Ethnopharmacological Investigations of Phytochemical Constituents Isolated from the Genus Cuscuta

Evaluation of Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of Oxalis corymbosa Extracts

This work aimed to assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of Oxalis corymbosa extracts. Biochemical analyses were conducted on various plant parts, utilizing enzymatic and non-enzymatic assays. Parameters such as total soluble protein, chlorophyll, and carotenoid contents were also evaluated to elucidate the role of bioactive chemical compounds. The antimicrobial screening of extracts was performed against the bacterial and fungal strains Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans, respectively. Results indicated that chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid content, anthocyanin content, catalase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase were most abundant in the O. corymbosa leaves. Moreover, total ascorbate peroxidase content, total phenolic content, and total flavonoid content were found to be higher in the roots compared to other parts. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified chlorogenic acid as the major component, followed by gallic acid, caffeic acid, quercetin, and salicylic acid. Regarding antibacterial potential, each extract exhibited significant activity, with methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts demonstrating the maximum inhibition zone against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. These findings highlight the substantial antioxidant and antibacterial potential of different parts of O. corymbosa, suggesting their promising applications as ingredients in various nutraceutical products.

Alternaria alternata Pathogen from Cuscuta japonica Could Serve as a Potential Bioherbicide

Dodder (Cuscuta spp.) is a dangerous parasitic plant that causes serious damage to crop production and is challenging to eliminate. Herbicide application is a common strategy to control dodder in the field, but it is costly, ineffective, and further results in hazardous outcomes. Therefore, our study aims to identify the potential pathogens in naturally occurring dodder infections which may provide efficient biocontrol options. In this regard, the pathogens were isolated from the infected plants, their pathogenicity was validated through inoculation, and the optimal culture conditions for their growth were identified by determining the pathogenicity difference. The pathogenicity range was determined in vitro using the leaves of common horticultural plants and crops. Furthermore, a small range of horticultural plants parasitized by Cuscuta reflexa in the field were inoculated with the pathogen to determine their biosafety and biocontrol potential, and the pathogens were identified by morphological and molecular characterization. We found 7 strains that were isolated after pathogen enrichment culture. Among them, Cbp6 and Cbp7 showed the highest pathogenicity against C. reflexa. After testing the inoculation of more than 50 species of plants, only 9 species showed varying degrees of lesions on leaves, which proved the high biosafety for common plants. Field spraying of these pathogens showed a good control effect on C. reflexa after 21 days; the disease severityreached 66.0%, while its host plant did not display obvious symptoms. In conclusion, the pathogens Cbp6 and Cbp7 were identified as Alternaria alternata, and the results of this study provide a theoretical basis for the biological control of dodder.

Effect of Cuscuta epithymum Acquainted with Risperidone on the Improvement of Clinical Symptoms and Cognitive Impairment in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Triple-Blind Randomized Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background:

Cuscuta epithymum (CE) is an established medicinal herb utilized for treating psychosis in Persian medicine. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of CE combined with risperidone on the clinical symptoms and the cognitive impairment in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Materials and Methods:

In this triple-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, the intervention group received a dose of 500 mg of CE in the form of a capsule to be taken twice a day accompanied by an appropriate dose of risperidone. The control group was presented with a placebo identical to that of the CE capsule plus the allocated dose of risperidone. The PANSS and SCoRS questionnaires were used to assess the status of subjects prior to the initiation of the intervention as well as being put to use at the end of the second, fourth, and eighth week post-intervention. Registering and recording intel concerning positive and negative symptoms felt by participants (PANNS), and a test to assess the cognitive impairment of the individuals.

Results:

After eight weeks of treatment, all negative and positive symptoms besides hostility and somatic concern exhibited a significant improvement in the CE group (P <0.05). In contrast, the CE placebo group displayed no substantial improvement in the cases of the positive, negative and general symptoms (P>0.05) regarding cognitive impairment, after eight weeks of treatment, all symptoms were greatly improved in the CE group (P<0.05), while the effect of the placebo on the patients cognitive impairment remained mostly stationary (P>0.05). Consequently, after eight weeks after the intervention, we can determine that the CE treatment has been noticeably more effective at improving positive, negative and cognitive symptoms of patients with schizophrenia.

Conclusion:

The results of this study demonstrated that CE, possessing possible antioxidant and neuroprotective properties, safely improved the positive and negative symptoms, and cognitive impairment of patients with schizophrenia.

The genus Cuscuta (Convolvolaceac): An updated review on indigenous uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacology

Cuscuta, commonly known as dodder, is a genus of family convolvolaceace. Approximately 170 species of Cuscuta are extensively distributed in temperate and subtropical areas of the world. Species of this genus are widely used as essential constituents in functional foods and traditional medicinal systems. Various parts of many members of Cuscuta have been found efficacious against a variety of diseases. Phytochemical investigations have confirmed presence of biologically active moieties such as flavonoids, alkaloids, lignans, saponines, phenolics, tannins, and fatty acids. Pharmacological studies and traditional uses of these plants have proved that they are effective antibacterial, antioxidant, antiostioporotic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antipyretic, antihypertensive, analgesic, anti hair fall, and antisteriogenic agents.

Cuscutae Japonicae Semen Ameliorates Memory Dysfunction by Rescuing Synaptic Damage in Alzheimer's Disease Models

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common type of dementia in the elderly. It is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-beta (Aβ) and progressive cognitive impairment. To alleviate the symptoms of AD, functional foods and nutrients have been used for centuries. In this study, we investigated whether Cuscutae Japonicae Semen (CJS), a medicinal food traditionally used in East Asia, has effects on memory improvement and synapse protection in AD. We orally administered CJS to 5x familiar AD (5xFAD) transgenic mice and performed the Morris water maze test. The results showed that CJS treatment ameliorated the decline of memory function. Then, we demonstrated that CJS attenuated the degeneration of pre- and post-synaptic proteins in the hippocampi of 5xFAD mice. To demonstrate the effects of CJS in vitro, we treated Aβ in primary neuronal culture with CJS and observed that CJS rescued the loss of functional synapses. The protective effects of CJS on the synapse were due to the inhibition of activated caspase-3 expression. Additionally, CJS inhibited the phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and tau proteins, which contribute to synaptic dysfunction. Taken together, our results suggest that CJS is efficient in alleviating memory loss by rescuing caspase-3-mediated synaptic damage in AD treatment.