Biosynthesis and assessment of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of silver nanoparticles utilizing Cassia occidentalis L. seed.

This research explores the eco-friendly synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using Cassia occidentalis L. seed extract. Various analytical techniques, including UV-visible spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), were employed for comprehensive characterization. The UV-visible spectra revealed a distinct peak at 425 nm, while the seed extract exhibited peaks at 220 and 248 nm, indicating the presence of polyphenols and phytochemicals. High-resolution TEM unveiled spherical and oval-shaped AgNPs with diameters ranging from 6.44 to 28.50 nm. The SEM exhibiting a spherical shape and a polydisperse nature, thus providing insights into the morphology of the AgNPs. EDX analysis confirmed the presence of silver atoms at 10.01% in the sample. XRD results unequivocally confirm the crystalline nature of the AgNPs suspension, thereby providing valuable insights into their structural characteristics and purity. The antioxidant properties of AgNPs, C. occidentalis seed extract, and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were assessed, revealing IC50 values of 345, 500, and 434 µg/mL, respectively. Antibacterial evaluation against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli demonstrated heightened sensitivity of bacteria to AgNPs compared to AgNO3. Standard antibiotics, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin, acting as positive controls, exhibited substantial antibacterial efficacy. The green-synthesized AgNPs displayed potent antibacterial activity, suggesting their potential as a viable alternative to conventional antibiotics for combating pathogenic bacterial infections. Furthermore, potential biomedical applications of AgNPs were thoroughly discussed.

Plants and Plant-Derived Molecules as Natural Immunomodulators.

Background. Nowadays, the immunomodulatory properties of plants have been studied extensively with greater interest due to increasing awareness and combating the severity of immunomodulatory diseases. Scope and Approach. This paper highlights the efficacy of the available literature evidence on natural immunomodulators of plant origin and synthetic ones. In addition, several aspects of plants and their phytoconstituents responsible for immunomodulation have been discussed. Moreover, this review also discusses the mechanism involved in immunomodulation. Key Findings. One hundred fifty medicinal immunomodulatory plants are currently identified to find novel immunomodulatory drugs. Of these plants, the plant family Asteraceae also takes the first rank by offering 18 plant species (12%). Similarly of the plants studied so far, 40% belong to the Asteraceae family. Echinacea purpurea of this family is most known for its immunostimulating activity. The most prominent immune-active bioactive molecules are polyphenols, terpenoids, and alkaloids. Also, eight plant bioactive immunomodulators were checked for clinical trials and found in the market. These are six immunosuppressants, resveratrol, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, quercetin, colchicine, capsaicin, and andrographolide, and two immunostimulants, curcumin and genistein. Nowadays, there are a lot of polyherbal traditional medicinal products sold in the market and claimed to their immunomodulators. However, much work is still needed to find more active immunomodulatory agents. The mechanism by which immunomodulatory medicinal plant exert their effect is through the induction of cytokines and phagocyte cells and the inhibition of iNOS, PGE, and COX-2 synthesis.

Analyses of Elaeocarpus sphaericus Extract for Antioxidant, Antiproliferative and Gene Repression Activities against HIF-1α and VEGF.

The study presents antioxidant, phytochemical, anti-proliferative, and gene repression activities against Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1) alpha and Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) of Elaeocarpus sphaericus extract. Elaeocarpus sphaericus dried and crushed plant leaves were extracted using water and methanol by ASE (Accelerated Solvent Extraction) method. Total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were used to measure the extracts' phytochemical activity (TFC). Antioxidant potential of the extracts was measured through DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and TRP. Methanolic extract of the leaves of E. sphaericus has shown a higher amount of TPC (94.666±4.040 mg/gm GAE) and TFC value (172.33±3.21 mg/gm RE). The antioxidant properties of extracts in the yeast model (Drug Rescue assay) showed promising results. Ascorbic acid, gallic acid, hesperidin, and quercetin were found in the aqueous and methanolic extracts of E. sphaericus at varying amounts, according to a densiometric chromatogram generated by HPTLC analysis. Methanolic extract of E. sphaericus (10 mg/ml) has shown good antimicrobial potential against all bacterial strains used in the study except E. coli. The anticancer activity of the extract in HeLa cell lines ranged from 77.94±1.03 % to 66.85±1.95 %, while it ranged from 52.83±2.57 % to 5.44 % in Vero cell lines at varying concentration (1000 µg/ml-31.2 µg/ml). A promising effect of extract was observed on the expression activity of HIF-1 and VEGF gene through RT-PCR assay.

Computational prediction and analysis of targeting 17-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17-beta-HSD1) with natural products for colorectal cancer treatment.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a type of cancer that occurs in the colon or rectum and kills millions of people each year. Steroid hormones are interconverted between their potent, high-affinity forms by using 17-beta hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase for their respective receptors in these tissues, with a high probability of random genetic errors. Currently, 17-beta-HSD1 studies have revealed the role of steroid metabolism in the development and proliferation of colorectal cancer. However, there is little information on how to target this enzyme with either modern medicine or natural products. In this study, we looked at 17-beta-HSD1 as a target for treating CRC development and proliferation using selected plant metabolites from previous studies. Plants are used to produce medicinal and novel bioactive compounds that are used to treat different infection. They primarily demonstrated anti-cancer effects through the regulation of cancer-related proteins, epigenetic factors and reactive oxygenase species. The study utilized Avogadro, ADMET lab 2.0, SWISS-MODEL, AutoDock, and Gromacs. Five lead molecules were chosen from a pool of plant metabolites based on their affinity for the 17-beta-HSD1 enzyme. Furthermore, two bind with high affinity are resveratrol (DG 11.29 kcal/mol) and folate (DG 12.23 kcal/mol) with low Ki values, while the rest binds with moderate affinity. Molecular dynamic simulation results also revealed that the folate-17-beta-HSD complex and reserverol- 17-beta-HSD1 complex maintained a stable conformation until the end of 100 ns. As a result, reserverol and folate could be used as lead molecules to target 17-beta-HSD1 and provide a promising starting point for further in vivo research.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases with Plant Phytochemicals: A Review.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the world's leading killers, accounting for 30% deaths. According to the WHO report, CVDs kill 17.9 million people per year, and there will be 22.2 million deaths from CVD in 2030. The death rates rise as people get older. Regarding gender, the death rate of women by CVD (51%) is higher than that of men (42%). To decrease and prevent CVD, most people rely on traditional medicine originating from the plant (phytochemicals) in addition to or in preference to commercially available drugs to recover from their illness. The CVD therapy efficacy of 92 plants, including 15 terrestrial plants, is examined. Some medicinal plants well known to treat CVD are, Daucus carota, Nerium oleander, Amaranthus Viridis, Ginkgo biloba, Terminalia arjuna, Picrorhiza kurroa, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Tinospora cordifolia, Mucuna pruriens, Hydrocotyle asiatica, Bombax ceiba, and Andrographis paniculate. The active phytochemicals found in these plants are flavonoids, polyphenols, plant sterol, plant sulphur compounds, and terpenoids. A general flavonoid mechanism of action is to prevent low-density lipoprotein oxidation, which promotes vasodilatation. Plant sterols prevent CVD by decreasing cholesterol absorption in the blood. Plant sulphur compound also prevent CVD by activation of nuclear factor-erythroid factor 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and inhibition of cholesterol synthesis. Quinone decreases the risk of CVD by increasing ATP production in mitochondria while terpenoids by decreasing atherosclerotic lesion in the aortic valve. Although several physiologically active compounds with recognized biological effects have been found in various plants because of the increased prevalence of CVD, appropriate CVD prevention and treatment measures are required. More research is needed to understand the mechanism and specific plants' phytochemicals responsible for treating CVD.

Traditional and Phytochemical Bases of Herbs, Shrubs, Climbers, and Trees from Ethiopia for Their Anticancer Response.

Ethiopia is one of Africa's six plant-rich countries, with around 60% of the plants being indigenous and most of them having medicinal properties. 80% of people in the country use these plants as a primary health care system to tackle different diseases, including cancer. This review is aimed at summarizing the evidence gained from diverse MPs in Ethiopia that have been used ethnobotanically and ethnopharmacologically for treatment of cancer. The primary data sources were Google Scholar, Web of Science, Science Direct, Scopus, PubMed, and other electronic scientific databases. This literature review showed that there are around 200 MPs used as anticancer. Seventy-four herbs, 39 trees, 77 shrubs, and 17 weed/climbers belonging to 56 families have been identified for their ethnobotanical anticancer potential, and 31 species were recognized for their pharmaceutically anticancer activities. The reviewed data also indicated that many Ethiopian MPs had been used to treat breast, lung, blood, and skin cancers and other tumors. Besides, the collected data showed that the leaves (36.76%), roots (27.2%), bark (12.5%), stem (5.1%), and fruit (7.35%) of plants are commonly used for the preparation of anticancer remedies. Among the reported plant species, Euphorbiaceae (10.71%), Acanthaceae (7.14%), and Asteraceae (7.1%) are the most prominent plant families being used to treat cancer ethnobotanically. Phytochemicals such as flavonoids (like xanthone, indirubin, flavopiridol, and silybin), alkaloids (like taxol, vincristine, evodiamine, and berberine), and physalin B, D, and F steroids exhibited anticancer activity on various cancer cell lines. The crude extracts of Aerva javanica, Vernonia leopoldi, Withania somnifera, Kniphofia foliosa, and Catharanthus roseus were powerful anticancer agents with an IC50 value below 10 µg/mL. Although several Ethiopian plants possess anticancer potential, only a limited number of plants are scientifically studied. Therefore, more scientific studies on anticancer MPs should be carried out; it may lead to discovering and isolating cost-effective and safe anticancer drugs.