Anticancer and antioxidant activities of methanol extracts and fractions of some Cameroonian medicinal plants

ObjectiveTo obtain a scientific basis of the use of plant-derived preparations by many rural people in Cameroon, for their primary health care needs in the treatment of diseases such as cancer.MethodsThe antiproliferative effect of 11 plants methanol crude extracts on four cancer cells using sulforhodamine-B assay and their antioxidant activities using 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical and nitric oxide radical scavenging ability were investigated. The Ekebergia senegalensis (E. senegalensis) and Protea elliotii (P. elliotii) extracts were selected based on their antioxidant and anticancer activities, and partition in hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol and methanol was done. Each fraction was submitted to antioxidant and anticancer activities, and the effect of the dichloromethane fraction (the most antiproliferative fraction) on NCI-H460 cell cycle was determined by flow cytometry.ResultsThe most antiproliferative substances were found for the extracts from E. senegalensis, P. elliotii, Terminalia macroptera and Vitellaria paradoxa. Whereas the most antioxidant substances were found for the extracts from Cissus populnea, E. senegalensis, P. elliotii, Terminalia macroptera, Vitellaria paradoxa, and Gardenia aqualla. Dichloromethane fraction of P. elliotii was found to be highly antiproliferative to NCI-H460 cancer cells and showed S phase arrest cell cycle progression. Ethyl acetate n-butanol and methanol fractions showed quite strong antioxidant activity for both E. senegalensis and P. elliotii, as compared to that of gallic acid.ConclusionsOverall, the antiproliferative and antioxidant activities of some of the extracts lend some support to their use in the traditional medicine of Adamawa Region, Cameroon to treat cancer.     

In vitro antimalarial activity of extracts of three plants used in the traditional medicine of India.

In an attempt to search for new antimalarial drugs, we studied plants used by traditional healers of southwest India to treat malaria. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts obtained from specific parts of the plants Swertia chirata, Carica papaya, and Citrus sinensis were tested on malaria strain Plasmodium falciparum FCK 2 in vitro. The temperatures of extraction were the same as that used by the traditional healers in their plant preparations. Visual evaluation of the antimalarial activity of the plant extracts on thin blood smears was followed by quantification of the activity by use of [35S]-methionine incorporation into parasite proteins to determine the value that inhibits 50% (IC50). Among the 3 plants tested, 2 had significant inhibitory effect on P. falciparum in vitro.     

Antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, haemolytic and antioxidant activities of crude extracts from three selected Togolese medicinal plants

ObjectiveTo investigate the antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiplasmodial, acute toxicity and haemolytic activities of methanolic extracts of three plants. Phytochemical analysis to determine the phenolic contents was also carried out.MethodsThe 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, NCCLS broth microdilution and Plasmodium Lactate Dehydrogenase (pLDH) assays were used to determine antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiplasmodial activities, respectively. Haemolysis assay was conducted on A⁺ human red blood cells and acute toxicity on male Swiss albino mice. Phenolics were quantitatively determined using spectrophotometric methods.ResultsThe DPPH assay yielded interesting antioxidant activities of methanolic extract of Parinari curatellifolia (P. curatellifolia) and Entada africana (E. africana) (IC₅₀ were 0.20±0.01 μg/mL and 0.47±0.01 μg/mL, respectively). This activity was highly correlated with phenolic contents of extracts. The antimicrobial tests displayed minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values ranging from 0.90 to 1.80 mg/mL for Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) the most susceptible bacterial strain. MIC value was 1.20 mg/mL for susceptible fungal strains including Mucor rouxi (M. rouxi), Fusarium oxyporum (F. oxyporum) and Rhizopus nigricans (R. nigricans). pLDH assay showed moderate antiplasmodial activity of Balanites aegyptiaca (B. aegyptiaca) (IC₅₀ = 24.56±3.45 μg/mL), however this extract was highly haemolytic and toxic in mice (LD₅₀ = 625±128 mg/kg).ConclusionsOur results support in part the use of the selected plants in the treatment of microbial infections. In addition the plant showed interesting antioxidant activity that could be useful in the management of oxidative stress.     

Perioperative haemostatic management of haemophilic mice using normal mouse plasma

Intense haemostatic interventions are required to avoid bleeding complications when surgical procedures are performed on haemophilia patients. The objective of this study was to establish an appropriate protocol for perioperative haemostatic management of haemophilic mice. We assessed the prophylactic haemostatic effects of normal mouse plasma (NMP) on haemophilia B (HB) mice for both a skin flap procedure and a laparotomy. When 500 μL of NMP was administered to the mice, plasma factor IX (FIX:C) levels peaked at 15.1% immediately after intravenous (IV) administration, at 6.1% 2 h after intraperitoneal (IP) administration and at 2.7% 6 h after subcutaneous administration. Administering 500 μL of NMP via IP or IV 30 min in advance enabled the skin flap procedure to be performed safely without any complications. After the laparotomy procedure, several mice in the IP administration group exhibited lethal bleeding, but all mice survived in the IV administration group. Anti‐mouse FIX inhibitors did not develop, even after repetitive administrations of NMP. However, human FIX concentrates, especially plasma‐derived concentrates, elicited the anti‐human FIX inhibitors. The results show that administering 500 μL of NMP via IV or IP 30 min in advance enables surgical procedures to be safely performed on HB mice, and that IV administration is more desirable than IP if the procedure requires opening of the abdominal wall.     

Analgesic activity of Cryptostegia grandiflora (Roxb.) R.br. leaves methanol extract using mice

ObjectiveTo evaluate analgesic property of leaf methanol extract of Cryptostegia grandiflora (Roxb.) R.Br. using mice.MethodsAnalgesic activity was evaluated by abdominal writhing and tail flick methods using Swiss albino mice. Acetyl salicylic acid was used as standard drug.ResultThe leaf methanol extract did not show any signs of toxicity upto 5000 mg/kg b.w. The leaf methanol extract (LME) was tested at three different dosages viz., 250, 500 and 750 mg/kg b.w. orally. All the three doses of LME showed significant (P < 0.001) analgesic activity, among them dose at 750 mg/kg b.w. showed 62.93% inhibition, but less effective than standard acetyl salicylic acid (93.70%) as revealed by writhing test. In Tail-flick model, the LME at the dose of 500 mg/kg b.w. showed significant activity (P < 0.001) when compared to the other two doses as evidence by the increase in the latency of tail response to thermal stimulation.ConclusionsThis investigation revealed that the C. grandiflora LME demonstrated significant analgesic effect in both abdominal writhing and tail flick models. Among the three different doses tested, the 500 mg/kg b.w. was found to be more potent. The results of this investigation revealed that the LME of C. grandiflora possesses significant analgesic property and supported the traditional medicinal claims on C. grandiflora.     

CheA protein, a central regulator of bacterial chemotaxis, belongs to a family of proteins that control gene expression in response to changing environmental conditions.

During bacterial chemotaxis, the binding of stimulatory ligands to chemoreceptors at the cell periphery leads to a response at the flagellar motor. Three proteins appear to be required for receptor-mediated control of swimming behavior, the products of the cheA, cheW, and cheY genes. Here we present the complete nucleotide sequence of the Salmonella typhimurium cheA gene together with the purification and characterization of its protein product. The protein is a 73,000 Mr cytoplasmic constituent. Amino acid-sequence comparisons indicate that it belongs to a family of bacterial regulatory proteins including the products of the cpxA, dctB, envZ, ntrB, phoR, phoM, and virA genes. Each member of this family has a conserved domain of approximately equal to 200 residues within its C terminus. We have previously shown that another chemotaxis protein, CheY, represents a domain of protein structure that has been conserved within a second large family of bacterial regulatory proteins. Each protein of the CheA family seems to function as a regulator of a different CheY homologue. Although each pair of proteins appears to produce a specialized response to a distinct type of stimulus, the relationships in primary structure suggest that a similar molecular mechanism may be involved.     

Juvenile polyposis coli A report of three patients in three generations of one family

Conclusions and Summary Three case reports are presented of three generations in one family having colonic polyps of juvenile type. A familial tendency to develop juvenile polyposis is suggested. Although a carcinoma occurred concomitantly in this series, there is insufficient evidence to suggest a relationship between familial juvenile polyposis coli and carcinoma.     

Oesophageal hiatus hernia in three generations of one family

A family is described in which eight members in three successive generations had a sliding type of oesophageal hiatus hernia (or partial thoracic stomach) as a sole anomaly. The trait in this family behaved as a strict dominant, manifesting the segregation of a single abnormal autosomal gene. Other possible aetiologies are discussed but considered unlikely.     

Effect of three coccidiostatics against toxoplasmosis in mice

Summary Duocoxin, nicrazine and amprol plus showed no therapeutic effect in 50 mice each of which was infected with 25,000 organisms of a virulentToxoplasma strain.

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Wirkung von drei Kokzidiostatika auf Toxoplasmose-Infektionen bei Mäusen

Zusammenfassung Duocoxin, Nicrazin und Amprol-Plus zeigten keine therapeutische Wirkung auf 50 Mäuse, die je mit einer Dosis von 25 000 Organismen eines virulentenToxoplasma-Stammes infiziert wurden.

     

一户发生3例钩虫病报告

本文报道1户发生3例钩虫病,可能通过生食被钩蚴污染的蔬菜而感染。病人口服双萘羟酸噻嘧啶及铁剂后痊愈。     

A concept of three light reactions in photosynthesis by green plants

It has generally been accepted that plant photosynthesis involves two light reactions, one that proceeds best in short-wavelength light and is identified with oxygen evolution (System II) and another that proceeds best in long-wavelength light and is identified with a cycle electron flow (System I). This paper presents a concept of three light reactions in photosynthesis, based on new evidence that System II comprises two rather than one short-wavelength light reaction. These appear to operate in series and to be connected by an electron transport chain peculiar to System II. Parallel to System II is the long-wavelength light reaction of System I.     

Antioxidant capacity and total phenolic contents in hydrophilic extracts of selected Bangladeshi medicinal plants

ObjectiveTo evaluate hydrophilic extracts from edible portions of fifteen plants for total phenolic content (TPC) and anti-oxidant capacity (AC) as an effort to find possible sources for future novel antioxidants.MethodsFolin-Ciocalteau and DPPH radical scavenging assays were employed to determine TPC and AC, respectively.ResultsAmong the assayed plants, TPC (mean±SD), expressed as gallic acid equivalent, varied from 0.04±0.01 (Amaranthus spinosus) to 6.01±0.04 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) mg gallic acid equivalent/g fresh weight. AC (mean±SD), expressed as trolox equivalent, ranged from 0.14±0.00 (Alternanthera philoxeroides) to 7.54±0.00 (Zanthoxylum rhetsa) μmol trolox equivalent/g fresh weight. A significant and positive linear relationship (R²=0.99) was observed between TPC and AC of Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Oxalis corymbosa, and Alternanthera sessilis.ConclusionsThe results of the present study implies that the analyzed plants possess varying degree of antioxidant capacity and, therefore, the antioxidant potency of these underused plants may be utilized to prevent oxidative damage and oxidative stress related disorders.