Ethanol Extracts of Selected Cyathea Species Decreased Cell Viability and Inhibited Growth in MCF 7 Cell Line Cultures

Chromatographic analysis of selected phytosterols from Cyathea and their characterization by in silico docking to potential therapeutic targets

Separation and quantification of lupeol, stigmasterol and swertiamarin in ethanolic extracts of selected Cyathea species have been developed using HPTLC and an attempt is made to explore the biopotential of phytochemicals against various proteins by computational analysis. Compounds were separated using the specific mobile phase and the developed plates were sprayed with respective spraying reagents. The 3D structure of the receptor proteins viz., 1VSN, 5BNQ, 6HN8, 7DN4 and 3TJU, and the 3D SDF structures of ligands like lupeol, stigmasterol and swertiamarin were retrieved from the Protein Data Bank (PDB) and NCBI-Pub Chem Compound database respectively. The Argus 4.0.1 is computer generated drug design screening software is employed to analyze the binding affinity of test compounds against the selected proteins in the form of E-values versus potential drug targets. The docking result was saved and visualized using Discovery Studio Visualizer. The terpenoid band with Rf value 0.79 depicted the presence of lupeol in C. gigantea (0.04%) and C. crinita (0.02%). The steroid band with Rf value 0.41 confirmed the presence of stigmasterol with varied frequency viz., C. nilgirensis (0.33%), C. gigantea (0.29%) and C. crinita (0.52%). Lupeol, stigmasterol and swertiamarin showed the interaction against the studied proteins viz., 1VSN, 5BNQ, 6HN8, 7DN4, 3TJU with varied energy values and interacting residues. The results of the virtual screening and molecular docking analysis suggest that the phytochemical compounds of Cyathea species viz., lupeol and stigmasterol were identified as possible lead molecules to fight against cancer and cytotoxicity.

Total accepted phenolic, tannin, triterpenoid, flavonoid and sterol contents, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of Tectaria paradoxa (Fee.) Sledge

The present study was aimed to reveal the phytochemical composition and bio potentials of Tectaria paradoxa (Fee.) Sledge. The total phenolic, tannin, flavonoid, terpenoids, sterols content were determined. RBC membrane stabilization against heat induced haemolysis, In-vitro Alpha-amylase inhibitory assay and Brine Shrimp lethality bioassay was performed to determine the anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and cytotoxic activity. Among the tested extracts, methanolic extracts of T. paradoxa showed high amount of phenolics 351.43 ± 14.5 mg GAE/g, tannin 34.38 ± 1.02 mg GAE/g, flavonoids 1384.44 ± 50.92 mg QE/g, triterpenoids 130.5 ± 2.77 mg/g and acetone extracts of T. paradoxa displayed maximum amount of sterols 3.2 ± 0.2 mg/g. The extracts of T. paradoxa demonstrated dose dependent anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic and cytotoxic activities. The anti-inflammatory activity of the T. paradoxa were as follows methanol > chloroform > acetone > petroleum ether. The anti-diabetic properties of the T. paradoxa were as follows methanol > acetone > chloroform > petroleum ether. The cytotoxicity of the T. paradoxa were as follows chloroform (LC50 = 25.52 μg/mL) > petroleum ether (LC50 = 36.99 μg/mL) > methanol (LC50 = 44.26 μg/mL) > acetone (LC50 = 55.9 μg/mL). The existence of phenolics, tannin, flavonoids, sterols and triterpenoids may be responsible for the observed biological activities. The results of the present study identified the pool of medicinal properties existence in T. paradoxa. Further studies on the isolation of active principles may bring out an alternative source for anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer drugs from T. paradoxa.

Methanol Extract of Coleus amboinicus (Lour) Exhibited Antiproliferative Activity and Induced Programmed Cell Death in Colon Cancer Cell WiDr

Coleus amboinicus(Lour) (CA) has been reported to possess many pharmacological activities. In this study, evaluation of cytotoxicity using brine shrimp lethality bioassay and MTT assay using WiDr cell lines was carried out. The expression of several genes responsible for programmed cell death of the methanol extract of CA was also investigated. The morphology of the cells undergoing apoptosis was detected using Hoechst staining assay. The gene expression of BAX, BCL2, P53, Caspase 1, 7, 8, and 9 of treated samples with different concentrations (10, 15, 25 & 50 µg/ml) were measured with RT PCR. The phytochemical profiles were investigated using LC MS. The results showed that the lethality concentration (LC50) of methanol extract using brine shrimp was 34.545 µg/ml and the extract exhibited good antiproliferative activity against cancer cells WiDr with IC50 value (8.598 ± 2.68 µg/ml) as compared to standard drug 5-fluorouracil (IC50 value 1.839 ± 0.03 µg/ml). There was apoptotic evidences from the morphology of treated cells. The expressions of BAX,P53, and Caspase 9 were upregulated in lower concentration of the extract (10 and 15 µg/ml) but downregulated in higher concentration (25 and 50 µg/ml). BCL2 as anti-apoptotic gene was downregulated in all concentrations. Caspase 1 and Caspase 7 were upregulated in high concentration (25 and 50 µg/ml), but downregulated in lower concentrations. These data provide a mode of cell death for the methanol extract of CA in low concentrations corresponding to apoptosis with intrinsic pathway. Many valuable compounds identified including caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, malic acid, eicosapentanoic acid, benserazide, alpha-linolenic acid, betaine, Salvanolic B, 4-hydroxibenzoic acid and firulic acid have been previously reported as being active agents against many cancer cells. This study suggested that CA might become an effective ingredient for health-beneficial foods to prevent colon cancer.

Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activity of Asparagopsis taxiformis

BACKGROUND

Asparagopsis taxiformis (Rhodophyta) is a species of red algae belonging to the family Bonnemaisoniaceae. The objective of the present study was to evaluate antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of four fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol) of A. taxiformis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The red seaweed, A. taxiformis was collected from Mandapam Coastal Region, Gulf of Mannar, Tamil Nadu. Epiphytes present in algal extracts were cleaned and washed with seawater and fresh water. In vitro antioxidant activity was determined by hydrogen peroxide scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power, superoxide radical, metal-chelating activity, and phosphomolybdenum reduction assay. Further, the cytotoxic activity was evaluated using brine shrimp lethality assay. This method is rapid, reliable, inexpensive, and convenient as compared to other cytotoxicity assays. Gallic acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, ascorbic acid, and quercetin were used as reference antioxidant compounds.

RESULTS

Reducing power of chloroform extract increased with increasing concentration of the extract. The radical scavenging activity of extracts was in the following order: ascorbic acid > methanol > chloroform > petroleum ether > ethyl acetate. Highest metal-chelating activity was observed in petroleum ether fractions (63%). Reduction of Mo (VI) to Mo (V) increased in methanol extract (27%) at 100 μg/ml. Moreover, all fractions had an inhibitory effect on the formation of hydroxyl radicals. Results showed that ethyl acetate, methanol, and petroleum ether fractions exhibited potent cytotoxic activity with median lethal concentration values of 84.33, 104.4, and 104.4 μg/ml, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Thus, the results showed that red algae possess strong antioxidant and cytotoxic activity that suggests their possible use in the development of pharmaceutical drugs.

SUMMARY

Various fractions of red algae Asparagopsis taxiformis was evaluated for in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative studies. All results indicate potential use of red algae for drug development. Abbreviations Used: Mo: Molybdenum, AlCl3.H2O: Aluminum chloride, NaNO2: Sodium nitrite, NaOH: Sodium hydroxide, H2O2: Hydrogen peroxide, NADH: Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, NBT: Nitroblue tetrazolium chloride, PMS: Phenyl methanesulfonate, FeCl2: Ferrous chloride.