Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiulcer properties of Vaccinium leschenaultii Wight: A therapeutic supplement

Assessing a "Least-Concern" Red List Tree Species from Madagascar Used in Traditional Medicine: Morella spathulata (Myricaceae) Phyto-Compounds and Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Morella spathulata (Myricaceae family) is a common plant from Madagascar and is present on the IUCN Red List of threatened species classified at the 'least concern' level, used by the local population to treat numerous illnesses and pain. Despite its frequent use, comprehensive phytochemical and pharmacological research on the species is limited. This study evaluated the antioxidant, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as the toxicity of methanol extracts from the leaves (MS_L) and bark (MS_B) of M. spathulata. The research involved the analysis of nutritional traits such as sugars, organic acids, vitamin C, polyphenolic content (TPC) and the main phytochemicals by HPLC analysis. Antioxidant capacity was assessed through DPPH and FRAP assays. Analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using acetic acid-induced writhing and carrageenan-induced paw oedema tests in mice. The results showed a high content of phenolic and bioactive components in the leaf and bark extracts, associated with antioxidant, analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties. The interaction of key compounds such as ferulic acid and ellagic acid with proteins involved in pH regulation and immune modulation provides clues to the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects. However, conservation efforts are crucial due to habitat loss and illegal logging, and further studies are needed to fully explore the plant's therapeutic potential.

Vaccinium Species-Unexplored Sources of Active Constituents for Cosmeceuticals

The genus Vaccinium is represented by shrubs growing in a temperate climate that have been used for ages as traditional remedies in the treatment of digestive problems, in diabetes, renal stones or as antiseptics due to the presence of polyphenols (anthocyanins, flavonoids and tannins) in their fruits and leaves. Recent studies confirm their marked potential in the treatment of skin disorders and as skin care cosmetics. The aim of this review is to present the role of Vaccinium spp. as cosmetic products, highlight their potential and prove the biological properties exerted by the extracts from different species that can be useful for the preparation of innovative cosmetics. In the manuscript both skin care and therapeutic applications of the representatives of this gender will be discussed that include the antioxidant, skin lightening, UV-protective, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and chemopreventive properties to shed new light on these underestimated plants.

Toxicity and Antiulcer Properties of Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy Leaves: An In Vivo Approach Using Wistar Albino Rats

Humans have been using herbs to prevent and cure various ailments since antiquity, and Ipomoea wightii is a significant medicinal plant known for its wide ethnobotanical uses. Although the plant is known to treat ulcers, there is no significant scientific validation. The present study aimed to assess the acute toxicity, subacute toxicity, and antiulcer properties of the leaf methanol extract of I. wightii (IWL). In the subacute study, the extracts were given orally at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg doses for 28 days, and we analyzed the biochemical and histological parameters to evaluate the toxicity of IWL. Two different models were assessed to explore antiulcer properties, such as indomethacin- and ethanol-induced ulcer model. Ulcer areas and ulceration percentage histopathology of the stomach were used to study the efficacy of extracts. The acute toxicity study showed that IWL was safe to the maximum dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight. In a subacute toxicity study, the oral administration of IWL did not produce any mortality in the tested animals. The analysis of haematological, liver biochemical, kidney profile, lipid profile, and in vivo antioxidant parameters depicted that all the values were within the control limits after the experimental period and were considered nontoxic to animals. Additionally, the antiulcer study demonstrated a positive response of IWL in a dose-related manner (indomethacin- and ethanol-induced models). Macroscopic analysis showed that pretreatment with I. wightii leaf methanol extract significantly reduced the gastric lesion and decreased the ulceration area (14.52 mm²), demonstrating superior results to the positive control group (27.71 mm²). The histopathological analysis revealed that pretreatment with a high dose of 400 mg/kg of I. wightii leaf methanol extract and positive control group (omeprazole) markedly protected pathological effects, and the gastric mucosa appeared normal. In conclusion, I. wightii has solid nontoxic potential as a promising native herb for an integral therapy for the treatment of ulcers.

Natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES)-based blueberry extracts protect against ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Blueberry is a polyphenol-rich fruit bearing great bioactive potential. Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) emerged as putatively biocompatible solvents that could substitute for toxic organic solvents in the extraction of fruit phenolic compounds for developing nutraceuticals or functional foods. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the gastroprotective effects and the biocompatibility of a blueberry crude extract (CE) obtained using NADES and of the extract fractions (anthocyanin-rich fraction - ARF; non-anthocyanin phenolic fraction - NAPF) in a model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats. CE was the NADES-containing, ready-to-use extract that was obtained using choline chloride:glycerol:citric acid NADES (0.5:2:0.5 M ratio). ARF and NAPF were the NADES-free fractions obtained by solid phase purification of CE and were investigated to identify the bioactive fraction responsible for the effects of CE. Animals were treated for 14 days with water, NADES vehicle, CE, ARF, NAPF or lansoprazole (intragastric) and then received ethanol to induce gastric ulcer. CE decreased ulcer index and preserved the integrity of gastric mucosa. The pretreatment with CE or ARF reduced glutathione depletion and the inflammatory response. All treatments, including NADES vehicle reduced protein oxidation and nitric oxide overproduction in ethanol-treated rats. Additionally, ARF increased short-chain fatty acids in feces. These findings suggest that NADES can be used to obtain biocompatible extracts of blueberry that exhibit gastroprotective effects with no need of solvent removal. The gastroprotective effects were mainly associated to ARF but NAPF and even NADES vehicle also contributed to some protective effects.

Chemical characterization, antioxidant, antibacterial and enzyme inhibitory properties of Canthium coromandelicum, a valuable source for bioactive compounds

The present study aimed at chemical characterization of Canthium coromandelicum leaf extracts (CCLE) and their in vitro pharmacological (antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and antibacterial) activities. Chemical characterization includes chemical profile of six extracts of CC by Gas chromatography - Mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and total phenolics and flavonoids by spectrophotometric methods. Antioxidant activity was determined using eight assays. Enzymatic inhibitory property was evaluated by α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays and antibacterial activity was studied against 10 pathogenic bacteria by agar disc diffusion method. GC-MS analysis enabled the identification of 65 compounds with palmitic acid, n-pentacosane, cycloartenol, linoleic acid, squalene, γ-sitosterol, nonacosane and α-tocopherol as major constituents of CCLE. Highest amount of total phenolics (58.03 mg GAE/g extract) and flavonoids (44.40 QE/g) was present in hydroalcoholic extract. Hydroalcoholic, methanolic and aqueous extracts showed significant free radical scavenging abilities and positive correlation was detected between antioxidant assays with recorded phenolics and flavonoids. Hydroalcoholic and methanolic extracts exhibited significant α-amylase (IC₅₀ of 44.25 μg/mL) and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities (IC₅₀ of 30.82 μg/mL) respectively.Methanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts at 750 μg/mL showed maximum antibacterial activity against S. typhi and S. flexneri respectively. Also, significant correlation was found between V. cholerae and R. equi as well as V. cholerae and S. epidermis. To conclude, C. coromandelicum could be considered as a natural antioxidant and potential source for therapeutic applications. However, widespread study is necessary to screen the role of recorded phytochemicals through in vivo studies to support its use in traditional medicine.

Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Erythroxylum cuneatum alkaloid leaf extract

Erythroxylum cuneatum (E. cuneatum) which belongs to Erythroxylaceae family is a tropical flowering plant from the genus of Erythroxylum. It is used in Malaysia and Thailand's traditional medicines, yet there is limited scientific reports on its medicinal value. This study aimed at exploring the antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of E. cuneatum alkaloid leaf extract. The alkaloid extract was obtained through Soxhlet heat extraction method, while the antioxidantive properties were assessed via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and xanthine oxidase inhibition (XOI) assays. Further, anti-inflammatory property of the extract was evaluated on rat's model of carrageenan induced paw model of edema via physical measurements and histology. The extract exhibited antioxidant activity with an EC₅₀ value of 1482 μg/ml in the DPPH radical scavenging assay, an EC₁ value of 2191 μg/ml in the FRAP assay and 10.15 ± 6.20% in the XOI assay. Rats pretreated with the extract have shown dose dependent decrease in paw edema when compared to non-treated group of rats. The highest dose (50 mg/kg) of extract exhibited similar effects to aspirin in terms of reducing paw thickness, leucocytes infiltration and disruption of collagen. In conclusion, the E. cuneatum alkaloid leaf extract possesses both antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties suggesting its potentials for future development of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Vaccinium myrtillus L. Fruits as a Novel Source of Phenolic Compounds with Health Benefits and Industrial Applications - A Review

Consumers' demand for healthier foods with functional properties has had a clear influence on the food industry and in this sense, they have been attaching natural sources of bioactive ingredients into food products. Vaccinium myrtillus L. (bilberry) is known to be a functional food, presenting its fruits in the form of a small dark blueberry. This coloration is due to its high content in anthocyanin, being also associated with bilberries' beneficial health effects. In the bilberry industry, there is a very high annual loss of this fruit due to the less aesthetic shape or appearance, in which they cannot be considered suitable for sale and are therefore disposed of as biological waste. Therefore, it is of great importance to valorize this fruit and this review aimed to completely characterize the fruits of V. myrtillus in order to comprehend the relationship between their consumption and the beneficial effects regarding consumer's health. Thus, this review provides a description of the nutritional and bioactive compounds present in bilberry fruits, followed by their beneficial health effects. An overview of the natural pigments present in these fruits was also explored, focusing particularly in the anthocyanins composition, which represents the most widely studied class of bioactive compounds of V. myrtillus fruits. Finally, industrial applications of these fruits and by-products, as an efficient approach to the production of value-added products with economical and environmental impact, were also discussed. In general, V. myrtillus is a rich source of micronutrients and phytochemical compounds, such as organic acids, sugars, vitamins, fibers and phenolic compounds (anthocyanin and non-anthocyanin compounds), with nutritional and functional properties, that justify the growing interest in these berries, not only for food applications, but also in the pharmaceutical industry.

Rapid screening of toxic glycoalkaloids and micronutrients in edible nightshades ( Solanum spp.)

African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) because of their nutrient density have the unique potential to reduce micronutrient deficiencies in sub-Saharan Africa, yet some may also contain anti-nutritive compounds. Vegetable nightshades from Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum, Solanum scabrum and Solanum villosum are among the major AIVs used as a leafy vegetables and consumed regularly in many countries in sub-Sahara Africa. These under-recognized food crops have not been subjected to extensive studies for their nutritional and antinutritive factors. In this study, 15 entries of the vegetable nightshades were field-grown and the leaves which are the consumed product of commerce chemically profiled by LC/ESI-MS. Twenty-three flavones, eight saponins, and two glycoalkaloids along with a phenolic acid of chlorogenic acid were identified by MS and UV data. Anti-nutrient glycoalkaloids were quantified as total aglycones after acidic hydrolysis using MS detection and found to be within safe-consumption thresholds by comparison with the glycoalkaloid level in the globally consumed Solanum member eggplants. Edible nightshades were also found to be sources of β-carotene, vitamin E and total polyphenols and exhibited high antioxidant activity. Results of this study support that consumption of vegetable nightshades are safe from the presence of glycoalkaloids and thus, can contribute to the reduction of micronutrient deficiency in sub-Sahara Africa.

Evaluation of Antiulcer Activity of Peltophorum Pterocarpum

INTRODUCTION

Peltophorum pterocarpum is a rich source for phenols and the wood, leaves, and flowers of the plant are used as medicinal agents in traditional medicine. Peptic ulcer is a major disease of gastrointestinal tract, affecting nearly 40 lac people each year worldwide and affects 10% of world population with different aetiologies. Peltophorum pterocarpum consists of phenols and flavonoids, tannins which have potential antioxidant and cytoprotective activity.

AIM

To evaluate the antiulcer activity of methanolic extract of the leaves of Peltophorum pterocarpum (MEPP) on albino rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The rats were divided into four groups as control, standard, test 1 (extract: 100 mg/kg) and test 2 (extract: 200 mg/kg) with six rats in each group. Gastric lesions were induced by oral administration of indomethacin (20 mg/kg) followed by pylorus ligation. Standard group of animals were treated with misoprostol and test group of animals were treated with MEPP at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. To determine the antiulcer activity of extract, mean ulcer index, free acidity and total acidity were evaluated.

RESULTS

Ulcer index was significantly decreased at p<0.01 in MEPP treated groups as compared to control group. Total and free acidity was significantly decreased at p<0.01 in MEPP treated groups as compared to control group. Histological analysis also supported the gastro protective effect of MEPP treated groups when compared with control groups.

CONCLUSION

The study revealed that MEPP exhibited potential antiulcer activity and showed dose dependent antiulcer effect.