Hexane Extract Research Articles

In Vitro and In Vivo Antitumor Activity of Lophocereus marginatus (DC.) S. Arias & Terrazas Endophytic Aspergillus versicolor and Metarhizium anisopliae Extracts Against the Murine Lymphoma L5178Y-R

Cancer belongs to a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell growth. The search for new effective treatments for cancer has led to the discovery of different molecules from plants, bacteria, and fungi with pharmacological use. Plant endophytic fungi are large producers of metabolites with antitumor properties. We aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor potential of extracts from Lophocereus marginatus endophytic fungi. We obtained ethyl acetate and hexane extracts from the L. marginatus endophytes Metarhizium anisopliae and Aspergillus versicolor and evaluated their antitumor activity against murine L5178Y-R lymphoma cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction colorimetric technique. M. anisopliae and A. versicolor ethyl acetate extracts showed IC50 values of 9.168 ± 1.21 μg/mL and 13.51 ± 1.62, respectively, and selectivity indices > 30. We also observed that the maximum tolerated dose (100 mg/kg) of ethyl acetate extracts and the vehicle in BALB/c mice did not cause hepatotoxicity. In addition, we evaluated the effects of ethyl acetate extracts on survival and tumor volume in the L5178Y-R lymphoma tumor model. An increase in survival (17 d) was observed in mice treated with A. versicolor extract. Furthermore, it did not increase tumor volume during 10 d, as compared with the control groups without treatment, vehicle, and M. anisopliae extract, which had a maximum survival of 10 d. A. versicolor ethyl acetate extract showed in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity against lymphoma L5178Y-R, increasing mice survival.

Antimicrobial Profiling of Piper betle L. and Piper nigrum L. Against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA): Integrative Analysis of Bioactive Compounds Based on FT-IR, GC-MS, and Molecular Docking Studies

This study explored the antimicrobial potential of Piper betle L. (PBL) and Piper nigrum L. (PNL) extracts against MRSA. Plant parts including stem, leaf, and fruit were extracted using aquadest, methanol, and hexane, resulting in 18 distinct extracts. FT-IR combined with cluster analysis (CA) categorized the extracts, and anti-MRSA activity was assessed through the paper disk diffusion method. The most potent extracts were further analyzed using GC-MS to identify bioactive compounds. Additionally, molecular docking studies were conducted for MRSA protein targets (4DKI, 6H5O, and 4CJN). The hexane extract of PNL and the aqueous extract of PBL fruit showed the strongest inhibitory effects. GC-MS identified piperine (14.22%) and diisooctyl phthalate (14.67%) as major compounds, with piperolein B, piperanine, β-caryophyllene oxide, and α-caryophylladienol as minor compounds in the hexane extract of PNL, while hydroxychavicol (81.89%) and chavibetol (12.01%) were predominant in the aquadest extract of PBL. Molecular docking revealed that piperolein B and piperine had strong binding affinities to MRSA proteins 4DKI, 6H5O, and 4CJN, comparable to ciprofloxacin. In conclusion, this study confirms the potential of PBL and PNL as sources of novel anti-MRSA agents, supporting further research to develop new therapies.

Evaluation of the Total Antioxidant Capacity of Three Selected Plants in Guyana

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the leaf extracts of three commonly used medicinal plants in Guyana, namely Brassica juncea (mustard), Struchium sparganophora (antsbush), and Psidium guajava (guava), for their total antioxidant capacity. Study Design: Experimental-based study. Place and Duration of Study: The experiments were performed at the chemistry laboratory in the Faculty of Natural Sciences and the main laboratory in the College of Medical Sciences at the University of Guyana from September 2022 to August 2023. Methodology: The leaves of these plants were collected, washed, and air-dried at 280C for approximately one month, then pulverised in a sterilised food processor. Leaf extracts were then obtained by maceration with various solvents such as hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and methanol; followed by filtration and rotary evaporation. The extracts obtained were then subjected to total antioxidant quantification via the phosphomolybdate method using a spectrophotometer. The total antioxidant capacity of the extracts was expressed as ascorbic acid equivalents. Results: Antioxidant activity was seen for all the extracts but in varying quantities. The highest antioxidant capacity was observed for the P. guajava extracts with a mean of 5.2 mg/mL. The least activity was observed for the S. sparganophora extracts, with a mean of 0.9 mg/mL. The ethanolic extracts showed the highest antioxidant capacity (10.6 mg/mL for P. guajava; 2.5 mg/mL for B. juncea). The hexane extracts had the least (0.33 mg/mL for P. guajava; 0.24 mg/mL for B. juncea). Conclusion: The leaves of B. juncea, S. sparganophora, and P. guajava have antioxidant capacity but those of P. guajava have greater potential for use as complementary and alternative treatments for chronic diseases.

Phytochemical evaluation via GC-MS and LC-MS/MS: a comprehensive study of antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and genotoxic activities of extracts from endemic species Centaurea amanicola Hub.-Mor. and C. antitauri Hayek (Asteraceae)

The study investigated the antidiabetic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and genotoxic activities of extracts from Centaurea amanicola and C. antitauri (Asteraceae). Methanol extracts were analysed for phenolic and fatty oil contents. Major components of fatty oils were identified, including methyl hexadecanoate (48.30%) and heptacosane (22.13%) in C. antitauri, and methyl hexadecanoate (16.29%) and methyl linoleate (13.55%) in C. amanicola. The highest α-amylase inhibition was observed in hexane extracts of both species with 55.53% and 41.57% inhibition values, respectively. Antioxidant activity, measured by ABTS•+ and DPPH• scavenging, varied among extracts, with notable efficacy in C. antitauri dichloromethane extract and C. amanicola ethyl acetate extract. The dichloromethane extract of C. antitauri demonstrated effectiveness against Candida albicans with MIC= 156.25 µg/mL. Importantly, all extracts were found to be genotoxicity-safe. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of these extracts for various medicinal applications, particularly in managing diabetes and combating microbial infections.

Comparative phytochemical profile and biological activity of three Terminalia species as alternative antimicrobial therapies

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMedicinal plants can help combat antibiotic resistance by providing novel, active molecules. Three plant species of the Terminalia genus are widely used in traditional medicine in the Mouhoun region for the treatment of cutaneous and respiratory diseases. Therefore, it is important to determine the ethnopharmacological potential of bark extracts from the trunks of these three Terminalia species. Aim of the studyThis study compared the phytochemical and biological activities of extracts from three Terminalia species to determine their ethnopharmacology. Materials and methodsThe medicinal properties of the extracts were assessed based on their ability to inhibit the growth of the following microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis. The significant interest in these medicinal plants among the local communities were elucidated by their antioxidant properties and phytochemical composition, along with the detection key bioactive compounds. Major phytochemical groups and phenolic compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector. These phytochemical findings were validated by evaluating the antioxidant capacity of the extracts using DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS assays. ResultsHydroethanolic, ethanolic, and hexane extracts from the bark of three Terminalia species inhibited the growth of both bacteria and fungi, as evidenced by their minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs).The findings showed that Terminalia species were most effective against various tested bacteria and fungi, with MICs ranging from 0.1 to 6.25 mg/mL. Terminalia avicennioides, Terminalia macroptera, and Terminalia laxiflora extracts demonstrated 50 % inhibition of DPPH at concentrations ranging from 0.04 to 0.6 mg/mL. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several families of chemical compounds, such as total phenolics and flavonoids. Phenolic compounds identified by HPLC in ethanolic extracts of T. avicennioides, such as isorhamnetin, quercetin, and ferulic acid, are recognised for their antimicrobial and antioxidant properties. ConclusionThese findings establish an ethnobotany for these three Terminalia species, with their chromatographic characteristics facilitating the identification of key molecules of interest. The ethanolic extract of T. avicennioides can be used in phytomedicinal formulations against bacterial (P. aeruginosa and S. aureus) and fungal (C. albicans and C. glabrata) infections, both of which are recurrently recorded in certain skin and respiratory tract diseases.

Physicochemical properties of lard oil and rubber seed oil blends and their comprehensive characterization

This research investigates the potential of blending complementary lard oil with rubber seed oil as feedstock for biodiesel production. Rubber seed oil, obtained through hexane extraction using the Soxhlet method, contains the major fatty acids of oleic acid (C18:1), palmitic acid (C16:0), linoleic acid (C18:2), and stearic acid (C18:0), while rubber seed oil primarily consists of linoleic acid (C18:2), oleic acid (C18:1), linolenic acid (C18:3), palmitic acid (C16:0), and stearic acid (C18:0). Th least acid value of lard oil (0.55 mg KOH/g) can benefit of reducing soap formation of rubber seed oil during transesterification process in biodiesel production due to its substantial-high acid value (16.28 mg KOH·g–1). Blending at ratios below 80:20 v/v produced biodiesel exceeding 85%, utilizing CaO as a catalyst. Lard oil demonstrated a higher reaction rate constant (11.88×10–3 min–1) than rubber seed oil (2.11×10–3 min–1), indicating a significant difference in performance. High acid value and free fatty acids in rubber seed oil correlated with lower reaction rates. Maintaining a mixture ratio below 80:20 v/v optimized reaction rates during biodiesel production. Biodiesel obtained from blends below 80:20 v/v met ASTM D6751 and EN 14214 standards, demonstrating suitability for bio-auto fuel. The drawbacks of using rubber seed oil as a raw material for biodiesel production are overcome by blending with lard oil, giving rise to expanding renewable energy options for rural communities, community enterprises, and large-scale biodiesel production.

Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of plant extracts and column fractions of hexane extract against Mycobacterium kansaii

The aim of this study is to assess the antibacterial efficacy of aerial parts of the Ageratum conyzoides plant extracts and column fractions against Mycobacterium kansaii. The antimicrobial experiments were performed using five doses (0.1 µg/ml, 1 µg/ml, 10 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, 1000 µg/ml) of plant extracts and column fractions. The results showed notable inhibitory effects on Mycobacterium kansaii. The results indicated that the extract of A. conyzoides exhibited action against all the tested bacterial isolates, with the level of activity varying depending on the concentration. The hexane extract exhibited antibacterial activity, with mean zones of inhibition measuring 97.88±9.46 and 27.1±3.33, while the ethanol extract showed a mean zone of inhibition of 100.6±3.42 and 36.77±1.74 against M.kansaii, respectively. Nevertheless, the hexane extract's three column fractions exhibited average inhibition zones of 98.60±1.0 and 23.11±4.35, 90.02±10.22 and 21.94±6.77, 99.32±3.04 and 17.23±5.26 for the third, fourth, and fifth (last sample) respectively. The findings of this study provide evidence for the conventional utilization of the Ageratum plant and emphasize the necessity for further comprehensive research to explore potential alternatives to current antibacterial medications.

Antimicrobial and Anti-quorum Sensing Activity of Geranium sp.

Aim: Antibiotic resistance, which has increased rapidly in recent years, is one of the leading public health threats. Alternative methods are being investigated for effective antibiotics in the fight against resistance. Geranium species are widely used for constipation, digestive disorders, and diabetes. It is also known that the plant is used in various public health applications. In line with this information, it was aimed to investigate the antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties of the Geranium sp. Material and Methods: In this study it was aimed to prepare methanol, ethyl acetate, ethanol, and hexane extracts of Geranium sp. flower parts belonging to Rize province and investigate their antimicrobial activities by agar well diffusion method against various Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and two fungal species. Anti-quorum sensing activity was determined using Chromobacterium violaceum strain. Results: Methanol extract of Geranium sp. showed antimicrobial activity against seven species whereas extraction with ethyl acetate showed antimicrobial activity against eight species. The ethanol extracted samples have the lowest antimicrobial activity so that only six species were affected. Additionally, methanol extract of Geranium sp. had violacein inhibition activity. Conclusions: As a result, it was determined that the plant, especially its methanol extract, has antimicrobial and anti-quorum sensing properties.

Nematicidal efficacy of Cymbopogon nardus, Pelargonium graveolens essential oils and Annona squamosa extract against Meloidogyne incognita and M. graminicola

A crude hexane extract of seed kernel was processed into fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) using methanolic-sulfuric acid. Herbal mixtures (seed extracts of A. squamosa and essential oils of Cymbopogon nardus (citronella) and Pelargonium graveolens (geranium)) were evaluated against root knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp). The mortality of J2s of M. incognita in hexane and methanol extracts (AHE+AME) of A. squamosa with geranium oil (GO) ranged from 50.75-89.75% to 71.50-99.00% at 31.25 to 1000 μgmL-1 in 24 to 96 hours. The number of galls after CO+AHE+AME treatment was 4.0 ± 0.0 and 5.67 ± 0.58 galls/seedling and were recorded at 1000 and 500 μgmL-1 treatments on 30 days after inoculation, compared to carbofuran (3.0 ± 0.0 and 4.3 ± 0.6 galls/seedling) at 1000 and 500 μgmL-1 and velum prime (3.6 ± 0.6 and 4.6 ± 0.6 galls/seedling) at 1000 and 500 μgmL-1. The maximum shoot length of brinjal seedlings was recorded in CO+AHE+AME treatment compared to carbofuran (47.3 ± 0.6cm) and velum prime (48.7 ± 0.6 cm) at 1000 μg mL-1 in soil drenching application. Methanol and hexane extracts (AHE+AME) obtained from Annona squamosa seeds were investigated for their nematicidal properties. M. graminicola in direct-seeded rice at the nursery level and M. incognita in brinjal (eggplant) were controlled for up to sixty days when treated with these mixtures.

Coconut Testa Flour Sub-Fractions: Correlation Between FTIR Spectral Data and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activities.

Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) serves as a rapid analytical technique to characterize food specimens chemically. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of FTIR combined with multivariate statistics to detect Alpha-glucosidase (Alpha-glu) inhibitory activities of a non-cereal flour-like coconut testa flour (CTF). CTF of five distinct local cultivars was sequentially extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and methanol (MeOH) to assay the Alpha-glu inhibitory activity. FTIR spectra of CTF extracts were obtained within the range of 4000-500 cm-1 and the prominent spectral peaks obtained for both hexane and EtOAc extracts were roughly similar but some additional peaks were observed in EtOAc extracts representing phenolic constituents. The major absorbance peaks found in MeOH extracts were primarily indicative of the occurrence of the hydroxyl group associated with carbohydrates and phenolic compounds. The multivariate predictive models developed using partial least squares (PLS) and orthogonal partial least squares (OPLS) regression analyses indicated a strong correlation between Alpha-glu inhibitory activity and spectral data. Models developed for the spectral regions 3700-2800 cm-1 and 1800-500 cm-1 exerted the highest regression coefficients with the lowest root mean square errors. In OPLS regression analysis, the model obtained with third-derivative spectral data was identified as the best, exhibiting the highest regression coefficients and the lowest root mean square errors. Both PLS and OPLS regression analyses indicated a potential correlation of Alpha-glu inhibitory activity with FTIR spectral regions. Notably, OPLS models offered enhanced interpretability of the model parameters. This study suggests that the application of multivariate regression analysis of FTIR spectral data on coconut-based products could help to detect Alpha-glu inhibitory activities.

COMPARATIVE STUDY OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS IN MILK THISTLE SEED VARIETIES IN SULAIMANI, IRAQ

This study was conducted using two different varieties of milk thistle, var. marianum, and var. albiflorum. The plant samples were collected from the Sulaimani region to determine silymarin content, bioactive constituents, and antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis showed that var. marianum contains a high amount of silymarin (365.680±3.815 mg/g). Silybin B, Silychristin A, and Silybin A were the major flavonolignans in these varieties—the var. marianum contains silybins B, silychristin A, and silybin A (174.880±6.495, 86.720±2.113, and 54.960±2.483 mg/g) respectively. The hexane extract analysis of milk thistle seeds of the marianum and albiflorum varieties identified 26 (95.229±1.318) and 19 (94.547±6.541) phytochemical compounds, respectively. Both varieties contain a higher amount of oleic acid, which was found to be 14.800±0.481 and 31.940±0.726 in both varieties, respectively. This study evaluates the scavenging effect of milk thistle plants using a DPPH assay. The result indicated that the var. marianum had a maximum scavenging effect of 72.944% compared to the var. albiflorum, (61.846%). The stronger IC50 was obtained by var. marianum with 17.027±0.064 µg/mL.

The influence of the method of processing rapeseed seeds on their protein complex

Relevance. The recycling of secondary rapeseed raw materials is a perspective trend for increasing the efficiency of production of this agricultural crop.Methods. Degreasing of the rapeseed kernel fraction was carried out by hexane extraction, wateralcohol treatment of the low—fat rapeseed kernel with a mixture of water + ethanol (3:7). The fractional composition of the rapeseed protein complex was determined by sequential extraction with distilled water, 7% NaCl solution and 0.1M NaOH solution. Protein isolation: extractant — NaCl solution (70 g/l), pH — 9.0, T — 50 °С, duration — 90 min. The protein was precipitated at pH 4.8 and dried in a microwave oven at 500 W for 3–4 minutes. Absorption spectra of protein fractions of rapeseed seeds were recorded on a PE-5400 UV spectrophotometer using the SC5400 program.Results. It was shown that degreasing by hexane extraction contributed to an increase in the content of globulins (by 8.5%) with a decrease in albumins (by 3.0%) and glutelins (by 3.3%). Analysis of the UV spectra of these protein fractions showed the presence of synaptic acid in the fractions of albumins and globulins. The water-alcohol treatment of the skimmed rapeseed kernel, carried out to remove phenolic compounds, contributed to the partial removal of protein from the raw material (protein content decreased from 39.06 to 32.34%), limited protein denaturation, which leads to a decrease in protein solubility and protein yield in the extract, as indicated by a decrease in the yield of the protein product relative to the raw material from 26.4 to 15.3%, a decrease in protein yield relative to the protein contained in the raw material, from 28.9 to 20.3%.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant evaluation of Agave angustifolia and Agave sisalana

Background: Agave angustifolia (AA) and Agave sisalana (AS) are used by local communities for medicinal purposes to treat skin conditions. Small companies add Agave leaf extracts to their cosmetic products, claiming calming and skin-rejuvenating qualities.Aim: The study aimed to assess the phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of AA and AS verifying the traditional therapeutic claims about the species and accordingly establishing the assertions of cottage industries.Setting: The AA leaves were collected from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, while AS leaves were sourced from the iLembe district municipality.Methods: The phytochemical extracts were obtained by gradient solvent maceration of the leaves. Qualitative phytochemical screening established the presence of bioactive phytochemicals in the extract. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) and the ferric reducing and/or antioxidant power (FRAP) methods measured the bioactive phytochemicals’ antioxidant activity.Results: Qualitative phytochemical evaluation confirmed the presence of secondary metabolites in both plants. AS extracts also contained alkaloids. The DPPH antioxidant activity indicated that Agave extracts had 20% to 80% scavenging activity. AS methanol extract had the maximum antioxidant activity among all the extracts. AA methanol and AS hexane extracts had no antioxidant activity. AA ethyl acetate extract had higher antioxidant activity (64%) than AS (52%). AA hexane extract had 70% activity while AS hexane extract had 30%.Conclusion: The detected phytochemicals indicate potential use for emulsifying, antioxidant, anti-ageing, anti-inflammatory, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities.Contribution: This study contributes to the existing knowledge of the therapeutic properties of AA and AS plants.

Antioxidant Property of Different Parts of Palmyra Palm (Borassus flabellifer): A Potential Nutraceutical Food

Worldwide, palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer) is utilized in cuisine and is renowned for its many nutraceutical qualities, which include anticancer and antioxidant capabilities. There is a connection between cellular free radicals and diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer, and visual impairment. Antioxidants can support cell renewal and potentially lower these hazards. Using the DPPH method, the antioxidant capacity of methanolic extracts from different sections of the Palmyra palm was evaluated. Several nutraceutical substances, including 5-hydroxy methyl furfural, beta-D-glucopyranose 1,6-anhydride, linoleic acid ethyl ester, 9-octadeceneic acid ethyl ester, butylated hydroxytoluene, and stigmasterol, were identified by GC/MS analysis of the crunchy kernel's methanol and hexane extracts. The results show that the crunchy kernel is a valuable addition to food products and has strong antioxidant potential.

Antifungal Potential of Struchium sparganophora (Antsbush): A Promising Candidate for Treating Candidiasis and Cryptococcosis

Aims: The incidence of Candidiasis and Cryptococcosis, and the emergence of acquired antifungal resistance have increased rapidly. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of S. sparganophora leaf extracts against C. albicans and C. neoformans; and to determine whether there was any difference between the antifungal effects of S. sparganophora leaf extracts and two conventional antifungal agents (AFAs). Study Design: Experiment-based study. Place and Duration of Study: S. sparganophora leaves was obtained from a site in Kimbia, Berbice River, Guyana; identified by the Biodiversity Centre and tested at the Main Laboratory at the College of Medical Sciences, University of Guyana during January- August 2023. Methodology: Dried pulverised leaves were macerated using different solvents and concentrated using a rotary evaporator. Sterile filter paper discs were soaked in different concentrations of the various extracts. Antifungal discs were placed on Sabouraud’s Dextrose Agar plates seeded with fungi. All plates were incubated and zones of inhibitions (ZOIs) were measured and expressed as mean ± SD. Results: S. sparganophora leaf extracts showed large ZOI especially at the 100 mg/ml concentrations against all organisms tested. The largest ZOI was seen for the hexane extract against C. neoformans (35.5±5 mm) and C. Albicans In-House B (18.5±3.5 mm) at 100 mg/ml concentrations. No ZOI was observed against the AFA fluconazole by C. albicans In-House B, while large ZOI were observed with the hexane and ethyl acetate extracts at 100 mg/ml concentrations. Statistical analysis showed correlation between the ZOI and concentrations, ZOI and solvent extract, and ZOI and type of fungi. Conclusion: In conclusion, S. sparganophora leaf extracts have great antifungal activity and in some cases showed greater activity when compared to conventional AFAs.

Calendula Flowers (Calendulae officinalis flos): Methods to Obtain Fractions of Biologically Active Substances

INTRODUCTION. The pharmaceutical industry aims at developing sustainable resource-saving technologies for manufacturing medicines. Approaches to the effective use of herbal drugs include applying technologies yielding compounds with various pharmacological effects in one production cycle. To date, no standardised herbal drug processing technology has been designed to produce calendula flower-based medicinal products with various pharmacological effects. The Member States of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) process calendula flowers by extraction methods yielding one fraction of biologically active substances per cycle (either only flavonoids or only carotenoids).AIM. This article aimed to investigate the possibility of stepwise processing of calendula flowers to obtain biologically active substances with different polarities (carotenoids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides) per cycle.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The authors extracted carotenoids using hexane. The study included additional thermal pretreatment of the herbal drug. Carotenoids and flavonoids were quantified by spectrophotometry, and polysaccharides were quantified by gravimetric analysis. After hexane removal, the dry oily residue was dissolved in oil with mechanical stirring to obtain the oil extract. The study included a three-step processing method that comprised hexane extraction (extraction of carotenoids with a low-polarity organic solvent), extraction with a water–organic solvent system (extraction of flavonoids), and aqueous extraction (precipitation of polysaccharides).RESULTS. The lipophilic extracts obtained by single hexane extraction or by single hexane extraction and heat treatment had the maximum carotenoid content (~4%), which was 10 times the carotenoid content in the extracts obtained using a water– organic solvent system. Oil extracts were prepared from the dry residue left after removing hexane by distillation at its boiling point. The content of biologically active substances in the oil extracts was comparable to that in the intact herbal drug. Water–organic solvent extraction yielded 68.5% more flavonoids from the herbal drug extracted with hexane than from the intact herbal drug. In contrast, aqueous extraction applied to the intact herbal drug yielded 1.7 times the amount of flavonoids obtained by aqueous extraction preceded by hexane extraction. The water-soluble polysaccharide fraction extracted from the intact herbal drug had 10 times the flavonoid content observed in the fraction extracted from the processed herbal drug. Each subsequent processing step decreased the total polysaccharide content and the content of individual polysaccharide fractions and increased their purity. The ratio of polysaccharide fractions remained unchanged across all processing methods tested.CONCLUSIONS. Stepwise processing of calendula flowers ensured that one processing cycle provided three fractions containing increased amounts of carotenoids, flavonoids, and polysaccharides. Relative to the intact herbal drug, there was a 3.3-fold increase in the yield of carotenoids, and the yields of flavonoids and polysaccharides increased by 44.8 and 41.3%, respectively. The resulting product had a higher degree of purity than the products obtained by pretreatment and double hexane extraction or by using the intact herbal drug. The stepwise processing method is advisable for the production of medicines that are enriched with a specific group of biologically active substances or contain smaller amounts of impurities.

α-GLUCOSIDASE AND TYROSINASE INHIBITORY GUIDED ISOLATION, IDENTIFICATION OF MAJOR COMPOUND AND IN SILICO STUDY FROM EDIBLE MUSHROOM COPRINUS COMATUS

Coprinus comatus is an edible and medicinal mushroom. The crude hexane, EtOAc and methanol extracts were extracted successively from C. Comatus. All the crude extracts were evaluated for anti-a-glucosidase and tyrosinase. The results showed that %inhibition valued for the crude hexane, EtOAc and methanol extracts of anti-a-glucosidase were 98.58 ± 0.09, 98.90 ± 0.21, and 6.68 ± 0.79, respectively. The anti-tyrosinase for the crude hexane, EtOAc and methanol extracts were 97.31 ± 2.77, 97.31 ± 3.34 and 64.94 ± 3.34, respectively. Notably, the bioassay-guided showed that the crude hexane and EtOAc were the highest for anti-a-glucosidase and tyrosinase activities, which led to the interest in purifying the major compound. The isolation and purification were successively done using chromatographic techniques. The pure compounds were determined by spectroscopic analysis (UV, FTIR, and NMR) and comparison with previously reported. The isolation led to three compounds (1-3), ergosterol (1), indole-3-carbaldehyde (2), and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (3). The molecular docking of compounds 1-3, reported as α-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitors, was done by the AutoDockTools 1.5.6 (ADT) software. The results revealed that ergosterol (1) provides the highest binding free energy (-9.91 kcal/mol) to the active site of a-glucosidase, indicating that it is quite specific to this enzyme. Moreover, ergosterol (1) has strong binding energy (-9.64 kcal/mol) to tyrosinase but not significant tyrosinase specificity. This evidence supports that C. Comatus would be applicable for a functional food for controlling glucose blood levels.

Qualitative and GC-MS analysis of medicinally potent aquatic herb Pistia stratiotes L. Assam, India

Pistia stratiotes L. belongs to Araceae family, is a free-floating aquatic plant found in rivers, lakes, and ponds It is commonly known as water cabbage or water lettuce. P. stratiotes stands out as a prominent Ayurvedic remedy, extensively utilized over time for treating a multitude of ailments, The present study was aimed to carry out the detailed preliminary phytochemical and GC-MS analysis of the leaves and root of P. stratiotes. The preliminary phytochemical analysis of P. stratiotes indicated the presence of alkaloids, carbohydrades, reducing sugars, glycosides, flavonoids, phenolic, tannins, triterpinoids, saponins, proteins and amino acids. GC-MS analysis was also carried out to detect the phytoconstituents present in the methanolic, hexane and ethylacetate extract of leaves and root of P. stratiotes.

Impacts of novel calotropis gigantea seed biodiesel usage as a fuel substitute along with various metal-oxide nanoparticles on the DICI engine characteristics

Calotropis gigantea, commonly known as Indian milkweed, is a prevalent plant in Asia. It typically thrives in open and unused areas, often considered a weed. This plant produces flowers and fruits consistently throughout the year, exhibiting a continuous flowering and fruiting cycle. This research investigated the viability of Calotropis gigantea seed oil as a potential source intended for biodiesel manufacturing. The oil was obtained from Calotropis gigantea seeds using hexane extraction in the Soxhlet apparatus. The seeds were determined to contain 33.3 wt% of oil content. The process of biodiesel production involved conducting a transesterification reaction. Further, the produced biodiesel was blended with pure diesel and three different nanoparticles, Titanium dioxide (TiO2), Chromium oxide (Cr2O3), and Silicon dioxide (SiO2), to evaluate combustion performance, and emission characteristics of a single-cylinder diesel engine under various load conditions. Incorporating Cr2O3 nanoparticles into the CGSB20 biodiesel blend yielded significant improvements in BTE, coupled with BSFC reduction. Specifically, in the CGSB20 + Cr2O3 fuel mixture, BTE increased notably by 31.2 %, reaching a value of 0.33 g/kWh for BSFC. Similarly, for the CGSB20 + SiO2 and CGSB20 + TiO2 blends, BTE experienced enhancements of 29.2 % and 28.1 %, respectively, while BSFC values were lowered to 0.37 and 0.4 g/kWh. Furthermore, the unchanging dispersal of nanoparticles within the CGSB20 blend exhibited extraordinary cylinder pressure and HRR values, reaching 77 bar and 34.2 J/CA, respectively. The CGSB20+ Cr2O3 blend yielded favorable emissions outcomes. Specifically, CO, NOx, UHC, and smoke emissions were approximately 4.5 g/kWh, 725 ppm, 0.11 g/kWh, and 23.6 %, respectively.

Exploring the therapeutic potential of microwave-assisted biosynthesized silver nanoparticles using Erica manipuliflora Salisb.: A comprehensive study on anticancer and antibacterial potentials

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) continue to attract interest due to their potential applications in biomedicine, especially in relation to their antibacterial and anticancer properties. In this respect, it is important to develop biosynthesis techniques that are environmentally friendly and include new sources. This is the first report on microwave-assisted green synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Erica manipuliflora Salisb. (E.m AgNPs). In this study, the anti-cancer and antibacterial activity of E.m AgNPs and E. manipuliflora extracts were evaluated. Characterization of E.m AgNPs were performed using UV–Vis spectroscopy FT-IR, XRD, SEM and TEM analyses. The UV–Vis absorption spectrum showed the characteristic peak of E.m AgNPs at λmax = 425 nm. The SEM and TEM results indicated that the nanoparticles were spherical and ranged in size from 2.45 to 9.95 nm. The antibacterial results, it was determined that E.m AgNPs (50 mg mL−1) (8.4–21.1 mm ZOI) caused more effective inhibition on both gram positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis) and gram negative (Escherichia coli) bacteria compared to all plant extracts (50 mg mL−1) (8.13–17.16 mm ZOI). Among the cancer (MCF-7 and HT-29) and healthy (HaCaT and HEK-293) cell lines, E.m AgNPs exhibited the highest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cells (IC50: 87.22 μg mL−1). The hexane extract was the most effective inhibitory extract on cell proliferation of all cell lines and showed the highest cell inhibition in MCF-7 cells (IC50: 43.06 μg mL−1). The results revealed that both E.m AgNPs and E. manipuliflora extracts showed promising antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacterial strains and had potential anticancer activity.