An overview of the genus Aloysia Paláu (Verbenaceae): Essential oil composition, ethnobotany and biological activities

Metabolite profiling of Piper longum L. fruit volatiles by two-dimensional gas chromatography and time-of-flight mass spectrometry: Insights into the chemical complexity

Piper longum L. (long pepper) is an economically and industrially important medicinal plant. However, the characterization of its volatiles has only been analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In the present study, precise characterization of P. longum fruit volatiles has been performed for the first time through advanced two-dimensional gas chromatography-time-of-flight spectrometry (GC×GC-TOFMS). A total of 146 constituents accounting for 93.79% were identified, of which 30 were reported for the first time. All these constituents were classified into alcohols (4.5%), alkanes (8.9%), alkenes (6.71%), esters (6.15%), ketones (0.58%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (1.64%), oxygenated monoterpenes (2.24%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (49.61%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (13.03%), phenylpropanoid (0.23%), and diterpenes (0.2%). Among all the classes, sesquiterpene hydrocarbons were abundant, with germacrene-D (2.87% ± 0.01%) as the major one, followed by 8-heptadecene (2.69% ± 0.03%), β-caryophyllene (2.43% ± 0.03%), n-heptadecane (2.4% ± 0.04%), n-pentadecane (2.11% ± 0.05%), and so forth. Further, 20 constituents were observed to be coeluted and separated precisely in the two-dimensional column. The investigation provides an extensive metabolite profiling of P. longum fruit volatiles, which could be helpful to improve its therapeutic potential.

Baccharoides anthelmintica (L.) Moench: A Review on Ethnomedicinal, Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Toxicological Profile

Baccharoides anthelmintica (L.) Moench is a popular medicinal plant with a long history of use in several traditional remedies to cure a variety of diseases including; its effect on the central nervous system, gastrointestinal tract, metabolism, kidneys, gynecology, skin diseases, and general health. The present review aims to provide the latest, organized information on toxicological, pharmacological, phytochemical, and ethnomedicinal applications of Baccharoides anthelmintica. For this; several well-known searchable websites (search engines) like; Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus-Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, Springer, and DOAJ, were used to empirically investigate the knowledge of this useful medicinal plant. Based on previous studies, the pharmacological action of B. anthelmintica is due to various secondary metabolites including alkaloids, terpenoids, lignans, steroids, and other phytoconstituents. Hence, the present study recorded 225 phytochemicals obtained from different parts of the plant, where the steroids and derivatives (48), terpenes and sesquiterpenes (46), flavonoids and derivatives (41), fatty acids and derivatives (40), phenolic acids (12), triterpenes (11), chalcones (06), diterpenes (01) and miscellaneous (20) were reported. The present review also covered the pharmacological importance, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic action, liver disease, anticancer potential, anti-HIV, antiosteoporotic action, antitoxic action, skin disorder, wound healing and immunomodulatory activity, systemic infection, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases etc. The review concluded that B. anthelmintica has several pharmacological activities, which were due to the presence of secondary metabolites present in it, and thus indicates the importance of medicinal value of this plant. Hence, B. anthelmintica may be a good source for developing a lead molecule in the process of new drug discovery and development. More study is required to determine the pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action, long-term toxicology testing, safe dosage, and possible interactions with other herbs/drugs.

Dietary Supplementation with an Extract of Aloysia citrodora (Lemon verbena) Improves Sleep Quality in Healthy Subjects: A Randomized Double-Blind Controlled Study

Seventy-one healthy subjects with sleep disturbances participated in a randomized, double-blind controlled trial in which dietary supplementation with an extract of Aloysia citrodora (lemon verbena) (n = 33) or placebo (n = 38) was administered for 90 days. There were between-group differences in favor of the experimental group in the visual analogue scale (VAS) for sleep quality (6.5 ± 1.6 vs. 5.5 ± 2.1, p = 0.021) as well as in the overall score (5.8 ± 2.4, p = 0.008) and scores for sleep latency (1.6 ± 1.0 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7, p = 0.027) and sleep efficiency (84.5 ± 12.8 vs. 79.8 ± 13.6, p = 0.023) in the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Sleep-related variables (latency, efficiency, wakefulness after sleep onset, awakenings) assessed by actigraphy also showed better scores in the experimental group (p = 0.001). Plasma nocturnal melatonin levels also increased significantly in the experimental group (199.7 ± 135.3 vs. 174.7 ± 115.4 pg/mL, p = 0.048). Changes in anthropometric parameters and physical activity levels were not found. In summary, a dietary supplement of lemon verbena administered for 3 months was associated with a significant improvement in sleep quality as compared with placebo in a population of healthy subjects with sleep problems.

Cardioprotective Effects of Aloysia polystachya Essential Oil on a Rat Model with Multiple Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Traditional medicine is a frequently utilized method to treat cardiovascular disease and its primary risk factors, including hypertension and dyslipidemia. Aloysia polystachya is a species that is commonly employed to treat various pathological conditions, and it has already been identified as having some cardioprotective effects. This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of the essential oil extracted from the leaves of A. polystachya in a rat model that simulates multiple cardiovascular risk factors. We evaluate the acute toxicity, as well as the cardioprotective effects, by giving different doses of A. polystachya essential oil (1.47 mg/kg, 4.40 mg/kg, and 13.20 mg/kg) over a period of 42 days. The control group was treated with rosuvastatin (5 mg/kg). At the end of the treatments, the renal function, electrocardiography, blood pressure, vascular reactivity, serum biochemical profile, and organ histopathology were evaluated. The main compounds identified in the essential oil of A. polystachya using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry were beta-myrcene (1.08%), limonene (40.13%), and carvone (56.47%). The essential oil of A. polystachya not only lacks acute toxicity but also mitigates the reduction in the excretion of sodium, chloride, and creatinine in urine. Furthermore, it reduces electrocardiographic abnormalities and decreases blood pressure levels. Moreover, this treatment prevents an elevation in markers of inflammation and oxidative stress in the bloodstream. Our findings indicate significant cardioprotective effects of the essential oil of A. polystachya against multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in hypertensive rats.

Chemical composition, anticancer, antimicrobial activity of Aloysia citriodora Palau essential oils from four different locations in Palestine

The primary aim of this investigation was to determine the anticancer and antimicrobial properties of essential oils (EOs) extracted from the leaves of Aloysia citriodora Palau, which were procured from four separate locations in Palestine, in addition to analyzing their chemical composition. These areas include Jericho, which has the distinction of being the lowest location on Earth, at 260 m below sea level. The EOs were acquired by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was examined utilizing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of EOs was assessed against six bacterial strains and one fungal species using 96-well microtiter plates. The primary components found in these oils are geranial (26.32-37.22%), neral (18.38-29.00%), and α-curcumene (7.76-16.91%) in three regions. α-Curcumene (26.94%), spathulenol (13.69%), geranial (10.79%), caryophyllene oxide (8.66%), and neral (7.59%) were found to be the most common of the 32 chemical components in the EO from Jericho. The EOs exhibited bactericidal properties, particularly against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and showed highly effective fungicidal activity. Nevertheless, the antifungal efficacy of the EO was found to surpass its antibacterial activity when administered at lower dosages. The EOs exhibited anticancer activities against melanoma cancer cells, as indicated by their IC50 values, which ranged from 4.65 to 7.96 μg/mL. A. citriodora EO possesses substantial antifungal and anticancer characteristics, rendering it appropriate for utilization in food-related contexts, hence potentially enhancing the sustainability of the food sector.

Synthesis and diverse biological activities of substituted indole β-carbolines: a review

β-Carboline bearing indole is one of the heterocyclic compounds that play a vital role in medicinal chemistry with various pharmacological effects such as anticancer, anti-acetylcholinesterase, anti-inflammation, antimalarial, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, and antioxidant. Over the last two decades, many studies on the synthesis and biological activity of indole β-carboline compounds have been conducted yet there is no appropriate data summary has been presented. Thus, the goal of this review was to highlight the synthesis pathway and bioactivity of substituted indole β-carboline reported from 2005 to date. In addition, this will encourage further investigation into the synthesis and evaluation of new indole β-carboline, in the hope of contributing to the development of potentially new medications for the treatment of various ailments.

Comparing genomes of Fructus Amomi-producing species reveals genetic basis of volatile terpenoid divergence

Wurfbainia longiligularis and Wurfbainia villosa are both rich in volatile terpenoids and are 2 primary plant sources of Fructus Amomi used for curing gastrointestinal diseases. Metabolomic profiling has demonstrated that bornyl diphosphate (BPP)-related terpenoids are more abundant in the W. villosa seeds and have a wider tissue distribution in W. longiligularis. To explore the genetic mechanisms underlying the volatile terpenoid divergence, a high-quality chromosome-level genome of W. longiligularis (2.29 Gb, contig N50 of 80.39 Mb) was assembled. Functional characterization of 17 terpene synthases (WlTPSs) revealed that WlBPPS, along with WlTPS 24/26/28 with bornyl diphosphate synthase (BPPS) activity, contributes to the wider tissue distribution of BPP-related terpenoids in W. longiligularis compared to W. villosa. Furthermore, transgenic Nicotiana tabacum showed that the GCN4-motif element positively regulates seed expression of WvBPPS and thus promotes the enrichment of BPP-related terpenoids in W. villosa seeds. Systematic identification and analysis of candidate TPS in 29 monocot plants from 16 families indicated that substantial expansion of TPS-a and TPS-b subfamily genes in Zingiberaceae may have driven increased diversity and production of volatile terpenoids. Evolutionary analysis and functional identification of BPPS genes showed that BPP-related terpenoids may be distributed only in the Zingiberaceae of monocot plants. This research provides valuable genomic resources for breeding and improving Fructus Amomi with medicinal and edible value and sheds light on the evolution of terpenoid biosynthesis in Zingiberaceae.

Diversity and biological activities of medicinal plants of Santiago island (Cabo Verde)

Plants continue to constitute key elements of medical practice in West African countries. The Cabo Verde archipelago hosts a great diversity of medicinal plants and local markets are considered important sites for trading plants harvested by rural communities. This study has two main goals: (i) to assess the medicinal uses of native species in Santiago, the biggest island of the archipelago, and (ii) to evaluate the antioxidant, antimicrobial and antidiabetic/antihyperglycemic activities of two native trees (Tamarix senegalensis and Sideroxylon marginatum) used in traditional medicine and traded in local markets. Our results revealed that on Santiago Island, 24 native plants are used in traditional medicine. The main uses of these species (e.g., forage, timber, food and fibres), their medicinal applications, the plant parts used, their mode of administration and conservation status are presented here for the first time. Moreover, the pharmacological characterization of two native tree species revealed that hydroethanolic extracts were richer in phenolic compounds and more active than their aqueous counterparts. All the studied extracts revealed significant antioxidant properties (DPPH and FRAP assays) and were generally moderately active against Gram-positive bacteria. All the extracts inhibited the activities of the carbohydrate digestive enzymes α-glucosidase and α-amylase in a dose-dependent manner. For α-glucosidase, the detected inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ values from 2.0 ± 0.2 μg/mL to 9.9 ± 1.2 μg/mL) was significantly higher than that of acarbose, suggesting that extracts of both species can delay glucose absorption, thereby assisting in slowing down the progression of diabetes. Our findings highlight the crucial importance that medicinal plants have for the Cabo Verdean population, while also raising awareness on the need for sustainable use and conservation of native flora, and of tree species traded in local markets in particular.

Chemical Profile and Skin-Beneficial Activities of the Petal Extracts of Paeonia tenuifolia L. from Serbia

Without being aware of its chemical makeup, many ancient societies have used Steppe peony in their traditional medicine. Given that modern phytopreparation intended for use on human skin requires, above all, knowledge of its chemical composition, the goal of this study was to make a screening of the composition of aqueous and methanolic extracts of the petals of P. tenuifolia L. and to examine them for various skin-beneficial properties. The extracts were prepared by maceration, ultrasound-assisted, and microwave-assisted extraction procedures. The chemical profiling was conducted by the use of UHPLC-LTQ-OrbiTrap MS and UHPLC/MS, and spectrophotometric methods for the determination of total polyphenol and total flavonoid contents. The biological activities entailed antioxidant ABTS, DPPH, CUPRAC (Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity), and FRAP (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) assays, antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) and antibiofilm activities, cytotoxicity, wound healing potential, as well as the adhesion and invasion of Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The results showed that the petals are rich in phenolic acids and flavonoids, which are commonly associated with numerous biological activities. The aqueous extracts were more efficient in the majority of the bioactivity assays then the methanolic ones, whereas the optimal extraction method varied between the assays. This study is the first step towards the safe use of the aqueous extracts of P. tenuifolia petals for therapeutic skin treatments.

There Is Not Only Cupressus sempervirens L.: A Review on the Phytochemistry and Bioactivities of the Other Cupressus L. Species

This review article reports for the first time phytochemistry, ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities of all Cupressus L. species other than Cupressus sempervirens L. Indeed, the literature survey showed how many other Cupressus species are rich of important phytochemical compounds, widely used in the ethnobotanical field for several purposes and endowed with interesting biological activities, even if they are somehow neglected by the scientific community. This review aims to continue the study of these other Cupressus species and promote more research on them.

Glucose Tolerance, Antiprotease Activity and Total Oxidant/Antioxidant Capacity Studies of β-Glucosidase Hybrid Nanoflower for Industrial Applications

β-Glycosidases, which catalyse the hydrolysis of glycoside bonds, have a wide spectrum of industrial applications. However, the reaction product glucose inhibits the activities of many β-glucosidases. Consequently, the reduced catalytic activities of the enzyme limit the industrial applications of the enzymes. For that reason, the studies dealing with maintaining the activities of the relevant enzymes at high glucose concentrations are a great interest among the researchers. In this context, herein, protein-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers were synthesized using β-glucosidase and copper ion by fast sonication method for 10 min. After characterization of synthesized nanoflowers, pH/temperature studies, glucose tolerance, anti-protease activity, recyclability and total antioxidant and total oxidative capacity levels were estimated. Accordingly, the optimum pHs of free β-glucosidase and hybrid nanoflower (β-GNF) were found to be 6 and 5, respectively, and the optimum temperature values for both hybrid nanoflowers and free enzyme were 40 °C. β-GNF exhibited better activity than free enzyme in low acidic and alkaline environment and at high temperature. The nanoflower retained nearly all (99 %) of its initial activity at all glucose concentrations (0.01, 0.05 and 0.1 mg/mL), especially at pH 5 and 6. Also, β-GNF maintained more than 90 % of initial activity at 0.01 and 0.05 mg/mL glucose at pH 4 and 7. It also displayed about 96 % high residual activity after proteinase K treatment for 3 h at 37 °C, while that of the free β-glucosidase was about 87 %. The reusability studies showed that β-GNF only lost ∼28 % of its initial activities at the end of five cycles. The hybrid nanoflowers at 5 mg/mL concentration exhibited the high total antioxidant capacity. In addition, low total oxidant capacity and oxidative stress index levels were recorded at the same concentration of the hybrid nanoflower. The findings of the present study revealed that β-GNFs may be evaluated as a candidate for various industrial applications due to its high glucose tolerance, anti-protease activity, reusability and resistance to low acidic/alkaline environment and high temperature.

Optimization of the Extraction of Total Phenols from Medicago sativa and Its Antioxidant Capacity

The phenolic compounds from alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) are used as antioxidants and in native medicine. They play an indispensable role in defense and signal transduction of the plant under stress conditions. This exploration of the optimal extraction parameters of the total phenols from alfalfa by using ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) was aimed at providing a theoretical basis for better utilization of the total phenols in alfalfa. In this study, the effects of solvent volume fraction (A), extraction time (B), solid-liquid ratio (C) and extraction temperature (D) on the total phenols content and the total antioxidant capacity of Medicago sativa L. WL363HQ after thrips infestation were determined through single-factor experiments. Additionally, the extraction conditions of total phenols were optimized by using Box-Behnken design (BBD) of response surface methodology (RSM). The results showed that the proposed model had a good fitting degree for total phenols extraction (R² =0.9564). The total phenols extraction from WL363HQ had significant relationship with solid-liquid ratio (C) and extraction temperature (D) (P<0.05). The influence levels of the four factors on total phenols extraction were as follows: extraction temperature (D) > solid-liquid ratio (C)>acetone volume fraction (A)>extraction time (B). The optimum extraction conditions of total phenols from WL363HQ were 50 % acetone, solid-liquid ratio of 1 : 20 (g/mL), extraction time of 45 min and extraction temperature of 60 °C. The corresponding content and total antioxidant capacity under the optimized conditions were 15.76 mg g^-1 and 28.79 μmol Trolox g^-1 . These results provided a new extraction method of total phenols from alfalfa.

In vivo assessment of reversing Cisplatin-Induced nephrotoxicity using Jatropha mollissima crude extract and its potential cytotoxicity

Jatropha mollissima is one of the ancient plants that known in Africa, Asia and Latin America for its high medicinal value. Previously we showed that the ethanolic leaves extract of J. mollissima was able to reverse the aminoglycoside antibiotics induced nephrotoxicity in only two weeks of administration. Here, we evaluated the phytochemicals, antioxidant and in vivo cytotoxicity of the ethanolic leaves extract in addition to the ability of reversing Cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in wistar albino rats. The results of phytochemical analysis showed the presence of flavonoids, phenols, tannins and saponins, with significantly high antioxidant activity. The treated rats did not show any cytotoxic signs; no anatomical, physiological and/or histopathological changes compared with the control group. Kidney, spleen and liver tissues appeared normal after two weeks administration of the maximum dose, with a possible alteration in distal tubules, proximal tubules and glomerulus of the kidney tissues. The results of nephrotoxicity and kidney function suggest promising potential for J. mollissima in kidney damage treatment.

Determination of fingerprints contents of different extracts and parts of six endemic Salvia taxa by GC-MS: Source species for valuable compounds with drug or drug potential

Public use of Salvia species and their importance in the scientific world is continually increasing. It is known that this use and the importance of Salvia species are mostly due to the terpenoid compounds that they contain. In this context, the terpenoid-steroid-flavonoid contents of extracts of six endemic Salvia (S. kurdica, S. pseudeuphratica, S. rosifolia, S. siirtica, S. cerino-pruinosa var. cerino-pruinosa and S. cerino-pruinosa var. elazigensis) species prepared with different solvents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Within the framework of the ingredient analysis, content analysis of the ethanol extracts of the root, branch, leaf and flower parts of the species collected in the same period between 2015 and 2017 years was performed. In general, extracts prepared with chloroform and ethanol were found to contain a wide variety of compounds while petroleum ether extracts were found to contain much less varied compounds. In addition, in general, root extracts are richer in terpenoid compounds than aerial part extracts. Some species can be used as source species in terms of ferruginol, cryptanol, 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, lup-(20)29-ene-2α-hydroxy-3β-acetate, salvigenin and β-sitosterol contents (52,114.28, 75,979.08, 101,247.41, 40,071.29, 33,952.13 and 34,010.90 μg analyte/g extract, respectively).

A Systematic Review on Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany and Biological Activities of the Genus Bunium L

The aim of this review article is to present, for the first time, an appraisal of the phytochemical, ethnobotanical and pharmacological data on Bunium species. The literature search was conducted using the Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The genus Bunium has been found to produce both essential oil (EO), mainly comprising monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, and non-volatile components mainly coumarins and flavonoids. There are several pharmacological activities associated with the Bunium species, especially antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The chemotaxonomic appraisal of the phytochemical pattern of the genus is in sink with the current classification of the family. Moreover, this review confirms the significant ethnobotanical and pharmacological potential of different Bunium species.