The brown algae: Sargassum binderi sonder bears potential nephroprotective activity in in-vivo experimental model.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate the protective activity of brown seaweed, the ethanolic and water extracts of Sargassum binderi (S. binderi) were examined. Anticancer drug, cisplatin is normally used for the treatment of solid tumors that cause acute kidney damage after assemblage in the renal tubules. MATERIAL AND METHODS: It was an acute nephrotoxicity study, animals were divided into several groups randomly, cisplatin (7mg/kg i.p.) and normal saline were used as positive and negative control respectively. The S. bindari ethanolic and water extract were given orally in a dose of 200mg/kg for 5days. Various biomarkers were assessed to observe the nephroprotective potential, while antioxidant activities were investigated using reduced glutathione, catalase and malondialdehyde as oxidative stress. GCMS was performed to validate the presence of important therapeutic moieties. RESULTS: The current result justified that pretreatment with S. binderi inhibited the elevation of antioxidant parameters and also showed protection against lipid peroxidation, induced by cisplatin challenge. The overall impact was the nephroprotection, which has been revealed from the results. GCMS evaluation of hexanes fraction revealed the presence of therapeutically important compounds including heptasiloxane, 3,7,11,15-tetramethyl-2-hexadecen-1-ol, hexadecamethyl, cyclooctasiloxane, and hexadecamethyl. These compounds have been reported for their antioxidant, antibacterial, anticancer, and antifungal activities. CONCLUSION: S. binderi showed reno-protective effect by checking their well-known biochemical parameters probably due to the antioxidant activity as confirmed by the presence of compounds.

A comparative study of secondary metabolites profiling and biological activity of Smyrnium olusatrum L. leaf, flower and fruit.

Essential oil (EO) composition of Smyrnium olusatrum was characterised by high proportion of furanosesquiterpenes (51.66-69.35%). The leaf methanolic extract composition was found to be rich with Quercetin-O-hexoside (39.78%). Apigenin 6,8-di-Chexoside represent the major component of flower (18.2%) and fruits (18.82%). Flower extract exhibited the highest contents of total phenolic (48.97 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (52.63 mg RE/g). The ß-carotene and lycopene contents were in the order of 4.55-26.14 mg/100g, and 8.00-49.45 mg/100g, respectively. Methanolic extracts and EOs of different organs were found to possess antioxidant activities, as determined by scavenging effect, chelating activity and ß-carotene-linoleic acid model system. Furthermore, Fruit S. olusatrum EO exhibited a potent inhibitory activity against Acetylcholinesterase, while the methanolic extract showed a weaker activity. The methanolic extract displayed inhibitory effects on α-amylase, whereas the EOs was not as efficient in inhibiting this enzyme. The observed level of biological activities varied depending on the specific extracts and organs studied.

Anthocyanins: Potential phytochemical candidates for the amelioration of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is described by too much hepatic fat deposition causing steatosis, which further develops into nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), defined by necroinflammation and fibrosis, progressing further to hepatic cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. NAFLD is linked to different aspects of the metabolic syndrome like obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia, and its pathogenesis involves several elements including diet, obesity, disruption of lipid homeostasis, and a high buildup of triglycerides and other lipids in liver cells. It is therefore linked to an increase in the susceptibility to developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. Several interventions exist regarding its management, but the availability of natural sources through diet will be a benefit in dealing with the disorder due to the immensely growing dependence of the population worldwide on natural sources owing to their ability to treat the root cause of the disease. Anthocyanins (ACNs) are naturally occurring polyphenolic pigments that exist in the form of glycosides, which are the glucosides of anthocyanidins and are produced from flavonoids via the phenyl propanoid pathway. To understand their mode of action in NAFLD and their therapeutic potential, the literature on in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials on naturally occurring ACN-rich sources was exhaustively reviewed. It was concluded that ACNs show their potential in the treatment of NAFLD through their antioxidant properties and their efficacy to control lipid metabolism, glucose homeostasis, transcription factors, and inflammation. This led to the conclusion that ACNs possess efficacy in the amelioration of NAFLD and the various features associated with it. However, additional clinical trials are required to justify the potential of ACNs in NAFLD.

Antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity of Bombax buonopozense P. Beauv. leaves.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Bombax buonopozense (Bombacaceae) leaves have been used traditionally for arthritis in south-western Nigeria. Therefore, the aim of the study was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity of B. buonopozense in Complete Freund adjuvant-induce arthritic wistar rats. EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE: The plant leaves methanol extract and fractions were screened for preliminary phytochemicals and brine shrimp lethality was determined. Total phenolic content (TPC), Total flavonoid content (TFC) as well as anti-oxidant activity of the extract and fractions were evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Cyclophosphamide, gallic acid, and ascorbic acid were used as standards respectively. Anti-arthritic activity of crude methanol extract (BBME) at 100, 200 and 400mg/kg was evaluated in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA) induced arthritis model in rats. Data were analysed using Graph pad prism version 5, two-way and one-way ANOVA, and Bonferroni post hoc test. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolics. The brine shrimp lethality assay of the crude extract and fractions gave LC50 value≥1000µg/mL, compared to Cyclophosphamide (LC50=224.7±0.35µg/mL). The BBME had TPC value of 19.8±0.56mg GAE/g, while the TFC of ethyl acetate fraction was the highest (173.5±0.05mg QE/g). The ethyl acetate fraction has the highest antioxidant activity (IC50=20.96±0.23µg/mL) as compared to ascorbic acid (2.8±0.01) and rutin (20.6±9.26µg/mL). BBME significantly reduced the paw circumference. BBME (400mg/kg) prevented biochemical changes to a greater extent than Celecoxib (20mg/kg). Bombax buonopozense leaves could be an effective antiarthritic and holds prospect in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.

Antioxidant and cytotoxicity activity of a nanoemulsion from Satureja kermanica (Lamiaceae).

OBJECTIVE: Satureja kermanica is a native species with a relatively wide distribution in Iran, which has been studied less. Due to the low stability of the plants, in this study, the methanolic extract of S. kermanica (MSK) along with a nanoemulsion (NEK) preparation was evaluated in terms of antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The aerial parts of S. kermanica were collected and after studying the organoleptic characteristics and quality control parameters, were extracted with methanol. Total phenolic compounds and total flavonoids of the plant were measured. A nanoemulsion preparation was prepared using ultrasonication method from S. kermanica extract. After measuring the particle size of nanoemulsion, both MSK and NEK were evaluated for their antioxidant and cytotoxic activity using DPPH scavenging assay and MTT colorimetric method on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) respectively. RESULTS: Phytochemical studies exhibited the presence of secondary metabolites including flavonoids, tannins, steroids and carbohydrates in the plant. Based on the histogram of the SBL nanosizer, the average diameter of nanoemulsion was determined as 37.09nm. Both MSK and NEK showed dose-dependent antioxidant and cytotoxic activity. The IC50 value of MSK and NEK for DPPH inhibition was 30.105±2.781 58.14±0.84µg/mL and for toxicity toward MCF-7 cell line was 1251.088 and 201.745±4.554µg/mL respectively. CONCLUSION: MSK and NEK showed antioxidant and cytotoxic activity, but in NEK, the antioxidant and cytotoxic potential of the plant was more prominent, which may be due to the rapid release of the bioactive component from the nanoemulsion.