Dinithi C Peiris

University of Sri Jayewardenepura · Department of Zoology

The present study aimed to isolate a bioactive compound from Sri Lankan edible marine brown algae, Chnoospora minima, to manage diabetes. The de-polysaccharide crude methanolic extract was partitioned using hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate with increased polarity. The samples were subjected to determine the quantitative phytochemical analysis,...

Abstract The present study focuses on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities of the methanolic extract of Codium fragile, a green seaweed used as a food additive and herbal medicine. Here, we studied the crude methanol extract and its polyphenolic and polysaccharide portions. The crude methanol extract (CME), polyphenolic...

Simple Summary Rusa unicolor (the Sambar deer) has been listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN). These mammals play a significant role in the region’s biodiversity and are vital to the ecological system’s well-being. Because of their remarkable physical resemblances, differen...

Chnoospora minima is a brown alga enriched with unique bioactive compounds which are ideal candidates for pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical and nutraceutical industries. During this study, C. minima was extracted using 80% methanol and de-polysaccharide crude methanol extract was obtained by ethanol precipitation followed by separation of the po...

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) virus outbreak continues worldwide, with many variants emerging, some of which are considered variants of concern (VOCs). The WHO designated Omicron as a VOC and assigned it under variant B.1.1.529. We used computational studies to examine the VOCs Omicron sub-variants (OSVs) and one variant of interest (VOI)...

The modern lifestyle and dietary habits increased the progression of non-communicable diseases both in developed and developing countries. Lifestyle changes associated with the consumption of healthy foods and nutraceuticals should play a significant role in preventing and managing chronic diseases. Hence, there has been a growing interest in natur...

Marine algae are found to be excellent in their nutritional and potential therapeutic properties. This study explores the antidiabetic and anticancer potential of fractionated polyphenolic extract of Caulerpa racemosa, green macroalgae. Crude polyphenolic extract (CPE) of C. racemosa and its fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and disti...

Chnoospora minima is a brown algae enriched with unique bioactive compounds which are ideal candidates for pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, and nutraceutical industries. During this study, C.minima were extracted using 80% methanol and de-polysaccharide crude methanol extract was obtained by ethanol precipitation followed by separation of the polysac...

Chnoospora minima is a brown alga that belonged to the group of Phaeophyceae, which exhibited different bioactivities including anti-cancer, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, etc. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition of the de-polysaccharide and polysaccharide-rich methanolic extracts and their fracti...

Non-communicable diseases pose an ever-increasing burden to many worldwide, regardless of gender, age, and nationality. In Sri Lanka, type 2 diabetes is prevalent due to the rapid transition of lifestyles, unhealthy dietary changes, and population demographic changes, which could be why the epidemic is escalating in South Asia. Advances in chemical...

The immature inflorescence of Cocos nucifera L. (IF) is widely used in traditional medicinal practices including ayurveda in Sri Lanka for the treatment of menorrhagia, a common gynecological disorder in women. The orange color variety aurantiaca which is commonly known as "thembili" in sinhala is used for this purpose. The IF consists of proanthoc...

In-vitro Anti-inflammatory Properties of the Ethyl Acetate Soluble Proanthocyanidins (EASPA) from the Immature Inflorescence of Cocos nucifera L. Tenne PCRK1 , Peiris LDC2 , Abeysekera A1 , Padumadasa S3 , Dissanayake DMAB3 , Galhena PB4 , Padumadasa C1 1Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka 2Department of Zoology,...

Verification of the presence of mesenchymal stem cells in primary human endometrial cell Tenne PCRK1 , Galhena PB2 , Dissanayake DMAB3 , Padumadasa S3 , Harikrishnan JD4 , George GDN4 , Peiris LDC5 , Abeysekera A1 , Padumadasa C1 1Department of Chemistry, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka 2Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Chemis...

The fortification of yogurt with natural herbs to improve its nutritional and health benefit are an emerging trend. Hot infusions of Nyctanthes abo-tristis flowers are a traditionally used herb against diabetes. This study was designed to develop a novel yogurt fortified (FY) with 3, 3.5, and 6% N.arbor-tristis flower extract (NFE) to determine its...

Marine seaweeds are a rich source of bioactive metabolites that can be used as an alternative source for the development of the anti-cancer drug. The present study was aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of different fractions of G.edulis against the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line. De-polysaccharide polyphenol-r...

Seaweeds are an important source of bioactive metabolites in drug development and nutraceuticals. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of de-polysaccharide methanol extract and partition fractions of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and aqueous fractions of brown algae Choonospora minima against human rh...

Molecular techniques are helpful in the identification of earthworm species, especially when morphological characters are not taxonomically informative or difficult to discern. There are no reports on previous studies that have investigated molecular-based methods or combined morphological and molecular methods for earthworm taxonomy in Sri Lanka....

Jellyfish venoms are rich sources of bioactive molecules synthesized to capture prey or deter predators. Many of these molecules are proteins with unique properties, which can elicit toxic effects in a local and systemic manner in humans. Therefore, the present study aimed at investigating the potential toxin proteins underlying the significant tox...

The current study determined the cytotoxic and apoptotic potential of the polyphenol-rich methanol extract of Chnoospora minima (C. minima) and its fractions against human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cells. MTT and neutral red assays were used to determine cytotoxicity. The clonogenic assay evaluated the antineoplastic...

Current in silico proteomics require the trifecta analysis, namely, prediction, validation, and functional assessment of a modeled protein. The main drawback of this endeavor is the lack of a single protocol that utilizes a proper set of benchmarked open-source tools to predict a protein’s structure and function accurately. The present study rectif...

The separation of Sri Lanka from Gondwana and Indian Peninsular in the late Miocene, the new environmental conditions in Sri Lanka provided a diverse topographic, climatic, and biotic stage for the mammals, mostly of Indian-Indochinese origin, to develop unique adaptations. The Indian Pangolin (Manis crassicaudata) is native to the Indian subcontin...

Marine seaweeds are a rich source of bioactive metabolites that can be used as a source for the development of anti-cancer drugs. Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death involved with the elimination of unwanted cells from the body. Among different mechanisms of apoptosis, caspases are a family of protease enzymes playing an essential role in...

Marine seaweeds are a rich in bioactive metabolites that can be used as an alternative source for developing anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, the present study aimed to analyze the apoptosis-related gene expression of hexane fraction of G. edulis treated human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. De-polysaccharide polyphenol-rich methanol extract of G...

Although traditional practitioners prescribe Malewana Madhumeha Choorna hot infusion (MMCHI) in Sri Lanka to combat diabetes, its antidiabetic properties have yet to be explored. We examined the in vitro hypoglycemic activity of MMCHI using α-amylase, α-glucosidase enzymes, and glucose uptake assays. Further, in vitro antioxidant activity was deter...

Background: Marine seaweeds are a rich source of bioactive metabolites that can be used as an alternative source for developing anti-cancer drugs. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity and apoptotic activity of different fractions of G.edulis against the human rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) cell line.

Marine seaweeds are a promising source of bioactive secondary metabolites that can be utilized in drug development and nutraceuticals. Diabetes mellitus is a leading non-communicable disease, and it is the third leading cause of death worldwide. Among the types of diabetes, type 2 became the major health problem as it is associated with severe heal...

Choonospora minima (Hering 1841) is a brown alga belonging to the family Scytosiphonaceae. Natural bioactive compounds are abundant in C. minima with potential active ingredients in the treatment of diabetes. Therefore, the present study aimed to isolate the anti-diabetic compound of the chloroform fraction of methanol extract using bioassay-guided...

The study was aimed to evaluate how drying methods and extracting solvents can preserve antimicrobial properties of Acmella flower pods. Four drying techniques [sun drying (SD), air drying (AD), oven drying (OD), and cooling with dehumidifying (CWD)] and three different solvent extractions [ethanol extracts (EE), water extracts (WE) and pet ether e...

Background: Cancer is increasingly a global health issue. The WHO projects that, by 2035, the world could see 24 million new cancer cases and 14.5 million cancer-related deaths a year. According to the cancer registry of Sri Lanka, about 13,635 new cancer incidences have been reported in 2007 and 68% of the population is suffering from different st...

Background: Medicinal plants are prolific sources that have a great demand for screening of plant products with chemical and therapeutic medicinal properties. Costus speciosus (Koen.) Sm. is a tropical herbaceous plant found in home gardens but the medicinal applications of its leaf extract has not been extensively studied. Objective: To assess in...

The antioxidant, cytotoxic, and anti-cancer potential of aqueous root and rhizome extract (ARRE) of Smilax zeylanica was investigated against human liver carcinoma cells. The phytochemical composition was evaluated by standard methods, and confirmed by thin-layer chromatography. Free radical scavenging activity was determined by DPPH assay, cytotox...

A novel liquid plant growth regulator dubbed ethereal (ET) employed primarily for artificial fruit ripening has been deemed a systemic health concern with documented reports of severe hepatotoxicity. The present study evaluated the viability of the use of Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus) as valid test model for human acetylcholinesterase (AChE) thro...

Seaweeds are an important source of bioactive metabolites in the development of drugs and nutraceuticals. This study aimed to analyze the antiproliferative and apoptotic activities of the methanol extract (ME) of G. edulis using human Rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) and breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cells. De-polysaccharide ME of G. edulis was extracted to d...

In this study, the antimicrobial properties of Plumbago indica root bark against bacterial strains and a fungal strain were investigatedusing the disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration assays. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry, and column chromatography analyses were conducted to identify and...

Leaves of Passiflora suberosa are used in Sri Lankan traditional medicine as a treatment for various ailments including diabetes, skin diseases and hypertension. The current study was conducted to investigate the detailed anti-diabetic activity of the leaves. This project represents the phytochemical analysis, in vitro anti-diabetic potentials of c...

Marine algae are an important source of bioactive metabolites in drug development and nutraceuticals. Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder and the third leading cause of death worldwide due to lifestyle changes associated with rapid urbanization. Due to the adverse side effects of currently available antidiabetic drugs, search for an effective...

Pesticides are known to result in toxic insult. We aimed to evaluate Judo 40, the commercial formulation of chlorpyrifos on the neurological activities, fertility, and hormone levels of male rats. Male Wistar rats were treated orally with 1 mL of 20 or 50 mg/kg Judo 40. The doses were administered four times, twice a day. Sexual and exploratory beh...

Although the antidiabetic efficacy of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis flowers has been reported, antiproliferative and anti-obesity activities are yet to be explored. We examined the anti-obesity and antiproliferative potentials of different fractions (hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, methanol) of N. abor-tristis flower extract for the first time using...

Seaweeds are an important source of bioactive metabolites in drug development and nutraceuticals. Therefore, present study aimed to investigate in-vitro antidiabetic activities of methanol extract and its solvent fractions of Sri Lankan marine red algae, Gracillaria edulis (Gmelin) Silva (Family: Gracilariaceae). De-polysaccharide methanolic extrac...

Abstract Natural bioactive compounds are abundant in seaweeds with potentials therapeutic activities. As Sri Lankan marine algae are underexploited, here we aimed to investigate the total phenolic, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of Chnoospora minima and Gracillaria edulis and its fractions. De-polysaccharide m...

Abstract Natural bioactive compounds are abundant in seaweeds with potentials therapeutic activities. As Sri Lankan marine algae are underexploited, here we aimed to investigate the total phenolic, flavonoid contents and antioxidant activities of the methanol extract of Chnoospora minima and Gracillaria edulis and its fractions. De-polysaccharide m...

Obesity and diabetes are major metabolic disorders which are prevalent worldwide. Algae has played an important role in managing these disorders. In this study, Gracilaria edulis, a marine red algae, was investigated for antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential using in vitro models. De-polysaccharide methanol extract of G. edulis was sequentially pa...

1,3-Dinitrobenzene (mDNB) is a widely used intermediate in commercial products and causes testicular injury. However, genotoxic effects upon low-level exposure are poorly understood. The present study evaluated the effects of very low-chronic doses of mDNB on sperm nuclear integrity. Male hamsters were treated with 1.5 mg/kg/d/4 wks (group A), 1.5...

Semen quality plays a pivotal role in maintaining healthy fertilizing ability of spermatozoa. Male infertility is a rising global problem with an increasing declining in male semen quality among men living in Africa, Europe, North American, and Asia. Though the sperm acquire proactive mechanisms during spermatogenesis and their epididymal maturatio...

Use of artificial fruit rippers are increasing worldwide. Ethrel is one fruit rippners that is in the market. The present study investigated the effects of ethrel on organ weights and haematological parameters of male rats. The rats were (n=9) treated with 100, 250, 500mg/kg of ethrel or distilled water (DW) for 90 days. Another two sets of animals...

Cinnamon commonly known as „Kurundu‟ in Sri Lanka has been used as a spice since antiquity. It is obtained from the inner bark of several species of the genus Cinnamomum that belongs to the family Lauraceae. Among the cinnamon species, Cinnamomum verum (syn. Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees) is native to Sri Lanka and is also known as “Ceylon” cinnamon o...

A novel in silico driven approach to determine the structure and therapeutic potential of Cystatin C from Danio rerio Cystatins are a family of housekeeping genes with the function of inhibiting cysteine proteases. The present study used a novel approach to investigate the importance of Cystatin C, encoded by the CST3 gene in the genome of Danio re...

The anti-proliferative effect of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. flower extract on human primary and cancer cell lines Flowers of Nyctanthes arbor-tristis (Common name; night jasmine; family; Oleaceae) is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. This study evaluated the potential of the flower extracts for the treatment of ca...

Cytotoxic activity of aqueous and methanol root bark extracts of Plumbago indica against HeLa cancer cell line The current study assessed constituents and cytotoxicity of root bark (RB) of Plumbago indica L. (Synonym: P. rosea; Family: Plumbaginaceae) commonly known as Indian leadwort. To investigate the constituents, methanol RB extraction was sub...

Passiflora suberosa L. belonging to the family Passifloraceae is an important medicinal plant used in traditional medicinal system in Sri Lanka to treat diabetes, hypertension and skin diseases. We extracted P. suberosa leaves under reflux conditions using different solvents (hexane, chloroform, methanol and water), then subjected to phytochemical...

Leaves of Passiflora suberosa Photograph showing mature leaves, and fruits. Photo credit—Ms Hasani Sudasinghe.

Raw data for antioxidant, antihemolytic and cytotoxic evaluations

Leaves of Passiflora suberosa L. (Family: Passifloraceae; common name: wild passion fruit, devil’s pumpkin) are used in Sri Lankan traditional medicine for treating diabetes. The present study investigated the in vivo ability of P. suberosa leaves to manage blood sugar status and associated cholesterol levels. Mechanisms of action and toxicity were...

Abstract ........................................................................ The present study investigated the hematological, and biochemical, changes due to Judo 40 toxicity in male Wistar albino rats. Two sets of male rats (n=9/group) were orally treated with 20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of Judo 40 or the vehicle (corn oil) in four fractions for t...

The present study investigated the hematological, and biochemical, changes due to Judo 40 toxicity in male Wistar albino rats. Two sets of male rats (n=9/group) were orally treated with 20 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of Judo 40 or the vehicle (corn oil) in four fractions for two consecutive days. The first of animals were autopsied on day 1 to assess the li...

Both cadmium (Cd) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are known reproductive toxicants, but their co-exposure and interaction effect on semen quality particularly in nonsmokers remain unknown. We included 333 nonsmoking men and analyzed their urine and semen samples for heavy metals and PAH metabolites. Restricted cubic spline models were u...

Extensive use of organophosphorus pesticides (OPs) could alter semen quality and sperm DNA at different stages of spermatogenesis. Acephate is a highly toxic extensively used OP and, therefore, we aimed to evaluate the effects of acephate on human semen quality and sperm DNA integrity. Sperm collected from healthy males were exposed to 0, 50, 100,...

Judo 40 is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide in agriculture and information on male reproductive effects is limited. Hence, the present study has evaluated the effects of Judo 40 human sperm function in vitro. Human sperm were incubated with equivalent doses of 0 (conttol; cornoil) 20 and 50 mg/kg Judo 40 for 5 min, 15 min and 30 min and per...

Fruits are widely consumed in Sri Lanka. Therefore, to meet the demand of consumers, and to increase the shelf life of fruits and vegetables, vendors commonly use ripening agents which can produce serious health problems. In early 2000, though vendors widely used carbide as a fruit-ripening agentlater it was replaced by ethereal, which contains eth...

Organophosphorus pesticides were reported to impair male reproductive function. Admire and lebaycid are two widely used insecticides in agriculture to combat agricultural pests. It is unclear whether these pesticides impact human spermatozoa. We investigated the effects of admire and lebaycid on morphology and functional aspects of human spermatozo...

Judo 40 is a widely used organophosphorus pesticide in agriculture and information on male reproductive effects is limited. Hence, the present study has evaluated the effects of Judo 40 human sperm function in vitro. Human sperm were incubated with equivalent doses of 0 (conttol; cornoil) 20 and 50 mg/kg Judo 40 for 5 min, 15 min and 30 min and per...

Aqueous Leaf Extract (ALE) of Passiflora suberosa (wild passion fruit/ indigo berry) was recently identified to significantly (p < 0.01) decrease blood glucose levels at 1st (10%), 3rd (20%) and 5th (24%) hours post treatment with a single dose (50 mg/kg). Therefore, in the present study the mechanism of action of the hypoglycaemic effect of ALE of...

Boiled aqueous extract of flowers (AEF) from Nyctanthes arbor-tristis L. are used in Sri Lankan traditional Ayruvedic Medicine to manage diabetes mellitus. AEF has widely been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of various ailments due to its therapeutic activity. However, little is known concerning therapeutic activity of the extract as well...

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the most common solid lesion found within the kidney and accounts for approximately 90% of renal malignancies. RCC is commonly found the tubules of the kidney and is characterized by lack of clinical signs until metastatic stages. Hence, most of the modern cancer treatment methods are ineffective against renal cell car...

Extracts of the genes Passiflora has been shown to compromises a therapeutic value to control glycemia and lipid levels. Raw leaves of Passiflora suberosa L. (Family: Passifloraceae) is used as a traditional remedy to manage diabetes. Yet, its ethnomedical usage is not scientifically proven. The present study was conducted to examine the hypoglycea...

R ecently, artificial fruit ripening using ethrel (ethephon) has become a major health concern. The present study investigated the effects of ethrel on behavioural, haematological and biochemical parameters. Rats were exposed to 100, 250, 500 mg/kg of (n=6/group) or distilled water (DW: control) for 90 consecutive days. Another two sets of animals...