Major Constituents From Brucea javanica and Their Pharmacological Actions

One-pot green synthesis of Ag/Ni/Fe3O4-activated carbon beads for recyclable photo-Fenton antibiotic removal and antibacterial action: mechanistic study and optimization

A one-pot green synthesis approach was developed to fabricate Ag/Ni/Fe3O4-activated carbon beads (Ag/Ni/MACB) using Brucea javanica as a natural carbon precursor. Unlike conventional powdered catalysts, these millimeter-sized porous beads enable easy recovery and reusability, addressing a key limitation in heterogeneous Fenton systems. The Fe3O4 component facilitated Fenton-like reactions, while Ni and Ag nanoparticles synergistically enhanced electron transfer and visible-light absorption, significantly boosting photo-Fenton efficiency. The catalyst achieved 96.78% enrofloxacin (ENR) degradation under optimized conditions, with radical scavenger experiments confirming that ˙OH and ˙O2 - were the dominant reactive species. Comprehensive characterization (XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, VSM, and FTIR) verified the uniform dispersion of Fe3O4, Ni, and Ag nanoparticles (10-50 nm) within the carbon matrix, ensuring structural stability and catalytic efficiency. The incorporation of Ag not only improved light absorption but also imparted strong antibacterial properties, effectively inhibiting Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. This dual functionality allows Ag/Ni/MACB to simultaneously degrade organic pollutants and eliminate bacterial contamination, demonstrating self-cleaning capability. The catalyst retained 83.61% efficiency after five cycles with negligible metal leaching, highlighting its long-term stability and recyclability. Additionally, the degradation pathway of ENR was elucidated, providing deeper insights into the reaction mechanism. By integrating sustainable material design, enhanced photocatalytic properties, and antibacterial action, Ag/Ni/MACB serves as a versatile and cost-effective solution for wastewater treatment, offering simultaneous pollutant degradation and microbial disinfection in a single step.

Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion and Shengmai Injections Improve Peripheral Microcirculation in Treatment of Gastric Cancer

OBJECTIVE

To explore and verify the effect and potential mechanism of Brucea javanica Seed Oil Emulsion Injection (YDZI) and Shengmai Injection (SMI) on peripheral microcirculation dysfunction in treatment of gastric cancer (GC).

METHODS

The potential mechanisms of YDZI and SMI were explored through network pharmacology and verified by cellular and clinical experiments. Human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs) were cultured for quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot analysis, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured for tube formation assay. Twenty healthy volunteers and 97 patients with GC were enrolled. Patients were divided into surgical resection, surgical resection with chemotherapy, and surgical resection with chemotherapy combining YDZI and SMI groups. Forearm skin blood perfusion was measured and recorded by laser speckle contrast imaging coupled with post-occlusive reactive hyperemia. Cutaneous vascular conductance and microvascular reactivity parameters were calculated and compared across the groups.

RESULTS

After network pharmacology analysis, 4 ingredients, 82 active compounds, and 92 related genes in YDZI and SMI were screened out. β-Sitosterol, an active ingredient and intersection compound of YDZI and SMI, upregulated the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2, P<0.01), downregulated the expression of caspase 9 (CASP9) and estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1, P<0.01) in HMECs under oxaliplatin stimulation, and promoted tube formation through VEGFA. Chemotherapy significantly impaired the microvascular reactivity in GC patients, whereas YDZI and SMI ameliorated this injury (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

YDZI and SMI ameliorated peripheral microvascular reactivity in GC patients. β-Sitosterol may improve peripheral microcirculation by regulating VEGFA, PTGS2, ESR1, and CASP9.

Brucea javanica oil inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of oral squamous carcinoma by regulated the MTFR2 pathway

Introduction

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common malignant tumors in oral and maxillofacial region. The development of new chemotherapy agents and new drug combinations may improve patient survival and quality of life, but both surgery and radiotherapy have significant functional side effects and drug resistance, ultimately resulting in a 5-year survival rate of no more than 60% for OSCC patients. Studies have shown that Brucea javanica oil (BJO) extracts have anti-cancer effects against a variety of cancers, but little research has been reported on OSCC.

Methods

CCK8, Colony formation, Scratch test and Transwell invasion assays were applied to determine the effects of BJO on the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of OSCC cells in vitro. MTFR2 knockdown (shRNA) and overexpression (cDNA) OSCC cells were constructed to evaluate the effect of MTFR2 on the proliferation and invasion of OSCC cells. The nude mouse model of subcutaneous xenograft tumor was used to evaluate the effect of BJO on OSCC cells in vivo. PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to verify the expression of MTFR2, glycolysis markers and related pathway molecules after BJO treatment.

Results

In vivo experiments using nude mice with xenografted OSCC cells and in vitro experiments with OSCC cell lines demonstrated that BJO treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of OSCC cells. WB and PCR proved that BJO could effectively reduce the expression levels of MTFR2 and SOD2/H2O2 related signal transduction pathways. At the same time, the expression of oxidative phosphorylation markers increased, the expression of glycolytic markers decreased, and glycolysis-mediated decomposition of reactive oxygen species decreased, and H2O2 and oxygen levels decreased.In addition, when MTFR2 expression increased or decreased, SOD2/H2O2 expression also increased or decreased.

Discussion

In this study, we concluded through in vitro and in vivo experiments that BJO may affect the SOD2/H2O2 signaling pathway by down-regulating MTFR2-mediated aerobic glycolysis, thereby inhibiting cell proliferation, Migration, and Invasion. The elucidation of this mechanism helps us to understand the molecular mechanism ofinhibiting OSCC invasion and metastasis by BJO, which has important clinical value or improving the survival rate of OSCC patients.

A Review on Nanotechnologically Derived Phytomedicines for the Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Recent Advances in Molecular Mechanism and Drug Targeting

The second largest cause of cancer-related death worldwide, Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) is also the most common primary liver cancer. HCC typically arises in patients with liver cirrhosis. Existing synthetic medicines for treating chronic liver disease are ineffective and come with undesirable side effects. Although herbal remedies have widespread popularity, there is still a long road ahead before they are fully accepted by the scientific community. Secondary metabolites and phytochemicals found in plants are abundant in both the human diet and the non-human environment. Natural plant chemicals have been shown to be beneficial as therapeutic and chemopreventive treatments for a wide variety of chronic disorders. Many diseases, including HCC, can be effectively treated with the help of phytochemicals found in food. Resveratrol, curcumin, urolithin A, silibinin, quercetin, N-trans-feruloyl octopamine, emodin, lycopene, caffeine, and phloretin are all examples. Approximately, 60% of all anticancer medications are determined to be derived from natural substances, according to recent studies. Plant derivatives have played an important role in cancer due to their capacity to scavenge free radicals, limit cell proliferation, and set off apoptosis. The progression of HCC is linked to inflammatory signaling pathways, and this study sought to look at how novel approaches, such as phytomedicines, are being used to fight cancer. Recent advancements in molecular mechanisms and drug targeting for HCC have been discussed in this review.

Medicinal plants as a potential resource for the discovery of novel structures towards cancer drug resistance treatment

Despite extensive research in chemotherapy, global cancer concerns persist, exacerbated by the challenge of drug resistance, which imposes economic and medical burdens. Natural compounds, particularly secondary metabolites from medicinal plants, present promising avenues for overcoming cancer drug resistance due to their diverse structures and essential pharmacological effects. This review provides a comprehensive exploration of cancer cell resistance mechanisms and target actions for reversing resistance and highlights the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of noteworthy alkaloids, flavonoids, and other compounds, emphasizing their potential as therapeutic agents. The molecular properties supporting ligand interactions are thoroughly examined, providing a robust theoretical foundation. The review concludes by discussing methods including quantitative structure-activity relationships and molecular docking, offering insights into screening potential candidates. Current trends in clinical treatment, contributing to a holistic understanding of the multifaceted approaches to address cancer drug resistance are also outlined.

Repositioning Brusatol as a Transmission Blocker of Malaria Parasites

Currently, primaquine is the only malaria transmission-blocking drug recommended by the WHO. Recent efforts have highlighted the importance of discovering new agents that regulate malarial transmission, with particular interest in agents that can be administered in a single low dose, ideally with a discrete and Plasmodium-selective mechanism of action. Here, our team demonstrates an approach to identify malaria transmission-blocking agents through a combination of in vitro screening and in vivo analyses. Using a panel of natural products, our approach identified potent transmission blockers, as illustrated by the discovery of the transmission-blocking efficacy of brusatol. As a member of a large family of biologically active natural products, this discovery provides a critical next step toward developing methods to rapidly identify quassinoids and related agents with valuable pharmacological therapeutic properties.

Yadanziolide A Inhibits Proliferation and Induces Apoptosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via JAK-STAT Pathway: A Preclinical Study

Liver cancer is a significant global health concern, prompting the search for innovative therapeutic solutions. Yadanziolide A (Y-A), a natural derivative of Brucea javanica, has emerged as a promising candidate for cancer treatment; however, its efficacy and underlying mechanisms in liver cancer remain incompletely understood. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of Y-A's effects on liver cancer cells using a range of in vitro assays and an orthotopic liver cancer mouse model. Our findings reveal that Y-A exerts dose-dependent cytotoxic effects on liver cancer cells, significantly inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion at concentrations ≥ 0.1 μM. Furthermore, Y-A induces apoptosis, as evidenced by increased apoptotic cell populations and apoptosome formation. In vivo studies confirm that Y-A inhibits tumor growth and reduces liver damage in mouse models. Mechanistically, Y-A targets the TNF-α/STAT3 pathway, inhibiting STAT3 and JAK2 phosphorylation, thereby activating apoptotic pathways and suppressing tumor cell growth. These results suggest that Y-A has promising anticancer activity and potential utility in liver cancer therapy.

Naturally Derived Terpenoids Targeting the 3Dpol of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus: An Integrated In Silico and In Vitro Investigation

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) belongs to the Picornaviridae family and is an important pathogen affecting cloven-hoof livestock. However, neither effective vaccines covering all serotypes nor specific antivirals against FMDV infections are currently available. In this study, we employed virtual screening to screen for secondary metabolite terpenoids targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), or 3Dpol, of FMDV. Subsequently, we identified the potential antiviral activity of the 32 top-ranked terpenoids, revealing that continentalic acid, dehydroabietic acid (abietic diterpenoids), brusatol, bruceine D, and bruceine E (tetracyclic triterpenoids) significantly reduced cytopathic effects and viral infection in the terpenoid-treated, FMDV-infected BHK-21 cells in a dose-dependent manner, with nanomolar to low micromolar levels. The FMDV minigenome assay demonstrated that brusatol and bruceine D, in particular, effectively blocked FMDV 3Dpol activity, exhibiting IC50 values in the range of 0.37-0.39 µM and surpassing the efficacy of the antiviral drug control, ribavirin. Continentalic acid and bruceine E exhibited moderate inhibition of FMDV 3Dpol. The predicted protein-ligand interaction confirmed that these potential terpenoids interacted with the main catalytic and bystander residues of FMDV 3Dpol. Additionally, brusatol and bruceine D exhibited additive effects when combined with ribavirin. In conclusion, terpenoids from natural resources show promise for the development of anti-FMD agents.

A review of Brucea javanica: metabolites, pharmacology and clinical application

This review examines advances in the metabolites, pharmacological research, and therapeutic applications of the medicinal fruit of Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. Brucea javanica (BJ) is derived from the fruit of the Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. There are nearly 200 metabolites present in BJ, and due to the diversity of its metabolites, BJ has a wide range of pharmacological effects. The traditional pharmacological effects of BJ include anti-dysentery, anti-malaria, etc. The research investigating the contemporary pharmacological impacts of BJ mainly focuses on its anti-tumor properties. In the article, the strong monomeric metabolites among these pharmacological effects were preliminarily screened. Regarding the pharmacological mechanism of action, current research has initially explored BJ's pharmacological agent and molecular signaling pathways. However, a comprehensive system has yet to be established. BJ preparations have been utilized in clinical settings and have demonstrated effectiveness. Nevertheless, clinical research is primarily limited to observational studies, and there is a need for higher-quality research evidence to support its clinical application. There are still many difficulties and obstacles in studying BJ. However, it is indisputable that BJ is a botanical drugs with significant potential for application, and it is expected to have broader global usage.

Discovery of Ten Anti-HIV Hit Compounds and Preliminary Pharmacological Mechanisms Studies

BACKGROUND

The research and development of HIV drugs is very important, but at the same time it is a long cycle and expensive system project. High-throughput drug screening systems and molecular libraries of potential hit compounds remain the main ways for the discovery of hit compounds with anti-HIV activity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to screen out the hit compounds against HIV-1 in the natural product molecule library and the antiviral molecule library, and elucidate the molecular mechanism of their inhibition of HIV-1, so as to provide a new choice for AIDS drug research.

METHODS

In this study, a drug screening system using HIV Rev-dependent indicator cell line (Rev-A3R5-GFP reporter cells) with pseudoviruses (pNL4-3) was used. The natural drug molecule library and antiviral molecule library were screened, and preliminary drug mechanism studies were performed.

RESULTS

Ten promising hit compounds were screened. These ten molecules and their drug inhibitory IC50 were as follows: Cephaeline (0.50 μM), Yadanziolide A (8.82 μM), Bruceine D (2.48 μM), Astragaloside IV (4.30 μM), RX-3117 (1.32 μM), Harringtonine (0.63 μM), Tubercidin (0.41 μM), Theaflavine-3, 3'-digallate (0.41 μM), Ginkgetin (10.76 μM), ZK756326 (5.97 μM). The results of the Time of additions showed that except for Astragaloside IV and Theaflavine-3, 3'-digallate had a weak entry inhibition effect, and it was speculated that all ten compounds had an intracellular inhibition effect. Cephaeline, Harringtonine, Astragaloside IV, Bruceine D, and Tubercidin may have pre-reverse transcriptional inhibition. Yadanziolide A, Theaflavine-3, 3'-digallate, Ginkgetin and RX-3117 may be in the post-reverse transcriptional inhibition. The inhibitory effect of ZK 75632 may be in the reverse transcriptional process.

CONCLUSION

A drug screening system using Rev-A3R5-GFP reporter cells with pseudoviruses (pNL4-3) is highly efficient. This study provided potential hit compounds for new HIV drug research.

Identification of the Brucea javanica Constituent Brusatol as a EGFR-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor in a Cell-Free Assay

Inhibitors of the tyrosine kinase (TK) activity of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) are routinely used in cancer therapy. However, there is a need to discover a new TK inhibitor. This study evaluated extracts from Brucea javanica and its components for their potential as novel EGFR-TK inhibitors. The cytotoxic effect of a g aqueous extract and its fractions was assessed by MTT assays with A549 lung cancer cells. The two fractions with the highest cytotoxicity were analyzed by LC/MS and 1H NMR. Brusatol was identified as the main constituent of these fractions, and its cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic activities were confirmed in A549 cells. To elucidate the inhibitory activity of brusatol against EGFR-TK, a specific ADP-GloTM kinase assay was used. In this assay, the IC50 value for EGFR-TK inhibition was 333.1 nM. Molecular dynamic simulations and docking experiments were performed to identify the binding pocket of brusatol to be located in the intracellular TK-domain of EGFR. This study demonstrates that brusatol inhibits EGFR-TK and therefore harbors a potential as a new therapeutic drug for the therapy of EGFR-depending cancers.

The Potential of Natural Oils to Improve Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic intestinal inflammatory disorder that includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), the exact cause of which is still unknown. Numerous studies have confirmed that diet is one of the major environmental factors associated with IBD, as it can regulate the gut microbiota and reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. Since the consumption of oil is essential in the diet, improving IBD through oil has potential. In this article, we first briefly reviewed the current treatment methods for IBD and introduce the role of natural oils in improving inflammatory diseases. We then focused on the recent discovery of the role of natural oils in the prevention and treatment of IBD and summarized their main mechanisms of action. The results showed that the anti-inflammatory activity of oils derived from different plants and animals has been validated in various experimental animal models. These oils are capable of improving the intestinal homeostasis in IBD animal models through multiple mechanisms, including modulation of the gut microbiota, protection of the intestinal barrier, reduction in colonic inflammation, improvement in oxidative stress levels in the intestine, and regulation of immune homeostasis. Therefore, dietary or topical use of natural oils may have potential therapeutic effects on IBD. However, currently, only a few clinical trials support the aforementioned conclusions. This review emphasized the positive effects of natural oils on IBD and encouraged more clinical trials to provide more reliable evidence on the improvement of human IBD by natural oils as functional substances.

<em>In silico</em> study of phytochemicals contained in brucea javanica in inhibiting the InhA enzyme as antituberculosis

Background: Currently Mycobacterium tuberculosis is found to be resistant to the treatment of tuberculosis with rifampin and isoniazid (INH) and often stated as multi-drug resistance (MDR). Knowledge and determination of biological properties of plant extracts is a source of drug candidates in various health fields. Therefore, natural products are important in the discovery of new drugs, especially in disease therapy, particularly for tropical dis- eases, tuberculosis. Brucea javanica, known as Buah Makasar, is found in many Asian countries including Indonesia. This plant fruit has a very bitter taste so it cannot be directly consumed and is often used as a traditional medicine to prevent some diseases, especially malaria. There has been no research on the effectiveness of Buah Makasar in tuberculosis. Objective: This study aims to identify compounds contained in Brucea javanica, namely bruceines, bruceosides and yadanzio-sides in inhibiting the InhA enzyme found in the wall of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Methods: This in-silico study is using Molegro Virtual Docker (MVD) Ver. 5.5. We compared it to the native ligand, namely N-(4- Methylbenzoyl)-4-Benzylpiperidine (code: 4PI) and the reference drug standard, INH. Results: In-silico results show that yadanziosides found in Brucea javanica have the potential to inhibit the InhA enzyme. Bruceoside F (-190.76 Kcal/mol) has the lowest MolDock score among the 27 other compounds. It is also having lower MolDock score than the native ligand 4PI (-120.61 Kcal/mol) and INH (- 54.44 Kcal/mol). Conclusions: Brucea javanica can be considered as source of drug development for againts tuberculosis.