Ethyl Acetate Extract of Helicteres hirsuta Suppresses MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cell Mobility

Objective: To investigate the anticancer activity of Helicteres hirsuta (H. hirsute) extract against a breast cancer cell line- MCF7. Methods: H. hirsute was extracted in absolute methanol. Further, the crude extract was further partitioned in n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate. The total phenolic and flavonoid content were determined by using spectroscopic methods with gallic acid and quercetin standard compounds, respectively. Anticancer activities of H. hirsuta extract was elucidated by MTT, wound headling, and transwell invasion assays. Results: Total phenolic compounds in H. hirsute extracts reached 22.07 � 2.54, 58.57 5.54 and 235.56 � 7.54 mg GAE/g in each n hexan, chloroform, ethyl acetate fractions, respectively. Whereas the ethyl acetate fraction showed the greatest phenolic contents with 235.56 � 7.54 mg GAE/g. Moreover, the flavonoid contents of H. hirsute extracts reached 5.76 � 0.94, 9.25 � 1.84 and 19.37 � 2.57 mg quercetin equivalent/g in each n hexan, chloroform, ethyl acetate fractions, respectively, in which, the ethyl acetate fraction also showed the highest amounts of flavonoid contents. Further, the ethyl acetate of H. hirsute significantly decreased the viability of breast cancer MCF7 cells after 48 h treatment with IC50 value of 95 � 2.54 compared to control. In addition, the ethyl acetate extract of H. hirsute suppressed the invasion and migration of MCF7 cell lines in a dose-dependent manner at non-toxic concentrations. Conclusions: The ethyl acetate of H. hirsute suppressed the growth and motility of breast cancer MCF7 cells.

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the leaves and stems of Amomum rubidum Lamxay & N. S. Lý / Actividad antimicrobiana de los aceites esenciales de las hojas y tallos de Amomum rubidum Lamxay & N. S. Lý

This paper described the chemical compositions and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from the leaves and stem of Amomum rubidumLamxay & N. S. Lý, collected from Bidoup Nui Ba National Park, Lam Dong, Vietnam. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodisitllation method while antimicrobial activity was evaluetd by microdilution broth susceptibility assay. The main constituents of the leaf essential oil were identified as 1,8-cineole (37.7%), δ-3-carene (19.5%) and limonene (16.3%) while δ-3-carene (21.9%), limonene (17.8%) and ß-phellandrene (14.6%) dominated in the stem essentialoil. The leaf and stem essential oils displayed stronger inhibition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC of 25 µg/mLand 50 µg/mL respectively. The stem essential oil was active against Candida albicans (MIC, 50 µg/mL) while both essential oils inhibited the growth of Fusarium oxysporum (MIC 50 µg/mL). This is the first report on chemical constituents and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils of A. rubidum.

Este artículo describe la composición química y la actividad antimicrobiana de aceites esenciales de las hojas y el tallo de Amomum rubidum Lamxay & N. S. Lý recolectados del Parque Nacional Bidoup Nui Ba, Lam Dong, Vietnam. Los aceites esenciales se obtuvieron mediante el método de hidrodisitilación, mientras que la actividad antimicrobiana se evaluó mediante un ensayo de susceptibilidad de caldo de microdilución. Los principales componentes del aceite esencial de la hoja se identificaron como 1,8-cineol (37,7%), δ-3-careno (19,5%) y limoneno (16,3%), mientras que δ-3-careno (21,9%), limoneno (17,8 %) y ß-felandreno (14,6%) dominaron en el aceite esencial del tallo. Los aceites esenciales de hoja y tallo mostraron una inhibición más fuerte de Pseudomonas aeruginosa con un MIC de 25 µg/mL y 50 µg/mL, respectivamente. El aceite esencial del tallo fue activo contra Candida albicans (MIC, 50 µg/mL) mientras que ambos aceites esenciales inhibieron el crecimiento de Fusarium oxysporum (MIC 50 µg/mL). Este es el primer informe sobre los componentes químicos y la actividad antimicrobiana de los aceites esenciales de A. rubidum.

Total serum cortisol level is low in children with severe dengue shock syndrome

@#Dengue shock syndrome (DSS) is a potentially critical and life-threatening concern, especially in children of tropical countries. The serum cortisol levels in severe DSS or later stages of DSS are limited references. We prospectively studied an association between of serum cortisol as well as interleukin levels and the severity of DSS in pediatric patients. A prospective cross-sectional study of 35 consecutive DSS cases (3 months to 16 years old) admitted to our institution from July 1, 2019, to June 30, 2020 was conducted. Serum cortisol, IL-6, and IL-10 were measured at T0 (shock recognition) and T12 (12 hours after T0); their values were presented as median and interquartile ranges (25%–75%). Severe DSS included patients with impalpable pulses or systolic blood pressure < 70 mmHg, recurrent shock, and prolonged shock. In contrast, non-severe DSS presented circulatory failure without any features of severe DSS. A total of 8 (22.8%) severe DSS patients expressed the cortisol (T0) significantly lower compared to the non-severe DSS group (7.3 μg/dl versus 14.3 μg/dl, p=0.008). In severe DSS, there was a minimal change in cortisol levels between T0 and T12 (7.3 μg/dl and 4.7 μg/dl p>0.05), whereas the decrease is significant in their counterparts (14.3 μg/dl to 5.6 μg/dl, p<0.005). Additionally, there were moderate correlations between IL-6 (T0), IL-10 (T0), IL-10 (T12) and total fluid requirement (Spearman’s rho = 0.47, 0.4, and 0.36, respectively; p<0.05). Our study demonstrated that adrenal dysfunction was present in patients with severe and non-severe DSS, as noted by cortisol level at T12. In addition, IL-6 and IL-10 levels are correlated with the total fluid requirement, which is a marker of DSS severity. Further studies could reveal how adrenal dysfunction in pediatric patients with DSS can affect outcomes and the potential roles of interleukin levels in fluid management strategy.

Chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils from Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex. A. Dietr. against three mosquito vectors / Composición química y actividad larvicida de aceites esenciales de Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex. A. Dietr. contra tres vectores de mosquitos

The chemical composition and larvicidal activity of essential oils derived from the leaves and rhizomes of Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex. A. Dietr. were reported. The main compounds in the leaf oil were ß-pinene (13.8%), ß-phellandrene (11.3%) and α-pinene (7.3%) while the rhizome oil was dominated by sabinene (41.1%), terpinen-4-ol (22.7%) and (E)-nerolidol (14.3%). The minimum lethal concentration (larvicidal activity) LC50of the rhizome oil at 24 h against Aedes albopictus was 35.17 µg/mL, while LC50 values of 32.20 µg/mL and 31.12 µg/mL were obtained against Aedes aegypti and Culex quinquefasciatus respectively. At 48 h the oil displayed larvicidal action with LC50 values of 23.18 µg/mL, 25.58 µg/mL and 18.99 µg/mL respectively towards Ae. albopictus, Ae. Aegyptiand Cx. quinquefasciatus. The leaf oil did not exhibit significant mortality and larvicidal action. The results indicate the potential of rhizome essential oil of Z. montanumas a source of larvicidal agent.

En el presente trabajo se reportan la composición química y actividad larvicida de los aceites esenciales obtenidos de hojas y rizomas de Zingiber montanum (J. Koenig) Link ex. A. Dietr. Los principales compuestos en el aceite de hojas fueron ß-pineno (13.8%), ß-felandrene (11.3%) y α-pineno (7.3%); mientras que los más abundantes en el aceite de rizomas fueron sabineno (41.1%), terpinen-4-ol (22.7%) y (E)-nerolidol (14.3%). La concentración letal mínima (actividad larvicida) LC50 del aceite de riomas ante Aedes albopictus fue 35.17 µg/mL, mientras que los valores de LC50 de 32.20 µg/mL y 31.12 µg/mL fueron obtenidos ante Aedes aegyptiy Culex quinquefasciatus respectivamente. A las 48 horas, el aceite mostró acción larvicida con valores de LC50 de 23.18 µg/mL, 25.58 µg/mL y 18.99 µg/mL respectivamente, ante Ae. albopictus, Ae. Aegyptiand Cx. quinquefasciatus. El aceite de hojas no mostró mortalidad ni acción larvicida significativa. Los resultados indican el potencial del aceite esencial de rizomas de Z. montanum como una fuente de agentes larvicidas.

Dirofilariasis in Vietnam: A case report and brief review

@#This report describes a rare case of ophthalmic dirofilariasis in a 68-year-old woman with red and foreign body sensation in the pterygium on her right eye. Slit lamp examination demonstrated a long-slender worm moving in her pterygium. The worm was removed surgically and then identified as Diroflaria repens by sequence analysis of the small subunit ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene. The situation of dirofilariasis in Vietnam has been reviewed. Since the first described case in 2010 there have been thirteen cases reported that suggested the emerging trend of the disease. Most of the documented cases of human dirofilariasis recorded in Vietnam presented with ocular infections and the responsible agent was D. repens. With the increase of reported cases of human, much more attention should be paid on control as well as diagnosis and treatment of dirofilariasis in Vietnam.

Constituents of essential oils from the leaf, stem, root, fruit and flower of alpinia macroura k. schum / Constituyentes de los aceites esenciales de las hojas, tallo, raíz y flores de alpinia macroura k. schum

This paper reports the chemical constituents of essential oils from the various parts of Alpinia macroura K. Schum (Zingiberaceae) from Vietnam. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by means of gas chromatography coupled to Flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The main constituents of the oils were beta-pinene (8.8 percent-16.4 percent), 1,8-cineole (5.5 percent-17.7 percent), upsilon-terpinene (5.9 percent-16.9 percent), alpha-pinene (4.5 percent-8.4 percent) and beta-caryophyllene (1.4 percent-18.6 percent). Sabinene (9.0 percent) was identified only in the fruit. Overall, nineteen of the identified compounds are coming to all the essential oils. The chemical constituents of essential oils from the leaf, stem, root, fruit and flower of A. macroura are being reported for the first time and were found to be different from those of other Alpinia oils.

En este trabajo se presentan los componentes químicos de los aceites esenciales de las distintas partes de Alpinia macroura K. Schum (Zingiberaceae) de Vietnam. Los aceites esenciales se obtuvieron por hidrodestilación y se analizaron por medio de cromatografía de gases acoplada a detector de ionización de llama (GC-FID) y cromatografía de gases acoplada a espectrometría de masas (GC/MS). Los principales constituyentes de los aceites fueron beta-pineno (8,8 por ciento -16,4 por ciento), 1,8-cineol (5,5 por ciento -17,7 por ciento), ípsilon-terpineno (5,9 por ciento -16,9 por ciento), alfa-pineno (4,5 por ciento -8,4 por ciento) y beta-cariofileno (1,4 por ciento -18,6 por ciento). Sabineno (9,0 por ciento) fue identificado solamente en la fruta. En general, diecinueve de los compuestos identificados están llegando a todos los aceites esenciales. Los componentes químicos de los aceites esenciales de la hoja, tallo, raíz, frutas y flores de A. macroura están siendo reportados por primera vez y se encontró que eran diferentes de las de otros aceites de Alpinia.

Constituents of essential oils from the leaves, stems and roots of Zingiber gramineum and Zingiber rufopilosum / Los constituyentes de los aceites esenciales de las hojas, tallos y raíces de Zingiber gramineum y Zingiber rufopilosum

The chemical constituents of essential oils obtained from leaves, stems and roots of Zingiber gramineum Noronha ex Blume and Zingiber rufopilosum Gagnep collected from Vietnam have been studied. The determination of essential oil components was performed by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography- Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The main constituents of the leaves oil of Zingiber gramineum were zingiberene (19.5 percent), beta-cubebene (12.9 percent), beta-sesquiphellandrene (12.9 percent) and beta-elemene (11.6 percent) while the stems oil was dominated by benzyl benzoate (22.6 percewnt), beta-elemene (9.7 percent) and beta-selinene (8.8 percent). However, upsilon-terpinene (17.9 percent), alpha-terpinene (17.1 percent), terpinen-4-ol (13.0 percent) and 1,8-cineole (12.8 percent) were the present in the root oil. In addition, beta-agarofuran (13.7 percent), alpha-humulene (8.8 percent) and alpha-pinene (8.7 percent) were the main compounds identified in the leaves of Zingiber rufopilosum. The stems comprised of alpha-cadinol (15.1 percent), beta-muurolol (12.1 percent) and endo-1-bourbonanol (9.9 percent) while (E,E)-farnesol (11.6 percent), alpha-pinene (10.0 percent), bornyl acetate (6.6 percent) and beta-pinene (6.2 percent) were the significant compounds of the root oil. This is the first report on the volatile compositions of these plant species.

El presente estudio se llevó a cabo para evaluar el efecto del extracto metanólico acuoso a partir de los componentes químicos de los aceites esenciales obtenidos de las hojas, tallos y raíces de Zingiber gramineum Noronha ex Blume y Zingiber rufopilosum Gagnep recogidos de Vietnam. La determinación de componentes de aceites esenciales se realizó por cromatografía de gases-detector de ionización de llama (GC-FID) y cromatografía de gases espectrometría de masas (GC-MS). Los principales componentes del aceite de hojas de Zingiber gramineum fueron zingibereno (19,5 por ciento), beta-cubebene (12,9 por ciento), beta-sesquiphellandrene (12,9 por ciento) y beta-elemene (11,6 por ciento), mientras que el aceite de tallos fue dominada por benzoato de bencilo (22,6 por ciento), beta-elemene (9,7 por ciento) y beta-selineno (8,8 por ciento). Sin embargo, ipsilon-terpineno (17,9 por ciento), alfa-terpineno (17,1 por ciento), terpinen-4-ol (13,0 por ciento) y 1,8-cineol (12,8 por ciento) fueron los presentes en el aceite de la raíz. Además, beta-agarofuran (13,7 por ciento), alfa-humuleno (8,8 por ciento) y alfa-pineno (8,7 por ciento) fueron los principales compuestos identificados en las hojas de Zingiber rufopilosum. Los tallos componen de alfa-cadinol (15,1 por ciento), beta-muurolol (12,1 por ciento) y endo-1-bourbonanol (9,9 por ciento), mientras que (E, E)-farnesol (11,6 por ciento), alfa-pineno (10,0 por ciento), acetato de bornilo (6,6 por ciento) y beta-pineno (6,2 por ciento) fueron los compuestos significativos del aceite de la raíz. Este es el primer informe sobre las composiciones volátiles de estas especies de plantas.

A survey of infective larvae of Gnathostoma in eels sold in Ho Chi Minh City.

To investigate the distribution of Gnathostoma spp in Ho Chi Minh City (HCM city), 1,081 eels were purchased from a local market twice a month from March 1998 to February 1999. Infective larvae of Gnathostoma spp detected from the flesh and liver of eels by the press preparation technique were examined and identified. Three hundred and fifty advanced third-stage larvae were recovered from liver, none from the flesh. The average rate of infection was 0.11; a high rate of infection was found from August to November and a low rate of infection from February to May. The average number of larvae/eel was 2.9; the greatest number of larvae/eel was in January whereas the lowest was in March and April. There was a marked decrease in both prevalence and intensity of infection from February to May, followed by a rise from June. The finding suggests that in HCM city, the infection rate abruptly decreases soon after the end of the rainy season and starts to rise when the rain comes and reaches its peak at the end of the rainy season. All recovered larvae were identified as G. spinigerum.

Pharmacokinetics of a single oral dose of dihydroartemisinin in Vietnamese healthy volunteers.

Pharmacokinetics of a 240 mg single dose of oral dihydroartemisinin (DHA) was investigated in 8 healthy (5 males, 3 females) Vietnamese volunteers. Plasma concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection in the reductive mode. The concentration time profile of DHA was fitted with one-compartment model with a lag time. Pharmacokinetics of DHA is comparable between males and females even when adjusted with dosage. The median (range) values of pooled pharmacokinetics of oral DHA were: t(lag) 0.41 (0.09-0.78) hours, t(1/2z) 0.58 (0.17-1.43) hours, t(max) 1.6 (1.1-2.2) hours, Cmax 466 (128-787) ng/ml. Cmax/dosage 97.7 (27.2-124.6) ng/ml, t(1/2z) 2.0 (1.5-3.4) hours, AUC 1867 (420-3535) ng x h/ml, AUC/dosage 364.3 (89.3-559.7) ng x h/ml/dosage, Cl/f 45.8 (30.0-190.0) ml/min/kg, Vz/f 8.0 (5.5-29.9) l/kg. Interindividual variation was large, the coefficients of variation (CV) were 47.8% and 45.3% respectively to AUC and Cmax. The t(max) of DHA formulation was comparable with that of DHA metabolite of artemisinin derivatives. The t(1/2z) was longer and shorter than that of DHA metabolites of oral formulations of artesunate and artemether, respectively. For monotherapeutic regimen(s) of DHA, dosing frequency of at least twice a day is suggested. Combined regimen(s) of DHA with other potent, long half-life antimalarials may also be an alternative approach.

Establishment of drug chests in commune health stations in Vietnam, Bamako Initiative.

In remote areas in Vietnam essential drugs are often not available. Some of the reasons are inadequate resources and failure of distribution. All activities at the health stations are very weak, partly because of inappropriate usage of drugs and lack of fund for buying drugs. The object of the project was to establish sustainable provision of essential drugs for commune health stations in rural areas, to teach the health personnel the importance of essential drugs and to create incentives for the staff and a certain surplus for other health activities. Four District Health Centers (DHC) and 10 Health Stations (HS), 2-4 in each DHC were selected. A pharmacist was made monitor of the project. The health personnel were trained in proper use of drugs, drug prescription, price setting, book keeping and management of pharmacy. Written guidelines were produced. One person was responsible for the drug chest at each HS. After recognizing the aim of the project and signing the contract by which the responsible person was bound, the initial capital was given free. The DHC was responsible for the supervision and advice to the HS. Reporting on prescribed drugs, buying and selling price, profit and fund left took place monthly. Monitoring of recovery of capital, turnover rate, rate of essential drugs and incentives for staff were monitored on forms and quarterly collected by the monitor on his visits. The HS were visited half-yearly by a steering group. All ten HS had been able to establish and maintain the pharmacy and to fully recover or even increase the capital and to create a surplus. Seven out of ten HSs had a turnover rate of more than one. The rate of essential drugs sold was more than 60% in seven pharmacies. The interest rate of 18% on average was used for incentives for staff, to provide drugs for those who cannot pay and for equipment for the HS. The cooperation between the DHC and the HS became closer. Establishment of drug chests seems to be a reasonable strategy of reinforcing primary health. Much attention should be paid on training of staff, monitoring, supervision and integration of health services.