1.A preliminary screening of potentially antimalarial plants against Plasmodium falciparum in vitro
Khaw, L.T. ; Leerach ; N., Yap ; N.J. ; Jaturas ; N. ; Mahboob T. ; Tan, T.C. ; Lim, Y.A.L.
Tropical Biomedicine 2015;32(4):676-683
Plasmodium is a blood protozoan parasite that is responsible for malaria. To date,
Plasmodium falciparum has shown multi-drug resistance, particularly in Thailand, Myanmar
and Malaysia. The aim of the study is to screen the plant extracts that can effectively inhibit
P. falciparum 3D7, a common lab strain malaria parasite. Nine plants were collected and
processed through maceration using hexane, chloroform and ethanol, resulting in 24 crude
plant extracts. Of these, extracts from Artabotrys crassifolius, Pericampylus glacus and
Leuconotis eugeniifolia showed promising antiplasmodial activities at IC50 of 15.32 to 39.75
μg/mL in a modified schizont maturation assay. Further studies are warranted to explore its
efficacies and lead compounds of these three plant extracts for the development of
antiplasmodial drugs.
2.Titiwangsa Lake a source of urban parasitic contamination
Azlan, A. Majid. ; Rasid, M.N. ; Richard, R.L. ; Mahboob, T. ; Jaturas, N. ; Tan, T.C. ; Lim, Y.A.L. ; Nissapatorn, V.
Tropical Biomedicine 2016;33(3):594-598
Urban recreational lake acts as a source of waterborne parasites contamination,
as reported in 2013 in Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia. This scenario will lead to the
transmission of waterborne diseases due to exposure of water-related activities by humans.
This study was conducted to reveal the occurrence of common waterborne parasites in a
urban lake (i.e. Titiwangsa Lake). The lake is situated in the city of Kuala Lumpur and is
known to be overcrowded with vast activities participated by both local and tourist. Results
of study showed the presence of Cryptosporidium, Giardia, free-living amoeba, and helminthlike
ova from the lake.
3.Soil-Transmitted Helminths in Malaysia landscape: an aborigines study
Brandon-Mong, G.J. ; Abdullah, N.A. ; Shukor, N. ; Jaturas, N. ; Richard, R.L. ; Choo, J.C. ; Majid, M.A.A. ; Mahboob, T. ; Tan, T.C. ; Nissapatorn, V.
Tropical Biomedicine 2017;34(2):363-374
Soil-transmitted helminths (STH) is a group of parasitic nematodes, including
Trichuris trichiura, Ascaris lumbricoides, Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus,
which can cause gastrointestinal disorders in humans. STH is prevalent among neglected
communities in both developing and developed countries. This present study aims to determine
the current prevalence of STH infections in Aboriginal population after mass delivering of
antihelminthic drugs was proposed by WHO in 2005 and a health education learning package
(HELP) was initiated in Malaysia in 2012. A total of 235 human fecal samples were collected
and a pre-tested questionnaire was given to gather information about the socio-demographic
of the Aborigine communities living in Kedah and Selangor, Malaysia. The samples were
screened by a direct-fecal smear and confirmed by formalin-ether sedimentation methods.
From human faeces, 81.7% was found to be infected with one or more STH species. T.
trichiura was the most commonly detected (76.6%), followed by hookworms (26.4%) and A.
lumbricoides (19.1%). Triple infections were found in 6.4% of the studied population. Univariate
analysis showed that individuals with age group, male, presence of indoor toilet, family size
with <7 members and bad living habits (i.e., without antihelminthic drugs) were significantly
associated with STH infections. The analysis further showed that walking barefoot was the
significant contributing factor to hookworm infections. The high prevalence of human STH
infections is alarming. Thus, the urgency in implementing health education related behavioral
practice and hygiene to reduce disease burden in these rural communities are a crucial need.
4.Zika virus modulates blood-brain barrier of brain microvascular endothelial cells
Ismail, A.A ; Mahboob, T. ; Samudi Raju, C. ; Sekaran, S.D.
Tropical Biomedicine 2019;36(4):888-897
Zika virus (ZIKV) is a mosquito-borne Flaviviruses. ZIKV is known to cause birth
defect in pregnant women, especially microcephaly in the fetus. Hence, more study is required
to understand the infection of Zika virus towards human brain microvascular endothelial cells
(MECs). In this study, brain MECs were infected with ZIKV at MOI of 1 and 5 in vitro. The
changes in barrier function and membrane permeability of ZIKV-infected brain MECs were
determined using electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) system followed by gene
expression of ZIKV-infected brain MECs at 24 hours post infection using one-color gene
expression microarray. The ECIS results demonstrated that ZIKV infection enhances vascular
leakage by increasing cell membrane permeability via alteration of brain MECs barrier function.
This was further supported by high expression of proinflammatory cytokine genes (lnc-IL6-2,
TNFAIP1 and TNFAIP6), adhesion molecules (CERCAM and ESAM) and growth factor (FIGF).
Overall, findings of this study revealed that ZIKV infection could alter the barrier function of
brain MECs by altering adhesion molecules and inflammatory response.
5.Can Costus afer be used for co-treatment of COVID-19, its symptoms and comorbidities? A novel approach for combating the pandemic and implications for sub-Saharan Africa
Jannat, K. ; Hasan, A. ; Bondhon, T.A. ; Mahboob, T. ; Paul, A.K. ; Jahan, R. ; Nissapatorn, V. ; Pereira, M.L. ; Wiart, C. ; Rahmatullah, M.
Tropical Biomedicine 2021;38(No.4):540-551
Despite the huge loss of lives and massive disruption of the world economy by the COVID-19
pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, scientists are yet to come out with an effective therapeutic
against this viral disease. Several vaccines have obtained ‘emergency approval’, but
difficulties are being faced in the even distribution of vaccines amongst high- and lowincome countries. On top of it, comorbidities associated with COVID-19 like diabetes,
hypertension and malaria can seriously impede the treatment of the main disease, thus
increasing the fatality rate. This is more so in the context of sub-Saharan African and south
Asian countries. Our objective was to demonstrate that a single plant containing different
phytoconstituents may be used for treatment of COVID-19 and comorbidities. Towards initial
selection of a plant, existing scientific literature was scanned for reported relevant traditional
uses, phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of a number of plants and their
phytoconstituents pertaining to treatment of COVID-19 symptoms and comorbidities.
Molecular docking studies were then performed with phytochemicals of the selected plant
and SARS-CoV-2 components – Mpro, and spike protein receptor binding domain and hACE2
interface using AutoDock Vina. We showed that crude extracts of an indigenous African
plant, Costus afer having traditional antidiabetic and antimalarial uses, has phytochemicals
with high binding affinities for Mpro, and/or spike protein receptor binding domain and
hACE2 interface; the various phytochemicals with predicted high binding energies include
aferoside C, dibutyl phthalate, nerolidol, suginal, and ±-terpinene, making them potential
therapeutics for COVID-19. The results suggest that crude extracts and phytochemicals of C.
afer can function as a treatment modality for COVID-19 and comorbidities like especially
diabetes and malaria.