Search

The antiproliferative effect of the fatty acid components of Clerodendrum volubile leaves as well as its antioxidant effect on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cell lines were investigated. Fatty acids extracted from C. volubile leaf oil were subjected to gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis. The cells were cultured and treated with the fatty acids for 48 h, after which the antiproliferation effect was ascertained via MTT assay and cell viability analysis using BD fluorescence activated cells sorting (FACS) Calibur. Cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry on FACS Calibur. Western blotting was used in determining expression of proteins in the cell lines. The treated cell lines were assessed for reduced glutathione level, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and lipid peroxidation. The fatty acids significantly inhibited cell proliferation, arrested G0/G1 phase, downregulated the expression of MMP-9, and attenuated oxidative stress in of MCF-7 cell lines but had little or no effect on MDA-MB-231 cell lines. These results indicate the therapeutic potential of the fatty acids components of the leaves of C. volubile on human breast cancer, which may be explored further in drug development.

The article focuses on a research conducted in order to describe the chemical composition of the African palm weevil, Rhychophorus phoenicis larvae. It discusses the evaluation of chemical composition of the larvae using standard methodology like lipid extraction using the chloroform-methanol solvent and energy content determination using a bomb calorimeter. The study revealed the dried and defatted palm weevil larva as a good source of protein and a good complement of essential amino acids.

Oils were extracted from whole and dehulled seeds, and hulls of Luffa aegyptiaca and their physico-chemical and fatty acid properties determined using standard methods. Oil extracted from the whole seeds had a higher (p<0.05) acid value compared to dehulled seeds,which however, had higher unsaponifiable matter. Iodine value was high for both oils and a higher (p<0.05) saponification value was observed for whole seed oil. Linoleic acid was the major constituent of dehulled and whole seeds oil while stearic acid was the major fatty acid of oil extracted from hulls. Hull oil also had the highest total saturated fatty acid content (p<0.05). Trans-isomers present were less than 1%. Fractionation studies showed that the total lipids consisted mostly of neutral lipids and triacyl glycerol. Luffa aegyptiaca seed oil appears to be edible and has satisfactory nutritional value as it is rich in linoleic acid and has a high unsaturated-saturated fatty acids ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]