Theera Srisawat

Antimalarial and cytotoxic quassinoids from the roots of Brucea javanica

Abstract Two new quassinoids, brujavanol A (1) and brujavanol B (2), along with five known quassinoids (3–7), were isolated from the roots of Brucea javanica. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods. The antimalarial and cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds were also assessed. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited significant in vitro cytotoxicity against human oral cavity cancer (KB) cells with IC50 values of 1.30 and 2.36 μg/ml, respectively, whereas compound 3 showed excellent antiplasmodial activity against the Plasmodium falciparum strains, K1 (IC50 = 0.58 μg/ml).

The dose dependent in vitro responses of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines to extracts of Vatica diospyroides symington type SS fruit include effects on mode of cell death

Background: Vatica diospyroides type LS is a known source of valuable compounds for cancer treatment, however, in contrast little is known about therapeutic efficacy of type SS. Objective: This study focused on in vitro cytotoxicity of these fruit extracts, and the cell death mode they induce in breast cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Acetone extracts of fruit were tested for cytotoxicity against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines. The apoptosis and necrosis of these cells were quantified by fluorescence activated cell sorter (FACS) and western blot analyses. Results: After 72 h of treatment, the 50% growth inhibition concentrations (IC50) levels were 16.21 ± 0.13 µg/mL against MCF-7 and 30.0 ± 4.30 µg/mL against MDA-MB-231, indicating high and moderate cytotoxicity, respectively. From the FACS results, we estimate that the cotyledon extract at half IC50 produced 11.7% dead MCF-7 cells via apoptosis, whereas another concentrations both apoptosis and necrosis modes co-existed in a dose-dependent manner. In MDA-MB-231 cell line, only the apoptosis was induced by the pericarp extract in a dose-dependent manner. With the extracts at half IC50 concentration, in both cells, the expression of p21 decreased while that of Bax increased within 12–48 h of dosing, confirming apoptosis induced by time-dependent responses. Apoptosis dependent on p53 was found in MCF-7, whereas the mutant p53 of MDA-MB-231 cells was expressed. Conclusion: The results indicate that fruit extracts of V. diospyroides have cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells via apoptosis pathway in a dose-dependent manner. This suggests that the extracts could provide active ingredients for the development, targeting breast cancer therapy.

Two new antimalarial quassinoid derivatives from the stems of Brucea javanica

Phytochemical investigation of the stems from Brucea javanica led to the isolation of two new quassinoids, brujavanol C (1) and brujavanol D (2), together with six known compounds (3–8). The chemical structures were elucidated by means of various spectroscopic methods. All the isolated compounds were evaluated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum and compounds 6 and 7 exhibited the most potent activity against the K1 strain, with IC50 values of 1.41 and 1.06 μM, respectively.

(−)-Kusunokinin and piperloguminine from Piper nigrum: An alternative option to treat breast cancer

Several studies have reported that active compounds isolated from Piper nigrum possess anticancer properties. However, there are no data on anticancer activity of (-)-kusunokinin and piperlonguminine. The purposes of this study were to isolate active compounds from P. nigrum and identify the molecular mechanisms underlying growth and apoptosis pathway in breast cancer cells. Two bioactive compounds, (-)-kusunokinin and piperlonguminine, were isolated from P. nigrum. Cytotoxicity and the molecular mechanism were measured by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis. We found that the active compounds, which effect cancer cell lines were (-)-kusunokinin and piperlonguminine. These compounds have potent cytotoxic effects on breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468) and colorectal cells (SW-620). (-)-Kusunokinin demonstrated a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 with IC50 values of 1.18 and 1.62μg/mL, respectively. Piperlonguminine had a cytotoxic effect on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-468 with IC50 values of 1.63 and 2.19μg/mL, respectively. Both compounds demonstrated lower cytotoxicity against normal breast cell lines with IC50 values higher than 11μg/mL. Cell cycle and apoptotic analysis using flow cytometry, showed that the (-)-kusunokinin and piperlonguminine induced cell undergoing apoptosis and drove cells towards the G2/M phase. Moreover, both compounds decreased topoisomerase II and bcl-2. The increasing of p53 levels further increased p21, bax, cytochrome c, caspase-8, -7 and -3 activities, except caspase-9. These results suggest that the (-)-kusunokinin and piperlonguminine have been shown to have potent anticancer activities through extrinsic pathway and G2/M phase arrest.

Extracts from Vatica diospyroides Type SS Fruit Show Low Dose Activity against MDA-MB-468 Breast Cancer Cell-Line via Apoptotic Action

Very strong antiproliferative action of V. diospyroides type SS fruit extracts (IC50 range of 1.60-17.45 µg/mL) in MDA-MB-468 cell-line was observed in an MTT assay. After dosing of an extract concentration at half IC50 to cell line for 24 to 72 hours, treated cells were subjected to Annexin V-FITC/PI binding assay, followed by FACS and western blot analyses. Significant apoptotic death was observed with all extract treatments and both exposure times. Dosing with acetone extract of pericarp and cotyledon induced the highest apoptotic populations (33 and 32%, resp.), with the lowest populations of viable cells (65 and 67%, resp.). During 24 to 72 hours of dosing with methanolic extract of pericarp, the populations of viable and early apoptotic cells decreased significantly from 72.40 to 71.32% and from 12.00 to 6.36%, respectively, while the late apoptotic and nonviable cell populations continuously increased from 15.30 to 19.18% and from 0.30 to 3.14%, respectively. The expression of Bax increased within 12–48 hours of dosing, confirming apoptosis induced by time-dependent responses. The mutant p53 of MDA-MB-468 cells was expressed. Our results indicate that apoptosis and time-dependent therapeutic actions contribute to the cytotoxic effects of V. diospyroides type SS fruit on MDA-MB-468 cell.

Flow cytometric classification of oil palm cultivars.

Efficiencie in each nuclear lysis buffer on flow cytometric analysis (FCM) of oil palm were compared for cultivar classification. Embryos and unopened leaves of one to twelve months-old seedlings were used as initial materials with five nuclear lysis buffers, including LB01, WPB, Otto’s, Tris.MgCl 2 and Galbraith. Although these buffers showed distinct peaks of propidium idodide (PI) fluorescence for oil palm embryos, the buffers differed considerably in fluorescence intensity (FL), coefficient of variance (%CV), debris factor (%DF) and yield factor (YF) values when analyzed with their seedlings. The results show that LB01 was the most suitable buffer (lowest %CV and high FL value) for oil palm embryos resulting in 3.7 pg of 2C-DNA. For all the seedlings, only WPB gave the highest value of FL and lowest value of %CV resulting approximately in 3.8 pg of 2C-DNA, whereas the highest value of YF and lowest value of %DF were mostly found in LB01. Of interest is the fact that only WPB showed consistency position of PI fluorescence histograms when analyzed with all seedlings. WPB was therefore used to classify the cultivars of hybrid Tenera and its parents (Dura and Pisifera) by means of DNA contents. DNA contents of Dura and Pisifera ranged from 6.3 to 7.6 and 5.3 to 6.1 pg and their genome size (1C DNA contents) is therefore greater than 3,000 and 2,000 Mbp, respectively. The results confirmed that Dura, Pisifera and Tenera cultivars could be classified using FCM-derived DNA contents. Key words: 2C-DNA value, cultivars, flow cytometry, nuclear lysis buffers, oil palm.

Callus Induction and Somatic Embryogenesis from Cultured Zygotic Embryo of Eleiodoxa conferta (Griff.) Burr., an Edible Native Plant Species in Southern Thailand

This was a descriptive research aiming at investigating the quality of life of the Royal Thai Navy College of Nursing’s (RTNCN) personnel. There were 325 samples which were from the executives, nursing instructors, supporting staff and nursing students in the academic year 2014. The research tool was the World Health Organization Quality of Life assessment (WHOQOL - BRIEF - THAI) and the reliability of which was tested using the Cronbach’s Alpha with the result at 0.91. The statistics applied in this study were descriptive statistic. The results were as follows: 1) The Quality of Life in the aspects of physical health, psychological state, environment and overview of Quality of Life were mainly at moderate level (66.77, 54.77, 45.54, 75.38 and 57.85 percent respectively); and 2) Analyzing the Mean, it was found that QOL in all aspects of the personnel was at moderate level.

Traditional Medicinal Plants Notably Used to Treat Skin Disorders Nearby Khao Luang Mountain Hills Region, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Southern Thailand

Information on medicinal plants used to treat skin disorders around Khao Luang region was collected by field surveys and traditional healers’ interviews using semistructured open-ended interviews and questionnaires. Vernacular and scientific names of plants as well as the plant parts used were documented. Among 15 skin disorders listed, ulcer was the most dominant disorder treated with medicinal plants. Among the total 179 plant species, belonging to 154 genera of 68 families, a majority of them were trees; the most used plant species was Curcuma zedoaria; Fabaceae was the most dominant family; and the roots were the most used plant part.