Evaluation of the Wound Healing Potential of Cynara humilis Extracts in the Treatment of Skin Burns.

Cynara humilis is traditionally used to treat skin burns and microbial infections. However, experimental studies on this plant are rare. Furthermore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of Cynara humilis, a Moroccan herbal remedy, on the healing of deep second-degree burns in rats with a silver sulfadiazine group. This research was also carried out to confirm if C. humilis had antibacterial capabilities. Under typical burn procedures, each rat received a deep second-degree burn on the upper back. The burns were treated regularly with control groups (control and control VH), silver sulfadiazine (SDD) in group 3, C. humilis ethanolic extract (CHEE) in group 4, and C. humilis aqueous extract (CHAE) in group 5. Throughout the treatment, digital photography was used to measure rat responses to the treatment until day 18. After the scar biopsy at the end of the study, histological parameters (inflammatory cells, collagen, epithelialization, fibrosis, and granulation tissue) were assessed. Using the well technique, the antibacterial activity of the extracts was tested against Staphylococcus aureus CIP 483, Bacillus subtilis CIP 5262, Escherichia coli CIP 53126, Pseudomonas aeruginosa CIP 82118, and Salmonella enterica CIP 8039, and the results showed important activities of the ethanolic and aqueous extracts against the five species tested with MICs of 2 and 4 mg/mL, respectively. In the aqueous extract group, the wound healed faster. In addition, the healing rate in the C. humilis extracts (CHEA and CHEE) group was faster than in the silver sulfadiazine and control groups. In the C. humilis group, maximum wound surface recovery was observed at the same time, as it was not noted in the silver sulfadiazine group. Pathologically, epithelialization was more marked in wounds treated with C. humilis extracts (CHE). Angiogenesis and inflammatory cells were considerably lower in the CHE group than in the silver and other control groups. However, elastic fibers were considerable in the CHE-treated group. In histological examination, the C. humilis group had a low incidence of angiogenesis and inflammation, indicating that this group had less wound scarring. Collagen and burn wound healing were both faster in the C. humilis group. The findings of this study suggest that C. humilis, as indicated by traditional medicine, is a promising natural source for the management of wound healing.

Comparative Investigation of Chemical Constituents of Kernels, Leaves, Husk, and Bark of Juglans regia L., Using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS Analysis and Evaluation of Their Antioxidant, Antidiabetic, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities.

Leaves, husk, kernels, and bark methanolic extracts of Juglans regia L. were tested for their in vitro antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities. For these purposes, α-amylase and α-glucosidase were used as the main enzymes to evaluate antidiabetic activities. Moreover, lipoxidase and tyrosinase activities were tested to estimate anti-inflammatory properties. Antioxidant properties of Juglans regia L., extracts were determined using three different assays. Leaves extract has an important radical scavenging activity and a-amylase inhibition. Similarly, husk extracts showed high total phenolic content (306.36 ± 4.74 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry extract) with an important α-amylase inhibition (IC50 = 75.42 ± 0.99 µg/mL). Kernels exhibit significant tyrosinase (IC50 = 51.38 ± 0.81 µg/mL) correlated with antioxidant activities (p < 0.05). Husk and bark extracts also showed strong anti-lipoxidase activities with IC50 equal to 29.48 ± 0.28 and 28.58 ± 0.35 µg/mL, respectively. HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS analysis highlights the phenolic profile of methanolic extracts of Juglans regia L. plant parts. The identified polyphenols were known for their antioxidant, antidiabetic (dicaffeoyl-quinic acid glycoside in kernels), and anti-inflammatory (3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid in leaves) activities. Further investigations are needed to determine molecular mechanisms involved in these effects as well as to study the properties of the main identified compounds.

Health beneficial and pharmacological properties of p-cymene.

p-cymene also known as p-cymol or p-isopropyltoluene is an alkyl-substituted aromatic compound naturally occurring in essential oils (EOs) of various aromatic plants, including the genus of Artemisia, Protium, Origanum, and Thymus. It is related to the family of terpenes, especially monocyclic monoterpenes. p-cymene is also present in several food-based plants such as carrots, orange juice, grapefruit, tangerine, raspberries and several spices. Numerous studies have demonstrated the pharmacological properties of the monoterpenes p-cymene, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, antiviral, antitumor, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. The p-cymene has also been reported to act as an analgesic, antinociceptive, immunomodulatory, vasorelaxant and neuroprotective agent. Its anticancer effects are related to some mechanisms such as the inhibition of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. In this review, we critically highlighted the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties of the p-cymene molecule, providing insight into its mechanisms of action and potential applications in drug discovery. In light of this finding, in-depth in vivo studies are strongly required to validate the safety and beneficial effects of the p-cymene molecule in human healthcare and industrial applications as a potential source of drug discovery.

Phytochemical properties, biological activities and medicinal use of Centaurium erythraea Rafn.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Centaurium erythraea is an important medicinal plant in many countries, e.g. Morocco, Algeria, Italy, Spain, Portugal, and countries of Balkan Peninsula. It is used in folk medicine to treat various illnesses. It is also used as an antiapoplectic, anticoagulant, anticholagogue, antipneumonic, hematocathartic, and as a hypotensive agent. AIM OF THE REVIEW: In this review, previous reports on the taxonomy, botanical description, geographic distribution, ethnomedicinal applications, phytochemistry, pharmacological properties, and toxicity of Centaurium erythraea were critically summarized. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Scientific search engines including PubMed, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus, Wiley Online, SciFinder, and Google Scholar were consulted to collect data on C. erythraea. The data presented in this work summarized the main reports on C. erythraea phytochemical compounds, ethnomedicinal uses, and pharmacological activities. RESULTS: C. erythraea is used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases such as diabetes, fever, rhinitis, stomach ailments, urinary tract infections, dyspeptic complaints, loss of appetite, and hemorrhoids, and as diuretic. The essential oils and extracts of C. erythraea exhibited numerous biological properties such as antibacterial, antioxidant, antifungal, antileishmanial, anticancer, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, insecticidal, diuretic, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, dermatoprotective, neuroprotective, and inhibitory agent for larval development. Phytochemical characterization of C. erythraea revealed the presence of several classes of secondary metabolites such as xanthonoids, terpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids. CONCLUSIONS: Ethnomedicinal studies demonstrated the use of C. erythraea for the treatment of various disorders. Pharmacological reports showed that C. erythraea especially its aerial parts and roots exhibited potent, and beneficial activities. These findings confirmed the link between the traditional medicinal use and the results of the scientific biological experiments. Considering these results, further investigation using diverse in vivo pharmacological assays are strongly recommended to validate the results of its traditional use. Toxicological tests and pharmacokinetic studies are also required to validate the safety and efficacy of C. erythraea and its bioactive contents.