Different Classes Of Phytochemicals Research Articles

Bioprotective Role of Phytocompounds Against the Pathogenesis of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease to Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis: Unravelling Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), with a global prevalence of 25%, continues to escalate, creating noteworthy concerns towards the global health burden. NAFLD causes triglycerides and free fatty acids to build up in the liver. The excessive fat build-up causes inflammation and damages the healthy hepatocytes, leading to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Dietary habits, obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia influence NAFLD progression. The disease burden is complicated due to the paucity of therapeutic interventions. Obeticholic acid is the only approved therapeutic agent for NAFLD. With more scientific enterprise being directed towards the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of NAFLD, novel targets like lipid synthase, farnesoid X receptor signalling, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors associated with inflammatory signalling, and hepatocellular injury have played a crucial role in the progression of NAFLD to NASH. Phytocompounds have shown promising results in modulating hepatic lipid metabolism and de novo lipogenesis, suggesting their possible role in managing NAFLD. This review discusses the ameliorative role of different classes of phytochemicals with molecular mechanisms in different cell lines and established animal models. These compounds may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for NAFLD progression to NASH. This review also deliberates on phytomolecules undergoing clinical trials for effective management of NAFLD.

A study on phytochemical profiling of Avicennia marina mangrove leaves collected from Indian Sundarbans

Mangroves are the most diverse and productive ecosystem that is enriched with various classes of phytochemicals having potential medicinal applications. Here we have studied the bioactive potential and the presence of secondary metabolites in Avicennia marina, one of the dominant species in the Indian Sundarbans mangrove habitat. The bioactive potential study of A. marina was carried out in terms of the determination of total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and reactive oxygen species scavenging potential. The methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were subjected to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) for functional group identification. Further, detailed phytochemical profiling has been carried out by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC) values for the methanolic extract of A. marina leaves were 148.0 mg GAE g−1 dry extract and 251.9 mg CE g−1 dry extract which was higher than ethyl acetate extracts. The free radical scavenging potential showed that methanolic extract of A. marina leaves can scavenge DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) free radical up to 96.0 % and ethyl acetate extract can scavenge up to 73.7 % at 250 µg mL−1. LC-MS metabolic profile revealed the presence of different classes of secondary metabolites like fatty acids, flavonoids, plant hormones, etc., in methanolic extract. The presence of different classes of phytochemicals in the methanolic extract proves its potential as a source of plant-derived medicinal compounds.

UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS Profiling of Phytochemicals from Araticum Fruit (Annona crassiflora Mart.) and Its Antioxidant Activity.

Araticum is a native species of the Brazilian Cerrado with a high potential for exploitation. Several studies have stated that araticum is a rich source of phytochemicals with multifaceted biological actions. However, little information is available regarding the characterization of phytochemicals found in the pulp of this fruit. In this context, this study aimed to carry out a comprehensive characterization of phytochemicals present in the araticum pulp using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer (UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS). The antioxidant potential of araticum pulp was also evaluated. UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS profiling of the phytochemicals allowed for the identification and annotation of 139 phytochemicals, including organic acids, jasmonates, iridoids, phenolic compounds, alkaloids, annonaceous acetogenins, fatty acid derivatives, and other compounds. Among them, 116 compounds have been found for the first time in araticum pulp. Phenolic compounds and their derivatives represented about 59% of the phytochemicals identified in the extract. Moreover, araticum pulp showed high total phenolic compound content and antioxidant activity. The majority of identified phytochemicals have been associated with key roles in the plant's defense mechanisms against biotic and abiotic stress factors in the Cerrado environment. Furthermore, many of these phytochemicals found in the araticum pulp are already widely recognized for their beneficial effects on human health. Our findings showed that the araticum fruit contains different classes of phytochemicals that exert various biological activities, both in the plant itself and in humans.

Comparative Study on Assisted Solvent Extraction Techniques for the Extraction of Biologically Active Compounds from Sideritis raeseri and Sideritis scardica.

The plants in the Sideritis genus are postulated to exhibit several important medicinal properties due to their unique chemical composition. To isolate the targeted phytochemical compounds, the selection of a suitable extraction method is of primary importance. In this work, a comparative study on the phytochemical profiles of various Sideritis raeseri and Sideritis scardica extracts has been carried out. An untargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry was applied to investigate the metabolic differences between extracts obtained by conventional extraction and extractions assisted by microwaves, ultrasounds and high pressure. Additionally, the influence of extraction solvents on HPLC antioxidant profiles obtained following the derivatization of analytes with ABTS reagent was evaluated. A total of 102 metabolites have been putatively identified. The major secondary metabolites groups were classified as flavonoids, terpenoids, phenylethanoid glycosides and phenolic acids. The main antioxidants in the extracts were isoscutellarein and hypolaetin derivatives as well as verbascoside and chlorogenic acid. The results showed that 70% ethanol was the most effective extractant for different classes of phytochemicals including antioxidants. In addition, extraction supported with microwaves, ultrasounds or high pressure improved the overall recovery of metabolites by about 3 times compared to the conventional extraction method.

Biological Importance and Therapeutic Benefit of Swertisin: An Overview of Medicinal Importance and Pharmacological Activities

Background: Herbal medicines have been derived from different parts of the plants including roots, bark, seeds, flowers, and leaf. Human beings have been using herbal medicine and their derived phytochemicals for the treatment of human health complications since ancient times. Presence of different classes of phytochemicals is responsible for different pharmacological activities of herbal drugs and their derived products. Methods: Numerous scientific literature data have been searched to collect all the needed scientific information of the present article. Scientific literature databases such as Google, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and PubMed have been searched in the present work to collect all the scientific information of swertisin. Medicinal importance and pharmacological activities of swertisin have been investigated in the present work through literature data analysis of different scientific research works. Therapeutic benefits of swertisin against cognitive impairment, diabetes, hepatitis B, pain and chromosomal damage have been investigated through literature data analysis of different scientific research works. Results: Literature data analysis of numerous scientific research works revealed the biological potential of swertisin in medicine as it is present in different medicinal plants i.e. Wilbrandia ebracteata, Swertia franchetiana, Swertia mussotii, Enicostemma hyssopifolium, and Iris tectorum. Scientific data analysis revealed the therapeutic effectiveness of swertisin against cognitive impairment, diabetes, hepatitis B, pain and chromosomal damage. Scientific data analysis signified the importance of different analytical techniques for qualitative and quantitative analysis of swertisin in different samples. Conclusion: Present study signified the biological importance and therapeutic benefit of swertisin in medicine.

Phytochemical Investigation of the Stem Bark of Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen (Polygalaceae) (I)

Securidaca longipedunculata is a medicinal plant with a long history of use in Nigeria and in many parts of Africa. Different classes of phytochemicals were isolated and identified from the root of this plant, however, the phytochemistry of the stem bark is not widely investigated; thus, this study was aimed at identifying the phytochemical constituents of the stem bark. Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LCMS/MS) analysis of a fraction (fraction DDK-6) obtained from the column chromatography of the ethylacetate extract of S. longipedunculata stem bark was conducted on a Waters Synapt G2 quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometer using positive mode of ionization. The results suggested that 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-(2’,4’-dihydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one was the major component of fraction DDK-6. Other compounds identified in this fraction include geranyl hydroquinone, 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6,8-dimethyl-3,4-dihydro-2H-1-benzopyran-4-one,4-hydroxy-3,4-dihydro-1H-isoquinoline-2- carboxidamide, 3-(1,3-benzodi-oxol-5-yl-4-morpholinyl)-3-(2-hydroxy-4,6-dimethoxyphenyl)-1-propanone, 1,3,7-trihydroxy-2-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-8-(3-hydroxy-3-methylbutyl)xanthone, 5,7-dihydroxy-6-methyl-3-(4-hydroxybenzyl)-chroman-4-one,[(7R,8R)-7-[(Z)-2-methylbut-2-+enoyl]oxy-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3H-pyrrolizin-1-yl]methyl(2R)-2,3-dihydroxy-2-[(1S)-1-hydroxyethyl]-3-methyl butanoate, (Z)-Octadec-9-enamide, [(2R,3S,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[2-(hydroxymethyl)phenoxy]oxan-2-yl]methylbenzoate and (1S,4R)-7-Methoxycalamenen-3-one. The present study has tentatively identified the presence of these compounds in the stem bark of S. longipedunculata, and studies are currently on-going to isolate them in their pure forms.

Anticancer Effects of New Ceramides Isolated from the Red Sea Red Algae Hypnea musciformis in a Model of Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma: LC-HRMS Analysis Profile and Molecular Modeling.

Different classes of phytochemicals were previously isolated from the Red Sea algae Hypnea musciformis as sterols, ketosteroids, fatty acids, and terpenoids. Herein, we report the isolation of three fatty acids—docosanoic acid 4, hexadecenoic acid 5, and alpha hydroxy octadecanoic acid 6—as well as three ceramides—A (1), B (2), and C (3)—with 9-methyl-sphinga-4,8-dienes and phytosphingosine bases. Additionally, different phytochemicals were determined using the liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization high-resolution mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-HRMS) technique. Ceramides A (1) and B (2) exhibited promising in vitro cytotoxic activity against the human breast adenocarcinoma (MCF-7) cell line when compared with doxorubicin as a positive control. Further in vivo study and biochemical estimation in a mouse model of Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) revealed that both ceramides A (1) and B (2) at doses of 1 and 2 mg/kg, respectively, significantly decreased the tumor size in mice inoculated with EAC cells. The higher dose (2 mg/kg) of ceramide B (2) particularly expressed the most pronounced decrease in serum levels of vascular endothelial growth factor -B (VEGF-B) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) markers, as well as the expression levels of the growth factor midkine in tumor tissue relative to the EAC control group. The highest expression of apoptotic factors, p53, Bax, and caspase 3 was observed in the same group that received 2 mg/kg of ceramide B (2). Molecular docking simulations suggested that ceramides A (1) and B (2) could bind in the deep grove between the H2 helix and the Ser240-P250 loop of p53, preventing its interaction with MDM2 and leading to its accumulation. In conclusion, this study reports the cytotoxic, apoptotic, and antiangiogenic effects of ceramides isolated from the Red Sea algae Hypnea musciformis in an experimental model of EAC.

Comparative Analysis of Anti Gout Activities of Ethanolic Extract of Alternanthera sessilis and Moringa oleifera

Introduction: Ethanolic extracts of Alternanthera sessilis and Moringa oleifera were screened for the presence of different classes of phytochemicals. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of amino acids, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, sapponents and steroids.Gout is the type of arthritis that causes painful inflammation and develops due to overproduction of urate.
 Aim: To analyse the anti gout activities of ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis and moringa oleifera.
 Materials and Methods: Ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis and Moringa oleifera were prepared as per the standard methods and used for the assessment of preliminary phytochemical screening, antioxidants and anti gout activities. The data were analyzed statistically by a one-way analysis of (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range test was used to see the statistical significance among the group. The results with the p< 0.05 level were considered to be statistically significant.
 Results: Antioxidant and Anti gout potential of the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera was found to be significantly more than the ethanolic extract of Alternanthera sessilis.
 Conclusion: Both the ethanolic extracts exhibited anti gout activity, further studies are needed to validate the herbal extracts as a drug formulation.

Punica granatum peel extracts mediated the green synthesis of gold nanoparticles and their detailed in vivo biological activities

Abstract Requirements for developing new methodologies to biosynthesize nanoparticles are increasing day by day. The typical chemical synthesis of nanoparticles has raised concerns regarding environmental safety and adverse impact on human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop green synthesized nanoparticles that are considered to be safe, ecofriendly, and cost-effective as compared to chemical approaches. Hence, in this study, we synthesized and characterized pomegranate peel extract-based gold nanoparticles (PP-AuNPs) through UV-visible spectroscopy, FT-IR, and AFM microscopy. Furthermore, the biological activities like analgesic, muscle relaxant, and sedative properties of synthesized PP-AuNPs were also determined. The change of color to dark ruby indicates the formation of AuNPs. The surface plasma resonance (SPR) peak in the absorption spectra was shown at 525 nm by using (UV-Vis) spectroscopy. A single distinctive peak implied the shape of nanoparticles to be spherical. AFM images revealed that the biosynthesized nanoparticles were spherical in shape. Furthermore, the images confirm the uniform distribution of PP-AuNPs with particle sizes ranging from 4 to 16 nm. Different classes of phytochemicals were preliminarily identified in extracts. The analgesic effect of extracts (70.04%) and PP-AuNPs (81.98%) demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) percent reduction in writhing at a dose of 100 and 15 mg·kg−1, respectively. A mild muscle relaxant effect was noted against both the tested samples while a significant sedative effect was observed for both samples; however, PP-AuNPs weres more sedative compared to the extract. Pomegranate peel extracts and synthesized PP-AuNPs were found to possess significant analgesic, muscle relaxant, and sedative properties.

Phytochemical Analysis, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial Activities and GC-MS Profiling Of Drymaria Diandra Blume

Drymaria diandra is used in Nepalese traditional medicine to treat various ailments. The hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and 50% aqueous methanol extracts of D. diandra were prepared and screened for the presence of different classes of phytochemicals. Methanol and 50% aqueous methanol extracts showed the presence of phenolics, flavonoids and carbohydrates so their total contents were estimated. The highest amount of phenolics and flavonoids were found in methanol extract (190.58±2.21 mg GAE/g extract and 69.25±7.91 mg CE/g extract respectively). The highest amount of sugar was found in 50% methanol extract (185.60±2.53 mg GE/g extract). Similarly, the extracts were tested for the antibacterial activity against one gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli and one gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus. All the tested extracts showed good antibacterial activity against both bacteria with the inhibition zone ranging from 10 -22 mm. The free radical scavenging activity was determined using DPPH free radical. Both methanol and 50% aqueous methanol extracts showed strong antioxidant activity (IC50 13.61 and 16.94 μg/ml respectively). The GC-MS analysis of hexane extract revealed the presence of more than 22 compounds. However, 9 compounds were identified by comparing the mass fragmentation pattern of each compound with the standard NIST mass spectral database

Phytochemical Characterization and In Vitro Antioxidant Properties of Four Brassica Wild Species from Italy.

In the present study, we evaluated for the first time the variability of antioxidant traits of four Brassica wild species: B. incana, B. macrocarpa, B. villosa, and B. rupestris. The content of the main water-soluble antioxidants (phenolics, ascorbic acid, and total biothiols) and the in vitro antioxidant potential (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) and superoxide anion scavenging capacity) were investigated. A total of 28 polyphenolic compounds were identified by LC/MS and quantitated by HPLC/DAD analysis. Kaempferol and quercetin derivatives were the most abundant phenolics compared to hydroxycinnamoyl gentiobiosides. In the ten populations, phenolics ranged from 163.9 to 533.9 mg/100 g dry weight (d.w.), ascorbic acid from 7.6 to 375.8 mg/100 g d.w., and total biothiols from 0.59 to 5.13 mg/100 g d.w. The different classes of phytochemicals were separated using solid-phase extraction at increasing methanol concentrations, and the antioxidant power of fractionated extracts was evaluated. The superoxide anion scavenging activity was significantly correlated to phenolics, particularly to flavonol derivatives, while DPPH was mainly related to ascorbic acid content. The present findings improve the knowledge of the phytochemical composition of Italian Brassica wild species by showing the great diversity of phytochemicals among populations and highlighting their importance as a valuable genetic resource for developing new cultivars with improved bioactive content.

Phytochemical Analysis and Antimicrobial Activity of Smilax ovalifoliaRoxb. Ex D. Don

Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and 50% aqueous methanol extracts of S. ovalifoliawere screened for the presence of different classes of phytochemicals as well as their antibacterial activity. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenolic, flavonoid and carbohydrate in methanol and 50% aqueous methanol extracts of S. ovalifolia. The antibacterial susceptibility was studied against E. coli and S. aureus. Among all the tested extracts, ethyl acetate extract showed good antibacterial activity against both bacteria. In the methanol and 50%, aqueous methanol extracts of S. ovalifolia, total phenolic, total flavonoid and total carbohydrate content were estimated, and free radical scavenging activity was determined. Total phenolic content was measured spectrophotometrically by using Folin- Ciocalteu reagent, total flavonoid content by using aluminium chloride and total carbohydrate content by using the anthrone method. Gallic acid was used as the standard for the calibration of phenolics, catechin for flavonoids and glucose for carbohydrates. The highest amount of phenolic and flavonoid were found in methanol extract (192.152±0.009 mg GAE/g extract and 78.188±2.719 mg CE/g extract), respectively. The highest amount of sugar was found in 50% methanol extract (190.585±2.445 mg GE/g extract). Methanol extract also showed good antioxidant activity (IC50 value 49.989 μg/ ml) than 50% aqueous methanol extract (IC50 72.021 μg/ml). The GC-MS analysis of hexane extract of S. ovalifolia allowed the identification of 16 Phyto-constituents based on retention time and the fragmentation pattern in the mass spectrum.

Phytochemical Evaluation of Some Medicinal Plants of Puthan District of Nepal

Different parts of eleven medicinal plants used in the traditional medicine in Puthan district were collected. Three different extracts, methanol, 50% aqueous methanoland 70% aqueous acetone extractswere prepared for each plant material. The methanol extractswere screened for the presence of different classes of phytochemicals. Total phenolic andflavonoid content, as well as DPPH freeradical scavenging activity, were evaluated. All the investigated extracts contain a high amount of phenolics and flavonoids.The highest amount of phenolicsand flavonoids were detected in the methanolextract of bark of Bauhinia variegate(355.35+3.69 mg GAE/g and 209.23 ±1.25 mg QE/g extract). Among the eight tested extracts, the highest radical scavenging activity was shown by methanol extract of bark of B. variegate (IC50 3.68 μg/ml). The extract having the highest phenolic and flavonoid content showed the lowest IC50 demonstrating the positive correlation between radical scavenging activity and total phenolic and flavonoid content.

English

Tuberculosis (TB), an airborne disease, is among the ten leading deadly diseases worldwide. Despite the efforts of WHO and its partners to eradicate it, it is still a public health issue especially with the rise of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and extensively drug- resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB). Commiphora species (Burseraceae family) are known in the Kenyan traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases including TB. In the search of new anti-TB alternative drugs, plant materials from Commiphora mildbraedii Engl. (root bark and stem bark), Commiphora edulis (Klotzsch) Engl. (stem bark and leaves) and C. ellenbeckii Engl. (Stem bark and leaves) were tested for antimycobacterial activity, cytotoxicity and phytochemistry. 100 g of the powdered plant materials were macerated using the serial method with solvents of increasing polarity. Aqueous extraction was carried out by decoction. The microbroth dilution method was used to determine the antimycobacterial activity (MIC) against a model Mycobacterium smegmatis ATCC607 while the cytotoxicity evaluation (CC50) was carried out using the MTT assay. The most active extract was fractionated using preparative TLC and fractions were analysed by GC-MS. Thirty extracts were obtained from the 6 different plant materials and eleven of them exhibited the antimycobacterial activity with the methanolic extracts of the stem and root bark of C. mildbraedii, and the aqueous extract of the C. ellenbeckii leaves exhibiting high activities (MIC= 0.39, 0.78 and 0.78 mg/L respectively). The MTT assay showed no or low cytotoxicity. The GC-MS analysis of the preparative TLC fractions from the methanolic extract of C. mildbraedii revealed the presence of 42 compounds belonging to 10 different classes of phytochemicals. Lup-20(29)-en-3-one and o-xylene were the most abundant. Except o-xylene and α-terpineol, all the compounds were detected for the first time in the Commiphora genus. These findings justify the ethnomedicinal uses of Commiphora species in TB treatment. Key words: C. mildbraedii, C. ellenbeckii, C. edulis, antimycobacterial activity. &nbsp

Phytochemical Diversity and Pharmacological Properties of Rhus coriaria

Rhus coriaria L. (Anacardiaceae), sumac, is a common condiment, appetizer and souring agent in the Mediterranean region that has a long history in traditional medicine. R. coriaria has been prescribed for the treatment of many ailments including diarrhea, ulcer, hemorrhoids, hemorrhage, wound healing, hematemesis, and eye ailments like ophthalmia and conjunctivitis. The plant is also used as diuresis, antimicrobial, abortifacient and as a stomach tonic. Sumac is known to be rich in different classes of phytochemicals including tannins, polyphenols, flavonoids, organic acids and essential oils and continues to be a hot topic for extensive research work designed for revealing its phytochemical constituents and evaluating its bioactive properties. This review summarizes the recent phytochemical and diverse bioactivity studies on R. coriaria, especially those concerned with antitumor, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory studies.

PHYTOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS AND CONSTITUENTS OF HEXANE EXTRACT OF MELASTOMA MALABATHRICUM L

Hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, methanol and 50 % aqueous methanol extracts of leaf, flower and fruit of Melastoma malabathricum were screened for the presence of different classes of phytochemicals. In phytochemical screening, ethyl acetate, methanol and 50 % aqueous methanol extracts showed the presence of phenolics and flavonoids. Glycosides were found only in the 50 % methanol extract of fruit. Free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of leaf, flower and fruit was determined using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. Total phenolic content was measured spectrophotometrically using Folin-Ciocalteu, total flavonoids content by using aluminum chloride and total sugar content by using anthrone reagent. Gallic acid was used as a standard for the calibration of phenolics, catechin for flavonoids and glucose for carbohydrates. The highest amount of phenolic was found in the 50 % methanol extract of leaf (242.88 ± 3.52 mg GAE/g extract), the highest amount of flavonoids was found in the ethyl acetate extract of leaf (127.41 ± 6.33 mg CE/g extract). Total sugar in 50 % methanol extract of fruit was found to be 151.12 ± 8.79 mg GE/g extract. Methanol extracts of flower showed the strongest antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 17.23 μg/ml. Silyl derivative of hexane extracts were prepared by using N-methyl-N-(trimetylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide for gas chromatography-mass spectroscopic (GC-MS) analysis. The GC-MS analysis of hexane extract allowed the identification of 17 phyto-constituents by comparing the fragmentation pattern of each component in mass spectrum with the standard NIST mass spectral database.

Dietary phytochemicals in the regulation of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and associated enzymes: A promising anticancer therapeutic approach.

Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological phenomenon that plays a primordial role for initiation of metastasis. It renders cancer cells with increased self-renewal and tumor-initiating capabilities and exacerbated resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. Hence, regulation of EMT stands out to be an important strategy in controlling the behavior of malignant cells. Despite the enormous amount of preclinical data on the implication of EMT in cancer progression, there is still lack of routine clinical translation at therapeutic levels. The need of EMT-modulating drugs with high efficacy and low cytotoxicity has led to studies involving the evaluation of the efficacy of a plethora of various classes of phytochemicals present in dietary sources of fruits and vegetables. This review summarizes the role of these different classes of phytochemicals, their natural/synthetic analogs, and their nano-formulations in regulation of EMT in various preclinical models through attenuation of primary signaling pathways. Numerous proteins, transcription factors and enzymes targeted by various classes of phytochemicals in repression of EMT has been presented in this review. Additionally, we have critically analyzed the existing literature and provided views on new direction for accelerating the discovery of novel drug candidates which could be cautiously administered without concomitant effects.

Study of onion processing waste powder for potential use in food sector

The development of food products that contain value-added dietary fibre beside different classes of phytochemicals is of great interest nowadays. The present research aimed to evaluate the powder obtained from onion processing waste (OPW) for its potential use as a value-added by-product in food sector. Data on chemical and microbiological characterization of onion processing waste powder (OPWP) were obtained. The dietary fibre content and antioxidant activity were also determined. The results showed that the OPWP was a low-calorie natural source of insoluble fibres (60.52±0.13 g/100 g dw), total phenols (41.04±1.22 mg GAE/g dw), and total flavonoids (20.44±1.22 mg QE/g dw). Moreover, the OPWP could be considered as an important source of total fructans (9.04±0.28 g/100 g dw), fructooligosaccharides (2.76 g/100 g dw), and inulin (2.41±0.18 g/100 g dw). In conclusion, this OPWP could be used as a value-added and healthy food ingredient.

Anesthetic Agents of Plant Origin: A Review of Phytochemicals with Anesthetic Activity.

The majority of currently used anesthetic agents are derived from or associated with natural products, especially plants, as evidenced by cocaine that was isolated from coca (Erythroxylum coca, Erythroxylaceae) and became a prototype of modern local anesthetics and by thymol and eugenol contained in thyme (Thymus vulgaris, Lamiaceae) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum, Myrtaceae), respectively, both of which are structurally and mechanistically similar to intravenous phenolic anesthetics. This paper reviews different classes of phytochemicals with the anesthetic activity and their characteristic molecular structures that could be lead compounds for anesthetics and anesthesia-related drugs. Phytochemicals in research papers published between 1996 and 2016 were retrieved from the point of view of well-known modes of anesthetic action, that is, the mechanistic interactions with Na+ channels, γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptors, N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors and lipid membranes. The searched phytochemicals include terpenoids, alkaloids and flavonoids because they have been frequently reported to possess local anesthetic, general anesthetic, antinociceptive, analgesic or sedative property. Clinical applicability of phytochemicals to local and general anesthesia is discussed by referring to animal in vivo experiments and human pre-clinical trials. This review will give structural suggestions for novel anesthetic agents of plant origin.

A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF SOLVENTS ON THE PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE AND BIOLOGICAL POTENTIAL OF ORMOCARPUM COCHINCHINENSE AUCT. NON (LOUR.) MERRILL

<p><strong>Objective: </strong>Plants contain different classes of phytochemicals which have different levels of solubility in solvents, based on their polarity. Hence, this study aims to compare the effects of various solvents on the phytochemical profile and biological potential of <em>Ormocarpum cochinchinense</em>. The present study is the first to evaluate the antifungal activity of the plant.<strong></strong></p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The sequential extraction was carried out using two sets of solvent systems namely hexane, ethyl acetate, ethanol and chloroform, acetone, methanol. The extracts were subjected to standard phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial activity by disc diffusion method against eight bacteria and six fungi and antioxidant activity by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Varied range of phytochemicals was found in the extracts. Acetone extract was rich in phenolic compounds, whereas terpenoids were extracted only in methanol. Acetone extracts showed highest antibacterial activity with a maximum zone of 14.5 mm against <em>Shigella flexineri</em> whereas ethyl acetate extract showed the best antifungal activity with the highest zone of inhibition of 12 mm against <em>Trichophyton menta agrophytes.</em> Hexane and chloroform extracts did not show any antimicrobial activity. For DPPH assay, the ethanol extracts showed the highest percentage inhibition of 92.87%. <strong></strong></p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The present investigation on the plant <em>O. cochinchinense</em> has proved that the selection of solvent for extraction should be based on the target compounds and their bioactivity and concludes that acetone was the best for the extraction of antibacterial compounds and ethyl acetate for antifungal compounds whereas, ethanol was the best for extracting antioxidant compounds in <em>O. cochinchinense.</em></p>