N-butanol Fraction Research Articles

Flavonols, lignans and diacetylenes from leaves of Hydrocotyle leucocephala Cham. & Schltdl. and aerial parts of H. bonariensis Comm. ex Lam

Chemical investigation of ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions from methanol extracts from leaves of Hydrocotyle leucocephala Cham. & Schltdl. and aerial parts of H. bonariensis Comm. ex Lam. resulted in the identification of 6 compounds and a putative identification of 12 more, including thirteen glycosylated flavonols (1–13), two dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans (14 and 15) and three diacetylenes (16–18) based on UPLC-ESI-QToF-MS/MS analysis in the positive and negative ionization modes. In the case of compounds 3, 14–18, their structures were confirmed by analysis of NMR spectra. Compounds 5, 7, 10–12 or isomeric compounds of them were identified for the first time in this genus. The obtained results contribute with chemotaxonomy of Hydrocotyle since flavonoids, dibenzylbutyrolactone lignans, and diacetylenes were characterized, in consonance with other species previously investigated.

Potential matrix metalloproteinase-9 inhibitor of aurone compound isolated from Sterculia quadrifida leaves: In-vitro and in-silico studies

In our previous study, aurone compound were found in the n-butanol fraction of Sterculia quadrifida leaves. The aurone compound (compound 1) had high cytotoxic activity in cell lines with IC50 values of 4.05, 12.53, 15.38, and 25.91 μg/mL in 4T1, MCF7, MDA-MB-435, T47D, respectively. In this study, we performed the MMP-9 enzyme inhibition test with FRET assay, and to deepen the mechanism of action of the compounds use molecular docking and molecular dynamics. The results showed that compound 1 had the MMP-9 enzyme inhibition of 91.23% and IC50 48.27%. Furthermore, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation suggest compound 1 interacts firmly and stably at the enzyme catalytic site. In conclusion, this study can provide important information on the development of herbal medicines that are potentially cancer drugs.

Major Phytochemical Compounds, In Vitro Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Antifungal Activities of Six Aqueous and Organic Extracts of Crocus sativus L. Flower Waste.

After being considered as a neglected product, agricultural waste is nowadays considered of paramount importance. It has become a source of many chemical compounds with industrial, pharmaceutical, and food applications. This study aims to evaluate the primary phytochemical content, the antioxidant properties, and the antimicrobial activities of different extracts of saffron flower waste (SFE) against bacterial and fungal strains involved in diverse pathologies in southern Morocco. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined. The antioxidant potentials were assessed by DPPH, FRAP, and β-carotene assays. The antimicrobial activity against four bacteria and four fungi was also evaluated. The findings in terms of the relationships between phytochemical content and all activities were depicted by PCA analyses. SFEs contained large amounts of phenolic and flavonoid compounds that contribute to the significant antioxidant activities. Diethyl ether (DE), n-Butanol (n-B), and Ethyl acetate (EA) fractions respectively exhibited more DPPH scavenging capacity, FRAP reducing power, and β-carotene bleaching inhibition. DE and EA have a remarkable effect mainly against Staphylococcus aureus strain, compared to Listeriamonocytogenes, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Both SFEs showed antifungal antagonism towards key fungi species involved in post-harvest mold and crop yield losses. Botrytis cinerea was more susceptible than Fusarium solani, Penicillium expansum, and Penicillium digitatum. These results reveal new data about extracts obtained from SFE that could be a potential source of natural antioxidant and antimicrobial agents opening new possibilities for their applications in the food system as a natural preservative and a sustainable alternative to conventional ingredients.

Phytochemical profiling, in vitro biological activity, docking studies, and cytotoxicity assessments of Rondeletia odorata Jacquin: An unexplored plant of the coffee family

Rondeletia odorata Jacquin is a flowering plant that belongs to the coffee family. As a rich source of polyphenols with significant antioxidant potential, R. odorata may have health benefits. Therefore, in the current work, ethanolic extract of aerial parts and its n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol soluble fractions were analyzed for their antioxidant potential and various enzyme inhibition properties. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the crude ethanol extract (ROE) and its n-hexane (ROH), ethyl acetate (ROEA), and n-butanol (ROB) fractions were determined spectrophotometrically, while metabolic profiling was established through UHPLC-MS analysis, which revealed the presence of 58 phytochemicals. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of ROE extract were measured as 51.92mg GA.Eq./g of dry extract and 52.35mg Qu.Eq./g of the dry extract, respectively. In the DPPH radical scavenging activity assay, ROE and ROEA showed the highest potential with values of 62.13 ± 0.62 and 76.31% ± 1.86%, respectively, comparable to quercetin (80.89% ± 0.54%). Similarly, in the FRAP assay, the same pattern of the activity was observed with ROE and ROEA, which displayed absorbance values of 1.32 ± 0.01 and 0.80 ± 0.02 at 700nm, respectively, which are comparable (1.76 ± 0.02) with the reference compound quercetin, whereas the ROH showed maximum metal-chelating capacity (62.61% ± 1.01%) among all extracts and fractions. Antibacterial activity assay indicated that the ROEA fraction was the most active against Serratia marcescens, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus, while the rest of the fractions showed good to moderate activity. Enzyme inhibition assays showed that ROEA fraction exhibited the highest activity with IC50 values of 2.78 ± 0.42 and 3.95 ± 0.13mg/mL against urease and carbonic anhydrase (CA), respectively. Furthermore, the docking studies of some of the major compounds identified in the extract revealed a strong correlation with their inhibitory activity. All extracts and fractions were also tested for their thrombolytic activity, and the ROB fraction showed a notable potential. Antiviral assay led to remarkable outcomes. Thus, it can be inferred that aerial parts of R. odorata are potential sources of bioactive components with several significant pharmacological activities.

In vitro acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase inhibitory potentials of secondary metabolites from Euphorbia schimperiana and Euphorbia balsamifera.

Acetylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, and α-glucosidase inhibition activities of Euphorbia schimperiana andEuphorbia balsamifera extracts, fractions, and available pure compounds were evaluated for the first time. Acetylcholinesterase assay revealed a significant inhibitory activity of E.balsamifera total extract and n-hexane fraction with 47.7% and 43.3%, respectively, compared tothe reference drug, which was 75%. The n-butanol fraction demonstrated tyrosinase inhibitory activity for E.balsamifera and E.schimperiana with 36.7% and 29.7%, respectively, compared to 60% for the reference drug. Quercetin-3-O-α-glucuronide, quercetin-3-O-β-D-glucuronide-methyl ester, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside, 3,3'-di-O-methyl ellagic acid,3,3'-di-O-methyl-ellagic acid-4-β-D-xylopyranoside, and 4-O-ethyl gallic acid were identified from E.schimperiana while quercetin-3-O-glucopyranoside and isoorientin were determined from E.balsamifera. The AChE inhibitory effect ofpure compounds exhibited promising activity, where 4-O-ethylgallic acid demonstrated 51.1%, while the highest tyrosinase inhibition was demonstrated by isoorientin with 50.6% compared to the reference drug (60%). Finally, a molecular docking study was performed for the most promising AChE and tyrosinase inhibitors. The extracts, fractions, and isolated compounds showed no α-glucosidase inhibitory activity.

Gastroprotective effect of <em>n</em>-butanol fractions from <em>Lumnitzera racemosa </em>leaves against indomethacin induced ulcer in Wistar rats

Phytoconstituents from plants serve as a safe replacement for synthetic molecules in drug production. Lumnitzera racemosa Willd., commonly called white-flowered black mangrove, is used in folk medicine to treat inflammation and other diseases. Here, we evaluated the antiulcer activity of two fractions (LR-B-4-11 and LR-B-4-12) of n-butanol (n-BuOH) fractions of L. racemosa leaves at the doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg, body wt. against indomethacin induced gastric mucosal injury in Wistar rats. The rats were dissected and their stomachs were inspected macroscopically to diagnose hemorrhagic lesions in the gastric and fundic mucosa. Administration of the fractions at doses of 50 and 100 mg/kg body wt., demonstrated a significant reduction in the indomethacin induced gastric erosion when compared to the control. The lower dose of LR-B-4-11 fraction (50 mg/kg) resulted in better inhibition of indomethacin induced gastric ulcer as compared to the control. Histological studies of the fundic and gastric mucosa reported that indomethacin led to mucosal degeneration, ulceration, and migration of numerous inflammatory cells throughout the section. On the other hand, pretreated groups with n-BuOH fractions demonstrated substantial regeneration of the mucosal layer and significant prevention of hemorrhage and edema occurrence

Profiling of Biologically Active Metabolites of Spergula fallax L. Using High-resolution UPLC-QTOF-MS.

Medicinal plants are recognized to have a wide range of important biological activities, Spergula fallax L. is a well-known plant while phytochemical and biological activities screening of the species are rare. This study aims to evaluate the antioxidant, anticáncer, antimicrobial, and antiviral activities of the methanol extract (ME) of the aerial parts of Spergula fallax L. and its successive fractions; n-hexane (HF), ethyl acetate (EAF), and n-butanol (BF) fractions and identify their biologically active metabolites. Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled to quadrupole high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (QTOF-MS) was utilized to establish the metabolic profile of Sergula fallax L. Total phenol and flavonoids content were determined colorimetrically using Folin Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride reagents, respectively. 1,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) was utilized for estimation of antioxidant activity, cytotoxic activity was determined on Hep-G2, HCT- 116, and MCF-7 cell lines, and agar diffusion method was used for screening of antimicrobial activity while cytopathic effect inhibition assay was utilized for antiviral assay. Twenty-eight metabolites were identified, flavonoids were predominated (26), it was characterized by the presence of four main aglycones (Apigenin, luteolin, quercetin and kaempferol) with their O and/or C-glycosides based on its MS fragments. ME and EAF significantly scavenged DPPH in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 16.99 and 18.74 μg.mL-1, respectively. Among the tested samples, only ME and EAF showed significant cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines with IC50 ranging from 5.541- 9.509 μg.mL-1. All tested samples significantly inhibited the growth of the tested bacterial strains with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 11.2- 26.4 mm and showed a wide range of antiviral activity. Generally, S. fallax is potentially bioactive as evident by antioxidant, cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antiviral assays. These activities are correlated with its identified metabolites. The results proved that S. fallax has promising medicinal activities and would be examined in future clinical trials for herbal therapy.

Preventive effects of the butanol fraction of Justicia procumbens L. against dexamethasone-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes

Skeletal muscle atrophy is associated with many diseases including cancer, inflammatory diseases, neuromuscular diseases, and acute critical illness. Justicia procumbens L. has been used as a herbal remedy, but the pharmacological effect of J. procumbens on muscle atrophy has not yet been reported. Herein, we investigate the anti-atrophic effect of the n-butanol fraction of J. procumbens (JPBuFr) on dexamethasone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy in C2C12 myotubes. The myotubes diameter, MHC positive area, ROS production, and mitochondria contents were observed under a fluorescence microscope, and various proteins related to degradation or synthesis were analyzed by western blots. JPBuFr significantly attenuated a reduction of myotube diameter, mitochondrial content, ATP level, myosin heavy chain, and myogenin expression induced by DEX. Furthermore, co-treatment of DEX and JPBuFr not only increased phosphorylation of Akt, mTOR, and p70S6K proteins but also decreased reactive oxygen species production and expression of protein degradation factors (MuRF1, Atrogin-1, FoxO3a) compared to DEX treatment. These results suggest that JPBuFr may provide potential protective effects against muscle atrophy, giving it potential for the development of anti-atrophic health functional foods.

Characterization of the anti-AChE potential and alkaloids in Rhizoma Coptidis from different Coptis species combined with spectrum-effect relationship and molecular docking.

Coptis species are the main source of Rhizoma Coptidis (RC) drugs, which have always been used to treat Alzheimer's disease in the clinical experience of ancient China. However, many species of this genus have been largely underutilized until now. With this fact, this research has been designed to investigate for the first time the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) property of different extracts for RC drugs from four Coptis species (C. chinensis, C. deltoidea, C. teeta and C. omeiensis) and to quantify the main alkaloids. Petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of RC drugs were sequentially collected using an accelerated solvent extraction technique. Spectrum-effect relationship and molecular docking were applied to analyse the relationships between alkaloids and AChE inhibitory activity. The N-butanol extract was proven to be the main active fraction, and C. teeta may be the best source of RC drugs for Alzheimer's disease treatment, with significantly lower IC 20, IC 50 and IC 80 values for AChE inhibition. The UPLC/QqQ-MS quantitative analysis showed that the accumulations of 10 alkaloids in RC drugs from different sources greatly varied. Three data processing methods (Random forest, Boruta and Pearson correlation) comprehensively analysed the spectrum-effect relationship and revealed that columbamine, berberine and palmatine were the most important AChE inhibitors that could be used as quality markers to select RC drugs for Alzheimer's disease treatment. In addition, the dominant compounds were successfully docked against AChE to verify the binding affinity and interactions with the active site. The present study can contribute to the reasonable development and utilization of RC drugs from different sources, especially to provide certain evidence for their application in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease.

Effects of Asparagus officinalis on immune system mediated EAE model of multiple sclerosis.

About 5 to 10 percent of the population in developed countries are affected by autoimmune diseases. One of the most important autoimmune disease with high prevalence rate is Multiple sclerosis in which there is currently no definitive cure for it, and most medications such as interferons are used only to limit the disease. The present study aims to investigate the effect of using Asparagus Officinalis fractions in an immune system mediated model of multiple sclerosis. Fractionation was performed by maceration using n-hexane, chloroform, chloroform-methanol (9: 1), n-Butanol and methanol solvents from aerial parts of Asparagus Officinalis. Thin layer chromatography, NMR and phenolic component measurement were done and two fractions were selected for checking in MS induced in vivo model. It was observed that chloroform-methanolic and N-Butanol fractions had higher content of saponin in comparison of other extracts. Also, it was showed that the methanolic and n-Butanol extracts contains the highestportion of glycosylic steroid saponins in comparison to other fractions. Regarding experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) score, Butanolic and methanolic fractions with doses higher that 100mg/kg showed a potent supportive effects as long as locomotor activity protection even in lower dose in comparison to phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group. Considering the proved different effects of saponin compounds on the immune system we observed that those fractions altered the circulatory peripheral blood cells and also remit the clinical signs after EAE induction along with enhanced myelin sheath content in the median region of corpus callusom. It could be inferred that this fractions are promising candidates for further investigation as dose-dependent immune system regulating compounds in multiple sclerosis patients.

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Phenolic and Flavonoid Compounds in Sour Jujube (Ziziphus. Acidojujuba Cheng et Liu) and Their Antioxidant Activities.

In order to comprehensively analyze the antioxidant substances in sour jujube, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids contents (TFC) in different organs, including stem, leaf, flower, fruit pulp, and seed were analyzed for their contents and antioxidant activities. The results showed that leaves possessed significantly higher TPC and TFC (20.4 and 20.5mg/g, respectively) than the other organs and have the highest antioxidant activity, which were also higher than the wild blueberry (A well-known for its high TPC). Subsequently, the variations in the antioxidant content and antioxidant activity of leaves were analyzed during leaf development. TPC in leaves sampled in may and august were significantly higher than that in other months, while the highest one was found in may. The n-hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and water fractions obtained from the main methanol extract of sour jujube leaves were evaluated for TPC and TFC and their antioxidant activity and it was found that ethyl acetate fraction displayed the highest TPC and TFC (184.5 and 193.3mg/g, respectively), as well as the best antioxidant activity. In addition, using LC-MS and HPLC, ethyl acetate fraction was analyzed from qualitative and quantitative aspects; 31-one phenolic compounds, including catechin (33.0mg/g), epigallocatechin (15.3mg/g), quercetin 3-O-glucoside (11.4mg/g), naringenin (6.7mg/g), esculetin (4.8mg/g), and chlorogenic acid (4.6mg/g) were identified. Catechin, esculetin, epigallocatechin, chlorogenic acid, quercetin 3-O-glucoside, and naringenin exhibited high antioxidant activity. These results provide a theoretical basis for further study and utilization of flavonoid and polyphenols in sour jujube.

In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Antidiabetic Properties and Mechanisms of Ficus tikoua Bur.

In folk medicine, Ficus tikoua (F. tikoua) has been used to treat diabetes for a long time, but there is a rare modern pharmacological investigation for its antidiabetic effect and mechanisms. Our study aimed to evaluate its hypoglycemic effect using in vitro and in vivo experimental models and then explore the possible mechanisms. In the ethanol extracts and fractions of F. tikoua, n-butanol fraction (NBF) exhibited the most potent effect on inhibiting α-glucosidase activity (IC50 = 0.89 ± 0.04 μg/mL) and promoting glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Further animal experiments showed that NBF could play an antidiabetic role by ameliorating random blood glucose, fasting blood glucose, oral glucose tolerance, HbA1c level, and islets damage in diabetic mice. Then, the activities of the five subfractions of NBF (NBF1-NBF5) were further evaluated; NBF2 showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibition activities (IC50 = 0.32 ± 0.05 μg/mL) than NBF. Moreover, NBF2 also possessed the ability to promote glucose uptake, which was mediated via P13K/AKT and AMPK pathways. This study demonstrated that F. tikoua possesses antidiabetic efficacy in vitro and in vivo and provided a scientific basis for its folk medicinal use. NBF2 might be potential natural candidate drugs to treat diabetes mellitus. It is the first time the antidiabetic activity and the potential mechanisms of NBF2 were reported.

Comprehensive Biological Potential, Phytochemical Profiling Using GC-MS and LC-ESI-MS, and In-Silico Assessment of Strobilanthes glutinosus Nees: An Important Medicinal Plant.

Plants of the genus Strobilanthes have notable use in folklore medicines as well as being used for pharmacological purposes. The present work explored the biological predispositions of Strobilanthes glutinosus and attempted to accomplish a comprehensive chemical profile through GC-MS of different fractions concerning polarity (chloroform and n-butanol) and LC-ESI-MS of methanolic extract by both positive and negative ionization modes. The biological characteristics such as antioxidant potential were assessed by applying six different methods. The potential for clinically relevant enzyme (α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase) inhibition was examined. The DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP results revealed that the methanol fraction presented efficient results. The phosphomolybdenum assay revealed that the n-hexane fraction showed the most efficient results, while maximum metal chelation potential was observed for the chloroform fraction. The GC-MS profiling of n-butanol and chloroform fractions revealed the existence of several (110) important compounds presenting different classes (fatty acids, phenols, alkanes, monoterpenes, diterpenes, sesquiterpenoids, and sterols), while LC-ESI-MS tentatively identified the presence of 44 clinically important secondary metabolites. The n-hexane fraction exhibited the highest potential against α-amylase (497.98 mm ACAE/g extract) and α-glucosidase (605.85 mm ACAE/g extract). Significant inhibitory activity against tyrosinase enzyme was displayed by fraction. Six of the prevailing compounds from the GC-MS study (lupeol, beta-amyrin, stigmasterol, gamma sitosterol, 9,12-octadecadienoic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid) were modelled against α-glucosidase and α-amylase enzymes along with a comparison of binding affinity to standard acarbose, while three compounds identified through LC-ESI-MS were docked to the mushroom tyrosinase enzyme and presented with significant biding affinities. Thus, it is assumed that S. glutinosus demonstrated effective antioxidant and enzyme inhibition prospects with effective bioactive molecules, potentially opening the door to a new application in the field of medicine.

A preliminary study of the chemical composition and bioactivity of Bombax ceiba L. flower and its potential mechanism in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus using ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-flight mass spectrometry and network pharmacology analysis.

This study aimed to preliminary investigate the phytochemistry, bioactivity, hypoglycemic potential, and mechanism of action of Bombax ceiba L. flower (BCF), a wild edible and food plant in China. By using methanol extraction and liquid-liquid extraction, the crude extract (CE) of BCF and its petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n-butanol (n-BuOH), and aqueous (AQ) fractions were obtained, and their chemical components and biological activities were evaluated. Further high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was carried out to identify and quantify the active constituents of BFC and its five fractions, and the phytochemical composition of the best-performing fraction was then analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole-time-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF-MS). Finally, a network pharmacology strategy based on the chemical profile of this fraction was applied to speculate its main hypoglycemic mechanism. Results revealed the excellent biological activities of BCF, especially the EtOAc fraction. In addition to the highest total flavonoid content (TFC) (367.72 μg RE/mg E) and total phenolics content (TPC) (47.97 μg GAE/mg E), EtOAc showed the strongest DPPH⋅ scavenging ability (IC50 value = 29.56 μg/mL), ABTS⋅+ scavenging ability (IC50 value = 84.60 μg/mL), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) (889.62 μg FeSO4/mg E), which were stronger than the positive control BHT. EtOAc also exhibited the second-best α-glucosidase inhibitory capacity and second-best acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory capacity with the IC50 values of 2.85 and 3.27 mg/mL, respectively. Also, EtOAc inhibited HepG2, MCF-7, Raw264.7, and A549 cell with IC50 values of 1.08, 1.62, 0.77, and 0.87 mg/mL, which were the second or third strongest in all fractions. Additionally, HPLC analysis revealed significant differences in the compounds’ abundance between different fractions. Among them, EtOAc had the most detected compounds and the highest content. According to the results of UPLC/Q-TOF-MS, 38 compounds were identified in EtOAc, including 24 phenolic acids and 6 flavonoids. Network pharmacological analysis further confirmed 41 potential targets of EtOAc in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and intracellular receptor signaling pathways, unsaturated fatty acid, and DNA transcription pathways were the most possible mechanisms. These findings suggested that BCF was worthwhile to be developed as an antioxidant and anti-diabetic food/drug.

Bioassay-Guided Skin-Beneficial Effects of Fractionated Sideritis raeseri subsp. raeseri Extract.

This study aimed to evaluate the potentials for skin-beneficial effects of the hydroethanolic extract of the aerial parts of ironwort (Sideritis raeseri Boiss. & Heldr. subsp. raeseri) and its fractions (petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and water). For these purposes, chemical analysis and in vitro antioxidant, anti-tyrosinase and antimicrobial assays, as well as determination of sun protection factor (SPF), were performed. The highest total phenolic content and quantity of individual flavonoids, chlorogenic acid and verbascoside were determined in the n-butanol fraction, which is in line with results obtained for antioxidant activity. The greatest antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the most common causative agents of the skin infections in humans, was exhibited by the ethyl acetate fraction. The strongest anti-tyrosinase activity was shown by the hydroethanolic extract (52.64% of inhibition at 100 μg/mL). Almost all tested samples showed photoprotective activity with SPF higher than 6 obtained at a low concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, which was more than 15 for the butanol fraction. These findings revealed that the hydroethanolic extract of S. raeseri aerial parts could be a valuable ingredient in the formulation of cosmetic and medicinal products intended to overcome various skin disorders.

Phytochemical investigation of some active constituents from N-Butanol fraction of Tropaeolum majus L. cultivated in Iraq

Tropaeolum majus, Tropaeolaceae family, is anornamental plant and has a long history of use as a medicinal plant; it is cultivated currently in most countries of the world, including Iraq. The aim of this work was to isolate and identify three compounds from the leaves of Tropaeolum majus (N-butanol fraction) cultivated in Iraq. The constituents were isolated by preparative high-Performance Liquid Chromatography and their structures were determined using precise NMR spectroscopic techniques.

Beneficial role of Boehmeria nivea in health and phytochemical constituents.

The leaf and stem extracts of Boehmeria nivea (BN) collected from three different regions in Korea were screened for their antioxidant, neuroprotective, estrogenic, insulin secretion, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. We also examined whether BN extracts regulate cancer cell growth, inflammatory-related gene expression, and lipid accumulation in cellular system. Leaf extracts possessed greater antioxidant, anti-proliferative in cancer cells, neuroprotective, estrogenic activity, and inhibitory effect on pro-inflammatory gene expression than stem extracts. Leaf and stem extracts inhibited lipid accumulation in three T3-L1 adipocytes but did not affect glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in INS-1 cells. We isolated and identified the phytochemical constituents in the n-butanol and ethyl acetate fractions of BN leaves by combining silica gel column chromatography with mass spectrometry and 1 H- and 13 C-NMR analysis. The active compounds (caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, p-coumaric acid, and rutin) exhibited ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activity, which may contribute to the biological activities of BN leaf extract. An analytical method was developed to quantify marker compounds for the discrimination of BN collected from different regions. Our results support the use of this analysis method for accurate identification and quantification of marker compounds in BN for the development of functional foods. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Boehmeria nivea (BN) has been used as a raw material for the textile industry or traditional herbal medicine. The current study established the biological activities and active components of BN. Our results showed that BN leaf and stem extracts exhibit antioxidant, neuroprotective, and estrogenic activity. BN leaf extract also inhibited cancer cell growth, inflammatory mediators and cytokines production, and lipid accumulation in vitro. Moreover, the bioactive compounds, such as caffeic acid, isoquercitrin, p-coumaric acid, and rutin, exert ABTS and DPPH radical scavenging activities. Therefore, BN could potentially be a promising source of bioactive phytochemicals for the development of functional foods or drugs.

Metabolic Profiling by GC-MS, In Vitro Biological Potential, and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Verbena officinalis.

Verbena officinalis L. is a traditionally important medicinal herb that has a rich source of bioactive phytoconstituents with biological benefits. The objective of this study was to assess the metabolic profile and in vitro biological potential of V. officinalis. The bioactive phytoconstituents were evaluated by preliminary phytochemical studies, estimation of polyphenolic contents, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of all fractions (crude methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol) of V. officinalis. The biological investigation was performed by different assays including antioxidant assays (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP), enzyme inhibition assays (urease and α-glucosidase), and hemolytic activity. The ethyl acetate extract had the maximum concentration of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents (394.30 ± 1.09 mg GAE·g−1 DE and 137.35 ± 0.94 mg QE·g−1 DE, respectively). Significant antioxidant potential was observed in all fractions by all four antioxidant methods. Maximum urease inhibitory activity in terms of IC50 value was shown by ethyl acetate fraction (10 ± 1.60 µg mL−1) in comparison to standard hydroxy urea (9.8 ± 1.20 µg·mL−1). The n-hexane extract showed good α-glucosidase inhibitory efficacy (420 ± 20 µg·mL−1) as compared to other extract/fractions. Minimum hemolytic activity was found in crude methanolic fraction (6.5 ± 0.94%) in comparison to positive standard Triton X-100 (93.5 ± 0.48%). The GC-MS analysis of all extract/fractions of V. officinalis including crude methanolic, n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol fractions, resulted in the identification of 24, 56, 25, and 9 bioactive compounds, respectively, with 80% quality index. Furthermore, the bioactive compounds identified by GC-MS were analyzed using in silico molecular docking studies to determine the binding affinity between ligands and enzymes (urease and α-glucosidase). In conclusion, V. officinalis possesses multiple therapeutical potentials, and further research is needed to explore its use in the treatment of chronic diseases.

Analysis of Antioxidant Constituents from Ilex rotunda and Evaluation of Their Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability.

Ilex rotunda Thunb., has been used to treat common cold, tonsillitis, and eczema. It is also a source of antioxidants. However, information regarding its antioxidative phytochemical composition is still incomplete and limited. In this present study, we initially determined DPPH radical scavenging activity of the extracts of I. rotunda fruits, twigs, and leaves. Among them, the twig extract exhibited a potential of antioxidant capacity. Based on antioxidant effect guided experiments, extraction condition using 80% EtOH was then optimized. DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were also performed for fractions. The n-butanol fraction showed the highest antioxidant effect. Using chromatographic methods, eight marker compounds (1–8) were further isolated. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and mass data. Method validation was employed to quantitate contents of these eight marker compounds. Subsequently, the HPLC-DPPH method was used to evaluate the contribution of certain compounds to total antioxidant activity of the extract. Lastly, parallel artificial membrane permeability assay for blood–brain barrier (PAMPA-BBB) was applied to investigate brain-penetrable antioxidants from I. rotunda extract. As a result, compound 7 (4,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid) showed significant antioxidant activity and penetration across the BBB via transcellular passive diffusion. Our findings suggested that compound 7 can be used as a therapeutic potential candidate in natural product-based central nervous system (CNS) drug discovery.

Chemical constituents from Pulsatillae Radix

Chemical constituents of ethanol extract of Pulsatillae Radix were investigated. The n-butanol fraction of ethanol extract of Pulsatillae Radix was isolated and purified by macroporous resin and silica gel column chromatography and semi-preparative high performance liquid chromatography. The triterpenoid glycosides were identified by multiple spectral methods. Six compounds were obtained from the n-butanol fraction of ethanol extract of Pulsatillae Radix and identified as 23-aldehyde-cussosaponin C(1), cussosaponin C(2), anemoside B4(3), akebia saponin D(4), pulchinenoside E3(5), and hederacoside C(6). Among them, compound 1 was a new compound.