New cerebrosides and ceramide with other constituents from the aerial parts of Raphidiocystis mannii Hook. f. and their cytotoxic activities.

Two new cerebrosides, raphimanosides A (1) and B (2), and a new ceramide, raphimanide (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Raphidiocystis mannii Hook. f., along with ten known compounds (4-13).

The Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of the Methanolic Extract, Fractions, and Isolated Compounds from Baker f. (Fabaceae).

Inflammation is a natural body's defense mechanism against harmful stimuli such as pathogens, chemicals, or irradiation. But when the inflammatory response becomes permanent, it can lead to serious health problems. In the present study, the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potentials of the methanolic extract (EMME), as well as its isolated fractions (FA-FJ) and compounds (-), were evaluated by using in vitro and cellular models.

Epicatechin Isolated from Sonn. (Litchi) Fruit Peel Ethyl Acetate Extract Modulated Glucose Uptake in Chang Cells and Suppressed ROS Production in RAW 264.7 Macrophages.

Bioactive flavonoid epicatechin has been reported in the peel of litchi fruit but isolated from its hydroalcoholic extracts. This study isolated epicatechin with cellular glucose uptake modulatory and ROS production inhibitory properties from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract using a bioassay-guided approach. The fruit peel was defatted with hexane and sequentially extracted using dichloromethane (DCM), EtOAc, methanol (MeOH) and water.

Bioactive Fractions Isolated from Harungana madagascariensis Lam. and Psorospermum aurantiacum Engl. Regulate Collagen and Melanin Biosynthesis Gene Expression in UVB-Irradiated Cells with Additional Anti-Inflammatory Potential.

Background: Harungana madagascariensis (HM) and Psorospermum aurantiacum (PA), used traditionally for skin care, have been reported to upregulate the expression of intracellular antioxidant genes, thereby preventing melanoma and protecting fibroblast cell lines from Ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced intracellular oxidative stress.

Aims: This investigation aimed to identify major compounds in bioactive fractions using bioassay- guided fractionation.

Methods: The anti-inflammatory effect of fractions was determined by measuring their inhibitory activity on 15-lipoxygenase and nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.

In vitro antioxidant activity of crude extracts of Harpagophytum zeyheri and their anti-inflammatory and cytotoxicity activity compared with diclofenac.

Background: This study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant activity and comparison of anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity of Harpagopytum zeyheri with diclofenac.

Methods: In vitro assays were conducted using water, ethanol, and ethyl acetate extracts of H.zeyheri.

Asperpyrone, a rare -pyrone metabolite produced by an endophytic fungus sp. isolated from (Planch. & Triana) Oliv.

A new -pyrone, asperpyrone () and two known compounds, stigmasterol () and 7-hydroxy-3-(2,3-dihydroxybutyl)-1(3)-Isobenzofuranone () were isolated from the solid rice culture of the endophytic fungus sp., an endophytic fungus isolated from the fresh inner tissue of the barks of . Their structures were determined by extensive spectral analysis including 1 D and 2 D NMR, HRESIMS and single-crystal X-ray crystallographic analysis.

Salinomycin promotes T-cell proliferation by inhibiting the expression and enzymatic activity of immunosuppressive indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase in human breast cancer cells.

Indoleamine 2,3 dioxygenase (IDO) is upregulated in many tumor types, including breast cancer, and plays a reputable role in promoting tumor immune tolerance. The importance of the immunosuppressive mechanism of IDO by suppressing T-cell function has garnered profound interest in the development of clinical IDO inhibitors. Herein, we established a screening method with cervical HeLa cells to induce IDO expression using interferon-γ (IFN-γ).

4,6-Substituted-1H-Indazoles as potent IDO1/TDO dual inhibitors.

Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO) are constitutively overexpressed in many types of cancer cells and exert important immunosuppressive functions. In this article, a series of 4,6-substituted-1H-indazole derivatives were synthesized and evaluated the inhibitory activities against IDO1 and TDO, as well as their structure-activity relationships (SARs). Among these, compound 35 displayed the most IDO1 inhibitory potency with an IC value of 0.

Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of leaf extracts of eleven South African medicinal plants used traditionally to treat inflammation.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Inflammation is a complex mechanism employed by the body to promote healing and restoration to normal function in the event of injury. Eleven plant species were selected in this study based on their use in traditional medicine against inflammation in South Africa.

Methods: Hexane, acetone, ethanol, methanol and water extracts of the powdered plants were prepared and a total of fifty-five extracts were tested for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

Inhibition of TPL2 by interferon-α suppresses bladder cancer through activation of PDE4D.

Background: Drugs that inhibit the MEK/ERK pathway have therapeutic benefit in bladder cancer treatment but responses vary with patients, for reasons that are still not very clear. Interferon-α (IFN-α) is also used as a therapeutic agent for bladder cancer treatment but the response rate is low. It was found that IFN-α could enhance the cytotoxic effect of MEK inhibition.

The use of liver slices from the Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres) to better understand the role of liver toxicity of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in vultures.

Diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) was responsible for the death of millions of vultures on the Asian subcontinent, following the consumption of diclofenac contaminated carcasses. The aim of this research was to establish if liver slices could serve as an alternate means of predicting the toxicity of NSAIDs in Gyps vultures. The Cape vulture liver slices was prepared and incubated with four NSAIDs for 6 h.

Isolation and characterization of two acaricidal compounds from Calpurnia aurea subsp. aurea (Fabaceae) leaf extract.

The menace caused by ticks and tick-borne diseases is a major limitation to the livestock industry in Africa. The high costs and non-availability of synthetic, chemical acaricides to resource-limited farmers, resistance of ticks to available acaricides and residue problems in meat and milk consumed by humans further complicate matters. The use of plant extracts as a possible source of new acaricides has received much interest in the last decade.

South African medicinal plant extracts active against influenza A virus.

Background: Influenza infection remains a major health threat for animals and humans which crucially requires effective antiviral remedies. The usage of herbal medications as readily available alternatives for their compatibility with the body and fewer side effects compared to synthetic chemical treatments has become popular globally. The aim of this study was to investigate and screen in vitro anti-influenza activity of extracts of five South African medicinal plants, namely Tabernaemontana ventricosa, Cussonia spicata, Rapanea melanophloeos, Pittosporum viridiflorum and Clerodendrum glabrum, species which are used traditionally for the treatment of several diseases such as inflammatory and respiratory diseases.