Isolation, characterization and quantification of an anxiolytic constituent - mahanimbine, from Murraya koenigii Linn. Spreng Leaves

Cytotoxicity of Mahanimbine from Curry Leaves in Human Breast Cancer Cells (MCF-7) via Mitochondrial Apoptosis and Anti-Angiogenesis

Mahanimbine (MN) is a carbazole alkaloid present in the leaves of Murraya koenigii, which is an integral part of medicinal and culinary practices in Asia. In the present study, the anticancer, apoptotic and anti-invasive potential of MN has been delineated in vitro. Apoptosis cells determination was carried out utilizing the acridine orange/propidium iodide double fluorescence test. During treatment, caspase-3/7,-8, and-9 enzymes and mitochondrial membrane potentials (Δψm) were evaluated. Anti-invasive properties were tested utilizing a wound-healing scratch test. Protein and gene expression studies were used to measure Bax, Bcl2, MMP-2, and -9 levels. The results show that MN could induce apoptosis in MCF-7 cells at 14 µM concentration IC₅₀. MN-induced mitochondria-mediated apoptosis, with loss in Δψm, regulation of Bcl2/Bax, and accumulation of ROS (p ≤ 0.05). Caspase-3/7 and -9 enzyme activity were detected in MCF-7 cells after 24 and 48 h of treatment with MN. The anti-invasive property of MN was shown by inhibition of wound healing at the dose-dependent level and significantly suppressed mRNA and protein expression on MMP-2 and -9 in MCF-7 cells treated with a sub-cytotoxic dose of MN. The overall results indicate MN is a potential therapeutic compound against breast cancer as an apoptosis inducer and anti-invasive agent.

Mukonal Inhibits Cell Proliferation, Alters Mitochondrial Membrane Potential and Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human CNE1 Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

Background

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma results in high patient morbidity and mortality, due to early metastasis, and toxicity due to chemotherapy. Mukonal is plant-derived carbazole alkaloid that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat several types of cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effects of mukonal on cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and the mitochondrial membrane potential of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro.

Material/Methods

CNE1 human nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells and NP69 normal nasopharyngeal epithelial cells were cultured with and without treatment with increasing doses of mukonal. Cell viability was determined by the MTT assay. Fluorescence microscopy was used to detect reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial membrane potential, and the release of cytochrome C. Flow cytometry was used to examine changes in the cell cycle, electron microscopy examined cell autophagy, and Western blot was performed to measure levels of proteins associated with autophagy and apoptosis.

Results

Mukonal had an antiproliferative effect on CNE1 cells, with an IC₅₀ of 9 μM and there were effects of toxicity on normal NP69 cells. Mukonal triggered ROS-mediated changes in mitochondrial membrane potential which was also accompanied by the discharge of cytochrome C in the CNE1 cells. Mukonal activated autophagy and apoptosis in CNE1 cells, which was also associated with upregulation of the autophagy-related proteins, LC3 II and beclin-1, as well as apoptosis-associated proteins, Bax, cleaved caspase-3 and -9. Mukonal treatment also resulted in CNE1 cells cycle arrest at G₂/M.

Conclusions

Mukonal inhibited the growth of human CNE1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells in vitro.

In vivo antianxiety and antidepressant activity of Murraya paniculata leaf extracts

OBJECTIVE

Different parts of Murraya paniculata have been used traditionally for treating several ailments including mental disorders. The present study was designed to evaluate the antianxiety and antidepressant potential of M. paniculata leaves using elevated plus maze model and forced swim test, respectively.

METHODS

Extracts of M. paniculata made with petroleum ether (60-80 °C), chloroform, ethanol and water were evaluated for antianxiety and antidepressant activity. The anxiolytic chloroform extract was subjected to column chromatography, yielding five fractions (F₁-F₅). Fraction F₅ (100 mg/kg), which showed notable anxiolytic activity, was further chromatographed to get four subfractions (F_5.1-F_5.4). Simultaneously, the ethanol extract was partitioned with ethyl acetate to obtain ethyl acetate soluble fraction (EASF) and ethyl acetate insoluble fraction. Phytochemical screening of bioactive extracts/fractions and detection of mahanimbine in M. paniculata leaf extract by thin-layer chromatography was also carried out.

RESULTS

Fraction F_5.3 (25 mg/kg) and EASF (20 mg/kg) showed significant anxiolytic and antidepressant activity, respectively. Thin-layer chromatography and phytochemical screening demonstrated the absence of mahanimbine in M. paniculata leaves. Coumarins were observed to be responsible for the anxiolytic activity.

CONCLUSION

The results validate the traditional use of M. paniculata leaves in the treatment of mental disorders.

Mahanimbine Exerts Anticancer Effects on Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Triggering Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis, and Modulation of AKT/Mammalian Target of Rapamycin (mTOR) and Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) Signalling Pathways

Background

Pancreatic cancer causes tremendous mortality across the globe mainly due to late diagnosis and unavailability of efficient chemotheruptic agents. In the current study the anticancer potential of a plant derived alkaloid, Mahanimbine, was examined against a panel of pancreatic cancer cells.

Material/Methods

The cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. Annexin V/PI and DAPI staining were performed to detect apoptosis. Cell cycle distribution was investigated by flow cytometery. Cell migration was detected by wound healing assay and protein expression was checked by western blotting.

Results

The results revealed that Mahanimbine could inhibit the proliferation of the all the pancreatic cancer cells with lower cytoxicity against the normal cells. The IC₅₀ ranged from 3.5 to 64 μM against the pancreatic cancer cell lines. The lowest IC₅₀ of 3.5 μM was observed tor the Capan-2 and SW119 pancreatic cancer cell lines. The anticancer activity of Mahanimbine against the Capan-2 and SW119 cells was found to be due to G₀/G₁ cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Mahanimbine prompted apoptosis was also associated with decline in Bcl-2 and enhancement of the Bax expression. Further, it was observed that Mahanimbine could inhibit the AKT/mTOR and STAT3 signalling pathways in the Capan-2 and SW119 pancreatic cancer cells. The effects of the Mahanimbine were also examined on the migration of the Capan-2 and SW119 pancreatic cancer cells. It was found that Mahanimbine could inhibit the motility and migration of both the pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Conclusions

We found that Mahanimbine inhibits the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells and as such Mahanimbine may prove beneficial in the management of pancreatic cancer.