The global rise of antimicrobial resistance poses a critical threat to public health, urging an immediate need for the exploration of novel therapeutic agents. This study investigated the inhibitory potential of Gaultheria fragranntissima (Indian wintergreen) oil and extracts against selected bacterial strains. Phytochemicals were extracted using the maceration method, and antibacterial activity was assessed via the paper-disc diffusion method. In vitro results revealed that the methanolic and acetonic extracts exhibited notable inhibitory effects against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, producing zones of inhibition measuring 8.4 and 9.9 mm, respectively, while Escherichia coli was resistant to all four tested extracts. Wintergreen oil also showed moderate inhibitory effects against both the gram-negative strains E. coli KT45 and P. aeruginosa MTCC 1263, with zone of inhibition 6.5 mm and 6.1 mm, respectively. In the present study, the molecular docking analysis was also performed against key bacterial target proteins-DNA gyrase B and the selected phytocompounds of essential oil and leaf as ligands. These findings suggest that G. fragrantissima oil and leaf phytochemicals are promising candidates for novel therapeutics against MDR pathogens and can be seen as an alternative for developing future formulations to treat bacterial infections.
Lactose intolerance is a widespread digestive disorder which has been the subject of extensive research since its discovery in the 1960s. It is caused due to insufficient lactase activity in the small intestine leading to ineffective lactose hydrolysis and is often associated with gastrointestinal symptoms. The present study aims to evaluate the potential of plant-derived indole-alkaloids to modulate lactase activity. Natural compounds extracted from medicinal plants, including Catharanthus roseus, Alstonia scholaris, Tabernaemontana divaricata and Peganum harmala were investigated for their interaction with lactase enzyme. The research encompassed a structural analysis of lactose and lactase, followed by blind docking studies using the CB-Dock server to assess the interaction between the enzyme and alkaloid-containing natural products. Pocket P3 showed strongest binding with indole-3-acetic acid (-7.0 kcal/mol), then came alkaloid extracts from Catharanthus roseus and Peganum harmala (-6.8 kcal/mol). Computational predictions were validated through in vitro assays such as ONPG and enzyme activity assays, for measuring ß-galactosidase activity. ONPG-based qualitative assay resulted in increased chromogenic response in the presence of alkaloidal fraction compared to enzyme control. This multimodal approach offers insight into the potential role of natural compounds as complementary or alternative approaches for controlling lactose intolerance and their possible involvement in boosting lactase function.
Citrus limetta is a widely consumed fruit worldwide, and its peel is rich in antioxidant-abundant polyphenols. This research investigates the phytochemical screening, antioxidant potential, and anti-cancer effect of Citrus limetta peel extract against A431 cell lines. Preliminary phytochemical screening of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanol, ethanol, and aqueous extracts revealed that the methanolic, ethanolic, and aqueous extracts were rich in phenolic, flavonoids, tannins, and triterpenoids. Quantitative analysis showed that the highest phenolic (22.69 ± 0.25 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid content (32.97 ± 0.14 mg QE/g) was observed in the ethanolic extract, whereas the aqueous extract showed the highest tannin content (24.84 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g). Chromatographic profiling confirmed the presence of hesperidin as a major bioactive constituent. TLC and HPLTLC analyses showed that the Rf values of the ethanolic extract were comparable to those of hesperidin. HPLC analysis revealed hesperidin content (27.4 mg/g) in the ethanolic extract. Antioxidant assays revealed that the ethanolic extract exhibited the strongest radical scavenging activity through DPPH, H2O2, ABTS, and FRAP assays. The ethanolic extract was further evaluated for cytotoxicity on A431 cell lines. A concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability was observed following 16 h treatment, with an IC50 value of 3 µg/mL. The study highlights the potential of citrus peel as a sustainable and promising candidate for skin cancer management. Further in vivo investigations are required to validate its therapeutic potential.
Peptic ulcers are typical gastrointestinal disorders with increased morbidity rates among the population. Currently available allopathic medicines have numerous side effects. Therefore, there is a high demand for herbal and polyherbal therapeutics in South Asian countries as gastroprotective agents and they have been effective and used for many years, though not scientifically proven. When herbal compounds are formulated from multiple plant sources, a synergistic gastroprotective effect can be achieved. Several animal studies report on the efficacy of herbal formulations as gastroprotective agents. Nevertheless, these have not been extended to clinical trials, and only a single study has evaluated polyherbal formulation in patients with gastritis. Clinical and experimental studies on herbal formulations for gastritis were analyzed on several major databases to synthesize this review article. Therefore, this review aims to present the efficacy of gastroprotective herbal and polyherbal formulations based on research done predominantly on animal models. The ulcer index, percentage decrease of the ulcer formation, pH of gastric tissue, gastric volume, antioxidant enzymes levels and inflammatory gastric tissue markers in ulcer-induced animals that were administered each herbal preparation as compared to the groups of the ulcer-induced animals treated by the reference drug are presented herein. Also, the mechanisms of action that can underlie the gastroprotective effects of the herbal and polyherbal preparations were also discussed. Upon well-controlled clinical trials, these herbal products could be promoted as novel pharmaceuticals with the potential to benefit patients with gastritis.
This study evaluates the efficacy of hydro-methanolic extraction for recovering bioactive compounds from pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) pericarp and characterizes its antioxidant potential. A high extraction yield of 43.85% was obtained, surpassing many values reported in the literature and corroborating recent optimization of extraction parameters. The total phenolic content (TPC), determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu method, was 109.11 ± 0.015 mg GAE/g of dry extract. The total flavonoid content (TFC), assessed by aluminum chloride complexation, was 151.57 ± 0.007 mg CE/g. These results, consistent with current data, confirm the richness of the plant material, influenced by agronomic and methodological factors. The antioxidant activity, evaluated by the DPPH assay, revealed exceptional potency with an IC50 value of 0.30 µg/mL. This activity is 433-fold superior to that of the ascorbic acid reference standard (IC50 = 130.0 µg/mL) and ranks among the highest documented for a natural antioxidant. A statistically robust positive correlation (r > 0.987, p < 0.001) was established between TPC, TFC, and radical scavenging activity, confirming these compounds as the primary contributors to the antioxidant effect. This dose-dependent activity is attributed to the synergistic action of major polyphenols identified in the literature (ellagitannins such as punicalagin, ellagic acid, anthocyanins), acting through complementary mechanisms of radical scavenging, metal chelation, and modulation of redox-sensitive signaling pathways (Nrf2, NF-?B). The biological implications of this profile are substantial. Beyond its primary antioxidant activity, the extract demonstrates promising therapeutic potential documented in preclinical models, including anti-inflammatory (cytokine modulation), antidiabetic (á-glucosidase inhibition), and antitumor effects via apoptosis induction, cell cycle arrest, and angiogenesis inhibition. These results validate the hydro-methanolic pomegranate pericarp extract as a highly concentrated source of bioactive polyphenols with significant antioxidant power and multifaceted therapeutic relevance.
