medicine and for several medicinal purposes are H. cymosum, H. odoratissimum, H. petiolare and H. nudifolium. Previously published research has shown that several of the Helichrysum species do have antimicrobial activity with the most relevant to this study being the discovery of antiviral activity of H. aureonitens against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as well as the reports of anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) activity of several Helichrysum species. With this knowledge, a more in-depth study was initiated to identify the possible active constituents in South African Helichrysum species against HIV. Due to the need to speed up drug discovery especially against epidemic diseases like HIV, this study investigated a new tool (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) – based metabolomics) to speed up drug discovery form natural products especially when anti-viral constituents are investigated. odoratissimum, H. petiolare and H. nudifolium. Previously published research has shown that several of the Helichrysum species do have antimicrobial activity with the most relevant to this study being the discovery of antiviral activity of H. aureonitens against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) as well as the reports of anti-HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) activity of several Helichrysum species. With this knowledge, a more in-depth study was initiated to identify the possible active constituents in South African Helichrysum species against HIV. Due to the need to speed up drug discovery especially against epidemic diseases like HIV, this study investigated a new tool (nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) – based metabolomics) to speed up drug discovery form natural products especially when anti-viral constituents are investigated. In this study very promising anti-HIV results were obtained from several aqueous extracts (1:1 methanol/water) using a full virus model i.e. Helichrysum populifolium (IC50 12 μg/ml), H. appendiculatum (IC50 17 μg/ml), H. cymosum ssp. clavum (IC50 19 μg/ml), H. oxyphyllum (IC50 19 μg/ml) and H. cymosum ssp. cymosum (IC50 21 μg/ml). With the use of NMR-based metabolomics and multivariate data analysis (MVA) the specific characteristic that differentiated the active extracts from the non-active extracts was identified by making use of Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures – Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA). This characteristic was then used as a “blue print” or “fingerprint” to guide the process of fractionation and purification. H. populifolium showed the highest anti-HIV activity and thus was selected as the candidate extract for further analysis. After a very quick and simple chromatographic fractionation process, seven fractions were compared against the activity profile by making use of their NMR profiles, which then visually indicated which of the fractions had the highest similarity. Fraction 6 had the most similar “fingerprint”. The compounds of this active fraction were then identified with the use of liquid chromatography – ion trap – time of flight (LC-IT-TOF) for quick identification. The analysis revealed the presence of five chlorogenic type compounds, 3,4-dicaffeoyl quinic acid (DCQA), 3,5-DCQA, 4,5-DCQA, 1,3,5- tricaffeoyl quinic acid (TCQA) and 5-malonyl-1,3,4-TCQA of which several are well known to have anti-HIV activity ranging from 0.85μM to 12μM. We were thus able to show with this study the possibility of using NMR-based metabolomics guided fractionation to guide the process of fractionation and identification from an active characteristic profile to the active constituents within the active H. populifolium extract.Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2013.gm2014Plant Scienceunrestricte

1H NMR-based metabolomics of antimalarial plant species traditionally used by Vha-Venda people in Limpopo Province, South Africa and isolation of antiplasmodial compounds

Please read abstract in the article.The National Research Foundation (South Africa)http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jethpharmhj2020Plant Production and Soil Scienc