Promising Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Potencies of Chemically-Profiled Extract from Withania aristata (Aiton) Pauquy against Clinically-Pathogenic Microbial Strains

New Triazole-Isoxazole Hybrids as Antibacterial Agents: Design, Synthesis, Characterization, In Vitro, and In Silico Studies

Novel isoxazole-triazole conjugates have been efficiently synthesized using 3-formylchromone as starting material according to a multi-step synthetic approach. The structures of the target conjugates and intermediate products were characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques (1H NMR and 13C NMR) and confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS). The all-synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against three ATCC reference strains, namely Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC BAA-44, and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 as well as one strain isolated from the hospital environment Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The findings indicate that conjugate 7b exhibits a stronger antibacterial response against the tested Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenic strains compared to the standard antibiotics. Furthermore, hybrid compound 7b proved to have a bactericidal action on the Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 strain, as evidenced by the results of the MBC determination. Moreover, the ADMET pharmacokinetic characteristics revealed a favorable profile for the examined compound, as well as a good level of oral bioavailability. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the inhibition mechanism and binding energies of conjugate 7b with the proteins of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial strains. The in silico results corroborated the data observed in the in vitro evaluation for compound 7b.

The Chemical Profile, and Antidermatophytic, Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant and Antitumor Activities of Withania chevalieri A.E. Gonç. Ethanolic Extract

Withania chevalieri, endogenous from Cape Verde, is a medicinal plant used in ethnomedicine with a large spectrum of applications, such as treating skin fungal infections caused by dermatophytes. The aim of this work was to chemically characterize the W. chevalieri crude ethanolic extract (WcCEE), and evaluate its bioactivities as antidermatophytic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer, as well as its cytotoxicity. WcCEE was chemically characterized via HPLC-MS. The minimal inhibitory concentration, minimal fungicidal concentration, time-kill and checkerboard assays were used to study the antidermatophytic activity of WcCEE. As an approach to the mechanism of action, the cell wall components, β-1,3-glucan and chitin, and cell membrane ergosterol were quantified. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) allowed for the study of the fungal ultrastructure. WcCEE contained phenolic acids, flavonoids and terpenes. It had a concentration-dependent fungicidal activity, not inducing relevant resistance, and was endowed with synergistic effects, especially terbinafine. TEM showed severely damaged fungi; the cell membrane and cell wall components levels had slight modifications. The extract had antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities, with low toxicity to non-tumoral cell lines. The results demonstrated the potential of WcCEE as an antidermatophytic agent, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activity, to be safely used in pharmaceutical and dermocosmetic applications.

Biodiversity, Biochemical Profiling, and Pharmaco-Commercial Applications of Withania somnifera: A Review

Withania somnifera L. Dunal (Ashwagandha), a key medicinal plant native to India, is used globally to manage various ailments. This review focuses on the traditional uses, botany, phytochemistry, and pharmacological advances of its plant-derived constituents. It has been reported that at least 62 crucial and 48 inferior primary and secondary metabolites are present in the W. somnifera leaves, and 29 among these found in its roots and leaves are chiefly steroidal compounds, steroidal lactones, alkaloids, amino acids, etc. In addition, the whole shrub parts possess various medicinal activities such as anti-leukotriene, antineoplastic, analgesic, anti-oxidant, immunostimulatory, and rejuvenating properties, mainly observed by in vitro demonstration. However, the course of its medical use remains unknown. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of W. somnifera, which will be useful for mechanism studies and potential medical applications of W. somnifera, as well as for the development of a rational quality control system for W. somnifera as a therapeutic material in the future.

Anti-Struvite, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Aqueous and Ethanolic Extracts of Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch Asteraceae

Saussurea costus (Falc) Lipsch is a traditional herb used to treat kidney stone problems because it contains several molecules used to treat this health problem, such as quercitrin. Infectious stones are the most painful of all urinary tract disorders, with ammonium phosphate (struvite) and carbapatite stones being the most common, caused by a bacterial infection with urease activity. These stones are treated with antibiotics, but antibiotic resistance is on the rise. The current study investigated the anti-urolithic activities of S. costus aqueous and ethanolic extracts of against struvite crystals synthesized using microscopic crystallization and turbidimetric methods, respectively. The utilized methods indicated that the ethanolic extract of this plant has a significant inhibitory effect on struvite crystallization, with a percentage inhibition of (87.45 ± 1.107) (p < 0.001) for a concentration of 1 mg mL−1 and a decrease in the number of struvite crystals, reaching values less than 100/mm3. For the number of struvite crystals inhibited by cystone, we found a value of 400/mm3 and with the aqueous extract we found 700/mm3. The antibacterial activity of the plant extracts studied was examined against several urease-producing bacteria, and this activity was evaluated by qualitative and quantitative evaluation methods; the highest minimum inhibitory concentration was seen in the ethanolic extract, with an MIC of 50 mg mL−1 for Staphylococcus aureus followed by an MIC of 200 mg mL−1 for Klebsiella pneumoniae. It showed a minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) against S. aureus and K. pneumoniae (>50 mg mL−1 and >200 mg mL−1, respectively). Furthermore, to determine the extract’s anti-inflammatory activity, in vivo anti-inflammatory activity was investigated in rats. The results show that at a dose of 400 mg kg−1, the ethanolic extract has a maximum edema inhibition of 66%.