The artemisia L. Genus: a review of bioactive essential oils

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oils From Аrtemisia annua L. Growing Wild in Tajikistan

The aerial parts of Аrtemisia annua L. were collected from Varzob, Rudaki, and Hisor regions of Tajikistan. The essential oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The essential oils of aerial parts of А. annua were dominated by the monoterpenoids like camphor (32.5%-58.9%), 1,8-cineole (13.7%-17.8%), camphene (4.5%-8.4%), and α-pinene (1.9%-7.3%). Hierarchical cluster analysis of A. annua essential oils indicated the existence of 3 A. annua chemotypes: camphor/1,8-cineole, camphor, and artemisia ketone. The essential oils of А. annua show weak antioxidant activity and average antibacterial activity. In our opinion, the antibacterial activity of А. annua essential oils is related to the presence of 1,8-cineole. To our best knowledge, this is the first report concerning the chemical composition, chemotypic variation, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils obtained from the aerial parts of А. annua, growing wild in Tajikistan.

Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated transformation enhances the antioxidant potential of Artemisia tilesii Ledeb

Plants belonging to the genus Artemisia L. have been used for medicinal purposes since ancient times. These aromatic plants produce and accumulate a wide range of potent secondary metabolites, many of which have shown antioxidant, antiparasitic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and even anticancer activities. Enhanced biosynthesis of these compounds is a prerequisite for comprehensive studies of their therapeutic properties and cost-efficient use. Transformation of plants with Agrobacterium rhizogenes native root locus (rol) genes is a promising approach to increase the biosynthesis of plant secondary metabolites. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation on the flavonoid contents in hairy roots of medicinal herb A. tilesii Ledeb. Transgenic A. tilesii hairy root lines were analyzed for stable integration of the rolB and rolC transgenes into the plant genome, total flavonoid contents, antioxidant activities of extracts, and the spatiotemporal expression of two flavonoid biosynthetic genes, phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL) and chalcone synthase (CHS). The flavonoid contents of A. tilesii directly correlated with the antiradical activity and reducing power of their respective lines, with the greatest antioxidant activity found in the plants with the highest level of total flavonoids. Furthermore, all hairy root lines demonstrated altered expression of plant native PAL and CHS genes. Most importantly, A. rhizogenes-mediated transformation enhanced the biosynthesis of natural antioxidants in A. tilesii, producing almost twice the amount of flavonoids than controls. These findings provide an opportunity for the identification of the bioactive molecules in A. tilesii extracts and their potential health benefits.

Plants and Lactic Acid Bacteria Combination for New Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties Product Development in a Sustainable Manner

In this study, nutraceuticals based on antimicrobial ingredients (Artemisia absinthium water extract and essential oil (EO), Lactobacillus uvarum LUHS245 strain cultivated in a whey media, and blackcurrants juice (BCJ) preparation by-products were developed. In addition, two texture forming agents for nutraceutical preparations were tested (gelatin and agar). The developed nutraceutical ingredients showed antimicrobial properties: Artemisia absinthium EO (concentration 0.1%) inhibited methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Pasteurella multocida; LUHS245 strain inhibited 14 from the 15 tested pathogenic strains; and BCP inhibited 13 from the 15 tested pathogenic strains. The best formulation consisted of the Artemisia absinthium EO, LUHS245, and BCP immobilised in agar and this formulation showed higher TPC content (by 2.1% higher), as well as higher overall acceptability (by 17.7% higher), compared with the formulation prepared using gelatin.

Chemical profiling and cytotoxic activity of 150-year old original sample of Jerusalem Balsam

Herbal formulations have been used in ethnomedicine and pharmacy around the world for thousands of years. One of them is Jerusalem Balsam (JB), which came into use in the seventeenth century. Today, people still produce and use it regularly as prophylactic supplement. JB has been widely used in Europe since the nineteenth century, as a remedy possessing antibacterial, antifungal and anti-inflammatory activities. The composition of the product was not known, although possible formulations were reported. In this study the original sample, which dated back to 1870, was investigated for chemical composition and cytotoxic activity. The obtained results were compared with results from more recently produced samples. Several tests were carried out, namely GC-MS, UPLC-PDA-Q-TOF-MS and MTT. Only the 150-year old sample showed a significant cytotoxic activity on cancer cell lines. At a concentration of 125 μg/mL after 72 h of incubation, the original sample inhibited almost 90% of cell metabolic activity, while contemporary samples showed none or little activity. None of the tested samples showed a significant impact on normal cells. These results may be attributed to the activities of benzoic acid and its derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives, vanillin, group of sesquiterpenes and cembrene.

Chemical Constituents and Antileishmanial and Antibacterial Activities of Essential Oils from Scheelea phalerata

Scheelea phalerata Mart. ex Spreng (Arecaceae) is a palm tree found in the Brazilian cerrado. There are no topics related to volatile oils from S. phalerata leaves in the literature. This work determines its chemical composition and evaluates the biological activity under two different seasonal conditions (dry and rainy seasons). The dry essential oil yield was 0.034 ± 0.001% and the rainy essential oil yield was 0.011 ± 0.003%. Both essential oils presented different qualitative and quantitative compositions (99.4 and 98.5%). The main constituents of the dry essential oil were phytol (36.7%), nonadecane (9.7%), linolenic acid (9.1%), (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (4.2%), and squalene (4.0%). The main constituents of the rainy essential oil were phytol (26.1%), palmitic acid (18.7%), hexan-1-ol (15.6%), (Z)-hex-3-en-1-ol (9.7%), and oleic acid (4.0%). The antileishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis was observed only for the rainy season essential oil (IC₅₀ value of 165.05 ± 33.26 μg mL^-1). A molecular docking study showed that alcohols exert a paramount efficacy and that the action of some essential oil compounds may be similar to that of amphotericin B. Still, only the essential oil from the dry season showed moderate antibacterial activity against S. sanguinis (MICs 200-400 μg mL^-1). The cytotoxicity against Vero cells was identical (>512) for both essential oils. The novel data here for both chemical characterization and biological activity, in particular, evidence that the action of these compounds is similar to that of amphotericin B, provide valuable information to the drug-discovery field.

Artemisia iwayomogi (Dowijigi) inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 macrophages by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway

Inflammatory diseases are an important health concern and have a growing incidence worldwide. Thus, developing novel and safe drugs to treat these disorders remains an important pursuit. Artemisia iwayomogi, locally known as Dowijigi (DJ), is a perennial herb found primarily in Korea and is used to treat various diseases such as hepatitis, inflammation and immune disorders. In the present study, the anti-inflammatory effects of a polyphenolic extract from the DJ flower (PDJ) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated mouse macrophage RAW264.7 cells were investigated. Cell cytotoxicity was assessed using the MTT assay. The production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) was measured by Griess and ELISA analysis, respectively. The expression levels of inducible nitric oxide (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2) were examined by western blot analysis. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was performed to detect the mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-1β, as well as COX2 and iNOS. The production of NO and PGE₂ was significantly decreased following treatment with PDJ. The mRNA expression levels of TNFα, IL-6, IL-1β, COX2 and iNOS were significantly decreased in LPS-induced PDJ co-treated cells compared with the group treated with LPS alone. Western blot analysis indicated that PDJ downregulated the LPS-induced expression of iNOS and COX2, as well as the expression of NF-κB proteins. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated that PDJ exerted anti-inflammatory effects in LPS-induced macrophage cells by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway. Therefore, PDJ may be used as a potential therapeutic agent in inflammation.

Study of Allelopathic Interaction of Essential Oils from Medicinal and Aromatic Plants on Seed Germination and Seedling Growth of Lettuce

Medicinal and aromatic plants have the ability to transmit volatile allelochemicals and affect their surrounding organisms. In this regard, their interaction should also be considered. The inhibitory effects of 112 essential oils on lettuce seed and seedling were investigated by cotton swab method. Germination (G%), Mean germination time (MGT), Lethal of embryo (L%), dormancy (D%), radicle growth (R%), and hypocotyl growth (H%) were measured. Two methods were used for evaluating allelopathic interaction effects: the simplified modified dilution check-board technique (SMCT) and the isobologram. Thymus daenensis had the highest inhibitory effect on G% (IC50 = 2.9 ppm) and the most lethal effect on the embryo (LC50 = 7.2 ppm). Thymus transcaspicus, Dracocephalum moldavica, Artemisia sieberi and Amomum subulatum had the greatest effect on MGT. Ziziphora tenuior, Trachyspermum ammi and Pelargonium graveolens had the highest effect on D%. Origanum vulgare was the strongest growth inhibitor. The highest synergistic effect on G% was in A. subulatum + Mentha suaveolens, on H% was related to Perovskia abrotanoides + T. daenensis, and on R% was observed in Artemisia vulgaris + M. suaveolens. The results of this study can lead to identification of new phytotoxic compounds in EOs and control weeds more effectively.

Phytochemical Composition and Anti-Efflux Pump Activity of Hydroalcoholic, Aqueous, and Hexane Extracts of Artemisia tournefortiana in Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Strains of Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis

BACKGROUND

The AcrB efflux pump in Salmonella species plays a significant role in the development of antibiotic resistance in ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella enteritidis. This study aimed to investigate the anti-efflux pump activity of Artemisia tournefortiana extracts among S. Enteritidis strains.

METHODS

The hydroalcoholic, aqueous, and hexanolic extracts of A. tournefortiana were prepared and phytochemical composition of extract was determined using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) method. After antibiogram, the AcrB efflux pump was detected in ciprofloxacin intermediate and resistant S. enteritidis strains using cartwheel and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Finally, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of extracts against S. enteritidis strains were evaluated. After treatment of S. enteritidis strains with sub-MIC concentrations of extracts, the expression level of AcrB efflux pump gene was evaluated using Real-Time PCR.

RESULTS

Phytochemical analysis of extracts using GC/MS method showed that hexadecanoic acid, ethyl ester (30.7%), and cyclopropane,1-(1-hydroxy-1-heptyl)-2-methylene-3-pentyl (17.8%) were the most dominant volatile components volatile compounds in the extract. The results of antibiogram, cartwheel and PCR methods showed that among 20 strains of S. enteritidis that were resistant and intermediate to ciprofloxacin, 16 strains had AcrB efflux pumps. Finally, Real-Time PCR results showed a significant down-regulation of acrB gene in S. enteritidis strains.

CONCLUSION

A. tournefortiana had anti-efflux activity and this plant can potentially be used as a natural efflux inhibitor for S. enteritidis strains.

Medicinal plants of the Bible-revisited

BACKGROUND

Previous lists number from 55 to 176 plant species as "Biblical Medicinal Plants." Modern studies attest that many names on these lists are no longer valid. This situation arose due to old mistranslations and/or mistakes in botanical identification. Many previously recognized Biblical plants are in no way related to the flora of the Bible lands. Accordingly, the list needs revision.

METHODS

We re-examine the list of possible medicinal plants in the Bible based on new studies in Hebrew Biblical philology and etymology, new studies on the Egyptian and Mesopotamian medicinal use of plants, on ethnobotany and on archaeobotany.

RESULTS

In our survey, we suggest reducing this list to 45 plant species. Our contribution comprises 20 "newly" suggested Biblical Medicinal Plants. Only five species are mentioned directly as medicinal plants in the Bible: Fig (Ficus carica), Nard (Nardostachys jatamansi), Hyssop (Origanum syriacum), balm of Gilead (Commiphora gileadensis) and Mandrake (Mandragora officinarum). No fewer than 18 medicinal plants are mentioned in old Jewish post-Biblical sources, in addition to those in the Bible. Most of these plants (15) are known also in Egypt and Mesopotamia while three are from Egypt only. Seven of our suggested species are not mentioned in the Bible or in the Jewish post-Biblical literature but were recorded as medicinal plants from Egypt, as well as from Mesopotamia. It is quite logical to assume that they can be included as Biblical Medicinal Plants.

CONCLUSIONS

All our suggested Biblical Medicinal Plants are known as such in Ancient Egypt and/or Mesopotamia also. Examination of our list shows that all these plants have been in continuous medicinal use in the Middle East down the generations, as well as being used in the Holy Land today. Precisely in King Solomon's words, "That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done. And there is nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).

Chloroplast Genome Sequence of Artemisia scoparia: Comparative Analyses and Screening of Mutational Hotspots

Artemisia L. is among the most diverse and medicinally important genera of the plant family Asteraceae. Discrepancies arise in the taxonomic classification of Artemisia due to the occurrence of multiple polyploidy events in separate lineages and its complex morphology. The discrepancies could be resolved by increasing the genomic resources. A. scoparia is one of the most medicinally important species in Artemisia. In this paper, we report the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Artemisia scoparia. The genome was 151,060 bp (base pairs), comprising a large single copy (82,834 bp) and small single copy (18,282 bp), separated by a pair of long inverted repeats (IRa and IRb: 24,972 bp each). We identified 114 unique genes, including four ribosomal RNAs, 30 transfer RNAs, and 80 protein-coding genes. We analysed the chloroplast genome features, including oligonucleotide repeats, microsatellites, amino acid frequencies, RNA editing sites, and codon usage. Transversion substitutions were twice as frequent as transition substitutions. Mutational hotspot loci included ccsA-ndhD, trnH-psbA, ndhG-ndhI, rps18-rpl20, and rps15-ycf1. These loci can be used to develop cost-effective and robust molecular markers for resolving the taxonomic discrepancies. The reconstructed phylogenetic tree supported previous findings of Artemisia as a monophyletic genus, sister to the genus Chrysanthemum, whereby A. scoparia appeared as sister to A. capillaris.

Biosynthesis and characterization of zinc oxide nanoparticles from Artemisia annua and investigate their effect on proliferation, osteogenic differentiation and mineralization in human osteoblast-like MG-63 Cells

The Biocompatibility and stability of nanoparticles using plants have been widely investigated due to its applications in the biomedical industry. Currently, there is a growing interest in nanoparticles in bone remodelling. Artemisia annua is an herbal plant commonly used in the treatment of various ailments. This study investigated the zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the green synthesis technique from A. annua and the effects of A. annua ZnO-NPs on osteoblast differentiation and inhibition of osteoclast formation. The formulated ZnO-NPs from A. annua were characterized by using various spectroscopic and microscopic methods Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and UV-Visible spectroscopy. The disc diffusion method was adopted to test the antimicrobial efficacy of ZnO-NPs. The viability of MG-63 cells were assayed by MTT test and Osteogenic-related assays like Real-time PCR and Mineralization assay were adopted to determine the effects of A. annua ZnO-NPs on the multiplication and differentiation of human osteoblast-like MG-63 cells. The characterization of A. annua ZnO-NPs revealed the crystalline nature with high zinc content and the presence of bioactive compounds from A. annua extract. The synthesized A. annua ZnO-NPs indicate significant antimicrobial potential. Besides, A. annua ZnO-NPs enhanced the proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization without causing significant cytotoxic impact on MG-63 cells. These effects indicate that A. annua ZnO-NPs can both stimulate bone formation via the differentiation of MG-63 cells. Hence, it was concluded that A. annua ZnO-NPs can be a promising agent for the treatment of bone deformities and bone-related diseases, however further research also required to explore the clear mechanism of A. annua ZnO-NPs in the formation and differentiation of MG-63 cells.

Sesquiterpenoids from Artemisia vestita and Their Antifeedant and Antifungal Activities

Four new sesquiterpenoids, named artemivestinolide D–G (1–4) and three known sesquiterpenoids (5–7), were isolated from Artemisia vestita. The structures of these new compounds were determined based on extensive spectroscopic data analyses. Furthermore, the electronic circular dichroism data determined the absolute configurations of the new compounds. The antifeedant and antifungal activities of the isolates were evaluated against third-instar larvae of Plutella xylostella and three plant pathogenic fungi. Compounds 1–7 showed moderate antifeedant activities and compounds 1–4 and 6–7 exhibited antifungal activities.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Artemisia pedemontana subsp. assoana Essential Oils and Hydrolate

Given the importance of the genus Artemisia as a source of valuable natural products, the rare plant Artemisia pedemontana subspecies assoana, endemic to the Iberian Peninsula, has been experimentally cultivated in the greenhouse and aeroponically, to produce biomass for essential oil (EO) extraction. The chemical composition of the EOs was analyzed, and their plant protection (insects: Spodoptera littoralis, Rhopalosiphum padi, and Myzus persicae; plants: Lactuca sativa and Lolium perenne; fungi: Aspergillus niger; and nematode: Meloidogyne javanica) and antiparasitic (Trypanosoma cruzi, Phytomonas davidi, and antiplasmodial by the ferriprotoporphyrin biocrystallization inhibition test) properties were studied, in addition to the hydrolate by-product. The EOs showed a 1,8-cineole and camphor profile, with quantitative and qualitative chemical differences between the cultivation methods. These oils had moderate insect antifeedant, antifungal, and phytotoxic effects; were trypanocidel; and exhibited moderate phytomonacidal effects, while the hydrolate showed a strong nematicidal activity. Both EOs were similarly antifeedant; the EO from the greenhouse plants (flowering stage) was more biocidal (antifungal, nematicidal, and phytotoxic) than the EO from the aeroponic plants (growing stage), which was more antiparasitic. The major components of the oils (1,8-cineole and camphor), or their 1:1 combination, did not explain any of these effects. We can conclude that these EOs have potential applications as insect antifeedants, and as antifungal or antiparasitic agents, depending on the cultivation method, and that the hydrolate byproduct is a potent nematicidal.

Structural elucidation of two new compounds from Artemisia ordosica and their antioxidative activity

Two new compounds, namely, arteordosin A (1) and arteordosin B (2), were isolated from the CHCl3 extract of Artemisia ordosica. This is the first report on the structure elucidation of arteordosin A (1) and arteordosin B (2) based on spectroscopic methods including electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, one-dimensional (1D) nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) and 2D NMR techniques. Antioxidant activities of the compounds were measured for their radical scavenging capacity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl. Compound 1 (IC50 of 1.01 mg mL−1) showed antioxidant activity similar to the standard reference ascorbic acid (IC50 of 0.98 mg mL−1) and is more active than compound 2 (IC50 of 1.87 mg mL−1). In conclusion, arteordosin A (1) and arteordosin B (2) may be used as potential antihyperlipidemic agent in routine clinical practice.

The chemistry and pharmacology of alkaloids and allied nitrogen compounds from Artemisia species: A review

Several reviews have been published on Artemisia's derived natural products, but it is the first attempt to review the chemistry and pharmacology of more than 80 alkaloids and allied nitrogen compounds obtained from various Artemisia species (covering the literature up to June 2018). The pharmacological potential and unique skeleton types of certain Artemisia's alkaloids provoke the importance of analyzing Artemisia species for bioactive alkaloids and allied nitrogen compounds. Among the various types of bioactive Artemisia's alkaloids, the main classes were the derivatives of rupestine (pyridine-sesquiterpene), lycoctonine (diterpene), pyrrolizidine, purines, polyamine, peptides, indole, piperidine, pyrrolidine, alkamides, and flavoalkaloids. The rupestine derivatives are Artemisia's characteristic alkaloids, whereas the rest are common alkaloids found in the family Asteraceae and chemotaxonomically links the genus Artemisia with the tribes Anthemideae. The most important biological activities of Artemisia's alkaloids are including hepatoprotective, local anesthetic, β-galactosidase, and antiparasitic activities; treatment of angina pectoris, opening blocked arteries, as a sleep-inducing agents and inhibition of HIV viral protease, CYP450, melanin biosynthesis, human carbonic anhydrase, [3H]-AEA metabolism, kinases, and DNA polymerase β¹ . Some of the important nitrogen metabolites of Artemisia include pellitorine, zeatin, tryptophan, rupestine, and aconitine analogs, which need to be optimized and commercialized further.

Inhibition of nitric oxide production and free radical scavenging activities of four South African medicinal plants

Introduction

Traditional healing is often the preferred form of therapy especially in rural and resource-limited communities. The extracts of plants are used to treat many diseases such as arthritis and chronic pain. Four medicinal plant species, namely, Acokanthera oppositifolia, Plantago lanceolata, Conyza canadensis and Artemisia vulgaris used in Southern Africa to treat pain and inflammation-related diseases were selected for evaluation in laboratory-based experiments.

Methods

The selected plant species were evaluated for phytochemical content, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as cytotoxicity effects against mammalian cells in culture.

Results

The results indicated that the n-hexane and chloroform extracts of P. lanceolata had the best antioxidant activities with an IC₅₀=0.41 μg/mL. Also, the acetone extracts of P. lanceolata had 93.76% nitric oxide (NO) inhibition. However, the chloroform and n-hexane extracts of C. canadensis produced NO inhibition of 98.53% and 99.2%, respectively, at 100 μg/mL with IC₅₀=17.69 μg/mL. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate extracts also had promising NO inhibitory activity (96.33%), but the cytotoxicity results with cell viabilities of 5.31%, 5.7% and 5.89%, respectively, suggested that the observed activity was due to a cytotoxic effect. Acetone extracts of C. canadensis were also cytotoxic at 30 µg/mL with 6.07–6.67% cell viabilities compared with the acetone extracts of P. lanceolata (99.57%).

Conclusion

The results partially validate the ethnomedicinal uses of the selected plant species used for inflammation-related conditions. However, because some of the extracts had potential cytotoxic effects, caution is advised in their use, especially those consumed orally.

Qualitative Fingerprint Analysis and Multidirectional Assessment of Different Crude Extracts and Essential Oil from Wild Artemisia santonicum L

Artemisia species are used as folk medicines in several countries. This work was aimed to shed more light on the effect of methanol, water, ethyl acetate extracts, and essential oil (EO) of A. santonicum on selected enzymes (cholinesterase, tyrosinase α-amylase, and α-glucosidase) as well of their antioxidant and pharmacological effects. The chemical profile of the essential oil was determined using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis, while the extracts were chemically characterized by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Forty-nine constituents were identified and camphor (36.6%), 1,8-cineole (10.2%), α-thujone (10.1%), borneol (4.5%), and β-thujone (3.6%) were the major components. Overall, 45, 74, and 67 components were identified from the ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts, respectively. The EO and extracts showed significant antioxidant properties, in a cell-free model; particularly, methanol and water extracts revealed promising sources of antioxidant compounds. Additionally, we evaluated protective effects of EO and extracts in isolated rat colon tissue challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), as an ex vivo model of colon inflammation, and human colon cancer HCT116 cell line. Particularly, we observed that, among all tested samples, A. santonicum ethyl acetate displayed the best pharmacological profile, being able to blunt LPS-induced levels of all tested biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress, including colon nitrites, lactate dehydrogenase, prostaglandin E2, and serotonin. Additionally, this extract was also able to reduce HCT116 cell viability, thus suggesting potential antiproliferative effects against colon cancer cells. Based on our results, A. santonicum has great potential for developing novel functional agents including pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and nutraceuticals.

Analysis of the Essential Oils of Five Artemisia Species and Evaluation of their Cytotoxic and Proapoptotic Effects

BACKGROUND

In this study, the essential oil composition and cytotoxic activities of five Artemisia species were determined.

METHODS

The collected plants were water-distilled separately to obtain oils which were then subjected to gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry GC/MS analyses to identify their compositions. Cancer cells were exposed to different concentrations of samples and cell viability was measured using AlamarBlue® assay. Apoptotic cells were analyzed by propidium iodide (PI) staining and flow cytometry.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION

To study the amount of pro-apoptotic proteins and the apoptosis mechanism, Western blot method was used. Although all samples were cytotoxic at the highest concentration, the oil of A. kulbadica showed the strongest activity among other plants. Carvacrol (IC50 21.11 μg/ml) had the most cytotoxic effects among other components. Carvacrol, 1,8-cineole and 4-terpineole caused an increase in the amount of Bax protein and cleaved peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) and caspase proteins in DU 145 cells.

Green Extraction of Phenolic Acids from Artemisia argyi Leaves by Tailor-Made Ternary Deep Eutectic Solvents

The Artemisia argyi leaf (AL) has been used as a traditional medicine and food supplement in China and other Asian countries for hundreds of years. Phytochemical studies disclosed that AL contains various bioactive constituents. Among bioactive constituents, phenolic acids have been recognized as the main active compounds in AL. To the best of our knowledge, no research has been focused on extraction method for the bioactive phenolic acids from AL. Nowadays, deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are emerging as a new type of green and sustainable solvent for efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from natural products. In the present study, an environmentally friendly extraction method based on DESs was established to extract bioactive phenolic acids from ALs. Diverse tailor-made solvents, including binary and ternary DESs, were explored for simultaneous extraction of four phenolic acids (3-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid, and 4,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid) from AL. The results indicated that the ternary DES composed of a 2:1:2 molar ratio of choline chloride, malic acid, and urea showed enhanced extraction yields for phenolic acids compared with conventional organic solvents and other DESs. Subsequently, the extraction parameters for the four phenolic acids by selected tailor-made DESs, including liquid-solid ratios, water content (%) in the DESs, and extraction time, were optimized using response surface methodology and the optimal extraction conditions were: extraction time, 23.5 min; liquid-solid ratio, 57.5 mL/g (mL of DES/g dry weight of plant material); water content, 54%. The research indicated that DESs were efficient and sustainable green extraction solvents for extraction of bioactive phenolic acids from natural products. Compared to the conventional organic solvents, the DESs have a great potential as possible alternatives to those organic solvents in health-related areas such as food and pharmaceuticals.

Effect of Manitoba-Grown Red-Osier Dogwood Extracts on Recovering Caco-2 Cells from H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage

Red-osier dogwood, a native species of flowering plant in North America, has been reported to have anti-oxidative properties because of abundant phenolic compounds; this could be promising as a functional food or a feed additive. In the present study, an oxidative damage model using 1.0 mM hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in Caco-2 cells was established to evaluate the antioxidative effects of red-osier dogwood extracts (RDE). The results showed that 1.0 mM H₂O₂ pre-exposure for 3 h significantly decreased cell viability, and increased interleukin 8 (IL-8) secretion and the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Caco-2 cells were treated with 100 µg/mL RDE for 24 h after pre-exposure to H₂O₂. It was found that the decreased cell viability caused by H₂O₂ was significantly restored by a subsequent 100 µg/mL RDE treatment. Furthermore, the IL-8 secretion and ROS level were significantly blocked by RDE, accompanied by the enhanced gene expression of hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), and the enhanced protein expression of the nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf-2). Moreover, RDE improved barrier functions in Caco-2 cells. Using RDE reduced the diffusion of fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran and increased the transepithelial resistance (TEER) value. The relative mRNA level of tight junction claudin-1, claudin-3, and occludin was elevated by RDE. These extracts also repaired the integrity of zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) damaged by H₂O₂ and increased the protein expressions of ZO-1 and claudin-3 in the H₂O₂-pretreated cells. These results illustrated that RDE reduced the ROS level and enhanced the barrier function in oxidative-damaged epithelial cells.

Enhancing epi-cedrol production in Escherichia coli by fusion expression of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase and epi-cedrol synthase

Terpene synthase catalyses acyclic diphosphate farnesyl diphosphate into desired sesquiterpenes. In this study, a fusion enzyme was constructed by linking Santalum album farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (SaFPPS) individually with terpene synthase and Artemisia annua Epi-cedrol synthase (AaECS). The stop codon at the N-terminus of SaFPPS was removed and replaced by a short peptide (GSGGS) to introduce a linker between the two open reading frames. This fusion clone was expressed in Escherichia coli Rosseta DE3 cells. The fusion enzyme FPPS-ECS produced sesquiterpene 8-epi-cedrol from substrates isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate through sequential reactions. The K _m values for FPPS-ECS for isopentyl diphosphate was 4.71 µM. The fusion enzyme carried out the efficient conversion of IPP to epi-cedrol, in comparison to single enzymes SaFPPS and AaECS when combined together in enzyme assay over time. Further, the recombinant E. coli BL21 strain harbouring fusion plasmid successfully produced epi-cedrol in fermentation medium. The strain having fusion plasmid (pET32a-FPPS-ECS) produced 1.084 ± 0.09 mg/L epi-cedrol, while the strain harbouring mixed plasmid (pRSETB-FPPS and pET28a-ECS) showed 1.002 ± 0.07 mg/L titre in fermentation medium by overexpression and MEP pathway utilization. Structural analysis was done by I-TASSER server and docking was done by AutoDock Vina software, which suggested that secondary structure of the N- C terminal domain and their relative positions to functional domains of the fusion enzyme was greatly significant to the catalytic properties of the fusion enzymatic complex than individual enzymes.

Bioactive Compounds and Health Benefits ofArtemisiaSpecies

Artemisia L. is a genus of small herbs and shrubs found in northern temperate regions. It belongs to the important family Asteraceae, one of the most numerous plant groupings, which comprises about 1000 genera and over 20000 species. Artemisia has a broad spectrum of bioactivity, owing to the presence of several active ingredients or secondary metabolites, which work through various modes of action. It has widespread pharmacological activities and has been used as traditional medicine since ancient times as an anthelmintic, antispasmodic, antirheumatic, and antibacterial agent and for the treatment of malaria, hepatitis, cancer, inflammation, and menstrual-related disorders. This review comprises the updated information about the ethnomedical uses and health benefits of various Artemisia spp. and general information about bioactive compounds and free radicals.

Investigation of chemical constituents of Artemisia albicerata

Artemisia albicerata is of great interest and occupy an important place among the vast variety of medicinal plants in Kazakhstan due to its endemicity, medical and pharmacological properties, and has a rich chemical composition consisting of amino acids, fatty acids, macro-micro elements, flavonoids and other low-molecular substances. In the present study, Artemisia albicerata, collected in Almaty region of Kazakhstan has been explored with the purpose of quantitative and qualitative analysis. As a result, twenty amino and eight fatty acids were identified by gas-liquid chromatography. The major amino acid contents were glutamate (2615 mg/100 g), aspartate (1296 mg/100 g) and alanine (890 mg/100 g), while the composition of fatty acids mainly was oleic (19.6%) and linoleic (68.4%) acids. Furthermore, eleven macro-micro elements were determined in the ash of a plant by the method of multi-element atomic emission spectral analysis, main of them were Ca (60.0 mg/g), K (60.4 mg/g), Mg (12.2 mg/g), Na (5.57 mg/g), Fe (3.57 mg/g). Also it should be highlighted that total bioactive components such as organic acids, flavonoids, tannins, coumarins, alkaloids, saponins, polysaccharides together with the moisture content (6.62%), total ash (7.96%) and extractives (12.7%) have been determined.

Two new compounds from Artemisia ordosica Krasch

Two new compounds, named ordosacid A (5) and ordosacid B (6), along with four known compounds: 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde (1), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (2), p-hydroxycinnamic acid (3) and o-hydroxycinnamic acid (4), were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Artemisia ordosica Krasch. The structures of new compounds were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic methods including UV, IR, ESI-MS, 1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and modified Mosher's method.

Asteraceae Plants as Sources of Compounds Against Leishmaniasis and Chagas Disease

Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease cause great impact on social and economic aspects of people living in developing countries. The treatments for these diseases are based on the same regimen for over 40 years, thus, there is an urgent need for the development of new drugs. In this scenario, Asteraceae plants (a family widely used in folk medicine worldwide) are emerging as an interesting source for new trypanocidal and leishmanicidal compounds. Herein, we provide a non-exhaustive review about the activity of plant-derived products from Asteraceae with inhibitory action toward Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi. Special attention was given to those studies aiming the isolation (or identification) of the bioactive compounds. Ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid (Baccharis uncinella DC.) were efficient to treat experimental leishmaniasis; while deoxymikanolide (Mikania micrantha) and (+)-15-hydroxy-labd-7-en-17-al (Aristeguietia glutinosa Lam.) showed in vivo anti-T. cruzi action. It is also important to highlight that several plant-derived products (compounds, essential oils) from Artemisia plants have shown high inhibitory potential against Leishmania spp., such as artemisinin and its derivatives. In summary, these compounds may help the development of new effective agents against these neglected diseases.

Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Two Artemisia Species: Analyses of Phenolic Profile and Anticancer Activities Against SW-480 Colon Cancer Cells

Because Artemisia vulgaris L. and Artemisia alba Turra are traditional medicinal plants used for the treatment of different diseases, we evaluated the cytotoxic/apoptotic activity of ethyl acetate extracts from these natural products against human colon cancer cells SW-480. The extracts contained a large amount of the total polyphenols and flavonoids. The phenolic profile showed the presence of phenolic acids (gallic, p-coumaric, vanillic, and ferulic acids) and flavonoids (rutin, myricetin, luteolin, quercetin, and apigenin). 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay indicated that antiproliferative activities of both A. vulgaris and A. alba extracts increased with the extension of time exposure, with decreasing IC50 values. Mitomycin C (MMC) alone had antiproliferative activity, but in combination with plant extracts caused stronger effect with lower IC50 values. Flow cytometry analyses showed that A. alba extract induced higher percentage of SW-480 cells in the early stage of apoptosis (33.5 ± 1.6 vs 0.7 ± 0.1, P < 0.05), whereas the A. vulgaris extract significantly increased the percentage of cells in necrosis (82.4 ± 5.0 vs 53.9 ± 2.3, P < 0.05). In conclusion, A. alba extract can be considered a potential source of bioactive components with anticancer activity or be used as a dietary food supplement or supplement to chemotherapy due to its synergistic effect with the MMC.

Terpene core in selected aromatic and edible plants: Natural health improving agents

Aromatic plants synthesize and produce aromatic molecules, among these compounds some of them belong to terpenes and terpenoids. Plant species have specific genes involved in secondary metabolism which allows them to synthesize various compounds with terpene core. These kinds of plant species are also known as herbal drugs and they are primarily used as components in medicinal products or simply as health foods. This chapter will focus on terpene and terpenoid compounds found in selected edible and aromatic plants belonging to several plant families. Selected plant species are briefly discussed. Biologically active compounds with terpene core are most frequently found in essential oils of the edible and aromatic species, as well as they are separately isolated and identified from the extracts. Health beneficial effects coming from terpene compounds found in edible and aromatic plants are further presented and include antimicrobial, antiviral, cytotoxic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory and many other pharmacological activities.

Identification, Quantification, and Antioxidant Activity of Hydroalcoholic Extract of Artemisia campestris from Algeria

Objectives

Our study aimed to investigate the chemical profile of hydroalcoholic extract of Algerian Artemisia campestris and its antioxidant activity.

Materials and Methods

The hydroalcoholic extract of Algerian A. campestris was investigated for its phenolic constituents using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-diode array detection (DAD)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-mass spectrometer (MS)/MS. The in vitro antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were also evaluated via oxygen radical absorbance capacity and Folin-Ciocalteu assays, respectively.

Results

HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis revealed that the main tentatively identified compounds were caffeoylquinic acid isomers, flavonoids, and benzoic acid derivatives. Additionally, the hydroalcoholic extract exhibited a promising antioxidant activity value of 120.5±10.4 μmol Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity/g dry weight (DW), and a strong correlation exists between this activity and the total phenolic content value of 102.09±1.65 mg/g gallic acid equivalents DW.

Conclusion

The hydroalcoholic extract of A. campestris is a promising candidate for the production of naturally occurring antioxidant agents.

Formulation of active packaging system using Artemisia scoparia for enhancing shelf life of fresh fruits

An improved active packaging system was developed for fresh fruits using silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) coupled with calcium alginate (Ca-ALG). For the synthesis of AgNPs aqueous, ethanol and methanol extracts of Artemisia scoparia (AS) were used. These AgNP's were characterized using UV-Vis, SEM, EDS, AFM, FTIR and gel electrophoresis. Ethanol extract of AS (ASE) produced AgNPs with smallest size in comparison to aqueous AS (ASA) and methanol extract of AS (ASM). AgNPs synthesized from ASE had a size range of 12.0-23.3 nm and were tested on Human Corneal Epithelial Cells to evaluate their cytotoxicity. At 0.05 ng/mL of AgNP's concentration, no toxic effects were observed on the evaluated cell line. Therefore, 0.05 ng/mL of AgNPs mixed with edible coating of Ca-ALG were applied on strawberries and loquats as active coating to increase their shelf life. Significant improvement was observed in the quality parameters of strawberries and loquats such as microbial analysis, acidity loss, soluble solid content loss, weight loss and quality decay. Ca-ALG coating incorporated with AgNPs enhanced the shelf life of strawberries and loquats in comparison to no treatment and simple Ca-ALG coatings. This study provides an insight to food industry to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits using AgNP's formulated coatings.

Ecotoxicity of a novel biopesticide from Artemisia absinthium on non-target aquatic organisms

Biopesticides are increasingly being used to replace synthetic pesticides for pest control. This change raises concern for its environmental impacts, especially on non-target organisms. In this study, the ecotoxicological effects of a potential nematicide from Spanish populations of Artemisia absinthium (var. Candial) were evaluated on freshwater and aquatic non-target organisms. The study focused on the aqueous extract (hydrolate), the principal component of which ((-) -(Z) -2,6-dimethylocta-5,7-diene-2,3-diol) is responsible for its nematicidal effect. Until now, the hydrolate has been considered a byproduct of the process used to obtain essential oils, and there are no studies on its ecotoxicity from any plant with biopesticide properties. Our results indicated that A. absinthium hydrolate caused acute toxicity for non-target organisms at dilutions as low as 0.2%. The sensitivity of the organisms, from the most to the least sensitive, was: Daphnia magna (LC₅₀ = 0,236%) > Vibrio fisheri (LC₅₀ = 1,85%) > Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (LC₅₀ = 16,49). Moreover, the A. absinthium organic extract was highly toxic to D. magna (LC₅₀ = 0,093 mg/L). A. absinthium hydrolate toxicity was also tested on a natural river microbial community. Bacterial growth was not affected; the physiology of the community was only slightly modified, namely through an increased ability to degrade different substrates, mainly carbohydrates. This study provides for the first time an exhaustive assessment of the environmental exposure of a plant-derived biopesticide and shows that these products may cause a broad range of toxicity on non-target aquatic organisms.

Comparison of Artemisiae argyi Folium and Artemisiae lavandulaefoliae Folium by simultaneous determination of multi-components with single reference standard method and chemometric analysis

INTRODUCTION

Artemisiae argyi Folium and Artemisiae lavandulaefoliae Folium, two morphologically similar herbal medicines derived from Artemisia genus. Although the two Artemisia herbs have been used as medicines for a long time in China, the study of their phytochemical and bioactive composition is limited.

OBJECTIVE

To comprehensively compare and evaluate the composition of Artemisiae argyi Folium and Artemisiae lavandulaefoliae Folium, and find the chemical makers for quality evaluation of the two Artemisia herbal medicines.

METHODOLOGY

Eight compounds including six phenolic acids and two flavonoids were assayed by a single reference standard for simultaneous determination of multi-components method using 3-caffeoylquinic acid as the reference standard. The quantitative data were further analysed by chemometric approaches to compare and distinguish the two herbal medicines.

RESULTS

The credibility and feasibility of the single reference standard for simultaneous determination of the multi-components method were carefully validated. The validated method was applied to analyse 16 batches of Artemisiae argyi Folium and 10 batches of Artemisiae lavandulaefoliae Folium samples. The quantitative results showed that 3,5-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid was the most abundant constituent, and the contents of flavonoids were notably different between the two herbal medicines. The chemometric analysis results indicated the two flavonoids, jaceosidin and eupatilin could be used as chemical markers for quality evaluation of the two herbal medicines.

CONCLUSION

The single reference standard for simultaneous determination of the multi-components method coupled with chemometrics analysis could be a well-acceptable strategy to compare and evaluate the quality of Artemisiae argyi Folium and Artemisiae lavandulaefoliae Folium.

Chemistry and Biology of Selected Mexican Medicinal Plants

Herbal medicines are an integral element of alternative medical care in Mexico, and the best testimony to their efficacy and cultural value is their persistence in contemporary Mexican marketplaces where the highest percentages of medicinal and aromatic plants are sold. This chapter summarizes current trends in research on medicinal plants in Mexico, with emphasis on work carried out at the authors' laboratories. The most relevant phytochemical and pharmacological profiles of a selected group of plants used widely for treating major national health problems are described.From this contribution, it is evident that in the last five decades a significant amount of research on medicinal plants has been performed by Mexican scientists. Such efforts have led to the publication of many research papers in noted peer-reviewed journals and technical books. The isolation and structural characterization of hundreds of bioactive secondary metabolites have been accomplished, and most importantly, these studies have tended to support the ethnomedical uses of many different species. A multidisciplinary approach for investigating these plants has led to an increased emphasis on areas such as phytopharmacology, phytotoxicology, quality control, regulation, and conservation issues for these valuable resources. The medicinal plants analyzed so far have shown a very broad chemical diversity of their constituents, which have a high potential for exhibiting novel mechanistic effects biologically. The chapter shows also that there is need to conduct additional clinical studies on herbal drugs, in particular because the longstanding traditional evidence for their safety is not always sufficient to assure their rational use. There is also need to move to "omics" approaches for investigating the holistic effect and the influence of groups of phytochemicals on the whole organism. Mexican scientists may be expected to have bright prospects in this regard, which will imbue medicinal plant research with a new dynamism in the future.

A phylogenetic road map to antimalarial Artemisia species

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The discovery of the antimalarial agent artemisinin is considered one of the most significant success stories of ethnopharmacological research in recent times. The isolation of artemisinin was inspired by the use of Artemisia annua in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and was awarded a Nobel Prize in 2015. Antimalarial activity has since been demonstrated for a range of other Artemisia species, suggesting that the genus could provide alternative sources of antimalarial treatments. Given the stunning diversity of the genus (c. 500 species), a prioritisation of taxa to be investigated for their likely antimalarial properties is required.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Here we use a phylogenetic approach to explore the potential for identifying species more likely to possess antimalarial properties. Ethnobotanical data from literature reports is recorded for 117 species. Subsequent phylogenetically informed analysis was used to identify lineages in which there is an overrepresentation of species used to treat malarial symptoms, and which could therefore be high priority for further investigation of antimalarial activity.

RESULTS

We show that these lineages indeed include several species with documented antimalarial activity. To further inform our approach, we use LC-MS/MS analysis to explore artemisinin content in fifteen species from both highlighted and not highlighted lineages. We detected artemisinin in nine species, in eight of them for the first time, doubling the number of Artemisia taxa known to content this molecule.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that artemisinin may be widespread across the genus, providing an accessible local resource outside the distribution area of Artemisia annua.

Anti-hepatitis B virus effects of the traditional Chinese herb Artemisia capillaris and its active enynes

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia capillaris (Yin-Chen) is a famous traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for treating acute and chronic hepatitis in China. Enynes are one type of characteristic constituents in this herb, while their anti-hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) properties have not been systemically investigated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is to reveal the active part of A. capillaris, and systemically investigate the enynes and their anti-HBV activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The total extract and each fraction of A. capillaris were assayed for the anti-HBV activity to reveal the active part. Bioassay-guided fractionation using various chromatographic techniques yielded the enynes, whose structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses and ECD calculations. The anti-HBV properties inhibiting HBsAg and HBeAg secretions and HBV DNA replication were evaluated on HepG 2.2.15 cell line in vitro.

RESULTS

ACT-2 and ACT-3 was revealed to be the respective active and toxic part of A. capillaris. Twelve enynes (1-12) involving four new ones (1-4) and two unusual enyne analogs (13-14) were isolated from the active part (ACT-2). All the isolates were assayed for their anti-HBV activity, and the preliminary structure-activity relationships were summarized based on the structural features. In particular, compound 4 could significantly inhibit the secretions of HBsAg and HBeAg, and HBV DNA replication with IC₅₀ values of 197.2 (SI > 5.1), 48.7 (SI > 20.5) and 9.8 (SI > 102) μM.

CONCLUSIONS

Enynes are responsible for the anti-HBV effects of A. capillaris. Hydroxyl and glycosyl groups are preferable for maintaining activity. This is the first time to systematically investigate the anti-HBV activity of enynes in A. capillaris, which provides valuable information for understanding the ethnopharmacological application of Yin-Chen.