Evaluation of the antiproliferative and cytotoxic activities of marine invertebrates-derived fungi

The present study focuses on the evaluation of the cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activities of the organic extracts of 70 fungal strains associated with twelve Red Sea marine invertebrates. The fungal strains were obtained 10 sponges, one tunicate and one soft coral. Three different media including Sabouraud dextrose agar, malt extract agar and Czapek-Dox agar were used for the purification of the fungal isolates. The purified fungal isolates were cultured in their corresponding media [Sabouraud dextrose broth, Malt extract broth and Czapek-Dox broth] on shaker for 14 days at 26[degree]C. After that, the cultures were lyophilized and the dried cultures were extracted with methanol. The methanolic extracts of these cultures were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activities against three human cancer cell lines including breast adenocarcinoma [MCF-7], liver hepatocellular carcinoma [HepG2] and colorectal carcinoma [HCT-116]. Nine extracts displayed potent and selective activity against MCF-7 with IC[50] 4.96-8.28 micro g/mL without any significant effect on the other two cell lines. In addition, six extracts showed strong and selective activity against MCF-7 with IC[50] 11.37-15.53 micro g/mL. On the other hand, most of the fungal extracts were inactive or weakly active against HepG2 and HCT-116

Cytotoxic phenolics from the flowers of hippeastrum vittatum

Bioassay-guided fractionation and purification of the ethanolic extract of the fresh flowers of Hippeastrum vittatum [Amaryllidaceae] cultivated in Egypt yielded three compounds viz. caffeic acid [1], dihydrocaffeic acid methyl ester [2], together with the polyhydroxylated alkaloid pancratistatin [3]. The structures of the isolated compounds were determined on the basis of extensive 1D [1 H and 13 C] and 2D [COSY, HMQC, and HMBC] NMR studies, and mass spectral measurements. The cytotoxic activity of compounds 1-3 is presented and discussed

Lignans from the aerial parts of haplophyllum tuberculatum [forssk] A. Juss

Bioassay-guided investigation of the aerial parts of Haplophyllum tuberculatum [Forssk] A. Juss grown in Egypt led to the isolation and characterization of two lignans, 1 and 2 [[-]- secoisolariciresinol]. The structural mapping of the isolated compounds was established on the basis of intensive 1D and 2D NMR studies. The anticancer activity of the isolated compounds was reported

Mechanism of extraction of Fe [III], Fe [II], Co [II] and Ni [II] by Di- [2-ethylhexyl] phosphoric acid from sulphuric acid medium

Distribution ratio, D, for iron, cobalt and nickel as a function of acidity and extractant molarity has been determined in a sulphate-di [2-ethylhexyl] phosphoric acid [DEHPA] system using benzene or 2-ehtyl hexanol as non polar and polar diluents respectively. The extractability of Fe [III] by DEHPA in benzene goes through a minimum with increasing acidity of the aqueous phase. The divalent ions Fe [II], Co [II] and Ni [II] seem to be poorly extracted at low acidities [0.5-IM] with the formation of M [HX2]. On the other hand, Fe [III] exhibited the highest value of D suggesting of its separation from these divalent ions With 2-ethyl hexanol, the distribution ratio for all ions are lower than in benzene and the extraction proceeds through chelate formation of Fex3 or MX2 for Fe [II], Ni [II] and Co [II].