Butanol Fraction Research Articles

A new indole alkaloid and anti-malarial activity of the stem bark extract of Chrysophyllum albidum

Background to the study: Chrysophyllum albidum stem bark extract had been shown to be antimalarial active in various studies but the compound responsible have not been identified. Methods: Its stem bark ethanol extract was successively partitioned to obtain n-hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol fractions and the aqueous phase with the aim of isolating the antimalarial constituent(s). The fractions were all tested for chemosuppressive activities at doses 0-80 mg/kg using Peter’s four-day test in Plasmodium berghei berghei-infected mouse model with chloroquine (10 mg/kg) and normal saline as positive and negative control respectively Result: The partitioned fractions: n hexane, butanol and aqueous with ED50 44.71±4.88, 54.84±4.25 and 54.42±3.84 and 56.6±4.64 respectively were comparable (p>0.05) in activity to each other. The ethyl acetate fraction with strong reactions to Dragendorff’s reagent and similarly has good weight, was further purified by repeated column chromatography leading to the isolation of a new indole alkaloid identified and characterized as 4, 5, 7, 8-tetrahydro-1H-1, 4-epoxyazepino [1′, 2′: 1, 2] pyrido [3, 4-b] indole-2, 3, 3(2H, 13H, 13bH)-triol (1) named as albidumine with a molecular formula C16H18N2O4. In addition, eleaginine (2), previously characterised from the seed was also identified in this stem-bark through LC-MS. To the best of our knowledge, compound 1 is a new alkaloidal constituent in Chrysophyllum sp. The structure was elucidated using the data from mass spectra, 1D (1H, 13C NMR and DEPT) and 2D-NMR (HMQC and HMBC) spectra. Conclusion: A new indole alkaloid isolated from ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanol extract of the stem-bark of Chrysophyllum albidum and characterised as albidumine may likely be an antimalarial constituent of the plant

The Comparison of the Sunscreen Activity of Ethanol Extracts and Fractions from Robusta Coffee (Coffea canephora) Leaves using UV Spectrophotometer Method

Background: The development of sunscreen preparations has led to the use of natural ingredients as active substances. Robusta coffee leaves (Coffea canephora) contain alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins and steroids. From previous research the SPF value of its ethanol extract at 150 ppm was 12,989 (Maximum protection). The sunscreen activity of its fractions need to be determined, to find out which one has the highest potential sunscreen activities
 Method: Sunscreen activity examination was carried out in vitro using a UV spectrophotometer. The concetntration of each fraction used was 150 ppm.
 Results: The N-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions have sunscreen activity with extra protective power, SPF values respectively were 6.006, 7.609, and 8.046. This activities arises from the content of flavonoids, phenolics and tannins. While the remaining water fraction has the lowest protective activity, with SPF value 3.985 and only contain tannin. Compared to Its ethanol extract, the ethanol extract has better sunscreen activit, because at a 150 ppm it has SPF value 12.989 (Maximum sunscreen activity)
 Conclusion: the sunscreen activity of this fraction is lower than its ethanol extract. The ethanol extract of robusta coffee leaves has more potential to be developed into a sunscreen preparation.
 Keywords: ; Robusta coffee leaves ; Fraction ; SPF Value

Studies on desmodium velutinum (Willd.) DC. leaf extract's polyphenol profile, in-vitro antioxidant capacity, and anti-proliferative activity of A549 cell lines

In African and Asian ethnomedicinal studies, Desmodium velutinum (Willd) has been used in the treatment of tooth and head aches, diarrhoea, cancer, and haematuria and as repellent and aphrodisiac. The study is aimed at determining polyphenol profile and antioxidant activities of D. velutinum methanol leaf extract and its ethyl acetate and butanol fraction. The study also investigated the effect of this plant on lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cell line. The polyphenol constituents in D. velutinum were evaluated with the U-HPLC technique. While, the antioxidant activities of the methanol plant extract and its fractions were assessed with the DPPH, metal chelating, reducing power and DNA nicking assays. MTT assay was employed to analyse the effect of the plant on A549 cell line. Kaempferol is the principal polyphenol in the leaf extract/fraction of D. velutinum. Conversely, its ethyl acetate fraction possessed a higher concentration of catechin than kaempferol. Total phenolic content (TPC) result was directly proportional to the antioxidant activities of extract and fractions, a higher TPC value was obtained in ethyl-acetate fraction (787.1 ± 21.4 mg GAE/g) than the crude methanol extract (710.9 ± 24.5 mg GAE/g) and its n-butanol fraction (759.2 ± 1.3 mg GAE/g), thus, ethyl acetate fraction performed best in the antioxidant assays. D. velutinum also inhibited oxidative damage to supercoiled plasmid DNA and suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells in a dose-dependent manner. This study shows that D. velutinum does have potentials to protect against many diseases linked with reactive oxygen species.

Moricandia sinaica (Boiss.): A Potent Source of Hypoglycaemic and Antidiabetic Remedy

Here, we evaluated the antidiabetic and hypoglycaemic activities of Moricandia sinaica, a species of the Brassicaceae family, for the first time. The hypoglycaemic and antidiabetic activities of the M. sinaica shoot’s methanol extract (MOR-1), butanol fraction (MOR-2), and aqueous fraction (MOR-3) were examined against streptozotocin-induced diabetes model in albino Swiss mice. The mice were divided into eight groups (each group consisted of 6 mice). MOR-1 (100 and 200 mg/kg), MOR-2 (100 and 200 mg/kg), and MOR-3 (100 and 200 mg/kg) were administered to groups III, IV, V, VI, VII, and VIII, respectively, for 15 days (daily). The blood samples were haematologically and biochemically assessed at 0 days, 7 days, and 15 days. Mice in group I were kept untreated as control while group II was treated with glibenclamide as standard. Antidiabetic effects increased with MOR-1 and MOR-2 doses in a dose-dependent manner. MOR-2 treatment (200 mg/kg) yielded the best results (29.56% and 40.07% after 7 and 15 days, respectively) compared to the results obtained at zero days. MOR-2 (200 mg/kg) showed the greatest decline in glucose levels (27.67% and 41.13% after 7 and 15 days, respectively). The results concluded that M. sinaica exhibited potential hypoglycaemic activity.

Polymethoxyflavone from Citrus depressa as an inhibitor against various variants of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein

Ethnopharmacological relevanceIn traditional Taiwanese medicine, Citrus depressa Hayata serves as the raw material of Chen-Pi which has been widely used to treat respiratory ailments. Scientific investigations have validated the attributes of C. depressa, elucidating its valuable properties, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, neuroprotion, hepatoprotection, and hypolipidemic effects. Aim of the studyThis study aims to isolate a universal inhibitor of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein from C. depressa and confirm the mechanism by which these inhibitors disrupt the binding of the spike protein to hACE2. Materials and methodsThe whole fruit of C. depressa was subjected to ethanol extraction, following by partitioning to obtain water, butanol, and ethyl acetate fractions. To identify the inhibitory components in citrus fruits, we performed both the SPR assay and the SARS-CoV-2 pseudo-virus assays. Subsequently, we employed a bioassay-guided approach to efficiently isolate and characterize the bioactive constituents that hindered the interaction between the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and hACE2, using a combination of MPLC and Semi-preparative HPLC for compound isolation. ELISA based spike protein binding assay evaluate the inhibitory activities of the extract and potential constituents against multiple spike protein variants. To further shed light on the inhibitory mechanism, candidate inhibitors were validated through the SPR assay and molecular docking. ResultsThe crude extract and ethyl acetate layer derived from C. depressa showed significant inhibitory activity on SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.4/5, with IC50 of 77.4 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL, respectively. Ten potential compounds from C. depressa have been identified with inhibitory activity against various SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. 2′-hydroxy-4,4′,5′,6′-tetramethoxychalcone (Cd3) and 5-hydroxy-3′,4′,6,7,8-pentamethoxyflavone (Cd8) also showed good inhibitory activity to the spike protein, with KD of 0.79 μM and 37.3 nM, respectively. These findings are in line with prior study, indicating Cd3 and Cd8 can bind to key amino acid residue, disrupting the formation of the spike protein and h-ACE2 complex. ConclusionThis study presents the initial evidence showcasing the inhibitory effect of polymethoxyflavones (PMFs) on the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, the inhibitory activity of C. depressa extracts indicates their potential to prevent infections of different SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Investigation of volatile profiles and odor-active compounds in Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus separated by different polarities using GC/MS, GC-olfactometry and electronic-nose system.

This research investigated volatiles and odor active compounds in Osmanthus fragrans var. aurantiacus. Heterocyclics were mainly extracted from hexane and dichloromethane extracts. Ketones were mainly detected from butanol fraction, and alcohols were mainly extracted from the ethanol fraction. GC-O analysis investigated the contents and intensities of three major odor active compounds increasing by ramping up polarity Multivariate analysis, which includes principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), by E-nose data showed 45.83% (PC1) and 29.27 (PC2) variances, respectively, and segregated two clusters. Multivariate analysis by GC-O data showed 65.64% (PC1) and 24.17% (PC2) variances, respectively, and segregated the three clusters, cluster I by ethanol extract, cluster II by dichloromethane extract, and cluster III by hexane and butanol extracts. This study demonstrates that different polarity solvents can collect various volatiles and odor active compound groups. Our findings can support basic research data as a natural and functional food additive.

Anti-ulcer activity of aqueous ethanol extract of Rheum spiciforme and its fractions in animal model

Helicobacter pylori infection, pepsin, ischemia, hypoxia, smoking, alcohol intake, hydrochloric acid, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are the causal factors of ulceration. In third-world countries, approximately one in two individuals has signs of gastric ulceration. Extensive literature suggested that plant-derived drugs hold the potential in the treatment of peptic ulcer, and Rheum spiciforme (family: Polygonaceae) has been known in the folk medicine for possessing medicinal effect on ulceration. To explore further along this line, the current study was designed to investigate the effects of aqueous ethanol extract of R. spiciforme roots and its fractions on peptic ulcer and to identify bioactive compounds responsible for mitigating this pathological condition. Animal model of ethanol-induced gastric ulcer was utilized in this study. The animals were pre-treated with crude plant extract, given at doses 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg, and then orally administered with butanol, aqueous, and dichloromethane fractions at doses of 250 mg/kg for 7 days. Following the treatments, a significant decrease in ulcerative lesions, ulcer index, ulcer severity score, volume, free acidity, and total acidity of gastric juice as well as a marked increase of gastric pH in the groups treated with plant extract at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg were noted. Moreover, butanol fraction has been shown to produce effects equipotent to that of the reference drug omeprazole. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses show that the plant extract contains emodin, aloe-emodin, and quercetin. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the aqueous ethanol extract of R. spiciforme and its butanol fraction exhibited gastro-protective effect.

Identification and Simultaneous HPLC-PDA Quantification of Anti-glycation and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Compounds From Atractylodes lancea Water Extract

Objective: The anti-diabetic efficacy of Atractylodes lancea water extract was verified by identifying the major active compounds, and quality control standards for water extracts were established by simultaneous HPLC quantification analysis. Methods: Thirteen compounds were isolated from the butanol fraction by bioactivity-guided approach using open-column chromatography. The compounds were identified by NMR and ESI/LTQ-Orbitrap-HRMS. The anti-diabetic activity was evaluated with anti-glycation and α-glucosidase assay. The simultaneous quantification by nine compounds was conducted by HPLC-PDA. Results: In total, 13 compounds from the butanol fraction were isolated. The water extract showed greater inhibitory effects than the hexane extract. Compounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12, and 13 showed high or significant activity. HPLC simultaneous analysis for these compounds was developed and validated to establish quality control standards, and the content standards of each compound were established through quantitative evaluation. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this study is the first to identify the main components and anti-glycation, α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of the water extract of A. lancea. This study scientifically and systematically established the quality control standards of traditional herbal medicine traditional herbal medicine through the development of a simultaneous HPLC quantitative analysis method and the establishment of content standards. It also demonstrates the potential of A. lancea water extract as a natural alternative treatment for diabetes.

Antigout Activity of The Spatholobus littoralis Hassk. Extract Fractions Against Xanthine Oxidase: Its Metabolite Profile and Inhibition Kinetics

The Spatholobus littoralis Hassk. (S. littoralis Hassk.) is a native plant in Indonesia and has been widely used in traditional Dayaknese medicine for non-communicable degenerative diseases. One of these illnesses, known as gout, is caused by excessive uric acid in the blood, which is the catalytic byproduct of a xanthine oxidase (XO) enzyme. In this work, we investigated the inhibition kinetics of XO and identified bioactive compounds from the stem extract fractions of S. littoralis Hassk. using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Fractionation was carried out to obtain n-hexane, dichloromethane, and 1-butanol fractions from the water and 70% ethanol extracts. Fraction of 1-butanol from 70% ethanol and water extract displayed potent inhibitors of XO with IC50 value 116.91±3.51 and 137.15±5.00 mg/L, respectively. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis showed that the 1-butanol fraction from the two extracts inhibited XO competitively. The 1-butanol fraction from the two extracts has been further identified as a bioactive fraction. The majority of the compounds in the two active fractions were phenolics. These findings revealed that the 1-butanol fraction from the two extracts is promising as an antigout treatment in the future.

α-Glucosidase, Angiotensin-converting Enzyme, and Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitory Activities of a Marine Red Alga Galaxaura oblongata

Seaweeds have gained interest from the pharmaceutical industry due to their diverse secondary metabolites with potential applications in the prevention and treatment of lifestyle diseases. In spite of the abundance of seaweeds in the coastal area of Iligan Bay in the Philippines, there has been limited investigation into their pharmacological properties. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition, and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition properties of various fractions obtained from the marine red alga Galaxaura oblongata. The methanol extract of G. oblongata was sequentially partitioned into hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and methanol fractions. All assays were performed in vitro and microplate based. The results of α-glucosidase inhibition activity assay showed that the n-hexane fraction and dichloromethane fraction exhibited greater than 50% inhibitory activity at 200 ppm. Furthermore, ACE inhibition activity assay revealed that dichloromethane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and butanol fraction displayed ACE inhibition activity above 50% at 250 ppm. In addition, the hexane fraction, dichloromethane fraction, and ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated potent AChE inhibitory activity at 250 ppm. Overall, the findings show that G. oblongata has antidiabetic, anti-hypertensive, and neuroprotective potentials. This is the first report of the in vitro α-Glucosidase, ACE, and AChE inhibition activities of G. oblongata. Further investigation and purification of the highly potent fractions in each assay is highly suggested to identify and characterize the compounds responsible for the observed bioactivities, which could serve as possible leads for drug discovery efforts in the management of various lifestyle diseases.

The Anti-Muscle Atrophy Effects of Ishige sinicola in LPS-Induced C2C12 Myotubes through Its Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Actions

Inflammation and oxidative stress are known to be major factors in muscle atrophy. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the antioxidant activity of Ishige sinicola ethanol extract (ISE) and fractions from ISE could prevent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. IS was extracted with ethanol and fractionated with five organic solvents. Then, ISE and five fractions from ISE were used to evaluate the total antioxidant activity and the protective effect of LPS-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. The ISE and butanol (BuOH) fraction showed higher total antioxidant activity and higher total phenol content than other fractions of ISE. The ISE and BuOH fraction significantly attenuated the LPS-induced diameter of C2C12 myotubes as well as the mRNA and protein expression levels of the muscle-specific E3 ubiquitin ligases. The mRNA expression of forkhead box O type 3α was stimulated by LPS, which was suppressed by the BuOH fraction but not ISE. Furthermore, ISE and the BuOH fraction significantly reduced LPS-stimulated gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inflammation-inducible enzymes, which was mediated by through the inhibition of the p38/extracellular signal-regulated kinase signaling pathway. Thus, ISE exerts a protective effect against muscle atrophy in LPS-induced C2C12 myotubes through the antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory effects of ISE.

Chemical Profiling and Antioxidant and Anti-Amyloid Capacities of Salvia fruticosa Extracts from Greece.

An increasingly common ailment in elderly persons is Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative illness. Present treatment is restricted to alleviating symptoms; hence, there is a requirement to develop an effective approach to AD treatment. Salvia fruticosa (SF) is a medicinal plant with a documented neuroprotective potential. To identify extracts of increased neuroprotectivity, we partitioned the methanolic extract of SF aerial parts from Greece into several fractions, by employing solvents of different polarities. The fractions were chemically identified and evaluated for their antioxidancy and anti-neurotoxic potential against amyloid beta peptides 25-35 (Aβ25-35). Carnosol and carnosic acid were among the prominent compounds, while all partitions showed significant antioxidant capacity, with the diethyl ether and ethyl acetate partitions being the most potent. These, along with the aqueous and the butanolic fractions, demonstrated statistically significant anti-neurotoxic potential. Thus, our findings further validate the neuroprotective potential of SF and support its ethnopharmacological usage as an antioxidant. The particular properties found define SF as a promising source for obtaining extracts or bioactive compounds, possibly beneficial for generating AD-related functional foods or medications. Finally, our results encourage plant extract partitioning for acquiring fractions of enhanced biological properties.

Evaluation of Wound Healing Activity of 80% Methanol Stem-Bark Extract and Solvent Fractions of Prunus africana (Hook.f.) Kalkman (Rosaceae) in Mice.

Prunus africana is a well-known plant that is used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for the treatment of wounds and other ailments, although there is no scientific evidence to back up the claims of its wound-healing properties. Thus, the objective of this study is to evaluate the wound-healing potential of P. africana bark extract in mice. The bark of the plant was extracted by successive maceration using 80% methanol and then fractionated with aqueous, n-butanol, and chloroform. The crude extract and solvent fractions were formulated as an ointment. Wound healing activity was evaluated using excision and incision wound models. Total phenol, flavonoid, and alkaloid contents of the crude extract, aqueous, and n- butanol fractions of the plant were determined. In both models, mice treated with 5% (w/w) and 10% (w/w) crude extract ointment exhibited a significant (p < 0.001) wound healing activity compared with control as evidenced by the increased rate of wound contraction and hydroxyproline content, the reduced epithelialization time, and the higher skin breaking strength. Mice treated with aqueous fraction ointment exhibited a high percentage of wound healing effect among all solvent fractions. The aqueous fraction consisted of higher phenolic (49.71 ± 0.73 mg/g) and flavonoid (39.58 ± 0.27 mg/g) content, while alkaloid (3.89 ± 0.55 mg/g) content was the lowest. Prunus africana stem bark extract demonstrated wound healing activity in mice model which supports the acclaimed use by Ethiopian traditional medicine.

Densitometric HPTLC analysis of the Acacia catechu wild fractions for phenolics

Traditional "Ayurvedic" medicine from India has traditionally used Acacia catechu. The herbal extract is the primary component, although there have been no attempts to standardize it as an active agent or marker. A chromatographic fingerprint represents the chemical components of herbal remedies that are therapeutically advantageous. This study suggests utilizing an HPTLC approach to assess phenols like protocatechuic acid and gallic acid in Acacia catechu extract fractions made of water, ethyl acetate, and butanol. According to the study, protocatechuic acid (11.85%) in the water fraction of the Acacia catechu is more concentrated than gallic acid (6.92%). In contrast, the ethyl acetate fraction contains more gallic acid (11%) and less protocatechuic acid (4.10%). However, the butanol fraction only has 6.62% gallic acid. By the Folin-Coicalteu method, total phenolic content was determined, and antioxidant activity of all fractions was resolute using the DPPH method. It was discovered that ethyl acetate fraction had higher phenolic content (211 mg/g) than aqueous fraction (129 mg/g) and butanol fraction (101.2 mg/g). Ethyl acetate fraction has more potent antioxidant activity than water and Butanol fractions. The research emphasizes the potential of this methodology for efficient and economical phenolic profiling, which may aid in the assessment and use of A. catechu in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical sectors.

Spectrum–effect relationship combined with bioactivity evaluation to discover the main anxiolytic active components of Baihe Dihuang decoction

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAnxiety disorders leads to a decline in quality of life and increased risk of morbidity and mortality. The Baihe Dihuang decoction (BDD) is a classic Chinese medical formula that has been widely used to treat anxiety disorders for thousands of years in China. However, the pharmacodynamic material that is responsible for the antianxiety of BDD remains unclear. Aim of the studyTo screen the main ingredients of anti-anxiety in BDD based on the establishment of spectrum-effect relationship and verified experiment. MethodsThe UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique was utilized to establish fingerprints of various fractions of BDD and identify the main compounds. The anti-anxiety effects of BDD were comprehensively evaluated through multiple assessments, including the open field test, elevated plus maze test, and neurotransmitters tests. Then, the spectrum-effect relationship was established through Pearson correlation analysis, gray correlation analysis, orthogonal partial least squares regression analysis. The spectrum-effect relationship results were confirmed through various measures on an anxiety condition cell model, induced by a corticosterone and lipopolysaccharide intervention. These measures included assessing neuronal cell viability, morphology, apoptosis, synaptic damage, and the expression of neurotransmitters and inflammatory factors. ResultsIn the UPLC-Q-TOF-MS fingerprint, 46 common peaks were identified. The pharmacological results indicated that different fractions of BDD have strong effects on improving anxiety-like behavior and regulating neurotransmitters. Among them, butanol fraction has the highest comprehensive evaluation score of anti-anxiety efficacy, which is main active fraction of BDD for anti-anxiety. The analysis of the spectrum-effect relationship revealed that the 46 peaks exhibited varying degrees of correlation with the anti-anxiety efficacy indicators of BDD. Among them, 14 components have a high correlation with the anti-anxiety efficacy indicators, which may be the potential anti-anxiety efficacy components of BDD. The in vitro activity verification of active components verified our prediction, regaloside A, B, C, D, H, acteoside, and isoacteoside improved neuronal cell viability, cell morphology, apoptosis, and synaptic damage. Additionally, regaloside A, B, C, D, H and acteoside regulated the neurotransmitter levels, while regaloside A, B, C, D, acteoside and isoacteoside inhibited the levels of inflammatory cytokines. ConclusionThe butanol fraction was found to be the main active fraction of BDD, and 14 compounds were the major anxiolytic active components. The results of verifying the major active components were consistent with the predicted results of the spectrum-effect analysis. The developed spectrum-effect analysis in this study demonstrates high accuracy and reliability for screening active components in TCMs.

Contribution to the valorization of Herniaria fontanesii J. Gay (Caryophyllaceae) grown in Septentrional Sahara and its antioxidant activity

This study aims to study a wild plant Herniaria fontanesii J. Gay which grows in Septentrional Sahara in El Oued Algeria. The evaluation of total phenolic and flavonoids content has been estimated in both aqueous and butanolic fractions of 80% methanolic extracts obtained from the plant's aerial part. Antioxidant activity was evaluated in vitro using scavenging assays of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and 2,2′-azino-bis (3- ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radicals, ferric reducing power FRAP and molybdenum reducing power methods. The extracts showed that the plant has a good antioxidant activity reaching to 1.525± 0.010 mg/ml for IC50 in DPPH assay and 0.011± 2.16610-5 mg/ml for IC50 in ABTS assay. A comparison has been done between these results and other results for the same plant harvested in Morocco, Tunisia and Laghouat, Algeria.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activities of Salvia verbenaca

The antimicrobial activity of several extracts and fractions of Salvia verbenaca L. (Lamiaceae) was investigated by disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods against Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538P, Klebsiella pneumoniae UC57, Micrococcus luteus La 2971, Micrococcus flavus ATCC 14452, Proteus vulgaris ATCC 8427, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 19115, Mycobacterium smegmatis CCM 2067, Bacillus cereus ATCC 7064, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633, Candida albicans ATCC 10231, Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 90112, Kluyveromyces fragilis NRRL 2415 and Rhodotorula rubra DSM 70403. The methanol extract, butanol and chloroform fractions have shown potential antimicrobial effects against some bacteria and the yeast cultures tested, with grown inhibition area diameters in the range 10.8 – 22.4 mm, and MIC values between 0.03 and 0.34 µL/mL. The results of the study support the use of the plant in traditional medicine.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of sea cucumber extracts collected from Lampung waters, Indonesia

Sea cucumbers are the most prevalent marine invertebrates in Indonesian waters, yet little research has been conducted on the bioactive substances found in the sea cucumbers harvested from these waters. To investigate the potential use of sea cucumber extracts and fractions such as antibacterial and antioxidant agents, five sea cucumber species were harvested from Lampung waters in Indonesia. The extraction process used the maceration method with methanol solvent, while fractionation was carried out with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol solvents. The antibacterial activity was evaluated using the agar diffusion method, and the antioxidant activity was assessed using the ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) method. The GC–MS method was used to identify the compounds in the methanol extract and butanol fraction of Holothuria lessoni. The results showed that only the n-hexane fraction of Stichopus quadrifasciatus and the methanol extract of H. lessoni had antibacterial activity against Propionibacterium acnes, while the methanol extract of H. lessoni and the ethyl acetate fraction of H. leucospilota showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The n-hexane fraction of S. quadrifasciatus and the methanol extract of H. lessoni and Bohadschia marmorata recorded activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Among the tested extracts, Holothuria leucospilota showed the highest antioxidant activity in methanol extracts, with an IC50 value of 155.07 ​± ​3.05 ​μg/mL, followed by H. lessoni (163.83 ​± ​4.46 ​μg/mL), Stichopus vastus (209.45 ​± ​2.40 ​μg/mL), S. quadrifasciatus (245.85 ​± ​34.97 ​μg/mL), and B. marmorata (382.86 ​± ​45.37 ​μg/mL), respectively. Cyclononasiloxane, octadecamethyl- (C18H54O9Si9), cyclohexasiloxane, dodecamethyl (C12H36O6Si), and cyclooctasiloxane, hexadecamethyl- (C16H48O8Si8) were identified as the main compounds in the tested samples using GC–MS analysis. In conclusion, H. lessoni is a valuable source of natural antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

Investigation of the chemical composition and anti-inflammatory effects of the crude methanolic extract and fractions of Artocarpus heterophyllus (Fam. Moraceae)

Inflammation is a local response of living tissues in mammals towards injury and is normally linked to the pathogenesis of several diseases. In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory activity of the methanol extract and the n-hexane, ethyl acetate and butanol fractions of the Jack fruit leaves. Methanolic cold maceration was carried out to get the extract, followed by liquid-liquid fractionation. Two models, viz. xylene-induced ear edema in mice and egg albumin-induced paw edema in rats were used to evaluate them. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract and fractions was screened for anti-inflammatory activity using xylene-induced ear edema in mice and egg albumin-induced paw edema in rats. The chemical constituents of the extract and fractions were detected by dereplication using HPLC-DAD. Results showed that for the xylene-induced topical edema model, only the 250µg/ear n-butanol fraction exhibited good anti-inflammatory activity at 21.21% when compared with the piroxicam (positive control) at 32.21%. In the egg albumin-induced paw edema both the methanol extract and n-butanol fraction at 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg showed good anti-inflammatory activity after 2hours post-administration, with maximum effect at 6 hours. Specifically, at 6 hours the methanol extract at 250 mg/kg exhibited 41.21% inhibition; the butanol fraction at the same dose exhibited 43.63% inhibition when compared with piroxicam (500 mg/kg) with 38.39% inhibition. The HPLC-DAD analysis of the extract and fractions revealed the presence of six (6) compounds: catechin (1), septicine (2), 5-isoprunetin 8C glucoside (3), naamine (4), protocatechuic acid (5), and vitexin (6). These compounds have been reported to display anti-inflammatory activity. These findings suggest that the leaf extract possess an anti-inflammatory phytocompounds which authenticates their ethno-medicinal usage claim by local people in different parts of Nigeria.

Evaluation of the pharmacognostic profile of the leaves of Dialium guineeseWilld (Fabaceae) collected from Ukehe in Enugu state, Nigeria

Dialium guineese is a plant traditionally used as anticancer, antioxidant, antiulcer, antidiarrhea and heart diseases. However, the pharmacognosy of this plant could be more explored. Therefore, we have conducted this study to assess the distinctive qualities of the D. guineese. The leaves were extracted using ethanol, the crude ethanol extract was then fractionated using solvents of increasing polarity (n-Hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol and aqueous) fraction. The qualitative and quantitative phytochemical constituents, microscopy, macroscopy, and physicochemical properties were performed based on standard procedures by World Health Organization (WHO). Macro and microscopical studies showed the presence of an entire margin with an obovate shape, acuminate apex, rounded base, and calcium oxalate crystals. Stomata arrangement was paracytic with numerous trichomes on both surfaces while phytochemical evaluation revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, steroids and saponins. The investigations also included numerical and quantitative leaf microscopy. In light of these discoveries, future research on the species will be able to accurately identify and authenticate it.