Secondary metabolites of ponderosa lemon (Citrus pyriformis) and their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities

Column chromatography of the dichloromethane fraction from an aqueous methanolic extract of fruit peel of Citrus pyriformis Hassk. (Rutaceae) resulted in the isolation of seven compounds including one coumarin (citropten), two limonoids (limonin and deacetylnomilin), and four sterols (stigmasterol, ergosterol, sitosteryl-3-beta-D-glucoside, and sitosteryl-6'-O-acyl-3-beta-D-glucoside). From the ethyl acetate fraction naringin, hesperidin, and neohesperidin were isolated. The dichloromethane extract of the defatted seeds contained three additional compounds, nomilin, ichangin, and cholesterol. The isolated compounds were identified by MS (EI, CI, and ESI), 1H, 13C, and 2D-NMR spectral data. The limonoids were determined qualitatively by LC-ESI/MS resulting in the identification of 11 limonoid aglycones. The total methanolic extract of the peel and the petroleum ether, dichloromethane, and ethyl acetate fractions were screened for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The ethyl acetate fraction exhibited a significant scavenging activity for DPPH free radicals (IC50 = 132.3 microg/mL). The petroleum ether fraction inhibited 5-lipoxygenase with IC50 = 30.6 microg/mL indicating potential anti-inflammatory properties. Limonin has a potent cytotoxic effect against COS7 cells [IC50 = (35.0 +/- 6.1) microM] compared with acteoside as a positive control [IC50 = (144.5 +/- 10.96) microM].     

In vitro activity of the hydroethanolic extract and biflavonoids isolated from Selaginella sellowii on Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis

This study is the first phytochemical investigation of Selaginella sellowii and demonstrates the antileishmanial activity of the hydroethanolic extract from this plant (SSHE), as well as of the biflavonoids amentoflavone and robustaflavone, isolated from this species. The effects of these substances were evaluated on intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, an aetiological agent of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. SSHE was highly active against intracellular amastigotes [the half maximum inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 20.2 µg/mL]. Fractionation of the extract led to the isolation of the two bioflavonoids with the highest activity: amentoflavone, which was about 200 times more active (IC50 = 0.1 μg/mL) and less cytotoxic than SSHE (IC50 = 2.2 and 3 μg/mL, respectively on NIH/3T3 and J774.A1 cells), with a high selectivity index (SI) (22 and 30), robustaflavone, which was also active against L. amazonensis (IC50 = 2.8 µg/mL), but more cytotoxic, with IC50 = 25.5 µg/mL (SI = 9.1) on NIH/3T3 cells and IC50 = 3.1 µg/mL (SI = 1.1) on J774.A1 cells. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was lower in cells treated with amentoflavone (suggesting that NO does not contribute to the leishmanicidal mechanism in this case), while NO release was higher after treatment with robustaflavone. S. sellowii may be a potential source of biflavonoids that could provide promising compounds for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.     

Phytoecdysteroids of Silene guntensis and their in vitro cytotoxic and antioxidant activity

Phytoecdysteroids from aerial parts of Silene guntensis B. Fedtsch were investigated and three phytoecdysteroids were isolated: 2,3-diacetate-22-benzoate-20-hydroxyecdysone (1), 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone (2), and 20-hydroxyecdysone (3). Their chemical structures were elucidated by DEPT, COSY, 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. The isolated compounds 1-3 and crude extracts were evaluated for their antiproliferative and antioxidant activities. They exhibited substantial inhibition of cell growth against human cervix adenocarcinoma (HeLa), hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2), and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. The chloroform extract showed potent cytotoxic effects [IC50 values (26.58 +/- 1.88) microg/mL, (20.99 +/- 1.64) microg/mL, and (18.89 +/- 2.36) microg/mL, respectively]. The new compound 1 was mildly cytotoxic compared to extracts [(127.97 +/- 11.34), (106.76 +/- 7.81), and (203.10 +/- 19.56) microg/mL, respectively]. Water and n-butanol extracts exhibited good antioxidant activities [IC50 values of (68.90 +/- 6.45) microg/mL and (69.12 +/- 5.85) microg/mL, respectively].     

The action of inhibitors of protein kinases on fluid and ion secretion by Malpighian tubules of Locusta migratoria,L

Fluid production in Locusta Malpighian tubules was stimulated by corpora cardiaca extract (c. 100%) and dibutyryl cAMP (c. 50%). Chelerythrine and staurosporine (Protein kinase C, PKC inhibitors) inhibited it in the range 0.07-60&mgr;M (IC(50)3&mgr;M), whereas Rp-cAMP (Protein kinase A, PKA inhibitor) caused inhibition over the concentration range 10-1000&mgr;M (IC(50)264&mgr;M). The protein phosphatase inhibitor, okadaic acid, was also inhibitory over the concentration range 0.1-1000nM (IC(50) 91nM). CC extract stimulation increased fluid [Na(+)] from 41 to 59mM and decreased [K(+)] from 127 to 107mM; stimulation with cAMP had no such effect. The PKC inhibitors reduced the [K(+)] in the secreted fluid from 126 to 107mM but had no effect on the [Na(+)]. Subsequent addition of CC extract stimulated fluid production and caused an increase in [Na(+)] from 41 to about 50mM. The addition of Rp-cAMP reduced fluid production but caused a decrease in [Na(+)] from 37 to 28mM and an increase in its [K(+)] from 124 to 148mM. Fluid production by Rp-cAMP inhibited tubules was not stimulated by corpora cardiaca extract or cAMP, but [Na(+)] rose to 36mM. Protein phosphorylation plays a role in the regulation of fluid production probably via the apical and basal membrane cation transporters.     

Spasmolytic action of the methanol extract and isojuripidine from Solanum asterophorum Mart. (Solanaceae) leaves in guinea-pig ileum

Solanum asterophorum Mart. (Solanaceae) is a shrub popularly known as "jurubeba-defogo" in the northeast of Brazil. In the present work, the methanol extract (SA-MeOH, 3750 microg/mL) and isojuripidine (10(-7) - 3 x 10(-4) M), a steroidal alkaloid obtained from S. asterophorum Mart. leaves, inhibited phasic contractions induced by both 1 microM histamine [IC50 = (225.8 +/- 47.4), g/mL and (3.5 +/- 0.8) x 10(-5) M] or 1 microm acetylcholine [IC50 = (112.5 +/- 20.6) microg/mL and (2.3 +/- 0.4) x 10(-5) M] in guinea-pig ileum, respectively. The extract and isojuripidine also relaxed the ileum (SA-MeOH, 1-750 microg/mL, and isojuripidine, 10(-9) - 3 x 10(-4) M) pre-contracted with 1 M histamine [EC50 = (101.1 +/- 17.4) microg/mL and (1.2 +/- 0.3) x 10(-6) M] or 1 microM acetylcholine [EC50 = (136.8 +/- 21.1) microg/mL and (1.9 +/- 0.4) x 10(-6) M] or 40 mm KCl [EC50 = (149.4 +/- 19.5) microg/mL and (1.8 +/- 0.7) x 10(-6) M], respectively, in an equipotent and concentration-dependent manner. This effect is probably due to inhibition of calcium influx through voltage-operated calcium (Ca(v)) channels. To confirm this hypothesis, we evaluated their effect on cumulative CaCl2 curves in depolarizing medium nominally without Ca2+. SA-MeOH (27, 243, 500, and 750 microg/mL) and isojuripidine (3 x 10(-8), 10(-6), 3 x 10(-5), and 3 x 10(-4) M) inhibited the contractions induced by CaCl2, in a concentration-dependent manner. The concentration-response curves to CaCl2, in the presence of SA-MeOH and isojuripidine, were shifted downward in relation to a control curve in a non-parallel manner resulting in reduction of the maximum effect [E(max) = (71.2 +/- 9.2); (57.4 +/- 9.2); (43.8 +/- 3.4); (41.5 +/- 2.4) and (90.6 +/- 4.8); (74.7 +/- 8.7); (66.4 +/- 3.9); (31.3 +/- 4.1)%, respectively]. SA-MeOH and isojuripidine present spasmolytic action in guinea-pig ileum due to a partially blockade of calcium influx through Ca(v) channels.     

Enantioselective binding to the human organic cation transporter-1 (hOCT1) determined using an immobilized hOCT1 liquid chromatographic stationary phase

A liquid chromatography stationary phase containing immobilized membranes obtained from a cell line that expresses the human organic cation transporter (hOCT1-IAM) has been used to study the binding of the enantiomers of propranolol, atenolol, pseudoephedrine, and alpha-methylbenzylamine to the immobilized hOCT1. Frontal displacement chromatography was used to determine the binding affinities (K(d) values), and the data demonstrate that there was an enantioselective difference in the K(d) values of the enantiomers of propranolol, atenolol, and pseudoephedrine, while alpha-methylbenzylamine did not significantly bind to the transporter. Competitive inhibition studies with the cell line used to create the chromatographic column demonstrated that, for the enantiomers of propranolol, the ratio of the chromatographically determined K(d) values [K(d (+)-(R)-propranolol)/K(d (-)-(S)-propranolol) = 2.98] reflected an enantioselective difference in the functional activity of the two enantiomers [IC(50 (+)-(R)-propranolol)/IC(50 (-)-(S)-propranolol) = 2.75]. The chromatographically determined K(d) values were used to construct an initial pharmacophore which contains a hydrogen bond donating site that appears to be responsible for the observed enantioselectivity.     

Homocysteic Acid as a Putative Excitatory Amino Acid Neurotransmitter: I. Postsynaptic Characteristics at N-Methyl-D-Aspartate-Type Receptors on Striatal Cholinergic Interneurons

The actions of the stereoisomers of homocysteic acid (HCA) were characterized at N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA)-type receptors which mediate excitatory amino acid-evoked [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) release from striatal cholinergic interneurons. Like NMDA, L-HCA and D-HCA evoked the release of [3H]ACh formed from [3H]choline in striatal slices. The concentration-response curve for L-HCA was virtually superimposable on that for NMDA, yielding an equal EC50 value (56.1 microM) and maximal response. However, D-HCA was weaker, with an EC50 value of 81.1 microM, and an apparently smaller maximal response. L-HCA-evoked [3H]ACh release was inhibited by the same categories of compounds which inhibit NMDA-evoked [3H]ACh release: the divalent ion Mg2+ (IC50 = 25.8 microM); competitive NMDA antagonists 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (IC50 = 51.2 microM) and 3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid (IC50 = 20.1 microM); and the dissociative anesthetics tiletamine (IC50 = 0.59 microM) and MK-801 (IC50 = 0.087 microM). Like NMDA, L-HCA produced a tachyphylaxis in this system. Tachyphylaxis to NMDA resulted in a decrease response to L-HCA, and conversely, tachyphylaxis to L-HCA resulted in a decrease response to NMDA. The results suggest that L-HCA is an agonist at the NMDA-type receptor and may represent an endogenous ligand for this excitatory amino acid receptor.     

内蒙古产白刺、小果白刺和霸王α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性

首次利用体外α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制模型对内蒙古产3种蒺藜科植物的9个提取物进行活性评价,并与阳性对照Acarbose比较,发现3种植物均有抑制α-葡萄糖苷酶活性。其中白刺石油醚提取物对α-葡萄糖苷酶的抑制活性(IC50=81.80 mg/L)最高,其余依次为小果白刺乙酸乙酯提取物(IC50=610.29 mg/L),霸王石油醚(IC50=627.22 mg/L)和乙酸乙酯提取物(IC50=838.40 mg/L),它们的抑制活性远大于阳性对照Acarbose(IC50=1103.01 mg/L)。结果发现,不同植物不同溶剂提取物的α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性不同。同一植物不同溶剂提取物相比较,甲醇提取物的α-葡萄糖苷酶抑制活性不及乙酸乙酯和石油醚提取物。     

Cytotoxic cholestane and pregnane glycosides from Tribulus macropterus

The methanol extract of the whole parts of Tribulus macropterus Boiss. (family Zygophyllaceae) showed cytotoxic activity against a human tumour cell line (hepatocyte generation 2, HepG2) (IC50 = 2.9 microg/ml). The n-butanolic fraction obtained from successive fractionation of the methanolic extract exhibited activity against HepG2 (IC50 = 2.6 microg/ml). Therefore, this fraction was subjected to separation using different chromatographic techniques. Five compounds, 1-5, were isolated and identified as: (22S,25S)-16beta,22,26-trihydroxy-cholest-4-en-3-one-16-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-xylopyranoside (1), (22S,25S)-16beta,22,26-trihydroxy-cholest-4-en-3-one-16-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->3)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), sucrose (3), D-pinitol (4) and 3beta-hydroxy-5a-pregn-16(17)en-20-one-3-O-beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->2)-[beta-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-->3)]-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-ga-lactopyranoside (5) on the basis of spectroscopic and chemical data. The three steroidal compounds 1, 2 and 5 were also tested against the same cell line HepG2 and their IC50 values were 2.4, 2.2 and 1.1 microg/ml, respectively.     

Protoporphyrinogen oxidase as a molecular target for diphenyl ether herbicides.

Diphenyl ether herbicides induce an accumulation of protoporphyrin IX in plant tissues. By analogy to human porphyria, the accumulation could be attributed to decreased (Mg or Fe)-chelatase or protoporphyrinogen oxidase activities. Possible effects of acifluorfen-methyl on these enzymes were investigated in isolated corn (maize, Zea mays) etioplasts, potato (Solanum tuberosum) and mouse mitochondria, and yeast mitochondrial membranes. Acifluorfen-methyl was strongly inhibitory to protoporphyrinogen oxidase activities whatever their origins [concn. causing 50% inhibition (IC50) = 4 nM for the corn etioplast enzyme]. By contrast, it was roughly 100,000 times less active on (Mg or Fe)-chelatase activities (IC50 = 80-100 microM). Our results lead us to propose protoporphyrinogen oxidase as a cellular target for diphenyl ether herbicides.     

N-Acyl-1,2,3,4a,5,10b-hexahydro-[1]benzopyrano-[3,4-b][1,4]oxazine-9-carbonitriles as bladder-selective potassium channel openers

Optically active N-acyl-5,5-dimethyl-1,2,3,4a,5,10b-hexahydro-[1]benzopyrano[3,4-b][1,4]oxazine-9-carbonitriles 2-22 were synthesized as rigid analogues of cromakalim. The (4aR, 10bR)-N-benzoyl derivative (-)-11 was identified as a bladder-selective KCO (IC50, bladder = 8.2 microM, C50, portal vein = 34.5 microM). Among the analogues of 11 with substitution on the benzoyl moiety, the 3-methyl analogue (-)-14 showed highly potent and selective activity at portal vein (IC50, bladder = 279 microM, IC50, portal vein = 0.54 microM). The 4-bromo analogue (-)-19 (IC50, bladder = 2.0 microM, IC50, portal vein = 8.1 microM) and the 4-hydroxy analogue (-)-21 (IC50, bladder = 3.8 microM, IC50, portal vein = 75 microM) showed enhanced activity at the bladder, while maintaining unprecedented bladder selectivity in vitro. The N-benzenesulfonyl analogue (-)-22, a bioisoster of (-)-11, showed similar activity at the bladder with enhanced selectivity (IC50, bladder = 11.6 microM, IC50, portal vein = 120 microM).     

Protective effects of a standard extract of Mangifera indica L. (VIMANG) against mouse ear edemas and its inhibition of eicosanoid production in J774 murine macrophages

A standard aqueous extract of Mangifera indica L., used in Cuba as antioxidant under the brand name VIMANG, was tested in vivo for its anti-inflammatory activity, using commonly accepted assays. The standard extract of M. indica, administered orally (50-200mg/kg body wt.), reduced ear edema induced by arachidonic acid (AA) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) in mice. In the PMA model, M. indica extract also reduced myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In vitro studies were performed using macrophage cell line J774 stimulated with pro-inflammatory stimuli lipopolysaccharide-interferon gamma (LPS-IFNgamma) or calcium ionophore A23187 to determine prostaglandin PGE(2) or leukotriene LTB(4) release, respectively. The extract inhibited the induction of PGE(2) and LTB(4) with IC(50) values of 21.7 and 26.0microg/ml, respectively. Mangiferin (a glucosylxanthone isolated from the extract) also inhibited these AA metabolites (PGE(2), IC(50) value=17.2microg/ml and LTB(4), IC(50) value=2.1microg/ml). These results represent an important contribution to the elucidation of the mechanism involved in the anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive effects reported for the standard extract of M. indica VIMANG.     

Aminopeptidases in Caenorhabditis elegans and Panagrellus redivivus: detection using peptide and non-peptide substrates

Aminopeptidase activities were detected in extracts of the free-living nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Panagrellus redivivus using the aminoacyl substrate L-alanine-4-nitroanilide. The activities exhibited similarities in Km (C. elegans = 2.22 mM; P. redivivus = 2.09 mM) and specific activity (C. elegans = 1.38 +/- 0.43 mAU min(-1) x g(-1); P. redivivus, 1.23 +/- 0.18m AU min(-1) microg(-1). Each is inhibited competitively by amastatin (C. elegans IC50 = 0.46 microM; P. redivivus IC50 = 15.90 microM) and non-competitively by leuhistin (C. elegans IC50 = 3.00 microM; P. redivivus IC50 = 37.35 microM). The bioactive peptides adipokinetic hormone and substance P decrease the apparent aminopeptidase activities of each extract suggesting that the peptides compete with the Ala-pNA as substrates. With each extract, adipokinetic hormone appeared to be the more effective substrate. Digestion of adipokinetic hormone by C. elegans and P. redivivus extracts in the presence and absence of 1 mM amastatin produced distinct chromatographic profiles that suggest different digestion patterns for the two species. However, amastatin had clear effects on chromatographic profiles from each species indicating that an aminopeptidase is involved in the digestion of the peptide substrates. The data presented indicate that extracts of free-living nematodes are capable of metabolizing peptide hormones, and that this metabolism involves substrate-selective aminopeptidases.     

Enantioselective degradation of hexaconazole in rat hepatic microsomes in vitro

Hexaconazole [(RS)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl) hexan-2-ol] is a potent triazole fungicide and consists of a pair of enantiomers. Enantioselective degradation of hexaconazole was investigated in rat hepatic microsomes in vitro. Concentrations of (-)- and (+)-hexaconazole and enantiomer fraction were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with a cellulose-tris-(3,5-dimethylphenylcarbamate)-based chiral stationary phase. The t(1/2) of (-)-hexaconazole and (+)-hexaconazole were 23.70 and 13.95 min for rac- hexaconazole and 44.18 and 23.54 for enantiomers examined separately. Furthermore, hexaconazole is configurationally stable in rat hepatic microsomes, demonstrating no chiral inversion from the (-)-hexaconazole to (+)-hexaconazole or vice versa. Intrinsic metabolic clearance of (+)-hexaconazole is 1.12 times than that of (-)-hexaconazole. Interaction study revealed that there was competitive inhibition between (-)-hexaconazole and (+)-hexaconazole. In addition, there was a significant difference between the inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) of (-)- to (+)-hexaconazole and (+)- to (-)-hexaconazole [IC(50)(-)/(+)/IC(50)(+)/(-) = 1.88]. These results may have potential implications for better environmental and ecological risk assessment for hexaconazole.     

Prostaglandin-H-synthase (PGHS)-1 and -2 microtiter assays for the testing of herbal drugs and in vitro inhibition of PGHS-isoenzyms by polyunsaturated fatty acids from Platycodi radix

In order to test inhibition of prostaglandin-H-synthase-1 and -2 (PGHS-1 and -2) by plant extracts, we have established two enzyme based in vitro assays with enzyme immunoassay (EIA) evaluation. The assays have been evaluated with known synthetic inhibitors and with plant extracts. In a screening of traditionally used Chinese herbs for anti-inflammatory activity, a series of n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts showed significant inhibitory effect in comparison with the known specific PGHS-2 inhibitors NS-398 (IC(50) = 2.6 microM) and nimesulide (IC(50) = 36 microM). The lipophilic extracts of the Chinese drug Jiengeng, the dried roots of Platycodon grandiflorum (Jacq.) A. DC. (Campanulaceae), showed good inhibitory activity against both PGHS isoenzymes. The directly prepared DCM-extract exhibited better activity against PGHS-2 (IC(50) = 4.0 microg/ml) than against PGHS-1 (IC(50) = 17.6 microg/ml). We identified fatty acids as main active constituents and quantified them. Linoleic acid showed the highest content (ca. 20% of the dried extract) and a high and preferential PGHS-2 inhibitory activity (IC(50) (PGHS-1) = 20 microM; IC(50) (PGHS-2) = 2 microM). The comparison of the concentration of linoleic acid and the inhibitory activity of the direct DCM-extract showed, that linoleic acid is mainly responsible for the in vitro activity of the extract on PGHS-2.     

Modulation of Non-N-Methyl-D-Aspartate Receptors in Cultured Cerebellar Granule Cells

Kainic acid (KA), quisqualic acid (QUIS), and alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) stimulated D-[3H]aspartate release from cultured cerebellar granule cells in a concentration-dependent way. The EC50 values were 50 microM for KA (Gallo et al., 1987) and 20 microM for both QUIS and AMPA, but the efficacy of QUIS appeared to be greater than that of AMPA. The release of D-[3H]aspartate induced by KA, QUIS, and AMPA was blocked, in a dose-dependent way, by the new glutamate receptor antagonist 6-cyano-2,3-dihydroxy-7-nitroquinoxaline (CNQX); IC50 values were 0.7 microM in the case of AMPA (50 microM) and 1 microM in the case of KA (50 microM). AMPA (50-300 microM) inhibited the effect of 50 microM KA on D-[3H]aspartate release. At 300 microM AMPA, the effect of KA plus AMPA was not antagonized by the KA receptor antagonist kynurenic acid (KYN). In contrast, when KA was used at an ineffective concentration (10 microM), the addition of AMPA at concentrations below the EC50 value (10-20 microM) resulted in a synergistic effect on D-[3H]aspartate release. In this case, the evoked release of D-[3H]aspartate was sensitive to KYN. KA stimulated the formation of cyclic GMP, whereas QUIS, AMPA, and glutamate were ineffective. The accumulation of cyclic GMP elicited by KA (100 microM) was prevented not only by the antagonists CNQX (IC50 = 1.5 microM) and KYN (IC50 = 200 microM), but also by the agonists AMPA (IC50 = 50 microM) QUIS (IC50 = 3.5 microM), and glutamate (IC50 = 100 microM). We conclude that AMPA, like QUIS, may act as a partial agonist at KA receptors. Moreover, CNQX effectively antagonizes non-N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor-mediated responses in cultured cerebellar granule cells.     

Trypanocidal and cytotoxic effects of 30 Ethiopian medicinal plants

Trypanocidal and cytotoxic effects of traditionally used medicinal plants of Ethiopia were evaluated. A total of 60 crude plant extracts were prepared from 30 plant species using CH2Cl2 and MeOH. Effect upon cell proliferation by the extracts, for both bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and human leukaemia HL-60 cells, was assessed using resazurin as vital stain. Of all CH2Cl2 and MeOH extracts evaluated against the trypanosomes, the CH2Cl2 extracts from five plants showed trypanocidal activity with an IC50 value below 20 microg/mL: Dovyalis abyssinica (Flacourtiaceae), IC50 = 1.4 microg/mL; Albizia schimperiana (Fabaceae), IC50 = 7.2 microg/mL; Ocimum urticifolium (Lamiaceae), IC50 = 14.0 microg/mL; Acokanthera schimperi (Apocynaceae), IC50 = 16.6 microg/mL; and Chenopodium ambrosioides (Chenopodiaceae), IC50 = 17.1 microg/mL. A pronounced and selective killing of trypanosomes with minimal toxic effect on human cells was exhibited by Dovyalis abyssinica (CH2Cl2 extract, SI = 125.0; MeOH extract, SI = 57.7) followed by Albizia schimperiana (CH2Cl2 extract, SI = 31.3) and Ocimum urticifolium (MeOH extract, SI = 16.0). In conclusion, the screening of 30 Ethiopian medicinal plants identified three species with good antitrypanosomal activities and low toxicity towards human cells. Dovyalis abyssinica might be a promising candidate for phytotherapy of trypanosomiasis.     

Opioid binding site in EL-4 thymoma cell line

Using EL-4 thymoma cell-line we found a binding site similar to the k opioid receptor of the nervous system. The Scatchard analysis of the binding of [3H] bremazocine indicated a single site with a KD = 60 +/- 17 nM and Bmax = 2.7 +/- 0.8 pmols/10(6) cells (51 pmols/mg total cell proteins). To characterize this binding site, competition studies were performed using selective compounds for the various opioid receptors. The k agonist U-50,488H was the most potent displacer of [3H] bremazocine with an IC50 value = 0.57 microM. The two stereoisomers levorphanol and dextrorphan showed the same affinity for this site (IC50 = 2.9 microM and 1.9 microM respectively). While morphine, [D-Pen2, D-Pen5] enkephalin and beta-endorphin failed to displace, except at very high concentrations, codeine demonstrated a IC50 = 60 microM, that was similar to naloxone (IC50 = 69 microM).