Detection of antifungal activity in Portulaca oleracea by a single-cell bioassay system

A review on ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and potential uses of Portulaca oleracea L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Portulaca oleracea L. (PO), popularly known as purslane, has been documented in ethnopharmacology in various countries and regions. Traditional application records indicated that PO might be used extensively to treat the common cold, dysentery, urinary tract infections, coughing, eye infections, skin problems, gynecological diseases, and pediatric illnesses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This paper includes a systematic review of the traditional usage, phytochemicals, pharmacological activity, and potential uses of PO to provide an overview of the research for further exploitation of PO resources.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This article uses "Portulaca oleracea L." and "purslane" as the keywords and collects relevant information on PO from different databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Springer, Science Direct, ACS, Wiley, CNKI, Baidu Scholar, Google Scholar, and ancient meteria medica.

RESULTS

PO is a member of the Portulacaceae family and is grown worldwide. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that purslane has the effect of improving eyesight, eliminating evil qi, quenching thirst, purgation, diuresis, hemostasis, regulating qi, promoting hair growth, detoxifying, and avoiding epidemic qi. Recent phytochemical investigations have shown that PO is a rich source of flavonoids, homoisoflavonoids, alkaloids, organic acids, esters, lignans, terpenoids, catecholamines, sterols, and cerebrosides. The purslane extracts or compounds have exhibited numerous biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, renoprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, metabolic, muscle relaxant, anti-asthmatic and anti-osteoporosis properties. The significant omega-3 fatty acids, vital amino acids, minerals, and vitamins found in purslane also provide nutritional benefits. Purslane as a food/feed additive in the food industry and animal husbandry has caused concern. Its global wide distribution and tolerance to abiotic stress characteristics make it in the future sustainable development of agriculture a certain position.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on traditional usage, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activity, PO is a potential medicinal and edible plant with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to purslane's various advantages, it may have vast application potential in the food and pharmaceutical industries and animal husbandry.

Comparative study of antifungal activity of two preparations of green silver nanoparticles from Portulaca oleracea extract

The green silver nanoparticles (green AgNPs) exhibit an exceptional antimicrobial property against different microbes, including bacteria and fungi. The current study aimed to compare the antifungal activities of both the crude aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea or different preparations of green AgNPs biosynthesized by mixing that aqueous extract with silver nitrate (AgNO₃). Two preparations of the green AgNPs were synthesized either by mixing the aqueous extract of P. oleracea with silver nitrate (AgNO₃) (normal AgNPs) or either irradiation of the AgNPs, previously prepared, under ⁶⁰Co γ-ray using chitosan (gamma-irradiated AgNPs). Characterization of different AgNPs were tested by Zeta potential analyzer, Ultraviolet (UV) Visible Spectroscopy, and Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectrometry. Three different plant pathogenic fungi were tested, Curvularia spicifera, Macrophomina phaseolina, and Bipolaris sp. The antifungal activities were evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) for either the crude aqueous extract of P. oleracea at three doses (25%, 50%, and 100%) or the newly biosynthesized AgNPs, normal or gamma-irradiated. With a few exceptions, the comparative analysis revealed that the irradiated green AgNPs at all three concentrations showed a relatively stronger antifungal effect than the normal AgNPs against all the three selected fungal strains. UV–visible spectroscopy of both preparations showed surface plasmon resonance at 421 nm. TEM results showed that both AgNPs were aggregated and characterized by a unique spherical shape, however, the gamma-irradiated AgNPs were smaller than the non-irradiated AgNPs (0.007–0.026 µM vs. 0.009–0.086 µM). TEM photographs of the fungal strains treated with the two AgNPs preparations showed flaccid structures, condensed hyphae, and shrunken surface compared with control cells. The data suggested that the biosynthesized P. oleracea AgNPs have antifungal properties against C. spicifera, M. phaseolina, and Bipolaris sp. These AgNPs may be considered a fungicide to protect different plants against phytopathogenic fungi.

Antiviral activity of portulaca oleracea L. extracts against porcine epidemic diarrhea virus by partial suppression on myd88/NF-κb activation in vitro

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), especially variants, causes a highly contagious enteric disease which could give rise to huge economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. Portulaca oleracea L. has been reported to regulate intestine disease and involved in viral infections. However, the underlying mechanisms of Portulaca oleracea L. extracts against PEDV have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the antiviral effects and potential mechanisms of Portulaca oleracea L. extracts against PEDV were investigated in vitro. We first examined the inhibitory effects of different Portulaca oleracea L. extracts on the PEDV(JX-16 strain) in vitro and found that the water extract of Portulaca oleracea L.(PO)could significantly inhibit PEDV replication by 92.73% on VH cells and 63.07% on Vero cells. Furthermore, time-course analysis showed PO inhibited PEDV replication during the adsorption period of infectious cycle. Western blot and indirect immunofluorescence assay indicated that PO down-regulated the S protein expression in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, our results demonstrated the ability of PO to inhibit PEDV replication in VH cells by down-regulating the cytokine levels (TNF-α,IL-22 and IFN-α) and inhibiting the NF-κB signaling pathway activated by PEDV. Thus, Portulaca oleracea L extracts have potential utility in the preventive and therapeutic strategies for PEDV infection.

Platinum (II)-coordinated Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides as metal-drug based polymers for anticancer study

Novel polysaccharide-platinum conjugated polymers bearing alendronate on Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides (PPS) were designed and synthesized. Their chemical structures and properties were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), ¹H NMR and ³¹P NMR spectroscopy, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), UV-vis spectrophotometer (UV-vis) and other analysis methods. The results demonstrated that alendronate can be used as the linker of Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides and platinum compounds. Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides-alendronate (PPS-ALN) conjugates exhibited stronger antioxidant ability than PPS. The cytotoxicity assay to cancer cells was tested in vitro, and the Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides-alendronate-platinum (PPS-ALN-Pt) conjugates strongly inhibited the proliferation of cancer cells than PPS and PPS-ALN. The evaluation of complexes affinity toward supercoiled plasmid DNA, displayed a high DNA interaction. Interestingly, the platinum conjugates displayed immunological competence in HeLa cells by cellular immunofluorescence assay. Besides, the cellular platinum accumulation of PPS-ALN-Pt conjugates was higher than that of cisplatin in HeLa cells, implying that the polysaccharide-platinum conjugated polymers might have a synergistically therapeutic application in metal anticancer drug delivery.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of biotin-conjugated Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides

Biotinylated Portulaca oleracea polysaccharide (Bio-POP) conjugates were successfully prepared by the esterification reaction. The biotinylated polysaccharide products were an off-white powder with an average degree of substitution of 42.5%. After grafting biotin onto POP, the thermal stability of Bio-POP conjugates was much higher than that of POP and the surface topography of Bio-POP was a loose and porous cross-linked structure. The cytotoxicity assay in vitro demonstrated that POP, biotin, and Bio-POP conjugates exhibited different cytotoxicity to HeLa, MCF-7, LO-2, and A549, in particular POP inhibited the growth of the A549 cell line more than other cell lines. The nuclear staining method demonstrated that Bio-POP conjugates can interfere with the apoptosis of A549 cells to some extent and the immunofluorescence staining photograph illustrated that Bio-POP conjugates induced A549 cells to exhibit immune activity. Therefore, the combination of biotin and Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides had immune synergistic therapeutic effects on A549 cells and can be applied in the field of anti-tumor conjugate drugs.

Biotin grafted onto Portulaca oleracea polysaccharides (Bio-POP) was successfully prepared by the esterification reaction. Bio-POP conjugates had an obvious effect on the proliferation of A549 cells and induced A549 cells to exhibit immune activity.

Edible Leafy Plants from Mexico as Sources of Antioxidant Compounds, and Their Nutritional, Nutraceutical and Antimicrobial Potential: A Review

A review of indigenous Mexican plants with edible stems and leaves and their nutritional and nutraceutical potential was conducted, complemented by the authors' experiences. In Mexico, more than 250 species with edible stems, leaves, vines and flowers, known as "quelites," are collected or are cultivated and consumed. The assessment of the quelite composition depends on the chemical characteristics of the compounds being evaluated; the protein quality is a direct function of the amino acid content, which is evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and the contribution of minerals is evaluated by atomic absorption spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) or ICP mass spectrometry. The total contents of phenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, saponins and other general compounds have been analyzed using UV-vis spectrophotometry and by HPLC. For the determination of specific compounds such as phenolic compounds, flavonoids, organic acids and other profiles, it is recommended to use HPLC-DAD, UHPLC-DAD, UFLC-PDA or gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The current biochemical analysis and biological evaluations were performed to understand the mechanisms of action that lead to decreased glucose levels and lipid peroxidation, increased hypoglycemic and antitumor activity, immune system improvement, increased antibacterial and antifungal activity and, in some cases, anti-Helicobacter pylori activity.

The anti-inflammatory potential of Portulaca oleracea L. (purslane) extract by partial suppression on NF-κB and MAPK activation

Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane) has great potential as food and traditional drugs in several countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of purslane extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Purslane extracts significantly reduced LPS-induced synthesis of NO in a dose-dependent manner, as well as the expression levels of iNOS and COX-2. The productions of TNF-α and IL-6 were also significantly reduced at the higher dose of 400 μg/ml. Meanwhile, the expression levels of P65, p-P65, p-MEK and p-IκB-α were inhibited dose-dependently. The nuclear translocation of P65 was partially prevented by the extract, which explained the inhibition of NF-κB pathway. In addition, three reported flavonoids, named luteolin, kaempferol and quercitrin, were identified in the extract, which might be responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects. Above all, our research has partially proved that purslane could be considered as a natural anti-inflammatory agent in further applications.

Polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L. regulated insulin secretion in INS-1 cells through voltage-gated Na+ channel

The present study was undertaken to determine the involvement of voltage-gated Na⁺ channel (VGSC) and other mechanism related to insulin secretion in polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L. (POP)-induced secretion of insulin from insulin-secreting β-cell line cells (INS-1) cells. Our results showed that the concentration of insulin both in culture medium and inside INS-1 cells were increased under the existing of different concentration of glucose by POP or TTX, respectively. However, the effect POP on insulin secretion and production were blocked by TTX, a VGSC blocker. Meanwhile, POP improved the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm), increased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production, depolarized cell membrane potential (MP) and increased intracellular Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_i). Furthermore, POP treatment increased the expression level of Nav_1.3 and decreased the expression level of Nav_1.7. TTX treatment decreased the expression level of Nav_1.3 and Nav_1.7. On the other hand, POP also elevated the survival of INS-1 cells. These results suggested that POP induced-secretion/production of insulin in INS-1 cells were mediated by VGSC through its change of function and subunits expression and subsequent VGSC- dependent events such as change of intracellular Ca²⁺ releasing, ATP metabolism, cell membrane and mitochondrial membrane potential, and also improvement of INS-1 cell survival. Meanwhile, our data indicated the potentiality of developing POP to be a drug for diabetes treatment and VGSC as a therapeutic target in diabetes treatment is valuable to be investigated further.

Effects of polysaccharide from Portulaca oleracea L. on voltage-gated Na+ channel of INS-1 cells

Our previous work showed that polysaccharide isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. (POP) has an insulinotropic effect. The voltage-gated Na⁺ channel (VGSC) in the excitement phase plays an important role. This work aims to study the effect of POP on the voltage-gated Na⁺ channel current (I_Na) and its channel dynamic characteristics in insulin-secreting β-cell line (INS-1) cells of rat. Our results revealed that POP can inhibit the amplitude of I_Na and improve cell survival in a concentration-dependent manner. POP concentration of 0.5 mg mL^-1 reduced the amplitude of I_Na, suppressed the I_Na of steady-state activation, shifted the steady-state inactivation curves of I_Na to negative potentials, prolonged the time course of I_Na recovery from inactivation, and enhanced the activity-dependent attenuation of I_Na. Furthermore, 0.5 mg mL^-1 POP or low concentration of tetrodotoxin (TTX, a VGSC-specific blocker) partially inhibited I_Na and also improved insulin synthesis and cell survival. Collectively, these results revealed that POP protects INS-1 cells and enhances the insulin synthesis in INS-1 cells, and the mechanism through the partial inhibition on I_Na channel is strongly recommended.

A review of traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of Portulaca oleracea L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Portulaca oleracea L. is a widespread medicinal plant that is used not only as an edible plant, but also as a traditional medicine for alleviating a wide spectrum of diseases. It is a well-known plant in the European Traditional Medicine. PA is mentioned by Dioscorides (40-90 CE), with the name of "andrachne".

AIM OF THE REVIEW

In this study, we provide detailed information on botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological uses, pharmacokinetics and safety of P. oleracea.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An extensive search on electronic databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Scopus, conference papers, local herbal encyclopedias, articles, books (in English, French, Arabic, Persian, etc.) and also a number of unpublished handwritten manuscripts was done to find articles have been published between 1956 and 2015 on pharmacology and phytochemistry of P. oleracea.

RESULTS

P. oleracea has been addressed in De Materia Medica as an astringent, and a remedy for headaches, inflammation of the eyes and other organs, burning of the stomach, erysipela, disorders of the bladder, numbness of the teeth, excessive sexual desire, burning fevers, worms, dysentery, hemorrhoids, eruptions of blood, and bites. Phytochemical investigations revealed that this plant a wide range of secondary metabolites including alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids and organic acids. The most important pharmacological activities are renoprotective activities and effects on metabolism. P. oleracea could successfully decrease blood glucose and lipid profile of patients with metabolic syndrome. The safety of P. oleracea has been reported in many clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

Modern pharmacological studies have now proven many traditional uses of P. oleracea, including anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic, renoprotective and hepatoprotective effects. In addition, in many clinical trials P. oleracea showed no adverse effects and constipation was reported as the most frequent adverse effect.

Assessment of herbal drugs for promising anti-Candida activity

BACKGROUND

Microbial infections are diverse and cause serious human diseases. Candida albicans infections are serious healthcare-related infections that are complicated by its morphological switching from yeast to hyphae, resistant biofilm formation and mixed infections with bacteria. Due to the increase in drug resistance to currently used antimicrobial agents and the presence of undesirable side effects, the need for safe and effective novel therapies is important. Compounds derived from plants are known for their medicinal properties including antimicrobial activities. The purpose of the study was to compare and evaluate the anti-Candida activities of several medicinal plants in order for the selection of a herbal drug for human use as effective antimicrobial. The selection was taking into considerations two important parameters; parameters related to the selected drug including activity, stability, solubility and toxicity and parameters related to the pathogen including its different dynamic growth and its accompanied secondary bacterial infections.

METHODS

Seven different plants including Avicennia marina (Qurm), Fagonia indica (Shoka'a), Lawsania inermis (Henna), Portulaca oleracea (Baq'lah), Salvadora persica (Souwak), Ziziphus spina- Christi (Sidr) and Asphodelus tenuifolius (Kufer) were ground and extracted with ethanol. The ethanol extracts were evaporated and the residual extract dissolved in water prior to testing against Candida albicans in its different morphologies. The antibacterial and cytotoxic effects of the plants extracts were also tested.

RESULTS

Out of the seven tested plants, L. inermis and P. oleracea showed significant anti-Candida activity with MIC ~10 μg/mL. Furthermore, both plant extracts were able to inhibit C. albicans growth at its dynamic growth phases including biofilm formation and age resistance. Accompanied secondary bacterial infections can complicate Candida pathogenesis. L. inermis and P. oleracea extracts showed effective antibacterial activities against S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, E. coli, and the multidrug resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Both extracts showed no toxicity when measured at their MIC on human erythrocytes.

CONCLUSION

The results from this study suggested that L. inermis and P. oleracea extracts and/or their chemicals are likely to be promising drugs for human use against C. albicans and MDR bacteria.

The anti-inflammation and pharmacokinetics of a novel alkaloid from Portulaca oleracea L

Objectives

This study was to elucidate the pharmacokinetics of a novel alkaloid, 6-acetyl-2,2,5-trimethyl-2,3-dihydrocyclohepta[b]pyrrol-8(1H)-one, named oleracone isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and to examine the anti-inflammatory ability with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulated macrophages.

Methods

The novel alkaloid, oleracone, was isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and its structure was determined by spectroscopic analysis including HRESIMS, 2D NMR spectroscopic data and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The activity of anti-inflammation was assayed via the test with RAW 264.7 activated by LPS, and the pharmacokinetics of oleracone in rat plasma after intravenous and oral administration at dose of 2.5 mg/kg was, respectively, investigated by a rapid and sensitive ultra high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) method with bergapten as internal standard.

Key findings

Oleracone was a novel alkaloid first isolated from Portulaca oleracea L. and possessed unique structure in natural products, whose anti-inflammatory effecting on nitrite oxide production and several pivotal pro-inflammatory cytokines was found at the concentration of 50 μm, and the pharmacokinetic results indicated that oleracone was rapidly distributed with Tmax of 15.7 min after oral administration and presented a higher oral absolute bioavailability to be 74.91 ± 10.7%.

Conclusions

Oleracone as novel alkaloid presented remarkably anti-inflammatory effect, which was rapid distributed in rat with high bioavailability of 74.91 ± 10.7%.

Portulaca oleracea L.: a review of phytochemistry and pharmacological effects

Portulaca oleracea L., belonging to the Portulacaceae family, is commonly known as purslane in English and Ma-Chi-Xian in Chinese. It is a warm-climate, herbaceous succulent annual plant with a cosmopolitan distribution. It is eaten extensively as a potherb and added in soups and salads around the Mediterranean and tropical Asian countries and has been used as a folk medicine in many countries. Diverse compounds have been isolated from Portulaca oleracea, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, polysaccharides, fatty acids, terpenoids, sterols, proteins vitamins and minerals. Portulaca oleracea possesses a wide spectrum of pharmacological properties such as neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiulcerogenic, and anticancer activities. However, few molecular mechanisms of action are known. This review provides a summary of phytochemistry and pharmacological effects of this plant.

Genetic improvement of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) and its future prospects

Common purslane (Portulaca oleracea), also known as pigweed, fatweed, pusle, and little hogweed, is an annual succulent herb in the family Portulacaceae that is found in most corners of the globe. From the ancient ages purslane has been treated as a major weed of vegetables as well as other crops. However, worldwide researchers and nutritionists have studied this plant as a potential vegetable crop for humans as well as animals. Purslane is a nutritious vegetable with high antioxidant properties and recently has been recognized as the richest source of α-linolenic acid, essential omega-3 and 6 fatty acids, ascorbic acid, glutathione, α-tocopherol and β-carotene. The lack of vegetable sources of ω-3 fatty acids has resulted in a growing level of attention to introduce purslane as a new cultivated vegetable. In the rapid-revolutionizing worldwide atmosphere, the ability to produce improved planting material appropriate to diverse and varying rising conditions is a supreme precedence. Though various published reports on morphological, physiological, nutritional and medicinal aspects of purslane are available, research on the genetic improvement of this promising vegetable crop are scant. Now it is necessary to conduct research for the genetic improvement of this plant. Genetic improvement of purslane is also a real scientific challenge. Scientific modernization of conventional breeding with the advent of advance biotechnological and molecular approaches such as tissue culture, protoplast fusion, genetic transformation, somatic hybridization, marker-assisted selection, qualitative trait locus mapping, genomics, informatics and various statistical representation have opened up new opportunities of revising the relationship between genetic diversity, agronomic performance and response to breeding for varietal improvement. This review is an attempt to amalgamate the assorted scientific information on purslane propagation, cultivation, varietal improvement, nutrient analyses, medicinal uses and to describe prospective research especially for genetic improvement of this crop.

A comparative pharmacological and phytochemical analysis of in vivo & in vitro propagated Crotalaria species

OBJECTIVE

To compare the efficacy for phytochemical, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, and aqueous extracts of in vitro propagated plants and field grown plants of Crotalaria sps., for against five human pathogens.

METHODS

The preliminary phytochemistry, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities were evaluated using disc diffusion and DPPH radical scavenging methods.

RESULTS

The ethanolic extract of in vitro raised Crotalaria retusa (C. retusa) was effective on tested microorganisms and optimal ZOI values of 38 mm was obtained against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The optimal concentration (IC50) required for 50% inhibition of the DPPH radical scavenging was 57.6 μ g/mL obtained for ethanolic extract of in vitro propagated C. retusa. The in vitro propagated C. retusa has significant pharmacological activities while the Crotalaria prostrate (C. prostrate) and Crotalaria medicaginea (C. medicaginea) has low pharmacological activites. It was cleared that ethanolic extract of in vitro regenerated plants was most effective.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings indicate compounds isolated from ethanolic extracts of Crotalaria sps., possesses pharmacological properties and potential to develop natural compounds based pharmaceutical products. The IC(50) values for ethanolic extracts of Crotalaria sps. was evaluated through the Linear regression analysis (R(2) ≤ 1).

Hepatoprotective activity of aqueous extract of Portulaca oleracea in combination with lycopene in rats

Objective:

To investigate the hepatoprotective activity of the aqueous extract of the aerial parts of Portulaca oleracea (P. oleracea) in combination with lycopene against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

Materials and Methods:

Hepatotoxicity was induced in male Wistar rats by intraperitoneal injection of carbon tetrachloride (0.1 ml/kg b.w for 14 days). The aqueous extract of P. oleracea in combination with lycopene (50 mg/kg b.w) was administered to the experimental animals at two selected doses for 14 days. The hepatoprotective activity of the combination was evaluated by the liver function marker enzymes in the serum [aspartate transaminases (AST), alanine transaminases (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (Alk.P), total bilirubin (TB), total protein (TP) and total cholesterol (TC)], pentobarbitone induced sleeping time (PST) and histopathological studies of liver.

Results:

Both the treatment groups showed hepatoprotective effect against carbon tetrachloride induced hepatotoxicity by significantly restoring the levels of serum enzymes to normal which was comparable to that of silymarin group. Besides, the results obtained from PST and histopathological results also support the study.

Conclusions:

The oral administration of P. oleracea in combination with lycopene significantly ameliorates CCl₄ hepatotoxicity in rats.

Characterization of structures and antiviral effects of polysaccharides from Portulaca oleracea L

Three polysaccharides including a neutral polysaccharide (RN), an acidic polysaccharide (RA) and a pectic polysaccharide (RP) were isolated from aerial part of Portulaca oleracea L. and evaluated for their anti-herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and anti-influenza A virus (IFV-A). RN was found to consist of glucose (Glc), mannose (Man) and arabinose (Ara) with small amounts of galactose (Gal), and identified to be an arabinoglucomannan. RA was mainly composed of Gal and Ara with a small proportion of glucuronic acid (GlcA). It was characterized as a type II arabinogalactan (AGII), which consisted of a 1,3-, 1,6- and 1,3,6-linked galactopyranosyl (Galp) and non-reducing terminal and 1,5-linked arabinofuranosyl (Araf) residues. RP was deduced to be a pectin, which consisted of a predominant amount of galacturonic acid (GalA) with small amounts of Gal, rhamnose (Rha) and Ara. The GalA residues were found to be highly methyl-esterified and partially acetylated. Results of antiviral tests showed that only RP had anti-HSV-2 activity. Furthermore, its anti-HSV-2 target was elucidated to be the step of virus penetration into host cells. No marked virucidal activity of RP was observed.

Portulene, a new diterpene from Portulaca oleracea L

Chromatographic fractionation of the chloroform extract of Portulaca oleracea L. growing in Egypt afforded a new clerodene diterpene portulene (1), in addition to the known compounds lupeol (2), beta-sitosterol (3), and daucosterol (4), which were reported for the first time from the title plant. The structures of the isolated compounds were unambiguously established through 1D, 2D, and mass spectral analyses. Co-treatment of CCl(4) hepatic injured rats with 70% alcohol extract of P. oleracea significantly restored the hepatic marker enzymes and total bilirubin to near-normal values, which demonstrated hepatoprotective activity. In addition, the P. oleracea extract showed antibacterial and antifungal activities.