Study of the chemical content of organic extracts of the Syrian plant Artemisia herba-alba using GC-MS technolog

Background Dracocephalum heterophyllum was a traditional Tibetan medicine possesses various pharmacological effects involved in anti-inflammatory, antibacterial activities. However, its anti-hepatitis, antioxidant activity and bioactive compounds have not been reported, the objective of this research work was to investigate the pharmacological activity and bioactive compounds of D. heterophyllum extracts.ResultsIn the present study, the anti-hepatics and antioxidant activities of four D. heterophyllum extracts (i.e. petroleum ether extracts, ethyl acetate extracts, n-BuOH extracts, and water extracts) were conducted. The main chemical constituent of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts were also isolated using chromatographic techniques and identified by NMR spectroscopic methods. The anti-hepatitis assay showed that the petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts of D. heterophyllum significantly prolonged the mean survival times and reduced the mortality of mouse hepatitis model induced by concanavalin A (ConA). The levels of alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase in blood serum could be decreased obviously by ethyl acetate extracts compared with ConA group (P < 0.01). The histological analysis demonstrated that the ethyl acetate extracts could inhibit apoptosis and necrosis caused by ConA. In addition, the antioxidant activities of the four extracts of D. heterophyllum were measured by DPPH assay, ABTS assay, anti-lipidperoxidation assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, ferrous metal ions chelating assay and determination of total phenolic contents. The results showed that the ethyl acetate extract had the highest antioxidant activities, followed by petroleum ether extract. Finally, nine mainly compounds were isolated from the Petroleum ether and ethyl acetate extracts, including four triterpenes: oleanolic acid (1), ursolic acid (2), pomolic acid (3), 2α- hydroxyl ursolic acid (4), three flavonoids: apigenin-7-O-rutinoside (5), luteolin (8), diosmetin (9) and two phenolic acids: rosmarinic acid (6), methyl rosmarinate (7).ConclusionThe Ethyl acetate extract of D. heterophyllum had the highest anti-hepatitis and antioxidants activities, followed by petroleum ether extract. The bioactive substances may be triterpenes, flavonoids and phenolic acids, the ethyl acetate extracts of D. heterophyllum may be possible candidates in developing anti-hepatitis medicine.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40529-016-0133-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Protective effects of Flacourtia indica aerial parts extracts against paracetamol-induced hepatotoxiciy in rats

Chemical composition of organic extracts of Phyla nodiflora L. in Syria by GC-MS

This study involved investigation of the antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Algerian Fraxinus excelsior extracts. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using spectrophotometric and electrochemical techniques. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, sterols/triterpenes, and coumarins. The total polyphenol contents in the extracts were in the order of ethyl acetate>methanol>butanol>chloroform>aqueous>petroleum ether, while flavonoid contents were in the order of, ethyl acetate>chloroform>methanol>butanol>aqueous>petroleum ether. In the 2,2'-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl test, ethyl acetate extract exhibited maximum activity followed by chloroform extract, methanol extract, butanol extract, aqueous extract and petroleum ether extract. β-carotene-linoleate and metal chelation tests showed closely the same order, ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanol, butanol, aqueous and petroleum ether extracts. Antioxidant activity measured using cyclic voltammetry method demonstrated activity in the order of ethyl acetate, chloroform, methanol, butanol and aqueous while petroleum ether extract did not show any activity. Results also demonstrated that some extracts possessed antibacterial activity. In conclusion, Fraxinus excelsior extracts contain active compounds, which have antioxidant and antibacterial effects and could be useful in the treatment of pathologies where these activities are needed.

An Investigation into phytochemical constituents, antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-cataract activity of Alternanthera sessilis, a predominant wild leafy vegetable of South India

Author Index

Water, Ethanolic, Methanolic, Ethyl acetate, Chloroform, and Petroleum ether extracts from leaves of Artimesia sahariensis found in the Algerian Sahara, traditionally used for the treatment of fever, diarrhea, gut infection, and other infectious diseases, were tested in vitro for their antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Antibacterial and antifungal activities were tested using agar disk diffusion and agar dilution method. All the extracted products showed antimicrobial activity against the tested strains. Petroleum ether and Ethyl acetate extracts of A. sahariensis leaves showed high inhibitory activity against the majority of strains tested, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging from 30–32 µg/ml. The largest inhibition zone was obtained with chloroform extract against Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato ATCC 1086 (18,33 ± 0,58 mm) and the MIC value of 40 µg/ml was obtained. The results showed that Methanolic and Ethyl acetate extracts have potent antifungal activity against Fusarium spp. CLMAS 11 with a MIC value of 80 µg/ml and an inhibition zone ranging from 17, 0 ± 1, 0 to 17, 33 ± 0, 58, respectively. This study reveals clearly that A. sahariensis can serve as a potential source of antimicrobial compounds.

The methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, 1-butanol and water extracts were obtained by extraction of mountain germander (Teucrium montanum L). The total phenolic content in extracts was measured by Folin-Ciocalteu method. The 1-butanol extract had the highest phenolic content (296.00 mg/g). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed to define qualitative and quantitative content of phenolic acids in mountain germander extracts. The largest number of phenolic acids were determined in ethyl acetate and 1-butanol extracts, while these acids were not present in petroleum ether extract. The highest content of phenolic acids (28.619 mg/g) had ethyl acetate extract and gentisic acid (14.432 mg/g) was its major component. Despite of a large number of phenolic acids in 1-butanol extract their content was only 3.740 mg/g.

Background Ixora species are perennial shrubs and flowering plants belonging to the family Rubiaceae. The leaf and flower parts of Ixora coccinea (I. coccinea)andIxora alba (I. alba) were aimed at isolating their active fractions. The present study was to determine in vitro antitumor activity against malignant melanoma cell lines for phytosome formulation. Materials and methods Two species, I. coccinea (red flowers and leaves) and I. alba (white flowers and leaves), were selected, and this study focused on determining the active fraction by comparing the in vitro antimicrobial and antioxidant potentials of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and hydroalcoholic (ethanol:water, 70:30 v/v) extracts. The identified potent extract was subjected to in vitro anticancer activity in malignant melanoma cell lines. Results A phytochemical study revealed phytosterols, flavonoids, proteins, amino acids, alkaloids, carbohydrates, phenols, tannins, and diterpenes. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay was used to evaluate the antioxidant effect of I. coccinea and I. alba leaf and flower extracts. In the DPPH assay, I. coccinea flower hydroalcoholic extract (ICFHA) had an IC50 value of 248.99 µg/mL, and I. coccinea leaf hydroalcoholic extract (ICLHA) had an IC50 value of 268.87 µg/mL. These two extracts had a lower value with a higher antioxidant effect. In the total antioxidant assay, I. coccinea leaf ethyl acetate extract (ICLEA) and I. coccinea leaf chloroform extract (ICLCE) have 77.4 ± 0.05 and 68.9 ± 0.03 mg of ascorbic acid equivalent per gm of extract, respectively. These two extracts exhibited a high antioxidant effect. The antimicrobial potential was evaluated using selected bacterial and fungal strains using the agar-well diffusion method. Petroleum ether and chloroform extracts of I. coccinea and I. alba leaves and flowers did not possess antimicrobial activity with any of the bacterial or fungal strains. An ethyl acetate extract and a hydroalcoholic extract of I. coccinea leaves and flowers showed antimicrobial activity against Enterococcus faecalis, Candida albicans, and Staphylococcus aureus. An ethyl acetate extract of I. coccinea flower and a hydroalcoholic extract of I. alba leaf showed a significant zone of inhibition when compared with standard chloramphenicol for all three selected strains, which may be due to the presence of active phytoconstituents. ICLHA showed a MIC of ≤300 µg/mL for Enterococcus faecalisandStaphylococcus aureusand ≤400 µg/mL for Candida albicans microbial strains. The high total flavonoid content was reported in ICLEA at 771.31 µg/mL and in I. coccinea flower ethyl acetate extract (ICFEA) at 694.69 µg/mL. High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) analysis showed a high quercetin (QCE) content in the ICLEA extract. To prove the in vitro skin anticancer activity, an MTT assay was performed for the ICLEA extract in a malignant melanoma cell line, and the IC50 value was reported as 7.96 µg/mL. Conclusion I. coccinea leaf ethyl acetate extract revealed a significant total flavonoid content in analysis through the aluminum chloride method, and the presence of a high QCE content was confirmed by HPTLC analysis. The in vitro skin anticancer activity of ICLEA was confirmed by the MTT assay; therefore, it was concluded that the ICLEA extract was a potent fraction and was selected to develop a phytosome.

Antioxidant activity of petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of leaf, stem and root of Mimosa pudica L. was observed through DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging assay. Five concentrations (12.5, 25.0, 50.0, 100.0 and 200.0µg/ml) were taken for each extract as well as the standard and the absorbances were measured at 517nm using a spectrophotometer against methanol blank. The activity was increased by the increment of concentrations of the extracts. In case of leaf, the highest scavenging percentage was found in chloroform extract (86.40%) at 200.0µg/ml concentration. But for stem and root, the highest scavenging percentages were found in ethyl acetate extracts (73.72% and 83.79% respectively) at same concentration. The ethyl acetate extracts showed the highest activity among all the extracts where the IC50 values were 65.152µg/ml, 76.036µg/ml and 65.000µg/ml and the lowest was found in petroleum ether extracts where the IC50 values were 130.129µg/ml, 147.891µg/ml and 186.449µg/ml for leaf, stem and root respectively and that was for ascorbic acid (standard) was 18.012µg/ml.

Background:Breast cancer is the most common cause of deaths in women. The search for traditionally used medicinal plants which can serve as non-toxic and affordable anticancer drugs is the need of the hour. This study aimed to investigate the anticancer potential of extracts of L. coronopifolia against human breast carcinoma cell line (MDA-MB-321). Methods:The MDA-MB-231 cells were plated in 96 well plates and exposed to 10-1,000 µg/ml of L. coronopifolia for 24 h. The cytotoxic response of different extracts was measured by MTT assay, neutral red uptake (NRU) assay and cellular morphological alterations under the microscope.Results:A concentration-dependent decrease in the cell viability of MDA-MB-231 cells was observed after the exposure of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and ethanol extracts of L. coronopifolia. The cell viability was found to be 82%, 89% and 98% at 1000, 500 and 250 µg/ml, respectively in petroleum ether, 37%, 75% and 88% at 1,000, 500 and 250 µg/ml, respectively in ethyl acetate extract, 30%, 35% and 64% at 1,000, 500 and 250 µg/ml, respectively in chloroform extract and 44%, 65% and 82% at 1000, 500 and 250 µg/ml, respectively in ethanolic extract of L. coronopifolia exposed MDA-MB-231 cells. The results also exhibited morphological alterations in MDA-MB-231 cells exposed to various extracts. The cells treated with 250- 1000 µg/ml lost their original morphology and cell linkage as compared to control cells. Conclusion:These preliminary results suggest the promising anticancer potential of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and ethanol extracts of L. coronopifolia against MDA-MB-321 cells. Further studies are required to know the mechanism(s) involved in the cell death.

The antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, lipoxygenase, xanthine oxidase (XO), acetylcholinesterase activities and phenolic contents of different solvent extracts (ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, petroleum ether and water) of Crotalaria pallida were evaluated using in vitro standard methods. These solvent extracts were most potent inhibiting all isolates with different zones of inhibition. The maximum inhibition of bacteria and fungi was observed from ethanol extract. The minimum microbial concentration (MMC) of the active extract was observed from ethanol, petroleum ether and ethyl acetate ranged from 0.3 to 3.2 mg/ml for the sensitive bacteria. In case of fungi, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the active extracts ranged from 0.6 to 4.0 mg/ml. These data suggest that the C. pallida extracts analyzed are potential antimicrobial candidates with a broad range of activity. Phytochemical analysis was conducted to all the solvent extracts to their constituents. The level of total phenol, alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, phenols, steroids and tannins from ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts were higher. The antioxidant activities of different solvent extracts of C. pallida were determined by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferrous reducing antioxidant property (FRAP) methods. Ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were used as standard for antioxidant activity. The ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts possessed strong scavenging activity in both DPPH and FRAP methods. The ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether had showed free radical inhibition of 88, 72 and 73 and 3617.89 ± 0.03, 2189.33 ± 0.03 and 1133.26 ± 0.01, respectively. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activities were evaluated using albumin denaturation, membrane stabilization and proteinase inhibitory activities using all the solvent extracts. The ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether showed activity by inhibiting the heat induced albumin denaturation and red blood cells membrane stabilization with 83.17, 71.33 and 58.14 and 68.21, 61.44 and 60.72 g/ml, respectively. The proteinase activity was significantly inhibited by the ethanol (82.53), ethyl acetate 74.31) and petroleum ether (62.92) g/ml. Aspirin was used as standard drug for the study of antiinflammatory activity. In addition, the ethanol, ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts showed antilipoxygenase activity and they also exhibited a moderate xanthine oxidase and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity.

The insecticidal activity of Illicium verum Hook. f. against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky adults were identified, and the underlying mechanisms were studied. Extracts from I.verum fruits in methyl alcohol (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), and petroleum ether (PE) were tested by fumigation in a hermetic container to determine their toxicity. The effects of the three extracts on the activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) of S. zeamais were determined in vivo. All extracts showed strong fumigant activity. The fumigant effects were enhanced with increased dosage and prolonged exposure time. 1.25, 2.50, 5.00, 10.00, and 20.0 mg/l doses of the MA, EA, and PE extracts caused the mortalities from 8.37 to 90.26 %, 21.81 to 95.89 %, and 15.84 to 92.57 %, respectively, at 72 h after treatment. Consequently, the most effective dose of the MA, EA, and PE extracts is the 20.0 mg/l. The LD50 of the MA, EA, and PE extracts at 72 h after treatment were 7.10, 3.93, and 4.55 mg/l, respectively. The activities of AChE and GSTs were notably inhibited by the three extracts, as compared with the control, with strong dose- and time-dependent effects. The inhibition strength of the three extracts on AChE and GSTs activities were in the following order: EA extract > PE extract ≥ MA extract. Therefore, I. verum extracts could be explored as novel natural fumigants for the future control of stored-product insect pests.

This study aims to develop eco-friendly botanical pesticides. Dried fruits of star anise ( Illicium verum Hook.f. (Austrobaileyales: Schisandraceae)) were extracted with methyl alcohol (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), and petroleum ether (PE) at 25°C. The constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the repellency and contact toxicity of the extracts against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were tested. Forty-four compounds, whose concentrations were more than 0.2%, were separated and identified from the MA, EA, and PE extracts. The extraction yields of trans-anethole, the most abundant biologically active compound in I. verum , were 9.7%, 7.5%, and 10.1% in the MA, EA, and PE extracts, respectively. Repellency increased with increasing extract dose. The average repellency rate of the extracts against S. zeamais adults peaked at 125.79 µg/cm 2 72 hr after treatment. The percentage repellency of the EA extract reached 76.9%, making it a class IV repellent. Contact toxicity assays showed average mortalities of 85.4% (MA), 94.5% (EA), and 91.1% (PE). The EA extract had the lowest median lethal dose, at 21.2 µg/cm 2 72 hr after treatment. The results suggest that I. verum fruit extracts and trans-anethole can potentially be developed as a grain protectant to control stored-product insect pests. Other active constituents in the EA extract merit further research.

This study aims to develop eco-friendly botanical pesticides. Dried fruits of star anise (Illicium verum Hook.f. (Austrobaileyales: Schisandraceae)) were extracted with methyl alcohol (MA), ethyl acetate (EA), and petroleum ether (PE) at 25°C. The constituents were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the repellency and contact toxicity of the extracts against Sitophilus zeamais Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) adults were tested. Fortyfour compounds, whose concentrations were more than 0.2%, were separated and identified from the MA, EA, and PE extracts. The extraction yields of trans-anethole, the most abundant biologically active compound in I. verum, were 9.7%, 7.5%, and 10.1% in the MA, EA, and PE extracts, respectively. Repellency increased with increasing extract dose. The average repellency rate of the extracts against S. zeamais adults peaked at 125.79 μg/cm2 72 hr after treatment. The percentage repellency of the EA extract reached 76.9%, making it a class IV repellent. Contact toxicity assays showed average mortalities of 85.4% (MA), 94.5% (EA), and 91.1% (PE). The EA extract had the lowest median lethal dose, at 21.2 μg/cm2 72 hr after treatment. The results suggest that I. verum fruit extracts and trans-anethole can potentially be developed as a grain protectant to control stored-product insect pests. Other active constituents in the EA extract merit further research.