Pure Active Compounds Research Articles

Anti-Inflammatory, Wound Healing, and Anti-Diabetic Effects of Pure Active Compounds Present in the Ryudai Gold Variety of Curcuma longa.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa) contains curcumin, demethoxycurcumin (DMC), and bisdemethoxycurcumin (BDMC). Nevertheless, curcumin is the most researched active ingredient for its numerous pharmacological effects. We investigated the impact of these curcuminoids found in Ryudai gold, an approved cultivar of Curcuma longa, on wound healing, inflammation, and diabetes. Sub-planter injections of carrageenan induced acute paw inflammation in rats. The wound-healing ability of 1% curcuminoids was examined by making a 6 mm round wound on the shaved dorsum of the mice with a biopsy punch. A single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) was used to induce diabetes in mice. Curcuminoids at a dose rate of 100 mg/kg body weight were used with feed and as a gastric gavage to treat diabetes and inflammation in experimental animals. Paw thickness was measured at 1, 3, and 6 h following carrageenan injection. After three hours, mean paw volume was 58% in carrageenan-injected mice, which was 35%, 37%, and 31% in the curcumin, DMC, and BDMC groups, respectively. Histopathology of the paw tissue demonstrated severe infiltration of inflammatory cells and thickening of the dermis, which were remarkably improved by the curcuminoids. The wound-healing abilities were significantly higher in the curcumin- (95.0%), DMC- (93.17%), and BDMC-treated (89.0%) groups, in comparison to that of the control (65.09%) group at day nine. There were no significant differences in wound-healing activity among the groups treated with 1% curcuminoids throughout the study. Streptozotocin-induced diabetes was characterized by an increased blood glucose (552.2 mg/dL) and decreased body weight (31.2 g), compared to that of the control rats (145.6 mg/dL and 46.8 g blood glucose and body weight, respectively). It also caused an increase in serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT; 44.2 U/L) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST; 55.8 U/L) compared to that of the control group (18.6 U/L and 20.1 U/L, respectively). Histopathological examination of the liver showed that diabetes caused hepatic cellular necrosis, congestion of the central vein, and parenchymatous degeneration. However, all three curcuminoids significantly decreased blood glucose levels, ALT, and AST and improved the histopathological score of the liver. These results evidenced that not only curcumin but also DMC and BDMC have potent anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and anti-diabetic efficacy, and the Ryudai gold variety of turmeric could be used as a functional food supplement.

Herbal Medicine: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Breast Cancer in Near Future

The use of naturally occurring compounds to stop carcinogenesis is expanding. It has been shown that a variety of herbal extracts and pure active compounds produced exclusively from plants have potent anti-cancer properties. Herbs can play a supportive role in promoting complete recovery, alleviating side effects, and addressing cancer-related issues. Haridra- Curcuma longa, Guduchi- Tinospora cordifolia, Atasi- Linum ussitatissimum, Kalajaji- Nigella sativa, Lashuna- Allium sativum, Ashwagandha- Withania somnifera, Kalamegha- Andrographis paniculata, Trapusha- Podophyllum hexandrum, Shigru- Moringa ptyrygosperma,Bhumyalaki- Phyllanthus niruri, Pippali- Piper longum etc. are various plants having scientific evidence of anticancer property.Numerous in vitro and in vivo studies have suggested that these medications have potential for treating breast cancer. Studies focused on molecular pathways have aided in the discovery of the main therapeutic strategies for treating breast cancer. The focus of future research should be on patient-centered translational trials for breast cancer. These will strengthen the therapeutic effectiveness of our Ayurvedic medication. This review seeks to offer experimental support and a greater understanding of the molecular processes by which various herbs function as chemotherapeutic agents against distinct forms of breast cancer. Keywords Anti-cancer, Ayurvedic herbs, Plant based medicine, Breast cancer

Production of Benzyl Isothiocyanate from Moringa peregrina (Forssk.) Fiori via Suspension Cultures

Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) is one of the main constituents of Moringa peregrina, an endangered species in the flora of Egypt. The purpose of this study was to establish a procedure to enhance the in vitro production of BITC in Moringa peregrina suspension cultures. This could then aid in the mass production of this useful pure active compound and avoid the exploitation of natural resources of this valuable plant. Suspension cultures of Moringa peregrina was established from callus cells in liquid MS medium supplemented with 10.74 μM naphthalene acetic acid, 2.325 μM kinetin, in addition to salicylic acid as an elicitor and/or L-phenylalanine as a precursor of BITC. The combination of both salicylic acid and L-phenylalanine gave the highest accumulation of BITC after two weeks with 10.42-fold increase, compared to its content in the mother plant. This study is promising for the large-scale production of BITC, which has been identified as an anticancer agent with possible applications in the pharmaceutical industry. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 33(2): 85-95, 2023 (December)

Overcoming the Imbalance of Intestinal Flora as a Method of Preventing the Development of Diseases of Various Genesis

The purpose of this work is to consider the features of overcoming the imbalance of the intestinal flora as a method of preventing the development of diseases of various genesis. The author points out that the intestinal flora is an important part of the human body and plays an irreplaceable role in homeostasis and pathological processes of the human body. It is widely recognized that the imbalance of intestinal flora affects the occurrence and progression of diseases. Natural compounds are now used by specialists in the treatment of diabetes, including strengthening the barrier of the intestinal mucosa by regulating the microbial composition of the intestine, the production of microbial SCFA and the suppression of inflammation associated with LPS. Thus, the constant optimization of the extraction processes of chemically pure active compounds from natural herbal preparations is crucial.

Avian Oropharyngeal Trichomonosis: Treatment, Failures and Alternatives, a Systematic Review.

Oropharyngeal avian trichomonosis is a potentially lethal parasitic disease that affects several avian orders. This review is focused on the disease treatments since prophylactic treatment is prohibited in most countries and resistant strains are circulating. A systematic review following the PRISMA procedure was conducted and included 60 articles. Successful and non-toxic treatments of avian oropharyngeal trichomonosis started with enheptin, a drug replaced by dimetridazole, metronidazole, ornidazole, carnidazole and ronidazole. Administration in drinking water was the most employed and recommended method, although hierarchy of the avian flocks and palatability of the medicated water can interfere with the treatments. Besides pigeons, treatments with nitroimidazoles were reported in budgerigars, canaries, finches, bald eagles, a cinereous vulture and several falcon species, but resistant strains were reported mainly in domestic pigeons and budgerigars. Novel treatments include new delivery systems proved with traditional drugs and some plant extracts and its main components. Ethanolic extracts from ginger, curry leaf tree and Dennettia tripetala, alkaloid extracts of Peganum harmala and essential oils of Pelargonium roseum and some Lamiaceae were highly active. Pure active compounds from the above extracts displayed good anti-trichomonal activity, although most studies lack a cytotoxicity or in vivo test.

Toxicity and synergistic activity of compounds from essential oils and their effect on detoxification enzymes against Planococcus lilacinus.

Mealybug, Planococcus lilacinus Cockerell, is a primary surface-feeding insect pest of fruit and flowering plants and also transmits plant viruses, resulting in economic crop loss. Inappropriate and recurrent use of pesticides for mealybug control results in resistance building and deleterious effects on humans and the environment. Essential oils are the most excellent choice for insecticides. Insecticidal activities of pure compounds of essential oils against P. lilacinus are not reported. The present study aims to study the insecticidal activities of some pure active compounds and their binary mixture's action by topical application against P. lilacinus. Results showed that the pure compounds of L-limonene, β-myrcene, and ocimene revealed toxicity (each at LD50 = 0.37 µg/insect) after 96h. The binary mixtures of geraniol + L-menthol and L-limonene + geraniol exhibited synergistic effects (each at LD50 = 0.03 µg/insect) after 96h. The monoterpenes of ocimene and β-myrcene at the higher concentration of 5,000 ppm substantially inhibited the detoxification enzyme activities of AChE (0.93 and 0.78 mU/mg, respectively) and GST (2.19 and 7.29 nmol/min/ml, respectively) in P. lilacinus after 48h. SEM analysis reported the significant anomalies on the morphology of abdominal cuticle, setae, and thoracic leg after 96-h treatment with ocimene at 1,250 ppm against P. lilacinus. Based on the results, the tested pure compounds and their combinations can be suggested for the control of mealybugs.

Identification of Cyclic Dipeptides and a New Compound (6-(5-Hydroxy-6-methylheptyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one) Produced by Streptomyces fungicidicus against Alternaria solani.

As an important microbial resource, Actinomycetes, especially Streptomyces, have important application values in medicine and biotechnology. Streptomyces fungicidicus SYH3 was isolated from soil samples in tomato-growing areas and showed good inhibitory effects on Alternaria solani in tomato. To obtain pure active compounds, SYH3 fermentation broth was subjected to XAD-16 macroporous resin and silica gel column chromatography. Combined with the repeated preparation and separation of preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a total of four monomer compounds were obtained after activity tracking. Compound 4 was identified as a new six-membered lactone ring compound named 6-(5-hydroxy-6-methylheptyl)-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data and mass spectrometry (MS). The other three active compounds belong to the cyclodipeptide, and their half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values against A. solani were 43.4, 42.9, and 30.6 μg/mL, respectively. Compound 4 significantly inhibited the spore germination and induced swollen and deformed local hyphae of A. solani with an IC50 value of 24.9 μg/mL. Compound 4 also had broad-spectrum antifungal activity and had a good antifungal effect on the tested plant-pathogenic fungi. The modes of action of new compound (4) still require further investigation, representing a novel and effective anti-fungal agent for future application.

Cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity of isolated compounds from Monsonia angustifolia and Dodonaea angustifolia

Ethnopharmacological relevanceMonsonia angustifolia is traditionally used to treat anthrax, heartburn, diarrhea, eye infections and hemorrhoids. Dodonaea angustifolia is frequently used as a treatment for dental pain, microbial infections and jungle fever. The two plant species were selected due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and polyphenolics from the crude extracts, which exhibit pharmacological significance. The pure isolated compounds from the crude extracts are known for their diverse structures and interesting pharmacophores. AimTo isolate and identify antibacterial and antifungal chemical constituents from Monsonia angustifolia and Dodonaea angustifolia plant extracts and evaluate the cytotoxicity of pure compounds from the crude extracts. Materials and methodsExtractives from M. angustifolia and D. angustifolia plants were isolated using chromatographic techniques and structures were elucidated based on NMR, IR and MS spectroscopic techniques. A microplate serial dilution method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of extracts and pure compounds against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. ResultsThe dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol crude extracts from the plants exhibited significant inhibition of microbial growth. The phytochemical investigation of these active crude extracts led to the isolation of five pure active compounds, 5-methoxyjusticidin A (1), cis-phytyl diterpenoidal fatty acid ester (2), stigmasterol (3), β-sitosterol (4) and 5-hydroxy-7,4′-dimethoxyflavone (5). Stigmasterol (3) showed good antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 25 μg/mL and Candida albicans (MIC = 50 μg/mL). ConclusionCompounds (1–5) isolated from Monsonia angustifolia and Dodonaea angustifolia showed antibacterial and antifungal activities and were non-toxic against Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and VERO monkey kidney (VERO) cells.

Different Crude Extracts of Cinnamomum tamala with Antioxidant and Antibacterial Capabilities

In this present study, crude extracts of young and mature leaves of Cinnamomum tamala were evaluated for their antioxidant and antibacterial capabilities. The cold percolation method was carried out with polar solvents methanol and ethanol. The antioxidant activities of all the extracts were assessed by DPPH assay and antibacterial properties were performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, and Klebsiella pneumoniae by agar well diffusion method. All extracts were able to scavenge free radicals in which strong antioxidant activity was found in methanolic extract of young leaves, and its IC50 value was estimated as (67.19±14.96 μg/mL) at a concentration range of 31.25-500 μg/mL while IC50 value of standard ascorbic acid was found to be 33.53±0.97 μg/mL at the concentration range of 10-50 μg/mL. The ethanolic extract of leaves (ZOI = 19 mm) showed strong antibacterial activity while standard neomycin showed (ZOI = 23 mm) against Escherichia coli at a concentration of 50 μg/mL. These results may provide scientific evidence of the traditional uses of C. tamala. Isolation and characterization of pure active compounds should be done in the future.

Pure Organic Active Compounds Against Abiotic Stress: A Biostimulant Overview.

Biostimulants (BSs) are probably one of the most promising alternatives nowadays to cope with yield losses caused by plant stress, which are intensified by climate change. Biostimulants comprise many different compounds with positive effects on plants, excluding pesticides and chemical fertilisers. Usually mixtures such as lixiviates from proteins or algal extracts have been used, but currently companies are interested in more specific compounds that are capable of increasing tolerance against abiotic stress. Individual application of a pure active compound offers researchers the opportunity to better standarise formulations, learn more about the plant defence process itself and assist the agrochemical industry in the development of new products. This review attempts to summarise the state of the art regarding various families of organic compounds and their mode/mechanism of action as BSs, and how they can help maximise agricultural yields under stress conditions aggravated by climate change.

Actividad antimicrobiana de wira wira y cerraja contra estafilococo, enterococo, pseudomonas y escherichia

Introducción: El uso de plantas con diversos fines etnomedicinales es una práctica ancestral y actualmente común en una vasta parte de la población de Bolivia.Objetivo general: Identificar si la wira wira y cerraja de nuestro medio poseen actividad antimicrobiana contra bacterias patógenas y determinar su toxicidad a través del bioensayo de pruebas biológicas.Materiales y Métodos: Estudio descriptivo; Universo, Wira Wira recolectada del Valle Alto de Cochabamba y Cerraja de Cercado; Muestra, se obtuvo de forma aleatoria un kilogramo de Wira Wira y Cerraja respectivamente; Métodos, se emplearon diferentes técnicas para la extracción de los principios activos, se realizaron pruebas biológicas para determinar la toxicidad de los mismos y se determinó la actividad antimicrobiana por el método de difusión en agar.Resultados: Wira wira demostró actividad antimicrobiana con 4 extractos; alcohólico de tallo, flor y alcohólico agotado de hojas frente a E. faecalis y S. aureus, y acuoso de hojas frente a P. aeruginosa y S. aureus. Por otro lado no se evidencio actividad antibacteriana de los extractos de cerraja.Conclusiones: Wira wira es candidata para estudios posteriores destinados a la identificación del o los compuestos activos puros con actividad antibacteriana, hecho respaldado por los resultados obtenidos en esta y otras investigaciones.Los extractos de cerraja, a diferencia de los resultados obtenidos de otros trabajos, no presentaron actividad antimicrobiana, demostrando la posibilidad y vinculación de la variación en los compuestos de la planta con el ecosistema en el que se desarrolla.

Antimicrobial activity of United Arab Emirates indigenous medicinal plants Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflora and Acacia tortilis

Background: Prosopis cineraria, Prosopis juliflora and Acacia tortilis are widely distributed plants in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). They have beneficial uses in the traditional medicine and animal fodder. The exploration of these plants is of potential value to UAE economy through their large-scale utilisation. The leaves of these plants were collected to study their main antimicrobial constituents. This study highlights the potential utilisation of these plants leaves as antimicrobial agents. Aims: The aim of this study is to explore the antimicrobial activity of the above three plants. Subjects and Methods: Dried leaves of above plants were extracted with aqueous ethanol. Extracts subjected to phytochemical screening and thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) separation to determine the compounds present. Antimicrobial activity tests were performed for the extracts and fractions obtained by preparative TLC. Results: Tannins constitute the major compounds in all three plant extracts. A TLC solvents system was developed for the separation of the phytochemical constituents in the three aqueous plant extracts. P. juliflora aqueous extract presented the highest activity against all tested microorganisms at a concentration of 5 mg dry leaf material/disc; inhibition zones exhibited by P. juliflora were as follows: ZoI (23 mm) against Escherichia coli, ZoI (18 mm) against Staphylococcus aureus and ZoI (12 mm) against Candida albicans. Isolated fraction 1 from P. juliflora aqueous extract, containing two major spots, exhibited intermediate activity followed by fraction 3, fraction 2 had no activity. Conclusions: P. juliflora leaves revealed the significant antimicrobial activity. It is potential for the treatments of infectious diseases. The developed TLC solvent system may further be applied on column chromatographic separation of pure active compounds from P. juliflora.

A study of photocatalytic degradation of methomyl and its commercial product Lannate-90

Photocatalytic degradation of the carbamate insecticide methomyl and its commercial product Lannate-90 in aqueous suspension of TiO2 and ZnO using an Osram ultra-vitalux' lamp (315-400 nm) was investigated. The objective of the investigation was to study and compare the rates of photochemical degradation of the pure active compound and its formulated product in order to find out the impact of inert ingredients on degradation processes. The photochemical degradation of pure methomyl was found to be slower than the degradation of its commercial product Lannate-90. Photodegradation was investigated by UV-Vis spectrometry and HPLC, while mineralization was monitored using IC and TOC analyses. Light absorption capabilities of catalysts were characterized by ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy method, while the stability of catalysts was studied by infrared analyses. Degradation products of methomyl and its formulated product were identified by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) results and tentative photodegradation pathways were proposed.

Ямаан арц (Juniperus sibirica Burgsd.)-ны мутагений үйлчлэлийг дарангуйлах идэвхийн судалгаа

This study evaluated the antimutagenic and cytotoxic effects of some plants growing in Mongolia and plants were selected on the basis of their traditional use in various diseases. Over the past years numbers of cancer incidences are increasing in Mongolia. There are accounted several reasons, in particular the use of less guaranteed imported food, heavy air pollution, environmental contamination and low life quality of the population. Therefore, we attempted to search antimutagenic activity among plants from the Mongolian flora and possibility of their use for preventing and treating cancer cases. The study might promote the way to fight with cancer, if we can find antimutagenic active compounds from natural crude drugs, including medicinal plants.We have examined the antimutagenic and cytotoxic effects of 20 samples, which prepared from different parts of 10 plants species. The antimutagenic and cytotoxic tests were performed as described by Ames. The bacteria used in the test are a strain of Salmonella typhimurium TA1537, and using 9-aminoacridine as direct mutagen.From the 20 plant extracts studied, extracts of Achnatherum splendens Trin. (aerial parts), Cynoglossum divaricatum Steph. (roots, stems), Juniperus sibirica Burgsd. (leaf, stem) strongly inhibited mutagenicity of 9-aminoacridine and their inhibition activity was 49.7%, 41.5%, 61.5%, 40% and 43% respectively. All plant extracts have not any cytotoxic effect on Salmonella typhimurium TA1537.From the high active plants Juniperus sibirica Burgsd. (aerial parts) which was selected for further detailed study 3 pure active compounds as JS-1, JS-2 and JS-3 were isolated. The compound JS-3 showed the high (55%) antimutagenic activity and its molecular structure was determined as cetyl alcohol or hexadecanol-1 according to its physical and chemical characteristics as well as 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectroscopy analysis.We have revealed that the availability of plants possessing antimutagenic activity among the Mongolian flora. Consequently, it is needed further detailed study of active plants, isolation and identification of active pure compounds, as well as possible application of the active plant products in the medicinal practice.

Brine shrimp toxicity of various polarities leaves and fruits crude fractions of Ziziphus jujuba native to Oman and their antimicrobial potency

Ziziphus jujuba(Z. jujube) is a herb used traditionally for the treatment of different aliment since ancient times, however, the scientific information on this plant is still insufficient. The pure active chemical compounds and crude extracts of Z. jujube can be used in food, formulated pharmaceutical products, natural antioxidant, antibiotics, anticancer agent and preservatives. Therefore, the objective of this work is to determine the cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of different polarity of crude fractions of locally grown Z. jujube by applying brine shrimp lethality and agar gel disc diffusion bioassay. The cytotoxic result reveals that all prepared crude fractions from the leaves and fruits were lethal to all shrimp larvae at a concentration of 1000μg/ml. Among the leaves crude fractions, butanol extract showed the highest cytotoxic activity with LC50 value of 8.69μg/ml, whereas the lowest activity was in chloroform crude extract with LC50 value of 45.12μg/ml. Similarly, in fruits, the highest activity was in ethyl acetate extract with an LC50 value of 11.62μg/ml and the lowest was in water extract with an LC50 value of 149.28μg/ml. The methanol and its corresponding fractions were displayed moderate antimicrobial activity against Gram (+ and −) bacteria at various concentrations with a zone of inhibition range of 0–17mm. Therefore, the active polar crude fraction of Z. jujuba or its pure component could be candidates for use as safe, effective and comparatively cheap antibiotics and anticancer agents.

IN VITRO EFFICACY OF EXTRACTS FROM PLANTS USED BY SMALL-HOLDER FARMERS IN THE TREATMENT OF DERMATOPHILOSIS IN CATTLE.

Background:Bovine dermatophilosis, an important skin disease of cattle caused by Dermatophilus congolensis, negatively impacts the livelihoods of small-holder farmers in Zimbabwe. This impact is through, morbidity, loss of draught animal power, costs incurred to manage the disease, losses associated with devalued damaged hides and the resultant culling of some of the affected cattle. Due to the inaccessibility of conventional drugs to manage bovine dermatophilosis, farmers have been reported to use local medicinal plants to manage the disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activities of three plants that small-holder farmers in Zimbabwe used to manage bovine dermatophilosis.Methods:Dried plant materials were ground into powder and extracted individually using, water, 80 % acetone and 80 % methanol. The antimicrobial properties of the plants were evaluated against two Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) reference bacterial strains. They were further evaluated against a field isolate of Dermatophilus congolensis. The assays used were the disc diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC).Results:Acetone and methanol extracts had superior inhibitory activities than did those of water. Pterocarpus angolensis DC extracts had better inhibitory properties with absolute MIC values of 0.156 – 5 mg/ml, Cissus Quadrangularis L had MIC values in the range 0.156 – 5 mg/ml while that of Catunaregam spinosa Thunb, Terveng was 0.156 – 10 mg/ml. Dermatophilus congolensis was more sensitive to Pterocarpus angolensis DC average MIC = 0.63 mg/ml than to Cissus quadrangularis L average MIC = 1.25 mg/ml and Catunaregam. spinosa Thunb, Terveng average MIC = 2.08 mg/ml.Conclusion:These results suggest the potential antibacterial activities of extracts of the three plants and hence farmers are, in a way, justified in using the plants. Better results (lower MIC) could be obtained by extracting and evaluating pure active compounds of the plants.

Nephroprotective and hepatoprotective effects of Tribulus terrestris L. growing in Saudi Arabia

Context: Tribulus terrestris (Zygophyllaceae) is a popular leafy prostrate branching herb used in folk medicine as a diuretic and urinary antiseptic. Aims: To evaluate the hepatoprotective and nephroprotective activities of the ethanolic plant extract and petroleum ether, dichloromethane and aqueous methanol fractions against CCl4 induced toxicity in adult Wistar rats. Methods: The total 95% ethanol extract at 200 and 400 mg/kg and petroleum ether, dichloromethane and aqueous methanol at 200 mg/kg was administered p.o. for seven days followed by one dose of CCl4 (1.25 mL/kg, p.o.) at day six. Serum and tissue parameters for both liver and kidney functions were measured. Histopathological study of both tissues was conducted. Results were compared with normal rats, negative controls receiving only CCl4 and positive controls treated with silymarin (10 mg/kg, p.o.). Results: Effect of the total 95% ethanol extract at 400 mg/kg on serum and tissue liver parameters were weak. However, protective effect on kidney was promising. The best effect was observed on the urea and creatinine levels. Both malondialdehyde and non-protein sulfhydryl groups in kidney tissues were improved to levels comparable with those obtained by silymarin. Conclusions: The current study confirmed the positive effect of the plant on the kidney tissues and function. The activity was trapped to the dichloromethane fraction that could provide pure active compounds.

English

Synthetic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are toxic and carcinogenic, thus they induce DNA damage. This calls for the need to find alternative antioxidants from natural products. Tagetes minuta (Asteraceae) is an annual herb that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It is used in common medicine and grows in temperate regions of South America, some parts of Africa and Asia. Essential oil from T. minuta was obtained by hydrodistillation while solvent extracts were obtained using ethyl acetate and methanol. Antioxidative compounds of T. minuta were isolated both from the Ethyl acetate extract and the essential oil. It was done by determining the scavenging activity using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhaydrazyl free radical (DPPH) using thin layer chromatography (TLC). The active compounds were tested quantitatively for their radical scavenging activity using the U-1100 UV-VIS Spectrophotometer. The active fractions were isolated using TLC and High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and later detected using both Gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). One pure active compound was obtained from the ethylacetate extract (neophytadene) by a combintion of GC-MS and NMR. The essential oil contained a number of compounds among which are trans-ocimen 15.90%, I-verbanone 15% of limonene 8.02%, tegetone 3.56%, and 2-pinen-4-one 7.84%.              Key words: Antioxidant activity, essential oil, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhaydrazyl free radical (DPPH), Tagetes minuta.

Encapsulation of resveratrol on lecithin and β-glucans to enhance its action against Botrytis cinerea

β-Glucans and soy lecithin were used as encapsulating materials for resveratrol and tebuconazole, in order to test their antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea. First an oil-in-water emulsion was formed and afterwards the emulsion was dried by spray-drying or by particles from gas saturated solutions-drying (PGSS-drying). β-Glucans were precipitated also by supercritical anti-solvent (SAS), but it was not a suitable drying process for this material. Particles were characterized regarding particle size, morphology, crystallinity, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro activity against B. cinerea. Although the emulsions with β-glucans had bigger droplet size than the ones with lecithin, there was no difference on particle size for each encapsulating material, it was just dependent on the drying process. For all the materials and drying processes, completely amorphous particles were obtained, in spite of the crystalline form of the pure active compounds. Concerning the antifungal activity, the encapsulation of tebuconazole did not improve its action, because it was already very effective. Pristine resveratrol did not reduce fungal growth, but it was inhibited between 50% and 70% with encapsulated resveratrol, which implies the production of an effective fungicide against B. cinerea totally from natural origin substances.

Analgesic principle from Curcuma amada

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe rhizome of Curcuma amada has been used as a folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatic disorders in the northern part of Bangladesh and has also used for the treatment of inflammation and fever in the Ayurvedic and Unani systems of medicine. Aim of the study was to investigate the analgesic principle of the MeOH extract of the rhizome of Curcuma amada by an in vivo bioassay guided chromatographic separation and purification, and the structure elucidation of the purified compound by spectroscopic methods. Materials and methodsDried powder of Curcuma amada rhizomes was extracted with MeOH. The analgesic activity of the crude extract and its chromatographic fractions as well as the purified compound itself was evaluated by the acetic acid induced writhing method and the formalin induced licking test in Swiss albino mice. The MeOH extract was separated by chromatographic methods and the pure active compound was purified by crystallization in hexanes. The structure of the pure compound was then elucidated by spectroscopic methods. ResultsThe MeOH extract of Curcuma amada exhibited 41.63% and 45.53% inhibitions in the acetic acid induced writhing method at doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, respectively. It also exerted 20.43% and 28.50% inhibitions in early phase at doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, respectively, and 30.41% and 42.95% inhibitions in late phase at doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg, respectively in the formalin induced licking test. Vacuum Liquid Chromatography (VLC) of crude extract yielded five fractions and Fr. 1 was found to have the most potent analgesic activity with inhibitions of 36.96% in the acetic acid induced writhing method and 47.51% (early phase), 39.50% (late phase) in the formalin induced licking test at a dose of 200mg/kg. Column chromatography of Fr. 1 on silica gel generated seven fractions (SF. 1–SF. 7). SF. 2 showed the most potent activity with inhibition of 49.81% in the acetic acid induced writhing method at a dose of 100mg/kg. Crystallization of SF. 2 yielded (1) (zederone, 520mg). It showed statistically significant inhibitions of 38.91% and 52.14% in the acetic acid induced writhing method at doses of 20mg/kg and 40mg/kg, respectively. Moreover, it also showed statistically significant inhibitions of 27.79% and 29.93% (early phase) and of 38.24% and 46.08% (late phase) in the formalin induced licking test at doses of 20mg/kg and 40mg/kg, respectively. ConclusionIsolation and characterization of zederone (1) as analgesic principle of Curcuma amada corroborate its use in Ayurvedic, Unani and folk medicines for the treatment of rheumatic disorders and also contributing to its pharmacological validation.