In vitro antiprotozoal activity of the lipophilic extracts of different parts of Turkish Pistacia vera L

Antidiabetic and Anticholinesterase Properties of Extracts and Pure Metabolites of Fruit Stems of Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.)

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Five metabolites were isolated by chromatographic methods from the fruit stems of P. vera and their chemical structures were characterized as masticadienonic acid (1), tirucallol (2), masticadienolic acid (3), pistachionic acid (4) and inulobiose (5) via FT-IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, 1D-NMR and 2D-NMR. Pistachionic acid (4), a new shikimic acid derivative, was isolated from the ethanol extract for the first time. The hexane, chloroform, ethanol extracts and pure metabolites exhibited antidiabetic properties by inhibiting α- glycosidase and α-amylase enzymes at different rates. Their inhibitory effects against the α- glycosidase enzyme were also higher than that of the acarbose (IC50=10.30 mg/mL). Masticadienolic acid (3) (IC50=0.03 mg/mL), masticadienonic acid (1) (IC50=0.13 mg/mL) and hexane extract (IC50=0.09 mg/mL) with the lowest IC50 values were found to be most active substances. Nevertheless, the inhibitory effect of acarbose against the α-amylase enzyme was determined to be higher than the inhibition effects of the extracts and pure metabolites. According to the IC50 values, the best inhibitors against the α-amylase were ethanol extract (IC50=5.17 mg/mL), pistachionic acid (4) (IC50=7.35 mg/mL), tirucallol (2) (IC50=7.58 mg/mL) and masticadienolic acid (3) (IC50=8.22 mg/mL), respectively among the applications. In addition, anticholinesterase properties of the extracts and pure metabolites were investigated by testing the inhibitory properties against acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and butrylcholine esterase (BChE) enzymes activities. The results showed that the anticholinesterase properties of all extracts and pure metabolites were weaker than those of the commercial cholinesterase inhibitors, neostigmine and galantamine, and all applications reduced the activity of these enzymes at very high concentrations.

Comparison of Chitosan Nanoparticles and Soluplus Micelles to Optimize the Bioactivity of Posidonia oceanica Extract on Human Neuroblastoma Cell Migration

Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a marine plant endemic of Mediterranean Sea endowed with interesting bioactivities. The hydroalcholic extract of P. oceanica leaves (POE), rich in polyphenols and carbohydrates, has been shown to inhibit human cancer cell migration. Neuroblastoma is a common childhood extracranial solid tumor with high rate of invasiveness. Novel therapeutics loaded into nanocarriers may be used to target the migratory and metastatic ability of neuroblastoma. Our goal was to improve both the aqueous solubility of POE and its inhibitory effect on cancer cell migration. Methods: Chitosan nanoparticles (NP) and Soluplus polymeric micelles (PM) loaded with POE have been developed. Nanoformulations were chemically and physically defined and characterized. In vitro release studies were also performed. Finally, the inhibitory effect of both nanoformulations was tested on SH-SY5Y cell migration by wound healing assay and compared to that of unformulated POE. Results: Both nanoformulations showed excellent physical and chemical stability during storage, and enhanced the solubility of POE. PM-POE improved the inhibitory effect of POE on cell migration probably due to the high encapsulation efficiency and the prolonged release of the extract. Conclusions: For the first time, a phytocomplex of marine origin, i.e., P. oceanica extract, has enhanced in terms of acqueous solubility and bioactivity once encapsulated inside nanomicelles.

Anti-Toxoplasma activity of Sorghum bicolor-derived lipophilic fractions

Objective

Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular zoonotic parasite, infects approximately a third of the world population. Current drugs for treatment of T. gondii infection have been challenged with ineffectiveness and adverse side effects. This necessitates development of new anti-Toxoplasma drugs. Sorghum bicolor [Moench] leaf extract has been used in African traditional medicine for the management of anemia and treatment of infectious diseases. We tested the in vitro anti-Toxoplasma inhibitory activity of S. bicolor’s oil-like crude extracts and fractions against T. gondii and determined their cytotoxic effects on human host cells.

Results

Significant inhibitory activities against the growth of T. gondii tachyzoites were observed for the crude extract (IC₅₀ = 3.65 µg/mL), the hexane-methanol fraction (IC₅₀ = 2.74 µg/mL), and the hexane fraction (IC50 = 3.55 µg/mL) after 48 h of culture. The minimum cytotoxicity concentrations against HFF were 34.41, 16.92 and 7.23 µg/mL for crude extract, hexane-methanol and hexane fractions, respectively. The crude extract and fractions showed high antiparasitic effects with low cytotoxic effects. Further studies to determine synergistic activities and modes of action would provide impetus for the development of new toxoplasmosis drugs or nutraceuticals.

Quercus Brantii Lindl. Vaginal Douche Versus Clotrimazole on Vaginal Candidiasis: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Objectives

Vaginal Candidiasis with an approximate prevalence of 30% is the second cause of vaginal infections. Antifungal azole is the first treatment for Vaginal Candidiasis; however, some side effects have been reported for this chemical medicine. Based on the antifungal activity of Inner Stratum of Quercus Brantii (Q. Brantii), the aim of our study was to compare the effects of vaginal douche of Q. Brantii extract and clotrimazole on vaginal candidiasis symptoms before and after the treatments, in women.

Methods

89 non-pregnant women with positive KOH test which is capable of identifying the presence of hyphae and mycelium by adding KOH (10%), and a positive vaginal candidiasis culture were randomly divided into two experimental groups, using permuted block randomization method. One group received clotrimazole vaginal cream (1%) and the other group received vaginal douche of Q. Brantii extract. Groups were treated for 7 days and KOH tests and cultures were evaluated again. Data were analyzed via chi-square and independent t-test, using SPSS software.

Results

According to the results, there were no significant differences between experimental groups for demographic characteristics like age (p=0.403), BMI (p=0.911), educational levels (p=0.862) and contraceptive methods (p=0.702). Moreover, significant differences were seen in vaginal discharge between the groups after the treatments (P=0.043).

Conclusion

The results suggested that the therapeutic effect of vaginal douche of Q. Brantii extract was approximately similar to that of clotrimazole vaginal cream.

Chemical composition, efficacy and safety of Pistacia vera (var. Fandoghi) to inactivate protoscoleces during hydatid cyst surgery

At present, various scolicidal agents have been used for inactivation of protoscoleces during hydatid cyst surgery, however, they are associated with serious adverse side effects including sclerosing colangititis (biliary tract fibrosis), liver necrosis and methaemoglobinaemia. This investigation was designed to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro scolicidal effects of Pistacia vera (var. Fandoghi) essential oil against protoscoleces of hydatid cysts and also its toxicity in mice model. The components of the P. vera essential oil were identified by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy (GC/MS) analysis. Protoscoleces were aseptically aspirated from sheep livers having hydatid cysts. Various concentrations of the essential oil (25-200μl/mL) were used for 5-30min. Viability of protoscoleces was confirmed using eosin exclusion test (0.1% eosin staining). In addition, forty male NIH mice were used to determine the acute and sub-acute toxicity of P. vera essential oil for 2 and 14 days, respectively. The main components of P. vera essential oil were limonene (26.21%), α-pinene (18.07%), α-thujene (9.31%) and α-terpinolene (9.28%). Findings of the present study demonstrated that the P. vera essential oil at the concentrations of 100 and 200μl/mL killed 100% protoscoleces after 10 and 5min of exposure, respectively. The LD50 values of intraperitoneal injection of the P. vera essential oil was 2.69ml/kg body weight, and the maximum nonfatal doses were 1.94ml/kg body weight. No significant difference (P>0.05) was observed in the clinical chemistry and hematological parameters following oral administrations of P. vera essential oil at the doses 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4ml/kg for 14 days. The obtained findings demonstrated new chemical composition and promising scolicidal activity of the P. vera with no significant toxicity which might be used as a natural scolicidal agent in hydatid cyst surgery.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antileishmanial Effects of Pistacia khinjuk against Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major

The present study aims to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antileishmanial activities of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks (Anacardiaceae) alcoholic extract and to compare its efficacy with a reference drug, meglumine antimoniate (MA, Glucantime), against Leishmania tropica and Leishmania major. This extract (0-100 µg/mL) was evaluated in vitro against promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of L. tropica (MRHO/IR/75/ER) and then tested on cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in male BALB/c mice with L. major to reproduce the antileishmanial activity topically. In vitro, P. khinjuk extract significantly (P < 0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote (IC50 58.6 ± 3.2 µg/mL) and intramacrophage amastigotes (37.3 ± 2.5 µg/mL) of L. tropica as a dose-dependent response. In the in vivo assay, after 30 days of treatment, 75% recovery was observed in the infected mice treated with 30% extract. After treatment of the subgroups with the concentration of 20 and 30% of P. khinjuk extract, mean diameter of lesions was significantly (P < 0.05) reduced. To conclude, the present investigation demonstrated that P. vera extract had in vitro and in vivo effectiveness against L. major. Obtained findings also provide the scientific evidences that natural plants could be used in the traditional medicine for the prevention and treatment of CL.

Deletion of ubiquitin fold modifier protein Ufm1 processing peptidase Ufsp in L. donovani abolishes Ufm1 processing and alters pathogenesis

Previously, we showed Leishmania donovani Ufm1 has a Gly residue conserved at the C-terminal region with a unique 17 amino acid residue extension that must be processed prior to conjugation to target proteins. In this report, we describe for the first time the isolation and characterization of the Leishmania Ufm1-specific protease Ufsp. Biochemical analysis of L. donovani Ufsp showed that this protein possesses the Ufm1 processing activity using sensitive FRET based activity probes. The Ufm1 cleavage activity was absent in a mutant Ufsp in which the active site cysteine is altered to a serine. To examine the effects of abolition of Ufm1 processing activity, we generated a L. donovani null mutant of Ufsp (LdUfsp^−/−). Ufm1 processing activity was abolished in LdUfsp^−/− mutant, and the processing defect was reversed by re-expression of wild type but not the cys>ser mutant in the LdUfsp^−/− parasites. Further LdUfsp^−/− mutants showed reduced survival as amastigotes in infected human macrophages but not as promastigotes. This growth defect in the amastigotes was reversed by re-expression of wild type but not the cys>ser mutant in the Ufsp^−/− indicating the essential nature of this protease for Leishmania pathogenesis. Further, mouse infection experiments showed deletion of Ufsp results in reduced virulence of the parasites. Additionally, Ufsp activity was inhibited by an anti-leishmanial drug Amphotericin B. These studies provide an opportunity to test LdUfsp^−/− parasites as drug and vaccine targets.

Ubiquitin and ubiquitin like proteins (Ubls) and the enzymes that mediate the conjugation/deconjugation reactions have not been well studied in protozoan parasites despite their widely recognized importance in a broad range of cellular functions in eukaryotes. We have previously reported that Ufm1 has distinct protein targets and cellular localization in the human parasite Leishmania donovani and deletion of Ufm1 in L. donovani adversely impacts the pathogenesis suggesting that Ufm1 associated enzymes could be exploited as drug targets. Using sensitive FRET based activity probes we identified the Ufm1 processing peptidase Ufsp in L. donovani. In addition, we show that deletion of Ufsp specifically reduces the survival of amastigotes, the parasite stage that is present in the humans thus altering the pathogenesis. Studies showing inhibition of Ufsp activity by anti-leishmanial drug further suggests that Leishmania Ufsp can serve as a novel target for pharmacological intervention for this parasite that causes deadly disease.

Five Pistacia species (P. vera, P. atlantica, P. terebinthus, P. khinjuk, and P. lentiscus): a review of their traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

Pistacia, a genus of flowering plants from the family Anacardiaceae, contains about twenty species, among them five are more popular including P. vera, P. atlantica, P. terebinthus, P. khinjuk, and P. lentiscus. Different parts of these species have been used in traditional medicine for various purposes like tonic, aphrodisiac, antiseptic, antihypertensive and management of dental, gastrointestinal, liver, urinary tract, and respiratory tract disorders. Scientific findings also revealed the wide pharmacological activities from various parts of these species, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, anticholinesterase, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive, antidiabetic, antitumor, antihyperlipidemic, antiatherosclerotic, and hepatoprotective activities and also their beneficial effects in gastrointestinal disorders. Various types of phytochemical constituents like terpenoids, phenolic compounds, fatty acids, and sterols have also been isolated and identified from different parts of Pistacia species. The present review summarizes comprehensive information concerning ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of the five mentioned Pistacia species.

Antioxidant activity of seagrasses of the Mandapam coast, India

CONTEXT

In the search for new sources of safe and inexpensive antioxidants, the leaves of eight species of seagrasses were screened for antioxidant properties.

OBJECTIVE

Most of the seagrasses were evaluated for the first time for their antioxidant activities.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity using, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrozyl (DPPH) radical scavenging capacity and FRAP assay.

RESULTS

The leaves of Halophila stipulacea (Forssk.) Aschers showed high levels of phenols (1.398 ± 0.055 mg GAE/g) and high reducing power (46.289 ± 1.002) in terms of mg GAE/g. Similarly, H. pinifolia exhibited high total antioxidant activity (132.38, 75.027 mg AscAE/g) and a high percentage of DPPH radical scavenging activity (68.14%). The TAA and FRAP assays showed positive and significantly high correlation (R2 = 0.646). The total phenolic content in the seagrass extracts showed a better correlation with reducing power (R2 = 0.597) than the DPPH radical-scavenging activity (R2 = 0.495).

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

The antioxidant capacities of the seagrasses showed potential rich sources of natural antioxidants. Further studies are necessary for isolation and characterization of the active antioxidant compounds, which can be used to treat various oxidative stress-related diseases.

Evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant and vasoprotective effects of Posidonia oceanica extract

The aim of this study is to evaluate antidiabetic, antioxidant and vasoprotective effects of Posidonia oceanica extract (POE) in alloxan diabetic rats. Posidonia oceanica (L) Delile (Posidoniaceae), is a widely allocated phanerogam in Mediterranean and Aegean Sea. Up to date, no published data relevant to use of the plant in traditional medicine are available. However, decoction of the leaves has been quoted to be used as a remedy for diabetes mellitus and hypertension by villagers living by the sea coast of Western Anatolia. Oral administration of extract for 15 days (50, 150, and 250 mg/kg b.wt.) resulted in a dose-dependent decrease in blood glucose. Relaxant responses to acetylcholine (ACh) in diabetic thoracic aorta were restored by POE treatment (50, 150, and 250 mg/kg b.wt.). POE also attenuated the augmented phenylephrine (PE) and serotonin (5-HT) contractions. At concentration levels of 150 and 250 mg/kg b.wt., POE exerted a protective effect on the significantly decreased levels of antioxidants namely, glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase and nitric oxide (NO). POE (50mg/kg b.wt.) produced no effect on alloxan-induced alterations in the antioxidant status while possessing glucose lowering and vasoprotective activities. Furthermore, liver and kidney function markers, leucocyte counts, body weight and liver glycogen content remained unchanged at dose level of 50mg/kg b.wt., when compared with diabetic control group. These results suggest that antidiabetic and vasoprotective effects of POE may be unrelated to its antioxidant properties.