Day 1 :
- Medicinal Plant Research
Location: Webinar
Session Introduction
Olugbenga Morebise
PhD,American University of St. Vincent School of Medicine.
Title: Elucidating the Anti-inflammatory Properties of Garcinia kola and Vernonia amygdalina through in silico molecular biology techniques
Biography:
Abstract:
Inflammation is implicated in many disorders, including communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is a key enzyme involved in the production of prostaglandins implicated in inflammatory disorders. G. kola and V. amygdalina are medicinal plants being used for treating various ailments in many parts of the world and extensive in vitro and in vivo studies have confirmed their anti-inflammatory properties. Five phytochemicals were selected from the two plants; aspirin and celecoxib were used as reference drugs. This study investigated the interactions of the seven ligands with the Cox-2 enzyme, using in silico molecular biology techniques.The 3-D structures of the seven ligands were retrieved from the PubChem database in their Structure Data Format (SDF). Cox-2 was retrieved in its Protein Data Bank (PDB) format. The ligands and the protein were converted to their pdbqt formats and subjected to molecular docking through standard bioinformatics procedures.
Albandary Ziyad
PhD,University of East Anglia,UK
Title: Novel Natural Product from Mixed Plant Extracts
Biography:
Abstract:
Preliminary experiment monitored by 1H-NMR and HSQC NMR, Myrosinase catalyzed hydrolysis of a glucosinolate (Sinigrin) in the presence of allicin has revealed early evidence of novel compound formation. Both alliins and cruciferous vegetables are known to generate thiol-reactive secondary metabolites when the plant material is crushed. In cruciferous vegetables, these are glucosinolates which degradation into reactive intermediates catalyzed by myrosinase. Garlic, alliinase catalysis conversion of alliin into allicin. Both sets of molecules are known for their antibacterial activity. The aim of this project is to explore where these reactive intermediates could be used to generate novel antimicrobial natural products when if both cruciferous and alliin plants are crushed and extracted as a mixture.