Plant Active Compounds Research Articles

Research Progress of Plant Active Ingredients in Pharmaceutical Cocrystal.

The disadvantages of active ingredients extracted from medicinal plants due to poor solubility in the body and low bioavailability limit their clinical application. Pharmaceutical cocrystal as a new type of drug in solid form has attracted the attention of researchers. This article reviews the effects of cocrystal in various poorly soluble herbal active ingredients of medicinal plants on their physicochemical properties and biological properties and provides references for the application of pharmaceutical cocrystal in poorly soluble active compounds of medicinal plants.

α-Mangostin Content of Mangosteen Leaves (Garcinia mangostana L.) Based on Different Growing Conditions

α-Mangostin Content of Mangosteen Leaves (Garcinia mangostana L.) Based on Different Growing Conditions

Comprehensive study of the main biologically active compounds in Arctium lappa plants growing in Kazakhstan

Comprehensive study of the main biologically active compounds in Arctium lappa plants growing in Kazakhstan

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ АМИНОКИСЛОТНОГО СОСТАВА ЛЕСПЕДЕЦЫ ДВУЦВЕТНОЙ, ПРОИЗРАСТАЮЩЕЙ В КРАСНОДАРСКОМ КРАЕ

As is known, biologically active compounds in plants are in complexes easily absorbed by the human body and in biologically available concentrations, therefore they have a higher phar-macological activity compared to synthetic analogues. Plants synthesize all the amino acids necessary to build protein molecules. The ability of plant amino acids to participate in the as-similation of other biologically active substances by the body, as well as a wide range of their biochemical, and as a result, pharmacological action, attracts more and more attention of re-searchers and the study of the composition and content of amino acids in medicinal plant raw materials as potential sources of drugs. That is why the study of the qualitative and quantita-tive content of amino acids in medicinal plant raw materials and in preparations derived from it is of great practical importance and of a certain scientific interest. The experience of using shoots of Lespedeza bicolor in official and folk medicine tes-tifies to its wide therapeutic possibilities, which served as the basis for research to clarify its chemical composition in relation to amino acids. This paper presents data on the qualitative and quantitative amino acid composition of the aerial organs of Lespedeza bicolor (Lespedeza bicolor L, plant family Fabaceae) growing in the Krasnodar Territory. A comparative study of the main essential and non-essential amino acids in flowers, leaves and shoots of Lespede-za bicolor was carried out by capillary electrophoresis. It has been established that the flowers and leaves of Lespedeza bicolor contain 11 amino acids each, the dominant amino acid of both flowers and leaves is proline; Lespedeza bicolor shoots contain 12 amino acids, 6 of which are essential (threonine, valine, methionine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine). Leucine is present only in the leaves, and cysteine only in the flowers of the studied plant

Bioactives of noni plant (Morinda citrifolia L.) as anti-cancer herbals: A scoping review

In Indonesia, the noni plant (Morinda citrifolia L.) has gained popularity as an alternative treatment for various diseases. Cancer is the second cause of death worldwide, with chemotherapy as the primary treatment. There is growing interest in exploring phytochemicals found in noni plants such as anthraquinones, chitosan, phenols, and flavonoids. These antioxidant compounds hold potential as alternative treatments for cancer. This study explores the active compounds in noni plants that exhibit anti-cancer properties. This study employed a scoping review approach. Previous original articles were retrieved from Scopus, Science Direct, ClinicalKey, Springer Link, and Google Scholar with keywords in Morinda citrifolia L., component, bioactive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer. We included 34 articles that met the inclusion criteria. The findings of this study highlight the anti-cancer activity of several phytochemicals found in noni plants. Damnacanthal has been shown to reduce the number of MCF-7 cells. Nordamnacanthal inhibited the development of the H400 cell cycle by increasing the activity of Cytochrome C, Caspase-9, and Caspase 3/7 and induced the death of MDA-MB231 and MCF-7 cells. Chitosan nanoparticles can inhibit the growth of A549 cells. Scopoletin can inhibit cancer cell proliferation by inducing cells in the G0 / G1 and S phases. Epicatechin can inhibit the growth of PC-9 cells. Damnachanthal, nordamnacanthal, chitosan nanoparticles, scopoletin, and epicatechin are active compounds presented in noni plants that can act as anti-cancer.

Phenolic Compounds of the Medicinal Plants in an Anthropogenically Transformed Environment.

In this article, the impact of an anthropogenically transformed environment on the content of pharmaceutically valuable biologically active compounds in medicinal plants is analyzed. The studied biologically active substances included phenolic compounds (flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins, and phenolic acids). The number of transmissible forms of heavy metals (HMs), including cadmium, lead, and mercury, were discharged from factories that are present in the soil. Plants uptake these toxic metals from the soil. HM causes changes in the activity of the several enzymes such as phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI) and other enzymes. These enzymes play an important role in biosynthesis of phenolic compounds in medicinal plants. It has been demonstrated that plant materials possess high antioxidant potential due to their high phenolic content. As a result, the present review discusses a thorough investigation of anthropogenically transformed environment effects on the quantity of pharmaceutically valuable phenolic compounds in medicinal plants.

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles improve element uptake, antioxidant properties, and essential oil productivity of Melissa officinalis L. seedlings under in vitro drought stress.

In vitro drought stress has a considerable impact on the mass production of active compounds in medicinal plants. Nevertheless, photosynthesis, nutrient uptake, and protein synthesis may be negatively affected by drought, which results in poor growth. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) have recently been shown to play an important role in increasing nutrient uptake, resistance to various environmental stresses, and better plant growth. Regarding the importance of pharmaceutical metabolites of Melissa officinalis L., this experiment aimed to assess the role of TiO2 NPs in improving physiological responses and phytochemical properties in M. officinalis under in vitro drought stress. For this, two-week-old seedlings were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 0, 50, and 100mg L-1 TiO2 NPs and 0, 3, and 6% (w/v) polyethylene glycol (PEG). Two weeks after treatments, a reduction of chlorophyll, protein content, essential elements, and enhancement of H2O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were seen as a result of drought stress. It was observed that M. officinalis partially responded to the drought by increasing non-enzymatic antioxidants, including phenolics, flavonoids, and anthocyanin and ascorbate peroxidase activity. Moreover, PEG-induced drought stress increased some important essential oil content such as limonene, alpha-pinene, myrcene, γ-3-carene, citral, and carvacrol; however, the results showed that TiO2 NPs not only increased the quantity of essential oils but also led to tolerance to the drought stress by increasing photosynthetic pigments, antioxidant systems, absorption of essential nutrients, and decreasing H2O2 and MDA levels.

Could cannabinoids provide a new hope for ovarian cancer patients?

It is known that gynecological cancers remain a worldwide problem and as shown by the statistics, there is a need for new gynecological cancer treatments. Cannabinoids, the pharmacologically active compounds of the Cannabis sativa plant, have been used for many centuries by individuals as a symptomatic treatment to alleviate pain, nausea, vomiting, and to help stimulate appetite. Research has revealed that cannabinoids also exert anti-cancer activity such as anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects through a variety of mechanisms. There is significant value in the development of these compounds as anti-cancer therapies in clinical practice as they do not produce the typical toxic side effects that exist with conventional therapies and recent clinical trials have shown their great tolerability by patients at high doses. Cannabinoids can induce psychoactive effects that could limit their progression. Therefore, non-psychoactive cannabinoids are attracting pharmacological interest due to their inability to produce psychological effects. Recent studies have focussed on non-psychoactive cannabinoids in ovarian cancer and have revealed promising pre-clinical results that indicate that these compounds may have potential benefits in the treatment of these cancers. However, there are still unanswered questions and research gaps that need to be addressed. This review summarizes the current understanding of this topic and identifies the current gaps in knowledge that provide a useful direction for future work.

Comparison of Growth Characteristics and Active Compounds of Cultivated Hovenia dulcis under Different Environments in South Korea

The growth characteristics and active compounds of plants are influenced by various environmental factors, including light, temperature, soil, and precipitation. These factors interact with each plant in a unique way. In this study, we collected fruit and soil samples from 17 cultivation sites in October 2020 to investigate the relationship among environmental factors, growth characteristics, and active compounds of H. dulcis seed and fruit. We developed an optimized method for quantifying active compounds using ultra-performance liquid chromatography and performed correlation analyses with the surveyed environmental factors. Results showed that the size and fresh weight of H. dulcis fruits were positively correlated with exchangeable Mg, Na, and silt texture proportion in the soil. The temperature was positively correlated with sugar content in the fruits but negatively correlated with fruit weight, and precipitation was negatively correlated with fruit size. Results also showed a positive correlation between the active compounds and growth characteristics such as fruit length, seed number per fruit, and fresh weight. The results of this study can be used as basic data for the cultivation and quality control of H. dulcis fruits.

Prediction of Rab5B inhibitors through integrative in silico techniques.

Rab5B is a small monomeric G protein that regulates early endocytosis and controls signaling pathways related to cell growth, survival, and apoptosis. Dysregulation of Rab5B protein expression has been linked to the development of several cancers such as leukemia, lymphoma, kidney, prostate, ovarian, breast cancer, etc. Our research shows the first attempt to identify inhibitors that can target Rab5B GTPase. In this study, we performed molecular docking using Autodock Vina 1.5.6 and identified eight molecules with docking scores ranging from -9.8 to -10.6kcal/mol. Thereafter, we examined the pharmacological characteristics of these compounds, and selected compounds were further analyzed for their conformational dynamics and thermodynamic stability using molecular dynamics simulations and molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA)-based free energy calculations. Notably, our findings revealed that strychnine had the highest binding affinity to Rab5B followed by anonaine, helioxanthin, and taiwanin E, with a ΔGbind value of -21.43, -17.11, -15.11, and -14.09kcal/mol respectively. The binding free energy calculations showed that Van der Waals interactions are the primary contributor to the binding between Rab5B and the inhibitor. The interaction between the inhibitor and Rab5B was shown to be controlled by certain hot spot residues, including Phe45, Tyr48, Ala64, and Ala30. Overall, we believe that these findings could facilitate the exploration and development of potential hits against Rab5B, subject to optimization and further research.

THE INFLUENCE OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS EXTRACTS ON THE ANTIFUNGAL EFFECT OF FLUCONAZOLE REGARDING C. ALBICANS AND C. TROPICALIS ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH DENTURE STOMATITS

Candida albicans is one of the most common and virulent representatives of Candida fungi which causes fungal lesions of the mucous membranes predominantly in people with compromised immune system. Candida resistance to classical antifungals such as polyenes, azoles, allylamines is a serious practical problem. Imidazole and triazole are the most commonly used antifungal agents for candidiasis today. Their mechanism of action lies in the inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis which is indispensable for maintaining the structural integrity of fungal cell membranes. Activation of elimination systems is often associated with changes in the structure of fungal membranes, leading to a decrease in the supply of azoles into the fungal cell Screening of antifungal activity and synergism of antifungal activity of 166 aqueous-ethanol plant extracts with Fluconazole in relation to 2 clinical strains of Candida fungi (C.) (C. albicans and C. tropicalis) with different mechanisms of azole resistance isolated from patients with prosthetic stomatitis was conducted by means of agar diffusion method. The expressed direct antifungal activity of extracts of Calendula officinalis L. inflorescences, flowers of Limonium platyphyllum Lincz., flowers of Grataegus monogyna Jacq., roots of Potentilla repens L., the grass of Melilotus albus Medik, leaves of Peucedanum ruthenicum Bieb, leaves of Rhus coriaria L. and aerial part of Polythridum commune Hedw was determined in reference to the tested strains. Synergism of antifungal action with 1/4, 1/8 and 1/32 of Fluconazole MIC (minimal inhibiting concentration) in relation to both test strains of yeast-like Candida fungi was demonstrated by the flowers of Calendula officinalis L, aerial part of Melilotus albus Medik. The main purpose of the screening was to discriminate extracts in order to select those that would be promising for further testing by a more accurate сheckerboard titration method. The efflux mechanism of resistance to triazoles (in C. tropicalis test strain) is more susceptible to modification by biologically active compounds of medicinal plants. Regarding C. albicans test strain which combines the efflux mechanism of resistance with mutation(s) of ergosterol biosynthesis enzymes, the modifying effect of plant extracts is much less frequent and less pronounced. Therefore, it may be assumed that mutations of ergosterol biosynthesis enzymes provide high stability of the phenotypic manifestation of Candida azole resistance. Should that be the case, determining the azole resistance mechanism of Candida clinical isolates may be important for clinical practice. Combination therapy is more beneficial than monotherapy because it may provide more effective destruction or suppression of pathogens. The combined action of synergistic agents is quite easy to achieve in case of localized superficial lesions (which occur on the mucous membranes of the prosthetic bed in candidal prosthetic stomatitis): for example, using a systemic antifungal agent and a topical agent that contains a modifier of resistance of plant origin fungi. Synergistic interactions will increase the therapeutic efficacy of drugs, reduce the likelihood of resistance occurrence or further development, and will reduce dose-related toxicity.

Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor, Sodium Butyrate-Induced Metabolic Modulation in Platycodon grandiflorus Roots Enhances Anti-Melanogenic Properties.

While the status of histone acetylation is a critical regulator of chromatin's structure with a significant impact on plant physiology, our understanding of epigenetic regulation in the biosynthesis of active compounds in plants is limited. In this study, Platycodon grandiflorus was treated with sodium butyrate (NaB), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, to investigate the influence of histone acetylation on secondary metabolism. Its treatment with NaB increased the acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 9, 14, and 27 and enhanced the anti-melanogenic properties of P. grandiflorus roots. Through transcriptome and differentially expressed gene analyses, we found that NaB influenced the expression of genes that were involved in both primary and secondary metabolic pathways. In addition, NaB treatment caused the accumulation of polyphenolic compounds, including dihydroquercetin, gallic acid, and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The NaB-induced transcriptional activation of genes in the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway influenced the anti-melanogenic properties of P. grandiflorus roots. Overall, these findings suggest the potential of an epigenomic approach to enhance the medicinal qualities of medicinal plants.

Inhibisi Senyawa Aktif Ekstrak Sirsak (Annona Muricata) Terhadap Pertumbuhan Plasmodium falciparum Berdasarkan Studi In Silico

Abstract. Various active compounds in plants can be used as medicine. Soursop (Annona muricata) which grows in tropical areas such as Indonesia has potential as a new antimalarial drug. High resistance in the first-line artemisinin antimalarial treatment makes active compound of soursop a new antimalarial drug. This type of research is One Shot Experimental Study. This study analyzes preparation of active compounds, prediction of potential of active compounds, molecular docking, prediction of ADME (Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion), and prediction of toxicity. Active compounds of soursop namely luteolin, anonaine, gallic acid, and acetogenin showed binding in the same area as artemisin in inhibiting β hydroxyacyl acyl carrier protein (ACP)-dehydratase (FabZ). The results of research on soursop have the potential as an antimalarial drug. Compounds acetogenin and luteolin have the highest binding affinity values. ADME and Lipinski soursop active compounds showed that luteolin, anonaine, and gallic acid had as good ADME as artemisinin, and had the potential to be used as oral drugs. Toxicity of soursop active compounds showed that luteolin and acetogenin had a better LD50 than control (artemisin) with toxicity classes 5 and 6, while anonaine and gallic acid had same LD50 as the control, with toxicity class 4.

Anthelmintic activity of Carica pubescens aqueous seed extract and its effects on rumen fermentation and methane reduction in Indonesian thin-tailed sheep: An in vitro study.

Seeds from Carica pubescens were observed to be abundant as waste. This waste contains active plant compounds whose utilization has not been studied in the livestock sector. This study was conducted to evaluate the potential of an aqueous seed extract of Carica pubescens (ASE) as an anthelmintic agent during rumen fermentation and methane reduction. Aqueous seed extract of Carica pubescens was prepared from C. pubescens cultivated in Wonosobo, Indonesia. Phytochemical analyses were performed to quantify the secondary metabolite content of ASE. In vitro adult worm mortality tests, scanning electron microscopy, and gas production tests were conducted to evaluate rumen characteristics, methane reduction, and the potential of ASE as an anthelmintic against Haemonchus contortus. Adult worms and ruminal fluid were collected from Indonesian thin-tailed sheep. Two-way analysis of variance followed by Tukey's test was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences® 21.0 software to detect significant differences. In vitro study results showed that 1-5% ASE inhibited H. contortus after the 1st h of incubation, and 5% ASE suppressed 100% of adult H. contortus worms in the 5th h. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of ASE-treated worms ASE revealed damaged cuticle structures. ASE had no significant effect on pH, NH3, volatile fatty acid, acetate, propionate, butyrate, acetate: propionate, or microbial protein in rumen fluid (p > 0.05). The in vitro feed fermentation results showed that ASE significantly affected methane reduction. The inclusion of up to 5% ASE in sheep diets may serve as a potential alternative anthelmintic against H. contortus as well as a methane reduction agent, without deleterious effects on rumen fermentation.

Inhibitory potential of phytochemicals on five SARS-CoV-2 proteins: in silico evaluation of endemic plants of Bosnia and Herzegovina

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has prompted global health concerns. In response, researchers have been conducting investigations on active compounds in plants that may hold the potential to inhibit the proliferation of the virus. The aim of this study was to simulate and predict structural interactions of selected compounds isolated from 28 endemic plants of Bosnia and Herzegovina against the main protease (Mpro), papain-like protease (PLpro), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp), spike glycoprotein and uridylate-specific endoribonuclease (NendoU) of SARS-CoV-2. The majority of compounds, especially hesperidin, showed great binding affinity to the target proteins. The highest affinity for Mpro was observed for genistein and hesperidin, while in terms of structural interactions, both compounds achieved interactions of interest. Hesperidin and luteolin were the compounds with the highest binding affinity for PLpro, but no significant interactions were observed. For RdRp, hesperidin and quercetin showed the highest binding affinity, where both compounds formed interactions of interest. Hesperidin and fisetin were the compounds with the highest binding affinity for spike glycoprotein, and both compounds achieved significant interactions. The highest affinity for NendoU was obtained for hesperidin and isorhamnetin, where both compounds formed interactions of interest. Although these findings appear encouraging, further research is needed, which includes in vitro and in vivo assessments, along with clinical trials, to provide evidence for the potential therapeutic uses of these plants.

Discover the Medication Potential of Algerian Medicinal Plants Against Sars-Cov-2 Main Protease (Mpro): Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamic Simulation, and ADMET Analysis

At the end of 2019, the world faced a big challenge and crisis caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It spreads rapidly and is contagious; no treatment has officially been found. Algeria has used medicinal plants native to the country to defend against this pandemic. The objective of this paper is based on a molecular docking study of the active compounds of five Algerian medicinal plants with their target Sars-2Cov-2 virus protease to assess their potential antiviral activity against COVID-19. Innovative software and computerized databases were introduced into the in-silico domain, mainly the Auto-Dock software version 1.5.6. Similar results were obtained for all ligands, with a better chemical affinity of − 5.600 kcal/mol for the protease target 6LU7 and − 5.700 kcal/mol for the protease target 6WTT, with an average of − 4.227 kcal/mol and − 4.221 kcal/mol, respectively. The protease targets 6LU7 and 6WTT. In the ADME-Tox study, the active compounds of Algerian medicinal plants also demonstrated an excellent pharmacokinetic and toxic profile. Best scores were noted for cedrol, camphor, and eucalyptol. A molecular dynamics simulation showed the stability of camphor-6LU7 and cedrol-6LU7 complexes, favoring the biological potential of white artemisia and cypress plants.

Formulation and Evaluation of Topical Nano-Hydrogel of Zinc and Annona Muricata Extract

A scientific method is essential for phytochemists to deliver active ingredients in a consistent manner. This can be accomplished through the development of novel drug delivery systems for active plant compounds. The current study aims to prepare Annona muricata leaves extract (ALE) containing nano zinc formulation into a nano-particulate hydrogel. The active components were extracted by cold maceration of Anona muricata leaves in ethanol and then converted into polymeric nanoparticles by gelation method based on electrostatic interaction between the Hydroxyl Amine on Chitosan and a cluster of negative charge from the polyanion NaTPP. Zinc oxide nano particles (ZNPs) was formulated by precipitating zinc acetate with sodium hydroxide. These were then incorporated with Carbopol-940 to generate the gel matrix. The result demonstrated that polymeric nanoparticles are closely spherical in shape with a z-average 358.45 ± 11.3 nm and PDI in the range of 0.440-0.812. The gels exhibited a high viscosity, a neutral pH, and acceptable spreadability. Furthermore, a stability assay demonstrates that it has chemical stability and does not cause skin irritation, making it appropriate for transdermal delivery.

Efficacy Evaluation of Chlorella pyrenoidosa Extracts on Cytotoxicity Induced by Atmospheric Particulate Matter 2.5 Exposure Using Skin Cell Lines and Zebrafish Models

The invention and use of chelating purification products directed at atmospheric particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5) are beneficial in preventing cytotoxicity and bodily harm. However, natural plant active compounds that minimize the adverse effect of PM2.5 are rarely reported. Chlorella pyrenoidosa extracts (CPEs), a nutritional supplement derived from Chlorella vulgaris, have been shown to have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Here, we discovered that CPEs extracted with crushing cell extraction technology can attenuate the negative impacts of PM2.5. Furthermore, CPE intervention can protect against DNA damage and unstable genomic structure due to PM2.5 exposure. Moreover, CPE intervention restored mRNA and protein expression of the DNA misincorporation repair mechanism gene, nudix hydrolase 1 (NUDT1), and 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase (OGG1). In vivo damage protection experiments revealed that CPEs reduced PM2.5-induced hepatotoxicity of zebrafish larvae and effectively prevented the death of adult zebrafish exposed to PM2.5. Briefly, CPEs can attenuate cytotoxicity, resist DNA damage, relieve PM2.5-induced hepatotoxicity, and improve cell purification activity, making them ideal for use as a protective factor or functional ingredient in the cosmetics and health food industries.

Exogenous β-Aminobutyric Acid (BABA) Improves the Growth, Essential Oil Content, and Composition of Grapefruit Mint (Mentha suaveolens × piperita) under Water Deficit Stress Conditions

Grapefruit mint, Mentha suaveolens × M. piperita, belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is an important medicinal plant with applications in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, food, and nutraceutical industries. Environmental factors such as cold, salinity, and water deficit significantly impact the quantity and quality of the active compounds of medicinal plants. To examine the effects of drought stress and β-aminobutyric acid (BABA) as an elicitor on the biochemical characteristics and essential oil (EO) profile of grapefruit mint, a factorial experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factor and three replications under greenhouse conditions. The first factor included field moisture capacity (FC) as the control (100% FC), mild (75% FC), moderate (55% FC), and severe water deficit stress (35% FC), while the second factor consisted of 0 (control plants without BABA), 0.8, 1.6, and 2.4 mM of BABA foliar application. Water stress and BABA application significantly affected the EO content and composition of grapefruit mint. The highest content of EO was observed in mild drought stress and BABA spraying at 1.6 to 2.4 mM, which increased by about 140% compared with the control condition. The EO components were identified using GC-FID and GC-MS analysis. Linalool (33.7–47.3%) and linalool acetate (31.2–52%) were the most abundant compounds. The highest content of linalool acetate was observed in severe drought stress (35% FC) with foliar application of BABA (1.6 mM), which increased by 33.86% compared with the control condition. However, the highest content of linalool was observed under normal irrigation with foliar application of 0.8 to 1.6 mM BABA. Based on the results, severe drought stress reduced the total chlorophyll and carotenoids by 81.76 and 64.6% compared with the control condition, respectively. Water stress and the foliar application of BABA significantly affected the activity of antioxidant enzymes (ascorbate peroxidase, APX; guaiacol peroxides, GPX; and superoxide dismutase, SOD). The application of 1.6 mM BABA significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes under water stress conditions. Finally, our results showed that the application of BABA (mainly at 1.6 mM) can improve the grapefruit mint yield and EO profile under water stress conditions.

Depression and Its Phytopharmacotherapy-A Narrative Review.

Depression is a mental health disorder that develops as a result of complex psycho-neuro-immuno-endocrinological disturbances. This disease presents with mood disturbances, persistent sadness, loss of interest and impaired cognition, which causes distress to the patient and significantly affects the ability to function and have a satisfying family, social and professional life. Depression requires comprehensive management, including pharmacological treatment. Because pharmacotherapy of depression is a long-term process associated with the risk of numerous adverse drug effects, much attention is paid to alternative therapy methods, including phytopharmacotherapy, especially in treating mild or moderate depression. Preclinical studies and previous clinical studies confirm the antidepressant activity of active compounds in plants, such as St. John's wort, saffron crocus, lemon balm and lavender, or less known in European ethnopharmacology, roseroot, ginkgo, Korean ginseng, borage, brahmi, mimosa tree and magnolia bark. The active compounds in these plants exert antidepressive effects in similar mechanisms to those found in synthetic antidepressants. The description of phytopharmacodynamics includes inhibiting monoamine reuptake and monoamine oxidase activity and complex, agonistic or antagonistic effects on multiple central nervous system (CNS) receptors. Moreover, it is noteworthy that the anti-inflammatory effect is also important to the antidepressant activity of the plants mentioned above in light of the hypothesis that immunological disorders of the CNS are a significant pathogenetic factor of depression. This narrative review results from a traditional, non-systematic literature review. It briefly discusses the pathophysiology, symptomatology and treatment of depression, with a particular focus on the role of phytopharmacology in its treatment. It provides the mechanisms of action revealed in experimental studies of active ingredients isolated from herbal antidepressants and presents the results of selected clinical studies confirming their antidepressant effectiveness.