Triterpene and flavone glycosides fromAnchusa undulatasubsp.hybrida

Exploring the Biological and Phytochemical Potential of Jordan's Flora: A Review and Update of Eight Selected Genera from Mediterranean Region

Jordan's flora is known for its rich diversity, with a grand sum of 2978 plant species that span 142 families and 868 genera across four different zones. Eight genera belonging to four different plant families have been recognized for their potential natural medicinal properties within the Mediterranean region. These genera include Chrysanthemum L., Onopordum Vaill. Ex. L., Phagnalon Cass., and Senecio L. from the Asteraceae family, in addition to Clematis L. and Ranunculus L. from the Ranunculaceae family, Anchusa L. from the Boraginaceae family, and Eryngium L. from the Apiaceae family. The selected genera show a wide variety of secondary metabolites with encouraging pharmacological characteristics including antioxidant, antibacterial, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, anti-ulcer, and neuroprotective actions. Further research on these genera and their extracts will potentially result in the formulation of novel and potent natural pharmaceuticals. Overall, Jordan's rich flora provides a valuable resource for exploring and discovering new plant-based medicines.

Pimpinella pruatjan Molk: LC-MS/MS-QTFT Analysis of Bioactive Compounds from Decoction and Ethanol Extract of Aerial Parts

Pimpinella pruatjan Molk is native to Java and well known as aphrodisiac in traditional medicine. A water-boiled extract of the plant has been used in the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED). No study has been found on the phytochemical constituents and identification of corresponding biological activities in water and polar extract. This study is aimed to identify phytoconstituents of a decoction and ethanol extract from the aerial parts of P. pruatjan Molk. Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze and predict the bioactive compounds in both extracts. LC-MS/MS revealed both extracts contained two important compounds: Luteolin-7-O-β-D glucopyranoside and Undulatoside A. Luteolin and Luteolin glucoside are also found in P.anisum L. Lutein 7-O glucoside was found in water extract, while more bioactive compounds, including populnin, 3,5-O-dicaffeoylquinic acid, quercetin-3'- O glucoside, methylophiopogononeone-A, kaempferol-7-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside, and 7-hydroxy-3,5,6,3',4'- pentamethoxyflavone, were found in ethanol extract. Accumulation of flavonoids, phenols, phenylpropanoids, alkaloids, and furanochromone in low quantities was observed in both extracts. This is the first report providing evidence justifying its use as a traditional medicine. Further investigation into the pharmacology mechanism of action is required.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antimutagenic and Antiviral Activity of Moringa oleifera L. Leaf Infusion: In Vitro and In Silico Studies

Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) leaves are rich in nutrients and antioxidant compounds that can be consumed to prevent and overcome malnutrition. The water infusion of its leaf is the easiest way to prepare the herbal drink. So far, no information is available on the antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antivirus capacities of this infusion. This study aimed to determine the composition of the bioactive compounds in M. oleifera leaf infusion, measuring for antioxidant and antimutagenic activity, and evaluating any ability to inhibit the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro). The first two objectives were carried out in vitro. The third objective was carried out in silico. The phytochemical analysis of M. oleifera leaf infusion was carried out using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Antioxidant activity was measured as a factor of the presence of the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The antimutagenicity of M. oleifera leaf powder infusion was measured using the plasmid pBR322 (treated free radical). The interaction between bioactive compounds and Mpro of SARS-CoV-2 was analyzed via molecular docking. The totals of phenolic compound and flavonoid compound from M. oleifera leaf infusion were 1.780 ± 5.00 µg gallic acid equivalent/g (µg GAE/g) and 322.91 ± 0.98 µg quercetin equivalent/g (µg QE/g), respectively. The five main bioactive compounds involved in the infusion were detected by LC-MS. Three of these were flavonoid glucosides, namely quercetin 3-O-glucoside, kaempferol 3-O-neohesperidoside, and kaempferol 3-α-L-dirhamnosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucopyranoside. The other two compounds were undulatoside A, which belongs to chromone-derived flavonoids, and gentiatibetine, which belongs to alkaloids. The antioxidant activity of M. oleifera leaf infusion was IC50 8.19 ± 0.005 µg/mL, which is stronger than the standard butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) IC50 11.60 ± 0.30 µg/mL. The infusion has an antimutagenic effect and therefore protects against deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. In silico studies showed that the five main bioactive compounds have an antiviral capacity. There were strong energy bonds between Mpro molecules and gentiatibetine, quercetin, undulatoside A, kaempferol 3-o-neohesperidoside, and quercetin 3-O-glucoside. Their binding energy values are −5.1, −7.5, −7.7, −5.7, and −8.2 kcal/mol, respectively. Their antioxidant activity, ability to maintain DNA integrity, and antimutagenic properties were more potent than the positive controls. It can be concluded that leaf infusion of M. oleifera does provide a promising herbal drink with good antioxidant, antimutagenic, and antivirus capacities.

The Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungus Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833 Modulates Metabolites Production of Anchusa officinalis L. Under Semi-Hydroponic Cultivation

Anchusa officinalis is recognized for its therapeutic properties, which are attributed to the production of different metabolites. This plant interacts with various microorganisms, including the root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Whether these fungi play a role in the metabolism of A. officinalis is unknown. In the present study, two independent experiments, associating A. officinalis with the AMF Rhizophagus irregularis MUCL 41833, were conducted in a semi-hydroponic (S-H) cultivation system. The experiments were intended to investigate the primary and secondary metabolites (PMs and SMs, respectively) content of shoots, roots, and exudates of mycorrhized (M) and non-mycorrhized (NM) plants grown 9 (Exp. 1) or 30 (Exp. 2) days in the S-H cultivation system. Differences in the PMs and SMs were evaluated by an untargeted ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics approach combined with multivariate data analysis. Differences in metabolite production were shown in Exp. 1. Volcano-plots analysis revealed a strong upregulation of 10 PMs and 23 SMs. Conversely, in Exp. 2, no significant differences in PMs and SMs were found in shoots or roots between M and NM plants whereas the coumarin scoparone and the furanocoumarin byakangelicin, accumulated in the exudates of the M plants. In Exp. 1, we noticed an enhanced production of PMs, including organic acids and amino acids, with the potential to act as precursors of other amino acids and as building blocks for the production of macromolecules. Similarly, SMs production was significantly affected in Exp 1. In particular, the phenolic compounds derived from the phenylpropanoid pathway. Fifteen di-, tri-, and tetra-meric C₆-C₃ derivatives of caffeic acid were induced mainly in the roots of M plants, while four oleanane-types saponins were accumulated in the shoots of M plants. Two new salvianolic acid B derivatives and one new rosmarinic acid derivative, all presenting a common substitution pattern (methylation at C-9"' and C-9' and hydroxylation at C-8), were detected in the roots of M plants. The accumulation of diverse compounds observed in colonized plants suggested that AMF have the potential to affect specific plant biosynthetic pathways.

Triterpenoids from Anchusa italica and their protective effects on hypoxia/reoxygenation induced cardiomyocytes injury

Six new triterpenoids (1-6) and 22 known analogues (7-28), were separated from the aerial parts of Anchusa italica Retz., a traditional Uygur medicine for treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases in the Xinjiang region, China. The possible effects of compounds 1-28 on hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) induced cardiomyocytes injury were assayed, and compounds 4, 6-17, 21-22 and 26-28 showed significant protective effects. Further, the representative new compound 6 significantly suppressed the levels of H/R-induced apoptosis and autophagy in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, with the reversing of the downregulated expression of Bcl-2 and upregulated expression of Bax and Beclin-1 by compound 6 treatment in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes following H/R injury. In addition, compound 6 protected cardiomyocyte from H/R injury, and pretreatment with 6 could decrease CK and LDH levels. Compound 6 also alleviated H/R-induced phosphorylation of p38 MAPK in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Therefore, tripterpenoid 6 and its analogues may be the pharmacodyamic material of A. italica, and offer a promising therapeutic approach for treating cardiomyocyte injury induced by H/R.

Triterpenoids

This review covers the isolation and structure determination of triterpenoids, including squalene derivatives, protostanes, lanostanes, holostanes, cycloartanes, dammaranes, euphanes, tirucallanes, tetranortriterpenoids, quassinoids, lupanes, oleananes, friedelanes, ursanes, hopanes, serratanes and saponins; 278 references are cited.