Exploring the Diverse Biological Properties of Cannabidiol: A Focus on Plant Growth Stimulation.

The aim of the current study was to compare some biological activities of edible oils enriched with 10 % of cannabidiol (CBD samples) from the Slovak market. In addition, hemp, coconut, argan, and pumpkin pure oils were also examined. The study evaluated the fatty acids content, as well as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, cytotoxic, and phytotoxic activities. The CBD samples presented antimicrobial activity against the tested bacterial strains at higher concentrations (10000 and 5000 mg/L) and antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata, Penicillium italicum and Aspergillus flavus. DPPH⋅ and FRAP assays showed greater activity in CBD-supplemented samples compared to pure oils and vitamin E. In cell lines (IPEC-J2 and Caco-2), a reduced cell proliferation and viability were observed after 24 hours of incubation with CBD samples. The oils showed pro-germinative effects. The tested activities were linked to the presence of CBD in the oils.

Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC. as a Potential Source of Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anti-Enzymatic Bioactive Molecules: Phytochemical Constituents, In Vitro and In Silico Pharmacological Analysis.

Plants with medicinal benefits are a crucial source of compounds for developing drugs. This study was designed to determine the chemical composition, antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and anti-enzymatic activities of Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC. We also reported the molecular interaction between identified molecules and several receptors associated with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities. A total of seventeen and thirteen compounds were identified in aqueous and methanolic extracts of P. incisa, respectively. The methanolic extract yielded a higher total content of polyphenols and flavonoids of about 84.80 ± 2.8 mg GAE/g and 28.30 ± 1.2 mg QE/g, respectively. Significant antibacterial activity was recorded for both extracts, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 30 to 36 µg/mL, and the result was comparable to the reference antibiotic control. Antibiofilm assays revealed that both extracts were able to reduce the attachment of bacterial cells to 96-well plates, but the highest antibiofilm activity was recorded against Staphylococcus aureus. The methanolic extract also showed anti-enzymatic potency and high antioxidant activity, as demonstrated by all assays used, including DPPH, FRAP, and ABTS. These results were further validated by in silico approaches, particularly the molecular interaction of the identified compounds with the targeted receptors. These findings present P. incisa as a significant source of antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and anti-enzymatic molecules.

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial Properties, and Anti-Enzymatic Effects of Eucalyptus Essential Oils Sourced from Tunisia.

This study was conducted to examine the chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs) from six Tunisian Eucalyptus species and to evaluate their anti-enzymatic and antibiofilm activities. The EOs were obtained through hydro-distillation of dried leaves and subsequently analyzed using GC/MS. The main class of compounds was constituted by oxygenated monoterpenes, particularly prominent in E. brevifolia (75.7%), E. lehmannii (72.8%), and E. woollsiana (67%). Anti-enzymatic activities against cholinesterases, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase were evaluated using spectrophotometric methods. Notably, the E. brevifolia, E. extensa, E. leptophylla, E. patellaris, and E. woollsiana EOs displayed potent acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition (IC50: 0.25-0.60 mg/mL), with E. lehmannii exhibiting lower activity (IC50: 1.2 mg/mL). E. leptophylla and E. brevifolia showed remarkable α-amylase inhibition (IC50: 0.88 mg/mL), while E. brevifolia and E. leptophylla significantly hindered α-glucosidase (IC50 < 30 mg/mL), distinguishing them from other EOs with limited effects. Additionally, the EOs were assessed for their anti-biofilm properties of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes) and Gram-negative (Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) bacterial strains. The E. extensa EO demonstrated the main antibiofilm effect against E. coli and L. monocytogenes with an inhibition > 80% at 10 mg/mL. These findings could represent a basis for possible further use of Eucalyptus EOs in the treatment of human microbial infections and/or as a coadjutant in preventing and treating Alzheimer's disease and/or diabetes mellitus.

Fatty Acid Profiles and Biological Activities of the Vegetable Oils of Argania spinosa, Pinus halepensis and Pistacia atlantica Grown in Tunisia: A Preliminary Study.

Several foods are used in both the nutraceutical and health sectors; vegetable oils, for example, can prevent the onset of numerous diseases. The properties of these oils are related to their chemical composition and primarily to the presence of fatty acids. The present work aimed to determine the chemical profiles of Argania spinosa, Pinus halepensis, and Pistacia altantica oils, used in traditional Tunisian foods, and to evaluate some biological properties. We evaluated their antioxidant, anti-enzymatic, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. Linoleic acid was the main component of the three oils. P. atlantica oil showed more significant inhibitory activity against the enzymes studied than A. spinosa and P. halepensis. All three oils showed similar antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, A. spinosa and P. halepensis oils showed antibiofilm activity against P. aeruginosa, with 30-40% inhibition. These results focus on the possible use of these oils in the nutraceutical and healthcare sectors.

Impact of drying methods on the yield and chemistry of Origanum vulgare L. essential oil.

Oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is mainly cultivated, both as fresh and dried herb, for several purposes, such as ailments, drugs, and spices. To evaluate the influence of some drying methods on the chemical composition of the essential oil of oregano, its aerial parts were dehydrated by convective drying techniques (shade, static oven), microwave-assisted heating (three different treatments) and osmotic treatment. The oils were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The highest essential oil yield was achieved from microwave and shade drying methods. In total, 39 components were found, with carvacrol (ranging from 56.2 to 81.4%) being the main constituent; other compounds present in lower amounts were p-cymene (1.6-17.7%), γ-terpinene (0.8-14.2%), α-pinene (0.1-2.1%), thymol methyl ether (0.4-1.8%) and thimoquinone (0.5-3.5%). The essential oil yields varied among the different treatments as well as the relative compositions. The percentages of p-cymene, γ-terpinene and α-pinene decreased significantly in the dried sample compared with the fresh sample; on the other hand, carvacrol, isoborneol and linalool increased significantly in the dried materials. The choice of the drying method for obtaining the essential oil therefore appears crucial not only in relation to the higher yield but also and above all in reference to the percentage presence of components that can direct the essential oil toward an appropriate use.

Two representatives of lamiaceae essential oils and their main components cause changes in glutathione related enzymatic activities.

Lavandula angustifolia Mill. (lavender) and Origanum heracleoticum L. (greek oregano) are aromatic plants used in traditional medicine for relief of convulsion, anxiety, insomnia and in the treatment of neurological disorders. On the basis of literature, we evaluated the changing in glutathione enzymatic activities provoked by the essential oils and pure components, linalool, carvacrol and limonene to study the mechanisms of action, responsible for several activities. Activities of SOD (superoxide dismutase) and GPx (glutathione peroxidase) tend to increase respect to control. SOD maximal increase reached up to 117% for carvacrol and limonene. Increase in GPx activity reached even up to value 1.229 for origanum oil in comparison to control 0.125 µkat/mg prot. Activities of GR (glutathione reductase), except for lavender, showed a biphasic response. Like for GR, the administration of compounds, resulted in a biphasic response in GST (glutathione-S-transferase) activities (with a consistent increase in activity at concentration 125 µg/mL for all compounds except lavender). Moreover, the changes in GSH (reduced glutathione), are no significant for different concentrations of essential oils. So, the biological properties of essential oils and specifically, the antioxidant ones, can be related to their capacity to modify the glutathione enzymatic activities.

Study of Bio-Pharmaceutical and Antimicrobial Properties of Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Leathery Exocarp Extract.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) fruits are important sources of vitamins and minerals and widely used in the dietary supplement industry. An aqueous extract of its leathery exocarp (LEP) was obtained by a solid-phase micro-extraction method. The antifungal activity was examined against the phytopathogenic fungi, Fusarium oxysporum, Phytophthora cinnamomi, Penicillium digitatum and Botrytis cinerea, and the antibacterial activity was evaluated against Escherichia coli, Xanthomonas campestris, Bacillus megaterium and Clavibacter michiganensis. The antimicrobial assays showed, in some cases, a promising antimicrobial effect compared to the synthetic drugs. The possible anti-acetylcholinesterase and antioxidant activities of the LEP extract were investigated by the Ellman's assay and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test, respectively, and their results showed that the LEP extract has an effective anti-acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effect and an antioxidant activity. Thus, the LEP extract could be valid as a candidate for further studies on the use of pomegranate in neurodegenerative diseases as a food preservative and a suitable substitute to control several phytopathogens.

Lavender and coriander essential oils and their main component linalool exert a protective effect against amyloid-ß neurotoxicity.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder leading to cognitive deficits and cognitive decline. Since no cure or preventing therapy is currently available to counteract AD, natural-derived compounds are investigated to find new potential neuroprotective agents for its treatment. In the present study, we tested the neuroprotective effect of lavender and coriander essential oils (EOs) and their main active constituent linalool, against the neurotoxicity elicited by Aß1-42 oligomers, a key molecular factor in the neurodegeneration of AD. Importantly, our findings on neuronally differentiated PC12 cells exposed to Aß1-42 oligomers are in accordance with previous in vivo studies reporting the neuroprotective potential of lavender and coriander EOs and linalool. We found that lavender and coriander EOs at the concentration of 10 µg/mL as well as linalool at the same concentration were able to improve viability and to reduce nuclear morphological abnormalities in cells treated with Aß1-42 oligomers for 24 hours. Lavender and coriander EOs and linalool also showed to counteract the increase of intracellular reactive oxygen species production and the activation of the pro-apoptotic enzyme caspase-3 induced by Aß1-42 oligomers. Our findings provide further evidence that these EOs and their main constituent linalool could be natural agents of therapeutic interest against Aß1-42 -induced neurotoxicity.

Chemical Characterization and Antibiofilm Activities of Bulbs and Leaves of Two Aglione (Allium ampeloprasum var. holmense Asch. et Graebn.) Landraces Grown in Southern Italy.

The present study was carried out to determine some biochemical characteristics, in particular the total polyphenol content and the free radical scavenging activity, of the extracts recovered from bulbs and aerial parts (these last often considered as by-products) of two landraces of A. ampeloprasum var. holmense cultivated in Southern Italy. For the first time, the capacity of the extracts of these landraces to inhibit the formation of biofilm of different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and to affect the metabolism of the cells present within the bacterial biofilm was evaluated. All extracts exhibited an amount of total polyphenols not lower than 2.86 mg/g of dried product and revealed a noteworthy antioxidant activity, with EC50 values not exceeding 4.95 mg. In both cases, the aerial parts extracts were more effective than the bulb extracts, which also showed a minor amount of total polyphenols. The extracts inhibited mainly the adhesive capability of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, by 95.78% and 85.01%, respectively. The extracts demonstrated to inhibit also the metabolism of the bacterial cells reaching levels up to 90%. Finally, as assessed by the assays performed on the 24-h preformed biofilms, all the extracts were also capable to cause a reduction in bacterial biomass and to affect their metabolism.

Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Peels of Three Citrus Species.

BACKGROUND: Fruit peels are generally underutilized byproducts of the food industry, although they are valuable sources of bioactive compounds. The aim of this study is to evaluate a new application for three Citrus peel EOs as bio-herbicides. METHODS: After a micro-morphological evaluation of Citrus peels by SEM analysis, the phytochemical composition of the EOs of Citrus × bergamia Risso & Poit., Citrus × myrtifolia Raf., and Citrus limon (L.) Osbeck was characterized by GC/FID and GC/MS analyses. The in vitro phytotoxicity against germination and initial radical elongation of several crop and weed species was evaluated. Furthermore, the eco-compatibility of these EOs has been assessed by the brine shrimp (Artemia salina) lethality assay. RESULTS: SEM analysis highlighted the morphometric differences of the schizolysigenous pockets among the peels of the three Citrus species. Oxygenated monoterpenes are the main constituents in C. × bergamia (51.09%), whereas monoterpene hydrocarbons represent the most abundant compounds in C. × myrtifolia (82.15%) and C. limon (80.33%) EOs. They showed marked and selective phytotoxic activity in vitro, often at very low concentration (0.1 µg/mL) against all plant species investigated, without showing any toxicity on Artemia salina, opening the perspective of their use as safe bio-herbicides.

Thymol Chemotype Origanum vulgare L. Essential Oil as a Potential Selective Bio-Based Herbicide on Monocot Plant Species.

Searching for new bio-based herbicides is crucial for decreasing chemical pollution, protecting the environment, and sustaining biodiversity. Origanum vulgare is considered a promising source of essential oil with herbicidal effect. The mode of action is not known. The present study focused on (1) comparison of phytotoxic activity of Origanum vulgare EO on monocot (Triticum aestivum and Hordeum vulgare) and dicot species (Lepidium sativum and Sinapis alba); (2) and evaluating other antimicrobial biological activities against phytopatogen bacteria (Clavibacter michiganensis, Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola, Pseudomonas savastanoi, and Xanthomonas campestris); antifungal activity against Monilinia fructicola, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium expansum, and Botrytis cinerea; cytotoxic activity and antioxidant activity. According to the GC/MS analyses, the EO belongs to the thymol chemotype O. vulgare with its high content of thymol (76%). Germination of all four species was not influenced by EO. The phytotoxic effect was statistically significant in the monocot species, while in the dicot species the opposite was observed-a stimulation effect, which was also statistically significant. Strong biological activity of O. vulgare EO was noted on all phytopatogen bacteria and fungi in the highest dose. Cytotoxic activity showed an IC50 = 50.5 µg/mL. Antioxidant activity showed an IC50 = 106.6 µg/mL after 45 min experimental time. Based on the presented results, it is possible to conclude that thymol chemotype O. vulgare essential oil could be potentially used as a herbicide with selective effects on monocot plant species.

Influence of six essential oils on invasive Solidago canadensis L. seed germination.

Solidago canadensis L. (SC) (Canadian goldenrod) is a dangerous plant invader in Europe, which suppress the indigenous flora. Essential oils (EOs) are considered biological control agents. GC-MS analysis for identification of main components was conducted and the potential phytotoxicity of six EOs were also evaluated. Limonene and ß-thujone were dominant components in Salvia officinalis L., menthone and menthol in Mentha × piperita L., carvacrol in Origanum vulgare L., estragole/anisole and anethole in Foeniculum vulgare Mill., limonene and carvone in Anethum graveolens L., and anethole in Pimpinella anisum L. Along with EOs, anethole, anisole, camphor, carvone, estragole, limonene, menthol, menthone, thujone and thymol were used independently to evaluate phytotoxic effect against Canadian goldenrod seed germination. A significant inhibitory effect was registered for origanum (1.250 µg.ml-1). The influence of single components was significant. The highest phytotoxic activity was registered with anethole and estragole. Phenolic compounds were the inhibitoriest, followed by oxygenated and hydrocarbon monoterpenes.

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Artemisia herba-alba and Origanum majorana Essential Oils from Morocco.

Essential oils (EOs) are one of the most important groups of plant metabolites responsible for their biological activities. This study was carried out to study the chemical composition and the antimicrobial effects of Artemisia herba-alba and Origanum majorana essential oils against some Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and a fungal strain isolated from spoiled butter. The plants were collected in the region Azzemour of South West Morocco and the EOs, extracted by hydrodistillation, were analyzed by GC-MS. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the agar paper disc method. The main components of A. herba-alba EO were cis-thujone, trans-thujone and vanillyl alcohol; in O. majorana EO terpinen-4-ol, isopulegol and ß-phellandrene predominated. Both essential oils exhibited growth inhibiting activities in a concentration-dependent manner on several microorganism species. Our results demonstrated that O. majorana and A. herba-alba EOs could be effective natural antibacterial agents in foods.

Characterization and Phytotoxicity Assessment of Essential Oils from Plant Byproducts.

The present work describes the chemical characterization and the phytotoxicity assessment of essential oils (EOs) obtained from spent materials or pruning waste of four plant species: Zingiber officinale Roscoe used in the juicing industry, Pistacia vera L. var. Bronte used in the food industry, discarded material of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L. var. Futura 75), and pruning waste from Cupressus sempervirens L. The phytochemical profile of the EOs was evaluated by gas chromatographic flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and GC-MS analyses, which highlighted the presence of several compounds with a wide range of biological activities. Among them, application possibilities in agriculture were evaluated by studying the phytotoxic activity in vitro against germination and initial radical growth of several seeds such as Raphanus sativus L., Lepidium sativum L., Lactuca sativa L., Solanum lycopersicum L., Lolium multiflorum Lam., and Portulaca oleracea L.

Antimicrobial and Phytotoxic Activity of Origanum heracleoticum and O. majorana Essential Oils Growing in Cilento (Southern Italy).

There is a growing interest in a potential use of essential oils (EOs) as a replacement for traditional pesticides and herbicides. The aims of this study were to: (i) Identify the chemical composition of the two EOs derived from Origanum heracleoticum L. and O. majorana L., (ii) evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of the EOs against some postharvest phytopathogens (Botrytis cinerea, Penicillium expansum, Aspergillus niger and Monilinia fructicola), (iii) evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity against Bacillus megaterium, Clavibacter michiganensis, Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas fluorescens and P. syringae pv. phaseolicola, (iv) evaluate the effect of both studied EOs on the spore germination percentage and their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against M. fructicola, and (v) study the possible phytotoxicity of the two EOs and their major constituents, carvacrol for O. heracleoticum and terpinen-4-ol for O. majorana, against tha germination and initial radicle growth of radish, lettuce, garden cress and tomato. The two EOs demonstrated promising in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities against all tested microorganisms. EOs showed high inhibition of spore germination percentage at the minimal inhibitory concentration of 500 and 2000 µg/mL, respectively. Moreover, both germination and radical elongation of selected plant species were sensitive to the oils.

Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of Essential Oil Extracted from Solidago canadensis L. Growing Wild in Slovakia.

Plant essential oils (EOs) are one of the most relevant natural products due to their biological, medicinal, and nutritional properties. The promising biological effects of many plants EOs encourage researchers to study their biochemical properties to be used as possible natural alternatives for commercial pesticides and not only as herbal medicines. The current research has been conducted to study the microbicide effect of Solidago canadensis L. EO to control some common plant diseases caused by several postharvest phytopathogenic fungi (Monilinia fructicola, Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Penicillium expansum) in comparison with Azoxystrobin as a large spectrum fungicide. The antibacterial activity has been carried out against some phytopathogenic bacteria (Bacillus megaterium and Clavibacter michiganensis (G+ve) and Xanthomonas campestris, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola (G-ve)) compared to the synthetic antibiotic Tetracycline. Minimum inhibitory concentration was carried out to determine the lowest effective EO dose using a 96-well microplate. The cell membrane permeability was also evaluated by measuring the electric conductivity (EC) to examine the possible mechanisms of action of S. canadensis EO. Chemical characterization of EO has been carried out using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Thirty-two identified components in S. canadensis EO presented 97.7% of total compounds in EO. The principal compounds were identified as germacrene D (34.9%), limonene (12.5%), α-pinene (11.6%), ß-elemene (7.1%), and bornyl acetate (6.3%). In addition, S. canadensis EO demonstrated promising in vitro antimicrobial activities against the majority of tested phytopathogens at all tested concentrations.

Chemical and Biological Evaluation of Essential Oils from Cardamom Species.

To highlight the importance of the spices in the Mediterranean diet, the aim of the paper was to study the essential oil compositions and to clarify the potential differences in the biological activities of the three cardamom species. In the study, we compared the phytochemical profiles and biological activities of essential oils from Elettaria cardamomum, Aframomum corrorima and Amomum subulatum. The oils were analyzed using the GC and GC/MS techniques and were mainly constituted of the oxygenated monoterpenes which represents 71.4%, 63.0%, and 51.0% of all compounds detected in E. cardamomum, A. corrorima and A. subulatum essential oils, respectively, 1,8-cineole was the main common compound between the tree tested volatile oil. The essential oils showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative microorganisms tested especially the fungal strains. The Ethiopian cardamom was the most active essential oil with fungal growth inhibition zone ranging from 12.67 to 34.33 mm, MICs values ranging from 0.048 to 0.19 mg/mL, and MBCs values from 0.19 to 1.75 mg/mL. The three tested essential oils and their main component (1,8-cineole) significantly increased the production of elastase and protease production, and motility in P. aeruginosa PAO1 in a dose dependent manner. In fact, at 10 mg/mL concentration, the three essential oils showed more than 50% of inhibition of elastolytic and proteolytic activities in P. aeruginosa PAO1. The same oils inhibited also the violacein production in C. violaceum strain. It was also noticed that at high concentrations, the A. corrorima essential oil significantly inhibited the germination of radish. A thorough knowledge of the biological and safety profiles of essential oils can produce applications of economic importance.

Laurus nobilis: Composition of Essential Oil and Its Biological Activities.

Laurus nobilis is native to the southern Mediterranean region and cultivated mainly in Europe and the USA as an ornamental and medicinal plant. The chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from leaves of L. nobilis, collected in Southern Italy, was studied by GC and GC-MS. In all, 55 compounds were identified, accounting for 91.6% of the total oil. 1,8-Cineole (31.9%), sabinene (12.2%), and linalool (10.2%) were the main components. Antimicrobial and antifungal activities of EO and 1,8-cineole were determined in vitro. The cytotoxicity of the EO was evaluated against SH-SY5Y cell line, as well as the influence of the EO on the expression of adenylate cyclase 1 (ADCY1), suggesting possible oil effects on the Central Nervous System.

Chemical Composition, Antibacterial and Phytotoxic Activities of Peganum harmala Seed Essential Oils from Five Different Localities in Northern Africa.

Peganum harmala L., also known as Syrian rue or Pègano, is a herbaceous plant belonging to the Zygohpyllaceae family, and is widely used in traditional medicine. The chemical composition of essential oils of P. harmala seeds from five different regions of Northern Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia) was studied by GC and GC-MS analyses. A total of 105 compounds were identified, the main components being oxygenated monoterpenes and oxygenated sesquiterpenes. Eugenol is the main component in all oils. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils was assayed against some bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus (DSM 25693), Bacillus cereus (DSM 4313), Bacillus cereus (DSM4384), Escherichia coli (DMS 857) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 50071). All the oils showed different inhibitory activity. In the twentieth century this is an important result; we need possible new botanical drugs because the problem of resistance to antimicrobial drugs has become apparent. Moreover, the essential oils were evaluated for their possible in vitro phytotoxic activity against germination and initial radicle growth of Raphanus sativus L., Lepidium sativum L., and Ruta graveolens L. The results showed that both germination and radical elongation were sensitive to the oils.

Pereskia aculeata Muller (Cactaceae) Leaves: Chemical Composition and Biological Activities.

The aims of this work were to study the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Pereskia aculeata and to evaluate some biological activities of three leaf extracts. The phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities were determined. The methanol extract showed antioxidant activity (EC50 7.09 mg/mL) and high polyphenols content (15.04 ± 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g). The petroleum ether extract exhibited potent antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, whereas the chloroform extract showed inhibitory activity against Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus. The petroleum ether and methanol extracts were more effective in inhibiting the growth of Aspergillus versicolor. The possible cytotoxicity of extracts on neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cancer cell line and the influence on adenylate cyclase (ADCY) expression was also studied. P. aculeata chloroform extract showed antiproliferative activity with an IC50 value of 262.83 µg/mL. Treatments of SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with 100 µg/mL of methanol extract significantly reduced ADCY1 expression.