Medicinal and aromatic plants have been used since antiquity for various medicinal purposes.Their use continues undiminished since ancient times.Most of the world population depends on plant-based medicinal preparation for health care purposes.Plants contain various biologically active compounds.These compounds and their derivatives are being used in the pharmaceutical industry.They contain a vast reservoir of bioactive constituents that are still unexplored for medicinal properties.The demand for plant-based medicinal products and ayurvedic medicines is increasing day by day as these herbal medicines do not have side effects while every synthetic medicine comes with some side effects.So, plantderived products are potential candidates to be new-generation medicinal products.
Background: The member of the genus Alpinia (family: Zingiberaceae) is used in traditional medicine for various formulations for the food, spices, medicines, and perfume. Objective: The present study was carried out to analyse the compositional variability in leaf and rhizome essential oils of Alpinia calcarata Roscoe and Alpinia zerumbet (Pers.) B.L. Burtt & R.M. Sm. and to evaluate their antimicrobial activity against eight pathogenic bacteria strains. Methods: The essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation and analysed by GC and GC-MS and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by filter paper disc diffusion and micro dilution broth assay. Results: A total of 31 compounds identified, forming 89.26-94.32% composition of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet. The leaf and rhizome oil of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet were mainly characterized by 1,8-cineole (15.61-43.63%), β-pinene (5.02-23.52%), terpinen-4-ol (1.00-20.87%), camphor (1.94-11.60%), and (Z)-β-ocimene (0.16-11.86%). endo-Fenchyl acetate (13.12-24.39%) was identified as marker constituents of rhizome essential oil of both A. calcarata and A. zerumbet. The antibacterial assay showed that leaf oil of A. calcarata has good activity against S. mutans, whereas its rhizome oil possess good activity against K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis. However, the rhizome oil of A. zerumbet showed activity against S. mutans, B. subtilisS. aureus-2940 and S. epidermidis. Conclusion: The essential oils of A. calcarata and A. zerumbet with aroma chemicals viz. 1,8-cineole, ocimenes, terpinen-4-ol, α-pinene, β-pinenes and fenchyl acetate and significant antibacterial activities could be used for perfumery and fragrance related formulation.
Background: Medicinal plants are considered a rich source of ingredients, which can be used in drug development and synthesis. Tinospora cordifolia (Wild.) Hook.f. & Thomson, commonly known as guduchi, heart-leaved moonseed and giloya is a herbaceous vine of the family Menispermaceae, has several beneficial properties including antioxidant activity. Aim: The present study was carried out to analyze the antioxidant activity of leaf and stem extracts of Tinospora cordifolia by using DPPH (1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2´-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)) free radical scavenging assays. Materials and Methods: Dried and powdered leaves and stem of T. cordifolia were extracted with methanol. Ascorbic acid was taken as standard. Total phenolic content was estimated by using Folin-ciocalteu's reagent while total flavonoid content by aluminium chloride reagent to find the correlation of polyphenols with antioxidant activity. ABTS assay of methanolic leaf and stem extracts showed the highest scavenging activity as compared to the DPPH assay. Results: Methanolic stem extract showed higher phenolic and flavonoid content along with antioxidant activity as compared to the methanolic leaf extract. Conclusion: The stem extract exhibited more antioxidant activity than the leaf extract with regards to the all parameters analyzed.
Background: The study on drying and its social acceptance has increased rapidly. Among different drying techniques, shade drying is one of the most feasible methods to keep intact from the decay of the main active components of the plant materials. Shade drying is an ancient drying method that increases durability, major constituents and activity of the plant material. Aims: Research was conducted to examine the drying potential of aromatic leaves oil of Zanthoxylum armatum DC. Methods: The fresh plant material was collected from Lohaghat, Champawat district of Uttarakhand and hydrodistilled before and after shade drying to assess the changes in the quality of volatile constituents by GC and GC-MS techniques. A two-tailed paired t-test was executed to assess the difference between drying treatments using MS-Excel. Results: The major components in the fresh oil were 2-undecane, linalool, (E)-β-ocimene, α-pinene and β-phellandrene. In the oil from dried material, the three predominant compounds were noted. A significant increase was observed in the percentage of β-phellandrene, undecanal and myrcene after shade drying (p<0.01). Five components absent in the fresh plant material appeared and one disappeared during the drying process. Conclusion: Shade drying significantly influenced the essential oil composition of Z. armatum.
Background: The genus Achillea is one of the most important genus of the Asteraceae family and many species of Achillea are used in traditional medicine to treat several ailments. Aim: The aim of the current research was to evaluate in vitro cytotoxic activities of n-hexan, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts and to isolate the active compounds from the extract showing the strongest cytotoxic activity. In addition to this, it was aimed to evaluate the biological activities (cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-urease, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial) of different extracts and active compounds from Achillea monocephala. Methods and Materials: The in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-urease, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial activities of different extracts from A. monocephala aerial parts were examined. The structures of the active compounds were determined by NMR techniques, UV, IR and LC-MS/MS analysis and their biological potential was examined. Results: The chloroform extract showed strong and selective cytotoxic activity on the cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7). Besides, this extract exhibited stronger antimicrobial activity than other extracts. Therefore, through activity-guided procedures, luteolin, naringenin and 8-hydroxy-salvigenin compounds were isolated from this extract. The methanol extract showed stronger antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC) and anticholinesterase activity than other extracts. The n-hexan extract exhibited the highest anti-urease activity. In this study, it was determined that the isolated compounds had a strong biological activity. Naringenin compound had stronger ABTS radical cation scavenging and ferric reducing/antioxidant power, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activity than other compounds. 8-hydroxy-salvigenin compound showed the highest urease and acetylcholinestease enzyme inhibition. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that the extracts and isolated compounds from the A. monocephala may be used as antioxidant, cytotoxic, anti-urease, anticholinesterase and antimicrobial agents in the future.
Background:Citrus limon(lemon) belongs to the Rutaceae family and has great therapeutic applications. The chemical ingredients ofC. limonhave been used in the formulation of several ethnic herbal medicines. The application of antibiotics has shown the development of drug resistance in antibacterial drugs. Due to the drug-resistant nature of microorganisms, there is an urgent need to develop a novel drug active against wildtype and MDR resistant strains of pathogens.Aim:The present study is an endeavor to characterize the juice ofC. limontowards its total antioxidants potential activity (FRAP), DPPH and antibacterial efficacy.Methods and Materials:The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using different bacterial species such asSalmonella typhi, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Citrobacter species, Shigella flexneriandStaphylococcus epidermidis.Results:The results of the present study indicated the antibacterial potential ofC. limonfruit juice. Among the tested bacterial species,Shigella flexneridisplayed maximum inhibition followed by the other microbes such asStaphylococcus epidermidis, Citrobacter speciesandSalmonella typhi.Conclusion:These findings may be utilized in the development of cost effective, safe and efficient novel drugs active against several pathogenic multi drug-resistant microorganisms.
Background:Frequently, in warm climates such as Mediterranean areas, a red-pink table grape ‘Crimson Seedless’ does not reach a good berry skin color; and an acceptable anthocyanin bioactive compounds content, responsible for the red color of berries. Harpin proteins are biotechnologically developed bio-activators that, if applied on plants during the growing period, trigger the expression of hundreds of genes among which those associated with the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds (such as anthocyanins).Aim:This research aimed at using harpin proteins to test their suitability in improving the grape skin color.Methods and Materials:Beta-harpin protein 1% p.a. (400 g/Ha) was applied to ‘Crimson Seedless’ vines three times at the beginning of veraison. Six samplings were carried out for both the treated and control grapes until commercial harvest. In the skin extracts, total and individual anthocyanins content was determined by UV-Vis and RP-HPLC-DAD analyses, respectively.Results:The collected results confirmed that the application of harpin proteins effectively stimulated the anthocyanin biosynthesis leading to make peonidin-3O-glucoside, cyanidin-3O-glucoside, and malvidin-3O-glucoside values from 2 to almost 10 folds higher in treated grapes than in control grapes (P< 0.05).Conclusion:Actually, harpin proteins improved the color of the berry skin, leading to a significantly higher concentration of anthocyanins in treated than in control grapes.
Aims:A Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) spectrometric method was developed for the rapid, direct measurement of Raspberry Ketone (RK) and Caffeine (CAF) in a nutraceutical formulation.Methods:Conventional KBr-spectra and KBr+0.5 mg Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC)-spectra were used as the basis for a better determination of active substances in the nutraceutical formulation. A calibration model was developed using caffeine and raspberry ketone standards of varying concentrations in the mid-infrared region (4000-400 cm-1). The Beer-Lambert law was used in data processing.Results:The results indicate that FT-IR spectrometry is applicable to the analytical quantification of RK and CAF in the nutraceutical formulation.Conclusion:The method proposed is simple, precise and not time-consuming compared to the chromatographic methods that are cited in the literature. Quantification is performed in about 10-15 minutes, including sample preparation and spectral acquisition.
Aim:Metal complexes of (E)-N-(4-(thiophen-2-ylmethyleneamino) phenylsulfonyl) acetamide (S.TH) Schiff bases derived from sulfacetamide (N-[4-(amino-phenyl) sulfonil] acetamide) and 2-thiophenecarboxaldehyde were synthesized and characterized.Methods and Results:The synthesized compositions have been characterized using different physico-chemical techniques. The investigation included elemental analysis, melting point measurements, proton NMR, UV spectroscopy, FT-IR, magnetic susceptibility, conductance measurements, mass spectral analysis, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for determining the concentrations of metal ions. The measured values for molar conductance indicated that the majority of the prepared complexes were nonelectrolytes. The biological activity of the prepared compositions has been investigated.Conclusion:Spectroscopic studies suggested that most of the complexes were coordinated in a regular octahedral arrangement where S.TH ligand and the central metal atom were coordinated through two N amino azomethine groups (−HC=N−) and two sulfur atoms of S thiophene rings in 2L:1M molar ratio. Complexes have shown a promising activity upon screening for the antibacterial characteristics, and antifungal (Aspergillus fumigatesandCandida albicans)
Background:The aim of the present study was to analyse the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of GancidinW (GW) extracted fromStreptomyces paradoxusVITALK03.Materials and Methods:Antidiabetic potential of GW was evaluated by assay of α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity; haemoglobin glycosylation and yeast glucose uptake. The antioxidant potential of GW was assessed by 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, 2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical cation decolorization assay and superoxide assay. The inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by GW was also studied byin Silicomolecular docking analysis.Results:GW (1mg/ml) showed 69.32% of α-amylase and 54.04% of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. GW (1mg/ml) prevented haemoglobin glycosylation up to 30.92% and the glucose uptake by yeast cells was increased up to 64.38%. The binding interaction GW with α-amylase showed the least free binding energy of -6.09Kcal/mol and -7.53Kcal/mol with α-glucosidase by docking studies. GW also demonstrated moderate antioxidant activity in all the antioxidant assays performed.Conclusion:The results of this study suggests that the antidiabetic and antioxidant potential of GW can be probed further to develop GW as effective antidiabetic agent.
Background: Detrital leaves from seagrass of the Cymodoceaceae family were assayed for biologically active molecules that have commercial as well as societal benefits. Objective: We focused on L-chiro-inositol, a very rare natural occurring cyclitol, and chicoric acid, a polyphenolic compound, in which both applications were found in the nutraceutical segment. Method: Six species of seagrass belonging to the genera Syringodium, Cymodocea and Halodule were collected from their native habitat. The L-chiro-inositol content of the crude aqueous extracts prepared from different batches of Cymodocea nodosa flotsam was measured by quantitative 1H-NMR spectroscopy. High concentrations were found with values ranging from 22.2 to 35.0 mg.g-1 plant dw. The presence of L-chiro-inositol in the tropical species C. rotundata, C. serrulata, Syringodium isoetifolium, and Halodule pinifolia was also characterized by qualitative NMR. The chicoric acid content of crude aqueous methanolic extracts prepared from C. rotundata, C. serrulata, S. isoetifolium, and Halodule pinifolia was determined by quantitative HPLC-DAD. The values found ranged from 0.39 to 6.15 mg.g-1 dry weight. Chicoric acid was unambiguously identified as the major phenolic in S. isoetifolium, and Halodule pinifolia, while it was found in mixture with flavonol derivatives in C. rotundata and C. serrulata. Flavonol derivatives are also of interest for their bioactivity. Result: Considering the demonstrated therapeutic applications of L-chiro-inositol and chicoric acid, their high value on the nutraceutical market, and their rare occurrence in the plant kingdom, their presence in Syringodium, Cymodocea and Halodule detrital leaves makes this abundant biomass of interest for dietary and pharmaceutical applications. Conclusion: These results show that there is a real potential for harvesting beachcast Cymodoceacea.
Background: Lymphatic filariasis is a tropical disease and currently more than 1.4 billion people in 73 countries are at risk but still it is neglected in higher researches. Lymphatic filariasis is wide spread throughout the tropical and subtropical areas of Asia, Africa, the Western Pacific and some parts of the Americas. Though it is a big issue for developing countries but still no proper prophylactic or therapeutic measures are taken out as to protect against filarial infection or to modulate disease. Objective: Non availability of proper prevention or cure as well are the major issues for which new scientific computational research approaches towards the management and betterment of this disease is required. Identification of novel compounds or drug targets through advance computational approaches can give new and better alternatives against this social problem or can open a new gate way towards advance approaches of drug designing. Results: Current review signifies the contribution of scientist working in different areas are globally thinking about the resolution of this problem and among different approaches these computational based researches will no doubt are a milestone against the fight with filaria. Genomic, proteomic, system biology based concepts, computational drug designing, virtual screening, homology modelling etc . are the different advances which altogether will win these problem. Conclusion: Compilation of this in silico contributions are well establishing their importance in finding out new targets and compounds that could lead a milestone against this social stigma which create humiliation not only for patients or relatives but also burden of society too.
Background:Natural antioxidants show neuroprotective potential to protect against neurodegenerative disorders in experimental animals. There is a need to characterize newer promising neuroprotective natural molecules.Objective:In the present study, we have compared the neuroprotective activity of 4hydroxyisophthalic acid (DHA-I), a novel natural antioxidant from the roots ofDecalepis hamiltonii,with the other natural neuroprotective antioxidants, ellagic acid, quercetin and nicotinamide, against paraquat (PQ) neurotoxicity inD. melanogaster.Results:Flies exposed to multiple (sub-lethal) dose of PQ showed movement disorder characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (PD). The four natural antioxidants showed ameliorative effects against PQ neurotoxicity in the sub-acute model as seen in survivability, locomotor activity as well as oxidative stress markers including reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation and the endogenous antioxidant defenses.Conclusion:Our study shows that the antioxidant compounds exhibit varying degrees of protection against PQ-induced oxidative stress and neurotoxicity with DHA-I, quercetin, and nicotinamide being the most effective and ellagic acid, the least potent inDrosophila. Our results show that mitochondrial Mn-SOD is a critical target for PQ neurotoxicity and the neuroprotection by the antioxidants involves the attenuation of mitochondrial ROS production and oxidative damage.
The genusErythrina,collectively known as “coral tree”, are pantropical plants, comprising of more than 112 species. Since the early 1980s, seven of these have been found to possess hemagglutinating activity, although not yet characterized. However, around two dozen galactose-binding lectins have been isolated and fully characterized with respect to their sugar specificity, glycoconjugates agglutination, dependence of activity on metal ions, primary and secondary structures and stability. Three lectins have been fully sequenced and the crystal structures of the two proteins have been solved with and without the haptenic sugar. Lectins isolation and characterization from most of these species usually originated from the seeds, although the proteins from other vegetative tissues have also been reported. The main objective of this review is to summarize the physicochemical and biological properties of the reported purifiedErythrinalectins to date. Structural comparisons, based on available lectins sequences, are also made to relate the intrinsic physical and chemical properties of these proteins. Particular attention is also given to the proposed biological significance of the lectins from the genusErythrina.
Background: Free radical generation has been proved to be responsible for various cellular diseases. It is necessary to combat free radicals using antioxidants derived from natural sources. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant activity of the diketopiperazine compound extracted from Streptomyces sp. VITMK1 isolated from mangrove sediment soil collected from Pichavaram, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods: The antioxidant potential of pyrrolo [1, 2-A] pyrazine-1, 4-dione, hexahydro-3-(2-methylpropyl) (diketopiperazine) extracted from Streptomyces sp. VITMK1 was studied using reducing power assay. The scavenging of 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and nitric oxide (NO) radical by the compound was also studied. The cytotoxic activity of the compound on RAW 264.7 macrophage cell line was studied using MTT cell viability assay. Results: The compound exhibited strong DPPH radical scavenging activity (72.48±0.32% at 500 µg/mL) and NO radical scavenging activity (73.03±1.02% at 500 µg/mL). MTT cell viability assay revealed that the compound exhibited concentration-dependent cell viability and was observed to be 92% at 125 µg/mL concentration. Conclusion: The antioxidant activity of the diketopiperazine compound extracted from Streptomyces sp. VITMK1 can be probed further to establish its radical scavenging activity.
Objective: The ethanolic plant extracts of Asparagus racemosus and their partitionates were assessed for thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing, antimicrobial and antioxidant activity in vitro. Methods: The collected plant was dried and grinded. The coarse powder was shocked in 2000 mL of 90% methanol for several days then filtrated. At 40°C the volume of crude ethanolic extract (CEE) was reduced by a vacuum rotary evaporator followed by concentrated aqueous ethanol extractive was fractionated into petroleum ether (PSF), carbon tetrachloride (CTSF), chloroform soluble fraction (CSF) and aqueous (AQSF) soluble fractions. Results: In thrombolytic assay among all the extractives, carbon tetrachloride soluble fraction (CTSF) showed the highest clot lysis (41.48 ± 0.43%) activity as compared with standard streptokinase (65.16 ± 0.16%). With respect to the membrane stabilizing activity, chloroform soluble fraction (CSF) profoundly inhibited the lysis of erythrocytes (80.86 ± 0.36%) induced by osmosis, whereas reference standard acetyl salicylic acid (ASA) resulted in (88.99 ± 0.39%) inhibition of lysis. On the other hand, CTSF showed slightly higher level of protection against heat-induced hemolysis (85.68 ± 0.75%) as same as with ASA, (85.68 ± 0.75%)). In antimicrobial investigation, crude ethanol extract (CEE) and their partitioning fractions exhibited moderate inhibition of growth of some examined bacteria. The total phenolic content was found maximum (930.94 mg of GAE/gm) in CEE of A. racemosus. The antioxidant potentials in term of DPPH free radical scavenging assay showed EC50 values 2.62 μg/mL by aqueous soluble fraction (AQSF) in comparison to ascorbic acid 2.48 μg/mL as a reference standard. Conclusions: This study was conducted to validate the A. racemosus plant as thrombolytic, membrane stabilizing agent, antimicrobial and antioxidant.
Background: Two cembranoid diterpenes, [(1S, 2E, 4R, 6R, 7E, 11E)-2, 7, 11-cembratriene-4, 6-diol] (1) and its epimer [(1S, 2E, 4S, 6R,7E,11E)-2, 7, 11-cembratriene-4, 6-diol] (2) were isolated from surface dichloromethane washings and chloroform extract of Nicotiana sylvestris leaves. Methods: The compounds were purified using silica gel column- thin layer- and flash column chromatography methods. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic analysis and their 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopic data were compared with those of authentic samples reported in the literature. The cytotoxic activity of 1 and 2 against three human cancer cell lines, including LS180 (human colon adenocarcinoma), MCF-7 (human breast adenocarcinoma) and MOLT-4 (human lymphoblastic leukemia) were evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric bioassay. Results: The IC50 values of compounds 1 and 2 were calculated to be between (28.4±3.7 up to 44.0±6.4 µM) (mean±S.E.M.) for the above mentioned cell lines.
Background:The essential oil and three solvent extracts of the aerial parts ofScaligeria nodosa(Boiss.) that were collected in Bamu Mountains (Iran), were screened for their antioxidant, antimicrobial properties and total phenolic contents for the first time.Methods:The essential oil was extracted by hydrodistillation and analyzed by capillary gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and GC flame ionization detector (GC-FID).Results:Forty five components were identified in the oil, among them, germacrene D (18.1±0.1%), bicyclogermacrene (1.4±0.0%), and spathunelnol (2.7±0.0%) were the major sesquiterpenoids,n-tetradecanol (4.9±0.0%) was the most abundant fatty alcohol and diisobuthyl phthalate (43.9±0.2%) was the most abundant constituent. The extracts of aerial parts ofSc. nodosawere prepared using different solvents; dichloromethane (DCM), methanol (MeOH) and MeOH: H2O (80:20). Antibacterial activity of the oil and each solvent extract was tested against three Gram-positive and three Gram-negative bacteria by nutrient broth micro dilution method. Among the tested microorganisms,Staphylococcus epidermidis(IC501.25-5mg/ml),Bacillus subtilis(IC501.25mg/ml) andEscherichia coli(IC501.25mg/ml) were the most susceptible to the applied oils and the extracts. The antioxidant potential and total phenol contents of the extracts were assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and Folin- Ciocalteu reagent, respectively. Methanol and 80% methanol extracts of the plant showed relatively weak DPPH radical scavenging activity and low amounts of total phenol contents.
The naturally occurring polyphenol resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-stilbene, 3,4',5-THS, RES) has been shown as a chemopreventive and proapototic agent. Resveratrol is extensively metabolized by CYP450 enzymes. The monohy-droxylation of resveratrol is catalyzed by CYP1B1 to form 3,3',4',5-THS (piceatannol), a metabolite with higher antican-cer activity and stronger antioxidant properties. It was hypothesized that RES analogues (HHRAs) possessing more than 3 hydroxyl groups may act stronger against cancer cells than RES due to reactive oxygen species formed in redox-cycling reactions. In order to investigate a structure-activity relationship between pro/antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity, the HHRAs with at least 2 phenolic groups in neighborhood-3,4,4',5-HS and 3,3',4,4',5,5'-HS were synthesized. In the present study we tested this hypothesis in a cell culture model using HeLa and C33A cancer cell lines. The results of our experiments support a hypothesis that MnSOD overexpressing HeLa cells are much more resistant to superoxide generating HHRAs than C33A cells.
