Induction of cell-specific apoptosis and protection from Dalton's lymphoma challenge in mice by an active fraction from Emilia sonchifolia

Objective: To isolate an active anticancer fraction from Emilia sonchifolia   and to determine the mechanism of its anticancer activity. Materials and methods: The anticancer principle was separated using thin layer chromatography (TLC) from the most active n-hexane extract and chemically analysed. The anticancer efficacy of n-hexane extract was determined in mice using Dalton′s lymphoma ascitic (DLA) cells. Cytotoxicity of the extracts and isolates to macrophages, thymocytes and DLA cells was measured using Trypan blue exclusion method, MTT (3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, DNA ladder assay and DNA synthesis in culture. Short-term toxicity evaluation of the active fraction was also carried out in mice. Results: The hexane extract was found to be most active and it showed in vitro cytotoxicity to DLA and thymocytes, but not to macrophages. In a concentration and time-dependent manner, it induced membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, DNA ladder formation, and formation of apoptotic bodies which are characteristic to apoptotic cell death. The n-hexane fraction protected 50% of mice challenged intraperitoneally with 106 DLA cells. This fraction did not exhibit conspicuous adverse toxic symptoms in mice. An active terpene fraction was separated from the n-hexane extract by TLC. This isolate induced apoptotic cell death in DLA cells at 0.8 µg per mL level. Conclusion: An anticancer terpene fraction was isolated by TLC from Emilia sonchifolia that induced cell-specific apoptosis and appears to be a promising anticancer agent

Chemical composition, antibacterial and anticancer activities of volatile oil of <i>Melicope denhamii</i> leaves

<div><p><i>Melicope denhamii</i> leaf volatile oil was isolated by hydrodistillation, and twenty-six constituents comprising 95.95% of the leaf oil were characterised by gas chromatographic techniques. Sesquiterpenes, zierone (22.49%) and α-gurjunene (19.96%), were identified as the major components. <i>M. denhamii</i> leaf oil tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria showed significant activity against <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> and <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Anticancer activity of <i>M. denhamii</i> leaf oil against Dalton's lymphoma ascites cells was assessed by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assays, and the oil showed significant cytotoxicity at CD₅₀ of 12.2 μg/mL. Induction of apoptosis on DLA cells by <i>M. denhamii</i> leaf oil was confirmed by morphological observation, nuclear damage and comet assays.</p></div

Chemical composition and biological activities of rhizome and fruit rind oils of <i>Alpinia mutica</i> from south India

<p>Volatile oils from dry rhizomes and fruit rinds of <i>Alpinia mutica</i> were isolated and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. <i>A. mutica</i> rhizome oil showed forty-seven components of which forty (92.8%) were characterized, and the major components were β-pinene (20.2%), camphor (13.3%), 1,8-cineole (8.9%), camphene (7.9%) and α-pinene (6.2%). Fruit rind essential oil showed sixty-nine components of which sixty-three (97.8%) were identified. Major constituents in <i>A. mutica</i> fruit rind oil were 1,8-cineole (14.8%), camphor (11.7%), β-pinene (7.6%) and camphene (4.8%). Four major constituents in both <i>A. mutica</i> rhizome and fruit rind oils (camphene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor) were estimated by external standardization. Refractive index, specific rotation and specific gravity of both volatile oils were determined. Fruit rind oil showed significant antioxidant, cytotoxic and moderate antimicrobial activities. <i>A. mutica</i> dry fruit rind oil has a very pleasant smell with potential applications in fragrances.</p

S1 File -

S1 Table. Life details of eight flowered M. baccifera clumps. S2 Table. Details of voucher specimens deposited at TBGT. S3 Table. Fruit production dynamics, predation in eight M. baccifera clumps. S4 Table. Flowering and fruiting durations of eight M. baccifera clumps. S5 Table. Summary of total fruits, good fruits, immature fruits, predated fruits in M. baccifera. S6 Table. One month of highest fruit production, predation pattern in M. baccifera. S7 Table. Fruit dynamics, predation pattern in M. baccifera. S8 Table. Duration of female, male stages and female-male interval in M. baccifera. S9 Table. Slug/snail predation in clump 58. S10 Table. Fruit predation breakup in clump 359 of M. baccifera. S11 Table. Borer larvae attack in clump 58 of M. baccifera. S1 (A-D) Fig. M. baccifera fruits at JNTBGRI Bambusetum. S2 (A-B) Fig. A. cerana indica on M. baccifera inflorescence. S3 Fig. M. baccifera male flower with bee, H. taprabonae. S4. (A-B) Fig. M. baccifera, bee activity, T. iridipennis. S5. (A-B). Fig Mantis, E. indica on M. baccifera inflorescence. S6. (A-B) Fig. Ants, C. biroi on fruits and internodes. S7. (A-B) Fig. Ants, O. smaragdina on M. baccifera. S8. (A-F) Fig. M. baccifera, slug attack, M. dussumieri on young fruits. S9. (A-C) Fig. M. baccifera, snail C. bistrialis attacking young fruits. S10. (A-D) Fig. M. baccifera, snail attack, Macrochlamys sp. on young fruits. S11. (A-D) Fig. Larvae of A. grisella (lesser wax moth) on M. baccifera fruits. S12. (A-B) Fig. B. germanica (German cockroach) larva inside M. baccifera fruit. S13 (A-B) Fig. R. rattus predation, M. baccifera fruits. S14. (A-B) Fig. M. baccifera seedling predation, damage by S. scrofa. S15. (A-B) Fig. S. scrofa, hoof marks and soil rooting characteristics. S16 (A-B) Fig. Quills of porcupine, H. indica, below M. baccifera clump. S17 (A-B) Fig. Bonnet macaque, M. radiata, eating M. baccifera fruits. S18 (A-B) Fig. Millipede, S. colosseus. (DOCX)</p

Diagrammatic sketch of pollen collectors, bee predators and plant protectors in <i>M</i>. <i>baccifera</i>.

A. Part of inflorescence showing stamens, B. Bee visitation on stamens of a floret, 1–4 Pollen collectors, 1. A. cerana indica, 2. H. taprabonae, 3. B. cupulifera, 4. T. iridipennis; 5. Bee predator, Mantis E. indica; 6–7. Plant protectors, Ants, 6. O. smaragdina, 7. C. biroi.</p

High reward, high predation.

M. baccifera clumps: 395, 403, 404, 405; A. TF—Total fruits; 1, % GF (Good fruits), 2, % IF (Immature fruits), 3, % PF (Predated fruits) in the full flowering period of the clump; B. TF—Total fruits; 1, % GF, 2, % IF, 3, % PF in April-July of the year in which the clump recorded highest fruit production in a single month; C. TF—Total fruits; 1, % GF, 2, % IF, 3, % PF in a single month of highest fruit production.</p

Diagrammatic sketch displaying predation on <i>M</i>. <i>baccifera</i> fruits and their sugar profiles.

Predators: 1. Slug, M. dussumieri; 2–3. Snails, 2. C. bistrialis, 3. Macrochlamys sp.; 4. Millipede, S. colosseus; 5–6. Borer larvae, 5. A. grisella, 6. B. germanica; 7–12 Mammals, 7. Bonnet macaque, M. radiata, 8. Indian hare, L. nigricollis, 9. Wild boar, S. scrofa, 10. Rats, R. rattus, 11. Porcupine, H. indica, 12. Palm civet, P. hermaphroditus. Rabbits (L. nigricollis) and deers (A. axis) (not in figure) are primarily seedling predators and occasionally frugivorous (Table 1 and S10 Table in S1 File). *Infrequent visitors. Sugar pattern, predators: 1st week: fruit pericarp Glu 0.52%, Fru 0.51%, Suc 0.13%, (predators 1–4), (no fruit liquid in first week); 2nd week: fruit pericarp Glu 0.65%, Fru 0.83%, Suc 0.14%, fruit liquid Glu 0.16%, Fru 0.26%, Suc 0.00%, (predators 1–6); 3rd week: fruit pericarp Glu 0.35%, Fru 0.50%, Suc 0.08%, fruit liquid Glu 0.17%, Fru 0.10%, Suc 0.06% (predators 1–2, 4–9), 4th week: fruit pericarp Glu 0.51%, Fru 0.68%, Suc 0.14%, fruit liquid Glu 0.09%, Fru 0.09%, Suc 0.42% (predators 5–9), 5th week: fruit pericarp Glu 0.42%, Fru 0.60%, Suc 0.22%, fruit liquid Glu 0.08%, Fru 0.09%, Suc 0.48% (predators 5–11), 6th week: fruit pericarp Glu 0.10%, Fru 0.15%, Suc 0.31%, fruit liquid Glu 0.30%, Fru 0.42%, Suc 0.30% (predators 5–7, 9–12) (details of fruit sugar pattern in Govindan et al [9]).</p

High reward, high predation.

M. baccifera clumps: 58, 359, 365, 394; A. TF—Total fruits; 1, % GF (Good fruits), 2, % IF (Immature fruits), 3, % PF (Predated fruits) in the full flowering period of the clump; B. TF—Total fruits; 1, % GF, 2, % IF, 3, % PF in April-July of the year in which the clump recorded highest fruit production in a single month; C. TF—Total fruits; 1, % GF, 2, % IF, 3, % PF in a single month of highest fruit production.</p

<i>M</i>. <i>baccifera</i> florets, visitors.

A-C. Three types of florets, A. Male florets, B. Female florets, C. Bisexual florets showing protogyny (displaying drying stigma and emerging anthers); D-H Insect visits, D. A. cerana indica, E. T. iridipennis, F. H. taprabonae, G. B. cupulifera, H. Mantis E. indica; I-J ants, I. C. biroi, J. O. smaragdina.</p