Phytochemical analysis of Juglans regia oil and kernel exploring their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory potentials utilizing combined bio-guided GC–FID, GC–MS and HPLC analyses

Exploring the phenolic profile, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of walnut leaves (Juglans regia L.)

The aim of this study was to identify phenolic compounds in walnut leaves from northern Iraq and evaluate their ability to act as antibacterial and antioxidant agents. Phenolic compounds were determined by reversed-phase HPLC. Antibacterial activity was tested against various bacteria. Antioxidant properties were evaluated by various assays, including reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The HPLC profiles of walnut leaf fractions revealed quercetin, hydroquinone, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and caffeic acid in three fractions. The inhibitory activity of DPPH was determined as 47.66, 32.41, and 51.90 μg/mL for fractions I, II, and III, respectively. For ferric reducing power activity, fraction II > fraction III > fraction I and the FRAP activity was observed as 64.43, 73.19, and 68.18 μg/mL for fractions I, II, and III, respectively. All extracted fractions had antibacterial properties against all bacterial strains tested. Observations showed that fraction I was able to produce similar zones of inhibition as streptomycin in most cases. These results suggest that the fractions of this plant extract are plausible natural antioxidants that could be used as prime candidates for the synthesis of antioxidant drugs that can be used for the treatment of many oxidative stress-related diseases.

Effects of Walnut Bark Extract on the Human Platelet Aggregation, Adhesion, and Plasmatic Coagulation In Vitro

Thrombosis is the formation of a clot within a blood vessel. Antithrombotic drugs are used for treating thrombosis, which can be the cause of hemorrhage. Currently, there is a need to discover novel antithrombotic drugs. Walnut is widely used to treat a wide range of health complaints. In this study, walnut bark extract was tested in hemostasis parameters: platelets adhesion, aggregation, and plasmatic coagulation in human blood. The crude aqueous extract of walnut bark was prepared by infusion and tested in vitro on hemostasis. Through blood collection from healthy volunteer donors, we studied different parameters of the primary hemostasis: platelet adhesion on the collagen-coated surface under flow, ADP, collagen, thrombin, and arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation, and of the secondary hemostasis by measuring prothrombin time (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin (APTT) parameters. All experiments are realized in the absence and presence of the extract and repeated at least twice. The obtained data showed that the extract (1 and 2 mg/mL) significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the activated platelet adhesion on the collagen-coated surface. In the same way, the effect of the extract on platelet aggregation seems to depend on its concentration and on the nature of the agonist. The strongest inhibition of aggregation was observed in the case of collagen at 1 mg/mL, while there was no observed effect on arachidonic acid-induced aggregation. Moreover, the extract (1 mg/mL) affects the extrinsic, intrinsic, and common pathways of the human blood coagulation cascade by extending significantly (p < 0.001), both PT and APTT times. This study provides evidence that walnut bark extract, by its antiadhesive, antiaggregant, and anticoagulant activities, could be considered as a serious source of biological compounds for the prevention and treatment of thrombosis.

Apoptosis-Mediated Anticancer Activity of Ganoderma colossus (Agaricomycetes) Extracts in Breast Cancer Cells

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. The current cancer treatments including chemo-, radio- and immuno-therapies pose various side effects, and chances of recurrence that demand for new therapeutics to overcome the issues with existing ones. Mushrooms are considered a potential source of novel therapeutic agents. Ganoderma colossus, a non-edible wood-inhabiting mushroom, is known for certain medical properties. The present study aimed to investigate the possible anticancer activity of methanolic, ethyl acetate, and chloroform extracts of G. colossus, against MCF-7 cells and the mechanism of action(s). MTT assay and gene expression studies were carried out by following the standard protocols. The results demonstrated that among the three solvents, the ethyl acetate crude extract of the mushroom exhibited potential cytotoxic activity on MCF-7 (IC50, 17.2 ± 2.7). The DNA damage induced by the solvent extracts of G. colossus was observed by H2AX foci formation. The TP53 over-expression and flow cytometry analysis indicated that checkpoint activation followed by cell cycle arrest occurred at G1/G0 phase in response to the extract treatment. The dual acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining revealed apoptosis-associated changes in the cells. Analysis of caspase 3 activations by immunophenotyping confirmed the apoptotic process in the extract-treated cells. Bcl-2 and TP53 mRNA expression data by RT-PCR disclosed the apoptosis pathway. The GC- MS spectral data of the ethyl acetate crude extract of the mushroom indicated the presence of molecules capable of inducing apoptosis. The present study warrants further studies to isolate the molecule(s) from G. colossus which may be a potential drug candidate for breast cancers.

Modulators of diabetic neuropathy and inflammation from Saponaria officinalis: Isolation of active phytochemicals and potential mechanisms of action

Background and aim

Natural metabolites are rich in neuroactive and anti-inflammatory phytochemicals. Soapwort or Saponaria officinalis (Sap) has been utilized for its immunomodulatory and ant-rheumatic properties. Thus, the aim is to exploit Sap phytochemically and to investigate Sap isolated active phytochemicals effect to modulate diabetic neuropathy and inflammation, and their possible mechanisms of action.

Experimental procedure

Bio-guided chromatographic fractionation and phytochemical isolation of the most abundant Sap phytochemicals utilizing RP-HPLC, ¹³C, and ¹H NMR, in-vivo models of diabetes, diabetic neuropathy, and inflammation were used. Glucometers, HbA1c micro-columns, in-vivo hind-paw edema, tail-flick, hot plate, and Von-Frey filaments methods were utilized to investigate the acute, subchronic, and long term diabetes, inflammation, hyperalgesia, and mechanical allodynia. In-vivo antioxidant, inhibitory alpha-amylase, and alpha-glucosidase, and serum insulin levels, IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-alpha cytokines levels were utilized to investigate Sap mechanisms of action.

Results and conclusion

The phytochemical post-hydrolysis RP-HPLC investigation results show six major peaks; Quillaic acid (12.5%), Quillaic acid 22 β-OH (11.25%), Gypsogenin (21.25%), Phytolaccinic acid (18.75%), Phytolaccinic acid (17.50%), and Echynocystic acid (15.10%). The bio-guided chromatographic fractionation investigation utilizing reversed phase HPLC, ¹³C and ¹H NMR has shown that Quillaic acid (QA) is the most abundant and biologically active compound. Sap 20 mg/kg has shown the highest potency in normalization of blood glucose level (BGL) acutely (6-h), subchronically (eight-days), and longer-term (eight-weeks) correlated to Sap 10 and 7 mg/kg, and QA 0.7, 1.0, 2.0 mg/kg. The highest amelioration of diabetic neuropathy (thermal hyperalgesia and mechanical allodynia) was Sap 20 mg/kg. The anti-inflammatory potentials of Sap 20 mg/kg have shown dominance in decreasing carrageenan-induced in-vivo hind-paw edema. The anti-nociceptive mechanism of action might be due to Sap insulin secretagogue and the in-vivo antioxidant potentials. The reduction of IL-6 cytokines and TNF-alpha, along with the elevation of the IL-10 cytokine level might be the underlying Sap anti-inflammatory mechanism. Phytochemically, QA has shown to be the most abundant and biologically active compound in Sap extract. Sap has shown significant (p < 0.05) anti-diabetic, anti-diabetic neuropathy, and anti-inflammatory effects. Our results provide new insights into the potential effects of Saponaria and Quillaic acid as future alternative therapies against diabetic neuropathy and inflammation.

Evaluation of Major Constituents of Medicinally Important Plants for Anti-Inflammatory, Antidiabetic and AGEs Inhibiting Properties: In Vitro and Simulatory Evidence

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a global health concern that is associated with several micro- and macrovascular complications. We evaluated several important medicinal plant constituents, including polyphenols and flavonoids, for α-glucosidase inhibition, AGEs’ inhibitory activities using oxidative and no-oxidative assays, the inhibition of protein cross link formation, 15-lipoxydenase inhibition and molecular docking. The molecular docking studies showed high binding energies of flavonoids for transcriptional regulars 1IK3, 3TOP and 4F5S. In the α-glucosidase inhibition assay, a significant inhibition was noted for quercitrin (IC₅₀ 7.6 µg/mL) and gallic acid (IC₅₀ 8.2 µg/mL). In the AGEs inhibition assays, quercetin showed significant results in both non-oxidative and (IC₅₀ 0.04 mg/mL) and oxidative assays (IC₅₀ 0.051 mg/mL). Furthermore, quercitrin showed inhibitory activity in the non-oxidative (IC₅₀ 0.05 mg/mL) and oxidative assays (IC₅₀ 0.34 mg/mL). A significant inhibition of protein cross link formation was observed by SDS-PAGE analysis. Quercitrin (65%) and quercetin (62%) showed significant inhibition of 15-lipoxygenase. It was thus concluded that flavonoids and other polyphenols present in plant extracts can be effective in management of diabetes and allied co-morbidities.

Valorization of Juglans regia Leaves as Cosmeceutical Ingredients: Bioactivity Evaluation and Final Formulation Development

The cosmetic industry is constantly searching for bioactive ingredients, namely, those obtained from natural sources with environmentally friendly connotations and less toxic effects. A previous study of our research group optimized the extraction of phenolic compounds from Juglans regia by heat-assisted extraction. Due to its richness in different phenolic compounds, the present work aimed to develop a formulation containing J. regia leaf extract. The extract’s antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, cytotoxicity, and photostability properties were evaluated. The extract was then incorporated into an O/W base cream, followed by characterization of the final formulation in terms of its antioxidant properties, phenolic composition, and stability over time and at different storage conditions. The most abundant compounds in the hydroethanolic extract were 3-O-caffeoylquinic acid (18.30 ± 0.04 mg/g), quercetin-O-pentoside (9.64 ± 0.06 mg/g), and quercetin 3-O-glucoside (6.70 ± 0.19 mg/g). Besides those, the extract presented antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound closure, and antibacterial effects against several skin pathogens. In addition, HaCaT cell viability was maintained up to 98% at 400 µg/mL. Within Proteus vulgaris-infected HaCaT cells, the extract also presented an over 40% bacterial mortality rate at its nontoxic concentration (200 µg/mL). After incorporating the extract, the obtained formulation presented a good physicochemical profile over time and at different storage conditions while also maintaining its antioxidant effect; as such, it can be considered stable for topical application. Future work to evaluate its performance in terms of skin permeation and detailed toxicological studies with a focus on regulatory requirements, involving skin irritation, eye irritation, genotoxicity, photo-irritation, and dermal absorption, should be conducted, as the prepared formulation demonstrated relevant properties that deserve to be further explored.

Fatty Acid Profiling in Kernels Coupled with Chemometric Analyses as a Feasible Strategy for the Discrimination of Different Walnuts

Walnuts have high oil content in their kernels, and they have attracted considerable attention in the food, beverage, nutrient, and health fields because of their delicious taste and potential health benefits. Fatty acid profiles of kernels vary depending on walnuts species, ontogenic variations, and planting environments. To determine the key indicators that can be used to distinguish different walnuts using chemometric analyses, the fatty acid compositions and contents of 72 walnut samples were measured and evaluated. Three fatty acids, oleic acid (21.66%), linoleic acid (56.40%), and linolenic acid (10.50%), were the most common fatty acid components in the kernels. Palmitic acid and linolenic acid in kernels were found to be indicators to rank the walnuts into five levels. Three groups were identified based on of several chemometrics. Oleic acid in kernels was typical fatty acid that could be used to distinguish three walnut groups based on the results of discriminant analysis, while oleic acid and linoleic acid were key differential fatty acids on the discrimination of each group based on the result of orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis. This study provides information on how to classify walnuts from different geographical locations based on kernel fatty acid profiling and provides an approach to identify possible adulterations in walnuts on the markets. Moreover, the results are potentially relevant to quality assessments of walnuts.

Analysis of Plant Origin Antibiotics against Oral Bacterial Infections Using In Vitro and In Silico Techniques and Characterization of Active Constituents

The pervasiveness of oral bacterial infections in diabetic patients is a serious health concern that may produce severe complications. We investigated 26 Ayurvedic medicinal plants traditionally used for treatment of the oral bacterial infections with the aim to look for new promising drug leads that can be further employed for herbal formulation design. The plants were grouped into three categories based on traditional usage. All plant extracts were examined for antibacterial, antibiofilm and antiquorum-sensing properties. The plants with significant activities including Juglans regia, Syzygium aromaticum, Eruca sativa, Myristica fragrans, Punica granatum and Azadirachta indica were further analyzed using HPLC-DAD-QToF and GC-MS. In silico and in vitro activity was evaluated for selected constituents. Finally, it could be concluded that eugenol and 2-phenylethylisothiocyanate are major contributors towards inhibition of bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing.

Niosomes of active Fumaria officinalis phytochemicals: antidiabetic, antineuropathic, anti-inflammatory, and possible mechanisms of action

Background

Fumaria officinalis (F. officinalis, FO) has been used in many inflammatory and painful-ailments. The main aim of this work is to perform an in-depth bio-guided phytochemical investigation of F. officinalis by identifying its main-active ingredients. Optimizing pharmacokinetics via niosomal-preparation will also be done to enhance their in vivo antineuropathic and anti-inflammatory potentials, and to explore their possible-mechanism of actions.

Methods

Bio-guided phytochemical-investigations including fractionation, isolation, chromatographic-standardization, and identification of the most active compound(s) were done. Optimized niosomal formulations of F. officinalis most active compound(s) were prepared and characterized. An in vivo biological-evaluation was done exploring acute, subchronic, and chronic alloxan-induced diabetes and diabetic-neuropathy, and carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory-pain and chronic-inflammatory edema.

Results

In-vivo bio-guided fractionation and chromatographic phytochemical-analysis showed that the alkaloid-rich fraction (ARF) is the most-active fraction. ARF contained two major alkaloids; Stylopine 48.3%, and Sanguinarine 51.6%. In-vitro optimization, analytical, and in vivo biological-investigations showed that the optimized-niosome, Nio-2, was the most optimized niosomal formulation. Nio-2 had particle size 96.56 ± 1.87 nm and worked by improving the pharmacokinetic-properties of ARF developing adequate entrapment-efficiency, rapid-degradation, and acceptable stability in simulated GI conditions. FO, ARF, and Nio 2 were the most potent antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory compounds. The reduction of the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and elevation the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 levels and amelioration of the in vivo oxidative-stress might be the main-mechanism responsible for their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

Conclusions

Fumaria officinalis most-active fraction was identified as ARF. This study offers an efficient and novel practical oral formulation ameliorating various inflammatory conditions and diabetic complications especially neuropathic-pain.

Niosomes of active Fumaria officinalis phytochemicals: antidiabetic, antineuropathic, anti-inflammatory, and possible mechanisms of action

BACKGROUND

Fumaria officinalis (F. officinalis, FO) has been used in many inflammatory and painful-ailments. The main aim of this work is to perform an in-depth bio-guided phytochemical investigation of F. officinalis by identifying its main-active ingredients. Optimizing pharmacokinetics via niosomal-preparation will also be done to enhance their in vivo antineuropathic and anti-inflammatory potentials, and to explore their possible-mechanism of actions.

METHODS

Bio-guided phytochemical-investigations including fractionation, isolation, chromatographic-standardization, and identification of the most active compound(s) were done. Optimized niosomal formulations of F. officinalis most active compound(s) were prepared and characterized. An in vivo biological-evaluation was done exploring acute, subchronic, and chronic alloxan-induced diabetes and diabetic-neuropathy, and carrageenan-induced acute inflammatory-pain and chronic-inflammatory edema.

RESULTS

In-vivo bio-guided fractionation and chromatographic phytochemical-analysis showed that the alkaloid-rich fraction (ARF) is the most-active fraction. ARF contained two major alkaloids; Stylopine 48.3%, and Sanguinarine 51.6%. In-vitro optimization, analytical, and in vivo biological-investigations showed that the optimized-niosome, Nio-2, was the most optimized niosomal formulation. Nio-2 had particle size 96.56 ± 1.87 nm and worked by improving the pharmacokinetic-properties of ARF developing adequate entrapment-efficiency, rapid-degradation, and acceptable stability in simulated GI conditions. FO, ARF, and Nio 2 were the most potent antidiabetic and anti-inflammatory compounds. The reduction of the pro-inflammatory tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and Interleukin 6 (IL-6), and elevation the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 levels and amelioration of the in vivo oxidative-stress might be the main-mechanism responsible for their antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities.

CONCLUSIONS

Fumaria officinalis most-active fraction was identified as ARF. This study offers an efficient and novel practical oral formulation ameliorating various inflammatory conditions and diabetic complications especially neuropathic-pain.

Phytochemical and anti-neuropathic investigations of Crocus sativus via alleviating inflammation, oxidative stress and pancreatic beta-cells regeneration

Objective

The aim of this study is to investigate the phytochemical and the long-term anti-neuropathic potentials of Crocus sativus cultivated in the University botanical garden, and explore its most bioactive compounds and their underlying mechanisms of action.

Methods

Phytochemical analysis and bio-guided isolation-procedures including RP-HPLC and ¹H and ¹³C NMR utilizing biological models of diabetes, inflammation, and diabetic-neuropathy were used. Cultivated saffron (S-RCED) and Spanish-saffron stigma (S-SP) alone or in combination with Camellia sinus (CS) were investigated.

Results

The RP-HPLC analyses showed the presence of picrocrocin, crocin I, crocin II, crocin I’, crocin II’, and safranal (SAF) in both S-SP and S-RCED extracts with higher-concentrations. It had been shown that SAF was the most bioactive-compound in Crocus sativus. Both S-SP and S-RCED possessed significant (P < 0.05) anti-diabetic activities in acute (6 h), subchronic (8 d) and chronic (8 weeks) models. S-RCED had been proven with more hypoglycemic potentials when compared to S-SP and SAF. S-SP, S-RCED, and SAF produced significant anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities against carrageenan-induced inflammatory, hyperalgesic and tactile diabetic-neuropathy models, respectively. S-SP, S-RCED, and SAF elevated serum catalase, reduced glutathione, and insulin serum levels, ameliorated lipid peroxidation and HbA1c levels, and histopathologically regenerated the pancreatic beta-cells. Combinations with CS showed more significant efficacy than the single component.

Conclusion

The oxidative stress reduction, insulin secretagogue, and pancreatic beta-cells regeneration potentials might be responsible for the mechanism underlying the anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic neuropathy activities. Thus, the cultivated Crocus sativus might be clinically useful for protecting against many serious-disorders.

Identifying Antibacterial Compounds in Black Walnuts (Juglans nigra) Using a Metabolomics Approach

Black walnut (Juglans nigra L.) is one of the most economically valuable hardwood species and a high value tree for edible nut production in the United States. Although consumption of black walnut has been linked to multiple health-promoting effects (e.g., antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory), the bioactive compounds have not been systematically characterized. In addition, the associations between different black walnut cultivars and their health-promoting compounds have not been well established. In this study, the kernels of twenty-two black walnut cultivars selected for nut production by the University of Missouri Center for Agroforestry (Columbia, MO, USA) were evaluated for their antibacterial activities using agar-well diffusion assay. Among the selected cultivars, four black walnut cultivars (i.e., Mystry, Surprise, D.34, and A.36) exhibited antibacterial activity against a Gram-positive bacterium (Staphylococcus aureus), whereas other cultivars showed no effect on the inhibition of this bacterium. The antibacterial compounds showing the strongest activity were isolated with bioassay-guided purification and identified using a metabolomics approach. Six antibacterial bioactive compounds responsible for antimicrobial activity were successfully identified. Glansreginin A, azelaic acid, quercetin, and eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside are novel antibacterial compounds identified in the kernels of black walnuts. The metabolomics approach provides a simple and cost-effective tool for bioactive compound identification.