Evaluating anticancer activity of emodin by enhancing antioxidant activities and affecting PKC/ADAMTS4 pathway in thioacetamide-induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats.

Emodin is a naturally occurring anthraquinone derivative with a wide range of pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory activities. We aim to assess the anticancer activity of emodin against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in rat models using the proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis biomarkers. After induction of HCC, assessment of the liver impairment and the histopathology of liver sections were investigated. Hepatic expression of both mRNA and protein of the oxidative stress biomarkers, HO-1, Nrf2; the mitogenic activation biomarkers, ERK5, PKCδ; the tissue destruction biomarker, ADAMTS4; the tissue homeostasis biomarker, aggregan; the cellular fibrinolytic biomarker, MMP3; and of the cellular angiogenesis biomarker, VEGF were measured. Emodin increased the survival percentage and reduced the number of hepatic nodules compared to the HCC group. Besides, emodin reduced the elevated expression of both mRNA and proteins of all PKC, ERK5, ADAMTS4, MMP3, and VEGF compared with the HCC group. On the other hand, emodin increased the expression of mRNA and proteins of Nrf2, HO-1, and aggrecan compared with the HCC group. Therefore, emodin is a promising anticancer agent against HCC preventing the cancer prognosis and infiltration. It works through many mechanisms of action, such as blocking oxidative stress, proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis.

Peganum harmala L. extract-based Gold (Au) and Silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs): Green synthesis, characterization, and assessment of antibacterial and antifungal properties.

During the last decade, nanotechnology has attained a significant place among the scientific community for the biosynthesis of plant-based nanoparticles owing to its effective, safe, and eco-friendly nature. Hence, keeping in view the significance of nanotechnology, the current study was conducted to develop, characterize (UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy), and assess the antimicrobial (antibacterial and antifungal) properties of Peganum harmala L. Extract-based Gold (Au) and Silver (Ag) nanoparticles (NPs). Characteristic absorption peaks at 420 and 540 nm revealed the formation of AgNPs and AuNPs, respectively. SEM images revealed that both silver and gold nanoparticles were oval and spherical with average size ranging from 42 to 72 and 12.6 to 35.7 nm, respectively. Similarly, FT-IR spectra revealed that the functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and polyphenolic groups of biomolecules present in the extract are possibly responsible for reducing metallic ions and the formation of nanoparticles. Likewise, the EDX analysis confirmed the presence of silver and gold in synthesized NPs. Furthermore, the AgNPs and AuNPs showed good antibacterial and antifungal activities. The maximum antibacterial and antifungal activity was noticed for P. harmala extract against Pseudomonas aeroginosa (21 mm) and Candida albicon (18 mm), respectively. Whereas, the maximum antibacterial and antifungal activities of synthesized AgNPs were observed against Salmonella typhi (25 mm) and Penicillium notatum (36 mm), respectively. Moreover, in the case of AuNPs, the highest antibacterial and antifungal activity of synthesized AuNPs was noticed against Escherichia coli (25 mm) and C. albicon (31 mm), respectively. Findings of this study revealed that P. harmala extract and biosynthesized NPs (silver and gold) possessed significant antibacterial and antifungal properties against different bacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, P. aeroginosa, and S. typhi) and fungal (C. albicans, Aspergillus Niger, and P. notatum) strains. Further studies must be carried out to assess the probable mechanism of action associated with these antimicrobial properties.

Green synthesis of silver and gold nanoparticles in Callistemon viminalis extracts and their antimicrobial activities.

In the current study, the bottlebrush [Callistemon viminalis (Sol. ex Gaertn.) G. Don] plant was selected for the green synthesis of silver (Ag) and gold (Au) nanoparticles and to evaluate its antibacterial and antifungal activities. Phytochemical screening of C. viminalis confirmed the presence of alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, tannins, betacyanins, phlobatanins, coumarins, terpenoids, steroids, glycosides, and proteins. To characterize the synthesized Ag and Au NPs, UV-Visible spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy for functional group identification, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) for particle size, and elemental analysis were performed using EDX. The UV-Visible absorption spectra of the green-synthesized Ag and Au nanoparticles were found to have a maximum absorption band at 420 nm for Ag NPs and 525 nm for Au NPs. FE-SEM analysis of the synthesized NPs revealed a circular shape with a size of 100 nm. Elemental analysis was performed for the synthesis of Ag and Au NPs, which confirmed the purity of the nanoparticles. The greenly synthesized Ag and Au NPs were also evaluated for their anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities, which exhibited prominent inhibition activities against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, C. krusei, Aspergillus sp., and Trichoderma species. The highest zone of inhibition 15.5 ± 0.75 and 15 ± 0.85 mm was observed for Ag NPs against E. coli and P. aeruginosa. Similarly, Trichoderma sp. and Aspergillus sp. were inhibited by Ag NPs up to 13.5 ± 0.95 and 13 ± 0.70 mm. This work will open doors for the development of new antimicrobial agents using green chemistry.

Discovery of new α-glucosides, antiglycation agent, and in silico study of 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one isolated from Pistacia chinensis.

Pistacia chinensis is locally practiced for treating diabetes, pain, inflammation, and erectile dysfunction. Therefore, the current studies subjected the crude extract/fractions and the isolated compound (2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-7,8-dihydroxy-3-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one) to α-glucosidase inhibitor and anti-glycation activities. The development of long-term complications associated with diabetes is primarily caused by chronic hyperglycemia. Regarding α-glucosidase, the most significant inhibitory effect was observed with compound 1 (93.09%), followed by the methanolic extract (80.87%) with IC50 values of 45.86 and 86.32 µM. The maximum anti-glycation potential was shown by an isolated compound 1 followed by methanolic extract with effect inhibition of 90.12 and 72.09, respectively. Compound 1 is expected to have the highest gastrointestinal absorption rate, with a predicted absorption rate of 86.156%. This indicates oral suitability. The compound 1 is expected to have no harmful effects on the liver. In addition, our docking results suggest that alpha-glucosidase and isolated compounds showed strong interaction with ILE821, GLN900, and ALA901 residues, along with a -11.95 docking score.

Density functional theory (DFT), molecular docking, and xanthine oxidase inhibitory studies of dinaphthodiospyrol S from Diospyros kaki L.

In this work, we investigated Diospyros kaki extract and an isolated compound for their potential as xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitors, a target enzyme involved in inflammatory disorders. The prepared extract was subjected to column chromatography, and dinaphthodiospyrol S was isolated. Then XO inhibitory properties were assessed using a spectrophotometry microplate reader. DMSO was taken as a negative control, and allopurinol was used as a standard drug. The molecular docking study of the isolated compound to the XO active site was performed, followed by visualization and protein-ligand interaction. The defatted chloroform extract showed the highest inhibitory effect, followed by the chloroform extract and the isolated compound. The isolated compound exhibited significant inhibitory activity against XO with an IC50 value of 1.09 µM. Molecular docking studies showed that the compound strongly interacts with XO, forming hydrogen bond interactions with Arg149 and Cys113 and H-pi interactions with Cys116 and Leu147. The binding score of -7.678 kcal/mol further supported the potential of the isolated compound as an XO inhibitor. The quantum chemical procedures were used to study the electronic behavior of dinaphthodiospyrol S isolated from D. kaki. Frontier molecular orbital (FMO) analysis was performed to understand the distribution of electronic density, highest occupied molecular orbital HOMO, lowest unoccupied molecular orbital LUMO, and energy gaps. The values of HOMO, LUMO, and energy gap were found to be -6.39, -3.51 and 2.88 eV respectively. The FMO results indicated the intramolecular charge transfer. Moreover, reactivity descriptors were also determined to confirm the stability of the compound. The molecular electrostatic potential (MEP) investigation was done to analyze the electrophilic and nucleophilic sites within a molecule. The oxygen atoms in the compound exhibited negative potential, indicating that they are favorable sites for electrophilic attacks. The results indicate its potential as a therapeutic agent for related disorders. Further studies are needed to investigate this compound's in vivo efficacy and safety as a potential drug candidate.

Sustainable Pest Management Using Novel Nanoemulsions of Honeysuckle and Patchouli Essential Oils against the West Nile Virus Vector, Culex pipiens, under Laboratory and Field Conditions.

Essential oils are natural plant products that are very interesting, as they are important sources of biologically active compounds. They comprise eco-friendly alternatives to mosquito vector management, particularly essential oil nanoemulsion. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of 16 selected essential oils (1500 ppm) in controlling mosquitoes by investigating their larvicidal effects against the larvae and adults of the West Nile virus vector Culex pipiens L. (Diptera: Culicidae); the best oils were turned into nanoemulsions and evaluated under laboratory and field conditions. The results show that honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium) and patchouli (Pogostemon cablin) essential oils were more effective in killing larvae than the other oils (100% mortality) at 24 h post-treatment. The nanoemulsions of honeysuckle (LC50 = 88.30 ppm) and patchouli (LC50 = 93.05 ppm) showed significantly higher larvicidal activity compared with bulk honeysuckle (LC50 = 247.72 ppm) and patchouli (LC50 = 276.29 ppm) oils. L. caprifolium and P. cablin (100% mortality), followed by Narcissus tazetta (97.78%), Rosmarinus officinalis (95.56%), and Lavandula angustifolia (95.55%), were highly effective oils in killing female mosquitoes, and their relative efficacy at LT50 was 5.5, 5.3, 5.8, 4.1, and 3.2 times greater, respectively, than Aloe vera. The results of the field study show that the honeysuckle and patchouli oils and their nanoemulsions reduced densities to 89.4, 86.5, 98.6, and 97.0% at 24 h post-treatment, respectively, with persistence for eight days post-treatment in pools. Nano-honeysuckle (100% mortality) was more effective than honeysuckle oils (98.0%). Our results show that honeysuckle and patchouli oils exhibited promising larvicidal and adulticidal activity of C. pipiens.

Avocado Seeds-Mediated Alleviation of Cyclosporine A-Induced Hepatotoxicity Involves the Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Proapoptotic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Previous studies reported disrupted hepatic function and structure following the administration of cyclosporine A (CsA) in humans and animals. Recently, we found that avocado seeds (AvS) ameliorated CsA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. As a continuation, herein we checked whether AvS could also attenuate CsA-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Subcutaneous injection of CsA (5 mg/kg) for 7 days triggered hepatotoxicity in rats, as indicated by liver dysfunction, redox imbalance, and histopathological changes. Oral administration of 5% AvS powder for 4 weeks ameliorated CsA-induced hepatotoxicity, as evidenced by (1) decreased levels of liver damage parameters (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and bilirubin), (2) resumed redox balance in the liver (reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and increased superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)), (3) downregulated hepatic expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related genes (X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), binding immunoglobulin protein (BIP), C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP)), and apoptosis-related genes (Bax and Casp3), (4) upregulated expression of the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl2, (5) reduced DNA damage, and (6) improved liver histology. These results highlight the ability of AvS to ameliorate CsA-induced hepatotoxicity via the inhibition of oxidative stress and proapoptotic ER stress.

Ecotoxicity assessment for environmental risk and consideration for assessing the impact of silver nanoparticles on soil earthworms.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are found in a range of commercial products due to their proven antibacterial properties. The unused silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) may make its way into the soil via biosolids that come from wastewater treatment or the effluent that comes from industrialisation processes, where it could be harmful to the organism that live in terrestrial ecosystems. In addition, silver ions are one of the most toxic forms of heavy metal released from dissolved silver nitrate (AgNO3) and AgNPs through dissolution or oxidation. The study examined the effect of engineered AgNPs, and AgNO3 on earthworms which are one of the most important bioindicator for determining toxicity in soil environment. Epigeic earthworm, Eudrilus eugeniae was exposed to soils spiked with equivalent concentrations of AgNPs or AgNO3 at 0, 10, 100, and 200 mg kg-1 in soil for 56 days of experiments. The survival and growth rate was recorded at 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th days and accumulation of Ag in earthworm tissue at 14th and 28th days, antioxidant enzymes at 28th days and reproduction at 56th days of experiment. Further, a short-term exposure of AgNPs and AgNO3 was conducted to observe avoidance behaviour after 48 h of exposure. The result indicated that survivability was relatively low on exposure of AgNO3 (83.3%) than AgNPs (86.7%) in 200 mg kg-1 spiked soils, besides the growth was inhibited in both AgNPs (3.68%) and AgNO3 (3.25%) at 28th days. The uptake of Ag from AgNO3 in the earthworm tissue was slightly higher than uptake of Ag from AgNPs and it showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effects on reproduction. In AgNO3 spiked soil, a high level of the Malondialdehyde (MDA) based lipid peroxidation and increased activity of antioxidant enzyme catalase (CAT) was observed than AgNPs spiked soil. Similarly, glutathione (GSH), a cofactor for GPx and GST enzymes, was lower in AgNO3-spiked soil than in AgNPs-spiked soil. In terms of avoidance behaviour, there was no discernible difference between the distribution of earthworms in AgNPs and AgNO3 after 48 h. The study found E. eugeniae exhibits concentration-dependent alterations in its competence to survive, antioxidant enzymes, and reproduction. AgNO3 was found to be more sensitive than AgNPs in the study. The research investigates the effect of AgNPs on earthworms in the soil ecosystem since this understanding is crucial for a comprehensive evaluation of AgNPs' environmental consequences.

Xanthones: A Class of Heterocyclic Compounds with Anticancer Potential.

Xanthones (9H xanthen-9-one) are an important class of heterocyclic compounds containing oxygen and a moiety of gamma-pirone, dense with a two-benzene ring structure, distributed widely in nature. Naturally occurring xanthones are found in micro-organisms and higher plants as secondary metabolites in fungi and lichens. Compounds of the family Caryophyllaceae, Guttiferae and Gentianaceae, are the most common natural source of xanthones. The structure of the xanthones nucleus, coupled with its biogenetic source, imposes that the carbons are numbered according to the biosynthetic pact. The characteristics oxygenation pattern of xanthones earlier is mixed shikimateacetate biogenesis. The major class of xanthones includes simple oxygenated, non-oxygenated, xanthonolignoids, bisxanthones, prenylated and related xanthones, miscellaneous xanthones. Their great pharmacological importance and interesting scaffolds were highly encouraged by scientists to investigate either the synthesis design or natural products for cancer treatment. Because currently used antitumor drugs possess high toxicity and low selectivity, efficacious treatment may be compromised. This review is limited to the antitumor activity of xanthones and the chemistry of xanthone core, which may help provide fundamental knowledge to the medicinal chemist for new and advanced research in drug development.

In Vitro α-Glycosidase Inhibition and In Silico Studies of Flavonoids Isolated from Pistacia integerrima Stew ex Brandis.

The galls of Pistacia integerrima are used in folk medicine for curing diabetes. The main aim of this study was the purification of flavonoids from galls of P. integerrima. The methanolic extract was subjected to column chromatographic analysis which afforded six flavonoids, namely, 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxy-flavanone (1), naringenin (2), 3,5,4'-trihydroxy,7-methoxy-flavanone (3), sakuranetin (4), spinacetin (5), and patuletin (6). These isolated compounds (1-6) were tested against α-glycosidase. The maximum antagonistic effect was noted against compound 6 (97.65%) followed by compound 5 (90.42%) and compound 1 (90.01%) at the same concentration (0.2 µg). The inhibitory potential of all tested compounds was significant with a degree of variation from each other. Docking studies showed that all studied compounds interact with the active site residues via hydrogen bond interactions with hydroxyl groups, and thus, inhibition was enhanced. Hence, this finding would be the first screening of isolated flavonoids for α-glycosidase activity and with the mechanism of action. These flavonoids should be further investigated as candidate drugs for combating diabetes mellitus.

Nanoparticles in clinical trials of COVID-19: An update.

Once the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 (Coronavirus Infectious Disease-19) outbreak to be pandemic, massive efforts have been launched by researchers around the globe to combat this emerging infectious disease. Strategies that must be investigated such as expanding testing capabilities, developing effective medicines, as well as developing safe and effective vaccines for COVID-19 disease that produce long-lasting immunity to human system. Now-a-days, bio-sensing, medication delivery, imaging, and antimicrobial treatment are just a few of the medical applications for nanoparticles (NPs). Since the early 1990s, nanoparticle drug delivery methods have been employed in clinical trials. Since then, the discipline of nanomedicine has evolved in tandem with expanding technological demands to better medicinal delivery. Newer generations of NPs have emerged in recent decades that are capable of performing additional delivery tasks, allowing for therapy via novel therapeutic modalities. Many of these next generation NPs and associated products have entered clinical trials and have been approved for diverse indications in the present clinical environment. For systemic applications, NPs or nanomedicine-based drug delivery systems have substantial benefits over their non-formulated and free drug counterparts. Nanoparticle systems, for example, are capable of delivering medicines and treating parts of the body that are inaccessible to existing delivery systems. As a result, NPs medication delivery is one of the most studied preclinical and clinical systems. NPs-based vaccines delivering SARS-CoV-2 antigens will play an increasingly important role in prolonging or improving COVID-19 vaccination outcomes. This review provides insights about employing NPs-based drug delivery systems for the treatment of COVID-19 to increase the bioavailability of current drugs, reducing their toxicity, and to increase their efficiency. This article also exhibits their capability and efficacy, and highlighting the future aspects and challenges on nanoparticle products in clinical trials of COVID-19.

Phytochemicals, Nutrition, Metabolism, Bioavailability, and Health Benefits in Lettuce-A Comprehensive Review.

Lettuce is one of the most famous leafy vegetables worldwide with lots of applications from food to other specific uses. There are different types in the lettuce group for consumers to choose from. Additionally, lettuce is an excellent source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, carotenoids, and chlorophyll with related health benefits. At the same time, nutrient composition and antioxidant compounds are different between lettuce varieties, especially for green and red lettuce types. The benefit of lettuce consumption depends on its composition, particularly antioxidants, which can function as nutrients. The health benefits rely on their biochemical effect when reaching the bloodstream. Some components can be released from the food matrix and altered in the digestive system. Indeed, the bioaccessibility of lettuce is measuring the quantity of these compounds released from the food matrix during digestion, which is important for health-promoting features. Extraction of bioactive compounds is one of the new trends observed in lettuce and is necessarily used for several application fields. Therefore, this review aims to demonstrate the nutritional value of lettuce and its pharmacological properties. Due to their bioaccessibility and bioavailability, the consumer will be able to comprehensively understand choosing a healthier lettuce diet. The common utilization pattern of lettuce extracted nutrients will also be summarized for further direction.

In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory, Analgesic, Muscle Relaxant, and Sedative Activities of Extracts from Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels in Mice.

In the current study, the folklore medicine, Syzygium cumini, was experimentally evaluated for anti-inflammatory, analgesic, sedative, and muscle relaxant effects. The extract and fractions of S. cumini were found safe up to 1000 mg/kg with no mortality, except for slight sedation as a minor side effect. Both, the extract and various fractions of S. cumini demonstrated significant inhibition (86.34%) of carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice. Acetic acid induced writhes were attenuated (p < 0.001) by S. cumini in a dose-dependent manner, except for the n-hexane fraction. The maximum effect was observed at a dose of 500 mg/kg in mice. The maximum muscle relaxant effect of all tested samples was recorded at a dose of 500 mg/kg bodyweight, where the percent inhibition exhibited by dichloromethane fraction was 82.34%, followed by chloroform fractions (71.43%) and methanolic extract (70.91%). Our findings validate the folklore medicinal claims of S. cumini, as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent.

In vitro and in silico studies on clinically important enzymes inhibitory activities of flavonoids isolated from Euphorbia pulcherrima.

Introduction: The genus Euphorbia is known to contain diterpenoids, and several isolated compounds which exhibited biological activities including significant multidrug resistance reversal effects. This work is focused on the isolation, in vitro and in silico studies of two natural bio-active flavonoids (1 & 2) isolated from Euphorbia pulcherrima bark for the very first time.Methods: The phytochemical investigation resulted in the identification of two flavonoids: 3,5,7-trihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-6-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (1) and 2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-3,5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one (2), which were isolated for the first time from Euphorbia pulcherrima.Results: The chemical structures of the two isolated compounds were confirmed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and ESI-HRMS spectral data. The Bioactivity activity of these compounds was evaluated; results revealed that compounds 1 & 2 exhibit promising urease inhibitory potential with IC50 values of 15.3 ± 2.13 µM and 19.0 ± 2.43 µM, respectively, whereas the positive control thiourea had an IC50 of 21.0 ± 0.23 µM. Similarly, these compounds were also evaluated against the tyrosinase enzyme; results showed that compound 1 displays significant inhibitory activity with an IC50 value of 48.7 ± 2.19 µM, whereas compound 2 exhibited a moderate effect with an IC50 value of 74.8 ± 1.79 µM, when compared with the standard (alpha-kojic acid, IC50 = 47.6 ± 0.67 µM). Additionally, compounds 1 and 2 also exhibited anti-glycation and phosphodiesterase inhibitory activities.Conclusion: Studies dealing with the drug like properties such as in silico screening (docking study) was also carried out to discover the structural features of both compounds 1 and 2. Results indicated that the docking scores of compounds 1 and 2 are in agreement with their IC50 values. Key messagesIsolation and characterization of two bioactive flavonoids (1 and 2) from Euphorbia pulcherrima.In silico and in vitro enzyme inhibition studies were conducted to identify the therapeutic potential of flavonoids 1 and 2.Drug-like properties were calculated to discover important pharmacophoric features.

Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Activity of a New Ferruginan A from Olea ferruginea: In Vitro and In Silico Studies.

Studies of the ethyl acetate extract bark extract of Olea ferruginea led to the isolation of one new compound Ferruginan A (1) in addition to two known compounds, Ferruginan (2) and cycloolivil (3). Structures of the isolated compounds were confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS) and NMR spectral data. The ethyl acetate fraction and compounds (1-3) were evaluated against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) and as antioxidants using the free radical scavenging assay. Results revealed that compound 2 exhibits significant antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 21.74 µg/mL. In addition, the ethyl acetate fraction showed good cytotoxic activity (79.31% inhibition at 250 µg/mL), whereas compounds 1-3 exerted mild cytotoxic activity (IC50 = 8.03-12.01 µg/mL) as compared to the standard (IC50 = 4.41 µg/mL) against MCF-7. Docking studies suggested that antioxidant activity is due to the chelation of compounds with copper present in the active site of tyrosinase. These results suggest that the extract exhibits considerable antioxidant activity, and the isolated compounds exert moderate anticancer activity.

Hepatoprotective Screening of Seriphidium kurramense (Qazilb.) Y.R. Ling.

Investigation on medicinal plants' therapeutic potential has gained substantial importance in the discovery of novel effective and safe therapeutic agents. The present study is aimed at investigating the hepatoprotective potential of Seriphidium kurramense methanolic extract (SKM) against carbon tetrachloride- (CCl4-) induced hepatotoxicity in rats. S. kurramense is one of the most imperative plants for its various pharmacological activities. Therefore, this study was aimed at evaluating the hepatoprotective potential against CCl4-induced liver toxicity. The serum samples were analyzed for alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) together with the oxidative stress mediator levels as nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), reduced glutathione (GSH), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) as well as peroxidation and H2O2 activity. CCl4 administration resulted in an elevated free radical generation, altered liver marker (AST and ALT) enzymes, reduced antioxidant enzyme, and increased DNA damage. Methanolic extract of S. kurramense decreased CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity by increasing the antioxidant status and reducing H2O2 and nitrate content generation as well as reducing DNA damage. Additionally, SKM reversed the morphological alterations induced by CCl4 in the SKM-treated groups. These results demonstrated that SKM displayed hepatoprotective activity against CCl4-induced hepatic damage in experimental rats.

Antidiabetic Activity of Ficusonolide, a Triterpene Lactone from Ficus foveolata (Wall. ex Miq.): In Vitro, In Vivo, and In Silico Approaches.

Diabetes is a chronic condition which is locally managed through the stem of Ficus foveolata. To find the exact chemical constituent responsible for this activity, a triterpene lactone (ficusonolide) isolated from F. foveolata was studied for antidiabetic potential through the in vitro antidiabetic paradigm employing L-6 cells and an in vivo antidiabetic assay against non-insulin-dependent rats. The results on glucose uptake in the L-6 cell line indicated that ficusonolide has enhanced the uptake of glucose by 53.27% over control at a dose of 100 µg/mL, while at doses of 50 and 25 µg/mL, the glucose uptake was enhanced by 22.42 and 14.34%, respectively. The extract of F. foveolata (100 mg/kg) and ficusonolide (50 mg/kg) demonstrated a significant (p < 0.001) decline in streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemia of diabetic rats. Ficusonolide displayed conspicuous inhibitory activity against the molecular docking studies with proteins such as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV), protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP-1B), α-glucosidase, and α-amylase subjected to molecular targets. Detailed computational and structural insights affirmed promising interactions between target proteins and ficusonolide. In conclusion, the plant and its isolated compound have significant antidiabetic activity with a possible mechanism of interaction with DPP-IV, PTP-1B, α-glucosidase, and α-amylase.

Screening of Polyphenols in Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and Determination of Their Antioxidant Activity in Different Tobacco Varieties.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) is an herbaceous plant originating from South America and processed into cigarettes for consumption. Polyphenols are considered vital components of tobacco in view of their contribution to antioxidant properties. This study aimed to determine the phenolic compounds in different tobacco varieties by applying cold extraction with methanol and distilled water. The extracts were screened for phenolic compound diversity and distribution as well as their antioxidant potential in different tobacco varieties. The results showed that the methanolic extract of tobacco SP-28 exhibited the highest value in the total phenolic content (24.82 ± 0.07 mg GAE/gd.w.) and total flavonoid content (4.42 ± 0.01 mg QE/gd.w.), while the water extract of tobacco SN-2 exhibited the highest value in the total condensed tannin (1.12 ± 0.03 mg CE/gd.w.). The radical scavenging capacities of tobacco SP-28 were relatively high in DPPH (18.20 ± 0.01 mg AAE/gd.w.) and FRAP (3.02 ± 0.10 mg AAE/gd.w.), whereas the ABTS value was the highest in tobacco SN-2 (37.25 ± 0.03 mg AAE/gd.w.), and the total antioxidant capacity was the highest in tobacco SN-1 (7.43 ± 0.18 mg AAE/gd.w.). LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS identified a total of 49 phenolic compounds, including phenolic acids (14), flavonoids (30), and other polyphenols (5) in four different tobacco varieties. Tobacco SP-28 showed the highest number of phenolic compounds, especially enriched in flavones. Our study highlights the antioxidant potential of tobacco extracts and reveals the phenolic distribution among different tobacco varieties that could support tobacco utilization in different pharmaceutical industries.

Effect of Ducrosia flabellifolia and Savignya parviflora Extracts on Inhibition of Human Colon and Prostate Cancer Cell Lines.

The goal of this study was to investigate whether Ducrosia flabellifolia and Savignya parviflora methanol extract the have effect on colon and prostate cancer cell lines. Analysis of total content of phenolics and flavonoids of each plant extract was carried out. Cytotoxic effect, cell cycle analysis, induction of apoptosis and gene expression of Bcl-2 and Bax genes were studied. Obtained results indicated that, the plant extracts exhibit growth inhibition of used cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis as well as arresting of cell cycle. At the molecular level, changes in gene expression were detected via qPCR and confirmed by western blotting. The exhibited anticancer potentialities of plant extracts against utilized cancer cell lines are due to its containing bioactive compounds. Further detailed isolation, fractionation and characterization of bioactive compounds are needed.

Phytochemistry and Pharmacological Activities of Dracaena cinnabari Resin.

Dracaena cinnabari (D. cinnabari) is an endemic plant located in Socotra Island, Yemen. Deep red resin attained from different plant species including D. cinnabari is commonly known as dragon's blood. In folk medicine, it is prescribed for the treatment of traumatic dermal, dental, and eye injuries as well as blood stasis, pain, and gastrointestinal diseases in humans. Numerous studies have investigated that this resinous medicine has antidiarrheal, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, wound healing, and antioxidant activity. Several phytochemicals have been isolated from D. cinnabari, including the biflavonoid cinnabarone, triflavonoids, metacyclophanes, chalcones, chalcanes, dihydrochalcones, sterols, and terpenoids. The present review highlights the structures and bioactivities of main phytochemicals isolated from D. cinnabari regarding the botany and pharmacological effects of the resin derived from this plant.