In vitro anthelmintic activity of Euphorbia forskalii J. Gay aqueous extracts evaluation on different life stages of Haemonchus contortus.

The use of medicinal plants in the control of gastrointestinal parasitosis is a promising solution for improving the productivity of sheep flocks. In order to evaluate the anthelmintic activity of Euphorbia forskallii, in vitro bioassays were performed on three life stages of Haemonchus contortus. Five aqueous extracts concentrations namely 10 mg/mL; 5 mg/mL; 2.5 mg/mL; 1.25 mg/mL and 0.62 mg/mL were used for adult worm mortality tests. Egg hatch inhibition and L3 larval migration inhibition tests were studied at 5 mg/mL; 2.5 mg/mL; 1.25 mg/mL; 0.62 mg/mL and 0.31 mg/mL. A negative control PBS and a positive control levamisole 2.5 mg/mL were established for each test. A phytochemical screening was performed to determine the presence of some secondary metabolites. The results obtained showed the presence of total polyphenols, total flavonoids and condensed tannins within the aqueous extracts of E. forskalii. A high and significant (P < 0.05) morality rate compared to the negative control with an LC50 of 2.30 mg/mL was obtained. Inhibition of egg hatch and larval migration were high and significant (p < 0.05) compared to the negative control. There was an IC50 of 1.03 mg/mL and 0.92 mg/mL respectively for inhibition of egg hatching and L3 larval migration. The present study revealed the in vitro anthelmintic activity of E. forskalii aqueous extracts and allows us to consider in perspective complementary studies to confirm this activity.

Increased anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced phytochemical concentrations in superfine powders obtained by controlled differential sieving process from four medicinal plants.

Anti-inflammatory effect of Rosa canina, Salix alba, Scrophularia nodosa and Hedera helix were studied in LPS-stimulated primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from mice (n=18) by comparing homogeneous powders of small microparticles (50-100 µm, 100-180 µm and 180-315 µm) obtained from plants via a controlled differential sieving process (CDSp) versus total plant materials obtained via hydroethanolic (HE) extraction. Further, phytochemical composition of the fine powders and HE extracts was determined by LC-PDA-ESI/MS analyses. Results showed that a one-hour pretreatment of PBMCs with fine powders, particularly those with superfine particle sizes (i.e. 50-100 µm and 100-180 µm), significantly inhibited TNFα, IL-1ß, IL-6 and NO production in LPS-stimulated PBMCs, by at least ca. 20% more than HE extracts (all, p<0.05). For each of the plants studied, their superfine powdered fractions were more concentrated in phenolic contents than their HE extracts. Overall, our results further confirm CDSp, as an environmentally friendly method, for improving the concentration of bioactive compounds as well as their biological activities.

Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Attributes and Larvicidal Activity of Mercurialis annua L. (Euphorbiaceae) Leaf Extracts against Tribolium confusum (Du Val) Larvae (Coleoptera; Tenebrionidae).

This study reports the link between larvicidal activity and the phytochemical composition of male and female leaf extracts of Mercurialis annua L. (M. annua) from four Tunisian regions: Bizerte, Jandouba, Nabeul and Beja. Their antioxidant activity was evaluated using DPPH (2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assays. Phenolic compounds were identified and quantified using liquid chromatography coupled with a UV detector and mass spectrometry (LC-UV-ESI/MS). Higher antioxidant activity (AOA) was found in the leaves of male plant extracts than of female ones. The leaves of male and female plant extracts from Bizerte exhibited the highest AOA: 22.04 and 22.78 mg Trolox equivalent/g dry matter (mg TE/g DM), respectively. For both sexes, plant extracts from Beja had the lowest AOA with 19.71 and 19.67 mg TE/g DM for male and female plants, respectively. Some phenolic compounds such as narcissin, gallocatechin, rutin, epigallocatechin and epicatechin were identified and quantified using LC-MS, which highlighted the abundance of narcissin and rutin in the male leaves of M. annua. We noted that the interaction between the sex of plants and the provenance had a significant effect on TFC (F = 6.63; p = 0.004) and AOA (F = 6.53; p = 0.004) assays, but there was no interaction between sex and origins for TPC (F = 1.76; p = 0.19). The larvicidal activity of aqueous leaf extracts of M. annua against Tribolium confusum (Du Val) (T. confusum), an insect pest of flour and cereal seeds, showed that the mortality could reach 100% after 48 h of exposure in the Bizerte region. The LC50 values for the leaf extract were low in Bizerte, with 0.003 and 0.009 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively, succeeded by Jandouba, which displayed 0.006 and 0.024 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively. Nabeul showed 0.025 g/mL for male plants and 0.046 g/mL for female plants and Beja showed 0.037 and 0.072 g/mL for male and female plants, respectively. This is the first time that a study has revealed a negative correlation between the antioxidant activity and the larvicidal activity of the leaf extracts of M. annua with the following correlation coefficients of Perason: r = -0.975 and r = -0.760 for male and female plants, respectively.

Optimisation of phytochemical characteristics and antioxidative properties of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds and Ocimum basilicum L. leaves superfine powders using new parting process.

INTRODUCTION: Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.) and basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) are two aromatic medicinal plants. Recently, a new parting process which is named CDS "Comminution and to control Diffraction Sieving" is taken into consideration and its positive effect on the extraction of bioactive compounds from the plants, without any solvent, is reported. OBJECTIVE: Study the effect of CDS on phytochemical properties of superfine powders of fennel seeds and basil leaves. METHODS: Fennel seeds and basil leaves superfine powders were fractionated as follows: 100-180 µm, 180-315 µm, 315-500 µm, > 500 µm and unsieved superfine powders. Extraction of polyphenols was carried out using hydromethanolic maceration. The essential oils were extracted by maceration with dichloromethane. The antioxidant activities were evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay. Using liquid chromatography ultraviolet electrospray ionisation mass spectrometry (LC-UV-ESI-MS), concentrations of characterised phenolic compounds were measured. The essential oils compositions were characterised using gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: In fennel seeds, the 100-180 µm fraction had maximum antioxidant activity and LC-UV-ESI-MS analyses proved that the best extraction of certain polyphenols was obtained in the 100-180 µm fraction. In basil leaves, the best antioxidant activity corresponded to the 315-500 µm fraction and LC-UV-ESI-MS analyses showed that the polyphenols were concentrated in the < 315 µm fractions. For both plants, GC-MS presented that the essential oils were concentrated in the 315-500 µm fraction. CONCLUSION: CDS as a new green parting process leads to improve the phytochemical properties of these two superfine plant powders in the specific granulometric classes.

Chemical Composition and, Cellular Evaluation of the Antioxidant Activity of Desmodium adscendens Leaves.

Desmodium adscendens plant is widely used as juice or tea in various parts of the world against a wide range of diseases. This study determines the quality and the quantity of polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, and tannins in D. adscendens leaves by UV-spectrophotometry and RP-HPLC methods. In addition, the antioxidant capacity of these phenolic compounds is evaluated by ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic)), DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl), and Cellular tests. D. adscendens leaves are mainly composite of flavonoid compounds with 12.8 mg of catechin equivalent (CE)/g dw. The amounts of total polyphenol compounds are 11.1 mg of gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g dw. The quantity of total anthocyanin and total tannin compounds is not considerable 0.0182 mg CgE/g dw and 0.39 mg CE/g dw, respectively. A direct correlation between phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity is observed (R(2) = 0.96). The RP-HPLC analyses reveal that the main phenolic compound identified in the methanol-water extract is quercetrin dihydrat (2.11 mg/mL). According to the results, it is observed that D. adscendens leaves possess a considerable scavenging antioxidant and antiradical capacity, therefore these antioxidant properties might increase the therapeutic value of this medicinal plant.

Phytochemical composition and antioxidant capacity of three malian medicinal plant parts.

This study evaluates the levels of total polyphenolic compounds in three Malian medicinal plants and determines their antioxidant potential. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of polyphenolics contained in plants extracts were carried out by RP-C18 RP-HPLC using UV detector. The antioxidant activity was determined by three tests. They are phosphomolybdenum, DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS [2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic)] tests. The total phenolic and the total flavonoid contents varied from 200 to 7600 mg 100 g(-1) dry weight (dw), expressed as gallic acid equivalents and from 680 to 12 300 mg 100 g(-1) dw expressed as catechin equivalents, respectively. The total anthocyanin concentrations expressed as cyanin-3-glycoside equivalent varied from 1670 to 28 388 mg 100 g(-1) dw. The antioxidant capacity was measured by determining concentration of a polyphenolic (in mg ml(-1)) required to quench the free radicals by 50% (IC(50)) and expressed as vitamin C equivalent antioxidant capacity. The IC(50) values were ranked between 2.68 and 8.80 µg ml(-1) of a solution of 50% (v/v) methanol in water. The uses of plants are rationalized on the basis of their antioxidant capacity.

Assessment of polyphenolic compounds, in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties of Securidaca longepedunculata root barks.

The present study was carried out to evaluate the antioxidant activities of the root bark extract of Securidaca longepedunculata. This plant material is commonly used in folk medicine in several parts in the world. The bark extracts of S. longepedunculata were evaluated for their total phenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, tannins content and total antioxidant capacity. The compounds were identified and quantified both by RP-HPLC and UV spectrophotometer; the antioxidant capacity was assessed by ABTS and DPPH tests and expressed as IC(50). The total phenolic compounds determinate was 9.86mg gallic acid equivalents/g dw, the total flavonoid contents was 5.85mg catechin equivalents/g dw, the total anthocyanin contents was 0.032mg cyanidin-3-glycosyl equivalents/g dw and the condensed tannins content were 1.03mg catechin equivalents/g dw. The major compound identified using RP-HPLC was quercetin (0.98mg/ml). The IC(50) value reached 5.5microg/ml, revealing that the root barks of S. longepedunculata have a very high antioxidant and anti-inflammation properties.

The antioxidant effect of plums and polyphenolic compounds against H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress in mouse blood granulocytes.

Epidemiological and scientific research has contributed to the identification of the key role of dietary antioxidants in maintaining human health by preventing oxidative damage to cellular components. The antiradical activity of seven varieties of plums and their protective effects against oxidative stress were comparatively evaluated in mouse granulocytes in this study using a 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) test and a cellular test. The class of phytochemical compounds responsible for the main antioxidant capacities observed was also investigated. The ABTS and cellular tests revealed that the total antioxidant capacities, expressed as vitamin C equivalents, ranged from 691.2 to 2,164.64 mg and from 613.98 to 2,137.59 mg per 100 g of fresh weight, respectively, suggesting that plums are rich in natural antioxidants and appreciably protect granulocytes from oxidative stress. Our results showed a linear correlation between either total phenolic or flavonoid contents and total antioxidant capacity, revealing that these compounds contribute significantly to the antioxidant activity of plums. The major polyphenolics in plums, identified and quantified using reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, were tested to evaluate their protective effect on peripheral blood granulocytes from oxidative stress. The results suggest that individual polyphenolics contribute directly to the total protective effect of plums.

Chlorogenic acid, a polyphenol from Prunus domestica (Mirabelle), with coupled anxiolytic and antioxidant effects.

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, cardiovascular diseases and to some behaviors, such as anxiety and depression. In particular, recent research observed a close relationship between oxidative stress and anxiety. METHODS: We investigated the anxiolytic effect of chlorogenic acid, a dietary antioxidant present in fruits, in mouse models of anxiety including the light/dark test, the elevated plus maze and the free exploratory test. Moreover, the antioxidative effect of chlorogenic acid on peripheral blood granulocytes was investigated. RESULTS: Chlorogenic acid (20 mg/kg) induced a decrease in anxiety-related behaviors suggesting an anxiolytic-like effect of this polyphenol. The anti-anxiety effect was blocked by flumazenil suggesting that anxiety is reduced by activation of the benzodiazepine receptor. In vitro, chlorogenic acid protected granulocytes from oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Chlorogenic acid is one of the most abundant polyphenols in fruits. We demonstrated in vivo and in vitro for the first time, that chlorogenic acid has anxiolytic effects coupled with antioxidant activity. Thus, fruits such as plums (Mirabelle), apples and cherries may provide health-promoting advantages to consumers.