Browsing by Author "Jayasundara, N."

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Anti-cancer activity of Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Pleiospermium alatum, Scolopia pusilla, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, and Allium cepa against breast and cervical cancer cell lines
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2024) Jayasinghe, M. R.; Jayasundara, N.; Samarakoon, K. W.; Kuruppu, A.I.
Despite advancements in modern medicine, cancer remains a global challenge, with existing treatments being costly and often accompanied by side effects. Developing novel therapies from herbal-based products presents a promising alternative. This study evaluates the anticancer potential of a blend of herbs of a traditional formula: Cinnamomum zeylanicum, Pleiospermium alatum, Scolopia pusilla, Zingiber officinale, Allium sativum, and Allium cepa. The formula was prepared by extracting these herbs individually using methanol, and then combining the extracts in equal proportions. The combined methanolic extract (formula) was subjected to various assays to assess its therapeutic potential. The methanolic extracts of all herbs were tested by the Folin-Ciocalteu's reagent method and the aluminum chloride colorimetric method to estimate the quantity of phenol and flavonoid content, respectively. The 2, 2-diphenyl 1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization assay assessed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, respectively. The MTT (3- (4, 5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the clonogenic assay were used to examine the cytotoxicity impact in vitro. At the maximum dosage tested (1 mg/mL), C. zeylanicum showed a somewhat higher concentration of total phenols, with a value of 0.478±0.008 mg/mL GAE/g, while the formula with all herbs, represented 0.305 ± 0.007 mg/mL GAE/g. The P. alatum extract had the greatest total flavonoid content, measuring 0.050 ± 0.035 mg/ml QE/g. The formula's methanolic extract showed a TFC of 0.039 ± 0.019 mg/mL QE/g. The single herb S. pusilla extract's IC50 was the lowest among single herbs for antioxidant activity, 0.0632 ± 0.008 mg/mL; in contrast, the formula's methanolic extract showed a lower IC50 0.0421 ± 0.004 mg/mL. The formula yielded an IC50 of 0.0432±0.002 mg/mL, whereas the IC50 value for C. zeylanicum extract showed 0.052±0.014 mg/mL for the anti-inflammatory assay. Z. officinale extract showed an inhibitory effect on the MCF-7 cell line, with an IC50 value of 0.0514 ± 0.012 mg/mL, while the formula showed a value of 0.0362 ± 0.081 mg/mL. The extract of Z. officinale produced growth inhibitory effects against the HeLa cell line with an IC50 value of 0.0840 ± 0.041 mg/mL, whereas the formula showed a more potent IC50 of 0.0273 ± 0.002 mg/mL indicating that the formula was potent against the cancer cells. Vero cells, non-cancerous monkey kidney cells, showed an IC50 of >1 mg/mL for all herb extracts, which demonstrated a low potency. There was a decrease in the colony-forming capacity with the formula. A remarkable inhibition of colony formation was observed with the formula’s methanolic extract with a survival fraction (SF) of 57.14% against HeLa while it showed a SF of 56.04% for MCF7 cells. This summarizes the information regarding the herbs and their formula, with a special focus on anticancer properties that serve as a foundation for future research and development of this formula in the field of cancer.
Body weight status and implications on kidney health of the pediatric communities in the dry climatic zone in Sri Lanka: A cross-sectional study
(Faculty of Graduate Studies, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2022) Gunasekara, T. D. K. S. C.; Silva, P. M. C. S. D.; Chandana, E. P. S.; Jayasinghe, S.; Herath, C.; Siribaddana, S.; Jayasundara, N.
Unhealthy bodyweight is associated with multiple clinical complications that serve as potential risk factors for kidney diseases. However, pediatric renal outcomes associated with the bodyweight status are not properly understood in many communities. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess potential associations of bodyweight status with renal health of selected pediatric communities in the dry climatic zone of Sri Lanka. This cross-sectional study was conducted with school students of both genders 13-16 years of age (N=326) in selected education divisions in dry zone regions where chronic kidney disease of uncertain etiology (CKDu) is not evident. Mid-stream early morning urine samples of the students were assessed for creatinine and albumin using an automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Quantitative assessment of urinary kidney injury molecule (KIM-1) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) was based on enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Age and gender-specific World Health Organization guidelines (LMS-based body mass index (BMI) percentiles), adopted by the family Health Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Sri Lanka, were used to assign the students into four BMI strata: underweight, normal, overweight, and obese. Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) were used as the criteria to interpret renal function. The median levels of biomarkers, NGAL, ACR and particularly KIM-1 which is a more sensitive indicator of renal injury, showed no significant difference across the four BMI strata in both girls and boys. Also, the median levels of the three biomarkers showed no significant difference between the girls and boys within the same age stratum. Furthermore, BMI did not significantly correlate with urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and ACR in the three age strata, while very weak correlation of age was observed with BMI. Our findings did not produce plausibly strong evidence to establish a potential link between bodyweight status and altered renal function in the studied dry-zone pediatric communities. However, longitudinal studies with increased sample size and broader age range are warranted to make more accurate interpretations on potential associations of longstanding unhealthy bodyweight with pediatric renal health in Sri Lanka.
Determination of combined acute toxic effects of well water hardness and fluoride using the embryos of Danio rerio (zebrafish)
(Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya Sri Lanka, 2024) Imanthi, K. P. A.; Wanigasuriya, J. K. P.; Perera, P. P. R.; Jayasundara, N.; Manage, P. M.
Water hardness is expressed as the concentration of dissolved minerals, mainly calcium and magnesium which are naturally present in both ground and surface water sources. Water hardness and fluoride levels in drinking water have significant impacts on human health. The synergistic effect of total hardness and fluoride is considered to be one of the major hypotheses for Chronic Kidney Disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) in Sri Lanka. The kidney accumulates more fluoride than other soft tissues, which may contribute to the origin and progression of kidney disease. Water hardness can affect early development as it alters the availability of essential ions for physiological processes. This study was conducted to evaluate the total hardness and fluoride levels in well water from Agunukolapelassa and determine the acute toxic effect of different hardness and fluoride combinations on embryonic development using zebrafish. Thirty well water samples were collected randomly. Highest total hardness was measured as 158.67 ± 0.05 mg/L (H1) and lowest was 16.00 ± 0.10 mg/L (H2) while fluoride was ranged between 1.93 ± 0.00 mg/L (F1) to 0.16 ± 0.00 mg/L (F2). Four different solutions were prepared by combining the above concentrations solution 1 (H1, F1), solution 2 (H1, F2), solution 3 (H2, F1), and solution 4 (H2, F2). Hardness solutions were synthetically prepared using MgCl2 and CaCl2, fluoride solutions were prepared using NaF. Distilled water was used as the control. Zebrafish embryos after 2 hours of post fertilization (hpf) were exposed to different solutions, thirty per each and triplicated. Mortality, hatching rates, heart rates and morphological abnormalities were observed using a light microscope (10×4) until 96 hpf. The highest mortality, 27.8% was recorded in solution 1 and others were 15.5%, 20.0% and 8.8% respectively. The hatching rate was recorded after 54 hpf and it was 3.3%, 16.6%, 11.1% and 22.2% for each solution. Heart rate was lowest in solution 1 as 84 beats per minute (bpm) and highest in solution 4 as 100 bpm. Subsequently, control showed 0% mortality, 80% hatching rate and 140 bpm heart rate at the same time. Around 40% of embryos showed morphological abnormalities such as yolk sack oedema and bent body axis in solutions 1 and 3. Oedema in belly region indicates the damaged pronephros, which alters the kidney function in embryos. Results emphasize the adverse developmental effects of total hardness and fluoride combinations on embryos as it increases mortality, reduces hatching rate and heart rate. Especially higher levels of fluoride induce having physical deformities, organ damages and reduce blood flow in embryos. These effects on early development can reduce embryonic viability, organ functioning and survival in the natural environment.