A review on the traditional uses, nutritive importance, pharmacognostic features, phytochemicals, and pharmacology of Momordica cymbalaria Hook F.

Momordica cymbalaria Hook F. (MC), belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, is a plant with several biological activities. This detailed, comprehensive review gathers and presents all the information related to the geographical distribution, morphology, therapeutic uses, nutritional values, pharmacognostic characters, phytochemicals, and pharmacological activities of MC. The available literature showed that MC fruits are utilized as a stimulant, tonic, laxative, stomachic, and to combat inflammatory disorders. The fruits are used to treat spleen and liver diseases and are applied in folk medicine to induce abortion and treat diabetes mellitus. The phytochemical screening studies report that MC fruits contain tannins, alkaloids, phenols, proteins, amino acids, vitamin C, carbohydrates, ß-carotenes, palmitic acid, oleic acid, stearic acid, α-eleostearic acid, and γ-linolenic acid. The fruits also contain calcium, sodium, iron, potassium, copper, manganese, zinc, and phosphorus. Notably, momordicosides are cucurbitacin triterpenoids reported in the fruits of MC. Diverse pharmacological activities of MC, such as analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antidiabetic, cardioprotective, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, anticancer, antiangiogenic, antifertility, antiulcer, antimicrobial, antidiarrheal and anthelmintic, have been reported by many investigators. M. cymbalaria methanolic extract is safe up to 2,000 mg/kg. Furthermore, no symptoms of toxicity were found. These pharmacological activities are mechanistically interpreted and described in this review. Additionally, the microscopic, powder and physiochemical characteristics of MC tubers are also highlighted. In summary, possesses remarkable medicinal values, which warrant further detailed studies to exploit its potential benefits therapeutically.

Metabolic Profiling, GC-MS, LC-ESI-MS/MS Analysis, Phenolics Isolation and Biological Evaluation of the Aerial Parts Extracts of Felicia abyssinica L.

Felicia abyssinica L., family Asteraceae, is widely used in folk medicine. This represents the first study to investigate its phytoconstituents and pharmacological effects. Phytoconstituents identified by GC-MS, LC-ESI-MS/MS-based metabolomics, and NMR (1D & 2D). GC-MS of the (FAMEs) revealed mainly the identification of 55 fatty acids. LC-ESI-MS/MS analysis resulted in the tentative identity of 13 compounds representing flavonoids, phenolics, and fatty acids. Ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the highest total flavonoids 66.19 mg/mL Rutin equivalent, while the methanolic fraction showed the highest phenolics 87.70 mg/mL gallic acid equivalent, and the total condensed tannins were 64.35 µg CE/mg catechins equivalent. A flavonoid and a cinnamic acid derivative were identified as quercetin 3-O-(2'''-O-acetyl) rutinoside (Mumikotin A) (1) and Methyl sinapate (2). Biological evaluation of antioxidant and cytotoxic activities was carried out. Cytotoxicity was examined on HepG-2 cell lines where the average cell viability was 91.42 % and 52.48 % for concentrations 10 and 100 µg/mL respectively. Methylene chloride and methanolic fractions showed the highest antioxidant activity 225 µg/mL Ascorbic acid equivalents. It is hypothesized that high phenolics, flavonoid content, and oxygenated identified compounds contribute to the antioxidant activity and can be regarded as a promising species for nutraceuticals active antioxidants with potential value for remedy.

Chemical profiling and cytotoxic potential of the n-butanol fraction of Tamarix nilotica flowers.

BACKGROUND: Cancer represents one of the biggest healthcare issues confronting humans and one of the big challenges for scientists in trials to dig into our nature for new remedies or to develop old ones with fewer side effects. Halophytes are widely distributed worldwide in areas of harsh conditions in dunes, and inland deserts, where, to cope with those conditions they synthesize important secondary metabolites highly valued in the medical field. Several Tamarix species are halophytic including T.nilotica which is native to Egypt, with a long history in its tradition, found in its papyri and in folk medicine to treat various ailments. METHODS: LC-LTQ-MS-MS analysis and 1H-NMR were used to identify the main phytoconstituents in the n- butanol fraction of T.nilotica flowers. The extract was tested  in vitro for its cytotoxic effect against breast (MCF-7) and liver cell carcinoma (Huh-7) using SRB assay. RESULTS: T.nilotica n-butanol fraction of the flowers was found to be rich in phenolic content, where, LC-LTQ-MS-MS allowed the tentative identification of thirty-nine metabolites, based on the exact mass, the observed spectra fragmentation patterns, and the literature data, varying between tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. 1H-NMR confirmed the classes tentatively identified. The in-vitro evaluation of the n-butanol fraction showed lower activity on MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 > 100 µg/mL, while the higher promising effect was against Huh-7 cell lines with an IC50= 37 µg/mL. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested that T.nilotica flowers' n-butanol fraction is representing a promising cytotoxic candidate against liver cell carcinoma having potential phytoconstituents with variable targets and signaling pathways.

Phytochemical Investigation, In silico/In vivo Analgesic, and Anti-inflammatory Assessment of the Egyptian Cassia occidentalis L.

Cassia occidentalis L., from Fabaceae family phytochemical screening, revealed several biologically active principles mainly flavonoids and anthraquinones. GLC analysis of the lipoidal matter afforded 12 hydrocarbons: 9-dodecyl-tetradecahydro-anthracene (48.97 %), 9-dodecyl-tetradecahydro-phenanthrene (14.43 %), and 6 sterols/triterpenes: isojaspisterol (11.99%) and fatty acids were palmitic acid (50 %), and Linoleic acid (16.06%). Column chromatography led to the isolation of fifteen compounds (1-15), elucidated using spectroscopic evidence. First report of undecanoic acid (4) from the family Fabaceae, while p-dimethyl amino-benzaldehyde (15) was first time isolated from a natural origin. Eight compounds isolated for the first time from C. occidentalis L.; ß-amyrin (1), ß-sitosterol (2), stigmasterol (3), camphor (5), lupeol (6), chrysin (7), pectolinargenin (8), and 1, 2, 5-trihydroxy anthraquinone (14) besides five known compounds previously isolated; apigenin (9), kaempferol (10), chrysophanol (11), physcion (12), and aloe-emodin (13). In-vivo evaluation of anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects of C. occidentalis L. extracts where the n-butanol and total extracts showed the highest activities. The percentage of the inhibitory effect of the n-butanol extract was 29.7 at a dose of 400 mg/Kg. Furthermore, identified phytoconstituents were docked into the active sites of enzymes nAChRs, COX-1, and COX-2 to evaluate binding affinity. Phyto-compounds Physcion, aloe-emodin, and chrysophanol were found to have a good affinity for targeted receptors compared to co-crystalized inhibitors, validating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of the phytochemicals.

Heliotropium ramosissimum metabolic profiling, in silico and in vitro evaluation with potent selective cytotoxicity against colorectal carcinoma.

Heliotropium is a genus of the Boraginaceae family. Its members are used in many traditional and folklore medicines to treat several ailments. Despite this widespread usage, only a few evidence-based scientific studies investigated and identified its phytoconstituents. Herein, we documented the chemical profile of the Heliotropium ramosissimum methanolic extract using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) and assessed its antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. The methanolic extract exhibited high phenolic content (179.74 ± 0.58 µg/mL) and high flavonoid content (53.18 ± 0.60 µg/mL). The GC-MS analysis of the lipoidal matter allowed us to identify 41 compounds with high percentages of 1,2-benzenedicarboxylic acid, bis(2-methoxyethyl) ester (23.91%), and 6,10,14-trimethylpentadecan-2-one (18.74%). Thirty-two phytomolecules were tentatively identified from the methanolic extract of H. ramosissimum using LC-MS/MS. These compounds belonged to several phytochemical classes such as phenolic acids, alkaloids, coumarins, and flavonoids. Furthermore, we assessed the antioxidant activity of the methanolic extract by DPPH assay and oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay, which yielded IC50 values of 414.30 µg/mL and 170.03 ± 44.40 µM TE/equivalent, respectively. We also assessed the cytotoxicity of the methanolic extract on seven different cell lines; Colo-205, A-375, HeLa, HepG-2, H-460, and OEC showed that it selectively killed cancer cells with particularly potent cytotoxicity against Colo-205 without affecting normal cells. Further studies revealed that the extract induced apoptosis and/or necrosis on Colo-205 cell line at an IC50 of 18.60 µg/mL. Finally, we conducted molecular docking on the LC-ESI-MS/MS-identified compounds against colon cancer antigen 10 to find potentially cytotoxic compounds. Binding score energy analysis showed that isochlorogenic acid and orientin had the highest affinity for the colon cancer antigen 10 protein, with binding scores of (- 13.2001) and (- 13.5655) kcal/mol, respectively. These findings suggest that Heliotropium ramosissimum contains potent therapeutic candidates for colorectal cancer treatment.

New Adenosine Derivatives from Aizoon canariense L.: In Vitro Anticholinesterase, Antimicrobial, and Cytotoxic Evaluation of Its Extracts.

Aizoaceae is a large succulent family characterized by many psychoactive species. Aizoon canariense L., a wild neglected plant traditionally used in gastrointestinal ailments, has been the subject of a limited number of phytochemical and biological studies. Therefore, herein, we investigated the in vitro cytotoxic, antimicrobial, and anticholinesteraseactivity of the aerial parts of A. canariense L. and analyzed the phytochemical compositions of the lipoidal and alkaloidal fractions. Petroleum ether extract showed the presence of behenic and tricosylic acid, while an in-depth investigation of the alkaloidal fraction revealed the identification of new adenine based alkaloids (1-5), which were isolated and identified for the first time from Aizoon canariense L. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses. The alkaloidal extract showed a powerful cytotoxic effect (IC50 14-28 µg/mL), with the best effect against colon carcinoma, followed by liver and breast carcinomas. The alkaloidal extract also had a potent effect against Candida albicans and Escherichia coli, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) values of 312.5 and 625 µg/mL. The in vitro anticholinesterase activity was potent, with IC50 < 200 ng/mL for the tested extracts compared with 27.29 ± 0.49 ng/mL for tacrine.

In-vivo wound healing activity of a novel composite sponge loaded with mucilage and lipoidal matter of Hibiscus species.

Many researches have been undergone to hasten the natural wound healing process. In this study, several Hibiscus species (leaves) were extracted with petroleum ether, methanol, and their mucilage was separated. All the tested species extracts were assessed for their viability percentage using the water-soluble tetrazolium. H.syriacus was the plant of choice to be incorporated in a new drug delivery system and evaluated for its wound healing activity. H.syriacus petroleum ether extract (PEE) showed a high percentage of palmitic and oleic acids while its mucilage demonstrated high glucosamine and galacturonic acid. It was selected to be formulated and pharmaceutically evaluated into three different composite sponges using chitosan in various ratios. Fourier-transformed infrared spectroscopy investigated the chemical interaction between the utilized sponges' ingredients. Morphological characteristics were evaluated using scanning electron microscopy. H.syriacus composite sponge of mucilage: chitosan (1:5) was loaded with three different concentrations of PEE. Medicated formulations were assessed in rat model of excision wound model. The wound healing ability was clearly proved by the clinical acceleration, histopathological examination, and modulation of correlated inflammatory parameters as tumor necrosis factor in addition to vascular endothelial growth factor suggesting a promising valuable candidate that supports the management of excision wounds using single-dose preparation.

Centaurea pumilio L. extract and nanoparticles: A candidate for healthy skin.

Centaurea pumilio was the subject of phytochemical and biological studies, and its extract was used in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization mass spectrometry allowed the tentative identification of twenty-nine phytoconstituents of C. pumilio methanolic extract (CME), while column chromatography led to the identification of eight phenolic compounds. The neutral red uptake method showed the safety of CME and AgNPs on skin cells (HaCaT cell lines), while their high antioxidant potentials were demonstrated based on their oxygen radical absorbance capacity, and these results were confirmed in vivo. Additionally, CME and AgNPs had promising abilities to retard the ageing process and combat dark spots by potently inhibiting collagenase, elastase and tyrosinase, in addition to antimicrobial activity against skin infection-causing strains, especially Staphylococcus aureus, which was further confirmed by the significant phagocytic activity of neutrophils via engulfment. This study presents C. pumilio as a candidate for healthy skin.

A Completely Polyherbal Conditioning and Antioxidant Shampoo: A Phytochemical Study and Pharmaceutical Evaluation.

AIM: A recent approach in shampoo research has been to find a natural alternative for synthetic detergents that have deteriorative effects on hair follicles. This study aimed at the formulation of a completely herbal shampoo containing a natural foaming agent, in addition to having conditioning, antioxidant, and antimicrobial effects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The leaves of Salix babylonica L., Ziziphus spina-christi L. (Willd), and Glycyrrhiza glabra rhizomes were extracted with 70% methanol then quantified for their phenolic and flavonoid contents using colorimetric assays that were qualitatively identified by Ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) with tandem mass spectrometry (MS-MS). The mineral content was also estimated. The radical scavenging activity was estimated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) was determined. Additionally, the antimicrobial activity was tested using agar diffusion assay and compared to vancomycin and ketoconazole. Four formulations, consisting of the different plant extracts and a combination of the extracts, were prepared and evaluated for several physicochemical properties. The best formula was evaluated for its conditioning effects using scanning electron microscope and blind touch tests by asking volunteers for grading the formulations. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: UPLC-MS-MS analysis of S. babylonica and Z. spina-christi allowed tentative identification of 12 phytoconstituents in each. Z. spina-christi showed the highest phenolic content and a high copper, zinc, and manganese content beside the best antioxidant activity, whereas G. glabra had a high potency against Bacillus cereus and Candida albicans. The polyherbal shampoo formulation (F4) was selected as an optimized formulation because of a high foam stability after 4 min, low wetting time (2 s), surface tension reduction, and comparable results for percent solid content. F4 showed good conditioning effect and consumer contentment. CONCLUSION: The formulated polyherbal shampoo is chemical free, extra-nourishing shampoo with excellent conditioning, cleansing, and antimicrobial effects.

Hepatoprotective activity of Erythrina × neillii leaf extract and characterization of its phytoconstituents.

BACKGROUND: Natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents have the ability to restore normal balance to destructed liver cells. The genus Erythrina has attracted attention for its broad spectrum of physiological activities and its rich polyphenolic and alkaloid contents. HYPOTHESIS/PURPOSE: The major phytoconstituents of Erythrina × neillii, an ornamental coral tree and a hybrid between E. herbacea and E. humeana that was not previously studied, were investigated. The hepatoprotective effect and underlying mechanisms were also assessed. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: The main phytoconstituents in the different fractions of the alcoholic leaf extract (dichloromethane and ethyl acetate) were identified using high resolution high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (HR-HPLC-MS-MS) based on the fragmentation pattern and molecular formula of the identified compounds and on previous literature. In addition, the hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of three doses of E. × neillii alcoholic leaf extract (100, 250, 500 mg/kg) were investigated in methotrexate (MTX)-intoxicated rats and were compared with those of silymarin-treated rats. Liver function parameters were obtained, and a histopathological study was performed. In addition, the anti-inflammatory mediators and the antioxidant system in the liver tissues were assessed. RESULTS: The dichloromethane extract revealed an abundance of alkaloids (25), in addition to tentatively identifying flavone (1), flavanone (1) and three fatty acids. Additionally, thirty-six compounds belonging to different classes of phytoconstituents with a predominance of flavonoids (21), O/C-flavone and flavonol glycosides, followed by alkaloids (9), fatty acids (4) and (2), and phenolic glycoside were identified in the ethyl acetate extract. Compared with MTX, alcoholic leaf extract (500 mg/kg) ameliorated the MTX-induced alterations by improving several biochemical marker levels, fighting oxidative stress in serum and liver tissues, and decreasing inflammatory mediators; this finding was further confirmed by the histopathological study. CONCLUSION: This study reveals E. × neillii, a rich source of flavonoids and alkaloids, which could be further exploited to provide a promising and safe antihepatotoxic agent source.