Isolation of isoflavones from Iris kashmiriana Baker as potential anti proliferative agents targeting NF-kappaB

Phytochemical characterization and biomedical potential of Iris kashmiriana flower extracts: a promising source of natural antioxidants and cytotoxic agents

Iris kashmiriana belongs to the family Iridaceae and is an important endemic medicinal plant of Kashmir. The current study was designed to determine the phytoconstituents, antioxidant, and cytotoxic potential of ethyl acetate (IRK-ETH) and methanol (IRK-MTH) extracts of Iris kashmiriana flowers. IRK-MTH extract demonstrated maximum radical scavenging activity in DPPH, ABTS, and Superoxide anion radical antioxidant assays with IC50 values of 73.15 μg/ml, 79.05 μg/ml, and 86.52 μg/ml respectively. IRK-ETH and IRK-MTH extracts possessed phenolic (70.9 and 208.5 mgGAE/gdw) and flavonoid (487.7 and 40.55 mgRE/gdw) contents respectively. In MTT assay IRK-ETH demonstrated the highest cytotoxicity towards the MCF-7 cell line with a GI50 value of 49.13 μg/ml. Phase contrast and fluorescence microscopic studies in MCF-7 cells revealed that IRK-ETH extract caused condensation of chromatin, rounding of cells, and nuclear condensation in cells which shows the apoptotic potential of the extract. GCMS analysis for phytochemical characterization revealed the presence of 9 compounds in both extracts which have been reported to possess antibacterial, cytotoxic, and anti-oxidant activities. HPLC analysis confirmed the presence of different polyphenols in both extracts with IRK-MTH extract having maximum polyphenols like epicatechin, rutin, quercetin, vanillic acid, sinapic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid and ellagic acid. These findings suggest that the flowers of Iris kashmiriana possess very good antioxidant and cytotoxic potential owing to its rich phytoconstituents.

Evaluation of Iris Kashmiriana Baker plant extracts against nociception and rheumatoid arthritis in experimental rats: A concept proof by In-silico model

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Iris Kashmiriana Baker, a traditional medicinal plant, is native to Asia, found in India, Nepal, Afghanistan, Pakistan, as name indicates majorly it's found in Kashmir region of India. Ethnopharmacologically this plant has been used there for the management of joint pain, but there was no scientific literature available. This species also comes under critically endangered species.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The current study aims to evaluate the effect of Iris kashmiriana Baker against nociception and rheumatoid arthritis in experimental rats with In-silico model.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Various extracts of the plant were investigated for their in-vitro antioxidant activity. Acute inflammation and FCA induced in rat model, then acetic acid-induced writhing in mice were used. These anti-rheumatic results were justified by the computational method.

RESULTS

The total phenolic and flavonoid concentration of HE extracts were found to be 95.30 ± 2.80 mg/g and 18.18 ± 5.88 mg/g respectively. IC50 and maximum inhibition of HE extracts against DPPH and H2O2 were also effective. Among different doses, 400 mg/kg of HE extracts showed significant (p<0.001) reduction in acute inflammation (16.42 %), in analgesic activity, the HE extract was found statistically (p<0.001) reduced (60.15 %) and in arthritis model, maximum inflammation reduced (25.9%) was found with hydro ethanol extract and statistical significant (p<0.001). and the paw thickness was reduced (27.4 %). Antioxidant activity of HE extract was found to be optimum (37.01%, p<0.001), Superoxide dismutase concentration was found to be optimum (65.12%, p<0.001). In Histopathology, HE 400 mg/kg showed mild inflammation only. The weight of the thymus and spleen were also determined and the HE 400 mg/kg extract inhibited the increase in weight of these organs compared with positive group (28.26 %, and 25.11 %), respectively.

CONCLUSION

Among all the different extracts and various doses, the iris kashmiriana Baker hydro-ethanolic (60:40) 400 mg/kg extract showed the best response among all different extracts.

Biogenic silver NPs alleviate LPS-induced neuroinflammation in a human fetal brain-derived cell line: Molecular switch to the M2 phenotype, modulation of TLR4/MyD88 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways, and molecular docking analysis

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have inconsistent findings against inflammation. Although a wealth of literature on the beneficial effects of green-synthesized AgNPs has been published, a detailed mechanistic study of green AgNPs on the protective effects against lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation using human microglial cells (HMC3) has not yet been reported. For the first time, we studied the inhibitory effect of biogenic AgNPs on inflammation and oxidative stress induced by LPS in HMC3 cells. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were used to characterize AgNPs produced from honeyberry. Co-treatment with AgNPs significantly reduced mRNA expressions of inflammatory molecules such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α, while increasing the expressions of anti-inflammatory markers such as IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. HMC3 cells were also switched from M1 to M2, as shown by lower expression of M1 markers such as cluster of differentiation (CD)80, CD86, and CD68 and higher expression of M2 markers such as CD206, CD163, and triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells (TREM2). Furthermore, AgNPs inhibited LPS-induced toll-like receptor (TLR)4 signaling, as evidenced by decreased expression of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) and TLR4. In addition, AgNPs reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhanced the expression of nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), while decreasing the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase. The docking score of the honeyberry phytoconstituents ranged from -14.93 to - 4.28 KJ/mol. In conclusion, biogenic AgNPs protect against neuroinflammation and oxidative stress by targeting TLR4/MyD88 and Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathways in a LPS-induced in vitro model. Biogenic AgNPs could be utilized as potential nanomedicine against LPS-induced inflammatory disorders.

Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxicity and in Silico Studies of Hexane Extract and Essential Oils from Citrus limon Leaves

The present study investigates the chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial bioactivities of essential oil and hexane extract from Citrus limon leaves. The isolation of essential oil was carried out using the Clevenger apparatus. The percentage yield of essential oil and hexane extract from Citrus limon leaves was 0.59 and 0.50 %, respectively. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging assay highlighted that Citrus limon leaves essential oil (CLEO) and hexane extract exhibited the significant antioxidant potential of 69.64 and 67.55 %, respectively, compared to the BHT standard. Similarly, a significant inhibition in linoleic acid peroxidation was recorded in both CLEO (81.93 %) and hexane extract (50.34 %). Characterization of chemical constituents in CLEO and extract was executed using GC/MS, where Limonene was detected as a major compound in CLEO (60.52 %) and hexane extract (73.62 %). The haemolytic activity ranged from 2.46 to 5.75 % revealing negligible cytotoxicity of CLEO and hexane extract. In silico studies agree with the in vitro antimicrobial studies, where vinimalol, taraxasterol, and moretenol present in CLEO showed strong interactions/inhibition against dihydroorotase and DNA gyrase from E. coli, and the tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase and DNA gyrase from S. aureus. Based on the current data, it may be concluded that both CLEO and hexane extract possessed significant bioactivities, such as antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, with minimal cytotoxicity.

Essential Oils from the Leaves, Stem, and Roots of Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce in Vietnam: Determination of Chemical Composition, and In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Studies on Anti-Inflammatory Activity

Blumea lanceolaria (Roxb.) Druce, a flowering plant, is used for treating cancer and inflammatory diseases. In this study, we determined the chemical composition of the EOs extracted from the leaves (LBEO), stem (SBEO), and roots (RBEO) of B. lanceolaria and analyzed their anti-inflammation potential. Overall, 30 compounds representing 99.12%, 98.44%, and 96.89% of total EO constituents of the leaves, stem, and roots, respectively, were identified using GC-MS. ELISA, Western blotting, and qRT-PCR studies showed that LBEO, SBEO, and RBEO inhibited multiple steps in the inflammatory responses in the RAW 264.7 cell model, including NO production; TNF-α, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 transcription and translation; and phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 of the NF-κB pathway. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema model, all three EOs inhibited paw edema at both early and delayed phases. Molecular docking studies indicated that the main components of B. lanceolaria EOs (BEOs) targeted and inhibited major components of inflammation-related pathways, including the arachidonic acid metabolic pathway, NF-κB pathway, and MAPK pathway. We present the first study to characterize the chemical composition of BEOs and confirm their potent anti-inflammatory effects in in vitro, in vivo, and in silico analysis. These results can facilitate the development of effective anti-inflammatory drugs with limited side effects in the future.

Exploring the Use of Iris Species: Antioxidant Properties, Phytochemistry, Medicinal and Industrial Applications

The genus Iris from the Iridaceae family consists of more than 262 recognized species. It is an ornamental and medicinal plant widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere. Iris species convey a long history as valuable traditional drugs with a wide variety of applications in various cultures, having been recorded since medieval times. Currently, Iris spp. still find application in numerous fields, including cosmetics, pharmaceutics and the food industry. Moreover, many of their empirical uses have been validated by in vitro and in vivo studies, showing that Iris spp. exhibit potent antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective and anti-microbial properties. Phytochemicals investigations have revealed that the plant extracts are rich in phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids and phenolic acids. As such, they constitute a promising lead for seeking new drugs with high susceptibilities towards various health issues, particularly oxidative-stress-related diseases such as cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, etc. Herein, we present a literature review of the genus Iris intending to determine the plant’s chemical profile and establish a coherent overview of the biological applications of the plant extracts with reference to their traditional uses.

The Bioactivity and Phytochemicals of Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb.: A Multifunctional Underutilized Crop Plant

Pachyrhizus erosus (L.) Urb. is an underutilized crop plant belonging to the Fabaceae family. In recent years, the plant received huge attention and was introduced in different countries owing to properties such as a high nutritional content, its nitrogen-fixing abilities, and different biological activities such as its antioxidant, immune modulation, anticancer, anti-diabetes, anti-osteoporosis, antiviral, and antiaging affects, among others. In this review, an attempt has been made to comprehensively compile the biological activities of the plant to provide a panoramic view of the current efforts and further directions, which may lead to the development of pharmacological applications. This information will be helpful in creating interest towards P. erosus and it may be useful in developing the plant for medical applications and/or as a functional food. More than 50 phytochemicals have been reported from the plant, which belong to different chemical classes such as triterpenoids, organic acid, flavonoids, and fatty acids. Numerous biological activities were reported from the plant through in vivo, in vitro, ex vivo, and human studies. However, well-defined clinical studies are still lacking for the establishment of any biological properties that could be further developed. Suggestions for the further development of P. erosus, according to current knowledge about the different biological properties, has also been provided.

Review On Documented Medicinal Plants Used For The Treatment Of Cancer

Background:

Cancer is a frightful disease and it is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Naturally derived compounds are gaining interest of research workers as they have less toxic side effects as compared to currently used treatments such as chemotherapy. Plants are the pool of chemical compounds which provides a promising future for research on cancer.

Objective:

This review paper provides updated information gathered on medicinal plants and isolated phytoconstituents used as anticancer agents and summarises the plant extracts and their isolated chemical constituents exhibiting anticancer potential on clinical trials.

Methods:

An extensive bibliographic investigation was carried out by analysing worldwide established scientific databases like SCOPUS, PUBMED, SCIELO, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Web of Science, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar etc. In next few decades, herbal medicine may become a new epoch of medical system.

Results:

Many researches are going on medicinal plants for the treatment of cancer but it is a time to increase further experimental studies on plant extracts and their chemical constituents to find out their mechanism of action at molecular level.

Conclusion:

The article may help many researchers to start off further experimentation that might lead to the drugs for the cancer treatment.

Preliminary Biological Activity Screening of Plectranthus spp. Extracts for the Search of Anticancer Lead Molecules

Plectranthus species (Lamiaceae) have been employed in traditional medicine and this is now validated by the presence of bioactive abietane-type diterpenoids. Herein, sixteen Plectranthus acetonic extracts were prepared by ultrasound-assisted extraction and their biological activity was screened. The antimicrobial activity of each extract was screened against yeasts, and Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The P. hadiensis and P. mutabilis extracts possessed significant activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans (microdilution method). Moreover, all extracts showed antioxidant activity using the DPPH method, with P. hadiensis and P. mutabilis extracts having the highest scavenging activities. Selected by the Artemia salina model, P. hadiensis and P.ciliatus possessed low micromolar anti-proliferative activities in human colon, breast, and lung cancer cell lines. Furthermore, the most bioactive extract of P. hadiensis leaves and the known abietane diterpene, 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone isolated from this plant, were tested against the aggressive type triple negative breast cancer (MDA-MB-231S). P. hadiensis extract reduced the viability of MDA-MB-231S cancer cell line cells, showing an IC₅₀ value of 25.6 µg/mL. The IC₅₀ value of 7α-acetoxy-6β-hydroxyroyleanone was 5.5 µM (2.15 µg/mL), suggesting that this lead molecule is a potential starting tool for the development of anti-cancer drugs.

Rapid identification model based on decision tree algorithm coupling with 1H NMR and feature analysis by UHPLC-QTOFMS spectrometry for sandalwood

Sandalwood is one of the most valuable woods in the world. However, today's counterfeits are widespread, it is difficult to distinguish authenticity. In this paper, similar genus (Dalbergia and Pterocarpus) and confused species (Gluta sp.) of sandalwood were quickly and efficiently identified. Rapid identification model based on ¹H NMR and decision tree (DT) algorithm was firstly developed for the identification of sandalwood, and the accuracy was improved by introducing the AdaBoost algorithm. The accuracy of the final model was above 95%. And the feature components between different species of sandalwood were further explored using UHPLC-QTOFMS and NMR spectrometry. The results showed that 183 compounds were identified, among which 99 were known components, 84 were unknown components. The ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR signals of 505 samples were assigned, among them, 14 compounds were attributed, characteristic chemical shift intervals with great differences in the model were analysed. Furthermore, the fragmentation pattern of different compounds from sandalwood, in both positive and negative ion ESI modes, was summarized. The results showed a potential and rapid tool based on DT, NMR spectroscopy and UHPLC-QTOFMS, which had performed great potential for rapid identification and feature analysis of sandalwood.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Ukrainian Iris Species: A Fresh Look on Their Antioxidant Content and Biological Activities

The major groups of antioxidant compounds (isoflavonoids, xanthones, hydroxycinnamic acids) in the rhizome methanol extracts of four Ukrainian Iris sp. (Iris pallida, Iris hungarica, Iris sibirica, and Iris variegata) were qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using HPLC-DAD and UPLC-MS/MS. Gallic acid, caffeic acid, mangiferin, tectoridin, irigenin, iristectorigenin B, irisolidone, 5,6-dihydroxy-7,8,3',5'-tetramethoxyisoflavone, irisolidone-7-O-β-d-glucopyranoside, germanaism B, and nigricin were recognized by comparing their UV/MS spectra, chromatographic retention time (tR) with those of standard reference compounds. I. hungarica and I. variegata showed the highest total amount of phenolic compounds. Germanaism B was the most abundant component in the rhizomes of I. variegata (7.089 ± 0.032 mg/g) and I. hungarica (6.285 ± 0.030 mg/g). The compound analyses showed good calibration curve linearity (r² > 0.999) and low detection and quantifications limit. These results validated the method for its use in the simultaneous quantitative evaluation of phenolic compounds in the studied Iris sp. I. hungarica and I. variegata rhizomes exhibited antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by the HPLC-ABTS system and NRF2 expression assay and anti-inflammatory activity on respiratory burst in human neutrophils. Moreover, the extracts showed anti-allergic and cytotoxic effects against cancer cells. Anti-coronavirus 229E and lipid formation activities were also evaluated. In summary, potent antioxidant marker compounds were identified in the examined Iris sp.

Comparative Investigation of Amino Acids Content in the Dry Extracts of Juno bucharica, Gladiolus Hybrid Zefir, Iris Hungarica, Iris Variegata and Crocus Sativus Raw Materials of Ukrainian Flora

The aim of this research was the comparative study of the amino acids content in the dry extracts of Iridaceae plants of Ukrainian flora: Juno bucharica leaves and corms, Gladiolus hybrid Zefir leaves, Iris hungarica and Iris variegata rhizomes, and Crocus sativus stigmas, flowers, leaves and corms. A gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) method has been used. Separation of amino acids in the samples was carried out using a Shimadzu GC-MS-QP2010 equipped with an Rxi-5ms (Restek Corporation capillary column (30 m long, 0.25 mm outer diameter and 0.25 µm) with a liquid stationary phase (5% diphenyl and 95% polysiloxane) after derivatization with N-(t-butyldimethylsilyl)-N109 methyltrifluoroacetamide (MTBSTFA) reagent. The results obtained have shown that extracts from the aerial parts of plants investigated have a higher amino acid content and more diverse composition than the underground organs. Experimental data showed that Crocus leaves and Juno leaves extracts contain the highest general content of amino acids—31.99 mg/g and 14.65 mg/g respectively. All samples showed a high content of L-pyroglutamic acid (0.33–12.35 mg/g). Moreover, Crocus leaves and Juno leaves extracts had the most suitable amino acids composition and are prospective for further pharmacological studies.

Isolation of naturally occurring novel isoflavonoids: an update

This review covers the literature concerning the isolation and identification of new naturally occurring isoflavonoids from Leguminosae and non-Leguminous species between 2012–2017.