Hispidulin And Other Constituents Of Scoparia dulcis Linn

Phytochemical investigation of the ethanol extract of the whole plant of Scoparia dulcis, has resulted in the isolation of 4, 5, 7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone, commonly called hispidulin and a steroidal glycoside, β-sitosterol-β-D-glucoside.  This is the first isolation of the two compounds from S. dulcis. Also isolated and characterized were the previously reported 6-me-thoxybenzoxazolinone, friedelan-3-one and scopadulcic acid B. Structural elucidation was done on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretations (IR, UV, NMR and EIMS).  Using the Tetrazolium-based colorimetric selective assay, hispidulin was found to be inactive against HIV-1/IIIB in MT-4 cells whereas the same test on the aqueous extract of the plant was positive

Differential constituents in roots, stems and leaves of Newbouldia laevis Thunb. screened by LC/ESI-Q-TOF-MS

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Chemical composition of groundnut, Arachis hypogaea (L) landraces

Groundnut production and utilization in Ghana has tripled in the last decade due to its high nutritive value and the number of uses it can be put into. The chemical quality of seeds of Ghanaian groundnutare different from those of other countries, however, no previous studies has been done. This study was initiated to examine the nutritional quality of 20 groundnut varieties grown in Ghana. Dry samples wereexamined for oil content, crude protein, total carbohydrate, calcium, potassium, magnesium, sodium, zinc, copper, iron and manganese. Results from these analyses showed significant variation betweenthe parameters measured. Virginia cultivars which belong to subspecies hypogaea had higher oil content (49.7%) than the Spanish and Valencia market types, which belong to subspecies fastigiata (47.3%). The mean protein content of subspecies fastigiata was however higher (25.69%) than subspecies hypogaea (22.78%). The mineral elements examined were substantial in reducing malnutrition especially in young and growing children. Broni fufuo, a Spanish market type had thehighest crude protein content (30.53%) and the least oil content (33.60%) and is idea for products which require more protein and less oil. Substantial genetic variability exists for chemical composition andnutritional traits which could be utilised for various food preparations and selection for breeding purpose

CYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF ALBIZIA ZYGIA (DC) J. F. MACBR, A GHANAIAN MEDICINAL PLANT, AGAINST HUMAN T-LYMPHOBLAST-LIKE LEUKEMIA, PROSTATE AND BREAST CANCER CELL LINES

Objective: The objectives of this study were to investigate the cytotoxic effects of extracts and fractions of Albizia zygia roots (AZR) on human T-lymphoblast-like leukemia (Jurkat), prostate cancer (LNCap) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cells and the apoptotic effect in Jurkat cells.Methods: Aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were prepared and tested for cytotoxic effects on the cell lines using the tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay. Apoptosis induction was determined by DNA fragmentation, cell morphological changes, flow cytometric and mitochondrial membrane potential assays.Results: Both aqueous and hydroethanolic extracts were more cytotoxic to Jurkat cells than the other cell lines, with selective index (SI) values of 104.4 and 86.6, respectively. The SI values of the extracts on LNCap cells were 9.0 and 35.4, respectively. Some of the fractions were non-cytotoxic. Nevertheless petroleum ether fraction was cytotoxic towards MCF-7 cells with SI value of 2.4. The hydroethanolic extract exhibited apoptosis via induction of DNA fragmentation in Jurkat cells. Cell morphological changes were consistent with the extract-mediated cytotoxicity and DNA fragmentation. Flow cytometric and mitochondrial membrane potential assays also showed significant apoptotic induction confirming apoptosis by the AZR extract.Conclusion: This study has shown that AZR possesses anticancer activity by demonstrating a high selective toxicity against Jurkat cells. Furthermore, the hydroethanolic extract induced apoptosis in the Jurkat cells. Albizia zygia roots may be a source of novel compounds for the development of new anti-cancer agents.Keywords: Albizia zygia, Cancer cells, Cytotoxicity, Apoptosi

Long-term continuous administration of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn in male Sprague-Dawley rats: biochemical, haematological and histopathological changes

Background: Conflicting reports about the toxicity of Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn (family Asteraceae), a plant traditionally used in Ghana for the management of epilepsy, abound in literature. The present study evaluates the effect of a 90-day continuous oral administration of a hydro-ethanolic whole plant extract of Synedrella nodiflora (SNE) in male Sprague-Dawley rats.Methods: The toxicological evaluation of the extract (100, 300 and 1000 mgkg-1) was focused on haematological, serum biochemical parameters and histopathological changes of some isolated organs.Results: The extract produced no mortality in the rats treated during the study period. Only SNE 100 mgkg-1 produced significant decrease in white blood cell and neutrophil counts and an increase in albumin, globulin, total bilirubin, total protein and potassium levels. The higher doses (SNE 300 and 1000 mgkg-1) had no significant effect on all the haematological and biochemical parameters measured. Histopathological assessment of the liver, kidney and heart revealed no abnormalities in rats treated with the extracts. Only the SNE 1000 mgkg-1 produced distortions of the branching arrangements of the myocardial fibres and a congested vessel which indicates a healed infarction.Conclusions: The findings suggest hydro-ethanolic extract of Synedrella nodiflora (L) Gaertn generally has a low toxicity profile following a 90-day continuous oral administration in male Sprague-Dawley rats under the present laboratory conditions. However patients with renal or cardiac problems should use the plant with caution.Funding: Jointly supported by the International Foundation for Science, Stockholm, Sweden, through a grant (# F/5191-1) to Dr. Patrick Amoateng and the Office of Research, Innovation and Development (ORID), University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana, grant awarded to Dr. Patrick Amoateng (reference number: URF/6/ILG-002/2012-2013)Keywords: : Synedrella nodiflora, Sprague-Dawley rats, histopathological, haematologica

ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTI-PROLIFERATIVE EFFECTS OF AN ETHYL ACETATE FRACTION OF THE HYDRO-ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF SYNEDRELLA NODIFLORA (L) GAERTN

Objective: Synedrella nodiflora is traditionally used in the treatment of several ailments. Pharmacologically, this plant has anticonvulsant, sedative, anti-nociceptive and anti-proliferative effects. This study further investigated S. nodiflora for its antioxidant and in vitro inhibition of cancerous cell lines. Methods: Phytochemical assays, and the DPPH radical scavenging method were employed in preliminary screening for antioxidant activities of the crude hydro-ethanolic extract (SNE) and resulting fractions. The potent ethyl acetate fraction (EAF), was further investigated for total phenol and flavonoid contents, reducing power, lipid peroxidation potential, and cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer (MCF-7), leukemic (Jurkat), and normal liver (Chang’s liver) cell lines. Results: The extract contained phenols, flavonoids, tannins, glycosides, sterols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. It scavenged for DPPH with an IC50 of 114 µg/ml, whereas that of EAF was 8.9 µg/ml. EAF prevented peroxidation of egg lecithin at an IC50 of 24.01±0.08 µg/ml. These IC50s are four and three times lower than the reference standards. EAF produced anti-proliferative effects against MCF-7, and Jurkat cell lines with IC50s of 205.2 and 170.9 µg/ml, respectively. EAF had a high IC50 of 252.2 µg/ml against Chang’s liver cells. At 0.1 mg/ml EAF had similar total flavonoid content to SNE, but a significantly higher total phenol content. Conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of S. nodiflora, exhibited the most potent antioxidant activity. It inhibited the proliferation of breast and leukemic cancer cell lines, whiles having weak cytotoxic effect on normal liver cells. These can be explored for further drug development

Constituents of the Roots of Dichapetalum pallidum and Their Anti-Proliferative Activity

As part of our search for bioactive compounds from the Dichapetalaceae, repeated chromatographic purification of the roots of a hitherto unexamined species, Dichapetalum pallidum, led to the isolation of the newly occurring 7-hydroxydichapetalin P (1) and the known dichapetalins A (2) and X (3). Also isolated were the known compounds friedelin-2,3-lactone (4), friedelan-3-one (6), friedelan-3β-ol (7) and pomolic (8), as well as the dipeptide aurantiamide acetate (5). The compounds were characterized by direct interpretation of their IR, 1D NMR and 2D NMR spectral data and by comparison of their physico-chemical data, including their chromatographic profiles, with the literature and authentic samples in our compound library for the genus Dichapetalum. The compounds were assayed for their anti-proliferative activities against the human T-lymphocytic leukemia (Jurkat), acute promyelocytic leukemia (HL-60) and T-lymphoblast-like leukemia (CEM) cell lines. Overall, dichapetalin X showed the strongest (3.14 μM) and broadest cytotoxic activities against all the leukemic cell lines tested, exhibiting even stronger activities than the standard compound, curcumin

Synedrella nodiflora extract depresses excitatory synaptic transmission and chemically-induced in vitro seizures in the rat hippocampus

Extracts of the tropical Cinderella plant Synedrella nodiflora are used traditionally to manage convulsive conditions in the West African sub-region. This study sought to determine the neuronal basis of the effectiveness of these plant extracts to suppress seizure activity. Using the hippocampal slice preparation from rats, the ability of the extract to depress excitatory synaptic transmission and in vitro seizure activity were investigated. Bath perfusion of the hydro-ethanolic extract of Synedrella nodiflora (SNE) caused a concentration-dependent depression of evoked field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (fEPSPs) recorded extracellularly in the CA1 region of the hippocampus with maximal depression of about 80% and an estimated IC50 of 0.06 mg/ml. The SNE-induced fEPSP depression was accompanied by an increase in paired pulse facilitation. The fEPSP depression only recovered partially after 20 min washing out. The effect of SNE was not stimulus dependent as it was present even in the absence of synaptic stimulation. Furthermore, it did not show desensitization as repeat application after 10 min washout produced the same level of fEPSP depression as the first application. The SNE effect on fEPSPs was not via adenosine release as it was neither blocked nor reversed by 8-CPT, an adenosine A1 receptor antagonist. In addition, SNE depressed in vitro seizures induced by zero Mg2+ and high K+ -containing artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) in a concentration-dependent manner. The results show that SNE depresses fEPSPs and spontaneous bursting activity in hippocampal neurons that may underlie its ability to abort convulsive activity in persons with epilepsy