Eclipta Alba Research Articles

Diversity and Distribution of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Selected Medicinal Plants

Background: Tha Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi (AMF) association previously known as VAM belongs to an ancient fungal group known as Glomeromycota. In this study five commonly used medicinal plants viz., Eclipta prostrata, Mentha arvensis, Elettaria cardamomum, Bacopa monneri and Mimosa pudica were investigated for AMF colonization in the form of arbuscules, vesicles and hyphae from their roots and their rhizospheric soil was isolated for AMF spores. Majorly two genera of AMF dominated the rhizospheric soil of the plants investigated which were Acaulospora and Glomus. Altogether 12 AMF spores were isolated from the rhizospheric environment of the plants and they belonged to six different genera of AMF. Methods: In this field-laboratory investigation during 2022-23, different localities of Banaras Hindu University was surveyed. 5 different plants were selected for investigation on the diversity and distribution of AMF colonisation found in their rhizospheric soil. Result: Our investigation on the diversity and distribution of AMF of few selected plants from BHU have allowed us to isolate and morphologically identify 12 different species of AMF from 6 different genera. The geographical distribution of the collected species was discussed. The present work will be a complementary contribution to the comprehensive study of the identification and utility of AMF in plant growth and sust.

ANTIVIRAL ACTIVITY OF FABACEAE AND ASTERACEAE FLAVONOID COMPOUNDS AGAINST SARS-CoV-2 ON SPIKE PROTEIN, MAIN PROTEASE (Mpro) AND RNA DEPENDENT RNA POLYMERASE (RdRp) RECEPTORS WITH IN SILICO METHOD

This study was conducted to analyze the antiviral activity of flavonoid compounds of Fabaceae (Clitoria ternatea, Caesalpinia sappan, Leucaena leucocephala, Indigofera tinctoria) and Asteraceae (Eclipta prostrata, Artemisia vulgaris, Blumea balsamifera, Chromolaena odorata) against SARS-CoV-2 on spike protein, Mpro and RdRp receptors by molecular docking method in silico. The results of molecular docking with AutoDock Vina showed that the flavonoid compounds semiglabrin (-7,5 kcal/mol) and pseudosemiglabrin (-7,0 kcal/mol) has binding energy better than native ligand NAG (-4,9 kcal/mol) and ceftriaxone (-6,8 kcal/mol) as a standard drug against the spike protein receptor. Flavonoid compounds juglanin (-8,5 kcal/mol) and glabratephrin (-8,5 kcal/mol) has binding energy close to the native ligand 4WI/nirmatrelvir (-8,7 kcal/mol) against Mpro receptor. Flavonoid juglanin (-9,5 kcal/mol) has binding energy better than native ligan 1RP/favipiravir (-8,3 kcal/mol) and remdesivir (-8,7 kcal/mol) as a standard drug, while flavonoid apigetrin (-8,7 kcal/mol) has binding energy better than native ligand and has the same binding energy with remdesivir as a standard drug against RdRp receptor.

Integrated spatial metabolomics and transcriptomics decipher the hepatoprotection mechanisms of wedelolactone and demethylwedelolactone on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Eclipta prostrata L. has been used in traditional medicine and known for its liver-protective properties for centuries. Wedelolactone (WEL) and demethylwedelolactone (DWEL) are the major coumarins found in E. prostrata L. However, the comprehensive characterization of these two compounds on non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) still remains to be explored. Utilizing a well-established zebrafish model of thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver injury, the present study sought to investigate the impacts and mechanisms of WEL and DWEL on NAFLD through integrative spatial metabolomics with liver-specific transcriptomics analysis. Our results showed that WEL and DWEL significantly improved liver function and reduced the accumulation of fat in the liver. The biodistributions and metabolism of these two compounds in whole-body zebrafish were successfully mapped, and the discriminatory endogenous metabolites reversely regulated by WEL and DWEL treatments were also characterized. Based on spatial metabolomics and transcriptomics, we identified that steroid biosynthesis and fatty acid metabolism are mainly involved in the hepatoprotective effects of WEL instead of DWEL. Our study unveils the distinct mechanism of WEL and DWEL in ameliorating NAFLD, and presents a “multi-omics” platform of spatial metabolomics and liver-specific transcriptomics to develop highly effective compounds for further improved therapy.

Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles from Eclipta alba and Its Activity Against Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cell Line (MDA-MB-231).

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) doesn't have well-defined molecular targets making it unable to treat with chemotherapy also have faster metastatic rate and worse survival rate. In the current study we aim to target TNBC through eco-friendly green synthesized silver nanoparticles having anti-cancer phytoconstituents from the traditional anti-cancer medicinal plant Eclipta alba. Green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are agglomerates of spherical shaped 40-60nm sized showing characteristic light absorption at 437nm, banding pattern at 1479, 1285, 1036, and 471 showing and further X-ray diffraction pattern confirm face-centered cubic crystal silver structure exist in the green synthesized silver nanoparticle preparation. Further in vitro anti-oxidant analysis results revealed that green synthesized AgNPs showed 2.6-fold higher anti-oxidant potential (IC50 15.70g/ml) than that of aqueous plant leaf extract (IC50 39.80g/ml). In MTT cytotoxicity analysis Eclipta alba plant extract and AgNPs both display dose-dependent cytotoxicity against triple-negative breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231), although their IC50 values differ substantially, at 105.80µg/ml and 77.20g/ml, respectively. Finally, AgNPs from Eclipta alba tested for anti-leishmanial activity and it showed 91.36 ± 1.05 for promastigotes and 76.62 ± 0.95 for amastigotes at the highest dose of 400g/ml. Altogether present data showed that Eclipta alba leaf extract actively bonded with silver nanoparticles suppresses the MDA-MB-231 cells growth through high antioxidant characters and anti-leishmanial activity. From together we confirm that Eclipta alba was recommended to a future therapeutic drug and agent to control breast cancer in the clinical level.

Phytochemical profiling and evaluation of the anti-aging and anti-inflammatory potential of cultivated Eclipta alba (L.)

Natural products are increasingly studied for pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. In our continuing search for new natural active ingredients for cosmetic uses, we investigated the phytochemistry and studied the bioactivity of Eclipta alba (L.) cultivated in center-Val de Loire Region (CVLR) in France to develop a new anti-aging active ingredient. This plant is known as the false daisy and is traditionally used in Ayurveda for the treatment of digestive, respiratory, hepatic, and cutaneous disorders and for its activity as a hair growth promoter.To highlight the compounds involved in different bioactivities, a metabolomic study of the plant was undertaken. The extract of the aerial parts, obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethanol, was tested for antioxidant activity and for its inhibitory effect on various enzymes involved in skin aging. The raw extract was fractionated using liquid/liquid extraction (LLE) and Centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC), then fraction activity was evaluated to target the main active compounds. HRMS/MS and NMR were used to identify the compounds contained in the active fractions.Some fractions had showed strong collagenase, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibition. The two most active fractions contained mostly coumestans (demethylwedelolactone (DWL) and wedelolactone (WL)), and other phenolic compounds present in lower amount, which were identified as carriers of the anti-collagenase, anti-cyclooxygenase 2 and anti-xanthine oxidase activity.Therefore, this study suggested that Eclipta alba grown in CVLR has a phytochemistry in line with the description reported in literature and is highly composed of coumestans, phenolic compounds and saponins. The ethanolic extract has shown anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity and for the first time an anti-collagenase activity has been demonstrated. These activities have been correlated with the presence of wedelolactone (WL) and demethylwedelolactone (DWL), the two majors’ compounds, and other phenolics compounds. Thus, Eclipta alba (L.) cultivated in CVLR could be used as an interesting antioxidant and anti-aging agent for cosmetical applications.

Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. Extract and Isolated Compounds

The primary objective of this study was to elucidate the chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and antiproliferative activities of Eclipta prostrata extracts. Two flavonoids, 3′-O-methylorobol and apigenin 7-sulfate, were isolated from the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of E. prostrata. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the E. prostrata extracts, as well as their overall antioxidant activities as measured using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and reducing power assays, were investigated. The E. prostrata EtOAc extract exhibited significantly greater antioxidant activities in both assays and higher phenol and flavonoid contents than the other extracts. The potential antiproliferative properties of the E. prostrata extracts and isolated compounds were investigated in vitro against the AGS, A549, and HT-29 cancer cell lines and the normal human HEK-293 cell line using the MTT assay. Annexin V-FITC/PI staining analysis and quantitative real-time PCR were used to assess AGS cell apoptosis. At a concentration of 100 µg/mL, the EtOAc extract of E. prostrata reduced AGS cell viability and proliferation by inducing apoptosis through the alteration of gene expression in the apoptotic cascade. These results highlight E. prostrata as a promising source of anticancer compounds.

Assessment of the Chemical Profile and Potential Medical Effects of a Flavonoid-Rich Extract of Eclipta prostrata L. Collected in the Central Highlands of Vietnam.

Eclipta prostrata L. (EPL), a medicinal plant, is widely utilized in the central highlands of Vietnam. This study aims to assess the chemical profile and potential medical effects of an EPL extract rich in flavonoids. A total of 36 secondary metabolites were identified from the EPL extract through GC-MS and UHPLC-UV analysis. Among them, 15 volatile compounds and several phenolic and flavonoid chemicals, including salicylic acid, epicatechin gallate, isovitexin, and apigetrin, were reported in EPL extract for the first time. This herbal extract demonstrated moderate inhibition against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, and high anti-oxidant and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities (IC50 = 76.8 ± 0.8 μg/mL). These promising attributes can be likely attributed to the high levels of major compounds, including wedelolactone (1), chlorogenic acid (3), epicatechin gallate (6), salicylic acid (8), isovitexin (9), apigetrin (11), and myricetin (12). These findings align with the traditional use of EPL for enhancing memory and cognitive function, as well as its potential benefits in diabetes management. The results of the molecular docking study reveal that the major identified compounds (1, 6, 9, and 11) showed a more effective acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect than berberine chloride, with good binding energy (DS values, -12.3 to -14.3 kcal/mol) and acceptable values of RMSD (1.02-1.67 Å). Additionally, almost all the identified major compounds exhibited good ADMET properties within the required limits.

Evaluation of dyeing properties of Eclipta Alba L. on protein yarn and their chemical analysis

Dyes are colored substances used to color fibers, leather, paper or foodstuffs etc. Due to the benign nature of dye extracted from natural sources, more importance is given on this area. Natural dyes also protect us from harmful UV rays of the sun and also provide superior quality sensory feelings in contrast to the carcinogenic effect of synthetic dyes. In this study, natural dyes present in the Eclipta alba L(Hassk) were extracted using conventional techniques under different operating conditions. Potential of the chemicals obtained from the extracts of Eclipta alba. L. was evaluated by coloring pure yarn of silk and wool. Various metal salts were used as mordants to set extracted dye on the fabrics and yarns. The result showed a variation of attractive and earthly green hue on silk and wool. The phyto chemical analysis of the extract reveals that three chemical compounds wedelolactone, apigenin and luteolin are mainly responsible for different shades of bluish green colour extract of the Eclipta alba plant. Spectrochemical analysis was done to identify the compounds present in the dye extract.

A Review of Herbal Medications for the Treatment of Alopecia

Alopecia is a condition that causes baldness and hair loss. It is a medical disorder that causes hair loss, often from the scalp or head skin. There are several factors that might contribute to hair loss, including genetics, environment, pollutants, different drugs, nutritional deficiencies, etc. Hair loss condition is essentially divided into numerous groups based on hair loss pattern and its various causes. Hairs are the development of follicles that are present on our skin and are described as "increased epithelial structure created by the keratinization of germ cells" in the definition of hair. Herbal remedies are used both externally and inwardly to stop hair loss and early greying. Promises of improved hair growth and less hair loss. The foundation of all medical research is herbs. Since herbal medications have fewer negative side effects than synthetic treatments and more positive outcomes, almost 80% of individuals have started using them. Several synthetic therapies, including corticosteroids, dithranol, tretinoin, minoxidil, zinc, systemic cortisone, irritants, immunosuppressant’s, finasteride, and azelaic acid, are currently available to treat hair loss (androgenetic and areata), but none of these treatments have been shown to have positive and long-lasting effects on patients. These medications' synthetic side effects, such as erythema, scaliness, pruritus, dermatitis, itching, etc., are also linked to their usage. So, in order to address the issue of hair loss, we looked into nature's treasures and discovered a number of herbs that have a track record of successfully treating hair loss. These herbal medicines' claimed modes of action include improved scalp blood circulation, DHT and 5-Reductase blockers, aromatherapy, and nutritional support. Phyllanthus Emblica, Oscimum sanctum, allium cepa, allium sativum, Thea Sinensis, Eclipta alba, Cocas nucifera, Sesamum indicum, Centella asiatica, Terminalia Chebula, Emblica officinalis, and Trigonella Foenum graecum are a few examples of herbal medications used to treat alopecia.

First Report of 16SrII Group Related Phytoplasma Associated with Areca Palm Yellow Leaf Disease on Areca catechu in China.

The areca palm, Areca catechu L., family Arecaceae is an important herbal medicine which has potential for the treatment of parasitic diseases, digestive function disorders and depression (Peng et al. 2015). Yellow leaf disease (YLD), caused by phytoplasma, is a destructive disease of Areca catechu. In 1981, the YLD was first discovered in Tunchang, Hainan, China. According to the investigation in 2020, the occurrence area of YLD was 32 102.38 hm2 in Hainan, China, resulting in 50%-60% yield loss. Previous researchers based on 16S rDNA gene PCR amplification analysis showed that YLD in Hainan was caused by 16SrI group phytoplasma (Che et al. 2010). In August, 2022, yellow leaf symptoms were observed on middle and lower leaves of Areca catechu. Forty symptomatic plants and three asymptomatic samples were collected in Wenchang, Hainan, China (19°33'9″N, 110°48'5″E). Forty-three samples (0.1g each) were used to extract total DNA (TIANGEN plant genomic DNA extraction kit). Phytoplasma universal primers named P1/P7 (Schneider et al. 1995) and R16F2n/R16R2 (Gundersen and Lee 1996) for 16Sr DNA and primers named fTuf1/rTuf1 and fTufu/rTufu (Schneider et al. 1997) for tuf genes were used for amplifying phytoplasma sequences from isolated DNA samples by nested PCR. No fragment was amplified in asymptomatic plants and four out of forty symptomatic samples could amplify target fragment. R16F2n/R16R2 amplicons (1 248 bp) and fTufu/rTufu amplicons (845 bp) from four symptomatic Areca catechu samples were sequenced in BGI (https://genomics.cn/). The 16Sr DNA GenBank accession numbers of four positive strains (named HNWC5, HNDZ1, HNDZ3 and HNDZ6) were OQ586072, OQ586085, OQ586086, OQ586087, respectively and the tuf GenBank accession numbers were OQ595209, OQ595210, OQ595211, OQ595212, respectively. Sequence alignment showed that the 16S rDNA and tuf sequence of HNDZ1, HNDZ3 and HNDZ6 were 100% consistent. 16S rDNA of HNWC5 was 99.96% consistent with HNDZ1 and tuf of HNWC5 was 98.31% consistent with HNDZ1. Interestingly, blast search based on 16S rDNA gene of HNWC5 showed 100% sequence identity with that of 16SrII group phytoplasma such as 'Eclipta prostrata' phytoplasma strain Ep1(MH144204.1), 'Aeschynomene americana' phytoplasma isolate AA1(MH231157.1) and 'Acacia confusa' witches'-broom phytoplasma isolate HK6(ON408364.1). Blast search based on tuf gene of HNWC5 showed 98.7% sequence identity with that of bamboo witches'-broom phytoplasma (FJ853160.1) and 91.02% sequence identity with that of 'podocarpus nagi' fasciation phytoplasma (KR633146) and 90.78% sequence identity with that of 'Musa acuminata' elephantiasis disease phytoplasma (MF983708). The phylogenetic tree was constructed based on 16Sr DNA gene by MEGA 7.0 employing neighbor-joining (NJ) method with 1000 bootstrap value (Kumar et al. 2016). The result indicated that the HNWC5, HNDZ1, HNDZ3 and HNDZ6 phytoplasma strains clustered a subclade in 16SrII group. The virtual RFLP analysis based on the 16Sr DNA gene sequence was performed by the online phytoplasma classification tool iPhyClassifier (Zhao et al. 2009) using restriction endonucleases of AluI, BamHI, BfaI, BstUI, DraI, EcoRI, HaeIII, HhaI, HinfI, HpaI, HpaII, KpnI, Sau3AI, MseI, RsaI, SspI and TaqI. The result indicated that HNWC5 was most similar to the reference pattern of peanut witches'-broom phytoplasma (16SrII-A subgroup, GenBank accession: L33765) and the pattern similarity coefficient of HNWC5 is 1.00. However, the HpaII restriction endonuclease pattern of HNDZ1, HNDZ3 and HNDZ6 was different from L33765 and the similarity coefficient was 0.97, which indicated this strain may represent a new subgroup within the 16SrII group. To our knowledge, this is the first report of 16SrII group related phytoplasma associated with YLD on Areca catechu in China. Our study contributes to understanding the polymorphism of phytoplasma causing YLD and provides an important reference for pathogen specific detection.

Genome size estimation of false daisy, cheek weed, pot marigold and marigold

We report the genome size estimated using flow cytometry for four closely related species, including false daisy (Eclipta prostrate), cheek weed (Ageratum conyzoides), pot marigold (Calendula officinalis), and marigold (Tagetes erecta) belonging to Asteraceae family. The detected genome size for false daisy, cheek weed, pot marigold, and marigold was, 2.435, 3.266, 3.413, and 1.897, Gbp, respectively, while their respective 2C DNA content was 2.5, 3.3, 3.5, and 1.9, pg. The information on genome size presented here will be useful for understanding genomic evolution and will also clear the way for additional genomic research in these species.

Saponins from the Leaves of Eclipta prostrata

Eclipta prostrata (L.) is a traditional herbal medicine belonging to the Eclipta genus in the Asteraceae family. This plant is widely distributed in tropical and subtropical regions such as South America and Asia. According to the traditional medicine of some Asian countries (China, India, Thailand), E. prostrata is used to treat hepatic and renal diseases, diabetes, skin diseases, respiratory disorders, cool blood, and stanch bleeding. Besides, it also shows antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antimicrobial activities. In Vietnam, the plant grows naturally in moist soil and is distributed from mountainous areas to plains. It is used to treat coughs and burns, respiratory infections, and boils. In this research, four saponins including eclalbasaponin I-II and eclalbasaponin IV-V were isolated from the methanol extract of Eclipta prostrata using various modern chromatography methods such as TLC, CC, and HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified by analysis of 1D, 2D-NMR, and ESI-MS spectra data and by comparison of the spectral data in the literature. Eclalbasaponin IV and V were first reported from Eclipta prostrata cultivated in Vietnam.

CONSUMPTION OF HYPERLIPIDEMIC DIET AND WATER INTAKE IN ALBINO RATS TREATED WITH ECLIPTA ALBA – ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER

Objective: A high-fat (HF) diet described as higher calories generating from fat instead of carbohydrate or protein. HF usually diets a typical low-carbohydrate diet. Methods: Thirty adult Albino rats of Wistar strain accurately weighing between 165 and 215 g utilized for the present the study. As per CPCSEA guidelines, the protocol was approved by the institutional animal ethical committee no. BMCH/IAEC/01 Anat/2015 dated June 4, 2015. Animals were maintained and fed with standard rat chow, HF diet, and clean drinking water ad libitum, commercially available and manufactured by the National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad. Results: Rate of food consumption increased in rats fed with the HF diet for 8 weeks and decreased significantly in rats treated with Eclipta alba for 1, 2, and 3 weeks progressively compared to control group. Water intake increased in the rats fed with an HF diet (43±2.1) compared to rats fed with a normal diet, decreased significantly in the rats treated with E. alba (31±1.4) compared to the HF diet-fed animals. Conclusion: The rate of food consumption increased in rats fed with the HF diet for 8 weeks and decreased significantly in rats treated with E. alba for 1, 2, and 3 weeks progressively compared to control group. Water intake increased in the rats fed with an HF diet compared to rats fed with a normal diet, decreased significantly in the rats treated with E. alba compared to the HF diet-fed animals

Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (asteraceae) – new species for the flora of Republic of Moldova

The article presents data on the new vascular plant species Eclipta prostrata (L.) L. (=Eclipta alba (L.) Hassk.), belonging to the Asteraceae family, in the spontaneous flora of the Republic of Moldova. Populations of this new species were recorded in the south of the republic, on the territory of the Ramsar site ,,Lower Prut Lakes”. Synonymy, chorology, stationary characteristics, photographic images, black and white diagnostic illustrations are presented, as well as some useful plant properties.

Formulation and Evaluation of Herbal Cream for the Management of Androgenetic Alopecia

The current study aimed to develop a herbal hair cream formulation including plant extracts traditionally used for hair growth, and further research was conducted to understand the hair growth capability better using the 5 alpha reductase inhibitory model. 5 alpha reductases, an enzyme confined to the nuclear membrane, converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. The 5 alpha-reductase and its metabolite dihydrotestosterone influence various human disorders, including male pattern baldness, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), and prostate cancer. Finasteride and alfatradiol are examples of synthetic medications; however, because of their negative impacts, researchers are currently focused on creating safer 5α-reductase inhibitors from plants. The hair cream formulation contained 0.5% extracts of Hibiscus rosa sinensis flower, Eclipta alba whole plant, and Solanum nigrum plant berries in a ratio of 1:1:1. Plant extracts used in the formulation were characterized by chemical biomarkers. The cream formulation was developed, and the quality control parameters were examined. Furthermore, the produced formulation's 5α-reductase inhibitory activity was tested using finasteride as a positive control. H. rosa sinensis, E. alba, and S. nigrum extracts, which comprise 0.35% oleanolic acid, 4.65% β-sitosterol, and 31.18% linoleic acid, were used in the formulation. HPTLC data revealed that each 10 gm of cream formulation contains 16.68 ± 0.21 mg of linoleic acid, 3.61 ± 0.18 mg of β-sitosterol and 0.380 ± 0.11 mg oleanolic acid. In-vitro results showed a good 5α-reductase inhibitory potential. The IC50 value of the developed formulation was 85.254 ± 0.888 μg/ml, whereas finasteride (positive control) was 223.039 ± 1.367 ng/ml. Thus, the herbal hair cream composition benefits alopecia therapy by inhibiting the 5α- reductase enzyme. In addition, the formulation might be a potential option for further research into its antiandrogenic properties.

MICROMORPHOLOGICAL AND ANATOMICAL RESPONSES OF NATIVE DICOTS TO INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENTS RELEASED FROM CONTAMINATED REGION OF THE CHENAB RIVER IN PAKISTAN

Faisalabad industrial units discharge effluents and associated toxic chemicals into the environment, deteriorating ecological conditions and ecosystem health. Morphoanatomical changes in some medicinally important native species (Calotropis procera, Eclipta alba, Phyla nodiflora, and Ranunculus sceleratus) exposed to heavy industrial pollution gained evaluation. These species of choice were due to their widespread distribution in the area. Ten sites selected in the River Chenab, Chiniot, had three near point source pollution of Faisalabad industries within the 500-m radius (polluted) at three drains and two sites inside the river after each drain point source with the control site at 14 km after from the first industrial drain point source. The general response of all plants to effluents was growth retardation. Plant height increased significantly in all species from river sites. An increase in tallness was more prominent in species like C. procera and P. nodiflora. An increase in stem sclerification in C. procera and E. alba from polluted sites occurred, which indicated a better ability to tolerate industrial pollution. Remarkable increases in stem and leaf epidermis, intensive stem sclerenchyma, and closely packed stem vascular bundles in C. procera appeared, which could increase resistance to industrial pollution. Most of the morphoanatomical parameters notably attained a decrease in E. alba, the most vulnerable species. Plant survival depends on particular structural changes in dermal, mechanical, parenchymatous, and vascular tissues. Overall, industrial pollution adversely impacts plant morphological and micromorphological features, although the reaction of specific species to industrial contamination varies. The study determined that stem and leaf anatomical features, such as, epidermis size and storage tissue thickness, are suitable morphoanatomical markers for industrial pollution biomonitoring. Internal modifications of plants vegetating different industrial contaminated sites played a significant role in high tolerance levels.

Development and Evaluation of Natural Anti-dandruff Shampoo

The purpose of the study was to develop a pure herbal anti-dandruff shampoo and assess its efficacy and safety. The herbal shampoo was prepared by mixing various amounts of the following extracts into a 10% aqueous solution: Neem (Azadirachta indica), Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates), Reetha (Sapindus mukorossi), Sheekakai (Sapindus indica), Amla (Indian gooseberries), Bhringaraj (Eclipta alba), and Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri). The pH was changed, and methylparaben was added as a preservative in very minute amounts. To ascertain the physicochemical characteristics of the prepared shampoos, several tests including visual inspection, pH, wetting time, percentage of solid contents, foam volume and stability, surface tension, detergency, dirt dispersion, etc. were carried out. By giving 20 student volunteers a blind test, the conditioning performance of the herbal shampoo formulation was also assessed. The herbal shampoo was presented simply and appealingly. It demonstrated high detergency, good cleaning, and low surface tension. After 5 minutes, the shampoo’s formulation provided good foam stability. It was discovered that the scores for the conditioning performance of the hair after using a herbal shampoo ranged from 1.75 to 3.4. The results revealed that the specifically formulated shampoo had outstanding conditioning performance, comparable to a shampoo that is easily found in markets. Malassezia furfur was used as a test subject for the efficiency of the multi-herbal anti-dandruff formulations. Formulation F4 demonstrated strong antifungal activity, as measured by the zone of inhibition and lowest inhibitory concentration. However, additional research and development are required to improve its quality and safety.

The mechanism of Qijing Mingmu decoction on cellular senescence of conjunctivochalasis

BackgroundQijing Mingmu decoction (QJMM), a compound Chinese medicine preparation, which consists of Lycium barbarum, Polygonatum, Ophiopogon japonicus, Poria cocos, Glycyrrhiza, Eclipta prostrata and Ligusticum striatum, has been confirmed to be effective for the treatment of conjunctivochalasis (CCH) in clinic and reduce cellular senescence. However, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. Our previous study revealed that p38-mediated cellular senescence contributed to the pathogenesis of CCH.MethodsTo explore whether p38 might be the potential therapeutic target of QJMM for CCH, CCH fibroblasts were treated with QJMM granule and then the effect of QJMM granule on the expression and promoter activity of p38α was determined by western blot and dual luciferase reporter gene assay, respectively. Meanwhile, the influence of QJMM granule on cell proliferation, oxidative stress, cellular senescence and the expression of the cellular senescence-associated genes were measured by corresponding methods.ResultsQJMM granule significantly decreased the protein expression of p38α and p-p38α in CCH fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner and inhibited p38α promoter activity. QJMM granule as well as the p38 inhibitor SB203580 reduced the level of reactive oxygen species and increased the activity of superoxide dismutase in CCH fibroblasts. QJMM granule and SB203580 promoted cell proliferation and reduced the percentage of SA-β-Gal-positive cells. The mRNA and protein expression of p53 and p21 was remarkably down-regulated by QJMM granule as well as SB203580 and that of SMP30 was up-regulated in CCH fibroblasts.ConclusionsOur findings demonstrated that QJMM granule was effective for alleviating cellular senescence of CCH fibroblasts by p38 MAPK signaling and the followed p53/p21 signaling.

Control Efficacy of Natural Products on Broadleaf and Grass Weeds Using Various Application Methods

Synthetic herbicides have negatively impacted biological organisms and human health. Thus, nonsynthetic herbicides for weed control are needed in organic and conventional agriculture. Nonsynthetic products such as vinegar and detergents are increasingly becoming popular in crop disease treatment, as well as controlling insects and weeds. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the herbicidal efficacy of various nonsynthetic products using different application methods. Various nonsynthetic products were applied to grass and broadleaf weeds at 1%, 3%, 5%, and 10% concentrations to test their herbicidal efficacy, and two plant extracts were used as adjuvants. In addition, the inhibitory effects of selected brown rice vinegar and effective microorganisms (EM) powder soap on grass and broadleaf weeds were compared to the inhibitory effects of other vinegars and EM powder soaps. Of the nine various natural products tested, brown rice vinegar and EM powder soap at 5% concentrations were the only applications to completely control grass and broadleaf weeds in Petri dish bioassays. In greenhouse conditions, the shoot fresh weight of Eclipta prostrata, Solanum nigrum, Persicaria hydropier, and Portulaca oleracea was completely inhibited when soil applications of EM powder soap at 10% concentrations were used. EM powder soap was more effective in controlling grass and broadleaf weeds than brown rice vinegar. In addition, brown rice vinegar and EM powder soap did not appear to last long in soil. Two-time application methods were more effective in controlling all weed species than one-time application methods. However, no synergism effects were observed when brown rice vinegar and EM powder soap were combined with other natural products. Brown rice vinegar and EM powder soap did not show adjuvant effects when combined with plant extracts, which can sometimes create better contact with or penetration of the weeds. Thus, weeds growing alongside transplanted vegetable crops can be effectively controlled with brown rice vinegar and EM powder soap by using soil applications in row, either individually or combined together and with either one or two applications.

Design of a Validated HPTLC Methodology for the Measurement of Linoleic and Oleanolic Acid in Eclipta alba

Eclipta alba (Asteraceae family) is a widely recognized medicinal plant found in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. It is one of the plants that is most frequently utilized in traditional medical systems, including Ayurveda, Siddha, Homeopathy, Unani, and folk medicine. Many significant phytochemical components, including triterpenes, flavonoids, coumestans, steroids, saponins, and polypeptides, are present in each portion of this medicinal plant. Several herbal and ayurvedic formulations, like Indulekha bringha oil and Liv.52 Gnx pill, contain E. alba as an important therapeutic ingredient. The objective of the current work was to create a validated and consistent HPTLC technique for the simultaneous measurement of linoleic acid and oleanolic acid in E. alba. The procedure used silica gel 60 F254 as the stationary phase and ethyl acetate, toluene, and formic acid at a ratio of 4:7:0.2 (v/v/v) as the mobile phase, which produced compact bands upon derivatization with anisaldehyde-sulfuric acid reagent. The correlation coefficient (r2) for the linear regression data for the standard linoleic and oleanolic acids calibration curves was 0.9966 and 0.9964, respectively, and it demonstrated a good linear relation over a range of concentrations of 300-1500 ng/spot and 450–1600 ng/spot with respect to the area. The approach’s precision, accuracy, robustness, and selectivity were all assessed. LoD and LoQ for linoleic and oleanolic acids were measured to be 108.47 and 182.33 ng/spot and 258.30 and 327.54 ng/spot, respectively. We came to the conclusion that this approach, which uses HPTLC to quantify linoleic and oleanolic acids, is effective, straightforward, accurate, and reproducible