Unearthing the Medicinal Properties of Tillandsia recurvata (Ball Moss): A Mini Review.

Background: More than half of traditional medicines are of natural origin and research has shown that these are associated with fewer side effects than the synthetic ones, since less than 10% of the 350,000 identified plant species have been exposed to some amount of bioactive screens, it is now the aim of researchers to screen more plants and also identify the active ingredients responsible for detected bioactivities. These we believe may provide the foundation for identifying new drug leads that may prove useful against chronic lifestyle diseases. This review takes a look at the work that has currently been conducted on Tillandsia recurvata commonly known as ball moss which is believed to assist with future research. Results: The chloroform, methanol and water extracts of ball moss have shown cytotoxicity against several human cancer cell lines and the methanol extract induces apoptosis in some. Further the chloroform extract was shown to reduce angiogenesis and the methanol extract inhibited particular kinases (CSNK2A2, MEK5, GAK, FLT and DRAK1) of which MEK5 and GAK have been implicated in prostate cancer. The same extract was further shown to display promising anti-diabetic properties via a reduction in fasting blood glucose (P<0.05), fructosamine levels (P<0.05), serum CRP and insulin levels when compared to the control mice. Phytochemical screens identified a novel glycoside and several cycloartanes and dicinnamtes; 1,3-di-O-Cinnamoyl-glycerol and (E)-3-(cinnamoyloxy)-2-hydroxypropyl 3-(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)acrylate. Further bioactive screens on these isolates showed that cycloartane-3,24,25-triol reduced the viability of prostate PC-3 and DU145 cell lines. This isolate was further shown to inhibit MRCKα kinase implicated in the initiation and progression of prostate cancer. Conclusions: This review confirms the promising efficacy of the T. recurvata plant and so its worth for further research which may prove useful in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries. Such benefits have already begun with the introduction of the alpha prostate formula, now on the market for improved prostate health.

Anti HIV-1 Activity of the Crude Extracts of Guaiacum officinale L. (Zygophyllaceae).

Aim: Jamaica is rich in medicinal plants. Guaiacum officinale is the “National Flower”, with reported uses in folk medicine for the treatment of various conditions including inflammation. In our search for plants with anticancer and anti-infective properties, we evaluated Guaiacum officinale for activity against HIV-1. Methodology: The leaf, seed and twig extracts of G. officinale were screened for anti HIV-1 properties in primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with the reference HIV-1 BaL strain. Results: All the tested extracts inhibited HIV-1 p24 production by infected cells, with EC50 concentrations of 22.35μg/ml, 23.42μg/ml and 25.04μg/ml, respectively for the leaf, seed and twig extracts. As comparison, Betulinic acid had an EC50 value of 27.50μg/ml. The tested extracts had IC50/EC50 selectivity index (SI) values of ≥ 3, which compared favorably to Betulinic acid SI value of 1.09. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that extracts of G. officinale may provide leads for the discovery of new drug agents against HIV-1.

Cycloartanes with Anticancer Activity Demonstrate Promising inhibition of the Mrckα and Mrckβ Kinases.

Aim: The role of Kinases in cancer onset and progression has made kinases a target for the control of some cancers. Recent discoveries that kinases are most effectively inhibited by small molecules have also resulted in an increased search for small molecule kinase inhibitors. Cycloartanes are small molecules found in many medicinal plants including the Jamaican Ball Moss (Tillandsia recurvata). Recent studies on T. recurvata have demonstrated that it possesses anticancer activity. Cycloartane-3,24,25- triol, an analog of a cycloartane identified in Ball moss was also shown to have inhibitory activity against MRCKα kinase. This study was as such set up to determine the MRCKα/β kinase inhibition activity of other cycloartanes in Ball Moss and their analogs. MRCKα/β kinases has been identified as an important kinase implicated in cancer onset and progression and as such a potential drug target. Methodology: Kinase inhibition activity of 6 cycloartanes was investigated using the ligand-kinase binding assay. The WST-1 reagent assay was also used to determine the antiproliferation activity of the cycloartanes against some prostate and breast cancer cell lines. Results: Cycloart-23-ene-3,25-diol (1), Cycloartane-3,24,25-triol (2), Cycloart-25-ene- 3,24-diol (3), 3,23-Dioxo-9,19-cyclolanost-24-en-26-oic acid (4), 24,25- Dihydroxycycloartan-3-one (5) inhibited the MRCKα kinase with Kd of 0.21 μM, 0.25μM, 0.36 μM, 3.0 μM and 2.1 μM respectively. Hydroxycycloart-23-en-3-one,25, (6) showed no inhibition against the MRCKα kinase. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 5 inhibited the MRCKβ kinase with Kd of 4.7 μM, 1.10 μM, 3.2 μM and 9.8 μM, respectively. Three of the six cycloartanes exhibited antiproliferation activity against two prostate and breast cancer cell lines each. Conclusion: Cycloart-23-ene-3,25-diol (1) showed the most promising activity against the MRCKα/β kinase out of the 6 cycloartanes screened demonstrating an interesting structure activity relationship profile when compared with the other molecules. Cycloart- 23-ene-3,25-diol (1) deserves further studies to determine its in vivo activity as well.

Ganga: the Jamaican connection

The controversy and issues about the good and evil effects of cannabis has grown exponentially over the last 20 years. Some of the findings have detracted from the issues of criminalization to focus on its potential as a major medicinal agent. This has led to exploratory studies into the theraputic utility of cannabis. At this time a number of areas of potential medicinal applications have been identified and investigated, for example glaucoma, asthma, pain and multiple sclerosis to name a few. The legal minds, usually with little appreciation for science and medicinal investigation, are the ones that usually put obstacles in the path of future development in this very vital area. The present knowledge about these issues is scattered all over the literature. This book is an atempt to present a reader friendly account of the knowledge and issues at this time, with an emphasis on the knowledge and experience about the subject as it relates to Jamaica