Preliminary investigation of the neuroprotective potentials of Crossyne guttata in MPP+-induced toxicity in SH-SY5Y

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a movement disorder caused by the gradual and sustained loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). There is presently no permanent treatment for PD, thus the need for more investigations into complementary and alternative medicine capable of inhibiting neuronal damage. This study investigates the potential neuroprotective activity of Crossyne guttata, a plant commonly found in the western and southern Cape of South Africa in 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+)-induced, in vitro model of PD, using the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells.Methodology: The optimal concentration of Crossyne guttata aqueous extract (CGE) that showed no toxicity on cells and the concentration of MPP+ that reduced cell viability to about 50% was determined using the 3-(4,5-dimethyithiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays. Following this SH-SY5Y cells were pretreated with 10 μg/ml of CGE for 2 hours before the addition of 2000 μM of MPP+ and cell survival was determined. Furthermore, morphological changes associated with treatments were observed under the light microscope.Results: Results show that CGE did not reduce cell viability in the cells at all concentrations tested, while MPP+ showed a dose-dependent reduction in cell viability. Also, pretreatment of cells with CGE extract improved cell survival as well as cell morphology by inhibiting toxicity induced by MPP+.Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest that CGE may be a potential neuroprotective agent in PD and thus make a case for further investigation into the mechanism(s) of action as well as bioactive components of the plant eliciting such effects.Keywords: Crossyne guttata, Medicinal plants, 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+), Cell viabilit

A class of surfactants: Via PEG modification of the oleate moiety of lactonic sophorolipids: Synthesis, characterisation and application

There is ever increasing demand to develop surfactants based on sophorolipids because they are produced by non-pathogenic organisms, biodegradable and less toxic to humans and the environment. Herein, commercially available lactonic sophorolipid was modified via epoxidation of the fatty acid units CC and subsequent ring-opening of the oxirane with poly(ethylene glycol) of vary chain lengths to deliver a novel range of non-ionic sophorolipid-based surfactants. The methods employed for ring-opening reaction lead to a final surfactant synthesis involving heterogeneous catalysis (metal-exchanged montmorillonite), use of a benign solvent (ethyl acetate) and short reaction time (60 minutes). The resulting surfactants were structurally characterised and a prediction of their potential applications achieved using the hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) concept, foam capacity and stability of the surfactants at 0.25 surfactant solution. This new family of bio-derivable non-ionic surfactants will be useful as wetting and solubilising agents, oil-in-water emulsifiers and detergents

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

The past 2 years, during which waves of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants swept the globe, have starkly highlighted health disparities across nations. Tegally et al. show how the coordinated efforts of talented African scientists have in a short time made great contributions to pandemic surveillance and data gathering. Their efforts and initiatives have provided early warning that has likely benefited wealthier countries more than their own. Genomic surveillance identified the emergence of the highly transmissible Beta and Omicron variants and now the appearance of Omicron sublineages in Africa. However, it is imperative that technology transfer for diagnostics and vaccines, as well the logistic wherewithal to produce and deploy them, match the data-gathering effort