Antiurolithiatic effects of Cassia fistula Lin. fruit extracts on ethylene glycol-induced nephrolithiasis in rats.

Urinary stones are a growing disease that results from pathological biomineralization. Cassia fistula Lin. is traditionally used to treat urinary stones. However, no scientific evidence is available to prove its antilithiatic effect. This study evaluates the antilithiatic potential of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Cassia fistula Lin. fruit (Cff) against calcium oxalate kidney stones. Forty-two male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups (n = 6/group): Group I (control), Group II (rats treated with ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride developed nephrolithiasis after 28 days), Group III (lithiatic rats receiving distilled water for 30 days), Group IV and V (lithiatic rats receiving aqueous extract of Cff at doses of 1 and 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days, respectively) and Group VI and VII (lithiatic rats receiving ethanolic extract of Cff at doses of 1 and 100 mg/kg body weight for 30 days, respectively). Some parameters of urine and serum, and also renal oxidative stress and histopathology were used to determine the antilithiatic effect of aqueous and ethanolic extract of Cff. Therefore, the types of extracts of Cff improved abnormal levels of urine, serum, and renal oxidative stress and histopathology parameters. This antilithiatic effect of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cff, can be attributed to the anti-crystallization and antioxidant properties of the extracts and the ability to improve urine and serum biochemistry. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: Ethylene glycol and ammonium chloride-induced urolithiasis, aggregation of calcium oxalate deposits, increase of some urinary and serum parameters, relative kidney weight, kidney size and MDA activity, decrease of some urinary parameters, relative body weight and SOD activity. Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Cassia fistula Lin. lead to the treatment of urolithic rats by decreasing levels of urinary oxalate, phosphate, urea, serum urea, uric acid, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, MDA, kidney weight and kidney size, increasing levels of urinary calcium, creatinine, magnesium, citrate, body weight and SOD activity in the kidney, eliminating CaOx deposition (esp. ethanolic extract).

Anthraquinone Removal from Cassia obtusifolia Seed Water Extract Using Baking, Stir-Frying, and Adsorption Treatments: Effects on the Chemical Composition, Physicochemical Properties of Polysaccharides, and Antioxidant Activities of the Water Extract.

Safety issues of the controversial anthraquinones from Cassia obtusifolia seed water extracts (CWEs) limit its application. This work aimed to remove the anthraquinones of CWEs by baking treatment (BT), stir-frying treatment (ST), and adsorption treatment (AT). Effects of these treatments on the chemical composition, physicochemical properties of polysaccharides, and antioxidant activities of CWEs were analyzed and compared. Results indicated that AT exhibited the best removal effect on the total anthraquinone among the three treatments. After AT, the contents of rhein, emodin, aloe-emodin, and aurantio-obtusin of the CWE were below the limit of detection. In addition, AT increased the contents of neutral sugars in CWEs in comparison to BT and ST. None of the treatments had an obvious influence on the structural characteristics of polysaccharides. However, AT decreased the antioxidant activity of CWEs due to their lower anthraquinone content. In summary, AT was considered as an efficient and simple method to remove anthraquinones, while retaining the features of polysaccharides.

Antiproliferative Activity of Green Synthesised Silver Nanoparticles of Cassia Marginata Roxb.

Green synthesised silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have been identified as a promising new therapy pathway for cancer because of their anti-angiogenic potency. In the present study, CM-AgNPs were biosynthesized using aqueous leaf extract of Cassia marginata Roxb (CM) and were confirmed by spectral studies like UV-Visible and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopic techniques. The structure and shape of the biosynthesized CM-AgNPs were confirmed by scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDX), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) with selected area electron diffraction (SAED) studies. The antioxidant activity of the synthesized nanoparticles were evaluated by 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay methods, and the IC50 values were found to be 19.58 ± 1.62 and 742.33 ± 14.57 µg, respectively. The anticancer activity of CM-AgNPs was evaluated against human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazole-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, and the IC50 values were found to be 21.02 ± 1.67 and 26.21 ± 0.33 µg/ml, respectively. These results provide promising information about the biosynthesized CM-AgNPs that can be used in the development of novel anticancer drugs.

Indole Alkaloids and Chromones from the Stem Bark of Cassia alata and Their Antiviral Activities.

The Cassia (Leguminosae) genus has attracted a lot of attention as a prolific source of alkaloids and chromones with diverse structures and biological properties. The aim of this study is to screen the antiviral compounds from Cassia alata. The extract of the stem bark of this plant was separated using silica gel, MCI, ODS C18, and Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography, as well as semi-preparative HPLC. As a result, three new indole alkaloids, alataindoleins A-C (1-3); one new chromone, alatachromone A (4); and a new dimeric chromone-indole alkaloid, alataindolein D (5) were isolated. Their structures were determined by means of HRESIMS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies. Interestingly, alataindolein D (5) represents a new type of dimeric alkaloid with an unusual N-2-C-16' linkage, which is biogenetically derived from a chromone and an indole alkaloid via an intermolecular nucleophilic substitution reaction. Compounds 1-5 were tested for their anti-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) and anti-rotavirus activities, and the results showed that compounds 2-4 showed high anti-TMV activities with inhibition rates of 44.4%, 66.5%, and 52.3%, respectively. These rates were higher than those of the positive control (with inhibition rate of 32.8%). Compounds 1 and 5 also showed potential anti-TMV activities with inhibition rates of 26.5% and 31.8%, respectively. In addition, compounds 1-5 exhibited potential anti-rotavirus activities with therapeutic index (TI) values in the range of 9.75~15.3. The successful isolation and structure identification of the above new compounds provided materials for the screening of antivirus drugs, and contributed to the development and utilization of C. alata.

Aurantio-obtusin induces hepatotoxicity through activation of NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Aurantio-obtusin (AO) is a major anthraquinone (AQ) compound derived from Cassiae semen (CS). Although pharmacological studies have shown that the CS extracts can serve as effective agents in preclinical and clinical practice, AQ-induced hepatotoxicity in humans has attracted widespread attention. To explore whether AO induces hepatotoxicity and its underlying mechanisms, we exposed larval zebrafish and mice to AO. We found that AO delayed yolk sac absorption, and increased liver area and inflammation in the larval zebrafish. This inflammation was manifested as an increase in liver neutrophils and the up-regulated mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (Il-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (Tnf-α) in the larval zebrafish. Furthermore, a pharmacokinetics study showed that AO was quickly absorbed into the blood and rapidly metabolized in the mice. Of note, AO induced hepatotoxicity in a gender-dependent manner, characterized by liver dysfunction, increased hepatocyte necrosis with inflammatory infiltration, and up-regulated mRNAs of Il-6, Tnf-α and monocyte chemotactic protein 1(Mcp1) in the female mice after 28-day oral administration. It also highlighted that AO triggered NOD-like receptor protein (NLRP) signaling in the female mice, as evidenced by the increased NLRP3, Caspase-1, pro-IL-1ß, IL-1ß and IL-18. Finally, we found that AO led to a significant increase in potassium calcium-activated channel, subfamily N, member 4 (KCNN4) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, along with decreased nuclear factor kappa B p65 (NF-κB p65), in the female mouse livers. In conclusion, AO induced hepatotoxicity by activating NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, at least in part, through increased KCNN4 and ROS production, and NF-κB inhibition.

Online extraction and enrichment coupling with high-speed counter-current chromatography for effective and target isolation of antitumor anthraquinones from seeds of Cassia obtusifolia.

Traditional bioassay-guided investigation of bioactive compounds from natural products comprises critical steps, such as extraction, repeated column separation, and activity assay. Thus, the development of facile, rapid, and efficient technology is critically important. Here, a HepG2 cell-based extraction method was first developed to rapidly screen potential antitumor compounds from the seeds ofCassia obtusifolia. Then, an online extraction and enrichment-high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) strategy was fabricated to facilely and efficiently isolate target antitumor compounds, which included direct extraction from solid C. obtusifolia, removal of polar interferences, enrichment of target compounds, and preparative isolation by HSCCC using flow rate stepwise increasing mode. After further purification by Sephadex LH-20 column, five antitumor anthraquinones, aurantio-obtusin, 1-desmethylaurantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin, obtusin, and questin, were obtained for structural characterization and bioassay verification. The results may not only provide new perspectives for facile and rapid investigation of bioactive compounds from complex natural products, but also offer a scientific basis for the potential applications of C. obtusifolia.

Novel Triterpenoids from Cassia fistula Stem Bark Depreciates STZ-Induced Detrimental Changes in IRS-1/Akt-Mediated Insulin Signaling Mechanisms in Type-1 Diabetic Rats.

Here, we identified the mechanisms of action of antidiabetic activity of novel compounds isolated from Cassia fistula stem bark in STZ-diabetic animals. Novel triterpenoid compounds (C1, C2 and C3) were treated to STZ-administered diabetic animals at a concentration of 20mg/kg body weight orally for 60 days to assess their effects on plasma glucose, plasma insulin/C-peptide, serum lipid markers and the enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism, glucose oxidation and insulin signaling molecules. Oral administration of novel triterpenoid compounds to STZ-diabetic animals significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the plasma glucose concentration on the 7th, 15th, 30th, 45th and 60th daysin a duration-dependent manner (p < 0.05). Plasma insulin (p < 0.0001)/C-peptide (p < 0.0006), tissue glycogen (p < 0.0034), glycogen phosphorylase (p < 0.005), glucose 6-phosphatase (p < 0.0001) and lipid markers were significantly increased (p < 0.0001) in diabetic rats, whereas glucokinase (p < 0.0047), glycogen synthase (p < 0.003), glucose oxidation (p < 0.001), GLUT4 mRNA (p < 0.0463), GLUT4 protein (p < 0.0475) and the insulin-signaling molecules IR mRNA (p < 0.0195), IR protein (p < 0.0001), IRS-1 mRNA (p < 0.0478), p-IRS-1Tyr612 (p < 0.0185), Akt mRNA (p < 0.0394), p-AktSer473 (p < 0.0162), GLUT4 mRNA (p < 0.0463) and GLUT4 (p < 0.0475) were decreased in the gastrocnemius muscle. In silico analysis of C1-C3 with IRK and PPAR-γ protein coincided with in vivo findings. C1-C3 possessed promising antidiabetic activity by regulating insulin signaling mechanisms and carbohydrate metabolic enzymes.

Phytochemistry, Ethnopharmacological Uses, Biological Activities, and Therapeutic Applications of Cassia obtusifolia L.: A Comprehensive Review.

Cassia obtusifolia L., of the Leguminosae family, is used as a diuretic, laxative, tonic, purgative, and natural remedy for treating headache, dizziness, constipation, tophobia, and lacrimation and for improving eyesight. It is commonly used in tea in Korea. Various anthraquinone derivatives make up its main chemical constituents: emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, obtusifolin, obtusin, au rantio-obtusin, chryso-obtusin, alaternin, questin, aloe-emodin, gluco-aurantio-obtusin, gluco-obtusifolin, naphthopyrone glycosides, toralactone-9-ß-gentiobioside, toralactone gentiobioside, and cassiaside. C. obtusifolia L. possesses a wide range of pharmacological properties (e.g., antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective properties) and may be used to treat Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and cancer. In addition, C. obtusifolia L. contributes to histamine release and antiplatelet aggregation. This review summarizes the botanical, phytochemical, and pharmacological features of C. obtusifolia and its therapeutic uses.

The medicinal properties of Cassia fistula L: A review.

Medicinal plant species contain vast and unexploited riches of chemical substances with high medical potential making these plant species valuable as biomedicine sources. Cassia fistula L is an important medicinal plant used in many traditional medicinal systems including Ayurveda and Chinese Traditional Medicine. It is a deciduous medium sized tree with elongated and rod-shaped fruits having pulp and have bright yellow flowers, earning the name 'Yellow Shower'. The present review provides a version of updated information on its botanical description and pharmacological properties including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, antitumor, hepatoprotective among other activities. Pharmacological reviews on medicinal plants will provide valuable information; thus, Cassia fistula L can provide important discoveries of valuable bioactive natural products facilitating in developing novel pharmaceuticals products.

Cassia sieberiana DC. leaves modulate LPS-induced inflammatory response in THP-1 cells and inhibit eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: According to ethnobotanical surveys, Cassia sieberiana DC. (1825) is a particularly reputed species in African folk Medicine, namely due to the application of its leaves and roots for the treatment of diseases and symptomatology that appear to be related with an inflammatory background. In contrast with the roots of the plant, the leaves remain to be investigated, which prompted us to further detail mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory properties, by using in vitro models of disease. AIM OF THE STUDY: Considering its use in the amelioration and treatment of conditions that frequently underlie an inflammatory response, C. sieberiana leaves extract was prioritized amongst a collection of extracts obtained from plants collected in Guinea-Bissau. As such, this work aims to deliver experimental data on the anti-inflammatory properties of C. sieberiana leaf and to establish possible associations with its chemical composition, thus providing a rationale on its use in folk Medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chemical profile of an hydroethanol extract obtained from the leaves of the plant was established by HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn in order to identify bioactives. The extract and its main compound were tested towards a series of inflammatory mediators, both in enzymatic and cell-based models. The capacity to interfere with the eicosanoid-metabolizing enzymes 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX), cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and -2 (COX-2) was evaluated in cell-free systems, while the effects in interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels produced by THP-1 derived macrophages were assessed through ELISA. RESULTS: HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis of the extract elucidated a chemical profile qualitatively characterized by a series of anthraquinones, particularly rhein derivatives, and nine flavonols, most of which 3-O-glycosylated. Considering the concentrations of the identified compounds, quercetin was detached as the main component. Effects of the hydroethanol extract obtained from C. sieberiana leaves against key enzymes of the arachidonic acid cascade were recorded, namely a concentration-dependent inhibition against 5-LOX, at concentrations ranging from 16 to 250 µg mL-1 and a selective inhibitory action upon COX-2 (IC50 = 3.58 µg mL-1) in comparison with the isoform COX-1 (IC50 = 9.10 µg mL-1). Impact on inflammatory cytokines was also noted, C. sieberiana leaf extract significantly decreasing IL-6 levels in THP-1 derived macrophages at 250 and 500 µg mL-1. In contrast, TNF-α levels were found to be increased in the same model. Quercetin appears to partially account for the observed effects, namely due to the significant inhibitory effects on the activity of the arachidonic acid metabolizing enzymes COX-2 and 5-LOX. CONCLUSIONS: The anti-inflammatory effects herein reported provide a rationale for the use of C. sieberiana leaves in African folk practices, such as in the treatment of arthritis, rheumatism and body aches. Considering the occurrence of flavonoidic and anthraquinonic constituents, as well as the observed anti-inflammatory properties of quercetin, recorded effects must be related with the presence of several bioactives.

Chronic Inflammatory-Modulating Potential of Cassia auriculata with Proinflammatory Cytokine IL-1beta and Its Anticancer Effect on Lung Cancer Cell Line.

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a key element in tumor progression, over time, persistent inflammation causes damage to DNA and leads to cancer. The relationship between chronic inflammation and tumor development is well established, blocking of which can help in cancer prevention and treatment in the future. OBJECTIVE: Hence, with this background, the present study aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and anticancer potential of Cassia auriculata (CA) solvent fractions through in silico and in vitro means, respectively. METHODS: Generally, inflammatory mediators play a key task in chronic inflammation, following its inflection was chosen for their interactions with nine structurally varied phytoconstituents of CA identified through GCMS. The ethanolic extract of CA was assessed for its apoptotic effects on A549 lung cancer cells by 3-(4,5- dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, JC-10 staining, DNA fragmentation assay and quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). RESULTS: The interactions between bioactive components and target protein revealed that important molecules like 5,7-dihydroxy-2-[2-nethoxyphenyl]- 4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, a flavonoid, and three other components can bind target interleukin 1-beta associated with lung cancer. In vitro data also confirmed that the diverse active components of CA extract might follow the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway to provoke cancer cell death. CONCLUSION: Hence, these findings strongly propose that Cassia auriculata (CA) solvent fractions could be exploited in the future to design ligands for obtaining novel leads for treating chronic inflammation linked with lung cancer, and also the extracts of CA can be recommended as a potential agent for lung cancer chemotherapy.

Self-assembling crystals of an extract of Flos Sophorae Immaturus for improving the antioxidant, mechanical and barrier properties of a cassia gum film.

A novel antioxidative film was prepared by drying a film-forming solution containing the Flos Sophorae Immaturus extract (FSIE) (0-3.5%) and cassia gum (CG). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that FSIE was successfully compounded with CG. Although the addition of FSIE slightly increased the water vapor permeability (WVP) and O2 permeability (OP) of the film, it also improved its ability to block ultraviolet light significantly. The appropriate amounts of FSIE increased the tensile strength (TS) from 20.9 MPa to 30.2 MPa but reduced the elongation at break (EB) from 38.7% to 27.6%. The films doped with FSIE exhibited strong antioxidative activity and high rates of free radical scavenging. Total phenols exhibited a positive trend as the amount of FSIE increased in 50% of ethanol. The practical application of these composite films was investigated by evaluating the quality of lard wrapped in the films. After 25 d, the acid value (XAV) and peroxide value (POV) of lard packaged in CG/FSIE2% were lower than the values for lard packaged in CG/FSIE0% and plastic bag. These results showed that the CG/FSIE film had superior antioxidative activity compared to films made from plastic and pure CG.

Bark extract of Cassia sieberiana DC. (Caesalpiniaceae) displayed good antibacterial activity against MDR gram-negative phenotypes in the presence of phenylalanine-arginine ß-naphthylamide.

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria remain a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro antibacterial activities of crude methanol extract and constituents isolated by Column Chromatography (CC) from Cassia sieberiana bark (CSB) against ten MDR Gram-negative bacteria, as well as the mechanisms of action of the most active sample. METHODS: The antibacterial activity of the tested samples (extract, the fractions and their compounds isolated by CC and the structures obtained by exploiting 1H and 13C Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectra) in the presence and absence of an efflux pumps inhibitor, phenylalanine-arginine ß-naphthylamide (PAßN), was evaluated using the micro-dilution method. The effects of the most active sample were evaluated on the cell growth kinetic and on the bacterial H+-ATPase proton pumps. RESULTS: Phytochemical composition of the crude extract showed a rather selective distribution of secondary metabolites (presence of polyphenols, tannins, steroids, triterpenes, flavonoids, alkaloids, saponins and absence of anthocyanins, anthraquinones). The tested samples displayed different antibacterial activities with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 64 to 512 µg/mL. Crude extract (CS) and fraction CSc showed the highest inhibitory spectra, both inhibiting all of the studied bacteria except Enterobacter aerogenes EA27 strain. Fraction CSc exerted bactericidal effects on most bacteria meanwhile, crude extract (CS) and sub-fraction CSc2 exerted bacteriostatic effects. Compounds 1 (spectaline) and 2 (iso-6-cassine) inhibited the growth of 70% (Escherichia coli ATCC8739 and AG102, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC11296, Enterobacter aerogenes ATCC13048 and EA27, Providencia stuartii ATCC29916, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01) and 60% (Escherichia coli ATCC8739, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC11296 and KP55, Providencia stuartii ATCC29916, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 and PA124) of bacteria respectively with MICs ranging from 128 to 512 µg/mL. In the presence of PAßN, the activities of crude extract CS, fraction CAc and sub-fraction CSc2 strongly increased on most bacteria strains as their MICs significantly decreased. Sub-fraction CSc2 inhibited the H+-ATPase proton pumps and altered growth kinetic of Escherichia coli ATCC8739. CONCLUSION: The overall results justify the traditional use of C. sieberiana for the treatment of bacterial infections.

Alatains A and B, unique hetero-dimeric polyphenols from Cassia alata and their anti-tobacco mosaic virus activity.

Two structurally unique polyphenols, alatains A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the bark of Cassia alata. Their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1 and 2 represent a new type of hetero-dimeric polyphenols with a C-14-C-5' linkage, biogenetically formed by an unusual intermolecular oxidative phenol-coupling reaction between a chromone unit and an isocoumarin moiety. Moreover, compounds 1 and 2 showed significant anti-tobacco mosaic virus (anti-TMV) inhibition IC50 values of 18.8 and 11.4 µM, respectively. Alatains A and B also exhibited promising protective effects on TMV infection of the host plants (Nicotiana tabacum) with the inhibition rates of 54.6% and 69.7% at the concentration of 20 µM, respectively. The results provided a new structural template for potential anti-TMV agent discovery.

Aldose reductase inhibitor form Cassia glauca: A comparative study of cytotoxic activity with Ag nanoparticles (NPs) and molecular docking evaluation.

UPLC-MS/MS profiling of Cassia glauca leaves extract revealed the identification of 10 flavonoids. Kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-rutinoside was isolated and studied for its cytotoxic activity. It showed high cytotoxic effects against MCF-7 (IC50 of 4.6±0.038 µg/ml) and HepG-2 (IC50 of 8.2±0.024 µg/ml) cancer cell lines, compared to the leaves extracts, their Ag nanoparticles, and doxorubicin. Moreover, Kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-rutinoside exerted a synergistic cytotoxic effect with doxorubicin on MCF-7 cell lines. It was discovered as kinases and aldose reductase inhibitor while rationalizing its cytotoxic activity through molecular docking study. Thus, it is expected that the cardiotoxic effects of doxorubicin can be also decreased by using Kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-rutinoside due to its aldose reductase inhibitory effect. These findings suggested that Kaempferol 3-O-ß-D-rutinoside could be used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs to increase the sensitivity to their cytotoxic activity and protect against their side effects.

Bactericidal Effect and Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Cassia garettiana Heartwood Extract.

Natural products are used as alternative drugs in traditional medicine to treat infection and inflammation and relieve pain. Heartwood of Cassia garettiana Craib has been investigated as an ingredient in Thai traditional medicine for anti-HIV protease, but there is no report on its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The objectives of this study were to investigate the anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities, time-kill profile, and main active constituents of an ethanolic extract of C. garettiana heartwood. The study followed the generally accepted experimental design. All tests were investigated in triplicate. The heartwood of C. garettiana was extracted by maceration with 95% EtOH. The antibacterial activity of the extract and its chemical constituents were determined by their MIC values using resazurin as an indicator. Time-kill profile was determined at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and 24 hrs and expressed as log CFU/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity of the extract and its chemical components was investigated by their inhibiting effect on IL-6 and TNF-α production by ELISA. The ethanolic extract was analyzed for its chemical constituents by HPLC technique. The ethanolic extract showed both dose- and time-dependent bactericidal effects against Staphylococcus aureus, methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella Typhi, Salmonella Typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Shigella dysenteriae with MIC values of 312.5, 312.5, 312.5, 1,250, 2,500, 625, 625, 2,500, and 625 µg/mL, respectively. It showed an inhibiting effect on IL-6 production at concentrations of 12.5 to 100 µg/mL. The main active chemical constituent of C. garettiana was piceatannol that showed antibacterial activity against all test bacteria except P. aeruginosa. C. garettiana showed a broad spectrum of antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Piceatannol and resveratrol from the plant strongly inhibited IL-6 production. Based on these results, we concluded that the ethanolic extract of C. garettiana showed both an antibacterial activity and inhibition of IL-6. Piceatannol is the active constituent of the extract and showed anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.

In silico and in vitro approaches to evaluate the bioactivity of Cassia auriculata L extracts.

The present study is an attempt to evaluate the in vitro anti-inflammatory and in silico anticancer potentials of the plant Cassia auriculata (CA). The aerial parts of CA were subjected to solvent extraction, and the extracts were fractionised by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis for its phytochemical content. The antiinflammatory activity of the extracts were confirmed by the IC50 value of 125.02 µg/ml for red blood cell membrane stabilisation and 195.7 µg/ml for inhibition of protein denaturation activity. The interaction of bioactive compounds of CA ethanol extract with target protein was predicted through molecular docking studies, serine/threonine-protein kinase B (AKT1), responsible for development and progression of lung cancer using AutoDock tools. Extensive studies have been carried out on a range of kinase inhibitors targeting Akt, but obtaining promising results is a challenge yet due to its toxicity and resistance issues. Yohimbine, undecanoic acid 10-methyl-ethyl ester and chrysin significantly bind to the target protein with least binding energy. Hence, the present paper establishes the anti-inflammatory and anticancer capacities of CA ethanol extract as an alternative to the existing therapeutic approach to inflammation and cancer through a systematic in vitro and in silico approaches supplementing the findings.

Aloe-emodin: A review of its pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics.

Aloe-emodin is a naturally anthraquinone derivative and an active ingredient of Chinese herbs, such as Cassia occidentalis, Rheum palmatum L., Aloe vera, and Polygonum multiflorum Thunb. Emerging evidence suggests that aloe-emodin exhibits many pharmacological effects, including anticancer, antivirus, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiparasitic, neuroprotective, and hepatoprotective activities. These pharmacological properties lay the foundation for the treatment of various diseases, including influenza virus, inflammation, sepsis, Alzheimer's disease, glaucoma, malaria, liver fibrosis, psoriasis, Type 2 diabetes, growth disorders, and several types of cancers. However, an increasing number of published studies have reported adverse effects of aloe-emodin. The primary toxicity among these reports is hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity, which are of wide concern worldwide. Pharmacokinetic studies have demonstrated that aloe-emodin has a poor intestinal absorption, short elimination half-life, and low bioavailability. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the pharmacology, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of aloe-emodin reported to date with an emphasis on its biological properties and mechanisms of action.

The Effect of Ten Essential Oils on Several Cutaneous Drug-Resistant Microorganisms and Their Cyto/Genotoxic and Antioxidant Properties.

In this study, we determined the antimicrobial activity of ten essential oils (EOs)-oregano, thyme, clove, arborvitae, cassia, lemongrass, melaleuca, eucalyptus, lavender, and clary sage-against drug-resistant microorganisms previously isolated from patients with skin infections. The essential oil compositions were determined using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The assayed bacteria included Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Citrobacter koseri, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Two drug-resistant yeasts (Candida albicans and Candida parapsilosis) were also involved in our survey. Oregano, thyme, cassia, lemongrass and arborvitae showed very strong antibacterial and antifungal activity against all tested strains. These results show that these essential oils may be effective in preventing the growth of the drug-resistant microorganisms responsible for wound infections. In this study, the genotoxic effects of tested essential oils on healthy human keratinocytes HaCaT were evaluated using the comet assay for the first time. These results revealed that none of the essential oils induced significant DNA damage in vitro after 24 h. Moreover, the treatment of HaCaT cells with essential oils increased the total antioxidant status (TAS) level. The obtained results indicate that EOs could be used as a potential source of safe and potent natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Effects of Cassia alata Linn on bowel function recovery following surgery for gynecological cancer: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Postoperative ileus is a common complication following abdominal surgery. This study was undertaken to determine the effectiveness and safety of Cassia alata Linn in stimulating gastrointestinal function recovery among women with gynecologic cancer who had undergone laparotomy for surgical staging or cytoreductive surgery. METHODS: A total of 90 participants were randomly allocated to postoperative consumption of either Cassia alata Linn tea (n = 45) or warm water (N = 45). Outcomes of interest included time to first passage of flatus, time to first defecation, time to toleration of solid food, and ileus symptoms. Differences between the groups were measured as mean difference (MD) or odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: Women allocated to the Cassia alata Linn group had shorter times to first passage of flatus (MD -8.53; 95% CI -3.69, -13.38 h) and first defecation (MD -19.83; 95% CI -11.18, -28.48 h) compared with controls. There were no differences in terms of time to toleration of solid food (MD 0.26; 95% CI -2.13, 1.61 h) or ileus symptoms (OR 0.10; 95% CI 0.01, 1.94) between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Postoperative consumption of Cassia alata Linn hastens gastrointestinal function recovery after laparotomy in women with gynecologic cancer.