UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MSn profiling variability of the phenolic constituents of Artemisia campestris L. populations growing in Algeria

Bioprospecting of Artemisia genus: from artemisinin to other potentially bioactive compounds

Species from genus Artemisia are widely distributed throughout temperate regions of the northern hemisphere and many cultures have a long-standing traditional use of these plants as herbal remedies, liquors, cosmetics, spices, etc. Nowadays, the discovery of new plant-derived products to be used as food supplements or drugs has been pushed by the exploitation of bioprospection approaches. Often driven by the knowledge derived from the ethnobotanical use of plants, bioprospection explores the existing biodiversity through integration of modern omics techniques with targeted bioactivity assays. In this work we set up a bioprospection plan to investigate the phytochemical diversity and the potential bioactivity of five Artemisia species with recognized ethnobotanical tradition (A. absinthium, A. alba, A. annua, A. verlotiorum and A. vulgaris), growing wild in the natural areas of the Verona province. We characterized the specialized metabolomes of the species (including sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway) through an LC-MS based untargeted approach and, in order to identify potential bioactive metabolites, we correlated their composition with the in vitro antioxidant activity. We propose as potential bioactive compounds several isomers of caffeoyl and feruloyl quinic acid esters (e.g. dicaffeoylquinic acids, feruloylquinic acids and caffeoylferuloylquinic acids), which strongly characterize the most antioxidant species A. verlotiorum and A. annua. Morevoer, in this study we report for the first time the occurrence of sesquiterpenoids from the artemisinin biosynthesis pathway in the species A. alba.

LCMS/MS Phytochemical Profiling, Molecular, Pathological, and Immune-Histochemical Studies on the Anticancer Properties of Annona muricata

Annona muricate is a tropical plant that is well-known for its edible fruit of therapeutic interest. LCMS/MS analyses were applied to identify phytoconstituents of the ethanolic extract of the whole fruits and the aqueous extract of the edible fruit part, in addition to the investigation of their anticancer properties against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) in male albino mice. LCMS/MS analyses resulted in the identification of 388 components, representing a wide array of classes of compounds, including acetogenins as the major constituents, alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolics. Among them, four compounds were tentatively characterized as new compounds (1-4), including an acid derivative, protocatechuic-coumaroyl-quinic acid (1), and three flavonoid derivatives, dihydromyricetin galloyl hexoside (2), apigenin gallate (3), and dihydromyricetin hexouronic acid hexoside (4). Induction with EAC cells resulted in abnormalities in the gene expression of pro-apoptotic genes (Bax and caspase-3) and anti-apoptotic gene (Bcl-2) in the tumor mass. Moreover, microscopic, histopathological, and immune-histochemical examinations of the tumor mass and liver tissues exhibited extensive growth of malignant Ehrlich carcinoma cells and marked hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes and infiltration by tumor cells to liver tissue with marked inflammatory reaction. These abnormalities were markedly ameliorated aftertreatment of EAC mice with A. muricata extracts.

Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton Ethanolic Extract Inhibits the Growth of Human AGS and A549 Cancer Cell Lines

The present study shows the chemical profile and cytotoxic properties of the ethanolic extracts of Inula viscosa from Northeast Algeria. The extract was obtained by maceration using ethanol. Its phenolic profile was determined using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and an electrospray mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS), which allowed the identification and quantification of 17 compounds, 1,5-O-caffeoylquinic acid being the most abundant. The cytotoxic activity was assessed against human gastric cancer (AGS) and human non-small-cell lung cancer (A549) cell lines, whereas ethanolic extract elicited nearly 60 % and 40 % viability loss toward AGS and A549 cancer cells, respectively. Results also showed that cell death is caspase-independent and confirmed the involvement of RIPK1 and the necroptosis pathway in the toxicity induced by the I. viscosa extract. In addition, the ethanolic extract would not provoke morphological traits in the cancer cells. These findings suggest that I. viscosa can be a source of new antiproliferative drugs or used in preparation plant-derived pharmaceuticals.

UPLC-ESI-MS/MS Profiling and Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic, and Antiobesity Activities of the Non-Polar Fractions of Salvia hispanica L. Aerial Parts

Salvia hispanica L. is an annual herbaceous plant commonly known as "Chia". It has been recommended for therapeutic use because of its use as an excellent source of fatty acids, protein, dietary fibers, antioxidants, and omega-3 fatty acids. A literature survey concerning phytochemical and biological investigations of chia extracts revealed less attention towards the non-polar extracts of S. hispanica L. aerial parts, which motivates us to investigate their phytochemical constituents and biological potentials. The phytochemical investigation of the non-polar fractions of S. hispanica L. aerial parts resulted in the tentative identification of 42 compounds using UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis with the isolation of β-sitosterol (1), betulinic acid (2), oleanolic acid (3), and β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (4). GLC-MS analysis of the seeds' oil showed a high concentration of omega-3 fatty acid, with a percentage of 35.64% of the total fatty acid content in the seed oil. The biological results revealed that the dichloromethane fraction showed promising DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀ = 14.73 µg/mL), antidiabetic activity with significant inhibition of the α-amylase enzyme (IC₅₀ 673.25 μg/mL), and anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro histamine release assay (IC₅₀ 61.8 μg/mL). Furthermore, the dichloromethane fraction revealed moderate cytotoxic activity against human lung cancer cell line (A-549), human prostate carcinoma (PC-3), and colon carcinoma (HCT-116) with IC_50s 35.9 ± 2.1 μg/mL, 42.4 ± 2.3 μg/mL, and 47.5 ± 1.3 μg/mL, respectively, and antiobesity activity with IC₅₀ 59.3 μg/mL, using pancreatic lipase inhibitory assay. In conclusion, this study's findings not only shed light on the phytochemical constituents and biological activities of the non-polar fractions of chia but also should be taken as a basis for the future in vivo and clinical studies on the safety and efficacy of chia and its extracts. Further study should be focused towards the isolation of the active principles of the dichloromethane fraction and studying their efficacy, exact mechanism(s), and safety, which could benefit the pharmaceutical industry and folk medicine practitioners who use this plant to cure diseases.

Exploring the Artemisia Genus: An Insight into the Phytochemical and Multi-Biological Potential of A. campestris subsp. lednicensis (Spreng.) Greuter & Raab-Straube

The Artemisia L. genus includes over five hundred species with great economic and medicinal properties. Our study aimed to provide a comprehensive metabolite and bioactivity profile of Artemisia campestris subsp. lednicensis (Spreng.) Greuter & Raab-Straube collected from north-eastern Romania. Liquid chromatography with tandem high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS/MS) analysis of different polarity extracts obtained from the aerial parts led to the identification of twelve flavonoids, three phenolic acids, two sesquiterpene lactones, two fatty acids, one coumarin, and one lignan. The antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties were shown in the DPPH (0.71−213.68 mg TE/g) and ABTS (20.57−356.35 mg TE/g) radical scavenging, CUPRAC (38.56−311.21 mg TE/g), FRAP (121.68−202.34 mg TE/g), chelating (12.88−22.25 mg EDTAE/g), phosphomolybdenum (0.92−2.11 mmol TE/g), anti-acetylcholinesterase (0.15−3.64 mg GALAE/g), anti-butyrylcholinesterase (0−3.18 mg GALAE/g), anti-amylase (0.05−0.38 mmol ACAE/g), anti-glucosidase (0.43−2.21 mmol ACAE/g), and anti-tyrosinase (18.62−48.60 mg KAE/g) assays. At 100 μg/mL, Artemisia extracts downregulated the secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human neutrophil model (29.05−53.08% of LPS+ control). Finally, the Artemisia samples showed moderate to weak activity (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 625 mg/L) against the seventeen tested microbial strains (bacteria, yeasts, and dermatophytes). Overall, our study shows that A. campestris subsp. lednicensis is a promising source of bioactives with putative use as food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic ingredients.

Plant Flavonoids: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity

In recent years, more attention has been paid to natural sources of antioxidants. Flavonoids are natural substances synthesized in several parts of plants that exhibit a high antioxidant capacity. They are a large family, presenting several classes based on their basic structure. Flavonoids have the ability to control the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via scavenger ROS when they are formed. Therefore, these antioxidant compounds have an important role in plant stress tolerance and a high relevance in human health, mainly due to their anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. In addition, flavonoids have several applications in the food industry as preservatives, pigments, and antioxidants, as well as in other industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. However, flavonoids application for industrial purposes implies extraction processes with high purity and quality. Several methodologies have been developed aimed at increasing flavonoid extraction yield and being environmentally friendly. This review presents the most abundant natural flavonoids, their structure and chemical characteristics, extraction methods, and biological activity.

Chemical Composition and Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of an Endemic Species from Southern Algeria: Warionia saharae

Warionia saharae Benth. & Coss. (Asteraceae) is an endemic species of North Africa naturally grown in the southwest of the Algerian Sahara. In the present study, this species’ hydromethanolic leaf extract was investigated for its phenolic profile characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and an electrospray mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS). Additionally, the chemical composition of W. saharae was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and its antioxidant potential was assessed through five in vitro tests: DPPH^● scavenging activity, ABTS^●+ scavenging assay, galvinoxyl scavenging activity, ferric reducing power (FRP), and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity. The UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS analysis allowed the detection and quantification of 22 compounds, with taxifolin as the dominant compound. The GC–MS analysis allowed the identification of 37 compounds, and the antioxidant activity data indicate that W. saharae extract has a very high capacity to capture radicals due to its richness in compounds with antioxidant capacity. The extract also showed potent α-glucosidase inhibition as well as a good anti-inflammatory activity. However, weak anti-α-amylase and anticholinesterase activities were recorded. Moreover, an in silico docking study was performed to highlight possible interactions between three significant compounds identified in W. saharae extract and α-glucosidase enzyme.