NEWSTICKER – Nanoparticles enhance effect of anticancer drug
Using the anticancer drug cisplatin (CP), IPB scientists have demonstrated that binding to nanoparticles can increase the effect of drugs. The study was carried out in collaboration with researchers from Serbia and Merseburg University of Applied Sciences. Cisplatin has been approved as an anticancer agent since 1973 and is used as a chemotherapeutic agent mainly against testicular, ovarian and bronchial carcinomas. However, in certain cancers such as malignant melanoma, established chemotherapies using a combination of cisplatin and other cytotoxic compounds have shown little to no effect. Nevertheless, at least in cell cultures, cisplatin seems to inhibit the division activity of melanoma cells. Using in vitro assays in mouse melanoma cell lines, it could be observed that cisplatin induce a mitotic arrest in the G2 phase with subsequent apoptosis of the melanoma cells. In vivo, however, in experiments with laboratory mice, cisplatin do not induce proliferation inhibition and thus termination of tumor growth. In contrast, the situation was completely different with immobilized cisplatin.The nanoparticles did not reduce the strong cytotoxic effect of cisplatin, but on the contrary ensured that tumor growth was also stopped in vivo. Moreover, compared to its free form, the particle-bound cisplatin had a less damaging effect on the test animals’ liver and kidneys. The use of silica particles as drug carriers, the scientists concluded, can therefore enhance the effect of cisplatin also in vivo and reduce its side effects.
original publication:
Dijana Drača, David Edeler, Mohamad Saoud, Biljana Dojčinović, Duško Dunđerović, Goran Đmura, Danijela Maksimović-Ivanić, Sanja Mijatović & Goran N. Kaluđerović. Antitumor potential of cisplatin loaded into SBA-15 mesoporous silica nanoparticles against B16F1 melanoma cells: in vitro and in vivo studies. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry 217, 2021, 111383.
NEWSTICKER – What makes sprouts so healthy? Metabolite analysis of chickpeas and co.
Legume sprouts are receiving increasing attention for their health-promoting properties. Considered a nutritious source of vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids, they are also rich in alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids with hypoglycemic, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. IPB scientists, together with partners from Egypt, have now identified and quantified the metabolites of chickpea, fava, fenugreek and lentil sprouts. Using an NMR-based metabolomics approach and multivariate data analyses, they were able to identify 32 metabolites and establish a specific metabolite profile for each individual sprout species. For example, isoflavones were found exclusively in chickpea sprouts, while the presence of 4-hydroxyisoleucine was characteristic for fenugreek. The NMR-based metabolite analysis presented by the authors offers several advantages over already established LC and GC-MS methods. It not only enables parallel detection of many primary and secondary metabolites, but also simultaneously records the quantitative ratios of the detected substances. The method is therefore particularly suitable for quality control in the standardized production of sprout extracts. These are increasingly used in cosmetic products and food supplements.
original publication:
Mohamed A Farag, Mohamed G Sharaf El-Din, Mohamed A Selim, Asmaa I Owis, Sameh F Abouzid, Andrea Porzel, Ludger A Wessjohann & Asmaa Otify. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Metabolomics Approach for the Analysis of Major Legume Sprouts Coupled to Chemometrics. Molecules 2021, 26(3): 761. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26030761
NEWSTICKER – new nanoparticles for better targeting of cancer cells
The natural product emodin that occurs in plants exhibits anti-inflammatory, anti-angiogenesis and anti-neoplastic properties in vitro and in vivo. Therefore it can be utilized to fight cancer. IPB scientists together with colleagues from Martin-Luther University Halle and University of Applied Sciences Merseburg have now taken a closer look at possible modifications to optimize targeting the agent to cancer cells.
Due to the biological properties of the anthroquinone derivative emodin as well as its fluorescence, it lends itself to be useful for pharmacology and pharmacokinetics studies. To enhance its selectivity to cancer cells, the team of scientists loaded emodin into non-fluorescent and novel fluorescent spherical mesoporous nanoparticles bearing N-methyl isatoic anhydride or lissamine rhodamine B sulfonyl moieties. The resulting propylamine functionalized mesoporous silica nanomaterial was then thoroughly characterized, e.g. by powder X-ray diffraction and microscopic techniques.
To test the cytotoxicity of emodin-loaded nanoparticles, the researchers applied them to the human colon carcinoma cell line HT-29. Non-loaded nanoparticles did not affect cell proliferation, whereas those loaded with emodin were at least as efficient as emodin alone. The researchers could show that the uptake of silica nanomaterial by the tumor cells occurred within 2 hours, while the release of emodin occurred within 48 hours of treatment. Subsequently, emodin-loaded nanomaterial induced apoptosis in HT-29 cells. Their new nanomaterial might help in future to target anticancer agents to cancer cells more efficiently.
original publication: Paul Jänicke, Claudia Lennicke, Annette Meister, Barbara Seliger, Ludger A. Wessjohann, Goran N. Kaluđerović. Fluorescent spherical mesoporous silica nanoparticles loaded with emodin: Synthesis, cellular uptake and anticancer activity, Materials Science and Engineering: C, Volume 119, 2021, 111619, ISSN 0928-4931, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.msec.2020.111619.
NEWSTICKER – What are the active compounds in the toothbrush tree?
Branches and roots of the toothbrush tree Salvadora persica have been used in the Middle East and North Africa very effectively for tooth cleaning and oral hygiene for several centuries. So far, little is known about the active substances responsible for the caring and protective effect of these natural toothbrushes. Scientists from Egypt and the IPB have now performed an inventory of primary and secondary metabolites contained in Salvadora branches and roots. Using comparative MS and NMR metabolomics, they identified a total of 21 as yet undetected substances, including flavonoids, phenolic acids and various sulfur compounds. Betaines were found in high concentrations, which act as natural anti-osmosis agents and protect the oral mucosa against water loss. In addition, Stachydrins and some sulfur compounds exhibited anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Due to their concentration and composition of active compounds, the roots of the Salvadora plant are probably more suitable for dental care than their branches, the scientists concluded.
original puplication: Mohamed A.Farag, Zein T. Shakour, Tilo Lübken, Andrej Frolov, Ludger A. Wessjohann & Engy Mahrousa. Unraveling the metabolome composition and its implication for Salvadora persica L. use as dental brush via a multiplex approach of NMR and LC–MS metabolomics. Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis 193, 113727
NEWSTICKER – natural compounds: skin care products from plant-based glucosylceramides?
Together with IPB and MLU scientists, pharmacists from Ethiopia recently published a study on the glucosylceramide composition of various plant species. Ceramides are lipids of human skin. They play an important role in maintaining the dermal barrier function and skin moisture. The compounds belonging to the sphingolipids are used in cosmetic products for skin and hair care, but also for the prevention of neurodermatitis and psoriasis. Plants could be used as a good source for ceramides; however, plant-based sphingolipids mainly contain glucosylceramides, which first have to be liberated from their glucose residue. Thus, ceramide production from plant gluosylceramides failed so far, due to the lack of an economical hydrolysis method for converting glucosylceramide into ceramide. The researchers isolated various glucosylceramides from lupine bean (Lupinus albus), mung bean (Vigna radiata) and barley (Hordeum vulgare), identified them with high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry and afterwards quantified them. According to the authors, the method is economical and effective to allow ceramide generation from plant raw materials. In terms of affordability, bioactives concentration, and yield, the lupine bean would be the preferred alternative commercial source for glucosylceramides.
original publication: Admassu Assen Adem, Anteneh Belete, Alena Soboleva, Andrej Frolov, Efrem N Tessema, Tsige Gebre-Mariam & Reinhard Neubert. Structural characterization of plant glucosylceramides and the corresponding ceramides by UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal. 2020, 192:113677, doi: 10.1016/j.jpba.2020.113677.
NEWSTICKER – Antiinfectives: aAntibacterial Proanthocyanidins of Dalbergia monetaria, an Amazonian Medicinal Plant.
D. monetaria is an Amazonian plant whose bark is widely used to treat urinary tract infections. Such infections can be caused by different bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. Building on this ethnobotanical knowledge, the IPB researchers performed in vitro assays with D. monetaria extracts against ten bacterial strains, fractioned the extracts, and characterized the samples by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. While subfractions from both leaves and bark exhibited antibacterial activities, that of leaves was higher and its characterization revealed a complex profile of proanthocyanidins made up of (epi)-cassiaflavan and (epi)-catechin units, including dimers, trimers and tetramers. The researchers were able to identify a specific fraction consisting of (ent)-cassiaflavan-(ent)-cassiaflavan-(epi)-catechin isomers with a minimum inhibitory concentration in the low micromolar range (64 and 32 µg/mL, respectively) against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. Cassiaflavan-proanthocyanidins have not been found previously in another botanical genus, except in Cassia, and the authors conclude that the traditional medicinal use of D. monetaria might be related to the antibacterial activity of proanthocyanidins characterized in the species.
original publication: de Moura PHB, de Sousa AA, Porzel A, Wessjohann LA, Leal ICR, Martins RCC. Characterization of Antibacterial Proanthocyanidins of Dalbergia monetaria, an Amazonian Medicinal Plant, by UHPLC-HRMS/MS. Planta Med. 2020;86(12):858-866. doi:10.1055/a-1170-8016
NEWSTICKER – methods: new versatile approach for high-throughput analysis using GC-MS
IPB scientist have developed together with scientists from ISAS Dortmund a versatile high-throughput screening method that aims to accelerate catalyst discovery and development. In order to avoid long analysis time, the method combines gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) with the so-called MISER approach, in which several samples are injected into a chromatography system in quick succession. As proof of concept, the chemists screened different enzyme libraries. They identified promising and novel unspecific peroxygenase chimeras (UPOs) consisting of subunits from three different fungal UPO genes. The study will be published as a cover story in the ChemCatChem Journal.
original publication: Anja Knorrscheidt, Pascal Püllmann, Eugen Schell, Dominik Homann, Erik Freier and Martin J. Weissenborn. Identification of novel unspecific peroxygenase chimeras and unusual YfeX axial heme ligand by a versatile high-throughput GCMS approach. ChemCatChem DOI: 10.1002/cctc.202000618
NEWSTICKER – antiinfectives
IPB chemists recently published an extensive phytochemical study of Parmelia cetrata, a foliose lichen from Indonesia. They successfully isolated 13 phenol and depside derivatives including previously unreported ones. In assays using the gram-negative bacterium Aliivibrio fischeri and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the researchers evaluated the anti-infective activity of isolated compounds. Two of the tested substances inhibited growth of A. fischeri and one of the substances, in addition, showed significant anthelmintic effects against C. elegans.
original publication: Ari Satia Nugraha, Ludmilla Fitri Untari, Annegret Laub, Andrea Porzel, Katrin Franke & Ludger A. Wessjohann (2020) Anthelmintic and antimicrobial activities of three new depsides and ten known depsides and phenols from Indonesian lichen: Parmelia cetrata Ach., Natural Product Research,DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2020.1761361
NEWSTICKER – potential Corona-drug identified
Viruses must enter cells of the human body to cause disease. For this, they attach to suitable cells and inject their genetic information into these cells. Infection biologists from the German Primate Center – Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen, together with colleagues at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, have investigated how the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 penetrates cells. They have identified a cellular enzyme that is essential for viral entry into lung cells: the protease TMPRSS2. A clinically proven drug known to be active against TMPRSS2 was found to block SARS-CoV-2 infection and might constitute a novel treatment option (Cell).
Interview with Stefan Pöhlman, head of the Infection Biology Unit at DPZ: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plhfUVtC_EU&feature=youtu.be
original publication: Hoffmann, M et al. (2020). SARS-CoV-2 cell entry depends on ACE2 and TMPRSS2 and is blocked by a 2 clinically-proven protease inhibitor. Cell, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2020.02.052
NEWSTICKER – spider bite leads to new active compounds
The bite of a spider caused a severe inflammatory response and cost an Australian woman her forearm. Scientists were able to isolate a fungus from the infected forearm tissue of the patient. This tragic infection has now helped an international team of researchers find new active compounds, the so-called necroximes. These substances are produced by bacteria that live inside the fungi. The highly effective cytotoxins may provide clues for the development of new cancer drugs. The researchers published their results in the journal Angewandte Chemie.
original publication: Niehs SP, Dose B, Richter R, Pidot SJ, Dahse H-M, Stinear TP, Hertweck C (2020) Mining symbionts of spider‐transmitted fungus illuminates uncharted biosynthetic pathways to cytotoxic benzolactones. Angewandte Chemie International Edition https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.201916007.
NEWSTICKER – synthesis of lipidated cyclo-peptides as promising anti-phytopathogenic agents
Together with Cuban and Chilean scientists, IPB chemists have developed a multicomponent-based approach for the synthesis of cyclic polycationic lipopeptides with stabilized helical structures. First bioactivity studies against model phytopathogens demonstrated a positive effect of the lipidation on the antimicrobial activity.
NEWSTICKER – metabolomics
First metabolite profiling of roasted date pits proves their suitability as a coffee substitute. Date pits are used as animal feed and their oils have proved to be an excellent biofuel source. Their use as a coffee substitute is particularly widespread in the Arab countries.
NEWSTICKER – detection of anthraquinones in complex mixtures
IPB chemists have recently published an efficient approach for the detection of anthraquinones in complex mixtures of compounds. As a proof of concept, the scientists used this approach to detect well-known anthraquinones such as emodin or skyrin in raw extracts of Chilean Cortinarii fungi. Anthraquinones are coloring agents and chemotaxonomically important marker compounds. They also show a variety of pharmaceutical effects and are widespread in medicinal plants, such as aloe and rhubarb.
NEWSTICKER – bioactives from Ethiopian torch lilies
With the participation of the IPB, scientists have published a study on bioactives from Ethiopian torch lilies (Kniphofia foliosa Hochst). They analyzed the biological activity of the phenylanthraquinone derivatives knipholone and knipholone anthrone in human cell lines and pathogens.
NEWSTICKER – bioactive compounds
Novel organic selenides with increased cytotoxic selectivity for hepatocellular carcinoma and breast adenocarcinoma: https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/public-relations/news/article-detail/newsticker-wissenschaft-10-wirkstoffe/
original publication: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0223523419306026?via%3Dihub#!
NEWSTICKER – ethnopharmacology
Fideloside, a Novel Bioactive 8-C-glycosyl 2,3-Dihydroflavonol: https://www.ipb-halle.de/en/public-relations/news/article-detail/newsticker-wissenschaft-ethnopharmakologie/
NEWSTICKER – bioactive compounds
Synthetic Tubulysin derivative, Tubugi-1, against invasive melanoma cells: The cell death triangle: https://www.ipb-halle.de/oeffentlichkeit/aktuelles/artikel-detail/newsticker-wissenschaft-wirkstoffe
NEWSTICKER – neuroactive compunds
Memory enhancement by ferulic acid ester across species: https://www.ipb-halle.de/oeffentlichkeit/aktuelles/artikel-detail/newsticker-wissenschaft-neuroaktive-wirkstoffe
original publication: Birgit Michels, Hanna Zwaka, Ruth Bartels, Oleh Lushchak, Katrin Franke, Thomas Endres, Markus Fendt, Inseon Song, May Bakr, Tuvshinjargal Budragchaa, Bernhard Westermann, Dushyant Mishra, Claire Eschbach, Stefanie Schreyer, Annika Lingnau, Caroline Vahl, Marike Hilker, Randolf Menzel, Thilo Kähne, Volkmar Leßmann, Alexander Dityatev, Ludger Wessjohann, Bertram Gerber. (2018) Memory enhancement by ferulic acid ester across species. Science Advances DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aat6994