Comparison of antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities of the essential oils from flowers and fruits of Otostegia persica Boiss

A comprehensive review of the botany, ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities of two Iranian Rydingia species (Lamiaceae)

Rydingia michauxii and R. persica, respectively, known as Kase Gol and Goldar in Persian, belong to the family Lamiaceae and they are well known herbal medicine in Iran for the treatment of various diseases, particularly diabetes. This review aims to appraise the phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and pharmacological activities of Rydingia species growing in Iran and assess their potential in clinical applications. Besides, it critically evaluates existing literature and looks into the perspective for further research and utilization. All available scientific literature was consulted using the database searches involving Google Scholar, PubMed, and Web of Science applying the keyword Rydingia and its Syn; Otostegia. Only the search results that are associated with the Iranian species R. michauxii and R. persica are included in this review. α-pinene, carvacrol, caryophyllene oxide, diisooctyl phthalate, dillapiole, eugenol, hexadecanoic acid, and pentacosane are the major constituents of the essential oils of the Rydingia species. Additionally, these species produce bioactive flavonoids, phenolic acids, steroids, and terpenoids. Extracts and active compounds from Rydingia species have been reported to possess various pharmacological activities including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antimalarial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and lipid-lowering properties. Based on the information available to date on the Iranian Rydingia species, it will be worth subjecting these species to further developmental work involving preclinical and clinical trials.

Genoprotective, antimutagenic, and antioxidant effect of methanolic leaf extract of Rhamnus alaternus L. from the Bissa mountains in Algeria

Rhamnus alaternus L. is a Rhamnaceae shrub and a popular traditional medicine in Algeria. The present research objective was to investigate the antioxidant, genotoxic, and antigenotoxic properties of R. alaternus methanolic leaf extract. Antiradical scavenging activity was tested by α, α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging and β-carotene bleaching method. DNA damage and repair were measured by the Allium cepa test with sodium azide as a mutagenic agent. Mitotic index and chromosomal aberrations were calculated by microscopy of meristem roots stained with 2% carmine acetic. The methanolic extract of R. alaternus leaves inhibited the free radical DPPH (IC50 = 0.74 ± 0.3 mg/mL) and prevented the oxidation of β-carotene (50.71 ± 4.17%). The root phenotyping showed that sodium azide changed their color and shape, decreased their stiffness, and significantly reduced their length. The roots treated with both R. alaternus leaf extract and sodium azide demonstrated a better root growth. The roots treated with the methanolic extract were much longer than the control roots (P < 0.001). The microscopy images of root meristem treated with the sodium azide mitodepressant agent showed significant chromosomal aberrations, which indicated a disruption of the cell cycle. The R. alaternus leaf extract appeared to have a beneficial effect on cytotoxicity. The antioxidant properties of R. alaternus L. makes this plant an excellent genoportector.

Assessment of the cytotoxicity, antioxidant activity and chemical composition of extracts from the cyanobacterium Fischerella major Gomont

Cyanoprokaryotes (Cyanobacteria/Cyanophyta) are ancient photosynthetic prokaryotic organisms with cosmopolitan distribution. They are producers of a number of biologically active substances with antitumor and antifungal activity, vitamins, antibiotics, algaecides, insecticides, repellents, hormones, immunosuppressants and toxins. So far, the cyanobacterium Fischerella major Gomont has not been studied regarding its impact on the environment and human health. In this study, the cytotoxic, antioxidant and antitumor activities of four extracts prepared from Fischerella major were evaluated in vitro. In addition, the total phenolic content and the potential for production of cyanotoxins were also analyzed. The conducted GC/MS analysis identified 45 compounds with different chemical nature and biological activity. Presence of microcystins and saxitoxins was detected in all Fischerella major extracts. In vitro testing on cell cultures showed a significant concentration- and time-dependent cytotoxic effect on all cell lines (HeLa, SK-Hep-1 and FL) treated at three exposure times (24, 48 and 72 h) with four extracts. A selective antitumor effect was not observed. This is the first study demonstrating biological activity of extracts from Fischerella major, which makes it an interesting subject for further research, including environmental risk assessments (as producer of cyanotoxins) or as a potential source of pharmaceuticals.

Studies on volatile organic compounds of some truffles and false truffles

Results of solid phase micro-extraction coupled to gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analyses, accomplished on sporophores of 11 species of truffles and false truffles, are reported. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in Gautieria morchelliformis were dimethyl sulphide, 1,3-octadiene, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol, amorphadiene, isoledene and cis-muurola-3,5-diene. In Hymenogaster luteus var. luteus, presence of 1,3-octadiene, 1-octen-3-ol, 3-octanone, 3-octanol and 4-acetylanisole was revealed. Two VOCs, 4-acetylanisole and β-farnesene, constituted aroma of Hymenogaster olivaceus.Melanogaster broomeanus exhibited as components of its aroma 2-methyl-1,3-butadiene, 2-methylpropanal, 2-methylpropanol, isobutyl acetate, 3,7-dimethyl-1,6-octadien-3-ol, 3-octanone and β-curcumene. VOC profile of Octavianina asterosperma was characterised by the presence of dimethyl sulphide, ethyl 2-methylpropanoate, methyl 2-methylbutanoate and 3-octanone. Tuber rufum var. rufum and Pachyphloeus conglomeratus showed the presence of dimethyl sulphide only.

Chemical variability and antioxidant activity of Limbarda crithmoides L. essential oil from Corsica

The chemical compositions of 25 Corsican Limbarda crithmoides ssp. longifolia essential oils were investigated for the first time using GC-FID, GC/MS, and NMR analyses. Altogether, 65 compounds were identified, accounting for 90.0-99.3% of the total oil compositions. The main components were p-cymene (1; 15.1-34.6%), 3-methoxy-p-cymenene (4; 11.8-28.5%), 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymenene (5; 5.9-16.4%), thymol methyl ether (6; 1.3-14.9%), α-phellandrene (2; 0.9-11.9%), and α-pinene (3; 0.2-13.4%). The chemical variability of the Corsican oil samples was studied using multivariate statistical analysis, which allowed the discrimination of two main clusters. A direct correlation between the water salinities of the plant locations and the chemical compositions of the L. crithmoides essential oils was evidenced. Indeed, essential oils rich in 1 (30.4-34.6%) were found in samples growing in the wetlands of the southern oriental coast, which exhibit high salinity levels (24.4±0.2-33.9±0.2 ppt), and essential oils with lower contents of 1 (15.1-27.3%) were isolated form samples growing in the wetlands of northern Corsica, which exhibit lower salinity levels (10.90±0.20-15.47±0.15 ppt). The antioxidant potential of L. crithmoides essential oil was also investigated, by assessing the DPPH(.) - and ABTS(.+) -scavenging activities and the reducing power of ferric ions, and was found to be interesting. Moreover, using bioassay-guided fractionation of the essential oil, a higher antioxidant activity was obtained for the oxygenated fraction and both ester and alcohol subfractions.

Volatile Fraction Composition and Total Phenolic and Flavonoid Contents of Elionurus hensii—Antioxidant Activities of Essential Oils and Solvent Extracts

The objective of this study was to characterize Elionurus hensii in terms of the chemical composition of its essential oil and volatile fractions, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of solvent extracts and antioxidative activity. Analysis of E. hensii essential oil samples from Congo was carried out using Gas Chromatography (GC) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (MS). The essential oil of the aerial parts consisted predominantly of oxygenated monoterpene compounds, of which the main components were menthane alcohol stereoisomers, whereas the essential oil of the root was characterized by a high content of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, the main component of which was aristolone. The amounts of total phenolics and flavonoids in the solvent extracts (dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol) were determined spectrometrically. The essential oil did not exhibit significant antioxidant activity in terms of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS•+) scavenging ability, and exhibited only slight Fe3+ reducing ability. In contrast, the antioxidant activity of the solvent extracts of the aerial parts increased in the order ethyl acetate > methanol > dichloromethane, and that of the solvent extracts of the root increased in the order methanol > ethyl acetate > dichloromethane. Finally, a relationship was observed between the antioxidant activity and the total phenolic and flavonoid levels of the extract.

Chemical composition and antibacterial and cytotoxic activities of Allium hirtifolium Boiss

Allium hirtifolium Boiss. known as Persian shallot, is a spice used as a traditional medicine in Iran and, Mediterranean region. In this study, the chemical composition of the hydromethanolic extract of this plant was analyzed using GC/MS. The result showed that 9-hexadecenoic acid, 11,14-eicosadienoic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid are the main constituents. The antibacterial activity of the shallot extract was also examined by disk diffusion and microdilution broth assays. It was demonstrated that Persian shallot hydromethanolic extract was effective against 10 different species of pathogenic bacteria including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella typhimurium, Proteus mirabilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Specifically, the minimum concentration of the extract which inhibited bacterial growth (MIC values) was 1.88 mg/mL for most of the gram-positive bacteria. This concentration was not much different from the concentration that was safe for mammalian cells (1.50 mg/mL) suggesting that the hydromethanolic extract of Persian shallot may be a safe and strong antibacterial agent.

Essential oil and methanolic extract of Zataria multiflora Boiss with anticholinesterase effect

One of the most common strategies in the treatment of cognitive disorders is enhancing the acetylcholine level in the brain through the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase. Despite the effectiveness of current modern drugs, more attention has been paid for finding new anticholinesterase agents from medicinal plants. Zatraia multiflora Boiss. is an endemic plant to Iran which has different uses in traditional medicine as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anti spasmodic. We intended to evaluate the in vitro anticholinesterase and free radical scavenging activity of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Z. multiflora. The essential oil and methanolic extract of the plant were evaluated for anticholinesterase activity using modified Ellman method. The free radical scavenging effect of the samples were studied by using of the diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH). IC50 and the percent of inhibition of acetylcholinesterase was calculated from regression equation. The results showed that both the essential oil and methanolic extract of the plant exhibited high anticholinesterase activity (95.3 +/- 3.4 and 87.9 +/- 2.2% inhibition, respectively) which was similar to eserine (96.2 +/- 1.7% inhibition). The IC50 value of essential oil was determined as 0.97 +/- 0.12 microg mL(-1) in comparison to eserine (0.13 +/- 0.02 microg mL(-1)). The results of antioxidant assay showed that both the essential oil and methanolic extract potentially inhibit DPPH free radical (94.8 +/- 2.4 and 93.2 +/- 1.7% inhibition, respectively). The essential oil and methanolic extract of Z. multiflora have beneficial effect in health promotion and this plant would be good candidate for further studies.