Molecular docking analysis of COX-2 with compounds from Piper longum

Piper longum (Indian long pepper) is known for its use as an anti inflammatory agent in Indian Ayurvedic System of medicine. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular docking analysis of compounds from Piper longum with COX-2 using the Autodock Vina PyRx tool. Molecular docking results show that asarinine, sesamine, fargesin, and piperlonguminine have optimal binding energy of 10, 10, -9.5 and 9.4 Kcal/mol, respectively for further consideration.     

Molecular docking analysis of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor with bioactive molecules from Piper longum as potential anti-cancer agents

It is known that vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VGFR) is linked with cancer. Therefore, it is of interest to document the molecular binding features of bioactive molecules from Piper longum as potential anti-cancer agents with VGFR2 for further consideration. Thus, we document the binding features of four compounds (sesamin, fargesin, longamide and piperlonguminine) with VGFR2 for further consideration in drug discovery.     

Inhibitory Effects of Bakuchiol,Bavachin, and Isobavachalcone Isolated from Piper longum on Melanin Production in B16 Mouse Melanoma Cells

An EtOH extract of fruits of Piper longum was found to exhibit a potent inhibitory effect against α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced melanin production in B16 mouse melanoma cells. Bioassay-directed fractionation led to the isolation of prenylated phenolic compounds bakuchiol, bavachin, and isobavachalcone. These compounds and the crude extract of the fruits of P. longum may have suppressive effects against pigmentation by melanin in the skin.     

Anti-Diabetic Effects and Molecular Mechanisms of Amide Alkaloids from Piper longum Based on Network Pharmacology Integrated with Cellular Assays

Piper longum is a well-known spice and traditional medicine. It was revealed to possess anti-diabetic activity, but few information about its active component and underlying mechanism could be available. In this study, retrofractamides A ( 1 ) and C ( 2 ) isolated from P. longum showed potent inhibitory activity against PTP1B. Therefore, the potential mechanism was predicted by network pharmacology and molecular docking. PI3K/AKT was obtained as the most remarkable pathway against type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and AKT1 and GSK3β were yielded as the top two core targets of retrofractamides A ( 1 ) and C ( 2 ). Molecular docking of compounds with AKT1 and GSK3β showed strong binding affinity between them. Additionally, cellular experiments with a L6 cell model was conducted to further verify the above predictions. Results indicated that retrofractamides A ( 1 ) and C ( 2 ) exerted anti-diabetic effect via activating PI3K/AKT pathway, and they promoted glucose consumption, glucose uptake, glycogen synthesis and glycolysis.     

Antiplatelet effects of acidamides isolated from the fruits of Piper longum L.

The inhibitory effects of four acidamides, piperine, pipernonaline, piperoctadecalidine, and piperlongumine, isolated from the fruits of Piper longum L. on washed rabbit platelet aggregation were examined. All of the four tested acidamides showed dose-dependent inhibitory activities on washed rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen, arachidonic acid (AA), and platelet-activating factor (PAF), except for that induced by thrombin. Piperlongumine, in particular, showed stronger inhibitory effects than other acidamides to rabbit platelet aggregation induced by collagen, AA and PAF.     

Plant regeneration from callus cultures of Piper longum L. by organogenesis

Plant regeneration from callus cultures of Piper longum was achieved through organogenesis. In vitro grown shoots were used as explants for callus induction. Competent callus was initiated around the nodal ring of tissue using Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0 mg.l^–1- naphthaleneacetic acid and 0.2 mg.l^–1 N⁶-benzyladenine. Optimum growth regulator concentrations for shoot induction and shoot elongation were found to be 0.5 mg.l^–1 indole-3-acetic acid with 1.5 mg.l^–1 benzyladenine, and 0.1 mg.l^–1 indole-3-acetic acid with 0.2 mg.l^–1 benzyladenine, respectively. Elongated shoots were rooted on half-strength Murashige and Skoog medium having 0.1 mg.l^–1 indole3-acetic acid. The rooted plants were successfully established in soil.Abbreviations BA, N⁶ Benzyladenine - 2, 4-D 2, 4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid - IAA Indole-3-acetic acid - 2iP 2-isopentenyladenine - Kn Kinetin - MS Murashige and Skoog (1962) - NAA -Naphthaleneacetic acid     

江珧活性蛋白的分离及抗氧化作用研究

采用匀浆、硫酸铵分级沉淀和Sephadex G-100柱层析的方法从江珧的闭壳肌及内脏团分别分离到3个和2个活性蛋白峰,经化学发光法进行体外抗氧化测定,这些活性蛋白都具有清除超氧阴离子自由基、羟自由基、过氧化氢和抑制脂质过氧化作用,其中闭壳肌第三个蛋白峰(PB3)与内脏团第二个蛋白峰(PN2)抑制能力最强。     

Occurrence of symptomless source of Piper yellow mottle virus in black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) varieties and a wild Piper species

Symptomless nature of Piper yellow mottle virus (PYMoV) infection in three varieties of black pepper (Piper nigrum) (Panniyur 1, Panniyur 5 and Panchami) and a wild species of Piper (Piper colubrinum) was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using PYMoV specific primers. The virus could be transmitted from these PYMoV-infected symptomless plants onto symptom producing black pepper cv. Karimunda through mealybug vector, Ferrisia virgata and by graft transmission. About 20–50% seedlings showed typical symptoms of the PYMoV at 30 days after mealybug inoculations while it was 75–94% at 90 days after inoculation. PCR test of the inoculated seedlings confirmed the presence of PYMoV in 50–64%, 76–100% and 80–100% of plants in 30, 60 and 90 days after inoculation, respectively. Similarly, 50–66%, 91–100% and 100% of graft-transmitted plants showed typical symptoms of the disease at 30, 60 and 90 days after grafting. PCR test of the graft-transmitted plants showed 100% PYMoV infection at 60 days after grafting. The results clearly demonstrated the existence of PYMoV-infected symptomless plants that can act as source for secondary spread of the virus in the field.     

Adventitious shoot regeneration from root, internode, petiole and leaf explants of Piper colubrinum Link.

A single-step, high-frequency regeneration pro-tocol has been standardised for Phytophthora-resistant wild pepper, Piper colubrinum (Link) using root, internode, leaf and petiole explants derived from in vitro plantlets. The effect of BA on shoot-bud induction and elongation was assessed by supplementing half-strength MS medium (macronutrients at half the concentration) with different concentrations of BA, i.e. 0.2–10 mg l^–1 in induction media and 0, 0.2 and 0.5 mg l^–1 in subculture media. The interaction between culture period and BA concentration was studied by culturing the explants for 8, 15 and 30 days before the first subculture. The elongated shoots were rooted directly in soil and hardened in the greenhouse. The developed protocol would be useful in marker-assisted asymmetric hybridisation programmes involving wild-type Piper colubrinum and the cultivated species P. nigrum. Received: 4 August 1997 / Revision received: 30 January 1998 / Accepted: 12 February 1998     

Isolation and Characterization of Brassinosteroids from Leaves of Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze

Brassinosteroids are of ubiquitous occurrence in plants and elicit a wide spectrum of physiological responses. In our study, brassinosteroids were isolated and identified in topmost dormant leaves of tea plants. Six brassinosteriods, i.e. 6-deoxocastasterone, 24-epibrassinolide,3-dehydroteasterone, typhasterol, 3-deoxotyphasterol and 28-homodolicholide, were isolated and identified by GC–MS. All the brassinosteroids identified belong to important components of early and late C6 oxidation pathways proposed for brassinosteroids biosynthesis in plants. It suggests that both pathways are operating in tea to produce brassinolide, the most active brassinosteroid biologically.     

Derivatives of pheophorbide-a and pheophorbide-b from photocytotoxic Piper penangense extract

In our screening program for new photosensitizers from Malaysian biodiversity for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of cancer, MeOH extracts of ten terrestrial plants from Cameron Highlands in Pahang, Peninsular Malaysia, were tested. In a short-term 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, 20 μg/ml each of these extracts were incubated in a pro-myelocytic leukemia cell-line, HL60, with or without irradiation with 9.6 J/cm(2) of a broad spectrum light. Three samples, Labisia longistyla, Dichroa febrifuga, and Piper penangense, were photocytotoxic by having at least twofold lower cell viability when irradiated compared to the unirradiated assay. The extract of the leaves of Piper penangense, a shrub belonging to the family Piperaceae and widely distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions in the world, was subsequently subjected to bioassay-guided fractionation using standard chromatography methods. Eight derivatives of pheophorbide-a and -b were identified from the fractions that exhibited strong photocytotoxicity. By spectroscopic analysis, these compounds were identified as pheophorbide-a methyl ester (1), (R,S)-13(2) -hydroxypheophorbide-a methyl ester (2 and 3), pheophorbide-b methyl ester (4), 13(2) -hydroxypheophorbide-b methyl ester (5), 15(2) -hydroxylactone pheophorbide-a methyl ester (6), 15(2) -methoxylactone pheophorbide-a methyl ester (7), 15(2) -methoxylactone pheophorbide-b methyl ester (8).     

Characterization of Bioactive Actinomycetes Isolated from Kadolkele Mangrove Sediments,Sri Lanka

Exploring untapped microbial potentials in previously uncharted environments has become crucial in discovering novel secondary metabolites and enzymes for biotechnological applications. Among prokaryotes, actinomycetes are well recognized for producing a vast range of secondary metabolites and extracellular enzymes. In the present study, we have used surface sediments from ‘Kadolkele’ mangrove ecosystem located in the Negombo lagoon area, Sri Lanka, to isolate actinomycetes with bioactive potentials. A total of six actinomycetes were isolated on modified-starch casein agar and characterized. The isolates were evaluated for their antibacterial activity against four selected bacterial strains and to produce extracellular enzymes: cellulase, amylase, protease, and lipase. Three out of the six isolates exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Bacillus cereus, but not against Listeria monocytogenes. Five strains could produce extracellular cellulase, while all six isolates exhibited amylase activity. Only three of the six isolates were positive for protease and lipase assays separately. Ac-1, Ac-2, and Ac-9, identified as Streptomyces spp. with the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, were used for pigment extraction using four different solvents. Acetone-extracted crude pigments of Ac-1and Ac-2 were further used in well-diffusion assays, and growth inhibition of test bacteria was observed only with the crude pigment extract of Ac-2. Further, six different commercially available fabrics were dyed with crude pigments of Ac-1. The dyed fabrics retained the yellow color after acid, alkaline, and cold-water treatments suggesting the potential of the Ac-1 pigment to be used in biotechnological applications.     

Isolation and Characterization of Two Protein Isoforms with Antiviral Activity from Chenopodium album L Leaves

Two antiviral proteins (AVPs) named CAP-I and CAP-II isolated and purified from the leaves of Chenopodium album cv Pusa Bathua 1 were found to inhibit tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and sunnhemp rosette virus (SRV) infection on their respective host plants. The molecular weight of both the AVPs was found to be 24 kD. They were devoid of carbohydrate moiety and were highly basic with pI ～10.2. However, they differed with respect to amino acid composition and N-terminal sequence. They also differed with respect to IC₅₀ values, and CAP-I was found to be 2.5 fold more effective than CAP-II in inhibiting viral infection.     

大肠杆菌-长双歧杆菌穿梭载体的构建及PTEN在长双歧杆菌中的表达

长双歧杆菌可特异地定植于实体瘤低氧区,可用做肿瘤靶向性基因治疗的载体,而构建大肠杆菌-长双歧杆菌穿梭质粒则被证明是外源基因在长双歧杆菌中稳定表达的有效途径。为了构建能在长双歧杆菌中稳定表达外源基因的穿梭质粒并检测携带抑癌基因的工程菌对小鼠实体瘤的抑制效果,利用软件设计并合成了48条部分序列相互重叠的引物,通过PCR合成了长双歧杆菌质粒pMB1序列及长双歧杆菌HU启动子区序列,插入克隆载体pMD18-T,构建穿梭载体pMB-HU,该载体可在大肠杆菌DH5α及长双歧杆菌L17中稳定复制。PTEN基因编码具有蛋白质和酯类双重特异性磷酸酶活性的抑癌因子。将PTEN基因cDNA序列插入载体pMB-HU中HU启动子下游,构建重组质粒pMB-HU-PTEN,电击转化长双歧杆菌后,Western blot检测表明,表达产物中存在55kDa的PTEN蛋白特异条带。抑癌试验表明:与对照组相比,携带PTEN基因的长双歧杆菌可显著抑制小鼠实体瘤的生长。上述结果为以长双歧杆菌为载体的实体瘤靶向性基因治疗研究奠定了基础。     

Inhibitory effect of Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. and Piper aduncum L. essential oils from Ecuador on West Nile virus infection

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus responsible of neuroinvasive manifestations. Natural products are well-known for their biological activities and pharmaceutical application. In this study, the inhibitory effects of essential oils (EOs) of Ocotea quixos (Lam.) Kosterm. and Piper aduncum L. on WNV replication were investigated. WNV was incubated with EOs before adsorption on Vero cells, viral replication was carried out in the absence or presence of EO. Cells were exposed to EO before the adsorption of untreated-virus. GC-MS and GC-FID were used for chemical characterization of EOs. Cell protection from infection was observed for both EOs. P. aduncum EO was characterized by dillapiole as main compound (48.21%) and O. quixos EO by 1,8-cineole (39.15%). Further investigations, such as the study of molecular and cellular mechanisms of action and in vivo evaluation, should be performed on these essential oils to derive new potential drugs against WNV.     

Microvessels from the Spinal Cord: Isolation Procedure and Characterization of the Fraction

Abstract: A simple method for the preparation of microvessels from the spinal cord is described. The fraction being enriched in the microvessels is characterized by morphological techniques and compared biochemically with the original suspension. The method makes possible detailed studies on the metabolism of microvessels and can be complementary to procedures that have been developed for separating the capillaries from other brain tissues.     

Effects of Piper cubeba L. essential oil on methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus: an AFM and TEM study

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic‐resistant bacteria is creating a real challenge for health care systems worldwide, making the development of novel antibiotics a necessity. In addition to the development of new antibiotics, there is an urgent need for in‐depth characterization of the mechanisms of bacterial resistance toward new drugs. Here, we used essential oils extracted in our laboratory from Piper cubeba against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300, one of the most prominent antibiotic‐resistant bacteria. Effects of the essential oils extracted from P cubeba on bacteria were mainly evaluated using 2 powerful microscopy techniques: atomic force microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. High‐resolution atomic force microscopy images of the cells were obtained close to their native environment by immobilizing the cells on porous Polyether sulfone membranes, which were prepared in our laboratory with a wide range and distribution of pore sizes and depth. Inhibition zones (mm) and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined. Two different concentrations of the oil were used to treat the cells: 50 μg/mL minimum inhibitory concentration and 25 μg/mL. The 50 μg/mL oil solution caused severe damage to the bacterial cells at microscopic levels while the 25 μg/mL solution showed no effects compared to the control. However, at nanoscopic levels, the 25 μg/mL oil solution caused significant changes in the cell wall, which could potentially impair bacterial activities. These results were also confirmed by transmission electron microscopy micrographs. Our results indicate that the extract has a good biological activity against methicillin‐ and oxacillin‐resistant S aureus and that it acts on the cell wall and plasma (cytoplasmic) membrane.     

大叶种胡椒实生苗茎尖培养和合子胚培养研究

利用各种表面消毒方法对采自海南岛三个地区的胡椒大田植株的外植体进行消毒试验,由于内源性污染,除胡椒成熟种子外,其它各种大田外植体的表面消毒均未能成功。以胡椒成熟种子无菌萌发的实生苗茎尖作外植体,在1/2MS(MS或B5)+1.5mg/LBA+0～0.2mg/LIAA(或NAA)上可实现丛生芽增殖。茎尖水平或竖直接种方法显著影响茎尖的增殖;水平接种茎尖的生长和增殖效果优于竖直茎尖接种方式。茎尖增殖率随BA浓度的增加而提高,但BA浓度大于2.0mg/L时会使苗芽的质量降低,愈伤组织产生严重,苗芽细小,抽出不明显,颜色发黄甚至变白。附加或不附加100mg/LAdSO4对丛生芽增殖没有明显影响。生根培养基以1/2MS+1.0mg/LIBA+0.5～1.0mg/LIAA为最优,生根率可达100%;在细沙∶土∶椰糠(1∶1∶1)的基质中常规炼苗,成活率可达98%以上。液体纸桥法对胡椒种胚进行培养,在不附加任何生长调节物质的培养基(MS、B5或SH)上只产生单苗,而在附加不同种类和不同浓度的生长调节物质的培养基上则诱导形成愈伤组织,但未能实现分化;以胡椒无菌萌发的实生苗胚轴和叶片切段作外植体进行培养,较易诱导产生愈伤组织,但难以实现分化。