Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine

1-8

Authors: Lia Meilawati, Rita Marleta Dewi, Aprilia Nur Tasfiyati, Abdi Wira Septama, Lucia Dwi Antika

Cancer is considered a leading cause of death worldwide due to its high morbidity and mortality rate. Conventional treatments for cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, have been hampered by their side effects. Natural product-derived plants have been used for decades to treat diseases. Compared to conventional therapy, natural product has the potential to be effective against cancer with fewer side effects. This current review discussed the potential of scopoletin, a coumarin present in many edible plants, which elicits anticancer properties through multiple mechanisms, including modulating cell cycle arrest, inducing apoptosis, and regulating multiple signaling pathways. Understanding these mechanisms highlights the potential of scopoletin as a candidate for chemoprevention and chemotherapy.

17-25

Authors: Anitha Nagarajan, Victor Arokia Doss

Objective: To explore the therapeutic efficacy of L-carvone from Mentha spicataL. leaf extracts against isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy in rats. Methods: Isoproterenol (5 mg/kg) was injected intraperitoneally into rats for one month to induce cardiac hypertrophy. L-carvone (25 and 100 mg/kg) was administered orally to treat cardiac hypertrophy. The cardioprotective activity of L-carvone was evaluated by electrocardiogram, histopathological analysis as well as determination of biochemical parameters and enzymatic markers. Results: L-carvone from Mentha spicata L. at 25 and 100 mg/kg ameliorated isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy, as evidenced by reduced QRS interval on electrocardiogram, and decreased heart weight and heart index. In addition, both doses of L-carvone markedly lowered the levels of glucose, total protein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase MB, troponin-I, N-terminal pro-B type natriuretic peptide and triglycerides while increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and lipase level (P<0.05). Moreover, L-carvone alleviated contraction band necrosis, and reorganized the myofibrils with normal striations and myocytes as well as normal nuclei in cardiac histoarchitecture of rats with isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy. Conclusions: L-carvone from Mentha spicata L. leaf extract can restore abnormal cardiac function and may be further explored as a therapeutic agent against the deleterious effects of cardiac hypertrophy after further evaluation.

35-44

Authors: Salwa S Younis, Iman F Abou-El-Naga, Khaled H Radwan

Objective: To assess the molluscicidal effect of the eco-friendly green synthesized neem silver nanoparticles (neem-Ag NPs) against Biomphalaria alexandrina, the snail intermediate host for Schistosoma mansoni, and their cercaricidal potential. Methods: Methanol extracts from neem fruits were used for green synthesis of neem-Ag NPs. The neem-Ag NPs were characterized using UV-visible absorption spectra, dynamic laser light scattering technique, and transmission electron microscopy. The potential molluscicidal effect against adult and juvenile Biomphalaria alexandrina and the effect of the sub-lethal concentration on hatching of snail eggs and Schistosoma mansoni cercariae were evaluated. Results: The surface plasmon resonance of neem-Ag NPs showed a sharp absorption peak at λmax = 518 nm together with multiple peaks. The hydrodynamic diameter was (77.15±34.53) nm, the polydispersity index (0.338±0.000) and the zeta-potential −14.07 mV. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy showed that the average size of the nanoparticles was (27±2) nm. Agglomeration was evident and a light-colored capping layer could be seen coating the nanoparticles. Juvenile snails (LC50: 0.83 ppm) were more susceptible to neem-Ag NPs than adults (LC50: 1.07 ppm). In addition, neem-Ag NPs and neem at LC50 concentrations inhibited the egg-hatching of snails and showed cercaricidal activity in a time-dependent manner. Conclusions: Neem-Ag NPs have lethal activities against Biomphalaria alexandrina snails and their eggs, as well as Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Hence, neem-Ag NPs could be a potential agent to control schistosomiasis.