Antimicrobial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties of endophytic fungi isolated from Thysanolaena maxima Roxb., Dracaena spicata Roxb. and Aglaonema hookerianum Schott

Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Cytotoxic, Analgesic, and Antidiarrheal Activities from the Seeds of Commonly Available Red Grape (Vitis vinifera L.)

Objectives

The current study aimed to conduct a phytochemical screening of commonly known fruit red grape (Vitis vinifera L.) seed methanolic extract through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the bioactive compounds responsible for its health benefits and evaluate the pharmacological potentialities of the extract and its fractions against oxidation, inflammation, pain, and diarrhea.

Methods

The in vitro antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic characteristics of methanolic extracts and various solvent fractions of V. vinifera were evaluated using the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, membrane stabilizing, and brine shrimp lethality bioassay. Furthermore, the study assessed the effects of crude extracts (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg of body weight) on pain relief and reduction of diarrhea in animals using methods such as tail immersion, the acetic acid-induced writhing technique, and a diarrheal mouse model induced with castor oil.

Results

A total of 73 phytoconstituents were predominantly found in the seed extract based on the GC-MS analysis. Among the identified compounds, 9-octadecenamide (13.7%), and (9E,11E)-octadeca-9,11-dienoate (11.07%) are most abundant. Several notable constituents, such as gamma-sitosterol, stigmasterol, paromomycin, 4,6-cholestadienol, gamma-tocotrienol, 24-Propylidenecholest-5-en-3beta-ol, and alpha-tocopherol acetate, are also present. The methanolic extract of V. vinifera seed and its different solvent fractions showed promising antioxidant properties (IC50 = 1.19-17.42 µg/mL) compared to the standard antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (IC50 = 20.46 µg/mL). Aqueous soluble fraction exerted inhibition of nearly 50% heat-induced hemolysis compared to the standard acetylsalicylic acid (42%). Besides, all the tested doses (200, 400, and 600 mg/kg bw) of the crude extract showed significant (P < .05) analgesic and antidiarrheal effects.

Conclusion

The current findings endorsed the health benefits of V. vinifera by revealing potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antidiarrheal effects. Nevertheless, further in-depth analysis of the plant's chemical constituents and pharmacological effects on health is warranted for novel drug discovery from V. vinifera.

Phyto-pharmacological and computational profiling of Bombax ceiba Linn. Leaves revealed pharmacological properties against oxidation, hyperglycemia, pain, and diarrhea

The present study aimed to conduct phytochemical and pharmacological profiling of methanolic crude extract of leaves of Bombax ceiba Linn. via experimental and computational approaches. Six secondary metabolites were isolated chromatographically, and the structures were elucidated by extensive analyses of high-resolution 1H and 13C NMR data. The separated compounds were characterized as β-sitosterol (1), β-amyrin (2), β-amyrin acetate (3), β-amyrin palmitate (4), β-amyrone (5), and isoscopoletin (6). DPPH free radical scavenging assay, tail-tipping method, writhing assay, and castor oil-induced diarrheal mice methods, respectively, were used to assess the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, analgesic, and anti-diarrheal activities of the leaf extract of B. ceiba plant species. The study observed significant reductions (p < 0.05) in the level of blood glucose at 30, 60, 120, and 180 min following the administration of the crude extracts (200 mg/kg body weight (bw) and 400 mg/kg bw). These reductions occurred in a time-dependent manner. Additionally, both doses of the investigated extracts exhibited significant (p < 0.05) central and peripheral analgesic effects compared to morphine (2 mg/kg bw) and diclofenac sodium (50 mg/kg bw), respectively. Furthermore, the 400 mg/kg bw extract demonstrated anti-diarrheal activity, reducing 54.17 % of diarrheal episodes in mice compared to loperamide with 70.83 % inhibition. The computational investigations yielded results consistent with existing in vivo findings. The results obtained from molecular docking showed that the isolated compounds had a better or comparable binding affinity to the active binding sites of the glutathione reductase enzyme, mu-opioid receptor, cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), glucose transporter 3 (GLUT 3), and kappa opioid receptor. These findings may indicate that the compounds isolated from the B. ceiba plant species have antioxidant, analgesic, hypoglycemic, and anti-diarrheal, properties. Consequently, it was inferred that the plant B. ceiba might be beneficial in dealing with oxidation, diarrhea, hyperglycemia, and pain. Nonetheless, further investigations are necessary to perform thorough phytochemical profiling and elucidate the exact mechanistic ways of the crude extract and the isolated phytoconstituents.

Anti-HIV Activity and Immunomodulatory Properties of Fractionated Crude Extracts of Alternaria alternata

Developing new anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drug candidates that target different sites in HIV-1 replication, with better resistance profiles and lower drug toxicity, is essential to eradicating HIV. This study investigated the potential of fractionated crude extracts of Alternaria alternata as immunomodulatory or anti-HIV drug candidates. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) was used to fractionate A. alternata PO4PR2 using three different columns: MAX (Mixed-mode, strong Anion-eXchange), MCX (Mixed-mode, strong Cation-eXchange), and HLB (Hydrophilic-Lipophilic Balance) with methanol gradient methods (5%, 45%, and 95%). An MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5 diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay was used to assess the cell viability and cytotoxicity of the fractionated crude extract A. alternata PO4PR2 in the TZM-bl cell lines. This was followed by a luciferase-based antiviral assay to assess the antiviral activity of A. alternata PO4PR2. A time of addition (TOA) assay was performed to ascertain the mechanism of inhibition employed by the fractionated crude extract of A. alternata PO4PR2 in the HIV life cycle. The p24 titer was determined using an ELISA, while a luciferase-based antiviral assay was used to evaluate the HIV percentage inhibition for different HIV-1 replication cycles. The TOA assay was established using antiviral drugs that target different sites in the HIV replication cycle. These included maraviroc, azidothymidine, raltegravir, and amprenavir. The immunomodulatory effect of the fractionated crude extracts on CD4+ T cells was measured by a flow cytometric analysis, for which fluorochrome-labelled monoclonal antibodies were used as markers for activation (CD38 and HLA-DR) and exhaustion (PD-1). The MCX fraction demonstrated a more significant anti-HIV inhibition than that of the fractions generated in other columns, with an IC50 of 0.3619 µg/mL, an HIV inhibition of 77%, 5% HLB (IC50: 0.7232 µg/mL; HIV inhibition of 64%), and 5% MAX (IC50: 5.240 µg/mL; HIV inhibition of 67%). It was evident from the time of addition data that the crude extract and the 5% MCX fraction inhibited viral binding (68%), reverse transcription (75%), integration (98%), and proteolysis (77%). It was shown that A. alternata (the MCX fraction) have a significant inhibitory effect on reverse transcription (75% HIV inhibition) and integration (100% HIV inhibition). The 5% MCX (p = 0.0062), 5% HLB (p = 0.0269), and 5% MAX (p = 0.0117) fractionated A. alternata crude extracts had low levels of CD4+ T cell (CD38 + HLA-DR+) activation compared to those of the AZT treatment, while CD4+ T cell activation was insignificant. The 5% MAX and HLB A. alternata fractions may possess immunomodulatory compounds with less anti-HIV-1 activity. A. alternata could be a key source of innovative anti-HIV drugs with immunomodulatory characteristics.

Two rare flavonoid glycosides from Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob.: experimental and computational approaches endorse antidiabetic potentiality

BACKGROUND

Litsea glutinosa (Lour.) C. B. Rob. belongs to the Litsea genus and is categorized under the family of Lauraceae. The study aimed to investigate the phytoconstituents and pharmacological properties of methanol extract of leaves of Litsea glutinosa, focusing on antidiabetic activity via in vivo and in silico techniques.

METHODS

Extensive chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques were applied to isolate and characterize the constituents from the L. glutinosa plant species. The antidiabetic activity was studied in streptozotocin-induced diabetes mice, and the computational study of the isolated compounds was carried out by utilizing AutoDock Vina programs. In addition, the pharmacokinetic properties in terms of absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion (ADME) and toxicological profiles of the isolated compounds were examined via in silico techniques.

RESULTS

In the present study, two flavonoid glycosides 4΄-O-methyl (2 ̋,4 ̋-di-E-p-coumaroyl) afzelin (1) and quercetin 3-O-(2 ̋,4 ̋-di-E-p-coumaroyl)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside (2) were isolated from the leaves of L. glutinosa and characterized by 1H and 13C NMR, COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and mass spectral data. Although compounds 1 and 2 have been reported twice from Machilis litseifolia and Lindera akoensis, and Machilis litseifolia and Mammea longifolia, respectively, this is the first report of this isolation from a Litsea species. Administering the methanolic extract of L. glutinosa at doses of 300 and 500 mg/kg/day to mice with diabetes induced by streptozotocin led to a significant decrease in fasting blood glucose levels (p < 0.05) starting from the 7th day of treatment. Besides, the computational study and PASS analysis endorsed the current in vivo findings that the both isolated compounds exerted higher binding affinities to human pancreatic α-amylase and aldose reductase than the conventional drugs. The in silico ADMET analysis revealed that the both isolated compounds have a favorable pharmacokinetic and safety profile suitable for human consumption.

CONCLUSION

According to the current outcomes obtained from in vivo and in silico techniques, the leaf extract of L. glutinosa could be a natural remedy for treating diabetes, and the isolated phytoconstituents could be applied against various illnesses, mainly hyperglycemia. However, more investigations are required for extensive phytochemical isolation and pharmacological activities of these phytoconstituents against broader targets with exact mechanisms of action.