This study aimed to view the antioxidant and anti–inflammatory properties of Helichrysum plicatum DC. subsp. plicatum (HP) methanol extract on the urinary tract using an experimentally induced urolithiasis (U) model. The study included four groups: Group 1 was given a standard diet, Group 2 was given a diet added with HP, Group 3 was given a standard diet with induced urolithiasis, and Group 4 received an HP–supplemented diet with induced urolithiasis. Rats in Groups 2 and 4 were administered 500 mg·kg-1·day-1 of HP via gavage feeding for 21 days. Urolithiasis was induced in Groups 3 and 4 by administering 1% ethylene glycol and 1% ammonium chloride in their swig water for 21 days to create a calcium oxalate (CaOx) urolithiasis model. The study analyzed plasma concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), an indicator of serum oxidative stress (OS), HP, and HP levels. Additionally, oxalate (Ox), urea, calcium, and creatinine clearance levels were measured in both blood and urine, and routine histological evaluations were conducted. The results indicated important higher concentrations of HP in the groups given HP (P<0.001), while plasma TBARS concentrations were lower in Group 4 compared to Group 3 (P=0.001). The findings suggest that HP reduces OS by lowering plasma TBARS levels induced by CaOx, due to its antioxidant and anti–inflammatory properties. Furthermore, the measured biochemical measurements supported the anti–urolithiasis effects of HP. In results, this study supports the hypothesis that HP’s antioxidative and anti–inflammatory properties help prevent OS, which is a factor in stone formation, thereby preventing acute renal damage and stone formation.

Schiff bases have various pharmacological activities due to the azomethine (-C=N-) group. Usnic acid is the most famous lichen metabolite and it contains two carbonyl groups to synthesize the Schiff base derivatives with primary amines. Therefore, in the current study, the known Schiff base derivatives (2-5) of usnic acid (1) were synthesized to explore their antidiabetic, neuroprotective, antioxidant, antidepressant and anti-Parkinson's properties.  Among the tested compounds, compound 4 exhibited the strongest antidiabetic and antidepressant activities, inhibiting α-glycosidase, α-amylase and MAO-A enzyme activities, respectively. Moreover, all of the tested compounds strongly scavenged the ABTS and DPPH radicals and the ABTS radical scavenging activities of 3 and 4 were found to be higher than the commercial antioxidants BHA and trolox. All of the tested compounds did not show any significant anti-Parkinson's and neuroprotective activities. In conclusion, compound 4 can be suggested as a drug candidate molecule for further studies due to its strong antioxidant, antidiabetic and antidepressant properties.

Pistacia vera fruit, one of the leading products of today's sweet and snack sector, which has been seen in the history of the kingdom, are able to support daily nutritional needs and treatment of many diseases due to the phenolic and flavonoid content in the literature. Especially the studies on colon cancer and breast cancer are remarkable potential antitumoral activity of pistachio examined. The aim of this study is to examine in more detail the P. vera plant, in which we have previously tested the methanol-hexane extracts of the seed and the test and obtained positive results. As well as observing the cytotoxic activities of the plant extracts and active ingredients obtained from different parts on the lung cancer cells. After counting A549 and HUVEC cell lines which replicated in the medium, were added on 96 well plate. Then, different part of plants extract and 2 major active ingredients also added. Then MTT dye was applied and measured spectrophotometrically. P. vera extracts and active ingredients which studied cytotoxic activity research were found to be effective in all cell lines in general. Particularly P. vera 's remaining after the fruit parts, methanol extract which obtained from waste containing leaf and stem parts and PVK-1 active agent showed selective activity on normal cells and cancer cells, therefore we consider that it has a high therapeutic index. We believe that this plant should be imparted to sciences and health sector with further studies.

Abstract Insecticidal effects of the dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, acetone, ethanol and methanol extracts of Humulus lupulus (hops) L. cones and its principal components, xanthohumol was investigated on five stored pests, Sitophilus granarius (L.), Sitophilus oryzae (L.), Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say.), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst) and Lasioderma serricorne (F.). The mortality of adults of the insects treated with 2, 5, 5, 10 and 20 mg ml̠−1 concentrations of the extracts and xanthuhumol was counted after 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h. In order to determine the toxic effects of the substances tested against all tested insects, durations for 50% mortality of the adults, and LD50 values were also determined in the first 48 h by probit analysis. Our results also showed that xanthohumol was more toxic against the pests in comparison with the extracts applications. LD50 values for xanthohumol were found to be low dose as compared with the extracts. Xanthohumol was more toxic against S. granarius (L.) with 6.8 µg of LD50 value. Among the extracts, methanol extract was less effective than other extracts against all tested insects. The ethyl acetate extract of H. lupulus cones was the most effective extract against the tested pests. The quantitative amounts of xanthohumol in the extracts were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography. The quantitative data indicated that amount of xanthohumol in the extracts increased with increase of polarity of the solvents used from methanol to dichloromethane. The methanol extract contained the high amount of xanthohumol with 5.74 g/100 g extract (0.46 g/100 g plant sample).

Essential oil isolated from Nepeta meyeri Benth, obtained by hydrodistillation, was analyzed in GS and MS. Totally, 11 components were identified in the essential oil, representing 99.99% of the isolated oil. Main essential oil components were found to be 4a alpha,7 alpha,7a beta-Nepetalactone (80.32%); 4a alpha,7 alpha,7a alpha-Nepetalactone (10.32%), trans-Pulegol (3.13%); 1,8 Cileole (2,95%). Antifungal activities of the oil were tested on the growth of 16 phytopathogenic fungi. Antifungal assays showed that N. meyeri oil completely inhibited mycelial growth of the 16 phytopathogenic fungi; their antifungal effects were higher than the commercial fungicide "benomyl". Essential oil of N. Meyeri, at different concentrations (0.25, 0.50 and 1.0 mg/ml), significantly prevented the development of all plant pathogenic fungi. Antifungal activities of the oil indicated that there was an inhibition in mycelial growth of all tested pathogenic fungi, ranged from 18.5 to 100% at oil treatment concentrations, ranged from 0.25 to 0.5% mg/ml. N meyeri essential oil blocked the 16 plant pathogenic fungi by 100% with 18.5% growth. The findings of the present study suggest that essential oils have a potential use as fungicides.

Two secondary metabolites (diffractaic acid & usnic acid) and extract of a lichen species, Usnea longissima Ach. were tested against adults of Sitophilus granarius (L.) on Petri dishes. After exposure, mortality of the adults was determined at 24(th), 48(th) and 96(th) h. The results showed that secondary metabolites and extract of U. longissima have an insecticidal effect on adults of Sitophilus granarius (L.) in comparison with controls. The insecticidal effect was influenced by the concentrations of the extracts and the exposure time. Higher concentrations and longer exposure time resulted in maximum toxicity on S. granarius. Treatment with extract and lichen compounds of U. longissima pointed out equal mortality against adults of S. granarius. The mortality rates after 96 h of treatment with the maximum concentration (10 mg mL(-1)) of U. longissima extract, diffractaic acid and usnic acid were determined as 98.98, 91.91 and 94.94% for S. granarius, respectively. However, there was no mortality in the controls. The mortality rates after 96 h of treatment with the 10 mg mL(-1) in concentrations of the extract of U. longissima were established and the highest mortality rate was found against S. granarius with 98.98%. (C) 2012 Friends Science Publishers

We investigated the potential protective effects of Nigella sativa (NS) on mortality, serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress and histopathological changes in lung tissues, in cecal ligation and puncture (CLP)-induced sepsis model in rats. Sepsis induction by CLP, determination of serum cytokine levels by ELISA, spectrophotometric determination of oxidative stress parameters, and histological examination of lung tissues. The rat groups were: 1) CLP group, 2) sham group, 3) NS500-sham group, 4) NS125, 5) NS250, 6) NS500 groups. NS treatment significantly decreased proinflammatory cytokine levels in serum; LPO level, MPO activity, and pathological changes in lung tissues, in CLP-induced sepsis, while significantly increasing GSH levels and SOD activity in the lung tissue. NS treatment after CLP potentially reduced mortality and may exert effects through the reduction in tissue oxidative stress and serum cytokines. The histopathological changes were minimized in lung tissue by NS, under sepsis conditions. We can suggest that NS reverses the systemic inflammatory reaction to polymicrobial sepsis and thereby reduces multiple organ failure. It may be suggested that role of the NS ethanolic extract in preventing formation of CLP induced sepsis, is due to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects of the different compounds of the black seeds.

The chemical compositions of hydrodistilled essential oils and n-hexane extracts from Origanum acutidens, O. rotundifolium and O. vulgare were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Essential oils and hexane, chloroform, acetone and methanol extracts were tested against 25 plant pathogenic bacterial strains. Essential oils showed a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity, probably due to the phenolic components such as carvacrol and thymol. It was also shown that carvacrol, thymol and other main components such as terpinen-4-ol and linalool possess antimicrobial activity. Plant extracts, however, did not show any antibacterial activity, with the exception of the acetone and hexane extracts from O. rotundifolium. Our findings suggest that the essential oils may be valuable as potential antibacterial agents against plant pathogens, and show the potential value of Origanum oils as seed disinfectant.

This study was designed to evaluate the antifungal activities of pure oxygenated monoterpenes (borneol, borneol acetate, camphor, carvone, 1,8-cineole, citronellal, beta-citronellol, dihydrocarvone, fenchol, fenchone, geraniol acetate, isomenthol, limonene oxide, linalool, linalool acetate, menthol, menthone, nerol, nerol acetate, terpinen-4-ol and alpha-terpineol) against 31 plant pathogen fungi in in vitro mycelial growth assays. Among the tested compounds, beta-citronellol, nerol, menthol, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-terpineol, carvone, borneol and commercial benomyl had potent inhibitory effects against most of the tested fungal species. In particular, beta-citronellol and nerol completely inhibited the growth of assayed fungi. Their inhibitory effects were also more stronger than commercial benomyl. Based on these results, beta-citronellol, nerol as well as menthol, alpha-terpineol and terpinen-4-ol may be used as new antifungal compounds against plant pathogenic fungal species in agriculture.

The antioxidant activity (AA), reducing power (RP) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) of chloroform, methanol and water extracts of a lichen species, Cladonia rangiformis, was determined, in vitro. The chloroform extract of C. rangiformis showed significant antioxidant activity (p<0.05), although this activity was lower than that of trolox (positive control). Likewise, the chloroform extract of C. rangiformis contained the highest phenolic content as gallic acid equivalent (µg/ml -1 ), its followed by the methanol and water extracts. However the reducing power assay of the methanol extract of C. rangiformis was higher than chloroform and water extracts. Antimicrobial activities of these extracts against 42 microorganisms consisting of 26 bacterial strains, 15 fungi and a yeast were also studied by using disk diffusion method. The extracts exhibited a weak antimicrobial activity against very limited number of microorganisms. However, extracts showed no antifungal activity.

The antioxidant activity (AA), reducing power (RP) and total phenolic compounds (TPC) of chloroform, methanol and water extracts of a lichen species, Cladonia rangiformis, was determined, in vitro. The chloroform extract of C. rangiformis showed significant antioxidant activity (p<0.05), although this activity was lower than that of trolox (positive control). Likewise, the chloroform extract of C. rangiformis contained the highest phenolic content as gallic acid equivalent (µg/ml-1), its followed by the methanol and water extracts. However the reducing power assay of the methanol extract of C. rangiformis was higher than chloroform and water extracts. Antimicrobial activities of these extracts against 42 microorganisms consisting of 26 bacterial strains, 15 fungi and a yeast were also studied by using disk diffusion method. The extracts exhibited a weak antimicrobial activity against very limited number of microorganisms. However, extracts showed no antifungal activity.

The antiulcerogenic effect of diffractaic acid (DA) isolated from Usnea longissima, a lichen species, on indomethacin (IND)-induced gastric lesions was investigated in rats. Administration of 25, 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg doses of DA and ranitidine (RAN) (50 mg/kg dose) reduced the gastric lesions by 43.5%, 52.9%, 91.4%, 96.7% and 72.7%, respectively. It is known that oxidative stress leads to tissue injury in organisms. Thus, in all treated groups of rats, the in vivo activities of the antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and the levels of reduced glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) were evaluated. IND caused oxidative stress, which resulted in LPO in tissues, by decreasing the levels of GPx, SOD and GSH as compared to healthy rats. In contrast to IND, the administration of DA and RAN showed a significant decrease in LPO level and an increase in tissue SOD, GPx and GSH levels. However, while CAT activity was significantly increased by the administration of IND, the administration of DA and RAN decreased CAT activity. The administration of IND also increased the myeloperoxidase (MPx) activity, which shows neutrophil infiltration into the gastric mucosal tissues. In contrast to IND, the administration of DA and RAN decreased MPx activity. The changes in activities of gastric mucosal nitric oxide synthases (NOS) throughout the development of gastric mucosal damage induced by IND were also studied. A decrease in constitutive NOS (cNOS) activity and an increase in inducible NOS (iNOS) activity were determined in gastric damaged tissues induced by IND. The administration of DA (100 mg/kg dose) and RAN reversed the activities of iNOS and cNOS. These results suggest that the gastroprotective effect of DA can be attributed to its enhancing effects on antioxidant defense systems as well as reducing effects of neutrophil infiltration.