scholarly journals In Silico Anticancer activity and Caspase targeted study of Saponin rich fraction extracted from Caralluma fimbriata (Wall).

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 338-346
Author(s):  
Desai Tanvi ◽  
Joshi Shrikant

Caralluma fimbriata (Wall.) (Asclepiadaceae), is mentioned as vegetable in Indian Materia Medica and an affluent resource of saponins. It is reported in conventional medicine method of India as well as Arabia that C. fimbriata was extensively used for cancer treatment. Current study was planned to assess anticancer potential of saponin rich fraction from C. fimbriata using in silico and in vitro assays. Caratubersides A-G, a pregnane glycosides found in C. fimbriata were taken for in silico examination and processed through PASS Online software for the prediction of structure dependent pharmacological actions. Docking was carried out using Autodock Tool and Autodock Vina, revealed antineoplastic action of caratubersides along with apoptogenic potential. MTT assay was performed on MCF-7 cell line. Shell less chicken embryo culture assay was done for anti-angiogenic properties at different concentrations (1.5µg/ml, 3µg/ml, and 6µg/ml). Chromosomal aberrations assay was carried out in cultured human blood. And apoptogenic potential was estimated on MCF-7 cells using cleaved caspases 3 and caspase 8 cell based ELISA assay kit. Results of study showed that IC50 of saponin rich fraction of C. fimbriata was at 3μg/mL. Considerable (p <0.05) decreases were observed in angiogenic properties. Insignificant chromosomal aberrations were found in normal cells. Treatment of saponin rich part improved levels of caspases 3 as well as caspase 8 (ODs 1.35 and 1.68 respectively). From the study, saponin rich portion obtained from C. fimbriata displayed antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic actions along with apoptogenic prospective and no significant chromosomal aberrations were found in normal human cells.

2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 215-221
Author(s):  
Haroon Khan ◽  
Muhammad Zafar ◽  
Helena Den-Haan ◽  
Horacio Perez-Sanchez ◽  
Mohammad Amjad Kamal

Aim and Objective: Lipoxygenase (LOX) enzymes play an important role in the pathophysiology of several inflammatory and allergic diseases including bronchial asthma, allergic rhinitis, atopic dermatitis, allergic conjunctivitis, rheumatoid arthritis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Inhibitors of the LOX are believed to be an ideal approach in the treatment of diseases caused by its over-expression. In this regard, several synthetic and natural agents are under investigation worldwide. Alkaloids are the most thoroughly investigated class of natural compounds with outstanding past in clinically useful drugs. In this article, we have discussed various alkaloids of plant origin that have already shown lipoxygenase inhibition in-vitro with possible correlation in in silico studies. Materials and Methods: Molecular docking studies were performed using MOE (Molecular Operating Environment) software. Among the ten reported LOX alkaloids inhibitors, derived from plant, compounds 4, 2, 3 and 1 showed excellent docking scores and receptor sensitivity. Result and Conclusion: These compounds already exhibited in vitro lipoxygenase inhibition and the MOE results strongly correlated with the experimental results. On the basis of these in vitro assays and computer aided results, we suggest that these compounds need further detail in vivo studies and clinical trial for the discovery of new more effective and safe lipoxygenase inhibitors. In conclusion, these results might be useful in the design of new and potential lipoxygenase (LOX) inhibitors.


Author(s):  
Nidhi Sharma ◽  
Arti Singh ◽  
Ruchika Sharma ◽  
Anoop Kumar

Aim: The aim of the study was to find out the role of auranofin as a promising broad spectrum antibacterial agent. Methods: In-vitro assays (Percentage growth retardation, Bacterial growth kinetics, Biofilm formation assay) and In-silico study (Molegro virtual docker (MVD) version 6.0 and Molecular operating environment (MOE) version 2008.10 software). Results: The in vitro assays have shown that auranofin has good antibacterial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial strains. Further, auranofin has shown synergistic activity in combination with ampicillin against S. aureus and B. subtilis whereas in combination with neomycin has just shown additive effect against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and B. pumilus. In vivo results have revealed that auranofin alone and in combination with standard drugs significantly decreased the bioburden in zebrafish infection model as compared to control. The molecular docking study have shown good interaction of auranofin with penicillin binding protein (2Y2M), topoisomerase (3TTZ), UDP-3-O-[3- hydroxymyristoyl] N-acetylglucosaminedeacetylase (3UHM), cell adhesion protein (4QRK), β-lactamase (5CTN) and arylsulphatase (1HDH) enzyme as that of reference ligand which indicate multimodal mechanism of action of auranofin. Finally, MTT assay has shown non-cytotoxic effect of auranofin. Conclusion: In conclusion, auranofin in combination with existing antibiotics could be developed as a broad spectrum antibacterial agent; however, further studies are required to confirm its safety and efficacy. This study provides possibility of use of auranofin apart from its established therapeutic indication in combination with existing antibiotics to tackle the problem of resistance.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwani Kumar ◽  
Vineet Mehta ◽  
Utkarsh Raj ◽  
Pritish Kumar Varadwaj ◽  
Malairaman Udayabanu ◽  
...  

Background: Cholinesterase inhibitors are the first line of therapy for the management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), however, it is now established that they provide only temporary and symptomatic relief, besides, having several inherited side-effects. Therefore, an alternative drug discovery method is used to identify new and safer ‘disease-modifying drugs’. Methods: Herein, we screened 646 small molecules of natural origin having reported pharmacological and functional values through in-silico docking studies to predict safer neuromodulatory molecules with potential to modulate acetylcholine metabolism. Further, the potential of the predicted molecules to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and their ability to protect neurons from degeneration was determined through in-vitro assays. Results: Based on in-silico AChE interaction studies, we predicted quercetin, caffeine, ascorbic acid and gallic acid to be potential AChE inhibitors. We confirmed the AChE inhibitory potential of these molecules through in-vitro AChE inhibition assay and compared results with donepezil and begacestat. Herbal molecules significantly inhibited enzyme activity and inhibition for quercetin and caffeine did not show any significant difference from donepezil. Further, the tested molecules did not show any neurotoxicity against primary (E18) hippocampal neurons. We observed that quercetin and caffeine significantly improved neuronal survival and efficiently protected hippocampal neurons from HgCl2 induced neurodegeneration, which other molecules, including donepezil and begacestat, failed to do. Conclusion: Quercetin and caffeine have the potential as “disease-modifying drugs” and may find application in the management of neurological disorders such as AD.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (32) ◽  
pp. 894-898
Author(s):  
D. F. SILVA ◽  
H. D. NETO ◽  
M. D. L. FERREIRA ◽  
A. A. O. FILHO ◽  
E. O. LIMA

β-citronellol (3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol) has been exhibiting a number of pharmacological effects that creates interest about its antimicrobial potential, since several substances of the monoterpene class have already demonstrated to possess activity in this profile. In addition, the emergence of fungal species resistant to current pharmacotherapy poses a serious challenge to health systems, making it necessary to search for new effective therapeutic alternatives to deal with this problem. In this study, the antimicrobial profile of β-citronellol was analyzed. The Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) online software was used to study the antimicrobial activity of the β-citronellol molecule by the use of in silico analysis. In contrast, an in vitro antifungal study of this monoterpene was carried out. For this purpose, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution technique in 96-well plates in Saboraud Dextrose Broth/RPMI against sensitive strains of Candida albicans, and this assay was performed in duplicate. In the in silico analysis of the antimicrobial profile, it was revealed that the monoterpene β-citronellol had a diverse antimicrobial bioactivity profile. For the antifungal activity, it presented a percentage value with Pa: 58.4% (predominant) and its MIC of 128 μg/mL, which was equivalent for all strains tested. The in silico study of the β-citronellol molecule allowed us to consider that the monoterpenoid is very likely to be bioactive against agents that cause fungal infections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suchitil Rivera-Marrero ◽  
Laura Fernández-Maza ◽  
Samila León-Chaviano ◽  
Marquiza Sablón-Carrazana ◽  
Alberto Bencomo-Martínez ◽  
...  

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia. Neuroimaging methods have widened the horizons for AD diagnosis and therapy. The goals of this work are the synthesis of 2-(3-fluoropropyl)-6-methoxynaphthalene (5) and its [18F]-radiolabeled counterpart ([18F]Amylovis), the in silico and in vitro comparative evaluations of [18F]Amylovis and [11C]Pittsburg compound B (PIB) and the in vivo preclinical evaluation of [18F]Amylovis in transgenic and wild mice. </p><p> Methods: Iron-catalysis cross coupling reaction, followed by fluorination and radiofluorination steps were carried out to obtain 5 and 18F-Amylovis. Protein/A&#223; plaques binding, biodistribution, PET/CT Imaging and immunohistochemical studies were conducted in healthy/transgenic mice. </p><p> Results: The synthesis of 5 was successful obtained. Comparative in silico studies predicting that 5 should have affinity to the A&#946;-peptide, mainly through &#960;-&#960; interactions. According to a dynamic simulation study the ligand-A&#946; peptide complexes are stable in simulation-time (&#916;G = -5.31 kcal/mol). [18F]Amylovis was obtained with satisfactory yield, high radiochemical purity and specific activity. The [18F]Amylovis log Poct/PBS value suggests its potential ability for crossing the blood brain barrier (BBB). According to in vitro assays, [18F]Amylovis has an adequate stability in time. Higher affinity to A&#946; plaques were found for [18F]Amylovis (Kd 0.16 nmol/L) than PIB (Kd 8.86 nmol/L) in brain serial sections of 3xTg-AD mice. Biodistribution in healthy mice showed that [18F]Amylovis crosses the BBB with rapid uptake (7 %ID/g at 5 min) and good washout (0.11&#177;0.03 %ID/g at 60 min). Comparative PET dynamic studies of [18F]Amylovis in healthy and transgenic APPSwe/PS1dE9 mice, revealed a significant high uptake in the mice model. </p><p> Conclusion: The in silico, in vitro and in vivo results justify that [18F]Amylovis should be studied as a promissory PET imaging agent to detect the presence of A&#946; senile plaques.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (20) ◽  
pp. 11809-11818
Author(s):  
Delin Sun ◽  
Thasin A. Peyear ◽  
W. F. Drew Bennett ◽  
Matthew Holcomb ◽  
Stewart He ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 476 (12) ◽  
pp. 1843-1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cyril Hamiaux ◽  
Lesley Larsen ◽  
Hui Wen Lee ◽  
Zhiwei Luo ◽  
Prachi Sharma ◽  
...  

Abstract Strigolactones (SLs) are multifunctional plant hormones regulating essential physiological processes affecting growth and development. In vascular plants, SLs are recognized by α/β hydrolase-fold proteins from the D14/DAD2 (Dwarf14/Decreased Apical Dominance 2) family in the initial step of the signaling pathway. We have previously discovered that N-phenylanthranilic acid derivatives (e.g. tolfenamic acid) are potent antagonists of SL receptors, prompting us to design quinazolinone and quinazolinedione derivatives (QADs and QADDs, respectively) as second-generation antagonists. Initial in silico docking studies suggested that these compounds would bind to DAD2, the petunia SL receptor, with higher affinity than the first-generation compounds. However, only one of the QADs/QADDs tested in in vitro assays acted as a competitive antagonist of SL receptors, with reduced affinity and potency compared with its N-phenylanthranilic acid ‘parent’. X-ray crystal structure analysis revealed that the binding mode of the active QADD inside DAD2's cavity was not that predicted in silico, highlighting a novel inhibition mechanism for SL receptors. Despite a ∼10-fold difference in potency in vitro, the QADD and tolfenamic acid had comparable activity in planta, suggesting that the QADD compensates for lower potency with increased bioavailability. Altogether, our results establish this QADD as a novel lead compound towards the development of potent and bioavailable antagonists of SL receptors.


2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (11) ◽  
pp. 779-788 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayesha Idrees ◽  
Valeria Chiono ◽  
Gianluca Ciardelli ◽  
Siegfried Shah ◽  
Richard Viebahn ◽  
...  

Three-dimensional cell culture systems are urgently needed for cytocompatibility testing of biomaterials. This work aimed at the development of three-dimensional in vitro dermal skin models and their optimization for cytocompatibility evaluation. Initially “murine in vitro dermal construct” based on L929 cells was generated, leading to the development of “human in vitro dermal construct” consisting of normal human dermal fibroblasts in rat tail tendon collagen type I. To assess the viability of the cells, different assays CellTiter-Blue®, RealTime-Glo™ MT, and CellTiter-Glo® (Promega) were evaluated to optimize the best-suited assay to the respective cell type and three-dimensional system. Z-stack imaging (Live/Dead and Phalloidin/DAPI-Promokine) was performed to visualize normal human dermal fibroblasts inside matrix revealing filopodia-like morphology and a uniform distribution of normal human dermal fibroblasts in matrix. CellTiter-Glo was found to be the optimal cell viability assay among those analyzed. CellTiter-Blue reagent affected the cell morphology of normal human dermal fibroblasts (unlike L929), suggesting an interference with cell biological activity, resulting in less reliable viability data. On the other hand, RealTime-Glo provided a linear signal only with a very low cell density, which made this assay unsuitable for this system. CellTiter-Glo adapted to three-dimensional dermal construct by optimizing the “shaking time” to enhance the reagent penetration and maximum adenosine triphosphate release, indicating 2.4 times higher viability value by shaking for 60 min than for 5 min. In addition, viability results showed that cells were viable inside the matrix. This model would be further advanced with more layers of skin to make a full thickness model.


Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 2261 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aurora Molinari ◽  
Alfonso Oliva ◽  
Marlene Arismendi-Macuer ◽  
Leda Guzmán ◽  
Waldo Acevedo ◽  
...  

Quinones and nitrogen heterocyclic moieties have been recognized as important pharmacophores in the development of antitumor agents. This study aimed to establish whether there was any correlation between the in silico predicted parameters and the in vitro antiproliferative activity of a family of benzoindazolequinones (BIZQs), and to evaluate overexpressed proteins in human cancer cells as potential biomolecular targets of these compounds. For this purpose, this study was carried out using KATO-III and MCF-7 cell lines as in vitro models. Docking results showed that these BIZQs present better binding energies (ΔGbin) values for cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) than for other cancer-related proteins. The predicted ∆Gbin values of these BIZQs, classified in three series, positively correlated with IC50 measured in both cell lines (KATO-III: 0.72, 0.41, and 0.90; MCF-7: 0.79, 0.55, and 0.87 for Series I, II, and III, respectively). The results also indicated that compounds 2a, 2c, 6g, and 6k are the most prominent BIZQs, because they showed better IC50 and ∆Gbin values than the other derivatives. In silico drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) properties of the three series were also analyzed and showed that several BIZQs could be selected as potential candidates for cancer pre-clinical assays.


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