Volatile Secondary Metabolites with Potent Antidiabetic Activity from the Roots of Prangos pabularia Lindl.—Computational and Experimental Investigations

Chemical profile, biological potential, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and ADMET approaches of essential oils from extracted endemic Prangos aricakensis leaf and stem

This paper investigated essential oils (EOs) of the endemic Prangos aricakensis (PA) used as spice and aroma by the Turkish people. Using a Clevenger-type device, EOs were obtained for the first time by hydro-distillation from dried parts of PA (L:leaf, S:stem). The EOs of the PALEO and PASEO were analyzed by GC-MS/MS. The main components of both parts were limonene, bornyl acetate, cinnamic acid ethyl ester, and methyl trans-cinnamate. In this work, enzyme inhibition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antifungal, and DNA protection activities were applied for PASEO and PALEO. The PALEO in DPPH• and PASEO in ABTS•+ scavenging activities were better than standard. In BChE inhibition activity, PALEO (6.69 ± 0.01 μg/mL) was more effective than galantamine (9.88 ± 2.42 μg/mL). It was active against pathogen bacteria and fungus, ranging between 32 and 128 μg/mL in terms of MIC, respectively. The results of molecular docking and ADMET of the four major components of EOs supported the effectiveness of the biological activity. Also, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were performed for 100 ns, and MM-PBSA energies were calculated for the best-scored molecules in docking. In particular, radical scavenger, anti-BChE potential, and usability to develop different formulations against the disease were supported by in vitro, ADMET, and MD studies.

Recent progress on Prangos (Apiaceae) species used in traditional herbal medicine

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants have been used for a long time in traditional medicine to treat many diseases. The genus Prangos belongs to the Apiaceae family and has various medicinal and aromatic species. Since ancient times, Prangos species have been employed extensively in traditional medicine for different purposes and are especially popular for their aphrodisiac effects.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The goal of this paper is to represent a systematic review of the species in the genus Prangos, including their botanical characteristics, uses in traditional medicine, phytochemical constituents, the composition of the essential oils produced, and the biological properties.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The articles regarding traditional uses and bioactivities of Prangos species were evaluated using electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect. Use of the World Flora Online (WFO) - The Plant List, The International Plant Names Index, the World Checklist of Vascular Plants (2024), and ChemDraw Professional helped complete this compilation.

RESULTS

Phytochemical investigations have indicated that coumarins are characteristic constituents of Prangos species, especially prenylated simple coumarins and furanocoumarins, and also flavonoids, terpenoids, and phytosterols occur in this genus. In addition, the essential oils of these plants have been examined. The biological properties of the Prangos species seem worthy of further investigation. Also, some information about the toxicity of these species and their use as ingredients in food products is presented.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the evaluation of traditional knowledge, phytochemical profiles, biological activities, and potential uses of Prangos species as foods and spices. Many pharmacological activities have been performed related to their traditional uses, but frequently, the exact mechanism of action remains scientifically unproven. This review has compiled data on the phytochemistry, the active secondary metabolites, the biological properties, and recent advances in Prangos species.

Genetic, molecular and physiological crosstalk during drought tolerance in maize (Zea mays): pathways to resilient agriculture

MAIN CONCLUSION

This review comprehensively elucidates maize drought tolerance mechanisms, vital for global food security. It highlights genetic networks, key genes, CRISPR-Cas applications, and physiological responses, guiding resilient variety development. Maize, a globally significant crop, confronts the pervasive challenge of drought stress, impacting its growth and yield significantly. Drought, an important abiotic stress, triggers a spectrum of alterations encompassing maize's morphological, biochemical, and physiological dimensions. Unraveling and understanding these mechanisms assumes paramount importance for ensuring global food security. Approaches like developing drought-tolerant varieties and harnessing genomic and molecular applications emerge as effective measures to mitigate the negative effects of drought. The multifaceted nature of drought tolerance in maize has been unfolded through complex genetic networks. Additionally, quantitative trait loci mapping and genome-wide association studies pinpoint key genes associated with drought tolerance, influencing morphophysiological traits and yield. Furthermore, transcription factors like ZmHsf28, ZmNAC20, and ZmNF-YA1 play pivotal roles in drought response through hormone signaling, stomatal regulation, and gene expression. Genes, such as ZmSAG39, ZmRAFS, and ZmBSK1, have been reported to be pivotal in enhancing drought tolerance through diverse mechanisms. Integration of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, targeting genes like gl2 and ZmHDT103, emerges as crucial for precise genetic enhancement, highlighting its role in safeguarding global food security amid pervasive drought challenges. Thus, decoding the genetic and molecular underpinnings of drought tolerance in maize sheds light on its resilience and paves the way for cultivating robust and climate-smart varieties, thus safeguarding global food security amid climate challenges. This comprehensive review covers quantitative trait loci mapping, genome-wide association studies, key genes and functions, CRISPR-Cas applications, transcription factors, physiological responses, signaling pathways, offering a nuanced understanding of intricate mechanisms involved in maize drought tolerance.

Plant-Derived Coumarins: A Narrative Review of Their Structural and Biomedical Diversity

Plant-derived coumarin (PDC) is a naturally occurring heterocyclic backbone that belongs to the benzopyrone family. PDC and its based products are characterized by low toxicity and high distribution in a variety of herbal treatments that have numerous therapeutic potentials. These include anticoagulants, antibacterials, anti-inflammatory agents, anticancer agents, antioxidants, and others. So, it may be appropriate to investigate the qualities and potential bioactivities of PDCs. This article provides an overview of the biomedical potentials, availability, and clinical use possibilities of PDCs, with a focus on their important modes of action, using information on various pharmacological qualities discovered. The data used in this study came from published research between 2015 and 2023. We reviewed a selection of databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, during that period. In conclusion, because of their abundance in medicinal plants, the clinical biochemistry attributes of PDCs are currently of interest. In a variety of medical specialties, PDCs serve a useful role as therapeutic agents.

Mechanisms of anti-ulcer actions of Prangos pabularia (L.) in ethanol-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Peptic ulcer disease is the greatest digestive disorder that has increased incidence and recurrence rates across all nations. Prangos pabularia (L.) has been well documented as a folkloric medicinal herb utilized for multiple disease conditions including gastric ulcers. Hence, the target study was investigation the gastro-protection effects of root extracts of Prangos pabularia (REPP) on ethanol-mediated stomach injury in rats. Sprague Dawley rats were clustered in 5 cages: A and B, normal and ulcer control rats pre-ingested with 1 % carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)); C, reference rats had 20 mg/kg omeprazole; D and E, rats pre-supplemented with 250 and 500 mg/kg of REPP, respectively. After one hour, group A was given orally 1 % CMC, and groups B-E were given 100 % ethanol. The ulcer area, gastric acidity, and gastric wall mucus of all stomachs were determined. The gastric tissue homogenates were examined for antioxidant and MDA contents. Moreover, the gastric tissues were analyzed by histopathological and immunohistochemically assays. Acute toxicity results showed lack of any toxic effects or histological changes in rats exposed to 2 and 5 g/kg of REPP ingestion. The ulcer controls had extensive gastric mucosal damage with lower gastric juice and a reduced gastric pH. REPP treatment caused a significant reduction of the ethanol-induced gastric lacerations represented by an upsurge in gastric mucus and gastric wall glycoproteins (increased PAS), a decrease in the gastric acidity, leukocyte infiltration, positively modulated Bax and HSP 70 proteins, consequently lowered ulcer areas. REPP supplementation positively modulated oxidative stress (increased SOD, CAT, PGE2, and reduced MDA) and inflammatory cytokines (decreased serum TNF-α, IL-6, and increased IL-10) levels. The outcomes could be scientific evidence to back-up the folkloric use of A. Judaica as a medicinal remedy for oxidative stress-related disorders (gastric ulcer).

Aroma Profile and Biological Effects of Ochradenus arabicus Essential Oils: A Comparative Study of Stem, Flowers, and Leaves

The present analysis explores the chemical constituents and determines the in vitro antimicrobial, antidiabetic, and antioxidant significance of the essential oils (EOs) of the stem, leaves, and flowers of Ochradenus arabicus for the first time. The EOs of the flowers presented seventy-four constituents contributing to 81.46% of the total EOs, with the major compounds being 24-norursa-3,12-diene (13.06%), 24-norursa-3,12-dien-11-one (6.61%), and 24-noroleana-3,12-diene (6.25%). The stem EOs with sixty-one compounds contributed 95.95% of the total oil, whose main bioactive compounds were (+)-camphene (21.50%), eremophilene (5.87%), and δ-selinene (5.03%), while a minimum of fifty-one compounds in the leaves’ EOs (98.75%) were found, with the main constituents being n-hexadecanoic acid (12.32%), octacosane (8.62%), tetradecanoic acid (8.54%), and prehydro fersenyl acetone (7.27%). The antimicrobial activity of the EOs of O. arabicus stem, leaves, and flowers was assessed against two bacterial strains (Escherichia coli and Streptococcus aureus) and two fungal strains (Penicillium simplicissimum and Rhizoctonia solani) via the disc diffusion assay. However, the EOs extracted from the stem were found effective against one bacterial strain, E. coli, and one fungal strain, R. Solani, among the examined microbes in comparison to the standard and negative control. The tested EOs samples of the O. arabicus stem displayed a maximum potential to cure diabetes with an IC50 = 0.40 ± 0.10 µg/mL, followed by leaves and flowers with an IC50 = 0.71 ± 0.11 µg/mL and IC50 = 10.57 ± 0.18 µg/mL, respectively, as compared to the standard acarbose (IC50 = 377.26 ± 1.20 µg/mL). In addition, the EOs of O. arabicus flowers had the highest antioxidant activity (IC50 = 106.40 ± 0.19 µg/mL) as compared to the standard ascorbic acid (IC50 = 73.20 ± 0.17 µg/mL) using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. In the ABTS assay, the EOs of the same sample (flower) depicted the utmost potential to scavenge the free radicals with an IC50 = 178.0 ± 0.14 µg/mL as compared with the ascorbic acid, having an IC50 of 87.34 ± 0.10 µg/mL the using 2,2-Azino-Bis-3-Ethylbenzothiazoline-6-Sulfonic acid (ABTS) assay. The EOs of all parts of O. arabicus have useful bioactive components due to which they present antidiabetic and antioxidant significance. Furthermore, additional investigations are considered necessary to expose the responsible components of the examined biological capabilities, which would be effective in the production of innovative drugs.

Chemical Composition, Biological Activities and In Silico Analysis of Essential Oils of Three Endemic Prangos Species from Turkey

In this study, the essential oils (EOs) obtained from three endemic Prangos species from Turkey (P. heyniae, P. meliocarpoides var. meliocarpoides, and P. uechtritzii) were studied for their chemical composition and biological activities. β-Bisabolenal (12.2%) and caryophyllene oxide (7.9%) were the principal components of P. heyniae EO, while P. meliocarpoides EO contained sabinene (16.7%) and p-cymene (13.2%), and P. uechtritzii EO contained p-cymene (24.6%) and caryophyllene oxide (19.6%), as the most abundant components. With regard to their antioxidant activity, all the EOs were found to possess free radical scavenging potential demonstrated in both DPPH and ABTS assays (0.43-1.74 mg TE/g and 24.18-92.99 mg TE/g, respectively). Additionally, while no inhibitory activity was displayed by P. meliocarpoides and P. uechtritzii EOs against both cholinesterases (acetyl- and butyryl-cholinesterases). Moreover, all the EOs were found to act as inhibitors of tyrosinase (46.34-69.56 mg KAE/g). Molecular docking revealed elemol and α-bisabolol to have the most effective binding affinity with tyrosinase and amylase. Altogether, this study unveiled some interesting biological activities of these EOs, especially as natural antioxidants and tyrosinase inhibitors and hence offers stimulating prospects of them in the development of anti-hyperpigmentation topical formulations.

Natural Coumarins: Exploring the Pharmacological Complexity and Underlying Molecular Mechanisms

Coumarins belong to the benzopyrone family commonly found in many medicinal plants. Natural coumarins demonstrated a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, anticancer, antibacterial, antimalarial, casein kinase-2 (CK2) inhibitory, antifungal, antiviral, Alzheimer's disease inhibition, neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, phytoalexins, ulcerogenic, and antihypertensive. There are very few studies on the bioavailability of coumarins; therefore, further investigations are necessitated to study the bioavailability of different coumarins which already showed good biological activities in previous studies. On the evidence of varied pharmacological properties, the present work presents an overall review of the derivation, availability, and biological capacities of coumarins with further consideration of the essential mode of their therapeutic actions. In conclusion, a wide variety of coumarins are available, and their pharmacological activities are of current interest thanks to their synthetic accessibility and riches in medicinal plants. Coumarins perform the valuable function as therapeutic agents in a range of medical fields.

The Ursolic Acid-Rich Extract of Dracocephalum heterophyllum Benth. with Potent Antidiabetic and Cytotoxic Activities

Pentacyclic triterpenoids are one of the main functional components in Dracocephalum heterophyllum. In this study the optimal process, the fairly simple and accessible extraction and purification of triterpenoids of D. heterophyllum, was developed by a remaceration method. Remaceration is characterized by minimal loss of biologically active compounds on diffusion, which contributes to the largest depletion of raw materials. The triterpenoid yield was 2.4% under optimal conditions which was enhanced to 98.03% after purification. The triterpenoid profiles and their anticancer and antidiabetic activities were further analyzed. GC-MS analysis of triterpenoidal extract of D. heterophyllum resulted ursolic acid (71.9%) and oleanolic acid (18.1%) as the major components. Additionally, total purified triterpenoid contents of D. heterophyllum and its main components were shown to possess significant cytotoxic activity against three human breast cancer cell lines (SK-Br-3, T47D, and MCF-7). The purification of triterpenoids influenced their biological activity. The antidiabetic effect, as measured by inhibition of protein-tyrosine phosphatase (PTP-1B), of the purified fraction of triterpenoids of D. heterophyllum increased by five-fold against the enzyme. The results provide important guidance for the industrial application of D. heterophyllum confirming the prospect of developing plant extracts into effective drugs and health foods for human applications.