Phytochemical Characterization and Evaluation of the Antimicrobial, Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Potential of Ephedra alata Decne. Hydroalcoholic Extract against the MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Line

Exploring Synergistic Interactions between Natural Compounds and Conventional Chemotherapeutic Drugs in Preclinical Models of Lung Cancer

In the current work, the synergy between natural compounds and conventional chemotherapeutic drugs is comprehensively reviewed in light of current preclinical research findings. The prognosis for lung cancer patients is poor, with a 5-year survival rate of 18.1%. The use of natural compounds in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic drugs has gained significant attention as a potential novel approach in the treatment of lung cancer. The present work highlights the importance of finding more effective therapies to increase survival rates. Chemotherapy is a primary treatment option for lung cancer but it has limitations such as reduced effectiveness because cancer cells become resistant. Natural compounds isolated from medicinal plants have shown promising anticancer or chemopreventive properties and their synergistic effect has been observed when combined with conventional therapies. The combined use of an anti-cancer drug and a natural compound exhibits synergistic effects, enhancing overall therapeutic actions against cancer cells. In conclusion, this work provides an overview of the latest preclinical research on medicinal plants and plant-derived compounds as alternative or complementary treatment options for lung cancer chemotherapy and discusses the potential of natural compounds in treating lung cancer with minimal side effects.

Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species

Ephedra species are among the most popular herbs used in traditional medicine for a long time. The ancient Chinese medical book "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" refers to the classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription Ge Gen decoction, which consists of seven herbs, including an Ephedra species. Ephedra species are utilized all over the world to treat symptoms of the common cold and coughs, and to combat major human diseases, such as asthma, cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive disorders, and microbial infections. This study aimed at identifying specific Ephedra species used traditionally in Morocco for therapeutic purposes. The plant parts, their preparation process, and the treated pathologies were identified and analyzed. The results revealed five ethnobotanically important species of Ephedra: Ephedra alata Decne, Ephedra altissima Desf., Ephedra distachya L., Ephedra fragilis Desf., and Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo. These species are used traditionally in Morocco for treating people with diabetes, cancer, rheumatism, cold and asthma, hypertension, influenza virus infection, and respiratory ailments. In addition, they are occasionally used as calefacient agents, to regulate weight, or for capillary care. Few studies have underlined the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of some of these Moroccan Ephedra species, but little information is available regarding the natural products at the origin of the bioactivities. Further phytochemical investigations and clinical data are encouraged to better support the use of these plants.

Catechins and other phenolic compounds in herb of eight Ephedra species in comparison to Camellia sinensis

Using HPLC-DAD the presence of catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, kaempferol and protocatehuic acid was analysed in herb extracts of eight Ephedra species (Ephedra sinica, Ephedra major, Ephedra chilensis, Ephedra ciliata, Ephedra foeminea, Ephedra equisetina, Ephedra gerardiana and Ephedra distachya). For comparison purposes, the same phenolics were determined in Camellia sinensis herb, which is a common source of catechins and a medicinal plant with valuable antioxidant properties. The catechin content in Ephedra spp. ranged between 0.83 mg/g d.w.- 8.77 mg/g d.w., while the epicatechin content was between 0.11 mg/g d.w.- 3.38 mg/g d.w. In comparison to black tea, Ephedra major, Ephedra distachya and Ephedra equisetina had a higher catechin content. The selected Ephedra spp. are rich in catechins and the obtained results serve as the chemical rationale for the anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities of Ephedra that are currently being investigated.

Exploring the potential of a Ephedra alata leaf extract: Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, antibacterial properties, and green synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles for photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue

Ephedra alata leaf extracts have therapeutic properties and contain various natural compounds known as phytochemicals. This study assessed the phytochemical content and antioxidant effects of a Ephedra alata leaf extract, as well as zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoparticle production. The extract contained phenolic acids, including vanillic acid, chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, p-coumaric acid, vanillin and rutin. Its total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were 48.7 ± 0.9 mg.g-1 and 1.7 ± 0.4 mg.g-1, respectively. The extract displayed a DPPH inhibition rate of 70.5%, total antioxidant activity of 49.5 ± 3.4 mg.g-1, and significant antimicrobial activity toward Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles had spherical shape, crystallite size of 25 nm, particle size between 5 and 30 nm, and bandgap energy of 3.3 eV. In specific conditions (90 min contact time, pH 7, and 25°C), these nanoparticles efficiently photodegraded 87% of methylene blue, suggesting potential applications for sustainable water treatment and pollution control.

Enhanced Cytotoxicity and Antimelanoma Activity of Novel Semisynthetic Derivatives of Betulinic Acid with Indole Conjugation

The prevalence and severity of skin cancer, specifically malignant melanoma, among Caucasians remains a significant concern. Natural compounds from plants have long been explored as potential anticancer agents. Betulinic acid (BI) has shown promise in its therapeutic properties, including its anticancer effects. However, its limited bioavailability has hindered its medicinal applications. To address this issue, two recently synthesized semisynthetic derivatives, N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)diglycylglycine (BA1) and N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycylglycine (BA2), were compared with previously reported compounds N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycine (BA3), 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid (BA4), and BI. These compounds were evaluated for their effects on murine melanoma cells (B164A5) using various in vitro assays. The introduction of an indole framework at the C2 position of BI resulted in an increased cytotoxicity. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of compound BA4 was enhanced by conjugating its carboxylic group with an amino acid residue. BA2 and BA3, with glycine and glycylglycine residues at C28, exhibited approximately 2.20-fold higher inhibitory activity compared to BA4. The safety assessment of the compounds on human keratinocytes (HaCaT) has revealed that concentrations up to 10 µM slightly reduced cell viability, while concentrations of 75 µM resulted in lower cell viability rates. LDH leakage assays confirmed cell membrane damage in B164A5 cells when exposed to the tested compounds. BA2 and BA3 exhibited the highest LDH release, indicating their strong cytotoxicity. The NR assay revealed dose-dependent lysosome disruption for BI and 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid derivatives, with BA1, BA2, and BA3 showing the most cytotoxic effects. Scratch assays demonstrated concentration-dependent inhibition of cell migration, with BA2 and BA3 being the most effective. Hoechst 3342 staining revealed that BA2 induced apoptosis, while BA3 induced necrosis at lower concentrations, confirming their anti-melanoma properties. In conclusion, the semisynthetic derivatives of BI, particularly BA2 and BA3, show promise as potential candidates for further research in developing effective anti-cancer therapies.

Phytochemical Screening, Antioxidant Potential, and LC-ESI-MS Profiling of Ephedra alata and Ephedra altissima Seeds Naturally Growing in Tunisia

Most Ephedra species are adapted to arid and desert conditions and are widely used in folk medicine to treat several disorders. The design of the current study was to determine the functional properties of seeds of two Ephedra species (E. alata and E. altissima) naturally growing in Tunisian arid zones by evaluating their mineral contents and bioactive compounds. The flame atomic absorption spectrometry revealed that seeds contained remarkable amounts of sodium (Na), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and iron (Fe). The colorimetric investigation revealed high total polyphenol, flavonoid, and condensed tannin contents. Furthermore, by utilizing high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry method (HPLC-ESI/MS), a total of 11 phenolics were identified and quantified including 7 flavonoid compounds and 4 phenolic acids that were mostly predominated by gallic acid and quercetrin. Results so far have been very encouraging and proved that Ephedra seeds are a valuable source of natural bioactive compounds and minerals which could potentially be used for industrial and pharmaceutical purposes.

Preliminary Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of Rudbeckia hirta Flowers

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.), a flowering plant with various traditional medicinal uses, has recently garnered interest for its therapeutic properties. However, little is known about the potential therapeutic activities of the plant species. The current study focused on conducting a comprehensive investigation into the chemical composition and bioactivity of black-eyed Susan cultivated in Romania. Untargeted metabolite profiling and UHPLC-HR-MS phytochemical analysis of the studied extract revealed the presence of more than 250 compounds pertaining to different classes, including sesquiterpene lactones, polyphenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids. The tested extract exhibited inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria and showed promising antifungal activity. It also demonstrated potent antioxidant properties through iron chelation and 15-LOX inhibition capacities, as well as inhibition of cell growth, particularly on the MCF-7 cell line, suggesting potential anticancer effects. Therefore, current research provides valuable information on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor potential of Rudbeckia hirta flowers. Implicitly, the discovery of such a wide range of biosubstances, together with the biological activity observed for the studied extract in these preliminary in vitro studies, paves the way for future investigation of the potential application of the plant in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors.

Exploring the Multi-Faceted Potential of Carob (Ceratonia siliqua var. Rahma) Leaves from Morocco: A Comprehensive Analysis of Polyphenols Profile, Antimicrobial Activity, Cytotoxicity against Breast Cancer Cell Lines, and Genotoxicity

The botanical species Ceratonia siliqua L., commonly referred to as the Carob tree, and locally as "L'Kharrûb", holds significance as an agro-sylvo-pastoral species, and is traditionally utilized in Morocco for treating a variety of ailments. This current investigation aims to ascertain the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties of the ethanolic extract of C. siliqua leaves (CSEE). Initially, we analyzed the chemical composition of CSEE through high-performance liquid chromatography with Diode-Array Detection (HPLC-DAD). Subsequently, we conducted various assessments, including DPPH scavenging capacity, β-carotene bleaching assay, ABTS scavenging, and total antioxidant capacity assays to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the extract. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial properties of CSEE against five bacterial strains (two gram-positive, Staphylococcus aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis; and three gram-negative bacteria, Escherichia coli, Escherichia vekanda, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and two fungi (Candida albicans, and Geotrichum candidum). Additionally, we evaluated the cytotoxicity of CSEE on three human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-436) and assessed the potential genotoxicity of the extract using the comet assay. Through HPLC-DAD analysis, we determined that phenolic acids and flavonoids were the primary constituents of the CSEE extract. The results of the DPPH test indicated a potent scavenging capacity of the extract with an IC₅₀ of 302.78 ± 7.55 µg/mL, which was comparable to that of ascorbic acid with an IC₅₀ of 260.24 ± 6.45 µg/mL. Similarly, the β-carotene test demonstrated an IC₅₀ of 352.06 ± 12.16 µg/mL, signifying the extract's potential to inhibit oxidative damage. The ABTS assay revealed IC₅₀ values of 48.13 ± 3.66 TE µmol/mL, indicating a strong ability of CSEE to scavenge ABTS radicals, and the TAC assay demonstrated an IC₅₀ value of 165 ± 7.66 µg AAE/mg. The results suggest that the CSEE extract had potent antioxidant activity. Regarding its antimicrobial activity, the CSEE extract was effective against all five tested bacterial strains, indicating its broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. However, it only showed moderate activity against the two tested fungal strains, suggesting it may not be as effective against fungi. The CSEE exhibited a noteworthy dose-dependent inhibitory activity against all the tested tumor cell lines in vitro. The extract did not induce DNA damage at the concentrations of 6.25, 12.5, 25, and 50 µg/mL, as assessed by the comet assay. However, the 100 µg/mL concentration of CSEE resulted in a significant genotoxic effect compared to the negative control. A computational analysis was conducted to determine the physicochemical and pharmacokinetic characteristics of the constituent molecules present in the extract. The Prediction of Activity Spectra of Substances (PASS) test was employed to forecast the potential biological activities of these molecules. Additionally, the toxicity of the molecules was evaluated using the Protox II webserver.

The role of Algerian Ephedra alata ethanolic extract in inhibiting the growth of breast cancer cells by inducing apoptosis in a p53- dependent pathway

Background

Ephedra alata, a member of the Ephedraceae family, was used to treat different diseases and it might be shown a strong efficacy to inhibit cancer cell lines.

Methods

Due to the limited research available about this plant, the objective of this research was to evaluate the antioxidant, cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Ephedra alata ethanolic extract (EAEE), against different human cancer cell lines.

Results

EAEE inhibited the growth of the liver (HepG2), breast (MCF-7), and colon cancer cells (Caco-2). MCF-7 cells with an IC₅₀ of 153 µg/ml, were the most sensitive to the extract. Furthermore, exploration using flow cytometry using Annexin V-FITC/PI assay demonstrated that EAEE caused death for all human cancer cells mainly through apoptosis. Very interestingly, qRT-PCR analysis using the ΔΔCt method revealed that four genes, Bax, p21, RB1, and TP53 were up-regulated in MCF-7 cells treated either with EAEE or S-FU drug. These findings let us believe that the mechanism by which EAEE kills breast cancer cells seems to be apoptosis via a P53-dependent manner, which involved intrinsic pathways through the induction of Bax, p21, and RB1.

Conclusions

EAEE exhibits good biological properties in contradiction of HepG-2, MCF-7, and Caco-2 cell lines. This study appoints for the first time that EAEE increases the expression in MCF-7 cells of p53 and three more genetic traits that control cellular proliferation and apoptosis. Therefore, this plant could serve as a potential source to find new pro-apoptotic drugs for cancer treatment.

The effect of leaf hydroalcoholic extract of Ephedra pachyclada infertility in male rats treated with cyclophosphamide: An experimental study

Background

Cyclophosphamide (CP) has clinical applications in treating diverse malignancies and autoimmune disorders; at the same time, it also has harmful effects on the body tissues, particularly the genitals. The most significant side effects of CP are changing the reproductive system's function and infertility.

Objective

This study determines the Ephedra hydroalcoholic extract (EP) role on testicular tissue and the pituitary-gonadal axis in CP-treated male rats.

Materials and Methods

In this experimental study, 48 adult Wistar rats were separated into 6 groups (n = 8/each): control, sham, CP recipients, and CP recipients with gavage-fed EP (250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg). On the 29th day, the blood of the weighed animals' was drawn from their heart, and serum concentrations of follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone were measured. After preparing testicular tissue segments, cells were counted.

Results

While CP decreased follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, and testosterone levels (p < 0.05), the use of EP changed them and even reached the control. Serum gonadotropin-releasing hormone increased significantly in all EP groups compared to the control and CP groups. Compared to the control, a significant decrease in total antioxidant capacity and plasma glutathione peroxidase was observed in the CP groups. EP (all doses) significantly increased their concentration compared to the CP group (p < 0.05); significant reduction in serum total oxidant status and malondialdehyde in CP groups changed by EP (p < 0.05). Although CP's role on spermatogonia counts (57.5 ± 5.2 in CP, 67.1 ± 6.0 in control), higher doses of EP had no significant effect on this but did affect spermatocyte and spermatid cells count.

Conclusion

Due to its antioxidant characteristics, EP mitigated the effects of CP on the investigated parameters in rats.

Comparison of In Vitro Antimelanoma and Antimicrobial Activity of 2,3-Indolo-betulinic Acid and Its Glycine Conjugates

Malignant melanoma is one of the most pressing problems in the developing world. New therapeutic agents that might be effective in treating malignancies that have developed resistance to conventional medications are urgently required. Semisynthesis is an essential method for improving the biological activity and the therapeutic efficacy of natural product precursors. Semisynthetic derivatives of natural compounds are valuable sources of new drug candidates with a variety of pharmacological actions, including anticancer ones. Two novel semisynthetic derivatives of betulinic acid-N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)diglycylglycine (BA1) and N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycylglycine (BA2)-were designed and their antiproliferative, cytotoxic, and anti-migratory activity against A375 human melanoma cells was determined in comparison with known N-(2,3-indolo-betulinoyl)glycine (BA3), 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid (BA4) and naturally occurring betulinic acid (BI). A dose-dependent antiproliferative effect with IC₅₀ values that ranged from 5.7 to 19.6 µM was observed in the series of all five compounds including betulinic acid. The novel compounds BA1 (IC₅₀ = 5.7 µM) and BA2 (IC₅₀ = 10.0 µM) were three times and two times more active than the parent cyclic structure B4 and natural BI. Additionally, compounds BA2, BA3, and BA4 possess antibacterial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 with MIC values in the range of 13-16 µg/mL and 26-32 µg/mL, respectively. On the other hand, antifungal activity toward Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 22019 was found for compound BA3 with MIC 29 µg/mL. This is the first report of antibacterial and antifungal activity of 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid derivatives and also the first extended report on their anti-melanoma activity, which among others includes data on anti-migratory activity and shows the significance of amino acid side chain on the observed activity. The obtained data justify further research on the anti-melanoma and antimicrobial activity of 2,3-indolo-betulinic acid derivatives.

Pirimicarb Induction of Behavioral Disorders and of Neurological and Reproductive Toxicities in Male Rats: Euphoric and Preventive Effects of Ephedra alata Monjauzeana

Carbamate pesticides are a risk to human well-being, and pirimicarb is the most widely employed carbamate insecticide. This ongoing investigation aimed to reveal its toxicity on neurobehavioral and reproductive function. The study was carried out on male Wistar rats by assessment of behavioral changes via experiments, such as the forced swim test and the elevated plus maze; determination of oxidative stress (checking parameters such as catalase activity, etc.); measurement of cortisol and testosterone serum titers, and IL-1β levels in the plasma and brain; and evaluation of histopathological lesions that induced pirimicarb after 28 days of gavage, specifically in the brain and testis. Traces of pirimicarb were analyzed in tissue extracts using LCMS/MS. At the same time, the beneficial and protective effect of EamCE (Ephedra alata monjauzeana Crude Extract) were tested. The outcomes showed considerable anxiety and depressive status, with an evident increase in cortisol and IL-1β titers and an important decrease in oxidative enzymes and testosterone. Significant histological lesions were also recorded. In addition, the LCMS/MS analysis affirmed the accumulation of pirimicarb in organ tissue from rats force-fed with pirimicarb. Conversely, EamCE demonstrated outstanding potential as a preventive treatment, restoring cognitive and physical performance, boosting fertility, enhancing antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities and preserving tissue integrity. We concluded that pirimicarb has critical deleterious impacts on health, affecting the neuroimmune-endocrine axis, and EamCE has a general euphoric and preventive effect.

Effects of Plant Metabolites on the Growth of COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease-19) Including Omicron Strain

According to recent reports out of India, a new strain of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) B1.1.529 Omicron virus has emerged. In comparison to the Wuhan (WHU) strain and the delta variant, this variant showed a far stronger effect on the angiotensin converting enzyme2 (ACE2) receptor. There are several medicinal compounds in plant metabolites, and their diverse chemical structures make them ideal for the treatment of serious illnesses. It's possible that some of these could be useful alternative pharmaceuticals, as well as a starting point for the repurposing of existing medications and new chemical discoveries. SARS-CoV-2 infection triggered a worldwide epidemic of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). There have been trials for different therapies for SARS-CoV-2 and so also there are recent announcements of extensive research into the development of viable medicines for this global health calamity. After a thorough examination of plant-derived treatments for COVID-19, investigators in the current study decided to focus on plant-derived secondary metabolites (PSMs). According to some researchers, new MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant) antibiotics may one day be developed due to the adaptability of secondary metabolites. Identifying plant metabolites that can treat a wide range of viral infections was one of the study's aims. Many natural medications that could be recommended for the treatment of COVID-19 were discovered as a result of this research, including remedies from plant families, viral candidates that are susceptible, antiviral assays, and mechanisms of therapeutic action. The findings of this study will inspire further research and speed up the development of new antiviral plant-based medications.

A Novel Anticancer Effect of Ephedra alata Decne in Breast Cancer Cells

Cancer is a class of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. One of the main aims of developing new therapies is to use natural resources to induce apoptosis. LC-ms/ms analysis of a methanolic extract of Ephedra alata (E.A.) allowed the identification of 20 secondary metabolites, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and proanthocyanidins. Antiproliferative effect was assessed by crystal violet assay. Antimigration effect was tested by wound healing assay and apoptosis induction was determined by annexin binding assays, Hoechst staining, ROS production, and activation of apoptotic proteins. The results indicated that exposure of breast cancer cells to E.A. extract significantly reduced cell viability in a dose and time-dependent manner and inhibited the migration of 4T1 cells at a low dose. Moreover, treatment of cells with E.A. extract induced apoptosis, as it was detected by Annexin V/7 AAD, Hoechst staining, ROS production, and the activation of caspases.

Induction of apoptosis in A431 cells via ROS generation and p53-mediated pathway by chloroform fraction of Argemone mexicana (Pepaveraceae)

Argemone mexicana(Pepaveraceae) is an important medicinal plant commonly known as 'maxican prickly poppy' and is traditionally used to treat skin diseases. In the present study, the extract/fractions of aerial parts of A. mexicana after carrying out the organoleptic characteristics were sequentially extracted with the solvents of increasing polarities. Total fractions were examined for their radical scavenging activities in DPPH and DNA nicking assays. Among all, maximum antioxidant activity was shown by chloroform fraction (AmC) in DPPH assay with IC50 of 26.12 μg/ml, and DNA nicking assay showed 80.91% protective potential. The AmC fraction was analyzed for its antibacterial, cytotoxic potential, cell cycle analysis, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using A431 cell line. The AmC fraction exhibited remarkable antibacterial activity against bacterial strains in the order Klebsiella pneumoniae> Bacillussubtilis> Salmonella typhi> Staphylococcus epidermidis. The cytotoxic potential of the AmC fraction was analyzed in skin epidermoid carcinoma (A431) cells, osteosarcoma (MG-63) and cervical (HeLa) cell lines with a GI50 value of 47.04 μg/ml, 91.46 μg/ml and 102.90 μg/ml, respectively. The AmC fraction was extended further to explore its role in cell death using A431 cell line. Phase contrast and scanning electron microscopic studies on A431 cells exhibited all the characteristics indicative of apoptosis, viz., viability loss, cell shrinkage, cell rounding-off, DNA fragmentation and formation of apoptotic bodies. Flow cytometric analysis revealed enhanced ROS level, decreased MMP and arrest cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase further strengthened cell death by apoptosis. Increased expressions of apoptotic markers (p53, PUMA, cyt c, Fas and Apaf-1) were confirmed by RT-qPCR analysis. Furthermore, the AmC fraction was subjected to ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography, which revealed the presence of different polyphenols in the order: caffeic acid> epicatechin> kaempferol> chlorogenic acid> gallic acid> catechin> ellagic acid >umbeliferone> quercetin> coumaric acid. A critical analysis of results revealed that the AmC fraction induced cell death in epidermoid carcinoma cells via ROS and p53-mediated apoptotic pathway which may be ascribed to the presence of polyphenols in it.

Control of Staphylococcus aureus methicillin resistant isolated from auricular infections using aqueous and methanolic extracts of Ephedra alata

In the current study the potential use of aqueous and methanolic extracts of Ephedra alata aerial parts as biological control agent against pathogenic bacteria and especially Staphylococcus aureus methicillin resistant isolated from auricular infections was evaluated. Chemical tests and spectrophotometric methods were used for screening and quantification of phytochemicals. The assessment of the antioxidant activity was accomplished by DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging assays. Extracts were evaluated for their antibacterial efficacy by diffusion and microdilution methods. Biofilm inhibition was tested using XTT assay and the cytotoxicity of extracts was carried out on Vero cell line. The GC-FID analysis revealed that E. alata was rich in unsatured fatty acids. In addition, the aqueous extract had the highest flavonoid and protein contents (30.82 mg QE /g dry extract and 98.92 mg BSAE/g dry extract respectively). However, the methanolic extract had the highest phenolic, sugars and tannins. The antioxidant activity demonstrated that the aqueous extract exhibited the strong potency (IC50 ranged between 0.001 and 0.002 mg/mL).

Both extracts displayed antimicrobial activity on Gram negative and positive strains. They were effective against S. aureus isolated from auricular infections. The tested extracts were able to inhibit biofilm formation with concentration-dependent manner.

Moreover, no cytotoxic effect on Vero cells line was demonstrated for the extracts. Overall, our findings highlight the potential use of E. alata extract as a novel source of bioactive molecules with antioxidant, antibacterial and antiobiofilm effects for the control of infectious disease especially those associated to S. aureus methicillin resistant.

RP-HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Qualitative Profiling, Antioxidant, Anti-Enzymatic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Non-Cytotoxic Properties of Ephedra alata Monjauzeana

An investigation was conducted to study the beneficial effects of Ephedra alata monjauzeana crude extract (EamCE). The chemical profile was determined using RP-HPLC–ESI-QTOF-MS analysis, revealing the presence of twenty-one flavonoids and phenolic acids. A series of antioxidant assays was carried out using ten different methods. The EamCE has demonstrated a significant antioxidant potential, with interesting IC₅₀ values not exceeding 40 µg/mL in almost activities. Likewise, a significant inhibition of key enzymes, involved in some health issues, such as Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, hyperpigmentation, dermatological disorders, gastric/urinary bacterial infections, and obesity, was observed for the first time. The IC₅₀ values ranged from 22.46 to 54.93. The anti-inflammatory and non-cytotoxic activities were assessed by heat-induced hemolysis and cell culture methods, respectively; the EamCE has shown a prominent effect in both tests, notably for the anti-inflammatory effect that was superior to the reference compound “diclofenac” (IC₅₀: 71.03 ± 1.38 > 70.23 ± 0.99 (µg/mL)). According to these results, this plant could be used in a large spectrum as a food supplement, as a natural remedy for various physiological disorders and pathologies; and it might serve as a preventive and health care agent.

In search of an ideal drug for safer treatment of obesity: The false promise of pseudoephedrine

Obesity is a major public health problem worldwide. Only relatively few treatment options are, at present, available for the management of obese patients. Furthermore, treatment of obesity is affected by the widespread misuse of drugs and food supplements. Ephedra sinica is an old medicinal herb, commonly used in the treatment of respiratory tract diseases. Ephedra species contain several alkaloids, including pseudoephedrine, notably endowed with indirect sympathomimetic pharmacodynamic properties. The anorexigenic effect of pseudoephedrine is attributable primarily to the inhibition of neurons located in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), mediating satiety stimuli. Pseudoephedrine influences lipolysis and thermogenesis through interaction with β3 adrenergic receptors and reduces fat accumulation through down-regulation of transcription factors related to lipogenesis. However, its use is associated with adverse events that involve to a large extent the cardiovascular and the central nervous system. Adverse events of pseudoephedrine also affect the eye, the intestine, and the skin, and, of relevance, sudden cardiovascular death related to dietary supplements containing Ephedra alkaloids has also been reported. In light of the limited availability of clinical data on pseudoephedrine in obesity, along with its significantly unbalanced risk/benefit profile, as well as of the psychophysical susceptibility of obese patients, it appears reasonable to preclude the prescription of pseudoephedrine in obese patients of any order and degree.

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Analgesic Activities of Alcoholic Extracts of Ephedra nebrodensis From Eastern Algeria

Objectives

Ephedra nebrodensis (Ephedraceae) presents a wide range of biological activities. It is used to treat respiratory problems and hepatic pathologies in traditional medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of two hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. nebrodensis in mice.

Materials and Methods

The antioxidant capacity of hydro-methanolic (HM) and hydro-ethanolic (HE) extracts of E. nebrodensis was evaluated via assays of their superoxide radical scavenging capacity and ferrous ion chelating activity. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was also determined using the bovine serum albumin denaturation test. Croton oil-induced ear edema was then employed to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg). Finally, the analgesic activity of the extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg) was determined by the acetic acid-induced torsion test.

Results

The hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. nebrodensis present significant antioxidant activity. The HE and HM could inhibit protein denaturation by 82.99%±20.21% and 56.25%±2.12%, respectively. The extracts (HM and HE) also show strong anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and could reduce ear edema by 70.37%±2.00% and 72.22%±1.94%, respectively. The HM extract (72.51%±2.43%) demonstrates greater pain inhibitory effects than HE (70.76%±2.58%).

Conclusion

The hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. nebrodensis produce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. These results confirm the traditional use of the herb in the treatment of various diseases.

Traditional medicinal knowledge of plants used for cancer treatment by communities of mountainous areas of Fez-Meknes-Morocco

Since their existence on earth, humans have used herbal medicine to meet their requirements for medication. The aim of the study: This work refers to a study conducted to carry out an ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plants used for the treatment of cancer in Fez-Meknes region of Morocco. Material and Methods: To achieve this goal, 300 informants including 237 local people and 63 herbalists. They were requested to fill a survey related questionnaire aiming at the collection of data about the addressed objective. Informants were asked about the vernacular names, parts of medicinal plants used, mode of preparation, route of administration, reference area as well as the ecological distribution. The Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) and Fidelity Level (FL) were calculated to identify the most effective plants recommended by informants for disease treatment. Results: The findings obtained in the present survey revealed that 94 species belonging to 47 families have been used for cancer treatment in the region of Fez-Meknes. Fruits, leaves, and seeds are the most commonly used plant parts, by the time powder and infusion arethe most common methods used fordrug preparations. Conclusion: This work may contribute towards the society as it provides interesting data on traditional medicinal knowledge of medicinal plantsused to fight cancer.

Bioactive Compounds from Ephedra fragilis: Extraction Optimization, Chemical Characterization, Antioxidant and AntiGlycation Activities

Response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) was used to optimize the extraction of bioactive compounds from Ephedra fragilis. The results suggested that extraction with 61.93% ethanol at 44.43 °C for 15.84 h was the best solution for this combination of variables. The crude ethanol extract (CEE) obtained under optimum extraction conditions was sequentially fractionated with solvents of increasing polarity. The content of total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) as well as the antioxidant and antiglycation activities were measured. The phytochemical fingerprint profile of the fraction with the highest activity was characterized by using RP-HPLC. The ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) had the highest TP and TF contents and exhibited the most potent antioxidant and antiglycation activities. The Pearson correlation analysis results showed that TP and TF contents were highly significantly correlated with the antioxidant and antiglycation activities. Totally, six compounds were identified in the EAF of E. fragilis, including four phenolic acids and two flavonoids. Additionally, molecular docking analysis also showed the possible connection between identified bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action. Our results suggest new evidence on the antioxidant and antiglycation activities of E. fragilis bioactive compounds that may be applied in the treatment and prevention of aging and glycation-associated complications.

Inorganic Element Determination of Romanian Populus nigra L. Buds Extract and In Vitro Antiproliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Evaluation on A549 Human Lung Cancer Cell Line

Populus nigra L. is a plant from Salicaceae family, native in Europe. Many parts of this tree can be used as active ingredients, but the most valuable are the buds. In recent years, a growing number of studies reported their activity in the development of a wide range of pharmacological activities including diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical composition and to evaluate the inorganic elements’ concentration as well as the in vitro antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic potential of a Populus nigra L. buds extract collected from Timișoara (Romania) against A549 human lung cancer cell line. Populus nigra L. bud extract was found to contain twelve different phenolic compounds. The inorganic elements concentrations were below the limit of detection for Co, Pb, and As, whereas Cu = 6.66 µg/g; Cr = 0.79 µg/g; Ni = 3.28 µg/g; Fe = 39.00 µg/g; Zn = 14.84 µg/g; Mn = 0.59 µg/g; Al = 2109.87 µg/g; and Cd = 0.019 µg/g. The extract was tested for the in vitro antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic potential on A549 human lung cancer cell line using different concentrations, namely 10, 25, 50, 75, 100, and 150 μg/mL. Results have shown that poplar bud extract induced a significant decrease of tumor cell viability in a dose-dependent manner with an IC₅₀ = 72.49 μg/mL and blocked the cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Phenomena of early apoptosis (from 1.34 ± 0.33% control cells to 2.68 ± 0.62% at 150 µg/mL) and late apoptosis (from 1.43 ± 0.14% control cells to 5.15 ± 1.02% at 150 µg/mL) were detected by Annexin V-PI double staining. Poplar bud extract can be regarded as a promising candidate for future studies involving lung cancer.

Ephedra alata fruit extracts: phytochemical screening, anti-proliferative activity and inhibition of DPPH, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase enzymes

Background

Discovering and screening for potential anti-obesity, anti-diabetic, anticancer, and antioxidant treatments from natural products still in recent times the main goal for many pharmaceutical scientists. The present investigation aimed to evaluate the chemical constituents of Ephedra alata fruits various extracts and to assess their antioxidant, antiobesity, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic effects.

Result

In this work, high content of flavonoids and phenols were observed in the methanol fraction of E. alata fruits, which reached 98.95 mg of RUE/g and 33.22 mg of GAE/g, respectively. The methanol fraction has significant inhibitory activity against DPPH, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase with an IC₅₀ value of 1.07, 9.43, 46.16, and 66.48 µg/mL. respectively. Also has anticancer activity against HeLa cancer cell line. While the acetone fraction has potent antioxidant activity with IC₅₀ 5 µg/mL.

Conclusion

The DPPH and digestive enzymes assays results showed that the methanolic fraction of E. alata fruits has potent antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and anti-obesity activities, which can be an excellent candidate for biological and chemical analysis and can be further subjected for isolation of the therapeutically active compounds with anticancer potency.

Predicting shifts in distribution range and niche breadth of plant species in contrasting arid environments under climate change

Arid environments face extreme risk from contemporary climate change; therefore, predicting the shifts in species distribution range and niche breadth in these environments assumes urgent research priority. Here we report the potential distribution and predict future distribution range of two model plant species typically representing contrasting environments across Asia and Africa: hot-arid Ephedra foliata and cold-arid E. gerardiana. We adopted a comparative modelling approach and used occurrence points from extensive field surveys, supplemented with herbaria records and publicly available distribution data. Our study reveals that currently an area of 8.797334 × 10⁶ km² (8.8%) is potentially suitable for E. foliata and nearly half 4.759326 × 10⁶ km² (4.8%) for E. gerardiana. Under future climate change scenarios, distribution range of E. foliata is predicted to expand but contract in E. gerardiana. Similarly, E. foliata showed broader niche breadth which is predicted to increase under B1 (0.097-0.125) and B2 (0.878-0.930) climatic change scenarios. In contrast, E. gerardiana had narrower niche breadth and expected to further decrease under B1 (0.081-0.078) and B2 (0.878-0.854). The most influential bioclimatic variable governing the potential distribution and niche breadth of E. foliata was the precipitation of warmest quarter, whereas that of E. gerardiana was temperature seasonality. The results from our study can help in developing potential indicator plant species for assessment and monitoring of distribution range shifts in response to changing climate in the arid environments.

In Silico and In Vitro Evaluation of the Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Potential of Mentha × smithiana R. GRAHAM Essential Oil from Western Romania

This study was conducted to identify the volatile compounds of Mentha × smithiana essential oil (MSEO) and evaluate its antioxidant and antibacterial potential. The essential oil (EO) content was assessed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Carvone (55.71%), limonene (18.83%), trans-carveol (3.54%), cis-carveol (2.72%), beta-bourbonene (1.94%), and caryophyllene oxide (1.59%) were the main identified compounds. The MSEO displayed broad-spectrum antibacterial effects and was also found to be the most effective antifungal agent against Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis. The antioxidant activity of MSEO was tested against cold-pressed sunflower oil by peroxide, thiobarbituric acid, 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching methods. The EO showed strong antioxidant effects as reflected by IC50 values of 0.83 ± 0.01 mg/mL and relative antioxidative activity of 87.32 ± 0.03% in DPPH and β-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching assays, respectively. Moreover, in the first 8 days of the incubation period, the inhibition of primary and secondary oxidation compounds induced by the MSEO (0.3 mg/mL) was significantly stronger (p < 0.05) than that of butylated hydroxyanisole. In silico molecular docking studies were conducted to highlight the underlying antimicrobial mechanism as well as the in vitro antioxidant potential. Recorded data showed that the antimicrobial activity of MSEO compounds could be exerted through the D-Alanine-d-alanine ligase (DDl) inhibition and may be attributed to a cumulative effect. The most active compounds are minor components of the MSEO. Docking results also revealed that several mint EO components could exert their in vitro antioxidant activity by employing xanthine oxidase inhibition. Consequently, MSEO could be a new natural source of antioxidants and antiseptics, with potential applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries as an alternative to the utilization of synthetic additives.

Comparative Toxicological In Vitro and In Ovo Screening of Different Orthodontic Implants Currently Used in Dentistry

Selecting the most biocompatible orthodontic implant available on the market may be a major challenge, given the wide array of orthodontic devices currently available on the market. The latest scientific data have suggested that in vitro evaluations using oral cell lines provide reliable data regarding the toxicity of residual particles released by different types of orthodontic devices. In this regard, the in vitro biocompatibility of three different commercially available implants (stainless steel and titanium-based implants) was assessed.

METHODS

As an in vitro model, human gingival fibroblasts (HGFs) were employed to evaluate the cellular morphology, cell viability, and cytotoxicity by means of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) assays at 24 h and 72 h post-exposure to test implants.

RESULTS

The results correlate the composition and topography of the implant surface with biological experimental evaluations related to directly affected cells (gingival fibroblasts) and toxicological results on blood vessels (hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane (HET-CAM) assay). The stainless steel implant exhibits a relative cytotoxicity against HGF cells, while the other two samples induced no significant alterations of HGF cells.

CONCLUSION

Among the three test orthodontic implants, the stainless steel implant induced slight cytotoxic effects, thus increased vigilance is required in their clinical use, especially in patients with high sensitivity to nickel.

Antibacterial and antitumor activity of the species Prunella vulgaris L

Background: Prunella vulgaris L., known as self-healing herb, is a widely spread species in the spontaneous flora with beneficial effects on human health, a fact proven in particular by Asian researchers. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antitumor activity and the antibacterial effect on different bacterial strains, including multidrug-resistant ones, depending on the type of solvent used (aqueous, hydroalcoholic), the plant product taken into consideration (spike inflorescence, leaf), its quantity and the concentration of active principles.

Material and method: For screening of antimicrobial susceptibility, both minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined on Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Providencia stuartii, Pseudomonas aeruginosai, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus species, including reference strains and hospital strains. Leaves and flower extracts (aqueous and 70% methanolic) were first assessed, and the one with the best antibacterial potential was further tested as a concentrated extract. The antitumor activity was determined on MDA-MB-231 breast adenocarcinoma cells and on a non-tumor cell line, MCF-10A breast epithelial cells by means of Alamar blue technique and Scratch assay.

Results: Inflorescence extracts showed better bacteriostatic effects than leaf extracts on most bacteria, in both aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts. The concentrated extract of spike inflorescence showed measurable activity with good effects on Gram-positive bacteria, but also on multidrug-resistant Gram-negative ones. The 70% methanolic extract of the species Prunella vulgaris L. (spike inflorescence) demonstrated a concentration-dependent cytotoxic and anti-migratory activity on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells, while affecting the non-tumor cell line less.

Conclusions: The results suggest that Prunella vulgaris extracts present antibacterial potential in the complementary treatment of multidrug-resistant infections. The extract from the spike inflorescence of Prunella vulgaris L. produced a dose and time-dependent reduction in cell viability and migration, eliciting a stronger effect on the breast adenocarcinoma cell line.

Biological Evaluation of Black Chokeberry Extract Free and Embedded in Two Mesoporous Silica-Type Matrices

Black chokeberry fruits possess a wide range of biological activities, among which the most important that are frequently mentioned in the literature are their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-proliferative, and antimicrobial properties. The present paper reports, for the first time, the encapsulation of the ethanolic extract of Aronia melanocarpa L. fruits into two mesoporous silica-type matrices (i.e., pristine MCM-41 and MCM-41 silica decorated with zinc oxide nanoparticles). The aim of this work was to evaluate the antiradicalic capacity, the antimicrobial potential, and the effects on the cell viability on a cancer cell line (i.e., A375 human melanoma cell line) versus normal cells (i.e., HaCaT human keratinocytes) of black chokeberry extract loaded on silica-type matrices in comparison to that of the extract alone. The ethanolic polyphenolic extract obtained by conventional extraction was characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array detector (HPLC–PDA) and spectrophotometric methods. The extract was found to contain high amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids, as well as good radical scavenging activity. The extract-loaded materials were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms, thermal analysis, and radical scavenger activity on solid samples. The black chokeberry extract, both free and loaded onto mesoporous silica-type matrices, exhibited a significant antioxidant capacity. Antibacterial activity was recorded only for Gram-positive bacteria, with a more potent antibacterial effect being observed for the extract loaded onto the ZnO-modified MCM-41 silica-type support than for the free extract, probably due to the synergistic effect of the ZnO nanoparticles that decorate the pore walls of silica. The cellular viability test (i.e., MTT assay) showed dose- and time-dependent activity regarding the melanoma cell line. The healthy cells were less affected than the cancer cells, with all tested samples showing good cytocompatibility at doses of up to 100 µg/mL. Improved in vitro antiproliferative and antimigratory (i.e., scratch assay) potential was demonstrated through the loading of black chokeberry extract into mesoporous silica-type matrices, and the screened samples exhibited low selectivity against the tested non-tumor cell line. Based on presented results, one can conclude that mesoporous silica-type matrices are good hosts for black chokeberry extract, increasing its antioxidant, antibacterial (on the screened strains), and in vitro antitumor (on the screened cell line) properties.

Osteolytic metastasis in breast cancer: effective prevention strategies

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women throughout the world. Patients who are diagnosed early generally have better prognosis and survivability. Indeed, advanced stage breast cancer often develops osteolytic metastases, leading to bone destruction. Although there are select drugs available to treat bone metastatic disease, these drugs have shown limited success.

AREA COVERED

This paper emphasizes updated mechanisms of bone remodeling and osteolytic bone metastases of breast cancer. This article also aims to explore the potential of novel natural and synthetic therapeutics in the effective prevention of breast cancer-induced osteolysis and osteolytic metastases of breast cancer.

EXPERT OPINION

Targeting TGFβ and BMP signaling pathways, along with osteoclast activity, appears to be a promising therapeutic strategy in the prevention of breast cancer-induced osteolytic bone destruction and metastatic growth at bone metastatic niches. Pilot studies in animal models suggest various natural and synthetic compounds and monoclonal antibodies as putative therapeutics in the prevention of breast cancer stimulated osteolytic activity. However, comprehensive pre-clinical studies demonstrating the PK/PD and in-depth understanding of molecular mechanism(s) by which these potential molecules exhibit anti-tumor growth and anti-osteolytic activity are still required to develop effective therapies against breast cancer-induced osteolytic bone disease.

Plants Metabolites: Possibility of Natural Therapeutics Against the COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19, a disease induced by SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2), has been the cause of a worldwide pandemic. Though extensive research works have been reported in recent days on the development of effective therapeutics against this global health crisis, there is still no approved therapy against SARS-CoV-2. In the present study, plant-synthesized secondary metabolites (PSMs) have been prioritized to make a review focusing on the efficacy of plant-originated therapeutics for the treatment of COVID-19. Plant metabolites are a source of countless medicinal compounds, while the diversity of multidimensional chemical structures has made them superior to treat serious diseases. Some have already been reported as promising alternative medicines and lead compounds for drug repurposing and discovery. The versatility of secondary metabolites may provide novel antibiotics to tackle MDR (Multi-Drug Resistant) microbes too. This review attempted to find out plant metabolites that have the therapeutic potential to treat a wide range of viral pathogens. The study includes the search of remedies belonging to plant families, susceptible viral candidates, antiviral assays, and the mode of therapeutic action; this attempt resulted in the collection of an enormous number of natural therapeutics that might be suggested for the treatment of COVID-19. About 219 plants from 83 families were found to have antiviral activity. Among them, 149 plants from 71 families were screened for the identification of the major plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) that might be effective for this pandemic. Our investigation revealed that the proposed plant metabolites can serve as potential anti- SARS-CoV-2 lead molecules for further optimization and drug development processes to combat COVID-19 and future pandemics caused by viruses. This review will stimulate further analysis by the scientific community and boost antiviral plant-based research followed by novel drug designing.

Effects of Ephedra alata extract on the quality of minced beef meat during refrigerated storage: A chemometric approach

The biopreservative effect of Ephedra alata aqueous extract (EAE), used at 0.156, 0.312 and 0.624%, on minced beef meat was evaluated by microbiological, physicochemical and sensory analyses during storage at 4 °C for 14 days. The results showed that EAE significantly (P < .05) delayed the formation of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and carbonyls and reduced the sulfhydryl loss in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that EAE had a protective effect against lipids and protein oxidation. Concomitantly, an increase of redness and loss of lightness and yellowness was observed. Furthermore, two multivariate exploratory techniques, namely Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) were applied to all obtained data describing the main characteristics attributed to refrigerated meat samples. During storage time, the used chemometric approaches were useful in discriminating meat samples, and therefore offers an approach to underlay connections between meat quality features. The obtained findings demonstrated the strong potential of EAE as a natural preservative in meat and meat products.

Phytochemical and Biological Screening of Oenothera Biennis L. Hydroalcoholic Extract

Oenothera biennis L. (OB), also commonly known as evening primrose, belongs to the Onagraceae family and has the best studied biological activity of all the members in the family. In therapy, the most frequently used type of extracts are from the aerial part, which are the fatty oils obtained from the seeds and have a wide range of medicinal properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the phytochemical composition and biological activity of OB hydroalcoholic extract and to provide directions for the antimicrobial effect, antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic potential against A375 melanoma cell line, and anti-angiogenic and anti-inflammatory capacity. The main polyphenols and flavonoids identified were gallic acid, caffeic acid, epicatechin, coumaric acid, ferulic acid, rutin and rosmarinic acid. The total phenolic content was 631.496 µgGAE/mL of extract and the antioxidant activity was 7258.67 μmolTrolox/g of extract. The tested extract had a mild bacteriostatic effect on the tested bacterial strains. It was bactericidal only against Candida spp. and S. aureus. In the set of experimental conditions, the OB extract only manifested significant antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic activity against the A375 human melanoma cell line at the highest tested concentration, namely 60 μg/mL. The migration potential of A375 cells was hampered by the OB extract in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, at the highest tested concentration, the OB extract altered the mitochondrial function in vitro, while reducing the angiogenic reaction, hindering compact tumor formation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay. Moreover, the OB extract elicited an anti-inflammatory effect on the experimental animal model of ear inflammation.

Antimicrobial activity of different substituted meso-porphyrin derivatives

The increasing resistance against classical antibiotic treatment forces the researchers to develop novel non-toxic antimicrobial agents. The aim of this study was to determine the antimicrobial properties of seven different porphyrins having distinctive hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity: P1 meso-tetra(4-methoxy-phenyl)porphyrin, P2 Zn(II)-meso-5,10,15,20-tetrapyridylporphyrin, P3 meso-tetra(p-tolyl)porphyrin, P4 5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphyrin; P5 (5,10,15,20-tetraphenylporphinato) dichlorophosphorus(V) chloride, P6 5,10,15,20-tetrakis-(N-methyl-4-pyridyl) porphyrin-Zn(II) tetrachloride, P7 Zn(II)-5,10,15,20-meso-tetrakis-(4-aminophenyl)porphyrin. The meso-porphyrin derivatives were screened for their antimicrobial activity against six reference strains: Streptococcus pyogenes ATCC 19615, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 700603, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC27853 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. The antimicrobial activity of these samples was evaluated by the agar disk diffusion method and dilution method, with the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). The most significant result is provided by the water-soluble P5 manifesting an obvious antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pyogenes. On the other hand, P6 is a moderately active derivative against Streptococcus pyogenes and Escherichia coli and P7 presents moderate activity against Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus. All the tested porphyrin bases, presenting hydrophobic character, have no antimicrobial activity under the investigated conditions. The common characteristics of the porphyrins that act as promising antimicrobial agents in the non-irradiated methods are: the cationic nature, the increased hydrophilicity and the presence of both amino functional groups grafted on the porphyrin ring and the coordination with Zn or phosphorus in the inner core.

In vitro antiproliferation activity of Typhonium flagelliforme leaves ethanol extract and its combination with canine interferons on several tumor-derived cell lines

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Tumor disorder is one of the degenerative diseases that affected human and animals and recently is tend to increase significantly. The treatment of tumor diseases can be performed through surgical, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, biological substances, and herbs medicine. Typhonium flagelliforme leaves extract known to have an antiproliferation activity, while interferons (IFNs) one of the cytokines that first used as an antiviral agent was also known to have antitumor activity. Nowadays, the treatment of tumors using a traditional way, including the use of herbal substances, becomes popular. Some limitations of the antitumor activity due to resistant development of the cell to some substances were one of the problems on why the treatment of cancer was unsuccessful. This study aimed to elaborate the synergistic effect on the antiproliferation and anti-angiogenesis activities of the combinations between T. flagelliforme leaves ethanol extract and canine natural (natural canine IFN [nCaIFN]) and recombinant (recombinant canine IFN [rCaIFN]) IFNs on tumor-derived cell lines to find the new potential antitumor substances.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extraction of T. flagelliforme leaves was performed using the maceration method and followed by phytochemical screening assays. According to the result of LC50 by the brine shrimp lethality test, the dose used for T. flagelliforme extract was 120 ppm while the dose of IFNs was 102 U/ml. The tumor-derived cell lines (canine squamous cell carcinoma [CSCC], canine mammary gland benign mixed tumor/MCM-IPB-B3, and feline squamous cell carcinoma [FSCC]) and normal rabbit endothelial cells were cultured and maintained on Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium DMEM/Ham-F12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum, antibiotic, and antifungal. The antiproliferation activity was assayed by calculated the total cell number after treated with the tested substances. The antiangiogenesis assay was performed using in vitro method on rabbit normal endothelial cells and in ovo using chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM).

RESULTS

The phytochemical screening test of the T. flagelliforme leaves ethanol extract indicated that the compound consisted of flavonoid, steroid, and tannin. The antiproliferation activity was increased in the combination of substances compared to the single exposure of each substance on all tested tumor-derived cell lines. There was no significantly different on the antiproliferation activity between a combination of T. flagelliforme with nCaIFN or rCaIFN in every single tested cell lines, but the comparison of this activity among the three tumor-derived cell lines seem that the antiproliferation activity is more effective on CSCC cell lines compared to the canine mammary gland benign mixed tumor and FSCC cell lines. A similar pattern of synergistic effect was also detected on the anti-angiogenesis activity in vitro using rabbit endothelial cells as well as in ovo assays. The most effective of the in vitro and in ovo anti-angiogenesis activity was observed on the combination substances between T. flagelliforme extract and rCaIFN compared to other treatments.

CONCLUSION

There was a synergistic effect on the antiproliferation and antiangiogenesis activities of the combination between T. flagelliforme and canine IFNs (natural and recombinant) and this result could be developed as another alternative on the cancer treatments.

Properties of Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus serpyllum L. Extracts Free and Embedded into Mesopores of Silica and Titania Nanomaterials

This study evidenced the nanoconfinement effect on polyphenolic extracts prepared from Salvia officinalis L. and Thymus serpyllum L. into the mesopores of silica and titania nanomaterials on their radical scavenging capacity and antimicrobial potential. The ethanolic and hydroalcoholic extracts obtained either by conventional or microwave-assisted extraction were characterized in terms of total polyphenols, total flavonoids, and chlorophyll content, as well as radical scavenging activity by consecrated spectrometric determinations. The phytochemical fingerprint of extracts was analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array detector. Salvia officinalis extracts exhibited better radical scavenging capacity and antimicrobial potential than Thymus serpyllum extracts. The mesoporous MCM-41 silica and titania nanomaterials, prepared by the sol-gel method, were characterized by small- and wide-angle powder diffraction, FTIR spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, while the materials containing embedded extracts were analyzed through Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, N₂ sorption measurements, and thermal analysis. All extracts free and embedded in mesoporous matrix exhibited high radical scavenger properties and good bactericidal activity against several reference strains. It was proved that by embedding the polyphenolic extracts into mesopores of silica or titania nanoparticles, the phytochemicals stability was enhanced as the materials containing extract exhibited higher radical scavenger activity after 3-6 months storage than that of the free extracts. Additionally, the extract-loaded material showed mild improved antimicrobial activity in comparison with the corresponding free extract.

Lemon Balm Extracts Prevent Breast Cancer Progression In Vitro and In Ovo on Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay

Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignant pathology, representing the primary cause of cancer death in women. Natural products are an appealing strategy to limit the progression of the disease. Targeting angiogenesis in breast cancer may positively impact on poor prognosis of breast cancer. As source of natural compounds, we investigated the leaves of Melissa officinalis L. (MO), known as lemon balm, an aromatic plant that spontaneously grows in the South and Western areas of Romania, being traditionally recommended as anxiolytic, antispasmodic, or as digestive remedy. Our aim was to investigate the phytochemical profiling and the antiangiogenic and chemopreventive bioactivity of MO from Banat region, on breast cancer. Two ethanolic extracts of MO (MOE96 and MOE70) and one methanolic extract (MOM80) were subjected to polyphenol and triterpene profiling by HPLC-MS, and the antioxidant capacity was evaluated. The antiangiogenic potential was investigated using the chorioallantoic membrane assay (CAM). The MTT(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay was used to investigate the cytotoxic effects on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231breast cancer cells, as well as on MCF-10A normal breast epithelial cells, while apoptosis was performed by DAPI staining. Rosmarinic acid (RA) and ursolic acid (UA) were revealed as dominant phytocompounds. The highest concentration in phytochemicals were found in MOM80; MOE96 was more concentrated in UA, while MOE70 extracted more RA. MOE96 inhibited cancer progression and angiogenesis in the in ovo CAM model using MDA-MB-231 cells, inhibiting breast cancer progression and angiogenesis for the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line; no secondary tumoral areas were registered, indicative for a preventive effect against breast tumor cell invasiveness. The highest cell inhibitory activity was also exhibited by MOE96, in particular against the estrogen receptor positive MCF7 breast cancer cell line, with no cytotoxic effect on healthy cells. The estrogen receptor positive MCF7 cell line proved to be more sensitive to the extract antiproliferative activity than the triple negative MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Nevertheless, the chemopreventive potential of MOE96 extract is phenotype-dependent and is rather related to the apoptosis and antiangiogenic effects suggesting a multitargeted mechanism of action due to its multiple compound composition next to a concentration ratio of RA : UA in favor of UA.

SiO2-PVA-Fe(acac)3 Hybrid Based Superparamagnetic Nanocomposites for Nanomedicine: Morpho-textural Evaluation and In Vitro Cytotoxicity Assay

A facile sol-gel route has been applied to synthesize hybrid silica-PVA-iron oxide nanocomposite materials. A step-by-step calcination (processing temperatures up to 400 °C) was applied in order to oxidize the organics together with the iron precursor. Transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, small angle neutron scattering, and nitrogen porosimetry were used to determine the temperature-induced morpho-textural modifications. In vitro cytotoxicity assay was conducted by monitoring the cell viability by the means of MTT assay to qualify the materials as MRI contrast agents or as drug carriers. Two cell lines were considered: the HaCaT (human keratinocyte cell line) and the A375 tumour cell line of human melanoma. Five concentrations of 10 µg/mL, 30 µg/mL, 50 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL, and 200 µg/mL were tested, while using DMSO (dimethylsulfoxid) and PBS (phosphate saline buffer) as solvents. The HaCaT and A375 cell lines were exposed to the prepared agent suspensions for 24 h. In the case of DMSO (dimethyl sulfoxide) suspensions, the effect on human keratinocytes migration and proliferation were also evaluated. The results indicate that only the concentrations of 100 μg/mL and 200 μg/mL of the nanocomposite in DMSO induced a slight decrease in the HaCaT cell viability. The PBS based in vitro assay showed that the nanocomposite did not present toxicity on the HaCaT cells, even at high doses (200 μg/mL agent).

A New Highlight of Ephedra alata Decne Properties as Potential Adjuvant in Combination with Cisplatin to Induce Cell Death of 4T1 Breast Cancer Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

Despite major advances in the last 10 years, whether in terms of prevention or treatment, the 5 year survival rate remains relatively low for a large number of cancers. These therapeutic failures can be the consequence of several factors associated with the cellular modifications or with the host by itself, especially for some anticancer drugs such as cisplatin, which induces a nephrotoxicity. In the strategy of research for active molecules capable both of exerting a protective action against the deleterious effects of cisplatin and exerting a chemosensitizing action with regard to cancer cells, we tested the potential effects of Ephedra alata Decne extract (E.A.) rich in polyphenolic compounds towards a 4T1 breast cancer model in vitro and in vivo. We showed that E.A. extract inhibited cell viability of 4T1 breast cancer cells and induced apoptosis in a caspase-dependent manner, which involved intrinsic pathways. Very interestingly, we observed a synergic antiproliferative and pro-apoptotic action with cisplatin. These events were associated with a strong decrease of breast tumor growth in mice treated with an E.A./cisplatin combination and simultaneously with a decrease of hepato- and nephrotoxicities of cisplatin.

Brachychiton populneus as a novel source of bioactive ingredients with therapeutic effects: antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, anti-inflammatory properties and LC-ESI-MS profile

Brachychiton populneus is one of the unexploited Tunisian plants, traditionally eaten as food and used for medicinal purposes. The present study aimed to investigate the phytochemical components of the seeds, leaves and flowers from B. populneus using three different solvents and to explore their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects. Further, this study was focused on the identification of phenolic compounds from the most active extract. In vitro, all extracts showed strong antioxidant property by DPPH, ferrous ion chelating and lipid peroxidation-inhibiting assays, noticeable anti-inflammatory activity by protein denaturation and membrane stabilization methods and important neuroprotective effects by acetylcholinesterase inhibitory test. In vivo, B. populneus (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg, i.p.) showed significant dose-response anti-inflammatory effects against carrageenan-induced paw edema. With respect to the phenolic profile, the leaf methanol extract presented eight phenolic acids, one flavone and four flavonoids, with salvianolic acid B (820.3 mg/kg), caffeic acid (224.03 mg/kg), syringic acid (100.2 mg/kg) and trans-ferulic acid (60.02 mg/kg) as the major compounds. The results of the current study suggested that B. populneus could be a precious source of health-benefitting biomolecules and may be developed as new antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and AChE inhibitors.

Identification of Resveratrol as Bioactive Compound of Propolis from Western Romania and Characterization of Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Ethanolic Extracts

The present study aimed to assess the phenolic content of eight ethanolic propolis samples (P1–P8) harvested from different regions of Western Romania and their antioxidant activity. The mean value of total phenolic content was 214 ± 48 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g propolis. All extracts contained kaempferol (514.02 ± 114.80 μg/mL), quercetin (124.64 ± 95.86 μg/mL), rosmarinic acid (58.03 ± 20.08 μg/mL), and resveratrol (48.59 ± 59.52 μg/mL) assessed by LC-MS. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2 methods: (i) DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay using ascorbic acid as standard antioxidant and (ii) FOX (Ferrous iron xylenol orange OXidation) assay using catalase as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) scavenger. The DPPH radical scavenging activity was determined for all samples applied in 6 concentrations (10, 5, 3, 1.5, 0.5 and 0.3 mg/mL). IC₅₀ varied from 0.0700 to 0.9320 mg/mL (IC₅₀ of ascorbic acid = 0.0757 mg/mL). The % of H₂O₂ inhibition in FOX assay was assessed for P1, P2, P3, P4 and P8 applied in 2 concentrations (5 and 0.5 mg/mL). A significant H₂O₂% inhibition was obtained for these samples for the lowest concentration. We firstly report the presence of resveratrol as bioactive compound in Western Romanian propolis. The principal component analysis revealed clustering of the propolis samples according to the polyphenolic profile similarity.

Evaluation of essential oil obtained from Mentha×piperita L. against multidrug-resistant strains

Background

Bacterial multidrug resistance currently poses an increasingly serious threat, with important clinical consequences regarding treatment options. In 2017, the WHO released a global list of resistant bacteria, identifying multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Acinetobacter baumannii, extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacteriaceae as critical priorities for developing new strategies of treatment.

Purpose

The novelty presented in this study refers to the evaluation of the volatile oil obtained from the leaves of Mentha×piperita L., on MDR strains from hospitalized patients.

Material and methods

The essential oil was extracted by steam distillation and tested on six reference bacterial strains and also on the MDR strains collected from patients of the “Pius Brînzeu” Emergency Clinical County Hospital Timișoara. The in vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar disk diffusion method and microdilution method.

Results

Testing the antibacterial activity of peppermint oil on both reference strains and isolated MDR strains from hospitalized patients demonstrated its bactericidal effect. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was lower (20 mg/mL) for Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis and higher (40 mg/mL) for Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii strains. Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was equal to MIC, with the exception of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, where MBC was the double of MIC.

Conclusion

The present study highlights the bactericidal activity of Mentha×piperita L. essential oil on all tested MDR or extensively drug-resistant Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiellapneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. This oil may be a therapeutic option in the near future for many infectious diseases produced by MDR bacteria.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Apigenin as an Antiproliferative, Proapoptotic, Antiangiogenic and Immunomodulatory Phytocompound

Apigenin (4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone) (Api) is an important component of the human diet, being distributed in a wide number of fruits, vegetables and herbs with the most important sources being represented by chamomile, celery, celeriac and parsley. This study was designed for a comprehensive evaluation of Api as an antiproliferative, proapoptotic, antiangiogenic and immunomodulatory phytocompound. In the set experimental conditions, Api presents antiproliferative activity against the A375 human melanoma cell line, a G2/M arrest of the cell cycle and cytotoxic events as revealed by the lactate dehydrogenase release. Caspase 3 activity was inversely proportional to the Api tested doses, namely 30 μM and 60 μM. Phenomena of early apoptosis, late apoptosis and necrosis following incubation with Api were detected by Annexin V-PI double staining. The flavone interfered with the mitochondrial respiration by modulating both glycolytic and mitochondrial pathways for ATP production. The metabolic activity of human dendritic cells (DCs) under LPS-activation was clearly attenuated by stimulation with high concentrations of Api. Il-6 and IL-10 secretion was almost completely blocked while TNF alpha secretion was reduced by about 60%. Api elicited antiangiogenic properties in a dose-dependent manner. Both concentrations of Api influenced tumour cell growth and migration, inducing a limited tumour area inside the application ring, associated with a low number of capillaries.