Inhibition activities ofcolchicum luteumbaker on lipoxygenase and other enzymes

Anatomical, Morphological, and Chemical Characterizations and Biological Activities of Gagea taurica Steven (Liliaceae): A New Record for the Turkish Flora

Gagea genus, which is native to the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions, has attracted significant attention due to its biodiversity and potential health benefits. In this study, the biochemical composition and biological activities of methanol extracts from various parts of G. taurica were investigated, along with their anatomical and morphological characteristics. The best antimicrobial activity was found to be MeOH extracts of corm and leaf against several Candida strains with MIC=640 μg/mL. The highest level of phenolics together with significant results of antioxidant activities were observed in flowers extracts. The α-amylase inhibition assay results showed that the highest inhibition percentage was observed with acarbose (59 %), followed by leaf extract (43 %). Leaf exhibited the most effective inhibitory activity in AChE inhibition assay, whereas flower demonstrated the most significant inhibitory activity in BChE inhibition assay. Hesperidin was found as 1621.0001 ng/ml value in flower extract and 283.9339 ng/ml value leaf.

Bioassay-Guided Alkaloids Isolation from Camellia sinensis and Colchicum luteum: In Silico and In Vitro Evaluations for Protease Inhibition

Bioassay-guided isolation from Camellia sinensis (Theaceae) and Colchicum luteum (Liliaceae) utilizing an in vitro model of protease assay revealed colchicine (1) and caffeine (2) from chloroform fractions, respectively. Their structures were validated using spectral techniques. The purified compounds were further optimized with Gaussian software utilizing the B3LYP functional and 6-31G(d,p) basis set. The result files were utilized to determine several global reactivity characteristics to explain the diverse behavior of the compounds. Colchicine (1) showed a higher inhibition of protease activity (63.7 ± 0.5 %age with IC50 = 0.83 ± 0.07 mM), compared with caffeine (2) (39.2 ± 1.3 %age). In order to determine the type of inhibition, compound 1 was further studied, and, based on Lineweaver–Burk/Dixon plots and their secondary replots, it was depicted that compound 1 was a non-competitive inhibitor of this enzyme, with a Ki value of 0.690 ± 0.09 mM. To elucidate the theoretical features of protease inhibition, molecular docking studies were performed against serine protease (PDB #1S0Q), which demonstrated that compound 1 had a strong interaction with the different amino acid residues located on the active site of this understudied enzyme, with a high docking score of 16.2 kcal/mol.

In Vitro Enzyme Inhibitory and Antioxidant Properties, Cytotoxicity, and LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS Profile of Extracts from the Halophyte Lotus creticus L

Background: The halophyte Lotus creticus L. (creta trefoil, Fabaceae) belongs to a family and genus containing several medicinal species, and is considered a promising crop for saline Mediterranean areas. However, to the best of our knowledge, information regarding the biological properties of this species that could increase its biotechnological value is particularly scarce. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the potential use of creta trefoil collected in Southern Portugal (Algarve) as a source of bioactive products. Methods: Food-grade extracts (water, acetone, ethanol) were obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction from aerial parts (stems and leaves) and fruits (pods), and evaluated for acute toxicity on mammalian cells. In vitro enzymatic inhibition was appraised on enzymes related to neurodegeneration (acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterase: AChE and BuChE), type-2 diabetes (T2DM, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase), and hyperpigmentation/food browning (tyrosinase). In vitro, antioxidant activity included radical scavenging towards 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS), ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and metal chelating activity on iron and copper. Chemical composition was established by liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (LC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS). Results: Samples were not toxic and were active towards AChE (especially acetone extracts) and BuChE (particularly ethanol and acetone fruits’ extracts). Acetone and water fruit extracts and ethanol extract from aerial organs displayed significant inhibition on α-glucosidase, but low capacity towards amylase. All extracts exhibited a high capacity to inhibit tyrosinase, except water extract from aerial organs. Fruit extracts had, in general, the highest antioxidant capacity, especially ethanol. Fruits exhibited the highest diversity of polyphenols, especially flavonols, catechins, quercetin, myricetin, and its derivatives. Conclusions: Overall, our results suggested that creta trefoil should be further explored as a source of natural products for the management of T2DM, hyperpigmentation disorders, or food additive to prevent food oxidation and browning.

Pereira C, Stefanucci A, Mollica A, Zengin G, Llorent-Martínez EJ, Castilho PC, Custódio L. Phenolic Profile, Toxicity, Enzyme Inhibition, In Silico Studies, and Antioxidant Properties of Cakile maritima Scop. (Brassicaceae) from Southern Portugal

Cakile maritima Scop. (sea rocket) is an edible halophyte plant with several ethnomedicinal uses. This work reports the chemical profile and bioactivities of food grade extracts from sea rocket organs. Toxicity was determined on mammalian cells, and phenolic profiling and the quantitation of the main metabolites were made by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS). Enzymatic inhibition was determined towards acetyl- and butyrylcholinesterase (AChE, BuChE), α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and tyrosinase. Docking studies were performed to tyrosinase, on the major metabolites, and samples were tested for antioxidant properties. Extracts were not toxic, were constituted mainly by flavonoids, and some compounds (roseoside and oleuropein) are here described for the first time in the species. The aerial organs' ethanol extract had relevant activity towards 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl [DPPH, half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 0.59 mg/mL], and ferric-reducing activity power (FRAP, IC50 = 0.99 mg/mL). All samples were more active towards AChE than on BuChE. The ethanol fruits' extract inhibited α-glucosidase [2.19 mmol of equivalent of acarbose (ACAE)/g]. Samples were active against tyrosinase, especially the aerial organs' ethanol extracts [25.9 mg of equivalent of kojic acid (KAE)/g]. Quercetin and kaempferol glycosides fit well into the enzymatic pocket of tyrosinase. Our results suggest sea rocket as a candidate to be further explored as a source of bioactive products.

New candidates for treatment and management of carpal tunnel syndrome based on the Persian Canon of Medicine

Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is defined as a compressing median mononeuropathy. CTS is one of the major costly debilitating diseases of the hand. Although CTS is a relatively recent concept in current medicine, some evidences show that medieval physicians in Persian medicine (PM) such as Avicenna were familiar with it. The PM textbook written by Avicenna, the Canon of Medicine, defines the anatomy of carpal tunnel and median nerve, as well as mononeuropathy; it also offers suggestions for the prevention and treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome (called as Vaja al-asab and Khadar) in the chapter of nerve diseases. The book describes not only symptoms including pain, paresthesia, hypoesthesia, tingling, and numbness, but also its etiology such as nerve compression (entrapment neuropathy); nonphysical reasons such as disturbed balance among the four body humors; alteration in the nerve's temperament (Mizaj) that prevents the transmission of nerve impulses; and the others such as nutrition, mental condition, sleep, weather condition, body movements, and proper disposal of body waste. Furthermore, the book suggests a lifestyle modification method based on six factors and 10 prescriptions composed with 85 natural products that are not actively used for CTS treatment in modern times. The medicinal suggestions for CTS in the Canon of Medicine will be good candidates for discovering new treatments besides providing historical significance to the various insights considered 1000 years ago.

Scientific Evaluation of Pharmacological Treatment of Osteoarthritis in the Canon of Medicine

Osteoarthritis is the most common articular disease worldwide. Nonetheless, common osteoarthritis treatments are either not effective or associated with side effects. Now the materials derived from plants have found a relevant place in drug discovery. Until the mid-18th century, osteoarthritis in all medical schools worldwide had been managed as general arthritis. Avicenna, the famous scholar of Iranian traditional medicine has provided a long list of herbs that have been used traditionally to treat arthritis. To gain this worthy list, we searched his most famous medical masterpiece: Canon of Medicine. Some of these materials are investigated and employed by modern medicine. However, it is difficult to ignore that still more of these naturally occurring materials could be of use in modern medicine not only to prevent osteoarthritis progression but also osteoarthritis management as natural anti-inflammatory drugs.

Evaluation of the disease modifying activity of Colchicum luteum Baker in experimental arthritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Colchicum luteum (CL) has been traditionally used in the Unani system of medicine as a chief ingredient of many polyherbal formulations for the treatment of joint pain and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the antiarthritic activity of CL hydroalcoholic extract (CLHE) in formaldehyde and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Arthritis was induced by administration of either formaldehyde (2% v/v) or CFA into the subplantar surface of the hind paw of the animal. Joint swelling was measured on days 8, 9 and 10 in formaldehyde induced arthritis and days 3, 7, 14 and 21 in CFA induced arthritis. In order to evaluate the effect of CLHE on disease progression, serum TNF-α level and synovial expression of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-R1, IL-6 and IL-1β) was determined in CFA induced arthritis.

RESULTS

CLHE produced a significant and dose dependent inhibition of joint swelling during the entire duration of the study in both, formaldehyde and CFA induced arthritis. Serum TNF-α level was also reduced significantly in a dose dependent manner in all the CLHE treated groups. The expression of proinflammatory mediators (TNF-R1, IL-6 and IL-1β) was also found to be less in the CLHE treated group as compared to control.

CONCLUSION

We believe that the antiarthritic activity of CLHE was due to its modulatory effect on the expression of proinflammatory cytokine in the synovium. Our results contribute towards validation of the traditional use of CL in the treatment of RA and other inflammatory joint disorders.

Enzyme inhibition activities of Andrachne cardifolia Muell

The crude methanolic extract and various fractions of Andrachne cardifolia Muell, including chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions were subjected to in vitro enzyme inhibition activity against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, lipoxygenase and urease enzymes. A significant enzyme inhibition activity (40-89%) was shown by the crude methanolic extract and its fractions against lipoxygenase, while low to significant activity (40-71%) against butyrylcholinesterase. The crude methanolic extract and its various fractions demonstrated poor to significant activity (25-73%) against acetylcholinesterase and no activity against urease.

Antimicrobial bioassay of colchicum luteum baker

The methanolic extract of the corms of Colchicum luteum Baker (Liliaceae) and its subsequent fractions in different solvent systems were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. The crude extract and all the fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antifungal activities against tested pathogens in antifungal bioassay. Excellent antifungal activity was shown against trichophyton longifusus, up to 75%, and microsporum canis, up to 85%, while the crude extract and subsequent fractions showed mild to moderate activities in an antibacterial bioassay with maximum antibacterial activity 58% against Bacillus subtilis.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of teucrium royleanum (Labiatea)

The crude methanolic extract and subsequent fractions of Teucrium royleanum (Labiatea) were screened for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Against tested pathogens, crude extract and subsequent fractions demonstrated moderate to excellent antibacterial activities. Highest antibacterial activity was displayed by the ethyl acetate fraction against S. typhi (100%), against E.coli (76.7%) and against P. aerugenosa (70.8%) followed by the chloroform fraction against S. typhi (85.7%). Similarly, the crude extract and its subsequent fractions showed mild to excellent activities in the antifungal bioassay with maximum antifungal activity against M. canis (87%) by the chloroform fraction followed by the ethyl acetate (71%) and n-butanol (70%) fractions.