1.Compounds from the Antioxidant Active Fraction of M. Platytyrea
Nur Radhilah Mohamad Haris ; Mohd Kamal Nik Hasan ; Ibtisam Abdul Wahab ; Mizaton Hazizul Hasan ; Thellie Ponto ; Aishah Adam
Malaysian Journal of Health Sciences 2016;14(1):23-29
This article discusses on the natural compounds from the ant plant (Myrmecodia species, family: Rubiaceae). The ethyl
acetate (EtOAc) extract from the tuber of M. platytyrea was fractionated by using medium pressure liquid chromatography,
giving eight fractions (F1-F8). Those fractions were evaluated using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)
assay. Fraction F5 was recorded as potent (EC50 = 21.57 ± 1.40 µg/mL). Then, it was purified by using column
chromatography (CC) (mobile phase = chloroform: EtOAc). From the CC, ten fractions (F5F1-F5F10) were obtained
and compound (1) was isolated from F5F3 via preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC). After spraying with
anisaldehyde-sulphuric reagent, compound (1) gave a green TLC spot (Rf
= 0.65, 100% CHCl3
, multiple development).
The 1
H-Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy (500 MHz, CDCl3
) was performed to determine the chemical
framework of (1). This compound was identified as morindolide, having an iridoid structure. Meanwhile, the mass
spectra for compounds (2) and (3) were analysed. The data presented the molecular ion at m/z 375 [M-H]- and 255,
suggesting the formulation of 2-(2-methylbutyryl)phloroglucinol glucoside and a flavanone, respectively. From the
literature, compound (1) was firstly isolated from a Chinese natural medicine, the dried root of Morinda officinalis
(family: Rubiaceae). The flavonoids are also included as the biologically active compounds from Myrmecodia. In
short, this is the first occurrence of morindolide from the ant plant.
Flavonoids
2.Identification of MicroRNAs Binding Site in the 3’Untranslated Region of Long Non-Coding RNA, MIR497HG: A Bioinformatic Prediction
Nursyamila Shamsuddin ; Fazleen Haslinda Mohd Hatta ; Mizaton Hazizul Hasan ; Mohd Shihabuddin Ahmad Noorden
Malaysian Journal of Medicine and Health Sciences 2024;20(No.1):161-167
Introduction: Prediction and identification of miRNAs target genes are crucial for understanding the biology of miRNAs. Amidst reported long-coding RNA (lncRNA), the microRNA 195-497 cluster host gene (MIR497HG) regulation
is mediated by multiple non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as microRNAs (miRNAs). MIR497HG has been implicated
as a tumour suppressor in various cancers. However, the impact of MIR497HG and its derived miRNAs is largely
unknown and still needs to be further explored. Employing an experimental approach is often challenging since
some lncRNAs are difficult to identify and isolate by the current isolation technique. Thus, bioinformatic tools are
introduced to aid these problems. This study sought to search and identify the miRNAs targeting the 3’untranslated
region (3’UTR) of MIR497HG. Methods: Here, bioinformatic tools were adopted to identify a unique list of miRNAs
that potentially target the 3’UTR of MIR497HG. Results: A total of 57 candidate miRNAs that target the 3’UTR of
MIR497HG were extracted using the miRDB. Meanwhile, STarMir predicted 291 miRNAs that potentially target the
3’UTR of MIR497HG. A common list of 36 miRNAs was obtained using the Venny 2.1.0 and further narrowed down
using the LogitProb score of StarMir. Finally, a total 4 miRNAs (hsa-miR-3182, hsa-miR-7156-5p, hsa-miR-452-3p
and hsa-miR-2117) were identified. The mRNA target of identified miRNAs was identified by TargetScan. Finally,
Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis of mRNA
target was done using Enrichr. Conclusion: This finding could be useful in understanding the complex interaction
between MIR497HG and its regulatory miRNA. In addition, a comparative analysis of computational miRNA-target
predictions is provided in this study would potentially lay the foundations for miRNAs to be used for biomarkers in
cancer research.