Use of Plant Extracts in Alternative Medicine

Optimization of Extraction Conditions of Bioactive Compounds From Kurdistan Species Urtica dioica

INTRODUCTION

Phytotherapeutics derived from medicinal plants treat various illnesses, including viral infections such as SARS, MERS, and SARSCoV-2, as well as bacterial and fungal diseases. It highlights ongoing research into the chemical compositions of plant components for developing new drugs, with a particular emphasis on anti-cytotoxic agents for anticancer drugs. Traditional extraction methods have limitations, leading to the exploration of environmentally friendly technologies such as ultrasound-assisted, supercritical fluid, microwave-assisted, and accelerated solvent extraction. The paragraph concludes by stating the aim of a specific study to optimize extraction conditions of bioactive compounds from Urtica dioica in Kurdistan, comparing conventional and non-conventional extraction methods, solvents, and extraction times.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study was conducted between June 2022 and August 2022, fresh leaves and stems of U. dioica plant were collected and sequentially underwent four extraction methods (maceration, Soxhlet, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) by using petroleum ether, chloroform, ethanol, and distilled-water as solvents.

RESULTS

The results highlighted significant variations in the yields of bioactive compounds based on the extraction method, solvent type, and duration. Among conventional methods, Soxhlet was the most powerful method and had the most extraction yields, while maceration had the lowest yields. The modern techniques surpassed the conventional methods by producing high extraction yields within a shorter time (a few minutes) and using a lesser amount of solvent. Consequently, UAE and MAE emerge as the most efficient techniques. Hence, MAE effectively produced the highest extraction yields and is considered the preferred technique. The choice of solvents significantly influenced the extraction yields, with ethanol consistently emerging as an effective solvent across various extraction methods. In contrast, petroleum ether demonstrated the lowest efficacy as a solvent. Furthermore, the results unveiled the impact of extraction time on yields, indicating a correlation between increased time and extraction yield in certain cases.

CONCLUSION

Extraction is a very critical step in the study of medicinal plants. The amount of extracted compounds is significantly affected by the extraction method, solvent, and time. Ethanol stands out as the most effective solvent, producing the highest yields of bioactive compounds, while petroleum ether yields the least. Additionally, extraction yield shows a direct relation with extraction time. Soxhlet being the most powerful among conventional methods and maceration yields the least. Modern techniques, particularly UAE and MAE, surpass conventional methods by achieving high yields in shorter times with less solvent. MAE, in particular, offers advantages such as shortened extraction time, increased efficiency, reduced labor, and enhanced selectivity, making it the preferred method for extracting bioactive compounds from aerial parts U. dioica.

Nephroprotective potential of Polyalthia longifolia roots against vancomycin-induced renal toxicity in experimental animals

This study was done to investigate the possible nephroprotective effect of an ethanolic root extract of Polyalthia Longifolia (PL) on vancomycin-induced nephrotoxicity using curative and protective models. Vancomycin (150 mg/kg, intravenous) was given to healthy Wistar albino rats in the curative model before the start of treatment, whereas the protective group received vancomycin at the conclusion of the 10-day treatment procedure. Animals were divided into six groups for both models; group I served as the normal control, while groups II, III, IV, V, and VI were kept as toxic control, standard (selenium, 6 mg/kg), LDPL (low dose of PL 200 mg/kg), HDPL (high dose of PL 400 mg/kg), and HDPL + selenium (interactive) groups, respectively. Renal biomarkers [(uric acid, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum proteins], and blood electrolyte levels were measured for all tested groups. When compared to the vancomycin group, the HDPL significantly (p < 0.01) showed greater effectiveness in lowering the BUN, potassium, and calcium levels. Additionally, in the curative model, there was a significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the blood levels of uric acid, creatinine, BUN, potassium, and calcium in the animals who received the combination of selenium and HDPL. Both LDPL and HDPL did not provide any distinguishable effect in the protective model, but groups that received HDPL with selenium did provide detectable protection by significantly lowering their levels of uric acid, BUN, serum potassium, and total serum protein in comparison to the vancomycin control group. These findings indicate that, whether administered before or after renal damage is induced, the Polyalthia longifolia root extract provided only modest protection to nephrons, which require selenium support to prevent vancomycin-induced kidney damage.

Plants of the Phytolaccaceae family with antimicrobial activity: A systematic review

Phytolaccaceae is a plant family of the order Caryophyllales, which includes species used in traditional medicine to treat diseases. The purpose of this study was to investigate Phytolaccaceae family plants with potential antimicrobial action, through a systematic review. The study was conducted following the criteria of PRISMA protocol. The search was performed in the electronic databases PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and LILACS, in March 2021. The search strategy used free descriptors and terms, limiting articles to the English language, regardless of publication year. The risk of bias and the quality of publications were based on the CONSORT checklist, modified for in vitro studies and SYRCLE's RoB tool for in vivo study. Five independent judges performed quality assessments of publications and risk of bias analysis. Ninety-five publications were retrieved from the databases and, after screening and eligibility criteria, 22 articles remained, from 1998 to 2019. In the selected studies, the plants were obtained from eight countries. In vivo and in vitro studies of extracts from the Phytolaccaceae family plants, evaluating antibacterial (8 publications), antifungal (8), anti-Trypanosoma (2), anti-Leishmania (2), antiviral (1), and antiamoebic (1) activities, are included. The plant species identified belong to genera Petiveria, Phytolacca, Gallesia, Trichostigma, and Seguieria. The risk of bias in the 22 publications both in vitro and in vitro was suboptimal. The evidence obtained showed that the Phytolaccaceae family, a source of plants with antimicrobial action, can serve as a basis for the creation of new herbal medicines, expanding the possibility of treatment for infectious diseases and stimulating their preservation and biodiversity. However, more high-quality studies are needed to establish the clinical efficacy of the plant.

The Potential Role of Everlasting Flower (Helichrysum stoechas Moench) as an Antihypertensive Agent: Vasorelaxant Effects in the Rat Aorta

Helichrysum stoechas (L.) Moench (H. stoechas) is a medicinal plant traditionally used in the Iberian Peninsula to treat different disorders such as arterial hypertension. The aim of this study was to investigate the vascular effects of a polyphenolic methanolic extract of H. stoechas, which has high antioxidant activity, and its mechanism of action. Isometric myography studies were performed in an organ bath with rat aortic rings with intact endothelium. The H. stoechas extract produced vasorelaxation in the aortic rings that were precontracted by phenylephrine or KCl. L-NAME and Rp-8-Br-PET-cGMPS but not indomethacin or H-89; it also reduced the relaxant response evoked by H. stoechas extract on the phenylephrine-induced contractions. H. stoechas extract reduced the response to CaCl2 similar to verapamil and reduced the phenylephrine-induced contractions comparable with heparin. TRAM-34, apamin and glibenclamide reduced relaxation induced by the H. stoechas extract. The combination of L-NAME+TRAM-34+apamin almost completely inhibited the H. stoechas-induced effect. In conclusion, the relaxant effect of the H. stoechas extract is partially mediated by endothelium through the activation of the NO/PKG/cGMP pathway and the opening of Ca2+-activated K+ channels. Furthermore, the decrease in the cytosolic Ca2+ by the inhibition of Ca2+ influx through the L-type Ca2+ channels and by the reduction of Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum via the IP3 pathway is also involved.

Molecular docking study and antireabsorptive activity of a semi-synthetic coumarin derivative from Platymiscium floribundum in the ligature-induced periodontitis in rats: the involvement of heme oxygenase-1

OBJETIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the anti-resorptive activity of a semi-synthetic coumarin derivative from Platymiscium floribundum, named 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Molecular docking studies were performed to test the binding performance of the derivative against targets associated with alveolar bone loss (TNF-α, IL-1β, and catalase) and a target considered an antioxidant defense (HO-1) during periodontitis. Periodontitis was induced by placing a nylon ligature around the second molars. The rats received for 11 days 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin (0.01, 0.1, or 1 mg/kg) or vehicle. We investigated by RT-qPCR analysis (TNF-α, IL-1β, and HO-1 mRNA expression levels) and by colorimetric assay (catalase activity) the mechanism of action mediated by 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin. The in vivo toxicity of 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin was evaluated.

RESULTS

6,7-Dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin (0.1 or 1 mg/kg) reduced alveolar bone loss (1.05 ± 0.24), when compared to vehicle-treated group (3.05 ± 0.30). The interactions of 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin and the four targets (TNF-α, IL-1β, catalase, and HO-1) showed firm bonds above 6.0 kcal/mol. 6,7-dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin (1 mg/kg) lowered mRNA expression levels of TNF-α (2.33 ± 0.56) and IL-1β (19.87 ± 2.9), while it increased both the mRNA expression levels of HO-1 (43.40 ± 1.05) and the catalase activity (46.42 ± 4.59), when compared to vehicle-treated group (46.29 ± 8.43; 37.83 ± 4.38; 1.58 ± 0.11; 8.93 ± 1.86, respectively). The animals did not show any signs of toxicity.

CONCLUSION

6,7-Dimethoxy-3-nitrocoumarin decreased inflammatory bone loss in the ligature-induced periodontitis in rats, and the activation of the HO-1 pathway may contribute, at least partially, to its protective effects by reducing TNF-α and IL-1β mRNA levels and increasing catalase activity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

6,7-Dimethoxy-3-nitrocumarin could be used as an adjunct to subgingival instrumentation during active and supportive periodontal treatment.

Nanostructured liquid crystalline particles as delivery vectors for isofuranodiene: Characterization and in-vitro anticancer activity

Isofuranodiene is an oxygenated sesquiterpene containing a furan ring isolated from the essential oil of Smyrnium olusatrum L. (Apiaceae) owning notable anticancer activity. Despite its biological potential, the high lipophilicity along with a relatively low stability due to Cope rearrangement giving rise to a less active compound, make the perspective of its therapeutical use unlikely. On this basis, in the present work we evaluated bulk and dispersed non lamellar liquid crystalline phases as effective delivery vectors for isofuranodiene, and capable of preserving its structure and enhancing the biological activity. Small-angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and UV resonance Raman spectroscopy were used to characterize the nanosystems in an integrated experimental approach. Encapsulation of isofuranodiene in the lipid matrix resulted in a transition from a cubic Im3m to a reversed hexagonal phase because of the highly lipophilic character of the drug, as obtained in SAXS measurements, and in significant shifts in the components of the Raman spectrum of isofuranodiene. The anticancer activity of isofuranodiene-loaded lipidic nanoparticles was assessed on MDA-MB 231 cell line by MTT assay and was found to be higher than that of pristine isofuranodiene.