UPLC-DAD/Q-TOF-MS Based Ingredients Identification and Vasorelaxant Effect of Ethanol Extract of Jasmine Flower

Phytomedicinal therapeutics for male infertility: critical insights and scientific updates

Infertility is a significant cause of anxiety, depression, and social stigma among couples and families. In such cases, male reproductive factors contribute widely to the extent of 20-70%. Male infertility is a multifactorial disease with several complications contributing to its diagnosis. Although its management encompasses both modern and traditional medicine arenas, the first line of treatment, adopted by most males, focuses on the reasonably successful medicinal plant-based conventional therapies. Phyto-therapeutics, which relies on active ingredients from traditionally known herbs, influences sexual behavior and male fertility factors. The potency of these phyto-actives depends on their preparation methods and forms of consumption, including decoctions, extracts, semi-purified compounds, etc., as inferred from in vitro and in vivo (laboratory animal models and human) studies. The mechanisms of action therein involve the testosterone pathway for stimulation of spermatogenesis, reduction of oxidative stress, inhibition of inflammation, activation of signaling pathways in the testes [extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK)/protein kinase B(PKB)/transformation of growth factor-beta 1(TGF-β1)/nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells NF-kB signaling pathways] and mediation of sexual behavior. This review critically focuses on the medicinal plants and their potent actives, along with the biochemical and molecular mechanisms that modulate vital pathways associated with the successful management of male infertility. Such intrinsic knowledge will significantly further studies on medicinal plants that improve male reproductive health.

Role of Herbal Teas in Regulating Cellular Homeostasis and Autophagy and Their Implications in Regulating Overall Health

Tea is one of the most popular and widely consumed beverages worldwide, and possesses numerous potential health benefits. Herbal teas are well-known to contain an abundance of polyphenol antioxidants and other ingredients, thereby implicating protection and treatment against various ailments, and maintaining overall health in humans, although their mechanisms of action have not yet been fully identified. Autophagy is a conserved mechanism present in organisms that maintains basal cellular homeostasis and is essential in mediating the pathogenesis of several diseases, including cancer, type II diabetes, obesity, and Alzheimer’s disease. The increasing prevalence of these diseases, which could be attributed to the imbalance in the level of autophagy, presents a considerable challenge in the healthcare industry. Natural medicine stands as an effective, safe, and economical alternative in balancing autophagy and maintaining homeostasis. Tea is a part of the diet for many people, and it could mediate autophagy as well. Here, we aim to provide an updated overview of popular herbal teas’ health-promoting and disease healing properties and in-depth information on their relation to autophagy and its related signaling molecules. The present review sheds more light on the significance of herbal teas in regulating autophagy, thereby improving overall health.

Review of Natural Resources With Vasodilation: Traditional Medicinal Plants, Natural Products, and Their Mechanism and Clinical Efficacy

For decades, chronic diseases including cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) have plagued the world. Meanwhile, we have noticed a close association between CCVDs and vascular lesions, such as hypertension. More focus has been placed on TMPs and natural products with vasodilation and hypotension. TMPs with vasodilatory and hypotensive activities are mainly from Compositae, Lamiaceae, and Orchidaceae (such as V. amygdalina Del., T. procuinbens L., M. glomerata Spreng., K. galanga L., etc.) whereas natural products eliciting vasorelaxant potentials were primarily from flavonoids, phenolic acids and alkaloids (such as apigenin, puerarin, curcumin, sinomenine, etc.). Furthermore, the data analysis showed that the vasodilatory function of TMPs was mainly concerned with the activation of eNOS, while the natural products were primarily correlated with the blockage of calcium channel. Thus, TMPs will be used as alternative drugs and nutritional supplements, while natural products will be considered as potential therapies for CCVDs in the future. This study provides comprehensive and valuable references for the prevention and treatment of hypertension and CCVDs and sheds light on the further studies in this regard. However, since most studies are in vitro and preclinical, there is a need for more in-depth researches and clinical trials to understand the potential of these substances.

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Extract of Jasminum officinal L. Leaves and Evaluation of Cytotoxic Activity Towards Bladder (5637) and Breast Cancer (MCF-7) Cell Lines

INTRODUCTION

Jasminum officinale L. is a very important medicinal and industrial flowering aromatic plant.

METHODS

The present study deals with Jasminum officinale L. leaves extract (JOLE) as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by the green pathway. Phenolic profile of the extract was evaluated using HPLC-PDA/MS/MS technique. Jasminum officinale L. leaves extract silver nanoparticles (JOLE-AgNPs) were characterized by ultraviolet light (UV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), zeta potential and X-ray diffraction (XRD). JOLE-AgNPs were examined for their cytotoxic activities by neutral red uptake assay (NRU) against bladder (5637) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines.

RESULTS

HPLC-PDA/MS/MS tentatively identified 51 compounds of different chemical classes. UV spectra showed absorption peak at λmax = 363 nm. The biosynthesized AgNPs were predominantly spherical in shape with an average size of 9.22 nm by TEM. The face cubic center (fcc) nature of silver nanoparticles was proved by XRD diffractogram. JOLE-AgNPs exhibited high cytotoxic activity against 5637 and MCF-7 cell lines compared to the cytotoxic activities of JOLE with IC50 of 13.09 µg/mL and 9.3 µg/mL, respectively.

DISCUSSION

The silver nanoparticles formed by Jasminum officinale L. showed high cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 and 5637 cell lines and can be introduced as a new alternative cytotoxic medication.

Paraburkholderia panacisoli sp. nov., a potentially antagonistic bacterium against the root rot fungal pathogen Cylindrocarpon destructans, isolated from ginseng cultivation soil

A new bacterium, designated DCY113^T, was isolated from ginseng cultivation soil in Gochang-gun, South Korea, and its taxonomic position identified by the polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis determined that this isolate belongs to the genus Paraburkholderia, and was closest to P. dipogonis DL7^T (98.6%), P. phytofirmans PsJN^T (98.5%), P. kirstenboschensis Kb15^T (98.4%) and P. aromaticivorans BN^T (98.1%). Strain DCY113^T is Gram-reaction negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, and catalase and oxidase positive. The predominant isoprenoid quinone of DCY113^T was ubiquinone Q-8. The major cellular fatty acids were C_16:0, cyclo-C_17:0 and the Summed feature 8 (C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and an unknown amino lipid (AL1). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 62.2 mol%. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) between strain DCY113^T and the related Paraburkholderia type strains were below the threshold value for species delineation. This low DNA relatedness in combination with phylogenetic and phenotypic tests indicates that strain DCY113^T cannot be assigned to any recognized species. Strain DCY113^T was also found to have antifungal activity against the pathogenic fungi Cylindrocarpon destructans. In conclusion, this study found DCY113^T to be a novel species within the genus Paraburkholderia, for which the name P. panacisoli is proposed. The type strain is DCY113^T (= KCTC 52951^T = JCM 32098^T).