Viridiflorol induces anti-neoplastic effects on breast, lung, and brain cancer cells through apoptosis

In-depth phytochemical profiling of Roscoea purpurea (Kakoli): Comparative UHPLC-MS/QToF and GC-MS/MS analysis of supercritical CO2 fluid - and conventional solvent - based extractive processes

The remarkable biodiversity of medicinal plants worldwide highlights their significance in traditional and alternative medicine. Astavarga, a group of eight medicinal herbs from the Himalayan region of India, including Roscoea purpurea (commonly known as Kakoli), is esteemed in Ayurveda for its health-promoting and rejuvenating properties. In this comprehensive study, we aimed to develop and optimise robust UHPLC-MS/QToF (Ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry coupled with quadrupole time of flight) and GC-MS/MS (Gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry) methods to identify the phytochemicals in R. purpurea root hydromethanolic extract and essential oil. We also conducted a comparative assessment of supercritical fluid extraction and conventional solvent extraction methods for the first time in R. purpurea root, highlighting their relevance to the medicinal field. Using the UHPLC/MS-QToF method, we identified a total of fifty-six phytometabolites, while sixteen volatile constituents were discerned within the essential oil of R. purpurea by GC-MS/MS method. Among the volatile constituents, β-eudesmol (40.84 %), guaiac acetate (10.55 %), and γ-eudesmol (10.31 %) were emerged as the principal components. Our findings were further compared with the volatile constituents extracted via supercritical fluid extraction and conventional solvent extraction methods. Notably, our research unveiled the presence of a carotenoid metabolite, 15-methyl retinol, for the first time. Furthermore, our fatty acid analysis of the supercritical fluid extract revealed elevated levels of unsaturated fatty acids, particularly oleic and linoleic acids. The methods were validated in terms of system specificity also. The discovery of these well-recognised therapeutically active components in R. purpurea significantly enhances its potential, highlighting its unique profile among medicinal plants in the Himalayan region and its suitability for traditional Ayurveda.

The Recent Progress of Tricyclic Aromadendrene-Type Sesquiterpenoids: Biological Activities and Biosynthesis

The tricyclic-aromadendrene-type sesquiterpenes are widely distributed and exhibit a range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, antibacterial, insecticidal and cytotoxic properties. Several key sesquiterpene synthases (STSs) of this type have been identified, of which, viridiflorol synthase has been engineered for efficiently biosynthesizing viridiflorol in an Escherichia coli strain. This paper comprehensively summarizes the distribution and biological activity of aromadendrene-type sesquiterpenes in plant essential oils and microorganisms. The progress in aromadendrene-type sesquiterpene biosynthesis research, including the modifications of key STSs and the optimization of synthetic pathways, is reviewed. Finally, the prospects and associated challenges for the application and biosynthesis of these natural products are also discussed.

Chemical Composition and Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities of Essential Oils from Leaves and Stems of Aeschynomene indica L

The objective of this study was to analyze the chemical composition and evaluate the biological capabilities of the essential oils (EOs) extracted from leaves and stems of wild Aeschynomene indica L. plants by the hydrodistillation method. By using GC-FID/MS, fifty-six and fifty-five compounds, representing 95.1 and 97.6% of the essential oils in the leaves and stems, respectively, were characterized. The predominant constituents of A. indica EOs were (E)-caryophyllene, linalool, viridiflorol, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, trans-verbenol, and α-guaiene. The antibacterial and synergistic activities of the EOs were assessed by microdilution and checkerboard assays. The results revealed a potent inhibition and bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis with MICs of 0.312-0.625 mg/mL. When combined with traditional antibiotics, the essential oils of A. indica possessed excellent synergistic effects against all tested bacteria. Additionally, the EOs of A. indica leaves showed higher antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.11 ± 0.01 µg/mL) compared to the stem oil (IC50 = 0.19 ± 0.01 µg/mL) using the ABTS radical scavenging assay. The in vitro cytotoxicity of EOs against human cancer cell lines HepG2, MCF-7, A-549, and HCT-116 was examined, and MTT assays showed that the EOs possessed a significant cytotoxic potential against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with IC50 values of 10.04 ± 1.82 and 15.89 ± 1.66 μg/mL, and a moderate cytotoxic activity against other tested cells. In conclusion, the A. indica EOs could be considered a potential source of pharmacologically active compounds.

Characterization of Volatile Organic Compounds and Essential Oil Profile of Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T. Aiton Cultivated in Tunisia

The chemical compositions of the essential oils (EOs) of roots, young and old leaves and stems, and flowers of Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T. Aiton cultivated in Tunisia and of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted by the powder of each organ were identified. The EOs are extracted from fresh material by hydrodistillation, whereas the VOCs are obtained by head space solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) from the powdered dry tissues. Fifty-eight VOCs are identified, while, 105 components are detected for the EOs. The main EOs compounds are α-neoclovene, β-caryophyllene and limonene in roots (22.56, 12.52, and 8.59 %, respectively), viridiflorol in young stems, flowers and young leaves (34.90, 31.60, and 24.60 %, respectively), α-cadinol in young stems and leaves, and flowers (13.80, 10.40, and 9.10 %, respectively), (E)-nerolidol in flowers (13.30 %), and germacrene D in old stems (9.06 %). The major detected VOCs are n-undecane, mainly in young and old leaves (71.40 and 40.90 %, respectively), n-nonane in young leaves and flowers (31.80 and 27.10 %, respectively), α-cubebene in old stems and flowers (22.60 and 15.50 %, respectively), and α-gurjunene and β-gurjunene in roots (14.20 and 12.20 %, respectively). Principal Component Analysis (PCA) carried out on the 26 main volatile compounds (relative content exceeding 6 %) identified both by HS and in the EOs allowed their classification into two groups; compounds specific to roots and those specific to aerial parts. The later are subdivided in to two subgroups; old leaves and stems compounds subgroup, and young leaves and stems, and flowers one. We can notice that the two methods used to extract P. tobira volatile compounds and identify them are complementary. This study defines and differentiates, for the first time, the specific aroma profile of P. tobira from Tunisia. In addition to its ornamental value, all the organs of this species, could be valued as a source of volatile compounds useful in perfume, cosmetics and as food flavoring products.

A review of natural products and small-molecule therapeutics acting on central nervous system malignancies: Approaches for drug development, targeting pathways, clinical trials, and challenges

In 2021, the World Health Organization released the fifth edition of the central nervous system (CNS) tumor classification. This classification uses histopathology and molecular pathogenesis to group tumors into more biologically and molecularly defined entities. The prognosis of brain cancer, particularly malignant tumors, has remained poor worldwide, approximately 308,102 new cases of brain and other CNS tumors were diagnosed in the year 2020, with an estimated 251,329 deaths. The cost and time-consuming nature of studies to find new anticancer agents makes it necessary to have well-designed studies. In the present study, the pathways that can be targeted for drug development are discussed in detail. Some of the important cellular origins, signaling, and pathways involved in the efficacy of bioactive molecules against CNS tumorigenesis or progression, as well as prognosis and common approaches for treatment of different types of brain tumors, are reviewed. Moreover, different study tools, including cell lines, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trial challenges, are discussed. In addition, in this article, natural products as one of the most important sources for finding new chemotherapeutics were reviewed and over 700 reported molecules with efficacy against CNS cancer cells are gathered and classified according to their structure. Based on the clinical trials that have been registered, very few of these natural or semi-synthetic derivatives have been studied in humans. The review can help researchers understand the involved mechanisms and design new goal-oriented studies for drug development against CNS malignancies.

Cistus albidus L.-Review of a Traditional Mediterranean Medicinal Plant with Pharmacological Potential

Cistus albidus L. (Cistaceae) is a medicinal plant that has been used therapeutically since ancient times in the Mediterranean basin for its important pharmacological properties. The ability of C. albidus to produce large quantities of a wide range of natural metabolites makes it an attractive source of raw material. The main constituents with bioactive functions that exert pharmacological effects are terpenes and polyphenols, with more than 200 identified compounds. The purpose of this review is to offer a detailed account of the botanical, ethnological, phytochemical, and pharmacological characteristics of C. albidus with the aim of encouraging additional pharmaceutical investigations into the potential therapeutic benefits of this medicinal plant. This review was carried out using organized searches of the available literature up to July 2023. A detailed analysis of C. albidus confirms its traditional use as a medicinal plant. The outcome of several studies suggests a deeper involvement of certain polyphenols and terpenes in multiple mechanisms such as inflammation and pain, with a potential application focus on neurodegenerative diseases and disorders. Other diseases such as prostate cancer and leukemia have already been researched with promising results for this plant, for which no intoxication has been reported in humans.

Chemical Profiling and Bioactivity Assessment of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don. Essential Oil: Exploring Pure Compounds and Synergistic Combinations

Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don., immortelle, is a plant species used in ethnomedicine and the food industry as a spice added to food, beverages, and bakery products. It has been shown to possess various biological activities, such as antioxidant and antibacterial activity, making it useful as a natural preservative. We investigated the phytochemical profile and biological activity of H. italicum essential oils from wild-grown plant material collected from natural habitats in the Republic of Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Using high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM), a visual investigation of plant organs (stem, leaf, and flower) was performed, confirming the presence of essential oil reservoirs on the surface of all examined plant organs. Essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation in the Clevenger apparatus. The chemical composition of the essential oils was determined using the GC-MS analytical technique. Cytotoxic activity tests were performed in vitro on three cell lines: skin (fibroblast), lung, and breast cancer. Using statistical tools, the synergistic and selective effects of H. italicum essential oil on healthy and tumor cells were correlated to chemical composition and cytotoxic activity. The synergistic and antagonistic effects of H. italicum essential oil's individual components were simulated by testing pure compounds and their mixture of cytotoxic activity on fibroblasts and breast cancer cells. The results confirm that essential oil's biological activity is much greater than the sum of the effects of its components. The present data are novel contributions to the body of knowledge on the biological activity of this species used in the food industry.

Sesquiterpenoids from Meliaceae Family and Their Biological Activities

Sesquiterpenoids, an important class of natural products possessing three isoprene-derived units, are widely distributed across plants and have a variety of biological activities. All sesquiterpenoids are derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), a biosynthesis precursor that can form various carbon skeletons. In order to provide a reference for further research and development of these compounds, this review focused on the increasing number of isolated and volatile sesquiterpenoids found to be produced by plants of the Meliaceae family between 1968 and 2023. The related articles were collected from SciFinder, Google Scholar, and PubMed. According to a literature review, several studies were started for more than 55 years on the plant's stem barks, twigs, leaves, flowers, seeds, and pericarps, where approximately 413 sesquiterpenoid compounds from several groups such as eudesmane, aromadendrane, cadinane, guaiane, bisabolane, furanoeremophilane, humulene, germacrane, and oppositane-type were isolated and identified with some minor products. Additionally, the hypothetical route of sesquiterpenoids biosynthesis from this family was identified, and eudesmane-type was reported to be 27% of the total compounds. The antimicrobial, antidiabetic, antioxidant, antiplasmodial, antiviral, and cytotoxic activities of the isolated compounds and major volatile sesquiterpenoids constituent on essential oil were also evaluated. The result showed the fundamental of using the sesquiterpenoid compounds from the Meliaceae family in traditional medicine and the discovery of new drugs.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil

In our study, we investigated the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of essential oils isolated from Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.) collected along the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the stem and leaf surfaces. Essential oil excretory glands were detected on both the leaves and stem surfaces. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sage essential oils were mixtures of terpene compounds, among which the most common were: α- and β-thujone, camphor, and 1,8-cineol. Cytotoxic activity was tested using MTS assay on multiple cell lines: normal and immortalized fibroblasts (HF77FA and HDF-Tert), immortalized lung line (BEAS-2B), and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231). The growth of treated cells was determined relative to control conditions without treatment. The immortalized lung line was the least resistant to the activity of the essential oils, whereas immortalized fibroblasts were the most resistant. Statistical analysis has connected the cytotoxic effect and chemical composition of the studied essential oils. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first testing of the cytotoxic activity of S. officinalis EO's on the BEAS-2B, HF77FA, and HDF-Tert cell lines. The presented data on essential oil chemical composition and cytotoxic effect on 4 types of human cells supports pharmacotherapeutic potential this plant is known to have.

Anti-Heliobacter pylori and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Salvia officinalis Metabolites: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Due to its rising antibiotic resistance and associated inflammations, Helicobacter pylori poses a challenge in modern medicine. Salvia officinalis, a member of the Lamiaceae family, is a promising medicinal herb. In this regard, a phytochemical screening followed by GC-MS and LC-MS was done to evaluate the chemical profile of the total ethanolic extract (TES) and the essential oil, respectively. The anti-H. pylori and the anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated by a micro-well dilution technique and COX-2 inhibition assay. Potential anti-H. pylori inhibitors were determined by an in silico study. The results revealed that the main metabolites were flavonoids, sterols, volatile oil, saponins, and carbohydrates. The LC-MS negative ionization mode demonstrated 12 compounds, while GC-MS showed 21 compounds. Carnosic acid (37.66%), epirosmanol (20.65%), carnosol1 (3.3%), and 12-O-methyl carnosol (6.15%) were predominated, while eucalyptol (50.04%) and camphor (17.75%) were dominant in LC-MS and GC-MS, respectively. TES exhibited the strongest anti-H. pylori activity (3.9 µg/mL) asymptotic to clarithromycin (0.43 µg/mL), followed by the oil (15.63 µg/mL). Carnosic acid has the best-fitting energy to inhibit H. pylori (-46.6769 Kcal/mol). TES showed the highest reduction in Cox-2 expression approaching celecoxib with IC50 = 1.7 ± 0.27 µg/mL, followed by the oil with IC50 = 5.3 ± 0.62 µg/mL. Our findings suggest that S. officinalis metabolites with anti-inflammatory capabilities could be useful in H. pylori management. Further in vivo studies are required to evaluate and assess its promising activity.

A Review of Twenty Years of Research on the Regulation of Signaling Pathways by Natural Products in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer (BC) is the second leading cause of death among women, and it has become a global health issue due to the increasing number of cases. Different treatment options, including radiotherapy, surgery, chemotherapy and anti-estrogen therapy, aromatase inhibitors, anti-angiogenesis drugs, and anthracyclines, are available for BC treatment. However, due to its high occurrence and disease progression, effective therapeutic options for metastatic BC are still lacking. Considering this scenario, there is an urgent need for an effective therapeutic strategy to meet the current challenges of BC. Natural products have been screened as anticancer agents as they are cost-effective, possess low toxicity and fewer side effects, and are considered alternative therapeutic options for BC therapy. Natural products showed anticancer activities against BC through the inhibition of angiogenesis, cell migrations, proliferations, and tumor growth; cell cycle arrest by inducing apoptosis and cell death, the downstream regulation of signaling pathways (such as Notch, NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, MAPK/ERK, and NFAT-MDM2), and the regulation of EMT processes. Natural products also acted synergistically to overcome the drug resistance issue, thus improving their efficacy as an emerging therapeutic option for BC therapy. This review focused on the emerging roles of novel natural products and derived bioactive compounds as therapeutic agents against BC. The present review also discussed the mechanism of action through signaling pathways and the synergistic approach of natural compounds to improve their efficacy. We discussed the recent in vivo and in vitro studies for exploring the overexpression of oncogenes in the case of BC and the current status of newly discovered natural products in clinical investigations.