Phytochemical profiling of Salsola tetragona Delile by LC-HR/MS and investigation of the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antibacterial and anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities.

This study aimed to investigate the phytochemical composition and biological activity of Salsola tetragona Delile. (Amaranthaceae), a medicinal plant. The study evaluated the antioxidant potential of the crude extract and five fractions of S. tetragona using DPPH•, ABTS•+, CUPRAC, and metal chelating assays. The anti-inflammatory activity was determined using a protein denaturation assay, and the antibacterial activity was determined by the Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for the growth of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus strains. The MTT test and an in vitro scratch assay evaluated the effects on cell viability and cell migration. The potential anti-SARS-CoV-2 activity was assessed by analyzing the effects on the interaction between ACE2 and Spike protein. The bioactive compounds present in the plant were identified using LC-HR/MS analysis. The crude hydromethanolic extract (STM) and five fractions of S. tetragona, n-hexane (STH), dichloromethane (STD), ethyl acetate (STE), n-butanol (STB), and aqueous (STW) showed significant antioxidant activity in four different tests. In the anti-inflammatory assay, the ethyl acetate fraction exhibited significantly higher activity than Aspirin® (IC50 = 13 ± 5 µg/mL). The crude extract and its fractions showed positive antibacterial activity with similar MICs. In the cytotoxicity assay against the breast cancer cell line MCF7, the dichloromethane fractions (STD) were very effective and demonstrated superiority over the other fractions (IC50 = 98 µg/mL). Moreover, the potential of the extract and fractions as anti-SARS-CoV-2, the ethyl acetate, and dichloromethane fractions demonstrated important activity in this test. LC-HR/MS analysis identified 16 different phenolic compounds, Eleven of which had not been previously reported in the genus Salsola. The results suggest that the extracts of S. tetragona have the potential to become new sources for developing plant-based therapies for managing a range of diseases.

Biochemical Profile and In Vitro Therapeutic Properties of Two Euhalophytes, Halocnemum strobilaceum Pall. and Suaeda fruticosa (L.) Forske., Grown in the Sabkha Ecosystem in the Algerian Sahara.

This study reports the biochemical profile and in vitro biological activities of the aerial part of two shrubs: Halocnemum strobilaceum and Suaeda fruticosa, a halophytes species native to saline habitats. The biomass was evaluated by determining its physiological properties and approximate composition. Hydro-methanolic extracts from Halocnemum strobilaceum and Suaeda fruticosa have been investigated for the inhibition of bacterial growth, the protection of proteins (albumin) from denaturation, and cytotoxicity to hepatocellular carcinomas (Huh-7 and HepG2). Their antioxidant activity was evaluated by five tests, including one that examined their ability to inhibit hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced hemolysis. The profile of their phenolic compounds was also determined. These two euhalophytes had a high moisture content, high levels of photosynthetic pigments, elevated levels of ash and protein, low oxidative damage indices, MDA (Malondialdehyde) and proline, and low lipids levels. Their content was also characterized by a moderate acidity with good electrical conductivity. They contained abundant levels of phytochemicals and varied phenolic contents. Reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, rutin, and quercetin in both plant extracts. On the pharmaceutical level, the two euhalophytes had anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties, and therefore it was recommended to isolate and identify biologically active compounds from these plants and evaluate them in vivo.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 and cytotoxic activity of two marine alkaloids from green alga Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder in the Dardanelles.

Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder is a green alga belonging to the Caulerpaceae family. This is the first chemical investigation of C. cylindracea in the Dardanelles which resulted in the isolation of four compounds, caulerpin (1), monomethyl caulerpinate (2), beta-sitosterol (3), and palmitic acid (4). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including 1D- and 2D NMR and mass. The isolated compounds 1 and 2 were tested against the SARS-CoV-2 viral targets spike protein and main protease (3CL) enzyme, and both compounds significantly inhibit the interaction of spike protein and ACE2, while the main protease activity was not significantly reduced. Docking studies suggested that compounds 1 and 2 may bind to the ACE2 binding pocket on spike, and compound 2 may also bind to an allosteric site on spike. As such, these compounds may inhibit the spike-ACE2 complex formation competitively and/or allosterically and have the potential to be used against SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 showed at least two-fold higher cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 compared to the CCD fibroblast control cell line.

Berberis Plants-Drifting from Farm to Food Applications, Phytotherapy, and Phytopharmacology.

The genus Berberis includes about 500 different species and commonly grown in Europe, the United States, South Asia, and some northern areas of Iran and Pakistan. Leaves and fruits can be prepared as food flavorings, juices, and teas. Phytochemical analysis of these species has reported alkaloids, tannins, phenolic compounds and oleanolic acid, among others. Moreover, p-cymene, limonene and ocimene as major compounds in essential oils were found by gas chromatography. Berberis is an important group of the plants having enormous potential in the food and pharmaceutical industry, since they possess several properties, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer activities. Here we would like to review the biological properties of the phytoconstituents of this genus. We emphasize the cultivation control in order to obtain the main bioactive compounds, the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties in order to apply them for food preservation and for treating several diseases, such as cancer, diabetes or Alzheimer. However, further study is needed to confirm the biological efficacy as well as, the toxicity.

Chemical composition, antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of essential oil and methanolic extract of Anthemis stiparum subsp. sabulicola (Pomel) Oberpr.

Anthemis species are traditionally used to treat infectious and inflammatory processes, among others clinical disturbances. In the current study, the chemical composition, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antimicrobial, and antibiofilm activities of Anthemis stiparum subsp. sabulicola aerial parts methanolic extract (As-ME) and essential oil (As-EO) were investigated. The chemical composition of As-EO was established by GC-MS and GC-FID. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of As-ME were spectrophotometrically determined. Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●) radical scavenging, cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC) and ß-carotene bleaching assays were applied to evaluate the antioxidant potential. The anticholinesterase activity against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) enzymes were carried out spectrophotometrically. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) using broth microdilution method against 7 ATCC® bacterial and one ATCC® yeast reference strains. The antibiofilm effect was determined quantifying the percentage of adhesion inhibition. GC-MS and GC-FID identified 72 compounds (99.02%), being As-EO predominantly constituted by germacrene D (11.13%), t-cadinol (11.01%), camphor (6.73%), spathulenol (6.50%) and isoamyl salicylate (6.45%). The total phenolic and flavonoid contents of As-ME were 13.6 ±â€¯0.03 and 5.9 ±â€¯0.04 pyrocatechol equivalents and quercetin equivalents, respectively. In ß-carotene-linoleic acid assay, As-ME showed the best lipid peroxidation inhibition activity with an IC50 = 9.96 µg/mL followed by As-EO with an IC50 = 619.98 µg/mL. In contrast, in DPPH assay, As-ME and As-EO showed moderate to low activity with an IC50 = 92.69 µg/mL for As-ME and 917.69 µg/mL for As-EO. While in CUPRAC assay, As-EO and As-ME indicated a less to moderate reducing activity. As-ME inhibited AChE (IC50 = 490.46 µg/mL) and BChE (IC50 = 142.07 µg/mL), while As-EO was inactive against AChE and revealed a discreet inhibitory action against BChE (IC50 = 212.14 µg/mL). As-ME displayed better antimicrobial activity than As-EO, being active against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC® 25923) and Bacillus subtilis (ATCC® 6633), with MIC of 1.56 mg/mL. An expressive fungal adhesion inhibition (80.02%) on Candida albicans (ATCC® 10239) was detected with As-ME at 6.25 mg/mL. These results showed that A. stiparum subsp. sabulicola is a natural source of active compounds with antibiotic and antibiofilm effects against S. aureus and B. subtilis, and C. albicans, respectively, and also presents antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties.

Chemical constituents of essential oil of endemic Rhanterium suaveolens Desf. growing in Algerian Sahara with antibiofilm, antioxidant and anticholinesterase activities.

Twenty compounds were detected in the essential oil of Rhanterium suaveolens representing 98.01% of the total oil content. Perillaldehyde (45.79%), caryophyllene oxide (24.82%) and ß-cadinol (5.61%) were identified as the main constituents. In ß-carotene-linoleic acid assay, both the oil and the methanol extract exhibited good lipid peroxidation inhibition activity, with IC50 values of 17.97 ± 5.40 and 11.55 ± 3.39 µg/mL, respectively. In DPPH and CUPRAC assays, however, the methanol extract exhibited a good antioxidant activity. The highest antibiofilm activity has been found 50.30% against Staphylococcus epidermidis (MU 30) at 20 µg/mL for essential oil and 58.34% against Micrococcus luteus (NRRL B-4375) at 25 mg/mL concentration for methanol extract. The in vitro anticholinesterase activity of methanol extract showed a moderate acetylcholinesterase inhibitory (IC50 = 168.76 ± 0.62 µg/mL) and good butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory (IC50 = 54.79 ± 1.89 µg/mL) activities. The essential oil was inactive against both enzymes.

Roles of E-cadherin and cyclooxygenase enzymes in predicting different survival patterns of optimally cytoreduced serous ovarian cancer patients.

The relation between cyclooxygenase enzymes and E-cadherin, along with the roles of these markers in the prediction of survival in optimally cytoreduced serous ovarian cancer patients was investigated. Individuals who underwent primary staging surgery and achieved optimal cytoreduction (largest residual tumor volume<1 cm) constituted the study population. Specimens of 32 cases were immunohistochemically examined for cyclooxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2, and E-cadherin. Two could not be evaluated for E-cadherin and cyclooxygenase-1. Overall, 14/30, 19/30, and 15/32 cases were positive for E-cadherin, cyclooxygenase-1, and cyclooxygenase-2, respectively. The expressions of E-cadherin and cyclooxygenase-2 were inversely correlated (p:0.02). E-cadherin expression was related with favorable survival (p<0.001). The relation between the expression of cyclooxygenase enzymes and poor survival did not reach statistical significance. On multivariate analysis, E-cadherin appeared as an independent prognostic factor for survival. In conclusion, E-cadherin expression is strongly linked with favorable survival. E-cadherin and cyclooxygenase 2 may interact with each other during the carcinogenesis-invasion process. Further studies clarifying the relation between E-cadherin and cyclooxygenase enzymes may lead to new preventive and therapeutic targets in ovarian cancer.

Aggressive mixed type endometrial carcinoma in a young woman with rapid progression and fatal outcome.

INTRODUCTION: Endometrial carcinoma in young ages is uncommon and tends to be a well differentiated endometrioid type and has an excellent prognosis. Nevertheless, in this report mixed type endometrial cancer including serous, clear cell and endometrioid components in a young patient with rapid progression and fatal outcome is presented. CASE: A 26-year-old virgin female was admitted with menometrohagia lasting for 9 months, leading to severe anemia. Transabdominal ultrasonography demonstrated 30 x 27 mm intramural mass consistent with leiomyoma in uterine corpus posterior. The patient did not permit any vaginal intervention including endometrial sampling, therefore laparotomy was decided. Mixed type endometrial carcinoma was diagnosed and she was treated with comprehensive surgery plus adjuvant chemotherapy. After 7 months of surgery she deceased. CONCLUSION: We suggest that persistent uterine bleeding associated with severe anemia should be evaluated for malignancy even in young women to avoid delay in diagnosis. Imaging studies especially magnetic resonance imaging may be helpful when endometrial sampling cannot be done.