Angustifolia Extracts Research Articles

Assessment of the Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial and Anti-Aging Properties and Possible Use on the Skin of Hydrogels Containing Epilobium angustifolium L. Extracts.

Epilobium angustifolium L. is an ethnomedicinal plant known as a medicinal plant in many regions of the world, among others, in various skin diseases. Despite the great interest in this plant, there are still few reports of biological activity of ready-made dermatological or cosmetical preparations containing the E. angustifolium extracts. The antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial properties and toxicity, wound healing, and skin permeation of topical hydrogels containing E. angustifolium extracts (HEas) was assessed. First, the plant extracts were prepared using three solvents: 70% (v/v) ethanol, 70% (v/v) isopropanol and water, next by preparing hydrogels witch by dry extracts (HEa-EtOH), (HEa-iPrOH) and (HEa-WA), respectively. Finally, the content of selected phenolic acids in the HEas was evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All the HEas were characterized by high antioxidant activity. The most increased antibacterial activity was observed for a strain of Streptococcus pneumoniae ATCC 49619, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Enterococcus faecium, Sarcina lutea ATCC 9341 and Bacillus pseudomycoides, while the strains of Streptococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcus aureus were the least sensitive. All the HEas showed a reduction in the activity of lipoxygenase enzymes, proteases, and inhibition of protein denaturation. The HEa-EtOH and HEa-iPrOH also enhanced the wound healing activity of HDF cells. Additionally, in vitro penetration studies were performed using the Franz diffusion cells. These studies showed that the active ingredients contained in E. angustifolium penetrate through human skin and accumulate in it. Furthermore, the hydrogels containing E. angustifolium extracts showed a broad spectrum of activity. Therefore, they can be considered as an interesting alternative for dermatologic and cosmetic preparations.

Flavonoid Profiles and Antioxidant Potential of Monochoria angustifolia (G. X. Wang) Boonkerd & Tungmunnithum, a New Species from the Genus Monochoria C. Presl.

Plants of the genus Monochoria have long been utilized in food, cosmetics, and traditional herbal treatments. Thailand has the highest species diversity of this genus and a new member, Monochoria angustifolia (G. X. Wang) Boonkerd & Tungmunnithum has been recently described. This plant is called “Siam Violet Pearl” as a common name or “Khimuk Si Muang Haeng Siam” as its vernacular name with the same meaning in the Thai language. Despite their importance, little research on Monochoria species has been conducted. This study, thus, provides the results to fill in this gap by: (i) determining flavonoid phytochemical profiles of 25 natural populations of M. angustifolia covering the whole floristic regions in Thailand, and (ii) determining antioxidant activity using various antioxidant assays to investigate probable mechanisms. The results revealed that M. angustifolia presents a higher flavonoid content than the outgroup, M. hastata. Our results also revealed that flavonoids might be used to investigate Monochoria evolutionary connections and for botanical authentication. The various antioxidant assays revealed that M. angustifolia extracts preferentially act through a hydrogen atom transfer antioxidant mechanism. Pearson correlation analysis indicated significant correlations, emphasizing that the antioxidant capacity is most probably due to the complex action of several phytochemicals rather than that of a single molecule. Together, these results showed that this new species provide an attractive alternative starting material with phytochemical variety and antioxidant potential for the phytopharmaceutical industry.

Recent Advances in the Extraction of Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. Used in Traditional Aboriginal Medicine: A Mini Review

Numerous native Australian plants are widely used as traditional medicines by the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Among the native plants, Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. (Gumby Gumby) is claimed to be a promising medicinal plant in the treatment of a wide range of diseases that includes viral symptoms (colds and coughs), eczema, cancer, muscle aches, varicose veins, and many more. Various extraction techniques are used to extract the bioactive compounds of P. angustifolium, which are formulated into nutraceuticals. The present paper will provide an overview of the recent development in the extraction of bioactive ingredients from P. angustifolium, as well as the findings on the phytochemicals and antimicrobial activity of P. angustifolium extracts.

In vitro Cytotoxic Properties of Crude Polar Extracts of Plants Sourced from Australia

Numerous commercial pharmaceuticals – including anticancer, antiviral, and antidiabetic drugs have been developed from traditional plant-derived medicines. There are approximately 25,000 species of flora occurring in Australia, which are adapted to a range of harsh environments, and hence a plethora of novel compounds are still awaiting research in the context of their medicinal properties. The current study therefore aimed to develop a systematic protocol for screening plants with potential cytotoxicity. Many studies have found polar compounds such as caffeic acid, coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, anthocyanins, hesperidin, kaempferol, catechin, ellagic acid, and saponins to be the bioactive components responsible for the therapeutic effects. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (FRAP) of methanolic extracts of selected plants was first determined. A high correlation between the TPC values and FRAP values of the plant polar extracts were evident. Cell viability of the cancer cell lines were assessed using the MTS assay. Cells subjected to Pittosporum angustifolium Lodd. extracts at concentration of 250 µg·mL −1 showed no viable cells, comparable to cisplatin (a chemotherapy medication) used as a positive control (10 µg·mL −1 ). Some promising inhibitory effects were also seen with Murrya koenigii flower and leaves at concentration of 250 µg·mL −1 , with only 43.46% and 63.88% cell viability, respectively. In contrast, extracts of Citrus hystrix (leaves) and Sygyzium australe (stamen) showed higher percentage cell viabilities (around 82–93%) at same concentrations. The phenolic profile of P. angustifolium B extracts demonstrating greater peak intensity and dominant peaks were tentatively identified as chlorogenic acid, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, t-ferulic acid and rutin. The Australian species Pittosporum angustifolium was the most cytotoxic against HeLa and HT29 cells comparing to the other plant extracts tested. A HPLC profile of the P. angustifolium extract also showed an array of promising therapeutic phenolic compounds. Future work will aim to fractionate and isolate novel compounds from this species and test their bioactivity.

Study of Epilobium angustifolium L. amino acids content by HPLC method

The use of plant raw materials is one of the areas of modern pharmaceutical science in the production of herbal drugs. The genus Epilobium counts more than 200 species, many species of which are used in traditional medicine. Among the Epilobium species, Epilobium angustifolium is one of the well-known medicinal plants which have been used worldwide in habitual medicine. There is insufficient information in the literature on the biologically active substances of Epilobium angustifolium L. The presence of three major polyphenol groups: phenolic acids, flavonoids, and ellagitannins were identified in E. angustifolium extracts. Traditionally, the infusion of leaves of this plant could be useful for headaches, cold and gastrointestinal disorder. The Epilobium angustifolium L. as an insufficiently studied plant is a promising object of study, including amino acids composition. To assess the relationship between the production of primary metabolites and their possible therapeutic properties, we analyzed the amino acid profile of the plant Epilobium angustifolium used in traditional medicine. The study of compounds generated by plants as a result of defense mechanisms permits an understanding of the molecular mechanism involved in their medicinal properties.
 The aim. Thus, the aim of the study was to conduct an HPLC analysis of the amino acids of E. angustifolium to establish the prospects for the use of the raw materials in medical and pharmaceutical practice. The results of the current study will be used in further breeding programs aimed to obtain an industrial form of E. angustifolium suitable for pharmaceutical and food applications.
 Materials and methods. The determination of amino acids composition of Epilobium angustifolium was conducted using Agilent 1200 (Agilent Technologies, USA).
 Results. The HPLC method identified sixteen free amino acids and seventeen bound amino acids in the Epilobium angustifolium herb. The studies have shown that Epilobium angustifolium L. herb is mainly composed of free amino acids such as L-phenylalanine (1.65 µg/mg), L-glutamic acid (1.51 µg/mg), L-arginine (1.24 µg/mg), L-alanine (0.98 µg/mg) and L-aspartic acid (0.57 µg/mg), which were presents in the greatest amount. The dominant bound amino acids in the studied raw material were L-glutamic acid, L-aspartic acid, L-leucine, and L-alanine, the content of which was 32.37 µg/mg, 10.59 µg/mg, 8.70 µg/mg, and 6.22 µg/mg respectively.
 Conclusions. Using the HPLC method determined the amino acids in the herb of Epilobium angustifolium L. The concentrations of L-aspartic acid, L-glutamic acid, L-arginine, L-alanine and L-phenylalanine are predominate among free and bound amino acids in the Epilobium angustifolium L. herb. The result shows that Epilobium angustifolium L. is the source of amino acids, so the use of this plant raw material for new remedies is possible in the future

Ultrasound‐assisted extraction of fucoxanthin from Sargassum angustifolium and Cystoseira indica brown algae

The ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE; 150 W, 100 amplitude) of fucoxanthin from Sargassum angustifolium and Cystoseira indica brown algae was investigated and compared with conventional extraction methods. Different solvents (methanol, acetone, and methanol/acetone) and sonication times (1, 5, 10, and 15 min) were applied. Among a variety of solvents, methanol extract of C. indica (0.77 ± 0.05 mg/g) and methanol/acetone extract of S. angustifolium (0.70 ± 0.02 mg/g) was more effective in fucoxanthin extraction. UAE had a significant effect on yield extraction and 15 min sonication had a high recovery yield about 0.79 ± 0.01 mg/g and 0.81 ± 0.01 (mg/g) from S. angustifolium and C. indica methanolic extracts, respectively. Moreover, the crude extract of C. indica exhibited inhibitory growth against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, while S. angustifolium extract had weak antimicrobial activity. According to the gas chromatography results, γ-Linolenic acid and arachidonic acid were detected as main PUFA in S. angustifolium and C. indica, respectively. Novelty impact statement Ultrasound-assisted extraction increased the recovery yield of fucoxanthin from the Persian Gulf brown seaweeds Sargassum angustifolium and Cystoseira indica. The best solvents for fucoxanthin extraction from C. indica and S. angustifolium were methanol and methanol/acetone, respectively. The antibacterial activity of C. indica extract was better than S. angustifolium extract.

The effect of extractive lacto-fermentation on the bioactivity and natural products content of Pittosporum angustifolium (gumbi gumbi) extracts

Pittosporum angustifolium, known as gumbi gumbi, is a native Australian plant, which has traditionally been used as an Aboriginal medicine. This study investigates the effect of different solvents and extractive fermentation on the content and natural products composition of Pittosporum angustifolium extracts, and compares their antioxidant activity, in vitro α-amylase inhibition, and anti-inflammatory properties. Anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts was determined by measuring the inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production. Extracts were characterised with FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, and screened for antioxidant activities and α-amylase inhibitory activity via High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC)-Effect-directed analysis (EDA) with direct bioautography. HPTLC combined with chemical derivatization and bioassays was used for EDA screening. The results show that lactic acid fermentation of gumbi gumbi leaves boosts the antioxidant activity in extracts by increasing the total phenolic content, but does not affect (increase or decrease) α-amylase inhibitory activity or nitrogen scavenging/anti-inflammatory activity. Analysis of the ATR-FTIR spectra from the band at RF = 0.85 that inhibits α-amylase, suggests that fatty acid esters are responsible for the enzyme inhibition; both saturated fatty acid esters in unfermented extracts and unsaturated fatty acid esters in fermented extracts. The ATR-FTIR spectra of the polyphenolics in fermented extracts (RF = 0.15-0.20) suggests the presence of soluble lignin fragments (i.e. lignins depolymerized into monomers and oligomers during the fermentation process).

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles with Antibacterial Activity Using Various Medicinal Plant Extracts: Morphology and Antibacterial Efficacy.

A green synthetic route for the production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using five different aqueous plant extracts, namely, Berberis vulgaris, Brassica nigra, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Lavandula angustifolia and Origanum vulgare, was investigated in this study. The present work demonstrates the influence of plant extract composition (antioxidant and total phenolic content) on the size and morphology of the produced AgNPs. The biosynthetic procedure was rapid and simple and was easily monitored via colour changes and ultraviolet and visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. Subsequently, measurement of zeta potential (ZP), photon cross-correlation spectroscopy (PCCS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) analysis were employed to characterise the as-synthesised nanoparticles. The XRD investigation confirmed the presence of Ag0 in the nanoparticles, and interactions between the bioactive compounds of the plants and the produced AgNPs were evident in the FTIR spectra. TEM indicated that the nanoparticles exhibited a bimodal size distribution, with the smaller particles being spherical and the larger having a truncated octahedron shape. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the AgNPs was tested against five bacterial strains. All synthesised nanoparticles exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity at a precursor concentration of 5 mM compared to the control substance, gentamicin sulphate, with the best results observed for AgNPs prepared with B. nigra and L. angustifolia extracts.

Comparing the effects of Elaegnus Angustifolia, Hypericum Perforatum and Psidium Guajava extracts on metabolic activity of dental pulp-derived mesenchymal stem cells.

Dental pulp derived-mesenchymal stem cells (DP-MSCs) is considered a suitable are candidate for tissue engineering techniques and osseous reconstruction. Based on the hypothesis that Hypericum perforatum, Elaeagnus Angustifolia and Psidium guajava extracts can be used in cell-based bone tissue engineering due to meagre cytotoxicity response in the cell culture medium, their effects on the viability and metabolic activity of DP-MSCs were investigated and compared with each extract. DP-MSCs were extracted from human dental pulp, characterized by flow cytometry, and differentiated into Osteogenic and adipogenic lineages which were then cultured in different concentrations of E. Angustifolia, H. perforatum and P. guajava extracts at different time intervals followed by MTT assay evaluation. The dental pulp mesenchymal stem cells were evaluated for their plastic adherence ability, fibroblast-like and spindle morphology. According to flow cytometry data, isolated cells from DP-MSCs expressed MSCs markers. A comparison of herbal extracts' concentrations revealed that 500μg/ml was toxic to dental pulp stem cells, a guide to the toxic dose for DP-MSCs. The P.guajava bore low toxicity and increased dental pulp stem cell viability in comparison to the other two herbal extracts. The hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. Angustifolia, H. perforatum, and P. guajava were efficient in DP-MSCs viability, and therefore were concluded to be useful in maintaining structural and functional cell viability. It was also concluded that the co-culture of stem cells with herbal elements could stimulate endogenous factors to enhance the proliferation and viability of MSCs.

ИЗУЧЕНИЕ ОБЩЕТОКСИЧЕСКОГО ДЕЙСТВИЯ ТРАВЫ КИПРЕЯ УЗКОЛИСТНОГО

The results of the toxicological experiment on extracts from Epilobium angustifolium L. herb are presented. Absence of reliable negative changes, structural and functional disorders was established in accordance with the criteria for assessing the harmfulness and danger of toxic effect of the raw materials studied in Good Laboratory Practice (GLP). Significant differences in some hematological parameters in the experimental group of animals where the dose of Epilobium angustifolium extract making 800 mg/kg of animal weight was chosen for study compared to the control one are not diagnostically significant and are within the fluctuations of physiological norms for the animals species given. It was found that the extracts in doses of 200, 500 and 800 mg/kg (by dry residue) in repeated oral administration for 28 days do not cause detectable toxic effects.

Epilobium angustifolium L. extract with high content in oenothein B on benign prostatic hyperplasia: A monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition in adult men. Especially in Europe, increasing attention has been focused on E. angustifolium extracts (EAEs), which are widely used for their positive effects on the symptoms of BPH, although human clinical trials are limited. The aim of this monocentric, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial is to evaluate if a daily intake of hard, gastric-resistant capsules containing a chemically characterized EAE (500 mg) for 6 months may allow a significant improvement in symptoms in subjects with BPH. This study was conducted in 128 adult men, randomly assigned to receive either EAE food supplement (N = 70) or placebo (N = 58), who underwent four visits (baseline = t0, after 15 days = t1, after 2 months = t2 and after 6 months = t3) in an outpatient setting to evaluate post-void residual (PVR) and prostate volume (PV) by means of prostate ultrasound, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and neutrofile/lymphocyte ratio (N/L), nocturia before the clinical visits and International Prostate Specific Score (IPSS) registered by the physicians. EAE food supplement induced a significant decrease in the PVR and consequently nocturia improving the quality of life as suggested by the decrease of IPSS. No subjects reported adverse effects related to oral intake of EAE food supplement. Moreover, EAE food supplement did not show hepatic or renal toxicity. In conclusion, EAE food supplements can be used in subjects with BPH, to improve their quality of life and general renal function.

In Vitro Human Skin Penetration, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity of Ethanol-Water Extract of Fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.).

Epilobium angustifolium L. is applied as an antiseptic agent in the treatment of skin diseases. However, there is a lack of information on human skin penetration of active ingredients with antioxidative potential. It seems crucial because bacterial infections of skin and subcutaneous tissue are common and partly depend on oxidative stress. Therefore, we evaluated in vitro human skin penetration of fireweed ethanol-water extracts (FEEs) by determining antioxidant activity of these extracts before and after penetration study using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), and Folin–Ciocalteu methods. Microbiological tests of extracts were done. The qualitative and quantitative evaluation was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-UV) methods. The in vitro human skin penetration using the Franz diffusion chamber was assessed. The high antioxidant activity of FEEs was found. Gallic acid (GA), chlorogenic acid (ChA), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (3,4-DHB), 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HB), and caffeic acid (CA) were identified in the extracts. The antibacterial activities were found against Serratia lutea, S. marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, B. pseudomycoides, and B. thuringiensis and next Enterococcus faecalis, E. faecium, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and P. fluorescens strains. In vitro penetration studies showed the penetration of some phenolic acids and their accumulation in the skin. Our results confirm the importance of skin penetration studies to guarantee the efficacy of formulations containing E. angustifolium extracts.

In vitro assessment of anti-Trichomonas effects ofZingiber officinale and Lavandula angustifolia alcoholic extracts on Trichomonas gallinae.

Trichomonas gallinae is a parasite that acts as a canker-causing agent and leads to significant loss and mortality, especially in young birds. Metronidazole is the approved drug used for the treatment of trichomoniasis. A non-chemical alternativess such as medical plant extracts are also used to treat this disease due to drug resistance. This study aimed to assess in vitro antitrichomonal effects of Lavandula angustifolia and Zingiber officinale extracts on T. gallinae compared with metronidazole. The T. gallinae samples were obtained from infected pigeons. Multi-well plates filled with different concentrations (5.00, 10.00, 25.00, 50.00, and 100 μg mL-1) were used to perform in vitro analysis. The Z. officinale extract’s minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the 24-hr period was 25.00 μg mL-1, while it was 50.00 μg mL-1 for metronidazole. The MIC value obtained for L. angustifolia extract in 24-hr was 50.00 μg mL-1. The results indicated that the extracts of Z. officinale and L. angustifolia could act as potential natural agents against trichomoniasis. Furthermore, this study delineated the equal efficiency of L. angustifolia and Z. officinale with that of metronidazole in inhibiting the growth of Trichomonas gallinae trophozoites in culture media.

The Effect of Sargassum angustifolium Ethanol Extract on Cadmium Chloride-Induced Hypertension in Rat

Background and objectives: Sargassum angustifolium is a brown alga in southwestern coastline of Persian Gulf. Regarding the presence of various bioactive compounds and evidence of antihypertensive effects in other species of Sargassum, we evaluated the effect of S. angustifolium ethanol extract in CdCl2-induced hypertension in Wistar rats. Methods: Alga extract was prepared by maceration method using 70% ethanol and assessed for total phenolics and salt content. CdCl2 (1.5 mg/kg/day) was administered intraperitoneally to the rats for two weeks. Treatment groups received S. angustifolium extract (20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) or nifedipine (10 mg/kg) orally and simultaneously were given CdCl2 for two weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate were measured using tail-cuff method. Total antioxidant capacity, urea, creatinine, electrolytesincluding sodium, potassium, calcium and chloride were estimated in blood samples. The weight and histopathology of kidney tissues were also evaluated. Results: The content of total phenolic as gallic acid equivalent and the salt as NaCl was 67.42 ± 9.5 mg/g and 6.9 g/100 g in dried ethanol extract, respectively. CdCl2 caused significant increase in SBP, kidney/body weight ratio, serum sodium and urea level and decrease in plasma total antioxidant capacity, and also histopathological alterations in kidney tissues. Treatment with S. angustifolium extract at the doses of 40 and 80 mg/kg significantly reversed hypertension and improved kidney weight, urea level and electrolyte changes, and enhanced antioxidant capacity and preventedhistopathological changes of kidney. Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicated antihypertensive and antioxidant effects of S. angustifolium extract against CdCl2-induced hypertension in rats.

Application of Brown Algae (Sargassum angustifolium) Extract for Improvement of Drought Tolerance in Canola (Brassica napus L.).

Background: Abiotic environmental stresses, especially drought stress, is one of the most important problems in arid and semi-arid regions. Like other major crops, Brassica napus is vulnerable to drought stress.Objective: The present study was conducted to evaluate efficacy of Sargassum angustifolium extract on mitigating adverse effects of drought stress on B. napus seedlings during vegetative growth under greenhouse conditions.Materials and Methods: Seedlings were periodically sprayed with the seaweed extract until they reached 7-leaf stage. Then water deficit stress was imposed and measurements were performed at morphological, biochemical and molecular levels on three phases: 80% field capacity for 20 days (Phase I), 60% field capacity for 20 days (Phase II) and 40% field capacity for 20 days (Phase III). Real-Time PCR assay was carried out to monitor the changes in expression of the genes involved in proline biosynthesis.Results: Morphological measurements revealed that seaweed treatment improved shoot height and dry weight compared to control (p<0.05). Biochemical analyses indicated that foliar application of seaweed extract significantly enhanced the photosynthetic pigments’ content, free radical scavenging and superoxide dismutase activity (p<0.05). Moreover, proline content was significantly increased in plant tissues treated with seaweed extract (p<0.05). The results of Real-Time PCR assay showed that the increase in proline content is due to enhanced expression of P5CS which is involved in biosynthesis of proline, and to decreased expression of PRODH which catalyzes proline degradation. Conclusions: Overall, the results obtained in this research suggest that application of S. angustifolium extract as a biostimulant is able to protect canola seedlings against deteriorating effects of drought stress.

NanoBio challenge: Investigation of antimicrobial effect by combining ZnO nanoparticles with plant extract Eleagnus angustifolia

Eleagnus angustifolia has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-cancer, Anti- microbial activity and scar healing properties. Zinc oxide (ZnO) has got much attention in the recently because it is stable under diverse environmental conditions, and fabrication at low temperature. ZnO NPs are believed to be nontoxic, bio-safe, and biocompatible. Recently, in many studies ZnO particles shown antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive Gram-negative bacteria and even antibacterial activity against spores In the light of information, The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of plant and ZnONPs. In our study, aqueous ethanol extracts of E. angustifolia were prepared and the antimicrobial activity against some pathogenic microorganisms. The MIC was taken as the lowest concentration that inhibited growth after incubation. The test was performed at final concentrations of each extract 12.500;6.250; 3.125; 1.562;781; 390;195;97;48.8; 24.4 µg/mL for microdilution. ZnO. A stock suspension was prepared by resuspending the nanoparticles in double-distilled water to yield a final concentration. Serial 2-fold dilutions of nanoparticles ranging from 0.00625 to 1.6 mg/ml were prepared in a 96-well microtiter plate using MH broth. The MIC values of E. angustifolia ethanol extract for. P. mirabilis, C. albicans, E. faecalis, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa, A. baumannii were eth were ≥ 12.500, 1.562, 1.562, 3.125, 1.562, ≥ 12.500, ≥ 12.500, ≥ 12.500 µg/ml, respectively. ZnONPs., ≥ 1.6, 0.05, 0.2, 0.05, 1.6, ≥ 1.6. According to the results in our study, the highest effect was observed on gram positive bacteries and yeast. Result of this study suggests that E. angustifolia extracts can be effective in all tested microorganisms. And ZnoNPs effected Gram positive bacteria. Further studies in the effect of different dosages and duration are suggested. Future studies should elucidate the components responsible for antimicrobial activity of these extracts against target cultures.

Phenolic Content and Antimicrobial and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Solidago virga-aurea, Phyllanthus niruri, Epilobium angustifolium, Peumus boldus, and Ononis spinosa Extracts

Prostatitis is an inflammatory condition that is related to multiple infectious agents, including bacteria and fungi. Traditional herbal extracts proved efficacious in controlling clinical symptoms associated with prostatitis. In this context, the aim of the present study was to explore the efficacy of extracts from Solidago virga-aurea, Ononis spinosa, Peumus boldus, Epilobium angustifolium, and Phyllanthus niruri against bacterial (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus) and fungi strains (Candida albicans; C. tropicalis) involved in prostatitis. Additionally, anti-mycotic effects were tested against multiple species of dermatophytes (Trichophyton rubrum, T. tonsurans, T. erinacei, Arthroderma crocatum, A. quadrifidum, A. gypseum, A. currey, and A. insingulare). Antioxidant effects were also evaluated in isolated rat prostates challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and phytochemical analyses were conducted to identify and quantify selected phenolic compounds, in the extracts. Finally, a bioinformatics analysis was conducted to predict putative human and microbial enzymes targeted by extracts’ phytocompounds and underlying the observed bio-pharmacological effects. The phytochemical analysis highlighted that rutin levels could be crucial for explaining the highest antibacterial activity of P. boldus extract, especially against E. coli and B. cereus. On the other hand, in the E. angustifolium extract, catechin concentration could partially explain the highest efficacy of this extract in reducing lipid peroxidation, in isolated rat prostates stimulated with LPS. Concluding, the results of the present study showed moderate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects induced by water extracts of S. virga-aurea, P. boldus, E. angustifolium, P. niruri, and O. spinosa that could be related, at least partially, to the phenolic composition of the phytocomplex.

Antiproliferative Activity of Pyracantha and Paullinia Plant Extracts on Aggressive Breast and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

In recent decades, the use of plants as a natural remedy has been widely applied in traditional medicine and the treatment of various diseases, including cancer. However, in order to confirm the potential benefits of anticancer drug development from natural sources, in-depth screening assessments are necessary. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxic effects of eight medicinal plants against breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Remarkably, among all the tested plant extracts, Pyracantha angustifolia and Paullinia cupana extracts showed maximum inhibition in the two cancer cell line models, as detected by cell viability assays, but not in normal mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, induction of cell cycle arrest was seen in both cancer cell models after treatment with extracts derived from the fruits of P. angustifolia and the seeds of P. cupana. Phytochemical and antioxidant analyses demonstrated the presence of high phenolic and flavonoid contents, including an increase in 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) activity. The growth inhibition of human breast carcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma cells mediated by both extracts appears to be associated with apoptosis and upregulated expression of pro-apoptotic genes (caspase-3, caspase-7, tumor suppressor protein-p53, cytochrome c, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, p53 upregulated modulator of apoptosis, and Bcl-2-associated X-protein). Together, these results indicate that P. angustifolia and P. cupana offer a promising approach for the development of anticancer agents. However, further detailed research is required to make these plants applicable for therapeutic use.

Evaluation of aerial parts of Echium angustifolium on ciguatoxins toxicity using molecular modeling and albino mice models

Ciguatoxin (CTX) is a polyether neurotoxin compound produced by microalgae (dinoflagellate, Gambierdiscus spp). The toxin is accumulated and transformed throughout the sea food chain causing many life-threatening neurological problems in Libya and other Mediterranean and North African countries and eventually may cause death. The plant species Echium angustifolium which is locally known as “Hannet Al-Aggrab” contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids, phenolic acid derivatives, flavonoids and other constituents that are known for their numerous biological activities. For treatments of ciguatera fish poisoning the plant has not been studied so far in the Mediterranean and North Africa regions. In the present study, Echium angustifolium aqueous extract was evaluated for its ability to reduce or revoke the effect of ciguatoxins in mice. Molecular docking and in vivo animal studies were performed in order to determine the potential effect of Echium angustifolium aqueous extract against ciguatoxicity. The content of Echium angustifolium extract was evaluated using molecular modeling against ciguatoxin on sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) voltage-gated channels. Hesperetin was found the most active compounds with a Gibbs energy of -8.5Kcal/mol. For K+ voltage-gated channels was ellagic acid which was the most active compounds with a Gibbs energy of -9.0Kcal/mol. Our results revealed that Echium angustifolium constituents form hydrogen bonds with active sites of Na+ and K+ channels and protect the mice from ciguatoxin toxicity with a statistically significant difference of the extract compared to controls with p value less than 0.01. We propose that Echium angustifolium constituents can be used to prevent ciguatoxin toxicity. Further chemical synthesis of analogues and in vivo studies will be necessary to substantiate the obtained results.

Eriodictyon angustifolium extract, but not Eriodictyon californicum extract, reduces human hair greying.

Yerba Santa (Eriodictyon angustifolium and Eriodictyon californicum) has been used for many years in traditional medicine. However, the effect of Yerba Santa on melanogenesis has not yet been investigated. We aimed to assess the biological effects of Yerba Santa on hair pigmentation. Yerba Santa extracts were assessed for their cytological effects following X-ray irradiation treatment and then tested directly for the prevention of human hair greying. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was utilized to identify the individual extract components. Eriodictyon angustifolium extract significantly increased melanin synthesis in the melanoma cell line through activation of the WNT/MITF/tyrosinase-signalling pathway. In contrast, E.californicum had no effect on melanin synthesis. E.angustifolium extract also demonstrated a protective effect against the damage induced by X-ray irradiation in human keratinocytes. Application of the extracts to subjects who had grey beards demonstrated a reduced number of grey beard hair per year specifically with the E.angustifolium extract. A significant decrease in grey head hair was also observed after application of E.angustifolium extract. Upregulation of gene expression related to melanin production and WNT signalling was observed after the application of E.angustifolium extract. Sterubin was the most abundant flavonoid detected by UPLC in E.angustifolium extract. In addition, sterubin showed the highest difference in terms of quantity, between E.angustifolium and E.californicum extract. Eriodictyon angustifolium extract, which is abundant in sterubin, may be suitable as a potential cosmetic and medical agent for the prevention and improvement of hair greying.