This study compared the yield, percentage solids, electrophoretic profile, gelatinolytic activity, and brine shrimp lethality of Bitis arietans venom prepared using freeze-drying and desiccator drying. Bitis arietans venom was collected from snakes at Bioken snake farm, Kenya, whereafter it was pooled and divided into two parts. Part 1 was desiccator dried venom (DDV) while part 2 was freeze-dried venom (FDV). The yield and percentage solids in DDV and FDV were compared using Welch’s Student’s t-test and the dried venoms were subsequently subjected to sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), 2D electrophoresis, gelatin in-gel zymography, and brine shrimp lethality assays. Mean venom yield and percentage solids did not differ between DDV and FDV (p = 0.5647 and p = 0.4676, respectively). SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional (2D) electrophoresis revealed similar protein profiles for DDV and FDV, showing bands and spot clusters within molecular weight ranges of ~16 kDa to >150 kDa and pH ranging from 3.5 to 9.5. Enzyme zymography revealed comparable gelatinolytic activity between DDV and FDV. However, the brine shrimp lethality assay indicated significantly higher toxicity in DDV (LC₅₀: 86.57 μg/mL) compared to FDV (LC₅₀: 460.37 μg/mL). DDV also showed greater lethality than FDV at 100 μg/mL (p = 0.0416) and 1000 μg/mL (p = 0.0008) but not at 10 μg/mL (p = 0.2465). These findings suggest that DDV exhibits higher toxicity in brine shrimp larvae than FDV, although both drying methods result in similar yields, percentage solids, venom profile, and gelatinolytic activity. Further research is necessary to investigate the mechanism behind this difference and its implications for antivenom production and long-term stability of venom.

Breast cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality globally, highlighting the urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. This study investigates the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-proliferative potential of Cannabis sativa dichloromethane extract (C. sativa DCM) on oxidative stress, apoptosis, and invasion in human breast cancer cells. Key biomarkers, such as antioxidant enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione (GSH)), the transcription factor Nrf2, apoptotic proteins (p53, caspase-8 and 9), metalloproteinase (MMP-1 and MMP-9), and Transforming Growth Factor Beta (TGF-β) were examined. Cytotoxicity was assessed using an MTT assay in the MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines, with comparisons to normal skin fibroblasts (HS27). Oxidative stress biomarkers were quantified using enzymatic assays and ELISA kits, while apoptotic and anti-metastatic factors were determined by Western blotting. Results demonstrated that C. sativa DCM extract induced significant cell death in a concentration-dependent manner, with IC50 values of 75.46 ± 0.132 μg/mL for MDA-MB-231 and 78.68 ± 0.50 μg/mL for MCF-7 cells. The extract decreased SOD and GSH levels while increasing p53 and caspase activity, confirming apoptosis activation. Additionally, C. sativa DCM inhibited migration and invasion by downregulating MMP-1, MMP-9, and TGF-β. The anti-proliferative potential of C. sativa DCM in breast cancer cells is mediated through a continuous biological pathway involving oxidative stress modulation, apoptotic signaling, and anti-invasive effects. Phytochemical analysis revealed terpenoids and steroids, including compounds like cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol acid. These findings suggest that C. sativa DCM extract holds potential as an anti-breast cancer therapeutic and warrants further preclinical and clinical investigations.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a disease associated with loss of brain cholinergic functions and a common cause of dementia. Diabetes and inflammation have been linked to some pathways contributing to AD pathogenesis. In this study, the effects of Withania somnifera ( W. somnifera ) root ethanol extract (WSEE) on lipoxygenase, butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), protein denaturation, and carbohydrate digestive enzymes were determined using in vitro and in silico experimental models. WSEE cytotoxicity on neuroblastoma cell lines (SH‐SY5Y) and the molecular docking simulation of its compounds were also investigated. WSEE analysis showed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, alkaloids, and tannins. The extract showed significant ( p < 0.05) inhibition of protein denaturation (IC ₅₀ = 558.6 µg/mL), lipoxygenase (IC ₅₀ = 175.6 µg/mL) and BChE (IC ₅₀ = 313.6 µg/mL) than ibuprofen (IC ₅₀ = 191.1 µg/mL), vitamin C (IC ₅₀ = 44.97 µg/mL), and rivastigmine (IC ₅₀ = 123.7 µg/mL), respectively. It also inhibited α‐glucosidase (IC ₅₀ = 343.0 µg/mL) and reduced SH‐SY5Y cell viability at ≥ 80 µg/mL. The docking studies revealed that sitoindoside IX, somniferin, withanolide B, and withasomniferolide B in the plant exhibit high binding affinities, where withasomniferolide B presents the highest docking scores (−11.4 kcal/mol) with α‐amylase. Further in vivo and molecular studies are needed to validate the plant's usefulness in AD management.

The hexane fraction of Psorospermum aurantiacum (PA) was found to prevent photoaging in skin cells lines. Therefore, this research aimed to evaluate the anti-skin aging potentials of compounds isolated from this bioactive fraction using in- silico and in- vitro models. Compounds were isolated by column chromatography and their structures were determined using spectroscopic techniques. A molecular docking was conducted to determine the interactions of compounds with selected targets: Elastase, 15-lipoxygenase, activator protein-1, Nuclear Factor Kappa B involved in skin aging processes. Furthermore, the in-vitro anti-elastase and anti-tyrosinase activities of compounds and their anti-inflammatory effect were evaluated on 15-lipoxygenase and nitric oxide (NO) production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Chromatographic purification of PA yielded three known compounds namely 3-geranyloxyemodinanthrone (1), 3-geranyloxyemodine (2) and lupeol (3) were identified, and in-slico study showed that (3) (− 12.83 kcal/mol) had high affinity with elastase while (2) (− 8.98 kcal/mol) effectively interacted with lipoxygenase. The in vitro assays revealed that (1) possessed high anti-tyrosinase activity (IC₅₀ = 65.00 µg/mL) and anti-lipoxygenase activity (IC₅₀ = 35.35 µg/mL) as compared with vitamin C (IC₅₀ = 48.85 µg/mL) and quercetin (IC₅₀ = 26.79 µg/mL) respectively. Additionally, (3) showed a high percentage of elastase inhibition (88.09%) at 10 µg/mL and also inhibited NO production with IC₅₀ of 28.74 µg/mL compared to quercetin (IC₅₀ = 15.13 µg/ mL). Compounds 1 and 3 showed anti-elastase, anti-tyrosinase and anti-inflammatory properties through in vitro study. Molecular docking results confirmed the elastase inhibitory activity demonstrated by 3. These compounds could be incorporated skin care products after further studies.