N-hexane Extract Research Articles

Cytotoxic Flavonoids from Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause

Background: Lannea egregia Engl. & K. Krause (family: Anacardiaceae) is a well-known medicinal plant in Nigeria whose various parts have been shown to elicit several biological activities. This study specifically explored the leaf of L. egregia for potential cytotoxic compounds. Methods: n-Hexane, dichloromethane and methanolic extracts of the leaf were prepared using the Soxhlet apparatus and concentrated using the rotary evaporator. Compounds were isolated by reversed-phase preparative high-performance liquid chromatography, and the structures were determined by spectroscopic means. The methanolic extract and the isolated compounds were screened for cytotoxicity against HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cell lines, using the MTT assay. Results: Three flavonoids, myricetin (1), myricetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (2) and quercetin 3-O-α-L-rhamnoside (3), were isolated from the methanolic extract of the leaf of L. egregia. The methanolic extract and compound 3 showed the most potent inhibition profiles against the cells, with IC50 values (Mean ± SEM) of 45.3 ± 1.5 µg/mL and 57.5 ± 0.4 µg/mL for the methanolic extract, and 36.5 ± 2.0 µM and 57.9 ± 10.1 µM for compound 3, against HeLa and MCF-7 cells, respectively. Conclusion: Conclusion: This work shows that L. egregia leaf is moderately cytotoxic, and rich in flavonoids, and the cytotoxicity of the extract is, at least partially, due to the presence of cytotoxic flavonoids. This is the first report on characterized isolated compounds from the leaf of L. egregia and the occurrence of flavonols in the leaf.

Safety evaluation of Avicenna germinans leaf extracts in rats

BackgroundAvicenna germinans is one of Nigeria's dominant mangrove plants and has valuable pharmacological and therapeutic activity. It is widely employed in traditional medicine to treat many ailments and diseases, including cancer. However, little is known about the safety of the plant. Acute and sub-acute toxicity profiles of the plant extracts were assessed in this study. MethodsThe oral acute toxicity was determined with 5000 mg/kg body weight each of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Avicenna germinans leaf in rats. The rats were monitored for mortality, clinical manifestations, and weight changes over 14 days. During the sub-acute toxicity study, twenty-five female rats were fed with 0–1000 mg/kg ethanol extracts of Avicenna germinans for 21 days. The body weight was monitored during treatment, while changes in gross organ morphology, relative organ weights, hematology, serum biochemistry, and limited histological analysis were evaluated after treatment. ResultsAcute administration of the three extracts did not result in mortality or any obvious adverse effects. The gross pathology, relative organ weights, hematology, serum biochemistry, and histopathology were similar to the control, except for the 1000 mg/kg dose that evoked marked increases in relative heart, intestinal, thymus, and adrenal weights. In addition, foci of inflammatory cells in the interstitium and lymphoid hyperplasia were found in the heart and lungs, respectively, in the 1000 mg/kg group. ConclusionThe findings indicate that LD50 of the three extracts of Avicenna germinans were > 5000 mg/kg and sub-acute administration of the ethanol extract is relatively safe at least up to 750 mg/kg body weights.

Phytochemical Screening And Antimcrobial Efficacy of Leaf Extract Of Guava (Psidium guajava) On Selected Bacteria

Guava leaf extract has analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hepato protective and antioxidant activities. The high resistance of bacteria to modern day drugs has led researchers in the pharmaceutical industry to look towards plant-based extracts for solutions. Hence, this studywas aimed at evaluating the phytochemical and antibacterial efficacy of leaf extracts of Psidium guajava (guava) on some selected bacteria. Pure isolates of bacteria gotten from urine of patients in Charis Rhema Research and Diagnostic Laboratory were used in the study. Extracts from the leaves of Psidium guajava were tested for presence of phytochemicals. Separation of active components of the extracts was one using Chromatographic technique. The antibacterial activityof Psidium guajava leaves was determined using agar diffusion bioassay. Phenols were present at all concentrations (100, 80 and 60mg). The study discovered a significant relationship between extract concentration and the zones of inhibition at 60% N-hexane/40% methanol for Klebsiellasp., and 0.0% N-hexane/100% methanol for S. aureus. Flavonoids, tannins, saponins and phenols were the active compounds in guava that helped in the inhibition of growth on the sampled isolates. Methanol and N-hexane extracts of guava can be used as potent medicines for inhibitingthe growth of Klebsiella and Staphylococcus aureus.

Quantitative Phytochemical Investigation, Antibacterial Potency, and Drug-ability Assessment of Three Indian Medicinal Plants Leaf Extracts Using Bioinformatics Tools

Natural regimens have long-held ethnomedicinal values, serving as primary sources for mainstream medicine. Therefore, scientists are paying more attention to studying the biological activity of existing plant species in organized ways to select potent bioactive metabolites to use for specific therapeutic purposes. This study used the same approach to find potent antibacterial phytoconstituents in three well-known Indian medicinal plants: Psidium guajava L., Syzygium cumini L. and Punica granatum L. In the earlier study, methanolic leaf extracts of the above plant extracts were more effective than n-hexane extracts against biofilm and drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria. Accordingly, we selected methanolic crude extracts for gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the phytoconstituents presented. In addition, we added a few reported candidates from the above plant extracts for molecular docking studies against four bacterial targets. For molecular docking studies, we retrieved all phytoconstituents or ligands from the PubChem database and bacterial target proteins from the protein data bank using PyRx 0.8-AutoDock 4.2 software. Furthermore, we used various bioinformatics and chemoinformatics tools to examine the investigated phytoconstituents physicochemical properties, toxicity, and drug-ability profiles. Out of the 30 GC-MS report-derived candidates from three plants, P5 from P. guajava, P18 from S. cumini, and P21 from P. granatum had the potent binding ability with bacterial targets. In the same way, out of the 30 reported candidates, P39, P43, and P56 from three plants, along with amikacin, showed strong binding against the same bacterial target. Both sets of candidates showed favorable physicochemical and toxicity profiles; however, all GC-MS-derived and few reported candidates exhibited negative drug-likeness. The study reveals that these crude extracts have antibacterial properties because they contain both GC-MS and existing phytoconstituents. The study starts with a crude extraction and then uses bioinformatics to choose two possible antibacterial candidates, ursolic acid and punicacortein A. This platform could be useful for finding an antibacterial agent that works specifically on a specific target. To sum up, the study encourages the isolation of more bioactive candidates from different Indian medicinal plants and uses bioinformatics tools to speed up the selection of strong leads that can speed up the process of making antibacterial drugs within limited resources.

Untargeted metabolic analysis of Epaltes mexicana by LC-QTOF-MS: Terpenes with activity against human cancer cell lines

Epaltes mexicana is a plant widely used in traditional medicine and as a food in Mexico; however, its phytochemical and pharmacological studies are limited. This study aimed to identify the active secondary metabolites of Epaltes mexicana and determine its cytotoxic activity on cancer cell lines. Three organic extracts were obtained by maceration using n-hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol. The n-hexane extract was fractioned by simple column chromatography. Eight terpenes were annotated in collection 6 (C6) by LC-QTOF-MS using a gradient elution and Electrospray Ionization (ESI) in positive ion mode: 1) Gibberellin A15, 2) farfugin A, 3) dehydromyodesmone, 4) eremopetasitenin A1, 5) hydroxyisonobilin, 6) anhydrocinnzeylanine, 7) nigakilactone H and 8) taxodione. On the other hand, C6 showed a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect on cancer cell lines MCF-7 (Emax = 74.69 ± 6.19 % and IC50 = 6.31 μg/mL), MDA-MB-231 (Emax = 79.28 ± 12.12 % and IC50 = 124.21 μg/mL), and SiHa (Emax = 82.96 ± 6.02 % and IC50 = 124.31 μg/mL). The C6 did not show a cytotoxic effect against DU-145 and non-cancerous cells from the mammary glands MCF-10A. These results indicate cytotoxic specificity on cancer cell lines and support the hypothesis that terpenes identified in E. mexicana must be investigated and developed for non-clinical and clinical trials as potential anti-cancer drugs.

Centaurea iberica trevir. Ex spreng. Phytochemical content and evaluation of cytotoxicity, phytotoxicity, anti-inflammatory, larvicidal and anti-inflammatory potentials

Due to their tremendous therapeutic ability to treat a wide range of illnesses, medicinal plants are employed as a rich source and nutraceuticals practically in all civilizations. The goal of the current study was to evaluate phytochemistry and biological potentials of medicinal plant Centaurea iberica as previously no research work has been reported. To prepare plant extracts, five different solvents, methanol, ethanol, n-hexane, ethyl acetate and chloroform were used. Total phenolic content of the investigated plant was recorded highest in the methanolic extract ranges from 91 ± 1.2 mg/g, total flavonoid content recorded 24 ± 1.1 mg/g. Moreover, maximum LC50 value (9.95 µg/mL) was recorded for methanolic extract using cytotoxicity assay. Radish seed germination phytotoxicity assay indicated the highest phytotoxic potential in n-hexane (55 % seed inhibition) extract of C. iberica. However, in anti-inflammatory assay less than 50 % inhibition was observed for methanolic extract and plant was found to be inactive against larvicidal activity. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended that more in vitro and in vivo research activities be done in the future, as well as chemical characterization to identify various compounds that may be utilized to treat various illnesses.

Total Phenolics, Flavonoids, and ɑ-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Red Betel (Piper crocatum) Extract in Various Solvents

Alpha-glucosidase enzyme activity needs to be inhibited to avoid increasing blood sugar levels in diabetics. Red betel leaf extract is reported to have active compounds such as phenolics and flavonoids that have alpha-glucosidase enzyme inhibition activity. Previous research showed that 70% betel leaf extract has an ɑ-glucosidase enzyme inhibition activity of 69.84%, but it is not yet known how the effect of extracts with different levels of polarity on the inhibition activity of alpha-glucosidase enzyme. This study aimed to determine extracts that have optimal levels of phenolic and flavonoid content and the highest suppression of α-glucosidase activity. The multistage maceration method was used to extract red betel leaf simplicia using solvents with different levels of polarity (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, methanol). Tests were conducted on overall phenolic concentration, flavonoids, and ɑ-glucosidase inhibition ability. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA test with Tukey's further test (p<0.05). The results of the assessment of phenolic concentration, flavonoids, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity as a whole showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in all extracts with the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content found in the n-hexane extract of 25.68 ± 0.29 mg GAE/g and 65.84 ± 0.96 mg QE/g respectively. Meanwhile, methanol extract of red betel leaf became the best extract in this study with the greatest inhibition among all extracts with a percent α-glucosidase inhibition value of 43.87 ± 1.83%.

Sedative and anxiolytic effects of Capparis sicula Duhamel: in vivo and in silico approaches with phytochemical profiling.

The World Health Organization reports that 30% of adults worldwide suffer from insomnia, while 10% of people worldwide suffer with various forms of anxiety. The significant negative effects of conventional medications used to treat anxiety and insomnia, such as abuse, addiction, amnesia, and cognitive and sexual dysfunction, have led to an increased preference for naturally derived substances with fewer side effects. Accordingly, in this study, the sedative and anxiolytic effects of n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), methanol (MeOH) and water extracts of the aerial parts of Capparis sicula Duhamel., which is used for sedative purposes in folk medicine, were evaluated. To evaluate the sedative and anxiolytic effects of each extract, bioassay systems were used including traction and hole-board tests. The MeOH extract of C. sicula was the most active extract on in vivo traction and hole-board tests compared to Diazepam. From the MeOH extract, major components were isolated, and their structures were identified as three flavonoid glycosides [rutin (1), quercetin-3-O-glucoside (2), and quercetin 3-O-rhamnoside (3)] using spectral techniques. The most abundant component was determined to be rutin, comprising 8mg/100mg dry extract in MeOH extract and 76.7mg/100mg dry fraction in fraction C using HPLC. The molecular docking studies evaluated the interaction of isolated flavonoid glycosides with the interaction energies and protein-ligand interaction details of the anxiety-related receptors GABAA and GABAB. For the GABAA receptor, quercetin-3-O-glucoside demonstrated the highest docking score. Quercetin-3-O-rhamnoside and rutin also show promising interactions, particularly with the GABAB receptor, highlighting their potential as modulators of these receptors. In conclusion, the use of C. sicula for sedative purposes in folk medicine has been confirmed for the first time by in vivo studies, and its possible active compounds and sedative-anxiolytic mechanism have been determined through phytochemical and in silico studies.

Distribution and Genesis of Aliphatic Hydrocarbons in Bottom Sediments of Coastal Water Areas of the Crimea (the Black and Azov Seas)

The aim of the article is to assess the level of aliphatic hydrocarbon (AHC) contamination in bottom sediments of the Azov–Black Sea coast of the Crimea, as well as to identify potential sources of its formation. Bottom sediment samples obtained from 19 stations during the research cruise of the R/V “Professor Vodyanitsky” (June 2020) were used as the material for this investigation. Sampling stations were located along the coast of the Crimean Peninsula and the Caucasus coastlines (the Black and Azov Seas). N-hexane extracts of sediments were studied by gas chromatography to determine the AHC amount and composition. It was established that AHC concentrations in the study area varied from 1.30 to 127.8 mg/100 g. Generally, bottom sediments of the Black and Azov Seas were characterized by low AHC contents, while increased AHC contents were found in the outer harbor of Sevastopol and Yalta regions. To identify potential hydrocarbon sources, various hydrocarbon markers were used. In most of the study areas, n-alkane composition was determined by similar sources of inputs and organic compound transformation. At the same time, oil pollution linked with use of fuel was recorded almost everywhere.

In Silico Analysis of Antibacterial Activity of Fatty Acids in Swietenia humilis Zucc. Seed Extract Against Staphylococcus aureus sortase A enzyme

This study utilised molecular docking to predict the binding affinity of various fatty acids (FAs) found in Swietenia humilis to the sortase A (SrtA) protein target from Staphylococcus aureus. Binding energies, measured in kcal/mol, indicated the strength and stability of ligand-protein interactions, with lower values signifying stronger binding. The binding affinities of eight FAs as the active constituents in n-hexane extract of S. humilis and the positive control, gentamicin, were compared to assess their theoretical antibacterial activity. Palmitoleic acid exhibited the strongest binding affinity (-5.6 kcal/mol) among the FAs, suggesting the highest potential antibacterial activity, followed by linoleic, palmitic, linolenic, arachidic, tricosanoic, stearic, and oleic acids in decreasing order of affinity. Despite having weaker binding energies than gentamicin, a common gram-positive inhibitor from aminoglycoside derivative, FAs showed multiple hydrogen bonds and van der Waals interactions with key residues like ARG197, VAL168, VAL166, and ILE182, contributing to their binding stability. Palmitoleic acid formed multiple hydrogen bonds (ARG197 and GLY119) and significant van der Waals interactions, highlighting its strong theoretical binding. Stearic and oleic acids, although having higher binding energies, also formed critical hydrogen bonds, suggesting moderate potential activity. Gentamicin's single hydrogen bond suggests a highly specific binding site, which may result in high antibacterial activity despite fewer interaction points. The study indicated that FAs like palmitoleic and oleic acid show substantial potential as supplementary antibacterial agents, especially in the context of combating antibiotic resistance. This finding can pave a path for drug design and development to address the S. aureus's resistance.

Selective cytotoxicity of standardised n-hexane extract of black soldier flies’ larvae on cancerous skin cells mitochondria isolated from rat model of melanoma

Introduction Melanoma is known as a highly lethal cancer. In melanoma cells, apoptosis signalling which relies heavily on the acute activity of mitochondria and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation is suppressed. Our previous studies on natural compounds on melanoma suggested that mitochondria are a potential target for the melanoma treatment by selective cytotoxic effect of them. The black soldier fly is an important environmental protectant insect that based on recent studies induces apoptosis in liver and colorectal carcinoma cells through the activation of caspase 3, 8, and 9 and ultimately inhibits the growth of cancer cells. Purpose This study was designed to evaluate the selective apoptotic effect of the n-hexane BSFL extract (BSFLE) on skin mitochondria. Materials and Methods The mitochondria isolated from melanoma cells were treated with various concentrations (1500, 3000, and 6000 µg/ml) of n-hexane BSFLE Then MTT viability assay, ROS determination, Mitochondrial Membrane Potential (MMP), mitochondrial swelling, cytochrome c release determination, and % apoptosis were performed. Results MTT assay showed that different concentrations of n-hexane BSFLE significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the SDH activity in cancerous skin mitochondria with the IC50. The ROS production and mitochondrial swelling results also showed that all concentrations of BSFL extracts significantly increased. MMP decline and the release of cytochrome c in cancer groups mitochondria. BSFLE increased apoptosis on melanoma cells. Discussion and Conclusion It is suggested that n-hexane BSFLE compounds selectively induce a cascade of proapoptotic events that are probably defective in cancer cells. Most of these compounds target the mitochondrial transient pore caused by disruption of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. These events lead to disruption of the temporary permeability of mitochondria, swelling of mitochondria and finally the formation of apoptosome in the cytosol.

Aktivitas antioksidan, total fenolik, flavonoid dan saponin anggur laut (Caulerpa lentillifera) diekstrak dengan pelarut yang berbeda polaritas

Caulerpa lentillfera is a species of seaweed that belongs to the class Chlorophyceae (green seaweed). Caulerpa lentillifera contains secondary metabolites consisting of alkaloids, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, saponins and phenols that can be used as antioxidants, antimicrobials, anticancer and others. This study was aimed to determine the total phenolic flavonoid compounds, saponins, and antioxidant activity of Caulerpa lentillifera extract. The research method used is an experiment by conducting a series of experiments, namely the extraction of Caulerpa lentillifera using the maceration method in stages with solvents of different polarity. The solvents used consisted of non-polar (n-hexane), semi-polar (ethyl acetate) and polar (methanol). The analysis parameters consisted of yield analysis, total phenol, flavonoid, saponin, and antioxidant activity. The yield of Caulerpa lentillifera extract extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol was 0.36; 0.39; and 0.42%. The content of saponins produced from hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were 0.14%; 0.17%; and 0.20%, respectively, in a 100 g sample. The total phenol produced in the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were 141,50 mgGAE/100 g and 154,65 mg GAE/100 g, respectively. Flavonoid content was 116,82 mg QE/100 g only found in methanol extract. The antioxidant activity of n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts with IC50 values were 234.28, 203.96, and 124,77 ppm, respectively. Extracts of Caulerpa lentillifera with different polarity solvents were produced different bioactive components. Saponins were produced in all three types of solvents, phenol were found in ethyl acetate and methanol extracts and flavonoids only in methanol extract. The highest antioxidant activity of Caulerpa lentillifera was produced with methanol extract with IC 50 value of 124,77 ppm.

Commiphora myrrha n-hexane extract suppressed breast cancer progression through induction of G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptotic cell death by inhibiting the Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling pathway.

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most frequently observed malignancies globally, yet drug development for BC has been encountering escalating challenges. Commiphora myrrha is derived from the dried resin of C. myrrha (T. Nees) Engl., and is widely adopted in China for treating BC. However, the anti-BC effect and underlying mechanism of C. myrrha remain largely unclear. MTT assay, EdU assay, and colony formation were used to determine the effect of C. myrrha n-hexane extract (CMHE) on the proliferation of human BC cells. Cell cycle distribution and apoptosis were assessed via flow cytometry analysis. Moreover, metastatic potential was evaluated using wound-scratch assay and matrigel invasion assay. The 4T1 breast cancer-bearing mouse model was established to evaluate the anti-BC efficacy of CMHE in vivo. RNA-sequencing analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, immunohistochemical analysis, RNA interference assay, and database analysis were conducted to uncover the underlying mechanism of the anti-BC effect of CMHE. We demonstrated the significant inhibition in the proliferative capability of BC cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 by CMHE. Moreover, CMHE-induced G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis of the above two BC cell lines were also observed. CMHE dramatically repressed the metastatic potential of these two cells in vitro. Additionally, the administration of CMHE remarkably suppressed tumor growth in 4T1 tumor-bearing mice. No obvious toxic or side effects of CMHE administration in mice were noted. Furthermore, immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis demonstrated that CMHE treatment inhibited the proliferative and metastatic abilities of cancer cells, while also promoting apoptosis in the tumor tissues of mice. Based on RNA sequencing analysis, quantitative real-time PCR, immunoblotting, and IHC assay, the administration of CMHE downregulated Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling pathway in BC. Furthermore, RNA interference assay and database analysis showed that downregulated Cyclin D1/CDK4 signaling cascade participated in the anti-BC activity of CMHE. CMHE treatment resulted in the suppression of BC cell growth through the stimulation of cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and the induction of apoptotic cell death via the inhibition of the Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb pathway, thereby enhancing the anti-BC effect of CMHE. CMHE has potential anti-BC effects, particularly in those harboring aberrant activation of Cyclin D1/CDK4-Rb signaling.

Portulaca grandiflora phytochemicals as a potential source for wound healing activity: in vitro and in vivo studies

The management of chronic wounds presents considerable challenges and has a substantial influence on the quality of life among afflicted persons and their families. The discovery of naturally produced bioactive chemicals having good effects on the regeneration of tissue has been driven by the need for safe, effective, and cost-effective wound healing therapies. Portulaca grandiflora is an annual succulent that comes under the family of Portulacaceae. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the phytochemicals of n-hexane extracts and their effects on in vitro and in vivo wound healing models. In vitro study, Wound Scratch Assay shows that n-hexane extract of 100 ug/ml concentration significantly promotes wound healing through increased cell migration and wound closure compared to MEBO ointment-treated groups and negative control groups. The in vivo study shows that the formula of the extract ointment promotes wound healing without any complication and the percentage of wound surface area reduction was (5.39 ± 0.391) better than MEBO-treated groups (10.06 ± 0.536), and negative control groups (14.04 ± 0.304) through its ability to stimulate epidermal closure, re-epithelization, and granulation that appears in histological examination. As a result, Iraqi Portulaca grandiflora can be considered a potential resource of chemical substances, especially terpenoids, and steroids, which are helpful in healing wounds.

Phytochemical Study, Antioxidant Activity and GC-MS Analysis of Soymida febrifuga A. Juss

Objectives: To determine antioxidant activity and identify bioactive compounds present in n-Hexane &amp; Ethyl acetate extracts of stem bark of Soymida febrifuga A. Juss. Methods: In the present study stem bark of Soymida febrifuga A. Juss was powdered and subjected to Soxhlet extraction using n-Hexane and Ethyl acetate as solvents. Extracts were analysed for the presence of phytochemicals and antioxidant activity. The Bio-active compounds were identified by Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Findings: The qualitative analysis revealed presence of various phytochemicals. GC-MS analysis confirmed the presence of total 28 Medicinally active compounds which included Tetradecane, Hentriacontane, Octacosane, Docosane and Eicosane in n-Hexane extract. 15 Medicinally active compounds were found in ethyl acetate extract which included Purolan, 1,2-Dipropenyl cyclobutane, Hentricontane, 2,6,7-Trimethyl decane, Tetrahydrofurfuryl propionate and Decyl propanoate. Novelty: Though the phytochemical analysis of Soymida febrifuga have been performed by some research groups but there are no reports on identification of Bio-active compounds by GC-MS. The results obtained from present study confirms presence of many compounds of biological significance that warrants further biological and pharmacological study of Soymida febrifuga A. Juss as a potential herbal drug. Keywords: Soymida febrifuga; GC-MS analysis; DPPH assay; n-Hexane; Ethyl acetate

Antioxidant activity of Eucheuma cottonii Seaweed Extracts from Central Mawasangka Waters

Eucheuma cottonii is one type of seaweed that has the potential to be an antioxidant. This seaweed grows and is distributed in various waters of Indonesia, especially in Southeast Sulawesi. However, information regarding the antioxidant activity and the compound content of E. cottonii in this area is still limited. Therefore, this research aims to determine the compound and antioxidant activity profile in E. cottonii. The study used laboratory experimental methods. The research stages were preparation (seaweed sampling), extraction, qualitative phytochemical screening, and antioxidant assay. The initial identification of compounds using qualitative phytochemical screening methods with three extraction solvents: ethanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane. Meanwhile, the antioxidant test employed the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) method. The results of qualitative phytochemical screening revealed that the seaweed extract of E. cottonii contains saponins, tannins, and terpenoids. The antioxidant assay using the DPPH method indicated that among the three extraction solvents used, ethanol extract exhibited a very strong antioxidant activity (with an IC50 of 30,036 ppm), compared to ethyl acetate extract (IC50 of 182,179 ppm) and n-hexane extract (IC50 of 641,454 ppm). This study concluded that E. cottonii seaweed has the potential to be developed as a source of natural antioxidants or raw material for the discovery of antioxidant medicines in the future.

28-Norlupanes and dammaranes from the heartwood of Dipterocarpus costatus Gaertn. f. (Dipterocarpaceae) and their cytotoxic and antiplasmodial activities

Triterpenoids of natural origin are of increasing interest due to their broad spectrum of biological activities. Previous studies on dipterocarpaceous plants have reported that they were valuable source of new active natural compounds. As part of an ongoing search for naturally occurring bioactive triterpenoids from Dipterocarpaceae, phytochemical investigation of Dipterocarpus costatus Gaertn. f. heartwood collected in Thailand was conducted. Seventeen triterpenoids (1-17) belonging to both 28-norlupane and dammarane series were isolated from the corresponding bioactive n-hexane extract. Among them, norlupane 1 was identified as previously undescribed and norlupane 2 was described for the first time from a natural source. Compound structures were elucidated by 1D/2D-NMR spectroscopy and mass (HRMS) spectrometry. All isolated molecules were tested for their cytotoxicity on two human colorectal carcinoma cell lines (i.e. HT-29 and HCT116), as well as for their antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-resistant strain FcB1 of Plasmodium falciparum. Norlupanes 2 and 4 were shown to exhibit a good cytotoxic activity against HCT 116 (IC50=4.2 µM) and potent antiplasmodial activity (IC50=3.74 µM), respectively.

Bioaffinity Ultrafiltration Combined with HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS/MS for Screening Potential Bioactive Components from the Stems of Dendrobium fimbriatum and In Silico Analysis.

Dendrobium fimbriatum is a perennial herb, and its stems are high-grade tea and nourishing medicinal materials. Various solvent extracts of D. fimbriatum were evaluated for their anti-inflammatory, anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE), antioxidant, and anti-α-glucosidase properties. Acetone and EtOAc extracts showed significant antioxidant effects. Acetone, n-hexane, and EtOAc extracts revealed potent inhibition against α-glucosidase. EtOAc, n-hexane, and dichloromethane extracts displayed significant anti-AChE activity. Among the isolated constituents, gigantol, moscatin, and dendrophenol showed potent antioxidant activities in FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS radical scavenging tests. Moscatin (IC50 = 161.86 ± 16.45 μM) and dendrophenol (IC50 = 165.19 ± 13.25 μM) displayed more potent anti-AChE activity than chlorogenic acid (IC50 = 236.24 ± 15.85 μM, positive control). Dendrophenol (IC50 = 14.31 ± 3.17 μM) revealed more efficient anti-NO activity than quercetin (positive control, IC50 = 23.09 ± 1.43 μM). Analysis of AChE and iNOS inhibitory components was performed using molecular docking and/or the bioaffinity ultrafiltration method. In bioaffinity ultrafiltration, the binding affinity of compounds to the enzyme (acetylcholinesterase and inducible nitric oxide synthase) was determined using the enrichment factor (EF). Among the main components of the EtOAc extract from D. fimbriatum stem, moscatin, dendrophenol, gigantol, and batatasin III with acetylcholinesterase exhibited the highest binding affinities, with affinity values of 66.31%, 59.48%, 54.60%, and 31.87%, respectively. Moreover, the affinity capacity of the identified compounds with inducible nitric oxide synthase can be ranked as moscatin (88.99%) > dendrophenol (65.11%) > gigantol (44.84%) > batatasin III (27.18%). This research suggests that the bioactive extracts and components of D. fimbriatum stem could be studied further as hopeful candidates for the prevention or treatment of hyperglycemia, oxidative stress-related diseases, and nervous disorders.

In silico evaluation of potential breast cancer receptor antagonists from GC-MS and HPLC identified compounds in Pleurotus ostreatus extracts.

Introduction: Pharmacotherapeutic targets for breast cancer include the estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Inhibitors of these receptors could be interesting therapeutic candidates for the treatment and management of breast cancer (BC). Aim: This study used GC-MS and HPLC to identify bioactive compounds in Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) extracts and applied in silico methods to identify potent EGFR, ER, and PR inhibitors from the compounds as potential drug candidates. Method: GC-MS and HPLC were used to identify bioactive chemicals in P. ostreatus extracts of aqueous (PO-A), methanol (PO-M), ethanol (PO-E), chloroform (PO-C), and n-hexane (PO-H). The ER, PR, and EGFR model optimization and molecular docking of compounds/control inhibitors in the binding pocket were simulated using AutoDock Vina in PyRx. The drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic features of prospective docking leads were all anticipated. Result: The results indicated the existence of 29 compounds in PO-A, 36 compounds in PO-M and PO-E, 42 compounds in PO-C, and 22 compounds in PO-H extracts. With ER, only o-tolylamino-acetic acid (4-nitro-benzylidene)-hydrazide (-7.5 kcal mol-1) from the ethanolic extract could bind to the receptor. PR and EGFR, on the other hand, identified several compounds with higher binding affinities than the control. Ergotaman-3',6',18-trione (-8.1 kcal mol-1), 5,10-diethoxy-2,3,7,8-tetrahydro-1H,6H-dipyrrolo[1,2-a:1',2'-d]pyrazine (-7.8 kcal mol-1) from the aqueous extract; o-tolylamino-acetic acid (4-nitro-benzylidene)-hydrazide (-8.4 kcal mol-1) from the ethanolic extract had better binding affinity compared to progesterone (-7.7 kcal mol-1). Likewise, ergotaman-3',6',18-trione (-9.7 kcal mol-1) from the aqueous extract and phenol, 2,4-bis(1,1-dimethyl ethyl) (-8.2 kcal mol-1) from the chloroform extract had better binding affinities compared to the control, gefitinib (-7.9 kcal mol-1) with regards to EGFR. None of the PO-H or PO-M extracts outperformed the control for any of the proteins. Phenols and flavonoids such as quercetin, luteolin, rutin, chrysin, apigenin, ellagic acid, and naringenin had better binding affinity to PR and EGFR compared to their control. Conclusion: The identified compounds in the class of phenols and flavonoids were better lead molecules due to their ability to strongly bind to the proteins' receptors. These compounds showed promising drug-like properties; they could be safe and new leads for creating anticancer medicines.

Antimicrobial, phytochemical, and antioxidant characterization of the leaf extracts of Clematis montana and Clematis grata

The worldwide emergence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections among the population has impaired the existing effectiveness of antimicrobial treatments, necessitating the hunt for other alternatives. We aimed to find the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of Clematis montana and C. grata leaf extracts (both species have medicinal use among the local population). Extracts were assessed against four pathogenic bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus), through the agar well diffusion method. Total flavonoid content (TFC), total phenolic content (TPC), and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity were quantified. Results suggested that all plant extracts, particularly those extracted with methanol, were potentially active in suppressing pathogenic bacterial growth (particularly against P. aeruginosa and E. coli) although their efficiency varied when compared to vancomycin. However, the antibacterial activity of methanolic extracts from both species was not greatly influenced by the method of extraction (maceration/soxhlet apparatus). TFC was significantly higher in the methanolic extracts of both species in comparison to the n-hexane extracts, whereas TPC and DPPH scavenging activity were detected to be highest in the methanolic extract from the leaves of C. grata. Our results suggested that the leaf extracts from both Clematis species, particularly the methanolic-based extract of C. montana, might serve as a promising source of an effective antibacterial agent.