α-Amyrin and β-Amyrin Isolated from Celastrus hindsii Leaves and Their Antioxidant, Anti-Xanthine Oxidase, and Anti-Tyrosinase Potentials

Anticoccidial activity of the secondary metabolites in alpine plants frequently ingested by wild Japanese rock ptarmigans

The Japanese rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta japonica) is an herbivorous species of partridges that inhabits only alpine zones. Alpine plants are their main source of food. These alpine plants contain toxic compounds to deter herbivores from consuming them. A previous analysis of the alpine plants frequently consumed by Japanese rock ptarmigans revealed the presence of a unique mixture of secondary metabolites and a novel compound. Additionally, wild Japanese rock ptarmigans are often infected by two species of Eimeria parasites. When these parasites were experimentally administered to Svalbard rock ptarmigans (Lagopus muta hyperborean), which do not feed on alpine plants, the birds exhibited symptoms, such as diarrhea and depression, and in some cases, they died. Although little is known about the pathogenesis of these parasites in wild Japanese rock ptarmigans, it was hypothesized that compounds found in alpine plants, their main food source, may reduce the pathogenicity of Eimeria parasites. In the present study, we evaluated the anticoccidial activity of the compounds derived from alpine plants in vitro using Eimeria tenella, which infects chickens belonging to the same pheasant family, as an experimental model. Twenty-seven natural components were extracted from eight alpine plants. The natural components were added to E. tenella sporozoites and incubated for 24 h to evaluate their direct effect. Additionally, Madin-Darby bovine kidney cells were incubated with sporozoites and natural components for 24 h to evaluate the inhibitory effect of the components on sporozoite cell invasion. Six compounds from four alpine plants decreased sporozoite viability by up to 88.3%, and two compounds inhibited sporozoite invasion into the cells. Although further studies are needed to evaluate the effects of these components against Eimeria infections in vivo, our findings suggest that these alpine plants may reduce the degree of infection by decreasing the number of sporozoites in the intestinal tract.

Insight into Romanian Wild-Grown Heracleum sphondylium: Development of a New Phytocarrier Based on Silver Nanoparticles with Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Cytotoxicity Potential

Background: Heracleum sphondylium, a medicinal plant used in Romanian ethnopharmacology, has been proven to have remarkable biological activity. The escalating concerns surrounding antimicrobial resistance led to a special attention being paid to new efficient antimicrobial agents based on medicinal plants and nanotechnology. We report the preparation of a novel, simple phytocarrier that harnesses the bioactive properties of H. sphondylium and silver nanoparticles (HS-Ag system). Methods: H. sphondylium's low metabolic profile was determined through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight-mass spectrometry. The morphostructural properties of the innovative phytocarrier were analyzed by X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using total phenolic content, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) in vitro assays. The antimicrobial activity screening against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli was conducted using the agar well diffusion method. The 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay estimated the in vitro potential cytotoxicity on normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDF) and cervical cancer (HeLa) cells. Results: A total of 88 biomolecules were detected, such as terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, coumarins, phenylpropanoids, iridoids, amino acids, phytosterols, fatty acids. The HS-Ag phytocarrier heightened efficacy in suppressing the growth of all tested bacterial strains compared to H. sphondylium and exhibited a significant inhibition of HeLa cell viability. Conclusions: The new HS-Ag phytocarrier system holds promise for a wide range of medical applications. The data confirm the capacity to augment the pertinent theoretical understanding in the innovative field of antimicrobial agents.

Molecular insights into the interactions between PEG carriers and drug molecules from Celastrus hindsii: a multi-scale simulation study

Efficient drug delivery is crucial for the creation of effective pharmaceutical treatments, and polyethylene glycol (PEG) carriers have been emerged as promising candidates for this purpose due to their bio-compatibility, enhancement of drug solubility, and stability. In this study, we utilized molecular simulations to examine the interactions between PEG carriers and selected drug molecules extracted from Celastrus hindsii: Hindsiilactone A, Hindsiiquinoflavan B, Maytenfolone A, and Celasdin B. The simulations provided detailed insights into the binding affinity, stability, and structural properties of these drug molecules when complexed with PEG carriers. A multi-scale approach combining density functional theory (DFT), extended tight-binding (xTB), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations was conducted to investigate both unbound and bound states of PEG/drug systems. The results from DFT and xTB calculations revealed that the unbound complex has an unfavorable binding free energy, primarily due to negative contributions of delta solvation free energy and entropy. The MD simulations provided more detailed insights into the interactions between PEG and drug molecules in water solutions. By integrating the findings from the multi-scale simulations, a comprehensive picture of the unbound and bound states of PEG and drug systems were obtained. This information is valuable for understanding the molecular mechanisms governing the binding of drugs in PEG-based delivery platforms, and it contributes to the rational design and optimization of these systems.

Underutilized Canadian wild berries as potential sources of lipophilic bioactive compounds with antihypertensive properties

Traditional berries are small fruits and are widely distributed in the Canadian prairies. The current study investigates the lipophilic bioactive compounds such as fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes, and their bioactivities, such as lipid peroxidation, as well as the antihypertensive activities of fourteen underutilized Canadian wild berries. These berries include Saskatoon berries (Amelanchier alnifolia), gooseberries (Ribes hirtellum), wild grapes (Vitis riparia), blackcurrants (Ribes nigrum), redcurrants (Ribes rubrum), haskap berries (Lonicera caerulea), wild raspberries (Rubus idaeus), wild blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium), chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa), buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), highbush cranberries (Viburnum trilobum), chokecherries (Prunus virginiana), nannyberries (Viburnum lentago) and snowberries (Symphoricarpos albus). The fatty acids, phytosterols, and terpenes were identified using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). Lipid peroxidation and the antihypertensive activity assessed by measuring the berries' angiotensin converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) inhibitory activity were determined using in vitro methods. Notably, wild grapes exhibited the highest (p < 0.05) total fat content (7659 ± 312 μg per g DW), followed by haskap berries (4650 ± 184 μg per g DW). Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) were highest (p < 0.05) in wild grapes (74%). Predominant phytosterols and terpenes identified in Canadian wild berries included β-sitosterol, isofucosterol, phytol, and α-amyrin. Saskatoon berries and gooseberries showed a distinct phytosterol and terpene profile compared to the other wild berries. Snowberries demonstrated the highest (p < 0.05) lipid peroxidation and the lowest (p < 0.05) angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE1) activity. This research provides valuable insights into the lipophilic bioactive compounds and their potential activities in vitro of the Canadian wild berries, offering a foundation for further exploration and potential applications in the context of nutraceuticals and functional foods.

Characterization, Biocompatibility and Antioxidant Activity of Hydrogels Containing Propolis Extract as an Alternative Treatment in Wound Healing

Hydrogels consist of a network of highly porous polymeric chains with the potential for use as a wound dressing. Propolis is a natural product with several biological properties including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant activities. This study was aimed at synthesizing and characterizing a polyacrylamide/methylcellulose hydrogel containing propolis as an active ingredient, to serve as a wound dressing alternative, for the treatment of skin lesions. The hydrogels were prepared using free radical polymerization, and were characterized using scanning electron microscopy, infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, differential scanning calorimetry, swelling capacity, mechanical and rheological properties, UV-Vis spectroscopy, antioxidant activity by the DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assays and biocompatibility determined in Vero cells and J774 macrophages by the MTT assay. Hydrogels showed a porous and foliaceous structure with a well-defined network, a good ability to absorb water and aqueous solutions simulating body fluids as well as desirable mechanical properties and pseudoplastic behavior. In hydrogels containing 1.0 and 2.5% propolis, the contents of total polyphenols were 24.74 ± 1.71 mg GAE/g and 32.10 ± 1.01 mg GAE/g and those of total flavonoids 8.01 ± 0.99 mg QE/g and 13.81 ± 0.71 mg QE/g, respectively, in addition to good antioxidant activity determined with all three methods used. Therefore, hydrogels containing propolis extract, may serve as a promising alternative wound dressing for the treatment of skin lesions, due to their anti-oxidant properties, low cost and availability.

Chemical Characterization, Phenolic Compounds Quantification, and Assessment of Antioxidant and Anti-Acetylcholinesterase Activities of Byrsonima sericea DC fruits

Byrsonima sericea is a species native to Brazil that is widely used in traditional medicine. The seed ethanol extract (SEE) had the highest content of total phenols (179.35 mg GAE g-1 extract) and flavonoids (10.42 mg QE g-1 extract) and was the most active in relation to antioxidant activity (DPPH: IC50 =4.25 μg mL-1 and ABTS: IC50 =4.82 μg mL-1 ). The peel/pulp ethanol extract (PEE) had the best anticholinesterase activity (IC50 =6.02 μg mL-1 ). Chromatographic investigation identified gallic acid, isoquercitrin, quercetin and amentoflavone in SEE, and gallic acid, isoquercitrin, quercetin and rutin in PEE. Six fatty acid methyl esters and seven triterpenes were identified, highlighting oleic acid in the seed hexane extract (61.85 %) and in the peel/pulp hexane extract (52.61 %), and betulin in the peel/pulp hexane extract (5.25 %). The substances and biological activities identified in B. sericea characterize this fruit as a functional food for future studies.

Lipidomics Analysis Deepen Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms in a Gouty Model Induced by Combination of MSU Crystals Injection and High-Fat Diet Feeding and the Intervention Mechanisms of Allopurinol

Background

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a common inflammatory disease caused by deposition of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals in diarthrodial joints. GA attacks commonly involved in joint with red, swollen, heat and pain, and often happened in unilateral foot-first metatarsophalangeal. Accumulated studies have proved that lipids play critical roles in biological processes and lipids biomarkers can substitute for the diagnosis of various diseases.

Methods

Herein, shotgun lipidomics was used to quantitatively analyze serum lipidomes of a gouty model which was induced by injecting MSU crystals and feeding high-fat diet with/without treatment with allopurinol. Meanwhile, ELISA kit was used to detect mouse serum levels of inflammatory cytokines (eg, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin 1 beta) and HE staining was used to observe the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the foot pad.

Results

A total of 9 types of serum lipids were detected in lipidomics by shotguns, and the result of NMDS' analysis demonstrated significant differences in lipids profiles between the control and model group. It is worth noting that lipid abnormality in GA (such as Ceramide (Cer), sphingomyelin (SM), 4-hydroxyalkenals (HNE), phosphatidylinositol (PI), ethanolamine glycerophospholipid (PE), etc.) is related with phospholipid and energy metabolism, and allopurinol treatment could correct the aberrant metabolism of lipid to some extent.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that various aberrant lipid metabolisms were present in the established gouty model, and allopurinol treatment could relief this aberrant metabolism of lipids to some degree.

Cannabis Roots: Therapeutic, Biotechnological and Environmental Aspects

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

Elicitation Induced α-Amyrin Synthesis in Tylophora indica In Vitro Cultures and Comparative Phytochemical Analyses of In Vivo and Micropropagated Plants

Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill is an endangered medicinal plant that possesses various active agents, such as tylophorinine, kaempferol, quercetin, α-amyrin and beta-sitosterol, with multiple medicinal benefits. α-amyrin, a triterpenoid, is widely known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and hepatoprotective properties. In this study, we investigated the metabolite profiling of tissues and the effects of cadmium chloride and chitosan on in vitro accumulation of alkaloids in T. indica. First, the callus was induced from the leaf in 2,4-D-, NAA- and/or BAP-fortified MS medium. Subsequent shoot formation through organogenesis and in vitro roots was later induced. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)-based phytochemical profiling of methanolic extracts of in vivo and in vitro regenerated plants was conducted, revealing the presence of the important phytocompounds α-amyrin, lupeol, beta-sitosterol, septicine, tocopherol and several others. Different in vitro grown tissues, like callus, leaf and root, were elicited with cadmium chloride (0.1-0.4 mg L-1) and chitosan (1-50 mg L-1) to evaluate the effect of elicitation on α-amyrin accumulation, measured with high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). CdCl2 and chitosan showed improved sugar (17.24 and 15.04 mg g-1 FW, respectively), protein (10.76 and 9.99 mg g-1 FW, respectively) and proline (7.46 and 7.12 mg g-1 FW), especially at T3 (0.3 and 25 mg L-1), in the leaf as compared to those of the control and other tissues. The antioxidant enzyme activities were also evaluated under an elicitated stress situation, wherein catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) displayed the highest activities in the leaf at T4 of both of the two elicitors. The α-amyrin yield was quantified with HPTLC in all tested tissues (leaf, callus and root) and had an Rf = 0.62 at 510 nm wavelength. Among all the concentrations tested, the T3 treatment (0.3 mg L-1 of cadmium chloride and 25 mg L-1 of chitosan) had the best influence on accumulation, irrespective of the tissues, with the maximum being in the leaf (2.72 and 2.64 μg g-1 DW, respectively), followed by the callus and root. Therefore, these results suggest future opportunities of elicitors in scaling up the production of important secondary metabolites to meet the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry.

Plant Extracts as Skin Care and Therapeutic Agents

Natural ingredients have been used for centuries for skin treatment and care. Interest in the health effects of plants has recently increased due to their safety and applicability in the formulation of pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. Long-known plant materials as well as newly discovered ones are increasingly being used in natural products of plant origin. This review highlights the beneficial effects of plants and plant constituents on the skin, including moisturizing (e.g., Cannabis sativa, Hydrangea serrata, Pradosia mutisii and Carthamus tinctorius), anti-aging (e.g., Aegopodium podagraria, Euphorbia characias, Premna odorata and Warburgia salutaris), antimicrobial (e.g., Betula pendula and Epilobium angustifolium), antioxidant (e.g., Kadsura coccinea, Rosmarinus officinalis, Rubus idaeus and Spatholobus suberectus), anti-inflammatory (e.g., Antidesma thwaitesianum, Helianthus annuus, Oenanthe javanica, Penthorum chinense, Ranunculus bulumei and Zanthoxylum bungeanum), regenerative (e.g., Aloe vera, Angelica polymorpha, Digitaria ciliaris, Glycyrrihza glabra and Marantodes pumilum), wound healing (e.g., Agrimonia eupatoria, Astragalus floccosus, Bursera morelensis, Jatropha neopauciflora and Sapindus mukorossi), photoprotective (e.g., Astragalus gombiformis, Calea fruticose, Euphorbia characias and Posoqueria latifolia) and anti-tyrosinase activity (e.g., Aerva lanata, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Dodonaea viscosa, Lonicera japonica and Schisandra chinensis), as well as their role as excipients in cosmetics (coloring (e.g., Beta vulgaris, Centaurea cyanus, Hibiscus sabdariffa and Rubia tinctiorum), protective and aromatic agents (e.g., Hyssopus officinalis, Melaleuca alternifolia, Pelargonium graveolens and Verbena officinalis)).

Chiranthodendron pentadactylon Larreat (Sterculiaceae), a Potential Nephroprotector against Oxidative Damage Provoked by STZ-Induced Hyperglycemia in Rats

BACKGROUND

Chiranthodendron pentadactylon, known in Mexico as the "tree of the little hands", flower's infusion is used to treat kidney failure associated with diseases such as diabetes. The aim of this work is to evaluate the antioxidant effect of the methanolic extract of its flowers on oxidative damage in kidneys caused by streptozotocin in rats.

METHODS

The extract phytochemical profile was performed with HPLC. Antioxidant potential in vitro was determined with DPPH and total phenolic tests; antioxidant evaluation in vivo was performed in diabetic rats administered daily via the intragastric route (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 6 weeks; serum glucose/creatinine, food/water consumption, and urinary volume were measured. Relative weight, protein/DNA ratios and oxidative stress were measured in renal tissue.

RESULTS

The extract showed 20.53% of total phenolic content and IC50 of 18.05 µg/mL in DPPH, and this was associated with ferulic acid, phloretin and α-amyrin. Both doses showed a moderate decrease in the protein/DNA ratio in renal tissue, and the same behavior was observed for total urinary protein loss and serum creatinine, while the best antioxidant effect was exerted by a lower dose, which increased catalase activity and decreased lipid peroxidation in the kidneys.

CONCLUSIONS

Results demonstrated that C. pentadactylon methanolic flower's extract improves renal function through antioxidant mechanisms during experimental diabetes.

Cytotoxic Activity of Wild Plant and Callus Extracts of Ageratina pichinchensis and 2,3-Dihydrobenzofuran Isolated from a Callus Culture

Ageratina pichinchensis (Kunth) R.M. King & H. Rob. belongs to the Asteraceae family and is a plant native to Mexico to which several biological properties are attributed. In this study, the cytotoxic effect of four extracts from the wild plants and two extracts from A. pichinchensis callus culture were evaluated against carcinogenic cell lines including prostate carcinoma, cervical cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatoma human, lung cancer, and cellular keratinocytes. The extracts were obtained with ethyl acetate and methanol using both leaves and stems or the callus. Only the ethyl acetate extract of the callus culture influenced the cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) with an IC50 of 94.79 ± 2.0 µg/mL. From the ethyl acetate callus extract, 2,3-dihydrobenzofuran was isolated and purified and also evaluated against cancer cells. The cytotoxic evaluation of this compound showed a significant effect against the HeLa cell line with an IC50 of 23.86 ± 2.5 µg/mL. Our results contribute to the development of biotechnological alternatives and extraction processes to produce compounds with possible potential against certain types of human cancer.

Searching for Natural Plants with Antimelanogenesis and Antityrosinase Properties for Cosmeceutical or Nutricosmetics Applications: A Systematic Review

Excessive UV radiation (UVR) exposure has been shown in studies to be a major risk factor for most melanomas, causing premature skin aging as well as immune system suppression due to the increased production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and other reactive oxygen species (ROS) during the melanogenesis process. Although several compounds with antioxidant and antityrosinase activities are widely used in the cosmetic industry, like kojic acid, hydroquinone, ascorbic acid, and arbutin, their use has been limited due to their adverse effects on the skin and cytotoxic issues. Recently, attempts have been made to develop new natural skin-lightening products by using plant extracts that are less toxic and exhibit numerous biological properties with great market demand. In this study, information on the depigmentation effects of various natural plant species was gathered from the SCOPUS database according to the PRISMA guidelines. A total of 414 records were retrieved, and finally, 76 articles were included in the qualitative synthesis by fulfilling all the inclusion criteria. In this review, we discuss the extraction methods and biological assays of 75 highly potential plant species, including the olive, yuzu, longan, and lotus. We concluded that the use of natural plants as skin-whitening agents is highly effective as there is a significant correlation between the content of polyphenolic compounds, antimelanogenesis, antityrosinase, and antioxidant activities. However, it is worth noting that the use of extraction methods or types of solvents is very important in determining the biological activities of plants.

Mechanism of Yiqi Huoxue Huatan recipe in the treatment of coronary atherosclerotic disease through network pharmacology and experiments

In recent years, with population aging and economic development, morbidity and mortality of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease associated with atherosclerosis (AS) have gradually increased. In this study, a combination of network pharmacology and experimental verification was used to systematically explore the action mechanism of Yiqi Huoxue Huatan Recipe (YHHR) in the treatment of coronary atherosclerotic heart disease (CAD). We searched and screened the active ingredients of Coptis chinensis, Astragalus membranaceus, Salvia miltiorrhiza, and Hirudo. We also searched multiple databases for related target genes corresponding to the compounds and CAD. STRING was used to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of genes. Metascape was used to perform gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis for common targets to analyze the main pathways, and finally, the molecular docking and main possible pathways were verified by experimental studies. Firstly, a total of 1480 predicted target points were obtained through the Swiss Target Prediction database. After screening, merging, and deleting duplicate values, a total of 768 targets were obtained. Secondly, "Coronary atherosclerotic heart disease" was searched in databases such as the OMIM, GeneCards, and TTD. 1844 disease-related targets were obtained. Among PPI network diagram of YHHR-CAD, SRC had the highest degree value, followed by AKT1, TP53, hsp90aa1 and mapk3. The KEGG pathway bubble diagram was drawn using Chiplot, the Signal pathways such as NF kappa B signaling pathway, Lipid and AS, and Apelin signaling pathway are closely related to the occurrence of CAD. The PCR and Western blot methods were used to detect the expression of NF-κB p65. When compared with that in the model group, the expression of NF-κB p65mRNA decreased in the low-concentration YHHR group, with P < .05, while the expression of NF-κB p65mRNA decreased significantly in the high-concentration YHHR group, with P < .01. On the other hand, when compared with that in the model group, the expression of NF-κB p65 decreased in the low-concentration YHHR group, but was not statistically significant, while the expression of NF-κB p65 was significant in the high-concentration YHHR group, and has statistical significance with P < .05. YHHR has been shown to resist inflammation and AS through the SRC/NF-κB signaling pathway.

In vitro antiproliferative, anti-inflammatory effects and molecular docking studies of natural compounds isolated from Sarcocephalus pobeguinii (Hua ex Pobég)

Background: Sarcocephalus pobeguinii (Hua ex Pobég) is used in folk medicine to treat oxidative-stress related diseases, thereby warranting the investigation of its anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In our previous study, the leaf extract of S. pobeguinii induced significant cytotoxic effect against several cancerous cells with high selectivity indexes towards non-cancerous cells. Aim: The current study aims to isolate natural compounds from S. pobeguinii, and to evaluate their cytotoxicity, selectivity and anti-inflammatory effects as well as searching for potential target proteins of bioactive compounds. Methods: Natural compounds were isolated from leaf, fruit and bark extracts of S. pobeguinii and their chemical structures were elucidated using appropriate spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative effect of isolated compounds was determined on four human cancerous cells (MCF-7, HepG2, Caco-2 and A549 cells) and non-cancerous Vero cells. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was determined by evaluating the nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory potential and the 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) inhibitory activity. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were carried out on six putative target proteins found in common signaling pathways of inflammation and cancer. Results: Hederagenin (2), quinovic acid 3-O-[α-D-quinovopyranoside] (6) and quinovic acid 3-O-[β-D-quinovopyranoside] (9) exhibited significant cytotoxic effect against all cancerous cells, and they induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by increasing caspase-3/-7 activity. (6) showed the highest efficacy against all cancerous cells with poor selectivity (except for A549 cells) towards non-cancerous Vero cells; while (2) showed the highest selectivity warranting its potential safety as a chemotherapeutic agent. Moreover, (6) and (9) significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells which could mainly be attributed to their high cytotoxic effect. Besides, the mixture nauclealatifoline G and naucleofficine D (1), hederagenin (2) and chletric acid (3) were active against 15-LOX as compared to quercetin. Docking results showed that JAK2 and COX-2, with the highest binding scores, are the potential molecular targets involved in the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of bioactive compounds. Conclusion: Overall, hederagenin (2), which selectively killed cancer cells with additional anti-inflammatory effect, is the most prominent lead compound which may be further investigated as a drug candidate to tackle cancer progression.

Chimaphila umbellata; a biotechnological perspective on the coming-of-age prince's pine

Chimaphila umbellata has been studied for almost two centuries now, with the first paper exploring the phytochemistry of the plant published in 1860. Almost all contemporary studies focus on the biotechnological advances of C. umbellata including its utilization as a natural alternative in the cosmetic, food, biofuel, and healthcare industry, with a special focus on its therapeutic uses. This literature review critically investigates the significance and applications of secondary metabolites extracted from the plant and presses on the biotechnological approaches to improve its utilization. C. umbellata is home to many industrially and medicinally important phytochemicals, the majority of which belong to phenolics, sterols, and triterpenoids. Other important compounds include 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, isohomoarbutin, and methyl salicylate (the only essential oil of the plant). Chimaphilin is the characteristic phytochemical of the plant. This review focuses on the phytochemistry of C. umbellata and digs into their chemical structures and attributes. It further discusses the challenges of working with C. umbellata including its alarming conservation status, problems with in-vitro cultivation, and research and development issues. This review concludes with recommendations based on biotechnology, bioinformatics, and their crucial interface.

A detailed biochemical characterization, toxicological assessment and molecular docking studies of Launaea fragilis: An important medicinal xero-halophyte

Launaea fragilis (Asso) Pau (Family: Asteraceae) is a wild medicinal plant that has been used in the folklore as a potential treatment for numerous ailments such as skin diseases, diarrhea, infected wounds, inflammation, child fever and hepatic pain. This study explored the chemical constitution, in-vivo toxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition potential of ethanolic extract of L. fragilis (EELF). Additionally, in-silico docking studies of predominant compounds were performed against in-vitro tested enzymes. Similarly, in-silico ADMET properties of the compounds were performed to determine their pharmacokinetics, physicochemical properties, and toxicity profiles. The EELF was found rich in TFC (73.45 ± 0.25 mg QE/g) and TPC (109.02 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g). GC-MS profiling of EELF indicated the presence of a total of 47 compounds mainly fatty acids and essential oil. EELF showed no toxicity or growth retardation in chicks up to 300 mg/kg with no effect on the biochemistry and hematology of the chicks. EELF gave promising antioxidant activity through the CUPRAC method with an IC₅₀ value of 13.14 ± 0.18 µg/ml. The highest inhibition activity against tyrosinase followed by acetylcholinesterase and α-Glucosidase was detected. Similarly, the antimicrobial study revealed the extract with good antibacterial and antiviral activity. A good docking score was observed in the in silico computational study of the predominant compounds. The findings revealed L. fragilis as a biocompatible, potent therapeutic alternative and suggest isolation and further in vivo pharmacological studies.

Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Chamaenerion latifolium L

BACKGROUND

Chamaenerion latifolium is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Onagraceae family. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the volatile chemical components of the aerial parts of Chamaenerion latifolium growing in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

METHODS

The leaves and stems of Chamaenerion latifolium were extracted with hexane and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

RESULTS

The regularisation of peak areas method was used to calculate the concentrations of the sixty-five identified compounds.

CONCLUSION

Among them, the major components are alkanes (leaves 31.339%, stems 48.158%), esters (leaves 10.216%, stems 12.196%), alcohols (leaves 5.483% and stems 5.14%), aldehydes (leaves 3.155%, stems 1.592%), triterpenoids (leaves 2.247% stems 3.785%).

The Inhibitory Effects and Cytotoxic Activities of the Stem Extract of Sarracenia purpurea against Melanoma Cells and the SsbA Protein

The Staphylococcus aureus SsbA protein (SaSsbA) is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) that is categorically required for DNA replication and cell survival, and it is thus an attractive target for potential antipathogen chemotherapy. In this study, we prepared the stem extract of Sarracenia purpurea obtained from 100% acetone to investigate its inhibitory effect against SaSsbA. In addition, the cytotoxic effects of this extract on the survival, apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of B16F10 melanoma cells were also examined. Initially, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, dihydroquercetin, dihydrokaempferol, rutin, catechin, β-amyrin, oridonin, thioflavin T, primuline, and thioflavin S were used as possible inhibitors against SaSsbA. Of these compounds, dihydrokaempferol and oridonin were capable of inhibiting the ssDNA-binding activity of SaSsbA with respective IC50 values of 750 ± 62 and 2607 ± 242 μM. Given the poor inhibition abilities of dihydrokaempferol and oridonin, we screened the extracts of S. purpurea, Nepenthes miranda, and Plinia cauliflora for SaSsbA inhibitors. The stem extract of S. purpurea exhibited high anti-SaSsbA activity, with an IC50 value of 4.0 ± 0.3 μg/mL. The most abundant compounds in the stem extract of S. purpurea were identified using gas chromatography−mass spectrometry. The top five most abundant contents in this extract were driman-8,11-diol, deoxysericealactone, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, apocynin, and α-amyrin. Using the MOE-Dock tool, the binding modes of these compounds, as well as dihydrokaempferol and oridonin, to SaSsbA were elucidated, and their binding energies were also calculated. Based on the S scores, the binding capacity of these compounds was in the following order: deoxysericealactone > dihydrokaempferol > apocynin > driman-8,11-diol > stigmast-5-en-3-ol > oridonin > α-amyrin. Incubation of B16F10 cells with the stem extract of S. purpurea at a concentration of 100 μg/mL caused deaths at the rate of 76%, reduced migration by 95%, suppressed proliferation and colony formation by 99%, and induced apoptosis, which was observed in 96% of the B16F10 cells. Overall, the collective data in this study indicate the pharmacological potential of the stem extract of S. purpurea for further medical applications.

Biological Activities of Seven Medicinal Plants Used in Chiapas, Mexico

Seven medicinal plants from Chiapas, Mexico, used by Native Americans were analyzed, aiming to improve the understanding of their medicinal properties through the evaluation of various biological activities, i.e., bactericidal, antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibition, and toxicity, to provide a scientific basis for the management of infectious and hyperglycemic diseases in the Mexican southeast. Plant extracts were obtained from Cordia dodecandra, Gaultheria odorata, Heliotropium angiospermum, Justicia spicigera, Leucaena collinsii spp. collinsii, Tagetes nelsonii, and Talisia oliviformis through maceration techniques using methanol and chloroform (1:1). Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was employed to determine the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter faecalis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeuroginosa. The antiradical/antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays and antihemolytic activity using the 2,2’-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride radical (APPH). The anti-α-glucosidase activity was evaluated in vitro through the chromogenic PNPG assay. The toxicity was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay. The highest antimicrobial activity was displayed by T. nelsonii, mainly against E. faecalis and P. aeuroginosa. The extracts of L. collinsii, J. spicigera, and T. nelsonii possess antioxidant properties with EC50 < 50 μg/mL. J. spicigera and T. nelsonii extracts showed the highest antihemolytic activity with IC50 < 14 μg/mL. T. nelsonii exhibited a remarkable inhibitor effect on the α-glucosidase enzyme and the greatest toxic effect on Artemia salina with IC50 = 193 ± 20 μg/mL and LD50 = 14 ± 1 μg/mL, respectively. According to our results, G. odorata, J. spicigera, T. nelsonii, and T. oliviformis extracts contained active antimicrobial compounds. At the same time, T. nelsonii stands to be a possible source of effective antineoplastic and antihyperglycemic compounds.

Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities of the Root Extract of the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant Sarracenia purpurea

The carnivorous pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea exhibits many ethnobotanical uses, including the treatments of type 2 diabetes and tuberculosis-like symptoms. In this study, we prepared different extracts from the leaves (pitchers), stems, and roots of S. purpurea and investigated their antioxidant and anticancer properties. To evaluate the extraction efficiency, we individually used different solvents, namely methanol, ethanol, acetone, and distilled water, for S. purpurea extract preparations. The root extract of S. purpurea, obtained by 100% acetone (S. purpurea-root-acetone), had the highest anticancer activities, antioxidation capacity (the DPPH activity with IC50 of 89.3 ± 2.2 μg/mL), antibacterial activities, total phenolic content (33.4 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid content (107.9 ± 2.2 mg QUE/g). The most abundant compounds in S. purpurea-root-acetone were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; 7,8-Dihydro-α-ionone was the major compound present in S. purpurea-root-acetone. In addition, the co-cytotoxicity of S. purpurea-root-acetone (combined with the clinical anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the survival, apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of the 4T1 mammary carcinoma) was examined. The combination of 5-FU with S. purpurea-root-acetone could be highly efficient for anti-4T1 cells. We also found that S. purpurea-root-acetone could inhibit the enzymatic activity of human dihydroorotase (huDHOase), an attractive target for potential anticancer chemotherapy. The sic most abundant compounds in S. purpurea-root-acetone were tested using an in silico analysis via MOE-Dock software for their binding affinities. The top-ranked docking conformations were observed for 7,8-dihydro-α-ionone and stigmast-5-en-3-ol, suggesting the inhibition potential against huDHOase. Overall, the collective data in this study may indicate the pharmacological potentials of S. purpurea-root-acetone for possible medical applications.