Pharmacology and Ethnomedicinal Potential of Selected Plants Species from Apiaceae (Umbelliferae)

BACKGROUND

The Apiaceae or Umbelliferae is one of the largest families in terms of species representation in the plant kingdom. It is also a prominent family in the field of phytochemicals and pharmacology. The family is also quite prominent in the production of spices and condiments and food supplements in nutrition, aside from the potential of species in the family to induce apoptotic, antimicrobial, antitumor, and hepatoprotective activities.

OBJECTIVE

This work presents a detailed structural elucidation and functional aspects of phytochemicals from the Apiaceae or Umbelliferae family.

METHODS

Furthermore, the application of members of this family in traditional and modern pharmacology is emphasized. This review also highlights the linkage of phytochemicals used in the conventional system of medication for the development of novel therapeutics through a chain of pre-clinical and clinical trials.

CONCLUSION

This study may represent a valuable step ahead in the clinical development of natural drugs for curing several ailments, including respiratory and virus-related diseases.

Acinetobacter baumannii: An overview of emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen

The emergence of infections caused by Acinetobacter baumannii, a multidrug-resistant bacterium, has been a concern worldwide. This bacterium is an important hospitalacquired pathogen that causes several diseases including ventilator-associated pneumonia, bloodstream infections, and meningitis. This study aimed to determine antibioticresistant mechanisms in the pathogenesis of A. baumannii and the alternative treatment strategies against it. The combined actions of outer membrane protein A, formation of a biofilm on biotic and abiotic surfaces, phospholipases C and D, metal homeostatic system, lipopolysaccharides, and verotoxins are relevant for virulence and pathogenesis. A. baumannii resists the broad-spectrum antibiotics by its mechanisms of resistance, such as β-lactamases, efflux pump, aminoglycoside modifying enzymes, permeability changes, and alternation of targets. In an attempt to overcome the resistance mechanisms, plant-derived compounds and a combination of the antibiotics and the plant phytocompounds have been focused. Nanoparticles synthesised with the plant extract have been studied extensively. Furthermore, we projected modern methods, including multi-omics analysis, to study insight into mechanisms of actions of antibiotics. The information suggested that the potential antibiotic mechanisms of A. baumannii could lead to an alternative treatment against A. baumannii infections.

Bioactive Molecules from the Alpinia Genus: A Comprehensive Review

BACKGROUND

Floral has diversity and unique nature due to the complex structure and component. Alpinia is an important genus of the Zingiberaceae family having complex taxonomical diversity. The presence of many unique bioactive molecules makes this genus, a pharmaceutically important genus. They provide a wide range of medicinal properties, including traditional remedies to modern therapeutic applications.

METHODS

Extracts of Alpinia mostly contain bioactive molecules and secondary metabolites such as polyphenolics, tannins, flavonoids and other therapeutically important compounds. These bioactive molecules are biologically active, treating against inflammation, cancer, arterial hypertension, and other deadly diseases.

RESULTS

These bioactive molecules can act as natural enzyme inhibitors for some of the deadly diseases and can block the pathway for metabolic activities. In addition, these genera have played a major role in multidisciplinary studies of phytochemistry, ethnobotany, and pharmacological aspects in day-to-day life.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, this review highlights the fewer known facts of the genus Alpinia in terms of bioactive molecules and its significant therapeutic applications to help in combating major diseases of humans.

Ginger and Heart Health: From Mechanisms to Therapeutics

BACKGROUND

As a major cause of morbidity and mortality, cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are globally increasing. In spite of recent development in the management of cardiovascular complications, CVDs have remained a medical challenge. Numerous conventional drugs are used to play cardioprotective roles; however, they are associated with several side effects. Considering the rich phytochemistry and fewer side effects of herbal medicines, they have gained particular attention to develop novel herbal drugs with cardioprotective potentials. Amongst natural entities, ginger is an extensively used and well-known functional food and condiment, possessing plentiful bioactivities, like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties in several disorders management.

OBJECTIVE

The current review deliberated phytochemical properties as well as the ginger/ginger constituents' biological activities and health benefits in several diseases, with particular attention to cardiovascular complications.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted using multiple databases, including Scopus, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, national database (Irandoc and SID), and related articles in terms of the health benefits and cardioprotective effects of ginger/ginger constituents. These data were collected from inception until August 2019.

RESULTS

In recent years, several herbal medicines were used to develop new drugs with more potency and also minor side effects. Amongst natural entities, ginger is used as a traditional medicine in several diseases. The crude extract, along with related pungent active constituents, is mostly attributed to heart health. The cardioprotective effects of ginger are contributed to its cardiotonic, anti- hypertensive, anti-hyperlipidemia, and anti-platelet effects. The signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of ginger regarding its cardioprotective effects are also clarified.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the biological activities, health benefits, and cardioprotective properties of ginger/ginger constituents along with related mechanisms of action, which gave new insights to show new avenues in the treatment of CVDs.

In vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase Inhibition, Antioxidant, Anti- Inflammatory Activity and GC-MS Profiling of Avicennia alba Blume

BACKGROUND

Avicennia alba Blume, is a well-known mangrove plant used in traditional medicinal practices for several human ailments.

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed at the evaluation of antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activities of A. alba ethanolic leaf (AAL) and bark (AAB) extract along with phytochemical investigation.

METHODS

In vitro antidiabetic study was done by α-amylase, α-glucosidase enzyme inhibition assay; antioxidant study by DPPH, ABTS, superoxide, and metal chelating assays, antiinflammatory study by protein denaturation assay. The cytotoxicity study was done on TC1 murine cell line. Further, GC-MS analysis was carried out for AAL extracts.

RESULTS

AAL exhibited better antidiabetic activities with IC50 values of 1.18 and 0.87 mg/ml against α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes respectively. The AAL exhibited better ABTS, superoxide scavenging and metal chelating potential with IC50 values of 0.095, 0.127 and 0.444 mg/ml. However, AAB showed higher DPPH scavenging potential with IC50 value of 0.163 mg/ml. The AAL also exhibited higher protein denaturation potential with IC50 value of 0.370 mg/ml. The bark extract exhibited better cytotoxic activity as compared to leaf extracts on the TC1 murine cell line. The phytochemical study revealed higher total phenol (25.64 mg GAE/g), flavonoid (205.09 mg QE/g), and tannin content (251.17 mg GAE/g) in AAL. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several compounds in AAL extract.

CONCLUSION

The result of the present study highlights the antidiabetic, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of mangrove plant Avicennia alba.

In Vitro Antibacterial and Antioxidant Studies of Croton roxburghii L., from Similipal Biosphere Reserve

In vitro antibacterial activities of acetone, ethanol, methanol and water extracts of leaves and bark of Croton roxburghii L. studied against ten human pathogenic bacterial strains showed significantly higher activity in acetone extract and least activity in case of aqueous. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of all extracts ranged between 0.62 and 10 mg/ml, while minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values ranged from 1.25 to values greater than 10 mg/ml. The antioxidant assays viz. DPPH, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, iron reducing and iron chelating assays along with total phenol and ascorbic acid content were carried out with aqueous extracts of leaves and bark. While the total phenol contents in leaves and bark extracts were 0.766 ± 0.014 and 0.735 ± 0.028% respectively their ascorbic acid contents were found to be 0.252 ± 0.019 and 0.431 ± 0.013% respectively. DPPH activities in both (leaves and bark) extracts increased with the increase in concentrations. Iron chelating capacity of leaves extract is significantly higher than that of the bark. Leaves extract showed an increase in percentage of scavenging property with the increase in concentrations. Plant extracts showed low amount of iron reducing property at all concentrations. Hydrogen peroxide scavenging properties of bark was low than that of the leaves.