Browsing by Author "Tuffour, I."
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Item Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination and Distribution in Surface Soils and Plants along the West Coast of Ghana(West African Journal of Applied Ecology, 2018) Fosu-Mensah, B.Y.; Ofori, A.; Ofosuhene, M.; Ofori-Attah, E.; Nunoo, F.K.E.; Darko, G.; Tuffour, I.; Gordon, C.; Arhinful, D.K.; Nyarko, A.K.; Appiah-Opong, R.Onshore oil drilling activity is ongoing at Jubilee oil fields, Ghana. This activity could lead to heavy metal exposure with consequential adverse effects on public health in nearby coastal communities. Therefore, we assessed heavy metal levels and spatial distribution in soils and plants from the west coast of Ghana to obtain baseline values for monitoring heavy metal exposure. Surface soils were collected from six coastal communities, and analyzed for arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, lead, selenium and zinc using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Mean heavy metal concentrations in soil samples were 2.06, 6.55, 0.016, 21.59, 0.18 and 39.49mg/kg for arsenic, copper, mercury, lead, selenium and zinc, respectively. Mean heavy metal concentrations in plants were 2.70, 17.47, 3.17, 91.74, 1.51 and 9.88mg/kg for arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, selenium and zinc, respectively. Concentrations of arsenic, cadmium and lead in plants exceeded WHO/FAO permissible limits. Enrichment factor for arsenic was significant and extremely high for selenium, while geoaccumulation index showed moderate pollution for selenium. Soil contamination factors for arsenic, lead, and selenium indicated considerable contamination. In view of these findings remediation methods must be adopted to safeguard the communities. The data will be useful for future monitoring of heavy metal exposure in the communities and to assess the impact of the ongoing crude oil drilling activity on the environment.Item Bioactivity data for eunicellin-based diterpenes isolated from Acalycigorgia Sp(International Journal of Applied Chemistry, 2013-01) Kyeremeh, K.; Obed, A.; Botchie, K.S.; Tuffour, I.; Uto, T.; Appiah-Opong, R.The cytotoxicity of five compounds previously isolated from the gorgonian Acalycigorgia sp was evaluated against human myeloid leukemia cells HL-60 and T-lymphocyte Jurkat cells. The tetrazolium-based colorimetric (MTT) assay was used to assess cytotoxicity of the compounds. They were found to be cytotoxic against the cell lines tested, and their IC50 values were comparable to that of curcumin which had IC50 values of 9.0μM and 6.8μM in HL-60 and Jurkat cells, respectively. Compound 1 was the most cytotoxic with IC50 values of 15.0μM and 21.9μM in HL-60 and Jurkat cells, respectively. The least cytotoxic was compound 5 which had IC50 values of 92.0μM and 123.8μM in HL-60 and Jurkat cells, respectively. The lower cytotoxicity of compound 5 could be attributed to the bulky fatty acid moiety attached at C6 of the main eunicellin skeleton. The GST activity of the five compounds was also studied and the results showed that the compounds had only moderate GST inhibitory activities. Compound 3 showed the strongest GST inhibitory activity with IC50 value of 0.67mM compared to the IC50 value of 0.01mM given by ETA which was used as a positive control. In addition, the five compounds tested showed very mild radical scavenging activity in the DPPH test. © Research India Publications.Item Determination of the absolute configuration of the novel anti-trypanosomal iridoid molucidin isolated from Morinda lucida by X-ray analysis(ELSEVIER, 2015-12) Karasawa, S.; Yoza, K.; Tung, N.H.; Uto, T.; Morinaga, O.; Suzuki, M.; Kwofie, K.D.; Amoa-Bosompem, M.; Boakye, D.A.; Ayi, I.; Adegle, R.; Sakyiamah, M.; Ayertey, F.; Aboagye, F.; Appiah, A.A.; Owusu, K.B.-A.; Tuffour, I.; Atchoglo, P.; Shoyama, Y.The strong anti-trypanosomal active compound, molucidin, contains a spirolactone tetracyclic iridoid skeleton and is isolated from Morinda lucida as an enantiomer of oruwacin, which is isolated from the same plant. To confirm the absolute configuration of molucidin, we prepared single crystals of molucidin for X-ray analysis. The absolute configuration of the afforded single crystal was determined by X-ray crystallography using a Cu radiation source. X-ray diffraction data were collected at 93 K in the 2θ range 7.468–134.99° and analyzed using the SHELXL-2014 program. The corresponding chiral quaternary carbon atoms in molucidin were unambiguously determined as 1R, 5S, 8S, 9S, and 10S. Notably, both enantiomers of a single molecule, molucidin and oruwacin, with a rigid structure have been isolated from the same plant species. The biosynthetic pathway for the formation of molucidin is also discussed on the basis of the absolute configuration. Our results for the first time support for structural elucidation of tetracyclic iridoids using X-ray analysis.Item Extracts of Codiaeum variegatum (L.) A. Juss is Cytotoxic on Human Leukemic, Breast and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines(Open Science Publishers LLP Inc., 2016) Anim, M.T.; Larbie, C.; Appiah-Opong, R.; Tuffour, I.; Owusu, K.B.-A.; Aning, A.Item In vitro antiprotozoan activity and mechanisms of action of selected Ghanaian medicinal plants against Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Plasmodium parasites(Phytotherapy Research, 2018-08) Ohashi, M.; Amoa-Bosompem, M.; Kwofie, K.D.; Agyapong, J.; Adegle, R.; Sakyiamah, M.M.; Ayertey, F.; Owusu, K.B.A.; Tuffour, I.; Atchoglo, P.et.al.Trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and malaria are protozoan infections of public health importance with thousands of new cases recorded annually. Control of these infection(s) with existing chemotherapy is limited by drug toxicity, lengthy parenteral treatment, affordability, and/or the emergence of resistant strains. Medicinal plants on the other hand are used in the treatment of various infectious diseases although their chemical properties are not fully evaluated. In this study, we screened 112 crude extracts from 72 selected Ghanaian medicinal plants for anti-Trypanosoma, anti-Leishmania, and anti-Plasmodium activities in vitro and investigated their mechanisms of action. Twenty-three extracts from 20 plants showed significant antiprotozoan activity against at least 1 of 3 protozoan parasites screened with IC50 values less than 20 μg/ml. Eleven extracts showed high anti-Trypanosoma activity with Bidens pilosa whole plant and Morinda lucida leaf extracts recording the highest activities. Their IC50 (selectivity index [SI]) values were 5.51 μg/ml (35.00) and 5.96 μg/ml (13.09), respectively. Nine extracts had high anti-Leishmania activity with Annona senegalensis and Cassia alata leaf extracts as the most active. Their IC50 (SI) values were 10.8 μg/ml (1.50) and 10.1 μg/ml (0.37), respectively. Six extracts had high anti-Plasmodium activity with the leaf and stem-bark extracts of Terminalia ivorensis recording the highest activity. Their IC50 (SI) values were 7.26 μg/ml (129.36) and 17.45 μg/ml (17.17), respectively. Only M. lucida at 25 μg/ml induced significant apoptosis-like cell death in Trypanosoma parasites. Anti-Leishmania active extracts induced varying morphological changes in Leishmania parasites such as multiple nuclei and/or kinetoplast, incomplete flagella division, or nuclear fragmentation. Active extracts may be potential sources for developing new chemotherapy against these infections.Item In Vitro Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activities of Marketed Herbal Products in Ghana(Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 2018-08) Languon, S.; Tuffour, I.; Quayson, E.E.; Appiah-Opong, R.; Quaye, O.There are numerous herbal products on the Ghanaian market that are purported to cure various ailments, including cancer. However, scientific investigations on efficacy and toxicity of most of these products are not done. The aim of the study was to assess the anticancer potentials of herbal products on the Ghanaian market. Antiproliferative effects of Kantinka BA (K-BA), Kantinka Herbaltics (K-HER), Centre of Awareness (COA), a stomach (STO) and multicancer (MUT) product were evaluated in vitro using liver (Hep G2), breast (MCF-7), prostate (PC-3 and LNCaP), and blood (Jurkat) cancer cell lines. Cytotoxicity of the medicinal products was assessed using tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay, and total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the products were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays, respectively. Phytochemical screening resulted in the detection of terpenoids and flavonoids in most of the products, and alkaloids were detected in only MUT. Tannins were absent from all the products. The highest and lowest concentrations of phenolics were recorded for MUT and K-BA, respectively. The highest and lowest antioxidant activities were measured for MUT and K-HER, respectively. Only 2 products (STO and MUT) were cytotoxic to Hep G2 cells; with MUT being the only product that was cytotoxic to MCF-7 cells. All but K-BA were cytotoxic to PC-3 cells, while all products except K-HER were cytotoxic to LNCaP and Jurkat cells. The study thus confirms that the herbal products have selective cytotoxic activities against the tested cancer cell lines. However, comprehensive toxicity studies must be conducted to establish their safety.Item In Vitro Investigation of the Relationship between Schistosomiasis and Prostate Cancer(University Of Ghana, 2017-07) Tuffour, I.Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects 200 million people and accounts for 100, 000 deaths annually. In endemic geographical areas, schistosomiasis has been implicated as an etiological agent in the pathogenesis of bladder, colorectal and renal carcinoma largely due to chronic infection of tissues with Schistosoma eggs. Several studies have also reported cases of association between Schistosoma infection and prostate cancer, one of the most common cancers in men. The possible causal association is however poorly understood. This study therefore aimed at experimentally investigating this association and elucidating the underlying mechanism. Urine samples from individuals living in Galilea, a Schistosomiasis endemic community in the Ga South District of Ghana were collected and screened for Schistosoma infection via microscopy and multiplex PCR. Soluble antigens (SEA) were prepared from Schistosoma-egg positive urine samples and assessed for the ability to induce cancer-like phenotypes including excessive proliferation, oxidative stress (GSH depletion) and diminished apoptosis in cultured human prostate (PNT2) cells. Cell proliferative effect of SEA was evaluated by the tetrazolium-based MTS assay. Oxidative stress-inducing effect of SEA was also determined using the fluorescent probe, O-phthalaldehyde. Apoptosis-diminishing effect of SEA was evaluated via fluorescence (Hoechst) staining and flow cytometry. 14.4% (30/209) schistosomiasis prevalence was recorded. Out of 30 schistosoma-infected persons, 73% (22 persons) recorded light infections whereas 27% (8 persons) were heavily infected. Microscopic and molecular analysis revealed infecting-schistosome species to be S. haematobium and S. mansoni. 63% (19 persons) were infected with S. haematobium only whereas 37% (11 persons) were co-infected. Prostate cell proliferation was significantly induced by 12.5μg/ml SEA (P=0.029). Also, SEA dose-dependently depleted cellular reduced glutathione (GSH). Flow cytometric analysis and fluorescence staining revealed that SEA dose-dependently and significantly diminished apoptosis in prostate cells. Schistosomiasis still remains a major health challenge. Findings of this study suggest that schistosoma-infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. In vivo studies are however needed to confirm this association.Item In Vivo Modulation of Rat Liver Microsomal Cytochrome P450 Activity by Antimalarial, Anti-HIV, and Antituberculosis Plant Medicines(Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine, 2018-11) Appiah-Opong, R.; Tuffour, I.; Ofori-Attah, E.; Aning, A.; Atchoglo, P.; Danso, E.A.; Ahedor, B.; Adjei, S.; Nyarko, A.K.Drug interactions are key reasons for adverse drug reactions and attrition from market. Major infectious diseases causing morbidity/mortality in Ghana are malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. In this study, plant medicines commonly used to treat/manage these diseases in Ghana were investigated for their potential to modulate rat cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. Fluorescence and high-performance liquid chromatography–based assays were used to assess effects of antimalarial plant medicines, Fever (FEV), Mal-TF (MAL), and Kantinka terric (KT); anti-TB medicines, Chestico (CHES), CA + ST Pains + HWNT (TF), and Kantinka herbatic (KHB); and anti-HIV/AIDS medicines, Wabco (WAB), AD + T/AD (LIV) and Kantinka BA (KBA) on rat liver microsomal cytochrome P450 enzyme activities. Effects of medicines on rat biochemical and hematological parameters were also assessed. Generally, the medicines altered microsomal CYP1A1/1A2, CYP2B1/2B2, CYP2C9, and CYP2D6 activities. Only KBA elicited an increase (80%) in CYP1A1/1A2 activity. FEV, MAL, CHES, WAB, and LIV strongly inhibited the enzyme activity. All the medicines significantly inhibited CYP2C9 (24%-80%) activity. CYP2D6 activity increased after treatment with MAL, KBA, LIV, and TF. Also, MAL, WAB, LIV, KHB, and CHES increased CYP2B1/2B2 activity, while KT decrease the activity. Generally, the medicines altered liver function in the rats. Cholesterol levels declined after KBA treatment only. White and red blood cell counts, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels were significantly reduced in KT- and KBA-treated rats. Our results suggest that use of the medicines could have implications for drug interactions and safety, particularly if the medicines are administered over prolonged periods. Further investigations are imperative to establish clinical relevance of these results.Item New anti-trypanosomal active tetracyclic iridoid isolated from Morinda lucida Benth.(Bioorganic & Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 2015-08) Suzuki, M.; Tung, N.H.; Kwofie, K.D.; Adegle, R.; Amoa-Bosompem, M.; Sakyiamah, M.; Ayertey, F.; Owusu, K.B.-A.; Tuffour, I.; Atchoglo, P.; Frempong, K.K.; Anyan, W.K.; Uto, T.; Morinaga, O.; Yamashita, T.; Aboagye, F.; Appiah, A.A.; Appiah-Opong, R.; Nyarko, A.K.; Yamaoka, S.; Yamaguchi, Y.; Edoh, D.; Koram, K.; Ohta, N.; Boakye, D.A.; Ayi, I.; Shoyama, Y.Human African trypanosomiasis (HAT), commonly known as sleeping sickness has remained a serious health problem in many African countries with thousands of new infected cases annually. Chemotherapy, which is the main form of control against HAT has been characterized lately by the viewpoints of toxicity and drug resistance issues. Recently, there have been a lot of emphases on the use of medicinal plants world-wide. Morinda lucida Benth. is one of the most popular medicinal plants widely distributed in Africa and several groups have reported on its anti-protozoa activities. In this study, we have isolated one novel tetracyclic iridoid, named as molucidin, from the CHCl3 fraction of the M. lucida leaves by bioassay-guided fractionation and purification. Molucidin was structurally elucidated by 1H and 13C NMR including HMQC, HMBC, H–H COSY and NOESY resulting in tetracyclic iridoid skeleton, and its absolute configuration was determined. We have further demonstrated that molucidin presented a strong anti-trypanosomal activity, indicating an IC50 value of 1.27 μM. The cytotoxicity study using human normal and cancer cell lines indicated that molucidin exhibited selectivity index (SI) against two normal fibroblasts greater than 4.73. Furthermore, structure–activity relationship (SAR) study was undertaken with molucidin and oregonin, which is identical to anti-trypanosomal active components of Alnus japonica. Overlapping analysis of the lowest energy conformation of molucidin with oregonin suggested a certain similarities of aromatic rings of both oregonin and molucidin. These results contribute to the future drug design studies for HAT.Item Procyanidin trimer C1 derived from Theobroma cacao reactivates latent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 provirus.(Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 2015-04) Hori, T.; Barnor, J.; Nguyen Huu, T.; Morinaga, O.; Hamano, A.; Ndzinu, J.; Frimpong, A.; Minta-Asare, K.; Amoa-Bosompem, M.; Brandful, J.; Odoom, J.; Bonney, J.; Tuffour, I.; Owusu, B.-A.; Ofosuhene, M.; Atchoglo, P.; Sakyiamah, M.; Adegle, R.; Appiah-Opong, R.; Ampofo, W.; Koram, K.; Nyarko, A.; Okine, L.; Edoh, D.; Appiah, A.; Uto, T.; Yoshinaka, Y.; Uota, S.; Shoyama, Y.; Yamaoka, S.Despite remarkable advances in combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection remains incurable due to the incomplete elimination of the replication-competent virus, which persists in latent reservoirs. Strategies for targeting HIV reservoirs for eradication that involves reactivation of latent proviruses while protecting uninfected cells by cART are urgently needed for cure of HIV infection. We screened medicinal plant extracts for compounds that could reactivate the latent HIV-1 provirus and identified a procyanidin trimer C1 derived from Theobroma cacao as a potent activator of the provirus in human T cells latently infected with HIV-1. This reactivation largely depends on the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways because either overexpression of a super-repressor form of IκBα or pretreatment with a MEK inhibitor U0126 diminished provirus reactivation by C1. A pan-PKC inhibitor significantly blocked the phorbol ester-induced but not the C1-induced HIV-1 reactivation. Although C1-induced viral gene expression persisted for as long as 48 h post-stimulation, NF-κB-dependent transcription peaked at 12 h post-stimulation and then quickly declined, suggesting Tat-mediated self-sustainment of HIV-1 expression. These results suggest that procyanidin C1 trimer is a potential compound for reactivation of latent HIV-1 reservoirs.Item Schistosoma Egg Antigen Induces Oncogenic Alterations in Human Prostate Cells(Analytical cellular pathology (Amsterdam), 2018-12) Tuffour, I.; Ayi, I.; Gwira, T.M.; Dumashie, E.; Ashong, Y.; Appiah-Opong, R.Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that affects 200 million people and accounts for 100,000 deaths annually. In endemic geographical areas, schistosomiasis has been implicated as an etiological agent in the pathogenesis of bladder, colorectal, and renal carcinoma largely due to Schistosoma eggs in tissues that comes with chronic infection. Several studies have also reported cases of association between Schistosoma infection and prostate cancer. The possible causal association is however poorly understood. We hypothesized in this study that infection of the prostate cells with Schistosoma spp promotes cancer. Urine samples from individuals living in Galilea, a schistosomiasis endemic community in the Ga South District of Ghana, were collected and screened for Schistosoma infection via microscopy and multiplex PCR. Soluble egg antigens (SEA) were prepared from Schistosoma egg- positive urine samples and assessed for the ability to induce cancer-like phenotypes including excessive proliferation, oxidative stress (reduced glutathione (GSH) depletion), and diminished apoptosis in cultured human prostate (PNT2) cells. Molecular analysis revealed infecting schistosome species to be S.haematobium and S. mansoni. Prostate cell proliferation was significantly induced by 12.5 μg/ml SEA (p=0029). Also, SEA dose-dependently depleted cellular GSH. Flow cytometric analysis and fluorescence staining revealed that SEA dose-dependently diminished apoptosis, significantly, in prostate cells. Findings of this study suggest that schistosome infection may play a role in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. In vivo studies are however needed to confirm this association.