The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has attracted worldwide attention. Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f) Ness (AP) is naturally used to treat various diseases, including infectious diseases. Its Andrographolide has been clinically observed for anti-HIV and has also in silico tested for COVID-19 main protease inhibitors. Meanwhile, the AP phytochemicals content also provides insight into the molecular structures diversity for the bioactive discovery. This study aims to find COVID-19 main protease inhibitor from AP by the molecular docking method and determine the toxicity profile of the compounds. The results obtained two compounds consisting of flavonoid glycosides 5,4'-dihydroxy-7-O-β -D-pyran-glycuronate butyl ester and andrographolide glycoside 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-andrographolide have lower free binding energy and highest similarity in types of interaction with amino acid residues compared to its co-crystal ligands (6LU7) and Indinavir or Remdesivir. The toxicity prediction of the compounds also reveals their safety. These results confirm the probability of using AP phytochemical compounds as COVID-19 main protease inhibitors, although further research must be carried out.
Melia azedarach L. is used widely in traditional medicine for local or systemic ailments. Although studies exist on phytochemicals and potencies of Chinese and Indian cultivars of Melia, the present study investigated in vitro antioxidant properties of Melia wild type and its cytotoxicity against T47D cell. The ethanolic extract of the Melia leaves was fractionated with n-hexane, ethyl acetate and water, and the secondary metabolites were obtained. The antioxidant properties were determined with IC50 DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl) radical and FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), while the cytotoxicity was determined with the MTT method. The total phenolic (TPC) and β-sitosterol (SC) contents were also measured. The results showed that the ethyl acetate fraction had higher antioxidant and cytotoxic activities (IC50 211.89 ± 10.86 and 147.90 ± 8.49 μg/mL, respectively) than others. Significant (p < 0.05) correlations were observed between TPC, IC50DPPH, FRAP and IC50T47D. LC-EI MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction revealed the steroid and triterpenoid saponins, limonoids and quercetin glycosides, which influenced the medicinal properties of the Melia leaves. Melia azedarach L. wild type leaf extracts are a promising natural resource for managing breast cancer.
Objective: This study aims to isolate the active anticancer compound from ethyl acetate fraction extracted fromthe roots of Calotropis gigantea and to determine the operating mechanism of the isolates towards WiDr colon cancercells. Methods: the isolation was conducted by using bioassay guided isolation approach method. The cytotoxicpotential was determined by using MTT method. The chemical structure was identified by using UPLCMS/MS andNMR-1H spectroscopy. The cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction were determined by flow cytometry method.The expression of caspase-8 was determined by immunocytochemistry method. Results: The results showed thatthe active compounds are obtained calotroposid A compound which is glycosides terpenoids. Calotroposide Ais capable of inhibiting the growth of WiDr colon cancer cells at IC50 17.23μg/ml. Cell apoptosis induction took placeand was indicated by cell apoptosis increase, S and G2/M accumulation and by caspase-8 expression. Conclusion:Calotroposide A induces anticancer activity against WiDr colon cancer cells by means of apoptosis induction mechanismthrough extrinsic pathway with increased expression of caspase-8.
According to Basic Health Research data in Indonesia in 2020 shows that the diarrhea morbidity rate in Indonesia is still high. In Indonesia, the unripe fruit of the Kayu banana (Musa paradisiaca L. var. Kayu) is a drug that is often used empirically by the people of Senduro village, Lumajang, East Java, Indonesia, to treat diarrhea. This study was conducted to investigate the antibacterial activity of unripe fruit peel, unripe fruit flesh and unripe fruit. A disc diffusion test was selected to assess the sensitivity of each sample to Escherichia coli. The disc dilution was used to determine the value of MIC and MBC in Escherichia coli. Total phenolic content to determine phenolic levels in samples that are suspected of providing antibacterial activity. Analysis of secondary metabolite profiles using the UPLC-Q-TOF/MS instrument. Unripe fruit peel extract shows more optimal antibacterial activity compared to other extracts. The diameter value of the inhibitory zone of the unripe fruit peel extract is 17 mm and the yield of a large ΔOD is –1.3620 at a concentration of 10 % w/v. Based on the calculation results from the regression equation, TPC fruit extract was obtained by 8.6 %, TPC flesh extracts by 6.1 % and TPC from bark extract by 10.8 %. Based on the data from the interpretation of compound content analysis using UPLC-QToFMS, it can be seen that there are 25 mayor compounds. These results suggest that the unripe fruit peel extract of banana Kayu has the potential to be antibacterial against Escherichia coli. The application of this research is as a reference for the development of antidiarrheal standardized herbal medicines and the implication of this research is to support the independence of national medicinal raw materials in Indonesia. HIGHLIGHTSGRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
1 June 2021 in Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
Objective: Nature has provided us with many pharmaceutical resources so far. Breast cancer shows an increasing trend in the world for the last decade and becomes one of five leading causes of death. Among the plants, Melia azedarach L. has been used widely in traditional medicine for many ailments including breast cancer. Following our previous findings that the ethyl acetate fraction was the most active cytotoxic fraction against T47D cells, we aimed to isolate the cytotoxic compounds and further elucidate their apoptotic mechanisms. Methods: The compounds were isolated through a series of chromatography with cytotoxicity evaluations. Identification of the isolated compounds was achieved by intensive spectroscopic analysis such as NMR, MS, and IR spectra. Cytotoxicity was evaluated by MTT method using doxorubicin as a reference compound. The expression of apoptosis-related factors was quantified by flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry. Results: Two isomers of pregnane steroids with molecular weight 330.2087 (C21H30O3) were isolated from the EtOAc extract. Spectroscopic analysis revealed the structures as 17-ethylene-3,4-dihydroxy-14-methyl-18-norandrostene-16-one (1) and 17-ethylene-3,4-dihydroxy-5-pregnene-16-one (2), respectively. These compounds showed moderate cytotoxicity (IC50 172.9 and 62.2 µg/mL, respectively) comparable to doxorubicin (IC50 3.08 µg/mL). The execution of apoptosis may be related to the increase of the ratio of BAX/bcl-2 of the cells. Conclusion: The EtOAc fraction of Melia azedarach L. leaves and the isolated 5-pregnene-16-one steroids are promising reagents for breast cancer treatment by introducing apoptosis to tumor cells. However, further researches are required to highlight its safety and usage in vivo.