Derivatization of Rosmarinic Acid Enhances its in vitro Antitumor, Antimicrobial and Antiprotozoal Properties

On its own, rosmarinic acid possesses multiple biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, cardioprotective and antitumor properties, and these are the consequence of its ROS scavenging and inhibitory effect on inflammation. In this study, two quaternary phosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid were prepared for the purpose of increasing its penetration into biological systems with the aim of improving its antimicrobial, antifungal, antiprotozoal and antitumor activity. The synthetized molecules, the triphenylphosphonium and tricyclohexylphosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid, exhibited significantly stronger inhibitory effects on the growth of HCT116 cells with IC50 values of 7.28 or 8.13 μM in comparison to the initial substance, rosmarinic acid (>300 μM). For the synthesized derivatives, we detected a greater than three-fold increase of activity against Acanthamoeba quina, and a greater than eight-fold increase of activity against A. lugdunensis in comparison to rosmarinic acid. Furthermore, we recorded significantly higher antimicrobial activity of the synthetized derivatives when compared to rosmarinic acid itself. Both synthetized quaternary phosphonium salts of rosmarinic acid appear to be promising antitumor and antimicrobial agents, as well as impressive molecules for further research.

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Synthesis, Antimicrobial Activity and Molecular Docking of Novel Thiourea Derivatives Tagged with Thiadiazole, Imidazole and Triazine Moieties as Potential DNA Gyrase and Topoisomerase IV Inhibitors

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules25122766 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 25 (12) ◽

pp. 2766 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Heba E. Hashem ◽

Abd El-Galil E. Amr ◽

Eman S. Nossier ◽

Elsayed A. Elsayed ◽

Eman M. Azmy

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Molecular Docking ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Topoisomerase Iv ◽

Thiourea Derivatives ◽

E Coli ◽

Cytotoxicity Studies ◽

Ic50 Values

To develop new antimicrobial agents, a series of novel thiourea derivatives incorporated with different moieties 2–13 was designed and synthesized and their biological activities were evaluated. Compounds 7a, 7b and 8 exhibited excellent antimicrobial activity against all Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and the fungal Aspergillus flavus with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 0.95 ± 0.22 to 3.25 ± 1.00 μg/mL. Furthermore, cytotoxicity studies against MCF-7 cells revealed that compounds 7a and 7b were the most potent with IC50 values of 10.17 ± 0.65 and 11.59 ± 0.59 μM, respectively. On the other hand, the tested compounds were less toxic against normal kidney epithelial cell lines (Vero cells). The in vitro enzyme inhibition assay of 8 displayed excellent inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli DNA B gyrase and moderate one against E. coli Topoisomerase IV (IC50 = 0.33 ± 1.25 and 19.72 ± 1.00 µM, respectively) in comparison with novobiocin (IC50 values 0.28 ± 1.45 and 10.65 ± 1.02 µM, respectively). Finally, the molecular docking was done to position compound 8 into the E. coli DNA B and Topoisomerase IV active pockets to explore the probable binding conformation. In summary, compound 8 may serve as a potential dual E. coli DNA B and Topoisomerase IV inhibitor.

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Elicitor induced increased rosmarinic acid content of in vitro root cultures of Ocimum basilicum L. (Sweet Basil)

Plant Science Today ◽

10.14719/pst.2020.7.2.690 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 157-163

Author(s):

Trayee Biswas

Keyword(s):

Methyl Jasmonate ◽

Rosmarinic Acid ◽

High Performance ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Fold Increase ◽

Ocimum Basilicum ◽

Total Phenol Content ◽

Root Cultures ◽

Shoot Bud

In vitro root cultures provide an alternative means for producing secondary metabolites of pharmaceutical and industrial importance. The present investigation is an attempt to study the effect of methyl jasmonate (MeJA) as an elicitor, on the production of rosmarinic acid through in vitro root cultures of Ocimum basilicum L. The rosmarinic acid is a preformed constitutively accumulated defense compound having several biological activities including antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidative activity. Uniform progeny of O. basilicum L. was obtained through in vitro shoot bud multiplication as reliable source of explants. In vitro root cultures were established in one fourth strength of Murashige and Skoog (MS) liquid medium supplemented with 1.0 mg l–1 ?-napthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Methyl jasmonate, was supplemented to the root cultures at different concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1.0 mM), and their effect on total phenol content as well as rosmarinic acid production was studied. Rosmarinic acid was quantified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Compared to the control set of cultures 1.60 fold increase in rosmarinic acid concentration (4.05 ± 0.74 % of dry wt) was observed in elicitor treated cultures.

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Antifungal Effect of Liposomal α-Bisabolol and When Associated with Fluconazole

Cosmetics ◽

10.3390/cosmetics8020028 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 28

Author(s):

Camila F. Bezerra ◽

José Geraldo de A. Júnior ◽

Rosilaine de L. Honorato ◽

Antonia Thassya L. dos Santos ◽

Josefa Carolaine P. da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Lipid Bilayers ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Fungal Growth ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Resistance Mechanisms ◽

Liposomal Form ◽

Minimum Fungicidal Concentration ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Matrix Concentration

Fungal pathologies caused by the genus Candida have increased in recent years due to the involvement of immunosuppressed people and the advance of resistance mechanisms acquired by these microorganisms. Liposomes are nanovesicles with lipid bilayers in which they store compounds. α-Bisabolol is a sesquiterpene with proven biological activities, and in this work it was tested alone in liposomes and in association with Fluconazole in vitro to evaluate the antifungal potential, Fluconazole optimization, and virulence inhibitory effect in vitro. Antifungal assays were performed against standard strains of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei by microdilution to identify the IC50 values and to obtain the cell viability. The Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MFC) was performed by subculturing on the solid medium, and at their subinhibitory concentration (Matrix Concentration (MC): 16,384 µg/mL) (MC/16), the compounds, both isolated and liposomal, were associated with fluconazole in order to verify the inhibitory effect of this junction. Tests to ascertain changes in morphology were performed in microculture chambers according to MC concentrations. Liposomes were characterized from the vesicle size, polydispersity index, average Zeta potential, and scanning electron microscopy. The IC50 value of the liposomal bisabolol associated with fluconazole (FCZ) was 2.5 µg/mL against all strains tested, revealing a potentiating effect. Liposomal bisabolol was able to potentiate the effect of fluconazole against the CA and CT strains by reducing its concentration and completely inhibiting fungal growth. α-Bisabolol in liposomal form inhibited the morphological transition in all strains tested at a concentration of MC/8. The liposomes were homogeneous, with vesicles with diameters of 203.8 nm for the liposomal bisabolol and a surface charge potential of −34.2 mV, conferring stability to the nanosystem. Through scanning microscopy, the spherical shapes of the vesicles were observed.

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Preliminary in Vitro Investigations on The Inhibitory Activity of The Original Dietary Supplement Oxidal® on Pathogenic Bacterial Strains

JOURNAL OF ADVANCES IN AGRICULTURE ◽

10.24297/jaa.v11i.8693 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 37-43

Author(s):

Prof. Teodora P. Popova ◽

Toshka Petrova ◽

Ignat Ignatov ◽

Stoil Karadzhov

Keyword(s):

Dietary Supplement ◽

Broad Spectrum ◽

Pathogenic Bacteria ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Clinical Effectiveness ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Microbial Strains

The antimicrobial action of the dietary supplement Oxidal® was tested using the classic Bauer and Kirby agar-gel diffusion method. Clinical and reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were used in the studies. The tested dietary supplement showed a well-pronounced inhibitory effect against the microbial strains commensurable with that of the broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic agent Enrofloxacin and showed even higher activity than the broad spectrum antibiotic Thiamphenicol. The proven inhibitory effect of the tested dietary supplement against the examined pathogenic bacteria is in accordance with the established clinical effectiveness standards for antimicrobial agents.

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Novel Iodinated Hydrazide-hydrazones and their Analogues as Acetyl- and Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibitors

Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1568026620666200819155503 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (23) ◽

pp. 2106-2117

Author(s):

Martin Krátký ◽

Šárka Štěpánková ◽

Michaela Brablíková ◽

Katarína Svrčková ◽

Markéta Švarcová ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Structural Parameters ◽

Covalent Binding ◽

Docking Studies ◽

Potent Inhibition ◽

Brain Barrier Permeability ◽

Electric Eel ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Ellman’S Method

Background: Hydrazide-hydrazones have been known as scaffold with various biological activities including inhibition of acetyl- (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE). Cholinesterase inhibitors are mainstays of dementias’ treatment. Objective: Twenty-five iodinated hydrazide-hydrazones and their analogues were designed as potential central AChE and BuChE inhibitors. Methods: Hydrazide-hydrazones were synthesized from 4-substituted benzohydrazides and 2-/4- hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzaldehydes. The compounds were investigated in vitro for their potency to inhibit AChE from electric eel and BuChE from equine serum using Ellman’s method. We calculated also physicochemical and structural parameters for CNS delivery. Results: The derivatives exhibited a moderate dual inhibition with IC50 values ranging from 15.1-140.5 and 35.5 to 170.5 μmol.L-1 for AChE and BuChE, respectively. Generally, the compounds produced a balanced or more potent inhibition of AChE. N'-[(E)-(4-Hydroxy-3,5-diiodophenyl)methylidene]-4- nitrobenzohydrazide 2k and 4-fluoro-N'-(2-hydroxy-3,5-diiodobenzyl)benzohydrazide 3a were the most potent inhibitors of AChE and BuChE, respectively. Structure-activity relationships were established, and molecular docking studies confirmed interaction with enzymes. Conclusion: Many novel hydrazide-hydrazones showed lower IC50 values than rivastigmine against AChE and some of them were comparable for BuChE to this drug used for the treatment of dementia. They interact with cholinesterases via non-covalent binding into the active site. Based on the BOILEDEgg approach, the majority of the derivatives met the criteria for blood-brain-barrier permeability.

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Evaluating the Effect of Cinnarizine on Promastigotes and Amastigotes forms of Leishmania major

Infectious Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871526518666181113114820 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 550-555 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lima Asgharpour Sarouey ◽

Parvaneh Rahimi-Moghaddam ◽

Fatemeh Tabatabaie ◽

Khadijeh Khanaliha

Keyword(s):

Flow Cytometry ◽

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Leishmania Major ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Control Group ◽

Secondary Infections ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

J774 Cells ◽

Mtt Assays

: As an important global disease, cutaneous leishmaniasis is associated with complications such as secondary infections and atrophic scars. The first line treatment with antimonials is expensive and reported to have serious side effects and enhance resistance development. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Cinnarizine on standard strains of Leishmania major because of paucity of information on this subject. Methods: In this experimental study, four concentrations of the drug (5, 10, 15 and 20 μg/ml) were added to Leishmania major cultures at 24, 48 and 72 hours intervals. MTT assays were performed to determine parasite viability and drug toxicity. Leishmania major promastigotes were augmented to the in vitro cultured macrophages (J774 cells) and then incubated for 72 hours. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was ascertained by counting parasites. The inhibitory effect of the drug was compared with that of Glucantime. Flow-cytometry was performed to investigate apoptosis. Each test was repeated thrice. Results: The IC50 values of Cinnarizine after 72 hours were calculated to be 34.76 μg/ml and 23.73 μg/ml for promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. The results of MTT assays showed 48 % promastigote viability after 72 hour-exposure to Cinnarizine at 20 μg/ml concentration. Programmed cell death in promastigote- and amastigote-infected macrophages was quantified to be 13.66 % and 98.7 %, respectively. Flow- cytometry analysis indicated that Cinnarizine induced early and late apoptosis in parasites. All treatments produced results which differed significantly from control group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cinnarizine showed low toxicity with anti-leishmanial and apoptosis effects on both promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms. Therefore, we may suggest further assessment on animal models of this drug as candidates for cutaneous leishmaniasis therapy.

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New Antiproliferative Triflavanone from Thymelaea hirsuta—Isolation, Structure Elucidation and Molecular Docking Studies

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26030739 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (3) ◽

pp. 739

Author(s):

Sameh S. Elhady ◽

Reda F. A. Abdelhameed ◽

Mayada M. El-Ayouty ◽

Amany K. Ibrahim ◽

Eman S. Habib ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Docking ◽

Liver Tumors ◽

Fold Increase ◽

In Vitro Cytotoxicity ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

Wild Plant ◽

Cytotoxic Activities ◽

Ic50 Values ◽

Thymelaea Hirsuta

In this study isolates from Thymelaea hirsuta, a wild plant from the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt, were identified and their selective cytotoxicity levels were evaluated. Phytochemical examination of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of the methanolic (MeOH) extract of the plant led to the isolation of a new triflavanone compound (1), in addition to the isolation of nine previously reported compounds. These included five dicoumarinyl ethers found in Thymelaea: daphnoretin methyl ether (2), rutamontine (3), neodaphnoretin (4), acetyldaphnoretin (5), and edgeworthin (6); two flavonoids: genkwanin (7) and trans-tiliroside (8); p-hydroxy benzoic acid (9) and β sitosterol glucoside (10). Eight of the isolated compounds were tested for in vitro cytotoxicity against Vero and HepG2 cell lines using a sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay. Compounds 1, 2 and 5 exhibited remarkable cytotoxic activities against HepG2 cells, with IC50 values of 8.6, 12.3 and 9.4 μM, respectively, yet these compounds exhibited non-toxic activities against the Vero cells. Additionally, compound 1 further exhibited promising cytotoxic activity against both MCF-7 and HCT-116 cells, with IC50 values of 4.26 and 9.6 μM, respectively. Compound 1 significantly stimulated apoptotic breast cancer cell death, resulting in a 14.97-fold increase and arresting 40.57% of the cell population at the Pre-G1 stage of the cell cycle. Finally, its apoptosis-inducing activity was further validated through activation of BAX and caspase-9, and inhibition of BCL2 levels. In silico molecular docking experiments revealed a good binding mode profile of the isolates towards Ras activation/pathway mitogen-activated protein kinase (Ras/MAPK); a common molecular pathway in the development and progression of liver tumors.

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Ocimum campechianum Mill. from Amazonian Ecuador: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Extracts and Their Main Constituents (Eugenol and Rosmarinic Acid)

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26010084 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (1) ◽

pp. 84

Author(s):

Massimo Tacchini ◽

Monica Paulina Echeverria Guevara ◽

Alessandro Grandini ◽

Immacolata Maresca ◽

Matteo Radice ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Pseudomonas Syringae ◽

Rosmarinic Acid ◽

Plant Protection ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Radical Scavenger ◽

Radical Scavenger Activity ◽

Antioxidant Agents ◽

Scavenger Activity

The essential oil (EO), the methanolic (MeOH), and the 70% ethanolic (70% EtOH) extracts obtained from the aerial parts of Ocimum campechianum Mill. (Ecuador) were chemically characterized through gas-chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS), high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to diode array-mass spectrometry detectors (HPLC-DAD-MS) and studied for their in vitro biological activity. The radical scavenger activity, performed by spectrophotometric 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays, highlighted significant IC50 values for the EO, extracts and their main constituents (eugenol and rosmarinic acid). EO (and eugenol) showed noteworthy activity against Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae and a moderate effect against clinical Candida strains, with possible synergism in association to fluconazole against the latter microorganisms. The extracts and pure molecules exhibited weak cytotoxic activity against the HaCat cell line and no mutagenicity against Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains, giving indication of safety. Instead, EO showed a weak activity against adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A549). The above-mentioned evidence leads us to suggest a potential use of the crude drug, extracts, and EO in cosmetic formulation and food supplements as antioxidant agents. In addition, EO may also have a possible application in plant protection and anti-Candida formulations.

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Combined Ensemble Docking and Machine Learning in Identification of Therapeutic Agents with Potential Inhibitory Effect on Human CES1

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24152747 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (15) ◽

pp. 2747 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Eliane Briand ◽

Ragnar Thomsen ◽

Kristian Linnet ◽

Henrik Berg Rasmussen ◽

Søren Brunak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Drug Interactions ◽

Scoring Function ◽

Docking Study ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Learning Approaches ◽

Ensemble Docking ◽

Ic50 Values

The human carboxylesterase 1 (CES1), responsible for the biotransformation of many diverse therapeutic agents, may contribute to the occurrence of adverse drug reactions and therapeutic failure through drug interactions. The present study is designed to address the issue of potential drug interactions resulting from the inhibition of CES1. Based on an ensemble of 10 crystal structures complexed with different ligands and a set of 294 known CES1 ligands, we used docking (Autodock Vina) and machine learning methodologies (LDA, QDA and multilayer perceptron), considering the different energy terms from the scoring function to assess the best combination to enable the identification of CES1 inhibitors. The protocol was then applied on a library of 1114 FDA-approved drugs and eight drugs were selected for in vitro CES1 inhibition. An inhibition effect was observed for diltiazem (IC50 = 13.9 µM). Three others drugs (benztropine, iloprost and treprostinil), exhibited a weak CES1 inhibitory effects with IC50 values of 298.2 µM, 366.8 µM and 391.6 µM respectively. In conclusion, the binding site of CES1 is relatively flexible and can adapt its conformation to different types of ligands. Combining ensemble docking and machine learning approaches improves the prediction of CES1 inhibitors compared to a docking study using only one crystal structure.

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Effect of guaianolides in the meiosis reinitiation of amphibian oocytes

Zygote ◽

10.1017/s0967199416000265 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 25 (1) ◽

pp. 10-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J. Zapata-Martínez ◽

G. Sánchez-Toranzo ◽

F. Chaín ◽

C.A.N. Catalán ◽

M.I. Bühler

Keyword(s):

Biological Activities ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Sesquiterpene Lactones ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Biological Molecules ◽

Plant Metabolites ◽

Major Mechanism ◽

Bufo Arenarum ◽

Asteraceae Family

SummarySesquiterpene lactones (STLs) are a large and structurally diverse group of plant metabolites generally found in the Asteraceae family. STLs exhibit a wide spectrum of biological activities and it is generally accepted that their major mechanism of action is the alkylation of the thiol groups of biological molecules. The guaianolides is one of various groups of STLs. Anti-tumour and anti-migraine effects, an allergenic agent, an inhibitor of smooth muscle cells and of meristematic cell proliferation are only a few of the most commonly reported activities of STLs. In amphibians, fully grown ovarian oocytes are arrested at the beginning of meiosis I. Under stimulus with progesterone, this meiotic arrest is released and meiosis progresses to metaphase II, a process known as oocyte maturation. There are previous records of the inhibitory effect of dehydroleucodin (DhL), a guaianolide lactone, on the progression of meiosis. It has been also shown that DhL and its 11,13-dihydroderivative (2H-DhL; a mixture of epimers at C-11) act as blockers of the resumption of meiosis in fully grown ovarian oocytes from the amphibian Rhinella arenarum (formerly classified as Bufo arenarum). The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of four closely related guaianolides, i.e., DhL, achillin, desacetoxymatricarin and estafietin as possible inhibitors of meiosis in oocytes of amphibians in vitro and discuss some structure–activity relationships. It was found that the inhibitory effect on meiosis resumption is greater when the lactone has two potentially reactive centres, either a α,β–α′,β′-diunsaturated cyclopentanone moiety or an epoxide group plus an exo-methylene-γ-lactone function.

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