Limonoids from the roots of Melia azedarach and their anti-inflammatory activity

Twelve undescribed limonoids, meliazedarines J-U (1-12), along with a known one, were isolated from the roots of Melia azedarach. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic investigations, X-ray diffraction analyses, and ECD calculations. Compounds 1-8 were identified as ring intact limonoids, while compounds 9-12 were established as ring C-seco ones. The anti-inflammatory potential of compounds 1-4, 6, 8, 9, and 11-13 was evaluated on macrophages. Compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, and 9 significantly suppressed nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages, among them compound 3 showed the best inhibitory effect with an IC50 value of 7.07 ± 0.48 μΜ. Furthermore, compound 3 effectively reduced interleukin-1β secretion in LPS plus nigericin-induced THP-1 macrophages by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation. The results strongly suggested that limonoids from the roots of M. azedarach might be candidates for treating inflammation-related diseases.

Triterpenoids from the fruits of Melia azedarach L. and their cytotoxic activities

Eleven undescribed tetracyclic triterpenoids, meliazedarachins A-K, along with twenty-six known compounds were isolated from the fruits of Melia azedarach L.. Their structures were determined by HRESIMS, UV, IR, NMR, X-ray diffraction, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra, and the modified Mosher's method. The cytotoxic activities of all the isolates were measured. Meliazedarachin K and mesendanin N showed cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines with IC₅₀ values ranging from 9.02 to 31.31 μM. Meliazedarachin K showed significant cytotoxicity against HCT116 cell line with IC₅₀ value of 9.02 ± 0.84 μM. 21α-methylmelianodiol showed significant cytotoxicity against HCT116 and RKO cell lines with IC₅₀ values of 10.16 ± 1.22 and 8.57 ± 0.80 μM, respectively.

Sterilization protocols and the effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and secondary metabolites production in in vitro cultures Melia azedarach L

Melia azedarach L. is a valuable source of antioxidants and secondary metabolites. This study is a first extensive report about the effect of different serialization protocols and plant growth regulators (PGRs) on explant disinfection efficiency, callus induction and secondary metabolites production and accumulation in callus cultures of M. azedarach L. In this regard, the effect of plant growth regulators on callus induction and secondary metabolites production were examined. In addition, different sterilization agents were evaluated for disinfection of chinaberry leaf explants. The results showed that the lowest percentage of explant contamination and browning with the highest percentage of callus induction and callus growth obtained with explants pretreated with benomyl (2 g/L) for 2 h and sterilized with 7% H₂O₂ for 10 min and NaOCl 2% (without pH adjustment) for 12 min. Although adjusting the pH of NaOCl to pH  = 7 and 10 significantly reduced the microbial contamination and increased the percentage of contamination-free cultures of M. azedarach L., adversely influenced the explant viability and callus induction and growth. The highest percentage of callus induction obtained on the MS medium containing 3 mg/L NAA/2,4-D and 1 or 3 mg/L Kin/BAP, and the highest callus yield (1804.833 mg/explant) belonged to the MS medium supplemented with 5 mg/L 2,4-D and 5 mg/L Kin. The callus cultures grown on the MS medium supplemented with 3 mg/L NAA and 1 mg/L Kin produced the highest amount of Quercetin (2.06 mg/g fresh weight), Rutin (5.56 mg/g fresh weight) and Kaempferol (1.84 mg/g fresh weight).

Evaluation of the phytoremediation potential of dominant plant species growing in a chromium salt-producing factory wasteland, China

The metal contents of the soil and plant tissues in a large chromium salt-producing factory wasteland were determined to assess the properties of soil contamination and to identify plant species accumulating a range of heavy metals. Total metal contents in the factory soils presented a high heterogeneity, and the principal contaminants were Cd and Cr. All plant species examined were metal-tolerant, but to different extents. Especially, the maximum accumulation of Cd (15.61 mg kg^-1) and Cr (925.07 mg kg^-1) was found in Melia azedarach L. Subsequently, the Cd and Cr bioaccumulation and diverse physiological properties of M. azedarach seedlings exposed to different concentrations of Cd(II), Cr(VI), or Cd(II) + Cr(VI) in nutrient solutions were further investigated. All treated seedlings were able to survive under heavy metal stress, and the accumulation of both metals in plant tissues increased with elevation of metal exposure strength. M. azedarach showed a BCF greater than 147.56 for Cd and 36.76 for Cr. Meanwhile, the TF was lower than 0.25 for Cd and 0.32 for Cr. The highest bioaccumulation in root tissues was 2708.03 mg kg^-1 Cd and 824.65 mg kg^-1 Cr for seedlings cultured with 20 mg L^-1 Cd(II) or 20 mg L^-1 Cr(VI). Cd and Cr increased each other's uptake in seedlings although a reduced accumulation in roots occurred when exposed to the highest concentration of Cd(II) + Cr(VI) treatment (20 mg L^-1). At either level of concentration, the degree of plant growth inhibition and oxidative damage caused by heavy metals was Cd(II) + Cr(VI) > Cr(VI) > Cd(II). Superoxide dismutase and peroxidase exhibited positive and effective responses to low-Cd(II) or Cr(VI) concentration stress, but their activities decreased with increasing metal exposure strength. The behavior of the non-enzymatic antioxidants (GSH, soluble protein, and proline) in plant involved in the detoxification of ROS induced by metal exposure was correlated well with higher Cd and Cr accumulations. Here, the potentiality of M. azedarach with the capacity to accumulate and stabilize Cd/Cr in metal-contaminated soil by phytoremediation process has been explored.

Chemical constituents from the leaves of Melia azedarach

Six compounds, benzyl 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-7-hydroxybenzoate (1), spathulenol (2), 1,7,8-trihydroxy-2-naphtaldehyde (3), quercetin (4), astragalin (5) and 2-methoxy-4-(2-propenyl)phenyl β-D-glucoside (6), were isolated from the leaves of Melia azedarach L. The structure elucidation of compound 1 was discussed in detail based on its 2D-NMR data. Compound 1 showed weak cytotoxicity against the cell lines of T-24, NCI-H460, HepG2, SMMC-7721, CNE, MDA-MB-231 and B16F10 with the inhibition rates from 10.01% to 34.05% at the concentration of 80 μM.

The anti-tubercular activity of Melia azedarach L. and Lobelia chinensis Lour. and their potential as effective anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis candidate agents

Objective

To evaluate the anti-mycobacterial activity of Melia azedarach L. (M. azedarach) and Lobelia chinensis Lour. (L. chinensis) extracts against the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis).

Methods

The anti-M. tuberculosis activity of M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts were evaluated using different indicator methods such as resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) and mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 system assay. The M. tuberculosis was incubated with various concentrations (50–800 μg/mL) of the extracts for 5 days in the REMA, and for 4 weeks in MGIT 960 system assay.

Results

M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts showed their anti-M. tuberculosis activity by strongly inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in a concentration-dependent manner in the REMA and the MGIT 960 system assay. Particularly, the methanol extract of M. azedarach and n-hexane extract of L. chinensis consistently exhibited their effects by effectively inhibiting the growth of M. tuberculosis in MGIT 960 system for 4 weeks with a single-treatment, indicating higher anti-M. tuberculosis activity than other extracts, and their minimum inhibitory concentrations were measured as 400 μg/mL and 800 μg/mL, respectively.

Conclusions

These results demonstrate that M. azedarach and L. chinensis extracts not only have unique anti-M. tuberculosis activity, but also induce the selective anti-M. tuberculosis effects by consistently inhibiting or blocking the growth of M. tuberculosis through a new pharmacological action. Therefore, this study suggests the potential of them as effective candidate agents of next-generation for developing a new anti-tuberculosis drug, as well as the advantage for utilizing traditional medicinal plants as one of effective strategies against tuberculosis.

Determination of antibacterial and antioxidant potential of some medicinal plants from saurashtra region, India

Many plants used in Saurashtra folk medicine have been reported to exhibit high antibacterial and antioxidant activities. In the present study, some parts of five plants, Guazuma ulmifolia L., Manilkara zapota L., Melia azedarach L., Syzygium cumini L. and Wrightia tomentosa R.& S., were evaluated for their antibacterial activity, total phenol content, flavonoid content, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity and phytochemical analysis, using successive extraction by cold percolation method with petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, methanol and water. In vitro antibacterial activity was evaluated against five bacterial strains viz. Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Enterobacter aerogenes by agar well diffusion method. Among the plants screened, W. tomentosa leaf and fruit showed the best antibacterial activity. The Gram-positive bacteria were more susceptible than Gram-negative bacteria. Methanol extract of M. zapota showed the best 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging activity. Highest total phenol content was shown by M. zapota and S. cumini in methanol extract, while highest flavonoid content was shown by W. tomentosa stem in petroleum ether extract and ethyl acetate extract. In all the plants, cardiac glycosides and triterpenes were more as compared to other phytoconstituents.