Compounds In Medicinal Plants Research Articles

The Role of Medicinal Plants in the Treatment and Management of Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract: Diabetes is a severe metabolic disorder characterized by hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is a hallmark of diabetes, a life-threatening metabolic condition. There are a variety of oral hypoglycemic drugs in the market for the treatment of diabetes mellitus, including biguanides, sulphonylurea, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. On the other hand, these conventional methods of treating diabetes are costly and associated with a variety of long-term issues, whereas medicinal herbs used to treat diabetes are inexpensive and have no harmful consequences or side effects. Because of the existence of different therapeutically relevant active phytochemicals such as tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, and other compounds in medicinal plants, they can be used in treating diabetes. Various medicinal plants used to treat diabetes mellitus and their bioactive components are discussed in this review article. In this review, the prospects of these medicinal plants, as well as the challenges associated with their use, are discussed.

Chemical Profiling and Biological Activities of Ziziphus Mauritiana var. spontanea (Edgew.) R.R. Stewart ex Qaiser & Nazim. and Oenothera Biennis L.

Bioactive compounds of medicinal plants, including polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, are essential sources for developing analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and antidiarrheal drugs. In the current study, secondary metabolites were assessed through phytochemical screening and GC-MS analysis whereas analgesic activity was carried out through hot plate (HP) and acetic acid-induced method (AAI), anti-inflammatory through paw edema model (PEM), and antispasmodic activity via charcoal meal test (CMT) using ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract of Ziziphus mauritiana var. spontanea and Oenothera biennis. The phytochemical screening revealed that the ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis were rich in alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, and saponins. GC-MS analysis of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis of ethyl acetate and ethanolic extract showed the existence of many bioactive substances at various retention durations (min). These included pharmacologically active compounds such as heptadecane, 2-methoxy-4-vinylphenol, hexadecanoic acid, and tetradecanoic acid. The results of the HP method revealed that ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis at 300 mg/kg increased basal reaction time significantly (p<0.001) after 90 min. The results of the AAI method revealed that the ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis showed significant (p<0.001) peripheral analgesic activity at the dose of 200 and 300 mg/kg body weight. The dosage of 100, 200, and 300 mg/kg body weight of the ethyl acetate and ethanolic extracts of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis showed significant (p<0.001) anti-inflammatory activity. According to PEM, the ethanolic extract of O. biennis showed the highest reduction in paw volume (73.3%) at 300 mg/kg. The results of CMT revealed that ethanolic and ethyl acetate extract of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis significantly (p<0.001) inhibited charcoal movement at 300 mg/kg. The maximum percent inhibition (67.2%) was shown by ethyl acetate of O. biennis at 300 mg/kg. From the present study, it can be concluded that ethanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of Z. mauritiana and O. biennis have the potential to manage inflammation, pain, and diarrhea-related problems mainly at a higher dose, i.e., 300 mg/kg. The presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, steroids, triterpenoids, and saponins might be among the responsible bioactive constituents. These plants showed significant medicinal and therapeutic efficacy which are novel. However, further studies are required to investigate the mechanism responsible for the activity.

Advances in Flavonoid Research: Sources, Biological Activities, and Developmental Prospectives.

At present, the occurrence of a large number of infectious and non-communicable diseases poses a serious threat to human health as well as to drug development for the treatment of these diseases. One of the most significant challenges is finding new drug candidates that are therapeutically effective and have few or no side effects. In this respect, the active compounds in medicinal plants, especially flavonoids, are potentially useful compounds with a wide range of pharmacological activities. They are naturally present in nature and valuable in the treatment of many infectious and non-communicable diseases. Flavonoids are divided into fourteen categories and are mainly derived from plant extraction, chemical synthesis and structural modification, and biosynthesis. The structural modification of flavonoids is an important way to discover new drugs, but biosynthesis is currently considered the most promising research direction with the potential to revolutionize the new production pipeline in the synthesis of flavonoids. However, relevant problems such as metabolic pathway analyses and cell synthesis protocols for flavonoids need to be addressed on an urgent basis. In the present review, new research techniques for assessing the biological activities of flavonoids and the mechanisms of their biological activities are elucidated and their modes of interaction with other drugs are described. Moreover, novel drug delivery systems, such as nanoparticles, bioparticles, colloidals, etc., are gradually becoming new means of addressing the issues of poor hydrophilicity, lipophilicity, poor chemical stability, and low bioavailability of flavonoids. The present review summarizes the latest research progress on flavonoids, existing problems with their therapeutic efficacy, and how these issues can be solved with the research on flavonoids.

APPLICATION OF SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINE FOR CLASS IMBALANCE LEARNING TO PREDICT ANTICANCER COMPOUNDS OF MEDICINAL PLANTS IN WEST SULAWESI

Indonesian medicinal plants, such as turmeric and soursop, have shown promising anticancer properties through their bioactive compounds, like curcumin and extracts from soursop. Despite many extensive studies on medicinal plants in Indonesia, research revealing the activity of natural products in West Sulawesi is still limited, and the studies focus mainly on ethnobotanical research. In this work, we propose a machine-learning approach to predict the anticancer activity of compounds in medicinal plants in West Sulawesi by leveraging high throughput-screening data, especially molecular information from a public database. We applied Support Vector Machine (SVM) with five sampling techniques to address data imbalance. We also evaluated the performance in selecting the best combination in handling class imbalance learning in our dataset. The result shows that undersampling and ADSYN methods can improve the prediction of anticancer activity. Based on the two methods of balancing data, we have ten potential anticancer compounds from three medicinal plants in West Sulawesi.
  

Terpenoids and phenolic compounds as biologically active compounds of medicinal plants with diuretic effect

The aim of the study was to summarize and systematize the literature data, as well as the results of the carried out research in the field of medicinal plants used as diuretics in the Russian Federation and abroad.Materials and methods. During the search for this review article materials, the abstract databases of PubMed, Google Scholar, as well as the ResearchGate and elibrary.ru were used. The search was carried out according to the publications for the period from 2005 to 2023. The keywords were as follows: herbal diuretics, diuretic drugs, kidney diseases, types of medicinal plant raw materials. The data from the authors’ previous scientific research on the analysis of the diuretic properties of certain types of medicinal plant raw materials, as well as individual substances of a phenolic nature isolated from them (simple phenols, flavonoids), were also reviewed.Results. It was determined that the diuretic activity of most of the medicinal plants used, is due to such groups of biologically active compounds as terpenoids (essential oils and saponins), simple phenols, flavonoids and anthracene derivatives related to the secondary metabolites. It has been shown that, despite the fact that many herbal diuretics have concomitant anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, antihistamine and other properties relevant from the point of view of etiology and pathogenesis of the disease, it is reasonable to use them as part of collections of medicinal plants and other combined medicinal herbal preparations, as this is in accordance with the global trend. The types of medicinal plant raw materials that can be a promising source of new diuretic herbal medicines, have been examined in this review.Conclusion. It has been determined that terpenoids and phenolic compounds make the greatest contribution to the manifestation of the diuretic activity of medicinal herbal preparations, among which the greatest structural diversity is noted for flavonoids. It has been established that in the composition of any drug, taking into account the peculiarities of etiology and pathogenesis of the disease, herbal diuretics can be both the main drug and an auxiliary component. The expediency of using medicinal plant raw materials with a diuretic effect as part of collections of medicinal plants and other combined preparations used in the treatment of kidney and urinary tract diseases has been also substantiated.

DETERMINATION ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, TOTAL PHENOLICS, FLAVONOIDS CONTENT, OF JUNGRAHAB LEAVES (Baeckea frutescens L.)

Medicinal plants are widely used to treat various diseases, and one of the reasons for this is the safety of medicinal plants. The active compounds in medicinal plants include phenolics and flavonoids, which are known to have antioxidant activity. Antioxidants play an essential role in the body's defense against various diseases because they prevent the negative effects of free radicals. Jungrahab (Baeckea frutescens L.) is a medicinal plant containing phenolics and flavonoids. This study aimed to determine the antioxidant activity of jungrahab leaf extracts using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) method. The results showed the antioxidant activity of the extract, water fraction, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane of jungrahab leaves with IC50 values of 12.62, 61.74, 60.66, and 63.99 ppm, respectively. Meanwhile, jungrahab extract has a total phenolic content of 52.40 mg GAE (Gallic Acid Equivalent)/g and a flavonoid content of 56.72 mg QE (Quercetin Equivalent)/g. Jungrahab extract showed strongest antioxidant category compared to its fractions. Keywords: phenolics content, flavonoids content, antioxidant activity, DPPH, jungrahab

Endophytic Pseudomonas fluorescens promotes changes in the phenotype and secondary metabolite profile of Houttuynia cordata Thunb.

The interactions between microbes and plants are governed by complex chemical signals, which can forcefully affect plant growth and development. Here, to understand how microbes influence Houttuynia cordata Thunb. plant growth and its secondary metabolite through chemical signals, we established the interaction between single bacteria and a plant. We inoculated H. cordata seedlings with bacteria isolated from their roots. The results showed that the total fresh weight, the total dry weight, and the number of lateral roots per seedling in the P. fluorescens-inoculated seedlings were 174%, 172% and 227% higher than in the control seedlings. Pseudomonas fluorescens had a significant promotional effect of the volatile contents compared to control, with β-myrcene increasing by 192%, 2-undecanone by 203%, decanol by 304%, β-caryophyllene by 197%, α-pinene by 281%, bornyl acetate by 157%, γ-terpinene by 239% and 3-tetradecane by 328% in P. fluorescens-inoculated H. cordata seedlings. the contents of chlorogenic acid, rutin, quercitin, and afzelin were 284%, 154%, 137%, and 213% higher than in control seedlings, respectively. Our study provided basic data to assess the linkages between endophytic bacteria, plant phenotype and metabolites of H. cordata to provide an insight into P. fluorescens use as biological fertilizer, promoting the synthesis of medicinal plant compounds.

Nuclear Factor Kappa B: A Nobel Therapeutic Target of Flavonoids Against Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common brain-related neurodegenerative disorder, is comprised of several pathophysiological mechanisms, such as mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, aggregation of misfolded alpha-synuclein, and synaptic loss in the substantia nigra pars compacta region of the midbrain. Misfolded alpha-synuclein, originating from damaged neurons, triggers a series of signaling pathways in both glial and neuronal cells. Activation of such events results in the production and expression of several proinflammatory cytokines via the activation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) signaling pathway. Consequently, this cascade of events worsens the neurodegenerative processes, particularly in conditions, such as PD and synucleinopathies. Microglia, astrocytes, and neurons are just a few of the many cells and tissues that express the NF-κB family of inducible types of transcription factors. The dual role of NF-κB activation can be crucial for neuronal survival, although the classical NF-κB pathway is important for controlling the generation of inflammatory mediators during neuroinflammation. Modulating NF-κB-associated pathways through the selective action of several agents holds promise for mitigating dopaminergic neuronal degeneration and PD. Several naturally occurring compounds in medicinal plants can be an effective treatment option in attenuating PD-associated dopaminergic neuronal loss via selectively modifying the NF-κB-mediated signaling pathways. Recently, flavonoids have gained notable attention from researchers because of their remarkable anti-neuroinflammatory activity and significant antioxidant properties in numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including PD. Several subclasses of flavonoids, including flavones, flavonols, isoflavones, and anthocyanins, have been evaluated for neuroprotective effects against in vitro and in vivo models of PD. In this aspect, the present review highlights the pathological role of NF-κB in the progression of PD and investigates the therapeutic potential of natural flavonoids targeting the NF-κB signaling pathway for the prevention and management of PD-like manifestations with a comprehensive list for further reference. Available facts strongly support that bioactive flavonoids could be considered in food and/or as lead pharmacophores for the treatment of neuroinflammation-mediated PD. Furthermore, natural flavonoids having potent pharmacological properties could be helpful in enhancing the economy of countries that cultivate medicinal plants yielding bioactive flavonoids on a large scale.

Morphological Characteristics and Content of Secondary Metabolite Compounds of Medicinal Plants for Postpartum Infection Therapy

This study investigated the potential of medicinal plants in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, specifically focusing on Ageratum conyzoides, Mussaenda frondosa, Curcuma longa, and Uncaria gambir, which are utilized by the Dayak tribe for treating postpartum infections. Morphological observations were conducted in two distinct locations, namely Kota Besi District and Mentaya Hulu District of East Kotawaringin. The findings of this study offer a comprehensive understanding of the morphological characteristics and secondary metabolite compounds of medicinal plants in Central Kalimantan. The research employed an exploratory survey method involving direct observations of plant morphology at the research site, with the selection of the observed area utilizing a purposive sampling technique. The study aimed to qualitatively describe the morphological characteristics and analyze the compound content of Ageratum conyzoides, Mussaenda frondosa, Curcuma longa, and Uncaria gambir. Despite morphological variations between locations, the similarities in morphological characteristics and secondary metabolite compound content suggest comparable potential uses. The analysis of secondary metabolite compounds contributes to the traditional knowledge regarding the bioactive properties of these plants. The bioactive compounds identified in these plants include flavonoids, alkaloids, tannins/phenols, steroids, triterpenoids, and saponins. The study concludes that the information obtained can enhance public awareness of the health benefits associated with traditional medicinal plants, particularly in the treatment of postpartum infections. The similarities in morphological characteristics and secondary metabolite compound content between locations indicate similar potential uses, with considerations for ecological and sustainability aspects in their utilization, which serves as the final outcome of this research.

GC-MS and HPTLC bioautography-based phytochemical profiling and evaluation of biological activity Neptunia prostrata Linn whole plant and leaves

This work used experimental methods to evaluate the chemical composition of GC-MS, HPTLC-based bioautographaphy, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, and protein denaturation properties of the Neptunia prostrata Linn (family: Mimosaceae) whole plant and leaves. Three methods, namely DPPH, metal chelating, and reducing power assays, were used to estimate the antioxidant effects. In addition, α-amylase, a carbohydrate-hydrolyzing enzyme, was targeted to test the anti-diabetic activity. The protein denaturation assay was used to evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity of the plant. GC-MS, an important analytical tool, was performed to identify bioactive compounds of medicinal plants used in pharmaceutical industries. Biochemical derivatization HPTLC-based bioautography with DPPH was executed to identify antioxidant agents from N. prostrata. The validated HPTLC method was used to quantify identified antioxidant agents. The stability of compounds, preparation of calibration curves, linearity, range, precision, limit of detection, limit of quantification, robustness, and accuracy are examined to develop a robust method. Higher total phenolic content (TPC) content was observed in N. prostrata hydroalcoholic extract of the whole plant (81.12 ± 4.19 mg GAE/g) and methanolic extract of leaves (105.16 ± 3.11 mg GAE/g). Methanolic extract of N. prostrata leaves showed significantly high antioxidant potential for all DPPH (IC50:28.05 ± 1.78 µg/mL), metal chelating (IC50:1598 ± 23.51 µg/mL), and reducing power assay compared to standard ascorbic acid (DPPH assay: IC50:24.14 ± 2.34 µg/mL and metal chelating: IC50:1301.16 ± 6.14 µg/mL). N. prostrata aqueous extract of the whole plant (IC50:179.47 ± 10.59 µg/mL) and leaves (IC50:130.86 ± 3.58 µg/mL) showed significantly high α-amylase inhibitory activity as compared to standard acarbose (IC50:148.62 ± 7.84 µg/mL). Methanolic extract of whole plants (IC50:131.46 ± 11.81 µg/mL) and chloroform extract of leaves (IC50:122.61 ± 8.19 µg/mL) exhibited strong anti-inflammatory activity as compared to standard acetylsalicylic acid (IC50:117.77 ± 4.95 µg/mL). GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of several bioactive compounds, where 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy showed the most abundant bioactive compounds in the plant with 17.01%. HPTLC-bioautography identified three phenolic acids (chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid) and one flavonoid (naringenin), further quantified with the validated HPTLC method. These findings propose that N. prostrata has therapeutic potential for treating diseases related to oxidative damage, diabetes, and inflammation, which may be due to the presence of bioactive compounds.

Hemolytic, antioxidant, and phospholipase A2 neutralization efficacy of Asparagus racemosus, Withania somnifera, Syzygium cumini, Psidium guajava, Basella alba, Morus indica, Morus laevigata, and Morus latifolia

Bangladesh is abundant in medicinal plants. The bioactive compounds in medicinal plants provide novel therapeutic opportunity of improving human health. But, the benefit-risk balance is usually less considered during formulation of traditional medicine. However, the plants that we included in this study are not studied regarding their hemolytic and anti-venom properties. Thus, we aimed to evaluate and compare the hemolytic activity, antioxidant activity, and phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme neutralization efficacy of aqueous and methanolic extracts of eight known medicinal plants including Asparagus racemosus (root), Withania somnifera (root), Syzygium cumini (leaf), Psidium guajava (leaf), Basella alba (leaf and seed), Morus indica (leaf), M. laevigata (leaf), and M. latifolia (leaf). The results of the hemolytic activity test suggested that the methanolic extracts of S. cumini, P. guajava, B. alba (leaf and seed), M. indica, M. laevigata, and M. latifolia showed significantly higher hemolytic activity compared to their aqueous extracts. The methanolic extracts of A. racemosus, W. somnifera, P. guajava, M. laevigata, and M. latifolia showed remarkable antioxidant activity. Moreover, the results of the PLA2 enzyme neutralization activity test revealed that both aqueous and methanolic extracts of P. guajava, S. cumini, and B. alba (leaf) have significant PLA2 neutralization capacity. Altogether, the aqueous extracts of all plants, except A. racemosus root, have ignorable hemolytic effect. Additionally, P. guajava and S. cumini leaf aqueous extracts have promising PLA2 inhibitory effect and may become the potential source of bioactive compounds for anti-venom drug development.

The Egyptians' Use of Spices from “Attarin Market” In Folk Medicine, a Survey Study

ABSTRACT: Economic botanists investigate the relationship between humans and plants to understand how plants are used in culture, where some foods come from, and how to use plant resources sustainably. A large proportion of the general population in developing countries still uses traditional folk medicines derived from plant sources. Bioactive compounds in medicinal plants have always attracted great interest from scientists in this field. Egypt is famous of the folkloric medicine plants. This is considered the main source for new medicines discoveries. The methods of cure and herbal prescriptions are generally not written down. These skills are passed from one generation to the other through apprenticeship and once forgotten may not be revived again. This research aims to focus on the traditional uses of some herbs and spices which have medicinal property and be used as a functional food for humans in Greater Cairo area, Egypt for thousands of years. Ethno-botanical field trips were done in different Attarin Markets of Cairo province. The various data concerning 30 species (local name, locations, medical uses, parts of plant used… etc), were recorded. The information was gathered using a questionnaire distributed through the ethno-botanical interviews. The results were discussed and different recommendations were suggested.

Enhancing the quality attributes of mint medicinal plant (Mentha spicata L.) through simultaneous combined ozone and infrared drying

AbstractMedicinal plants are widely used in various traditional and modern medical methods due to their therapeutic properties. Drying is a common method used to preserve the biochemical compounds of medicinal plants. Still, conventional drying methods can lead to the loss of active compounds due to exposure to high temperatures. This research aimed to design and construct an ozone generator for use in a combined dryer and evaluate the ozone, temperature, and hot air flow rate on the quality properties of mint (Mentha spicata L.). Drying experiments were conducted at varying temperatures, air flow speeds, and ozone levels. Results indicated that increasing temperature reduced total phenol and flavonoid content while increasing antioxidant capacity. Higher airflow speed positively influenced total phenol, total flavonoid content and antioxidant potency but reduced drying time. Ozone exposure increased total phenol, flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and had minimal effect on drying time. Optimization revealed that a temperature of 52.47°C, air flow rate of 1.5 m/s, and 90.37% ozone concentration yielded favorable outcomes, including enhanced phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant power, and decreased energy consumption. Compared to other drying methods, the proposed ozone‐enhanced method proved superior in preserving bioactive compounds and maintaining a reasonable drying time. Overall, the research highlights the potential of ozone‐assisted drying for optimizing the quality of medicinal plants during preservation.Practical ApplicationThe paper introduces a novel and efficient method for preserving the quality of medicinal mint. By concurrently applying ozone and infrared drying techniques, this approach aims to capitalize on their synergistic effects in maintaining the plant's beneficial compounds. Ozone acts as a natural antimicrobial agent, preserving the plant's integrity, while infrared drying expedites the process without compromising the phytochemical profile. This innovative method not only ensures microbial safety and extended shelf life but also enhances the mint's aroma, flavor, and nutrient retention. The practical application of this combined technique holds promise for pharmaceutical and herbal industries, providing a valuable approach for optimizing the drying process and preserving the medicinal attributes of Mentha spicata L.

New Insights into Bioactive Compounds of Wild-Growing Medicinal Plants

Plants contain bioactive substances and secondary metabolites that have a variety of functions, including antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities. In this study, the content of bioactive compounds in five medicinal plants was determined, i.e., Plantago major L., Armoracia rusticana, Hypericum perforatum L., Rumex acetosa L., and Urtica dioica L., from 38 locations. Additionally, the antimicrobial effect of extracts of bioactive compounds from the above-mentioned plants was checked. The experiment used an original method of extracting bioactive compounds. Purpose of the research: the assessment of antimicrobial activity and chemical characterization of extracts obtained using our own method of isolating bioactive compounds from green parts of medical plants in Poland. Based on the research, the presence of bioactive compounds, i.e., phenolic acids and flavonoids, was found in the tested plant extracts. The results of this study suggest that the geographic parameters of the locations where these plants grow have different effects on their biochemical composition and biological activity. The results showed that all tested plants had significant antibacterial activities. Rumex acetose L. showed the highest antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis. These studies supplement the existing literature on the subject with information about the antimicrobial properties of the tested plant extracts that can be used in herbal medicine. The results have significant implications for the pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmetic sectors, establishing a foundation for future research in this area.

Wound Healing: A Brief Look at the Inflammatory Stage and Role of Medicinal Plants and Their Derivations on Modulating the Inflammatory Responses: A Systematic Review

Aims: Wound is believed to be a major disorder in certain organs and/or tissues, which could be transmitted to other tissues. Skin is constantly exposed to infections, injuries, scratches, and burns. Wound dressings are commonly utilized for the treatment of wound site and protect it from external contamination. The biological importance of natural agents, such as herbal medicines and their derivations including extracts, essential oils and active compounds in the wound healing process has attracted the attention of researchers and also some manufacturers of wound dressings. Such natural agents improve wound healing by their antioxidant and antibacterial properties. This novel review article was conducted to evaluate the effects of medicinal plants and their derivations on inflammatory responses in surgical wound infection. Methods: The data were collected from various databases using specific keywords. Results: The results revealed that different medicinal plants and their derivations decrease the inflammation in the wound healing process by modulating in gene expression of inflammatory cytokines and immune cells. Conclusion: Active compounds of medicinal plants can alleviate inflammation in the wound healing process, which must be taken into consideration in pharmaceutical industries.

Research Progress of Plant Active Ingredients in Pharmaceutical Cocrystal.

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

Zerumbone (ZER), a Potential Anticancer for Breast Mediates Cancer Cell Death Through Targeting β-catenin Signaling Pathway in MCF-7 Cell Line

Background: Zerumbone is a sesquiterpene which was found to delay progression of breast cancer through apoptosis induction via up-regulating Bax protein and down-regulating Bcl2 protein. Purpose: In this study, we aimed to investigate Zerumbone, a natural compound of medicinal herbal plant isolated from Zingiber zerumbet, for anti-cancer activity against MCF-7 cell line. Methods: Human cancer cell lines of breast MCF-7 cells were obtained from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA). ON target plus smart pool siRNA, the most efficient method is used for preparation of β-catenin siRNA. Cyclophilin B siRNA is considered as positive control. Zrumbone is an ethanol-soluble compound isolated from Zingiber zerumbet, extracted by the hydro-distillation (steam distillation) method. Purification of ZER was examined using HPLC. The MCF-7 cells transfected with 100 µM human β-catenin (CTNNB1) siRNA or cyclophilin B siRNA positive control. After transfection, the cells were harvested at 48hrs for mRNA analysis or 48 – 72 hrs for protein analysis. IC50 for ZER was determined using MTT assay. MCF-7 transfected with β-catenin siRNA were then treated with ZER IC50. The mRNA expression was analyzed using real-time to ensure the knock down of β-catenin. TUNNEL assay was used to confirm apoptosis and flow cytometry was applied for quantification of apoptotic cells. Western blot analysis was done to evaluate the effect of ZER and β-catenin (CTNNB1) siRNA on the expression of β-catenin and its functional impact on the proliferation and survival of MCF-7 cells. Results: ZER decreased β-catenin protein expression in breast cancer cell lines. ZER downregulated β-catenin mRNA level in breast cancer cell lines. Depletion of β-catenin by β-catenin siRNA and ZER induce cell apoptosis. Apoptosis caused by ZER was confirmed/examined using by annexin V (annexin V was used as a marker for drug action). Conclusion: Zerumbone possesses anti-breast cancer activity, which could be attributed to the reduction of β-catenin protein expression in MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines, downregulation of β-catenin mRNA level in breast cancer cell lines and through annexin V.

Identification of Anti-Cancer Compounds in Medicinal Plants Using Metabolomic Approaches: A Review

The modern lifestyle despite its comfort has made cancer a second leading public health problem, following cardiovascular disease. As chemotherapeutic has many side effects including resistance, recent attention has focused on plants which may provide a good opportunity for complementary cancer treatment. Several studies have begun to focus on metabolomic research in order to discover the mechanisms of action of diverse medicinal plants, investigate biomarkers, and comprehend cancer progression at metabolic rates. This study aims to analyze and highlight related metabolomic investigations in medicinal plants that demonstrate the potential of biomarker compounds and their processes in cancer disease. The research methodology uses a literature review that is compiled from many connected journals. According to the findings, bioactive substances present in medicinal plants can be used as biomarkers to disrupt the metabolism of enzymes, transporters, and signaling pathways in cancer cells. Utilized analytical platforms include HPLC, GC-MS, FTIR and NMR. Statistical analysis employs the Anova, PCA, and OPLS-DA methods. Finally, we reviewed biomarkers of medicinal plants and metabolomic pathways, with the result that anticancer compounds may exert their activity by various methods affecting DNA replication, cell cycle, migration and apoptosis.The modern lifestyle despite its comfort has made cancer a second leading public health problem, following cardiovascular disease. As chemotherapeutic has many side effects including resistance, recent attention has focused on plants which may provide a good opportunity for complementary cancer treatment. Several studies have begun to focus on metabolomic research in order to discover the mechanisms of action of diverse medicinal plants, investigate biomarkers, and comprehend cancer progression at metabolic rates. This study aims to analyze and highlight related metabolomic investigations in medicinal plants that demonstrate the potential of biomarker compounds and their processes in cancer disease. The research methodology uses a literature review that is compiled from many connected journals. According to the findings, bioactive substances present in medicinal plants can be used as biomarkers to disrupt the metabolism of enzymes, transporters, and signaling pathways in cancer cells. Utilized analytical platforms include HPLC, GC-MS, FTIR and NMR. Statistical analysis employs the Anova, PCA, and OPLS-DA methods. Finally, we reviewed biomarkers of medicinal plants and metabolomic pathways, with the result that anticancer compounds may exert their activity by various methods affecting DNA replication, cell cycle, migration and apoptosis.

Bioactive Compounds of Endemic Medicinal Plants (Cuphea spp.) Cultured in Aquaponic Systems: A Short Study

Aquaculture waters can be associated with the modification of the phytochemical profile in plants when they are used for irrigation; thus, Integrated Agri-Aquaculture Systems such as aquaponics represent a strategy to improve the bioactive content of medicinal plants. This study aimed to analyze the effect caused by cultivation using aquaponics on the modification of the content of bioactive compounds such as phenols, flavonoids, and apigenin in Cuphea hyssopifolia and Cuphea cyanea irrigated with Cyprinus carpio waters. The results of each culture method showed unique differences (p ≤ 0.05) in the concentrations of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity in Cuphea spp. For C. hyssopifolia in aquaponics, 76% (61.08 ± 7.2 mg g−1 GAEq) of phenols and 50% (5.62 ± 0.5 mg g−1 CAEq) of flavonoids were maintained compared to 20% (16.99 ± 0.4 mg g−1 GAEq) of phenols and 76.5% (8.19 ± 1.6 mg g−1 CAEq) of flavonoids in conventional culture. For C. cyanea in aquaponics, 91% (15.36 ± 0.8 mg g−1 GAEq) of phenols and 47% (3.52 ± 0.6 mg g−1 CAEq) of flavonoids were maintained compared to 24% (14.11 ± 1.3 mg g−1 GAEq) of phenols and 82% (1.79 ± 0.1 mg g−1 CAEq) of flavonoids in conventional culture. An increase of more than 60% in the apigenin content of C. hyssopifolia in aquaponics confirms a eustress effect related to the use of organically enriched waters. The results indicate that aquaponics can promote the biostimulation/elicitation of medicinal plants and increase their bioactive compounds, but this effect does not occur in the same way between species.

Chlorogenic acid induces apoptosis and cell-cycle arrest in colorectal cancer cells.

Apoptotic agents from natural products like phenolic compounds can be used effectively in the treatment of cancer. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is one of the phenolic compounds in medicinal plants with anti-cancer properties. In this research, we aimed to explore the anti-cancer mode of action of CGA on colorectal cancer (CRC) cells in vitro conditions. HT-29 and HEK-293 cells were cultured after MTT assay for 24h with CGA 100µM, and without CGA. Then, flow cytometry assays and the expression of apoptosis-related genes including caspase 3 and 9, Bcl-2 and Bax, and cell cycle-related genes including P21, P53 and NF-κB at mRNA and protein levels were examined. Finally, we measured the amount of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). The cell viability of all two-cell lines decreased in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, CGA induces cell cycle arrest in HT-29 cells by increasing the expression of P21 and P53. It also induces apoptosis in HT-29 cells by mitigating Bcl-2 and NF-κB expression and elevating caspase 3 and 9 expression and ROS levels. Considering the cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis in the colon cancer cell line by CGA, it can be concluded that CGA is a suitable option for the treatment of colon cancer.