Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Cytotoxic, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Hedychium flavum Rhizome

In vitro and in silico evaluation of bioactivities and chemical composition of the aerial parts of Anchusa officinalis L. methanol extract

The main objective of the study is to evaluate the antioxidant, anticancer, and antimicrobial activities of Anchusa officinalis L. in vitro and in silico. The dried aerial parts of A. officinalis L. were extracted with methanol. Total phenolic and flavonoid content was analyzed. Antioxidant and antimicrobial effects were tested against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed the presence of 10 phytochemical compounds, and cyclobutane (26.07%) was identified as the major photochemical compound. The methanol extract exhibited the maximum amount of total phenolic content (118.24 ± 4.42 mg QE/g dry weight of the dry extract) (R2 = 0.994) and the total flavonoid content was 94 ± 2.34 mg QE/g dry weight of the dry extract (R2 = 0.999). The IC50 value for 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid was 107.12 ± 3.42 μg/mL, and it was high for 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (123.94 ± 2.31 μg/mL). The IC50 value was 72.49 ± 3.14 against HepG2 cell lines, and a decreased value was obtained (102.54 ± 4.17 g/mL) against MCF-7 cell lines. The methanol extract increased the expression of caspase mRNA and Bax mRNA levels when compared to the control experiment (p < .05). The conclusions, A. officinalis L. aerial parts extract exhibited antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant activities.

Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, Anticancer, and Antibacterial Activities of Roots and Seeds of Ammi visnaga L. Methanol Extract

For centuries, plants and their components have been harnessed for therapeutic purposes, with Ammi visnaga L. (Khella) being no exception to this rich tradition. While existing studies have shed light on the cytotoxic and antimicrobial properties of seed extracts, there remains a noticeable gap in research about the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer potential of root extracts. This study seeks to address this gap by systematically examining methanol extracts derived from the roots of A. visnaga L. and comparing their effects with those of seed extracts specifically against breast cancer cells. Notably, absent from previous investigations, this study focuses on the comparative analysis of the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities of both root and seed extracts. The methanol extract obtained from A. visnaga L. seeds demonstrated a notably higher level of total phenolic content (TPC) than its root counterpart, measuring 366.57 ± 2.86 and 270.78 ± 2.86 mg GAE/g dry weight of the dry extract, respectively. In the evaluation of antioxidant activities using the DPPH method, the IC50 values for root and seed extracts were determined to be 193.46 ± 17.13 μg/mL and 227.19 ± 1.48 μg/mL, respectively. Turning our attention to cytotoxicity against breast cancer cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), both root and seed extracts displayed similar cytotoxic activities, with IC50 values of 92.45 ± 2.14 μg/mL and 75.43 ± 2.32 μg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, both root and seed extracts exhibited a noteworthy modulation of gene expression, upregulating the expression of caspase and Bax mRNA levels while concurrently suppressing the expression of anti-apoptotic genes (Bcl-xL and Bcl-2), thereby reinforcing their potential as anticancer agents. A. visnaga L. seed extract outperforms the root extract in antimicrobial activities, exhibiting lower minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 3.81 ± 0.24 to 125 ± 7.63 μg/mL. This highlights the seeds' potential as potent antibacterial agents, expanding their role in disease prevention. Overall, this study underscores the diverse therapeutic potentials of A. visnaga L. roots and seeds, contributing to the understanding of plant-derived extracts in mitigating disease risks.

Promising Anti-Wrinkle Applications of Aromatic Extracts of Hedychium coronarium J. Koenig via Antioxidation and Collagenase Inhibition

This study aimed to extract aromatic compounds from the rhizomes, leaf sheaths, and leaves of Hedychium coronarium and investigate their chemical compositions, cosmetic/cosmeceutical activities, and irritation potency. The chemical compositions were investigated via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antioxidant activities were evaluated via spectrophotometry. The anti-skin wrinkle properties were investigated via collagenase, elastase, and hyaluronidase inhibition. The irritation potency was observed via a hen's egg-chorioallantoic membrane test. Eucalyptol was detected as a major component in the rhizomes and leaf sheaths, while β-caryophyllene was predominant in the leaves. The absolutes from the rhizomes were the strongest antioxidants, with ABTS scavenging properties similar to L-ascorbic acid. Interestingly, the equivalent concentration (EC1) of the absolute from the rhizome was 0.82 ± 0.01 µg FeSO4/g extract, which was significantly more potent than L-ascorbic acid (0.43 ± 0.03 µg FeSO4/g extract). The rhizome-derived absolute was the most effective against collagenase, while the concretes from the rhizomes and leaf sheaths showed promising anti-hyaluronidase activity with inhibitions of 90.5 ± 1.6% and 87.4 ± 5.1%, respectively. The irritability of the aromatic extracts was not different from that of the vehicle control, proving their safety. Therefore, the Hedychium coronarium rhizome-derived absolute was an attractive and potent antioxidant with anti-collagenase activities, indicating its potential for use in anti-aging formulations.

The complete chloroplast genome of Hedychium flavum Roxb., an ornamental, edible and medicinal plant

Hedychium flavum Roxb. 1820 is a perennial herb mainly distributed in China, India, Myanmar and Thailand with ornamental, edible and medicinal value. It is extensively cultivated as a source of aromatic essential oils, ornamental plant, food flavorings and vegetables, and folk medicine. In this study, we sequence the complete chloroplast genome of H. flavum by de novo assembly. The assembled genome has a typical quadripartite circular structure with 163,909 bp in length, containing a large single-copy region (LSC, 88,589 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 15,762 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRs, 29,779 bp). The cp genome contains 133 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete cp genome shows a close affinity of H. flavum and H. neocarneum with 100% bootstrap support. This study will provide useful genetic resource for further phylogenetic analysis of the genus Hedychium and Zingiberaceae.

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-enzymatic properties of Alpinia coriandriodora (sweet ginger) rhizome

Alpinia coriandriodora, also known as sweet ginger, is a medicinal and edible plant. A. coriandriodora rhizome is popularly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and as flavouring spices, but there are few reports on its constituents and bioactivities. This study analyzed the phytochemical components of A. coriandriodora rhizome by GC-MS and UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and evaluated its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-enzymatic properties. According to the GC-FID/MS data, its rhizome essential oil (EO) consisted mainly of (E)-2-decenal (53.8%), (E)-2-decenyl acetate (24.4%), (Z)-3-dodecenyl acetate (3.5%), and (E)-2-octenal (3.5%). Its water extract (WE) and 70% ethanol extract (EE) showed high total phenolic content (TPC, 52.99-60.49 mg GAEs/g extract) and total flavonoid content (TFC, 260.69-286.42 mg REs/g extract). In addition, the phytochemicals of WE and EE were further characterized using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, and a total of sixty-three compounds were identified, including fourteen phenolic components and twenty-three flavonoid compounds. In the antioxidant assay, WE and EE revealed a potent scavenging effect on DPPH (IC50: 6.59 ± 0.88 mg/mL and 17.70 ± 1.15 mg/mL, respectively), surpassing the BHT (IC50: 21.83 ± 0.89 mg/mL). For the antimicrobial activities, EO displayed excellent antibacterial capabilities against Proteus vulgaris, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus with DIZ (12.60-22.17 mm), MIC (0.78-1.56 mg/mL), and MBC (3.13 mg/mL) and significantly inhibited Aspergillus flavus growth (MIC = 0.313 mg/mL, MFC = 0.625 mg/mL, respectively). In addition to weak tyrosinase and cholinesterase inhibition, EE and WE had a prominent inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase (IC50: 0.013 ± 0.001 mg/mL and 0.017 ± 0.002 mg/mL), which was significantly higher than acarbose (IC50: 0.22 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Hence, the rhizome of A. coriandriodora has excellent potential for utilization in the pharmaceutical and food fields as a source of bioactive substances.

Hedychium spicatum rhizome essential oil induces apoptosis in human prostate adenocarcinoma PC-3 cells via mitochondrial stress and caspase activation

Hedychium spicatum is an essential oil bearing plant extensively used in the traditional system of medicine in several countries. Previous research has revealed H. spicatum essential oil (HSEO) to exhibit anti-tumor activity, although the mechanism of action is still unknown. Therefore, the current study was designed to carry out a comprehensive characterization of HSEO and evaluate the chemotherapeutic potential of HSEO against cancerous cells. The volatile constituents of HSEO was determined by one-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) and two-dimensional gas chromatography with time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GCxGC-TOFMS). In total, 193 phytocompounds could be detected, out of which 140 were identified for the first time. The major phytoconstituents detected by GCxGC-TOFMS were β-pinene (10.94%), eucalyptol (6.45%), sabinene (5.48%) and trans-isolimonene (5.00%). GCxGC-TOFMS analysis showed two and half fold increase in the constituents over GC-TOFMS due to better chromatographic separation of constituents in the 2nd dimensional column. HSEO was tested for in vitro cytotoxic activity against cancerous (PC-3, HCT-116 and A-549) and normal (3T3-L1) cell, with HSEO being most selective for prostate cancer cell (PC-3) over non-tumorigenic fibroblast (3T3-L1) cell. HSEO treatment inhibited the colony formation ability of PC-3 cells. HSEO treatment caused apoptotic cell death and cell cycle arrest at G2/M and S phase in PC-3 cells. HSEO induced apoptosis via intracellular ROS accumulation, mitochondria depolarization and increased caspase-3, 8, and 9 levels in PC-3 cells. Additionally, HSEO treatment led to a decrease of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL and increase of Bax and Bak protein levels. Overall, results from this study highlighted the anticancer potential of H. spicatum essential oil, which could be considered as a new agent for treating prostate cancer.

Hedychium flavum flower essential oil: Chemical composition, anti-inflammatory activities and related mechanisms in vitro and in vivo

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hedychium flavum, an ornamental, edible, and medicinal plant, is extensively cultivated as a source of aromatic essential oils (EO). Its flower is a traditional Chinese medicine for treating inflammation-related diseases like indigestion, diarrhea, and stomach pain. In particular, H. flavum flower EO has been used in cosmetics and as an aromatic stomachic to treat chronic gastritis in China.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This research aimed to analyze H. flavum flower EO's chemical composition and explore its anti-inflammatory activities and related mechanisms in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

EO's chemical composition was determined by GC-FID/MS analysis. For in vitro test, the anti-inflammatory activity of EO was demonstrated by measuring the LPS-induced release of NO, PGE₂, IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 in RAW264.7 macrophages, and then its related mechanisms were explored using qRT-PCR, western blot, and immunofluorescent staining analysis. Next, EO's in vivo anti-inflammatory potential was further evaluated using a xylene-induced ear edema model, in which ear swelling and TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in serum and tissue were examined.

RESULTS

The main components of EO were β-pinene (20.2%), α-pinene (9.3%), α-phellandrene (8.3%), 1,8-cineole (7.1%), E-nerolidol (5.4%), limonene (4.4%), borneol (4.1%), and β-caryophyllene (3.7%). For the anti-inflammatory activities in vitro, EO dramatically reduced the LPS-stimulated NO and PGE₂ release by suppressing the mRNA and protein expression of iNOS and COX-2. Meanwhile, it remarkably decreased IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β production by inhibiting their mRNA levels. Related mechanism studies indicated that it not only inhibited IκBα phosphorylation and degradation, leading to blockade of NF-κB nuclear transfer but also suppressed MAPKs (ERK, p38, and JNK) phosphorylation in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Further in vivo assay showed that EO ameliorated xylene-induced ear edema in mice and reduced TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β levels in serum and tissue.

CONCLUSIONS

H. flavum EO exerted significant anti-inflammatory activity in vivo and in vitro, and its mechanism of action is related to the inhibition of MAPK and NF-κB activation. Thus, H. flavum EO could be considered a novel and promising anti-inflammatory agent and possess high potential for utilization in the pharmaceutical field.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Enzyme Inhibitory, and Anticancer Activities and Chemical Composition of Alpinia galanga Flower Essential Oil

Alpinia galanga is widely cultivated for its essential oil (EO), which has been used in cosmetics and perfumes. Previous studies of A. galanga focussed mostly on the rhizome but seldom on the flower. Therefore, this study was designed to identify the chemical composition of A. galanga flower EO and firstly estimate its antioxidant, antibacterial, enzyme inhibitory, and anticancer activities. According to the results of the gas chromatography with flame ionization or mass selective detection (GC-FID/MS) analysis, the most abundant component of the EO was farnesene (64.3%), followed by farnesyl acetate (3.6%), aceteugenol (3.2%), eugenol (3.1%), E-nerolidol (2.9%), decyl acetate (2.4%), octyl acetate (2.0%), sesquirosefuran (1.9%), (E)-β-farnesene (1.7%), and germacrene D (1.5%). For the bioactivities, the EO exhibited moderate DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging effects with IC50 values of 138.62 ± 3.07 μg/mL and 40.48 ± 0.49 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, the EO showed strong-to-moderate antibacterial activities with various diameter of inhibition zone (DIZ) (8.79−14.32 mm), minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (3.13−6.25 mg/mL), and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) (6.25−12.50 mg/mL) values against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris. Interestingly, the EO possessed remarkable α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 0.16 ± 0.03 mg/mL), which was equivalent to that of the positive control acarbose (IC50 = 0.15 ± 0.01 mg/mL) (p > 0.05). It showed moderate tyrosinase inhibition (IC50 = 0.62 ± 0.09 mg/mL) and weak inhibitory activity on acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (IC50 = 2.49 ± 0.24 mg/mL) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (IC50 = 10.14 ± 0.59 mg/mL). Furthermore, the EO exhibited considerable selective cytotoxicity to K562 cells (IC50 = 41.55 ± 2.28 μg/mL) and lower cytotoxicity to non-cancerous L929 cells (IC50 = 120.54 ± 8.37 μg/mL), and it induced K562 cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Hence, A. galanga flower EO could be regarded as a bioactive natural product with great application potential in the pharmaceutical field.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities and phytochemical composition of Stereospermum kunthianum root bark

A new glycoiridoid (1) together with seven (7) known compounds were isolated from the methanol crude extract of the root bark of Stereospermum kunthianum using chromatography methods. Their structures were elucidated using HR-ESI-MS, 1 D- & 2 D-NMR spectroscopies in comparison with previous literature. The antioxidant activity was investigated by using FRAP, DPPH, ABTS and HRSA methods while the antibacterial activity was assays on Escherichia coli (ATCC25922) and Salmonella typhimurium (ATCC14028) strains. The results showed that the isolated compounds had significantly (p < 0.01) high radical scavenging (IC₅₀) and reducing power activity. All bacteria strains showed important minimal inhibitory concentration activity against isolated compounds started at 5 mg/mL with an inhibition zone of 6 mm. Thus, the isolated compounds in S. kunthianum justify the use of the plant in traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases in humans. These isolated compounds can be used for formulation of new drug discovery to treat infectious diseases.

Antiproliferative labdane diterpenes from the rhizomes of Hedychium flavescens Carey ex Roscoe

Antiproliferative activity was confirmed in the various extracts of rhizomes of Hedychium flavescens (Zingiberaceae). The phytochemical investigation of the rhizomes of Hedychium flavescens led to the isolation of four labdane diterpenes. Their structures were established as coronarin E (1), C-14 epimers of isocoronarin D (2), C-15 epimers of coronarin D methyl ether (3) and isocoronarin D (4). The structure of the compounds was identified based on spectroscopic analysis and on comparison with literature reports. All these compounds were assessed for their in vitro cytotoxicity against human lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell line and showed significant cytotoxicity as reflected in IC₅₀ value, that is, 0.52, 0.59, 0.68 and 1.22 μM compared with the control doxorubicin (IC₅₀ 0.92 μM). Moreover, all the compounds were nontoxic towards the normal lung fibroblast (WI-38) cells. The chemo-profiling and cytotoxicity study of Hedychium flavescens is reported for the first time.

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Essential Oils from Flower, Leaf, and Stem of Rhynchanthus beesianus

Rhynchanthus beesianus is a medicinal, ornamental, and edible plant, and its essential oil has been used as an aromatic stomachic in China. In this study, the chemical constituents, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties of flower essential oil (F-EO), leaf essential oil (L-EO), and stem essential oil (S-EO) of R. beesianus were investigated for the first time. According to the GC-FID/MS assay, the F-EO was mainly composed of bornyl formate (21.7%), 1,8-cineole (21.6%), borneol (9.7%), methyleugenol (7.7%), β-myrcene (5.4%), limonene (4.7%), camphene (4.5%), linalool (3.4%), and α-pinene (3.1%). The predominant components of L-EO were bornyl formate (33.9%), borneol (13.2%), 1,8-cineole (12.1%), methyleugenol (8.0%), camphene (7.8%), bornyl acetate (6.2%), and α-pinene (4.3%). The main components of S-EO were borneol (22.5%), 1,8-cineole (21.3%), methyleugenol (14.6%), bornyl formate (11.6%), and bornyl acetate (3.9%). For the bioactivities, the F-EO, L-EO, and S-EO exhibited significant antibacterial property against Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli with the inhibition zones (7.28–9.69 mm), MIC (3.13–12.50 mg/mL), and MBC (6.25–12.50 mg/mL). Besides, the F-EO, L-EO, and S-EO significantly inhibited the production of proinflammatory mediator nitric oxide (NO) (93.15–94.72%) and cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6) (23.99–77.81%) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (17.69–24.93%) in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells at the dose of 128 μg/mL in the absence of cytotoxicity. Hence, the essential oils of R. beesianus flower, leaf, and stem could be used as natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory agents with a high application potential in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic fields.

Identified GNGT1 and NMU as Combined Diagnosis Biomarker of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Utilizing Bioinformatics and Logistic Regression

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most devastating diseases worldwide. The study is aimed at identifying reliable prognostic biomarkers and to improve understanding of cancer initiation and progression mechanisms. RNA-Seq data were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Subsequently, comprehensive bioinformatics analysis incorporating gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was conducted to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) closely associated with NSCLC. Eight hub genes were screened out using Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) and cytoHubba. The prognostic and diagnostic values of the hub genes were further confirmed by survival analysis and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. Hub genes were validated by other datasets, such as the Oncomine, Human Protein Atlas, and cBioPortal databases. Ultimately, logistic regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the two identified biomarkers. Screening removed 1,411 DEGs, including 1,362 upregulated and 49 downregulated genes. Pathway enrichment analysis of the DEGs examined the Ras signaling pathway, alcoholism, and other factors. Ultimately, eight prioritized genes (GNGT1, GNG4, NMU, GCG, TAC1, GAST, GCGR1, and NPSR1) were identified as hub genes. High hub gene expression was significantly associated with worse overall survival in patients with NSCLC. The ROC curves showed that these hub genes had diagnostic value. The mRNA expressions of GNGT1 and NMU were low in the Oncomine database. Their protein expressions and genetic alterations were also revealed. Finally, logistic regression analysis indicated that combining the two biomarkers substantially improved the ability to discriminate NSCLC. GNGT1 and NMU identified in the current study may empower further discovery of the molecular mechanisms underlying NSCLC's initiation and progression.

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial, Anti-Inflammatory, and Enzyme Inhibitory Activities of Essential Oil from Rhynchanthus beesianus Rhizome

Rhynchanthus beesianus W. W. Smith, an edible, medicinal, and ornamental plant, is mainly cultivated in China and Myanmar. The essential oil (EO) from R. beesianus rhizome has been used as an aromatic stomachic in China. The chemical composition and biological activities of EO from R. beesianus rhizome were reported for the first time. Based on gas chromatography with flame ionization or mass selective detection (GC-FID/MS) results, the major constituents of EO were 1,8-cineole (47.6%), borneol (15.0%), methyleugenol (11.2%), and bornyl formate (7.6%). For bioactivities, EO showed a significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus vulgaris with the diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ) (8.66–10.56 mm), minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) (3.13–6.25 mg/mL), and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) (6.25–12.5 mg/mL). Moreover, EO (128 μg/mL) significantly inhibited the production of proinflammatory mediators nitric oxide (NO) (92.73 ± 1.50%) and cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) (20.29 ± 0.17%) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) (61.08 ± 0.13%) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 macrophages without any cytotoxic effect. Moreover, EO exhibited significant acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity (the concentration of the sample that affords a 50% inhibition in the assay (IC₅₀) = 1.03 ± 0.18 mg/mL) and moderate α-glucosidase inhibition effect (IC₅₀ = 11.60 ± 0.25 mg/mL). Thus, the EO could be regarded as a bioactive natural product and has a high exploitation potential in the cosmetics and pharmaceutical industries.