Three benzimidazolium salts (III-V) and respective selenium adducts (VI-VIII) were designed, synthesized and characterized by various analytical techniques (FT-IR and NMR 1H, 13C). Selected salts and respective selenium N-Heterocyclic carbenes (selenium-NHC) adducts were tested in vitro against Cervical Cancer Cell line (Hela), Breast Adenocarcinoma cell line (MCF-7), Retinal Ganglion Cell line (RGC-5) and Mouse Melanoma Cell line (B16F10) using MTT assay and the results were compared with standard drug 5-Fluorouracil. Se-NHC compounds and azolium salts showed significant anticancer potential. Molecular docking studies of compounds (VI, VII and VIII) showed strong binding energies and ligand affinity toward following angiogenic factors: VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A), EGF (human epidermal growth factor), HIF (Hypoxia-inducible factor) and COX-1 (Cyclooxygenase-1) suggesting that the anticancer activity of adducts (VI, VII and VIII) may be due to their strong anti-angiogenic effect. In addition, compounds III-VIII were screened for their antibacterial and antifungal potential. Adduct VI was found to be potent anti-fungal agent against A. Niger with zone of inhibition (ZI) value 27.01 ± 0.251 mm which is better than standard drug Clotrimazole tested in parallel.
The protective effect of tualang honey (TH) on neuroinflammation and caspase-3 activity in rat cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem after kainic acid- (KA-) induced status epilepticus was investigated. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated orally with TH (1.0 g/kg body weight) five times at 12 h intervals. KA (15 mg/kg body weight) was injected subcutaneously 30 min after last oral treatment. Rats were sacrificed at 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h after KA administration. Neuroinflammation markers and caspase-3 activity were analyzed in different brain regions 2 h, 24 h, and 48 h after KA administration. Administration of KA induced epileptic seizures. KA caused significant (p < 0.05) increase in the level of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), allograft inflammatory factor 1 (AIF-1), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and increase in the caspase-3 activity in the rat cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and brainstem at multiple time points. Pretreatment with TH significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the elevation of TNF-α, IL-1β, GFAP, AIF-1, and COX-2 level in those brain regions at multiple time points and attenuated the increased caspase-3 activity in the cerebral cortex. In conclusion, TH reduced neuroinflammation and caspase-3 activity after kainic acid- (KA-) induced status epilepticus.
In our previous studies conducted on Ardisia crispa roots, it was shown that Ardisia crispa root inhibited inflammation-induced angiogenesis in vivo. The present study was conducted to identify whether the anti-angiogenic properties of Ardisia crispa roots was partly due to either cyclooxygenase (COX) or/and lipoxygenase (LOX) activity inhibition in separate in vitro studies.
Acetylmelodorinol, chrysin and polycarpol, together with benzoic acid, benzoquinone and stigmasterol were isolated from the leaves of Mitrella kentii (Bl.) Miq. The compounds were evaluated for their ability to inhibit prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) and thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) production in human whole blood using a radioimmunoassay technique. Their inhibitory effect on platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor binding to rabbit platelet was determined using ³H-PAF as a ligand. Among the compounds tested, chrysin showed a strong dose-dependent inhibitory activity on PGE(2) production (IC₅₀ value of 25.5 µM), which might be due to direct inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) enzymatic activity. Polycarpol, acetylmelodorinol and stigmasterol exhibited significant and concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on TXB₂ production with IC₅₀ values of 15.6, 19.1 and 19.4 µM, respectively, suggesting that they strongly inhibited COX-1 activity. Polycarpol and acetylmelodorinol showed strong dose-dependent inhibitory effects on PAF receptor binding with IC₅₀ values of 24.3 and 24.5 µM, respectively.
To enhance the cytotoxicity of benzimidazole and/or benzoxazole core, the benzimidazole/benzoxazole azo-pyrimidine were synthesized through diazo-coupling of 3-aminophenybenzimidazole (6a) or 3-aminophenylbenzoxazole (6b) with diethyl malonate. The new azo-molanates 6a&b mixed with urea in sodium ethoxide to afford the benzimidazolo/benzoxazolopyrimidine 7a&b. The structure elucidation of new synthesized targets was proved using spectroscopic techniques NMR, IR and elemental analysis. The cytoxicity screening had been carried out against five cancer cell lines: prostate cancer (PC-3), lung cancer (A-549), breast cancer (MCF-7), pancreas cancer (PaCa-2) and colon cancer (HT-29). Furthermore, the antioxidant activity, phospholipase A2-V and cyclooxygenases inhibitory activities of the target compounds 7a&b were evaluated and the new compounds showed potent activity (cytotoxicity IC50 range from 4.3 to 9.2 µm, antioxidant activity from 40% to 80%, COXs or LOX inhibitory activity from 1.92 µM to 8.21 µM). The docking of 7a&b was made to confirm the mechanism of action.
The effects of indomethacin and nabumetone on urine and electrolyte excretion in conscious rats were examined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were housed individually for a five-week duration, consisting of acclimatization, control, experimental, and recovery phases. During the experimental phase, rats were given either indomethacin (1.5 mg . kg(-1) body weight . day(-1) in 0.5 ml saline, n = 10), nabumetone (15 mg . kg(-1) body weight . day(-1) 0.5 ml saline, n = 10), or 0.5 ml saline alone (n = 10) for a period of two weeks. Water and food intake, body weight, urine output, and electrolyte excretions were estimated. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Urine output in the indomethacin- and nabumetone-treated groups was not different from the controls, but was significantly different between the drug-treated groups (P<0.01). Sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium excretions were not different between nabumetone-treated and control rats. However, sodium and potassium excretion was significantly lower in rats receiving indomethacin when compared to the control rats. Calcium and magnesium outputs, although did not differ from the controls, nevertheless decreased significantly with indomethacin (P<0.01). It appears that indomethacin and nabumetone when given at maximum human therapeutic doses may affect urine and electrolyte output in conscious rats.
Boesenbergia rotunda (L) Mansf. has been used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders including peptic ulcer. In the current study we aimed to investiagte the anti-ulcer activities of methanolic extract of B. rotunda (MEBR) and its main active compound, pinostrobin on ethanol-induced ulcer in rats. The possible involevement of lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, cyclooxygenases and free radical scavenging mechanisms also has been investigated.