Diterpene and biflavone derivatives from Thuja koraiensis and their cytotoxicities against A549 cells.

During the screening of the cytotoxicity of rare Korean endemic plants, the extract of Thuja koraiensis Nakai displayed potent cytotoxicity against the adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial A549 cell line. Through a series of separations via column chromatography, three undescribed abietanes, an undescribed labdane along with a labdane, and a biflavonoid were purified from methylene chloride (CH2Cl2) fraction possessing a potent cytotoxic effect. Extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic data analyses, in combination with quantum chemical calculations were conducted to establish the planar and absolute configurations of thujakoraienes A-C. The chemical structure of thujakoraiene D was elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis and competing enantioselective acylation. Thujakoraienes A and C along with 7,7″-di-O-methylamentoflavone, showed cytotoxic effects on A549 cells, with IC50 values of 64.86, 47.97, and 16.14 µM, respectively. Finally, thujakoraiene C and 7,7″-di-O-methylamentoflavone were identified as potent cytotoxic compounds in A549 cells, followed by an additional cytotoxicity test in the normal human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell line. This is the first study on the non-volatile chemicals in the extract of T. koraiensis and comparison of chemical profiles of T. orientalis and T. koraiensis.

Apoptotic and autophagic death union by Thuja occidentalis homeopathic drug in cervical cancer cells with thujone as the bioactive principle.

OBJECTIVE: "Multi-targeting" drugs can prove fruitful to combat drug-resistance of multifactorial disease-cervical cancer. This study envisioned to reveal if Thuja homeopathic mother tincture (MT) and its bioactive component could combat human papillomavirus (HPV)-16-infected SiHa cervical cancer cells since it is globally acclaimed for HPV-mediated warts. METHODS: Thuja MT was studied for its antiproliferative and antimigratory properties in SiHa cells followed by microscopic determination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFDA) staining and loss in mitochondrial membrane potential (MtMP) by rhodamine 123 (Rh123) staining. Apoptosis and autophagy inductions were studied by acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and immunoblot analyses of marker proteins. The bioactive component of Thuja MT detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was studied for antiproliferative and antimigratory properties along with in silico prediction of its cellular targets by molecular docking and oral drug forming competency. RESULTS: Thuja MT showed significant antiproliferative and antimigratory potential in SiHa cells at a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 17.3 µL/mL. An increase in DCFDA fluorescence and loss in Rh123 fluorescence prove that Thuja MT acted through the burst of ROS and loss in MtMP respectively. AO/EB-stained cells under the microscope and immunoblot analyses supported Thuja-induced cellular demise via dual pathways-apoptosis and autophagy. Immunoblots showed cleavage of caspase-3 and poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase-1 (PARP-1) along with upregulation of Beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B (LC3B)-II, and p62 proteins. Hence, the apoptotic cascade followed a caspase-3-dependent pathway supported by PARP-1 cleavage, while autophagic death was Beclin-1-dependent and mediated by accumulation of LC3BII and p62 proteins. Thujone, detected as the bioactive principle of Thuja MT, showed greater anti-proliferative and anti-migratory potential at an IC50 of 77 µg/mL, along with excellent oral drug competency with the ability for gastrointestinal absorption and blood-brain-barrier permeation with nil toxicity. Molecular docking depicted thujone with the strongest affinity for mammalian target of rapamycin, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and protein kinase B followed by B-cell lymphoma 2, murine double minute 2 and adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, which might act as upstream triggers of apoptotic-autophagic crosstalk. CONCLUSION: Robust "multi-targeting" anticancer potential of Thuja drug and thujone for HPV-infected cervical cancer ascertained its therapeutic efficacy for HPV infections.

Role of thuja in the management of laryngeal papilloma.

Juvenile respiratory laryngeal papillomatosis is a subset of a larger clinical entity of recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. It is characterised by the development of recurrent papillomata in the vocal folds. Human papillomavirus types 6 and 11 has been implicated to be the most common strain of virus associated with the formation of laryngeal papilloma. Clinical diagnosis is based on typical appearance of warty lesion on endoscopy. Surgery is the primary line of management along with adjuvant therapy like antiviral drugs and immunomodulators. Thuja occidentalis is a tree native to North America whose leaves and leaf oil have antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties. It has been widely used for the treatment of condylomatous skin lesions and warts. Here we discuss the outcome of thuja as an adjuvant therapy in the treatment of laryngeal papillomatosis in an 8-year-old child.

Thuja occidentalis L. (Cupressaceae): Ethnobotany, Phytochemistry and Biological Activity.

Thuja occidentalis L. (Cupressaceae) has its origins in Eastern North America and is cultivated in Europe and Brazil as an ornamental tree, being known as the "tree of life" or "white cedar". In traditional medicine, it is commonly used to treat liver diseases, bullous bronchitis, psoriasis, enuresis, amenorrhea, cystitis, uterine carcinomas, diarrhea, and rheumatism. The chemical constituents of T. occidentalis have been of research interest for decades, due to their contents of essential oil, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins, and proanthocyanidines. Pharmacology includes antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, antiviral, protective activity of the gastrointestinal tract, radioprotection, antipyretic, and lipid metabolism regulatory activity. Therefore, the present review represents the synthesis of all the relevant information for T. occidentalis, its ethnobotany, phytochemistry, and a thorough analysis of their pharmacological activities, in order to promote all the biological activities shown so far, rather than the antitumor activity that has promoted it as a medicinal species.

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

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

Microbial population dynamics under microdoses of the essential oil arborvitae.

BACKGROUND: With the current concern caused by drug resistant microorganisms, alternatives to traditional antimicrobials are increasingly necessary. Historical holistic treatments involving natural approaches are now of interest as a potential alternative. Many essential oils have antimicrobial properties with the ability to modify bacterial and fungal population dynamics in low concentrations. METHODS: In this study, bacterial and fungal growth in response to varying concentrations of arborvitae oil was assessed using spectrophotometric methods to obtain estimates of population growth parameters including carrying capacity (K) and intrinsic rate of growth (r). Estimates of these parameters were compared among doses within strains using general linear modeling. RESULTS: Results suggest the active component of the essential oil arborvitae is likely of hydrophilic nature and demonstrates the ability to influence both K and r during bacterial and fungal growth in a dose-dependent manner. Highly concentrated doses of arborvitae completely kill Escherichia coli and significantly inhibit Staphylococcus aureus, however these same doses have no effect on Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Accordingly, microdoses of arborvitae demonstrated the ability to inhibit population growth parameters in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Specifically, K of E. coli, r of Candida auris, and both K and r of Candida albicans were significantly reduced in the presence of microdoses of arborvitae. CONCLUSIONS: Microdoses of essential oils have the ability to inhibit one or both population parameters in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic microorganisms. Some microorganisms appear to be more susceptible to this essential oil arborvitae than other microorganisms. The use of essential oils, such as arborvitae, as novel antimicrobials may prove useful when contending with the current epidemic of multidrug resistant pathogens.

ß-Thujaplicin inhibits basal-like mammary tumor growth by regulating glycogen synthase kinase-3ß/ß-catenin signaling.

ß-Thujaplicin, a natural monoterpenoid, has been demonstrated to exert health beneficial activities in chronic diseases. However, it has not been studied in regulating estrogen receptor (ER) negative breast cancer. Here, we investigated the effect of ß-thujaplicin on inhibiting ER-negative basal-like breast cancer and the underlying mechanism of action using an in vitro and in vivo xenograft animal model. ß-Thujaplicin induced G0/G1 phase cell cycle arrest and regulated cell cycle mediators, cyclin D1, cyclin E, and cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK 4), leading to the inhibition of the proliferation of ER-negative basal-like MCF10DCIS.com human breast cancer cells. It also modulated the phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase (GSK-3ß) and the protein level of ß-catenin. In an MCF10DCIS.com xenograft animal model, ß-thujaplicin significantly inhibited tumor growth, reduced tumor weight, and regulated the expression of cell cycle proteins, phosphorylation of AKT and GSK-3ß, and protein level of ß-catenin in the tumor tissues. These results demonstrate that ß-thujaplicin can suppress basal-like mammary tumor growth by regulating GSK-3ß/ß-catenin signaling, suggesting that ß-thujaplicin may be a potent chemopreventive agent against the basal-like subtype of breast cancer.

Chemical constituents of the trunks and roots of Thuja sutchuenensis.

Five new compounds including two stilbenes, designated thujasutchins A (1) and B (2), two phenolic compounds namely thujasutchins C (3) and D (4), as well as one sesquiterpene thujasutchin E (5), were isolated from the 95% ethanolic extract from the trunks and roots of Thuja sutchuenensis. Their structures were determined by means of extensively spectroscopic analysis including UV, IR, HRESIMS, 1H and 13C NMR (COSY, HSQC, HMBC). Moreover, compounds 1, 3-5 were evaluated for in vitro cytotoxic activities against SF-268, MCF-7, HepG-2, and A549 tumor cell lines.

Therapeutic potential of monoterpene α-thujone, the main compound of Thuja occidentalis L. essential oil, against malignant glioblastoma multiforme cells in vitro.

Thuja occidentalis L. is indigenous for Northern America and commonly cultivated in Europe. Raw materials obtained from this tree are widely applied in the ethnomedicine and phytotherapy of numerous ailments, incl. scurvy, cystitis, rheumatism and cancer. Despite wide medicinal applications of Thuja occidentalis, still little is known on its therapeutic potential in tumor treatment. α-thujone is the main component of Thuja occidentalis essential oil, which has been suggested to possess anti-tumor activities. This monoterpene easily penetrates the blood-brain barrier. Therefore, we examined its effects on the malignancy of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) cells, with the special emphasis on the mechanisms of its effect on cell viability and invasiveness. α-thujone exerted the attenuating effect on the viability and proliferation of GBM cells when administered at the concentrations between 100 and 500 µg/ml (660 µM - 3.2 mM). This effect was correlated with the induction of apoptosis in GBM cell populations and with considerable inhibition of GBM cells motility. Mechanistic analyses demonstrated the induction of oxidative stress and autophagy in α-thujone-treated tumor cells, whereas normal astrocytes displayed considerably lower sensitivity to α-thujone. Our observations demonstrate that α-thujone exerts pro-apoptotic and anti-invasive effects on GBM cells. They confirm the potential of α-thujone for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme.

Non-toxic and non teratogenic extract of Thuja orientalis L. inhibited angiogenesis in zebra fish and suppressed the growth of human lung cancer cell line.

Lung cancer is a malignant tumour with minimal survival rate and the current treatments are not showing complete remission of tumour and have many side effects. Thus a natural herbal medicine with good anti-cancer properties is highly demanded. Thuja orientalis L. is a traditionally used medicine to cure cough, bronchitis, excessive menstruation, asthma, skin infection and premature baldness. In addition, recent studies have revealed that it has anti-proliferative and anti-cancer activity. Angiogenesis is the main reason for the propagation and metastasis of cancers. We therefore intended to study the effects of the leaf extract of Thuja orientalis L. on angiogenesis as well as lung cancer cell growth. We have tested the anti-angiogenesis efficiency by alkaline phosphatase assay and also analysed the in vivo toxicity and teratogenic effects of various concentration of Thuja orientalis L. extract by establishing an in vivo zebra fish (Danio rerio), a promising model for cancer research which share genetic structure similarity to that of human beings. Also we demonstrated an anti-cancer effect of leaf extract from Thuja orientalis L. on human lung cancer cell line (A549) by MTT and trypan blue assay. The results revealed that the Thuja orientalis L. extract is efficient in repressing lung tumour cell growth significantly (p ≤ 0.01) in all treatments (2.4 mg/ml to 0.3 mg/ml) except 0.15 mg/ml compared to the control. The in vivo toxicity assay has proven that it is non-toxic at concentrations 0.6 mg/ml, 0.3 mg/ml and 0.15 mg/ml in zebrafish. The teratogenic assays revealed the therapeutic index (TI) as 0.808 with 0.7029 mg/ml as LC50 concentration at 24 h which is within the desirable value (below 1) for drug administration. Noticeable inhibition of angiogenesis also was observed in treatment with 2.4 mg/ml to 0.3 mg/ml. Overall we found that Thuja orientalis L. plant leaf extract exhibits better anti-cancer properties as we have validated by in vitro and in vivo analysis.

Prooxidant-Antioxidant Balance and Antioxidant Properties of Thuja orientalis L: A Potential Therapeutic Approach for Diabetes Mellitus.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem with an increasing global prevalence. It is usually associated with an imbalance between pro-oxidant mechanisms and antioxidant defenses, contributing to oxidative-stress, and this leads to an increased susceptibility to endothelial dysfunction, atherosclerosis, insulin-resistance and impaired-pancreatic ß-cell function. OBJECTIVE: We have assessed the Prooxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB) and anti-hemolytic effect of Thuja orientalis L using the PAB assay and the analysis of hematological markers. METHODS: The antioxidant and anti-hemolytic activity of Thuja orientalis was evaluated using the PAB assay and the inhibition of RBC hemolysis using the hydrogen peroxide hemolysis test. The percentage of anti-hemolysis was calculated from the ratio of the measurements (A-B)/B×100. RESULTS: Our results showed that the antioxidant effect of Thuja orientalis L. was greater in water than in ethyl-acetate, ethanol and methanol extract, respectively. We also observed its anti-hemolytic effect, which was higher in water, than in ethyl-acetate, methanol and ethanol extract, respectively. In particular our data showed that the H2O2-induced RBC hemolysis was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION: we demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-hemolytic effect of Thuja orientalis L. extracts in human serum and RBC, showing its potential property of reducing free radicals supporting further investigations to assess its functional role in larger samples size and in vivo models, as a potential antioxidant agent.

Oral supplementation of Thuja oreintalis leaf extract moderately affects the behavior in albino mice in a gender specific manner.

Present study was designed to demonstrate the effect ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja orientalis on the learning and memory formation in albino mice. Four week old albino mice were either orally supplemented with 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis or with equal volume of saline solution (0.9% NaCl) for seven days. A battery of neurological tests (Elevated plus maze, Rota Rod, light and dark box, open field and novel object recognition test) were applied at the end of dose supplementation. Thuja orientalis leaf extract treated female mice spent significantly les time on rotating rod (P = 0.02) than male treated with saline solution [indicating poor neuromuscular coordination]. While all other neurological test performances varied non significantly (P > 0.05) when compared between Thuja orientalis treated albino mice (of both genders) with their respective control groups indicating a moderate effect of 50mg/ml solvent/Kg body weight of Thuja orientalis on the behavior of young albino mice.

Toxic essential oils. Part V: Behaviour modulating and toxic properties of thujones and thujone-containing essential oils of Salvia officinalis L., Artemisia absinthium L., Thuja occidentalis L. and Tanacetum vulgare L.

Neurotoxic thujones (α- and ß-diastereoisomers) are common constituents of plant essential oils. In this study, we employed a statistical approach to determine the contribution of thujones to the overall observed behaviour-modulating and toxic effects of essential oils (Salvia officinalis L., Artemisia absinthium L., Thuja occidentalis L. and Tanacetum vulgare L.) containing these monoterpene ketones. The data from three in vivo neuropharmacological tests on rats (open field, light-dark, and diazepam-induced sleep), and toxicity assays (brine shrimp, and antimicrobial activity against a panel of microorganisms), together with the data from detailed chemical analyses, were subjected to a multivariate statistical treatment to reveal the possible correlation(s) between the content of essential-oil constituents and the observed effects. The results strongly imply that the toxic and behaviour-modulating activity of the oils (hundreds of constituents) should not be associated exclusively with thujones. The statistical analyses pinpointed to a number of essential-oil constituents other than thujones that demonstrated a clear correlation with either the toxicity, antimicrobial effect or the activity on CNS. Thus, in addition to the thujone content, the amount and toxicity of other constituents should be taken into consideration when making risk assessment and determining the regulatory status of plants in food and medicines.

Botanicals With Dermatologic Properties Derived From First Nations Healing: Part 1-Trees.

INTRODUCTION: First Nations people have a long history of working with medicinal plants used to treat skin diseases. The purpose was to assess the dermatologic therapeutic potential of western red cedar, white spruce, birch, balsam poplar, and black spruce. METHODS: Based on expert recommendations, 5 trees were selected that were used in First Nations medicine for cutaneous healing and have potential and/or current application to dermatology today. We searched several databases up to June 12, 2014. RESULTS: Western red cedar's known active principal compound, ß-thujaplicin, has been studied in atopic dermatitis. White spruce's known active principal compound, 7-hydroxymatairesinol, has anti-inflammatory activity, while phase II clinical trials have been completed on a birch bark emulsion for the treatment of actinic keratoses, epidermolysis bullosa, and the healing of split thickness graft donor sites. Balsam poplar has been used clinically as an anti-aging remedy. Black spruce bark contains higher amounts of the anti-oxidant trans-resveratrol than red wine. DISCUSSION: North American traditional medicine has identified important botanical agents that are potentially relevant to both cosmetic and medical dermatology. This study is limited by the lack of good quality evidence contributing to the review. The article is limited to 5 trees, a fraction of those used by First Nations with dermatological properties.

External Nursing Applications in the Supportive Management of Prolonged Postoperative Ileus: Description of Interventions and Case Report.

Prolonged postoperative ileus is a common but clinically challenging problem that leads to patient discomfort and prolonged hospitalization; the condition is managed through a multimodular program of supportive measures. In anthroposophic nursing, the management of prolonged postoperative ileus involves additional tools, including external abdominal compresses and massages with plant or silver-containing oils and ointments. We describe 3 typical techniques: Oxalis tincture compresses, Thuja/Argentum ointment compresses, and massage with "Wala Melissenöl" (containing Melissa officinalis, Carvum cari, Foeniculum amari, and Origanum majorana). A 61-year-old man with chronic pain from adhesions after multiple abdominal surgical procedures developed a prolonged postoperative ileus after an elective ileostomy reversal. Following slow recovery during the first postoperative days, he began vomiting. A nasogastric tube was inserted, and daily Oxalis tincture compresses and massage with "Wala Melissenöl" and Thuja/Argentum ointment compresses were applied on the abdomen. The patient's symptoms gradually improved over the next 10 days. No prokinetic medications were needed to manage this episode. External abdominal nursing applications with plant substances and silver can be an additional tool in the management of prolonged postoperative ileus.

Short Communication: Evaluation of the chemical composition of essential oil of Thuja occidentalis leaves grown in Peshawar, Pakistan by gas chromatography mass spectrometry.

Essential oil extracted from the fresh leaves of Thuja occidentalis were evaluated for its chemical composition employing GC-MS. Total of twenty nine components were identified and determined quantitatively using the area normalization procedure. Alpha-pinene and (+)-4-carene were found in high amount with a percentage concentration of 54.78 and 11.28 respectively. Other compounds which yielded appreciable amounts are: alpha-cedrol (6.87%), terpinolene (5.88%), p-menth-1-en-8-ol acetate (5.21%), beta-myrcene (4.04%), beta-pinene (2.26%), germacrene D (1.72%), sabinene (1.65%) and D-Limonene (1.62%).

Thuja orientalis reduces airway inflammation in ovalbumin-induced allergic asthma.

Thuja orientalis (TO) may be used as a herbal remedy for the treatment of numerous inflammatory diseases. In the present study, the effects of TO were evaluated on airway inflammation in ovalbumin (OVA)­induced allergic asthma and RAW264.7 murine macrophage cells. The effects of TO on the production of proinflammatory mediators, were determined in RAW264.7 cells that had been stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Furthermore, an in vivo experiment was performed on mice that were sensitized to OVA and then received an OVA airway challenge. TO was administered by daily oral gavage at a dose of 30 mg/kg, 21­23 days after the initial OVA sensitization. TO was shown to reduce nitric oxide production and reduce the relative mRNA expression levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), interleukin (IL)­6, cyclooxygenase­2, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)­9, and tumor necrosis factor­α in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with LPS. In addition, TO markedly decreased the inflammatory cell counts in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid, reduced the levels of IL­4, IL­5, IL­13, eotaxin and immunoglobulin E, and reduced airway hyperresponsivenes, in the OVA sensitized mice. Furthermore, TO attenuated airway inflammation and mucus hypersecretion, induced by the OVA challenge of the lung tissue. TO also reduced the expression of iNOS and MMP­9 in lung tissue. In conclusion, TO exerted anti­inflammatory effects in an OVA­induced allergic asthma model, and in LPS­stimulated RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that TO may be a useful therapeutic agent for the treatment of inflammatory diseases, including allergic asthma.

Flavonol isolated from ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja occidentalis arrests the cell cycle at G2-M and induces ROS-independent apoptosis in A549 cells, targeting nuclear DNA.

OBJECTIVES: The K-ras gene mutation commonly found in lung adenocarcinomas contributes to their non-invasive expansion. Our main objective here was to develop a chemopreventive agent against K-ras-mutated lung adenocarcinoma cell line like-A549. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We isolated flavonol from ethanolic leaf extract of Thuja occidentalis, and evaluated its apoptotic potentials on A549 cells. They were treated with 1-10 µg/ml of flavonol and viability was tested retaining normal lung cells L-132 as control. We performed assays such as TUNEL, annexin V, cell-cycle and mitochondrial membrane potentials, by FACS analysis. ROS-mediated oxidative stress and drug-DNA interactions were analysed along with gene expression studies for p53, Bax-Bcl2, cytochrome c, the caspase cascade genes and PARP. RESULTS: Flavonol reduced A549 cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner (IC50 value = 7.6 ± 0.05 µg/ml following 48 h incubation) sparing normal L-132 cells. It effected G2-M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as indicated by progressive increase in the sub-G1, annexin V and TUNEL-positive cell populations. Apoptotic effects appeared to be mitochondria-dependent, caspase-3-mediated, but ROS-independent. Analysis of circular dichroism data revealed that flavonol intercalated with nuclear DNA. In vivo studies on non small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC)-induced mice confirmed anti-cancer potential of flavonol. CONCLUSION: Flavonol-induced apoptosis apparently resulted from intercalation of cells' nuclear DNA. Flavonol inhibited growth of induced lung tumours in the mice, indicating its potential as an effective agent against NSCLC.

Bioactive sesquiterpenes from the essential oil of Thuja orientalis.

A phytochemical investigation on the essential oil of Thuja orientalis resulted in the isolation and identification of three new sesquiterpenes, 3α-methoxy-4α-epoxythujopsane (1), Δ³,¹5-4ß-epoxythujopsene (2), and Δ³,4-thujopsen-2,15-diol (3), together with eight known sesquiterpenoids (4-11). The structures of these new compounds were elucidated based on spectroscopic data analyses including extensive 2D-NMR data and HR-ESIMS. The full assignments of ¹H and ¹³C NMR chemical shifts for thujopsadiene (4) were obtained by 2D-NMR for the first time. All compounds (1-11) showed antiproliferative activities against the SK-OV-3 and SK-MEL-2 cell lines with IC50 values of 5.85-28.64 µM. In addition, compounds 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, and 9 significantly inhibited nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated BV-2 cells with IC50 values of 3.93-17.85 µM without cell toxicity.

Improved biosorption potential of Thuja orientalis cone powder for the biosorptive removal of Basic Blue 9.

This study focused on the development of an efficient and practical biosorbent, a low cost and promising plant waste with cellulose-lignin polymeric structure, for the treatment of dye containing solutions. Thuja orientalis biomass was modified by citric acid and its biosorption potential was investigated with respect to pH (2.0-10.0), contact time (1-60 min), sorbent dosage (0.01-0.05 g), initial dye concentration (10-725 mg L(-1)) and flow rate (0.5-4.0 mL min(-1)). Modification significantly increased the biosorption of dye by 30% as compared with unmodified biomass. Kinetic data followed the pseudo-second-order model while the equilibrium data were well predicted by the Langmuir isotherm model. Maximum dye biosorption capacities for natural and modified biomasses were found to be 91.03 and 203.21 mg g(-1) at 30°C, respectively. Modified biosorbent exhibited very good regeneration potential up to 10 cycles and it was successfully used for the decolorization of synthetic solution in dynamic flow mode. Zeta potential measurements, IR, SEM and EDX analysis were used to characterize the possible dye-biosorbent interactions. Overall, the present study underlines the alternative use of modified T. orientalis cones for removal and recovery applications of cationic dye, Basic Blue 9.