Antihyperlipidemic Effect, Identification and Isolation of the Lipophilic Components from Artemisia integrifolia

Photochemical and Oxidative Degradation of Chamazulene Contained in Artemisia, Matricaria and Achillea Essential Oils and Setup of Protection Strategies

Chamazulene (CA) is an intensely blue molecule with a wealth of biological properties. In cosmetics, chamazulene is exploited as a natural coloring and soothing agent. CA is unstable and tends to spontaneously degrade, accelerated by light. We studied the photodegradation of CA upon controlled exposure to UVB-UVA irradiation by multiple techniques, including GC-MS, UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS and by direct infusion in ESI-MSn, which were matched to in silico mass spectral simulations to identify degradation products. Seven byproducts formed upon UVA exposure for 3 h at 70 mW/cm2 (blue-to-green color change) were identified, including CA dimers and CA benzenoid, which were not found on extended 6 h irradiation (green-to-yellow fading). Photostability tests with reduced irradiance conducted in various solvents in the presence/absence of air indicated highest degradation in acetonitrile in the presence of oxygen, suggesting a photo-oxidative mechanism. Testing in the presence of antioxidants (tocopherol, ascorbyl palmitate, hydroxytyrosol, bakuchiol, γ-terpinene, TEMPO and their combinations) indicated the highest protection by tocopherol and TEMPO. Sunscreens ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate and particularly Tinosorb® S (but not octocrylene) showed good CA photoprotection. Thermal stability tests indicated no degradation of CA in acetonitrile at 50 °C in the dark for 50 days; however, accelerated degradation occurred in the presence of ascorbyl palmitate.

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Compounds from the Root Extract of Aloe debrana

This study was conducted to isolate and identify the chemical compounds from the roots of Aloe debrana (L.) and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. From the acetone (99.5%) extract of the roots of this plant, four anthraquinones, such as chrysophanol (1), asphodeline (2), aloesaponarin I (5), and laccaic acid D-methyl ester (6), and a new catechol derivative, 5-allyl-3-methoxybenzene-1,2-diol (3), were isolated and elucidated by different chromatographic and spectroscopic methods together with linoleic acid (4), respectively. Compounds 2, 3, and 4 were reported here for the first time from this plant and compound 3 from the genus Aloe. The compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using H2O2 and DPPH assays and bactericidal activity against S. aureus and E. coli. Compounds 3 and 6 showed highest antioxidant activities with IC50 values of 19.38 ± 0.64 and 32.81 ± 0.78 μg/mL in DPPH, and 28.52 ± 1.08 and 27.31 ± 1.46 μg/mL in H2O2, respectively. The isolated compounds also demonstrated considerable activity towards S. aureus. Among these compounds, compound 3 exhibited the highest activity (91.20 ± 0.12% and 9.14 ± 0.93 mm at 1.0 mg/mL) against this bacterium. The overall results suggest that the isolated compounds may be considered as potential sources of the bioactive agents to be used in the pharmacological, food, and other industries. Moreover, their high sensitivity against S. aureus may also support the use of A. debrana plant in the traditional medicine to treat wounds. Therefore, the isolated compounds are responsible for medicinal properties of this plant.

Discovery of hepatoprotective activity components from Thymus quinquecostatus celak. by molecular networking, biological evaluation and molecular dynamics studies

Thymus quinquecostatus Celak. is an edible herb that widely cultivated in Asia and possesses hepatoprotective activity, but the underlying non-volatile components of this protective activity are not well studied. In this study, combining molecular networking visualization and bioassay-guided fractionation strategies, a pair of novel skeleton diterpenoid enantiomers, (+)- and (-)-thymutatusone A [(+)- and (-)-1], along with one new and one known biogenetically related compounds (2-3) and 16 other known compounds (4-19), were identified from T. quinquecostatus. Their structures were exhaustively characterized by comprehensive spectroscopic data, X-ray diffraction analysis, and ECD calculations. Compounds (±)-1, (-)-1, and (+)-1, with a rare tricyclo [7.3.1.02,7] tridecane skeleton, exhibited potent hepatoprotective activity in HepG2 cells injured by acetaminophen, with EC50 values of 11.5 ± 2.8, 8.4 ± 1.9, and 12.2 ± 0.3 μM respectively. They were more potent than positive drug bifendate (EC50 15.2 ± 1.3). Further, the underlying mechanism for the hepatoprotective activity of compound (-)-1 related to activating the Nrf 2 signaling pathway. What's more, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation analysis showed that compound (-)-1 could dock with the active site of Nrf 2 protein and form a stable system through hydrogen bonding. These results suggest that T. quinquecostatus can be used as a valuable source of hepatoprotective activity compounds.

Methanolic extract of S. securidaca flowers, leaves, and seeds' antihyperlipidemic effects on high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia in Wistar rats

Significant risk factors for atherosclerosis include hyperlipidemia and oxidative stress, which together rank as three of the most significant risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Securigera securidaca lowers cholesterol levels in diabetic rats' blood. This investigation's objective was to determine how methanolic extracts affected the flowers, leaves, and seeds of plants in rats that were fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Five groups of animals were created (n = 5). A total of 35 days, divided into two intervals, were used for the study. Rats received HFD during the first 15-day interval, while during the second 20-day interval, they also received extracts or the Atorvastatin reference drug. The extract of seeds has a high phenol content as well as DPPH radical antioxidant activity. Extracts were given at a dose of 200 mg/kg; p.o. Methanolic treatment of S. securidaca flowers, leaves, and seeds in HFD-induced hyperlipidemic rats resulted in significant reductions in total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDLC, and VLDL-C levels. HDL-C levels increased significantly because of the leaves. While in hyperlipidemic rats, seeds significantly reduced the activities of the enzymes ALT and ALP. The findings showed that, to a certain extent, seeds, flowers, and leaves may have benefits in reducing hyperlipidemia brought on by HFD in terms of lipid profiles and liver function enzymes. The findings of this study indicate a promising application prospect, but more research is needed to determine the exact mechanism of these novel compounds as antihyperlipidemic agents and to clarify their potential combination effect with synthetic drugs such as Atorvastatin. Combinations can reduce the dose of chemical medications required, which lowers the risk of side effects.

Identification of metabolites from edible mushroom Morchella sextelata and their biological evaluation

To identify bioactive metabolites from the fruiting body of Morchella sextelata, fourteen metabolites (1-14) including one undescribed morchesexten A (1) were isolated. Their structures including absolute configurations were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data and quantum chemical computational methods. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the isolated compounds were evaluated. Compounds 10-12 showed inhibitory effects on nitric oxide (NO) production with IC₅₀ values of 15.2 ± 2.7, 10.2 ± 1.9 and 35.3 ± 10.5 μM, respectively. Compounds 7 and 9 exhibited strong antioxidant effect with IC₅₀ values of 6.7 ± 0.4 and 7.3 ± 0.8 μM compared with Vit C (IC₅₀ 15.4 ± 0.2 μM).

A Comprehensive Review on Anti-obesity Potential of Medicinal Plants and their Bioactive Compounds

Background:

Obesity is a complex health and global epidemic issue. It is an increasing global health challenge covering significant social and economic costs. Abnormal accumulation of fat in the body may increase the health risks including diabetes, hypertension, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, cardiovascular diseases, stroke and cancer. Synthetic drugs available on the market reported to have several side effects. Therefore, the management of obesity got to involve the traditional use of medicinal plants which helps to search the new therapeutic targets and supports the research and development of anti-obesity drugs.

Objective:

This review aim to update the data and provide a comprehensive report of currently available knowledge of medicinal plants and phyto-chemical constituents reported for their anti-obesity activity.

Methodology:

An electronic search of the periodical databases like Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed, Scielo, Niscair, ScienceDirect, Springerlink, Wiley, SciFinder and Google Scholar with information reported the period 1991-2019, was used to retrieve published data.

Results:

A comprehensive report of the present review manuscript is an attempt to list the medicinal plants with anti-obesity activity. The review focused on plant extracts, isolated chemical compounds with their mechanism of action and their preclinical experimental model, clinical studies for further scientific research.

Conclusion:

This review is the compilation of the medicinal plants and their constituents reported for the managements of obesity. The data will fascinate the researcher to initiate further research that may lead to the drug for the management of obesity and their associated secondary complications. Several herbal plants and their respective lead constituents were also screened by preclinical In-vitro and In-vivo, clinical trials and are effective in the treatment of obesity. Therefore, there is a need to develop and screen large number of plant extracts and this approach can surely be a driving force for the discovery of anti-obesity drugs from medicinal plants.

Anethum sowa Roxb. ex fleming: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacological and toxicological activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Anethum sowa Roxb. ex Fleming (Syn. Peucedanum sowa Roxb. ex Fleming, Family: Apiaceae) is a pharmacologically important as aromatic and medicinal plant. Various parts of this plant are used in traditional medicine systems for carminative, uterine and colic pain, digestion disorder, flatulence in babies, appetite-stimulating agent and used to treat mild flue and cough. The essential oil is used for aromatherapy. It is also used as a spice for food flavouring and culinary preparations in many Asian and European countries.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

This review aims to provide a comprehensive and critical assessment from the reported traditional and pharmaceutical uses and pharmacological activities of the extracts, essential oil and phytoconstituents with emphasis on its therapeutic potential as well as toxicological evaluation of A. sowa.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Online search engines such as SciFinder®, GoogleScholar®, ResearchGate®, Web of Science®, Scopus®, PubMed and additional data from books, proceedings and local prints were searched using relevant keywords and terminologies related to A. sowa for critical analyses.

RESULTS

The literature studies demonstrated that A. sowa possesses several ethnopharmacological activities, including pharmaceutical prescriptions, traditional applications, and spice in food preparations. The phytochemical investigation conducted on crude extracts has been characterized and identified various classes of compounds, including coumarins, anthraquinone, terpenoids, alkaloid, benzodioxoles, phenolics, polyphenols, phenolic and polyphenols, fatty acids, phthalides and carotenoids. The extracts and compounds from the different parts of A. sowa showed diverse in vitro and in vivo biological activities including antioxidant, antiviral, antibacterial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory, Alzheimer associating neuromodulatory, cytotoxic, anticancer, antidiabetes, insecticidal and larvicidal.

CONCLUSION

A. sowa is a valuable medicinal plant which is especially used in food flavouring and culinary preparations. This review summarized the pertinent information on A. sowa and its traditional and culinary uses, as well as potential pharmacological properties of essential oils, extracts and isolated compounds. The traditional uses of A. sowa are supported by in vitro/vivo pharmacological studies; however, further investigation on A. sowa should be focused on isolation and identification of more active compounds and establish the links between the traditional uses and reported pharmacological activities with active compounds, as well as structure-activity relationship and in vivo mechanistic studies before integrated into the medicine. The toxicological report confirmed its safety. Nonetheless, pharmacokinetic evaluation tests to validate its bioavailability should be encouraged.

The potential of Artemisia species for use as broad-spectrum agents in the management of metabolic syndrome: a review

Although the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of cardiometabolic risk factors that predispose to the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases, is increasing globally, there is no broad-spectrum agent for its holistic treatment. Natural plant-derived products with a wide spectrum of biological activities are currently being explored as alternatives in the management of diseases. Artemisia species are a heterozygous group of plants of the Compositae family that possess several health benefits. Here we highlight their antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-hyperlipidaemic, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective properties among others. These activities have been linked to the presence of phytochemicals that act on several molecular targets to exert their effects and the species of Artemisia are considered to be relatively safe. Artemisia species offer significant anti-MetS activity and thus are strong therapeutic candidates for the effective management of MetS.

Natural soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibitors from Inula helenium and their interactions with soluble epoxide hydrolase

The inhibition of soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is regarded as a promising therapeutic approach to treat inflammation and its related disorders. In present work, we investigated inhibitory effects of forty-nine kinds of traditional Chinese medicines against sEH. Inula helenium showed significant inhibitory effect against sEH, and the extract of I. helenium were isolated to obtain eight compounds, including 4H-tomentosin (1), xanthalongin (2), and linoleic acid (3), 8-hydroxy-9-isobutyryloxy-10(2)-methylbutyrylthymol (4), dehydrocostus lactone (5), alantolactone (6), costunolide (7), and isoalantolactone (8). Among them, 4H-tomentosin (1), xanthalongin (2), and linoleic acid (3) showed significantly inhibitory activities on sEH with half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) from 5.88 ± 0.97 μM to 11.63 ± 0.58 μM. The inhibition kinetics suggested that 4H-tomentosin (1) and xanthalongin (2) were mixed-competitive type inhibitors with inhibition constant (Ki) values of 7.02 and 6.57 μM, respectively, and linoleic acid (3) was a competitive type inhibitor with a Ki values of 3.52 μM. The potential interactions of 4H-tomentosin (1), xanthalongin (2), and linoleic acid (3) with sEH were analyzed by molecular docking, which indicated that these bioactive compounds had interactions with key amino acid residues Tyr343, Ile363, Tyr383, and His524.