Four new resin glycosides from Ipomoea muricata seeds: muricatins XIV-XVII.

Ipomoea muricata (L.) Jacq. seeds (Convolvulaceae) are used as a traditional laxative and carminative medicine. Muricatins XIV (1), XV (2), XVI (3), and XVII (4), were isolated from I. muricata seeds as four new resin glycosides, along with seven known compounds, three of which were isolated for the first time as natural products; their structures were determined using MS and NMR spectroscopy. Compounds 1-4 are macrolactones (jalapins); the sugar moieties of 1, 2, and 4 are partially acylated with 2S-methylbutyric acid, while that of 3 is esterified with 2S-methylbutyric and 2S-methyl-3S-hydroxybutyric acids. In addition, the antiviral activities of the seven compounds obtained in this study, together with five known compounds obtained in our previous study into resin glycosides from I. muricata seeds, were evaluated against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1); their cytotoxicities against HL-60 human promyelocytic leukemia cells were also investigated. All examined jalapins exhibited similar or slightly weaker anti-HSV-1 activities than acyclovir, the positive control; however, the glycosidic acid of 4 was inactive, while its methyl ester was weakly active. On the other hand, cytotoxicity testing against HL-60 cells showed similar results to those observed during anti-HSV-1 activity testing, with the exception that one jalapin was less active.

Ipomoea carnea alkaloid extract vs swainsonine: A comparative study on cytotoxic activity against glial cells.

The consumption of Ipomoea carnea produces a neurological syndrome in animals. The toxic principles of I. carnea are the alkaloids swainsonine (SW) and calystegines B1, B2, B3 and C1. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of an alkaloid extract of Ipomoea carnea (AEE) and natural swainsonine (SW) isolated from Astragalus lentiginosus (25-1000 µM of SW) for 48 h in a glioma cell line. Although the natural SW did not induce any changes in cell viability, the AEE exhibited a dose dependent cytotoxic effect and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) indicative of cytolysis. In order to evaluate the morphological changes involved, cells were examined using phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy with acridine orange-ethidium bromide staining. The AEE caused a cell death compatible with necrosis, whereas exposure to 1000 µM of SW resulted in cytoplasmic vacuolation. Immunocytochemical studies revealed that astrocytes treated with 150 µM of AEE from I. carnea or 1000 µM of SW exhibited morphological characteristics of cell activation. These findings suggest that swainsonine would not be the only component present in the AEE of I. carnea responsible for in vitro cytotoxicity. Calystegines might also play a role in acting synergistically and triggering cell death through necrosis.

Ipomoea pes-tigridis L. extract accelerates wound healing in Wistar albino rats in excision and incision models.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: An annual herb, Ipomoea pes-tigridis L. (Convolvulaceae) is widely used for its anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties in traditional medicine. As well as treating wounds, fever, skin disorders, and other ailments, it is also used for other purposes. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study investigated polyphenolic content, antioxidant activity, RP-HPLC, wound healing, and antioxidant enzyme activity. In terms of I. pes-tigridis potential for healing wounds, there is no scientific data available. Hence this study is designed to use animal models to investigate the ethnopharmacological report. MATERIALS METHODS: The crude extracts of stem and leaf were subjected to phytochemicals, TPC, TTC, TFC, and free radical scavenging assays (DPPH, ABTS, etc). Excision and incision models were used to assess wound healing using the screened extracts (IPLEA, IPLM, IPSEA, and IPSM). Various tissue parameters (hydroxyproline, hexosamine, hexuronic acid content), as well as antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, Catalase, GPX, LPO), were also examined. RESULTS: The maximum amount of polyphenolic content was found in IPLM (TPC- 118.86 ± 5.94 mg GAE/g, TTC - 75.25 ± 2.64 mg TAE/g, and TFC-25.73 ± 0.99 mg GAE/g) with significant IC50 value of 1.65 ± 0.87 µg/mL among all the extracts. Coumaric acid was reported high (92.86 mg/g) in RP-HPLC analysis of crude extract in IPLEA. The in vivo excision wound healing model revealed that 1% IPLM had better healing property with the maximum wound healing area (0.098 ± 0.03 cm) and wound concentration (95.56 ± 1.95%) was reported with the significance level of ***P < 0.001, **P < 0.01, *P < 0.05. In the incision model, IPLM represented maximum tensile strength (27500 gf). A significant functional effect of the granulation tissue parameters and enzyme antioxidants on the wound-healed area of dry tissue was also observed. Finally, the histopathological analysis showed enhanced re-epithelialization, fibroblast proliferation, and collagen synthesis in wound-treated animal tissue in both models. CONCLUSION: According to the present study, antioxidant-rich I. pes-tigridis promotes healthy cell regeneration while reducing inflammation and oxidative stress for wound healing. Additionally, it also enhances circulation and promotes healing.

Phytochemical profile and nematicidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract from Cazahuate flowers (Ipomoea pauciflora M. Martens & Galeotti) against Haemonchus contortus infective larvae.

Haemonchus contortus (Hc) is a hematophagous parasite affecting the health and productivity of flocks. The administration of chemical anthelmintic drugs (AH) is the common method of deworming; however, generates resistance in the parasites to AH and it is a public health risk due to drug residues in milk, meat and sub-products. Natural compounds from plants are explored to diminish this parasitosis, improving their health and productivity, without the negative effects of AH. Ipomoea genus is a group of climbing plants belonging to the Convulvulaceae family possessing perennial leaves and tuberous roots. Medicinal properties has been attributed to this plant including nutritional agents, emetics, diuretics, diaphoretics, purgatives and pesticides. The objective of this study was assessing the in vitro nematocidal activity of a hydroalcoholic extract (HA-E) obtained from Ipomoea pauciflora (Cazahuate) flowers against Hc infective larvae (L3) and to identify its phytochemical profile (PhC-P). The assay was carried out using microtiter plates (MTP). Four HA-E concentrations were assessed and Ivermectin and distilled water were used as positive and negative control groups, respectively. Approximately 100 Hc L3 were deposited in each well (n=12) and incubated at 25-35°C for 7 days. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and a General Linear Model (GLM) followed by Tukey test (P<0.05). The treatments showing a concentration-dependent effect (CDE) were analyzed to identify their 50% and 90% lethal concentrations (CL50, 90) via a Probit Analysis. The highest mortality was observed at 50 mg/mL (82.64 ± 0.71%) and the lowest at 6.25 mg/mL (56.46 ± 2.49%), showing a CDE with increasing mortality from 6.25 to 50 mg/mL. The PhC-P revealed the presence of alkaloids, coumarins, flavonoids, tannins and triterpenes/ sterols. A HA-E from flowers of I. pauciflora will be considered to assess its potential use in the control of haemonchosis in small ruminants.

Potential impact of polyethylene microplastics on the growth of water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica F.): Endophyte and rhizosphere effects.

Microplastic contamination has received much attention, especially in agroecosystems. However, since edible crops with different genetic backgrounds may present different responses to microplastics, more research should be conducted and focused on more edible crops. In the current study, pot experiments were conducted to investigate the potential impact of polyethylene microplastic (PE) (particle sizes: 0.5 µm and 1.0 µm, addition levels: 0 (control), 0.5% and 1.0% (w/w)) addition on the physiological and biochemical variations of I. aquatica F.. The results indicated that PE addition caused an increase in the soil pH and NH4+-N and soil organic matter contents, which increased by 10.1%, 29.9% and 50.1% when PE addition at A10P0.5 level (10 g (PE) kg-1 soil, particle size: 0.5 µm). While, PE exposure resulted in a decrease in soil available phosphorus and total phosphorus contents, which decreased by 53.9% and 10.5% when PE addition at A10P0.5 level. In addition, PE addition altered the soil enzyme activities. Two-way ANOVA indicated that particle size had a greater impact on the variations in soil properties and enzyme activities than the addition level. PE addition had a strong impact on the rhizosphere microbial and root endophyte community diversity and structure of I. aquatica F.. Two-way ANOVA results indicated that the particle size and addition level significantly altered the α-diversity indices of both rhizosphere microbial and root endophyte (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 or P < 0.001). Moreover, PE was adsorbed by I. aquatica F., which was clearly observed in the transverse roots and significantly increased the H2O2, ·O2-, malondialdehyde and ascorbic acid contents in both the roots and aerial parts of I. aquatica F., leading to a decrease in I. aquatica F. biomass. Overall, the current study enriches the understanding of the effect of microplastics on edible crops.

Hederifolic acids A-D, hepta and hexasaccharides from the resin glycosides of Ipomoea hederifolia.

Scarlet morning glory, Ipomoea hederifolia L. (Convolvulaceae), is an ornamental vine native to the Americas with oxytocic, cytotoxic, antipsychotic, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. A chemical study of the glycosidic acids from the resin glycosides contained in the aerial parts was carried out, through their isolation as peracetylated derivatives, by recycling preparative liquid chromatography. Structure elucidation was performed by HR-MS in accordance with NMR. Four peracetylated derivatives of glycosidic acids, named hederifolic acids A-D, were identified as heptaglycosides and hexaglycosides linked to 3S,12S-dihydroxyheptadecanoic acid or 12 S-hydroxyheptadecanoic acid. Consequently, hederifolic acids B and D were found to be dehydroxylated homologs at C-3 of the fatty acid aglycones of hederifolic acids A and C, respectively.

Proteomic and Biochemical Evidence Involving Root Cell Wall Biosynthesis and Modification, Tricarboxylic Acid Cycle, and Glutathione Metabolism in Cultivar-Dependent Cd Accumulation of Water Spinach (Ipomoea aquatica).

Proteomic analysis and biochemical tests were employed to investigate the critical biological processes responsible for the different cadmium (Cd) accumulations between two water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) cultivars, QLQ and T308. QLQ, with lower shoot Cd accumulation and translocation factor than T308, possessed higher expression of cell wall biosynthesis and modification proteins in roots, together with higher lignin and pectin contents, higher pectin methylesterase activity, and lower pectin methylation. The results demonstrated that QLQ could more effectively restrict root-to-shoot Cd translocation by compartmentalizing more Cd in root cell walls. In contrast, T308 showed higher expression of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, glutathione (GSH) metabolism, and heavy metal transporter proteins, accompanied by higher GSH content and glutathione S-transferase (GST) and glutathione reductase (GR) activity, which accelerated Cd uptake and translocation in T308. These findings revealed several critical biological processes responsible for cultivar-dependent Cd accumulation in water spinach, which are important for elucidating Cd accumulation and transport mechanisms in different cultivars.

Uncovering the effective substances and mechanism of Ipomoea pes-caprae against rheumatoid arthritis using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and targeted network pharmacology.

Ipomoea pes-caprae (L.) R. Br (Convolvulaceae) is a commonly used marine traditional Chinese medicine in the southern coastal areas of China. It has been widely used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, but its effective substances and anti-rheumatoid arthritis mechanism remain ambiguous. Hence, in this study, the chemical profile and absorbed ingredients of Ipomoea pes-caprae were elucidated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Moreover, targeted network pharmacology was used to clarify the mechanism of action of Ipomoea pes-caprae in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Finally, 23 compounds were identified in the aqueous extracts of Ipomoea pes-caprae and 12 absorbed ingredients were detected in rats' plasma. These 12 absorbed ingredients might be the essential effective substances of Ipomoea pes-caprae. The tissue distributions of 3 absorbed ingredients in rats were successfully analyzed. The targeted network pharmacological analysis results indicated that the regulation of inflammatory reaction, immune response, cell proliferation, and apoptosis were the critical mechanism of Ipomoea pes-caprae against rheumatoid arthritis. This study successfully clarified the effective substances and potential mechanisms of Ipomoea pes-caprae in treating rheumatoid arthritis. The results of this research could provide a valuable reference for further scientific research and clinical application.

Antidiabetic activity of Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet leaves: in-vitro and in-silico antidiabetic potential of isolated flavonoid glycosides and sulphated flavonoids.

Antidiabetic activity of methanolic extract, petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and n-butanol fractions of Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet leaves was performed in-vitro using α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition methods. Phytochemical study of the ethyl acetate fraction which possessed the highest antidiabetic activity led to isolation of five flavonoids for the first time from this plant, including two rare flavonoid sulphates, ombuin-3-sulphate [1] and rhamnetin-3-sulphate [2] and three flavonoid glycosides, kaempferol 7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside [3], kaempferol 3,7-di-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside [4] and quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinopyranoside [5]. The 1H and 13C NMR of 1 and 13C NMR of 2, were reported here for the first time. Compounds [1-4] showed a concentration-dependent in-vitro inhibitory activity against α-glucosidase and α-amylase. Furthermore, in-silico study predicted that compounds (1-5) showed good interactions with α-glucosidase, α-amylase, and protein tyrosine phosphatase 1b.

Evaluation of the Role of Merromoside from Ipomoea aquatica Forsskal Hydroalcoholic Extract in the Downregulation of ROS Species in Overcoming MDR in Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: The medicinal plant Ipomoea aquatica belonging to convulvulaceae family is an effective natural herb for treatment of various ailments and possesses effective anticancer activity. The aim of the work is to characterize a secondary metabolite merromoside (a resin glycoside) for anti-breast cancer activity through down regulation of ROS species. METHODS: The Extract of the whole plant has been prepared by maceration method using 50%v/v ethanol in distilled water to get a hydroalcoholic extract. The phytochemical evaluation reveals that the active secondary metabolite was isolated by using column chromatographic technique. The isolated compound was evaluated for its anticancer properties through invitro method such as 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide assay on Michigan Cancer Foundation-7 Cell lines. The purity and structural characterization were done by high-performance thin layer chromatography, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Proton and13C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy and Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. RESULTS: The isolated compound (W04) from the derived extract showed Rf value of 0.79 that showed IC50 of 182.8µg/ml. The chemical structure of W04 has been confirmed as [4,5-dihydroxy-6-[5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4-(2-methylpropanoyloxy)-6-[(24,25,26-trihydroxy-5,23-dimethyl-9-oxo-19-pentyl-2,4,8,20,22-pentaoxatricyclo[19.2.2.13,7]hexacosan-6-yl)oxy]oxan-3-yl]oxy-2-methyloxan-3-yl] 2-methyl propanoate with the molecular weight of 979.15268. The isolated compound merromoside from hydroalcoholic extract of Ipomoea aquatica has been evaluated for anti-breast cancer properties. The down regulation of ROS species will prevent reverse signalling and angiogenesis. This indicates that merromoside will overcome MDR in breast cancer especially DOX-resistant.

Topical gel containing phenolic-rich extract from Ipomoea pes-capre leaf (Convolvulaceae) has anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and antiophidic properties.

The growing use of phytotherapy in clinical practice arouses interest in studies using medicinal plants as active ingredients for new medicines. Ipomoea pes-caprae has a wide medicinal use in the treatment of inflammatory disorders, skin wounds, stings, and painful rheumatic processes. Assayed in this study are the physicochemical characterization of a gel developed with this extract and the evaluation of its anti-inflammatory and healing efficacy, in addition to its antiedematogenic action on Bothrops snake envenoming in mice. The qualitative and quantitative analyses of the hydroethanolic extract by mass spectrometry showed 18 phenolic compounds, highlighting a high content of chlorogenic acid (0.92 µg/g), neochlorogenic acid (6.07 µg/g), and isochlorogenic acid (0.80 µg/g) compounds. The formulation was stable in relation to the physical-chemical characteristics during the time of analysis and was considered safe for topical treatment in animals, causing no skin irritation. Although the results have shown an absence of activity in the model of ear edema induced by croton oil (acute inflammation), the herbal gel efficiently inhibited carrageenan paw edema and chronic ear edema induced by multiple applications of croton oil, which may indicate the possible performance under the kinin pathway such as bradykinin, histamine, and serotonin. Wound healing in the group treated with the I. pes-caprae gel was accelerated compared with the placebo group, also confirmed through histological data. Edema induced by Bothrops erythromelas snake venom was efficiently reduced in the treatment with I. pes-caprae gel associated with the antibothropic-crotalic serum, whereas the antivenom alone was not effective. This approach presents a promising formulation based on I. pes-caprae with potential therapeutic use for inflammatory disorders.

Resin glycoside extracts from Ipomoea aquatica retard lipid digestibility of high-fat food in vitro.

Due to the considerable increase in the prevalence of obesity, there is an increased interest in developing safe and effective anti-obesity treatments from fruits and vegetables. In this study, Ipomoea aquatica, commonly known as Kang Kong in Southeast Asia was first reported to contain potent pancreatic lipase (PL) inhibitors due to resin glycosides (RG). Ipomoea aquatica extract demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibitory activity against PL with an Orlistat equivalent (OE) value of 6.86 ± 0.51 × 10-4. In vitro lipolysis study showed that consuming RG in tandem with high-fat food (butter & salad dressing) was effective in delaying enzymatic fat digestion by inhibiting PL. Pre-incubation of PL with RG extract before substrate addition also significantly enhanced their inhibitory activity. However, RG was unstable when subjected to high heat treatments (90 °C). Overall, these results provided useful knowledge of RG as PL inhibitors for body weight management.

A Medicinal Halophyte Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) R. Br.: A Review of Its Botany, Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Bioactivity.

Ipomoea pes-caprae (Linn.) R. Br. (Convolvulaceae) is a halophytic plant that favorably grows in tropical and subtropical countries in Asia, America, Africa, and Australia. Even though this plant is considered a pan-tropical plant, I. pes-caprae has been found to occur in inland habitats and coasts of wider areas, such as Spain, Anguilla, South Africa, and Marshall Island, either through a purposeful introduction, accidentally by dispersal, or by spreading due to climate change. The plant parts are used in traditional medicine for treating a wide range of diseases, such as inflammation, gastrointestinal disorders, pain, and hypertension. Previous phytochemical analyses of the plant have revealed pharmacologically active components, such as alkaloids, glycosides, steroids, terpenoids, and flavonoids. These phytoconstituents are responsible for the wide range of biological activities possessed by I. pes-caprae plant parts and extracts. This review arranges the previous reports on the botany, distribution, traditional uses, chemical constituents, and biological activities of I. pes-caprae to facilitate further studies that would lead to the discovery of novel bioactive natural products from this halophyte.

Evaluation of the effects of Ipomoea staphylina on ovarian cancer cell line.

Ovarine cancer is a common woman malignancy in the world. Majority of the ovarian cancers are originated in the epithelial region which are lack of symptomps and this type of cancer is often get localized, when the tumour has spread outside the pelvis. Based on this context, the present study evaluated the effects of both aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Ipomoea staphylina leaves on ovarian cancer cell line. The SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cell line was used for evaluation of the effects of both extracts. Both extracts showed IC50 effects on ovarian cancer cell lines as sensitivity index (SI) for both extracts were recorded to above 1.iFurther, ethanol extract was more effective in the moderation of gene expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in comparison to aqueous extract. Further, morphological changes of SKOV-3 cells after treatment with both extracts also confirmed the results. The study, therefore, concludes that the ethanolic extract of Ipomoea staphylina leaves is more effective against ovarian cancer cell line.

Bioguided Phytochemical Study of Ipomoea cairica Extracts with Larvicidal Activity against Aedes aegypti.

Vector-borne diseases, such as those transmitted by Aedes aegypti, are a constant threat to inhabitants of tropical regions of the planet. Synthetic chemicals are commonly used as a strategy to control them; however, these products are known to persist in ecosystems and drive the appearance of resistance genes in arthropod vectors. Thus, the use of natural products has emerged as an environmentally friendly alternative in integrated vector control strategies. The present bioguided study investigated the larvicidal potential of Ipomoea cairica extracts, fractionated using thin-layer and open-column chromatography, because this species has been shown to exert larvicidal effects on the genus Aedes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nonvolatile components in ethanolic extract of I. cairica stems as a potential natural larvicidal, and coumarins, such as 7-hydroxy-6-methoxychromen-2-one (scopoletin) and 7-hydroxychromen-2-one (umbelliferone), were identified as major compounds; however, they were not shown to be responsible for the larvicidal activity. Based on the results of the larvicidal action tests, these coumarins are not directly responsible for the larvicidal activity, but this activity might be attributed to a synergistic effect of all the compounds present in the most active secondary fraction, called F.DCM, which had an LC50 value of 30.608 mg/L. This type of study has yet not been conducted in the region; therefore, it is an important contribution to recognizing a natural and easy-to-cultivate source of vector control, such I. cairica.

Phytochemical Investigation of the Roots of Ipomoea asarifolia and Antiproliferative Activity of the Isolated Compounds against Multiple Myeloma Cells.

Ipomoea asarifolia is a herbaceous plant belonging to the family Convolvulaceae and is native to tropical regions of Africa, America, and Asia. A dichloromethane root extract showed antiproliferative activity against multiple myeloma cells (RPMI 8226). The phytochemical investigation led to the isolation of 15 compounds. Compounds 1-4, named (4S,8S)-1-(furan-3-yl)-9-hydroxy-4,8-dimethylnonane-1,6-dione, isoferulic acid hexadecyl ester, caffeic acid hexadecyl ester, and asarifolin I, respectively, are described for the first time. The structures of these molecules were established from their NMR, UV, IR spectroscopic, and MS data. 4-Hydroxycinnamic acid hexadecyl ester (5), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid octadecyl ester (6), 4-hydroxycinnamic acid eicosyl ester (7), caffeic acid octadecyl ester (8), pescapreins III, IV, XXI, XXIII, XXV, and XXVI (9-14), and stoloniferin III (15) were also isolated. All compounds were tested against a multiple myeloma cell line (RPMI 8226). When their IC50 value was lower than 10 µM, the compounds were also tested against two other multiple myeloma cell lines, MM.1S and MM.1R. Compound 3 was the most potent, with an IC50 value of 3.0 µM against RPMI 8226 cells.

The determination of effective concentration of acethonilic Ipomoea cairica leaves extract against laboratory and field strains of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti mosquito larvae.

Inundated with escalating dengue outbreaks, there is an urgent call to find alternate potential vector control methods as the currently employed method fails to curb the expanding of dengue virus transmission in Malaysia. Supported by this aim, we are interested in exploiting the potential of Ipomoea cairica leaves extract towards primary and secondary vectors of dengue fever, Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. To assess the effectiveness of this plant extracts towards Aedes larvae, we carried out two complementary analyses. First, we observed the comparative effectiveness of larvicidal activity I. cairica extract against the laboratory and field strains of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus. Then, we determined the effective lethal dose of this plant extract against Aedes larvae using log-probit regression analysis of the SPSS 20.0 programme. Results from bioassay demonstrated that I. cairica leaves extract was highly effective to induce larvicidal mortality of Ae. albopictus and Ae. aegypti within 24 and 48 hours post-treatment. Results from the factorial analysis of variance (ANOVA) also indicated that there were significant differences in larvicidal activity between species and strains used (P<0.05). It is interesting to notify that the sequence of effectiveness for the larvicidal activities of I. cairica acethonilic leaves extract is in the manner; Ae. albopictus field strain > Ae. aegypti laboratory strain > Ae. aegypti field strain > Ae. albopictus laboratory strain. The I. cairica leaves extract displayed high larvicidal activity against Ae. albopictus as compared to Ae. aegypti. This is the first evaluation involving the comparison of I. cairica leaves extract effects for the laboratory strain and field strain of Ae. albopictus and Ae. Aegypti.

Bioactivity of medicinal plant extracts against human fungal pathogens and evaluation of toxicity using Vero cells.

Medicinal plants are a potential source of new antifungal agents to combat the development of drug-resistant fungi. This study aims to investigate the aerial parts of Alternanthera sessilis (Amaranthaceae) and Ipomoea aquatica (Convolvulaceae), and the leaves of Catunaregam spinosa (Rubiaceae) and Tradescantia spathacea (Commelinaceae) for antifungal activity and cytotoxicity. The plant materials were extracted sequentially using hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, ethanol, methanol, and distilled water. The antifungal activity was evaluated against four species of yeasts and two species of filamentous fungi using a colorimetric broth microdilution method. The toxicity of the extracts was assessed using African monkey kidney epithelial (Vero) cells. All 24 extracts from the four medicinal plants showed inhibitory activity against all fungal species, except Aspergillus fumigatus, with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 0.04-2.50 mg/mL. The antifungal activity of these plants was more prominent on the yeasts than the filamentous fungi. Generally, the less polar extracts (hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate) of the plants had stronger antifungal activity than the more polar extracts (ethanol, methanol, and water). In contrast, toxicity assessment revealed that the less polar extracts showed relatively higher toxicity towards the Vero cells than the more polar extracts. The lowest median cytotoxic concentration was shown by the chloroform extract of A. sessilis (17.4 ± 0.4 µg/mL). All water extracts, the methanol extract of I. aquatica, and the ethyl acetate, ethanol, and methanol extracts of T. spathacea did not show significant toxicity (P>0.05) towards the Vero cells. The results suggested that Tradescantia spathacea has the most promising potential for pharmaceutical developments due to its broad spectrum and selective activity against human fungal pathogens.

Ipomoea staphylina Attenuates Potassium Dichromate-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Wistar Rats via Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Effects.

Occupational and environmental exposure to chromium compounds leads to nephrotoxicity to humans and animals due to the overproduction of ROS. Our study was aimed to demonstrate the shielding effect of hydroethanolic extract of Ipomoea staphylina (HEIS) bark on male Wistar rats challenged with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7). Division of animals was done in 4 groups' viz., normal control, K2Cr2O7 control, K2Cr2O7+HEIS (100 mg/kg), and K2Cr2O7+HEIS (200 mg/kg). Except for the normal control group, other groups were challenged with a single dose (subcutaneous) of K2Cr2O7 (15 mg/kg) and then treated with HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg) for 1 week. It was observed that animals treated with K2Cr2O7 showed a notable increase in serum creatinine, blood urea, and BUN and dwindles in protein level. These changes were significantly reversed after a 1-week treatment with HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg). Moreover, HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg) showed a remarkable improvement in the activity of antioxidant enzymes (GPx, CAT, and SOD) and decreased the levels of TNF-α and IL-1ß in the kidney. Furthermore, treatment with HEIS (100 and 200 mg/kg) notably decreased the activity of caspase-3 and improved the level of HO-1 especially in the K2Cr2O7+ HEIS (200 mg/kg) group. Also, the histopathological study of the kidney supported the protective effects of HEIS. Hence, HEIS bark holds a notable protective effect against K2Cr2O7-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Cytotoxic, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Activities versus UPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS Chemical-Profile Analysis of Ipomoea aquatica Fractions.

Ipomoea aquatica is a common green leafy vegetable that has numerous uses in traditional medicine. This study focused on the determination of the cytotoxic, antiradical, and antidiabetic properties of various fractions of the I. aquatica methanolic extract, as well as on the tentative identification of some bioactive compounds in the same fractions. The cytotoxicity was determined by the brine shrimp lethal test. The antioxidant activities of the I. aquatica fractions were investigated through 3 assays. The antidiabetic activity (in vitro) was measured by α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition assays. Phytochemical qualitative analyses demonstrated the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, phenols, and flavonoids in the ethyl acetate-methanol and methanol fractions. The total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were found to be highest in the ethyl acetate-MeOH fractions. The evaluation of the cytotoxicity showed that the hexane-dichloromethane fraction is the most toxic, while the others are moderately toxic. The antioxidant activity assays showed that the ethyl acetate-MeOH fractions are the most potent, while the α-glucosidase and α-amylase assays revealed that the hexane-dichloromethane fraction might contain a potent antidiabetic agent. Some bioactive substances in the MeOH fractions, such as salicylic acid glucoside, 1-O-sinapoyl-ß-D-glucose derivative, and dihydroferulic acid derivative, were tentatively identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to detect and identify these compounds in this species. Based on the results of this study, it may be concluded that I. aquatica is a potent antioxidant agent and could be a good candidate as a natural antioxidant in food and therapeutics.