Synergistic Effect of Docetaxel Plus Saponin Fraction of Vitex doniana on Prostate Specific Antigen and p53 in Nitrsobis (2-oxopropyl) Amine-induced Prostate Toxicity

Aim: This study investigated the synergistic effect of docetaxel plus saponin fraction of Vitex doniana on prostate specific antigen and p53 in nitrsobis (2-oxopropyl) amine-induced prostate toxicity in Wistar rat. Methodology: Twenty-four (24) male Wistar rats with elevated serum prostate specific antigen level were selected from a group of sixty (60) rats pretreated with subcutaneous Nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine 5 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks. The selected 24 male Wistar rats were then grouped into 6 groups of four (4) rats each. Group 1 was given 1ml normal saline daily from day 1-28. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 further received subcutaneous nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl) amine 5 mg/kg daily from day 1-28. In addition, groups 3, 4, 5, and 6 were given weekly intravenous docetaxel 8 mg/kg on day 15 and 22. In addition to docetaxel, groups 4, 5, and 6 were further treated with oral saponin at 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg, respectively, daily, from day 15-28. Immunoenzymometric assay method was used for analysis of blood sample for prostate specific antigen. The prostate tissues were subjected to immuno study using the ImmunoCruz Staining System (Lab Vision Corporation, Fremont, CA, USA). The quantitative evaluation of p53 was done by calculating the percentages of p53-immunostained nuclei (labeling index). Results: Significant increase in prostate specific antigen and p53 expression were observed in group 2 (treated with Nitrsobis (2-oxopropyl) amine alone) when compared with group 1 (control). Dose dependent decrease in prostate specific antigen and p53 expression were observed in groups 4, 5, and 6, treated with docetaxel 8 mg/kg plus 250 mg/kg, 500 mg/kg, and 750 mg/kg of saponin respectively. Conclusion: Docetaxel plus Saponin fraction of Vitex doniana significantly reduced the serum prostate specific antigen concentration and p53 expression in a dose dependent manner, with the group treated with 750 mg/kg showing the highest decrease in the parameters tested.

ISCOM-like Nanoparticles Formulated with Quillaja brasiliensis Saponins Are Promising Adjuvants for Seasonal Influenza Vaccines

Vaccination is the most effective public health intervention to prevent influenza infections, which are responsible for an important burden of respiratory illnesses and deaths each year. Currently, licensed influenza vaccines are mostly split inactivated, although in order to achieve higher efficacy rates, some influenza vaccines contain adjuvants. Although split-inactivated vaccines induce mostly humoral responses, tailoring mucosal and cellular immune responses is crucial for preventing influenza infections. Quillaja brasiliensis saponin-based adjuvants, including ISCOM-like nanoparticles formulated with the QB-90 saponin fraction (IQB90), have been studied in preclinical models for more than a decade and have been demonstrated to induce strong humoral and cellular immune responses towards several viral antigens. Herein, we demonstrate that a split-inactivated IQB90 adjuvanted influenza vaccine triggered a protective immune response, stronger than that induced by a commercial unadjuvanted vaccine, when applied either by the subcutaneous or the intranasal route. Moreover, we reveal that this novel adjuvant confers up to a ten-fold dose-sparing effect, which could be crucial for pandemic preparedness. Last but not least, we assessed the role of caspase-1/11 in the generation of the immune response triggered by the IQB90 adjuvanted influenza vaccine in a mouse model and found that the cellular-mediated immune response triggered by the IQB90-Flu relies, at least in part, on a mechanism involving the casp-1/11 pathway but not the humoral response elicited by this formulation.

Surface-active Properties of Extracted Saponin from the Leaves of Nephelium Lappaceum.

Synthetic surfactants are widely used in a wide array of cleaning products due to their ability in lowering the surface tension of water. These surfactants also come with bad effects on people's health and the environment. Plant-based surfactant, or saponin, is expected to produce the same desired effect of chemical surfactant, minus the negative effect. The purpose of the current research was to discover the surface-active properties of saponin extracted from Nephelium Lappaceum or rambutan leaves, relative to commercial surfactant, Tween 80, and SDS. Rambutan’s leaves were extracted by maceration technique and liquid-liquid extraction to remove proteins and lipids of the plant. The presence of saponin in crude rambutan leaves was verified by foam test, which showed positive results. The crude rambutan leaves extracts were further analyzed by FTIR, GC-MS, and LC-QTOF-MS. The surface-active test consisted of a wetting test and cleaning test. The results from the IR spectrum show the presence of functional groups of saponin; OH, C=O, C-H, C=C, then, C-O which indicates the glycosides linkages to sapogenins. The wetting time for leave extracts, SDS, and Tween 80 were 32.33s, 7.33s, and 17.62s respectively. The cleaning test of saponin fraction, SDS, and Tween 80 showed the percentage of 20.98, 80.40, and 37.3 respectively. Generally, Rambutan leaves extract showed promising, but lower surface activities compared to commercial surfactants. Considering that the saponin fraction was not yet in the purest or isolated form of a single compound, it can be said the potential can be further enhanced by further isolating a pure surface-active compound from the saponin fraction.

Cytotoxicity of Quillaja saponaria Saponins towards Lung Cells Is Higher for Cholesterol-Rich Cells

The purpose of the study was to compare cytotoxicity of two Quillaja saponaria bark saponin (QBS) mixtures against two lung cell lines: normal MRC-5 fibroblast cell line and tumor A-549 epithelial cells of lungs’ alveoli. The study, performed both at a macro-scale and in a dedicated microfluidic device, showed that QBS was more toxic to the cell line more abundant in cholesterol (MRC-5). The QBS mixture with higher saponin fraction was found to be more cytotoxic towards both cell lines. The results may help to better understand the cytotoxicity of saponin-rich herbal medicines towards normal and tumor cells depending on their cholesterol content.

New combination approaches to combat methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The herbal products proved to be more promising antimicrobials even though their antimicrobial activity is milder than commercially available antibiotics. Moreover, herbal drugs may act synergistically with antibiotics to kill microbes. In this study, we aimed to enhance the activity of penicillin against MRSA through combination with the active saponin fraction isolated from the Zygophyllum album plant. Three different types of metabolites (saponins, sterols, and phenolics) have been extracted from Zygophyllum album with ethanol and purified using different chromatographic techniques. The antibacterial activity of crude extract and the separated metabolites were checked against MRSA isolates, Saponin fraction (ZA-S) was only the active one followed by the crude extract. Therefore, the compounds in this fraction were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography connected to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/QTOF-MS) operated in positive and negative ionization modes. UHPLC/QTOF-MS revealed the presence of major six ursane-type tritepenoidal saponins (Quinovic acid, Quinovic acid 3β-O-β-D-quinovopyranoside, Zygophylloside C, Zygophylloside G, Zygophylloside K and Ursolic acid), in addition to Oleanolic acid. Interaction studies between saponin fraction and penicillin against MRSA were performed through the checkerboard method and time-kill assay. According to checkerboard results, only three combinations showed a fractional inhibitory concentration index less than 0.5 at concentrations of (62.5 + 312.5, 62.5 + 156.25, and 62.5 + 78.125 of penicillin and ZA-S, respectively). Time kill assay results showed that the highest reduction in log10 colony-forming unit (CFU)/ml of initial inoculum of MRSA after 24 h occurred by 3.7 at concentrations of 62.5 + 312.5 (µg/µg)/ml of penicillin and ZA-S, respectively. Thus, the combination between saponin fraction of Zygophyllum album and penicillin with these concentrations could be a potential agent against MRSA that can serve as possible model for new antibacterial drug.