Browsing by Author "Adinortey, C.A."

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DNA Damage Protecting Activity and Antioxidant Potential of Launaea taraxacifolia Leaves Extract
(Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, 2018-01) Adinortey, M.B.; Ansah, C.; Weremfo, A.; Adinortey, C.A.; Adukpo, G.E.; Ameyaw, E.O.; Nyarko, A.K.
Background The leaf extract of Launaea taraxacifolia commonly known as African Lettuce is used locally to treat dyslipidemia and liver diseases, which are associated with oxidative stress. Methanol extract from L. taraxacifolia leaves was tested for its antioxidant activity and its ability to protect DNA from oxidative damage. Materials and Methods In vitro antioxidant potential of the leaf extract was evaluated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), and hydroxyl (OH) radical scavenging assays. Ferric reducing power, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), metal chelating, and anti-lipid peroxidation ability of the extract were also examined using gallic acid, ascorbic acid, citric acid, and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid as standards. Results L. taraxacifolia leaves extract showed antioxidant activity with IC50 values of 16.18 μg/ml (DPPH), 123.3 μg/ml (NO), 128.2 μg/ml (OH radical), 97.94 μg/ml (metal chelating), 80.28 μg/ml (TAC), and 23 μg/ml (anti-lipid peroxidation activity). L. taraxacifolia leaves extract exhibited a strong capability for DNA damage protection at 20 mg/ml concentration. Conclusion These findings suggest that the methanolic leaf extract of L. taraxacifolia could be used as a natural antioxidant and also as a preventive therapy against diseases such as arteriosclerosis associated with DNA damage.
The Ethnopharmacological and Nutraceutical Relevance of Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey
(Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2018-07) Adinortey, M.B.; Sarfo, J.K.; Kwarteng, J.; Adinortey, C.A.; Ekloh, W.; Kuatsienu, L.E.; Nyarko, K.A.
Launaea taraxacifolia (Willd.) Amin ex C. Jeffrey is a herb found mostly in tropical Africa. The plant, commonly found in West Africa, is used in the management of many diseases including cardiovascular, respiratory, haematological, endocrine, and metabolic diseases in Ghana, Nigeria, Benin, Serra Leone, and Senegal. This piece provides comprehensive and updated information on the traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological and toxicological information available on Launaea taraxacifolia to support its medicinal uses and also unearth knowledge gaps for future studies. An electronic literature search using search engines, namely, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and PubMed, was carried out to obtain information on the plant. Both common and scientific names of the plant were used as keywords for the search process. This paper captured information on Launaea taraxacifolia from 1985 to 2018. The search revealed that the leaves of the plant possess nutritional/pharmacological effects on diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cancer, malaria, bacterial infections, and arthritis. The leaf has been shown to be a rich source of phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, coumarins, triterpenoids, ascorbic acid, lycopene, and β-carotene. Also, isolated phytoconstituents as well as the safety profile of the plant have been documented. This review on Launaea taraxacifolia has provided a one-stop documentation of information in support of the several purported ethnopharmacological uses of the plant. It also reveals information gaps such as the need to research into its pharmacokinetics, interactions with drugs of importance, and its development into a plant-based drug in order to expand its clinical use.
Identification of novel potential inhibitors of varicella-zoster virus thymidine kinase from ethnopharmacologic relevant plants through an in-silico approach
(Taylor & Francis Group, 2021) Kwofie, S.K.; Annan, D.G.; Adinortey, C.A.; Boison, D.; Kwarko, G.B.; Abban, R.A.; Adinortey, M.B.
Although Varicella or chickenpox infection which is caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV) has sig nificantly been managed through vaccination, it remains an infection that poses threats to the nearest future due to therapeutic drawbacks. The focus of this research was geared towards in silico screening for the identification of novel compounds in plants of ethnopharmacological relevance in the treat ment of chicken pox in West Africa. The work evaluated 65 compounds reported to be present in Achillea millefolium, Psidium guajava and Vitex doniana sweet to identify potential inhibitors of thymi dine kinase, the primary drug target of varicella zoster virus. Out of the 65 compounds docked, 42 of these compounds were observed to possess binding energies lower than 7.0 kcal/mol, however only 20 were observed to form hydrogen bond interactions with the protein. These interactions were eluci dated using LigPlotþ and MM-PBSA analysis with residue Ala134 predicted as critical for binding. Pharmacological profiling predicted three potential lead compounds comprising myricetin, apigenin- 4’ -glucoside and Abyssinone V to possess good pharmacodynamics properties and negligibly toxic. The molecules were predicted as antivirals including anti-herpes and involved in mechanisms comprising inhibition of polymerase, ATPase and membrane integrity, which were corroborated previously in other viruses. These drug-like compounds are plausible biotherapeutic moieties for further biochemical and cell-based assaying to discover their potential for use against chickenpox.
In vitro H+/K+-ATPase Inhibition, Antiradical Effects of a Flavonoid-rich Fraction of Dissotis rotundifolia, and In silico PASS Prediction of its Isolated Compounds
(Journal of Natural Science, Biology and Medicine, 2018-06) Adinortey, M.B.; Ansah, C.; Adinortey, C.A.; McGiboney, J.; Nyarko, A.
Background: Dissotis rotundifolia, commonly referred to as pink lady, has several medicinal uses including peptic ulcer. This study investigated the inhibitory effects of D. rotundifolia extract on H+/K+-ATPase and also assessed its antiradical activity. In silico study of some isolated compounds of this plant was also carried out to affirm the suspected binding properties of extract to H+/K+-ATPase enzyme. Materials and Methods: D. rotundifolia whole plant extract was obtained after extraction process and then assessed for its ability to scavenge free radicals in four in vitro test models. Its ability to inhibit the activity of H+/K+-ATPase enzyme was also evaluated. Molecular docking was carried out on phytoconstituents, namely, vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, and isoorientin reported to be present in the whole plant extract. Results: Data obtained indicated that D. rotundifolia extract (DRE) exhibits strong antioxidant activity. DRE also showed inhibitory effects on H+/K+-ATPase enzyme activity. Docking studies affirmed the in vitro binding effect of the extract to H+/K+-ATPase. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the plant extract possess antioxidant and antipeptic ulcer activity.
Molecular Structure-Based Screening of the Constituents of Calotropis procera Identifies Potential Inhibitors of Diabetes Mellitus Target Alpha Glucosidase
(MDPI, 2022) Adinortey, C.A.; Kwarko, G.B.; Koranteng, R.; Boison, D.; Obuaba, I.; Wilson, M.D.; Kwofie, S.K.
Diabetes mellitus is a disorder characterized by higher levels of blood glucose due to impaired insulin mechanisms. Alpha glucosidase is a critical drug target implicated in the mechanisms of diabetes mellitus and its inhibition controls hyperglycemia. Since the existing standard synthetic drugs have therapeutic limitations, it is imperative to identify new potent inhibitors of natural product origin which may slow carbohydrate digestion and absorption via alpha glucosidase. Since plant extracts from Calotropis procera have been extensively used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, the present study used molecular docking and dynamics simulation techniques to screen its constituents against the receptor alpha glucosidase. Taraxasterol, syriogenin, isorhamnetin-3-O-robinobioside and calotoxin were identified as potential novel lead compounds with plausible binding energies of -40.2, -35.1, -34.3 and -34.3 kJ/mol against alpha glucosidase, respectively. The residues Trp481, Asp518, Leu677, Leu678 and Leu680 were identified as critical for binding and the compounds were predicted as alpha glucosidase inhibitors. Structurally similar compounds with Tanimoto coefficients greater than 0.7 were reported experimentally to be inhibitors of alpha glucosidase or antidiabetic. The structures of the molecules may serve as templates for the design of novel inhibitors and warrant in vitro assaying to corroborate their antidiabetic potential.