1.Metabolic and Immunologic Alterations of Ginger Rhizome among Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Diabetic Rats
Mansooreh Sadat Mojani ; Asmah Rahmat
Malaysian Journal of Nutrition 2016;22((2) Supplement):421-432
This study was conducted to determine immunological and metabolic
effects of different concentrations of ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale Roscoe)
in streptozotocin (STZ)-nicotinamide (NA) induced diabetic rats. Methods: Forty-eight fasted male Sprague-Dawley rats were induced diabetes using a single intraperitoneal injection of NA(110 mg/kg b.w.) and STZ (65 mg/kg b.w, 15 min after NA). Diabetic rats orally received either different concentrations (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg body weight) of ginger rhizome suspension or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg body weight) for 6 weeks. Two control diabetic and normal groups were gavaged with only distilled water as a vehicle. Results: The results indicated that the lower concentrations of ginger modulated body weight, fasting blood glucose, level of triglyceride and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) (p<0.05). In contrast, ginger
could not enhance atherogenic indices due to a decline in the level of HDL-c. Immunological features of ginger were evident by a significant lymphocyte proliferation
in all treated groups at stimulation by 5 mg/ml PHA (p<0.001). Level of CD45ra+ (B cell marker) increased significantly in the lowest dose of ginger (p<0.05, 58%), and 250 mg/kg body weight of ginger was found to be safe for not altering the level of CD4+CD25+ marker (p>0.05). Conclusion: Ginger indicated better impact on metabolic and immunologic parameters in lower doses of supplementation
compared with high doses of treatment.
2.Antiproliferative Properties of Clausine-B against Cancer Cell Lines
Wan Nor I’zzah Wan Mohd Zain ; Asmah Rahmat ; Fauziah Othman ; Taufiq Yun Hin Yap
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2009;16(3):31-36
Background: Clausine B, a carbazole alkaloid isolated from the stem bark of Clausena excavata,
was investigated for its antiproliferative activities against five human cancer cell lines: HepG2 (hepatic
cancer), MCF-7 (hormone-dependent breast cancer), MDA-MB-231 (non-hormone-dependent breast
cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), and CAOV3 (ovarian cancer).
Methods: Chang liver (normal cells) was used as a control. The effect of clausine-B was measured
using the MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay.
Results: Clausine-B was found to be active (IC50<30 μg/mL) against four of the cancer cell lines
tested. The IC50 values for these four lines were: 21.50 μg/mL (MDA-MB-231), 22.90 g/ml (HeLa),
27.00 μg/mL (CAOV3) and 28.94 μg/mL (HepG2). Clausine-B inhibited the MCF-7 cancer cell line at
52.90 μg/mL, and no IC50 value was obtained against Chang liver.
Conclusion: It is possible that the phenolic group in clausine-B responsible for the antiproliferative
activities found in this study.
3.Nutritional Compositions and Antiproliferative Activities of Different Solvent Fractions from Ethanol Extract of Cyphomandra betacea (Tamarillo) Fruit
Maisarah Abdul Mutalib , Asmah Rahmat , Faisal Ali , Fauziah Othman , Rajesh Ramasamy
Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences 2017;24(5):19-32
Background: This study aims to examine various solvent extracts of Cyphomandra betacea (tamarillo) also known as the tree tomato, for their bioactive constituents and antioxidant activity. The study also aims to examine its effect on cancer cell death using two types of cancer cell lines (liver and breast cancer cell). Methods: The first part of the study evaluates the nutritional composition of tamarillo. Then, phytochemical profiling using GC-MS analysis in ethanolic tamarillo extract was conducted. Different fractions of n-butanol, ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions were obtained from the ethanolic extract of tamarillo. Then, the fractions were subjected to the quantification of total phenol (TPC) and flavonoid contents (TFC), free radical scavenging activity (SA) and also antioxidant activity (AOX) assayed by beta-carotene bleaching (BCB) assay. Finally, the capability of the ethanolic extract of tamarillo and different fractions were evaluated for their anticancer properties. Results: Findings from this study revealed that the nutritional composition (ash, protein, carbohydrate and total dietary fiber), and mineral levels (calcium, magnesium, potassium and iron) of tamarillo were moderate. The crude ethanol extract of tamarillo contained the highest phenolic and total flavonoid content. FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of alkanes, carboxylic acid, phenol, alkanes, carboxylic acids, aromatics and nitro compounds. Twelve bioactive constituents in tamarillo have been identified through GC-MS analysis. Cytotoxic activity suggests the potential of ethanolic extracts of tamarillo having a chemopreventive effect on breast and liver cancer cells. Conclusion: This study reveals that tamarillo has substantial antioxidant activity as well as anticancer properties.