Chemical composition and anticancer activity of the essential oil from Vicia ochroleuca Ten., quite rare plant in Kabylia (Algeria).

The search for new bioactive substances with anticancer activity and the understanding of their mechanisms of action are high priorities in the research effort toward more effective cancer treatments. In this article, we analyzed, for the first time, the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) hydrodistilled from the aerial parts of Vicia ochroleuca Ten. (Leguminosae) by GC-MS. A total of sixteen compounds representing 82.2% of the total composition were identified. The major compounds were phytone (20.11%), hexadecanoic acid (10.23%), 1-octen-3-ol (9.84%), and 10-epi-α-cadinol (7.13%). Additionally, using the MTT (3-[4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) method, the EO was tested in vitro against a panel of human cancer cells, including breast (MDA-MB 231), colon (HCT116), melanoma (A375), and glioblastoma (T98G), with corresponding IC50 values of 23.07, 47.05, 51.64, and 64.07 µg/mL, respectively. The results demonstrate cytotoxic activity and suggest that V. ochroleuca EO could be regarded as a natural bioactive source.

Metabolite Profiling, Antioxidant and Key Enzymes Linked to Hyperglycemia Inhibitory Activities of Satureja hispidula: An Underexplored Species from Algeria.

In the present study, two extracts from the aerial parts of the endemic species Satureja hispidula were analyzed for the first time by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector and an electrospray mass spectrometer (UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) method in order to identify and quantify their phenolic compounds. These extracts' antioxidant, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitory activities were also evaluated. UHPLC-DAD-ESI/MS allowed the identification of 28 and 20 compounds in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively; among them, 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid was the most abundant in both extracts. The biological assay results indicate that the species S. hispidula, besides its high antioxidant power, is also potentially useful for inhibiting the α-glucosidase enzyme. In both antioxidant and α-glucosidase inhibitory assays, the aqueous extract exhibited the most promising results, significantly better than the standards used as positive controls.

LC/MS-MS Analyses and in vitro anticancer activity of Tourneuxia variifolia extracts.

Several Saharan plants, despite their abundance of natural compounds, have received little attention. In this study, the chemical composition of polar extracts of Tourneuxia variifolia Coss. (Asteraceae), an endemic species to Algerian Sahara, was investigated and their anticancer activity was evaluated in vitro. The phytoconstituents of both ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and n-butanol (n-BuOH) extracts were screened using LC/MS-MS technique. The anticancer activity of the above extracts was measured against human cervical adenocarcinoma (HeLa) cell line. The LC/MS-MS analyses results revealed that twenty-seven phytochemicals in EtOAc extract and twenty-three in n-BuOH extract were identified and quantified from which isoquercetin and astragalin were the most present. Moreover; the EtOAc extract was found to have a strong anticancer activity (IC50: 46.797 ± 0.060 µg/mL). These findings identified T. variifolia as a potential plant exhibiting anticancer properties.

Heliotropium bacciferum Forssk. (Boraginaceae) extracts: chemical constituents, antioxidant activity and cytotoxic effect in human cancer cell lines.

Heliotropium bacciferum (Boraginaceae) is a perennial herb, growing in the Bechar region of Algeria, where it is traditionally used for skin diseases and tonsillitis. Herein, we report the isolation and characterization of sixteen secondary metabolites from the aerial part extracts. They include a sterol (1), megastigman type nor-isoprenoids (2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10), C-11 terpene lactones (5 and 9), and a monoterpene (7) from the chloroform extract (HB-C); monoterpene glucoside (14), and phenolic compounds (11-13, 15, 16) from the methanol one (HB-M). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including 1D and 2D NMR experiments, and ESIMS analysis. HB-M showed a significant and concentration dependent scavenging activity in vitro against the radicals DPPH and ABTS, related to the phenol derivatives (11-13, and 15-16), and HB-C inhibited the growth of colon cancer cell lines, mainly for the presence of the antiproliferative C-11 terpene lactones (5 and 9).

Centaurea microcarpa Coss. & Dur. (Asteraceae) extracts: New cyanogenic glucoside and other constituents.

The phytochemical investigation of both chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts of Centaurea microcarpa Coss. & Dur. led to the isolation of a new cyanogenic glucoside 6'-methacrylate prunasin (3) together with seven known compounds: hydroxy-11ß,13-dihydro onopordaldehyde (1), ß-sitosterol (2), daucosterol (4), nepetin (5), prunasin (6), astragalin (7) and 7-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl centaureidin (8). Their structures were established by spectral analysis, mainly UV, IR, ESI-MS, 1D & 2D-NMR experiments (COSY, HSQC, HMBC and ROESY).

Phenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Centaurea choulettiana Pomel (Asteraceae) Extracts.

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to quantify phenolic compounds in ethyl acetate and n-butanol extract of Centaurea choulettiana Pomel (Asteraceae) leaves and flowers; compare the antioxidant activity of their extracts, identification and quantification of their phenolic acids. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Both organs extracts of Centaurea choulettiana Pomel were investigated and evaluated for their potential antioxidant properties using total phenolics and flavonoids content, DPPH radical scavenging and lipid peroxidation inhibition assays. HPLC-TOF/MS analyses were carried out to identify and quantify some phenolic acids. RESULTS: The amounts of phenolic and flavonoid content were higher in ethyl acetate extract of leaves (325.81 ± 0.038 mgGAE and 263.73 ± 0.004 mgQE /g of extract) respectively. Besides, this extract exhibited the most powerful effect on the DPPH radical scavenging activity with (96.54%), on lipid peroxydation inhibition (64.17%). Ethyl acetate extract of leaves and flowers were found to contain almost the same phenolic compounds, with the leaves having the highest values. Chlorogenic acid was detected in the n-butanol extract of flowers with the highest concentration 17.78 mg/kg plant. CONCLUSION: The ethyl acetate extract of leaves of Centaurea choulettiana possesses strong antioxidative properties in vitro. They are confirmed by high polyphenols and flavonoids content. The HPLC-TOF/MS analysis reveals the presence of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillic acid, p-Coumaric acid, ferulic acid, salicylic acid and protocatechuic acid.

Chemical constituents and in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Cistanche violacea Desf. (Orobanchaceae) extract.

A new iridoid (1) and a new phenylethanoid glycoside (4), together with five known compounds (2, 3, 5, 6 and 7), were isolated for the first time from the ethyl acetate soluble part of the hydroalcoholic extract of the aerial parts of Cistanche violacea Desf. (Orobanchaceae), an endemic species of the North of the Sahara. The structures of these compounds have been elucidated on the basis of extensive 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis, including COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, HSQC, CIGAR-HMBC, H2BC and HSQC-TOCSY. All compounds were isolated from C. violacea for the first time. The anti-inflammatory activity of the EtOAc extract of C. violacea, was investigated by using human red blood cell (HRBC) membrane stabilization and inhibition of the albumin denaturation method. This study demonstrates, for the first time the effectiveness of C. violacea in combating inflammation, this might be believed to be influenced by the synergistic action of the above isolated compounds. The present study suggests that C. violacea would serve as a source for the discovery of novel anti-inflammatory agents.