Effect of Gloriosa superba

Gloriosa superba and Catharanthus roseus are useful in traditional medicine for treatment of various skin diseases and cancer. However, their molecular effect on psoriasis has not been investigated. In this study, the effect of ethanol extracts derived from G. superba leaves and C. roseus stems on the expression of psoriatic marker, keratin 17 (K17), was investigated in human keratinocytes using biochemical and molecular experimental approaches. Both extracts could reduce the expression of K17 in a dose-dependent manner through JAK/STAT pathway as demonstrated by an observation of reduced phosphorylation of STAT3 (p-STAT3). The inhibitory activity of G. superba extract was more potent than that of C. roseus. The Pearson's correlation between K17 and cell viability was shown positive. Taken together, the extracts of G. superba and C. roseus may be developed as alternative therapies for psoriasis

Neuroprotective effect of rice and corn extracts against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity in HT22 murine hippocampal neuronal cells

Oxidative stress-induced neuronal damage, mediated by the cellular accumulation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was reported to be involved in neurodegenerative diseases. Rice and corn may serve as sources of antioxidants with the presence of phytochemicals such as melatonin and tryptophan, for fighting against reactive oxygen species (ROS). Melatonin are known to upregulate the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene for enhancement of the nerve cell function and mediation of the anti-aging effect of the brain cells. The present study aimed at determining the effect of white rice, brown rice, black glutinous rice, sweet corn and baby corn extracts against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity and their underlying mechanisms in the mouse hippocampal HT22 cells. Following pretreatment of the HT22 cells with individual extract for 24 hrs and subsequent challenge with H2O2 for 24 hrs, cell viability, apoptosis, intracellular ROS and BDNF gene expression were measured. Rice and corn extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant activities and the levels of tryptophan and melatonin. Characteristics of H2O2-induced neurotoxicity included decreased cell viability, increased cellular ROS and decreased BDNF expression. Pretreatment with rice and corn extracts significantly attenuated H2O2-induced neurotoxicity, and also significantly decreased ROS production. Pretreatment with these extracts could also upregulate the expression of BDNF mRNA and protein, which may be contributed by their melatonin and tryptophan contents. Therefore, rice and corn extracts may protect HT22 cells against H2O2-induced neurotoxicity by inhibition of ROS production and modulation of BDNF expression

Vitis Vinifera Leaf Extract Protects Against Glutamate-Induced Oxidative Toxicity in HT22 Hippocampal Neuronal Cells and Increases Stress Resistance Properties in Caenorhabditis Elegans

Vitis vinifea has been used for traditional medicines, food, beverages, and dietary antioxidant supplements. The chemical compositions and biological activities of the fruits and seeds have been extensively investigated. However, the biological effects of the leaves are limited, and its anti-neurodegeneration or antiaging activities are little known. The current work aims to study the beneficial effects of V. vinifera leaf extract on neuroprotective effects in HT22 cells, antiaging, and oxidative stress resistance properties in the Caenorhabditis elegans model. The ethanol extract was characterized by phytochemical composition using gas/liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The beneficial effects of V. vinifera ethanol (VVE) extract on antioxidant properties, neuroprotective effects, and the underlying mechanisms were studied by in vitro and in vivo studies. In HT22 cells, we found that VVE has a protective effect against glutamate-mediated oxidative stress-induced cell death. The gene expression of cellular antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, SODs, GSTs, and GPx was upregulated by VVE treatment. Moreover, VVE was also shown to alleviate oxidative stress and attenuate reactive oxygen species accumulation in C. elegans. We demonstrated that VVE could upregulate the expression of stress-response genes gst-4 and sod-3 and downregulate the expression of hsp-16.2. Our results suggest that the oxidative stress resistance properties of VVE are possibly involved in DAF-16/FoxO transcription factors. VVE reduced age-related markers (lipofuscin) while did not extend the life span of C. elegans under normal conditions. This study reports the neuroprotective effect and antioxidant activity of V. vinifera leaf extract and suggests its potential as a dietary or alternative supplement to defend against oxidative stress and age-related diseases

Protective Effect of Mangifera indica

This study was aimed at investigating the antioxidant activity of Mangifera indica Linn., Cocos nucifera Linn., and Averrhoa carambola Linn. and their biological effect on human keratinocytes affected by the ultraviolet B (UVB), a major cause of cell damage and skin cancer through induction of DNA damage, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and apoptosis. The richest antioxidant activity was found in ethanol fraction of M. indica (21.32 ± 0.66 mg QE/g dry weight), while the lowest one was found in aqueous fractions of M. indica and C. nucifera (1.76 ± 2.10 and 1.65 ± 0.38 mg QE/g dry weight, respectively). Ethanol and aqueous fractions of A. carambola (250 µg/mL) significantly reduced the number of apoptotic cells. The expression of cleaved caspase 3 in UVB-treated group was significantly greater than that in untreated group. Both fractions of A. carambola (50, 100, and 250 µg/mL) significantly decreased the expression of cleaved caspase 3. Regarding the induction of DNA repair, ethanol (100 and 250 µg/mL) and aqueous (50, 100 and 250 µg/mL) fractions of A. carambola significantly decreased the percentage of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPD). Taken together, our results suggest that both fractions of A. carambola may be potentially developed for dermal applications

Mucuna pruriens seed extract promotes neurite outgrowth via Ten-4 dependent and independent mechanisms in neuro2a cells

Neurological diseases are one of the serious health hazards faced by mankind for decades. Neurite outgrowth is a key factor responsible for proper neuronal development. Any misplacement in the process could lead to neurological diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Treatment with the available synthetic drugs imparts many difficulties to the patients due to the side effects. Compounds from natural sources can be considered as an effective replacement for this. Mucuna pruriens, used in traditional ayurvedic medicine, contains L-3,4-dihydroxy phenylalanine (L-DOPA) in its seeds, which possesses medicinal effects against neurological diseases. In this regard, seed extracts of M. pruriens originated from Thailand and India, were analyzed for their neuroprotective effects in Neuro2a cells. Hexane, ethyl acetate and ethanol extracts were found to be non-toxic to the viability of the cells. Ethanol extracts of M. pruriens of Thai origin (MTE), hexane extracts of M. pruriens of Indian origin (MIH) and ethyl acetate extracts of M. pruriens of Indian origin (MIEA) were able to induce neurite outgrowth in Neuro2a cells. Interestingly, both MTE and MIH induced neurite outgrowth dependent on Teneurin-4 (Ten-4) transmembrane protein whereas MIEA did the same independent of Ten-4, which was confirmed by real time PCR and gene silencing approach. The present study suggested that M. pruriens can be used as a potential drug in the treatment of neurological diseases as it can induce neurite outgrowth by multiple mechanisms, which will be of great use in the field of medicine

Leaf extract of Caesalpinia mimosoides enhances oxidative stress resistance and prolongs lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans

Background: Caesalpinia mimosoides, a vegetable consumed in Thailand, has been reported to exhibit in vitro antioxidant properties. The in vivo antioxidant and anti-aging activities have not been investigated. The aim of this research was to study the antioxidant activity of C. mimosoides extracts in Caenorhabditis elegans, a widely used model organism in this context. Methods: C. elegans were treated with C. mimosoides extracts in a various concentrations. To investigate the protective effects of the extract against oxidative stress, wild-type N2 were used to determine survival rate under oxidative stress and intracellular ROS. To study underlying mechanisms, the mutant strains with GFP reporter gene including TJ356, CF1553, EU1 and LD4 were used to study DAF-16, SOD-3, SKN-1 and GST-4 gene, respectively. Lifespan and aging pigment of the worms were also investigated. Results: A leaf extract of C. mimosoides improved resistance to oxidative stress and reduced intracellular ROS accumulation in nematodes. The antioxidant effects were mediated through the DAF-16/FOXO pathway and SOD-3 expression, whereas the expression of SKN-1 and GST-4 were not altered. The extract also prolonged lifespan and decreased aging pigments, while the body length and brood size of the worms were not affected by the extract, indicating low toxicity and excluding dietary restriction. Conclusions: The results of this study establish the antioxidant activity of C. mimosoides extract in vivo and suggest its potential as a dietary supplement and alternative medicine to defend against oxidative stress and aging, which should be investigated in intervention studies

Simple ammonium salts acting on sigma-1 receptors yield potential treatments for cancer and depression

Sigma-1 and sigma-2 receptors are emerging therapeutic targets. We have identified that simple ammonium salts bind to these receptors and are effective in vivo. Radioligand binding assays were used to obtain structure-activity relationships of these salts. MTS assays were performed to determine their effect on growth in MCF7 and MDA-MB-486 cells. Anticancer properties were tested in NMRI mice transplanted with a fragment of mouse adenocarcinoma (MAC13). Antidepressant activity was tested using the forced-swim test and tailsuspension tests. Dipentylammonium (Ki 43 nM),tripentylammonium (Ki 15 nM) and trihexylammonium (Ki 9 nM) showed high affinity for the sigma-1receptor. Dioctanoylammonium had the highest affinity (K50 0.05 nM); this also showed the highest affinity for sigma-2 receptors (Ki 13 nM). Dipentylammonium was found to have antidepressant activity in vivo. Branched-chain ammonium salts showed lower affinity. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)ammonium (K50 29 μM), triisopentylammonium (K50 196 μM) and dioctanoylammonium showed a low Hill slope,and fitted a 2-site binding model for the sigma-1 receptor. We propose this two-site binding can be used to biochemically define a sigma-1 receptor antagonist. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)ammonium and triisopentylammonium were able to inhibit the growth of tumours in vivo. Cheap, simple ammonium salts act as sigma-1 receptor agonists and antagonists in vivo and require further investigation

Polygonumins A, a newly isolated compound from the stem of Polygonum minus Huds with potential medicinal activities

Polygonumins A, a new compound, was isolated from the stem of Polygonum minus. Based on NMR results, the compound’s structure is identical to that of vanicoside A, comprising four phenylpropanoid ester units and a sucrose unit. The structure diferences were located at C-3″″′. The cytotoxic activity of polygonumins A was evaluated on several cancer cell lines by a cell viability assay using tetrazolium dye 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT). The compound showed the highest antiproliferative (p<0.05) activities against K562 (Human Leukaemia Cell Line), MCF7 (Human breast adenocarcinoma cell line), and HCT116 (Colorectal cancer cells) cells. Cytotoxic studies against V79–4 cells were carried out and showed that polygonumins A was toxic at 50µg/ml, suggesting that this compound may be used as an anticancer drug without afecting normal cells. Polygonumins A also showed promising activity as an HIV-1 protease inhibitor with 56% relative inhibition. Molecular docking results indicated that the compound possesses high binding afnity towards the HIV protease over the low binding free energy range of -10.5 to -11.3kcal/mol. P. minus is used in Malaysian traditional medicine for the treatment of tumour cells. This is the frst report on the use of P. minus as an HIV-1 protease inhibitor

Current progress in production of flavonoids using systems and synthetic biology platforms

Flavonoid is an industrially-important compound due to its high pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical values. However, conventional methods in extracting and synthesizing flavonoids are costly, laborious and not sustainable due to small amount of natural flavonoids, large amounts of chemicals and space used. Biotechnological production of flavonoids represents a viable and sustainable route especially through the use of metabolic engineering strategies in microbial production hosts. In this review, we will highlight recent strategies for the improving the production of flavonoids using synthetic biology approaches in particular the innovative strategies of genetically-encoded biosensors for in vivo metabolite analysis and high-throughput screening methods using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). Implementation of transcription factor based-biosensor for microbial flavonoid production and integration of systems and synthetic biology approaches for natural product development will also be discussed