Qualitative Chemical Characterization and Multidirectional Biological Investigation of Leaves and Bark Extracts of Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae).

Anogeissus leiocarpus (DC.) Guill. & Perr. (Combretaceae) has a long history of use by folk populations for the management of multiple human ailments. Based on the published literature, there has been no attempt to conduct a comparative assessment of the biological activity and the phytochemical profiles of the leaves and stem bark of A. leiocarpus extracted using methanol, ethyl acetate, and water. By high-performance liquid chromatography with electrospray ionization mass spectrometric detection (HPLC-ESI-MSn) analysis, quinic, shikimic, gallic, and protocatechuic acids were tentatively identified from all the extracts, while chlorogenic, caffeic, ferulic, and dodecanedioic acids were only characterised from the leaves extracts. Additionally, a pharmacological study was carried out to evaluate potential protective effects that are induced by the extracts in rat colon and colon cancer HCT116 cell line. In general, the methanol and water extracts of A. leiocarpus leaves and stem bark showed potent radical scavenging and reducing properties. It was noted that the stem bark extracts were more potent antioxidants as compared to the leaves extracts. The methanol extract of A. leiocarpus leaves showed the highest acetyl (4.68 mg galantamine equivalent/g) and butyryl (4.0 mg galantamine equivalent/g) cholinesterase inhibition. Among ethyl acetate extracts, the pharmacological investigation suggested stem bark ethyl acetate extracts to be the most promising. This extract revealed ability to protect rat colon from lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress, without exerting promoting effects on HCT116 cell line viability and migration. As a conclusion, A. leiocarpus represents a potential source of bioactive compounds in the development of novel therapeutic agents.

New insights into the chemical profiling, cytotoxicity and bioactivity of four Bunium species.

Bunium species have been reported to be used both as food and in traditional medicines. The scientific community has attempted to probe into the pharmacological and chemical profiles of this genus. Nonetheless, many species have not been investigated fully to date. In this study, we determined the phenolic components, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory activities of aerial parts of four Bunium species (B. sayai, B. pinnatifolium, B. brachyactis and B. macrocarpum). Results showed that B. microcarpum and B. pinnatifolium were strong antioxidants as evidenced in the DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, and FRAP assays. B. brachyactis was the most effective metal chelator, and displayed high enzyme inhibition against cholinesterase, tyrosinase, amylase, glucosidase, and lipase. The four species showed varied antimicrobial activity against each microorganism. Overall, they showed high activity against P. mirabilis and E. coli (MIC and MBC <1 mg mL-1). B. brachyactis was more effective against Aspergillus versicolor compared to the standard drug ketoconazole. B. brachyactis was also more effective than both ketoconazole and bifonazole against Trichoderma viride. B. sayai was more effective than ketoconazole in inhibiting A. fumigatus. B. sayai was most non-toxic to HEK 293 (cellular viability = 117%) and HepG2 (cellular viability = 104%). The highest level of TPC was observed in B. pinnatifolium (35.94 mg GAE g-1) while B. microcarpum possessed the highest TFC (39.21 mg RE g-1). Seventy four compounds were detected in B. microcarpum, 70 in B. brachyactis, 66 in B. sayai, and 51 in B. pinnatifolium. Quinic acid, chlorogenic acid, pantothenic acid, esculin, isoquercitrin, rutin, apigenin, and scopoletin were present in all the four species. This study showed that the four Bunium species are good sources of biologically active compounds with pharmaceutical and nutraceutical potential.

Investigation of chemical profile, biological properties of Lotus corniculatus L. extracts and their apoptotic-autophagic effects on breast cancer cells.

This study aimed to reveal chemical profiles and biological activities of ethyl acetate (EA), methanol (MeOH), and water extracts of Lotus corniculatus. Ethnobotanical reports have indicated the importance of phytochemical properties of the genus Lotus. In this study, the effects of medicinal plant extracts on antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, CUPRAC, FRAP, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating assays), enzyme inhibitory (on cholinesterase, tyrosinase, a-amylase and a-glucosidase), DNA protection and anticancer properties (including anti-proliferative, cell death and telomerase activity marker gene analysis, apoptotic DNA fragmentation analysis, cell migration test) were evaluated. According to chemical analysis, quercetin derivatives geraldol, isorhamnetin and kaempferol-O-coumaroylhexoside-O-deoxyhexoside isomers were dominant in the extracts. MeOH extracts showed the highest total flavonoids capacity with 21.13 mg RE/g. EA extract showed the strongest anti-amylase activity among the tested extracts. Water extract had the most protective activity against plasmid DNA. To indicate cell survival, MTT test was performed against human MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration for cells were calculated and used for detection of mechanisms behind the cancer cell death. EA extract showed up-regulation of Bax proapoptotic gene and apoptotic DNA fragmentation activity on highly invasive MDA-MB-231 cells. Beclin-1 and LC3-II autophagy genes were higly expressed after treatment of MCF-7 cells with EA extracts. EA and MeOH extracts inhibited cell migration ability of both cancer cells. Linoleamide, was dominant component in EA extract and caused apoptosis on MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells via increasing intranuclear Ca²+. The detailed mechanism behind the anticancer properties should be further investigated.

Chemical fingerprints, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cell assays of three extracts obtained from Sideritis ozturkii Aytaç & Aksoy: An endemic plant from Turkey.

This study was geared towards assessing the possible antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic activities of ethyl acetate, methanol, and water extracts of Sideritis ozturkii Aytaç & Aksoy. The phytochemical profiles of the studied extracts were characterised by HPLC-MS/MS. The methanol extract, rich in phenolics (78.04 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), exhibited the strongest antioxidant activities. However, the ethyl acetate extract was the most active extract in the enzyme inhibitory assays. The water extract of S. ozturkii (1 mg/ml, 48 h incubation) slightly inhibited (22%) growth of human breast cancer cell line (MDA-MB-231 cells). On the other hand, the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts showed strong inhibition (98% and 97%, respectively) of MDA-MB-231 cells and caused apoptotic cell death. Scientific data generated from this study further appraises the multiple biological activities of plants belonging to the Sideritis genus. In addition, preliminary evidence gathered from the current investigation advocates for further studies geared towards the preparation of therapeutic formulations from S. ozturkii.

A salting-out assisted liquid-liquid microextraction procedure for determination of cysteine followed by spectrophotometric detection.

A new analytical method for sensitive determination of cysteine based on its interaction with phenazine methosulfate was developed using salting-out liquid-liquid microextraction followed by spectrophotometric detection. The mechanism of the reaction was studied and confirmed by Fourier transform infrared and mass spectroscopy. Experimental parameters affecting the extraction efficiency were investigated and under the optimal conditions, good linearity was observed in the range 0.2 - 6.0 µg mL-1 with a correlation coefficient of 0.9972. The limit of detection and limit of quantification were found to be 0.07 and 0.21 µg mL -1, respectively. The enrichment factor was 25. The developed methodology was applied for analysis of cysteine in food supplements. The obtained data were in good agreement with LC-MS/MS analysis.

HPLC-MS/MS chemical characterization and biological properties of Origanum onites extracts: a recent insight.

This study investigated into the phytochemical profile and biological properties of extracts (methanol and aqueous) of Origanum onites based on the antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and antibacterial activities. The aqueous extract exhibited higher antioxidant activities in the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), ferric reducing antioxidant power, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating assays, compared to the methanol extract. In contrast, the methanol extract was the most effective inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, tyrosinase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase. The methanol extract also showed higher antibacterial activity with highest inhibition against Escherichia coli (MIC = 6.25 mg/mL). The total phenolic content was higher in the aqueous extract while the methanol extract possessed higher total flavonoid content. A total of 28 and 18 compounds (belonging to polyphenols, flavonoids, terpenoids, and ester classes) were identified from the methanol and water extracts, respectively. These findings suggest that O. onites could be helpful in the management of oxidative stress-associated diseases including diabetes and neurodegenerative complications. Abbreviations: ABTS: 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid; ACAE: acarbose equivalent; AChE: acetylcholinesterase; AD: Alzheimer's disease; BChE: butyrylcholinesterase; CUPRAC: cupric reducing antioxidant capacity; DPPH: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl; EDTAE: EDTA equivalent; FRAP: ferric reducing antioxidant power; GAE: gallic acid equivalent; GALAE: galatamine equivalent; HPLC: high performance liquid chromatography; KAE: kojic acid equivalent; RE: rutin equivalents; TE: trolox equivalent; TPC: total phenolic content; TFC: total flavonoid content.

A comprehensive appraisal on Crocus chrysanthus (Herb.) Herb. flower extracts with HPLC-MS/MS profiles, antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties.

In the quest for new drugs of herbal origin, the ethyl acetate (EAE), methanol (ME), and water (WE) extracts of Crocus chrysanthus (Herb.) Herb. flowers were analyzed for their polyphenolic composition, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibitory potential. WE showed the highest antioxidant activities in all assays including metal chelating, phosphomolybdenum, FRAP, CUPRAC, ABTS and DPPH. EAE was the most effective enzyme inhibitor, exhibiting the highest inhibition against some enzymes linked to Alzheimer's disease (cholinesterases), diabetes mellitus (α-glucosidase and α-amylase) and hyperpigmentation problems (tyrosinase). The highest total phenolics (34.99 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids content (77.58 mg RE/g) were observed in WE and ME, respectively. Eight compounds were identified in EAE, 24 in ME, and 15 in WE. Kaempferol 3-O glucoside was found in all extracts. In conclusion, C. chrysanthus flowers can be suggested as a source of bioactive components with potential use against chronic disorders caused by oxidative stress. Future in-depth studies are recommended to determine the biological effects of isolated compounds from C. chrysanthus to identify the main compounds modulating the observed activities.