Green synthesis of magnesium nanoparticles mediated from Rosa floribunda charisma extract and its antioxidant, antiaging and antibiofilm activities.

Flower based nanoparticles has gained a special attention as a new sustainable eco-friendly avenue. Rosa floribunda charisma belongs to modern roses with bright yellow, red flowers with marvellous rose scent. Different methods were used for the extraction of its floral scent such as hexane, microwave, and solid-phase micro-extraction. The latter was the most efficient method for the extraction of phenyl ethyl alcohol, the unique scent of roses. In the current study, magnesium nanoparticles (RcNps) have been synthesized using Rosa floribunda charisma petals that have privileges beyond chemical and physical routs. RcNps formation was confirmed using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), High Resolution-Transmission Electron Microscope (HR-TEM), Field Emission-Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), X-ray Diffractometer (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). HR-TEM images detected the polyhedral shape of RcNps with a diverse size ranged within 35.25-55.14 nm. The resulting RcNps exhibited a high radical scavenging activity illustrated by inhibition of superoxide, nitric oxide, hydroxyl radical and xanthine oxidase by by IC50 values 26.2, 52.9, 31.9 and 15.9 µg/ml respectively as compared to ascorbic acid. Furthermore, RcNps at concentration of 100 µg/ml significantly reduced xanthine oxidase activity (15.9 ± 0.61 µg/ml) compared with ascorbic acid (12.80 ± 0.32 µg/ml) with p < 0.05. Moreover, RcNps showed an excellent antiaging activity demonstrated by inhibition of collagenase, elastase, hyaluronidase and tyrosinase enzymes in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 58.7 ± 1.66 µg/ml, 82.5 ± 2.93 µg/ml, 191.4 ± 5.68 µg/ml and 158.6 ± 5.20 µg/ml as compared to EGCG respectively. RcNps also, exhibited a promising antibacterial activity against three skin pathogens delineate a significant threat to a public health, as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa with MIC of 15.63, 7.81, 31.25 µg/ml as compared to ciprofloxacin (7.81, 3.9 and 15.63 µg/ml). Moreover, RcNps suppressed the formation of biofilms with minimum biofilm inhibitory concentrations 1.95, 1.95, 7.81 µg/ml against the fore mentioned strains, respectively. Overall, our findings indicate that Rosa floribunda nanoparticles could be used as a leading natural source in skin care cosmetic industry.

Bioassay-guided fractionation and identification of antidiabetic compounds from the rind of Punica Granatum Var. nana.

This study aimed to evaluate the antidiabetic potential of the rind of Punica granatum var. nana. Acute oral toxicity test revealed the safety profile of its ethanolic extract. The extract was administered at 200 mg/kg b.wt to streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Serum diagnostic markers of diabetes (insulin, glucose and glycated hemoglobin), inflammatory mediators (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide), and oxidative stress (total antioxidant capacity and reduced glutathione and malondialdehyde) were assayed. The ethanolic extract was further fractionated and assessed for the aforementioned bioactivities at two different doses (100 and 200 mg/kg b.wt). The results revealed that the ethyl acetate fraction of rind exhibited the highest activities. Using different chromatographic techniques, four compounds were isolated and identified as rutin, gallic acid, nictoflorin, and tulipanin. In conclusion: The ethyl acetate fraction of the rind of Punica granatum var. nana may provide a potential therapeutic approach for hyperglycemia.

Hepatoprotective potential of standardized Ficus species in intrahepatic cholestasis rat model: Involvement of nuclear factor-κB, and Farnesoid X receptor signaling pathways.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ficus is an important commercial crop not only for its nutritive value but also, for its medicinal value. Several Ficus species have been traditionally used in the Egypt, Indian and Chinese as carminative, astringent, antibacterial, hepatoprotective, and hypolipidemic agents. AIM OF THE STUDY: To standardize and compare the possible hepatoprotective potential of the ethanolic extract of leaves of five tested Ficus species namely: Ficus mysorensis Roth ex Roem. & Schult, Ficus pyriformis Hook. & Arn., Ficus auriculata Lour., Ficus trigonata L., and Ficus spragueana Mildbr. & Burret in the intrahepatic cholestasis rat model induced by 17α-Ethinylestradiol (EE) and to explore the mechanism of action with respect to their phytochemical constituents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Determination of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, chromatographic examination and acute oral toxicity test were performed on the tested Ficus extracts. Animals were divided into 8 groups. Group 1, served as control for 2 weeks. Group 2, untreated cholestatic rats. Groups 3-8, pretreated with Ficus extracts (100 mg/Kg/day, p.o) or ursodeoxycholic acid (as reference drug) for 2 weeks and injected by EE in the last 5 days. Serum liver function test, 5'-nucleotidase (5'-N), total bile acids (TBA), total cholesterol (T.C) and phospholipids were assayed. Also, hepatic Na+/K+-ATPase, nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), hemeoxygenase-1 (HO-1), and markers of oxidative stress were investigated. Furthermore, molecular docking study was performed to explore the ability of the major constituents of Ficus to interact with Farnesoid X receptor (FXR). RESULTS: Four phenolic compounds (gallic, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acids and rutin) were identified. Chlorogenic acid and rutin represented the major constituents of Ficus extracts. Simultaneous administration of Ficus extracts with EE effectively: i- preserved liver function, TBA, T.C and phospholipids, ii- suppressed the pro-inflammatory cytokines (NF-κB and TNF-α), iii- enhanced hepatic regeneration (HGF) and antioxidant defense system. Furthermore, molecular docking reveals that rutin and chlorogenic acid effectively act as FXR agonists. CONCLUSION: Among the tested extracts, Ficus spragueana Mildbr. & Burret enriched with phenolics exhibited a pronounced hepatoprotective activity and may provide a new therapeutic approach for estrogen-induced cholestasis.

Antidepressant-Like Effect of Selected Egyptian Cultivars of Flaxseed Oil on a Rodent Model of Postpartum Depression.

Flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum L.) is a multipurpose crop with health promoting potential. This study was undertaken to investigate the fatty acid profile and yield of fixed oil of six Egyptian flaxseed cultivars. The selected cultivars with the highest content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (G9 and G10) were assessed for their antidepressant-like effect in rat model of postpartum depression (PPD) induced by hormone-simulated pregnancy followed by hormone withdrawal and compared to fluoxetine. As compared to control group, administration of G9 and G10 (270 mg/kg/day, p.o) for two weeks during the postpartum period can alleviate anxiety and depressive-like behaviors and biochemical changes in PPD-induced rats. This was confirmed by evaluation of anxiety-like behaviors (elevated plus maze, open field test, and forced swim test tests), in addition to biochemical analysis (brain monoamine oxidase-A, corticosterone level, proinflammatory cytokines, and hippocampal redox state). In conclusion, flaxseed oil of Egyptian cultivars G9 and G10 exhibited significant antidepressant-like effect in rat model of PPD without affecting locomotor activity. At the treatment doses, the antidepressant-like activity of Giza 9 oil is comparable to fluoxetine.

Anti-arthritic activity of 11-O-(4'-O-methyl galloyl)-bergenin and Crassula capitella extract in rats.

OBJECTIVES: Isolation and identification of phytochemicals of Crassula capitella (Thunberg), evaluation of the anti-arthritic potential of the extract and the major isolated compound; 11-O-(4'-O-methyl galloyl)-bergenin and underlying their mechanism on rat model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS: Different fractions were subjected to column chromatography giving fourteen compound identified by mass and NMR spectroscopic techniques. RA was induced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the right hind paw of rats. Influence of tested samples in comparable to methotrexate on paw oedema, body weight gain, serum diagnostic markers, cartilage and bone degeneration enzymes, pro-inflammatory mediators and oxidative stress biomarkers in arthritic rats. KEY FINDINGS: Fourteen phenolic compounds were isolated and identified for the first time from C. capitella. The major compound identified as 11-O-(4'-O-methyl galloyl)-bergenin. Treatment of arthritic rats with extract or 11-O-(4'-O-methyl galloyl)-bergenin with the tested doses can reduce the progression and severity of RA. CONCLUSION: Crassula capitella is a new natural and abundant source for 11-O-(4'-O-methyl galloyl)-bergenin for resolving chronic inflammatory diseases as RA through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and membrane stabilizing mechanism.

Phenolic content and anti-hyperglycemic activity of pecan cultivars from Egypt.

CONTEXT: Pecans are commonly used nuts with important health benefits such as anti-hyperglycemic and anti-hyperlipidemic effects. OBJECTIVE: A comparative investigation of the antihyperglycemic and total phenolic content of the leaves and shells of four pecan cultivars growing in Egypt was carried out. The selected cultivars (cv.) were Carya illinoinensis Wangneh. K. Koch. cv. Wichita, cv. WesternSchely, cv. Cherokee, and cv. Sioux family Juglandaceae. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the leaves and shells of pecan cultivars were carried out using Folin-Ciocalteu's and aluminum chloride assays, respectively. Moreover, HPLC profiling of phenolic and flavonoid contents was carried out using RP-HPLC-UV. In addition, in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity of the ethanolic extracts (125 mg/kg bw, p.o.) of C. illinoinensis cultivars was carried out using streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in Sprague-Dawley rats for 4 weeks. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Phenolic contents were higher in shells than leaves in all studied cultivars, while flavonoids were higher in leaves. Leaves and shells of cv. Sioux showed the highest phenolics (251.7 µg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g), and flavonoid contents (103.27 µg rutin equivalent (RE)/g and 210.67 µg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g), respectively. The HPLC profiling of C. illinoinensis cultivars resulted in the identification of eight flavonoids (five of these compounds are identified for the first time from pecan), and 15 phenolic acids (six are identified for the first time from pecan). Leaves of cv. Sioux revealed the most potent decrease in blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c%) (194.9 mg/dl and 6.52%, respectively), among other tested cultivars. Moreover, leaves of cv. Sioux significantly elevated serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and reduced glutathione (GSH) (0.33 mMol/l and 30.68 mg/dl, respectively), and significantly suppressed the markers of both lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde, MDA) and protein oxidation (protein carbonyl, PC) (14.25 µmol/ml and 3.18 nmol/mg protein, respectively). CONCLUSION: Different pecan cultivars showed significant variation in its phenolic and flavonoid contents and consequently their antioxidant and anti-hyperglycemic effects.

A profile of bioactive compounds of Rumex vesicarius L.

The present study was designed to investigate the bioactive compounds in extracts of Rumex vesicarius L. (Polygonaceae), a wild edible herb growing in Egypt. Ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of leaves of R. vesicarius were conducted by HPLC-PDA-MS/MS-ESI in the negative mode to analyze phenolics content. Results revealed the identification of 13 phenolic compounds: 8-C-glucosyl-apigenin, 8-C-glucosyl-luteolin, 6-C-hexosyl-quercetin, 3-O-rutinosyl-quercetin, 7-O-rhamno-hexosyl-diosmetin, 7-O-rhamno-acetylhexosyl-diosmetin, catechin, epicatechin, ferulohexoside, 6-C-glucosyl-naringenin, epicatechin gallate, 6-C-glucosyl-catechin, and epigallocatechin gallate. Quantification of the identified compounds revealed that 6-C-glucosyl-naringenin was the major compound. Also, qualitative and quantitative analysis of the hydro-ethanolic extract of leaves was carried out for ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol, ß-carotene. The essential oil as well as lipids analysis of saponifiable and unsaponifiable matters. The biochemical studies were conducted to evaluate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective potential of roots (REE), leaves (LEE), and fruits (FEE) ethanolic extracts of R. vesicarius (100 mg/kg b.wt., p.o., each) against hepatotoxicity induced by CCl(4) (0.5 mL/kg b.wt., p.o., 3 times a week) compared with silymarin (50 mg/kg b.wt., p.o.) as standard drug. The results confirmed that coadministration of the tested extracts or silymarin with CCl(4) for 4 wk exhibited a marked hepatoprotective activity, attributed to their antioxidant potential, membrane stabilizing effect, and antifibrogenic activities. Practical Application: Investigation of the effect of hommad as a safe hepatoprotective diet that prospectively directs the attention to a valuable therapeutic natural herb rich in bioactive constituents.