Cytotoxicity and Multi-Enzyme Inhibition of Nepenthes miranda Stem Extract on H838 Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells and RPA32, Elastase, Tyrosinase, and Hyaluronidase Proteins.

The carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes have long been known for their ethnobotanical applications. In this study, we prepared various extracts from the pitcher, stem, and leaf of Nepenthes miranda using 100% ethanol and assessed their inhibitory effects on key enzymes related to skin aging, including elastase, tyrosinase, and hyaluronidase. The cytotoxicity of the stem extract of N. miranda on H838 human lung carcinoma cells were also characterized by effects on cell survival, migration, proliferation, apoptosis induction, and DNA damage. The cytotoxic efficacy of the extract was enhanced when combined with the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), indicating a synergistic effect. Flow cytometry analysis suggested that the stem extract might suppress H838 cell proliferation by inducing G2 cell cycle arrest, thereby inhibiting carcinoma cell proliferation. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) enabled the tentative identification of the 15 most abundant compounds in the stem extract of N. miranda. Notably, the extract showed a potent inhibition of the human RPA32 protein (huRPA32), critical for DNA replication, suggesting a novel mechanism for its anticancer action. Molecular docking studies further substantiated the interaction between the extract and huRPA32, highlighting bioactive compounds, especially the two most abundant constituents, stigmast-5-en-3-ol and plumbagin, as potential inhibitors of huRPA32's DNA-binding activity, offering promising avenues for cancer therapy. Overall, our findings position the stem extract of N. miranda as a promising source of natural compounds for anticancer therapeutics and anti-skin-aging treatments, warranting further investigation into its molecular mechanisms and potential clinical applications.

Identification of phytoconstituents from Dicliptera paniculata and study of antibacterial activity guided by molecular docking.

According to WHO, antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest healthcare challenges to the global community. Therefore, it is absolutely essential to discover new antibiotics to address the challenge. Dicliptera paniculata (ForssK.) I. Darbysh, a rare medicinal herb of Acanthaceae, is known for its noteworthy uses as a flavoring, spicing, and antibacterial agent. The primary goal of the study is to identify novel antibacterials from D. paniculata. The petroleum ether fraction of the methanol extract of D. paniculata was subjected to GC-MS and identified 14 compounds. Several bacterial target proteins were used for molecular docking. The antibacterial activity of petroleum-ether fraction was evaluated on bacteria whose target protein interacts most strongly with identified molecules. The molecules DP_02, DP_06, and DP_14 exhibited the highest docking scores with Staphylococcus aureus dihydrofolate reductase, which were - 6.283, - 7.705, and - 6.364 kcal/mol, respectively. The MM-GBSA binding energy of compounds DP_02, DP_06, and DP_14 were - 46.736, - 42.366, and - 35.734 kcal/mol, respectively. The MM-GBSA binding energy and decent docking score of the compounds DP_02 and DP_06 were both encouraging, and both of the compounds are drug-like. The finding was validated through studies on antibacterial effectiveness against S. aureus and showed encouraging results. These two molecules might serve as the building blocks for the future development of potent antibiotics.

Simultaneous removal of aliphatic and aromatic crude oil hydrocarbons by Pantoea agglomerans isolated from petroleum-contaminated soil in the west of Iran.

Hydrocarbons are considered as one of the most common and harmful environmental pollutants affecting human health and the environment. Bioremediation as an environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and cost-effective method in remediating oil-contaminated environments has been interesting in recent decades. In this study, hydrocarbon degrader bacterial strains were isolated from the highly petroleum-contaminated soils in the Dehloran oil field in the west of Iran. Out of 37 isolates, 15 can grow on M9 agar medium that contains 1.5 g L-1 of crude oil as the sole carbon source. The morphological, biochemical, and 16SrRNA sequencing analyses were performed for the isolates. The choosing of the isolates as the hydrocarbon degrader was examined by evaluating the efficacy of their crude oil removal at a concentration of 10 g L-1 in an aqueous medium. The results showed that five isolates belonging to Pseudomonas sp., Pseudomonas oryzihabitans, Roseomonas aestuarii, Pantoea agglomerans, and Arthrobacter sp. had a hyper hydrocarbon-degrading activity and they could remove more than 85% of the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) after 96 h. The highest TPH removal of about 95.75% and biodegradation rate of 0.0997 g L-1 h-1 was observed for P. agglomerans. The gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS) analysis was performed during the biodegradation process by P. agglomerans to detect the degradation intermediates and final products. The results confirmed the presence of intermediates such as alcohols and fatty acids in the terminal oxidation pathway of alkanes in this biodegradation process. A promising P. agglomerans NB391 strain can remove aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons simultaneously.

Citrus reticulata peel extract mitigates oxidative stress and liver injury induced by abamectin in rats.

The prevalent use of abamectin (ABM) has latterly raised safety attention as it has different toxicities to non-target living organisms. Citrus fruits are widely renowned for their nutritional and health-promoting qualities, and their peels are full of phenolic constituents. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the modulatory effectiveness of Citrus reticulata peel extract (CPE) against abamectin-induced hepatotoxicity and oxidative injury. Rats were distributed into 4 groups as follows: control, CPE (400 mg/kg bw orally for 14 days), ABM (2 mg/kg bw for 5 days), and CPE + ABM at the doses mentioned above. Results revealed that GC-MS analysis of CPE has 19 identified components with significant total phenolic and flavonoid contents. Treatment with ABM in rats displayed significant variations in enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, oxidative stress markers (MDA, H2O2, PCC), liver and kidney function biomarkers, hematological parameters, lipids, and protein profile as well as histopathological abnormalities, inflammation and apoptosis (TNF-α, Caspase-3, NF-κB, and Bcl-2 genes) in rats' liver. Supplementation of CPE solo dramatically improved the antioxidant state and reduced oxidative stress. C. reticulata peel extract pretreatment alleviated ABM toxicity by modulating most of the tested parameters compared to the ABM group. Conclusively, CPE had potent antioxidant activity and could be used in the modulation of ABM hepatotoxicity presumably due to its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and gene-regulating capabilities.

Chromatographic analysis and antioxidant potency of the crude extract of Xanthium spinosum in various fractions.

Pharmacology experts place a high priority on therapeutic plants because the majority of pharmaceutical firms rely on medicinal plants as raw ingredients. Therefore, the potential bioactive components using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis and antioxidant effects using DPPH free radical scavenging activity of various crude fractions of Xanthium spinosum were assessed. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis showed the presence of various bioactive compounds including benzenedicarboxylic acid (18.60%), 8-octadecenoic acid (4.86%), 11-octadecenoic acid and 10-octadecenoic acid in the crude methanolic extract, 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (14.42%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono (2-ethylhexyl) ester (14.42%), 6-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (7.56%), 8-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (7.56%), 10-octadecenoic acid, methyl ester (7.56%) and hexadecanoic acid, methyl ester (6.55%) in the n-hexane extract, ethanal, 2-methyl-2-[4-(1-methylethyl)phenyl]-(3.02%), (+)-3-carene, 4-isopropenyl-(3.02%), 7H-indeno[5,6-b] furan-7-one, 4,4a,5,6,7a,8-hexahydro- (3.02%) and 2-[5-(2,2-dimethyl-6-methylene-cyclohexyl)-3-methyl-pent-2-enyl]-[1,4] benzoquinone (2.79%) in the chloroform extract and 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, mono (2-ethylhexyl) ester (33.005%), 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, diisooctyl ester (33.005%) and bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (33.005%) in the ethyl acetate extract. Significant DPPH radical scavenging activity was exhibited by the chloroform fraction (43.37-88.65%) at all doses followed by the crude methanolic extract (36.02-83.75%) at all doses. In conclusion, different crude fractions of X. spinosum can be considered a rich source of pharmacologically active components that can be scoped for isolation and may be subjected to in-depth pharmacological study.

Analysis and comparison of bioactive phytochemical composition and antibacterial property of two Ethiopian indigenous medicinal plants.

Indigenous medicinal plants with naturally inherited antimicrobial properties are promising sources of antimicrobial agents. Two indigenous Ethiopian traditional medicinal plants (Rhamnus prinoide and Croton macrostachyus) extracted using different solvents and the yield percentage, phytochemical analysis and antimicrobial activity of the plant extracts were examined and compared. The results of this study revealed that Rhamnus prinoide leaf extract using aqueous methanol/ethanol (1 : 1) had the highest yield (15.12 %), a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.625 mg/mL, and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 10 mg/mL against S. aureus. Croton macrostachyus leaves showed a yield of 14.7 ±0.37 %, a minimum inhibitory concentration of 40 mg/mL, and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 40 mg/mL against S. aureus and E. coli. GC-MS analysis revealed that aqueous methanol/ethanol (1 : 1) of Rhamnus prinoide and Croton macrostachyus leaf extracts were composed of bioactive carbohydrates, flavonoid acid phenols, and terpenoids, while Croton macrostachyus extract contained primarily phytol (30.08 %). The presence of bioactive compounds confirms the traditional use of these plant leaves to treat various diseases, including wounds, leading to the conclusion that they could be applied to textiles for wound dressing in future studies.

Antimicrobial and anti-diabetic efficiency of Polyalthia longifolia leaf extracts and major compounds characterization.

This research was performed to investigate the bactericidal and fungicidal competence of extracts (methanol and petroleum ether extract) of Polyalthia longifolia leaf. Moreover, the major active compounds present in the effective crude extract (either methanol or petroleum ether extract) was determined through initially with UV-Vis spectra, FTIR, and GC-MS analyses. The methanol extract alone showed remarkable bactericidal and fungicidal activity against the bacterial (S. pyogenes > E. coli > S. aureus > S. pneumoniae > C. difficile > P. aeruginosa) and fungal (A. clavatus > C. albicans > A. niger > A. fumigatus > C. tropicalis > C. auris) pathogens at increased concentration (12.5 mg mL-1) than petroleum ether extract. The MIC and MBC values of methanol extract were found as 10-20 mg mL-1 and 30-40 mg mL-1 respectively. The MFC value of methanol extract was found as 10-20 mg mL-1. These MIC, MBC, and MFC values of methanol extract were considerably greater than petroleum ether extract. The FTIR and GC-MS characterization studies revealed that the presence of more acre functional groups belonging to bioactive compounds such as Z)-7-Hexadecenal, Aromandendrene, α-Curcumene, Caryophyllene, Methyl 14-methyl Pentadecanoat, Methyl trans-13-Octadecenoate, 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, and 2-hydroxy-1- (hydroxymethyl)ethyl. As a result of these findings, it is possible that P. longifolia leaf methanol extract contains medicinally important bioactive substances with bactericidal and fungicidal properties.

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extracts from Amomum kravanh, Citrus hystrix and Piper nigrum 'Kampot'.

The fruits of Amomum kravanh, Citrus hystrix and Piper nigrum 'Kampot' are traditionally used as spices in Cambodian cuisine. In this study, the chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) and supercritical CO2 extracts from all three species was determined using GC-MS, with two columns of different polarity (HP-5/DB-HeavyWAX). Differences between the chemical profile of the EOs and CO2 extracts were observed for all species. The greatest difference was detected in A. kravanh EO containing mainly eucalyptol (78.8/72.6%), while the CO2 extract was rich in fatty acids (13/55.92%) and long-chain alkanes (25.55/9.54%). Furthermore, the results for the CO2 extract of this species differed, where tricosane (14.74%) and oleic acid (29.26%) were the main compounds identified when utilizing the HP-5 or DB-HeavyWAX columns, respectively. Moreover, the EO and CO2 extract from P. nigrum 'Kampot' fruits and the CO2 extract from C. hystrix fruit peel, containing respective amounts 34.84/39.55% (for EO) and 54.21/55.86% (for CO2 extract) of ß-caryophyllene and 30.2/28.9% of ß-pinene, were isolated and analyzed for the first time. Generally, these findings suggest that supercritical CO2 could potentially be used for the extraction of all three spices. Nevertheless, further research determining the most efficient extraction parameters is required before its commercial application.

Exploring the antibacterial potential of plant extracts and essential oils against Bacillus thermophilus in beet sugar for enhanced sucrose retention: a comparative assessment and implications.

Sugar beet is one of the greatest sources for producing sugar worldwide. However, a group of bacteria grows on beets during the storage process, leading to a reduction in sucrose yield. Our study focused on identifying common bacterial species that grow on beets during manufacturing and contribute to sucrose loss. The ultimate goal was to find a potential antibacterial agent from various plant extracts and oils to inhibit the growth of these harmful bacteria and reduce sucrose losses. The screening of bacterial species that grow on beet revealed that a large group of mesophilic bacteria, such as Bacillus subtilis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus xylosus, Enterobacter amnigenus, and Aeromonas species, in addition to a dominant thermophilic species called Bacillus thermophilus, were found to be present during the manufacturing of beets. The application of 20 plant extracts and 13 different oils indicated that the extracts of Geranium gruinum, Datura stramonium, and Mentha spicata were the best antibacterials to reduce the growth of B. thermophilus with inhibition zones equal to 40, 39, and 35 mm, respectively. In contrast, the best active oils for inhibiting the growth of B. thermophilus were Mentha spicata and Ocimum bacilicum, with an inhibitory effect of 50 and 45 mm, respectively. RAPD-PCR with different primers indicated that treating sugar juice with the most effective oils against bacteria resulted in new recombinant microorganisms, confirming their roles as strong antibacterial products. The characterization of Mentha spicata and Ocimum bacilicum oils using GC/MS analysis identified cis-iso pulegone and hexadecanoic acid as the two main bioactive compounds with potential antibacterial activity. An analysis of five genes using DD-PCR that have been affected due to antibacterial activity from the highly effective oil from Mentha spicata concluded that all belonged to the family of protein defense. Our findings indicate that the application of these pure antibacterial plant extracts and oils would minimize the reduction of sucrose during sugar production.

GC-MS metabolomics profile of methanol extract of Acacia modesta gum and gum-assisted fabrication and characterization of gold nanoparticles through green synthesis approach.

Hereunder, for the first time, we reported phytocompounds in the methanolic extract of Acacia modesta (AM) gum through Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS). Further, the AM gum aqueous solution was used for gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) synthesis through a simple, swift, eco-friendly, and less costly green synthesis approach. A total of 108 phytocompounds (63 with nonpolar, 45 with polar column) were identified in the gum extract, which includes fatty acids, alcohols, sterols, aldehyde/ketones, furans, aromatic compounds, esters, phenols, terpenes, sugar derivatives, alkaloids, and flavones. From three used concentrations (5, 10, and 15 mg/mL) of the AM gum aqueous solution, the 15 mg/mL gum solution resulted in more successful AuNP synthesis with a smaller size, which was visualized by a rusty red color appearance. UV-Visible absorption spectroscopy revealed the characteristic surface plasmon resonance (SPR) of AuNPs in aqueous solution at 540 nm. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurement of NPs solution revealed a hydrodynamic diameter of 162 ± 02 nm with the highest gum concentration where core AuNPs diameter was 22 ± 03 nm, recorded by Transmission electron microscopy. Zeta potential revealed fair stability of AuNPs that was not decreased with time. Catalytic activity experiments revealed that AM gum-based AuNPs can increase the rate of the reduction of methylene blue 10 times in comparison with AM gum extract alone. Results from this study showed that a diverse array of phytocompounds in AM gum can successfully reduce gold ions into gold nanoparticles, which can be used further in different pharmaceutical and industrial applications.

GC-MS-Guided Antimicrobial Defense Responsive Secondary Metabolites from the Endophytic Fusarium solani Isolated from Tinospora cordifolia and Their Multifaceted Biological Properties.

Medicinal plants are hosts to an infinite number of microorganisms, commonly referred to as endophytes which are rich in bioactive metabolites yielding favorable biological activities. The endophytes are known to have a profound impact on their host plant by promoting the accumulation of secondary metabolites which are beneficial to humankind. In the present study, the fungal endophyte, Fusarium solani (ABR4) from the medicinal plant Tinospora cordifolia, was assessed for its bioactive secondary metabolites employing fermentation on a solid rice medium. The crude ABR4 fungal extract was sequentially purified using the solvent extraction method and characterized using different spectroscopic and analytical techniques namely TLC, UV spectroscopic analysis, HRESI-MS, FTIR, and GC-MS analysis. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of pyridine, benzoic acid, 4-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]-trimethylsilyl ester, hexadecanoic acid trimethylsilyl ester, and oleic acid trimethylsilyl ester. The cytotoxic ability of ABR4 was evaluated by MTT assay against lung cancer (A549) and breast cancer (MCF-7) cell lines. The compounds did not exhibit significant cytotoxicity against the tested cell lines. The endophytic ABR4 extract was evaluated for its antimicrobial potential against human pathogens (S. aureus, B. cereus, E. coli, S. typhimurium, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans) by recording 47 to 54% inhibition. Taken together, the endophytic fungal strain ABR4 demonstrated a remarkable antimicrobial activity against the tested pathogens. Furthermore, the functional metabolites isolated from the endophytic strain ABR4 reveal its broader usage as antimicrobial agents for newer drug development in the pharmaceutical industry.

Phytochemical characterization, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of crude extracts of Anisomeles malabarica and Coldenia procumbens.

The aim of this study was to determine the phytochemical profile, antibacterial and antioxidant activities of crude aqueous leaf extracts of Anisomeles malabarica and Coldenia procumbens. The predominant components present in these crude extracts of test plants identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis in both plant extracts were phytochemicals including flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and phenols. The antibacterial activity of crude extracts of these plants against bacterial pathogens including Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Shigella sp., Salmonella paratyphi A and B, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Pseudomonas sp. Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Staphylococcus aureus were examined. Data demonstrated that the extracts of A. malabarica and C. procumbens exhibited significant antibacterial activity against B.subtilis and P.vulgaris at the concentration of 50 mg/ml. A. malabarica aqueous extract displayed significant antioxidant activity on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazl (DPPH), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) free radicals at the concentration of 90 mg/ml. The antioxidant activity was significantly higher with A. malabarica than extract of C. procumbens. Evidence indicates that both plant extracts may possess significant pharmaceutical potential as antibacterial and antioxidant agents.

Ability of marine-derived fungi isolated from polluted saline environment for enzymatic hydrocarbon remediation.

Marine-derived fungi have attracted much attention due to their ability to present a new biosynthetic diversity. About 50 fungal isolates were obtained from Tunisian Mediterranean seawater and then screened for the presence of lignin-peroxidase (LiP), manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnP), and laccase (Lac) activities. The results obtained from both qualitative and quantitative assays showed that four of marine fungi isolates had a high potential to produce lignin-degrading enzymes. They were characterized taxonomically by a molecular method, based on international spacer (ITS) rDNA sequence analysis, as Chaetomium jodhpurense (MH667651.1), Chaetomium maderasense (MH665977.1), Paraconiothyrium variabile (MH667653.1), and Phoma betae (MH667655.1) which have been reported as producers of ligninolytic enzyme in the literature. The enzymatic activities and culture conditions were optimized using a Fractional Factorial design (2 7- 4). Then, fungal strains were incubated with the addition of 1% of crude oil in 50% of seawater for 25 days to evaluate their abilities to simultaneously degrade hydrocarbon compounds and to produce ligninolytic enzymes. The strain P. variabile exhibited the highest crude oil degradation rate (48.3%). Significant production of ligninolytic enzymes was recorded during the degradation process, which reached 2730 U/L for the MnP, 410 U/L for LiP, and 168.5 U/L for Lac. The FTIR and GC-MS analysis confirmed that the isolates rapidly biodegrade crude oil under ecological and economic conditions.

Phytochemical Analysis, In Vitro Biological Activities, and Computer-Aided Analysis of Potentilla nepalensis Hook Compounds as Potential Melanoma Inhibitors Based on Molecular Docking, MD Simulations, and ADMET.

Potentilla nepalensis Hook is a perennial Himalayan medicinal herb of the Rosaceae family. The present study aimed to evaluate biological activities such as the antioxidant, antibacterial, and anticancer activities of roots and shoots of P. nepalensis and its synergistic antibacterial activity with antibacterial drugs. Folin-Ciocalteau and aluminium chloride methods were used for the calculation of total phenolic (TPC) and flavonoid content (TFC). A DPPH radical scavenging assay and broth dilution method were used for the determination of the antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the root and shoot extracts of P. nepalensis. Cytotoxic activity was determined using a colorimetric MTT assay. Further, phytochemical characterization of the root and shoot extracts was performed using the Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) method. The TPC and TFC were found to be higher in the methanolic root extract of P. nepalensis. The methanolic shoot extract of P. nepalensis showed good antioxidant activity, while then-hexane root extract of P. nepalensis showed strong cytotoxic activity against tested SK-MEL-28 cells. Subsequently, in silico molecular docking studies of the identified bioactive compounds predicted potential anticancer properties. This study can lead to the production of new herbal medicines for various diseases employing P. nepalensis, leading to the creation of new medications.

Chemical Composition of the Essential Oils of Three Popular Sideritis Species Cultivated in Greece Using GC-MS Analysis.

(1) Background: The essential oils (EOs) of Sideritis L. have attracted great interest due to their pharmacological activities and potential applications in the cosmetic and perfume industries. The aim of this work was to study the EO chemical composition of three of the most popular, in Greece, mountain tea species: namely, these include Sideritis scardica, Sideritis raeseri, and Sideritis syriaca. (2) Methods: The EOs were obtained from the aerial parts of three Sideritis species that were cultivated in various regions of Greece by hydrodistillation, and the chemical composition was studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. (3) Results: The EOs of the Sideritis species-S. scardica (SSC1, SSC2, SSC3), S. raeseri (SR1, SR2, SR3), and S. syriaca (SS1, SS2, SS3)-were analyzed by GC-MS, and they showed both qualitatively and quantitatively high variation in their chemical composition. (4) Conclusions: The EOs of S. scardica and S. raeseri from three different regions of Greece, and the S. syriaca from three different localities of Crete Island in Southern Greece, showed high chemical variability. Although 165 different components were found to be present in the nine samples through GC-MS analysis, only 7 (1-octen-3-ol, linalool, trans-pinocarveol, p-mentha-1,5-dien-8-ol, α-terpineol, myrtenol, and verbenone) were common components in the nine EOs, which were identified to be highly variable in different percentages among the samples. Even the EOs of SS1 and SS2, which were cultivated nearby, showed different GC profiles. The composition variation observed might be attributed to differentiations in the soil and climatic conditions.

The Inhibitory Effects and Cytotoxic Activities of the Stem Extract of Nepenthes miranda against Single-Stranded DNA-Binding Protein and Oral Carcinoma Cells.

The carnivorous pitcher plants of the genus Nepenthes exhibit many ethnobotanical uses, including treatments of stomachache and fever. In this study, we prepared different extracts from the pitcher, stem, and leaf extracts of Nepenthes miranda obtained using 100% methanol and analyzed their inhibitory effects on recombinant single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) from Klebsiella pneumoniae (KpSSB). SSB is essential for DNA replication and cell survival and thus an attractive target for potential antipathogen chemotherapy. Different extracts prepared from Sinningia bullata, a tuberous member of the flowering plant family Gesneriaceae, were also used to investigate anti-KpSSB properties. Among these extracts, the stem extract of N. miranda exhibited the highest anti-KpSSB activity with an IC50 value of 15.0 ± 1.8 µg/mL. The cytotoxic effects of the stem extract of N. miranda on the survival and apoptosis of the cancer cell lines Ca9-22 gingival carcinoma, CAL27 oral adenosquamous carcinoma, PC-9 pulmonary adenocarcinoma, B16F10 melanoma, and 4T1 mammary carcinoma cells were also demonstrated and compared. Based on collective data, the cytotoxic activities of the stem extract at a concentration of 20 µg/mL followed the order Ca9-22 > CAL27 > PC9 > 4T1 > B16F10 cells. The stem extract of N. miranda at a concentration of 40 µg/mL completely inhibited Ca9-22 cell migration and proliferation. In addition, incubation with this extract at a concentration of 20 µg/mL boosted the distribution of the G2 phase from 7.9% to 29.2% in the Ca9-22 cells; in other words, the stem extract might suppress Ca9-22 cell proliferation by inducing G2 cell cycle arrest. Through gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, the 16 most abundant compounds in the stem extract of N. miranda were tentatively identified. The 10 most abundant compounds in the stem extract of N. miranda were used for docking analysis, and their docking scores were compared. The binding capacity of these compounds was in the order sitosterol > hexadecanoic acid > oleic acid > plumbagin > 2-ethyl-3-methylnaphtho[2,3-b]thiophene-4,9-dione > methyl α-d-galactopyranoside > 3-methoxycatechol > catechol > pyrogallol > hydroxyhydroquinone; thus, sitosterol might exhibit the greatest inhibitory capacity against KpSSB among the selected compounds. Overall, these results may indicate the pharmacological potential of N. miranda for further therapeutic applications.

A detailed biochemical characterization, toxicological assessment and molecular docking studies of Launaea fragilis: An important medicinal xero-halophyte.

Launaea fragilis (Asso) Pau (Family: Asteraceae) is a wild medicinal plant that has been used in the folklore as a potential treatment for numerous ailments such as skin diseases, diarrhea, infected wounds, inflammation, child fever and hepatic pain. This study explored the chemical constitution, in-vivo toxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and enzyme inhibition potential of ethanolic extract of L. fragilis (EELF). Additionally, in-silico docking studies of predominant compounds were performed against in-vitro tested enzymes. Similarly, in-silico ADMET properties of the compounds were performed to determine their pharmacokinetics, physicochemical properties, and toxicity profiles. The EELF was found rich in TFC (73.45 ± 0.25 mg QE/g) and TPC (109.02 ± 0.23 mg GAE/g). GC-MS profiling of EELF indicated the presence of a total of 47 compounds mainly fatty acids and essential oil. EELF showed no toxicity or growth retardation in chicks up to 300 mg/kg with no effect on the biochemistry and hematology of the chicks. EELF gave promising antioxidant activity through the CUPRAC method with an IC50 value of 13.14 ± 0.18 µg/ml. The highest inhibition activity against tyrosinase followed by acetylcholinesterase and α-Glucosidase was detected. Similarly, the antimicrobial study revealed the extract with good antibacterial and antiviral activity. A good docking score was observed in the in silico computational study of the predominant compounds. The findings revealed L. fragilis as a biocompatible, potent therapeutic alternative and suggest isolation and further in vivo pharmacological studies.

Flowers and Inflorescences of Selected Medicinal Plants as a Source of Triterpenoids and Phytosterols.

Steroids and triterpenoids are compounds valued for their various biological and pharmacological properties; however, their content in medicinal and edible plants is often understudied. Flowers have been consumed since the ancient times as a part of traditional cuisine and as alternative medicines. Currently, the interest in medicinal and edible flowers is growing since contemporary consumers are incessantly seeking innovative natural sources of bioactive compounds. The aim of this report was the GC-MS (gas-chromatography-mass spectrometry) analysis of steroid and triterpenoid content in flowers, inflorescences and leaves of several plants (Berberis vulgaris L., Crataegus laevigata (Poir.) DC., Pulsatilla vulgaris Mill., Rosa rugosa Thunb., Sambucus nigra L. and Vinca minor L.), applied in herbal medicine in various forms, including isolated flowers (Flos), inflorescences (Inflorescentia) or aerial parts (Herba, i.e., combined flowers, leaves and stems). The most abundant source of triterpenoids was V. minor flowers (6.3 mg/g d.w.), whereas the steroids were prevailing in P. vulgaris flowers (1.8 and 1.1 mg/g). The profiles of triterpenoid acids and neutral triterpenoids in C. laevigata and S. nigra inflorescences were particularly diverse, involving compounds belonging to lupane-, oleanane- and ursane-type skeletons. The obtained results revealed that some flowers can constitute an abundant source of phytosterols and bioactive triterpenoids, valuable for utilization in functional foods, dietary supplements and cosmetic products.

Exploiting the Integrated Valorization of Eucalyptus globulus Leaves: Chemical Composition and Biological Potential of the Lipophilic Fraction before and after Hydrodistillation.

E. globulus leaves have been mainly exploited for essential oil recovery or for energy generation in industrial pulp mills, neglecting the abundance of valuable families of extractives, namely, triterpenic acids, that might open new ways for the integrated valorization of this biomass. Therefore, this study highlights the lipophilic characterization of E. globulus leaves before and after hydrodistillation, aiming at the integrated valorization of both essential oils and triterpenic acids. The lipophilic composition of E. globulus leaves after hydrodistillation is reported for the first time. Extracts were obtained by dichloromethane Soxhlet extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In addition, their cytotoxicity on different cell lines representative of the innate immune system, skin, liver, and intestine were evaluated. Triterpenic acids, such as betulonic, oleanolic, betulinic and ursolic acids, were found to be the main components of these lipophilic extracts, ranging from 30.63-37.14 g kg-1 of dry weight (dw), and representing 87.7-89.0% w/w of the total content of the identified compounds. In particular, ursolic acid was the major constituent of all extracts, representing 46.8-50.7% w/w of the total content of the identified compounds. Other constituents, such as fatty acids, long-chain aliphatic alcohols and ß-sitosterol were also found in smaller amounts in the studied extracts. This study also demonstrates that the hydrodistillation process does not affect the recovery of compounds of greatest interest, namely, triterpenic acids. Therefore, the results establish that this biomass residue can be considered as a promising source of value-added bioactive compounds, opening new strategies for upgrading pulp industry residues within an integrated biorefinery context.

Phytochemical Compounds of Euphorbia bivonae Extract and Their Cytotoxicity Effects on the Lethality of Brine Shrimp Artemia salina and Embryonic Kidney (HEK293) Cells.

In this research article, we investigated the effect of Euphorbia bivonae extract compounds on the lethality of brine shrimp Artemia salina and on embryonic cell lines (HEK293) proliferation. Our GC/MS analysis revealed that the E. bivonae ethanolic extract contained essentially sitosterol, euphol, and lupeol. The 24-h LC50 was determined using the probit analysis method (LC50=357.11 mg l-1 ). Depending on this cytotoxicity test result, E. bivona extract induced a significant increase in Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione-Peroxidase (GPx) activities, and lipid peroxidation (LPO) in A. salina larvae. In addition, the cytotoxicity effect of this extract had proved against the HEK293 cell lines in vitro. We suggest that the three compounds of E. bivonae extract (sitosterol, euphol, and lupeol) are the most responsible for this cytotoxicity. The possible application of this extract as an alternative natural antiproliferative is considered.