In vitro antioxidant activities of Solanum surattense leaf extract

Unlocking the combined action of Mentha pulegium L. essential oil and Thym honey: In vitro pharmacological activities, molecular docking, and in vivo anti-inflammatory effect

Mentha pulegium L., a plant widely embraced for its therapeutic properties by populations worldwide, including Morocco, has long been recognized for its potential in treating various ailments. This study aims to comprehensively evaluate the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and dermatoprotective properties of essential oil derived from M. pulegium, and thyme honey as well as their combined effects. To unravel the chemical composition, a rigorous GC-MS analysis was conducted. Subsequently, we examined their antioxidant potential through three distinct assays: DPPH●, hydrogen peroxide assay, and xanthine oxidase assay. The anti-inflammatory properties were scrutinized through both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Simultaneously, the dermatoprotective efficacy was investigated in vitro by evaluating tyrosinase inhibition. Our findings revealed that pulegone constitutes the predominant compound in M. pulegium essential oil (MPEO), constituting a remarkable 74.82 % of the composition. Significantly, when the essential oil was combined with thym honey, it exhibited superior anti-inflammatory and dermatoprotective effects across all in vivo and in vitro tests. Moreover, our in silico molecular docking analysis hinted at the potential role of cyclohexanone, 3-methyl, an element found in the MPEO, in contributing to the observed outcomes. While this study has unveiled promising results regarding the combined in vitro, in vivo and in silico biological activities of the essential oil and honey, it is imperative to delve further into the underlying mechanisms through additional experimentation and alternative experimental methods. Understanding these mechanisms in greater detail will not only enhance our comprehension of the therapeutic potential but also pave the way for the development of innovative treatments and applications rooted in the synergy of these natural compounds. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to test different possible combinations using experimental design model. Moreover, it would be better to test the effect of single compounds of MPEO to clearly elucidate their efficiency. MPEO alone or combined with thyme honey may be a useful for the development of novel biopharmaceuticals.

Phytochemical composition, anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-diabetic effects of Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. leaves: in vitro and in silico assessments

The aim of this study was to screen the chemical components of Solanum elaeagnifolium leaves and assess their therapeutic attributes with regard to their antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic activities. The antidiabetic effects were explored to determine the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory potential of the leaf extract. To identify the active antidiabetic drugs from the extracts, the GC-MS-screened molecules were docked with diabetes-related proteins using the glide module in the Schrodinger Tool. In addition, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for 100 ns to evaluate the binding stability of the docked complex using the Desmond module. The ethyl acetate had a significant total phenolic content (TPC), with a value of 79.04 ± 0.98 mg/g GAE. The ethanol extract was tested for its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for its bacteriostatic properties. It suppressed the growth of B. subtilis, E. coli, P. vulgaris, R. equi and S. epidermis at a dosage of 118.75 µg/mL. Moreover, the IC50 values of the ethanol extract were determined to be 17.78 ± 2.38 in the α-amylase and and 27.90 ± 5.02 µg/mL in α-glucosidase. The in-silico investigation revealed that cyclolaudenol achieved docking scores of -7.94 kcal/mol for α-amylase. Likewise, the α-tocopherol achieved the docking scores of -7.41 kcal/mol for glycogen phosphorylase B and -7.21 kcal/mol for phosphorylase kinase. In the MD simulations, the cyclolaudenol and α-tocopherol complexes exhibited consistently stable affinities with diabetic proteins throughout the trajectory. Based on these findings, we conclude that this plant could be a good source for the development of novel antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic agents.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Investigation of Antioxidant, Hypoglycemic and Anti-Obesity Effects of Euphorbia Resinifera L

Objectives

The aim of this work is to evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and antiobesity effects of Euphorbia resinifera extracts and investigate the phenolic constituents and the toxicity of these extracts.

Methods

Phytochemical screening was performed to detect polyphenols and flavonoids. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by four methods (DPPH, ABTS, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase inhibition). The hypoglycemic effect was determined by the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes in vitro and via a starch tolerance study in normal rats. The antiobesity effect was estimated by in vitro inhibition of lipase.

Results

Phytochemical screening revealed that the ethanolic extract was rich in polyphenols (99 ± 0.56 mg GEA/g extract) and tannins (55.22 ± 0.17 mg RE/g extract). Moreover, this extract showed higher antioxidant activity in different tests the DPPH assay (IC₅₀ = 53.81 ± 1.83 µg/mL), ABTS assay (111.4 ± 2.64 mg TE/g extract), H₂O₂ (IC₅₀ = 98.15 ± 0.68 µg/mL), and xanthine oxidase (IC₅₀ = 10.26 ± 0.6 µg/mL). With respect to hypoglycemic effect, the aqueous and ethanolic extracts showed IC₅₀ values of 119.7 ± 2.15 µg/mL and 102 ± 3.63 µg/mL for α-amylase and 121.4 ± 1.88 and 56.6 ± 1.12 µg/mL for α-glucosidase, respectively, and the extracts lowered blood glucose levels in normal starch-loaded rats. Additionally, lipase inhibition was observed with aqueous (IC₅₀ = 25.3 ± 1.53 µg/mL) and ethanolic (IC₅₀ = 13.7 ± 3.03 µg/mL) extracts.

Conclusion

These findings show the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, and hyperlipidemic effects of E. resinifera extracts, which should be investigated further to validate their medicinal uses and their pharmaceutical applications.

Mineral and Phenolic Composition of Erodium guttatum Extracts and Investigation of Their Antioxidant Properties in Diabetic Mice

Erodium guttatum is widely used in folk medicine in many countries to treat various ailments such as urinary inflammation, diabetes, constipation, and eczema. The aim of this study is the determination of mineral and phenolic compounds of E. guttatum extracts as well as the investigation of their antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. The mineral composition was determined by the methods of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy analysis. Phytochemical contents of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and catechic tannins were estimated by colorimetric dosages. The phenolic composition was identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) analysis. The antioxidant activity of E. guttatum extracts was measured in vitro by five methods (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase) and in vivo by assaying the malondialdehyde marker (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione (GSH). The obtained results showed that the root plant material is rich in minerals such as k, Ca, and Mg. The methanolic extract of E. guttatum is the richest in polyphenols (389.20 ± 1.55 mg EAG/gE), tannins (289.70 ± 3.57 mg EC/gE), and flavonoids (432.5 ± 3.21 mg ER/gE). Concerning the ESI-HRMS analysis, it showed the presence of numerous bioactive compounds, including shikimic acid, rottlerine, gallic acid, and vanillic acid. Moreover, the aqueous and alcoholic extracts of E. guttatum exhibited antiradical and antioxidant activity in five tests used, with the best effect of the methanolic extract. Moreover, findings showed that in vivo investigations confirmed those obtained in vitro. On the other hand, E. guttatum showed important antidiabetic effects in vivo. Indeed, diabetic mice treated with extracts of E. guttatum were able to significantly reduce MDA levels and increase the secretion of enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, and GSH, respectively). However, the antioxidant activity of the extracts might be attributed to the abundance of bioactive molecules; as results, this work serves as a foundation for additional pharmacological research.

The ethnomedicinal evidences pertaining to traditional medicinal herbs used in the treatment of respiratory illnesses and disorders in Saudi Arabia: A review

Due to their prevalence, respiratory diseases have attained great attention from the historical time. Furthermore, it has been explored in a new dimension due to recent viral outbreaks such as COVID-19. Even though modern medicine treats the majority of respiratory ailments, it is reported that the majority of people (≥80 %) who suffer from respiratory disorders do not take medication for their conditions, and a considerable number of people still believe in and use herbal medicines. Herbal therapies have been utilized all over the world for thousands of years. Traditional herbal treatment has long been seen as a valuable practice in Saudi Arabia, long before modern medicine. Due to its location in the desert and humid climate, Saudi Arabia suffers from a high rate of respiratory illnesses caused by dust, pollens, and viruses. Several published literature have employed different plants and plant products for respiratory problems, but there has yet to be a single, complete study centered on Saudi Arabia. In this review, 41 plants were identified, which has complete details regarding their usage in traditional practice for respiratory disorders. A thorough investigation was conducted and the results were detailed.

Determination of Volatile Compounds of Mentha piperita and Lavandula multifida and Investigation of Their Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Properties

Mentha piperita and Lavandula multifida are widely used in Moroccan traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes and infectious diseases. The aims of this work were the determination of the chemical composition of Mentha piperita (MPEO) and Lavandula multifida (LMEO) essential oils and the evaluation of their antibacterial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities. The chemical composition was determined by GC-MS analysis. The antibacterial effects were evaluated against several bacterial strains using disc diffusion, MIC, and MBC methods. The antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using DPPH, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase, and the antidiabetic activity was estimated by the inhibitory effects of α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase activities. GC-MS results showed that the main compounds of MPEO were menthone (29.24%), levomenthol (38.73%), and eucalyptol (6.75%). However, eucalyptol (28.11%), 2-bornanone (11.57%), endo-borneol (7.82%), and linalyl acetate (5.22%) are the major compounds of LMEO. The results exhibited important inhibitory effects against some bacterial strains with MIC = MBC = 0.39 mg/mL for MPEO against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC. However, LMEO exhibited remarkable antioxidant and antidiabetic activities compared to MPEO. Indeed, LMEO inhibited DPPH, H₂O₂, and xanthine oxidase with concentrations of 15.23, 21.52, and 8.89 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, LMEO exhibited α-amylase and α-glucosidase at IC₅₀ = 85.34 and IC₅₀ = 59.36 µg/mL, respectively. The findings showed that both MPEO and LMEO exhibit promising biological properties. However, the application of these species or their main bioactive compounds requires further investigation.

LC-ESI-MS/MS based characterization of phenolic components in fruits of two species of Solanaceae

The present work appraises the phenolic profile of fruit extracts from two species (Solanum indicum and Solanum surattense) of Solanaceae. The bioactive components from both the species were extracted with different concentrations of acidified (hydrolysis) and aqueous methanol (non-hydrolyzed) and analyzed for the total phenolics calorimetrically. The hydrolyzed extracts of both the species were characterized for phenolic compounds profiling using LC-ESI-MS/MS. The hydrolysis of fruit samples produced greater extract yield (31.9-50.7%) and total phenolics (250.4-289.5 mg GAE/g of extract) than non-hydrolyzed (11.1-19.2 and 161.5-171.2, respectively). The hydrolyzed extracts from both the species, with higher contents of total phenols were analyzed for phenolic profiling using LC-ESI-MS/MS technique and the data authenticated the presence of caftaric acid, ellagic acid, myricetin, apigenin-7-glucoside and methoxy chrysin in S. indicum while isoquercitrin, gallocatechin, quercetin and catechin in S. surattense. The current study explores the profile of valuable phenolic bioactives of the selected species of Solanaceae, thereby supporting their potential applications as ingredients of functional foods and neutraceuticals.

Antigenotoxic and Antioxidant Properties of Solanum cernuum and Its Alkaloid, Cernumidine

Solanum cernuum VE. has been used extensively for the treatment of urinary disorders, gonorrhea and skin infections; cernumidine is a major component of S. cernuum (SC) hydroalcoholic extract. The micronucleus test in V79 cells was used to evaluate the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of SC and cernumidine. For antigenotoxicity assessment, methyl methanesulfonate (MMS, 44 µg/mL) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2, 3.5 µg/mL) were added as inducers of chromosome damage. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test. Significantly higher frequencies of micronuclei were observed in cell cultures treated with SC concentrations of 160 and 320 µg/mL in comparison with the negative control, demonstrating a genotoxic effect. There was no significant difference in the frequency of micronuclei between cell cultures treated with a combination of SC and MMS and those treated only with MMS. On the other hand, a significant reduction in the frequency of micronuclei was observed for V79 cells treated with SC or cernumidine plus H2O2 compared to those treated only with H2O2. Furthermore, SC and cernumidine were able to scavenge free radicals in the DPPH assay. Thus, the protective effect of SC and cernumidine against H2O2 can be attributed to antioxidant activity.

Quantitative ethnobotanical survey of medicinal flora thriving in Malakand Pass Hills, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

STUDY OBJECTIVE

Ethnobotanical knowledge is proving to be invaluable for drug discovery in the wake of effective prospecting from biodiversity. On the other hand, the escalating human pressure is threatening the endogenous flora. Situated at the foothill of the Himalayas, Pakistan boasts of rich floristic distribution. However, many lush yet imperiled regions of this country has never been explored. It inspired us to evaluate and document the taxonomic composition, significance of medicinal plants and associated traditional knowledge in the District of Malakand, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Vegetation growing in Malakand pass hills, Pakistan was studied and data were collected using an open-ended questionnaire, in addition to interviewing the local elderly, knowledgeable persons, and herbal practitioners. Relative Frequency Citation (RFC) and Use Value (UV) of the medicinal plants were calculated and their correlation was determined by Pearson correlation coefficient.

RESULTS

This study encompasses 92 plant species belonging to 56 families thriving in the study area. The information gathered includes ethnobotanical inventory and their pharmacological uses. Quantitative analysis throws light on the consistence of RFC and UV. Asteraceae and Lamiaceae were the most abundant families represented by 6 species each. Shoots were the most used parts (23.6%) and wound healing (7.91%) was the most common therapeutic use.

CONCLUSION

The result obtained from the study implies that local inhabitants rely on these plants for their medicinal requirements. Also, the statistics reveal that, the vegetation can be assessed for potential drug leads. However, urban expansion is threatening the existence of indigenous flora and old generation with ancient herbal wisdom is perishing. So, it appears imperative to preserve the traditional knowledge. This survey is expected to contribute to the discovery of novel bioactive constituents, stimulate conservation efforts of the perturbed flora and promote sustainable exploitation of the medicinal bounty.

Purification, identification and preliminary crystallographic studies of an allergenic protein from Solanum melongena

Solanum melongena (eggplant), a member of the Solanaceae family, is a widely cultivated vegetable crop and is commonly used as a food throughout the world. Allergic reactions caused by members of this family are well known. However, mechanistic analyses to understand their molecular basis have not been adequately explored. In order to address this issue, the 7S vicilin protein (SM80.1) of size 45 kDa was purified from seeds of S. melongena by ammonium sulfate fractionation and size-exclusion chromatography. Significant homology of SM80.1 to an allergy-related protein from S. lycopersicum was identified through a BLAST search. Crystallization attempts with purified protein using the hanging-drop vapour-diffusion method led to hexagonal-shaped crystals. The crystals diffracted to 2.21 Å resolution and belonged to space group P6322, with unit-cell parameters a = 117.9, c = 123.5 Å.

Bioactive Compound Contents and Antioxidant Activity in Aronia (Aronia melanocarpa) Leaves Collected at Different Growth Stages

The bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity of aronia leaves at different stages of maturity were identified and evaluated. Young and old leaves were approximately 2 months of age and 4 months of age, respectively. The young leaves contained more polyphenols and flavonoids than the old leaves. Three phenolic compounds (i.e., chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, and rutin) were detected by HPLC. Antioxidant activity was measured using 2,2-di-phenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS) radical, and superoxide anion radical scavenging assays. The reducing power of aronia leaf extracts increased in a concentration-dependent manner (0~100 μg/mL). The antioxidant activity of the 80% ethanol extract was greater than that of distilled water extract. The high phenolic compound content indicated that these compounds contribute to antioxidant activity. The overall results indicate that aronia leaves contain bioactive compounds, and that younger aronia leaves may be more favorable for extracting antioxidative ingredients because they contain more polyphenols.