Flavonoids from whole Plant of Euphorbia hirta and their Evaluation against Experimentally induced Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease in Rats

An investigation of the pigments, antioxidants and free radical scavenging potential of twenty medicinal weeds found in the southern part of Bangladesh

Despite their overlooked status, weeds are increasingly recognized for their therapeutic value, aligning with historical reliance on plants for medicine and nutrition. This study investigates the medicinal potential of native weed species in Bangladesh, specifically pigments, antioxidants, and free radical scavenging abilities. Twenty different medicinal weed species were collected from the vicinity of Khulna Agricultural University and processed in the Crop Botany Department Laboratory. Pigment levels were determined using spectrophotometer analysis, and phenolics, flavonoids, and DPPH were quantified accordingly. Chlorophyll levels in leaves ranged from 216.70 ± 9.41 to 371.14 ± 28.67 µg g-1 FW, and in stems from 51.98 ± 3.21 to 315.89 ± 17.19 µg g-1 FW. Flavonoid content also varied widely, from 1,624.62 ± 102.03 to 410.00 ± 115.58 mg CE 100 g-1 FW in leaves, and from 653.08 ± 32.42 to 80.00 ± 18.86 mg CE 100 g-1 FW in stems. In case of phenolics content Euphorbia hirta L. displaying the highest total phenolic content in leaves (1,722.33 ± 417.89 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW) and Ruellia tuberosa L. in stems (977.70 ± 145.58 mg GAE 100 g-1 FW). The lowest DPPH 2.505 ± 1.028 mg mL-1was found in Heliotropium indicum L. leaves. Hierarchical clustering links species with pigment, phenolic/flavonoid content, and antioxidant activity. PCA, involving 20 species and seven traits, explained 70.07% variability, with significant PC1 (14.82%) and PC2 (55.25%). Leaves were shown to be superior, and high-performing plants such as E. hirta and H. indicum stood out for their chemical composition and antioxidant activity. Thus, this research emphasizes the value of efficient selection while concentrating on the therapeutic potential of native weed species.

Herbal Medicine Hewei Jiangni Decoction Is Noninferior to Oral Omeprazole for the Treatment of Nonerosive Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, and Double-Dummy Controlled Trail

Objectives. Conventional approaches for patients with nonerosive gastroesophageal reflux disease (NERD) were not satisfactory. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and mechanisms of Chinese herbal medicine Hewei Jiangni Decoction (HWJND) as a novel and promising regimen for NERD. Methods. A total of 128 patients with NERD were randomly assigned to the Treatment group and Control group. The patients from the Treatment group were administered HWJND (81 g) plus dummy omeprazole (20 mg) daily for 8 weeks, and the others were given dummy HWJND granules (81 g) plus omeprazole (20 mg). The clinical efficacy was assessed using the gastroesophageal reflux disease questionnaire (GERD-Q) scale, patient reported outcomes (PRO) scale, and short form health survey 36 (SF-36) scale at week 4. Moreover, its pharmacological and molecular mechanisms were elucidated based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Results. Due to case shedding and other reasons, 109 patients, including 56 in the Treatment group and 53 in the Control group completed this study. Our results showed that HWJND significantly improved heartburn, regurgitation, epigastric pain, nausea, and sleep disturbance, which led to a significant reduction of GERD-Q scores in NERD patients. In addition, PRO scores of NERD patients with HWJND administration were improved, and sufficient relief of physical role, body pain, general health, social function, and mental health on the SF-36 scale was also observed in patients after HWJND treatment. We further showed that the curative effect of HWJND was close to that of omeprazole, except for the better improvement of general health and social function. What’s more, the main active ingredients of HWJND included quercetin, beta-sitosterol, naringenin, baicalein, and kaempferol were retrieved, and the protective effects of HWJND against NERD may be closely related to targets such as TNF, IL6, IL1B, MMP9, CXCL8, and EGFR, which were mainly enriched in IL-17 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway. Conclusion. Our findings demonstrate that HWJND is noninferior to oral omeprazole for the treatment of patients with NERD, plays a therapeutic role through multiple targets and diverse pathways, and holds promise for complementary and alternative therapy for the treatment of NERD. This trial is registered with http://www.chictr.org.cn, Chinese Clinical Trials Registry [ChiCTR2200055960].

Indigenous Uses, Phytochemical Analysis, and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Australian Tropical Medicinal Plants

Australian tropical plants have been a rich source of food (bush food) and medicine to the first Australians (Aboriginal people), who are believed to have lived for more than 50,000 years. Plants such as spreading sneezeweed (Centipeda minima), goat’s foot (Ipomoea pes-caprae), and hop bush (Dodonaea viscosa and D. polyandra) are a few popular Aboriginal medicinal plants. Thus far, more than 900 medicinal plants have been recorded in the tropical region alone, and many of them are associated with diverse ethnomedicinal uses that belong to the traditional owners of Aboriginal people. In our effort to find anti-inflammatory lead compounds in collaboration with Aboriginal communities from their medicinal plants, we reviewed 78 medicinal plants used against various inflammation and inflammatory-related conditions by Aboriginal people. Out of those 78 species, we have included only 45 species whose crude extracts or isolated pure compounds showed anti-inflammatory properties. Upon investigating compounds isolated from 40 species (for five species, only crude extracts were studied), 83 compounds were associated with various anti-inflammatory properties. Alphitolic acid, Betulinic acid, Malabaric acid, and Hispidulin reduced proinflammatory cytokines and cyclooxygenase enzymes (COX-1 and 2) with IC₅₀ values ranging from 11.5 to 46.9 uM. Other promising anti-inflammatory compounds are Brevilin A (from Centipeda minima), Eupalestin, and 5′-methoxy nobiletin (from Ageratum conyzoides), Calophyllolide (from Calophyllum inophyllum), and Brusatol (from Brucea javanica). D. polyandra is one example of an Aboriginal medicinal plant from which a novel anti-inflammatory benzoyl ester clerodane diterpenoid compound was obtained (compound name not disclosed), and it is in the development of topical medicines for inflammatory skin diseases. Medicinal plants in the tropics and those associated with indigenous knowledge of Aboriginal people could be a potential alternative source of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutics.

Phytochemicals of Euphorbia hirta L. and Their Inhibitory Potential Against SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease

Euphorbia hirta L. is a medicinal plant widely used in the Philippines and across tropical Asia against various diseases, including respiratory disorders. In this study, the phytochemical components of E. hirta were investigated in silico for their potential to inhibit the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 main protease (SARS-CoV-2 Mpro), a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) drug target that plays a critical role in the infection process of SARS-CoV-2. Phytochemical mining in tandem with virtual screening (PM-VS) was the strategy implemented in this study, which allows efficient preliminary in silico assessment of the COVID-19 therapeutic potential of the reported phytochemicals from the plant. The main rationale for considering E. hirta in the investigation was its reported efficacy against respiratory disorders. It is very promising to investigate the phytochemicals of E. hirta for their potential efficacy against diseases, such as COVID-19, that also target the respiratory system. A total of 298 E. hirta phytochemicals were comprehensively collected from the scientific literature. One hundred seventy of these phytochemicals were computed through molecular docking and were shown to have comparable or better binding properties (promising inhibitors) toward SARS-CoV-2 Mpro than known in vitro inhibitors. In connection to our previous work considering different medicinal plants, antiviral compounds were also rediscovered from the phytochemical composition of E. hirta. This finding provides additional basis for the potential of the plant (or its phytochemicals) as a COVID-19 therapeutic directly targeting drug targets such as SARS-CoV-2 Mpro and/or addressing respiratory-system-related symptoms. The study also highlights the utility of PM-VS, which can be efficiently implemented in the preliminary steps of drug discovery and development.

Pharmacological evaluation of Euphorbia hirta, Fagonia indica and Capparis decidua in hypertension through in-vivo and in vitro-assays

Objective

This study determines the efficacy and probable underlying mode of action to the folk usage of Euphorbia hirta, Fagonia indica and Capparis decidua in hypertension.

Methods

The aqueous-methanol extracts of E. hirta (EH.Cr), F. indica (FI.Cr) and C. decidua (CD.Cr) were tested for antihypertensive effects in rats using non-invasive and in-vasive blood pressure measuring apparatus. In-vitro assays were carried out using isolated rat aortae using PowerLab station.

Results

EH.Cr, FI.Cr and CD.Cr at 500 mg/kg (orally) caused a fall in the mean systolic blood pressure in arsenic-induced hypertensive and normotensive rats, similar to nifedipine. In rat aortae, EH.Cr, CD.Cr and FI.Cr reversed low (20 mM), high (80 mM) K⁺ and phenylephrine (P.E)-driven contractions, while F. indica partially inhibited high K⁺ contractions. In the presence of TEA, F. indica remained unable to relax low K⁺ contractions. EH.Cr and CD.Cr moved Ca⁺⁺ concentrations response curves to the right, like nifedipine. All fractions of EH.Cr and CD.Cr except aqueous, pet-ether and chloroform fractions of FI.Cr displayed Ca⁺⁺ antagonistic activity. FI.Cr, its ethyl acetate and aqueous fraction exhibited TEA-sensitive potassium channel activation. On baseline tension, test materials also produced phentolamine-sensitive vasospasm.

Conclusion

E. hirta, F. indica and C. decidua possess antihypertensive activity in arsenic-induced hypertensive rats possibly mediated via endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. In normotensive rats, E. hirta and C. decidua showed antihypertensive activities through endothelium-dependent and Ca⁺⁺ antagonistic pathways, while F. indica exhibited potassium channel activation and Ca⁺⁺ antagonistic like effects in its vasorelaxation. Additional weaker vasospastic effects were derived through α-adrenergic like pathways.

Chemophenetic Significance of Anomalocalyx uleanus Metabolites are Revealed by Dereplication Using Molecular Networking Tools

Anomalocalyx uleanus (Pax & K. Hoffm.) Ducke (Euphorbiaceae) is a singular species in the genus and is restricted and exclusive to the Brazilian Amazon. A phytochemical study of A. uleanus leaves was performed, yielding the isolation of five major compounds: catechin/epicatechin, afzelin, quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, and astilbin. The phytochemical compositions of the methanolic extracts of leaves, roots, bark, and stem bark were determined using a dereplication approach. Forty-six compounds were annotated from the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) data, while four lipids were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In total, fifty compounds were detected, and they belonged to the primary metabolism and several classes of natural products such as flavonoids, flavonoids O-glycosides, flavonoids C-glycosides, biflavonoids, procyanidin, triterpene, triterpenes esterified with phenylpropanoids, phenylpropanoid derivatives, flavonolignans, coumarins, quinic acid derivatives, and benzoic acid derivatives. This is the first report on the phytochemical data of the genus Anomalocalyx, and the results of this study will contribute to the chemosystematic knowledge of the Euphorbiaceae family and justify the need for investigation of the pharmacological potential of the species A. uleanus.

Unique Novel Role of Adropin in a Gastric Ulcer in a Rotenone-Induced Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, frequently associated with a gastric ulcer. We aimed to investigate the adropin neuroprotective/gastroprotective potential in the indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric ulcer in a rotenone-induced PD model. Rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control group, rotenone/IND treated (PD /Ulcer) group, adropin treated PD/Ulcer group, and l-dopa/omeprazole (Om) treated PD/Ulcer group. There were ten rats selected for the normal control group. Striatal dopamine (DA), apoptosis/redox status, and motor/behavioral impairments were evaluated. Gastric oxidative stress, H⁺/K⁺-ATPase activity, prostaglandin E2, mucin content, and von Willebrand factor were measured. Gastric/striatal phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/phosphorylated Akt and gastric vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/striatal P53 immunoreactivities were checked. Striatal P53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis (Puma)/gastric vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (Vegfr-2) expressions were evaluated. Adropin successfully restored striatal DA and attenuated rotenone-induced motor/behavior deficits along with strong gastroprotective potential, possibly through antioxidant activity via reduction in malondialdehyde level and upregulated superoxide dismutase, catalase activities, and serum ferric reducing antioxidant power. Adropin restored the delicate balance between the defective pro-survival PI3K/Akt/murine double minute 2 signals and apoptotic P53/Puma pathways. Adropin can be considered as a uniquely attractive therapeutic target in PD and its associated gastric ulcer.

Euphosantianane E-G: Three New Premyrsinane Type Diterpenoids from Euphorbia sanctae-catharinae with Contribution to Chemotaxonomy

Euphorbia species were widely used in traditional medicines for the treatment of several diseases. From the aerial parts of Egyptian endemic plant, Euphorbia sanctae-catharinae, three new premyrsinane diterpenoids, namely, euphosantianane E-G (1-3), alongside four known triterpenes, 9,19-cyclolanostane-3β,24S-diol (4), 25-methoxycycloartane-3β,24S-diol (5), 25-methylenecycloartan-3β,24R-diol (6), and 25-methylenecycloartan-3β,24S-diol (7), were isolated and identified. The chemical structures were proven depending upon spectroscopic analysis, including FTIR, HRFABMS, and 1D/2D-NMR. The chemotaxonomic significance of the isolated compounds, especially diterpenes from E. sanctae-catharinae compared to those documented from different Euphorbia species was also studied via agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC). The Egyptian endemic Euphorbia sanctae-catharina was grouped with E. bupleuroides, E. fidjiana, E. fischeriana, E. pithyusa subsp. cupanii, E. prolifera, and E. seguieriana, where myrsinol diterpenoids were the characteristic compounds.