The Bioactivity and Phytochemicals of Muscari comosum (Leopoldia comosa), a Plant of Multiple Pharmacological Activities.

Leopoldia comosa (LC), popularly known as Muscari comosum, spontaneously grows in the Mediterranean region and its bulbs are used as a vegetable. Traditionally, they are also used to treat various diseases and conditions, which has inspired the study of the pharmacological activities of different parts of LC. These studies revealed the numerous biological properties of LC including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetes, anti-obesity, anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer's disease, antibacterial, and immune stimulant. High antioxidant activity compared to other non-cultivated plants, and the potential role of antioxidant activity in other reported activities make LC an excellent candidate to be developed as an antioxidant plant against important associated diseases. The presence of a diverse class of phytochemicals (n = 85), especially flavonoids and homoisoflavones, in LC, also imparts significance to the nutraceutical candidature of the plant. However, limited animal studies and the lack of a directional approach have limited the further design of effective clinical studies for the development of LC. The current study is the first attempt to comprehensively compile information regarding the phytochemicals and pharmacological activities of LC, emphasize the targets/markers targeted by LC, important in other activities, and also highlight the current gaps and propose possible bridges for the development of LC as a therapeutic and/or supplement against important diseases.

Steroidal saponins profiling of Rohdea chinensis (Baker) N.Tanaka by high performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization and quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

The rhizome of Rohdea chinensis (Baker) N.Tanaka (RRc) is a famous folk medicine for the treatment of carbuncles and pharyngitis. Steroidal saponins (SSs) were considered to be the most abundant active constituents in RRc. However, to date, the in-depth study of SSs is still lacking. This study was aimed to investigate the SSs profiles of RRc extract by HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. Analysis was performed on an Agilent poroshell 120 EC-C18 column (2.1 mm × 100 mm, i.d., 2.7 µm) with 0.1% formic acid aqueous solution and acetonitrile as the mobile phase under gradient conditions. The results showed that 32 SSs including 20 furospirostanol, 11 spirostanol and 1 pseudo-spirostanol saponins were identified, 5 of which were reported in this plant for the first time. This is the first report on the analysis of SSs in RRc. This novel analysis method may stimulate further research regarding the identification of SSs in other plant species.

Comparative and phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of six Polygonatum species (Asparagaceae).

Polygonatum Miller belongs to the tribe Polygonateae of Asparagaceae. The horizontal creeping fleshy roots of several species in this genus serve as traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have mainly reported the size and gene contents of the plastomes, with little information on the comparative analysis of the plastid genomes of this genus. Additionally, there are still some species whose chloroplast genome information has not been reported. In this study, the complete plastomes of six Polygonatum were sequenced and assembled, among them, the chloroplast genome of P. campanulatum was reported for the first time. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses were then conducted with the published plastomes of three related species. Results indicated that the whole plastome length of the Polygonatum species ranged from 154,564 bp (P. multiflorum) to 156,028 bp (P. stenophyllum) having a quadripartite structure of LSC and SSC separated by two IR regions. A total of 113 unique genes were detected in each of the species. Comparative analysis revealed that gene content and total GC content in these species were highly identical. No significant contraction or expansion was observed in the IR boundaries among all the species except P. sibiricum1, in which the rps19 gene was pseudogenized owing to incomplete duplication. Abundant long dispersed repeats and SSRs were detected in each genome. There were five remarkably variable regions and 14 positively selected genes were identified among Polygonatum and Heteropolygonatum. Phylogenetic results based on chloroplast genome strongly supported the placement of P. campanulatum with alternate leaves in sect. Verticillata, a group characterized by whorled leaves. Moreover, P. verticillatum and P. cyrtonema were displayed as paraphyletic. This study revealed that the characters of plastomes in Polygonatum and Heteropolygonatum maintained a high degree of similarity. Five highly variable regions were found to be potential specific DNA barcodes in Polygonatum. Phylogenetic results suggested that leaf arrangement was not suitable as a basis for delimitation of subgeneric groups in Polygonatum and the definitions of P. cyrtonema and P. verticillatum require further study.

Identifying molecular targets of Aspiletrein-derived steroidal saponins in lung cancer using network pharmacology and molecular docking-based assessments.

Lung cancer is one of the leading cancers and causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Due to its high prevalence and mortality rate, its clinical management remains a significant challenge. Previously, the in vitro anticancer activity of Aspiletrein A, a steroid and a saponin from Aspidistra letreae, against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells was reported. However, the anticancer molecular mechanism of other Aspiletreins from A. letreae remains unknown. Using in silico network pharmacology approaches, the targets of Aspiletreins were predicted using the Swiss Target Prediction database. In addition, key mediators in NSCLC were obtained from the Genetic databases. The compound-target interacting networks were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape, uncovering potential targets, including STAT3, VEGFA, HSP90AA1, FGF2, and IL2. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis demonstrated that several pathways were highly relevant to cancer pathogenesis. Additionally, molecular docking and molecular dynamic analyses revealed the interaction between key identified targets and Aspiletreins, including hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals interaction. This study provides potential targets of Aspiletreins in NSCLC, and its approach of integrating network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking is a powerful tool for investigating the mechanism of new drug targets on a specific disease.

The anatomical, morphological features, and biological activity of Scilla siberica subsp. armena (Grossh.) Mordak (Asparagaceae).

Scilla siberica subsp. armena is known as Siberian Squill which is naturally distributed in Lebanon-Syria, Transcaucasus, and Turkey. It is a perennial bulbous plant with a short vegetation period from March to May. In this study, the antimicrobial, antioxidant, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of corm, leaf, and flower methanolic extracts were examined. The anatomy and morphology of the plant organs were investigated by light and electron microscopes. The anatomy of S. siberica subsp. armena was investigated for the first time by electron microscopy in this study. The corm, leaf, and flower methanolic extracts were assessed against E. coli ATCC 8739, S. aureus ATCC 6538, B. subtilis ATCC 19,659, C. albicans ATCC 10,231, C. krusei ATCC 14,243, and C. tropicalis ATCC 750. Among the extracts, that obtained from the blue pollen showed the best antimicrobial activity against C. tropicalis ATCC 750 strain with a MIC value of 312.5 µg/mL. The highest phenolic content was determined in leaf extract with 53.59211 µg GAE/mg extract value. The extract showed the best anti-lipid peroxidation activity with 376.69 µg/mL value. Using DPPH· and ABTS·+ tests, it was determined that the flower and leaf extracts have the best activity (IC50 = 756.13 µg/mL and IC50 = 94.07 µg/mL, respectively). The flower extract exhibited α-glucosidase inhibitory activity with the IC50 value of 5239 µg/mL. Based on the presented results of the in vitro antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antidiabetic activities of the S. siberica subsp. armena, we suggest that natural compounds from S. siberica subsp. armena are of potential use for the improvement of an antidiabetic, antioxidant, and antimicrobial agent.

Asparagus falcatus L. (Asparagaceae) leaf extracts attenuate doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity via antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways.

The search for therapeutic agents that improve kidney function against doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity is important. Herein, the potential nephroprotective activity by Asparagus falcatus L. (AF, Asparagaceae) leaf extracts against doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity (5 mg/kg, ip) in Wistar rats (n = 6/group) after oral administration of hexane (55 mg/kg), ethyl acetate (35 mg/kg), butanol (75 mg/kg), and aqueous (200 mg/kg) extracts of AF for 28 consecutive days was investigated. It was noticed that the treatment with the selected extracts of AF significantly attenuated doxorubicin-induced elevations of serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, ß2-microglobulin, cystatin C, and proteinuria in experimental rats. The histology showed attenuation of the features of acute tubular injury. Treatment regimens significantly reversed the doxorubicin-induced reduction in total antioxidant status, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase activity in renal tissue homogenates. A suppression in lipid peroxidation was noted with hexane, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts of AF. Moreover, a reduction in the concentration of the pro-inflammatory mediator TNF-α (p < 0.05), and immunohistochemical expression of COX-2 were observed. The immunohistochemical expression of pro-apoptotic Bax protein was decreased and the anti-apoptotic BCL-2 was increased in renal tissues following the treatments. In conclusion, it was revealed that, hexane, ethyl acetate, butanol, and aqueous extracts of AF attenuate doxorubicin-induced renal toxicity in Wistar rats through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic pathways. The plant, AF could be recommended as a promising therapeutic agent to minimize renal toxicity induced by doxorubicin in cancer patients, however, subsequent clinical trials are warranted.

The comparative palynomorphological studies on Turkish Muscari genera and close relatives (Asparagaceae-scilloideae) with their taxonomic implications.

By this study, the palynomorphological traits of 49 taxa (53 plant samples) of the genus Muscari which has been the main research topic and also its relatives, Pseudomuscari, Hyacinthella and Bellevalia have been studied in details of both using light and scanning electron microscope. In the end of palynologic works, it was suggested the descriptive or symbolized main pollen types to make easier the separation or identification of the species of Muscari and its relative groups. According to this symbolization, the pollen types of species may be changeable as D-shaped, elliptical, triangular, and spindle shaped and all types could be seen in different members of the studied taxonomic groups in this paper. One of the most important findings of the study is that the taxa of the genus Muscari, Hyacinthella and Bellevalia do not show a main difference in terms of pollen structures and especially they exhibit harmony. Therefore, it does not possible to mention about the special pollen shape own to one species but it is possible to see common pollen types for closely related taxa or taxon groups. As a result, it could be commented that there is not evolved the close taxonomical groups within Asparagaceae in terms of pollen shape and morphologies and there is considerably a high suitability in point of theirs germ cells or microspores among them. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A detailed palynological description is provided for Muscari and close relative genus using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and light microscopy (LM). Pollen size and sulcus length are been determined as the best informative pollen characters to understand Muscari and other studied species.

Phytochemical Characterization, Antioxidant Activity, and Cytotoxicity of Methanolic Leaf Extract of Chlorophytum Comosum (Green Type) (Thunb.) Jacq.

Chlorophytum genus has been extensively studied due to its diverse biological activities. We evaluated the methanolic extract of leaves of Chlorophytum comosum (Green type) (Thunb.) Jacques, the species that is less studied compared to C. borivilianum. The aim was to identify phytoconstituents of the methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum and biological properties of its different fractions. Water fraction was analyzed with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. Nineteen compounds belonging to different chemical classes were identified in the methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum (Green type) (Thunb.) Jacques. In addition to several fatty acids, isoprenoid and steroid compounds were found among the most abundant constituents. One of the identified compounds, 4'-methylphenyl-1C-sulfonyl-ß-d-galactoside, was not detected earlier in Chlorophytum extracts. The water fraction was toxic to HeLa cells but not to Vero cells. Our data demonstrate that methanolic extract of leaves of C. comosum can be a valuable source of bioactive constituents. The water fraction of the extract exhibited promising antitumor potential based on a high ratio of HeLa vs. Vero cytotoxicity.

High genetic diversity and low structure in an endemic long-lived tree, Yucca capensis (Asparagaceae).

Endemic species distributed in fragmented habitats are highly vulnerable to extinction because they may have low genetic diversity. However, some life-history traits can mitigate the effect of genetic drift on populations. We analysed the level and distribution of genetic variation and ancestral population size of Yucca capensis, a long-lived endemic plant of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Its populations are scattered across a habitat that is suffering accelerated transformation. We used six nuclear microsatellites to genotype 224 individuals from 17 locations across the entire species' geographic range. We estimated polymorphisms, heterozygosity and genetic structure. We also evaluated the ancestral and recent effective size and time since the population started to change. We found high heterozygosity, high polymorphism and low differentiation among locations, suggesting a panmictic population across the range. We also detected a large ancestral effective population size, which suffered a strong reduction in the Mid-Holocene. Despite changes in environmental conditions caused by habitat modification, the high diversity and low differentiation in Y. capensis may result from its large ancestral effective size and life-history traits, such as plant longevity, clonal growth and mating system, which reduce the rate of loss of genetic variation. However, the dependence on a specialist pollinator that displays short flight range can reduce gene flow among the plant populations and could, shortly, lead them into an extinction vortex.

Investigation of the effective components inhibited macrophage foam cell formation in Ophiopogonis Radix.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ophiopogonis Radix, the commonly used traditional Chinese medicine in clinic for treating cardiovascular diseases, is returned to the stomach, lung and heart meridian. It is reported to nourish yin, moisten lung and is used to treat heart yin deficiency syndromes and asthenia of heart and lung, which indicated that Ophiopogonis Radix may have a protective effect on heart disorders. Atherosclerosisis is an important process in the development of cardiovascular diseases and abnormal lipid deposition induced macrophage foam cells is its crucial foundation. Our previous study showed the extract of Ophiopogonis Radix (EOR) ameliorates atherosclerosis in vitro. However, it may protect against cardiovascular diseases through inhibiting macrophage foam cell formation and its potential effective components and mechanisms are still unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: Our study aimed to investigate the effect of Ophiopogonis Radix on macrophage foam cell formation and its potential active constituents and mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ox-LDL induced macrophage cells were employed to evaluate the effect of Ophiopogonis Radix on macrophage foam cell formation. Then the potential active constituents inhibited formation of macrophage foam cells were screened by biospecific cell extraction and its underlying mechanisms were also explored by Western blot. RESULTS: The extract of Ophiopogonis Radix was found to significantly inhibit macrophage foam cell formation, evidenced by the decrease of TG and TC and Oil Red O staining analysis in macrophage cells, which indicated that EOR reduced the formation of macrophage foam cells. At the same time, EOR was showed to increase antioxidant capacity in macrophage cells. After treatment with EOR, two potential active components interacted with macrophage foam cells specifically were identified to inhibit macrophage foam cell formation including methylophiopogonanone A and methylophiopogonanone B. Methylophiopogonanone A was then proved to decrease the expression of CD36, Lox-1 and SREBP2, increase the expression of ABCA1 obviously, while the expression of ABCG1 and SREBP1 had no changes. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, Ophiopogonis Radix was found to protect against atherosclerosis through suppressing ox-LDL induced macrophage foam cell formation and two potential compounds were identified by biospecific cell extraction including methylophiopogonanone A and methylophiopogonanone B. Moreover, methylophiopogonanone A was proved to inhibit foam cells through reducing uptake, synthesis and increasing efflux, which may provide guidance and reference for application of Ophiopogonis Radix and investigation of the effective components of TCMs.

High-performance thin-layer chromatography based approach for bioassay and ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for the evaluation of antioxidant compounds from Asparagus racemosus Willd. aerial parts.

Asparagus racemosus Willd. is widely used to combat various diseases owing to its medicinal properties. In this study, arial parts of A. racemosus were investigated for their total phenolic content, total flavonoid content and antioxidative potential. A high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) method combined with effect-directed-analysis was also developed to screen the antioxidant effects of A. racemosus and quantify biologically active compounds on chromatograms from A. racemosus. Total phenolics (154 mg gallic acid equivalent/g), flavonoid contents (497 mg quercetin/g) and IC50 (15.25 µg/ml) were found to be higher in methanolic extract of A. racemosus than in n-hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate extracts. HPTLC hyphenated with chemical derivatizations (DPPH•, p-anisaldehyde/sulfuric acid, and ferric chloride) was used to evaluate antioxidant activity and the presence of phytosterols, terpenoids and polyphenolic contents. The same compounds at 100*retention factor = 58, 68, 74 and 65 in extracts were responsible for antioxidant activity. Hyphenated HPTLC allowed a rapid characterization of the active compound with a combination of effect-directed-analysis and attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Spectral analysis of the band from attenuated total reflectance identified myricetin, quercetin, p-coumaric acid and caffeic acid as responsible for the antioxidant activity.

Phytochemical analysis of UV active and inactive bioactive compounds present in Polianthes tuberosa (Linn.) flower.

Polianthes tuberosa (Linn.) is traditionally considered an ornamental and medicinal plant worldwide. However, extensive studies on its phytochemical composition are very limited. Hence the present work aims to identify the total phytochemical ingredients present in different crude extracts of tuberosa. Phytochemical analysis has been carried out for differential cold solvent extracts of various parts of tuberosa such as petals, stamens, and ovary by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, ultra-performance liquid chromatography to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and evaporative light scattering detector analyzers for the identification of bioactive components. Among the various solvents used for the extraction, diethyl ether is found to be the most suitable and efficient solvent, as its total differential recovery from the crude extract is about 0.24% as compared to 0.04% obtained by using n-hexane or petroleum ether. Numerous phytochemicals have been identified by the chromatography and MS techniques, which demonstrate the presence of essential fatty acids along with other pharmacological importance phytoconstituents. Identification of additional phytochemicals present in the crude extract of tuberosa flower further enhances its biological and pharmacological significance. The present work lays a foundation for further research and development of phytoconstituents of the tuberosa flower.

Total saponins from Tupistra chinensis baker inhibits growth of human gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tupistra chinensis Baker (syn. Rohdea chinensis), an antitumor folk herb mainly distributed in China, its rhizome has been historically used to treat gastric cancer. Studies showed that the steroidal saponins were the main bioactive components in the rhizome of T. chinensis. Our previous studies have confirmed that the steroidal saponins have a variety of anti-tumor activities. However, the underlying anti-tumor mechanism of the total steroidal saponins of T. chinensis (TCS) remains to be revealed. AIM OF THE STUDY: In the present study, we studied the potential anti-proliferative activity and anti-tumor mechanism of TCS on gastric cancer in vitro and in vivo. METHODS: In vitro, 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2-thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to detect the proliferation ability of TCS on SGC-7901 cells and AGS cells. Flow cytometry were performed to analyze cell apoptosis, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species expression level. Western blotting was performed to validate the expression of proteins in related pathways. In vivo, a xenograft model was established by injecting SGC-7901 cells into nude mice. RESULTS: In vitro, TCS inhibited the proliferation of gastric cancer cells. TCS effectively induced apoptosis by PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway in SGC-7901 cells, and promoted apoptosis via p53-mediated pathway in AGS cells. TCS also exhibited inhibitory activity in blocking the migration of gastric cancer cells. In vivo, TCS significantly inhibited the growth of xenograft tumor. CONCLUSION: These results indicated that TCS exhibited significant anti-gastric cancer effects in vitro and in vivo.

Effects of triangle grass decoction on bone metabolism in rats with chronic kidney disease complicated with mineral and bone abnormalities.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Triangle grass is a liliaceous Chlorophytum perennial herb of ChlorophytumlaxumR.Br. It is distributed mainly in Guangdong and Guangxi Provinces of China. The initial use of triangle grass was mainly to treat bone pain and swelling caused by a fall injury. Triangle grass tablets (NO. Z20070544) are also used as a preparation in our hospital because of their analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-snake venom and microcirculation improvement properties and other pharmacological effects (Mei et al., 2006). Triangle grass tablets have been widely used in our hospital to treat patients with bone pain from chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). However, the effects and mechanism of triangle grass on bone metabolism in chronic kidney disease complicated with mineral and bone abnormalities are unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY: The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a triangle grass decoction on bone metabolism in CKD-MBD rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CKD-MBD model rats were subjected to 5/6 nephrectomy combined with 0.5 g NaH2PO4/rat. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine (Cr), phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca), and intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) levels were measured with an automatic biochemical analyser. Bone mineral density was determined with a Viva CT 40 system. Bone morphogenetic protein 7(BMP-7),runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) and Osterix protein levels were measured by Western blot analysis. Kidney, vertebra and thoracic aorta tissue samples were assessed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry (IHC). RESULTS: The degrees of membrane thickening, necrosis, swelling and cast deposition were significantly reduced in high-dose rats and Low-dose rats. Serum BUN levels were significantly reduced in the Pre-H group (P < 0.05). Hypocalcaemia and hyperphos phataemia were detected in triangle grass (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). In addition, iPTH levels were significantly increased in the Pre-H group (P < 0.05). Alkaline phosphatase (ALP)levels were significantly decreased in the Pre-H group (P < 0.05). The bone mineral density was improved in the Pre-H and Pre-L groups. BMP-7 protein levels were significantly increased in the Pre-H group (P < 0.05). The pathological changes in muscle fibres in the thoracic aorta middle membranes were significantly alleviated in rats in the Pre-H and Pre-L groups. Changes in SM22α and SMα-act in protein levels were significantly attenuated in the Pre-H group (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). Changes in Runx2 and Osterix protein levels were also significantly attenuated in the Pre-H and Pre-L groups (P < 0.05, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Triangle grass can simultaneously ameliorate vertebral bone loss and abnormal calcification in the thoracic aorta. Triangle grass has a definite effect on bone metabolism disorder in CKD-MBD rats.

Engineering Exosome-Like Nanovesicles Derived from Asparagus cochinchinensis Can Inhibit the Proliferation of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells with Better Safety Profile.

BACKGROUND: Exosomes are a type of membrane vesicles secreted by living cells. Recent studies suggest exosome-like nanovesicles (ELNVs) from fruits and vegetables are involved in tissue renewal process and functional regulation against inflammatory diseases or cancers. However, there are few reports on ELNVs derived from medicinal plants. METHODS: ELNVs derived from Asparagus cochinchinensis (Lour.) Merr. (ACNVs) were isolated and characterized. Cytotoxicity, antiproliferative and apoptosis-inducing capacity of ACNVs against hepatoma carcinoma cell were assessed. The endocytosis mechanism of ACNVs was evaluated on Hep G2 cells in the presence of different endocytosis inhibitors. In vivo distribution of ACNVs was detected in healthy and tumor-bearing mice after scavenger receptors (SRs) blockade. PEG engineering of ACNVs was achieved through optimizing the pharmacokinetic profiles. In vivo antitumor activity and toxicity were evaluated in Hep G2 cell xenograft model. RESULTS: ACNVs were isolated and purified using a differential centrifugation method accompanied by sucrose gradient ultracentrifugation. The optimized ACNVs had an average size of about 119 nm and showed a typical cup-shaped nanostructure containing lipids, proteins, and RNAs. ACNVs were found to possess specific antitumor cell proliferation activity associated with an apoptosis-inducing pathway. ACNVs could be internalized into tumor cells mainly via phagocytosis, but they were quickly cleared once entering the blood. Blocking the SRs or PEGylation decoration prolonged the blood circulation time and increased the accumulation of ACNVs in tumor sites. In vivo antitumor results showed that PEGylated ACNVs could significantly inhibit tumor growth without side effects. CONCLUSION: This study provides a promising functional nano platform derived from edible Asparagus cochinchinensis that can be used in antitumor therapy with negligible side effects.

Muscari comosum L. Bulb Extracts Modulate Oxidative Stress and Redox Signaling in HepG2 Cells.

Muscari comosum L. bulbs are commonly used as food in South Italy and also in folk medicine. By evaluating in vitro antioxidant activity and biological activities of their aqueous and methanol extracts, we shed light on the potential role, including both the nutraceutical and health benefits, of this plant. Total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) were evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu method and by the aluminum chloride method, respectively. Antioxidant activity was investigated by three in vitro assays and relative antioxidant capacity index (RACI) was calculated to compare results obtained by different tests. The extracts were tested to evaluate their possible involvement in redox homeostasis, using the human hepatoma (HepG2) cell line used as model. The extracts exhibited concentration/solvent dependent radical scavenging activity, as well as dysregulation of some genes involved in redox pathways by promoting Nrf2, SOD-2, GPX1, ABCC6 and ABCG2 expression. NMR metabolomics analysis suggests that HepG2 cells treated with Muscari comosum extracts experience changes in some metabolites involved in various metabolic pathways.

Isolation of secondary metabolites from the Iranian medicinal plant Eremurus persicus.

Eremurus persicus (Jaub. & Spach) Boiss. belonging to Xanthorrhoeaceae family is an endemic medicinal plant widely distributed in Iran. Its leaves have been traditionally used as a food and also as medicinal plant. Regarding the widespread application of E. persicus in Iranian folk medicine, and the insignificant investigation of its components, this study aimed at the isolation and identification of major secondary metabolites of this plant. By applying various chromatographic techniques, corchoionoside A (1), 4-amino-4-carboxychroman-2-one (2), isoorientin (3), ziganein 5-methyl ether (4), auraptene (5), and imperatorin (6) were isolated from the EtOAc and CHCl3 fractions of the crude extract. Except isoorientin (3), all the identified phytoconstituents were reported for the first time from Eremurus genus.

Chemical Profiling of Chlorophytum comosum (Thunb.) Jaques by GC-MS/LC-ESIMS and its Antiproliferative Effects on Human Carcinoma Cell Lines.

BACKGROUND: Chlorophytum comosum, popularly known as Spider Ivy, is used as a medicinal plant in traditional Chinese medicine, however, its detailed chemical composition and biological activity are yet unexplored. OBJECTIVE: To carry out the phytochemical investigation on different parts of Chlorophytum comosum using GCMS/ LC-ESI-MS and evaluation of its antioxidant, hemolytic and antiproliferative potential on breast cancer (MCF-7), lung cancer (A549, H1299) and normal lung (L-132) cell lines. METHODS: Chemical constituents from aqueous roots and leaves extracts were identified using LC-ESI-MS/GCMS. The identified compounds were annotated based on the match of mass spectra with the literature using NIST 14 and METLIN databases. Antioxidant activity was studied using DPPH, FRAP and TPC assays. The antiproliferative effects of ethanolic roots and leaves extracts of Chlorophytum comosum were measured by MTT assay on breast cancer (MCF-7), lung cancer (A549 & H1299) and normal lung (L-132) cell lines. The toxicity studies of the extracts were carried out using Hemolysis assay. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis identified 34 metabolites in roots and 17 from leaves, while 17 compounds from roots and 7 from leaves were detected by LC-ESI-MS. Significant antiproliferative effects were observed on the A549 and MCF-7 cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 56.86 µg/ml to 68.68 µg/ml while no marked response was observed against normal cell line L-132. CONCLUSION: Our study represents the first report on the detailed chemical composition and antiproliferative potential of Chlorophytum comosum against lung and breast cancer cell lines.

Antihyperglycaemic activity of ethylacetate extract of Chlorophytum alismifolium in type 2 diabetes: The involvement of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and dipeptidyl peptidase-4.

OBJECTIVE: This research is to investigate the antihyperglycaemic activity and the underlying mechanisms of action of the ethylacetate extract of Chlorophytum alismifolium (EACA) tubers in a type 2 diabetes model. METHODS: The tubers were processed and sequentially extracted in hexane followed by ethylacetate, using a Soxhlet apparatus, and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The acute toxicity of EACA was investigated in albino Wistar rats. An antihyperglycaemic study was carried out using high-fat diet (pelletized diet and margarine in the ratio of 10:1 and 20% fructose solution) and streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemic Wistar rats. The effects of the extract (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) on blood glucose level, insulin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) were evaluated using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: The oral median lethal dose in Wistar rats was estimated to be > 5000 mg/kg. Treatment with EACA at all doses significantly reduced the fasting blood glucose levels, compared to the hyperglycaemic control, and over time. Administration of EACA increased the serum insulin and PPAR-γ levels while decreasing DPP-4 levels. GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 13 compounds, with isothiazole and isoxazolidine covering total area of 24.6% and 22.69%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The findings from this study showed that EACA has important compounds with beneficial effect in type 2 diabetes and acts by increasing insulin secretion and PPAR-γ level and decreasing DPP-4 activity.

Stories told by plants on graveyards in Northern Angola.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, different traditions of symbolic statements in graveyards can be found. However, studies on sub-Saharan Africa are rare. For BaKongo cemeteries, it is only known that they traditionally do not exhibit plants for decoration purposes. Our study wanted to inspect the influence of Portuguese culture due to the long shared colonial past. METHODS: During 2015 and 2019, plant use in 87 graveyards in 13 municipalities of the province Uíge was documented. Five expert interviews with the village eldest in five municipalities completed the data collection. RESULTS: While 24% of the graveyards didn´t have any planting, 27 plant species were found in the remaining ones, including a high percentage of alien species (59%), mainly from the Americas. The most abundant plant species are Euphorbia tirucalli (23%) and Agave sisalana (22%). With increasing distance from the city Uíge (especially towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo), the utilization of living plants in cemeteries is decreasing except along the road. In most of the cases, just one plant species per gravesite was found. CONCLUSIONS: This unexpected high number of plants might be interpreted as a strong evidence of outside influence. Cultural symbols of the BaKongo cosmology and Christianism appear to coexist or coalesce. Furthermore, plants are used as a marker for graveyards. Modern influences like the use of concrete in proximity to urban areas indicate a certain wealth.