Morphological studies of apoptotic HeLa cells death induced by eurycomanone

Eurycomanone is a cytotoxic ingredient found in Eurycoma longifolia Jack. Previous studies have noted its activity against many epithelial cell lines. In this study, eurycomanone had obvious cytotoxic effect on HeLa cells by methylene blue staining assays. After HeLa cells were treated with eurycomanone, typical morphological changes, including cytoplasm shrinkage and decrease of cell volume were observed by light microscope. Chromatin condensation and nuclear fragmentation could be observed by fluorescence microscope after staining with Hoechst 33258 nuclear staining. DNA fragmentation and apoptotic body formation that is characteristic of apoptosis could be determined after treated cells were assayed with TUNEL (terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase mediated d-UTP nick end labeling). The externalization of phosphatidyl serine (PS) could be determined by flow cytometry analysis using Annexin-V/PI double staining. The result suggested that eurycomanone exerted antiproliferative activity on HeLa cells by inducing apoptosis.Key words : eurycomanone, cytotoxic, apoptosis, HeL

Metabolite profiling of Clinacanthus nutans leaves extracts obtained from different drying methods by 1H NMR-based metabolomics

The metabolites of Clinacanthus nutans leaves extracts and their dependence on drying process were systematically characterized using 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) multivariate data analysis. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were able to distinguish the leaves extracts obtained from different drying methods. The identified metabolites were carbohydrates, amino acid, flavonoids and sulfur glucoside compounds. The major metabolites responsible for the separation in PLS-DA loading plots were lupeol, cycloclinacosides, betulin, cerebrosides and choline. The results showed that the combination of 1H NMR spectroscopy and multivariate data analyses could act as an efficient technique to understand the C. nutans composition and its variation. © 2016 Author(s)

Medicinal Plants: A Prospect in Developing Male Fertility Enhancing Agent

Medicinal plants have been a revolutionary breakthrough in the treatment of male sexual dysfunction. Traditional medicine based on a holistic philosophy is quite different with the practice of “western†medicine. Phytochemical substances focus their mechanisms of healing to the root of cause, i.e. the inability of controlling the proper function of the whole body system. Hence, medicinal plants manage sexual dysfunction and male fertility in the frame of sexual dysfunction as a whole entity. Some previous researches prove that the use of medicinal plants have a good impact in the treatment of a variety of male sexual problems. This paper will discuss several important aspects of aphrodisiac plants and preliminary study regarding them in Indonesia. Difficulties inherent to activity guided isolation and the specific requirements of bioassays are also discussed

Dihydroflavonol and Flavonol Derivatives from Macaranga recurvata

Two new dihydroflavonol derivatives, macarecurvatins A and B, have been isolated from the leaves of Macaranga recurvata (Euphorbiaceaae), along with the known compounds diisoprenylaromadendrin, glyasperin A and broussoflavonol F. The structures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of of 0.83 M. spectroscopic evidence. Upon cytotoxic evaluation against P-388 cells, macarecurvatin B showed strong activity with an IC 5

Marine streptomyces SP. UKMCC_PT15 producing undecylprodigiosin with algicidal activity

Marine actinomycetes are now in demand as they are capable of producing unique and novel compounds with wide biological activities. Marine Streptomyces sp. UKMCC_PT15 previously isolated from seawater collected in Pulau Tinggi, Johor was used in this study. Molecular identification showed high similarity of Streptomyces sp. UKMCC_PT15 with Streptomyces fradiae and S. diastaticus subsp. ardesiacus based on partial sequence of 16S rRNA gene. Further characterisations of this bacterium include spore morphology using SEM, growth on various media, salt tolerance test and carbon utilisation profile. This bacterium had straight spore chain with smooth-surfaced spores and was able to tolerate up to 11% NaCl with capabilities of utilising >40 carbon sources. Undecylprodigiosin (C25H35N3O) was successfully purified through succession of column chromatography and finally using HPLC. Structure elucidation was confirmed through NMR spectroscopy, MS and comparison with established data. This compound demonstrated strong antibacterial activities against S. aureus, B. subtilis and C. albicans but weak antibacterial activities against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Interestingly, undecylprodigiosin also demonstrated algicidal activity when tested against toxic dinoflagellates, A. minutum and P. bahamense, both of which are responsible for harmful algal blooms (HABs). Undecylprodiogiosin with concentration of 10-100 μg/ml gave ~100% algicidal activity against both dinoflagellates. Further testing with undecylprodigiosin concentration < 10 µg/ml showed that undecylprodigision was capable of killing significantly high numbers of both dinoflagellates, giving a high algicidal activity. Findings from this study suggested the potential use of undecylprodigiosin as algicidal agent which could be used for the mitigation of HABs

Scopariadulcis (SDF7) endowed with glucose uptake properties on L6 myotubes compared insulin.

Aim of the study Insulin stimulates glucoseuptake and promotes the translocation of glucose transporter 4 (Glut 4) to the plasma membrane on L6myotubes. The aim of this study is to investigate affect of Scopariadulcis Linn water extracts on glucoseuptake activity and the Glut 4 translocation components (i.e., IRS-1, PI 3-kinase, PKB/Akt2, PKC and TC 10) in L6myotubescompared to insulin. Materials and methods Extract from TLC fraction-7 (SDF7) was used in this study. The L6myotubes were treated by various concentrations of SDF7 (1 to 50 μg/ml) and insulin (1 to 100 nM). The glucoseuptake activities of L6myotubes were evaluated using 2-Deoxy-D-glucoseuptake assay in with or without fatty acid-induced medium. The Glut 4 translocation components in SDF7-treated L6myotubes were detected using immunoblotting and quantified by densitometry compared to insulin. Plasma membrane lawn assay and glycogen colorimetry assay were carried out in SDF7- and insulin-treated L6myotubes in this study. Results Here, our data clearly shows that SDF7 possesses glucoseuptakeproperties on L6myotubes that are dose-dependent, time-dependent and plasma membrane Glut 4 expression-dependent. SDF7 successfully stimulates glucoseuptake activity as potent as insulin at a maximum concentration of 50 μg/ml at 480 min on L6myotubes. Furthermore, SDF7 stimulates increased Glut 4 expression and translocation to plasma membranes at equivalent times. Even in the insulin resistance stage (free fatty acids-induced), SDF7-treated L6myotubes were found to be more capable at glucose transport than insulin treatment. Conclusions Thus, we suggested that Scopariadulcis has the potential to be categorized as a hypoglycemic medicinal plant based on its good glucose transport properties

A new 4’,6-dihydroxy,4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-gentiobioside and 4’,6-dihydroxy,4 methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-glucoside isolated from methanolic extract of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl leaves

A new 4’,6-dihydroxy,4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-gentiobioside (1) was obtained from the leaves of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl along with known 4’,6-dihydroxy,4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-glucoside (2). Bioactivity assays indicated that compound (1) and (2) have antioxidant activity and enhancement on SR-B1 genes expression in vitro. Their structures compounds were established by the interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with known compounds

A new 4’,6-dihydroxy,4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-gentiobioside and 4’,6-dihydroxy,4 methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-glucoside isolated from methanolic extract of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl leaves

A new 4’,6-dihydroxy,4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-gentiobioside (1) was obtained from the leaves of Phaleria macrocarpa (Scheff.) Boerl along with known 4’,6-dihydroxy,4-methoxybenzophenone-2-O-β-D-glucoside (2). Bioactivity assays indicated that compound (1) and (2) have antioxidant activity and enhancement on SR-B1 genes expression in vitro. Their structures compounds were established by the interpretation of their spectroscopic data and comparison with known compounds

The assessment of 3-indole lactate as promising antimalarial agent fractionated from endophytic Streptomyces SUK10 in Shorea ovalis tree.

As the most threatening human parasitic disease, the malarial etiological agents were reported to be resistant against nearly all current antimalarial drugs. The endophytic Streptomyces that resides in plant generally have a huge potential as a source of novel bioactive compounds with medicinal and pharmaceutical properties. The objective of the study is to evaluate the antimalarial potential of bioactive compound fractionated from endophytic Streptomyces SUK10 isolated from the bark of Shorea ovalis tree against Plasmodium berghei NK65. The 1D 1H-13C, 2D 1H-1H NMR data and the comparison between AntiBase library, HR-LCMS analysis and antimalarial bioassay tests towards the crude extract of Streptomyces SUK10 evidenced that 3-indole lactate or 3-indole lactic acid (C11H11NO3) as a promising compound was involved in antimalarial activity. The four days suppression test (4DST) in male ICR strain mice (25-30 g, 6-8 weeks old) showed that 78.5 % of the inhibition rate by 3-indole lactate at 10 µg/kg body weight (bw) and 50 % of the treated mice had survived for more than 9 months post-infection. There was a positive relationship (p ≤ 0.05, n = 6) between the survival of the treated mice group and the ability to inhibit the parasites growth. The results for biochemical tests were significantly situated in the normal ranged and histologically, no abnormalities found on the selected vital organs. The findings in this study indicated that 3-indole lactate fractionated from endophytic Streptomyces SUK10 in the bark of Shorea ovalis tree has a stronger and promising antimalarial property as a new substance for antimalarial treatment

X-ray crystal structure and cation binding properties of a new phthalide-fused indoline derivative

An efficient and a green route to synthesize phthalide-fused indoline, 3-[(5-chloro-1,3,3-trimethylindolin-2-ylidene)methyl] isobenzofuran-1(3H)-one (3) has been developed by the coupling reaction of 5-chloro-2-methylene-1,3,3-trimethylindoline, 1 and 2-formylbenzoic acid, 2 under solvent-free domestic microwave irradiation. The compound was produced in 85% yield. Compound 3 was characterized by analytical and spectral methods and its structure was confirmed by chemical crystallography. Compound 3 was successfully crystallized in triclinic system with space group Pī. The molecular structure consists of fused 1 and 2 groups connected by the enamine carbon. Binding study of 3 towards different types of metal cations was done by colorimetric detection and UV-vis titrations. Compound 3 exhibited good selectivity and sensitivity for Sn2+ compared to other metal cations tested. The stoichiometric binding ratio of 3 toward Sn2+ is found to be 1:1 and the binding constant (Ka) is 1.07×104 M–1 on the basis of Job’s plot and Benesi-Hildebrand analysis