Bio-Guided Fractionation of Papaya Leaf Juice for Delineating the Components Responsible for the Selective Anti-proliferative Effects on Prostate Cancer Cells

Structures of Mammeasins P and Q, Coumarin-Related Polysubstituted Benzofurans, from the Thai Medicinal Plant Mammea siamensis (Miq.) T. Anders.: Anti-Proliferative Activity of Coumarin Constituents against Human Prostate Carcinoma Cell Line LNCaP

A methanol extract of the flowers of Mammea siamensis (Miq.) T. Anders. (Calophyllaceae) showed anti-proliferative activity against human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cells (IC50 = 2.0 µg/mL). Two new coumarin-related polysubstituted benzofurans, mammeasins P (1) and Q (2), and a known polysubstituted coumarin mammea B/AC cyclo F (39) were isolated from the extract along with 44 previously reported polysubstituted coumarin constituents (3–38 and 40–47). The structures of two new compounds (1 and 2) were determined based on their spectroscopic properties derived from the physicochemical evidence including NMR and MS analyses and taking the plausible generative pathway into account. Among the coumarin constituents, mammeasins A (3, IC50 = 1.2 µM) and B (4, 0.63 µM), sugangin B (18, 1.5 µM), kayeassamins E (24, 3.0 µM) and G (26, 3.5 µM), and mammeas E/BA (40, 0.88 µM), E/BB (41, 0.52 µM), and E/BC (42, 0.12 µM) showed relatively potent anti-proliferative activity.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant and Antifungal Actions of the Optimized Crude Extract and Fractions from the Aerial Parts of Acanthospermum hispidum

This study investigated the phytochemical characteristics of the aerial parts of Acanthospermum hispidum, by chromatographic and spectrophotometric methods, and evaluated the antioxidant and antifungal activities of the crude extract and polyphenol-enriched fractions of the species. The phytochemical prospection showed the presence of polyphenols from the groups of hydroxycinnamic derivatives and flavonoids in the crude extract (CE) and fractions of the aerial parts of A. hispidum. In the chromatographic analysis, it was possible to observe that the fractionation process of the CE with hexane and ethyl acetate was efficient in enriching the fractions in phenolic compounds. This enrichment provided an increase in antioxidant activity by the DPPH and ABTS methods, in which it was observed a higher antioxidant activity for EAF in the DPPH test and higher activity against the ABTS radical by the fractions AqF and RAqF. The extract and fractions were effective against Candida non-Candida albicans strains, mainly against C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis and C. krusei, acting predominantly fungicidal. The results indicate that the aerial parts of A. hispidum can serve as a basis for the development of new antioxidant and antifungal products. Moreover, the fractionation process can contribute to increasing the biological potential of the species.

Papaya (Carica papaya L.) for cancer prevention: Progress and promise

Cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. Emerging evidence suggests that consumption of a well-balanced diet containing a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains can prevent the development of, halt, or reverse cancer progression. Carica papaya L. (papaya) has a wide distribution throughout many countries. Although the fruits of C. papaya are primarily consumed as food, various parts of this tree, including the bark, fruits, latex, seeds, and roots, have been used in traditional medicine for health promotion and disease mitigation. While numerous individual studies have investigated anticancer efficacies of various products and constituents of C. papaya, an up-to-date, comprehensive, and critical evaluation of available research data covering its role in the prevention and intervention of various human malignancies has not been conducted according to our knowledge. The purpose of this review is to present a systematic, comprehensive, and critical analysis of the cancer-preventive potential of C. papaya extracts, fractions, and isolated phytochemicals with a special emphasis on the cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. Moreover, the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and safety profiles of individual phytochemicals of C. papaya, as well as current limitations, challenges, and future directions of research, have also been discussed.

Dengue Fever: Therapeutic Potential of Carica papaya L. Leaves

Dengue, a very widespread mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Aedes aegypti virus, has been occurring during the monsoons every year. The prevalence and incidence of dengue fever and death due to its complications have been increased drastically in these recent years in Bangladesh, Philippines, Thailand, Brazil, and India. Recently, dengue had spread in an epidemic form in Bangladesh, Thailand, and Philippines. Although the infection affected a large number of people around the world, there is no established specific and effective treatment by synthetic medicines. In this subcontinent, Malaysia could effectively control its incidences and death of patients using alternative medication treatment mainly prepared from Carica papaya L. leaves along with proper care and hospitalization. Papaya leaves, their juice or extract, as well as their different forms of preparation have long been used traditionally for treating dengue fever and its complications to save patients’ lives. Although it is recommended by traditional healers, and the general public use Papaya leaves juice or their other preparations in dengue fever, this treatment option is strictly denied by the physicians offering treatment in hospitals in Bangladesh as they do not believe in the effectiveness of papaya leaves, thus suggesting to patients that they should not use them. In Bangladesh, 1,01,354 dengue patients have been hospitalized, with 179 deaths in the year 2019 according to information from the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control, and Research as well as the Directorate General of Health Services of Bangladesh. Most of the patients died because of the falling down of platelets to dangerous levels and hemorrhage or serious bleeding. Therefore, this paper aims to critically review the scientific basis and effectiveness of Carica papaya L. leaves in treating dengue fever based on preclinical and clinical reports. Thrombocytopenia is one of the major conditions that is typical in cases of dengue infection. Besides, the infection and impairment of immunity are concerned with dengue patients. This review summarizes all the scientific reports on Carica papaya L. for its ability on three aspects of dengue: antiviral activities, prevention of thrombocytopenia and improvement of immunity during dengue fever.

New Approaches in Breast Cancer Therapy Through Green Nanotechnology and Nano-Ayurvedic Medicine - Pre-Clinical and Pilot Human Clinical Investigations

PURPOSE

The overarching objective of this investigation was to investigate the intervention of green nanotechnology to transform the ancient holistic Ayurvedic medicine scientifically credible through reproducible formulations and rigorous pre-clinical/clinical evaluations.

METHODS

We provide, herein, full details: (i) on the discovery and full characterization of gold nanoparticles-based Nano Swarna Bhasma (henceforth referred to as NSB drug); (ii) In vitro anti-tumor properties of NSB drug in breast tumor cells; (iii) pre-clinical therapeutic efficacy studies of NSB drug in breast tumor bearing SCID mice through oral delivery protocols and (iv) first results of clinical translation, from mice to human breast cancer patients, through pilot human clinical trials, conducted according to the Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (abbreviated as AYUSH) regulatory guidelines of the Government of India in metastatic breast cancer patients.

RESULTS

The preclinical in vitro and in vivo investigations, in breast tumor bearing mice, established unequivocally that the NSB Nano-Ayurvedic medicine-gold nanoparticles-based drug is highly effective in controlling the growth of breast tumors in a dose dependent fashion in vivo. These encouraging pre-clinical results prompted us to seek permission from the Indian Government's holistic medicine approval authority, AYUSH, for conducting clinical trials in human patients. Patients treated with the NSB drug capsules along with the "standard of care treatment" (Arm B) exhibited 100% clinical benefits when compared to patients in the treatment Arm A, thus indicating the tremendous clinical benefits of NSB drug in adjuvant therapy.

CONCLUSION

We have succeeded in clinically translating, from mice to humans, in using proprietary combinations of gold nanoparticles and phytochemicals to develop the Nano-Ayurvedic drug: Nano Swarna Bhasma (NSB), through innovative green nanotechnology, for treating human metastatic breast cancer patients.