Antimutagenic activity of compounds isolated from Ajuga bracteosa Wall ex. Benth against EMS induced mutagenicity in mice

Attenuation of paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in Ajuga bracteosa extract treated mice

Ajuga bracteosa (Ab) has tremendous medicinal value with long-established disease curing potential. The present study aimed to assess the hepatoprotective potential of Ab extracts in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Group I (normal control) were treated with saline 1 ml/kg BW orally for 7 days while Group II (toxicant control) received saline 1 ml/kg BW for 6 days and Paracetamol (1000 mg/kg BW) on day7of the treatment. Group III received Standard drug silymarin (100 mg/kg BW) for 6 days and Paracetamol (1000 mg/kg BW) on day 7of treatment. Groups IV andV were administered with methanol extract (ME) 200 mg/kg BW and aqueous extract (AE) 1000 mg/kg BW for 6 days and Paracetamol (1000 mg/kg BW) on day 7th of the study. Both extracts showed hepatoprotective potential against the toxic effects of paracetamol, evidenced by serum analysis of biomarkers involved in liver injury and histopathological findings. Hepatotoxic mice pretreated with Ab plant extract or silymarin exhibited significant decrease in ALP, AST, and ALT enzyme level while GSH levels were markedly increased. According to histological observations, groups treated with PCM (toxicant control) showed significant necrosis and lymphocyte infiltration, while groups treated with silymarin and Ajuga bracteosa plant extract showed preservation of the normal liver structural features. The phytochemical analysis of ME and AE of Ab showed the presence of glycosides, phenolic compounds, tannins, fats, saponins, flavonoids, terpenes, oils, and fats. The antioxidant activity of these two extracts was determined by nitric oxide assay, DPPH assay, and ferric reducing power assay. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest antioxidant potential (78.09 ± 0.0806). The antioxidant potential of aqueous extract was 73.08 ± 0.248. The reducing power for methanolic extract and ascorbic acid (standard) 500 μg/ml was 0.933 and 0.987 respectively. The anti-inflammatory activity of both extracts was demonstrated by in vitro methods, namely albumin denaturation, proteinase inhibition, and membrane stabilization assays. The study suggests that Ab extracts have competence for attenuating inflammation, oxidants, and hepatotoxicity.

Root Extract of a Micropropagated Prunus africana Medicinal Plant Induced Apoptosis in Human Prostate Cancer Cells (PC-3) via Caspase-3 Activation

Prostate cancer is one of the major causes of cancer-related deaths among men globally. Medicinal plants have been explored as alternative treatment options. Herein, we assessed the in vitro cytotoxic effects of 70% ethanolic root extracts of six-month-old micropropagated Prunus africana (PIR) on PC-3 prostate cancer cells as an alternative to the traditionally used P. africana stem-bark extract (PWS) treatment. In vitro assays on PC-3 cells included annexin-V and propidium iodide staining, DAPI staining, and caspase-3 activity analysis through western blotting. PC-3 cells were exposed to PWS and PIR at different concentrations, and dose-dependent antiprostate cancer effects were observed. PC-3 cell viability was determined using CCK-8 assay, which yielded IC50 values of 52.30 and 82.40 μg/mL for PWS and PIR, respectively. Annexin-V and PI staining showed dose-dependent apoptosis of PC-3 cells. Significant (p < 0.001) percent of DAPI-stained apoptotic PC-3 cells were observed in PWS, PIR, and doxorubicin treatment compared with the negative control. PWS treatment substantially elevated cleaved caspase-3 levels in PC-3 cells compared with the PIR treatment. These results provide evidence for the antiprostate cancer potential of PIR and sets a basis for further research to enhance future utilization of roots of young micropropagated P. africana for prostate cancer treatment as an alternative to stem bark. Moreover, micropropagation approach may help provide the required raw materials and hence reduce the demand for P. africana from endangered wild population.

Diterpenoids from the Whole Plants of Ajuga nipponensis and Their Inhibition of RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis

Two new diterpenoids, ajudecunoid A (1) and ajudecunoid B (14), along with thirteen known diterpenoids, were isolated from the whole plants of Ajuga nipponensis Makino. Their structures were elucidated by the extensive spectroscopic analysis (UV, IR, MS, and NMR). The absolute configurations of ajudecunoid A (1) and ajudecunoid B (14) were defined through analysis of X-ray crystallography. Fifteen compounds were evaluated for inhibition of the formation of osteoclasts in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) cells. Two neo-clerodane diterpenoids ajuganipponin B (5) and (12S)-6α,19-diacetoxy-18-chloro-4α-hydroxy-12-tigloyloxy-neo-clerod-13-en-15,16-olide (12) showed significant inhibition of osteoclastogenesis with IC₅₀ values of 0.88 and 0.79 μM, respectively. Here we firstly reported diterpenoids with anti-osteoclastogenesis activity from A. nipponensis.

Assessment of in vitro anthelmintic activity and bio-guided chemical analysis of BRS Boyrá pineapple leaf extracts

Species of the Bromeliaceae are known for their pharmacological actions, including anthelmintic effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the in vitro anthelmintic activity of extracts and fractions of BRS Boyrá pineapple leaf against the eggs and infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes (Trichostrongylidae) of goats and to identify the compounds involved in this activity. Crude methanol, hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and residual hydromethanol extracts were investigated by quantitative analysis of phenolic and flavonoid contents, antioxidant activity, anthelmintic activity against gastrointestinal nematodes of goats. The extracts were submitted to chromatographic methods for substance isolation and spectrometric techniques to identify their structures. The anthelmintic activity was performed by in vitro assays with eggs and larvae of nematodes obtained from naturally infected donor goats. All extracts contained phenolic (2.22-14.12 g of gallic acid equivalent per 100 g of dry extract) and flavonoid compounds (0.13-1.45 g of quercetin equivalent per 100 g of dry extract). Bio-guided fractionation of the BRS Boyrá pineapple leaves showed high antioxidant activity (EC₅₀ for DPPH of 2.16-21.38 mg mL^-1 and inhibition of co-oxidation of β-carotene of 36.40-74.86%) and anthelmintic activity (15.69-100% inhibition of egg hatching). The ethyl acetate extract exhibited greatest activity in all assays. Through chromatographic column analysis it was possible to isolate three substances: β-sitosterol and stigmasterol mixture in dichloromethane and hexane extracts, identified by NMR and p-coumaric acid in the ethyl acetate extract, identified by HPLC-DAD. The isolated p-coumaric acid exhibited high ovicidal effect against goat gastrointestinal nematodes (IC₅₀: 0.12 mg mL^-1) and can be considered the active substance of the ethyl acetate extract. This study revealed for the first time that the pineapple BRS Boyrá possesses inhibitory activity against gastrointestinal nematodes (Haemonchus spp., Oesophagostomum spp. and Trichostrongylus spp.), and that p-coumaric acid is an important bioactive.