Antioxidant potential, total phenolic and total flavonoid contents of Rhododendron anthopogonoides and its protective effect on hypoxia-induced injury in PC12 cells

A review on the biological and bioactive components of Cyperus esculentus L.: insight on food, health and nutrition

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is a small, tuberous root vegetable that has gained increasing attention in recent years due to its potential health benefits. This review article provides an elaborate overview of tiger nut, including its botany, historical uses, nutritional composition, potential health benefits and traditional medicinal uses. This review article comprehensively discusses the nutritional profile of tiger nut, providing a detailed understanding of its nutrient content. Furthermore, the potential health benefits of tiger nut are thoroughly reviewed, including its effects on digestive health, cardiovascular health, blood sugar control, immune function and other potential therapeutic uses. Scientific articles used for this review were retrieved from ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, PubMed and SciELO databases. Only articles published between 1997 and 2022 were used for research. This review contributes to a better understanding of tiger nut and its prospective uses in functional foods and medicine by combining the available scientific material. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Chromene meroterpenoids from Rhododendron dauricum L. and their anti-inflammatory effects

Rhododendron dauricum L. is a perennial herb belonging to the genus Rhododendron, commonly utilized in formulations for treating coughs and bronchitis, as well as in herbal teas for enhancing immunity and preventing tracheitis. In this study, fifteen previously undescribed chromene meroterpenoids (1a/1b-4a/4b, 5-8, 9b, 10a, 11b), along with twenty-one known compounds were isolated from the dried twigs and leaves of Rhododendron dauricum L. Of these, (-)-rhodonoid E (9b), (+)-confluentin (10a), and (-)-rubiginosin D (11b) were separated for the first time by chiral HPLC separation. The elucidation of their structures, including absolute configurations, was achieved through a combination of techniques such as NMR, HRESIMS, modified Mosher's method and quantum-chemical calculation of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra. Seven pairs of enantiomers, compounds 1a/1b-4a/4b and 9a/9b-11a/11b, were initially obtained in a racemic manner and were further separated by chiral HPLC preparation. The biological assessment of these compounds against NO production was conducted in the LPS-induced RAW264.7 macrophage cells model. Compounds 9a, 9b, and 11a displayed inhibitory rates exceeding 80%, with IC50 values ranging from 8.69 ± 0.94 to 13.01 ± 1.11 μM. A preliminary examination of the structure-activity relationship (SAR) for these isolates indicated that chromene meroterpenoids with α, β-unsaturated ketone carbonyl and Δ12(13) double bond functionalities exhibited enhanced anti-inflammatory properties.

Pandanus amaryllifoius Roxb. Leaves Ethanol Extract Ameliorates Lipid and Proinflammatory Cytokines Profiles in a Rat Model of Dyslipidemia

Objectives

Dyslipidemia has currently become a major health challenge that still opens for safer and more effective modes of treatment. The plant Pandanus amaryllifolius Roxb. (pandan) has been indicated to contain active ingredients that interfere with the pathological pathway of dyslipidemia. The aim of the study was to test the effects of pandan leaves ethanol extract on lipid and proinflammatory profiles in a rat dyslipidemic model.

Methods

Dyslipidemia was induced by administration of high-fat feed for 8 weeks. Treatments (vehicle, the reference drug simvastatin at 1.8 mg/kg, and extract at 200, 300 or 600 mg/kg) were given for 4 weeks following the completion of induction.

Results

Significant post-treatment decreases in total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglyceride levels in groups receiving all doses of extract and simvastatin were observed. Similar results were also found in regards to proinflammatory cytokines levels. Pandan extracts significantly lowered the concentrations of IL-6, TNF-α, and NFκB p65. Characterization of metabolite contents of the extract confirmed the presence of the previously suggested active alkaloids pandamarilactonine-A and B.

Conclusion

Taken together, results of the present study implied the ameliorating effects of pandan leaves ethanol extract in dyslipidemic condition which is potential for opening an avenue in combating this essential component of metabolic disorder.

The Ameliorative Effect of Litsea martabanica (Kurz) Hook. f. Leaf Water Extract on Chlorpyrifos-Induced Toxicity in Rats and Its Antioxidant Potentials

Litsea martabanica root's antioxidant and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity showed promise as a pesticide detoxification agent in our previous study. In addition to its root, leaves can help alleviate pesticide exposure, although there is limited scientific evidence supporting their efficacy. However, the use of roots in several countries, such as Thailand, could contribute to environmental degradation, as highland communities traditionally used leaves instead of roots. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant activity and anti-pesticide potential of water extract from L. martabanica leaves through in vitro and in vivo investigations. In the in vitro study, L. martabanica water extract and its fractions demonstrated antioxidant activity and induced apoptosis in hepatic satellite cells. In the in vivo study, treatment with the leaf extract led to increased AChE activity, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, increased superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, and reduced glutathione in chlorpyrifos-exposed rats. Histopathological examination revealed that chlorpyrifos-treated rats exhibited liver cell damage, while treatment with the water extract of L. martabanica exhibited a protective effect on the liver. In conclusion, L. martabanica water extract exhibited antioxidant activity, enhanced AChE activity, and improved histopathological abnormalities in the liver.

An updated review of the genus Rhododendron since 2010: Traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

Rhododendron, the largest genus of Ericaceae, consists of approximately 1000 species that are widely distributed in Europe, Asia, and North America but mainly exist in Asia. Rhododendron plants have not only good ornamental and economic value but also significant medicinal potential. In China, many Rhododendron plants are used as traditional Chinese medicine or ethnic medicine for the treatment of respiratory diseases, pain, bleeding and inflammation. Rhododendron is known for its abundant metabolites, especially diterpenoids. In the past 13 years, a total of 610 chemical constituents were reported from Rhododendron plants, including 222 diterpenoids, 122 triterpenoids, 103 meroterpenoids, 71 flavonoids and 92 other constituents (lignans, phenylpropanoids, phenolic acids, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, coumarins, steroids, fatty acids). Moreover, the bioactivities of various extracts and isolates, both in vitro and in vivo, were also investigated. Our review summarized the research progress of Rhododendron regarding traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology in the past 13 years (2010 to December 2022), which will provide new insight for prompting further research on Rhododendron application and drug development.

A Clean-Label Formulation of Fortified Yogurt Based on Rhododendron Flower Powder as a Functional Ingredient

The world-wide-dispersed Rhododendron is a tiny, evergreen plant with vivid red or pale pink blossoms that is a member of the Ericaceae family and is well-known for its stunning flowers. To improve yogurt's nutritional profile and sensory qualities, this study investigates an innovative application of Rhododendron flower powder (RFP). The potential health benefits of Rhododendron flowers, which are a rich source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols and antioxidants, have attracted attention. Consequently, the physicochemical, phytochemical, and sensory qualities of fortifying yogurt with RFP at various concentrations were studied. The results showed that the texture and color of the yogurt were highly influenced by the addition of RFP. The addition of this functional ingredient also resulted in a significant increase in the yogurt's polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity. These findings demonstrate the suitability of RFP in yogurt formulations as a functional food ingredient, being a good source of phenolics.

Chemical Characterization of Corydalis chaerophylla D.C. Extracts and Preliminary Evaluation of Their in Vitro and in Vivo Biological Properties

Genus Corydalis is a rich source of isoquinoline alkaloids reported to having potential bioactivities. Corydalis chaerophylla collected from Nepal at an altitude of 2400-4800 m was extracted using hexane, methanol and chloroform as solvents. The resulting hexane, methanol and chloroform extracts were subjected to LC-DAD-MSn analysis to yield fifteen different alkaloids. To assess any potential pharmacological properties, antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive, two Gram-negative bacterial strains and one fungal strain was assessed, revealing significant inhibitive action of the methanol and chloroform extracts. Of the extracts obtained using chloroform contained the highest content of phenolic compounds at 113 mg GAE/g, while the highest total flavonoid content was found for the hexane extract with a value of 46.45 mg QE/g. The chloroform extract also exhibited a considerable antioxidant activity at IC50 value, 261.5±3 μg/mL, for the DPPH assay. Conversely, the methanol extract exhibited the highest LC50 value for Brine Shrimp cytotoxicity at 196±3 μg/mL being least potential for the test. The methanol extract was found to be the most active against α-amylase inhibition with an IC50 of 51.52±2 μg/mL. In an in vivo acute oral toxicity study against mice, methanol and chloroform extracts presented harmful effects with 1000.36 mg/kg BW and 515 mg/kg BW for LD50 , respectively. By analyzing all the results of the solvents used, the chloroform extract was found to be the most active, a feature that will be used in future isolation procedures and other pharmacological tests.

GC-MS profiling and evaluation of acute oral toxicity, anti-tumour, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of Croton socotranus Balf.f. aerial parts: in-vitro, in-vivo and in-silico studies

Croton socotranus Balf.f. shrub is widely used traditionally in Asia as an anti-infective. The study was conducted for metabolite profiling, oral acute toxicity and antioxidant studies, antimicrobial activity and anticancer effect against human hepatoma (HepG2), breast cancer (MCF-7) and rhabdomyosarcoma (RD) cells. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 39 compounds, predominantly comprising fatty acids (57.76%), sesquiterpenes (24.56%) and triterpenes (9.54%). The n-hexane fraction exhibited promising antimicrobial activity and displayed a potent anti-tumour effect against HepG2, MCF-7 and RD cells with IC50 values of 3.4, 6.5 and 7.1 μg/mL, respectively. Histological examination revealed significant morphological changes consistent with the changes observed in the apoptotic mechanism of action. The molecular docking study provided insights into the rational binding modes of the identified compounds with phosphoinositide 3-kinase and poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase-1 enzymes. Our findings suggest the potential of C. socotranus as a valuable source of antimicrobial and anticancer agents.

Src Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitory and Antioxidant Activity of Black Chokeberry and Bilberry Fruit Extracts Rich in Chlorogenic Acid

Edible berries such as the fruits of black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa (Michx.) Elliott) and bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) are considered to be rich in phenolic compounds, which are nowadays attracting great interest due to their promising health benefits. The main objective of our study was to investigate, for the first time, their inhibitory properties on Src tyrosine kinase activity, as this enzyme plays an important role in multiple cellular processes and is activated in both cancer and inflammatory cells. In hydroethanolic fruit extracts, 5.0-5.9% of total polyphenols were determined spectrophotometrically, including high amounts of hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives. HPLC analysis revealed that the black chokeberry and bilberry extracts contained 2.05 mg/g and 2.54 mg/g of chlorogenic acid, respectively. Using a time-resolved fluorescence resonance energy transfer (TR-FRET) assay, the extracts studied were found to have comparable inhibitory effects on Src tyrosine kinase, with IC50 values of 366 µg/mL and 369 µg/mL, respectively. The results also indicated that chlorogenic acid contributes significantly to the observed effect. In addition, both fruit extracts exhibited antioxidant activity by scavenging DPPH and NO radicals with SC50 values of 153-352 µg/mL. Our study suggested that black chokeberry and bilberry fruits may be beneficial in cancer and other inflammation-related diseases.

Variation in the anti-oxidant, anti-obesity, and anti-cancer potential of different polarity extracts of saffron petals

The aim of the present study is to explore the anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and anti-obesity potential of saffron petal extract (SPE) prepared through the hydro-alcoholic extraction method. Further partitioning was done with a series of polar and non-polar solvents to find out the most potent fraction of SPE against HCC. Organoleptic characterization depicted the color, odor, taste, and texture of the sub-fractions of SPE. Phytochemical, and pharmacognostic screening of these fractions revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, carbohydrates, glycosides, and phenols. The quantitative assessment demonstrated that the n-butanol fraction showed maximum phenolic (60.8 mg GAE eq./mg EW), and flavonoid (23.3 mg kaempferol eq./mg EW) content. The anti-oxidant study revealed that the n-butanol fraction exhibited the highest radical scavenging activity, as assessed through DPPH and FRAP assay. The results of the comparative cytotoxic potential also showed n-butanol as the best against liver cancer cells (Huh-7), as it has the least IC50 value (462.8 µg/ml). While other extracts viz., chloroform, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous fractions have IC50 values as 1088, 733.9, 1043, and 1245 µg/ml, respectively. Additionally, the n-butanol fraction exerted the highest inhibitory potential against α-amylase (92.5%) and pancreatic lipase enzymes (78%), indicating its anti-adipogenesis property. Based on the current finding, we can deduce that the n-butanol fraction of SPE has better cytotoxic, anti-oxidant, and anti-obesity potential than the other fractions.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03669-x.

Antioxidant Capacity and Protective Effects on H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in PC12 Cells of the Active Fraction of Brassica rapa L

Brassica rapa L. (BR), a traditional biennial herb belonging to the Brassica species of Brassicaceae, has been widely used for functions of anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antioxidation, antiaging, and regulation of immunity. In this study, antioxidant activity and protective effects on H2O2-induced oxidative damage in PC12 cells of the active fractions of BR were investigated in vitro. Among all active fractions, the ethyl acetate fraction of ethanol extract from BR (BREE-Ea) showed the strongest antioxidant activity. Additionally, it was noted that BREE-Ea and n-butyl alcohol fraction of ethanol extract from BR (BREE-Ba) both have protective effects in oxidatively damaged PC12 cells, while BREE-Ea displayed the best protective effect in all determined experimental doses. Furthermore, flow cytometry (DCFH-DA staining) analysis indicated that BREE-Ea could reduce the H2O2-induced apoptosis in PC12 cells by reducing the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and increasing enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px). Moreover, BREE-Ea could decrease the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and reduce the release of extracellular lactic dehydrogenase (LDH) from H2O2-induced PC12 cells. All these results demonstrate that BREE-Ea has a good antioxidant capacity and protective effect on PC12 cells against apoptosis induced by H2O2 and that it can be used as a good edible antioxidant to improve the body's endogenous antioxidant defense.

Valorization of Bioactive Compounds from By-Products of Matricaria recutita White Ray Florets

In this research, we have reported the valorization possibilities of Matricaria recutita white ray florets using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with CO₂. Experiments were conducted at temperatures of 35-55 °C and separation pressures of 5-9 MPa to evaluate their impact on the chemical composition and biological activity of the extracts. The total obtained extraction yields varied from 9.76 to 18.21 g 100 g^-1 DW input. The greatest extraction yield obtained was at 9 MPa separation pressure and 55 °C in the separation tank. In all obtained extracts, the contents of total phenols, flavonoids, tannins, and sugars were determined. The influence of the supercritical CO₂ extraction conditions on the extract antioxidant capacity was evaluated using the quenching activity of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The chemical composition of the extracts was identified using both gas and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry methods, whereas analyses of major and minor elements as well as heavy metals by microwave plasma atomic emission spectrometer were provided. Moreover, extracts were compared with respect to their antimicrobial activity, as well as the cytotoxicity and phototoxicity of the extracts. The results revealed a considerable diversity in the phytochemical classes among all extracts investigated in the present study and showed that the Matricaria recutita white ray floret by-product possesses cytotoxic and proliferation-reducing activity in immortalized cell lines, as well as antimicrobial activity. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper presenting such comprehensive data on the chemical profile, antioxidant properties, and biological properties of SFE derived from Matricaria recutita white ray florets. For the first time, these effects have been studied in processing by-products, and the results generated in this study provide valuable preconditions for further studies in specific test systems to fully elucidate the mechanisms of action and potential applications, such as potential use in cosmetic formulations.

In vitro evaluation of immunomodulatory, anti-diabetic, and anti-cancer molecular mechanisms of Tribulus terrestris extracts

Dampened immunity and impaired wound healing in diabetic patients may lead to diabetic foot ulcer disease, which is the leading cause of limb amputations and hospitalization. On the other hand, cancer is the most significant cause of mortality globally, accounting for over 10 million fatalities in 2020, or nearly one in every six deaths. Plants and herbs have been used to treat chronic diseases due to their essential pharmaceutical attributes, such as mitigating drug resistance, ameliorating systemic toxicities, reducing the need for synthetic chemotherapeutic agents,and strengthening the immune system. The present study has been designed to evaluate the effects of Tribulus terrestris on wound healing, cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory responses against HepG-2 liver cancer cell line. Two solvents (methanol and ethanol) were used for root extraction of T. terrestris. The wound healing potential of the extracts was studied on diabetic cell culture line by scratch assay. The anti-oxidant and cytotoxic potentials were evaluated by in vitro assays against HepG2 cell line. The methanolic root extract resulted in the coverage of robust radical scavenging or maximum inhibition of 66.72%,potent cytotoxic activity or reduced cell viability of 40.98%, and anti-diabetic activity having mighty α-glucosidase inhibition of 50.16% at a concentration of 80 μg/ml. Significant reduction in the levels of LDH leakage (56.38%), substantial ROS (48.45%) and SOD (72.13%) activities were recorededMoreover, gene expression analysis demonstrated the down-regulation of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, MMP-9, Bcl-2, and AFP) in HepG-2 cells when treated with T. terresteris methanolic extract as compared to stress. Furthermore, the down-regulation of inflammatory markers was validated through ELISA-mediated protein estimation of IL-1β and TNF-α. It is expected that this study will lay a foundation and lead to the development of efficient but low-cost, natural herbs extract-based dressing/ointment for diabetic patients and identify potential drug metabolites to treat out-of-whack inflammatory responses involved in cancer onset, progression, and metastasis.

Protective effects of an aqueous extract of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae against radiation-induced testicular injury in mice

The larvae of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis have been used as a food ingredient and are known for their nutritional value and anti-inflammatory properties. However, whether P. brevitarsis seulensis larvae demonstrate protective effects against radiation-induced testicular injury has not been investigated. In this study, the protective effects of an aqueous extract of P. brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBE) against radiation-induced testicular injury were tested. Male C57BL/6 mice were administered PBE (5 or 10 mg/kg) orally for 14 days before exposure to focal pelvic irradiation. Histopathological examinations were conducted at 8 h and 30 d after radiation exposure. PBE pretreatment reduced the radiation-induced apoptosis of germ cells at 8 h after irradiation and significantly increased testis and epididymis weights relative to those of the irradiated control mice at 30 days. PBE protected against histopathological damage and decreased the radiation-induced effects on the epithelium height and seminiferous tubule diameter. Furthermore, the extract ameliorated the radiation-induced morphological abnormalities of sperm cells and improved their motility. It also prevented a decrease in the epididymal sperm count caused by irradiation. Moreover, the extract alleviated the generation of reactive oxygen species, and its antioxidative activity increased in a dose-dependent manner. Among the six major compounds isolated from PBE, benzoic acid and uridine showed the highest antioxidant activities. These results suggest that PBE protects against radiation-induced testicular injury via its antioxidative properties. Thus, it has potential clinical applicability as a neoadjuvant therapy for the prevention of testicular damage caused by cancer radiotherapy.

The Free Radical Scavenging Property of the Leaves, Branches, and Roots of Mansoa hirsuta DC: In Vitro Assessment, 3D Pharmacophore, and Molecular Docking Study

In this work, a metabolic profile of Mansoa hirsuta was investigated, and in vitro assays and theoretical approaches were carried out to evaluate its antioxidant potential. The phytochemical screening detected saponins, organic acids, phenols, tannins, flavonoids, and alkaloids in extracts of leaves, branches, and roots. Through LC-MS analysis, the triterpenes oleanolic acid (m/z 455 [M-H]⁻) and ursolic acid (m/z 455 [M-H]⁻) were identified as the main bioactive components. The extracts of the leaves, branches, and roots revealed moderate antioxidant potential in the DPPH test and all extracts were more active in the ABTS test. The leaf extracts showed better antioxidant capacity, displaying IC₅₀ values of 43.5 ± 0.14, 63.6 ± 0.54, and 56.1 ± 0.05 µg mL⁻¹ for DPPH, ABTS, and kinetics assays, respectively. The leaf extract showed higher total flavonoid content (TFC) (5.12 ± 1.02 mg QR/g), followed by branches (3.16 ± 0.88 QR/g) and roots (2.04 ± 0.52 QR/g/g). The extract of the branches exhibited higher total phenolic content (TPC) (1.07 ± 0.77 GAE/g), followed by leaves (0.58 ± 0.30 GAE/g) and roots (0.19 ± 0.47 GAE/g). Pharmacophore and molecular docking analysis were performed in order to better understand the potential mechanism of the antioxidant activity of its major metabolites.

A Potential Anticancer Mechanism of Finger Root (Boesenbergia rotunda) Extracts against a Breast Cancer Cell Line

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer women suffer from worldwide in 2020 and the 4th leading cause of cancer death. Boesenbergia rotunda is an herb with high potential as an anticancer agent. This study explores the potential bioactive compounds in B. rotunda as anti-breast cancer agents using in silico and in vitro approaches. The in silico study was used for active compound analysis, selection of anticancer compound candidates, prediction of target protein, functional annotation, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation, respectively. The in vitro study was conducted by measurement toxicity, rhodamine 123, and apoptosis assays on T47D cells. Based on the KNApSAcK database, B. rotunda contained 20 metabolites, which are dominated by chalcone and flavonoid groups. Seven of them were predicted to have anticancer activity, namely, sakuranetin, cardamonin, alpinetin, 2S-pinocembrin, 7.4'-dihydroxy-5-methoxyflavanone, 5.6-dehydrokawain, and pinostrobin chalcone. These compounds targeted proteins related to cancer progression pathways such as the PI3K/Akt, FOXO, JAK/STAT, and estrogen signaling pathways. Therefore, these compounds are predicted to inhibit growth and induce apoptosis of cancer cells through their interactions with MMP12, MMP13, CDK4, JAK3, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, and KCNA3. Anticancer activity of B. rotunda through in vitro study confirmed that B. rotunda extract is strong cytotoxic and induces apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines. This study concludes that Boesenbergia rotunda has potency as an anticancer candidate.

Antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of two extracts from Capparis spinosa L. and Rumex nervosus and molecular docking investigation of selected major compounds

The present study examined the phytochemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial properties, and molecular docking of different solvents extracts (methanol and water) of two medicinal plants, namely, Capparis spinosa L (CS) and Rumex nervosus (RN). Phytochemical analysis showed that total phenol, flavonoids, alkaloids, and vitamin C were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) higher in the methanolic extract of both plants than in other solvents. However, tannin content was significantly (P ≤ 0.05) high in the water extract for both plants. Chloroform and acetone extracts were significantly lower in phytochemicals than other solvents, therefore excluded in this study. GC–MS analysis showed one dominant compound in CS (isopropyl isothiocyanate) and two in RN (pyrogallol and palmitic acid). The antioxidant methods applied (DPPH, ABTS, β-Carotene/linoleic acid assay, and reducing the power) showed that the methanolic extract of CS exerted higher activity in methanolic extract but lower than that of BHA standard. The methanolic extract of both plants inhibited the bacterial pathogens when a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method was applied, compared to water extract with RN-methanolic extract had a lower inhibition concentration than CS-methanolic extract. The molecular interactions study revealed that the palmitic acid and pyrogallol interacted with the receptors' active site. This work concluded that CS and RN showed a remarkable antioxidant and antibacterial effect with the high antimicrobial activity of RN extract.

High Throughput Screening for Bioactive Components of Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt Root and Their Functional Potential Assessment

Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt is a medicinal plant potentially known for the treatment of different diseases. The bioactive, antioxidant, nutritional components, and antimicrobial properties of crude ethanolic root extract of Berberis baluchistanica were evaluated in this study. The extract was analyzed for total phenolic, flavonoid, DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl) scavenging ability, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), nutritional, and antimicrobial potentials. The alkaloids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, anthraquinones, coumarin, saponins, phenolics, flavonoids, steroids, and terpenoids were confirmed. The extract possessed DPPH radical inhibition with the IC50 of 1.125 mg/mL and FRAP % reduction activity with IC50 (0.912 mg/mL). Total phenolic $19.897\pm 4.8141\text{mg}$ GAE/g and flavonoid $12.9876\pm 0.8388\text{mg}$ QE/g contents were confirmed in the root. The extracts exhibit good antibacterial activity against a broad spectrum of food borne pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. The highest inhibitory activity was against Escherichia coli $23.30\pm 1.16\text{mm}$ and lowest against Klebsiella pneumoniae $7\pm 0.01\text{mm}$ . Furthermore, the presence of various phytochemical constituents (plant secondary metabolites) was also confirmed with gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy analysis. Results disclosed the occurrence of more than 70 compounds possessing various medicinal properties supporting the traditional uses of root of Berberis baluchistanica in various medical complications indigenously.

Asparagus falcatus L. (Asparagaceae) leaf extracts attenuate doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways

The search for therapeutic agents that improve kidney function against doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity is important. Herein, the potential nephroprotective activity by Asparagus falcatus L. (AF, Asparagaceae) leaf extracts against doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity (5 mg/kg, ip) in Wistar rats (n = 6/group) after oral administration of hexane (55 mg/kg), ethyl acetate (35 mg/kg), butanol (75 mg/kg), and aqueous (200 mg/kg) extracts of AF for 28 consecutive days was investigated. It was noticed that the treatment with the selected extracts of AF significantly attenuated doxorubicin-induced elevations of serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, β₂-microglobulin, cystatin C, and proteinuria in experimental rats. The histology showed attenuation of the features of acute tubular injury. Treatment regimens significantly reversed the doxorubicin-induced reduction in total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activity in renal tissue homogenates. A suppression in lipid peroxidation was noted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts of AF. Moreover, a reduction in the concentration of the pro-inflammatory mediator TNF-α (p < 0.05), and immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 were observed. The immunohistochemical expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein was decreased and the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 was increased in renal tissues following the treatments. In conclusion, it was revealed that, hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous extracts of AF attenuate doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity in Wistar rats through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways. The plant, AF could be recommended as a promising therapeutic agent to minimize renal toxicity induced by doxorubicin in cancer patients, however, subsequent clinical trials are warranted.

Targeting Akt/NF-κB/p53 Pathway and Apoptosis Inducing Potential of 1,2-Benzenedicarboxylic Acid, Bis (2-Methyl Propyl) Ester Isolated from Onosma bracteata Wall. against Human Osteosarcoma (MG-63) Cells

Onosma bracteata Wall. is an important medicinal and immunity-enhancing herbs. This plant is commonly used in the preparation of traditional Ayurvedic drugs to treat numerous diseases. Inspired by the medicinal properties of this plant, the present study aimed to investigate the antiproliferative potential and the primary molecular mechanisms of the apoptotic induction against human osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells. Among all the fractions isolated from O. bracteata, ethyl acetate fraction (Obea) showed good antioxidant activity in superoxide radical scavenging assay and lipid peroxidation assay with an EC50 value of 95.12 and 80.67 µg/mL, respectively. Silica gel column chromatography of ethyl acetate (Obea) fraction of O. bracteata yielded a pure compound, which was characterized by NMR, FTIR, and HR-MS analysis and was identified as 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, bis (2-methyl propyl) ester (BDCe fraction). BDCe fraction was evaluated for the antiproliferative potential against human osteosarcoma MG-63, human neuroblastoma IMR-32, and human lung carcinoma A549 cell lines by MTT assay and exhibited GI50 values of 37.53 μM, 56.05 μM, and 47.12 μM, respectively. In Mg-63 cells, the BDCe fraction increased the level of ROS and simultaneously decreased the mitochondria membrane potential (MMP) potential by arresting cells at the G0/G1 phase, suggesting the initiation of apoptosis. Western blotting analysis revealed the upregulation of p53, caspase3, and caspase9 while the expressions of p-NF-κB, p-Akt and Bcl-xl were decreased. RT-qPCR studies also showed upregulation in the expression of p53 and caspase3 and downregulation in the expression of CDK2, Bcl-2 and Cyclin E genes. Molecular docking analysis displayed the interaction between BDCe fraction with p53 (−151.13 kcal/mol) and CDK1 (−133.96 kcal/mol). The results of the present work suggest that the BDCe fraction has chemopreventive properties against osteosarcoma (MG-63) cells through the induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via Akt/NF-κB/p53 pathways. This study contributes to the understanding of the utilization of BDCe fraction in osteosarcoma treatment.

Generation and characterization of nanobubbles in ionic liquid for a green extraction of polyphenols from Carya cathayensis Sarg

Nanobubbles (NBs) generated-nanojets membrane poration have gained enormous attention. In this study, NBs were fabricated as a novel green approach to assist ionic liquid (IL) [C₄C₁im][BF₄] extraction of polyphenols from Carya cathayensis Sarg. husk. NBs were successfully generated with mean size of 85.47 ± 5 nm, zeta potential of +39 ± 2.24 mV, and concentration of 21.15 ± 0.75 × 10⁸ particles/mL (stable for over 48 h in IL solution). Compared to common solutions extract, IL-NBs extract showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity and polyphenols yields with a total polyphenol, total flavonoid, and total tannins contents of 85.67 ± 2.05 mg GAE/g DW, 42.44 ± 1.17 mg CE/g DW, and 8.2 ± 0.05 mg TAE/g DW, respectively. The SEM results confirmed that NBs' nanojets caused morphological destruction of the husk powder. Overall, IL-NBs solution showed better extraction efficiency of polyphenols than other solutions, giving insight into a new "green" nanotechnology-based extraction method.

Effect of gamma irradiation on growth, proline content, bioactive compound changes, and biological activity of 5 popular Thai rice cultivars

Gamma irradiation is the technique used to induce plant mutation and it has affected both the physiological and biochemical compounds of the plant. Some new rice lines are also created through the gamma-irradiation technique. We investigated the effect of gamma irradiation on plant growth, volatile compounds, and the biological activity of gamma-irradiated rice extract compared to non-gamma-irradiated rice extract. The results reveal that the gamma-irradiated rice growth was related to the proline content, as the low gamma dose induced rice growth and proline accumulation in gamma-irradiated rice. We induced the bioactive compounds, including the flavonoid content and phenolic content of gamma-irradiated rice, through the low gamma irradiation dose at 60-100 Gy. Interestingly, bioactive compounds were stimulated by a gamma dose similar to that of the biological activity (antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition) of gamma-irradiated rice. The results suggest that gamma-irradiated rice extract's biological activity was closely related to the flavonoid and phenolic content of rice. We also identified the variety of volatile compounds in gamma-irradiated rice and they were also reported for the biological activity. Our results can generate a new rice line that exhibits high plant growth and is rich with bioactive compounds such as flavonoid and phenolic compounds which are related to the improvement of human health.

Optimization of extraction conditions and evaluation of Manilkara zapota (L.) P. Royen fruit peel extract for in vitro α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition and free radical scavenging potential

Background

Most of the edible portions like peel and skin of some fruits is discarded while consuming it, though they are rich in several health beneficial phytochemicals or nutrients. Many reports from literature are about fruit pulp of (Sapota) Manilkara zapota (L) P. Royen having high radical scavenging and antioxidant potential, but the studies relating to peel extracts are scanty. Regardless of its commendable phytoconstituents which could have free radical scavenging potential, this fruit peel is as yet still needed to be assessed for in vitro antidiabetic prospects. Hence, the present study aims at evaluating in vitro free radical scavenging and α-glucosidase enzyme hindrance abilities of this fruit peel.

Results

With a maximum considerable % extractive yield (18.90%) in 70% ethanol, this study has demonstrated that 70% ethanolic extract of Manilkara Zapota (L.) P. Royen Fruit Peel (MZFP) has the highest in vitro free radical scavenging potential as compared to extracts of other solvents viz. n-hexane, chloroform, acetone, absolute ethanol, and water by DPPH and H2O2 assays. In order to optimize the extraction condition parameters, MZFP sample evaluated with three different concentrations of ethanol (40%, 70%, 100%), extraction times (6 h, 9 h, 12 h), and temperatures (40 °C, 50 °C, 60 °C) to get the highest radical scavenging potential. The MZFP when extracted with 70% ethanol, at 50 °C for 12 h, showed higher DPPH (IC50 = 0.34 and 88.42% inhibition at 1 mg/ml) and H2O2 (IC50 = 32.69 and 65.78% inhibition at 50 μg/ml) radical scavenging potential than absolute and 40% ethanolic extracts, when ascorbic acid was used as a reference standard. While further evaluation for in vitro α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition, 70% ethanolic MZFP extract demonstrated high inhibition activity (IC50 = 104.23 ± 1.75 μg/ml) than absolute ethanolic extract (IC50 = 111.65 ± 1.57 μg/ml) with a significant difference (p < 0.05), when acarbose was taken as reference inhibitor (IC50 = 86.93 ± 0.74 μg/ml).

Conclusions

Overall results indicated that MZFP 70% ethanolic extract exhibited promising in vitro radical scavenging and α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition potential. Thus, suggesting further studies with isolated phytochemicals from peel to explore its potentials for antidiabetic activity through in vitro α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition.

Sagan Dalya Tea, a New "Old" Probable Adaptogenic Drug: Metabolic Characterization and Bioactivity Potentials of Rhododendron adamsii Leaves

Adams' rhododendron (Rhododendron adamsii Rehder) or Sagan Dalya tea is a famous Siberian evergreen medical plant of the Ericaceae family used in traditional medicines of Buryats, Yakuts, and Mongols as a tonic, stimulant, and adaptogenic drug. The high popularity of R. adamsii coupled with poor scientific knowledge prompted the addressing of gaps related to metabolic and biomedical data of Sagan Dalya tea. The application of solid-phase extraction and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometric techniques for the metabolomic study of R. adamsii leaf extracts resulted in the identification of more than 170 compounds, including carbohydrates, organic acids, simple phenol glycosides, triterpene glycosides, flavonoids, prenylated phenols, benzoic acid derivatives, hydroxycinnamates, dihydrochalcones, catechins, and procyanidins, most of which were identified for the first time in the plant. Extended surveys of the seasonal content of all detected compounds prove that specific metabolite variations reflect the bioactivity of R. adamsii extracts. Regarding in vitro methods, the expressed antioxidant potential of R. adamsii extracts was investigated via radical-scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, and ferrous (II) ion chelating assays. The animal-based swimming to exhaustion test demonstrates the stimulating influence of R. adamsii extract on physical performance and endurance, concluding that the drug could act as an adaptogen. Thus, Sagan Dalya tea (R. adamsii) has confirmed its "old" application as a tonic remedy and requires further precise study as a novel adaptogenic plant.

In Vitro Antioxidant Activity of Litsea martabanica Root Extract and Its Hepatoprotective Effect on Chlorpyrifos-Induced Toxicity in Rats

In Thailand, people in the highland communities whose occupational exposure to pesticides used the root of Litsea martabanica as a detoxifying agent. However, the scientific data to support the traditional use of this plant are insufficient. This study aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activity and anti-pesticide potential of L. martabanica root extract. Antioxidant properties were investigated by 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, superoxide radicals scavenging assay, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total phenolic content determination. In all assays, L. martabanica extracts and their fractions exhibited high antioxidant activities differently. The water extract is traditionally used as a detoxifying agent. Therefore, it was chosen for in vivo experiments. The rats received the extract in a way that mimics the traditional methods of tribal communities followed by chlorpyrifos for 16 days. The results showed that acetylcholinesterase activity decreases in pesticide-exposed rats. Treatment with the extract caused increasing acetylcholinesterase activity in the rats. Therefore, L. martabanica extract may potentially be used as a detoxifying agent, especially for the chlorpyrifos pesticide. The antioxidant properties of L. martabanica may provide a beneficial effect by protecting liver cells from damage caused by free radicals. Histopathology results revealed no liver cell necrosis and showed the regeneration of liver cells in the treatment group. L. martabanica extract did not cause changes in behavior, liver weight, hematological and biochemical profiles of the rats.

Antioxidant and antimalarial properties of Sophora exigua Craib. root extract in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Background

Sophora exigua Craib. is commonly used in Thailand to reduce fever and increase postpartum breast milk production in women who have hypogalactia. However, there has been no report on the antioxidant and antimalarial properties of this plant. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and antimalarial activities of S. exigua root extract and to evaluate its acute toxicity in mice to confirm its safety.

Methods

The in vitro antioxidant activities were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), superoxide radical, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays. The in vivo antioxidant activities were determined by detecting the malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the livers of malaria-infected mice. The in vivo antimalarial activity was determined by Peters’ 4-day suppressive test in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and orally administered S. exigua root aqueous and ethanolic extracts at different doses (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg body weight). In addition, the acute oral toxicity of the plant extracts was assessed in mice at a dose of 2000 mg/kg body weight.

Results

The ethanolic extract of S. exigua root exhibited inhibition of DPPH radicals, superoxide anions, and hydroxyl radicals, with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of 24.63 ± 1.78, 129.78 ± 0.65, and 30.58 ± 1.19 μg/ml, respectively. Similarly, research on the in vivo antioxidant activity indicated that the ethanolic extract of S. exigua root exerted a stronger effect than the aqueous extract. The aqueous extract at doses of 200, 400, and 600 mg/kg had stronger antimalarial activity than the ethanolic extract. The aqueous extract at 600 mg/kg exhibited 60.46% suppression of parasitemia. Increased levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were detected in the mice treated with 2000 mg/kg ethanolic extract, which was related to the results of histopathological analysis of liver tissue, showing ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes, diffuse hepatic hemorrhage, and infiltration of inflammatory cells.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the ethanolic S. exigua root extract possessed antioxidant properties, and the aqueous extract also had antimalarial activity. Therefore, this plant is an alternative source of new antioxidant and antimalarial agents.

Cardioprotective Effect of Crude Extract and Solvent Fractions of Urtica simensis Leaves on Cyclophosphamide-Induced Myocardial Injury in Rats

Background

Globally, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are becoming the major cause of death. Urtica simensis is one of endogenous plant which treats a wide range of disease conditions including heart diseases. However, there is limited information on safety and efficacy of the plant.

Objective

To evaluate the in vitro antioxidant, the in vivo cardioprotective activity of crude extract and solvent fractions of Urtica simensis leaves on cyclophosphamide-induced myocardial injury.

Methods

The cardioprotective activity of the crude extract, aqueous and hexane fraction of Urtica simensis leaves was evaluated based on anatomical, biochemical and histopathological methods. The in vitro antioxidant activity of the plant was also assayed in terms of free radical scavenging activity (RSA).

Results

Crude extract and solvent fractions of Urtica simensis significantly prevented the deleterious effect of cyclophosphamide on body weight (P<0.001), heart weight to body ratio (P<0.01), cardiac biomarkers including troponin I (P<0.01), alanine transaminase (ALT) (P<0.001), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (P<0.01) and lipid profiles including triglycerides (P<0.001) and total cholesterol (P<0.01). The histopathological study confirmed presence of necrosis, oedema and haemorrhage on cyclophosphamide alone-treated groups while the 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg of the crude extract and aqueous fraction showed normal cardiocytes. The antioxidant assay of Urtica simensis plant exhibited free radical scavenging activity of inhibitory concentration of 50% (IC₅₀) for the crude extract with the values of 63.27µg/mL, aqueous fraction with the values of 136.38µg/mL and hexane fraction with the values of 258.70µg/mL.

Conclusion

Crude extract and solvent fractions of Urtica simensis leaves have cardioprotective activities. The cardioprotective effect could be attributed to the antioxidant activity of the plant extracts. However, this requires further in-depth understanding.

Inhibitory effects of Camellia japonica on cell inflammation and acute rat reflux esophagitis

Background

Excessive and continuous inflammation may be the main cause of various immune system diseases. Reflux esophagitis (RE) is a common gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Camellia japonica has high medicinal value and has long been used as a traditional herbal hemostatic medicine in China and Korea. The purpose of this study is to explore the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of CJE and its protective effect on RE.

Materials and methods

Buds from C. japonica plants were collected in the mountain area of Jeju, South Korea. Dried C. japonica buds were extracted with 75% ethanol. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assay were evaluated according to previous method. The ROS production and anti-inflammatory effects of C. japonica buds ethanol extract (CJE) were evaluated on LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cell inflammation. The protective effects of CJE on RE were conducted in a RE rat model.

Results

CJE eliminated over 50% of DPPH and ABTS radical at concentration of 100 and 200 µg/mL, respectively. CJE alleviated changes in cell morphology, reduced production of ROS, NO and IL-1β. Also, down-regulated expression levels of iNOS, TNF-α, phosphorylated NF-κB, IκBα, and JNK/p38/MAPK. CJE reduced esophageal tissue damage ratio (40.3%) and attenuation of histological changes. In addition, CJE down-regulated the expression levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, COX-2 and phosphorylation levels of NF-κB and IκBα in esophageal tissue.

Conclusions

CJE possesses good anti-oxidation and anti-inflammatory activity, and can improve RE in rats caused by gastric acid reflux. Therefore, CJE is a natural material with good anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and has the possibility of being a candidate phytomedicine source for the treatment of RE.

Norwogonin attenuates hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in PC12 cells

Background

Norwogonin is a natural flavone with three phenolic hydroxyl groups in skeletal structure and has excellent antioxidant activity. However, the neuroprotective effect of norwogonin remains unclear. Here, we investigated the protective capacity of norwogonin against oxidative damage elicited by hypoxia in PC12 cells.

Methods

The cell viability and apoptosis were examined by MTT assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining, respectively. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was measured using DCFH-DA assay. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malondialdehyde (MDA) and antioxidant enzyme levels were determined using commercial kits. The expression of related genes and proteins was measured by real-time quantitative PCR and Western blotting, respectively.

Results

We found that norwogonin alleviated hypoxia-induced injury in PC12 cells by increasing the cell viability, reducing LDH release, and ameliorating the changes of cell morphology. Norwogonin also acted as an antioxidant by scavenging ROS, reducing MDA production, maintaining the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and decreasing the expression levels of HIF-1α and VEGF. In addition, norwogonin prevented cell apoptosis via inhibiting the expression levels of caspase-3, cytochrome c and Bax, while increasing the expression levels of Bcl-2 and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax.

Conclusions

Norwogonin attenuates hypoxia-induced injury in PC12 cells by quenching ROS, maintaining the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and inhibiting mitochondrial apoptosis pathway.

Ethyl acetate fraction of flavonoids from Polygonum hydropiper L. modulates pseudorabies virus-induced inflammation in RAW264.7 cells via the nuclear factor-kappa B and mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways

Pseudorabies virus (PRV) infection leads to severe inflammatory responses and tissue damage, and many natural herbs exhibit protective effects against viral infection by modulating the inflammatory response. An ethyl acetate fraction of flavonoids from Polygonum hydropiper L. (FEA) was prepared through ethanol extraction and ethyl acetate fractional extraction. An inflammatory model was established in RAW264.7 cells with PRV infection to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of FEA by measuring cell viability, nitric oxide (NO) production, reactive oxygen species (ROS) release, and mRNA expression of inflammatory factors, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Its functional mechanism was investigated by analyzing the phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of key proteins in the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. Our findings indicate that PRV induced inflammatory responses in RAW264.7 cells, and the responses were similar to that in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated cells. FEA significantly suppressed NO synthesis and down-regulated both expression and secretion of COX-2, iNOS, and inflammatory cytokines (P<0.05 or P<0.01). FEA also reduced NF-κB p65 translocation into the nucleus and decreased MAPK phosphorylation, indicating that the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway may be closely related to the inflammatory response during viral infection. The findings suggested the potential pharmaceutical application of FEA as a natural product that can treat viral infections due to its ability to mitigate inflammatory responses.

Anti-inflammatory, wound healing and antioxidant potential of compounds from Dioscorea bulbifera L. bulbils

BACKGROUND

Dioscorea bulbifera L. (Dioscoreaceae) has been traditionally used in Thai folk medicine as a diuretic and anthelmintic, for longevity preparations, and for wound and inflammation treatment. This plant is also commonly used in traditional Indian and Chinese medicines in the treatment of sore throat, gastric cancer, rectal carcinoma and goiters. However, the wound healing effects of the active compounds in this plant have not been investigated.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to identify compounds responsible for the wound healing activity of D. bulbifera and determine their potential anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities.

METHODS

Crude extracts of D. bulbifera bulbils, their derived fractions and eleven purified compounds were tested for anti-inflammatory activity against LPS-induced NO production in RAW264.7 macrophages. The wound healing effects were evaluated via cell proliferation and migration assays using human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), and the antioxidant effects were determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and hydroxyl radical (•OH) scavenging activity assays.

RESULTS

15,16-Epoxy-6α-O-acetyl-8β-hydroxy-19-nor-clero-13(16),14-diene-17,12;18,2-diolide (2), (+)-catechin (5), quercetin (6) and myricetin (11) exhibited significantly potent wound healing effects and promoted marked cell proliferation, resulting in % viabilities of 107.4-137.6, 121.1-151.9, 98.0-131.9, 90.9-115.9, respectively. Among them, (+)-catechin produced the highest % cell migration, resulting in 100.0% wound closure sooner (at day 2) than the other compounds. In addition, 1 μg/ml (+)-catechin significantly increased fibroblast migration by 2.4-fold compared to that in the control after 24 h. Regarding anti-inflammatory properties, kaempferol (7) and quercetin (6) decreased (p < 0.005) NO production, with IC50 values of 46.6 and 56.2 μM, respectively. In addition, the crude extracts, solvent fractions and flavonoid compounds were also found to possess marked antioxidant activity in both DPPH and •OH radical scavenging assays.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide more evidence to support the traditional use of D. bulbifera for the treatment of wounds and inflammation.

Characterization of isolated compounds from Morus spp. and their biological activity as anticancer molecules

Introduction: The genus Morus is well known for its medicinal benefits from time immemorial. The present work reported the health-promoting properties of the biologically active molecules present in different species of the genus Morus.

Methods: Different solvent extracts of the three plant species of Morus were investigated initially for their antioxidant effects, followed by in vitro anticancer studies against MCF7 and 3T3 cell lines along with their bioactive isolates viz. cathafuran-B, moracin-M, and Ursolic acid. Further, in silico docking studies were performed for the isolated compounds to predict their probable mode of interaction with P38Map Kinase.

Results: The results indicated that all three species under study possessed remarkable antioxidant effects which are supported by a linear and positive correlation between different antioxidant activities. The in vitro cell antiproliferative test indicated that the cell survivability decreased with an increase in the concentration of extracts and compounds. Among the extracts, M. laevigata methanol extract showed 21.57, 6.27% of cell survival against MCF7 and 3T3 cell lines at 800 µg/mL concentration while among the isolated compounds, ursolic acid showed 8.46, 17.58% of cell survival at 200 µg/mL concentration. Among the three compounds docked, ursolic acid showed greater binding affinity towards the target protein in terms of its binding energy (-9.97 kJ/mol) compared to Cathafuran B (-8.35 kJ/mol) and Moracin M (-6.91 kJ/mol).

Conclusion: The study generated interesting results in terms of health benefits of Morus species by documenting their antioxidant and anticancer activities, thereby validating the folk claims of therapeutic benefits of mulberry.

Flavonoid Profiles of Two New Approved Romanian Ocimum Hybrids

Basil (Ocimum spp.) is a traditional herbal medicine abundant in antioxidants such as phenolic compounds. As part of a diet, this herb is proved to have some roles in decreasing the risk of cancer, and in the treatment of inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases. This study aims to explore the total phenolic and flavonoid content of two new basil hybrids growing in Romania, namely "Aromat de Buzau" (AB) and "Macedon" (MB). The antioxidant capacity of those two species was also analyzed by DPPH and cyclic voltammetry. Six different flavonoids, such as catechin (+), rutin, hyperoside, naringin, naringenin, and genistein, were separated, identified, and quantified by HPLC-DAD chromatography, for the first time, from romanian basil hybrids. The main flavonoid of the extracts was found to be naringin which is present in the highest amount (26.18 mg/kg) in "Aromat de Buzau" (O. basilicum) methanolic extract. These results suggest that dietary intake of these new hybrids can be a source of antioxidant compounds.

Influence of Accelerated Solvent Extraction Conditions on the LC-ESI-MS/MS Polyphenolic Profile, Triterpenoid Content, and Antioxidant and Anti-lipoxygenase Activity of Rhododendron luteum Sweet Leaves

Evaluation of native plant resources and their efficient use is one of the current trends in phytochemistry. The main aim of the present study was to investigate the biological activities of different Rhododendron luteum Sweet leaf extracts obtained with the use of accelerated solvent extraction using different solvents and extraction temperatures. All extracts were subjected to bioactivity assays, which revealed considerable anti-lipoxygenase (23.07-90.13% lipoxygenase inhibition) and antiradical potential. All samples exhibited high 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH^•) (234.18-621.90 mg Trolox equivalents (TE)/g) and 2,2'-azino-bis-3(ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) (ABTS^•+) (88.79-349.41 mg TE/g) scavenging activity, high antioxidant potential in the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay (495.77-1011.59 mg TE/g), and moderate ion chelating (Fe2+) capacity. The chemical profile of each sample was determined using liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and spectrophotometric procedures. Twenty-three compounds representing seven polyphenol subclasses were detected and quantified, including some phenolic acids and flavonoids that had not been previously reported for this plant material. It was shown that 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, quercetin and its glycosides (hyperoside, isoquercetin, quercitrin), and pentacyclic triterpenes were the dominant secondary metabolites in R. luteum leaves. The antioxidant activity was found to be strongly related to different polyphenol groups and total triterpene content, while the anti-lipoxygenase potential was highly dependent on catechin.

Micropropagation of Alocasia longiloba Miq and Comparative Antioxidant Properties of Ethanolic Extracts of the Field-Grown Plant, In Vitro Propagated and In Vitro-Derived Callus

In this study, an efficient micropropagation protocol was developed for A. longiloba and the antioxidant properties of field-grown plant, in vitro-derived greenhouse-grown plant and in vitro-derived callus extracts were compared. The A. longiloba seeds tested using tetrazolium chloride salt exhibited 89% viability. Due to poor germination capacity of A. longiloba seeds, the seeds were treated with gibberellic acid (GA₃) or sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). The maximum seed germination of 87% was observed at 30% H₂SO₄ treatment after 19.00 d, whereas GA₃ treatment showed maximum germination of 53% after 22 d. In vitro shoot multiplication was carried out using various types of cytokinins alone or in combination with auxin. Among them, 6-benzyl amino purine (BAP) single treatment was found to be the best hormone. The highest shoot-length (7.26 cm) and maximum number of shoots per explant (18) were recorded at 3-mg L⁻¹ BAP. For in vitro rooting, indole-3-acetic acid at 0.5-mg L⁻¹ was found to be the optimum concentration. Callus was induced using various types of auxins alone or in combinations with cytokinins. The highest percentage of callus of 91 and fresh weight of 6 g was obtained with 3-mg L⁻¹ IAA. The plantlets produced in the current study were subjected to acclimatization. The combination of topsoil and peat moss at 1:2 ratio was found to be the best soil media. In this study, in vitro-derived callus extract showed the highest phenolic content (538 mg GAE), followed by extracts of field-grown plant parts, i.e., fruit and petiole (504 and 300 mg GAE) while in vitro plant extract showed the lowest (98 mg GAE). Meanwhile, the highest flavonoids was recorded in petiole extract. Comparative antioxidant activity study shows, in vitro-derived callus exhibited better DPPH-radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀: 0.113-mg mL⁻¹) whereas the extracts of petiole, fruit and in vitro plant showed 0.126-, 0.137- and 0.173-mg mL⁻¹, respectively. At the same time, the fruit extract showed better (IC₅₀: 0.088-mg mL⁻¹) ABTS radical scavenging activity than all extracts tested. In conclusion, the in vitro-derived callus extract could be favored for high TPC and better DPPH scavenging activity. Hence, the present study was conducted to establish an efficient micropropagation protocol and to compare the antioxidant activity of the field-grown plant, in vitro plant and in vitro derived callus extracts of A. longiloba.

Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitory Activity, Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Properties and GC-MS Analysis of Keladi Candik (Alocasia longiloba Miq)

Alocasia longiloba, locally known as 'Keladi Candik', has been used traditionally to treat wounds, furuncle and joint inflammations. A. longiloba can be a new source of herbal medicine against hyperuricemia by inhibiting the activity of xanthine oxidase enzyme, the enzyme which is responsible for the development of hyperuricemia in human. Existing xanthine oxidase inhibitors (XOI drugs) show several side effects on gout patients. Therefore, an alternative herbal medicine from plants, with high therapeutic property and free of side effects, are greatly needed. This study was conducted to evaluate XO inhibitory activity, chemical composition, antioxidant activity and GC-MS profile of A. longiloba. Our results showed that ethanolic petiole extract exhibited the highest XO inhibitory activity (70.40 ± 0.05%) with IC50 value of 42.71 μg/mL, followed by ethanolic fruit extracts (61.44 ± 1.24%) with the IC50 value of 51.32 μg/mL. In a parallel study, the phytochemical analysis showed the presence of alkaloid, flavonoid, terpenoids, glycoside and saponin in petiole and fruit extracts, as well as higher total phenolic and flavonoid contents and strong scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS antioxidant assay. The GC-MS analysis of fruit and petiole extracts revealed the presence of various compounds belonging to different chemical nature, among them are limonen-6-ol, α-DGlucopyranoside, paromomycin, aziridine, phenol, Heptatriacotanol, Phen-1,2,3-dimethyl and Betulin found in ethanolic fruit extract, and Phen-1,4-diol,2,3-dimethyl-, 1-Ethynyl-3,trans(1,1-dimethylethyl), Phenol,2,6-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)- and 7-Methyl-Z-tetradecen-1-olacetate found in ethanolic petiole extract. Some compounds were documented as potent anti-inflammatory and arthritis related diseases by other researchers. In this study, the efficiency of solvents to extract bioactives was found to be ethanol > water, methanol > hexane > chloroform. Together, our results suggest the prospective utilization of fruit and petiole of A. longiloba to inhibit the activity of XO enzyme.

Protective effect of nitronyl nitroxide against hypoxia-induced damage in PC12 cells

Hypoxia induces cellular oxidative stress that is associated with neurodegenerative diseases. HPN (4'-hydroxyl-2-substituted phenyl nitronyl nitroxide), a stable nitronyl nitroxide, has excellent free radical scavenging properties. The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of HPN on hypoxia-induced damage in PC12 cells. It was shown that HPN significantly attenuated hypoxia-induced loss of cell viability, release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and morphological changes in PC12 cells. Moreover, hypoxic PC12 cells had increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA), and expression of HIF-1α and VEGF, but had reduced levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and HPN reversed these changes. HPN also inhibited hypoxia-induced cell apoptosis via suppressing the expression of Bax, cytochrome c, and caspase-3, and inducing the expression of Bcl-2. These results indicate that the protective effects of HPN on hypoxia-induced damage in PC12 cells is associated with the suppression of hypoxia-induced oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. HPN could be a promising candidate for the development of a novel neuroprotective agent.

Anti-Thrombotic, Anti-Oxidant and Haemolysis Activities of Six Edible Insect Species

In Korea, various insect species such as crickets and grasshoppers, as well as honey bee and silkworm pupae, have been consumed as food and used in oriental medicine. In this study to evaluate useful the bioactivities and potentially adverse effects of edible insects, ethanol extracts of Allomyrina dichotoma (AD), Tenebrio molitor (TM), Protaetia brevitarsis (PB), Gryllus bimaculatus (GB), Teleogryllusemma (TE), and Apis mellifera (AM) were prepared and evaluated with regard to their anti-thrombosis, anti-oxidant and haemolysis activities against human red blood cells. AD and TE extracts showed strong anti-oxidant activities, which were not related to polyphenol content. All ethanol extracts, except AM extract, showed strong platelet aggregation activities. The platelet aggregation ratios of the extracts were 194%–246% of those of the solvent controls. The effects of the AD, TM, PB, GM, and AM extracts on thrombin, prothrombin and various coagulation factors were negligible. Only the extract of TM showed concentration-dependent anti-coagulation activities, with a 1.75-fold aPTT (activated Partial Thromboplastin Time) extension at 5 mg/mL. Of the six insect extracts, TM and AM extracts exhibited potent haemolytic activity. Our results on the insect extracts’ functional properties suggest that edible insects have considerable potential not just as a food source but as a novel bio-resource as well.

Nutritional Composition of Apis mellifera Drones from Korea and Denmark as a Potential Sustainable Alternative Food Source: Comparison Between Developmental Stages

We compared nutrient compositions of honey bee (Apis mellifera) drones of different developmental stages from two different populations-the Italian honey bee reared in Korea and Buckfast bees from Denmark. Analyses included amino acid, fatty acid, and mineral content as well as evaluations of antioxidant properties and haemolysis activities. The compositions of total amino acids, and thus protein content of the insects, increased with development. A similar trend was observed for minerals presumably due to the consumption of food in the adult stage. In contrast, total fatty acid amounts decreased with development. Altogether, seventeen amino acids, including all the essential ones, except tryptophan, were determined. Saturated fatty acids dominated over monounsaturated fatty acids in the pupae, but the reverse held true for the adults. Drones were found to be rich in minerals and the particularly high iron as well as K/Na ratio was indicative of the nutritional value of these insects. Among the three developmental stages, adult Buckfast drones exhibited the highest antioxidant activity. Bearing in mind the overall high nutritional value, i.e., high amino acids, minerals and less fatty acids, late pupae and adult drones can be useful for human consumption while the larvae or early pupal stage can be recommended as feed. However, owing to their relatively high haemolysis activity, we advocate processing prior to the consumption of these insects.

Total Phenolic, Flavonoid Contents, and Antioxidant Activities of Fruit, Seed, and Bark Extracts of Zanthoxylum armatum DC

Natural antioxidants present in several medicinal plants are responsible for inhibiting the harmful effects of oxidative stress. These plants contain polyphenols and flavonoids that act as free radical scavengers and reduce oxidative stress and may be an alternative remedy to cure various harmful human diseases. This study aims to quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid contents (TPC and TFC) and antioxidant properties of methanol extracts of fruits, seeds, and bark of an important medicinal and aromatic plant, Zanthoxylum armatum collected from wild and cultivated populations in Nepal. TPC was determined by Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method using gallic acid as standard, and various concentrations of the extract solutions were measured at 760 nm. TFC was calculated by aluminum chloride colorimetric assay. Quercetin was used as standard, and the absorbance was measured at 510 nm. The antioxidant potential of the different extracts was estimated by DPPH free radical scavenging assay, and the absorbance was measured at 517 nm. The highest TPC value was 226.3 ± 1.14 mg GAE/g in wild fruits, and the lowest was 137.72 ± 4.21 mg GAE/g in cultivated seeds. Similarly, the highest TFC value was 135.17 ± 2.02 mg QE/g in cultivated fruits, and the lowest was 76.58 ± 4.18 mg QE/g in cultivated seeds. The extracts showed variable antioxidant properties. The fruits exhibited excellent antioxidant properties with IC₅₀ values of 40.62 μg/mL and 45.62 μg/mL for cultivated and wild fruits, respectively. Similarly, the IC₅₀ values of the bark were 63.39 μg/mL and 67.82 μg/mL, respectively, for cultivated and wild samples. And the least antioxidant capacity was shown by the seeds extract with IC₅₀ values of 86.75 μg/mL and 94.49 μg/mL for wild and cultivated seeds, respectively. The IC₅₀ value of the standard ascorbic acid was 36.22 μg/mL. Different extracts of Z. armatum contain considerable amount of phenols and flavonoids, including antioxidant properties, suggesting the potential use of this species in pharmacy and phytotherapy as a source of natural antioxidants.

Toxicity, cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and in vitro antioxidant models of 2-oleyl-1,3-dipalmitoyl-glycerol isolated from the hexane extract of Platonia insignis MART seeds

2-oleyl-1,3-dipalmitoyl-glycerol (ODG) was obtained from Platonia insignis (bacurizeiro) seeds. There are no studies on its toxicity and protective activities against oxidative stress. This study was aimed to evaluate antioxidant effects in vitro, as well as to evaluate the toxicological and mutagenic effects of the ODG. ODG showed a median lethal dose (LD₅₀) greater than 1200 μg mL^-1 in A. salina. In the assay of A. cepa (0.2-0.002 mg mL^-1) the ODG compound at the highest concentration was slightly cytotoxic with decrease in the size of roots and mitotic indexes, but did not induce chromosomal alterations. ODG (8.75-140.00 μg mL^-1) was found to reduce nitric oxide production by 41.6 %, while the antioxidant standard ascorbic acid (AA) reduced 54.14 %. ODG (15.625-250.00 μg mL^-1) promoted removal of the hydroxyl radical by 35.69 % at the highest concentration and was able to prevent lipid peroxidation induced by 2,2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane (AAPH), inhibiting the amount of TBARS formed, up to 35.69 %, a result close to that obtained with AA. Thus, ODG moderately reduced the levels of hydroxyl radicals, nitric oxide, and TBARS in vitro and was nontoxic at low concentrations.