Phytochemical composition and bioactive effects of ethyl acetate fraction extract (EAFE) of Glechoma hederacea L

Studying the Functional Potential of Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea L.) Extract Using an In Vitro Methodology

Glechoma hederacea L., known as ground ivy, has a long history of use in folk medicine. The main bioactive compounds in ground ivy are polyphenolic compounds known for their potent antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and thus have high potential as functional ingredients against bacterial infections and the occurrence of chronic diseases associated with oxidative stress in the human body. The aim of the present study was to determine the biological activity of ground ivy extract on selected human cell lines, including hepatic (HepG2), tongue (CAL 27), gastric (AGS) and colon (Caco-2) cancer cell lines by evaluating cytotoxicity, formation of reactive oxygen species and genotoxicity. The antioxidant capacity of the extract was additionally evaluated using cellular model macromolecules of protein and DNA, bovine serum album and plasmid phiX174 RF1 DNA. The effect of ground ivy extract on representatives of human microflora, including L. plantarum, E. coli and S. aureus, was also studied. The cytotoxicity of the extract depended on the type of cells treated, and the pro-oxidant effect generally decreased with increasing exposure time. The most pronounced genoprotective effect against hydroxyl radical damage was monitored in model plasmid DNA and occurred at the highest tested concentration (0.25 mg mL-1), with 95.89% preservation of the supercoiled form of the plasmid. This concentration also had the most significant antioxidant activity on the model protein-14.01% more than the positive control prepared using Trolox. The ground ivy extract showed high antimicrobial potential against the pathogenic bacteria E. coli and S. aureus.

New Aspect of Composition and Biological Properties of Glechoma hederacea L. Herb: Detailed Phytochemical Analysis and Evaluation of Antioxidant, Anticoagulant Activity and Toxicity in Selected Human Cells and Plasma In Vitro

It is known that phenolic compounds can alleviate the negative impact of oxidative stress and modulate hemostasis. However, the effect of extracts and phenolics from Glechoma hederacea L. on the biomarkers of these processes is not well documented. The aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro protective effects of one extract and three fractions (20, 60, and 85% fraction) from G. hederacea L. on oxidative stress and hemostasis. Phytochemical analysis showed that aerial parts of G. hederacea L. are rich in both phenolic acids (such as rosmarinic acid, neochlorogenic acid, and chlorogenic acid) and flavonoids (mainly rutin and glycoside derivatives of apigenin, quercetin, and luteolin). We observed that the 85% fraction (at three concentrations: 5, 10, and 50 μg/mL) inhibited protein carbonylation. Moreover, the extract and 85% fraction (at the concentration of 50 μg/mL) could reduce lipid peroxidation. All fractions and the extract were very effective at decreasing H2O2-induced DNA damage in PBM cells. The 85% fraction had the strongest protective potential against DNA oxidative damage. We also observed that the extract and fractions decreased PBM cell viability to a maximum of 65% after 24 h incubation. Our results indicate that the 85% fraction showed the strongest antioxidant potential. The main component of the 85% fraction was apigenin (26.17 ± 1.44 mg/g), which is most likely responsible for its strong antioxidant properties.

Rosmarinic Acid and Related Dietary Supplements: Potential Applications in the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer

Cancer constitutes a severe threat to human health and quality of life and is one of the most significant causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Natural dietary products have drawn substantial attention in cancer treatment and prevention due to their availability and absence of toxicity. Rosmarinic acid (RA) is known for its excellent antioxidant properties and is safe and effective in preventing and inhibiting tumors. This review summarizes recent publications on culture techniques, extraction processes, and anti-tumor applications of RA-enriched dietary supplements. We discuss techniques to improve RA bioavailability and provide a mechanistic discussion of RA regarding tumor prevention, treatment, and adjuvant therapy. RA exhibits anticancer activity by regulating oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, cell cycle, apoptosis, and metastasis. These data suggest that daily use of RA-enriched dietary supplements can contribute to tumor prevention and treatment. RA has the potential for application in anti-tumor drug development.

Optimization of the Extraction Procedure for the Phenolic-Rich Glechoma hederacea L. Herb and Evaluation of Its Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Potential

The dried Glechoma hederacea L. herb has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Its therapeutic potential is related to the presence of phenolic compounds. To optimize extraction efficiency the effect of the use of different techniques (HRE—heat reflux extraction, I/ME—infusion combined with maceration, UE—sonication and SE—Soxhlet extraction), various solvents (water and ethanol) and processing time (15 min to 2 h) on phenolics content was investigated. The HPLC method was applied to determine and compare the content of phenolic acids (rosmarinic, chlorogenic, protocatechuic) and flavonoids (rutin, isoquercetin) in the extracts. Furthermore, the cytotoxic activity of the extracts was examined for the first time against human cancer and normal cells of skin origin (A375, HTB140, HaCaT) and gastrointestinal origin (Caco-2 and HT-29, HepG2). In addition, the antioxidant potential was evaluated using the DPPH and FRAP method. The I/ME-water and HRE/ethanol procedures turned out to be optimal for obtaining extracts of dried G. hederacea L. herb rich in bioactive phenolics. These extracts exhibited high antioxidant activity, correlated with the content of the compounds analyzed. Furthermore, the extracts of the dried Glechoma herb were not toxic to normal human cells, indicating its safe use both internally and externally.

Pharmacological and Chemical Potential of Spiranthes sinensis (Orchidaceae): A Narrative Review

Orchidaceae is one of the largest families of flowering plants with more than 27,000 accepted species, and more than 31,000–35,000 species are estimated to exist in total. The orchid Spiranthes sinensis (Pers.) Ames, having ornamental and medicinal value, is widely distributed throughout Asia and Oceania. S. sinensis (Shou Tsao) is also known as Panlongshen among the common folk herbs. It has a fleshy root similar to ginseng, and the entire plant is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. Owing to overexploitation and habitat destruction in recent years, the wild population has become scarce. The traits of this species show obvious differences in different countries. In the Taiwanese climate, it flowers during the Ching Ming Festival, also called the ching ming tsao. Previous investigations into S. sinensis have revealed the presence of flavonoids, homocyclotirucallane, dihydrophenanthrenes, ferulic acid, and 3,4-dihydroxybenzaldehyde. Phenolic constituents of structural and biological interest, including phenanthrenes and flavonoids, have been isolated and identified from S. sinensis. This natural product possesses extensive bioactivity, including anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects. In this review, we outline the herbal medicine formulations and plant-derived natural products of S. sinensis.

Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties of Glechoma hederacea Extracts Obtained by Supercritical Fluid Extraction, Using Different Extraction Conditions

Glechoma hederacea var. longituba is a herbaceous plant from the Lamiaceae family, used in herbal medicine. In this work, we aimed to assess the total phenolic content, antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of extracts obtained from G. hederacea via supercritical dioxide extraction with methanol as a co-solvent under different extraction conditions. The results showed that the activity of the obtained SC-CO2 extracts is strongly dependent on the extraction temperature. Significantly higher total polyphenol content, as well as antioxidant and antimicrobial activity towards bacteria and yeasts, was observed in the extract obtained at 40 °C, compared to extracts obtained at 50 °C and 60 °C; however, antifungal activity against filamentous fungi was not dependent on the extraction conditions. Antimicrobial activity also depended on the microorganism type. Higher sensitivity was exhibited by Gram-positive bacteria than by Gram-negative bacteria, with S. aureus and P. aeruginosa being the most sensitive species among each group. The most susceptible fungi were Candida albicans and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The antibiofilm activity was differentiated and depended on the extraction conditions, the microorganism and the method of biofilm treatment. All tested extracts inhibited biofilm formation, with the extract obtained at 40 °C showing the highest value, whereas only extract obtained at 60 °C efficiently removed mature biofilm.