Neuroprotective effect of biogenically synthesized ZnO nanoparticles against oxidative stress and ß-amyloid toxicity in transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans.

Amyloid ß (Aß) plaque accumulation-mediated neuronal toxicity has been suggested to cause synaptic damage and consequent degeneration of brain cells in Alzheimer's disease (AD). With the increasing prerequisite of eco-friendly nanoparticles (NPs), research investigators are utilizing green approaches for the synthesis of zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs for pharmaceutical applications. In this present study, ZnO NPs were synthesized from Acanthus ilicifolius to assess the neuroprotective properties in the AD model of transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strains CL2006 and CL4176 expressing Aß aggregation. Our findings revealed that the therapeutic effect of green-synthesized ZnO NPs is associated with antioxidant activity. We also found that ZnO NPs significantly enhance the C. elegan's lifespan, locomotion, pharyngeal pumping, chemotaxis behavior also diminish the ROS deposition and intracellular productionMoreover, thioflavin T staining demonstrated that ZnO NPs substantially attenuated the Aß deposition in the C. elegans strain as compared to untreated worms. With their antioxidant properties, the greenly synthesized ZnO NPs had a significant neuroprotective efficiency on Aß-induced toxicity by reducing Aß aggregation and specifically reducing the progression of paralysis in the C. elegans AD model. Our findings suggested that the biosynthesized ZnO NPs could be thought-provoking candidates for age-associated neurodegenerative disorders accompanied by oxidative stress.

Integrating Activity-Guided Strategy and Fingerprint Analysis to Target Potent Cytotoxic Brefeldin A from a Fungal Library of the Medicinal Mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius.

Mangrove-associated fungi are rich sources of novel and bioactive compounds. A total of 102 fungal strains were isolated from the medicinal mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius collected from the South China Sea. Eighty-four independent culturable isolates were identified using a combination of morphological characteristics and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence analyses, of which thirty-seven strains were selected for phylogenetic analysis. The identified fungi belonged to 22 genera within seven taxonomic orders of one phyla, of which four genera Verticillium, Neocosmospora, Valsa, and Pyrenochaeta were first isolated from mangroves. The cytotoxic activity of organic extracts from 55 identified fungi was evaluated against human lung cancer cell lines (A-549), human cervical carcinoma cell lines (HeLa), human hepatoma cells (HepG2), and human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines (Jurkat). The crude extracts of 31 fungi (56.4%) displayed strong cytotoxicity at the concentration of 50 µg/mL. Furthermore, the fungus Penicillium sp. (HS-N-27) still showed strong cytotoxic activity at the concentration of 25 µg/mL. Integrating cytotoxic activity-guided strategy and fingerprint analysis, a well-known natural Golgi-disruptor and Arf-GEFs inhibitor, brefeldin A, was isolated from the target active strain HS-N-27. It displayed potential activity against A549, HeLa and HepG2 cell lines with the IC50 values of 101.2, 171.9 and 239.1 nM, respectively. Therefore, combining activity-guided strategy with fingerprint analysis as a discovery tool will be implemented as a systematic strategy for quick discovery of active compounds.

New Insights on Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl: UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Profile, Antioxidant, Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities.

This study investigated the antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, and phytochemical profiling of extracts from the leaves and stem/root of Acanthus ebracteatus (AE). The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity, 2, 2'-azino-Bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical-scavenging activity, metal chelating activities (MCA), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and oxygen radical antioxidant capacity (ORAC) were used for antioxidant assessment. The ethanolic extracts of the leaves (AEL-nor) and stem/root (AEWP-nor) without chlorophyll removal and those with chlorophyll removal, using sedimentation process (AEL-sed and AEWP-sed), were prepared. Generally, AEL-sed showed the highest antioxidant activity (FRAP: 1113.2 µmol TE/g; ORAC: 11.52 µmol TE/g; MCA: 47.83 µmol EDTA/g; ABTS 67.73 µmol TE/g; DPPH 498.8 µmol TE/g; TPC: 140.50 mg/GAE g and TFC: 110.40 mg/CE g) compared with other extracts. Likewise, AEL-sed also showed the highest bacteriostatic (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) effects, as well as the highest anticancer and antiproliferative activity against oral squamous carcinoma (CLS-354/WT) cells. UPLC-ESI-QTOF/MS analysis of AEL-sed and AEWP-sed tentatively identified several bioactive compounds in the extracts, including flavonoids, phenols, iridoids, and nucleosides. Our results provide a potentially valuable application for A. ebracteatus, especially in further exploration of the plant in oxidative stress-related disorders, as well as the application of the plant as potential nutraceuticals and cosmeceuticals.

Stepwise mass spectrometry-based approach for confirming the presence of benzoxazinoids in herbs and vegetables.

INTRODUCTION: Benzoxazinoids (BXs) are plant phytochemicals that have both defensive properties in plants and therapeutic effects in humans. The presence of BXs has been largely studied in the Poaceae family (monocots). To study the presence or absence of BXs in dicotyledons and monocotyledons outside the Poaceae family, parts of 24 plant species at several growth stages were selected for analysis, some of which were already known to contain BXs. OBJECTIVES: To devise a stepwise mass spectrometry-based approach for confirming the presence of BXs in plant samples, and to use the method to explore the status of BXs in selected plant species. EXPERIMENTAL: Plant samples were extracted using accelerated solvent extraction and analysed using triple-quadrupole liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The use of different columns, double mass transitions, and ion ratios proved to be a robust tool for confirming the presence of BXs in different plant species. By this method, the presence of BXs was confirmed in three of the 24 species. Double-hexose forms of BXs, which have not been reported before in dicotyledons, were confirmed to be present in the dicotyledon plants Acanthus mollis and Lamium galeobdolon, and the presence of BXs in the seeds of Consolida orientalis is reported for the first time here. High concentrations of BXs were found in the aerial parts of Acanthus mollis and Lamium galeobdolon, at 20 and 32 µmol/g plant dry weight, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The stepwise approach described in this work confirmed the presence of BXs in new samples.

Physiological and Proteomic Analyses of Two Acanthus Species to Tidal Flooding Stress.

The mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius and its relative, Acanthus mollis, have been previously proved to possess diverse pharmacological effects. Therefore, evaluating the differentially expressed proteins of these species under tidal flooding stress is essential to fully exploit and benefit from their medicinal values. The roots of A. ilicifolius and A. mollis were exposed to 6 h of flooding stress per day for 10 days. The dry weight, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content, anatomical characteristics, carbon and energy levels, and two-dimensional electrophoresis coupled with MALDI-TOF/TOF MS technology were used to reveal the divergent flooding resistant strategies. A. ilicifolius performed better under tidal flooding stress, which was reflected in the integrity of the morphological structure, more efficient use of carbon and energy, and a higher percentage of up-regulated proteins associated with carbon and energy metabolism. A. mollis could not survive in flooding conditions for a long time, as revealed by disrupting cell structures of the roots, less efficient use of carbon and energy, and a higher percentage of down-regulated proteins associated with carbon and energy metabolism. Energy provision and flux balance played a role in the flooding tolerance of A. ilicifolius and A. mollis.

The anti-inflammatory properties of Acanthus Ebracteatus, Barleria Lupulina and Clinacanthus Nutans: a systematic review.

This appraisal is comprised of the inflammatory studies that have been conducted on Clinacanthus nutans, Acanthus ebracteatus, and Barleria lupulina. The review aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the supporting and contradictory evidence on each plants' anti-inflammatory properties, whilst addressing the gaps in the current literature. The databases used to obtain relevant studies were Google Scholar, ResearchGate, PubMed and Nusearch (University of Nottingham). A total of 13 articles were selected for this review. A. ebracteatus was found to suppress neutrophil migration and weakly inhibits chronic inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, B. lupulina and C. nutans were shown to possess very similar anti-inflammatory properties. The studies on C. nutans indicated that its anti-inflammatory effect is strongly related to the inhibition of toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Moreover, several phytoconstituents isolated from B. lupulina were shown to activate the anti-inflammatory Nrf2 pathway. Overall, all the studies have provided evidence to support the use of these plants as anti-inflammatory herbal remedies. However, their exact mechanism of action and the responsible phytoconstituents are yet to be established.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Corynespora cassiicola on Acanthus ilicifolius in China.

Acanthus ilicifolius, also referred to as holly mangrove, usually grows in the coastal areas in southern China. It is not only a pioneer species of mangroves but also an important medicinal mangrove plant. In June 2019, leaf spots on A. ilicifolius with disease incidence of about 30 to 40% were observed in about 150 plants in a field located in Zhanjiang City, Guangdong Province, China. The disease mainly occurred on the leaf margins or tips. Initial symptoms of the disease were dark brown spots (5 to 9 mm) surrounded by a yellow halo, that expanded irregularly or semicircularly, until finally the leaves turned chlorotic and defoliated. Six samples of symptomatic leaves were excised, surface sterilized with 75% ethanol 30 s, 0.1% HgCl2 30 s, and rinsed three times with sterile water, and cut into small pieces (5 mm × 5 mm), placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) at 25°C and darkness, and two isolates with different morphological characteristics were obtained after 3 days. For pathogenicity tests of the isolates, wounded and non-wounded leaves were inoculated. Fresh wounds were made with a sterile needle. Mycelial plugs from 8-day-old cultures of two isolates, ALY1 and ALY2, on PDA were inoculated on adaxial surface of wounded and non-wounded healthy young leaves of the A. ilicifolius seedlings (2 years old, 4 leaves per plant, 2 replicate plants per isolate), covered with wet cotton and kept in moist chambers at 25 ± 1°C, 80% relative humidity. Leaves inoculated with sterile PDA plugs were used as the control. After 3-5 days, the wounded and non-wounded leaves inoculated with ALY1 showed symptoms of leaf spots, similar to those observed in the field, while leaves inoculated with ALY2 and the control leaves remained symptomless. The pathogenicity tests were repeated three times under the same conditions and similar results were observed. ALY1 was confirmed as the pathogen causing the leaf spot. On PDA, ALY1 produced a gray to grayish brown colony. The conidia were obclavate to cylindrical, straight to slightly curved, pale brown, with 6 to 18 pseudosepta, 62.5 to 225.0×3.8 to 14.8 µm (n=17). According to the morphological characteristics, ALY1 was preliminarily identified as Corynespora cassiicola (Zhang et al.2018). For molecular identification, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS), the actin gene (ACT), the ß-tubulin gene (TUB2) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha gene (TEF1-α) of the three single-spore isolates from ALY1 (ALY1-1 to ALY1-3) were amplified and sequenced with primers ITS4/ITS5 (White et al.1990), ACT512F/ACT783R(Carbone and Kohn 1999), T1/T2 (Glass and Donaldson 1995), and EF1-728F/EF1-986R (O'Donnell et al.1998) respectively. The ITS region of ALY1 (-1, -2, -3) (GenBank accession number MN860006, -07, -08) was 99-100% identical (579/585, 586/586, 581/584 base pairs) to a corresponding ITS (MH255527) of C. cassiicola. Similarly, the ACT (MN887504, -05, -06), TUB2 (MN887507, -08, -09) and TEF1-α (MN887501, -02, -03) were 100% (342/342, 342/342, 342/342 base pairs), 100% (664/664, 662/662, 664/664 base pairs) and 100% (290/290, 290/290, 290/290 base pairs) to corresponding genes FJ853033, MH763700, and MK589886 sequences of C. cassiicola in GenBank, respectively. Phylogenetic tree generated with MEGA7 by the neighbor-joining analysis revealed that the isolate's ITS, ACT, TUB2 and TEF1-α sequences were grouped in the same clade to C. cassiicola. Based on both the morphological characteristics and sequences analyses, the pathogen causing leaf spot of A. ilicifolius was identified as C. cassiicola. This species had been reported on the A. ilicifolius in Guam America and Hong Kong China (Lu et al. 2000; Zhuang 2001; Dixon et al. 2009; Sumabat et al. 2018). The best of our knowledge, it is the first report of C. cassiicola causing leaf spot of A. ilicifolius in China. This disease may a potential threat to A. ilicifolius along the coastal regions of southern China.

Simultaneous Quantification of Four Phenylethanoid Glycosides in Rat Plasma by UPLC-MS/MS and Its Application to a Pharmacokinetic Study of Acanthus Ilicifolius Herb.

Acanthus ilicifolius herb (AIH), the dry plant of Acanthus ilicifolius L., has long been used as a folk medicine for treating acute and chronic hepatitis. Phenylethanoid glycosides (PhGs) are one family of the main components in AIH with hepatoprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, the pharmacokinetics of AIH was investigated preliminarily by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS). A simultaneously quantitative determination method for four PhGs (acteoside, isoacteoside, martynoside, and crenatoside) in rat plasma was first established by UPLC-MS/MS. These four PhGs were separated with an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.7 µm) by gradient elution (mobile phase: MeCN and 0.1% formic acid in water, 0.4 mL/min). The mass spectrometry detection was performed using negative electrospray ionization (ESI-) in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. By the established method, the preliminary pharmacokinetics of AIH was elucidated using the kinetic parameters of the four PhGs in rat plasma after intragastric administration of AIH ethanol extract. All four PhGs showed double peaks on concentration-time curves, approximately at 0.5 h and 6 h, respectively. Their elimination half-lives (t1/2) were different, ranging from 3.42 h to 8.99 h, although they shared similar molecular structures. This work may provide a basis for the elucidation of the pharmacokinetic characteristics of bioactive components from AIH.

Bacillus acanthi sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius.

A novel bacterium, designated strain L28T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a mangrove plant in Hong Kong. Cells of strain L28T are Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped and endospore-forming. Optimum growth occurs at 37 °C (range, 20-45 °C), 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (range, 0-5.0 %) and pH 7.5 (range, 6.5-9.0). The major fatty acids are iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c alcohol. The major respiratory quinone is MK-7. The polar lipid profile comprises phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified lipids. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses indicated that strain L28T exhibited the highest similarity of 96.7 % to Bacillus asahii MA001T. The genome size of strain L28T was 4 063 863 bp with a 36.9 mol% DNA G+C content. Based on the phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties, along with the phylogenic distinctiveness, it was concluded that this strain represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillusacanthi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this novel species is L28T (=DSM 104296T=MCCC 1K03287T).

Acanthus ebracteatus leaf extract provides neuronal cell protection against oxidative stress injury induced by glutamate.

BACKGROUND: Acanthus ebracteatus (AE), an herb native to Asia, has been recognized in traditional folk medicine not only for its antioxidant properties and various pharmacological activities but also as an ingredient of longevity formulas. However, its anti-neurodegenerative potential is not yet clearly known. This work aimed to evaluate the protective effect of AE leaf extract against glutamate-induced oxidative damage in mouse hippocampal HT22 cells, a neurodegenerative model system due to a reduction in glutathione levels and an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS). METHODS: Cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS assays were performed to assess the protective effect of AE leaf extract against glutamate-induced oxidative toxicity in HT22 cells. The antioxidant capacity of AE was evaluated using in vitro radical scavenging assays. The subcellular localization of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) and the mRNA and protein levels of genes associated with the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) antioxidant system were determined to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the neuroprotective effect of AE leaf extract. RESULTS: We demonstrated that AE leaf extract is capable of attenuating the intracellular ROS generation and HT22 cell death induced by glutamate in a concentration-dependent manner. Co-treatment of glutamate with the extract significantly reduced apoptotic cell death via inhibition of AIF nuclear translocation. The increases in Nrf2 levels in the nucleus and gene expression levels of antioxidant-related downstream genes under Nrf2 control were found to be significant in cells treated with the extract. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggested that AE leaf extract possesses neuroprotective activity against glutamate-induced oxidative injury and may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases associated with oxidative stress.

Development of magnetic molecularly imprinted polymers for selective extraction of Benzoxazolinone-type alkaloids from acanthus plants.

Benzoxazolinone-type alkaloids found in Acanthus ebracteatus and Acanthus ilicifolius Linnaeus possess various beneficial properties, such as antileishmanial, antipyretic, analgesic, antibacterial, and antioxidant effects. In this study, we employed a surface imprinting technique on nanomaterials. We utilized functionalized Fe3O4@SiO2NH2 as a scaffold, with 2-benzoxazolinone and 2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one serving as dual templates, methacrylic acid (MAA) as a functional monomer, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as a crosslinker, and 2,2-azodiisobutyric nitrile (AIBN) as the initiator. Prior to polymerization, we screened functional monomers using ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy. The resulting magnetic surface molecular imprinting polymer (Fe3O4@SiO2@MIP) was thoroughly characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FT-IR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). We also conducted assessments of its adsorption isotherms, dynamics, and selective binding capabilities. Our findings indicate that the MIPs exhibited exceptional selective recognition performance. Through meticulous screening and optimization of extraction and separation conditions, we established an LC‒MS/MS method based on magnetic solid-phase extraction technology. The method exhibited a recovery range of 78.80-106.99 % (RSD, 0.46-3.31 %) for 2-benzoxazolinone, with a limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) of 2.85 and 9.00 µg L-1, respectively. For 2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-one, the method yielded a recovery range of 84.75-103.53 % (RSD, 0.07-5.96 %), with an LOD and LOQ of 3.60 and 12.60 µg L-1, respectively, in real samples. The resulting Fe3O4@SiO2@MIP demonstrated a high capacity for class-specific adsorption.

Chloroplast genome analysis of three Acanthus species reveal the adaptation of mangrove to intertidal habitats.

Acanthus is a distinctive genus that covers three species with different ecological niches including Acanthus mollis (arid terrestrial), Acanthus leucostachyus (damp forest) and Acanthus ilicifolius (coastal intertidal). It is an intriguing question how these species evolved from terrestrial to coastal intertidal. In the present study, we assembled chloroplast genomes of A. ilicifolius, A. leucostachyus and A. mollis, which exhibited typical quadripartite structures. The sizes were 150,758, 154,686 and 150,339 bp that comprised a large single copy (LSC, 82,963, 86,461 and 82,612 bp), a small single copy (SSC, 17,191, 17,511 and 17,019 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs, 25,302, 25,357 and 25,354 bp), respectively. Gene annotation revealed that A. ilicifolius, A. leucostachyus and A. mollis contained 113, 112 and 108 unique genes, each of which contained 79, 79 and 74 protein-coding genes, 30, 29 and 30 tRNAs, and 4 rRNA genes, respectively. Differential gene analysis revealed plenty of ndhs gene deletions in the terrestrial plant A. mollis. Nucleotide diversity analysis showed that the psbK, ycf1, ndhG, and rpl22 have the highest nucleotide variability. Compared to A. leucostachyus and A. mollis, seven genes in A. ilicifolius underwent positive selection. Among them, the atpF gene showed a strong positive selection throughout terrestrial to marine evolution and was important for adaptation to coastal intertidal habitats. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that A. ilicifolius has a closer genetic relationship with A. leucostachyus than A. mollis which further confirmed the evolutionary direction of Acanthus going from terrestrial to coastal intertidal zones.

Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling Provide Insights into Flavonoid Synthesis in Acanthus ilicifolius Linn.

Acanthus ilicifolius is an important medicinal plant in mangrove forests, which is rich in secondary metabolites with various biological activities. In this study, we used transcriptomic analysis to obtain differentially expressed genes in the flavonoid metabolic pathway and metabolomic methods to detect changes in the types and content in the flavonoid metabolic synthesis pathway. The results showed that DEGs were identified in the mature roots vs. leaves comparison (9001 up-regulated and 8910 down-regulated), mature roots vs. stems comparison (5861 up-regulated and 7374 down-regulated), and mature stems vs. leaves comparison (10,837 up-regulated and 11,903 down-regulated). Furthermore, two AiCHS genes and four AiCHI genes were up-regulated in the mature roots vs. stems of mature A. ilicifolius, and were down-regulated in mature stems vs. leaves, which were highly expressed in the A. ilicifolius stems. A total of 215 differential metabolites were found in the roots vs. leaves of mature A. ilicifolius, 173 differential metabolites in the roots vs. stems, and 228 differential metabolites in the stems vs. leaves. The metabolomic results showed that some flavonoids in A. ilicifolius stems were higher than in the roots. A total of 18 flavonoid differential metabolites were detected in the roots, stems, and leaves of mature A. ilicifolius. In mature leaves, quercetin-3-O-glucoside-7-O-rhamnoside, gossypitrin, isoquercitrin, quercetin 3,7-bis-O-ß-D-glucoside, and isorhamnetin 3-O-ß-(2″-O-acetyl-ß-D-glucuronide) were found in a high content, while in mature roots, di-O-methylquercetin and isorhamnetin were the major compounds. The combined analysis of the metabolome and transcriptome revealed that DEGs and differential metabolites were related to flavonoid biosynthesis. This study provides a theoretical basis for analyzing the molecular mechanism of flavonoid synthesis in A. ilicifolius and provides a reference for further research and exploitation of its medicinal value.

Phytochemical Analysis and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Acanthus mollis L. Rhizome Hexane Extract.

The rhizomes of Acanthus mollis have traditionally been used for the treatment of several ailments involving inflammation. However, to the best of our knowledge, their chemical composition and pharmacological properties have not been studied until now. As a first approach, this study analyses the A. mollis rhizome hexane extract phytochemistry and its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant capacities in HepG2 and RAW 264.7 cell culture assays. Chemical profiling was performed with gas chromatography mass spectrometry without the modification of native molecules. Free phytosterols (such as ß-sitosterol) account for 70% of detected compounds. The anti-inflammatory capacity of the rhizome extract of A. mollis is mediated by the decrease in the NO production in RAW 264.7 that has previously been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, HepG2 pre-treatment with the rhizome extract prevents any damage being caused by oxidative stress, both through ROS scavenge and through the antioxidant cellular enzyme system. In this respect, the extract reduced the activity of glutathione peroxidase and reductase, which were stimulated under oxidative stress conditions. Our results suggest that the extract from the rhizomes of A. mollis may constitute a potential source of natural products with anti-inflammatory activity and could validate the traditional use of A. mollis.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Phenylethanoids from Acanthus ilicifolius var. xiamenensis.

Acanthus ilicifolius var. xiamenensis is a traditional herbal medicine in China. In this study, the anti-inflammatory activities of active ingredients of A. ilicifolius var. xiamenensis were investigated in RAW 264.7 cells and Freund's complete adjuvant-induced arthritic rats. Results showed that n-butanol extract exerted antiarthritic potential by reducing paw edema, arthritis score, and altered hematological and biochemical parameters in experimental rats. Phytochemical studies on n-butanol extract resulted in the isolation of five alkaloids (1-5) and five phenylethanoids (6-10). The anti-inflammatory assay of compounds 1-10 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW 264.7 cells indicated that phenylethanoids 9 and 10 exhibited notable inhibitory activities. The result indicated that compounds 9 and 10 attenuated inflammation by decreasing the production of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) p65, inhibitory subunit of NF kappa B alpha, Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and inducible nitric oxide synthase in LPS-mediated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Phenylethanoids 9 and 10 increased the expression of interleukin-10 and endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Therefore, compounds 9 and 10 showed anti-inflammatory activity by regulation of NF-κB and JAK/STAT signaling pathways.

Anti-pathogenicity of Acanthus ilicifolius leaf extracts against A. hydrophila infection in Labeo rohita fingerlings.

Antibiotic resistance has become one of the inevitable barrier in aquaculture disease management. Herbal drugs has evolved to be the novel ways of combating drug resistant pathogens. In the current investigation, leaf extracts of mangrove plant, Acanthus ilicifolius were assessed for in vitro studies, among the selected four extracts, methanol extract has expressed highest antibacterial activity against P .aeruginosa (4 ± 0.3 mm), A. hydrophila (5.9 ± 0.5 mm), S. aureus (3.5 ± 0.7 mm) and B. subtilis (2.9 ± 0.5 mm) and antioxidant activity, DPPH (81.3 ± 1.0 AAEµg/ml) and FRAP (139.1 ± 1.5 AAEµg/ml).TPC and TFC were higher in the methanolic extract and has exhibited positive correlation with both DPPH and FRAP assays. Considering the in vitro efficiency, methanol extract was purified successively by column and thin layer chromatography and characterisation by GC-MS unveiled the presence of 2-Propanethiol, Trimethylphosphine, Pentanoyl chloride, Dimethylhydroxymethylphosphine and Propanedinitrile, ethylidene. A. hydrophila infected L. rohita fingerlings has survival percentage 81% and 94% in extract treated groups over 0% in negative control and 71% in positive control.

Two new lignan glycosides from Acanthus ilicifoliusL. with their NO inhibition and cytotoxic activity.

A phytochemical investigation of the methanolic extract of aerial parts of the Acanthus ilicifolius led to the isolation of two new lignan glycosides, acaniliciosides A and B (1 and 2), together with ten known compounds (3-12). The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated based on HR-ESI-MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data. The absolute configurations of two new compounds were established by CD spectra. With the exception of compound 12, other compounds inhibited NO production in LPS activated RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values of 2.14-28.18 µM, as potent as that of the positive control of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA, IC50 of 32.50 µM). In addition, compounds 5-8 showed cytotoxic effects against SK-LU-1 and HepG2 cell lines with the IC50 values ranging from 16.48 to 76.40 µM compared to the positive control (ellipticine) with the IC50 values ranging from 1.23 to 1.46 µM.

Acanthus mollis Formulations for Transdermal Delivery: From Hydrogels to Emulsions.

Topical formulations of Acanthus mollis L. leaf and the optimization of the release of their active compounds and their topical bioavailability were investigated for the first time. In vitro, the release of active compounds from three formulations-an oil-in-water cream and two hydrogels (Carbopol 940 and Pluronic F-127)-was determined using Franz diffusion cells. Detection and quantification of the compounds was performed via high-performance liquid chromatography with a photodiode array (HPLC-PDA). DIBOA, a bioactive compound of this medicinal plant, exhibited release kinetics of the Weibull model for the Carbopol and Pluronic F-127 formulation, identifying it as a potential active agent to optimize the topical distribution of the formulations. The implications extend to applications in inflammation treatment and tyrosinase inhibition, suggesting that it can make a significant contribution to addressing skin conditions, including melanoma and various inflammatory diseases.

Comparative transcriptome analysis on the mangrove Acanthus ilicifolius and its two terrestrial relatives provides insights into adaptation to intertidal habitats.

Acanthus is a unique genus covering both mangroves and terrestrial species, and thus is an ideal system to comparatively analyze the mechanisms of mangrove adaptation to intertidal habitats. We performed RNA sequencing of the mangrove plant Acanthus ilicifolius and its two terrestrial relatives, Acanthus leucostachyus and Acanthus mollis. A total of 91,125, 118,290, and 141,640 unigenes were obtained. Simple sequence repeats (SSR) analysis showed that A. ilicifolius had more SSRs, the highest frequency of distribution, and higher in polymorphism potential compared to the two terrestrial relatives. Phylogenetic analyses suggested a relatively recent split between A. ilicifolius and A. leucostachyus, i.e., about 16.76 million years ago (Mya), after their ancestor divergence with A. mollis (32.11 Mya), indicating that speciation of three Acanthus species occurred in the Early to Middle Miocene. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment revealed that the unique unigenes in A. ilicifolius are predominantly related to rhythmic process, reproductive process and response to stimuli. The accelerated evolution and positive selection analyses indicated that the genus Acanthus migrated from terrestrial to intertidal habitats, where 311 pairs may be under positive selection. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that these genes associated with essential metabolism and biosynthetic pathways such as oxidative phosphorylation, plant hormone signal transduction, photosynthetic carbon fixation and arginine and proline metabolism, are related to the adaptation of A. ilicifolius to intertidal habitats, which are characterized by high salinity and hypoxia. Our results indicate the evolutionary processes and the mechanisms underlying the adaptability of Acanthus to various harsh environments from the arid terrestrial to intertidal habitats.

Effects of some medicinal plant extracts on dermal papilla cells.

INTRODUCTION: Miniaturization of the hair follicles is evident on the balding scalp. Approved medications, topical minoxidil, and oral finasteride for the treatment of alopecia sometimes come with undesirable adverse effects. The study was to examine the bioactivity of medicinal plants for finding the promising source of anti-hair loss application. METHODS: Ten ethanolic extracts were prepared from Acacia concina (Willd.) DC., Acanthus ebracteatus Vahl, Bridelia ovata Decne, Cleome viscosa L., Cocos nucifera L., Hibiscus subdariffla L., Oryza sativa L., Terminalia chebula Retz., Tinospora crispa (L.) Hook. f. & Thomson and cytotoxic tested on dermal papilla cells using MTT assay. The effect of the extracts on cell cycle was also determined using flow cytometry technique. Anti-inflammatory activity was examined by determining IL-1ß inhibition in RAW 257.4 cells. In vitro study of androgenic and 5α-reductase inhibitory activities were also determined using MTT assay and enzymatic reaction couple with liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), respectively. RESULTS: Our results revealed that only A. ebracteatus promoted dermal papilla cell proliferation and the S and G2/M phases in cell cycle. A. ebracteatus also showed inhibitory activity against 5α-reductase and testosterone in reducing cell viability of the dermal papilla. Moreover, A. ebracteatus extract strongly inhibited LPS-stimulating IL-1ß production in RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our finding indicated that the ethanolic extract of A. ebracteatus is a promising candidate for anti-hair loss treatment.