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INHIBITORY EFFECT OF EMODIN ON RAW 264.7 ACTIVATED WITH DOUBLE STRANDED RNA ANALOGUE POLY I:C
Get PDFBackground: Emodin (3-methyl-1, 6, 8-trihydroxyanthraquinone) is a compound which can be found in Polygoni
Multiflori Radix (PMR). PMR is the root of Polygonum multiflorum. PMR is used to treat dizziness, spermatorrhea,
sores, and scrofula as well as chronic malaria traditionally in China and Korea. The anti-tumor property of emodin was
already reported. However, anti-viral activity of emodin on macrophages are not fully reported.
Materials and Methods: Effects of emodin on RAW 264.7 mouse macrophages induced by polyinosinic-polycytidylic
acid (poly I:C), a synthetic analog of double-stranded RNA, were evaluated.
Results: Emodin restored the cell viability in poly I:C-induced RAW 264.7 at concentrations of up to 50 μM. Emodin
significantly inhibited the production of nitric oxide, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, GM-CSF, G-CSF, M-CSF, MCP-1, MIP-1α,
MIP-1β, MIP-2, RANTES, and IP-10 as well as calcium release and mRNA expression of signal transducer and
activated transcription 1 (STAT1) in poly I:C-induced RAW 264.7 (P < 0.05).
Conclusion: This study shows the inhibitory effect of emodin on poly I:C-induced RAW 264.7 via calcium-STAT
pathway
RANDOMIZED ANTICANCER AND CYTOTOXICITY ACTIVITIES OF GUIBOURTIA COLEOSPERMA AND DIOSPYROS CHAMAETHAMNUS.
Get PDFBackground: Plants have consistently proven to be a reliable and yet not fully explored source of medicines. In light of
this, there is a constant demand for new treatment regimens for cancer. Namibia has a rich diversity of plant species of
over 4300 with 17 % of them being endemic to Namibia. Plants growing in Namibia’s diverse climatic zones produce
many secondary metabolites as part of adaptation to their environment. This article focused on the screening of such
phytochemicals and their cytotoxic and anticancer properties in vitro. Two Namibian plants Diospyros chamaethamnus
and Guibourtia coleosperma were randomly selected for this purpose.
Materials and Methods: The plants were screened for the presence of coumarins, alkaloids, flavonoids,
anthraquinones, steroids and terpenoids using thin layer chromatography. Anticancer screening was performed on a
panel of three cancer cell lines, while cytotoxicity was determined using a human fibroblast cell line, both using the
SRB method.
Results: Alkaloids, anthraquinones, flavonoids and steroids were detected in both organic and aqueous extracts of the
two plants. The organic plant extracts had a greater anti-proliferative effect on the cancer cell lines than the aqueous
extracts; the D. chamaethamnus organic root extract was the most potent with an IC50 of 16.08, 29.12 and 24.67 μg/mL
against TK10, UACC62 and MCF7 cells, respectively. Furthermore, cytotoxicity analysis revealed the non-toxic nature
of the extracts, except for the organic root extract of D. chamaethamnus that showed significant cytotoxicity (IC50 13.03
μg/mL).
Conclusion: D. chamaethamnus is a potential candidate for the development of a plant based cancer treatment. The
study showed the value of random screening in drug discovery from plants for pharmacological activity that is
unrelated to their ethnomedicinal uses
THE USE OF PLANTS TO PROTECT PLANTS AND FOOD AGAINST FUNGAL PATHOGENS: A REVIEW
Get PDFBackground: Plant fungal pathogens play a crucial role in the profitability, quality and quantity of plant production. These phytopathogens are persistent in avoiding plant defences causing diseases and quality losses around the world that amount to billions of US dollars annually. To control the scourge of plant fungal diseases, farmers have used fungicides to manage the damage of plant pathogenic fungi. Drawbacks such as development of resistance and environmental toxicity associated with these chemicals have motivated researchers and cultivators to investigate other possibilities.
Materials and Methods: Several databases were accessed to determine work done on protecting plants against plant fungal pathogens with plant extracts using search terms “plant fungal pathogen”, “plant extracts” and “phytopathogens”. Proposals are made on the best extractants and bioassay techniques to be used.
Results: In addition to chemical fungicides, biological agents have been used to deal with plant fungal diseases. There are many examples where plant extracts or plant derived compounds have been used as commercial deterrents of fungi on a large scale in agricultural and horticultural setups. One advantage of this approach is that plant extracts usually contain more than one antifungal compound. Consequently the development of resistance of pathogens may be lower if the different compounds affect a different metabolic process. Plants cultivated using plants extracts may also be marketed as organically produced. Many papers have been published on effective antimicrobial compounds present in plant extracts focusing on applications in human health. More research is required to develop suitable, sustainable, effective, cheaper botanical products that can be used to help overcome the scourge of plant fungal diseases.
Conclusions: Scientists who have worked only on using plants to control human and animal fungal pathogens should consider the advantages of focusing on plant fungal pathogens. This approach could not only potentially increase food security for rural farmers, lead to commercial rewards, but it is also much easier to test the efficacy in greenhouse or field experiments. Even if extracts are toxic it may still be useful in the floriculture industry
MODULATION OF KEY BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS RELEVANT TO STROKE BY ANTIARIS AFRICANA LEAF EXTRACT FOLLOWING CEREBRAL ISCHEMIA/REPERFUSION INJURY
Get PDFBackground: Oxidative stress plays a significant role in stroke pathogenesis. Hence, plants rich in antioxidant
phytochemicals have been suggested as effective remedies for prevention and treatment of stroke and other neurological
diseases. Antiaris africana Engl. (Moraceae) is traditionally used for the management of brain-related problems but there is
paucity of data on its anti-stroke potential.
Materials and Methods: Ischemia/reperfusion injury was induced by a 30 min bilateral common carotid artery occlusion/
2 h reperfusion (BCCAO/R) in the brain of male Wistar rats. A sham-operated group which was not subjected to
BCCAO/R and a group subjected to BCCAO/R without treatment with MEA served as controls. The ameliorative effect of
14 days of pretreatment with 50 mg/kg or 100 mg/kg A. africana methanol leaf extract (MEA) on BCCAO/R-mediated
alterations to key markers of oxidative stress (malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, xanthine oxidase, superoxide
dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase) and neurochemical disturbances and excitotoxicity (myeloperoxidase,
glutamine synthetase, Na+/K+ ATPase, acetylcholinesterase and tyrosine hydroxylase), was evaluated and compared with
the effect produced by treatment with 20 mg/kg quercetin as a reference standard.
Results: Results show that pretreatment with MEA significantly mitigated or reversed BCCAO/R-induced changes in the
level or activity of the evaluated biochemical markers of oxidative stress, neurochemical dysfunction and excitotoxicity
compared with the BCCAO/R untreated control group (p < 0.05). The effect produced by 100 mg/kg MEA was similar to
that of the reference standard, quercetin.
Conclusion: These results revealed the neuroprotective potential of A. africana in stroke and other ischemia-related
pathologies.
Key words: brain ischemia
EFFECT OF ASTRAGALOSIDE ON VITAMIN D-RECEPTOR EXPRESSION AFTER ENDOTHELIN-1-INDUCED CARDIOMYOCYTE INJURY
Get PDFBackground: Astragaloside, which is one of the main components of Astragalus membranaceus, has been widely used in the treatment of congestive heart failure in China, and it can protect cardiomyocytes. Its mechanism of action remains unclear. Therefore, the present study was carried out to investigate the influence of astragaloside on rat cardiomyocytes stimulated with endothelin-1 (ET-1), and explored the underlying mechanism.
Materials and Methods: ET-1 was used to stimulate primary rat cardiomyocytes and establish a cardiomyocyte hypertrophy model. Different astragaloside doses were administered in combination with ET-1. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and apoptosis were examined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and flow cytometry, respectively. The molecular mechanism was explored by analyzing the mRNA of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), cytochrome P450 family 27 subfamily B member 1(CYP27B), cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1(CYP24A) and renin mRNA levels by quantificational real-time polymerase chain reaction(qRT-PCR).
Results: Rat cardiomyocyte hypertrophy model was established successfully. Astragaloside administration significantly affected cell apoptosis and significantly inhibited ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in a dose-dependent manner. Astragaloside treatment affected the expression of signaling molecules in the vitamin D axis.
Conclusion: Astragaloside inhibits ET-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. This effect can be reversed by regulating the levels of the relevant factors in the vitamin D axis
CAFFEIC ACID PHENETHYL ESTER (CAPE) MEDIATED DECREASE IN METASTASIS OF COLON CANCER CELLS: AN IN VITRO AND IN VIVO STUDY
Get PDFBackground: Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a phytochemically active component obtained from honeybee hive
propolis. CAPE has been reported to show antimitogenic, anticancer, and other beneficial medicinal properties. Many of its
activities have been reported to be mediated by inhibiting levels of matrix metalloproteinase, that is, MMP-2 and MMP-9.
We hypothesize the effect of CAPE on the metastasis of colon cancer cells in both in vitro and in vivo.
Methods: Cell migration, motility, invasion were evaluated also expression of protein and matrix metalloproteinases
(MMPs) such as MMP-2 and MMP-9 were measured in SW-480 cancer cells in vitro. The cells were exposed to Phorbol
12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) and were treated with various concentration of CAPE.
Results: The treatment of CAPE caused significant decrease (
AN INSIGHT INTO THE USE OF COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINES AMONG PATIENTS WITH ATOPIC ECZEMA IN CENTRAL DURBAN, SOUTH AFRICA
Get PDFBackground: Complementary and alternative medicines (CAM) are increasingly popular globally with frequent use
amongst patients with atopic eczema (AE). Despite increased AE prevalence in South Africa (SA), no local data on
CAM-use for this disease exists.
Methods: A cross-sectional study utilizing a comprehensive questionnaire qualifying and quantifying CAM use in
patients with AE. We interviewed 206 AE patients; 106 from a public hospital dermatology clinic and 100 from private
dermatology practices in central Durban. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) compared means of continuous
predictors across 3 or more groups. Differences in frequencies of categorical explanatory variables by CAM and AE
were assessed using Pearson chi-square (χ2) test or Fishers exact test.
Results: There were 143 children, 63 adults; 163 females and 43 males. Races represented were Black (56%), Indian
(33%), Coloured (6%) and White (4%). 135(66%) reported current or previous CAM use. Common reasons were
family/friends’ recommendations (42%) and media-influence (23%). Frequently used CAMs were vitamins (35%),
aromatherapy oils (27%), herbal creams (26%), traditional African medicines (23%) and homeopathy (19%). Nondisclosure
to the dermatologist was high (59%). Almost half (48%) said they were not questioned about CAM use.
More Indian patients used CAM (p=0.001) and Muslims were most frequent CAM users (p=0.044). Although not
statistically significant, the more educated and higher income bracket used CAM more. 28% felt CAM had fewer sideeffects,
28% felt it was safer than conventional medicine and 35% felt CAM was more natural.
Conclusion: The detailed trends of CAM use by South Africans for AE is an important addition to the current
literature. Dermatologists and healthcare professionals addressing patients with AE need to be more familiar with CAM
types that patients may explore as this could impact on the overall clinical outcome
A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW ON THE GENUS PLUMBAGO WITH FOCUS ON PLUMBAGO AURICULATA (PLUMBAGINACEAE)
Get PDFBackground: The genus Plumbago distributed in warm tropical regions throughout the world is the largest genus in Plumbaginaceae. Medicinal plants are characteristic to the genus Plumbago and are cultivated and utilized worldwide. Plumbago auriculata Lam. is common in South Africa and is often cultivated for its ornamental and medicinal uses throughout the world.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of the genus Plumbago with focus on Plumbago auriculata was carried out and information was gathered using scientific publications, conference proceedings, the internet and books. Articles based on the morphology, pharmacological and medicinal uses of Plumbago auriculata was analysed thoroughly.
Results: Plumbago auriculata plant parts posses a wide range of phytochemicals with plumbagin being the marker compound showing various pharmacological activities. Different plant parts are claimed to be used for the treatment of human and animal ailments, however they do exhibit toxic properties and need to be administered with caution. Salt secreting glands and trichomes are characteristic of Plumbaginaceae.
Conclusion: This study reveals new insights on the genus Plumbago and the potential use of species in the genus as medicinal plants. Plumbago auriculata possess the bioactive compound plumbagin and secondary metabolites, thus, it is of high medicinal importance. P. auriculata is a poorly nor favourite studied species in the genus Plumbago and further research needs to be carried out to explore specific details of the species
COMMUNITY ACQUIRED PNEUMOCOCCAL PNEUMONIA IN NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA: EPIDEMIOLOGY, ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE AND OUTCOME
Get PDFBackground: Pneumococcus is the leading cause of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) worldwide, and the leading cause of mortality. Pneumococcal pneumonia is poorly studied in Nigeria. We describe the epidemiology including associated co-morbidities and outcome of pneumococcal pneumonia in North-western Nigeria.
Material and methods: We conducted a prospective, hospital based study on patients with community acquired pneumococcal pneumonia. Detailed clinical evaluation and relevant laboratory investigations were carried out. Susceptibility test to commonly used antibiotics was carried out on all confirmed pneumococcal isolates. In hospital mortality was recorded. Analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics with differences and relationships were determined using Chi square and Fisher’s exact tests as appropriate, with p < 0.05 regarded as significant.
Results: Of the one hundred and twenty-five (125) patients with pneumococcal pneumonia were studied. The mean age of the patients was 41.3years (± 16.84), and 69/125(55.2%) were males. Co-morbidities were observed in 63/125 (53.8%) of the patients. Resistance to commonly used antibiotics was observed. Overall in-hospital mortality was 9/117(7.8%). HIV (OR=2.081; 95%CI 1.651-3.237), age ≥65years (OR=5.947; 95%CI3.581-17.643), and CURB-65 score of ≥ 3 (OR=2.317; 95%CI1.734-4.719) were independent predictors of mortality.
Conclusion: Pneumococcal pneumonia is the commonest cause of CAP in North-western Nigeria with relatively high mortality. There is need to strengthened the vaccination policy targeting at risk adult population in Nigeria
CARRIAGE OF MULTIDRUG RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCUS FAECIUM AND ENTEROCOCCUS FAECALIS AMONG APPARENTLY HEALTHY HUMANS
Get PDFEnterococci are indigenous flora of the gastro-intestinal tracts of animals and humans. The recent years have witnessed increased interest in two major species, E. faecium and E. faecalis, because of their ability to cause serious infections and their intrinsic resistance to antimicrobials. In this study, human faecal samples were processed to determine the frequency of occurrence of E. faecium and E. faecalis and evaluate the susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics. One hundred faecal samples were collected from apparently healthy individuals and 73 Enterococcus were phenotypically identified using conventional methods. The susceptibility profiles of the isolates to 9 different antibiotics were determined using disk diffusion method and the results were interpreted according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines. Sixty-five isolates were differentiated into 36 (55.4%) E. faecium and 29 (44.6%) E. faecalis. No dual colonization by the two species was observed and isolation rate was independent of sex. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high occurrence of several different combinations of resistant patterns. The 65 isolates were resistant to ceftriaxone, cefuroxime and ceftizoxime. Enterococcus faecium exhibited resistance to erythromycin (88.9%), gentamicin (77.8%), amoxicillin-clavulanate (63.9%), ofloxacin (44.4%), teicoplanin (19.4%) and vancomycin (16.7%). Enterococcus faecalis showed the least resistance to vancomycin (13.8%) and teicoplanin (27.7%). The high prevalence of resistant strains in this study can be attributed to misuse of drugs. This can be curtailed by stopping the sale of antibiotics across the counter and creating awareness among the populace by Government and Health Agencies on the consequences of unregulated antibiotic use