In vitro antioxidant, anticholinesterases, anti-α-amylase, and anti-α-glucosidase effects of Algerian Salvia aegyptiaca and Salvia verbenaca.

In this study, Salvia aegyptiaca and Salvia verbenaca aerial part decoction and methanol extracts (SAE DE, SAE ME, SVR DE, and SVR ME) were screened for their in vitro antioxidant, anti-Alzheimer, and antidiabetic enzymes inhibition activities. The antioxidant properties of Salvia extracts were determined using DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, Alkaline DMSO superoxide radical scavenging, ß-carotene bleaching, reducing power, and metal chelating activity assays. All extracts showed high antioxidant capacity and the antioxidant properties with the best performance were detected in the SAE ME and SVR ME. The extracts of S. aegyptiaca and S. verbenaca showed a low inhibitory activity of acetylcholinesterase (AChE), whereas, the methanol extract of S. aegyptiaca had the highest inhibitory activity on butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (71.60 ± 4.33% for 100 µg/ml) compared to the other extracts. In vitro inhibitory effect on diabetic enzymes showed that the ME inhibited α-amylase enzyme with an IC50 86 and 101 µg/ml for SAE and SVR, respectively. Similarly, both extracts inhibited α-glucosidase with (IC50 97 and 150 µg/ml, respectively). The decoction extracts exhibited lower activity on both enzymes. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: It is becoming evident that oxidative stress is involved in several acute and chronic diseases. Counteracting free radical generation has become one of the widest fields of research worldwide. This study deals with the in vitro antioxidant activity of two plants from the Salvia genus as well as the assessment of their in vitro inhibitory properties of four key enzymes implicated in diabetes and Alzheimer's disease. Concerning the practical applications of our work, it can be explored in its antioxidant part as a food supplement to prevent the excess of free radicals in the body and also in other industrial practices. Another potential use is in the prevention and amelioration of both diabetes and Alzheimer's disease symptoms for the extracts that had enzyme inhibitory activity, but this deserves further toxicological and in vivo studies.

Antiangiogenic Iridoids from Stachys ocymastrum and Premna resinosa.

In this paper, the isolation of one new iridoid glucoside, 6ß-acetoxyipolamiide (1: ), and thirteen (2:  - 14: ) known congeners from two Lamiaceae species, Stachys ocymastrum and Premna resinosa, leaf extracts is reported. The structural determination of the isolated compounds was performed by mono- and bidimensional NMR spectroscopic analysis as well as MS experiments. The isolates were assayed for their antiangiogenic activity by two in vivo models, zebrafish embryos and chick chorioallantoic membrane assays. The compounds with a significant antiangiogenic activity in both assays were ß-hydroxyipolamiide (2: ), ipolamiide (3: ), and buddlejoside A5 (8: ). 6-O-α-l-(3″-O-p-Methoxycinnamoyl-4″-O-acetyl)rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (13: ) and 6-O-α-l-(2″-trans-caffeoyl)rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (6: ) showed the best antiangiogenic response on blood vessel growth in zebrafish embryos, whereas saccatoside (10: ) and 6-O-α-l-(2″-O - : p-methoxycinnamoyl-3″-O-acetyl)rhamnopyranosyl catalpol (14: ) resulted in a strong reduction of capillary formation in the chorioallantoic membrane assay.

Anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and apoptotic activities of four plant species used in folk medicine in the Mediterranean basin.

The aim of this research was to study the potential anti-inflammatory activity of myrtle (Myrtus communis), sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera), Arabian or French lavender (Lavandula stoechas), and calamint (Calamintha nepeta) along with their apoptotic effects on the pro-inflammatory cells, and the correlation of these effects with the plants' potential anti-oxidant activity. Myrtle extract exhibited the highest inhibitory activity in the paw oedema induced by carrageenan (60% at 3 h), whereas calamint, lavender, and sarsaparilla produced inhibitions of 49%, 38%, and 47%, respectively. None of them had an effect on the TPA-induced ear oedema. Moreover, all the extracts except sarsaparilla showed different degrees of anti-oxidant activity. Lavender and myrtle at 200 µg/mL decreased cell viability by 63% and 59%, respectively, after 3 h of incubation. Neutrophil elimination through apoptosis could be implicated in the resolution of acute inflammation in the case of lavender, whereas the reduction of reactive oxygen species produced by neutrophils, such as the superoxide anion and the hydroxyl radical, could be implicated in the overall reduction of inflammation. These results may support the traditional use of these plants.

Effect of tannins from Quercus suber and Quercus coccifera leaves on ethanol-induced gastric lesions in mice.

The gastroprotective effects of 70% acetone extracts of Quercus suber and Quercus coccifera leaves and of tannins (pedunculagin, castalagin, phillyraeoidin A, and acutissimin B) purified from these extracts were examined in the mouse using the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model. Both extracts (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg), given orally, prevented the formation of ethanol-induced lesions in the stomach. The percent protection varied between 68 and 91%. Purified tannins (50 mg/kg) were also effective in protecting the stomach against ethanol, and the percent protection varied from 66 to 83%. Castalagin was the most potent. Both extracts and all of the tannins tested (10, 25, and 50 microg/mL) strongly inhibited (55-65%) the lipid peroxidation of rabbit brain homogenate. These results suggest that the gastroprotective effects of extracts of Q. suber and Q. coccifera leaves and the purified tannins in this experimental model are related to their anti-lipoperoxidant properties.