Antifungal Potential of Aqueous Extract of Boswellia carteri

Frankincense-Based Functionalized Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes with Iron Oxide Composites for Efficient Removal of Crystal Violet: Kinetic and Equilibrium Analysis

In this study, novel adsorbents were developed by functionalizing multiwalled carbon nanotubes with frankincense (Fr-fMWCNT) and adding iron oxide (Fe3O4) to the adsorbent (Fr-fMWCNT-Fe3O4). The morphology, surface characteristics, and chemical nature of the synthesized samples were analyzed by using various characterization techniques. The prepared adsorbents were then applied for the elimination of the toxic dye, crystal violet (CV), from water-based solutions by employing a batch adsorption method. The effectiveness of materials for the adsorption of CV was investigated by tuning various effective experimental parameters (adsorbent dosage, dye quantity, pH, and contact time). In order to derive adsorption isotherms, the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were investigated and compared. The Fr-fMWCNT and Fr-fMWCNT-Fe3O4 were found to remove 85 and 95% of the CV dye within 30 min of the adsorption experiment at pH 6, respectively. It was found that a pseudo-second-order reaction rate was consistent with the experimental adsorption kinetics. The equilibrium data demonstrated that the Langmuir model adequately explained the adsorption behavior of the CV dye on the Fr-fMWCNT and Fr-fMWCNT-Fe3O4 surfaces, respectively. According to the Langmuir study, the highest adsorption capacities of the dye are 434 mg/g for Fr-fMWCNT and 500 mg/g for Fr-fMWCNT-Fe3O4. Remediation of the CV dye using our novel composite materials has not been reported previously in the literature. The synthesized Fr-fMWCNT and Fr-fMWCNT-Fe3O4 adsorbents can be economical and green materials for the adsorptive elimination of CV dye from wastewater.

Innovative microwave-assisted biosynthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles loaded with platinum(ii) based complex for halting colon cancer: cellular, molecular, and computational investigations

In the current study, we biosynthesized copper oxide NPs (CuO NPs) utilizing the essential oils extracted from Boswellia carterii oleogum resin, which served as a bioreductant and capping agent with the help of microwave energy. Afterwards, the platinum(ii) based anticancer drug, carboplatin (Cr), was loaded onto the CuO NPs, exploiting the electrostatic interactions forming Cr@CuO NPs. The produced biogenic NPs were then characterized using zeta potential (ZP), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. In addition, the entrapment efficiency and release profile of the loaded Cr were evaluated. Thereafter, SRB assay was performed, where Cr@CuO NPs demonstrated the highest cytotoxic activity against human colon cancer cells (HCT-116) with an IC50 of 5.17 μg mL-1, which was about 1.6 and 2.2 folds more than that of Cr and CuO NPs. Moreover, the greenly synthesized nanoparticles (Cr@CuO NPs) displayed a satisfactory selectivity index (SI = 6.82), which was far better than the free Cr treatment (SI = 2.23). Regarding the apoptosis assay, the advent of Cr@CuO NPs resulted in an immense increase in the cellular population percentage of HCT-116 cells undergoing both early (16.02%) and late apoptosis (35.66%), significantly surpassing free Cr and CuO NPs. A study of HCT-116 cell cycle kinetics revealed the powerful ability of Cr@CuO NPs to trap cells in the Sub-G1 and G2 phases and impede the G2/M transition. RT-qPCR was utilized for molecular investigations of the pro-apoptotic (Bax and p53) and antiapoptotic genes (Bcl-2). The novel Cr@CuO NPs treatment rose above single Cr or CuO NPs therapy in stimulating the p53-Bax mediated mitochondrial apoptosis. The cellular and molecular biology investigations presented substantial proof of the potentiated anticancer activity of Cr@CuO NPs and the extra benefits that could be obtained from their use.

Evaluation of antibacterial and wound-healing activities of alcoholic extract of Boswellia carterii, in vitro and in vivo study

BACKGROUND

Today, despite the existence of various chemical and physical treatments for wound healing, the use of traditional medicine including herbal medicine is still widely used in most developed and developing countries.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of alcoholic extract of Boswellia carterii (BC) plant.

METHODS

The BC extract was prepared using alcohol 70%. The chemical groups and extract compounds were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, respectively. The antimicrobial and wound-healing activities of different concentrations of BC extract and its combination with penicillin-streptomycin were assessed by agar well diffusion and infected wound model in albino rabbits, respectively.

RESULTS

FTIR revealed the presence of hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl, alkyl C-H stretches, aromatic C=C bends, and aromatic C-H bends in the BC extract. The HPLC revealed 14 different compounds including thujene (48.0%) as the most abundant ingredient. All BC concentrations showed antibacterial and wound-healing activities. The 10% concentration of BC extract had the strongest antibacterial effect. Also, the combination of penicillin-streptomycin with BC extract showed synergistic antibacterial effect. The 5% concentration of BC was the best wound-healing compound which healed the wound in 6 days and decreased the wound size 10 mm each day.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated the potential abilities of BC as an antibacterial and wound-healing medicinal plant. Further studies are required to justify the in vivo use of this plant.

Evaluation of anticandidal activities and phytochemical examination of extracts prepared from Vitex agnus-castus: a possible alternative in treating candidiasis infections

BACKGROUND

Candidiasis infection is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Fungicidal resistance of some commercially used fungicides ascended the need for a naturally effective alternative. The current study aimed to evaluate the fungicidal activity of Vitex agnus-castus extracts in vitro against some Candida species.

METHODS

The bioactive compounds contained in the crude and alcoholic extracts were compared, and the antioxidant activity was tested, as well. The phytochemical analysis was carried out by Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS). The scavenger activity of the tested extracts was tested, as well. The anticandidal activity was tested to detect the effect of the tested extracts on the mycelial growth of Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, Candia tropicalis, Candida famata, Candida rhodotorula, and Candida dublinesis. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were calculated for all reported activities. The Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and the Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were used to detect the morphological and ultrastructure response in some selected species.

RESULTS

FTIR and GC/MS revealed the existence of different bioactive chemical groups such as polyphenols, fatty acids, terpenes, terpenoids, steroids, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters, phytol which is a diterpene. DPPH results confirmed the antioxidant activity of all extracts where the methanolic extract was the strongest scavenging substrate. All extracts showed strong inhibitory effects against different species at a concentration of 200 µg/ml (P < 0.001). SEM and TEM showed morphological and ultrastructure changes in C. famata.

CONCLUSION

The current study suggested a reliable antifungal activity of different extracts of Vitex agnus-castus against different Candida species and strains. However, further studies are required to confirm the safety of these extracts to be used in medical applications.

Boswellia sacra Extract-Loaded Mesoporous Bioactive Glass Nano Particles: Synthesis and Biological Effects

Bioactive glasses (BGs) are being increasingly considered for numerous biomedical applications. The loading of natural compounds onto BGs to increase the BG biological activity is receiving increasing attention. However, achieving efficient loading of phytotherapeutic compounds onto the surface of bioactive glass is challenging. The present work aimed to prepare novel amino-functionalized mesoporous bioactive glass nanoparticles (MBGNs) loaded with the phytotherapeutic agent Boswellia sacra extract. The prepared amino-functionalized MBGNs showed suitable loading capacity and releasing time. MBGNs (nominal composition: 58 wt% SiO₂, 37 wt% CaO, 5 wt% P₂O₅) were prepared by sol-gel-modified co-precipitation method and were successfully surface-modified by using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES). In order to evaluate MBGNs loaded with Boswellia sacra, morphological analysis, biological studies, physico-chemical and release studies were performed. The successful functionalization and loading of the natural compound were confirmed with FTIR, zeta-potential measurements and UV-Vis spectroscopy, respectively. Structural and morphological evaluation of MBGNs was done by XRD, SEM and BET analyses, whereas the chemical analysis of the plant extract was done using GC/MS technique. The functionalized MBGNs showed high loading capacity as compared to non-functionalized MBGNs. The release studies revealed that Boswellia sacra molecules were released via controlled diffusion and led to antibacterial effects against S. aureus (Gram-positive) bacteria. Results of cell culture studies using human osteoblastic-like cells (MG-63) indicated better cell viability of the Boswellia sacra-loaded MBGNs as compared to the unloaded MBGNs. Therefore, the strategy of combining the properties of MBGNs with the therapeutic effects of Boswellia sacra represents a novel, convenient step towards the development of phytotherapeutic-loaded antibacterial, inorganic materials to improve tissue healing and regeneration.