Asian Journal of Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

D. mespiliformis Leaf Aqueous Extract Exhibits Selective Anticancer Effects against Breast Cancer Cells Via Glutathione Depletion

Jamilu Sani — 2026-07-21

Medicinal plants remain important sources of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic value, including agents that may support cancer drug discovery. This study evaluated the selective anticancer effect of Diospyros mespiliformis aqueous leaf extract against MCF-7 breast cancer cells and compared its cytotoxicity with that observed in MCF-10 normal breast epithelial cells. Fresh leaves of D. mespiliformis were collected, authenticated, air-dried, powdered and extracted using an aqueous solvent. The resulting crude extract was tested at graded concentrations of 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 µg/mL. Cell viability was determined using the CellTiter-Glo assay after 24, 48 and 72 h of treatment, while total intracellular glutathione (GSH) was measured to assess whether redox imbalance contributed to the observed cytotoxic response. The extract showed a clear time-dependent inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell viability, with the IC₅₀ decreasing from 137.9 µg/mL at 24 h to 50.33 µg/mL at 48 h and 22.41 µg/mL at 72 h. In contrast, treatment of MCF-10 cells produced minimal cytotoxicity under the tested conditions, suggesting a degree of selectivity toward breast cancer cells. Mechanistic assessment showed that the extract reduced intracellular GSH levels in MCF-7 cells, indicating that glutathione depletion and oxidative stress may be involved in the cytotoxic effect. Overall, the findings provide preliminary in vitro evidence that D. mespiliformis aqueous leaf extract exhibits selective activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Further studies are required to isolate the active constituents, confirm the molecular mechanism and evaluate safety in broader experimental models.

In silico Molecular Docking and Identification of Bioactive Constituents from Unripe Carica papaya Fruit as Inhibitors of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)

Fatima M. Daura — 2026-07-28

Hypertension is a major risk factor for renal and cardiovascular diseases, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are among the principal therapeutic agents used in its management. This study aimed to predict the ACE-inhibitory activity of unripe C. papaya fruit extract using an in silico approach. GC–MS analysis of the unripe fruit extract indicated the presence of multiple bioactive compounds. Structure-data files for the identified compounds, the standard inhibitor captopril, and ACE complexed with captopril were obtained from PubChem and the Protein Data Bank. The ligand files were converted to PDBQT format for docking. The docking analysis showed binding affinities ranging from −5.8 to −4.1 kcal/mol, while captopril and lisinopril had binding affinities of −5.5 and −7.7 kcal/mol, respectively. Six compounds—cyclooctaneacetic acid, 2-oxo; sucrose; 6,10,14-trimethyl-pentadecan-2-ol; 9,15-octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester, (Z,Z)-; 1-cyclohexylnonene; and [1,4]dioxino[2,3-b]-1,4-dioxin, hexahydro-2,3,6,7-tetramethyl—showed the strongest binding affinities. Similar to the standard drug, these compounds interacted with reported ACE active-site residues, including HIS383, HIS387, GLU384, and GLU411. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity properties were predicted using SwissADME and ProTox-II. The selected compounds showed favourable predicted pharmacological profiles and no predicted hepatotoxicity, immunotoxicity, cytotoxicity, carcinogenicity, or mutagenicity. These findings provide preliminary computational evidence that unripe C. papaya fruit contains constituents with potential ACE-binding activity.

Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Pentachlaena latifolia H. Perrier (Sarcolaenaceae) Leaf Extracts

Andrianatrehy Marolaza Constant — 2026-07-29

Background: Pentachlaena latifolia (Sarcolaenaceae) is an endemic Malagasy species whose phytochemical composition and antioxidant potential remain insufficiently documented. This study characterised the phytochemical profile and evaluated the antioxidant activity of its leaf extracts.

Materials and Methods: A crude hydroethanolic extract was obtained by maceration, followed by sequential extraction with solvents of increasing polarity using maceration and Soxhlet methods. Qualitative phytochemical screening was conducted on the crude ethanolic extract. Antioxidant activity was assessed using TLC-DPPH bioautography and a quantitative DPPH radical-scavenging assay, with L-ascorbic acid as the reference standard.

Results: Hydroethanolic maceration yielded 7.76%, while the methanolic Soxhlet extract produced the highest yield among the sequential fractions at 9.10%. Screening detected tannins, flavanones, leucoanthocyanins, steroids, and triterpenes, whereas alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides, and anthocyanins were not detected. All tested extracts produced antioxidant responses in the TLC-DPPH assay. The Soxhlet ethyl acetate extract showed the lowest IC₅₀ value (6.057 µg/mL), followed by the crude hydroethanolic extract (10.92 µg/mL), ascorbic acid (12.68 µg/mL), the methanolic Soxhlet extract (13.41 µg/mL), the macerated ethyl acetate extract (16.53 µg/mL), and the Soxhlet hexane extract (25.42 µg/mL).

Conclusion: Solvent polarity and extraction technique influenced extraction yield and DPPH-scavenging activity. The semi-polar Soxhlet ethyl acetate fraction showed the greatest activity under the assay conditions and warrants further chemical characterisation and evaluation using complementary antioxidant methods.

Evaluation of the Hepato-renal Biomarkers of Wistar Rats Fed with Selected Species of Stockfish Sold in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria

Wosa, A. R. — 2026-08-03

This study investigated the effects of consuming three species of stockfish (Haddock, Apama, and Cod) sold in Port Harcourt on liver and kidney biomarkers in Wistar rats. Forty Wistar rats were divided into eight groups of five rats each. The first group served as the control, whereas the other groups were assigned according to the species and quantity of stockfish administered for four weeks. Biochemical parameters were analysed using standard procedures. Liver-function biomarkers included alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), whereas kidney-function biomarkers included creatinine, urea, sodium (Na⁺), potassium (K⁺), chloride (Cl⁻), and bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻). AST activity ranged from 11.33 ± 1.13 U/L (Group 3) to 34.00 ± 1.73 U/L (Group 5), with significant decreases in Groups 3 and 8 and elevated activities in Groups 5, 6, and 7, suggesting possible hepatocellular stress. ALT activity ranged from 7.00 ± 2.00 U/L (Group 3) to 25.66 ± 2.08 U/L (Group 6), indicating possible liver-cell membrane disruption in treated groups. ALP activity increased in Groups 3, 5, 7, and 8 compared with the control, suggesting minor hepatobiliary impairment. Renal biomarkers also showed significant alterations; urea and creatinine concentrations were elevated in several treated groups, indicating reduced renal clearance or impaired glomerular filtration. Electrolyte disturbances included mild hyperkalaemia, sodium retention, and decreased chloride concentrations in specific groups. Bicarbonate concentrations were elevated in multiple groups, suggesting metabolic alkalosis or compensatory responses. These findings indicate that diets containing the selected stockfish species were associated with alterations in hepatic and renal biomarkers in Wistar rats. However, because contaminants were not directly measured, the findings do not establish a causal contaminant-related mechanism.