Lappa Roots Research Articles

UFLC-MS Method Development of Vasicinone, Pellitorine, 6-Gingerol, Costunolide, Dehydrocostuslactone, Apigenin, and Validation of Piperine, Biflorin in Polyherbal Formulations

Standardisation of polyherbal formulations is necessary for the quality, safety, quantity, and efficacy of botanicals in marketed and newly established formulations. The Ministry of Ayush, Govt of India, recommended using polyherbal formulations to treat COVID-19, i.e., Kabusura kudineer, Nilavembu kudineer, etc., Kabusura kudineer is a Siddha-based formulation. It prevents and treats COVID-19 due to some botanicals in Kabusura kudineer, which have proven anti-inflammatory, anti-viral, and immunomodulatory effects. The current work focuses on establishing a standard protocol for the Kabusura kudineer marketed, a novel dosage form called Hydaljss08, and in plant species, mainly present in both formulations. Both formulations contain some similar crude drugs and their active constituents. They are Zingiber officinale rhizome, Syzygium aromaticum flower buds, Adhatoda vasica leaves, Anacyclus pyrethrum roots, Saussurea lappa roots, Piper longum fruits, Clerodendrum serratum roots, Coleus amboinicus roots, contain active phytopharmaceuticals are 6-gingerol, biflorin, vasicinone, pellitorine, costunolide, dehydrocostuslactone, piperine, and apigenin. Existing liquid chromatography methods were reported for individual above active compounds, but not in these formulations and combined dosage forms. Working UFLC methods have not been reported individually nor combined for the Biflorin. The current study aims to develop UFLC methods for 6-gingerol, biflorin, vasicinone, pellitorine, costunolide, dehydrocostuslactone, piperine, and apigenin in polyherbal formulations Kabusura kudineer marketed, Hydaljss08 and in isolated, fractions, extract of plant species present in both dosage forms. The preliminary identification of the phytopharmaceuticals in the polyherbal formulations, isolated fractions, and extract of plant species was done by TLC and IR spectrum. The developed liquid chromatography method was novel, simple, linear, and rapid for estimating 6-gingerol, biflorin, vasicinone, pellitorine, costunolide, dehydrocostuslactone, piperine, apigenin in a plant species, and Ayush-based formulations.

Impact of Saussurea lappa against foodborne parasite Trichinella spiralis experimental infections induced variation in DNA damage, oxidative stress and PCNA expression in rat skeletal muscles.

Trichinellosis is a parasite zoonosis that is spread through ingesting raw or undercooked meat that contains the Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis) infective larvae. It has three clinical phases: intestinal, migratory, and muscular. Kuth root, also known as Costus (Saussurea lappa) roots, is used in many traditional medical systems all over the world to treat a variety of illnesses, such as dyspepsia, diarrhoea, vomiting, and inflammation. Current study assessed the therapeutic Potential of costus roots extract (CRE) treatment on experimental trichinellosis induce changes in DNA damage, oxidative stress and Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) expression in muscle fibers in male rats. A total of 60 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into 6 groups (Gps) [Gp1, Negative control; Gp2, Costus (CRE); Gp3, Positive control or Infected rats with T. spiralis, Gp4; Pre-treated infection with CRE; Gp5 & Gp6, Post treated infection with CRE for one and two weeks respectively]. Current results revealed that; Trichinella spiralis experimentally infection induced significant elevation in tissue malondialdehyde (MDA), DNA damage, PCNA expression and significant depletion in tissue glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (Cat) activities. Pre or/and post CRE treated infected rats with T. spiralis (Gp4-Gp6) induced improvements and depletion in DNA damage, PCNA expression, MDA and elevation in GSH, SOD, catalase as compared to infected rats with T. spiralis (Gp3) with best results for the pretreatments (Gp4). Trichinella spiralis experimental infection induced DNA damage and oxidative stress in rat skeletal muscles and treatments with costus roots extract modulates these changes.

A Network of Processes for Biorefining Burdock Seeds and Roots.

In this work, a novel sustainable approach was proposed for the integral valorisation of Arctium lappa (burdock) seeds and roots. Firstly, a preliminary recovery of bioactive compounds, including unsaturated fatty acids, was performed. Then, simple sugars (i.e., fructose and sucrose) and phenolic compounds were extracted by using compressed fluids (supercritical CO2 and propane). Consequently, a complete characterisation of raw biomass and extraction residues was carried out to determine the starting chemical composition in terms of residual lipids, proteins, hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and ash content. Subsequently, three alternative ways to utilise extraction residues were proposed and successfully tested: (i) enzymatic hydrolysis operated by Cellulases (Thricoderma resei) of raw and residual biomass to glucose, (ii) direct ethanolysis to produce ethyl levulinate; and (iii) pyrolysis to obtain biochar to be used as supports for the synthesis of sulfonated magnetic iron-carbon catalysts (Fe-SMCC) to be applied in the dehydration of fructose for the synthesis of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF). The development of these advanced approaches enabled the full utilisation of this resource through the production of fine chemicals and value-added compounds in line with the principles of the circular economy.

Comparing DES-mediated ultrasound- and heat-assisted extraction of bioactive metabolites from Saussurea lappa and optimization by RSM and validation studies

Saussurea lappa roots have several important uses in traditional medicine. An efficient and sustainable process is needed to obtain bioactive compounds from them. To address this industrial need, the current project was designed with the objective of developing a green and effective method for the extraction of bioactive metabolites from Saussurea lappa roots. Glycerol-choline chloride DES (deep eutectic solvent) diluted (50 %) with water was used as an extractant and two techniques HAE (heat-assisted extraction) and UAE (ultrasound-assisted extraction) were optimized through 3-factors Box-Behnken designs of RSM (response surface methodology). For each technique, four dependent factors were selected that were total polyphenols (TP, gallic acid equivalents/g (GAE/g)), total flavonoids (TF, rutin equivalents/g (RE/g)), antioxidant capacity (AC, %), and metal chelating capacity (MCC, %). Under the optimized conditions, TP, TF, AC, and MCC in UAE were 7.51 mg GAE/g DM, 4.87 mg RE/g DM, 60.14 % and 62.13 %, respectively, with % error 0.92–4.13, while in HAE, they were 3.48 mg GAE/g DM, 4.40 mg RE/g DM, 51.46 % and 55.61 %, respectively with % error 0.22–4.56. The models were strongly supported by validation experiments. Thus, UAE was more efficient and sustainable than HAE and can, therefore, effectively be used for the extraction of bioactive molecules from S. lappa roots on an industrial scale.

Effect of Burdock (Arctium lappa) Roots and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Leaves in Alloxan _ Induced Diabetic Rats

Effect of Burdock (Arctium lappa) Roots and Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Leaves in Alloxan _ Induced Diabetic Rats

Visualizing the Spatial Distribution of Arctium lappa L. Root Components by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

This study is aimed at developing novel analytical methods to accurately visualize the spatial distribution of various endogenous components in Arctium lappa L. (A. lappa) roots, and to precisely guide the setting of pre-treatment operations during processing technologies and understand plant metabolism process. The matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) imaging technology was used for visual demonstration of the in situ spatial distribution in A. lappa roots. This work consisted of four steps: matrix selection, section preparation, matrix coating, and MALDI-TOF MS imaging analysis. Consequently, eight saccharides, four caffeoylquinic acids, four flavonoids, six amino acids, one choline, and one phospholipid were imaged and four unidentified components were found. Saccharides were distributed in the center, whereas caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids were mainly present in the epidermis and cortex. Furthermore, amino acids were mainly detected in the phloem, and choline in the cambium, while phosphatidylserine was found in the secondary phloem and cambium. This study demonstrated that MALDI-TOF MS imaging technology could provide a technical support to understand the spatial distribution of components in A. lappa roots, which would promote the processing technologies for A. lappa roots and help us to understand the plant metabolism process.

Antagonistic activity of synbiotics: Response surface modeling of various factors

Synbiotic compositions have a great potential for curing microbial intestinal infections. Novel targeted synbiotics are a promising field of the modern functional food industry. The present research assessed the effect of various fructan fractions, initial probiotic counts, and test strains on the antagonistic properties of synbiotics.
 The research involved powdered roots of Arctium lappa L. and strains of Bifidobacterium bifidum, Bacillus cereus, and Salmonella enterica. The experiment was based on the central composite rotatable design. A water extract of A. lappa roots was purified and concentrated. Fructan fractions were precipitated at various concentrations of ethanol, dried, and sub jected to carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance (13C-NMR) spectrometry. The bifidobacteria and the test strains were co-cultivated in the same medium that contained one of the fractions. Co-cultivation lasted during 10 h under the same conditions. The acid concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography to define the synbiotic factor.
 The obtained fructans were closer to commercial oligofructose in terms of the number and location of NMR peaks. However, they were between oligofructose and inulin in terms of signal intensity. The response surface analysis for bacilli showed that the minimal synbiotic factor value corresponded to the initial probiotic count of 7.69 log(CFU/mL) and the fructan fraction precipitated by 20% ethanol. The metabolites produced by the bacilli also affected their growth. The synbiotic factor response surface for the experiments with Salmonella transformed from parabolic to saddle shape as the initial test strain count increased. The minimal synbiotic factor value corresponded to the lowest precipitant concentration and the highest probiotic count. 
 The research established a quantitative relationship between the fractional composition of fructans and the antagonistic activity of the synbiotic composition with bifidobacteria. It also revealed how the ratio of probiotic and pathogen counts affects the antagonism. The proposed approach can be extrapolated on other prebiotics and microbial strains in vivo.

Treatment with Rosemarinus Officinalis Leaves and Saussurea Lappa Roots Extracts Ameliorate Hepatorenal and Cardiac Cisplatin Toxicity in Ehrlich Ascitic-Bearing Mice

Medicinal plants have important role in cancer treatments and protect the vital organs from the adverse effect of chemotherapy treatments. This study was conducted to investigate the ameliorating effects of Rosemarinus officinalis leaves (ROLE) and Saussurea lappa roots (SLRE) extracts along with cisplatin (Cis) on hepato-renal and cardiac-toxicities induced in Ehrlich-bearing mice. Forty female Swiss albino mice were divided into 4 groups (n=10) as follows; the first group (Gp1) was served as control. Gp2-Gp4 were inoculated with 1 x 106 EAC-cells/mouse. Gp2 was left without any treatment as EAC-bearing mice, and Gp3 had injected with Cis (2 mg/Kg) starting from day 3 to day7. Gp4 had injected with Cis as in Gp3, and then administered with ROLE/ SLRE from day 3 to day 13. At day 14, blood samples were collected and heart tissue homogenate was prepared for biochemical analysis. Serum hepatic enzymes; alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ɤ-glutamyltransferase (ɤ GGT), bilirubin, creatinine and urea levels were significantly increased in EAC-bearing mice, however, the treatment of EAC-bearing mice with Cis/ROLE/SLRE decreased the mentioned biochemical parameters. The contents of troponin (TnI) and creatine-phosphokinase (CPK) in the heart tissue of EAC-bearing mice were also increased; however, the treatment with Cis/ROLE/SLRE exhibited a marked ameliorative effect on both Tn1 and CPK. These results suggested that administration of ROLE/SLRE along with Cis mitigated the toxicity in EAC-bearing mice

Evaluation of antimicrobial and cytotoxic effects of Echinacea and Arctium extracts and Zataria essential oil

Dental caries and oral infections have become a widespread issue in the modern world. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxicity characteristics of the extracts of Echinacea purpura, Arctium lappa, and the essential oil of Zataria multiflora as a potential herbal mouthwash. The essential oil of Z. multiflora leaves and the extracts of E. purpurea and A. lappa roots were prepared. The characterization was carried out by GC-MS and also, total phenol and flavonoid were assed for all three samples. The antimicrobial and anti-biofilm effects were evaluated against Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus mitis, Streptococcus salivarius, Lactobacillus acidophilus, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The cytotoxic effect of the samples was evaluated on HEK 293 and HDFa cells by MTT test. Thymol and carvacrol contents in EO of Z. multiflora were measured at 31% and 42.2%, respectively. A. lappa had the lowest total phenolic and flavonoid value among the samples. On the other hand, the total phenolic content of Z. multiflora and the total flavonoid content of E. purpurea were the highest. The MIC values of Zataria, Arctium, and Echinacea against S. mutans were 0.011% v/v, 187.5 mg/ml, and 93.75 mg/ml, while MBC were 0.011% v/v, 375 mg/ml, and 187.5 mg/ml, respectively. The formulation showed bactericidal activity against S. mutans in the concentration of 5.86 mg/ml for Echinacea and Burdock extracts and 0.08 µl/ml for EO of Zataria. The formulation significantly affected microbial biofilm formation and induced biofilm degradation. The cell viability percentages were higher than 50% during 24 and 48 h. The formulation had a significant antimicrobial effect on cariogenic bacteria and C. albicans, with the lowest cytotoxic effects. Therefore, this formulation can be an appropriate candidate for mouthwash.

Chemical Composition of Arctium lappa Roots Fermented by Aspergillus niger and Its Inhibition on α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase

Chemical Composition of Arctium lappa Roots Fermented by Aspergillus niger and Its Inhibition on α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase

Phytobiological Investigation and In Silico Docking Study of Secondary Metabolites from Saussurea lappa Roots

AbstractChromatographic exploration of methanol extract derived from Saussurea lappa roots yielded four sesquiterpene lactones, santamarin (1), dehydrocostuslactone (2), costunolide (3) and zaluzanin C (4) along with the well‐known triterpene, β‐sitosterol (5). Chemical structures were determined based on extensive 1D/2D NMR analyses. In antiviral assay, compounds 1–5 showed % antiviral activity ranging from 2.18±3.1 to 53.7±10.05 % and from 15.39±4.83 to 92.91±2.47 % when tested against hepatitis A virus (HAV) and Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV‐1), respectively. Molecular docking simulation studies against (HSV‐1) DNA polymerase and (HAV) 3 C proteinase enzymes showed similar binding interactions as for acyclovir. Compounds (1 and 3–5) showed moderate to potent antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 (MIC values between 7.9 and 31.25 μg/ml) whereas, dehydrocostuslactone (2) and costunolide (3) exhibited comparable antibacterial activities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 90274 (MIC values=125 μg/ml) compared to gentamicin as a positive control. In cytotoxicity assay against human colorectal carcinoma (HCT‐116) and human epithelioid cervical carcinoma (HeLa), compounds 1 and 4 exhibited weak to moderate activities. Compound 1 showed IC50 values of 46.05 μg/ml (185.44 μM) and 59.38 μg/ml (239.1153 μM) whereas compound 4 showed IC50 values of 36.08 μg/ml (146.48 μM) and 46.59 μg/ml (189.175 μM), respectively.

Valorization by compressed fluids of Arctium lappa seeds and roots as a sustainable source of valuable compounds

An example of a sustainable and renewable but highly underused biomass with considerable potential as a source of a wide spectrum of valuable compounds is Arctium lappa, also known as burdock. In this work the feasibility and efficiency of advanced techniques applying compressed fluids to recover value from burdock seeds and roots was examined, and the influence of operating conditions and solvents on the yield, quality and composition of the extracts obtained was studied. For the seeds, compressed propane at two temperatures and pressures (6–20) MPa, and either neat supercritical CO2 (scCO2) or scCO2 with a co-solvent were tested. For the roots, extractions with scCO2 and different polarities co-solvents were performed at two temperatures and pressure 20 MPa. Pressurized liquid extractions with ethanol, methanol, water and methanol/water at 15 MPa and 353.15 K were also tested. The extracts obtained were evaluated by extraction yield, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, and compared with Soxhlet with organic solvents. The rich spectrum of valuables - fatty acids and phenolics of different chemical complexities was identified and quantified applying GC-FID, GC–MS, LC – MS/MS. The results of this extensive study demonstrate that compressed fluids techniques are effective for value added product generation from burdock seeds and roots biomass.

The first high-quality chromosomal genome assembly of a medicinal and edible plant Arctium lappa.

Arctium lappa has a long medicinal and edible history with great economic importance. Here, the first high-quality chromosome-level draft genome of A. lappa was presented by the Illumina and PacBio sequencing data. The assembled genome was approximately 1.79Gb with a N50 contig size of 6.88Mb. Approximately 1.70Gb (95.4%) of the contig sequences were anchored onto 18 chromosomes using Hi-C data; the scaffold N50 was improved to be 91.64Mb. Furthermore, we obtained 1.12Gb (68.46%) of repetitive sequences and 32,771 protein-coding genes; 616 positively selected candidate genes were identified. Among candidate genes related to lignan biosynthesis, the following were found to be highly correlated with the accumulation of arctiin: 4-coumarate-CoA ligase (4CL), dirigent protein (DIR), and hydroxycinnamoyl transferase (HCT). Additionally, we compared the transcriptomes of A. lappa roots at three different developmental stages and identified 8,943 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in these tissues. These data can be utilized to identify genes related to A. lappa quality or provide a basis for molecular identification and comparative genomics among related species.

The study of the elemental composition of common domestic types of the medicinal plant raw material

Aim. To determine the elemental composition of common domestic types of the medicinal plant raw material, such as Sophora japonica flower buds, Crataegus sanguinea leaves and flowers, Astragalus dasyanthus herb, Mentha piperita leaves, Arctium lappa roots. Materials and methods. The elemental composition was studied by atomic absorption spectrography with photographic registration. The research was conducted at the premises of STC “Institute of Single Crystals” of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (Kharkiv). Results and discussion. The results of the research obtained show that the samples of common domestic types of the medicinal plant raw material studied contain at least 19 chemical elements; potassium, calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus predominate among them. Conclusions. The study shows the prospects of creating new original complex drugs from the raw material of the plants studied for the prevention and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system, in particular hypertension.

Determination of inulin in the herbal mixtures by GC-MS method

The herbal mixtures due to the wide range of biologically active substances can influence on various links of the pathogenetic mechanism of development of diabetes mellitus and its complications. The carbohydrates, especially inulin, deserve the particular attention through their hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic, anticholesterolemic and detoxifying activities. The aim of the study was to investigate the content of inulin in the herbal mixtures No. 3, No. 4, No. 7, No. 13 and No. 19, which are used in folk medicine for the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2 in Ukraine. The quantity content of inulin was defined by the difference between fructose as a product of enzymatic hydrolysis and fructose, a constituent of sucrose and free fructose, taking into account the empirical factor for the conversion of fructose from inulin. The carbohydrates were separated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after conversion into volatile derivatives as aldononitrile acetate. According to the results, the herbal mixture No. 3 contains 458.97 mg/g of inulin, the herbal mixture No. 4 – 99.21 mg/g, the herbal mixture No. 7 – 139.93 mg/g, the herbal mixture No. 13 – 203.84 mg/g, the herbal mixture No. 19 – 359.65 mg/g. The availability of inulin and its high content in the investigated herbal mixtures due to the presence of inulin-containing medicinal plants, such as Cichorium intubus roots (mixtures No. 3 and No. 13), Taraxacum officinale roots (mixtures No. 3, No. 7 and No. 19), Arctium lappa roots (mixture No. 4), Inula helenium rhizome with roots (mixture No. 7).

NMR Based Metabolic Profiling of Saussurea lappa Roots and Aerial Parts from Western Himalaya

Saussurea lappa (Decne.) Sch. Bip (kuth) is a well known medicinal plant of the western Himalayan region, used in oriental medicines to treat diverse complaints. In the present study, polar and non- polar fractions of ethanolic extracts of S. lappa (aerial parts and roots) were taken for detailed profiling using NMR. Fifty-six compounds of different classes were unambiguously identified with the use of 1D and 2D NMR and quantified by a relative quantification method. Metabolites belonging to diverse classes, including sesquiterpene lactones, steroids, triterpenoids, phenolics, carbohydrates, organic and amino acids were identified. Roots were enriched with sesquiterpene lactones and phenolics. Triterpenoids and steroids were dominating in the aerial parts. Biologically active sesquiterpene lactones including alantolactone, isoalantolactone, dehydrocostus lactone and costunolide were observed as 121.7±1.5, 111.7±0.6, 82.5±2.0 and 42.6±1.4 mg/g dried wt. respectively in S. lappa roots. The simultaneous presence of these four important marker compounds in the chloroform fractions of roots were the major finding of this study. Health care metabolites, myoinositol (66.97±3.0 mg/g), and choline (13.74±0.08 mg/g) were also detected in aqueous fraction of S. lappa aerial parts. NMR-based comprehensive metabolite information was used to develop the chemical signature, quality control chemical markers, and strategies to understand the chemical diversity of S. lappa.

Antinociceptive effects of saussurea lappa roots ethanol extract in experimental animals

The current study was designed to investigate both central and peripheral analgesic activities of crude extract of roots of Saussurea lappa (S. lappa) plant at 100% ethanol concentration. These activities were processed and evaluated through Eddy's hot plate and acetic acid induced-writhing methods, respectively, on laboratory Swiss albino mice. Reference positive control used was paracetamol, and negative control was distilled water, and statistical analysis done by SPSS version 25 to test one-way ANOVA for group mean differences, followed by Tukey and Dunnett two-sided post-hoc tests. Before the mentioned assessment, an acute oral toxicity test by a fixed-dose procedure method (FDP) was taken to check the safety of the plant. This plant was safe under experimentation, and it exerted significant (P < 0.01) analgesic effects at a dose of 500mg/kg. The crude extract revealed a noticeable increase of latency time to thermal pain stimuli when compared to paracetamol positive control at 100mg/kg concentration by 36.42%, and it reduced the number of writhing contractions by 21.73% when compared even to the positive control. It is presumed that S. lappa contains particular phytoconstituents that are responsible for presenting these effects. In both applied tests, S. lappa proved that it could be used as a safe, powerful analgesic treatment.

Antifungal Effect of Saussurea lappa Roots Against Phytopathogenic Fungi and Resulting Morphological and Ultrastructural Changes

Phytopathogenic fungi infect plants during growth, development, and harvest and their products during postharvest storage and transport. Fungicides are applied indiscriminately to combat these pathogens, posing a serious threat to humans, animals, and the environment. Some filamentous fungi also produce mycotoxins, which pose further problems. In this study we evaluated the antifungal activity of Saussurea lappa root extracts against several potent phytopathogenic fungi (Fusarium solani, F. moniliforme, F. oxysporum, Helminthosporium sativum, and Macrophomina phaseoloni). Various solvent extracts (methanol, ethanol, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water) of the S. lappa root were used. We found that methanol, ethanol, and dichloromethane extracts had potent antifungal activity against all tested isolates. M. phaseolina showed the highest inhibition (89%) with a 5% methanol extract of S. lappa, and severe damage to the morphology and ultrastructure of its cells was also observed. SEM micrographs revealed that cells treated with S. lappa extracts had distorted, peeled, twisted, and shortened mycelium and peeled, completely distorted, and underdeveloped conidia. Moreover, the dichloromethane S. lappa extract (5%) arrested conidial development completely. Similarly, TEM studies showed that treated cells lacked clear demarcations between the cell membrane and cell wall, and had heavy vacuolation, a detached cytoplasm, ruptured and distorted mycelium and conidia, and a clear deposition of electron dense granules on the outer surface. GC-MS and FTIR studies indicated the presence of important bioactive compounds and functional groups in the extracts. Our results indicate that S. lappa roots are a rich source of bioactive compounds that can affect the integrity, stability, and structure of the fungal cell membrane, ultimately leading to cell death. Thus, root extracts could serve as eco-friendly, safe alternatives to the fungicides that are applied at both the harvest and postharvest stages.

Assessment of selected Saudi and Yemeni plants for mosquitocidal activities against the yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti

As part of our continuing investigation for interesting biological activities of native medicinal plants, thirty-nine plants, obtained from diverse areas in Saudi Arabia and Yemen, were screened for insecticidal activity against yellow fever mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.). Out of the 57 organic extracts, Saussurea lappa, Ocimum tenuiflorum, Taraxacum officinale, Nigella sativa, and Hyssopus officinalis exhibited over 80% mortality against adult female Ae. aegypti at 5 μg/mosquito. In the larvicidal bioassay, the petroleum ether extract of Aloe perryi flowers showed 100% mortality at 31.25 ppm against 1st instar Ae. aegypti larvae. The ethanol extract of Saussurea lappa roots was the second most active displaying 100% mortality at 125 and 62.5 ppm. Polar active extracts were processed using LC-MS/MS to identify bioactive compounds. The apolar A. perryi flower extract was analyzed by headspace SPME-GC/MS analysis. Careful examination of the mass spectra and detailed interpretation of the fragmentation pattern allowed the identification of various biologically active secondary metabolites. Some compounds such as caffeic and quinic acid and their glycosides were detected in most of the analyzed fractions. Additionally, luteolin, luteolin glucoside, luteolin glucuronide and diglucuronide were also identified as bioactive compounds in several HPLC fractions. The volatile ketone, 6-methyl-5-hepten-2-one was identified from A. perryi petroleum ether fraction as a major compound.

Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry profiling of the costus plant Saussurea lappa (Decne.) C.B. Clarke root extracts and their anti-bacterial activity

The costus Saussurea lappa is a well-known medicinal plant that has been widely used in the traditional medicines in many Asian countries. Here, we report on the chemistry of the ethanol and water extracts of S. lappa roots using gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis (GC/MS). We further tested their antimicrobial activities against Staphylococcus aureus (Gram +ve) and Salmonella sp. (Gram –ve) isolates. The GC/MS analysis indicate that the ethanol extract has more compounds (37) than does the aqueous extract (18) with sesquiterpene lactones as the most abundant compounds in both extracts. The results also reveal that the ethanol extract has significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus isolate and no effect was observed against Salmonella sp isolate. In contrast, weak effects were found in the water extract against S. aureus and no effect against Salmonella sp isolate. Together with the GC/MS analyses, we conclude that the ethanol extract contains active secondary metabolites that may have a specific activity likely in a synergy effects with other metabolites against Gram +ve bacteria (18-20 mm inhibition-zone) but not Gram –ve isolate, indicating a specific mode of action. Therefore, S. lappa might be used as a potential anti-microbial agent against S. aureus and possibly other Gram +ve strains. Nonetheless, further studies are required to get insights into mechanistic basis of actions of these compounds found in the ethanol extracts.