METHODS: EEP was obtained by maceration with absolute ethanol, then it was concentrated in rotaevaporator up to complete evaporation of the solvent. The crude extract was fractionated with hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform and methanol and they were subjected to phytochemical screening and total phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity of EEP and fractions was done by means of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) method. Biomarkers of red propolis were identified by LC-Orbitrap-FTMS. To assess cytotoxic activity of the extract, cells were exposed to EEP over 72 h. Cell viability was assessed by means of MTT assay. The percentage of cell growth inhibition (IC50) was analysed by means of non-linear regression, and the absorbance values of the various investigated concentrations were subjected to one-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey's or Tamhane's tests (α = 0.05).
RESULTS: The results obtained using phytochemical screening and LC-Orbitrap-FTMS indicated the presence of phlobaphene tannins, catechins, chalcones, aurones, flavonones, flavonols, xanthones, pentacyclic triterpenoids and guttiferones in Brazilian red propolis. EEP and its hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions obtained by liquid-liquid partitioning exhibited satisfactory antioxidant percentages. EEP (IC50
OBJECTIVES: This article compiles the ethnomedicinal uses of CN and its phytochemistry, and thus provides a phytochemical library of CN. It also discusses the known pharmacological and biological effects of CN to enable better investigation of CN.
METHODS: This literature review was limited to articles and websites published in the English language. MEDLINE and Google Scholar databases were searched from December 2014 to September 2016 using the following keywords: "Clinacanthus nutans" and "Belalai gajah". The results were reviewed to identify relevant articles. Information from relevant selected studies was systematically analyzed from contemporary ethnopharmacological sources, evaluated against scientific literature, and extracted into tables.
RESULTS: The literature search yielded 124 articles which were then further scrutinized revealing the promising biological activities of CN, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antitumorigenic and anti-inflammatory effects. Few articles discussed the mechanisms for these pharmacological activities. Furthermore, CN was beneficial in small-scale clinical trials for genital Herpes and aphthous stomatitis.
CONCLUSION: Despite the rich ethnomedicinal knowledge behind the traditional uses of CN, the current scientific evidence to support these claims remains scant. More research is still needed to validate these medicinal claims, beginning by increasing the understanding of the biological actions of this plant.
AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study aimed to characterize the chemical properties of a purified polysaccharide extracted from the aerial part of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (SYQP) and investigate its antipyretic and antitumor effects in mice models.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water-soluble crude polysaccharides from the aerial parts of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum were extracted and fractionated by DEAE and gel permeation chromatography. Homogeneity, molecular weight, monosaccharide composition, and FTIR analysis were performed to characterize the SYQP. Antipyretic effect of SYQP was examined using Brewer's yeast induced hyperthermia test. Antitumor effect was investigated using H22 tumor bearing mice. The serum cytokines were determined to evaluated the biological activities of SYQP.
RESULTS: SYQP was composed of galacturonic acid (GalA), glucose (Glc), mannose (Man), arabinose (Ara), galactose (Gal), and rhamnose (Rha) with a molar ratio of 11.3:7.1:2.5:1.0:0.9:0.5 and it had an average molecular weight of 66.2 kDa. The oral administration of SYQP at 200 and 400 mg/kg could markedly suppress the hyperthermia of mice induced by Brewer's yeast and decrease the production of cytokines especially prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in the serum of mice. SYQP inhibited the growth of H22 tumor in mice with inhibitory rate of 39.9% at the administration dose of 200 mg/kg and increased the production of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interferon γ (IFN-γ). Experimental results showed that the preventive administration of SYQP before lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduced the high cytokine levels such as IL-6, IL-10 and IFN-γ, indicating that SYQP might act as a competitor with LPS to interact with toll like receptor 4 (TLR4), which further regulated the secretion of cytokines.
CONCLUSION: The anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of SYQP might be related to its regulation of host immune function by controlling the secretion of cytokines.
METHODS: Characterization of the synthesized AuNPs was done by different techniques such as ultraviolet-visible spectrum absorption, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis.
RESULTS: All the results showed the successful green synthesis of AuNPs from Sx, which induced apoptosis of C666-1 cell line (NPC cell line). There was a decline in both cell viability and colony formation in C666-1 cells upon treatment with Sx-AuNPs. The cell death was proved to be caused by autophagy and mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway.
CONCLUSION: Thus, due to their anticancer potential, these nanoparticles coupled with Sx can be used for in vivo applications and clinical research in future.