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A new prenylated benzoquinone from Cyathocalyx pruniferus abrogates LPS-induced inflammatory responses associated with PGE2, COX-2 and cytokines biosynthesis in human plasma

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Abstract

In our previous laboratory findings, Cyathocalyx pruniferus extracts exhibited platelet-activating factor inhibition, suggesting their anti-inflammatory potential. Hence, this study was designed with the aim to isolate phyto-constituents from C. pruniferus with potent anti-inflammatory activities. Column and volume liquid chromatography were used for isolation of phyto-constituents. The structure elucidation was carried out using spectroscopic analysis (HRESI-MS, 1H and 13C-NMR) and compared with published literature. For cytotoxicity analysis, 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium-bromide assay was performed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated against the levels of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β and IL-6), prostaglandin-E2 (PGE2) and cyclooxegenase-2 (COX-2), in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced human plasma using ELISA and radioimmunoassay (RIA). The chromatographic purification of methanol leaves extract afforded 13 (1–13) secondary metabolites. Additionally, cytotoxicity analysis suggested that isolates were non-cytotoxic at 100 μM. In anti-inflammatory evaluation, 2-octaprenyl-1, 4-benzoquinone (5) produced strong (≥ 70%) inhibition of PGE2, COX-2, IL-1β and IL-6 at 50 µM. Moreover, 2-octaprenyl-1,4-benzoquinone (5) exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition with IC50 values (µM) of 11.21, 6.61, 2.20 and 3.56 as compared to controls; indomethacin for PGE2 (11.84) and dexamethasone in COX-2 (5.19), IL-1β (1.83) and IL-6 (3.76) analysis, respectively. In conclusion, two new compounds including 2-octaprenyl-1, 4-benzoquinone (5) and 14-methyloctadec-1-ene (6) are reported for the first time from plant species. Additionally, 2-octaprenyl-1, 4-benzoquinone (5) dose-dependently suppressed the production of pro-inflammatory mediators involved in acute and chronic inflammation at non-cytotoxic concentrations.

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Abbreviations

COX-2:

Cyclooxygenase- 2

PGE2 :

Prostaglandin E2

IL:

Interleukins

FBS:

Foetal bovine serum

RPMI medium:

Roswell park memorial institute medium

eNOS:

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase

IκB:

Inhibitor of NF-κB

iNOS:

Inducible nitric oxide synthetase

MTT:

3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-phenyltetrazolium bromide

NF-κB:

Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells

PBMC:

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells

NO:

Nitric oxide

NOS:

Nitric oxide synthase

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

LPS:

Lipopolysaccharides

TN F-α:

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha

JNK:

Jun-N-terminal kinase

MAPKs:

Mitogen-activated protein kinase

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Funding

The authors would like to thank the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) for the financial support under grant number GGP-2017–005 and the Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industry (MOA) Malaysia, under grant number NH1014D028.

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AA and ENI carried out the experiments and data interpretation. AA wrote the manuscript, performed statistical analysis. JJ as the principal investigator and study supervisor was responsible for the design of the study, editing and proof reading of the manuscript. JJ and JAJ obtained funding for the research project. KH participated in the study design and spectroscopic analysis. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Correspondence to Juriyati Jalil.

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Human blood use for bioassays was permitted by the Human Ethics Committee, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, under approval number NF-052–15.

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Attiq, A., Jalil, J., Husain, K. et al. A new prenylated benzoquinone from Cyathocalyx pruniferus abrogates LPS-induced inflammatory responses associated with PGE2, COX-2 and cytokines biosynthesis in human plasma. Inflammopharmacol 29, 841–854 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10787-021-00807-w

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