Physicochemical Characterization and Biological Activities of the Triterpenic Mixture α,β-Amyrenone

Triterpenoids from Frankincense and Boswellia: A focus on their pharmacology and 13C-NMR assignments

Here we report for the first time the entire 13C-NMR spectral assignments of 119 (out of 127) triterpenoids from the oleo-gum resins of the medicinally important genus Boswellia, which includes the culturally highly valuable Frankincense species. The complete 13C-NMR resonances of these triterpenoids isolated between 1998 and 2024 and their biological activities are presented. 13C-NMR spectroscopy is a highly powerful tool for the characterization of these bioactive natural products. The compounds are arranged according to their skeletons, i.e., ursane, oleanane, lupane, dammarane, and tirucallane triterpenes. This review will be a future reference for the identification of these compounds, which have key medicinal properties in the areas of cytotoxicity and inflammation.

Alpha Amyrin Nano-Emulsion Formulation from Stem Bark of Ficus Benghalensis and its Characterization for Neuro-Behavioral Studies

Objectives

Alpha-amyrin (AA) is a pentacyclic triterpene that exhibits erratic gastrointestinal absorption and poor blood-brain barrier permeability. The study aims to isolate AA from the stem bark of Ficus benghalensis L. (Fb) (Moraceae), purify it, and formulate a nanoemulsion (NE) that may improve its bioavailability, characterization, and intranasal (IN) administration to Swiss albino mice to check its neurobehavioral effects in aluminum-induced neurotoxicity.

Materials and Methods

AA was isolated from the stem bark of Fb by Soxhlet extraction, purified by analytical methods, prepared chitosan-decorated NE of the same, and characterized. It was then administered through IN route to aluminum-treated Swiss albino mice for 28 days to check its effect on neurobehavioral parameters.

Results

IN delivery of chitosan-decorated AA, NE resulted in significant improvement in neurobehavioral parameters. It reduced the fall-off period in the rotarod test and the escape latency in the Morris water maze test, and animals showed improved learning and spatial memory in the elevated plus maze. The transfer latency of animals improved with treatment compared with the aluminum-induced groups, indicative of the neuroprotective role of the drug.

Conclusion

IN administration of AA, NE isolated from the stem bark of Fb improved neurobehavioral parameters in aluminum-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss albino mice.

Cannabis Roots: Therapeutic, Biotechnological and Environmental Aspects

Since the legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada in 2018, the number of licenses for this crop has increased significantly, resulting in an increase in waste generated. Nevertheless, cannabis roots were once used for their therapeutic properties, indicating that they could be valued today rather than dismissed. This review will focus on both traditional therapeutic aspects and potential use of roots in modern medicine while detailing the main studies on active phytomolecules found in cannabis roots. The environmental impact of cannabis cultivation and current knowledge of the root-associated microbiome are also presented as well as their potential applications in biotechnology and phytoremediation. Thus, several high added-value applications of cannabis roots resulting from scientific advances in recent years can be considered to remove them from discarded residues.

Fatty acids composition and in vivo biochemical effects of Aleurites moluccana seed (Candlenut) in obese wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Candlenut (CN) has been used indiscriminately for weight loss. In vivo effects of CN in different doses are scarce.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of CN ingestion in obese rats.

DESIGN

Thirty animals (obese and non-obese) received one of three different types of treatments: placebo, CN ingestion in a popular therapeutic regimen (8 days with oral administration of 0.2 mg/kg followed by 20 days with doses of 0.4 mg/kg), and ingestion of a doubled popular dose-called 2CN. Treatment was maintained for 28 days.

RESULTS

The fatty acid profile of CN indicated mainly linolelaidic and palmitoleic acids. Rats receiving CN and 2CN showed reduced plasmatic levels of glucose and lipoproteins (p < 0.05). A dose-dependent carcass fat reduction was observed (p < 0.05). Blood levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) reduced with CN and increased with 2CN doses (p < 0.05). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and the atherogenic index remained similar among all treatments (p > 0.05). Hepatic vacuolation decreased with CN, but the 2CN dose produced mononuclear leucocyte infiltrate.

CONCLUSIONS

Although CN presented beneficial effects on the metabolism of rats, it also caused increased risk of liver damage.

Apoptotic, Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Interference with the Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling of Fractions from Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia Leaves

In this study acetonic extracts of leaves of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. chia (mastiha tree) grown in the south as well as in the north Chios Greek island were isolated and further fractionated to give three different polarity fractions: apolar, medium-polar, and polar. The isolated fractions were assessed as regards their main composition, cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory activities, and interference with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling, applying cytotoxic assay, luciferase assays, and Western blot analysis of apoptosis-, energy-, and inflammation-associated molecules. Differences in cell viability have been detected among different polarity leaf fractions as well as among fractions of different plant origin with polar fractions showing the highest cytotoxicity. Fractions-induced anti-inflammatory activities and suppressive effects on the dexamethasone (DEX)-induced GR transcriptional activation were unveiled. The partition protocol of leaves fractions applied uncovers the enhanced glucocorticoid-associated biological activities of the medium-polar fractions, which may be associated with their enrichment in the triterpenoids that showed structural similarity with the glucocorticoids. A reduction in GR protein levels is observed by the fraction which is shown to be associated with the medium polar-induced proteolytic degradation of the receptor. In addition, the enhanced cytotoxic, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-glycemic activities of the fractions from the Southern P. lentiscus L. that exclusively produce the mastiha resin, is revealed, indicating that leaves fractions from mastiha tree, similarly to mastiha tree resin, may have the potential to be further analyzed for their potent applications in the pharmaceutical cosmetic and nutraceutical fields.

In Silico Study, Physicochemical, and In Vitro Lipase Inhibitory Activity of α,β-Amyrenone Inclusion Complexes with Cyclodextrins

α,β-amyrenone (ABAME) is a triterpene derivative with many biological activities; however, its potential pharmacological use is hindered by its low solubility in water. In this context, the present work aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) of ABAME with γ- and β-cyclodextrins (CD), which were systematically characterized through molecular modeling studies as well as FTIR, XRD, DSC, TGA, and SEM analyses. In vitro analyses of lipase activity were performed to evaluate possible anti-obesity properties. Molecular modeling studies indicated that the CD:ABAME ICs prepared at a 2:1 molar ratio would be more stable to the complexation process than those prepared at a 1:1 molar ratio. The physicochemical characterization showed strong evidence that corroborates with the in silico results, and the formation of ICs with CD was capable of inducing changes in ABAME physicochemical properties. ICs was shown to be a stronger inhibitor of lipase activity than Orlistat and to potentiate the inhibitory effects of ABAME on porcine pancreatic enzymes. In conclusion, a new pharmaceutical preparation with potentially improved physicochemical characteristics and inhibitory activity toward lipases was developed in this study, which could prove to be a promising ingredient for future formulations.

α-amyrin-loaded nanocapsules produce selective cytotoxic activity in leukemic cells

INTRODUCTION

Amyrins are triterpenes that have attractive pharmacological potential; however, their low water solubility and erratic stomach absorption hinders their use as a drug. The aim of this paper was to develop a novel α-amyrin-loaded nanocapsule for intestinal delivery and evaluate, preliminarily, its cytotoxic ability against leukemic cells.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Five nanocapsule formulations were designed by the solvent displacement-evaporation method. Poly-ε-caprolactone, Eudragit® E100, and Kollicoat® Mae 100 P were used as film-former materials. Particle size, polydispersity index (PdI), zeta potential, and the pH of all formulations were measured. The cytotoxic potential of the nanocapsules was evaluated in vitro using different leukemic lineages RESULTS: Nanocapsules coated with Kollicoat® Mae 100 P presented the smallest particle size (130 nm), the lowest zeta-potential (-38 mV), and the narrowest size distribution (PdI = 0.100). The entrapment efficiency was 65.47%, while the loading capacity was 2.40%. Nanocapsules release 100% of α-amyrin in 40 min (pH 7.4), by using a possible mechanism of swelling-diffusion. The formulation showed excellent on-shelf physicochemical stability during one year. Additionally, nanocapsules produced a selective cytotoxic effect on a human leukemia lineage Kasumi-1, an acute myeloid leukemia cell line, and produced cell death by apoptosis CONCLUSION: α-amyrin-loaded nanocapsules appear to be a promising nanoformulation that could be used against leukemia.

Assessment of Residual Solvent and Drug in PLGA Microspheres by Derivative Thermogravimetry

Thermogravimetry does not give specific information on residual organic solvents in polymeric matrices unless it is hyphenated with the so-called evolved gas analysis. The purpose of this study was to apply, for the first time, derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) to characterize a residual solvent and a drug in poly-d,l-lactide-co-glycolide (PLGA) microspheres. Ethyl formate, an ICH class 3 solvent, was used to encapsulate progesterone into microspheres. DTG provided a distinct peak, displaying the onset and end temperatures at which ethyl formate started to evolve from to where it completely escaped out of the microspheres. DTG also gave the area and height of the solvent peak, as well as the temperature of the highest mass change rate of the microspheres. These derivative parameters allowed for the measurement of the amount of residual ethyl formate in the microspheres. Interestingly, progesterone affected not only the residual solvent amount but also these derivative parameters. Another intriguing finding was that there was a linear relationship between progesterone content and the peak height of ethyl formate. The residual solvent data calculated by DTG were quite comparable to those measured by gas chromatography. In summary, DTG could be an efficient and practical quality control tool to evaluate residual solvents and drugs in various polymeric matrices.