Chemical composition and biological activity of the essential oil from the root of Jatropha pelargoniifolia Courb. native to Saudi Arabia

Chemical composition and the anti-inflammatory effect of volatile compounds from Anaxagorea luzonensis A. Gray

Anaxagorea luzonensis A. Gray, a member of the Annonaceae family, has been used to treat a variety of illnesses for a long time. For the first time, A. luzonensis volatile compounds (ALVCs) were extracted from the leaves, and the components were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Further, the main compositions of ALVCs were also assessed for their ability to bind with anti-inflammatory proteins using a docking model. In addition, in vitro tests e.g. inhibition of protein degradation and the inhibition of nitric oxide release using RAW264.7 macrophage cells were utilized for evaluating the anti-inflammatory activity. The results showed that the principal compounds of ALVCs were bulnesol (34.1 %), cubitene (17.8 %), β-eudesmol (10.4 %), epi-longipinanol (5.9 %), and (Z)-nerolidyl acetate (5.5 %). Three compounds viz. bulnesol, cubitene, and β-eudesmol bound firmly to cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), as shown by the in silico analysis, similar to the positive control diclofenac. ALVCs effectively inhibited protein degradation with the IC50 of 31 ± 2.3 μg/mL and inhibited nitric oxide production with the IC50 of 43.30 ± 3.37 μg/mL. These findings showed that ALVCs might have a promising anti-inflammatory effect by blocking several inflammatory proteins.

Bioactivity of Fractions and Pure Compounds from Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. Bark Extracts

Medicines for chronic inflammation can cause gastric ulcers and hepatic and renal issues. An alternative treatment for chronic inflammation is that of natural bioactive compounds, which present low side effects. Extracts of Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. have been evaluated for their cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity; however, testing pure compounds would be of greater interest. Campesteryl palmitate, n-heptyl ferulate, palmitic acid, and a mixture of sterols, i.e., brassicasterol, campesterol, β-sitosterol, and stigmasterol, were obtained from an ethyl acetate extract from J. cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. bark using column chromatography. The toxicity and in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells. None of the products assessed exhibited toxicity. The sterol mixture exhibited greater anti-inflammatory activity than the positive control, and nitric oxide (NO) inhibition percentages were 37.97% and 41.68% at 22.5 μg/mL and 30 μg/mL, respectively. In addition, n-heptyl ferulate decreased NO by 30.61% at 30 μg/mL, while campesteryl palmitate did not show anti-inflammatory activity greater than the positive control. The mixture and n-heptyl ferulate showed NO inhibition; hence, we may conclude that these compounds have anti-inflammatory potential. Additionally, further research and clinical trials are needed to fully explore the therapeutic potential of these bioactive compounds and their efficacy in treating chronic inflammation.

Chemical and Biological Studies of Achillea setacea Herba Essential Oil-First Report on Some Antimicrobial and Antipathogenic Features

The essential oil of Achillea setacea was isolated by hydrodistillation and characterized by GC-MS. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of Achillea setacea essential oil was evaluated, as well as its biocompatibility (LDH and MTT methods). DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC methods were applied for antioxidant activity evaluation, while qualitative and quantitative assays (inhibition zone diameter, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration), NO release (by nitrite concentration determination), and microbial adhesion capacity to the inert substrate (the biofilm microtiter method) were used to investigate the antimicrobial potential. A total of 52 compounds were identified by GC-MS in A. setacea essential oil, representing 97.43% of the total area. The major constituents were borneol (32.97%), 1,8-cineole (14.94%), camphor (10.13%), artemisia ketone (4.70%), α-terpineol (3.23%), and γ-eudesmol (3.23%). With MICs ranging from 0.78 to 30 μg/mL, the A. setacea essential oil proved to inhibit the microbial adhesion and induce the NO release. To the best of our knowledge, the present study reports for the first time the antimicrobial activity of A. setacea EO against clinically and biotechnologically important microbial strains, such as Shigella flexneri, Listeria ivanovii, L. innocua, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candida glabrata, Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus nigricans, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Alternaria alternata, demonstrating its antimicrobial applications beyond the clinical field.

Bridging the Chemical Profile and Biomedical Effects of Scutellaria edelbergii Essential Oils

The present study explored chemical constituents of Scutellaria edelbergii essential oils (SEEO) for the first time, extracted through hydro-distillation, and screened them against the microbes and free radicals scavenging effect, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory potential employing standard techniques. The SEEO ingredients were noticed via Gas Chromatography-Mass-Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis and presented fifty-two bioactive compounds contributed (89.52%) with dominant volatile constituent; 3-oxomanoyl oxide (10.09%), 24-norursa-3,12-diene (8.05%), and methyl 7-abieten-18-oate (7.02%). The MTT assay via 96 well-plate and agar-well diffusion techniques against various microbes was determined for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), IC₅₀, and zone of inhibitions (ZOIs). The SEEO indicated considerable antimicrobial significance against tested bacterial strains viz. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterococcus faecalis and the fungal strains Fusarium oxysporum and Candida albicans. The free radicals scavenging potential was noticed to be significant in 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) as compared to 2,2′-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzotiazolin-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) assays with IC₅₀ = 125.0 ± 0.19 µg/mL and IC₅₀ = 153.0 ± 0.31 µg/mL correspondingly; similarly, the antioxidant standard in the DPPH assay was found efficient as compared to ABTS assay. The SEEO also offered an appreciable analgesic significance and presented 54.71% in comparison with standard aspirin, 64.49% reduction in writhes, and an anti-inflammatory potential of 64.13%, as compared to the standard diclofenac sodium inhibition of 71.72%. The SEEO contain bioactive volatile ingredients with antimicrobial, free radical scavenging, pain, and inflammation relieving potentials. Computational analysis validated the anti-inflammatory potential of selected hit “methyl 7-abieten-18-oate” as a COX-2 enzyme inhibitor. Docking results were very good in terms of docked score (−7.8704 kcal/mol) and binding interactions with the functional residues; furthermore, MD simulation for 100 ns has presented a correlation with docking results with minor fluctuations. In silico, ADMET characteristics supported that methyl 7-abieten-18-oate could be recommended for further investigations in clinical tests and could prove its medicinal status as an anti-inflammatory drug.

Analgesic and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Essential Oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Leaf: In Vivo and in Silico Studies

The objective of our present study is to scrutinize the analgesic and anti-inflammatory potentials of essential oil of Eucalyptus camaldulensis leaf using different in vivo assay models at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg body weight. Twenty chemical compounds, which were isolated from the leaves essential oil of E. camaldulensis, were docked using AutodockVina against cyclooxygenase 2, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-1β convertase to elucidate the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity. The essential oil of E. camaldulensis exhibited noteworthy analgesic activities in the writhing test. In the tail immersion and hot-plate test, the essential oil significantly extended the latency period. The number of licks in the formalin-induced paw licking test was markedly reduced following essential oil administration. In addition, E. camaldulensis essential oil revealed notable anti-inflammatory responses in carrageenan-induced paw edema, xylene induced ear edema and cotton pellet induced granuloma methods. Among 20 compounds, 5 ( cis-sabinol, globulol, α-eudesmol, β-eudesmol, and γ-eudesmol) showed better binding for cyclooxygenase-2 while β-eudesmol exhibited higher affinity for TNFα than that of TNF-alpha-IN-1 and standard drug. In the case of interleukin 1β convertase, maximum affinity was shown by α-eudesmol than the synthetic drug belnacasan. Chemical components of the essential oil interacted with diverse amino acid residues which were similar to the natural substrate and standard drugs. In conclusion, E. camaldulensis essential oil can be an effective source of analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment and additional modification and docking studies will be required to justify the efficiency of globulol, α-eudesmol, β-eudesmol, and γ-eudesmol.

First screening report of immune and protective effect of non-toxic Jatropha vernicosa stem bark against Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana leukocytes

In México, the infusion of Jatropha vernicosa stem bark has been used in folk medicine for many clinical situations, but no reports were available about this particular species of Jatropha in fish of mammals. In this first screening report, the phytochemical, antioxidant profile and antimicrobial properties of aqueous J. vernicosa stem bark extract were explored against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, an opportunist fish pathogen. To evaluate the cytotoxicity and immunological effect for the possible application of aqueous J. vernicosa stem bark in aquaculture, this study assessed it by using Longfin yellowtail Seriola rivoliana leukocytes. The results showed that phytochemical composition of the J. vernicosa extract was rich in phenol, flavonoid, saponin, and coumarin compounds. The antioxidant capacity of hydroxyl radical and superoxide anion scavenging activities, iron-chelation activity and β-carotene bleaching coupled to linoleic acid showed that J. vernicosa extracts had a moderate antioxidant effect compared with synthetic antioxidants (BHT, BHA and EDTA). No adverse effects were observed on spleen leukocytes (viability > 98%). Interestingly, J. vernicosa stem bark extract has immunostimulant and antioxidant effects, increasing phagocytosis, respiratory burns activity, and nitric oxide production, as well as superoxide dismutase and catalase activities. Additionally, J. vernicosa extract increased pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β and suppressed anti-inflammatory IL-10 gene expression upon stimuli and V. parahaemolyticus challenge. Finally, the data confirms that J. vernicosa stem bark extract is non-cytotoxic, rich in bioactive compounds with antioxidant effects, capable of enhancing the immune system in leukocytes and with great potential to fight against opportunistic diseases, such as vibriosis in fish.

The antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition properties of essential oil from the peel of Chinese Torreya grandis Fort

The antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibition properties of essential oil from the peel of Chinese Torreya grandis Fort. (CTGF oil) were investigated. The antioxidant properties of CTGF oil were evaluated via 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging tests, and it showed an IC₅₀ value of 0.88 ± 0.06 μg mL^-1 compared to V _C with a value of 1.0 ± 0.1 μg mL^-1 and BHT with a value of 2.9 ± 0.1 μg mL^-1. CTGF oil had relatively significant DPPH scavenging activity (p < 0.05), which could be compared to other natural oils as follows: cassia oil (92.4%) > peppermint oil (89.1%) > clove leaf oil (87.7%) > nutmeg oil (80.1%) > CTGF oil (42.6%) > lemon oil (25.5%). Furthermore, changes in the peroxide values of different treatment groups during storage for 60 days were estimated. CTGF oil displayed better antioxidant activity than lemon oil, with activity similar to that of BHT for the reduction of the peroxide value. Moreover, CTGF oil effectively inhibited the oxidation of 3,4-dihydroxy-l-phenylalanine (l-DOPA) through tyrosinase (P < 0.05). The essential oil obtained after hydrodistillation from the peel of Chinese Torreya grandis Fort. could be potentially utilized as a good new alternative source of natural antioxidants for the food and cosmetics industries.