Screening of some Indian medicinal plants for their antimicrobial properties

Disruption of Biofilm Formation and Quorum Sensing in Pathogenic Bacteria by Compounds from Zanthoxylum Gilletti (De Wild) P.G. Waterman

Microbial resistance is facilitated by biofilm formation and quorum-sensing mediated processes. In this work, the stem bark (ZM) and fruit extracts (ZMFT) of Zanthoxylum gilletii were subjected to column chromatography and afforded lupeol (1), 2,3-epoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyconiferyl alcohol (3), nitidine chloride (4), nitidine (7), sucrose (6) and sitosterol-β-D-glucopyranoside (2). The compounds were characterized using MS and NMR spectral data. The samples were evaluated for antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities. Highest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by compounds 3, 4 and 7 against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 200 µg/mL), compounds 3 and 4 against Escherichia coli (MIC = 100 µg/mL) and compounds 4 and 7 against Candida albicans (MIC = 50 µg/mL). At MIC and sub-MIC concentrations, all samples inhibited biofilm formation by pathogens and violacein production in C. violaceum CV12472 except compound 6. Good disruption of QS-sensing in C. violaceum revealed by inhibition zone diameters were exhibited by compounds 3 (11.5 ± 0.5 mm), 4 (12.5 ± 1.5 mm), 5 (15.0 ± 0.8 mm), 7 (12.0 ± 1.5 mm) as well as the crude extracts from stem barks (16.5 ± 1.2 mm) and seeds (13.0 ± 1.4 mm). The profound inhibition of quorum sensing mediated processes in test pathogens by compounds 3, 4, 5 and 7 suggests the methylenedioxy- group that these compounds possess as the possible pharmacophore.

Antimycobacterial Activity of Sida hermaphrodita (L.) Rusby (Malvaceae) Seed Extract

The current prevalence of such lifestyle diseases as mycobacteriosis and tuberculosis is a result of the growing resistance of microorganisms to the available antibiotics and their significant toxicity. Therefore, plants can successfully become a source of new therapeutic agents. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of protein extract from Sida hermaphrodita seeds on the morphology, structure, and viability of Mycobacterium smegmatis and to carry out proteomic characterization of the protein extract. The analyses were carried out using fluorescence and transmission microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and spectroscopy. The proteomic studies were performed using liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. The studies showed that the seed extract applied at concentrations of 50-150 µg/mL exerted a statistically significant effect on M. smegmatis cells, that is, a reduction of the viability of the bacteria and induction of changes in the structure of the mycobacterial cell wall. Additionally, the SEM analysis confirmed that the extract did not have a cytotoxic or cytopathic effect on fibroblast cells. The proteomic analysis revealed the presence of structural, storage, and enzymatic proteins and peptides in the extract, which are typical for seeds. Proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity identified as vicillins and lipid-transporting proteins were also determined in the protein profile of the extract.

Natural Products/Bioactive Compounds as a Source of Anticancer Drugs

Cancer is one of the major deadly diseases globally. The alarming rise in the mortality rate due to this disease attracks attention towards discovering potent anticancer agents to overcome its mortality rate. The discovery of novel and effective anticancer agents from natural sources has been the main point of interest in pharmaceutical research because of attractive natural therapeutic agents with an immense chemical diversity in species of animals, plants, and microorganisms. More than 60% of contemporary anticancer drugs, in one form or another, have originated from natural sources. Plants and microbial species are chosen based on their composition, ecology, phytochemical, and ethnopharmacological properties. Plants and their derivatives have played a significant role in producing effective anticancer agents. Some plant derivatives include vincristine, vinblastine, irinotecan, topotecan, etoposide, podophyllotoxin, and paclitaxel. Based on their particular activity, a number of other plant-derived bioactive compounds are in the clinical development phase against cancer, such as gimatecan, elomotecan, etc. Additionally, the conjugation of natural compounds with anti-cancerous drugs, or some polymeric carriers particularly targeted to epitopes on the site of interest to tumors, can generate effective targeted treatment therapies. Cognizance from such pharmaceutical research studies would yield alternative drug development strategies through natural sources which could be economical, more reliable, and safe to use.

Ginger Loaded Polyethylene Oxide Electrospun Nanomembrane: Rheological and Antimicrobial Attributes

Synthetic antibiotics have captured the market in recent years, but the side effects of these products are life-threatening. In recent times, researchers have focused their research on natural-based products such as natural herbal oils, which are eco-friendly, biocompatible, biodegradable, and antibacterial. In this study, polyethylene oxide (PEO) and aqueous ginger extract (GE) were electrospun to produce novel antibacterial nanomembrane sheets as a function of PEO and GE concentrations. A GE average particle size of 91.16 nm was achieved with an extensive filtration process, inferring their incorporation in the PEO nanofibres. The presence of the GE was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) through peaks of phenol and aromatic groups. The viscoelastic properties of PEO/GE solutions were analysed in terms of PEO and GE concentrations. Increasing PEO and GE concentrations increased the solution's viscosity. The dynamic viscosity of 3% was not changed with increasing shear rate, indicating Newtonian fluid behaviour. The dynamic viscosity of 4 and 5 wt% PEO/GE solutions containing 10% GE increased exponentially compared to 3 wt%. In addition, the shear thinning behaviour was observed over a frequency range of 0.05 to 100 rad/s. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis also specified an increase in the nanofibre's diameter with increasing PEO concentration, while SEM images displayed smooth morphology with beadless nanofibres at different PEO/GE concentrations. In addition, PEO/GE nanomembranes inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus, as presented by qualitative antibacterial results. The extent of PEO/GE nanomembrane's antibacterial activity was further investigated by the agar dilution method, which inhibited the 98.79% Staphylococcus aureus population at 30% GE concentration.

The biological and therapeutic potentials of Cyclotrichium genus: a systematic review

The genus Cyclotrichium includes nine species that are mainly distributed in Turkey, Lebanon, Iraq, and Iran, and are used in the kitchen, and also in complementary medicine to treat various diseases. During recent years, considerable progress has been made in analyzing their phytochemical composition in parallel with their antimicrobial properties and their therapeutic potentials. This study reviews the present knowledge about investigations on antimicrobial, insecticidal, and anticancer properties of the essential oils and any other purified chemical compounds of the Cyclotrichium species. Various phytochemicals have been isolated from the extracts of the plants of this genus having significant biological and therapeutic potentials. In conclusion, these gathered data strongly support the viewpoint that the species belonging to the genus Cyclotrichium have various biological and pharmaceutical activities to treat various diseases including cancer in addition to the remarkable antimicrobial and insecticidal potential with no or minimal health and environmental hazards.

Phytochemical characterization and evaluation of antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anticancer activities of ethyl acetate seed extract of Hydnocarpus laurifolia (Dennst) Sleummer

Various functional groups were observed in the FTIR analysis of Hydnocarpus laurifolia seeds ethyl acetate extract such as O-H, N-H, C-H, -CH2, O=C=O, C=O, C=O-NH, and CH3, etc. Eleven bioactive compounds were detected via GC-MS and the predominant compounds include (1S)-2-cyclopentene-1-tridecanoicacid (chaulmoogric acid) (80.59%); 2-cyclopentene-1-undecanoic acid (hydnocarpic acid) (6.76%); cyclobutylamine (5.28%); methyl thioacetate (ethanethioic acid) (4.84%); lignoceric acid (2.21%). The TPC and TFC values were 0.110 ± 0.04 GAE g-1 and 0.175 ± 0.05 g CE g-1 respectively. Ethyl acetate extract showed strong DDPH free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value 10.64 ± 0.48 µg ml-1 and antioxidant activity index 3.759. The ethyl acetate extract also exhibited potential ABTS radical scavenging efficacy with a very low IC50 value, i.e., 07.81 ± 0.48 µg ml-1. P. aeruginosa was the most sensitive bacteria to the extract with 33.16 ± 0.88 mm inhibition zone and MIC: 3.12 mg ml-1, MBC: 6.25 mg ml-1. P. aeruginosa biofilm was inhibited by ethyl acetate extract 99.22% at MIC concentration. The LM images displayed a decrease in the number of biofilm cells and FE-SEM micrographs showcased the extensive decrease as well as disintegration in biofilm. Additionally, ethyl acetate extract was found selectively cytotoxic to the K562 cancer cells having an IC50 of 25.41 μg ml-1 and barely cytotoxic to normal PBMCs having an IC50 of 482.54 μg ml-1, and the selectivity index value was 18.99. Data validate scientifically the traditional use of H. laurifolia seeds in folk medicines and confirmed that it can be used in modern phytomedicines as an antioxidant, antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anticancer agent and is toxicologically safe.

A comprehensive review on the diverse pharmacological perspectives of Terminalia chebula Retz

Terminalia chebula Retz, commonly known as 'Haritaki/Myrobalan,' has been utilised as a traditional medicine for a long time. It has been extensively exercised in various indigenous medicine practices like Unani, Tibb, Ayurveda, and Siddha to remedy human ailments such as bleeding, carminative, dysentery, liver tonic, digestive, antidiarrheal, analgesic, anthelmintic, antibacterial and helpful in skin disorders. Studies on the pharmacological effects of T. chebula and its phytoconstituents documented between January, 1996 and December, 2021 were explored using various electronic databases. During the time mentioned above, several laboratory approaches revealed the biological properties of T. chebula, including antioxidative, antiproliferative, anti-microbial, proapoptotic, anti-diabetic, anti-ageing, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiepileptic. It is also beneficial in glucose and lipid metabolism and prevents atherogenesis and endothelial dysfunction. Different parts of T. chebula such as fruits, seeds, galls, barks extracted with various solvent systems (aqueous, ethanol, methanol, chloroform, ethyl-acetate) revealed major bioactive compounds like chebulic acid, chebulinic acid, and chebulaginic acid, which in turn proved to have valuable pharmacological properties through broad scientific investigations. There is a common link between chebulagic acid and chebulanin with its antioxidant property, antiaging activity, antiinflammatory, antidiabetic activity, and cardioprotective activity. The actions may be through neutralizing the free radicals responsible for producing tissue damage alongside interconnecting many other diseases. The current review summarises the scientifically documented literature on pharmacological potentials and chemical compositions of T. chebula, which is expected to investigate further studies on this subject.

A Systematic Review on Synthetic and Antimicrobial Bioactivity of the Multifaceted Hydrazide Derivatives

:

To overcome the upsurge of antimicrobial resistance that has emerged in recent years, there is a need for the development of newer hits having satisfying anti-infective activity. Hydrazides incorporated with an azomethine hydrogen account for a cardinal class of molecules for the development of newer derivatives. Hydrazide derivatives have gained considerable interest of medicinal chemists owing to their diverse bioactivity. In the present review, we have attempted to compile the recent trends in the synthesis of hydrazides and their substituted derivatives. The structural features that lead to the desired antimicrobial activity are highlighted, which will lead the way for synthetic and medicinal chemists to focus on newer designs in this arena.

Multi-responsive poly N-isopropylacrylamide/poly N-tert-butylacrylamide nanocomposite hydrogel with the ability to be adsorbed on the chitosan film as an active antibacterial material

Nanocomposite hydrogel composed of Poly N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAM), poly N-tert-Butylacrylamide (PBAM) and poly acrylic acid (PAA) was synthesized by free radical polymerization, and then thymol was embedded in it, to design an active antibacterial material that could control release. The characterization of products used SEM, AFM, FTIR, Zeta sizer to analyze the sensitivity of nanoparticles to pH, temperature and salt ions, and the agar diffusion method was used to determine the antibacterial effect of the polymers. The results showed that nanoparticles had pH, temperature and salt ion responsiveness, PNIPAM/PBAM (65:35) nanoparticles loaded thymol had longer release time (more than 24 h) at lower temperature than that (around 6 h) at high temperature. In addition, the nanoparticles could also be adsorbed on the chitosan film, which makes it have a wider range of applications. All thymol-loaded nanoparticles showed antibacterial activity against both B. subtilis and E. coli, while the chitosan film adsorbed nanoparticles showed weak effect, which was related to the controlled and slow release of bacteriostatic agents. Thus, these copolymers have potential value in the development and application of bacteriostatic packaging films for food.

Light and scanning electron microscopy of Datura stramonium L. extract and its biological applications

The study deals with the LM and SEM (light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy) of Datura stramonium L. extract and to evaluate its phytochemical, antimicrobial, and antioxidant activities. The plant sample collected from different Lahore region was dried under shade. The plant extract was prepared using different solvents (n-hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and methanol). Phytochemical screening performed qualitatively for alkaloids, carbohydrates, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins. Radical scavenging potential of plant extracts was estimated and ethyl acetate extract exhibited maximum percentage scavenging ability of 92.2 ± 0.09. Total antioxidant capacity of different extracts was measured by phosphomolybdate method. The ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts showed maximum values of 72.3 ± 0.08% and 79 ± 0.15% with respect to gallic acid. Total phenolic contents were determined through Folin-Ciocalteau method and highest value of 495.2 ± 3.4 was obtained by methanolic extract. DPPH-TLC autography was used for the visual detection of antioxidant compounds in different plant extracts. Antibacterial activity of plant extract was measured by disc diffusion method against microorganisms named Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis (Gram positive), and Salmonella typhimurium, and Proteus mirabilis (Gram negative). Because of the vast medicinal importance of D. stramonium L. it would be beneficial to study LM and SEM for correct identification of plant and to determine phytochemicals.

Antiviral Potential of Indian Medicinal Plants Against Influenza and SARS-CoV: A Systematic Review

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a significant threat to human health due to the lack of drugs that can potentially act against SARS-CoV -2. Also, even after the emergency approval of WHO, the vaccines’ efficacy is still a question, and people are getting reinfections. Previous studies have demonstrated the efficacy of traditional medicinal plants against influenza and SARS coronavirus. The present article aims to review potential phytochemicals from Indian medicinal plants that may be used against SARS-CoV-2. Articles published in the English language between 1992 and 2021 were retrieved from Embase, PubMed, and Google scholar using relevant keywords, and the scientific literature on efficacies of Indian medicinal plants against SARS-CoV and influenza virus were analyzed. The initial search revealed 1304 studies, but, on subsequent screening, 115 eligible studies were reported. Twenty research articles investigating traditional medicinal plant extracts and metabolites against SARS-CoV and influenza A virus in in vitro and in vivo systems satisfied the search criteria. The studies reported that plant extracts and active compounds such as glycyrrhizin, 14-α-lipoyl andrographolide, and curcumin from medicinal plants such as Yashtimadhu ( Glycyrrhiza glabra), Bhunimba ( Andrographis paniculata), and Haridra ( Curcuma longa) are effective against the various phases of the virus life cycle, viz., virus-host cell attachment, viral replication, 3CL protease activity, neuraminidase activity, adsorption and penetration of the virus. As per ancient Indian literature, plants in Ayurveda possess Rasayana (revitalizing) and Jwara hara (antipyretic, anti-inflammatory) properties. This evidence may be used to conduct experimental and clinical trials to study the underlying mechanisms and efficacy of antiviral properties of Indian medicinal plants against SARS-CoV-2.

Traditional uses, bioactive composition, pharmacology, and toxicology of Phyllanthus emblica fruits: A comprehensive review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The fruits of Phyllanthus emblica Linn or Emblica officinalis Gaertn (Phyllanthaceae), (FPE) commonly known as Indian gooseberry or Amla, gained immense importance in indigenous traditional medicinal systems, including Ayurveda, for its medicinal and nutritional benefits. It is used to cure several diseases such as common cold, fever, cough, asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, cephalalgia, ophthalmopathy, dyspepsia, colic, flatulence, hyperacidity, peptic ulcer, erysipelas, skin diseases, leprosy, hematogenesis, inflammation, anemia, emaciation, hepatopathy, jaundice, diarrhea, dysentery, hemorrhages, leucorrhea, menorrhagia, cardiac disorders, and premature greying of hair.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In the present review, we presented a comprehensive analysis of the ethnopharmacology, bioactive composition, and toxicity of P. emblica to identify the gap between research and the current applications and to help explore the trends and perspectives for future studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We collected the literature published before April 2021 on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of FPE. Literature in English from scientific databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, Springer, and Google Scholar, books. These reports were analyzed and summarized to prepare this review. The plant taxonomy was verified by "The Plant List" database (http://www.theplantlist.org).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION

s: FPE have been used as a rich source of vitamin C, minerals, and amino acids. Several bioactive molecules were isolated and identified from FPE such as tannins, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, alkaloids, ascorbic acid etc. The in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on FPE revealed its antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anticancer, radioprotective, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, hypolipidemic, anti-venom, wound healing, HIV-reverse transcriptase effect. Toxicological studies on fruits indicated the absence of any adverse effect even at a high dose after oral administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Although FPE showed remarkable therapeutic activities against several diseases such as diabetes, cancer, inflammation, hepatitis B virus, and malaria, there were several drawbacks in some previous reports including the lack of information on the drug dose, standards, controls, and mechanism of action of the extract. Further in-depth studies are required to explain the mechanism of action of the extracts to reveal the role of the bioactive compounds in the reported activities.

Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anticancer Studies of Leaf Extract of Simarouba glauca DC In Vitro

The current study aimed to screen the preliminary phytochemicals in the leaf extract of the medicinal plant Simarouba glauca and to analyze its potential antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. The phytochemical profile of the methanol extract was analyzed, and bioactive compounds were identified using chromatography, FTIR and GCMS. Antimicrobial activity and Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) were determined against 14 bacterial and 6 fungal strains. Moreover, the synergistic effect of a plant extract with commercially available antibiotics was also evaluated using the checkerboard method. The ethanolic and methanolic extracts showed exclusive activity against S. aureus and profound activity against E. coli and S. marcescens. Upon comparing breakpoints, methanolic extract demonstrated higher antimicrobial activity with a MIC value of 3.2 mg/mL against the test pathogens. Furthermore, the extracts demonstrated potential antioxidant activity; methanol extract had higher antioxidant potential compared to the ethanol extract. The major proactive bioactive compound with maximum antioxidant capacity was observed to be terpenoids. The methanol extract of S. glauca showed significant cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line with an IC₅₀ value of 16.12 µg/mL. The overall results of our work provide significant evidence for the usage of methanolic extract of S. glauca as an efficient ethnomedicinal agent and a potential candidate for relieving many human ailments.

Antiviral Potential of Selected Medicinal Herbs and Their Isolated Natural Products

Viruses are responsible for a variety of human pathogenesis. Owing to the enhancement of the world population, global travel, and rapid urbanization, and infectious outbreaks, a critical threat has been generated to public health, as preventive vaccines and antiviral therapy are not available. Herbal medicines and refined natural products have resources for the development of novel antiviral drugs. These natural agents have shed light on preventive vaccine development and antiviral therapies. This review intends to discuss the antiviral activities of plant extracts and some isolated plant natural products based on mainly preclinical (in vitro and in vivo) studies. Twenty medicinal herbs were selected for the discussion, and those are commonly recognized antiviral medicinal plants in Ayurveda (Zingiber officinale, Caesalpinia bonducella, Allium sativum, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Ferula assafoetida, Gymnema sylvestre, Gossypium herbaceum, Phyllanthus niruri, Trachyspermum ammi, Withania somnifera, Andrographis paniculata, Centella asiatica, Curcuma longa, Woodfordia fruticose, Phyllanthus emblica, Terminalia chebula, Tamarindus indica, Terminalia arjuna, Azadirachta indica, and Ficus religiosa). However, many viruses remain without successful immunization and only a few antiviral drugs have been approved for clinical use. Hence, the development of novel antiviral drugs is much significant and natural products are excellent sources for such drug developments. In this review, we summarize the antiviral actions of selected plant extracts and some isolated natural products of the medicinal herbs.

In-vitro study of the effect of Centella asiatica on cholera toxin production and the gene expression level of ctxA gene in Vibrio cholerae isolates

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Centella asiatica (L.) Urb or Indian pennywort is a plant of ethnopharmacological relevance, commonly called as Brahmi in South India known for its antimicrobial property in gut and for the treatment of other gut ailments. Natural anti-virulence drugs that disarm pathogens by directly targeting virulence factors or the cell viability and are thus preferred over antibiotics as these drugs impose limited selection pressure for resistance development. In this regard, an in-vitro experimental study was conducted to know the effect of extract of Centella asiatica(L.) Urb. on cholera toxin, gene expression and its vibriocidal effect on five standard strains of Vibrio cholerae; IDH03097 (El Tor variant), N16961 (El Tor), O395 (Classical) as well as five clinical strains (Haitian variant).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To study the effect of extract of Centella asiatica on Vibrio cholerae.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Crude extract was prepared from the leaves and stem part of the plant. The vibriocidal concentration was tested at different concentrations of the extract. The amount of cholera toxin released from the strains before and after exposure to the extract of Centella asiatica to Vibrio cholerae was measured using Bead ELISA. ctxA gene expression in the strains before and after exposure to extract of Centella asiatica was measured using quantitative real time PCR. All the above assays were performed with commercially obtained asiaticoside as well.

RESULTS

The vibriocidal activity was tested at the different concentration of the extract, where 1g/mL of crude extract and 12.5mg/mL of asiaticoside was found to be vibriocidal. The amount of cholera toxin released before and after the exposure to extract of C. asiatica was measured using Bead ELISA, showing a reduction of 70%, 89% and 93% toxin produced by classical, El Tor and variant respectively. ctxA gene expression before and after exposure to extract of Centella asiatica as well as asiaticoside was measured using qRT-PCR. We found a decrease in expression of ctxA gene transcription by 6.19 fold in classical strain, 4.29 fold in El Tor, 1.133 fold in variant strains and about 10.13-10.20 fold for the clinical strains of V. cholerae using the extract of C.asiatica while, the reduction with the exposure to the asiaticoside were 2.762 fold in classical strain, 4.809 in El Tor, 24.1 in variant strain and 34.77 - 34.8 for the clinical strains.

CONCLUSION

Centella asiatica extract inhibited the CT production in Vibrio cholerae as well as decreased the transcription of ctxA gene expression.

Principal Metabolites in Extracts of Different Plants Responsible for Antibacterial Effects

The increase in bacterial resistance and decreased effectiveness of antibacterial agents has forced researchers to look for new antibacterial agents from environmentally friendly sources such as essential oils and oil extracts. The functional group of the metabolites present in the essential oils or plant extract and the synergy effects between them play an important role in the biological activity and can be the principal factor affecting the antibacterial effect. All of these bioactive oils showed the same action mechanism, and the best way to implement them is by extracting them without changing their original properties, whereby the characterization and evaluation of the compounds are important steps. All of these themes are extensively reviewed, analyzed, and discussed in this work.

Antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, anticancer, and phytochemical composition of the seed extract of Pongamia pinnata

Ethyl acetate seed extract of Pongamia pinnata displayed the highest antimicrobial potential against all test pathogens and Staphylococcus epidermidis was reported as the most sensitive strain with MIC/MBC 1.56/3.12 mg ml^-1. It inhibited S. epidermidis biofilm 97.43% at MIC and LM as well as FE-SEM micrographs displayed extensive disintegration in biofilm. It showed the highest TPC (1.23 ± 0.04 g GAE g^-1), TFC (0.95 ± 0.05 g CE g^-1), and antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ 18.47 ± 0.33 μg ml^-1. MTT assay displayed concentration-dependent strong cytotoxicity on K562 cells on the treatment of ethyl acetate extract with an IC₅₀ value of 84.41 μg ml^-1. On the other hand, it showed minute cytotoxicity on normal PBMCs with an IC₅₀ value of 410.14 μg ml^-1. GC-MS analysis revealed that Hexadecanoic acid (35.97%); 2-(1,3-Benzodioxol-5-yl)furo[2,3-h]chromen-4-one (Pongaglabrone) (22.82%); 2,2-Dimethylindane-1,3-dione- (13.05%) were the three major components in ethyl acetate extract. The present investigation showcases ethyl acetate extract as a potent antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and anticancer agent that opens a new avenue for its phytochemicals as a therapeutic agent.

In Silico Approach for Phytocompound-Based Drug Designing to Fight Efflux Pump-Mediated Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is one of the principal causes of death in the world despite the existence of a significant number of antibiotics aimed against it. This is mainly due to the drug resistance mechanisms present in the bacterium, which leads to multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Additionally, the development of new antibiotics has become limited over the years. Although there are various drug resistance mechanisms present, efflux pumps are of utmost importance because they extrude out several dissimilar antitubercular drugs out of the cell. There are many efflux pump proteins present in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, blocking these efflux pumps by inhibitors can raise the efficacy of the existing antibiotics and may also pave the path for the discovery and synthesis of new drugs. Plant compounds can act as a resource for the development of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), which may eventually replace or augment the current therapeutic options. This is mainly because plants have been traditionally used for ages for food or treatment and are considered safe with little or no side effects. Various computational tools are available which are used for the virtual screening of a large number of phytocompounds within a short span of time. This review aims to highlight the mechanism and appearance of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis with emphasis on efflux pumps along with the significance of phytochemicals as inhibitors of these pumps and their screening strategy by computational approaches.

Moringa oleifera leaves: could solvent and extraction method affect phenolic composition and bioactivities?

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of extraction methods (direct maceration (DM) and successive maceration (SM)) and solvents (dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EAc), butanol (But), and aqueous extraction (Aqu)) on the phenolic composition and biological activities of Moringa oleifera leaves cultivated for the first time in Tunisia. Total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and LC-MS analysis were performed for all extracts. Antioxidant potential by DPPH, metal chelating, and FRAP assays, antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 29213) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) by the minimum inhibitory concentration method (MIC) and cytotoxic properties against lung cancer cells (A549), were determined. Phenolic compounds and biological activities of M. oleifera leaves depend on the method and the solvent used for the extraction of these bioactive substances. The But extract prepared by SM method exhibited the highest amounts of TPC (103.06 ± 0.5 mg GAE/g DE) and showed the strongest potential antioxidant (CI₅₀ = 0.26 mg/mL on DPPH test), antibacterial (MIC = 250 µg/mL) and cytotoxic activities (GI₅₀ = 69.9 µg/mL). LC-MS analysis showed that 28 phenolic compounds of 33 tested standards were found in M. oleifera leaves. The But extract obtained by SM method exhibited the highest amounts of rutin, quercetin and syringic acid.

Estimation of Trace Elements, Antioxidants, and Antibacterial Agents of Regularly Consumed Indian Medicinal Plants

Nutritional profile of minerals and antioxidants in Indian spice extracts was evaluated in order to examine their efficacy in treating various diseases, disorders, and allergies in human health. Extracts of four medicinal plants such as Curcuma longa, Zingiber officinale, Piper nigrum, and Piper longum, regularly consumed as spice products in South Asia, have been studied using elemental analysis, antioxidant, and antibacterial studies. While potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) were estimated to be the major elements, trace elements such as manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), selenium (Se), and lead (Pb) were determined in the plant extracts. Although higher concentration of Cu was estimated in Piper nigrum extracts, it can be inferred that Cu is not the only factor that is responsible for gastrointestinal disorders. Methanolic extract of the plants showed the highest inhibition zone for Curcuma longa against maximum bacterial strains while Zingiber officinale showed inhibition against S. aureus, K. pneumonia, and P. aeruginosa. Because of the highest concentration of antioxidants and inhibitory action against most of the bacterial strains, Curcuma longa can be used as a co-therapeutic agent in healing gastrointestinal infections.

Emergency Food Product Packaging by Pectin-Based Antimicrobial Coatings Functionalized by Pomegranate Peel Extracts

Emergency food products (EFPs) or energy bars are used in critical situations, such as natural disasters, to promote crisis management. EFPs require sophisticated packaging strategies. Edible coatings incorporated with natural antimicrobial agents could be considered as active packaging materials for increasing EFP safety. In this study, pectin-based coatings incorporated with pomegranate peel extracts were used to protect energy bars. Initially, total phenolic contents and antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of aqueous and ethanolic pomegranate peel extracts (PPEs) were determined. Also, PPEs were analyzed by HPLC. In the next step, the extracts were incorporated into the matrix of edible coatings as active substances. The sensory properties and microbial contamination of coated energy bars were investigated during 30 days of storage. Sixteen phenolic substances were detected in the extracts with gallic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, and quercetin as major ingredients. The ethanolic extract exhibited higher concentrations for all phenolic compounds. The results indicated that the ethanolic extract showed inhibitory effects on S. aureus and E. coli at concentrations of 30 and 50 mg/ml, and the aqueous extract's inhibitory effects were observed at concentrations of 50 and 80 mg/ml, respectively. The antioxidant and antibacterial effects could be attributed to high phenolic content and a combination of different substances. Microbial and sensory tests performed on coated energy bars showed that the active coatings were able to control and reduce the population of microorganisms during storage without adversely affecting sensory properties.

Phytopharmacological Possibilities of Bird Cherry Prunus padus L. and Prunus serotina L. Species and Their Bioactive Phytochemicals

Wild cherry is a plant observed in the form of trees or shrubs. This species comprises about twenty kinds of plants and the most popular are two, Prunus padus L. and Prunus serotina L., whose properties and content of phytochemical compounds are subject to studies. Wild cherry contains many active compounds, including tocopherols, vitamins, polyphenols and terpenes, which can have beneficial effects on health. On the other hand, wild cherry contains cyanogenic glycosides. Nevertheless, current research results indicate pro-health properties associated with both P. serotina and P. padus. The aim of this study was to collect and present the current state of knowledge about wild cherry and to review available in vitro and in vivo studies concerning its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antidiabetic activity. Moreover, the current work presents and characterizes phytochemical content in the leaves, bark and fruits of P. padus and P. serotina and compiles data that indicate their health-promoting and functional properties and possibilities of using them to improve health. We find that the anatomical parts of P. padus and P. serotina can be a valuable raw material used in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as a source of bioactive compounds with multi-directional action.

Antibacterial activity and subchronic toxicity of Cassia fistula L. barks in rats

•

Extract and ethyl acetate fraction of Cassia fistula L. have potent antibacterial activity against resistant bacteria such as Salmonella typhosa.

•

Extract and Ethyl acetate fraction of Cassia fistula L. barks revealed the most active in vivo antibacterial activity.

•

At 1000 mg/kg dose of extract exposured for 90 days, histological damages were found either in liver or kidney, but after 30 days the abnormality fully were recovered.

Increasing incidence of antibiotic resistance necessitates the development of more potent antibiotics. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Cassia fistula L. barks as an alternative agent for resistant pathogenic bacteria. The C. fistula barks were extracted with ethanol, followed by partition of the extract to give n-hexane, ethyl acetate and water fractions. An in vitro antibacterial assay was conducted to evaluate inhibitory activity of the extract and fractions against Salmonella typhosa and Shigella dysenteriae. An in vivo antibacterial activity was examined using S. typhosa-infected mouse models, in which the colony number of S. typhosa were counted from the infected rats’ feces. Assesment on safety of the extract was conducted by a subchronic toxicity test which mainly examined alteration occured in biochemical parameters and hystopatological conditions of livers and kidneys. The results showed that the ethanol extract inhibited the growth of both S. typhosa and S. dysenteriae with the MIC of 0.3125% w/v, and the ethyl acetate fraction with the MIC of 0.625% b/v. In the in vivo antibacterial assay, the extract at three doses decreased the colony number of S. typhosa significantly, and after the fourth to sixth days, the precentage of decrease reached more than 90% by 1000 mg/kg dose. The subchronic toxicity test revealed that after the extract exposured for 90 days, a dose of 1000 mg/kg induced liver and kidney damages histologically, however, it returned to normal condition after 30 days of recovery. The results of this study indicated that the extract of C. fistula L. barks had potent in vivo antibacterial activity against S. typhosa as sample of resistant bacteria, and is safe to be used as a herbal medicine, preferably at a dose lower than 1000 mg/kg.

Up and down-regulation of mRNA in the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of Plumbagin in HepG2/C3A

Studies that evaluated the mechanisms of action of Plumbagin (PLB) and its toxicity may contribute to future therapeutic applications of this compound. We investigate biomarker important in the mechanisms of action correlate the expression of mRNA with the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of PLB on HepG2/C3A. In the analysis of cytotoxicity, PLB decreased cell viability and membrane integrity at concentrations ≥ 15μM. Xenobiotic-metabolizing system showed strong mRNA induction of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP3A4, suggesting extensive metabolization. PLB induced apoptosis and an increase in the mRNA expression of genes BBC3, CASP3, and CASP8. At a concentration of 15μM, there was a reduction in the expression of PARP1 mRNA and an increase in the expression of BECN1 mRNA, suggesting that PLB may also induce cell death by autophagy. PLB induced an arrest at the G2/M phase due to DNA damage, as observed in the comet assay. This damage is associated with the increased mRNA expression of genes p21, GADD45A, and H2AFX and with changes in the expression of proteins H2AX, p21, p53, Chk1, and Chk2. These results allow a better understanding of the cellular action of PLB and of its toxicity, thereby contributing to the development of PLB-based drugs, with markers of mRNA expression possibly playing a role as indicators for monitoring toxicity in human cells.

Suitability of Borago officinalis for Minimal Processing as Fresh-Cut Produce

Borage (Borago officinalis L.) is a wild vegetable appreciated as a folk medicine and for culinary preparations. The introduction of borage as a specialized cultivation would allow for the diversification of vegetable crops and would widen the offerings of raw and minimally processed leafy vegetables. Thus, the aim of the research was to evaluate the quality and shelf-life of fresh-cut borage stored at different temperatures. Borage plants were grown during the autumn–winter season and immediately minimally processed after harvest. Fresh-cut borage leaves packed in sealed bags were stored at 2 or 6 °C for 21 d. Weight loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid, nitrates, leaf color characteristics and overall quality were determined through the storage period. Borage plants were deemed suitable for minimal processing. Storage temperature significantly influenced the rate of quality loss. Borage leaves had an initial nitrate content of 329.3 mg kg−1 FW that was not affected by temperature or storage. TSS and TA were higher in leaves stored at 6 °C. TSS, TA and ascorbic acid content increased during storage. Minimally processed borage leaves stored at 2 °C had lower weight loss and leaf color modifications during storage and a longer shelf life than those stored at 6 °C, so were still marketable after 21 d of storage.

Fungal endophytes of Plumbago zeylanica L. enhances plumbagin content

BACKGROUND

Plumbagin is one of the pharmaceutically important biomolecule with anticancer potential. Among the plants reported to produce plumbagin, P. zeylanica topped the list. The plumbagin production is very slow with low yield and maximum 0.5% (of dry weight) was reported in P. zeylanica. To meet the increasing demand of the plumbagin at global level, the P. zeylanica are exploited at commercial level, which may pose serious threat on the germplasm of the plant populations. So, it is needed to enhance the contents of plumbagin in P. zeylanica using biotechnological approaches. Among the various methods used to enhance the contents of plumbagin in P. zeylanica, utilization of fungal endophytes to enhance the plumbagin contents is a widely accepted approach. As fungal endophytes have the potential to synthesize various secondary metabolites and also reported to influence the synthesis of the secondary metabolites in plants. In the present study, an attempt was made to assess the effect of fungal endophytes of the Plumbago zeylanica L. on enhancement of plumbagin contents at in vivo level.

RESULTS

Total 3 fungal endophytes were recorded from the roots of P. zeylanica collected from Khadki, Pune. The fungal endophytes were identified at morphological and molecular level. After 1 year of the treatment with fungal endophytes, significant enhancement of plumbagin was recorded in the roots of the P. zeylanica. Plumbagin contents in each were quantified against the standard plumbagin by employing LCMS-MS technique. Among the three fungal endophytes, the maximum enhancement of plumbagin content (122.67%) was reported with the treatment of Alternaria   sp. (Isolate-3) in the roots of the P. zeylanica compared to control.

CONCLUSION

Among the three fungal endophytes, the maximum enhancement of plumbagin content (122.67%) was reported with Alternaria sp. (Isolate 3) in the roots of the pot-grown plants of P. zeylanica at in vivo level.

Antibacterial, anthelmintic, and analgesic activities of Piper sylvaticum (Roxb.) leaves and in silico molecular docking and PASS prediction studies of its isolated compounds

Background In the present study, we investigated the antibacterial, anthelmintic, and analgesic activities of methanol extract of P. sylvaticum leaves (MEPSL) in experimental models. Then, computational analysis (in silico molecular docking and PASS prediction) was performed to determine the potent phytoconstituents of total six isolated compounds of this plant for antibacterial and anthelmintic activities. Methods Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical studies were carried out by established methods. In vitro antibacterial activity was determined by disc diffusion technique and anthelmintic activity was tested against Tubifex tubifex worm whereas analgesic activity was determined by the acetic acid-induced writhing test in mice. Molecular docking study was performed using Schrödinger Maestro 10.1 and an online tool used for PASS prediction. Results Our phytochemical study revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, and also indicated a substantial amount of phenols (65.83 mg), flavonoids (102.56 mg), and condensed tannins (89.32 mg). MEPSL showed good antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Our result exhibited that MEPSL has strong anthelmintic action compared to standard levamisole. In addition, the extract also showed a dose-dependent and statistically significant analgesic activity at the doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg, body weight. Docking studies showed that piperine and piperlonguminine have the best scores for the tested enzymes. PASS predicted the antibacterial and anthelmintic activity of both phytoconstituents. Conclusions This study suggests that MEPSL possess significant antibacterial, anthelmintic, and analgesic activities which could be related to the presence of several phytochemicals. The phytoconstituents, i.e. piperine and piperlonguminine were found to be most effective in computational studies.

Antibacterial and cytotoxicity activities and phytochemical analysis of three ornamental plants grown in Mexico

This study evaluates the antibacterial, cytotoxic activities, and phytochemical composition, of Callistemon citrinus, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis and Plumbago auriculata leaves and flowers, three ornamental plants in Mexico. However, in other countries offers a range of other uses. Ethanol extracts of C. citrinus leaf and flower presented stronger antibacterial activity than the extracts obtained from the other two plants. C. citrinus leaf showed low cytotoxicity (LC50 <600 µg/mL) on the brine shrimp test, whereas the ethanol extracts of H. rosa-sinensis and P. auriculata leaves showed no cytotoxic activity. Flower extracts obtained from the three plants did no exhibit cytotoxicity. GC-MS analysis revealed that the ethanol extract of P. auriculata leaf contained lupeol triterpene and lupeol acetate, neither of them have been previously reported in this genus. Gamma sitosterol was present in the leaf and flower extracts of P. auriculata. Higher contents of linoleic and linolenic acids were found in extracts of H. rosa-sinensis leaves and flowers. The ability of the ethanol extracts of C. citrinus leaves and flowers to inhibit the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria indicates a potentially broad antimicrobial spectrum. Moreover, the absence of cytotoxicity suggests the potential use of this plant to treat microbial infections.

Effectiveness and therapeutic value of phytochemicals in acute pancreatitis: A review

BACKGROUND

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is an inflammatory disorder of the pancreas that can lead to local and systemic complications. Repeated attacks of AP can lead to chronic pancreatitis, which markedly increases the probability of developing pancreatic cancer. Although many researchers have attempted to identify the pathogenesis involved in the initiation and aggravation of AP, the disease is still not fully understood, and effective treatment is limited to supportive therapy.

METHODS

We aim to summarize available literature focused on phytochemicals (berberine, chlorogenic acid, curcumin, emblica officinalis, ellagic acid, cinnamtannin B-1, resveratrol, piperine and lycopene) and discuss their effectiveness and therapeutic value for improving AP.

RESULTS

This study is based on pertinent papers that were retrieved by a selective search using relevant keywords in PubMed and ScienceDirect databases.

CONCLUSIONS

Many phytochemicals hold potential in improving AP symptoms and may be a valuable and effective addition to standard treatment of AP. It has already been proven that the crucial factor for reducing the severity of AP is stimulation of apoptosis along with/or inhibition of necrosis. Supplementation of phytochemicals, which target the balance between apoptosis and necrosis can be recommended in ongoing clinical studies.

Acantholippia salsoloides: Phytochemical Composition and Biological Potential of a Thujonic Population

Acantholippia salsoloides (Verbenaceae) is an aromatic plant widespread in the Andean region. The infusion (leaves and flowers) is widely used as a digestive stimulant as well as for the treatment of various diseases in traditional medicine. A. salsoloides attributes its common name “rica-rica” to the fresh and sweet fragrance of the plant. In this work, 2 different polar extracts and the essential oil of a selected rica-rica population were studied. The phenolic composition was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography diode array detector; the essential oil profile was determined by gas-chromatography ion-trap mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection. For all extracts, the antibacterial potential was performed by in vitro assays; the antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibition were determined in decoction and hydroethanolic extracts. The volatile profile allowed the identification of 26 volatile compounds, β-thujone (84%) being the major one in this rica-rica population. Eighteen phenolic compounds were identified; isoferulic acid (16%-18%) and cynaroside (45%-47%) were the larger ones. In a general way, the hydroethanolic extract was more active against Staphylococcus aureus and Micrococcus luteus (minimum inhibitory concentrations= 0.3- 1.3 mg/mL). Both polar extracts have strong antiradical activities although decoction extract proved to be more active against DPPH· (half-maximal inhibitory concentration [IC50] =36 µg/mL) and O2•− (IC50 =28 µg/mL) while hydroethanolic extract shows higher action over α-glucosidase (IC50 =217 µg/mL). The results suggest that A. salsoloides leaves and flowers may be an interesting source of natural antioxidants, antidiabetics, or antimicrobials, and could be used in dietary supplements, medicinal products and pharmaceutical formulations.

Aonla phytochemicals: extraction, identification and quantification

Methanolic, ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of five aonla varieties were analyzed for phytochemical characterization using RP-HPLC. Five compounds viz. ascorbic acid, gallic acid, ellagic acid, ethyl gallate and quercetin were identified in aonla extracts by RP-HPLC at 270 nm. Significant variations were observed in amount of identified phytochemical among the varieties. The highest level of phytochemical was observed in methanolic extract of variety Desi followed by varieties Kanchan, NA-7, Banarasi and Chakaiya. Among the solvent, methanol extracted the maximum phytochemicals while yield was least in ethyl acetate extract of aonla varieties. Gallic acid and ellagic acid were the most abundant phenolic compounds in extracts of aonla varieties. Ellagic acid (349.51 mg/100 g) and gallic acid (233.49 mg/100 g) were found maximum in methanolic extract of Desi variety. Results of the present study suggested that aonla is a good source of phenolic and flavonoid compounds.

Wound Healing Activity of Alcoholic Extract of Tamarix Aphylla L. on Animal Models

To evaluate the wound healing activity of ethanolic extract of Tamarix aphylla L. on animal model. Wound creation like circular excision and linear incision method were considered for this study. The various parameters were studied like DNA estimation, total protein estimation, estimation of Hexosamine and Uronic acid, estimation of lipid peroxides and antioxidant activity, Tensile Strength of tissues from incision wounds, Antioxidant activity, Antimicrobial activity, Period of epithelialization and finally TNF-a concentration in the wound tissue homogenate were estimated. The treatment groups with the extract showed significant antimicrobial activity with compare to the standard drug. Significantly, 93. 86% increase in the collagen content and significant 52% up regulation in tensile strength was observed in the treated group. 40% reduction was observed in epithelialization period of the treated wounds. The results of the current study confirm that the ethanolic extract of T. aphylla has potent wound healing capacity.