Calligonum Comosum Research Articles

Identification of reference genes and analysis of heat shock protein gene expression (Hsp90) in arta (Calligonum comosum L.) leaf under heat stress

In southern Tunisia, plants are subjected to high temperatures and disturbances, causing the degradation of soils and plants. Studying wild plants and their response to heat stress can facilitate their conservation and help ecosystem rehabilitation. Understanding heat stress responses has gradually become a hotspot in desert plant research. The adaptive responses of Calligonum comosum species to high temperature were examined in this regard. For C.comosum gene expression studies, reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is the best technique, in addition to the use of appropriate reference genes. So, in our research, we analyzed four different housekeeping genes to select the most stable one during heat stress conditions. To analyze the results, we applied various statistical programs, including GeNorm, Normfinder, Bestkeeper, and the comparative ΔCt method, to identify the most appropriate reference genes for normalizing gene expression under heat stress conditions. Ultimately, our analysis revealed that α-tubulin (α-tub) emerged as the most stable reference gene.Additionally, we subjected C. comosum plants to thermal stress to elucidate the expression patterns of heat shock protein (hsp90) genes. Fourteen-day-old plants were exposed to a temperature of 60 °C for a period ranging from 30 to 240 min. The highest level of hsp90 gene expression was realized upon exposure to heat for 180 min, underscoring the upregulation of this protein in response to thermal stress.This study is the first systematic investigation for selecting reference genes for qPCR in C. comosum under heat stress. These findings will substantially benefit gene expression studies conducted under similar challenging conditions, contributing to our understanding of desert plant responses to heat stress.

Exploring in vitro and in silico Biological Activities of Calligonum Comosum and Rumex Vesicarius: Implications on Anticancer and Antibacterial Therapeutics

IntroductionThe adverse effects of clinically used anti-cancer medication and the rise in resistive micro-organisms have limited therapeutic options. Multiple anti-cancer drugs are derived from medicinal herbs which also have shown anti-bacterial effects. This study aimed to identify the optimal extraction solvent for detecting the cytotoxic and anti-bacterial effects of Calligonum comosum (C. Comosum) and Rumex vesicarius (R. Vesicarius) extracts. Additionally, the study aimed to identify active metabolites and assess their potential as future drug candidates for anti-cancer and anti-bacterial therapeutics. MethodsLeaves from both plants were extracted using ethanol, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and water. The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were tested on liver, colon, and breast cancer cell lines. Apoptosis was assessed using High Content Imaging (HCI) and the ApoTox triplex Glo assay. The anti-bacterial effects were determined using agar-well diffusion. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to tentatively identify the secondary metabolites. In silico computational studies were conducted to determine the metabolites' mode of action, safety, and pharmacokinetic properties. ResultsThe ethanolic extract of C. Comosum exhibited potent cytotoxicity on breast cancer cell lines, with IC50 values of 54.97 μg/mL and 58 μg/mL for KAIMRC2 and MDA-MB-231, respectively. It also induced apoptosis in colon and breast cancer cell lines. All tested extracts of C. Comosum and R. Vesicarius demonstrated anti-bacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Seven active metabolites were identified, one of which is Kaempferol 3-O-Glucoside-7-O-Rhamnoside, which showed strong (predicted) anti-cancer activity. Kaempferol 3-O-Glucoside-7-O-Rhamnoside and Quercetin-3-O-Glucuronide also exhibited potential anti-bacterial effects on gram-positive and negative bacteria. ConclusionEthanol extraction of C. Comosum solubilizes active metabolites with potential therapeutic applications in cancer treatment and bacterial infections. Kaempferol 3-O-Glucoside-7-O-Rhamnoside, in particular, shows promise as a dual therapeutic drug candidate for further research and development to improve its efficacy, safety, and pharmacokinetic profile.

Anti-ulcerative colitis effect of Calligonum comosum L'Hér. using rat model: Chemical, pharmacological and histopathological evidences

Calligonum comosum is a perennial shrub growing and widely used in traditional medicinal system in Saudi Arabia. The total phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity were compared between the water extract (WE) and methanol extract (ME). The protective potential against acetic acid (AA) induced ulcerative colitis (UC) was also evaluated in rats. The obtained results showed that the total phenolic content of the WE and ME were 8.378 ± 0.738 and 33.819 ± 0.488 µg/mL. The antioxidant properties of the two extracts were directly influenced by their total phenolic contents. The ME with higher phenolic contents and stronger antioxidant power was more effective than the WE in protection against AA-induced colitis. Phytochemical study of the ME led to the identification of three flavonoid derivatives: (-)-epi-catechin, quercetin-3-O-α-l-arabinofuranoside (Avicularin) and quercetin-3-O-β-d-glucuronide-6″-methyl ester by various spectroscopic methods. (-)-Epi-catechin was the major component while the other two compounds were obtained in minute quantities. The anti-ulcerative colitis effect of the ME can be explained by the presence of the antioxidant flavonoids since AA-induced colitis featured by imbalance between oxidant and antioxidant substances. Further support of such explanation was provided by HPLC quantification of (-)-epi-catechin in the ME and WE. The percentage in ME was higher than the WE but the difference was higher in term of Total Phenolic Content (TPC). These results support the traditional use of C. comosum as anti-ulcerative colitis.

Assessing phenolic and molecular diversity of arta (Calligonum comosum L.), a wild Tunisian desert plant

• Calligonum comosum of Polygonaceae is one of the most economically important resources of the Tunisian desert. • To better appreciate and further refine the diversity analysis, we have opted for two molecular analysis techniques, RAPD and ISSR, and one technique of biochemical analysis. • HPLC/MS screened methanol extracts of identified phenolic compounds. • Biochemical and molecular polymorphism could provide information regarding genetic background and distribution of diversity of C. comosum . • Genetic diversity help to plan an effective conservation strategy for the species. The species Calligonum comosum of Polygonaceae is one of the most economically important resources of the Tunisian desert, playing an important role in the lives of the local populace. This plant has been reported to possess various chemical constituents and many medicinal effects. A great range of genetic diversity could be seen in diverse populations of this species spread of south Tunisian. To better appreciate and further refine the diversity analysis, we have opted for two molecular analysis techniques, RAPD and ISSR, and one technique of biochemical analysis. The extent of genetic variability was estimated in a set of seven Calligonum genotypes collected in seven Tunisian arid regions using 7 RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) and 7 ISSR (inter simple sequence repeats) markers. ISSR and RAPD markers revealed 67% and 72, 85% polymorphic bands, respectively. The relative efficiencies of these marker systems are compared using various parameters such as effective multiplexing ratio (EMR), marker index (MI), and the polymorphic information content (PIC). RAPD seems to be the most informative and efficient system. A significant correlation is observed between the Jaccard dissimilarity matrices based on the ISSR and RAPD markers ( r = 0.66). HPLC/MS screened methanol extracts of the seven genotypes and the identified phenolic compounds were further quantified. Significant differences were observed among the various studied genotypes regarding their phenolic compound content. The overall results showed that C.comosum is an excellent source of diverse bioactive molecules, which could be an interesting material for industrial purposes. The biochemical markers do not correlate with the ISSR and RAPD markers. These findings are important for a better understanding of the adaptive strategy of C. comosum in south Tunisia. They will be useful for conservation managers to work out an effective strategy to protect this important species.

Apoptosis-mediated anti-proliferative activity of Calligonum comosum against human breast cancer cells, and molecular docking of its major polyphenolics to Caspase-3.

Due to poor diagnosis breast cancer in women has emerged as the most common cause of death disease in developing countries. Medicinal plants have been used for thousands of years and can be useful in healthcare, especially in developing countries. Ethanol extracts of leaves of fire bush or arta (Calligonum comosum; EECC), exhibited significant anticancer potencies against two breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA 231. These in vitro effects of EECC indicated potential anticancer activities that were determined to be specific since minimal toxicity was recorded against MCF-12, a non-cancerous breast cell line used as a reference. EECC also induced cell cycle arrest in MCF-7 and MDA 231 as revealed by the increased proportions of sub-G1 cells. Fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis (FACS), utilizing double staining by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide, revealed that the observed cytotoxic effects were mediated via apoptosis and necrosis. FACS measurement of thegreater in fluorescence intensity, linked with oxidation of DCFH to DCF, revealed that apoptosis was attributable to production of free radicals. EECC-mediated apoptosis was further validated by observation of up-regulation in the “executioner” enzyme, caspase 3. The current findings reveal that EECC exhibits significant, selective cytotoxicity to breast cancer cells, that proceeds via the generation of ROS, which culminates in apoptosis. The anti-proliferative effects of EECC weres further verified by use of a structure-based, virtual screening between its major bioactive polyphenolic constituents and the apoptosis executioner marker enzyme, caspase-3. Based on their glide score values against the active site of caspase 3, some phyto-constituents present in EECC, such as DL-alpha-tocopherol and campesterol, exhibited distinctive, drug-like potential with no predicted toxicity to non-target cells. Taken together, the usefulness of natural phenolic and flavonoid compounds contained in Calligonum comosum were suggested to be potent anticancer agents.

Wound Healing Potential of Calligonum Comosum in the Rat Model: Morphological and Histopathological Evidences

Calligonum comosum Family Polygonaceae is a perennial shrub that grows in the desert areas in Saudi Arabia. The plant is extensively used for economic purposes and in Saudi traditional medicine. The plant is used for tanning hides and for wound. The current study aims to provide scientific evidence for the wound healing potential. The plant was extracted with methanol at room temperature and with water by decoction against two Gram-positive bacterial strains; Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, two Gram-negative bacterial strains, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, in addition to a pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The methanol and water extract were formulated as creams and applied to evaluate the wound healing potential using rats as experimental animals. The methanol extract was more active in the antimicrobial testing and in accelerating the healing of wounds than the water extract. Wound healing potential was accessed via morphological parameters such as wound contraction, epithelization period and detailed as well as histopathological study of the healed skin. The wound was completely healed in the control group treated with Fucidin 2% cream after 18 days, while the methanol extract treated group reached 96.6% wound contraction in the same period. The water extract was much less active and in 18 gays resulted in only 73.2% wound contraction. Skin samples of methanol extract treated rats showed much improvement and almost normal appearance with normal content of collagen fibers, although slight weakness near the epidermis layer was observed. The obtained results strongly document the beneficial effects of C. comosum as wound healing activator and reveal the best method for the extraction of the plant.

Identification and Molecular Phylogeny of Morphologically of the Medicinal Plant Calligonum L’Herit

Aim: The rare gem species of Calligonum comosum contains highly therapeutic compounds collected from Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. It has various biological properties that used for antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-gastric ulcer, anti-hyperglycemic, abdominal ailments as well as against toothache. Methods: Calligonum L. (Polygonaceae) genus consists of 158 species dispersed in Asia, Africa and Middle East. Remarkably a very few researches found molecular phylogeny of Calligonum comosum, it is one of the significant medicinal plants used in various herbal preparations and most commonly adulterated by the morphologically similar species, viz C. ebinuricum. The species C. junceum, C. Colubrinum and C. arborescens is often misidentified as Calligonum comosum hence, thereby accurate identification of this medicinal herb are very crucial which ensures the drug effectively as well as biosafety. Thus, in this study, DNA barcoding tool was used for precise identification, its conservation development and differentiating from analogous species of C. comosum. Results: The barcode genes like nuclear internal transcribed spacer region ITS2, the chloroplast plastid gene matK and rbcL were used for phylogenetic analysis of Calligonum species. From the sequence alignment the nuclear internal transcribed spacer ITS2 regions shows 9.5% of polymorphic sites, indicates higher range of transition/transversion (ts/tv) ratio and percentage of variation which aids to discriminate Calligonum comosum from its closely related species. Conclusion: The present phylogeny proves that the nuclear internal transcribed spacer ITS2 region distinguishes the closely related species of Calligonum comosum from its morphologically similar species. Keywords: Calligonum, Phylogeny, ITS2, matK, rbcL.

Isolation of endophytic bacteria from wild plants in dry regions and investigation of their ability to promote plant growth and inhibit pathogenic fungi

In the dry regions environments such as Saudi Arabia, bacterial endophytes isolated from the roots and soil of healthy wild plants can promote plant growth by developing siderophores, phosphate solubilizing, Indole 3 Acetic Acid (IAA), and inhibit the growth of some plant fungal pathogens. This study aimed to isolate bacteria from wild plants in dry regions and to investigate their ability to be used as plant growth-promoting agent and inhibit plant pathogenic fungi. More than ninety endophytic bacterial isolates associated with the leaves, roots, and soil of healthy wild plants were collected from different sites in the Qassim region, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with the aim of characterizing and testing for their ability to promote plant growth activities and inhibit plant pathogenic fungi. Seventy strains were shown to produce indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and 45 isolates produced siderophores, with 16 of these exhibiting large amounts. Twelve isolates tested positive for phosphate solubilization, with two isolates (QUSA 66 and QUSA 91) exhibiting greater efficiency for phosphate solubility. Twenty-five isolates produced more than 100 µg mL-1 of IAA, with production ranging from 100.5 to 404.7 µg mL-1. Six of these bacterial isolates (QUSA 2, 7, 10, 29, 30. and 40) produced more than 200 µg mL-1. A wide spectrum of activities was noted within the pseudomonas strains, indicating promising plant growth-promoting potential (e.g., the isolates from Pulicaria crispa and Calligonum comosum). In vitro results against plant pathogenic fungi showed that fifteen of the bacterial isolates inhibited growth of fungal mycelia by producing wide antagonistic zones. The isolates QUSA 26, 27, 28, 36, and 87 were able to produce siderophores and IAA and to solubilize phosphate. In addition, these isolates delayed mycelium growth of some Fusarium, Rhizoctonia solani, Botrytis, and Stemphylium spp

Ecology of Indigenous Plants in Abandoned Agricultural Areas in Tabuk Region, Saudi Arabia

Due to drought, low soil fertility, little rain fall, elevated levels of evapotranspiration, salinization of the soil and a lack of ground water, the problem of desertion of agricultural areas has developed in KSA in recent years (e.g. Tabuk region). In the Saudi Arabia, agricultural land abandonment’s negative impact on the composition of perennial vegetation, soil quality, and the structure of population was investigated. In the several abandoned fields of the research region, eleven species of perennial plants pertaining to nine families, eleven genera were found. Following the use of the ordination of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), four plant communities were found. Zygophyllum hamiense, Prosopis farcta, Seidlitzia rosmarinus, Traganum nudatum. The indicators were Pulicaria undulate, Calligonum comosum. Populations of Calligonum comosum and Zygophyllum hamiense were found to be either negatively skewed or inversely J-shaped, indicating fast-growing populations with strong reproductive potential, according to demographic research. Traganum nudatum, Prosopis farcta and S. Rosmarinus, on the other hand, have a nearly symmetrical size-frequency distribution (like a bell in shape). The current research highlights the importance of managing deserted agricultural fields in order to restore and improve range lands having adapted native plants to regional conditions like little water demand.

Evaluation of Color Properties of Wool Fabrics Dyed with Calligonum comosum at Different Dye Conditions

In this search, the wool fabric was dyed with a natural dye Calligonum comosum (Callig. Co. dye); the dyeing process was applied under different conditions by changing dye bath temperature, time of dyeing, and pH of dye bath also using different mordants. Ultraviolet protection factor (UPF) was determined for each dyed wool sample. The role of these dying conditions on the via color strength analysis their effects on the reflectance spectra were investigated using the spectro-photometer tool, CIE tristimulus values, and the color parameters. The dye-ability strength and fastness to washing and perspiration properties of these wool samples dyed with (Callig. Co. dye) were carried out spectrophotometrically and evaluated the antimicrobial activity for blank and dyed wool fabrics via gram-positive and gram-negative was followed. The results showed that dyeing wool fabrics with (Callig. Co. dye) increased their protective abilities markedly, and they have effective protection against UV rays, also improving their antimicrobial activity. Moreover, Different conditions of the dye bath changed the optical properties noticeably. The present study will be useful for dermatologists advising patients regarding the UPF properties of clothes made from natural fabrics (wool) and dyed with natural colorants (Callig. Co. dye).

The influence of vermicomposting on photosynthetic activity and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.) crop under semi-arid climate.

Food production and waste recycling are the two major issues faced globally with rapidly increasing population. Recycling organic wastes to crop amendments could be a possible solution to these issues. Earthworms transfer organic waste to compost, which is used to grow crops and increase crop productivity. This study assessed the impact of vermicompost produced from the residues of six desert plant species, i.e., (Ziziphus mauritiana, Aerva javanica, Calligonum comosum, Sacchrum benghalens, Calligonum polygonoides and Prosopis cineraria) combined with farmyard manure (5 t ha-1) on growth, yield and photosynthetic activity of maize crop. Earthworm species Eisenia fetida (Savigny, 1826) was used to prepare vermicomposting of all tested plant species. The desert species were collected from natural habitats, chopped, dried, mixed with FYM and then earthworms were released to prepare the vermicompost. The earthworms were excluded twenty days after release and resultant was considered as compost and used in the experiment. Results revealed that application of P. cineraria vermicompost resulted in the highest plant height (75.33 cm), stem diameter (22.66 mm), cob length (17.66 cm), number of grains/cob (374.67), 1000-grain weight (260.41 g) and grains yield (3.20 t/ha). Application of P. cineraria vermicompost resulted in the highest uptake of macronutrients, i.e., N (91.01%), P (22.07%), K (80.41%), micronutrients, i.e., Fe (19.07 ppm), Zn (40.05 ppm), and phenolic contents (150). Application of P. cineraria vermicompost also resulted in the highest quantum photosynthetic yield (0.42 mole C/mole of photon), chlorophyll florescence (355.18 moles of photon m-2s-1) and electron transport rate (310.18 micro mole m-2s-1). It is concluded that vermicomposting has the potential to improve growth and yield of maize crop. Particularly, application of vermicompost obtained from P. cineraria can be used to improve the growth and yield of maize crop. Nonetheless, field trials are necessary for a wide scale recommendation.

Evaluation of Antioxidant, Antibiofilm, Cytotoxic and AntimicrobialActivities of Calligonum Comosum

Objective: Calligonum Comosum is a native omani medicinal plants used traditionally by the locals to treat inflammation, toothache, gum sores and ulcer. As antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat on global scale by rendering many currently available antibiotics ineffective. This demands the need to look for novel therapeutic agents and there has been an expanded interest in natural products as sources of pharmacologically active principles. The present study was thus initiated to corroborate the therapeutic uses of this medicinal species by evaluating, the phyto-constituents, antibacterial, anti-biofilm and antioxidant activities of C. comosum. Methods: Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical analysis was done, using standard protocols. The antioxidant activity was assessed applying DPPH free radical scavenging assay, hydrogen peroxide radical scavenging assay and the total antioxidant capacity. Biofilm inhibition activity was evaluated using micro titer plate assay and well diffusion method was employed to determine the antibacterial activity. Cytotoxity was assessed in terms of LC50 value using brine shrimp lethality assay. Results: The methanolic extracts of C. comosum showed significant antibacterial activity against all the five tested bacterial strains, with MIC values for all observed to be 1.25 mg/ml except for E. coli. Substantial reduction of the biofilm formation was observed for all bacterial species treated with C. comosum leaf and stem extracts and the extracts also displayed significant cytotoxicity against brine shrimp nauplii, exhibiting LC50 value of 56.797 μg/ml. The total phenolic content and flavonoid content was observed to be 56.6 ± 1.66 mg GAE/g and 49.33 ± 1.34 mg of QE/g of dry extract respectively. C. comosum exhibited potent DPPH scavenging activity, with IC50 value of 44.90 μg/ml and the total antioxidant capacity was 130 ± 2.04 mg AAE/g. Conclusion: The result validates its ethno-medicinal use and suggests that the C. comosum can be exploited for its antibiofilm, antioxidant and antibacterial properties.

Monthly Changes in Quality of Calligonum comosum Grazing Plant and an Estimate of the Maximum Values of Forage Quality by Using the Polynomial Quadratic Equation

Follow up the monthly changes of plant quality on Calligonum comosum plant which natural grown in the Research and Training Station of King Faisal University, Al-Hassa, Saudi Arabia in season ‎ from September/2019 to May/2020 AD were recorded. The results revealed that a significance differences between values of all months. The polynomial quadratic equation indicated that the higher values % of crude protein (Cd, 9.80%), dry matter weight (DW, 40.21%), ash (Ash, 14.71%), crude fiber (CF, 43.19%), acid detergent fiber (ADF, 32.6%), and dry matter digestibility (DMD, 60.52%) were found between December and February

Phytochemical study, nutritive value, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic extracts from desert plant Calligonum comosum L'Hér.

Phytochemical study, nutritive value, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic extracts from desert plant Calligonum comosum L'Hér.

Phytochemical study, nutritive value, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of phenolic extracts from desert plant Calligonum comosum L'Hér.

The aim of this study is to the estimation of the nutritive values, phytochemical study and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of ethyl acetate, tannins and crudes extracts from the aerial part of Calligonum comosum L’Hér. Which grow in South East of Algeria. According to the results obtained from the estimation of nutritive value, the plant is rich in proteins and lipids and very poor in carbohydrates. The results also showed a difference in the content of polyphenols and flavonoids. The crude extracts were high in polyphenols content in the ethanol extract 170.74±5.8 mg EAG/g Extract, and the best value of flavonoids in methanol extract 28.22±0.25 mg QE/g Extract. Chromatographic analysis by HPLC of methanolic extract has identified four phenolic compounds out of 38 peaks as: Gallic acid, Chlorogenic acid, Caffeic acid and Vanillic acid. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by three tests, the results of the DPPH• test, showed that methanol extract had the best scavenging than the other extracts (IC50: 2.09±0.02 μg/ml), But, in the hemolysis test, the values of the percentage of hemolysis were approximately the same at concentration 1 mg/ml between the extracts and standard used. In the reducing power test, its results showed that the tannins extract had the highest reducing power 79.17±5.22 μg/ml at Abs700nm=0.5. As for anti-inflammatory activity, the methanol and flavonoids phase ethyl acetate extracts showed the best inhibitory effect against protein denaturation compared to other extracts. The effects were estimated 3.14mg E Diclofenac/mg Extract.

Native Perennial Plants Colonizing Abandoned Arable Fields in a Desert Area: Population Structure and Community Assembly

In recent years, the phenomenon of abandonment of arable fields has increased in Saudi Arabia due to low soil fertility, drought, low rainfall, high levels of evapotranspiration, soil salinization, and low level of groundwater. We evaluated the effect of agricultural land abandonment on soil properties, perennial vegetation composition, and population structure in the Al-Kharj region, Saudi Arabia. A total of 11 perennial plant species belonging to 9 families and 11 genera were detected in the different abandoned fields of the study area. Four plant communities were identified after the application of the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) ordination. The indicator species were (1) Seidlitzia rosmarinus—Zygophyllum hamiense, (2) Traganum nudatum—Seidlitzia rosmarinus, (3) Traganum nudatum—Prosopis farcta, and (4) Calligonum comosum—Pulicaria undulata. Results of the soil analysis showed significant differences in soil texture, pH, salinity, and nutrient content among the four recognized plant communities. Demographic analysis indicated that populations of Zygophyllum hamiense and Calligonum comosum tended to be either inverse J-shaped or positively skewed which may have indicated rapidly-growing populations with high reproductive capacity. Conversely, the size–frequency distribution of Traganum nudatum, S. Rosmarinus, and Prosopis farcta was approximately symmetrical (i.e., bell-shaped). The present study sheds light on the necessity of managing abandoned agricultural fields for restoring and improving rangelands with native species that are adapted to the local conditions such as low water demand.

The scientific basis of the antibacterial traditional use of Calligonum comosum in UAE

Calligonum comosum L'Hér. is an evergreen woody plant distributed throughout the temperate and arid regions of the Middle-East. The plant is used traditionally for skin infections and is reported to possess antibacterial activities. The antibacterial activity of the plant has been attributed to phytochemicals with a different polarity. However, the compounds essential for the antibacterial activity have not been identified yet. The plant is a known source of essential oil, yet, the biological activity of the essential oil has never been tested. In this study, the essential oil was extracted from the stems of the C. comosum plant growing in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) by steam distillation and analyzed by GC–MS. A total of 80 components were identified. The major component was 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde and represented 16 % of the total essential oil extracted. The essential oil showed significant antibacterial activities against Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. A fractionation-based antibacterial assay indicated that the antibacterial activity of C. comosum was attributed to the presence of high amounts of 4-isopropylbenzaldehyde. Isopropylbenzaldehyde was not reported in essential oils obtained from plants growing in other regions, including the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), and those from temperate regions. These results indicated that different climatic regions can significantly affect the chemistry and activities of medicinal plants of the same phenotype.

The influence of extraction method on the composition and analgesic activity of Calligonum comosum phenolic extracts

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic activity and the effect of extraction methods (ultra-sound: UM and maceration: MM) and solvents (ethanol: EtOH and methanol: MeOH) on the composition of phenolic extracts from Calligonum comosum. The results obtained by HPLC analysis demonstrated that the ethanol extracts have shown the highest content of total phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Also, the presence of most known phenolic compounds has been identified in all extracts, especially in the MeOH UM extract. The HPLC analysis showed the presence of ascorbic acid in methanol extracts and caffeic acid in ethanol extracts, and the maceration method shows a high concentration of phenolic compounds, the vanillin was detected in MeOH UM and the appearance of chlorogenic acid in UM extracts, finally the emergence of gallic acid, quercetin and rutin in some extracts. According to the results of the analgesic power, the methanolic extract of the maceration method induces a significant decrease in abdominal cramps compared to the control group and the values obtained are very close from those obtained with the standard anti-inflammatory drug (indomethacin). This result confirmed the beneficial effect of this Saharan plant.

Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Effects of Calligonum comosum (L'Her.) Methanolic Extract in Human Triple-Negative MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), the most aggressive subtype, does not respond to targeted therapy due to the lack of hormone receptors. There is an urgent need for alternative therapies, including natural product-based anti-cancer drugs, at lower cost. We investigated the impact of a Calligonum comosum L’Hér. methanolic extract (CcME) on the TNBC MDA-MB-231 cell line proliferation and related cell death mechanisms performing cell viability and cytotoxicity assays, flow cytometry to detect apoptosis and cell cycle analysis. The apoptosis-related protein array and cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) assay were also carried out. We showed that the CcME inhibited the TNBC cell viability, in a dose-dependent manner, with low cytotoxic effects. The CcME-treated TNBC cells underwent apoptosis, associated with a concomitant increase of apoptosis-related protein expression, including cytochrome c, cleaved caspase-3, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21, and the anti-oxidant enzyme catalase, compared with the untreated cells. The CcME also enhanced the mitochondrial transition pore opening activity and induced G0/G1 cell growth arrest, which confirmed the cytochrome c release and the increase of the p21 expression detected in the CcME-treated TNBC cells. The CcME-treated TNBC cells resulted in intracellular ROS production, which, when blocked with a ROS scavenger, did not reduce the CcME-induced apoptosis. In conclusion, CcME exerts anti-proliferative effects against TNBC cells through the induction of apoptosis and cell growth arrest. In vivo studies are justified to verify the CcME anti-proliferative activities and to investigate any potential anti-metastatic activities of CcME against TNBC development and progression.

Biogenic synthesis of silver nanoparticles: Antibacterial and cytotoxic potential.

In green chemistry, the application of a biogenic material as a mediator in nanoparticles formation is an innovative nanotechnology. Our current investigation aimed at testing the cytotoxic potential and antimicrobial ability of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) that were prepared using Calligonum comosum roots and Azadirachta indica leaf extracts as stabilizing and reducing agents. An agar well diffusion technique was employed to detect synthesized AgNPs antibacterial ability on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus bacterial strains. Furthermore, their cytotoxic capability against LoVo, MDA-MB231 and HepG2 ca cells was investigated. For phyto-chemical detection in the biogenic AgNPs the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was considered. Zeta sizer, TEM (Transmission Electron Microscope) and FE-SEM (Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope) were used to detect biogenic AgNPs’ size and morphology. The current results showed the capability of tested plant extract for conversion of Ag ions to AgNPs with a mean size ranging between 90.8 ± 0.8 and 183.2 ± 0.7 nm in diameter. Furthermore, prepared AgNPs exhibited apoptotic potential against HepG2, LoVo, and MDA-MB 231cell with IC50 ranging between 10.9 and 21.4 μg/ml and antibacterial ability in the range of 16.0 ± 0.1 to 22.0 ± 1.8 mm diameter. Activation of caspases in AgNPs treated cells could be the main indicator for their positive effect causing apoptosis. The current investigation suggested that the green production of AgNPs could be a suitable substitute to large-scale production of AgNPs, since stable and active nanoparticles could be obtained.