Family Myrtaceae: The treasure hidden in the complex/diverse composition

Comparative metabolic study of the chloroform fraction of three Cystoseira species based on UPLC/ESI/MS analysis and biological activities

This study aims to investigate the phytoconstituents of the chloroform fraction of three Cystoseira spp. namely C. myrica, C. trinodis, and C. tamariscifolia using UPLC/ESI/MS technique. The results revealed the identification of 19, 20 and 11 metabolites in C. myrica, C. trinodis, and C. tamariscifolia, respectively mainly terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids and fatty acids. Also, an in vitro antioxidant study using FRAP and DPPH assays was conducted where the chloroform fraction of C. trinodis displayed the highest antioxidant activity in both assays, which would be attributed to its highest total phenolics and total flavonoids. Besides, the investigation of COX-1, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were performed. Regarding C. trinodis, it showed the strongest inhibitory activity towards COX-1. Moreover, it showed potent inhibitory activity towards α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes. According to the molecular docking studies, the major compounds characterised showed efficient binding to the active sites of the target enzymes.

Biocultural heritage of the Caatinga: a systematic review of Myrtaceae and its multiple uses

The Caatinga, an exclusively Brazilian biome, stands as a reservoir of remarkable biodiversity. Its significance transcends ecological dimensions, given the direct reliance of the local population on its resources for sustenance and healthcare. While Myrtaceae, a pivotal botanical family within the Brazilian flora, has been extensively explored for its medicinal and nutritional attributes, scant attention has been directed towards its contextual relevance within the Caatinga's local communities. Consequently, this inaugural systematic review addresses the ethnobotanical roles of Myrtaceae within the Caatinga, meticulously anchored in the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. We searched Scopus, MEDLINE/Pubmed, Scielo, and LILIACS. No date-range filter was applied. An initial pool of 203 articles was carefully scrutinized, ultimately yielding 31 pertinent ethnobotanical studies elucidating the utility of Myrtaceae amongst the Caatinga's indigenous populations. Collectively, they revealed seven distinct utilization categories spanning ~54 species and 11 genera. Psidium and Eugenia were the genera with the most applications. The most cited categories of use were food (27 species) and medicinal (22 species). The importance of accurate species identification was highlighted, as many studies did not provide enough information for reliable identification. Additionally, the potential contribution of Myrtaceae fruits to food security and human health was explored. The diversity of uses demonstrates how this family is a valuable resource for local communities, providing sources of food, medicine, energy, and construction materials. This systematic review also highlights the need for more ethnobotanical studies to understand fully the relevance of Myrtaceae species in the Caatinga, promoting biodiversity conservation, as well as support for local populations.

Volatile Profiles and DNA Barcodes of Myrtaceae Species with Occurrence in the Brazilian Amazon

Myrtaceae family includes many species with taxonomic challenges, making it one of the most complex families to identify. This study used DNA barcoding to find molecular markers for species authentication based on the Myrtaceae family's chemical composition and genetic diversity. Essential oils and genetic material were extracted from the leaves of six different species: Eugenia uniflora, E. patrisii, Myrcia splendens, Psidium guajava, P. guineense, and Psidium sp. The samples were analyzed based on compound classes and grouped into two categories. Group I included samples with high amounts of oxygenated sesquiterpenes (3.69-76.05 %) and fatty acid derivatives (0.04-43.59 %), such as E. uniflora, Myrcia splendens, and E. patrisii. Group II included samples P. guajava, P. guineense, and Psidium sp., which had a significant content of monoterpene hydrocarbons (0.69-72.35 %), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (8.06-68.1 %), phenylpropanoids (0.45-22.59 %), and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (0.27-21.84 %). The PsbA-trnH gene sequences had a high genetic variability, allowing the species to be distinguished. A phylogenetic analysis showed two main clusters with high Bootstrap values corresponding to the subtribes Eugeniineae, Myrciinae, and Pimentinae. The results suggest a weak correlation between genetic and chemical data in these Myrtaceae species.

Synthesis, characterization, and inhibition effects of a novel eugenol derivative bearing pyrrole functionalities on the corrosion of mild steel in a HCl acid solution

Semi-synthetic modifications of natural products have yielded numerous anti-cancer drugs, antimicrobials, and corrosion inhibitors. In this study, eugenol, a natural product, was synthetically modified to generate a novel heterocyclic compound: pyrrole, which forms crystals. The latter is the outcome of the condensation reaction between eugenol hydrazide and 2,5-hexanedione, conducted under reflux ethanol conditions, without a catalyst, achieving a 96% yield. This compound structure was characterized through spectroscopic methods, such as NMR and FTIR, and validated par the crystal's X-ray diffraction analysis. According to the findings of the electrochemical study, pyrrole demonstrated effective inhibition against the carbon steel's corrosion in a 1 M HCl acid solution.

Efficacy of Rotundic Acid and Its Derivatives as Promising Natural Anticancer Triterpenoids: A Literature-Based Study

Rotundic acid (RA) is a naturally occurring pentacyclic triterpene with a multitude of pharmacological activities. The primary emphasis of this study is on summarizing the anticancer properties with the underlying mechanisms of RA and its derivatives, as well as the pharmacokinetic features. Data was collected (up to date as of November 10, 2023) from various reliable and authentic literatures by searching in different academic search engines, including PubMed, Springer Link, Scopus, Wiley Online, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar. The findings imply that RA and its synthetic derivatives possess promising anti-cancer properties against breast, colorectal, liver, and cervical cancers in various preclinical pharmacological test systems. The results also indicate that RA and its derivatives demonstrated anticancer effects via a number of cellular mechanisms, including apoptotic cell death, inhibition of oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory effect, cytotoxicity, cell cycle arrest, anti-proliferative effect, anti-angiogenic effect, and inhibition of cancer cell migration and invasion. It has been proposed that RA and its derived compounds have the capability to serve as a hopeful chemotherapeutic agent, so further extensive clinical research is necessary.

In vitro and in vivo studies of Syzygium cumini-loaded electrospun PLGA/PMMA/collagen nanofibers for accelerating topical wound healing

This work aims to develop plant extract-loaded electrospun nanofiber as an effective wound dressing scaffolds for topical wound healing. Electrospun nanofibers were fabricated from Syzygium cumini leaf extract (SCLE), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), collagen and glycine. Electrospinning conditions were optimized to allow the formation of nanosized and uniform fibers that display smooth surface. Morphology and swelling behavior of the formed nanofibers were studied. In addition, the antibacterial activity of the nanofibers against multidrug-resistant and human pathogens was assessed by agar-well diffusion. Results showed that nanofibers containing Syzygium cumini extract at concentrations of 0.5 and 1% w/v exhibited greater antibacterial activity against the tested Gram-positive (i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Bacillus cereus) and Gram-negative (i.e., Salmonella paratyphi and Escherichia coli) pathogens compared to the same concentrations of the plain extract. Furthermore, in vivo wound healing was evaluated in Wistar rats over a period of 14 days. In vivo results demonstrated that nanofiber mats containing SCLE and collagen significantly improved wound healing within two weeks, compared to the control untreated group. These findings highlight the potential of fabricated nanofibers in accelerating wound healing and management of topical acute wounds.

In Vitro Antioxidant and In Vivo Hepatoprotective Properties of Wissadula periplocifolia Extract

Wissadula periplocifolia (L.) Thwaites is a traditional medicinal plant belonging to the family Malvaceae, used in folk medicine for inflamed snake bites and bee stings. The current study was designed to investigate the in vitro antioxidant and in vivo anti-inflammatory and hepatoprotective activities of 80% ethanol extract of W. periplocifolia and its different fractions. The crude ethanolic extract (CEE) was then serially fractionated with petroleum ether fraction (PEF), chloroform fraction (CHF), and aqueous fraction (AQF). The antioxidant activity was assessed using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical assay, anti-inflammatory activity was determined in the xylene-induced ear edema model, and hepatoprotective activity was measured in the paracetamol-induced hepatic injury model. PEF showed a significant scavenging effect with an IC50 value of 33.5 μg/mL, followed by CEE (IC50 = 42.2 μg/mL), CHF (IC50 = 77 μg/mL), and AQF (IC50 = 80 μg/mL), compared to standard butylated hydroxytoluene (IC50 = 14.8 μg/mL). Both doses of CEE (250 and 500 mg/kg) could reduce ear edema by 41.3 and 50%, respectively, compared to standard diclofenac sodium (76.09%). Moreover, CEE significantly reduces the elevated liver enzymes (ALT, AST, and ALP), compared to control. Nevertheless, it elevated blood protein and reduced the blood bilirubin level (p < 0.01), compared to control. Histopathological studies also indicated significant protection of the liver from paracetamol-induced liver damage. In conclusion, W. periplocifolia could be a good source of antioxidant and hepatoprotective phytochemicals; meanwhile, toxicological and pharmacokinetic studies are recommended.

Larvicidal and Fungicidal Activity of the Leaf Essential Oil of Five Myrtaceae Species

Myrtaceae is one of the most diverse and abundant botanical families, exhibiting wide diversity in the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs). EOs have various biotechnological applications such as controlling the populations of organisms that negatively impact humans. This study aimed to extract EOs from Myrtaceae species, chemically characterize them, and evaluate their larvicidal and fungicidal effects. EOs were extracted from the leaves of Eugenia brasiliensis, Eugenia uniflora, Psidium cattleyanum, Psidium guajava, and Syzygium cumini by hydrodistillation for 3 h and characterized by chromatographic analysis. Larvaes of Aedes aegypti and colonies of Fusarium oxysporum were subjected to increasing EO concentrations to determine the larvicidal and fungicidal potential. The EOs of Eugenia and Psidium species are primarily composed of sesquiterpenes (>80 %), whereas S. cumini EO is rich in monoterpenes (more than 60 %). The Eugenia species had similar amounts of oxygenated monoterpenes, which may explain their higher larvicidal potential compared to other species, with CL50 of 86.68 and 147.46 PPM, respectively. In addition to these two study species, S. cumini showed a high inhibition of fungal growth, with more than 65 % inhibition. We demonstrated that the actions of five EOs from Myrtaceae with different biological activities are associated with chemical diversity.

Chromosome-scale assemblies of S. malaccense, S. aqueum, S. jambos, and S. syzygioides provide insights into the evolution of Syzygium genomes

Syzygium is a large and diverse tree genus in the Myrtaceae family. Genome assemblies for clove (Syzygium aromaticum, 370 Mb) and sea apple (Syzygium grande, 405 Mb) provided the first insights into the genomic features and evolution of the Syzygium genus. Here, we present additional de novo chromosome-scale genome assemblies for Syzygium malaccense, Syzygium aqueum, Syzygium jambos, and Syzygium syzygioides. Genome profiling analyses show that S. malaccense, like S. aromaticum and S. grande, is diploid (2n = 2x = 22), while the S. aqueum, S. jambos, and S. syzygioides specimens are autotetraploid (2n = 4x = 44). The genome assemblies of S. malaccense (430 Mb), S. aqueum (392 Mb), S. jambos (426 Mb), and S. syzygioides (431 Mb) are highly complete (BUSCO scores of 98%). Comparative genomics analyses showed conserved organization of the 11 chromosomes with S. aromaticum and S. grande, and revealed species-specific evolutionary dynamics of the long terminal repeat retrotransposon elements belonging to the Gypsy and Copia lineages. This set of Syzygium genomes is a valuable resource for future structural and functional comparative genomic studies on Myrtaceae species.

Effect of Essential Oils of Apiaceae, Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae, and Rutaceae Family Plants on Growth, Biofilm Formation, and Quorum Sensing in Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis

The biological role played by essential oils extracted from aromatic plants is progressively being recognized. This study evaluated the potential antibacterial activity of ten essential oils against Chromobacterium violaceum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus faecalis by measuring their minimum inhibitory concentration. We found that essential oils exert different antimicrobial effects, with Origanum vulgare and Foeniculum vulgare demonstrating the most significant inhibitory effect on bacterial growth for C. violaceum and E. faecalis. The growth of P. aeruginosa was not affected by any essential oil concentration we used. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of essential oils reduced in C. violaceum and E. faecalis biofilm formation, violacein amount, and gelatinase activity, all of which are biomarkers of the Quorum Sensing process. These concentrations significantly affect the global methylation profiles of cytosines and adenines, thus leading to the hypothesis that the oils also exert their effects through epigenetic changes. Considering the results obtained, it is possible that essential oils can find a broad spectrum of applications in counteracting microbial contamination and preserving sterility of surfaces and foods, as well as inhibiting microbial growth of pathogens, alone or in combination with traditional antibiotics.

Synergistic Effect of Sophora japonica and Glycyrrhiza glabra Flavonoid-Rich Fractions on Wound Healing: In Vivo and Molecular Docking Studies

Glycyrrhiza glabra and Sophora japonica (Fabaceae) are well-known medicinal plants with valuable secondary metabolites and pharmacological properties. The flavonoid-rich fractions of G. glabra roots and S. japonica leaves were prepared using Diaion column chromatography, and the confirmation of flavonoid richness was confirmed using UPLC-ESI-MS profiling and total phenolics and flavonoids assays. UPLC-ESI-MS profiling of the flavonoid-rich fraction of G. glabra roots and S. japonica leaves resulted in the tentative identification of 32 and 23 compounds, respectively. Additionally, the wound healing potential of topical preparations of each fraction, individually and in combination (1:1) ointment and gel preparations, were investigated in vivo, supported by histopathological examinations and biomarker evaluations, as well as molecular docking studies for the major constituents. The topical application of G. glabra ointment and gel, S. japonica ointment and gel and combination preparations significantly increase the wound healing rate and the reduction of oxidative stress in the wound area via MDA reduction and the elevation of reduced GSH and SOD levels as compared to the wound and Nolaver®-treated groups. The molecular docking study revealed that that major compounds in G. glabra and S. japonica can efficiently bind to the active sites of three proteins related to wound healing: glycogen synthase kinase 3-β (GSK3-β), matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8) and nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Consequently, G. glabra roots and S. japonica leaves may be a rich source of bioactive metabolites with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties.

GC/MS Profiling of the Essential Oil and Lipophilic Extract of Moricandia sinaica Boiss. and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activities

The genus Moricandia (Brassicaceae) comprises about eight species that were used in traditional medicine. Moricandia sinaica is used to alleviate certain disorders such as syphilis and exhibits analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, antioxidant, and antigenotoxic properties. Throughout this study, we aimed to figure out the chemical composition of lipophilic extract and essential oil obtained from M. sinaica aerial parts using GC/MS analysis, as well as their cytotoxic and antioxidant activities correlated with the major detected compounds' molecular docking. The results revealed that both the lipophilic extract and the oil were found to be rich in aliphatic hydrocarbons, accounting for 72.00% and 79.85%, respectively. Furthermore, the lipophilic extract's major constituents are octacosanol, γ-sitosterol, α-amyrin, β-amyrin acetate, and α-tocopherol. Contrarily, monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes accounted for the majority of the essential oil. The essential oil and the lipophilic extract of M. sinaica showed cytotoxic properties towards human liver cancer cells (HepG2) with IC₅₀ values of 126.65 and 220.21 µg/mL, respectively. The lipophilic extract revealed antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay with an IC₅₀ value of 2679 ± 128.13 µg/mL and in the FRAP assay, moderate antioxidant potential was expressed as 44.30 ± 3.73 µM Trolox equivalent/mg sample. The molecular docking studies revealed that ꞵ-amyrin acetate, α -tocopherol, γ-sitosterol, and n-pentacosaneachieved the best docking scores for NADPH oxidase, phosphoinositide-3 kinase, and protein kinase B. Consequently, M. sinaica essential oil and lipophilic extract can be employed as a viable management strategy for oxidative stress conditions and the formulation of improved cytotoxic treatment regimens.