Cymbopogon citratus and Citral Overcome Doxorubicin Resistance in Cancer Cells via Modulating the Drug’s Metabolism, Toxicity, and Multidrug Transporters Mohammed Hasan Mukhtar, Mahmoud Zaki El-Readi, Mohamed E. Elzubier, Sameer H. Fatani, Bassem Refaat, et al. Molecules, 2023 Multidrug resistance (MDR) is the major complex mechanism that causes the failure of chemotherapy, especially with drugs of natural origin such as doxorubicin (DOX). Intracellular drug accumulation and detoxification are also involved in cancer resistance by reducing the susceptibility of cancer cells to death. This research aims to identify the volatile composition of Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass; LG) essential oil and compare the ability of LG and its major compound, citral, to modulate MDR in resistant cell lines. The composition of LG essential oil was identified using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In addition, a comparison of the modulatory effects of LG and citral, performed on breast (MCF-7/ADR), hepatic (HepG-2/ADR), and ovarian (SKOV-3/ADR) MDR cell lines, were compared to their parent sensitive cells using the MTT assay, ABC transporter function assays, and RT-PCR. Oxygenated monoterpenes (53.69%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (19.19%), and oxygenated sesquiterpenes (13.79%) made up the yield of LG essential oil. α-citral (18.50%), β-citral (10.15%), geranyl acetate (9.65%), ylangene (5.70), δ-elemene (5.38%), and eugenol (4.77) represent the major constituents of LG oil. LG and citral (20 μg/mL) synergistically increased DOX cytotoxicity and lowered DOX dosage by >3-fold and >1.5-fold, respectively. These combinations showed synergism in the isobologram and CI < 1. DOX accumulation or reversal experiment confirmed that LG and citral modulated the efflux pump function. Both substances significantly increased DOX accumulation in resistant cells compared to untreated cells and verapamil (the positive control). RT-PCR confirmed that LG and citral targeted metabolic molecules in resistant cells and significantly downregulated PXR, CYP3A4, GST, MDR1, MRP1, and PCRP genes. Our results suggest a novel dietary and therapeutic strategy combining LG and citral with DOX to overcome multidrug resistance in cancer cells. However, these results should be confirmed by additional animal experiments before being used in human clinical trials.
Isolation, characterization, complete structural assignment, and anticancer activities of the methoxylated flavonoids from rhamnus disperma roots Hamdoon A. Mohammed, Mohammed F. Abd El-Wahab, Usama Shaheen, Abd El-Salam I. Mohammed, Ashraf N. Abdalla, et al. Molecules, 2021 Different chromatographic methods including reversed-phase HPLC led to the isolation and purification of three O-methylated flavonoids; 5,4’-dihydroxy-3,6,7-tri-O-methyl flavone (penduletin) (1), 5,3’-dihydroxy-3,6,7,4’,5’-penta-O-methyl flavone (2), and 5-hydroxy-3,6,7,3’,4’,5’-hexa-O-methyl flavone (3) from Rhamnus disperma roots. Additionlly, four flavonoid glycosides; kampferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (4), isorhamnetin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), quercetin 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (6), and kampferol 3, 7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (7) along with benzyl-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8) were successfully isolated. Complete structure characterization of these compounds was assigned based on NMR spectroscopic data, MS analyses, and comparison with the literature. The O-methyl protons and carbons of the three O-methylated flavonoids (1–3) were unambiguously assigned based on 2D NMR data. The occurrence of compounds 1, 4, 5, and 8 in Rhamnus disperma is was reported here for the first time. Compound 3 was acetylated at 5-OH position to give 5-O-acetyl-3,6,7,3’,4’,5’-hexa-O-methyl flavone (9). Compound 1 exhibited the highest cytotoxic activity against MCF 7, A2780, and HT29 cancer cell lines with IC50 values at 2.17 µM, 0.53 µM, and 2.16 µM, respectively, and was 2–9 folds more selective against tested cancer cell lines compared to the normal human fetal lung fibroblasts (MRC5). It also doubled MCF 7 apoptotic populations and caused G1 cell cycle arrest. The acetylated compound 9 exhibited cytotoxic activity against MCF 7 and HT29 cancer cell lines with IC50 values at 2.19 µM and 3.18 µM, respectively, and was 6–8 folds more cytotoxic to tested cancer cell lines compared to the MRC5 cells.
Computational study and biological evaluation of isolated saponins from the fruits of gleditsia aquatica and gleditsia caspica Ehab Ragab, Usama Shaheen, Ammar Bader, Khaled Elokely, Mohammed Ghoneim Records of Natural Products, 2021 Phytochemical study of the ethanolic extract of the fruits of Gleditsia aquatica and Gleditsia caspica resulted in the isolation of the triterpene saponins; aquaticasaponin A (1), aquaticasaponin B (2), caspicaoside L (3) and caspicaoside M (4). Compound (1) showed good activity against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (IC50 =16.3 μg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (non-MRSA), (IC50 =12.2 μg/mL) and it expressed considerable cytotoxic activity against BT-549 (Human Ductal Carcinoma, Breast), KB (Human Epidermal Carcinoma, Oral) and SK-MEL (Human Malignant Melanoma) with IC50 values of 8.3, 10.0 and 3.3 μg/mL, respectively. Compounds (2) and (3) showed potent cytotoxicity against BT-549 with IC50 values of 5.3 and 7.3 μg/mL, and against SK-MEL with IC50 values of 4.3 and 3.1 μg/mL, respectively. Compound (4) showed good cytotoxicity against KB with IC50 value of 7.3 μg/mL. In consistent, the study of molecular determinates of cytotoxic activity of these new scaffolds showed close high docking scores to CD81 (Cluster of Differentiation 81) human antigen which could be of great importance for the development of new cytotoxic candidates. The structure identification of isolated metabolites was carried out using 1D and 2D NMR and mass spectra.
Proapoptotic activity of achillea membranacea essential oil and its major constituent 1,8-cineole against A2780 ovarian cancer cells Ashraf N. Abdalla, Usama Shaheen, Qasem M. A. Abdallah, Guido Flamini, Majdi M. Bkhaitan, et al. Molecules, 2020 Among the hundreds of reported Achillea species, A. membranacea (Labill.) DC. is one of the six that grow in Jordan. Many species of this genus are used in folk medicine to treat a variety of ailments and several biological and pharmacological activities have been ascribed to their essential oil (EO). For this study, the EO obtained from a specimen of A. membranacea grown in Jordan was analyzed by GC-MS. Ninety-six compounds were detected, of which oxygenated monoterpenes was the predominant class (47.9%), followed by non-terpene derivatives (27.9%), while sesquiterpenes represented 14.2% of the total composition. The most abundant compound in the EO was 1,8-cineole (21.7%). The cytotoxic activity of the EO was evaluated against three cancer cell lines (MCF7, A2780 and HT29), and one normal fibroblast cell line (MRC5) by MTT assay. Significant growth inhibition was observed in EO-exposed A2780 and HT29 cells (IC50 = 12.99 and 14.02 μg/mL, respectively), while MCF7 and MRC5 were less susceptible. The EO induced apoptosis and increased the preG1 events in A2780 cells. 1,8-Cineole, the major constituent of the EO, exhibited submicromolar cytotoxicity against A2780 cells, and was 42 times more selective against MRC5 cells. Its cytotoxicity against A2780 cells was comparable with that of doxorubicin, but 1,8-cineole was more selective for MRC5 normal cells. Interestingly, 1,8-cineole enhanced apoptosis in A2780, and caused a remarkable dose-dependent increase in preG1 events. Thus, 1,8-cineole has demonstrated promising cytotoxic and proapoptotic properties.
Cytotoxicity of some plants of the asteraceae family: Antiproliferative activity of Psiadia punctulata root sesquiterpenes Ammar Bader, Qasem Abdallah, Mohamed Abdelhady, Nunziatina De Tommasi, Nicola Malafronte, et al. Records of Natural Products, 2019 According to the World Health Organization Cancer is the second cause of death globally. The methanol extracts of fourteen Middle-Eastern plants of the family Asteraceae were screened for antiproliferative activity on five cancer cell lines (A2780, MCF7, HeLa, RKO and Jurkat) by using MTT assay. Psiadia punctulata (DC.) Vatke was selected for isolation and elucidation of the bioactive constituents by 1Dand 2D-NMR, and MS analyses. Flow cytometry was used to evaluate cell cycle analysis, apoptotic hallmarks and reactive oxygen species. P. punctulata yielded a new sesquiterpene characterized as 7-hydroxy eudesman-3,5-dien-2-one (punctulin) (3) and three known sesquiterpenes: 1, 2 and 4. The antiproliferative activity of all sesquiterpenes was evaluated in Jurkat (T-cell leukemia) and HeLa cancer cell lines. 1β-hydroxy-8-oxo-cyperone (1) has induced a significant growth inhibition in Jurkat and HeLa cells (IC50 =12 and 18μM respectively). Flow cytometry of compound 1 has elucidated the mechanism of action by showing its ability to induce cell cycle arrest in Jurkat cells mainly in G0/G1 and, less markedly, in G2/M. Compound 1 also expressed strong antioxidant activity by reducing the basal level of peroxides DHFDA-load in Jurkat cells. Antioxidant activity of compound 1 may have contributed to the observed cell cycle arrest.
Pharmacophores modeling in terms of prediction of theoretical physicochemical properties and verification by experimental correlations of carbacylamidophosphates (CAPh) and sulfanylamidophosphates (SAPh) tested as new carbonic anhydrase inhibitors Vladimir Amirkhanov, Abdur Rauf, Taibi Ben Hadda, Vladimir Ovchynnikov, Viktor Trush, et al. Mini Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry, 2019 Background: The function of Carbonic anhydrase is to facilitate the physiological process i.e. interconversion of CO2 to HCO3 - by hydration. Carbonic anhydrase enzyme plays a vital role in different physiological processes to regulate pH as well as regulate the inner environment of CO2 and secretion of electrolytes. Methods: Six representatives of amidophosphate derivatives (L1-L6) were synthesized and evaluated for their biological activities against carbonic anhydrase enzyme. Results: Out of six derivatives, L1 (IC50 = 12.5 ± 1.35 µM), and L2 (IC50 = 3.12 ± 0.45 µM) showed potent activity against BCA-II. While (L3, L4 and L5) showed weak inhibitory activity with IC50 values of 24.5 ± 2.25, 55.5± 1.60, and 75.5 ± 1.25 µM, respectively and were found to be weak inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase as compared to acetazolamide (IC50 =0.12± 0.03µM), used as standard inhibitor. A computational Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration/DFT (POM/DFT) based model has been expanded for the determination of physicochemical parameters governing the bioactivity amidophosphate derivatives (L1-L6) containing (O1 --- O2) pharmacophore site. The six compounds (L1-L6) analyzed here were previously experimentally and now virtually screened for their anti-carbonic anhydrase activity. : A computational Petra/Osiris/Molinspiration/DFT (POM/DFT) based model has been expanded for the determination of physicochemical parameters governing the bioactivity amidophosphate derivatives (L1-L6) containing (O1 --- O2) pharmacophore site. The six compounds (L1-L6) analyzed here were previously experimentally and now virtually screened for their anti-carbonic anhydrase activity. Conclusion: The highest anti-carbonic anhydrase activity was obtained for compound L2, which exhibited excellent bioactivity (% of inhibition = 95%), comparable to acetazolamide (% of inhibition = 89%). The compound L3 represents increased activity as compared to its analogues (L4-L6). The increase of bioactivity from L3 to L4-L6 could be attributed to the presence of a minimum of steric effect of substituents of P=O moiety which plays a decisive template part in the organization of anti-carbonic anhydrase (O1---O2) phramacophore site. Moreover, it is inexpensive, has little side effects and possible inclusions in selective anti-carbonic anhydrase agents design.
Muscle relaxant activities of pistagremic acid isolated from Pistacia integerrima Abdur Rauf, Saud Bawazeer, Ghias Uddin, Bina S. Siddiqui, Haroon Khan, et al. Zeitschrift Fur Naturforschung Section C Journal of Biosciences, 2018 The aim of the current work was to explore the muscle relaxant effect of pistagremic acid (PA) isolated from Pistacia integerrima in various animal paradigms. In a rotarod test, PA caused a significant (p<0.05) muscle relaxant potential in a dose-dependent manner. When studied in the inclined plane test, pretreatment with PA (5 and 10 mg/kg) caused promising activity (p<0.05) after treatment for 30, 60 and 90 min. The muscle relaxant potential of PA was strongly complimented by the traction and chimney tests, showing a dominant effect after 60 min of treatment. In conclusion, PA possesses strong muscle relaxant activity in various animal-based models.
Multidrug resistance reversal activity of extract and a rare dimeric naphthoquinone from Diospyros lotus Pakistan Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2018
Hemi-synthesis of three new armed antibiotics analogs of Calcimycin (A23187) and determination of theirs acidity constants by potentiometric method Journal of Materials and Environmental Science, 2014
