Biochemical and histopathological analysis after sub-chronic administration of oxyresveratrol in Wistar rats

Oxyresveratrol (OXY) is a naturally occurring phenolic compound; however, there are no toxicity studies reported on its long term use. The aim of our work was to demonstrate the evaluation of acute and sub-chronic toxicity of oxyresveratrol in rats to assess its safety profile. To evaluate the LD₅₀ value, 2000 mg/kg of oxyresveratrol was administered to Wistar rats by oral gavage. For sub-chronic toxicity assessment, 80 Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups (10 animal/sex/group) and oxyresveratrol administered at a dose of 50, 100, 150 mg/kg/day by oral gavage. Bodyweight, food, and water consumption were monitored every week. At the end of the experiments, biochemical and hematological parameters were analyzed. Gross and microscopic organ analyses were also carried out. LD₅₀ of oxyresveratrol was greater than 2000 mg/kg sub-chronic administration of oxyresveratrol did not influence any mortality. Doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg of oxyresveratrol did not produce any sign of toxicity. However, the 150 mg/kg oxyresveratrol group depicted changes in multiple biochemical and hematological parameters with changes in the pathology of cardiac, hepatic, and renal tissues when compared with control. Therefore, no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of oxyresveratrol was observed to be 100 mg/kg per day for both male and female rats.

Computational Analysis and Biological Activities of Oxyresveratrol Analogues, the Putative Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors

Polyphenols are a large family of naturally occurring phytochemicals. Herein, oxyresveratrol was isolated from ethanolic crude extracts of Artocarpus lacucha Buch.-Ham., and chemically modified to derive its lipophilic analogues. Biological screening assays showed their inhibitory potency against cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) with very low cytotoxicity to the MRC-5 normal cell lines. At the catalytic site of COX-2, docking protocols with ChemPLP, GoldScore and AutoDock scoring functions were carried out to reveal hydrogen bonding interactions with key polar contacts and hydrophobic pi-interactions. For more accurate binding energetics, COX-2/ligand complexes at the binding region were computed in vacuo and implicit aqueous solvation using M06-2X density functional with 6-31G+(d,p) basis set. Our computational results confirmed that dihydrooxyresveratrol (4) is the putative inhibitor of human COX-2 with the highest inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ of 11.50 ± 1.54 µM) among studied non-fluorinated analogues for further lead optimization. Selective substitution of fluorine provides a stronger binding affinity; however, lowering the cytotoxicity of a fluorinated analogue to a normal cell is challenging. The consensus among biological activities, ChemPLP docking score and the binding energies computed at the quantum mechanical level is obviously helpful for identification of oxyresveratrol analogues as a putative anti-inflammatory agent.

Synergistic inhibitory effects of the oxyresveratrol and dacarbazine combination against melanoma cells

Various therapies have been developed to target malignant melanoma, which is associated with a high mortality rate worldwide. Although dacarbazine (DTIC) is employed for treating melanoma, it is associated with several side effects. Hence, patients with melanoma are co-treated with additional drugs to mitigate the side effects of DTIC. In the present study, synergistic therapeutic effects of the DTIC/oxyresveratrol (ORT) combination were examined using the human malignant melanoma WM-266-4 cell line. Treatment with ORT and DTIC inhibited the proliferation of WM-266-4 cells. Compared with those in the ORT- and DTIC-treated groups, the proportion of cells arrested at the S phase, as well as apoptotic rates, were increased in the ORT and DTIC co-treatment group. In WM-266-4 cells, synergistic proliferation-inhibitory activities of the ORT/DTIC combination were assessed based on cell viability and migration, antioxidant capacity, cytokine production, cell cycle arrest, apoptotic rate and protein expression through WST-1 assay, wound healing assay, flow cytometry and western blotting. Furthermore, the expression levels of proteins, including NOTCH, involved in the pathogenesis of solid cancers, such as melanoma, were examined. Overall, the ORT/DTIC combination synergistically promoted cell cycle arrest at the S phase and the apoptosis of WM-266-4 cells. Thus, this combination treatment may serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for treating malignant melanoma.

Quantitative 1 HNMR spectroscopy for the determination of oxyresveratrol in Artocarpus lacucha heartwood

INTRODUCTION

Quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance (qNMR) spectroscopy is an analytical method based on the principles of NMR spectroscopy. The main advantages of this method are its simplicity, time efficiency, high accuracy and reproducibility, and it is a non-destructive technique.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate and standardise the quality of Artocarpus lacucha heartwood. A method for quantifying its oxyresveratrol content using qNMR was developed.

METHODOLOGY

Proton (¹ H)NMR (400 MHz) spectroscopy was used to analyse the methanol-d₄ solution of a given amount of crude extract of A. lacucha heartwood using ethyl p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) as an internal standard. The qNMR methodology was validated in terms of its linearity and range, limit of quantification (LOQ), stability, precision, and accuracy for the determination of the oxyresveratrol content.

RESULTS

The qNMR method was validated in terms of its linearity, range, LOQ, accuracy, precision, and stability. The quantitative determination of the oxyresveratrol content in the methanolic crude extract of A. lacucha was found to be 17% based on ¹ HNMR analysis, which proved to be a reliable method as the results were comparable to those obtained by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This study validated qNMR spectroscopy as a reliable analytical procedure to determine oxyresveratrol in A. lacucha heartwood. Therefore, this qNMR method can serve as an alternative to the classical HPLC methods for evaluating and standardising the quality of A. lacucha heartwood.

Flavonoid and stilbenoid production in callus cultures of Artocarpus lakoocha

Callus cultures of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., established from seedling explants and maintained on woody plant medium containing 1mg/l 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 1mg/l benzyladenine, were studied for their chemical constituents and biosynthetic potential of secondary metabolites. Four prenylflavones and prenylated stilbenes, along with nine known polyphenolic compounds, were isolated and elucidated for their structures through extensive analysis of their NMR and MS data. Among the 13 isolates, it appeared that seven of them are prenylated derivatives of 5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxyflavones, and four are prenylated derivatives of 2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene (oxyresveratrol), suggesting that the biosynthetic pathways of these two polyphenolic groups and their prenylating enzymes are highly expressed in A. lakoocha callus cultures. A study on the growth-product relationship of the callus cultures showed that the secondary metabolites were all formed simultaneously during the rapid growth phase of the culture cycle, with various prenylflavones, and a prenylated stilbene as major constituents. In assays for DPPH free radical scavenging activity and tyrosinase inhibitory potential, the stilbenoids appeared to possess moderate effects, whereas the flavonoids showed only weak activity.

Oxyresveratrol from Mulberry as a dihydrate

The title compound {systematic name: 4-[(E)-2-(3,5-dihy­droxy­phen­yl)ethen­yl]benzene-1,3-diol dihydrate}, C₁₄H₁₂O₄·2H₂O, a derivative of resveratrol, was isolated from mulberry. The linking C=C double bond has a trans conformation and allows the formation of a conjugated system throughout the mol­ecule. The dihedral angle between the benzene rings is 9.39 (9)°. In the crystal, mol­ecules are connected into a three-dimensional architecture through O—H⋯O hydrogen bonds between hy­droxy groups of oxyresveratrol and solvent water mol­ecules.

New 2-arylbenzofurans from the root bark of Artocarpus lakoocha

Three new prenylated 2-arylbenzofurans – artolakoochol, 4-hydroxy-artolakoochol and cycloartolakoochol – have been isolated from the root bark of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb., Their structures were elucidated through analysis of their spectroscopic data, and their antiherpetic potential was evaluated by the plaque reduction assay.

Artocarpus lakoocha heartwood extract as a novel cosmetic ingredient: evaluation of the in vitro anti-tyrosinase and in vivo skin whitening activities

The heartwood extract of Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. was evaluated for the in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity and the in vivo melanin-reducing efficacy in human volunteers. The IC(50) of the extract and oxyresveratrol, its major active ingredient, against mushroom tyrosinase was determined to be 0.76 and 0.83 mug mL(-1), respectively. The extract dissolved in propylene glycol was subsequently tested in female volunteers using a parallel clinical trial with self-control (n = 20 per group). The first group received the 0.25% w/v A. lakoocha solution as the test solution, whereas the second and the third group, respectively, received 0.25% licorice extract and 3% kojic acid as the reference solutions in the same solvent. The subjects in each group twice daily applied the test (or reference) solution in one of her upper arm, whereas the remaining arm was treated with only propylene glycol (self-control) for 12 weeks. The melanin content of each application site was measured using Mexameter every week and calculated as % reduction in melanin content relative to the initial melanin value (% whitening). The value of % whitening was then compared between the product-treated and the propylene glycol-treated arms within the same subject using paired t-test (alpha = 0.05). The A. lakoocha extract was the most effective agent, giving the shortest onset of significant whitening effect after only 4 weeks of application (P < 0.05), followed by 3% kojic acid (6 weeks) and 0.25% licorice extract (10 weeks). The effect also increased with time with maximum whitening observed at week 12 for A. lakoocha extract. When the extract was formulated as an oil-in-water emulsion, its whitening efficacy was further enhanced. Daily application of 0.1% w/w A. lakoocha lotion to the upper arms (n = 25) and cheeks (n = 15) of volunteers produced significant whitening over the lotion base after 2 and 3 weeks, respectively (P < 0.05). Thus, the preliminary study suggested that the heartwood extract of A. lakoocha may have a promising potential for use as an effective and economical skin-whitening agent.

Fasciola gigantica: anthelmintic effect of the aqueous extract of Artocarpus lakoocha

The effect of the crude extract of Artocarpus lakoocha (70% composition is 2,4,3',5'- tetrahydroxystilbene -THS) on adult Fasciola gigantica was evaluated after incubating the parasites in M-199 medium containing 250, 500, 750 and 1000 microg/ml of the crude extract, or triclabendazole (TCZ) at the concentrations of 80 and 175 microg/ml as the positive control, for 3, 6, 12 and 24h, using relative motility (RM) assay and observation by scanning electron microscope (SEM). Decreased contraction and motility were first observed after 3h incubation with TCZ at the concentration 80 and 175 microg/ml. TCZ markedly reduced the parasite's motility at the concentration of 175 microg/ml at 6h, and killed the worms after 12h exposure. The crude extract of A. lakoocha at all concentrations reduced the parasite's motility similar to TCZ at 3h incubation. In 250 and 500 microg/ml of the crude extract, the values were decreased from 3 to 12h, then they were stable between 12 and 24h and reduced to the level approximately 30-40% of the control. At 750 and 1000 microg/ml concentrations the crude extract rapidly reduced the RM values from the start to 12h and killed the parasites between 12 and 24h incubation. The crude extract also inhibited the larval migration by 75% and 100% at the concentrations of 250-500 and 750-1000 microg/ml, respectively. TCZ and the crude extract caused sequentially changes in the tegument including swelling, followed by blebbings that later ruptured, leading to the erosion and desquamation of the tegument syncytium. As the result, lesion was formed which exposed the basal lamina. The damage appeared more severe on the dorsal than the ventral surface, and earlier on the anterior part and lateral margins when compared to the posterior part. The severity and rapidity of the damages were enhanced with increasing concentration of the crude extract. Hence, the crude extract of A. lakoocha, may exert its fasciolicidal effect against adult F. gigantica by initially causing the tegumental damage.

Chemical transformations of oxyresveratrol (trans-2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene) into a potent tyrosinase inhibitor and a strong cytotoxic agent

From oxyresveratrol (trans-2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene 1), seven derivatives were prepared, including trans-2-methoxy-4,3',5'-trihydroxystilbene (2), trans-2,3'-dimethoxy-4,5'-dihydroxystilbene (3), trans-4,3'-dimethoxy-2,5'-dihydroxystilbene (4), trans-2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene (5) and cis-2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxystilbene (6), 2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxybibenzyl (7), and 2,4,3',5'-tetramethoxybibenzyl (8). The tetrahydroxybibenzyl 7, a hydrogenation product of 1, exhibited more potent tyrosinase inhibitory activity than the parent compound, without cytotoxicity. A kinetic study revealed that 7 was a reversible and non-competitive inhibitor of mushroom tyrosinase with l-dopa as the substrate. Analysis of the K(i) values indicated that 7 has a slightly higher affinity to the enzyme than 1. Compound 6, a tetra-O-methylated analogue of 1 with cis-configuration, was deprived of inhibitory effect on the enzyme tyrosinase, but showed very strong cytotoxicity against the human cancer cells KB, BC, and NCI-H187, with potency comparable to those of the anticancer agents ellipticine and doxorubicin. Data on the tyrosinase inhibitory activity and cytotoxicity of 1-8 indicated that O methylation on stilbene 1 destroyed anti-tyrosinase activity but generated cytotoxicity. Thus, facile preparations of a potent tyrosinase inhibitor (7) and a strong cytotoxic agent (6) from the natural product 1 were achieved through simple chemical reactions.

Inhibition of mitochondrial ATPase by 2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene

2,4,3',5'-tetrahydroxystilbene (THS) wa s found to inhibit rat liver mitochondrial adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity induced by various concentrations of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP). The I50 was found to be 17 nmoles/mg mitochondrial protein. The maximum inhibitory effects of oligomycin and atractyloside on the DNP-activated mitochondrial ATPase activity can be enhanced by adding THS. The atractyloside-insensitive ATPase activity of Lubrol-treated rat liver mitochondria was also inhibited by low concentration of THS. The tetramethoxyderivative of THS was much less effective than the parent compound in depressing the ATPase activity of both intact and Lubrol-treated mitochondria. These observations suggest that the phenolic groups are essential for the mitochondrial actions of THS, and this compound most probably acts by a mechanism different from oligomycin on the mitochondrial ATPase complex.