Major Phytochemical Constituents Research Articles

Pretreatment with aqueous Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract prevents cadmium-induced hepatotoxicity by improving cellular antioxidant machinery and reducing cadmium accumulation

Cadmium (Cd) is a highly harmful pollutant that poses a serious threat to human health. The liver is the primary organ for Cd accumulation, and Cd-induced hepatotoxicity has been shown to be strongly correlated with an oxidative imbalance in hepatocytes. Our previous studies in the eukaryotic model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that not only co-treatment but also pretreatment with aqueous Moringa oleifera Lam. leaf extract (AMOLE) effectively mitigated Cd toxicity by reducing intracellular Cd accumulation and Cd-mediated oxidative stress. In this study, we therefore investigated the preventive effect of AMOLE against Cd toxicity in human HepG2 hepatocytes. The results showed that, similar to the case of the yeast model, pretreatment with AMOLE prior to Cd exposure also significantly inhibited Cd-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells. Untargeted LC-MS/MS-based metabolomic analysis of AMOLE revealed that its major phytochemical constituents were organic acids, particularly phenolic acids and carboxylic acids. Additionally, DPPH-HPTLC fingerprints suggested that quercetin and other flavonoids possibly contribute to the antioxidant activities of AMOLE. Based on our findings, it appears that pretreatment with AMOLE prevented Cd-induced hepatotoxicity via three possible mechanisms: i) direct elimination of free radicals by AMOLE antioxidant compounds; ii) upregulation of antioxidant defensive machinery (GPx1, and HO-1) via Nrf2 signaling cascade to improve cellular antioxidant capacity; and iii) reduction of intracellular Cd accumulation, probably by suppressing Cd uptake. These data strongly suggest the high potential of AMOLE for clinical utility in the prevention of Cd toxicity.

Unveiling the antimalarial properties of Terminalia ivorensis (A. Chev) stem bark aqueous extract: In vivo efficacy testing and in silico predictions

Due to the spreading resistance to antimalarial drugs, new therapeutics are urgently needed, preferably with novel modes of action. Extracts from Terminalia ivorensis have previously been shown to possess activity in vitro against multidrug-resistant and drug-sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum. However, to the best of our knowledge, no scientific study has been published describing the antimalarial potential of these extracts through in vivo efficacy testing. This study aimed to determine the safety and antimalarial efficacy of the T. ivorensis stem bark aqueous extract (TiH2O) in a mouse model using the OECD 423 protocol and the suppressive and curative murine malaria models, and to predict in silico the pharmacokinetic properties and drug-likeness of two major phytochemical constituents. The in vivo antimalarial efficacy was assessed using the P. berghei NK65-infected mice. The TiH2O treatment impact on biochemical parameters was measured using established standard procedures. The pharmacokinetics prediction was achieved through the pkCSM predictor and Swiss ADME. The TiH2O extract was nontoxic in BALB/c mice at a lethal dose of 50 (LD50) > 2000 mg/kg. The TiH2O extract displayed strong antimalarial efficacy with 100% parasitemia suppression at 200 mg/kg b.w. after 4 days of treatment while its oral administration at 400 mg/kg b.w. in the curative model significantly decreased P. berghei parasitemia by 94.07% with a median efficacy dose (ED50) of 96.80 mg/kg. The administration of TiH2O extract restored the histological parameters disrupted by P. berghei, and the transaminase (ALT and AST) activity, creatinine, and bilirubin levels significantly decreased compared to the negative control mice. In silico explorations showed that the main constituents leucodelphidin (leucodelphinidin) and ellagic acid of the TiH2O extract have drug-like properties, thus indicating that T. ivorensis might constitute a promising source of antimalarial chemical entities with good pharmacokinetics and drug-like properties. The results obtained further corroborated the preliminary in vitro antiplasmodial studies of T. ivorensis stem bark aqueous extract. The metabolome of TiH2O extract should be further profiled in the prospects of characterizing novel natural product scaffolds to support antimalarial drug discovery.

Phytochemical screening and investigation on the antibacterial activity of fermented noni (Morinda citrifolia) fruit juice extracts on selected microorganisms in Makurdi Metropolis

Plant products are generally useful for medicinal purposes, one of which is the noni plant. Noni or pace (Morinda citrifolia L.) fruit juice was extracted using aqueous and methanol solvents, then fermented and screened for the presence or absence of bioactive constituents (phytochemicals) using the modified standard procedures. The major phytochemical constituents revealed were alkaloids, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, and flavonoids, phenolic compounds, saponins, tannins, reducing sugar, saponnins, carbohydrate and terpenoids. Bacterial cell viability and MIC values were also determined by turbidity test. The lowest concentration of the extract with clear suspension was considered the MIC values. The lowest concentration of the extract in the post-incubation suspensions which did not harbour any bacterial growth upon spotting on MHA after overnight incubation at 37° C was considered the MBC values. The test was performed in triplicates alongside antibiotics ciprofloxacin (5μg) as a positive control at a concentration of 0.1mg/ml. Antibacterial activity was perfumed against three bacteria (Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus) by agar-well diffusion method. Activity was observed for both methanolic and aqueous extracts of Morinda citrifolia L. fruit juice against the organisms tested. The extracts had both bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against the test microorganisms. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test revealed that the bacterial isolates were inhibited between concentrations of 50mg/ml and 25mg/ml for the methanolic extract, and between 100mg/ml and 50mg/ml for the aqueous extract of the fermented fruit juice. The extract was bactericidal from the range of 100mg/ml to 200mg/ml for both extracts, though with the exception of S. aureus which was bactericidal at 50mg/ml for methanolic extract.

Phytochemical Profiling and Biological Activities of Rhododendron Subsect. Ledum: Discovering the Medicinal Potential of Labrador Tea Species in the Northern Hemisphere.

Rhododendron subsect. Ledum is a distinct taxonomic subdivision within the genus Rhododendron, comprising a group of evergreen shrubs and small trees. This review will comprehensively analyse the phytochemical profiles and biological properties of the Rhododendron subsect. Ledum species subsect. Ledum consists of eight plant species indigenous to temperate and subarctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere, collectively known as Labrador tea. Recent investigations have concentrated on the phytochemical constituents of these plants due to limited data, emphasizing their evergreen nature and potential industrial significance. This review summarizes their major phytochemical constituents, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and terpenoids, and discusses their potential biological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antitumor, hypoglycemic, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects. Traditional uses of these plant species align with scientific findings, emphasizing the significance of these plants in traditional medicine. However, despite promising results, gaps exist in our understanding of specific compounds' therapeutic effects, necessitating further research for comprehensive validation. This review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, identifying current knowledge, uncertainties, and emerging trends in the study of the Rhododendron subsect. Ledum species.

Phytochemical Investigation of Tecoma capensis Flower Aqueous Extract and In Vitro Biological Studies: Anti‐Bacterial and Anti‐Proliferative Activities of its Silver Nanoparticles

AbstractIn this study, we report the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from Tecoma capensis flower aqueous extract (TcAqFE). The impact of AgNPs on microstructural, optical, antibacterial and antiproliferative properties have been investigated through UV‐visible spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), fourier infra‐red spectroscopy (FTIR), agar well diffusion technique assay and MTT. The particles size estimated from TEM and XRD is in the range of 1–10 nm. The XRD pattern reveals that the Tecoma capensis silver nanoparticles (TcAgNPs) have a cubic crystal structure. FTIR spectra showed band positions at 1071, 1358, 1620, 1962, 2150, 2920 and 3361 cm−1. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) in AgNPs became evident with an absorption peak at 407 nm. GC‐MS analysis of ethanolic flower extract revealed the presence of major phytochemical constituents, including Butanal (57.14 %), Propanol (20.23 %), Ethanone (4.88 %), Mesitylene (3.70 %), Hexanal (3.33 %), 4‐Cyclopentene‐1,3‐diol, trans (3.16 %), Furan (2.94 %), 5‐Hepten‐2‐one (2.58 %), and Acetic acid (1.68 %). The antibacterial assay results clearly indicate that the TcAgNPs exhibited the maximum activity against Salmonella typhi, with inhibition zone (IZ) values of (40±1.4 mm), followed by Bacillus subtilis (35.66±2.0 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (32.6±0.64 mm), Escherichia. coli (29.66±2.05 mm), Listeria monocytogenes (27±1.63 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae exhibiting the least IZ values (23±1.6 mm). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranged from 0.20 to 2.81 mg/mL. The highest MIC value 2.81 mg/mL was observed in case of Salmonella typhi, while Staphylococcus aureus (0.20 mg/mL), displayed the lowest MIC values. The MIC of Gentamycin also ranged from 0.012 to 0.024 mg/mL. MTT assay demonstrated that the aqueous extract was potent against the cancer cell line A549, with a GI50 of 71.79 μg/mL. These results suggest that TcAgNPs have therapeutic potential and can serve as antibacterial and antiproliferative agents to protect against several ailments.

Phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of Andrographis lineata Nees (Acanthaceae)

Andrographis lineata Nees is an erect herb and has been used as a traditional medicine against many diseases. The present study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis and antibacterial activity of A. lineata plant extracts. The methanolic extracts of A. lineata showed a variety of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, tannins, terpenoids etc. The quantitative estimation of major phytochemical constituents revealed maximum amount of phenolic content in the roots and alkaloids in both the stem and leaf. Correspondingly, the highest amount of tannins and terpenoids were recorded in the leaf and flavonoids in the root samples. Furthermore, the plant extracts of A. lineata showed antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Comparatively, stem extract was effective against Streptococcus mutans (18.19±0.04 mm), leaf extract against Enterobacter faecalis (24.13±0.14 mm) and root extract against Bacillus subtilis (24.09±0.14 mm) at 30 μg/μL concentration. However, the leaf extract was more effective against Escherichia coli (25.13±0.16 mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.20±0.13 mm) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (18.18±0.17 mm) at 30 μg/μL concentration. The studies infer that the phytochemical constituents of A. lineata have antibacterial properties and these herbs may be considered as the medicinal plant for treating bacterial diseases.

In Vitro Antibacterial Activity and Phytochemical Screening of Galoba (Hornstedtia alliaceae) Seeds Extract

Hornstedtia alliacea has been traditionally used by indigenous people for a variety of medicinal purposes. This study aimed to determine the antibacterial activity of ethanol extracts of Galoba seeds (Hornstedtia alliacea) against standard bacterial cultures of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC-29213) and Escherichia coli (FNCC-6183) using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The phytochemical tests were carried out to determine the presence of active substances which are antibacterial in the results of the extraction. The color intensity or the precipitate formation was used as analytical response to these tests. The major phytochemical constituents identified in galoba seeds ethanol extracts were tannins, flavonoids, saponins, quinones, and steroids. The antibacterial assay showed that galoba seed extract inhibited the growth of S. aureus and E. coli. The diameter of the inhibition zone increased as the extract concentration increased. The largest inhibition zone for S. aureus was at a concentration of 100% with a diameter of 20.93 mm and the largest inhibition zone for E. coli was at a concentration of 100% with a diameter of 18.05 mm. The results of this study indicated that the plant contains some major bioactive compounds that inhibit the growth of microorganisms, thereby showing great potency as an effective source of drugs. The phytochemical analysis also reveals that the plant contains similar constituents useful for medicinal purposes.

PHYTOCONSTITUENTS AND IN VITRO ANTI-UROLITHIATIC ACTIVITY OF VARIOUS HYDROPHILIC EXTRACTS OF TERMINALIA CATAPPA LEAVES ON CALCIUM OXALATE CRYSTAL

Background: Medicinal plants play an important role in the alternative or complement therapy to manage of urinary stones at this time. Terminalia genus was proved anti-urolithiatic activity via in vitro inhibition of calcium oxalate formation. Among the samples, Terminalia catappa showed as a potential plants for this activity in India. Moreover, they were a common plant species in Vietnam and there was no research on this topic in our country. Objectives: To evaluate in vitro antiurolithiatic activity of Terminalia catappa leaves in Vietnam, through inhibition of calcium oxalate formation. In addition, moisture value, preliminary screening of the chemical composition and determination of tanninoid content of aqueous extract also were conducted. Materials and methods: Moisture content of herbs was conducted according to guidelines of 5th Vietnam pharmacopoeia, appendix 9.6. Qualitation of the phytochemical constituents of aqueous extract with appropriate reagents to confirm the presence of natural compounds via chemical reactions. Determination of tanninoid content of aqueous extract was evaluated by using oxidation-reduction titration method (Lowenthal assay) and skin powder method in instructing of appendix 12.6 from 5th Vietnam pharmacopoeia. Inhibitory effect of calcium oxalate formation of three hydrophilic extracts (45% ethanol, 96% ethanol and aqueous extracts) was confirmed by nucleation assay with cystone as a positive control. Results: Moisture content of medicinal plant was 11.625%. Terminalia catappa leaves contain the major phytochemical constituents such as flavonoids, tanninoids and saponins. The tanninoid content according to Lowenthal method and skin powder method were 10.88% and 10.70%, respectively. Therefore, the average tannin content was confirmed to be approximately 10.79%. Among the investigated samples, aqueous extract showed the best inhibitory activity of calcium oxalate crystal formation with an IC50 of 602.67 μg/mL when compared to cystone with IC50 423.05 μg/mL. Conclusions: The aqueous extract from Terminalia catappa leaves has been shown to be a promising source for anti-calcium oxalate crystals formation activity on experimental model. The anti-urolithic potential of Terminalia catappa leaves may be related to its major phytoconstituents.

Punica granatum peel extract modulates levofloxacin-induced oxidative stress and testicular damage in rats

Levofloxacin (LEV) is one of the Fluoroquinolones antibiotic groups, which are utilized in the therapy of numerous diseases, particularly in reproductive organs. Punica granatum peel is a waste byproduct rich in phytochemicals that are known for their different biological activities. The current research was designed to assess the capability of pomegranate peel extract (PGPE) in counteracting LEV-induced oxidative stress and testicular injury in rats. Rats groups were divided as follows: control, PGPE (500 mg/kg BW), LEV (300 mg/kg BW), and PGPE plus LEV. Rats were treated orally for two weeks daily. The chemical and nutritional content of Punica granatum peel (PGP) were investigated. GC/MS analysis showed the major phytochemical constituents in PGPE as gallic acid, ellagic acid, 4H-Pyran-4-one, 2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl, and caffeic acid with DPPH, ABTS, and NO radical scavenging activity, as well as Fe3+- reducing antioxidant activity. Results revealed that LEV increased TBARS and H2O2 concentrations and LDH activity in rat testes significantly. While the activities of antioxidant enzymes, phosphatases, aminotransferases, and reduced glutathione content as well as protein levels, were significantly reduced. Worthy changes in testosterone, luteinizing, and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, as well as sperm characteristics, were also discovered. LEV was also found to trigger apoptosis, as evidenced by elevated p53 and caspase-3 levels and decreased Bcl2 levels. Furthermore, alterations in histological and immunohistochemical PCNA expression were observed in rat testes, confirming the biochemical findings. Furthermore, PGPE pretreatment of LEV-treated rats restored the majority of the tested parameters when compared to the LEV-treated group. In conclusion, pomegranate peel extract had a powerful modulating role against the adverse effects of levofloxacin in rat testes and represents a perspective of the utilization of food waste by-products.

Chemopreventive potential of hydroethanolic Murraya koenigii leaves extract against DMBA induced breast carcinogenesis: In-silico and in-vivo study

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMurraya koenigii (MK), a member of the Rutaceae family and widely known as the curry-leaf tree, is indigenous to India, Sri Lanka, and other south Asian nations. It is a renowned medicinal herb because of the wide range of bioactive components found in its leaves, such as girinimbine, koenimbine, mahanimbine and mahanine among others. All these bioactive components make this plant beneficial for treating a variety of ailments and diseases. Biological and pharmacological activities of MK include anti-oxidant, anti-microbial, anti-ulcer, anti-helminthic, anti-malarial, anti-trichomonal, hepatoprotective, anti-diabetic, etc. Aim of the studyThe present study aimed to evaluate the possible protective effect of hydroethanolic Murraya koenigii leaves extract (HEMKLE) against 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)-induced breast cancer in rats, which further paves the way for future breast cancer treatment. Materials and methodsFor the preparation of hydroethanolic Murraya koenigii leaves extract (HEMKLE), Murraya koenigii (MK) leaves were taken from the botanical garden of the Panjab University campus, Chandigarh, and authenticated from the Department of Botany, Panjab University (accession number 22417). The phytochemical characterization of HEMKLE was performed using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Following this, an in-silico molecular docking analysis was performed using Maestro Schrodinger software, and an in-vivo study was conducted. For the in-vivo study, female SD rats were divided into four different groups. Group I (C), Group II (DMBA), Group III (HEMKLE), and Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA). Histopathogy, oxidative and antioxidant status, immunohistochemistry of estrogen receptor-α, TUNEL assays, mRNA and protein expression of apoptotic pathway genes were conducted in in-vivo study. ResultsIn LC-MS, major phytochemical constituents including flavonoids and carbazole alkaloids were identified. In-silico docking study revealed the strong binding affinity between the identified compounds with caspase-3. Additionally, koenine displayed the highest binding affinity/minimum energy of −9.21 kcal/mol with 6BDV as compared to other phytochemicals. Furthermore, in-vivo experimentation revealed that HEMKLE administration in Group IV(HEMKLE + DMBA) significantly inhibits the tumor incidence and volume as compared to alone DMBA treated group. The antioxidant action of HEMKLE was proven from the in-vivo analysis of antioxidant marker enzymes, histopathology, immunohistochemistry of ER-α studies. Further, increase number of TUNEL positive cells was observed in co-treated animals as compared to alone DMBA treated animals. In Group IV (HEMKLE + DMBA), upregulated expression of pro-apoptotic genes and downregulated expression of anti-apoptotic gene were observed when compared to Group II(DMBA) suggested the apoptotic effect of HEMKLE. ConclusionThe results of the present study provide clear evidence of the chemopreventive capabilities of HEMKLE in rats with DMBA-induced breast cancer. The observed outcomes could potentially be attributed to the existence of diverse phytochemicals within the HEMKLE.

Phytochemical Analysis and Cytotoxic Activities of Hantap Leaves (<i>Sterculia coccinea</i> Jack) Extract

Hantap (Sterculia coccinea Jack) has been used traditionally for various health issues, including cancer treatment. The therapeutic effects of natural ingredients are often attributed to their chemical constituents. This study aimed to analyze the phytochemical contents and cytotoxic activities of S. coccinea leaves on HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines. The quantitative phytochemical analysis was carried out following standard laboratory procedures. Phytochemical compounds were identified using LC-MS/MS QTOF. The MTT assay PrestoBlue™ Cell Viability Reagent test method was used to test cytotoxic activity in the cell culture. Extraction was carried out by the maceration method using 96% ethanol as solvent. The quantitative analysis revealed that tannins were the major phytochemical constituent in the highest percentage of 72.16%, followed by alkaloids, flavonoids, and steroids, with values of 30.80, 28.66, and 2.85%, respectively. Saponins were present in the lowest percentage of 1.15%. The ethanolic extract exhibited moderate cytotoxicity on HeLa and MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 591.00 and 578.10 µg/mL, respectively. Identification using LC-MS/MS showed the suspected compounds 5,7-dihydroxy-3-(4'-hydroxybenzyl)chromone as homoisoflavanones and kaempferide-3-O-α-L-rhamnosyl-7-O-α-L-rhamnoside from flavonol triglycosides. These results may contribute to the study on the use of leaves extract of S. coccinea for developing a chemoprevention agent.

Molecular Mechanism behind the Safe Immunostimulatory Effect of Withania somnifera.

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (family Solanaceae) is a medicinal plant known for, among many pharmacological properties, an immune boosting effect. Our recent study revealed that its key immunostimulatory factor is lipopolysaccharide of plant-associated bacteria. This is peculiar, because, although LPS can elicit protective immunity, it is an extremely potent pro-inflammatory toxin (endotoxin). However, W. somnifera is not associated with such toxicity. In fact, despite the presence of LPS, it does not trigger massive inflammatory responses in macrophages. To gain insights into the safe immunostimulatory effect of W. somnifera, we conducted a mechanistic study on its major phytochemical constituent, withaferin A, which is known for anti-inflammatory activity. Endotoxin-triggered immunological responses in the presence and absence of withaferin A were characterized by both in vitro macrophage-based assay and in vivo cytokine profiling in mice. Collectively, our results demonstrate that withaferin A selectively attenuates the pro-inflammatory signaling triggered by endotoxin without impairing other immunological pathways. This finding provides a new conceptual framework to understand the safe immune-boosting effect of W. somnifera and possibly other medicinal plants. Furthermore, the finding opens a new opportunity to facilitate the development of safe immunotherapeutic agents, such as vaccine adjuvants.

Extraction Methodologies, Phytochemical Constituents, and Biological Activities of Senna alata Linn: A Review

Background: Senna alata (L.) Roxb, which belongs to the family of Fabaceae, is a herbal plant that has been used for the treatment of skin diseases, ringworm infection, and constipation since ancient times. In recent decades, various conventional and non-conventional methodologies such as maceration, decoction, and supercritical fluid extraction have been examined by researchers in order to determine the phytochemical constituents potentially found in S. alata. Objective: This review paper aims to provide a detailed discussion of traditional uses, extraction methodologies, phytochemical constituents, and biological activities of S. alata. Method: The review is based on previous studies obtained from various accessible library databases and electronic search engines, including Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Research Gate, Scopus and Hindawi. Results: Several non-conventional extraction methods, such as microwave-assisted and ultrasonicassisted, have been found to be better techniques for extracting bioactive compounds from S. alata when compared to conventional extraction methods such as Soxhlet, steam distillation, and maceration in terms of the quality of the yield. Tannins, saponins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and cardiac glycosides are the common compounds found in S. alata. Among these anthraquinone, the most frequently reported as a major phytochemical constituent, is used as a laxative and possesses antibacterial, antifungal, and antimicrobial properties. Conclusion: Despite various claims for S. alata, very limited non-conventional extraction technology has been reported for its bioactivity study on skin diseases, ringworm infection, and constipation. Thus, this review may stimulate new applications and a clearer future perspective. In addition, the pros and cons of each extraction technology are also reviewed in this paper.

UHPLC-MS/MS-GNPS based phytochemical investigation of Dryopteris ramosa (Hope) C. Chr. and evaluation of cytotoxicity against liver and prostate cancer cell lines

Dryopteris ramosa (family; Dryopteridaceae) has been reported for its medicinal importance in cancer, gastrointestinal disorders, and infections. The present study aimed to investigate the detailed phytochemical profile of D. ramosa and its cytotoxic potential using various cancer cell lines. The phytochemical profile of D. ramosa methanolic extract and its fractions were established by employing UHPLC-MS/MS and Global Natural Product Social (GNPS) molecular networking. Moreover, the cytotoxic activity of extract and fractions was evaluated against human liver (HepG-2) and prostate cancer (PC-3) cells using MTT assay. Overall, 18 compounds including flavonoids, flavonoid O-glycosides, isoflavone di-C-glycoside, flavanol, flavanone, rotenoid, phloroglucinol derivative, coumarin derivative, benzofuranone, abietic acid, and phenolic acid were observed as the major phytochemical bioactive constituents in the extract and fractions of D. ramosa. In MTT assay, chloroform fraction showed highest anti-proliferative activity against liver cancer cells (IC50 = 53.49 μg/mL) followed by n-hexane fraction (IC50 = 55.36 μg/mL), D. ramosa extract (IC50 = 85.67 μg/mL) and ethyl acetate (IC50 = 125.00 μg/mL) fraction. However, n-hexane and chloroform fractions presented maximum cytotoxic effect against prostate cancer cells with respective IC50 values of 214.53 and 281.47 μg/mL. Moreover, all the tested samples showed negligible toxicity against non-cancer (BHK-21) cells. The results indicated that D. ramosa is rich in flavonoids, phloroglucinol derivative, and phenolic acids and showed positive results in cytotoxic studies, especially against liver cancer. Therefore, it can be considered safe for the development of anticancer drugs, especially against liver cancer.

Photosynthetic, Biochemical and Secondary Metabolite Changes in a Medicinal Plant Chlorophytum borivillianum (Safed musli) against Low and High Doses of UV-B Radiation.

Plants are inevitably grown in presence of sunlight, therefore bound to be exposed to natural UV-B radiation. Several studies have already been conducted with UV-B and medicinal plants and only few studies showed dose dependent variation. The present study aims to find out the variations and adaptation in Chlorophytum borivillianum under two different doses of UV-B radiation; ambient + low (3.2 kJm-2 d-1 ) and high (7.2 kJm-2 d-1 ) UV-B dose, denoted as LD and HD, respectively. Reduction in photosynthetic rate was higher at HD, while plants receiving LD displayed nonsignificant variation. During vegetative and reproductive stage, significant reduction (P ≤ 0.001) in stomatal conductance was obtained when exposed to HD-eUV-B. Fv /Fm showed more reductions in HD-eUV-B (12.6%) followed by LD-eUV-B (7.9%). Low and high doses of UV-B enhanced the anthocyanin content but the increase was significant in HD, indicates epidermal protection strategy by the plants. Under LD-eUV-B, the content of saponin, a major phytochemical constituent was enhanced by 26%. Phytochemical analysis of roots revealed reduction mostly in fatty acid components whereas the steroidal components (stigmasterol and sarsasapogenin) showed enhancement in response to LD. The study suggests the importance of LD-eUV-B in the stimulation of medicinal compounds in C. borivillianum.

Analysis Of Anticancer Activity And Its Molecular Interaction Mechanism Of Withanone, An Active Ingredient Of Withania Somnifera Using Molecular Docking

Withania somnifera is an annual evergreen shrub from the Solanaceae family, commonly known as Indian ginseng or Ashwagandha. The plant is mainly found in Asia and Africa regions. In the traditional Indian medicinal system ayurveda, Withania somnifera is used as a rejuvenator and sold in many countries as a dietary supplement. Withanolides are the major phytochemical constituent group found in the Withania somnifera, among which withaferin A and withanone, are considered to be major withanolides, which believed to be involved in majority of biological activity of Withania somnifera. Various studies including both in vitro and in vivo have reported regarding the anticancer potential of Withania somnifera. Along with the anticancer activity of W.somnifera, the anticancer efficacy of one of its major ingredients Withaferin A is also studied previously. This study aimed to analyse the anticancer potential of another major Withanolide present in W. Somnifera, Withanone. The study used Molecular Docking method to find the molecular binding affinity of Withanone towards various cancer proteins. The four major cancer proteins were B-cell lymphoma- extra large (Bcl-xL), Cellular FLICE (c-FLIP), Glutathione Reductase (GR) and Glutathione S- Transferases (GST). The protein structure obtained from the protein data bank and the structure of the molecule obtained from pubchem were modified and prepared for Docking studies with the help of MGL Tools. The protein ligand interaction study was conducted using the software, Autodock vina. The already known anticancer standard, 5-FluoroUracil is used as standard for comparison. Output obtained from the study is visualised using molecular visualiser tool, Pymol. Like the Withaferin A, Withanone also exhibited promising anticancer activity while studied using molecular docking methods.

Insight into drug sensitizing effect of diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide from Allium sativum L. on paclitaxel-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cells

Ethnopharmacological relevanceAyurvedic practitioners and herbal healers in India and China have extensively used garlic (Allium sativum L.) to treat cancers. Diallyl disulfide (DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) are major volatile organosulfur phytochemical constituents found in garlic. Aim of the studyTo find new insight into the drug sensitizing effect of DADS and DATS on paclitaxel (PTX)-resistant triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC/PR). Materials and methodsThis study estimates the non-toxic concentration of DADS and DATS against normal healthy breast epithelial cell line (MCF-12A) by using a trypan blue viability assay. Also, it evaluates the effect of DADS and DATS on the sensitization of established stable TNBC/PR cell clones (MDA-MB 231 PR and MDA-MB 468 PR) by MTT, BrdU incorporation, intracellular ROS, cell cycle, and apoptosis assays. ResultsThe results show that DADS and DATS are non-cytotoxicity against MCF-12A cells. Nevertheless, DADS and DATS have shown significantly high cytotoxicity against MDA-MB 231 PR and MDA-MB 468 PR cells. They also inhibited PTX-resistant cell proliferation by blocking the cell cycle. Further, they induced apoptosis by activation of caspase 3 and 9. N-acetyl cysteine pre-treatment inhibited DADS and DATS-induced intracellular ROS release. In silico study shows that DADS and DATS interact with a large extracellular loop (LEL) of CD151 with a binding energy of −4.0 kcal/mol and transmembrane domain (TM) with a binding affinity of 11.7 and 13.6 kcal/mol, respectively. They also inhibited the surface expression of CD151 in TNBC/PR cells. ConclusionThis study implies that DADS and DATS could be considered for sensitizing drug-resistant breast cancers.

Cytotoxic Activity, Cell Cycle Inhibition, and Apoptosis-Inducing Potential of Athyrium hohenackerianum (Lady Fern) with Its Phytochemical Profiling.

In the present study, we investigated the cytotoxic effects of Athyrium hohenackerianum ethanolic extract (AHEE) on the proliferation of breast, lung, and colon cancer cells. The AHEE was tested for its effect on the progression of the cell cycle, followed by induction of apoptosis determination by flow cytometry. Real-time qRT-PCR was also utilized to observe the initiation of apoptosis. In addition, GC-MS was performed in order to identify the active phytochemicals present in the AHEE. A cytotoxic activity with an IC50 value of 123.90 μg/mL against HCT-116 colon cancer cells was exhibited by AHEE. Following propidium iodide staining, annexin-V/PI, and clonogenic assays, AHEE treatment results in cell arrest in the S phase, causing an increase in the early and late phases of apoptosis and displaying antiproliferative potential, respectively. The morphological alterations were further monitored using acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining. When compared with the control cells, features of apoptotic cell death, including nuclear fragmentation, in the AHEE-treated cells were noticed. The apoptosis was also confirmed by detecting the increased expression of p53 and caspase-3 along with the downregulation of Bcl-2. GC-MS analysis revealed that trans-linalool oxide, loliolide, phytol, 4,8,12,16-tetramethylheptadecan-4-olide, and gamma-sitosterol were the major phytochemical constituents. Based on these findings, it can be suggested that AHEE causes cellular death via apoptosis, which should be further explored for the identification of active compounds responsible for these observed effects. Therefore, AHEE can be used in the pharmaceutical development of anticancer agents for cancer therapeutics.

Phytochemical Constituents of Aquilaria malaccensis Leaf Extract and Their Anti-Inflammatory Activity against LPS/IFN-γ-Stimulated RAW 264.7 Cell Line.

This study aims to identify the major phytochemical constituents in Aquilaria malaccensis (Thymelaeaceae) ethanolic leaf extract (ALEX-M) and elucidate their ability to suppress nitric oxide (NO) production from a murine macrophage-like cell line (RAW 264.7) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-γ (IFN-γ). Dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fractions of ALEX-M were subjected to column chromatography. Eight known compounds were isolated for the first time from this species. Compounds were identified using spectroscopic techniques (IR, UV, HRESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR). Anti-inflammatory activity of both extract and isolated compounds were investigated in vitro. The fractions offered the isolation of epifriedelanol (1), 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone (2), luteolin-7,3′,4′-trimethyl ether (3), luteolin-7,4′-dimethyl ether (4), acacetin (5), aquilarinenside E (6), iriflophenone-2-O-α-l-rhamnopyranoside (7), and iriflophenone-3-C-β-glucoside (8). The findings suggest the pharmacological potential of the crude extract (ALEX-M) and its isolates as natural anti-inflammatory agents, capable of suppressing NO production in RAW 264.7 cells stimulated by LPS/IFN-γ.

Evaluation of Genetic Diversity Based on Microsatellites and Phytochemical Markers of Core Collection of Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt Germplasm.

Cymbopogon winterianus Jowitt is an industrially important crop due to its value in the aromatic, perfumery and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, 72 accessions of C. winterianus were selected for molecular diversity analysis using SSR markers. It revealed a total of 65 polymorphic alleles showing an average of 68.10% polymorphism. The best SSR primer with competency in discriminating the germplasm was 3CM0506 with PIC (0.69), MI (0.69) and Rp (3.12). Genetic variation was studied between Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh populations. A dendrogram based on the Neighbour-Joining Method showed clustering of germplasm on the collection site. A total of six relevant genetic populations were identified through a structure harvester software analysis. Moreover, a dendrogram based on similarity, complete linkage and Euclidean distance was also elucidated differentiating the genotypes with respect to the major phytochemical constituents of the essential oil. GC-FID and GC-MS analyses of the essential oil of the 72 germplasms revealed citronellal content from 2.58–51.45%, citronellol from 0.00–26.39% and geraniol from 0.00–41.15%. This is the first molecular diversity report with 72 accessions of C. winterianus collected from the NE region using 28 SSR primers as well as their diversity based on phytochemical markers. This diversity computation will help with acquisition of the knowledge and relationship among each individual accession leading to the development of improved and essential oil component-rich cultivars.