AIM OF THE STUDY: In the present study, we investigated the effects of TCS against insulin resistance in muscle cells through integrating in vitro experiment and identifying its active biomarker using metabolomics and in molecular docking validation.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC) to isolate 33 fractions from methanolic extract of TCS, and then used UHPLC-Orbitrap-HRMS to identify the detectable metabolites in each fraction. We assessed the insulin sensitization activity of each fraction using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and then used confocal immunocytochemistry microscopy to measure the translocation of glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4) to the cell membrane. The identified active metabolites were further simulated for its molecular docking interaction using Autodock Tools.
RESULTS: The polar fractions of TCS significantly increased insulin sensitivity, as measured by the inhibition of phosphorylated insulin receptor substrate-1 (pIRS1) at serine-312 residue (ser312) also the increasing number of translocated GLUT4 and glycogen content. We identified 58 metabolites of TCS, including glycosides, flavonoids, alkaloids, coumarins, and nucleotides groups. The metabolomics and molecular docking simulations showed the presence of minor metabolites consisting of tinoscorside D, higenamine, and tinoscorside A as the active compounds.
CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that TCS is a promising new treatment for insulin resistance and the identification of the active metabolites in TCS could lead to the development of new drugs therapies for diabetes that target these pathways.
OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to assess phytochemical of C.nutans leaves, isolate breast cancer stem cells and determine the cytotoxic effects of the ethanolic extract and water extract of C.nutans leaves on breast cancer stem cells at 24, 48, and 72 h of observation.
METHODS: We underwent the cytotoxic test by using MTT assay and isolated breast cancer stem cells by using MACS and validated them by mammosphere test.
RESULTS: We found alkaloids, flavonoids, glycosides and tannins in simplicia and all extracts. BCSCs was valid with the diameter of the mammosphere BCSCs was > 60 μm. The IC50 values of 100%, 60%, 40%, 20% EE, and WE of C.nutans leaves were 227.30; 46.05; 31.12; 98.54, and 16.16 μg/ml respectively in the first 24 hours. In administering WE of C.nutans leaves, BCSCs viability was decreased at 24,48 and 72 hours of observation, namely 69.29±26%; 75.82 ± 21.02% and 38.94±9.34 % (p < 0.0001).
CONCLUSION: The WE of C.nutans leaves had more substantial cytotoxic potential against BCSCs than the EE. The capability of WE C.nutans leaves to suppress BCSC's viability was time-dependent. The anticancer activity were believed originate from alkaloid and flavonoid group.
METHODS: A literature search was performed for the screening of natural and derived bio-active compounds which showed potent antiviral activity against coronaviruses using published articles, patents, clinical trials website (https://clinicaltrials.gov/) and web databases (PubMed, SCI Finder, Science Direct, and Google Scholar).
RESULTS: Through the screening for natural products with antiviral activities against different types of the human coronavirus, extracts of Lycoris radiata (L'Hér.), Gentiana scabra Bunge, Dioscorea batatas Decne., Cassia tora L., Taxillus chinensis (DC.), Cibotium barometz L. and Echinacea purpurea L. showed a promising effect against SARS-CoV. Out of the listed compound Lycorine, emetine dihydrochloride hydrate, pristimerin, harmine, conessine, berbamine, 4`-hydroxychalcone, papaverine, mycophenolic acid, mycophenolate mofetil, monensin sodium, cycloheximide, oligomycin and valinomycin show potent activity against human coronaviruses. Additionally, it is worth noting that some compounds have already moved into clinical trials for their activity against COVID-19 including fingolimod, methylprednisolone, chloroquine, tetrandrine and tocilizumab.
CONCLUSION: Natural compounds and their derivatives could be used for developing potent therapeutics with significant activity against SARS-COV-2, providing a promising frontline in the fighting against COVID-19.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The primary aim of this review is to document the plants and natural products that are used as foods and medicines in Egypt, in general, and in Sinai, in particular, with a focus on those with demonstrated anticancer activities. The documented traditional uses of these plants are described, together with their chemical and pharmacological activities and the reported outcomes of clinical trials against cancer.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A literature search was performed to identify texts describing the medicinal plants that are cultivated and grown in Egypt, including information found in textbooks, published articles, the plant list website (http://www.theplantlist.org/), the medicinal plant names services website (http://mpns.kew.org/mpns-portal/), and web databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: We collected data for most of the plants cultivated or grown in Egypt that have been previously investigated for anticancer effects and reported their identified bioactive elements. Several plant species, belonging to different families and associated with 67 bioactive compounds, were investigated as potential anticancer agents (in vitro studies). The most potent cytotoxic activities were identified for the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gramineae, and Liliaceae. The anticancer activities of some species, such as Punica granatum L., Nerium oleander L., Olea europea L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Cassia acutifolia L., Nigella sativa L., Capsicum frutescens L., Withania somnifera L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe, have been examined in clinical trials. Among the various Egyptian plant habitats, we found that most of these plants are grown in the North Sinai, New-Delta, and Giza Governorates.
CONCLUSION: In this review, we highlight the role played by Egyptian flora in current medicinal therapies and the possibility that these plants may be examined in further studies for the development of anticancer drugs. These bioactive plant extracts form the basis for the isolation of phytochemicals with demonstrated anticancer activities. Some active components derived from these plants have been applied to preclinical and clinical settings, including resveratrol, quercetin, isoquercetin, and rutin.
Patients and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study that included adult men and women aged 20-60 years old. The subjects had no chronic or metabolic disease. This research was conducted from April to November, 2020, in North Sumatra Province, Indonesia. The parameters studied were demographics, daily food intake, anthropometry and a history of obesity in adolescence, and for the participants' fathers and mothers. The statistical test used was the chi-squared test/Fisher test.
Results: This study included 136 research subjects, 60 male and 76 female; based on the results of the study, 47.8% were found to be obese, but food intake showed a low intake (96.2%). There was a significant relationship between a history of obesity in adolescence and incidences of obesity (≥30 kg/m2) in the mother and father, with significance values of p=0.01, p=0.004, and p=0.001, respectively.
Conclusion: This study found that there was a significant relationship between a history of obesity in adolescence and incidences of adult obesity (≥ 30kg/m2) in parents, but not with the level of food intake per day. The risk of obesity will increase further with a history of obesity in parents and obesity in adolescence, and this can be used to understand and prevent obesity.
AIM OF THE STUDY: This study was aimed to reveal three different PBs' aqueous extracts(viz. PB-A, PB-B, PB-C) chemical constituent's profile using GC-MS analysis, anticancer property on A375, HeLa and MCF7 cancer cells, toxicity profile on zebrafish embryo morphology, EC50, LC50 and teratogenicity index.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: PBs' extracts characterization was performed through GC-MS analysis, in vitro anticancer effect was carried out on A375, HeLa and MCF7 cancer cell lines and finally and toxicity properties on three different PBs aqueous extracts (viz. PB-A, PB-B, PB-C) were determined using zebrafish embryo model.
RESULTS: The GC-MS analysis revealed 10 similar compounds in all PBs' extracts. Dilauryl thiodipropionate was found to be a major compound in all PBs' extracts followed by tetradecanoic acid. An in vitro anticancer study revealed PB extracts exerted median inhibition concentration (IC50) <50 μg/mL, on cancer cells viz. A375, HeLa and MCF7 with no significant toxicity on normal cells viz. NHDF cells. In vivo toxicity of PBs extracts found affecting tail detachment, hatching, craniofacial, brain morphology, soft tissues, edema, spinal, somites, notochord and cardiovascular system (brachycardia, disruption of blood circulation) deformities. The LC50 and EC50 demonstrated PB extracts effect as dose and time dependent with median concentration <150.0 μg/mL. Additionally, teratogenicity index (TI) viz. >1.0 revealed teratogenic property for PB extracts.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings revealed that all three PBs aqueous extracts possessed anticancer activity and exhibited significant toxicological effects on zebrafish embryos with high teratogenicity index. Hence, its use as an anticancer agent requires further investigation and medical attentions to determine its safe dose.
METHODS: Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) and Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy (LCMS) coupled with multivariate data analysis were employed to characterize the metabolic variations of intracellular metabolites and the compositional changes of the corresponding culture media in rat renal proximal tubular cells (NRK-52E).
RESULTS: NMR and LCMS analysis highlighted choline, creatine, phosphocholine, valine, acetic acid, phenylalanine, leucine, glutamic acid, threonine, uridine and proline as the main metabolites which differentiated the cisplatin-induced group of NRK-52E from control cells extract. The corresponding media exhibited lactic acid, glutamine, glutamic acid and glucose-1-phosphate as the varied metabolites. The altered pathways perturbed by cisplatin nephrotoxic on NRK-52E cells included changes in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and glycolysis.
CONCLUSION: The C. nutans aqueous extract (1000 μg/mL) exhibited the most potential nephroprotective effect against cisplatin toxicity on NRK-52E cell lines at 89% of viability. The protective effect could be seen through the changes of the metabolites such as choline, alanine and valine in the C. nutans pre-treated samples with those of the cisplatin-induced group.