Olapeju O. Aiyelaagbe

Studies on the seed oils ofParkia biglobosa andParkia bicolor

The seed oils ofParkia biglobosa andParkia bicolor (Mimosaceae) have been analysed for their possible edible utility and to provide some physical data on both oils. The fatty acid composition of the oils was identified. Six major fatty acids were identified in the oil ofP. bicolor while five were identified in that ofP. biglobosa by Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography — Mass Spectroscopy (GC — MS). The two oils contained five similar fatty acids in almost the same ratios. Arachidic acid was the most abundant fatty acids (greater than forty per cent) in both oils. Other fatty acids in the oils were behenic, stearic, palmitic and linoleic acids. The sixth fatty acid inP. bicolor was an odd number of carbon atom and un unsaturated fatty acid (C20H37COOH) named bicolargic acid. The oils were also found to be non toxic.

Synthesis of novel anticancer agents through opening of spiroacetal ring of diosgenin.

Diosgenin has been modified to furostane derivatives after opening the F-spiroacetal ring. The aldehyde group at C26 in derivative 8 was unexpectedly transformed to the ketone 9. The structure of ketone 9 was confirmed by spectroscopy and finally by X-ray crystallography. Five of the diosgenin derivatives showed significant anticancer activity against human cancer cell lines. The most potent molecule of this series i.e. compound 7, inhibited cellular growth by arresting the population at G0/G1 phase of cell division cycle. Cells undergo apoptosis after exposure to the derivative 7 which was evident by increase in sub G0 population in cell cycle analysis. Docking experiments showed caspase-3 and caspase-9 as possible molecular targets for these compounds. This was further validated by cleavage of PARP, a caspase target in apoptotic pathway. Compound 7 was found non-toxic up to 1000mg/kg dose in acute oral toxicity in Swiss albino mice.

Some Nigerian anti-tuberculosis ethnomedicines: A preliminary efficacy assessment

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE Nigerian herbalists possess indigenous ethnomedicinal recipes for the management of tuberculosis and related ailments. A collaborative preliminary modern scientific evaluation of the efficacy of some Nigerian ethnomedicines used by traditional medicine practitioners (TMPs) in the management of tuberculosis and related ailments has been carried out. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ethnomedicinal recipes (ETMs) were collected from TMPs from locations in various ecological zones of Nigeria under a collaborative understanding. The aqueous methanolic extracts of the ETMs were screened against Mycobacterium bovis, BCG and Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv using the broth microdilution method. RESULTS Extracts of ETMs screened against BCG showed 69% activity against the organism. The activities varied from weak, ≤2500 µg/mL to highly active, 33 µg/mL 64% of the extracts were active against Mycobacterium tuberculosis The activities of the extracts against Mycobacterium tuberculosis varied from weak, ≤2500 µg/mL to highly active, 128 µg/mL. There was 77% agreement in results obtained using BCG or Mycobacterium tuberculosis as test organisms. CONCLUSION The results show clear evidence for the efficacy of the majority of indigenous Nigerian herbal recipes in the ethnomedicinal management of tuberculosis and related ailments. BCG may be effectively used, to a great extent, as the organism for screening for potential anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis agents. A set of prioritization criteria for the selection of plants for initial further studies for the purpose of antituberculosis drug discovery research is proposed.

(22β,25R)-3β-Hydroxy-spirost-5-en-7-iminoxy-heptanoic acid exhibits anti-prostate cancer activity through caspase pathway

&NA; Prostate cancer is one of the most common cancers in men. Diosgenin and related compounds are potential cytotoxic agents. Twelve diverse analogues of long chain fatty acid/ester of diosgenin‐7‐ketoxime have been prepared. Six of the analogues exhibited significant anticancer activity against a panel of human cancer cell lines with IC50 ranging from 12 to 35 &mgr;M. Compound 16, the best representative of the series exerted S phase arrest in DU145 prostate cancer cells and induced apoptosis through caspase pathway. Additionally, these analogues inhibited lipopolysaccharide induced pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐&agr; and IL‐6) up to 47.7% and 23.3% respectively. Compound 16 was found to be safe in acute oral toxicity in Swiss albino mice up to 300 mg/kg dose. The anticancer and antiinflammatory properties of compound 16 are important and can further be optimized for a better anti‐prostate cancer candidate. Graphical abstract Figure. No caption available. HighlightsDiverse long chain fatty acid/esters of diosgenin‐7‐ketoxime have been prepared.Analogue 16, cytotoxicity IC50 = 12 &mgr;M prostate cancer, cell cycle arrest at S phase and induces apoptosis through caspase pathway.Simultaneously antiinflammatory property by inhibition of TNF‐&agr; and IL‐6.Safe up to 1000 mg/kg dose in Swiss‐albino mice.Simultaneous, antiinflammatory property in an anticancer molecule is favourable.

Evaluation of therapeutic potentials of plant extracts against poultry bacteria threatening public health.

BackgroundPlant extracts were evaluated on poultry bacteria known to be threatening public health. This is to develop better bio-therapeutic agents from plant origin.MethodsBacteria were isolated from water, feed, crop, gizzard and faeces of layer chicken. Isolates of interest (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella oxytoca) were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility test. Resistant strains were further evaluated against different plant extracts in comparison to Meropenem (control) using agar diffusion method.ResultsE. coli had the highest occurrence (53 %), followed by P. aeruginosa (25 %) and then S. enteritidis (13 %) while the least was K. oxytoca (9 %). Virtually all the isolates exhibited multi-antibiotic resistance (MAR) with gross resistance to Amoxicillin, Erythromycin and Cefuroxine. P. aeruginosa (75 %), S. enteritidis (75 %) and E. coli (63 %), had the highest MAR. Out of the 11 (100 %) plant extracts evaluated, 7 (64 %) were outstanding and showed varied levels of antibacterial activity. Specifically, methanol extract of Mangifera indica Julie cultivar leaf (MJLM) had the highest antibacterial activity, followed by Euadenia trifoliata stem bark (TB03) and Euadenia eminens leaf (TB05). P. aeruginosa was highly susceptible (81.81 %) to the extracts, followed by S. enteritidis (63.64 %) and then E. coli (27.27 %).ConclusionsMJLM and other extracts have proven to be promising extracts in which to search for bioactive components that can be developed into therapeutic drugs. This may help in the management of antibiotic resistant bacterial isolates from poultry chicken threatening public health.

Syntheses of Eight Fragrant Terpenoids [Ionone Derivatives] via the Aldol Condensation of Citral and Eight Ketones

Abstract α-and β-ionones and seven ionone derivatives were synthesized from the base catalyzed condensation of citral (obtained from lemon grass Cymbopogon citratus essential oil) with eight different ketones. The pseudo-ionones obtained were acid cyclized to the respective ionone derivatives which were purified by vacuum liquid chromatography(VLC). The pure compound were analyzed and characterized by IR, UV, 1H-NMR, and MS. The 8 ketones are: 2-octanone, propanone, phenylethanone, 3-butenone, butanone, 3-pentanone, 4-methylpent-3-ene-2-one(mesityl oxide), and 2-methylcyclohexanone. Ionones and the derivatives synthesized have different but acceptable floral notes. They were obtained after purification in high yields (52 to 88%). The paper also reports the syntheses of Four Ionone derivatives which have not been reported earlier.

Isolation and antiproliferative activity of chemical constituents from Asystasia buettneri Lindau

Abstract N-hexane and methanol extracts of Asystasia buettneri Lindau aerial parts exhibited antiproliferative activity on leukaemia blood carcinoma, K-562. Hexadecane (1), 1,3-propan-2-ol (9Z,12′Z,15″Z)-bis(doeicos-9,12,15-trienoate) (2), hydrocarbon, 2,3,3,10,23-pentamethyl tetraeicos-10,13,16-trien-1-ol (3), hexadecanoic acid (4) and taraxerol (5) were isolated from n-hexane extract; stigmasterol (6) and (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (7) were isolated from ethyl acetate extract; while unsaturated hydrocarbons, octadecene (8), 8-methyl tetradec-6-ene (9) and 19-methyl eicos-1-ene (10), fatty acids, (Z)-5-hexadecenoic acid (11), 11,22-dimethyl ethyltrieicos-11-enoate (12) and taraxasterol (13) were isolated from methanol extract of the plant. Compounds 4, 5, 7, 11, 12 and 13 exhibited antiproliferative activity against K-562, while compounds 5, 6, 7 and 9 revealed antiproliferative activity by inhibiting hepatic liver (WRL68) cell lines.

Isolation and antiproliferative activity of triterpenoids and fatty acids from the leaves and stem of Turraea vogelii Hook. f. ex benth

Abstract Chloroform extract from the leaves of Turraea vogelii Hook f. ex Benth demonstrated cytotoxic activity against a chronic myelogenous leukemia cell, K-562 with IC50 of 14.27 μg/mL, while chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from the stem of the plant inhibited K-562 cells growth with IC50 of 19.50, 24.10 and 85.40 μg/mL respectively. Bioactive chloroform extract of Turraea vogelii leaves affords two triterpenoids: oleana-12,15,20-trien-3β-ol (1), and oleana-11,13-dien-3β,16α,28-triol (2), with six fatty esters, ethyl hexaeicos-5-enoate (3), 3-hydroxy-1,2,3-propanetriyltris(tetadecanoate) (4), 1,2,3-propanetriyl(7Z,7′Z,7′′Z)tris(-7-hexadecenoate) (5), 1,2,3-propanetriyl(5Z,5′Z,5′′Z)tris(-5-hexadecenoate) (6), 1,2,3-propanetriyltris(octadecanoate) (7), and 2β-hydroxymethyl tetraeicosanoate (8). Tetradecane (9), four fatty acids: hexadecanoic acid (10), tetradecanoic acid (11), (Z)-9-eicosenoic acid (12), and ethyl tetradec-7-enoate (13) were isolated from chloroform extract of Turraea vogelii stem. 1,2,3-propanetriyltris(heptadecanoate) (14), (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid (15) and (Z)-7-tetradecenoic acid (16) were isolated from ethyl acetate extract while (Z)-5-pentadecenoic acid (17) was obtained from methanol extract of the plant stem. Compounds 1, 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 15, 16 and 17 exhibited pronounced antiproliferative activity against K-562 cell lines.

Comparative Evaluation of the Anti-cancer Activities of the Crude Extracts of Four Nigerian Chewing Sticks

Abstract Chewing sticks are commonly used as oral hygiene tool in Nigeria to prevent different types of oral disease including periodontal disease and dental caries. A link has recently been established between periodontal disease and various types of cancers, including lung and breast cancer. The crude extracts of four Nigerian chewing sticks (Fagara zanthoxyloides, Butyrospermum paradoxum, Distemonanthus benthamianus and Nauclea latifolia) were investigated for anticancer activities against four cancer cell lines (Lung A549, Prostate PC-3, Lung NCI-H322, Breast T47D) using Sulforhodamine B (SRB) assay. The result of this study showed that the extracts inhibited the growth of the cells with F. zanthoxyloides having the highest broad spectrum activity against the four cell lines with growth inhibition of 72 %, 71 %, 79 % and 79 % against Lung A549, Prostate PC-3, Lung NCI-H322 and Breast T47D respectively followed by Nauclea latifolia which had a percentage growth inhibition of 70 %, 62 % and 54 % against Lung NCI-H322, Lung A549 and Breast T47D cells lines while showing a weak inhibition of 23 % against Prostate PC-3 cell lines. Butyrospermum paradoxum had the least activity with growth inhibition of 46 %, 56 %, 45 % and 39 % against Lung A549, Prostate PC-3, Lung NCI-H322 and Breast T47D cells lines respectively. D. benthamianus showed selective activity with growth inhibition of 62 %, 34 %, 30 % and 52 % against Lung A549, Prostate PC-3, Lung NCI-H322 and Breast T47D cell lines respectively. The result therefore justifies the use of these plants in traditional medicine and also demonstrates that F. zanthoxyloides could be a good source of anti-cancer drugs.

A Novel Normethylfriedelane-Type Isoprenoid from Syzygium guineense Stem Bark

Isolated from the n-hexane soluble fraction of the chloroform extract of Syzygium guineense stem bark were two friedelane-type isoprenoids, friedelan-3-one (1) and a novel derivative 12-hydroxy-27-normethylfriedelan-3-one (2). Mass, NMR (1- and 2-D), and FTIR spectroscopic techniques were used for structural elucidation. GC-MS analysis of the lipoidal column eluate afforded the known isoprenoids γ-sitosterol (3) and olean-12-en-3-one (4) and the two fatty acids n-hexadecanoic acid (5) and octadecanoic acid (6). This is the first report on the phytochemistry and isolation of the novel 12-hydroxy-27-normethylfriedelan-3-one (2) from the stem bark of this plant. The pharmacological and nutritional profiles of these isoprenoids and fatty acids are highlighted.