Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Different Ethanolic Phyto-Extracts of Artemisia annua L

Ecotoxicological evaluation of an aqueous phytoextract of Melia azedarach L

Melia azedarach L. is a Meliaceae that has shown important insecticidal activities. However, few researchers have extensively studied the toxicology of aqueous extracts of M. azedarach (MAE). Therefore, the main objective of this study was to characterize the phyto-eco-toxicological profile of MAE. First, a botanical and phytochemical characterization of MAE was performed using a histological, and metabolomic multi-analytical approach. Second, the toxicological effects on pollinating insects (Apis mellifera ligustica) and soil collembola (Folsomia candida) were evaluated. In addition, acute toxicity was evaluated in zebrafish (Danio rerio) to assess effects on aquatic fauna, and toxicity was determined in human neuroblastoma (SH-SY5Y) and fibroblast (FB-21) cell models. Finally, phytotoxic effects on germination of Cucumis sativus L., Brassica rapa L. and Sorghum vulgare L. were considered. Metabolomic analyses revealed the presence of not only limonoids but also numerous alkaloids, flavonoids and terpenoids in MAE. Histological analyses allowed us to better localize the areas of leaf deposition of the identified secondary metabolites. Regarding the ecotoxicological data, no significant toxicity was observed in bees and collembola at all doses tested. In contrast, severe cardiac abnormalities were observed in zebrafish embryos at concentrations as low as 25 μg/mL. In addition, MAE showed toxicity at 1.6 μg/mL and 6.25 μg/mL in FB-21 and SH-SY5Y cells, respectively. Finally, MAE inhibited seed germination with inhibitory concentrations starting from 5.50 μg/mL in B. rapa, 20 μg/mL in S. vulgare, and 31 μg/mL in C. sativus. Although M. azedarach extracts are considered valuable natural insecticides, their ecological impact cannot be underestimated. Even the use of an environmentally friendly solvent (an aqueous solution), for the first time, is not without side effects. Therefore, the data collected in this study show the importance of evaluating the dosages, modes of administration and production methods of M. azedarach phytoextracts in agricultural settings.

Exploring the Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Potential, Metabolite Composition and Inorganic Profile of Cistus monspeliensis L. Aerial Parts and Roots

This work focuses on Cistus monspeliensis L. aerial parts (AP) and roots (R) extracts, investigating the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential of the two organs in comparison. At dosages between 1.56 and 6.25 µg/mL, both extracts showed a protective effect against LPS inflammatory stimulus on a macrophage cell line (RAW 264.7). Interestingly, only R was able to significantly reduce both IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA gene expression in the presence of LPS. Moreover, the treatment of a neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) with AP and R at 6.25 µg/mL increased the cell survival rate by nearly 20% after H2O2 insult. However, only R promoted mitochondria survival, exhibited a significantly higher production of ATP and a higher activity of the enzyme catalase than the control. Both AP and R had similar primary metabolites; in particular, they both contained 1-O-methyl-epi-inositol. Labdane and methoxylated flavonoids were the most characteristic compounds of AP, while R contained mainly catechins, gallic acid, and pyrogallol derivatives. Considering the importance of elemental composition in plants, the inorganic profile of AP and R was also investigated and compared. No potentially toxic elements, such as Pb, were detected in any sample.

The effects of Artemisia annua nutritional supplementation at varying concentrations on broiler growth, economic yield, and gene expression levels of certain antioxidant, inflammatory, and immune genes

Background and Aim

Artemisia annua (AA), used as a growth promoter in poultry, lowers feed costs and enhances economic efficiency. This study aimed to assess the impact of varying AA concentrations on broiler chicken growth, gene expression, and profitability.

Materials and Methods

Two hundred 1-day-old male Cobb chicks were randomly allocated into four treatment groups, each containing five replicates and 10 birds. The experimental groups consisted of G1 (basal diet), G2 (basal diet with 0.3% AA), G3 (basal diet with 0.6% AA), and G4 (basal diet with 0.9% AA). The birds had continuous access to feed and water throughout the study. The experiment lasted for 42 days. We measured the growth performance (Feed intake, Life weight), carcass traits (weight after slaughter, dressed carcass, heart, gizzard, spleen, giblet and thymus weight), liver and spleen antioxidants (CAT, GSH, SOD), and gene expression of anti-inflammatory and immune- related genes.

Results

The primary findings revealed that the addition of 0.6% AA had a positive impact (p < 0.05) on all investigated variables compared with the control and other groups. Dietary supplementation with 0.6% AA led to increased breast, giblet, skeleton, and total yield, and net return compared with the control group. Supplementation with AA exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immunological effects through improved levels of antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in tissue homogenates of the liver and spleen. It also upregulated the relative messenger RNA levels of anti-inflammatory interleukin (IL)-10, SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px, whereas IL-1β and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were downregulated.

Conclusion

The study found that AA is a promising replacement for antibiotics in poultry farming as a growth promoter for chickens. 0.6% AA in the broiler diet yielded the best results, striking a balance between superior performance and robust economic benefits.

Electrospun nanofibers synthesized from polymers incorporated with bioactive compounds for wound healing

The development of innovative wound dressing materials is crucial for effective wound care. It's an active area of research driven by a better understanding of chronic wound pathogenesis. Addressing wound care properly is a clinical challenge, but there is a growing demand for advancements in this field. The synergy of medicinal plants and nanotechnology offers a promising approach to expedite the healing process for both acute and chronic wounds by facilitating the appropriate progression through various healing phases. Metal nanoparticles play an increasingly pivotal role in promoting efficient wound healing and preventing secondary bacterial infections. Their small size and high surface area facilitate enhanced biological interaction and penetration at the wound site. Specifically designed for topical drug delivery, these nanoparticles enable the sustained release of therapeutic molecules, such as growth factors and antibiotics. This targeted approach ensures optimal cell-to-cell interactions, proliferation, and vascularization, fostering effective and controlled wound healing. Nanoscale scaffolds have significant attention due to their attractive properties, including delivery capacity, high porosity and high surface area. They mimic the Extracellular matrix (ECM) and hence biocompatible. In response to the alarming rise of antibiotic-resistant, biohybrid nanofibrous wound dressings are gradually replacing conventional antibiotic delivery systems. This emerging class of wound dressings comprises biopolymeric nanofibers with inherent antibacterial properties, nature-derived compounds, and biofunctional agents. Nanotechnology, diminutive nanomaterials, nanoscaffolds, nanofibers, and biomaterials are harnessed for targeted drug delivery aimed at wound healing. This review article discusses the effects of nanofibrous scaffolds loaded with nanoparticles on wound healing, including biological (in vivo and in vitro) and mechanical outcomes.

Inhibition of TNF-α Oncogene Expression by Artemisia Annua L. Extract Against Pioglitazone Side Effects in Male Albino Mice

Pioglitazone (Actos) is one of the most recent oral antidiabetic drugs for treating the second type of diabetes mellitus as a common chronic and lifelong disease, but with harmful side effects. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of Artemisia annua L. extract against the Actos drug side effects in the male albino mice. In present study, the use of Actos drug alone induced hepatotoxicity, renal inflammation, hematological disorders and bladder cancer, which are manifested by biochemical abnormalities and histopathological changes, moreover, the severity of toxicity depends on its dose. In contrast, the concurrent treatment with both Actos drug (45 mg/kg) and Artemisia extract (4 g/kg) was effective against the harmful side effects of the Actos drug. Where, the biochemical, hematological and histopathological investigations showed that the hepatotoxicity, renal inflammation, hematological disorders and histopathological changes were improved using combination of Actos and Artemisia extract. In addition, the results of TNF-ɑ oncogene expression levels in bladder tissues were significantly decreased by about 99.99% using the mix of both Actos drug and Artemisia extract. In conclusion, these findings reveal that the Artemisia annua extract on TNF-ɑ oncogene expression level is very significant and effective natural product against harmful side effects of pioglitazone which associated with an increased risk of incident bladder cancer among people, but for application more studies must be achieved in that field.

Five Different Artemisia L. Species Ethanol Extracts' Phytochemical Composition and Their Antimicrobial and Nematocide Activity

Among the plants that exhibit significant or established pharmacological activity, the genus Artemisia L. deserves special attention. This genus comprises over 500 species belonging to the largest Asteraceae family. Our study aimed at providing a comprehensive evaluation of the phytochemical composition of the ethanol extracts of five different Artemisia L. species (collected from the southwest of the Russian Federation) and their antimicrobial and nematocide activity as follows: A. annua cv. Novichok., A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd, A. santonica cv. Citral, A. abrotanum cv. Euxin, and A. scoparia cv. Tavrida. The study of the ethanol extracts of the five different Artemisia L. species using the methods of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) allowed establishing their phytochemical profile. The obtained data on the of five different Artemisia L. species ethanol extracts' phytochemical composition were used to predict the antibacterial and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic microorganisms and nematocidal activity against the free-living soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The major compounds found in the composition of the Artemisia L. ethanol extracts were monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, coumarins, and phenolic acids. The antibacterial and antifungal activity of the extracts began to manifest at a concentration of 150 µg/mL. The A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd extract had a selective effect against Gram-positive R. iranicus and B. subtilis bacteria, whereas the A. scoparia cv. Tavrida extract had a selective effect against Gram-negative A. tumefaciens and X. arboricola bacteria and A. solani, R. solani and F. graminearum fungi. The A. annua cv. Novichok, A. dracunculus cv. Smaragd, and A. santonica cv. Citral extracts in the concentration range of 31.3-1000 µg/mL caused the death of nematodes. It was established that A. annua cv. Novichok affects the UNC-63 protein, the molecular target of which is the nicotine receptor of the N-subtype.

Artemisinin as a therapeutic vs. its more complex Artemisia source material

Covering: up to 2017-2022Many small molecule drugs are first discovered in nature, commonly the result of long ethnopharmacological use by people, and then characterized and purified from their biological sources. Traditional medicines are often more sustainable, but issues related to source consistency and efficacy present challenges. Modern medicine has focused solely on purified molecules, but evidence is mounting to support some of the more traditional uses of medicinal biologics. When is a more traditional delivery of a therapeutic appropriate and warranted? What studies are required to establish validity of a traditional medicine approach? Artemisia annua and A. afra are two related but unique medicinal plant species with long histories of ethnopharmacological use. A. annua produces the sesquiterpene lactone antimalarial drug, artemisinin, while A. afra produces at most, trace amounts of the compound. Both species also have an increasing repertoire of modern scientific and pharmacological data that make them ideal candidates for a case study. Here accumulated recent data on A. annua and A. afra are reviewed as a basis for establishing a decision tree for querying their therapeutic use, as well as that of other medicinal plant species.

Synergistic Chemopreventive Effects of a Novel Combined Plant Extract Comprising Gallic Acid and Hesperidin on Colorectal Cancer

BACKGROUND/AIM

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer with a high mortality rate worldwide. Although gallic acid and hesperidin exert anticancer activity, synergistic effects of gallic acid and hesperidin against CRC remain elusive. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic mechanism of a novel combination of gallic acid and hesperidin against CRC cell growth, including cell viability, cell-cycle-associated proteins, spheroid formation, and stemness.

METHODS

Gallic acid and hesperidin derived from Hakka pomelo tea (HPT) were detected by colorimetric methods and high-performance liquid chromatography using ethyl acetate as an extraction medium. CRC cell lines (HT-29 and HCT-116) treated with the combined extract were investigated in our study for cell viability (trypan blue or soft agar colony formation assay), cell cycle (propidium iodide staining), cell-cycle-associated proteins (immunoblotting), and stem cell markers (immunohistochemistry staining).

RESULTS

Compared with other extraction methods, HPT extraction using an ethyl acetate medium exerts the most potent effect on inhibiting HT-29 cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the treatment with combined extract had a higher inhibitory effect on CRC cell viability than gallic acid or hesperidin alone. The underlying mechanism was involved in G1-phase arrest and Cip1/p21 upregulation that could attenuate HCT-116 cell proliferation (Ki-67), stemness (CD-133), and spheroid growth in a 3D formation assay mimicking in vivo tumorigenesis.

CONCLUSION

Gallic acid and hesperidin exert synergistic effects on cell growth, spheroids, and stemness of CRC and may serve as a potential chemopreventive agent. Further testing for the safety and effectiveness of the combined extract in large-scale randomized trials is required.

Comparative Amino Acid Profile and Antioxidant Activity in Sixteen Plant Extracts from Transylvania, Romania

In addition to the naturopathic medicines based on the antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, or antioxidant properties of plant extracts that have been capitalized upon through the pharmaceutical industry, the increasing interest of the food industry in this area requires potent new materials capable of supporting this market. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro amino acid contents and antioxidant activities of ethanolic extracts from sixteen plants. Our results show high accumulated amino acid contents, mainly of proline, glutamic, and aspartic acid. The most consistent values of essential amino acids were isolated from T. officinale, U. dioica, C. majus, A. annua, and M. spicata. The results of the 2,2-diphenyl-1-pycrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay indicate that R. officinalis was the most potent antioxidant, followed by four other extracts (in decreasing order): T. serpyllum, C. monogyna, S. officinalis, and M. koenigii. The network and principal component analyses found four natural groupings between samples based on DPPH free radical scavenging activity content. Each plant extracts' antioxidant action was discussed based on similar results found in the literature, and a lower capacity was observed for most species. An overall ranking of the analyzed plant species can be accomplished due to the range of experimental methods. The literature review revealed that these natural antioxidants represent the best side-effect-free alternatives to synthetic additives, especially in the food processing industry.

Extracts of Eryngium foetidum Leaves from the Amazonia Were Efficient Scavengers of ROS and RNS

Eryngium foetidum L. is an edible plant widespread in Amazonian cuisine and its leaves have high levels of promising phenolic compounds for the production of extracts to be used as natural antioxidant additives. In this study, the in vitro scavenging capacity of three freeze-dried extracts of E. foetidum leaves, obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction using green solvents [water (H₂O), ethanol (EtOH), and ethanol/water (EtOH/H₂O)], was investigated against the most common reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generated in both physiological and food systems. Six phenolic compounds were identified, chlorogenic acid (2198, 1816 and 506 μg/g) being the major compound for EtOH/H₂O, H₂O, and EtOH extracts, respectively. All E. foetidum extracts were efficient in scavenging all the ROS and RNS (IC₅₀ = 45-1000 µg/mL), especially ROS. The EtOH/H₂O extract showed the highest contents of phenolic compounds (5781 μg/g) and showed the highest efficiency in scavenging all the reactive species, with high efficiency for O₂^•- (IC₅₀ = 45 μg/mL), except for ROO^•, for which EtOH extract was the most efficient. Therefore, E. foetidum leaf extracts, especially EtOH/H₂O, showed high antioxidant potential to be used as natural antioxidants in food formulations and are promising for nutraceuticals products.

Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Artemisia afra and Artemisia annua and Their Anti-Malarial, Anti-Inflammatory and Immunomodulating Properties-Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics: A Review

There are over 500 species of the genus Artemisia in the Asteraceae family distributed over the globe, with varying potentials to treat different ailments. Following the isolation of artemisinin (a potent anti-malarial compound with a sesquiterpene backbone) from Artemisia annua, the phytochemical composition of this species has been of interest over recent decades. Additionally, the number of phytochemical investigations of other species, including those of Artemisia afra in a search for new molecules with pharmacological potentials, has increased in recent years. This has led to the isolation of several compounds from both species, including a majority of monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and polyphenols with varying pharmacological activities. This review aims to discuss the most important compounds present in both plant species with anti-malarial properties, anti-inflammatory potentials, and immunomodulating properties, with an emphasis on their pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties. Additionally, the toxicity of both plants and their anti-malaria properties, including those of other species in the genus Artemisia, is discussed. As such, data were collected via a thorough literature search in web databases, such as ResearchGate, ScienceDirect, Google scholar, PubMed, Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical databases, up to 2022. A distinction was made between compounds involved in a direct anti-plasmodial activity and those expressing anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating activities or anti-fever properties. For pharmacokinetics activities, a distinction was made between compounds influencing bioavailability (CYP effect or P-Glycoprotein effect) and those affecting the stability of pharmacodynamic active components.

Chemoprevention of neuroblastoma: progress and promise beyond uncertainties

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in children and comprises one-tenth of all childhood cancer deaths. The current clinical therapy for this deadly disease is multimodal, involving an induction phase with alternating regimens of high-dose chemotherapeutic drugs and load reduction surgery; a consolidation phase with more intensive chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and stem cell transplant; and a maintenance phase with immunotherapy and immune-activating cytokine treatment. Despite such intensive treatment, children with neuroblastoma have unacceptable life quality and survival, warranting preventive measures to regulate the cellular functions that orchestrate tumor progression, therapy resistance, metastasis, and tumor relapse/recurrence. Globally, active efforts are underway to identify novel chemopreventive agents, define their mechanism(s) of action, and assess their clinical benefit. Some chemoprevention strategies (e.g., retinoids, difluoromethylornithine) have already been adopted clinically as part of maintenance phase therapy. Several agents are in the pipeline, while many others are in preclinical characterization. Here we review the classes of chemopreventive agents investigated for neuroblastoma, including cellular events targeted, mode(s) of action, and the level of development. Our review: (i) highlights the pressing need for new and improved chemopreventive strategies for progressive neuroblastoma; (ii) lists the emerging classes of chemopreventive agents for neuroblastoma; and (iii) recognizes the relevance of targeting dynamically evolving hallmark functions of tumor evolution (e.g., survival, differentiation, lineage transformation). With recent gains in the understanding of tumor evolution processes and preclinical and clinical efforts, it is our strong opinion that effective chemopreventive strategies for aggressive neuroblastoma are a near reality.

Horsetail (Equisetum hyemale) Extract Accelerates Wound Healing in Diabetic Rats by Modulating IL-10 and MCP-1 Release and Collagen Synthesis

Traditionally, Equisetum hyemale has been used for wound healing. However, its mechanism of action remains to be elucidated. For this purpose, a 40% ethanolic extract of E. hyemale was prepared. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of minerals, sterols, phenolic acids, flavonols, a lignan, and a phenylpropenoid. The extract reduced the viability of RAW 264.7 cells and skin fibroblasts at all times evaluated. On the third day of treatment, this reduction was 30–40% and 15–40%, respectively. In contrast, the extract increased the proliferation of skin fibroblasts only after 48 h. In addition, the extract increased IL-10 release and inhibited MCP-1 release. However, the extract did not affect both TGF-β1 and TNF-α released by RAW 264.7 cells. The higher release of IL-10 could be related to the up-/downregulation of inflammatory pathways mediated by the extract components associated with their bioactivity. The extract inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Topical application of the extract accelerated wound healing in diabetic rats by increasing fibroblast collagen synthesis. These results suggest that E. hyemale extract has great potential for use in the treatment of wounds thanks to its phytochemical composition that modulates cytokine secretion, collagen synthesis, and bacterial growth.

The Role of Natural and Semi-Synthetic Compounds in Ovarian Cancer: Updates on Mechanisms of Action, Current Trends and Perspectives

Ovarian cancer represents a major health concern for the female population: there is no obvious cause, it is frequently misdiagnosed, and it is characterized by a poor prognosis. Additionally, patients are inclined to recurrences because of metastasis and poor treatment tolerance. Combining innovative therapeutic techniques with established approaches can aid in improving treatment outcomes. Because of their multi-target actions, long application history, and widespread availability, natural compounds have particular advantages in this connection. Thus, effective therapeutic alternatives with improved patient tolerance hopefully can be identified within the world of natural and nature-derived products. Moreover, natural compounds are generally perceived to have more limited adverse effects on healthy cells or tissues, suggesting their potential role as valid treatment alternatives. In general, the anticancer mechanisms of such molecules are connected to the reduction of cell proliferation and metastasis, autophagy stimulation and improved response to chemotherapeutics. This review aims at discussing the mechanistic insights and possible targets of natural compounds against ovarian cancer, from the perspective of medicinal chemists. In addition, an overview of the pharmacology of natural products studied to date for their potential application towards ovarian cancer models is presented. The chemical aspects as well as available bioactivity data are discussed and commented on, with particular attention to the underlying molecular mechanism(s).

A Comprehensive Strategy Based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS for the Identification of Compounds in a Chinese Patent Medicine, Xiao'er Chiqiao Qingre Granules

The aim of this study was to establish a comprehensive strategy based on liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry to potently identify as many compounds of Chinese patent medicine as possible. Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS) was used to qualitatively analyze the Chinese patent medicine Xiao'er Chiqiao Qingre Granules (XCQG), which is recorded in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. A novel strategy, including targeted, semi-targeted and non-targeted identification, was built to explore the compounds based on accurate mass, characteristic fragments, retention time of standard substances, databases or literature. Based on the integrated identification, 250 compounds were identified in total, including 7 alcohols, 3 aldehydes, 17 alkaloids, 9 amino acids, 10 coumarins, 30 flavonoids, 29 glycosides, 12 ketones, 7 lignans, 20 organic acids, 12 phenols, 11 phenylpropanoids, 9 quinones, 3 steroids, 26 terpenes, 14 volatile oils and 31 other compounds. A novel strategy for the identification of compounds in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) was developed with Ultrahigh performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). It is also the first systematic study of compounds in XCQG, laying a foundation for further mechanism research of XCQG. More importantly, the strategy shows good application prospect in identifying compounds of TCM.

Characterization of the anti-AChE potential and alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis from different Coptis species combined with spectrum-effect relationship and molecular docking

Coptis species are the main source of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) drugs, which have always been used to treat Alzheimer's disease in the clinical experience of ancient China. However, many species of this genus have been largely underutilized until now. With this fact, this research has been designed to investigate for the first time the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) property of different extracts for RC drugs from four Coptis species (C. chinensis, C. deltoidea, C. teeta and C. omeiensis) and to quantify the main alkaloids. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of RC drugs were sequentially collected using an accelerated solvent extraction technique. Spectrum-effect relationship and molecular docking were applied to analyse the relationships between alkaloids and AChE inhibitory activity. The N-butanol extract was proven to be the main active fraction, and C. teeta may be the best source of RC drugs for Alzheimer's disease treatment, with significantly lower IC 20, IC 50 and IC 80 values for AChE inhibition. The UPLC/QqQ-MS quantitative analysis showed that the accumulations of 10 alkaloids in RC drugs from different sources greatly varied. Three data processing methods (Random forest, Boruta and Pearson correlation) comprehensively analysed the spectrum-effect relationship and revealed that columbamine, berberine and palmatine were the most important AChE inhibitors that could be used as quality markers to select RC drugs for Alzheimer's disease treatment. In addition, the dominant compounds were successfully docked against AChE to verify the binding affinity and interactions with the active site. The present study can contribute to the reasonable development and utilization of RC drugs from different sources, especially to provide certain evidence for their application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Treatment opportunities with Fernandoa adenophylla and recent novel approaches for natural medicinal phytochemicals as a drug delivery system

Fernandoa adenophylla (FA, Heterophragma adenophyllum) is a plant, cultivated throughout Africa and Southeast Asia. It contains potent phytochemicals such as novel naphthoquinones, their derivatives (peshwaraquinone, dilapachone, adenophyllone, indadone, and lapachol), and triterpenoids [ursolic acid (UA), β-sitosterol (BS), α-amyrin, and oleanolic acid (OA)] that have been assessed and reported to show potential pharmacological activities. The crude extract obtained from the plant has been investigated for certain pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antifungal, anti-tubercular (TB), antihypertensive, and leishmanicidal activity. A novel drug delivery systems (NDDS) is the latest technique that combines innovative development, formulations, new technology, and methodologies for the safe delivery of pharmaceutical substances in the body. The present study reports the possible treatment opportunities of FA and recent possible novel drug delivery approaches for the natural medicinal phytochemicals.

Integrative quantitative and qualitative analysis for the quality evaluation and monitoring of Danshen medicines from different sources using HPLC-DAD and NIR combined with chemometrics

The root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen in short) is a well-known herbal medicine used to treat cardiovascular diseases in the world. In China, the roots and rhizomes of several other Salvia species (Non-Danshen in short) are also used as this medicine in traditional folk medicine by local herbalists. Differences have been reported in these medicines originating from different sources, and their quality variation needs to be clearly investigated for effective clinical application. This study presented a comprehensive quality evaluation and monitoring for Danshen from 27 sampling sites and Non-Danshen from other 5 Salvia species based on a high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) and near-infrared (NIR), with the combination of chemometric models. The results showed that cryptotanshinone, tanshinone IIA, tanshinone I, salvianolic acid B, salvianic acid A sodium, dihydrotanshinone I, and rosmarinic acid in these medicines from different sources exhibited great variations. Referring to the standards in Chinese Pharmacopoeia (CP), European Pharmacopeia (EP), and United States Pharmacopeia (USP), Non-Danshen from S. brachyloma, S. castanea, S. trijuga, S. bowleyana, and S. przewalskii were assessed as unqualified, and Danshen in the Shandong Province had the best quality due to the high qualified rate. Based on random forest (RF) and partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), NIR technique could successfully monitor the quality of these medicines by discriminating the species and regions with the accuracies of 100.00 and 99.60%, respectively. Additionally, modified partial least-squares regression (MPLSR) models were successfully constructed to investigate the feasibility of NIR fingerprints for the prediction of the quality indicators in these medicines. The optimized models obtained the best results for the total of tanshinone IIA, tanshinone I, and cryptotanshinone (TTC), tanshinone IIA, and salvianolic acid B, with the relative prediction deviation (RPD) of 4.08, 3.92, and 2.46, respectively. In summary, this study demonstrated that HPLC-DAD and NIR techniques can complement each other and could be simultaneously applied for evaluating and monitoring the quality of Danshen medicines.

Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of the Ethanolic Extract Obtained from Berberis vulgaris Roots and Leaves

This work assessed the phenolic and flavonoid components and their antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial effects in the ethanolic extract of barberry leaf and roots. The antibactericidal activity of root and leaf extracts against pathogenic bacteria was tested using agar diffusion and microdilution broth production for the lowest inhibitory concentration (MIC). Berberis vulgaris root and leaf extracts inhibited Staphylococcus aureus ATCC9973, Escherichia coli HB101, Staphylococcus enteritis, and Escherichia coli Cip812. The disc assay technique was used to assess the bactericidal activity of the extracts versus both pathogenic Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Hydro alcoholic extract was more effective against bacterial than fungal strains. The results showed that Berberis vulgaris leaf and roots extract had similar antifungal activities. Berberis vulgaris root extract inhibited the mycelial growth of Penicillium verrucosum, Fusarium proliferatum, Aspergillus ochraceous, Aspergillus niger, and Aspergillus flavus. Berberis vulgaris root extract has excellent antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal effects. Berberis vulgaris exhibited antimicrobial activity in vitro, and MIC showed that Berberis vulgaris parts efficiently affected pathogens in vitro. In conclusion, both Berberis vulgaris roots and leaves have considerable antibacterial activity and can be used as a source of antibacterial, antioxidant, and bioactive compounds to benefit human health.

A potential herbal therapeutic for trichinellosis

Background

Trichinellosis is a helminthic disease caused by Trichinella spiralis via the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected animals. Current estimates indicate that 11 million humans have trichinellosis, worldwide. The effective use of anti-trichinella medications is limited by side effects and resistance which highlight the critical need for safe and effective drugs, particularly those derived from medicinal plants. Therefore, in the present study, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy of the ethanolic extract of Artemisia annua (A. annua) in treatment of experimentally induced trichinellosis.

Materials and methods

Trichinellosis was induced experimentally in male 6–8 weeks BALB/c mice. BALB/c mice were divided into four groups, 10 mice each. One group was left uninfected and untreated, whereas three groups were infected with T. spiralis. One infected group of mice was left untreated (negative control) while the remaining two infected groups received either 300 mg/kg of the ethanolic extract of A. annua or 50 mg/kg of albendazole (positive control). All treatments started from the third day post-infection (dpi) for 3 successive days. All animals were sacrificed on the 7th dpi for evaluation of treatment efficacy.

Results

Our findings showed that A. annua treatment reduced the T. spiralis adult-worm count in the intestine of infected animals. Moreover, treatment with A. annua restored the normal intestinal architecture, reduced edema, alleviated inflammation as demonstrated by reduced inflammatory infiltrate and expression of TGF-β in intestinal tissues of A. annua-treated animals compared to infected untreated animals.

Conclusions

Our findings show that A. annua extract is effective in treating experimentally induced trichinellosis which highlight the therapeutic potential of A. annua for intestinal trichinellosis.

Pro-Angiogenetic Effects of Purified Extracts from Helix aspersa during Zebrafish Development

Helix aspersa is a species of land snail belonging to the Helicidae family, widespread in the Mediterranean and continental area up to Northern Europe. In some areas it is appreciated as a food, but is mostly considered a parasite of gardens and cultivated fields. The mucus of Helix aspersa has found multiple applications in the cosmetic and health fields. In the present study, we investigated for the first time the angiogenetic properties of purified extracts from Helix aspersa using a transgenic zebrafish line Tg (kdrl:EGFP). The angiogenesis induced by purified snail extracts was demonstrated by their capability to increase the three well-established parameters of angiogenesis: generation of intersegmental vessels, modeling of caudal venous plexus, and formation of sub-intestinal venous plexus. The effects appeared to be mediated by the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) pathway, being prevented by pretreatment of embryos with the selective VEGF receptor antagonist SU5416, and supported by the increased VEGF mRNA levels found in snail-extract-treated embryos. Insufficient vascular supply is underlined by low VEGF signaling, primarily because of its indispensable role in preventing capillary loss. Our findings might have a pharmacological impact by counteracting VEGF hypofunction and promoting angiogenesis to maintain adequate microvascular and vascular density in normal and suffering tissues and organs.

Evaluation of Acute and Subacute Toxicity and LC-MS/MS Compositional Alkaloid Determination of the Hydroethanolic Extract of Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants Flowers

Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin and Clemants is a medicinal plant that has traditionally been used to cure a range of diseases. There has been no thorough investigation of the potential toxicity of this plant. The objective of this study is to assess the acute and subacute toxicity of D. ambrosioides hydroethanolic extract (DAHE), as well as it alkaloids composition, utilizing LC-MS/MS analysis. An in silico approach was applied to determine pharmacokinetic parameters and to predict the toxicity of D. ambrosioides identified alkaloids. A 14-day treatment with a single oral dose of 1–7 g/kg was carried out to investigate acute toxicity. DAHE was given orally at dosages of 5, 50, and 500 mg/kg for 15 days in the subacute toxicity investigation, and body weight and biochemical parameters were evaluated. Livers, kidneys, lungs, and heart were examined histologically. Chromatographic investigation revealed the existence of nine alkaloids, with N-formylnorgalanthamine being the most prevalent. The oral LD₅₀ value of DAHE was found to be 5000 mg/kg in an acute toxicity study. No variations were observed with respect to food intake, water consumption, mortality, or body and organ weight in the subacute toxicity study. On the other hand, DAHE (500 mg/kg) significantly enhanced alanineaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and urea. Liver and kidney histological examinations revealed modest infiltration of hepatocyte trabeculae by inflammatory cells in the liver and slight alteration in the kidney histoarchitecture. According to our findings, DAHE exhibits low to moderate toxicity.

Ultrastructural and Morphological Effects in T-Lymphoblastic Leukemia CEM-SS Cells Following Treatment with Nordamnacanthal and Damnacanthal from Roots of Morinda elliptica

Background: Morinda elliptica (family Rubiaceae), locally known as ‘mengkudu kecil’, has been used by the Malays for medicinal purposes. Anthraquinones isolated from the roots of Morinda elliptica, namely nordamnacanthal and damnacanthal, have been widely reported to exhibit anticancer and antioxidant properties in various cancer models in vitro and in vivo. Aim: This study analyzed the morphological and ultrastructural effects of damnacanthal and nordamnacanthal on T-lymphoblastic leukemia CEM-SS cells. Method: Light microscopy, Giemsa staining, Wright’s staining, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were carried out to determine apoptosis, necrosis, and ultrastructural changes that occurred within the cells. Results: The outcomes showed that these compounds induced cell death by apoptosis and necrosis, specifically at higher doses of 10 and 30 μg/mL. Condensation and fragmentation of the nuclear chromatin, which further separated into small, membrane-bound vesicles known as apoptotic bodies, were observed in the nuclei and cytoplasm. The plasma membranes and cytoskeletons also showed marked morphological changes upon treatment with damnacanthal and nordamnacanthal, indicating apoptosis. Conclusion: Therefore, we report that damnacanthal and nordamnacanthal exhibit anticancer properties by inducing apoptosis and necrosis in CEM-SS cells, and they have potential as a drug for the treatment of T-lymphoblastic leukemia.

Artemisia annua water extract attenuates DNCB-induced atopic dermatitis by restraining Th2 cell mediated inflammatory responses in BALB/c mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Artemisia annua L. (A. annua) is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been used since ancient times to treat malaria, eczema, dermatomycosis, jaundice, and boils. Modern pharmacological studies show that it has immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism of A. annua in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of A. annua water extract (AWE) on 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB)-induced AD mouse model and tried to explore its possible underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

AD was induced in BALB/c mice by the topical repeated application of DNCB. Oral drug intervention of AWE and dexamethasone (DEX, positive control) began from the 7th day and continued for 13 consecutive days. The clinical skin score, ear thickness and the weight of ear and spleen were assessed. The ear tissue were stained with toluidine blue and hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) to detect inflammatory cell infiltration. IgE, terleukin (IL)-4 and IL-13 levels in the serum and IgE level in splenocytes were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mRNA expression levels of IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, IL-17, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) were measured by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction. The phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)-p38 and nuclear factor (NF)-κB in ear tissue were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

Results demonstrated that AWE treatment significantly attenuated the AD-like symptoms in DNCB-induced BALB/c mice, including the skin dermatitis severity and ear edema. Further study disclosed that AWE treatment suppressed the expressions of IgE, IL-4, IL-6, IL-13, IL-17, TNF-α and TSLP at mRNA and protein levels. Moreover, AWE showed inhibitory effect on the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and NFκB in ear tissues of AD mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our results suggested that AWE suppressed DNCB-induced AD in mice probably by restraining Th2 type inflammatory response. These findings might pave the road for the potential clinical application of AWE for AD treatment.

Structural Characterization and In-Vitro Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Activities of Polysaccharide Fractions Isolated from Artemisia annua L

Arimisia annua L. is an important anticancer herb used in traditional Chinese medicine. The molecular basis underpinning the anticancer activity is complex and not fully understood, but the herbal polysaccharides, broadly recognised as having immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anticancer activities, are potential key active agents. To examine the functions of polysaccharides from A. annua, their immunomodulatory and antioxidant potentials were evaluated, as well as their structural characterization. The water-soluble polysaccharides (AAPs) were fractionated using size-exclusion chromatography to obtain three dominant fractions, AAP-1, AAP-2 and AAP-3, having molecular masses centered around 1684, 455 and 5.8kDa, respectively. The antioxidant potentials of the isolated polysaccharides were evaluated by measuring radical scavenging activities against DPPH● (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical), ABTS●+ (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid radical ion), and the OH● (hydroxyl radical). AAP-1 displayed high antioxidant activities against these radicals, which were 68%, 73% and 78%, respectively. AAP-2 displayed lower scavenging activities than the other two fractions. Immunostimulatory activities of AAPs were measured using mouse macrophages. The three polysaccharide fractions displayed significant antioxidant activities and stimulated the production of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). AAP-1 showed significant immunostimulatory activity (16-fold increase in the production of IL-6 compared to the control and 13-fold increase in the production of TNF-α) with low toxicity (>60% cell viability at 125 μg/mL concentration). Preliminary structural characterization of the AAPs was carried out using gas chromatography (GC) and FTIR techniques. The results indicate that AAP-1 and AAP-2 are pyranose-containing polysaccharides with β-linkages, and AAP-3 is a β-fructofuranoside. The results suggest that these polysaccharides are potential candidates for immunotherapy and cancer treatment.

Phenolic Constituents, Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities, Enzyme Inhibition Abilities of Five Fractions from Vaccinium dunalianum Wight

The bud of Vaccinium dunalianum Wight has been traditionally consumed as health herbal tea by “Yi” people in Yunnan Province, China, which was locally named “Que Zui tea”. This paper studied the chemical constituents of five fractions from Vaccinium dunalianum, and their enzyme inhibitory effects of α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase, antioxidant activity, and cytoprotective effects on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. The methanol extract of V. dunalianum was successively partitioned with petroleum ether (PF), chloroform (CF), ethyl acetate (EF), n-butanol (BF), and aqueous (WF) to obtain five fractions. The chemical profiling of the five fractions was analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS), and 18 compounds were tentatively identified. Compared to PF, CF, BF and WF, the EF revealed the highest total phenols (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC), and displayed the strongest enzyme inhibition ability (α-glucosidase and pancreatic lipase) and antioxidant capacity (DPPH, ABTS and FRAP). Furthermore, these five fractions, especially EF, could effectively inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and cell apoptosis on H₂O₂-induced oxidative damage protection in HepG2 cells. This inhibitory effect might be caused by the up-regulation of intracellular antioxidant enzyme activity (CAT, SOD, and GSH). The flavonoids and phenolic acids of V. dunalianum might be the bioactive substances responsible for enzyme inhibitory, antioxidant, and cytoprotective activities.

Biochemical and Botanical Aspects of Allium sativum L. Sowing

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the yield and compliance of selected Iranian garlic (Allium sativum L.) cultivars, including Tuyserkan (TSN), Heydareh (HDH), Mouien (MUN), and Taroom (TRM), during two growing seasons. The TRM cultivar germination rate is higher than the other cultivars studied. The TRM cultivars have quite remarkable values for the dry weight, fresh weight, stem diameter, and the number of leaves present. The fresh weight and dry weight of the TRM cultivar for the second year are 33.8 t/ha and 16.7 t/ha, respectively. However, on average, the HDH cultivar is the tallest plant in the experiments. Average pyruvic acid content in fresh samples of the TRM and HDH cultivars is 78 µm/gfw and 69.3 µm/gfw, respectively. It is observed that there are remarkable differences in the level of pyruvic acid between the different cultivars. The growth, development, and yield of plants are highly dependent on their genetic characteristics; in this experiment, the TRM cultivar shows a good yield (16.7 t/ha), and the evaluated characteristics improve compared to the other cultivars studied, which could be due to the high compatibility of this cultivar to the environmental conditions of the study. The excellent performance on the yield of TRM makes this cultivar more appreciable on a commercial level.

Ethanol Extract of Artemisia Annua Prevents LPS-Induced Inflammation and Blood-Milk Barrier Disruption in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

This experiment evaluated the pre-protective effect of AAE on inflammatory injury and tight junction disturbance in bMECs induced by LPS. The bMECs were treated with AAE (3, 6, 12 μg/mL) for 3 h and then incubated with 10 μg/mL lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 12 h. Our results showed that LPS significantly increased the mRNA and protein expression of CD36, induced the phosphorylation of IκBα and p65 and elevated the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 mRNA, which further resulted in ultrastructural damage, disrupted the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, zonula occludens (ZO-1) and claudin-1) and decreased the viability of bMECs (p < 0.05). More importantly, AAE pretreatment attenuated the expression of CD36, suppressed the activity of the NF-κB signaling pathway and down-regulated the levels of inflammatory factors in LPS-stimulated bMECs (p < 0.05). Therefore, AAE can effectively protect bMECs against inflammatory injury and tight junction dysfunction, which has important research value for the prevention of bovine mastitis.

Nutraceutical Role of Polyphenols and Triterpenes Present in the Extracts of Fruits and Leaves of Olea europaea as Antioxidants, Anti-Infectives and Anticancer Agents on Healthy Growth

There is currently a worldwide consensus and recognition of the undoubted health benefits of the so-called Mediterranean diet, with its intake being associated with a lower risk of mortality. The most important characteristics of this type of diet are based on the consumption of significant amounts of fruit, vegetables, legumes, and nuts, which provide, in addition to some active ingredients, fiber and a proportion of vegetable protein, together with extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) as the main sources of vegetable fat. Fish and meat from poultry and other small farm animals are the main sources of protein. One of the main components, as already mentioned, is EVOO, which is rich in monounsaturated fatty acids and to a lesser extent in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The intake of this type of nutrient also provides an important set of phytochemicals whose health potential is widely spread and agreed upon. These phytochemicals include significant amounts of anthocyanins, stilbenes, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenes of varying complexities. Therefore, the inclusion in the diet of this type of molecules, with a proven healthy effect, provides an unquestionable preventive and/or curative activity on an important group of pathologies related to cardiovascular, infectious, and cancerous diseases, as well as those related to the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this review is therefore to shed light on the nutraceutical role of two of the main phytochemicals present in Olea europaea fruit and leaf extracts, polyphenols, and triterpenes, on healthy animal growth. Their immunomodulatory, anti-infective, antioxidant, anti-aging, and anti-carcinogenic capabilities show them to be potential nutraceuticals, providing healthy growth.

Elucidating Therapeutic and Biological Potential of Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt Bark, Leaf, and Root Extracts

Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt is a medicinal plant known to have potential for the treatment of various diseases. In the present study, the ethanolic extracts of the bark, leaves, and roots of B. baluchistanica plant were evaluated for in vitro antimicrobial, anti-leishmanial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory activities. The antibacterial and antifungal activities were determined by agar mix and agar well diffusion method. All extracts showed potential activity against the target bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus licheniformis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Rhodococcus erythropolis, Salmonella typhi, and Staphylococcus aureus) and fungal strains (Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor mucedo). S. aureus proved to be the most sensitive strain for each extract, with a maximum zone of inhibition for bark at 23 ± 0.12 mm, for leaves at 22 ± 0.36 mm, and for root extracts at 20.21 ± 0.06 mm). The minimum inhibitory concentration values of B. baluchistanica bark, leaves, and roots for different target bacterial strains ranged from 1.56 to 25 mg ml^-1, and the minimum bactericidal concentrations were in the range of 3.12 to 25 mg ml^-1, respectively. The root extract possessed potent antifungal activity against A. flavus with 83% of growth inhibition, A. niger with 80%, and M. mucedo with 73%. The bark extract was found active against M. mucedo with 86% of inhibition, followed by 70% against A. flavus and 60% against A. niger. The leaf extract showed a significant response by 83% inhibition against M. mucedo, followed by A. flavus and A. niger with 73 and 72% inhibition, respectively. In an anti-leishmanial bioassay, the inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) was observed for each extract against Leishmania major. The bark showed good activity (IC₅₀ = 4.95 ± 0.36 mg/ml), followed by the roots (IC₅₀ = 7.07 ± 0.18 mg/ml) and the leaves (IC₅₀ = 8.25 ± 0.29 mg/ml). An evaluation of anticancer activity was done by using MTT cell assay against HeLa cell line. Upon comparing the values of each extract to the standard, it was revealed that the ethanolic bark extract showed the highest anticancer activity with IC₅₀ = (12 ± 0.15 μg/ml), followed by the roots (14 ± 0.15 μg/ml) and the leaves (17 ± 0.21 μg/ml), respectively. The anti-inflammatory assay was undertaken by the inhibition of albumin denaturation activity, proteinase inhibitory activity, and heat-induced hemolysis activity. The IC₅₀ value for protein denaturation of the bark was IC₅₀ = 0.64 ± 0.25 mg/ml, followed by the roots (0.67 ± 0.21 mg/ml) and the leaves (0.73 ± 0.13 mg/ml). The proteinase inhibitory activity of the bark extract was IC₅₀ = 0.55 ± 0.12 mg/ml, followed by the leaves (0.62 ± 0.23 mg/ml) and the roots (0.69 ± 0.15 mg/ml), respectively. For heat-induced hemolysis assay, the bark showed the lowest IC₅₀ value (0.48 ± 0.15 mg/ml) compared to the leaves (0.52 ± 0.35 mg/ml) and the roots (0.58 ± 0.05 mg/ml) of the plant. All analyzed parts of the B. baluchistanica plant showed significant biological activities which make the plant medicinally important and a good candidate for the isolation of antimicrobial, inflammatory, and anticancer compounds. Further studies may lead us to determine the active compounds responsible for the biological activities of the plant extracts.

Dietary Supplementation of Enzymatically Treated Artemisia annua L. Improves Lactation Performance, Alleviates Inflammatory Response of Sows Reared Under Heat Stress, and Promotes Gut Development in Preweaning Offspring

Artemisia annua L., which is known for its antimalarial compound artemisinin, has commonly been used for its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial functions. Enzymatically treating Artemisia annua L. can improve its bioavailability. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary enzymatically treated Artemisia annua L. (EA) supplementation in late gestation and lactation diets on sow performance, serum hormone, inflammatory cytokines, and immunoglobulin level of heat-stressed sows. A total of 135 multiparous sows (Large White × Landrace) on day 85 of gestation were selected and randomly distributed into 3 groups with 45 replicates per group. The control group was reared under standard conditions (temperature: 27.12 ± 0.18°C, THI (temperature-humidity index): 70.90 ± 0.80) and fed with basal diet. The heat stress (HS) and HS + EA groups were raised in heat-stressed conditions (temperature: 30.11 ± 0.16°C, THI: 72.70 ± 0.60) and fed with basal diets supplemented with 0 or 1.0 g/kg EA, respectively. This trial lasted for 50 consecutive days until day 21 of lactation. Compared with the control group, HS increased the concentrations of serum endotoxin and heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70), and inflammatory cytokines in serum, colostrum, and 14 day milk of sows. Meanwhile, the EA supplementation decreased levels of serum endotoxin, HSP-70, and inflammatory cytokines in both sows and offspring and increased serum triiodothyronine (T₃) level and average daily feed intake (ADFI) of sows. In addition, EA significantly improved average daily gain (ADG) and altered intestinal morphology with an increased villus height in the duodenum and ileum of piglets. Collectively, EA supplementation at 1.0 g/kg in late gestation and lactation diets alleviated the adverse effects of HS, which were reflected by enhancing ADFI and decreasing endotoxin as well as inflammatory cytokine levels in the serum and colostrum of heat-stressed sows, while promoting ADG and gut development of their offspring.

Comparative Analysis of the Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Potential of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Nymphaea lotus L. var. pubescens (Willd.)

Background. Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. and Nymphaea lotus L. var. pubescens (Willd.) are both aquatic rhizomatous perennial plants mostly found in the tropical region of Nepal, India, Bangladesh, China, and Eastern Asia. Nymphaea pubescens and Nelumbo nucifera plants are famous for their different biological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antidiarrheal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Objective. The present study majorly focused on the determination of in vitro antioxidant and antidiabetic properties of Nelumbo nucifera and Nymphaea pubescens. Methods. In vitro α-glucosidase inhibition was performed using PNPG as a substrate. Antioxidant property of the plant extract was determined by DPPH free radical scavenging assay. The aluminium trichloride method was done for the estimation of total flavonoid content. Likewise, Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was used for determining total phenolic content. Results. The total phenolic content of N. nucifera and N. pubescens was found to be 172.827 ± 0.41 and 194.87 ± 0.93 mg GAE/g, respectively, while the total flavonoid content was reported 17.12 ± 1.04 and 34.59 ± 1.73 mg QE/g, respectively. The IC50 values of the crude extract and its fractions of N. nucifera against the DPPH free radical ranged from 33.46 ± 0.6 to 3.52 ± 0.09 μg/mL, while that of the N. pubescens ranged from 14.30 ± 0.43 to 1.43 ± 0.08 μg/mL. Similarly, for the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition activity, the IC50 of the crude extract and its fractions of N. nucifera varied from 349.86 ± 2.91 to 29.06 ± 0.24 μg/mL and that of N. pubescens ranged from 224.4 ± 6.85 to 5.29 ± 0.39 μg/mL. Conclusion. Both aquatic plants N. nucifera and N. pubescens show antioxidant properties and can inhibit α-glucosidase in in vitro. Further research is required to identify the inhibiting compounds.

Natural Products for Cancer Therapy: A Review of Their Mechanism of Actions and Toxicity in the Past Decade

The ethnopharmacological information gathered over many centuries and the presence of diverse metabolites have made the medicinal plants as the prime source of drugs. Despite the positive attributes of natural products, there are many questions pertaining to their mechanism of actions and molecular targets that impede their development as therapeutic agents. One of the major challenges in cancer research is the toxicity exerted by investigational agents towards the host. An understanding of their molecular targets, underlying mechanisms can reveal their anticancer efficacy, help in optimal therapeutic dose selection, to mitigate their side effects and toxicity towards the host. The purpose of this review is to collate details on natural products that are recently been investigated extensively in the past decade for their anticancer potential. Besides, critical analysis of their molecular targets and underlying mechanisms on multiple cancer cell lines, an in-depth probe of their toxicological screening on rodent models is outlined as well to observe the prevalence of their toxicity towards host. This review can provide valuable insights for researchers in developing methods, strategies during preclinical and clinical evaluation of anticancer candidates.

Physiological, Biochemical, and Agronomic Trait Responses of Nigella sativa Genotypes to Water Stress

Water stress may affect the growth, physiology, morphology, biochemistry, and productivity of Nigella sativa (black cumin), a medicinal and aromatic plant. Measuring these parameters under various irrigation regimes could provide useful information for successful genotype selection and breeding. Therefore, these agronomically significant features were evaluated in ten black cumin genotypes (Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, India, Arak, Isfahan, Semirom, Shahreza, Shahrekord, and Mashhad) under three irrigation regimes (40% (I1), 60% (I2), and 80% (I3) of permissible moisture discharge) during the 2017 to 2018 growing seasons. Water stress was shown to increase the levels of carotenoids (Cars), proline, total soluble carbohydrates (TSC), malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities but reduced the relative water content (RWC) and chlorophyll content. The highest increases in Cars, TSC, proline, CAT, and APX were noted in the Arak, Isfahan, Semirom, Shahreza, Shahrekord, and Mashhad genotypes under the I3 water regime, respectively. At the same time, the lowest decrease was observed in chlorophyll, H2O2, and relative water content (RWC) in Semirom. According to the stress susceptibility index, the most resistant genotypes were Shahrekord under I2 and Semirom under I3. These data demonstrate that the irrigation regimes affected the physiological, biochemical, and morphological features of black cumin both qualitatively and quantitatively, although the impact varied depending upon the genotype, irrigation regime, and traits. As such, the results presented represent valuable information with which to inform future selection and breeding programs for drought-tolerant black cumin. This is of particular significance considering global climate change.

Effects of Metribuzin Herbicide on Some Morpho-Physiological Characteristics of Two Echinacea Species

Echinacea is a perennial plant that is used for its phytotherapeutic potential. Echinacea crops are often affected by invasive weeds. One of the most effective strategies in weed control is the use of chemicals such as herbicides. However, herbicides also affect the physiological and morphological processes of Echinacea. For this reason, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of different dosages (0, 250, 500, 750, 1000, and 1250 g ha−1) of the postemergent herbicide metribuzin on some morphological and physiological characteristics of Echinacea purpurea and Echinacea angustifolia collected from different locations in Iran (E. purpurea from the Shiraz and Isfahan regions and E. angustifolia from the Ardestan and Kazerun regions). Application of metribuzin decreased leaf dry weight for both Echinacea species at high doses (750 and 1250 g ha−1). At high metribuzin dose (1250 g ha−1), E. purpurea Shiraz leaves showed an increase in MDA (malondialdehyde) up to 9.14, while in other species the MDA content was lower. Minimum and maximum fluorescence increased at both the registered dosage (500 g ha−1) and at high doses (750–1250 g ha−1) of metribuzin treatments in both species. The Fv/Fm (maximum quantum yield) value was reduced in herbicide treated species, compared to the control, starting at the 250 g ha−1 dose, and was lowest at 750 g ha−1 dose. The results of this study indicate that metribuzin has adverse effects on the physiology and morphology of Echinacea species at dosages above 500 g ha−1.

Bisphenol and Phthalate Migration Test from Mexican Meat Packaging Using HPLC-DAD Technique

The objective of this work was to analyze the bisphenols’ and phthalates’ (PAEs) migration from meat packages (of sausages, Winnies, and ham found in Mexican markets) to a water simulant. The determination of these compounds was realized by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and diode array detection (DAD) at a wavelength of 254 nm. The mobile phase utilized was a mixture of acetonitrile:H2O (70 : 30). Elution was performed isocratically at a temperature of 25°C and at a flow rate of 1 mL min−1. The LOQs obtained for BPA, DEP, BADGE, DBP, BisDMA, DHP, DOP, and PA in µg mL−1 were 0.53, 2.09, 0.85, 1.45, 5.81, 1.03, 3.12, and 29.6, respectively. Calibration curves exhibited an adequate determination coefficient for all compounds (R2 >0.999). Excellent accuracy and precision in measurements (% RSD) were achieved. The recovery study showed good applicability of the method (percentage recovery 80% to 106%). The BPA, BADGE, DBP, and DOP concentrations found in samples exceeded the simulant migration limits (SMLs) established by the European Union. The contribution of the current investigation was to provide information related to the presence of bisphenols and PAEs in the package of meat products, highlighting the health risks associated with their exposure.

Improving the Extraction of Active Ingredients from Medicinal Plants by XynA Modification

Active ingredients of medicinal plants have unique pharmacological and clinical effects. However, conventional extraction technology has many disadvantages, such as long-time and low-efficiency. XynA-assisted extraction may overcome such problems, since the plant cell wall is mainly composed of cellulose. Based on the three-dimensional protein structure, we found the C-terminal domain and N-terminal domain twisted together and resulted in more flexibility. We carried out a series of truncations, with XynA_ΔN36 getting more yields of active ingredients. As shown by HPLC analysis, the efficiencies for extraction of salvianic acid A and berberine from Salvia miltiorrhiza and Phellodendron chinense were increased by approximately 38.14% and 35.20%, respectively, compared with the conventional extraction protocol. The yields of the two compounds reached 2.84 ± 0.05 mg g−1 and 3.52 ± 0.14 mg g−1, respectively. Above all, XynA_ΔN36 can be applied to the extraction of salvianic acid A and berberine, and this study provides a novel enzyme for the extraction technology, which aids rational utilization and quality control of medicinal plants.

Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Phytochemicals from Ruellia tuberosa

In Vietnam, the aerial parts of Ruellia tuberosa L. are used to treat stress oxidation and inflammatory symptoms in diabetes mellitus. The present study was designed to determine the antioxidant and inflammatory inhibition activities of Ruellia tuberosa L. extract (RTE) and those of the isolated compounds by column chromatography. The crude ethanol extract and ethyl acetate fraction exhibited potent antioxidant activity in the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and 2,2-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) assays with an IC50 of 25.18 and 14.71 (DPPH test) and 18.22 and 15.27 µg/ml (ABTS test), respectively. The RTE contained high concentrations of polyphenols (308.21 mg GAE/g) and moderate concentrations of flavonoids (97.80 mg QE/g). In the anti-inflammatory screening assay, the crude ethanol extract, ethyl acetate, and methanol fractions suppressed the release of IL-6 and nitric oxide production, but the production of IL-10 was not enhanced in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Three potential anti-inflammatory compounds as hispidulin (6), physalin E (7), and physalin D (8) along with five other compounds named myricitrin (1), afzelin (2), apigenin (3), taraxerol (4), and lupeol (5) were isolated and identified from the ethyl acetate fraction. Physalin D (8) exhibited a strong, dose-dependent anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the production of IL-6 proinflammatory cytokines; however, the IL-10 expression was independent of its concentration in macrophages at noncytotoxic concentrations ranging from 5 to 40 μg/mL. Based on the data obtained, compounds 6–8 sourced from Ruellia tuberosa L are potentially bioactive compounds for the treatment of inflammation symptoms in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Utilizing network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the potential molecular mechanisms of BanXia-YiYiRen in treating insomnia

BanXia-YiYiRen (Pinellia Ternata and Coix Seed, BX-YYR) has been clinically proven to be an effective Chinese medicine compatible with the treatment of insomnia. However, the underlying mechanism of BX-YYR against insomnia remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of BX-YYR in treating insomnia based on network pharmacology and experimental validation. The drug-disease targets were obtained using publicly available databases. The analysis revealed 21 active compounds and 101 potential targets of BX-YYR from the pharmacological database of Chinese medicine system and analysis platform (TCMSP) and 1020 related targets of insomnia from the GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) databases. Furthermore, 38 common targets of BX-YYR against insomnia were identified, and these common targets were used to construct a protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. The visual PPI network was constructed by Cytoscape software. The top three genes from PPI according to degree value are FOS, AKT1, and CASP3. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment were applied to reveal the potential targets and signaling pathways involved in BX-YYR against insomnia, especially the serotonergic pathway. In addition, molecular docking revealed that baicalein, beta-sitosterol, and stigmasterol displayed strong binding to AKT1, FOS, PRKCA, and VEGFA. Experimental study found that BX-YYR against insomnia might play a role in improving sleep by modulating the serotonergic pathway. In summary, our findings revealed the underlying mechanism of BX-YYR against insomnia and provided an objective basis for further experimental study and clinical application.

Physiological and Qualitative Response of Cucurbita pepo L. to Salicylic Acid under Controlled Water Stress Conditions

Limited water stress is one of the most important environmental stresses that affect the growth, quantity and quality of agronomic crops. This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of foliar applied salicylic acid (SA) on physiological responses, antioxidant enzymes and qualitative traits of Cucurbita pepo L. Plants exposed to water-stressed conditions in two years of field studies. Irrigation regimes at three soil matric potential levels (−0.3, −1.2 and −1.8 MPa) and SA at four levels (0.0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/L) were considered as main plot and sub-plots, respectively. The soil matric potential values (MPa) was measured just before irrigation. Results showed that under water stressed conditions alone, the amounts of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ion leakage were higher compared with control treatment. However, spraying of SA under both water stress and non-stress conditions reduced the values of the above parameters. Water stress increased CAT, APX and GR enzymes activity. However foliar application of SA led to the decrease of CAT, APX and GR under all soil matric potential levels. The amount of carbohydrates and fatty acids increased with the intensity of water stress and SA modulated this response. By increasing SA concentration both in optimum and stress conditions, saturated fatty acids content decreased. According to our data, the SA application is an effective approach to improve pumpkin growth under water stress conditions.

Maternal Supplementation with Artemisia annua L. Ameliorates Intestinal Inflammation via Inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB and MAPK Pathways and Improves Oxidative Stability of Offspring

Artemisia annua L. (A. annua) contains artemisinin, which attracts attention on account of its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant effects. The increased intestinal inflammation, oxidative stress, and hypoimmunity commonly occur in the...

Investigation of the Chemical Composition and Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Lobularia maritima: Potent Therapeutic Applications

Lobularia maritima, commonly known as sweet alyssum, is an annual ornamental halophyte widely spread along the Tunisian seashore. However, little is known about the phytochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of Lobularia maritima. The present study aimed to investigate the potential biological properties of different parts (flowers, leaves, roots, and stems) of Tunisian L. maritima using diverse extraction methods. Extracts were then studied for their antioxidant properties, and the highest antioxidant activity was presented in the roots’ fractions. Added to this, flower, leaf, and root fractions showed interesting antimicrobial and antifungal activities against different Gram+ and Gram− bacteria and against Aspergillus ochraceus. Finally, the most active fractions (presenting the highest biological activities) were analyzed using silica gel purification and mass spectrometry coupled to gas chromatography (GC-MS) analysis, and different compounds were identified such as camphor, amide of oleic acids, tributyl acetylcitrate, betulinaldehyde, menthol, 1′-(butyn-3-one-1-yl)-, (1S, 2S, 5R), benzyl benzoate, 7-acetyl-6-ethyl-1,1,4,4-tetramethyltetralin, 2,4-heptadienal, (E,E), and nootkaton-11,12-epoxide. This work represents the first in-depth investigation of the content of bioactive compounds from Lobularia maritima. This species could potentially be a promising source of useful compounds for therapeutic applications.

Drought Resistance Loci in Recombinant Lines of Iranian Oryza sativa L. in Germination Stage

In order to locate control genes related to Oryza sativa L. traits at the germination stage under normal conditions and at drought stress levels (−4.5 and −9.0 bar), we evaluated 120 F8 generation offspring from the cross between two cultivars Neda × Ahlemitarum in a factorial experiment in a completely randomized block design with three replications in 2013 in the botanical laboratory of Gonbad Kavous University. A linkage map was prepared using 90 Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) markers and 28 Inter Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR), and 6 iPBS and 9 IRAP markers (265 polymorphic alleles). The results of the analysis of variance showed that all of the evaluated traits had a significant difference at the probability level of 1%. Hence, it can be noted that the desired genetic diversity can be found between genotypes. The results of the stepwise regression analysis for the germination percentage as a dependent variable and other traits as independent variables in the studied treatments showed that under normal conditions, there was variable coleoptile length, but under drought stress of −4.5 and −9.0 bar, the variable plumule dry weight entered the model. In this study, the markers included in RM1-RM490 and ISSR2-3-RM133 of chromosomes 1 and 6 of Oryza sativa were identified as the main regulators of traits associated with Oryza sativa drought resistance. In particular, they present the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control the first stages of germination of Oryza sativa in water stress conditions.

Roles of Alkaloids from Medicinal Plants in the Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Medicinal plants play a fundamental part in health sectors via the management of different infectious diseases because of their wide plenitude wellspring of bioactive phytochemicals. Research activities on them have got attention throughout the world in the present days in search of low-cost and safe compounds for the management of diabetes. This is the literature-based analysis of alkaloids from medicinal plants in preventive or treatment approaches to diabetes. The most abundant and diversified group of secondary metabolites, i.e., alkaloids, show antidiabetic activity through the inhibition of enzymes (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, aldose reductase, dipeptidyl peptidase-IV, and protein tyrosine phosphatase-1B); inhibition of advanced glycation end products; increment of insulin secretion and its sensitivity; enhancement of glucose uptake; and their antioxidant ability. The study is useful for the examination of dynamic alkaloids for the advancement of a new medication for mankind.

Variation in Phytochemical, Antioxidant and Volatile Composition of Pomelo Fruit (Citrus grandis (L.) Osbeck) during Seasonal Growth and Development

Citrus fruits exhibit a high level of different phytoconstituents, of which the changes in the different parts of the fruit during ripening have not been thoroughly studied yet. Thus, in this study, we have investigated how different parts of pomelo fruit (Citrus grandis L.) are modified throughout the development of two consecutive growing seasons. In detail, the main phytochemical compounds, such as total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant capacity, DPPH free radical scavenging activity, Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and naringin and tannin content, were analyzed. A systematic metabolism of these compounds was found during the development of the fruit, but some pomelo tissues showed a fluctuating trend, suggesting a dependence on the different growing season. Focusing on the tissue distribution of these compounds, the fruit membrane contained the highest level of total phenolic and flavonoid content; fruit flavedo displayed the highest antioxidant capacities and FRAP activities, whereas maximum accumulation of naringin was noticed in fruit albedo. Instead, the highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity and tannin contents were found in the pomelo juice. Regarding the distribution of compounds, a possible bias pattern for the accumulation of those compounds has been noticed throughout the fruit development. From the GC-MS analysis, a total of 111 compounds were identified, where 91 compounds were common in both seasons. Overall, these results could be useful for the food processing industry as guidelines for excellent quality foods and for introducing health-beneficial products and components into our daily diets.

Competitive Ability Effects of Datura stramonium L. and Xanthium strumarium L. on the Development of Maize (Zea mays) Seeds

The objective of this study was to explore the physical properties of maize seeds in competition with weeds. The basic and complex geometric characteristics of seeds from maize plants, competing with Datura stramonium L. (DS) or Xanthium strumarium (XS) at different weed densities, were studied. It was found that the basic and complex geometric characteristics of maize seeds, such as dimension, aspect ratio, equivalent diameter, sphericity, surface area and volume, were significantly affected by weed competition. The increase in weed density from 0 to 8 plants m² resulted in an increase in the angle of repose from 27° to 29°, while increasing weed density from 8 to 16 plants m² caused a diminution of the angle of repose down to 28°. Increasing the density of XS and DS to 16 plants m² caused a reduction in the maximum 1000 seed weight of maize by 40.3% and 37.4%, respectively. These weed side effects must be considered in the design of industrial equipment for seed cleaning, grading and separation. To our knowledge, this is the first study to consider the effects of weed competition on maize traits, which are important in industrial processing such as seed aeration, sifting and drying.

Absorption Coefficients of Phenolic Structures in Different Solvents Routinely Used for Experiments

Phenolic structures are of great interest due to their antioxidant properties and various postulated benefits on human health. However, the quantification of these structures in fruits and vegetables, as well as in vivo or in vitro experiments, is demanding, as relevant concentrations are often low, causing problems in exactly weighing the respective amounts. Nevertheless, the determination of used concentrations is often a prerequisite for accurate results. A possibility to quantify polyphenol is the use of UV/vis spectroscopy. Therefore, the absorption coefficients of selected phenolic structures were determined in three different solvents relevant for polyphenol research (water/methanol (50/50, v/v), water, and phosphate buffer at pH 7.5). To confirm the values based on weight and to avoid errors due to impurities, hygroscopic effects, and inadequate balance care, the mass concentrations were additionally determined by quantitative NMR (q-NMR). The coefficients presented in this article can help to quickly and easily determine accurate concentrations in a laboratory routine without wasting the often-precious standard compounds.

Anthropic Effects on the Biodiversity of the Habitats of Ferula gummosa

The uncontrolled exploitation of soil and plants by people has generated important ecological imbalances all over the world. This manuscript focuses its attention on the ecosystem of Ferula gummosa (FG). FG belongs to the Apiaceae family and has a vast distribution from central Asia to South Africa, as well as northwest Iran, including the Zanjan Province. This plant has diverse applications across industrial, forage and medicinal fields. To investigate the effective factors on the FG distribution, four main natural habitats were selected based on field visits and a literature review. Then, environmental factors, such as climate features, topography conditions, and soil characteristics, were collected and analysed. According to the results, the slope is mainly north-northeast with a slope of 55 to 70 degrees, and an elevation range above 2200 m is suitable for the growth of FG in the Zanjan Province. The main companion plants were Silene bupleuroides L. and Thymus kotschyanus. The results show that in the habitats where FG grew, the soil was mostly shallow, sometimes semi-deep and consisting mainly of loam, loamy sand, loamy clay and mostly clay loam with very low salinity (less than 0.7 dS/m), and was in the neutral range of soil acidity (6.9 to 7.33). Soil organic carbon was relatively high, but the amount of nutrients, such as phosphorus and potassium, was less than optimal in these soils. Next, using a Geographic Information System (GIS), maps of homogeneous areas for possible FG establishment across the province were created. In conclusion, the main factors affecting the FG distribution in the Zanjan Province were land use conversion, harvesting fodder and grazing livestock, improper exploitation of rangelands, pests and diseases of Ferula gummosa in the region. The ecological data collected on FG may be useful to understand how human action can affect the existence and extinction of many plant species.