In vitro and in silico cytotoxic activities of triterpenoids from the leaves of Aralia dasyphylla Miq. and the assessment of their ADMET properties

From the methanol extract of the leaves of Aralia dasyphylla Miq. (Araliaceae), ten triterpenoids including five ursane-type triterpenoids, ursolic acid (1), 3-O-α-l-arabinopyranosyl ursolic acid (2), ursolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (3), 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl (l→3)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl ursolic acid (4), and matesaponin 1 (5), and five oleanane-type triterpenoids, elatoside E (6), elatoside F (7), 3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl (l→3)]-α-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid (8), 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl oleanolic acid (9) and oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl ester (10) were isolated. Their structures were elucidated based on 1D-, 2D-NMR and ESI-MS spectra as well as by comparison with those reported in the literature. All isolated compounds were evaluated in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against three human cancer cell lines (HepG2, LU-1 and RD) and in silico by molecular docking studies on human glucose transporter 1 (hGLUT1) protein. The triterpenoids 2, 4, 6, 8 and 9 exhibited good growth inhibition of HepG2 and LU-1 cancer cell lines with IC50 values in the range 1.76 - 7.21 (μM). The oleanane type triterpenoid 8 was the highest cytotoxic compound to inhibit all the tested cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 2.73 ± 0.12, 1.76 ± 0.11, 2.63 ± 0.10 μM, respectively. The in silico molecular docking study results showed that compounds 4 and 6 had the highest binding affinity. Compounds 1-10 were evaluated for their in silico ADMET of absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and oral toxicity parameters. Compounds 6, 8, 9 and 10 from A. dasyphylla are potential hGLUT1 inhibitors and worth of further investigation for the prevention or treatment of diabetes and cancer.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Dammarane triterpenes and phytosterols from Dysoxylum tpongense Pierre and their anti-inflammatory activity against liver X receptors and NF-κB activation

Dysoxylum tpongense Pierre (local name 'Huynh Dan Bap') belonging to family Meliaceae, is a tree (3-10 m height), distributed in the mountainous areas (ca. 1000 m a.s.l.) in North Vietnam. From the dichloromethane fraction of the methanol extract of the leaves and stems of this plant, six dammarane triterpenes, one furanoid diterpene together with three sterols were isolated. Evaluation of biological activities of isolated compounds showed that cabraleahydroxylactone (5), cabraleahydroxylactone 3-acetate (6), and stigmast-4-en-3-one (10) possessed an anti-inflammatory effect against Liver X receptor (LXR) activation in HepG2 cell line model with IC₅₀ values of 20.29 ± 3.69, 24.32 ± 2.99, and 7.09 ± 0.97 (μM), respectively. While three other triterpenoid compounds aglinin C 3- acetate (1), aglinin C (2), and 24-epi-cabraleadiol (4) presented the most significant inhibitory effect against TNF-α induced NF-κB activation in HepG2 cell line in a dose-dependent manner with IC₅₀ values of 12.45 ± 2.37, 23.32 ± 3.25, and 13.95 ± 1.57 μM, respectively. As stigmast-4-en-3-one (10), with structure closely similar to cholesterol, acted selectively on LXRs but not on NF-kB activation pathway, this suggests that stigmast-4-en-3-one (10) can be potentially applied as an agonist on LXR signaling pathway. Pathways LXRs-NF-κB-iNOS expression have a close relationship and play a crucial role in proceeding metabolic abnormalities like atherosclerosis, obesity, inflammation, etc. Thus, the findings showed that dammarane-type triterpenoids from D. tpongense are worthy of further investigation for potential LXR agonists and potent anti-atherogenic agents against atherosclerotic lesion progression.

Correlates of body mass index among primary school children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

OBJECTIVES

To document the prevalence of overweight and obesity and examine associated risk factors.

STUDY DESIGN

A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 16 primary public schools in eight districts of Ho Chi Minh City in 2016. A multistage clustering sampling method was used to collect a sample of 1806 pupils attending the first, second, and third grades (7-9 years).

METHODS

Age- and sex-adjusted body mass index (BMI) status was defined using International Obesity Taskforce cut-offs. Ordered probit regression models were used to assess the association between child BMI and its socio-economic and demographic risk factors. The model was estimated separately for boys and girls to assess the extent to which the socio-economic gradients in BMI vary by gender.

RESULTS

The prevalence of obesity among boys was twice the rate for girls (24.7 vs 12.3%). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were also higher among pupils attending schools located in urban districts than in semi-rural districts. Gender, household wealth, the frequency of having breakfast at home, parental body weight, and school location were strong predictors of child BMI status. The protective effect of having breakfast more frequently at home against the risk of overweight/obesity was more pronounced in girls than in boys. Father's body weight and child BMI were more strongly associated with boys from poorer households than boys from wealthier households, while the differences were not significant for girls.

CONCLUSIONS

The high prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity indicates an urgent need for more gender-specific, effective intervention, and prevention programs.