Comparison of the Scolicidal Activity of Two Leaves Extracts of Myrtus communis from Algeria Against Echinococcus granulosus Sensu Lato Protoscoleces.

PURPOSE: During cystic echinococcosis surgery, the use of scolicidal agents such as hypertonic saline (20%) aims to reduce the risk of infection recurrence, but most of the used agents are associated with undesirable side effects. Therefore, the use of natural scolicidal agents such as medicinal plant extracts could reduce these medical issues. The present study aimed to compare in vitro the scolicidal activity between two extracts of the medicinal plant Myrtus communis from Algeria against Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato protoscoleces. METHODS: The ethanolic and aqueous extraction of plant leaves was performed. Phytochemical analysis by gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (GC-MS/MS), determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and in vitro antioxidant activity by DPPH were evaluated for both extracts. Finally, the in vitro scolicidal activity was tested by different concentrations. The viability was evaluated by the eosin exclusion test. RESULTS: The phytochemical analysis revealed 28 components for the ethanolic extract and 44 components for the aqueous extract. The major components were 2'-hydroxy-5'-methoxyacetophenone and 4-amino-2-methylphenol, respectively. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 45.9 ± 0.085 mg of gallic acid equivalent per g of extract (GAE/g E) and 16.5 ± 0.004 mg of quercetin equivalent per g (QE/g E) for the ethanolic extract, and 36.5 ± 0.016 mg GAE/g E and 18.2 ± 0.023 mg QE/g E for the aqueous extract, respectively. Furthermore, ethanolic and aqueous extracts of M. communis gave a value of IC50 = 0.009 ± 0.0004 mg/ml and IC50 = 0.012 ± 0.0003 mg/ml for the antioxidant activity, respectively. The in vitro scolicidal activity with concentrations of 50, 75, 100, and 150 mg/ml was tested for 5, 10, 15, and 30 min, and 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min for ethanolic and aqueous extracts, respectively. The mortality rate of protoscoleces at concentrations of 100 and 150 mg/ml was 98.8 and 100%, respectively, after 5 min of exposure to the ethanolic extract, while this rate was 100% at the same concentrations only after 60 min of exposure to the aqueous extract. CONCLUSIONS: The ethanolic extract showed a stronger scolicidal activity against E. granulosus s.l protoscoleces than the aqueous extract. In the future, other investigations are necessary to elucidate the mechanism of action and the possible toxicity on human cells. Moreover, experimental animal studies are required to investigate the efficacy of different extracts of this plant and its components as natural anti-parasitic alternatives for the treatment of human cystic echinococcosis.

Chemical Composition Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Myrtus communis L. Leaf Extract: Forecasting ADMET Profiling and Anti-Inflammatory Targets Using Molecular Docking Tools.

Compounds derived from natural sources continue to serve as chemical scaffolds for designing prophylactic/therapeutic options for human healthcare. In this study, we aimed to systematically unravel the chemical profile and antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of myrtle methanolic extract (MMEx) using in vitro, in vivo, and in silico approaches. High levels of TPC (415.85 ± 15.52 mg GAE/g) and TFC (285.80 ± 1.64 mg QE/g) were observed. Mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of 1,8-cineole (33.80%), α-pinene (10.06%), linalool (4.83%), p-dimethylaminobenzophenone (4.21%), thunbergol (4%), terpineol (3.60%), cis-geranyl acetate (3.25%), and totarol (3.30%) as major compounds. MMEx induced pronounced dose-dependent inhibition in all assays, and the best antioxidant activity was found with H2O2, with an IC50 of 17.81 ± 3.67 µg.mL-1. MMEx showed a good anti-inflammatory effect in vivo by limiting the development of carrageenan-induced paw edema. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the active molecules were determined using the SwissADME website, followed by virtual screening against anti-inflammatory targets including phospholipase A2 (PLA-2), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and NF-κB. A pharmacokinetic study revealed that the molecules have good absorption, distribution, and metabolism profiles, with negative organ toxicity. Among the compounds identified by GC-MS analysis, pinostrobin chalcone, cinnamyl cinnamate, hedycaryol, totarol, and p-dimethylaminobenzophenone were observed to have good binding scores, thus appreciable anti-inflammatory potential. Our study reveals that MMEx from Algerian Myrtus communis L. can be considered to be a promising candidate for alleviating many health complaints associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.

Myrtle Berries Seeds Prevent Dyslipidemia, Inflammation, and Excessive Cardiac Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Response to High-Fat Diet-Induced Obesity.

Anthocyanins are the major polyphenols in myrtle berries seeds aqueous extract (MBSAE). This study investigates the protective potentials of MBSAE against obesity lipotoxicity and inflammation induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). It also describes the underlying mechanisms involved in its protective effects, with special attention to myocardial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Male Wistar rats were fed HFD for 6 weeks to induce obesity. MBSAE (100 mg/kg, b.w., p.o.) was orally administered to HFD-fed rats. Anti-obesity effects were triggered by the inhibitory action of the MBSAE against the weights of the body, its relative heart and the total abdominal fat. Treatment with MBSAE also restored the lipid profile to baseline compared with the HFD rats and lowered also the white blood cells count, including neutrophils, lymphocytes, and basophils number as well as cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and IL-1ß) levels in the rats serum, thus improving the tissue inflammatory status associated with obesity. Exposure of rats to HFD during 6 weeks induces a myocardial oxidative stress as assessed by deleterious effects on lipoperoxidation state, antioxidant enzyme (SOD, CAT, and GPx) activities as well as sulfhydryl groups and GSH rates. Of importance, our study shows also that HFD provokes a heart ROS (H2O2, OH•, and O2•-) overload. Of interest, all these oxidative heart disturbances were clearly ended by MBSAE treatment. Therefore, consumption of MBSAE as a natural extract may be a potential therapeutic strategy to treat obesity-associated diseases.

A review of the biological effects of Myrtus communis.

The World Health Organization stated that 1.6 million deaths worldwide were caused by contact with chemicals and toxins in 2019. In the same year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that natural toxins caused 3960 deaths. Myrtus communis, also known as common Myrtle, is a flowering plant native to the Mediterranean region. Myrtle has been traditionally used to treat diarrhea, inflammation, bleeding, headache, pulmonary and skin diseases. This review was performed to assess Myrtle's protective and therapeutic efficacy against various chemical, natural, and radiational noxious. Multiple databases such as PubMed, Web of Sciences, and Scopus were investigated without publication time limitation. Recent studies have demonstrated its potential as a protective agent against both natural and chemical toxins. One of Myrtle's most significant protective properties is its high antioxidant content. Studies have shown that the antioxidant properties of Myrtle can protect against harmful substances such as heavy metals, pesticides, and other environmental toxins. Additionally, Myrtle has anti-inflammatory properties that can help reduce the damage caused by long-term exposure to toxins. The anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties of Myrtle have also proven effective in alleviating gastrointestinal conditions such as gastric ulcers.

Essential oil of lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) induces S-phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in HepG2 cells.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Lemon myrtle (Backhousia citriodora F.Muell.) leaves, whether fresh or dried, are used traditionally in folk medicine to treat wounds, cancers, skin infections, and other infectious conditions. However, the targets and mechanisms related to anti-cancer effect of lemon myrtle are unavailable. In our study, we found that the essential oil of lemon myrtle (LMEO) showed anti-cancer activity in vitro, and we initially explored its mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the chemical compositions of LMEO by GC-MS. We tested the cytotoxicity of LMEO on various cancer cell lines using the MTT assay. Network pharmacology was used also to analyze the targets of LMEO. Moreover, the mechanisms of LMEO were investigated through scratch assay, flow cytometry analysis, and western blot in the HepG2 liver cancer cell line. RESULTS: LMEO showed cytotoxicity on various cancer cell lines with values of IC50 40.90 ± 2.23 (liver cancer HepG2 cell line), 58.60 ± 6.76 (human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line), 68.91 ± 4.62 (human colon cancer HT-29 cell line) and 57.57 ± 7.61 µg/mL (human non-small cell lung cancer A549 cell line), respectively. The major cytotoxic chemical constituent in LMEO was identified as citrals, which accounted for 74.9% of the content. Network pharmacological analysis suggested that apurinic/apyrimidinic endodeoxyribonuclease 1 (APEX1), androgen receptor (AR), cyclin-dependent kinases 1 (CDK1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2), fatty acid synthase (FASN), epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR), estrogen receptor 1 (ERα) and cyclin-dependent kinases 4 (CDK4) are potential cytotoxic targets of LMEO. These targets are closely related to cell migration, cycle and apoptosis. Notley, the p53 protein had the highest confidence to co-associate with the eight common targets, which was further confirmed by scratch assay, flow cytometry analysis, and western blot in the HepG2 liver cancer cell line. LMEO significantly inhibited the migration of HepG2 cells in time-dependent and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, LMEO caused a S-phase blocking on HepG2 cells and promoted apoptosis in the meanwhile. Western blot results indicated that p53 protein, Cyclin A2 and Bax proteins were up-regulated, while Cyclin E1 and Bcl-2 proteins were down-regulated. CONCLUSION: LMEO showed cytotoxicity in various cancer cell lines in vitro. Pharmacological networks showed LMEO to have multi-component and multi-targeting effects that are related to inhibit migration of HepG2 cells, and affect cell cycle S-phase arrest and apoptosis through modulation of p53 protein.

Change in Cutibacterium acnes phylotype abundance and improvement of clinical parameters using a new dermocosmetic product containing Myrtus communis and Celastrol enriched plant cell culture extracts in patients with acne vulgaris.

BACKGROUND: Acne is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit, where Cutibacterium acnes plays a main role. Recent papers demonstrated that specific C. acnes phylotypes were correlated with the severity of inflammatory acne and reported a specific loss of C. acnes phylotype diversity in this context. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this exploratory study was to evaluate the efficacy of a new dermocosmetic product containing Myrtus communis and Celastrol-enriched plant cell culture extracts on C. acnes phylotype abundance and clinical parameters in subjects with mild to moderate acne vulgaris. METHODS: Cutibacterium acnes phylotype diversity was evaluated by single-locus sequence typing sequencing on the nonlesional areas of the forehead, that is, areas excluding inflammatory lesions (papules and pustules) on day 1 (D1) and after 56 days (D57) of twice daily application of the dermocosmetic product on the whole face. Clinical efficacy on acne was also assessed by acne lesion counting and Global Evaluation Acne (GEA) score on D1 and D57. RESULTS: Our study confirmed the link between the presence of some C. acnes phylotypes and acne severity. The dermocosmetic cream was linked to a positive impact on C. acnes phylotypes: a significant decrease in pro-pathogen phylotype IC and increase in nonpathogen phylotype IB were observed in the nonlesional areas of acne on D57 compared to D1. In parallel, the clinical results showed a significant decrease in inflammatory and comedonal acne lesions and a significant improvement in the acne severity according to the GEA score. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the application of a new dermocosmetic product containing M. communis and Celastrol-enriched plant cell culture extracts was linked to a change in the C. acnes phylotype abundance and an improvement in acne severity.

Myrtus communis and Celastrol enriched plant cell culture extracts control together the pivotal role of Cutibacterium acnes and inflammatory pathways in acne.

INTRODUCTION: Acne is a multifactorial inflammatory disease of the pilosebaceous unit in which Cutibacterium acnes is one of the main triggers. A strong predominance of C. acnes phylotype IA1 is present in acne skin with higher biofilm organization and virulence, promoting local immuno-inflammation, especially the Th17 pathway. OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the single and combined pharmacological properties of the plant extracts, Myrtus communis (Myrtacine®) and Celastrol enriched plant cell culture (CEE) extracts on the C. acnes/Th17 pathway. METHODS: The effect of Myrtacine® on the virulence of C. acnes phylotype IA1 was quantified according to the expression of several related genes. The activity of Myrtacine® and CEE on the inflammatory cascade was assessed using monocytes-derived dendritic cells (Mo-DC) stimulated with membranes or biofilms of the C. acnes phylotype IA1. Finally, the effect of CEE on the Th17 pathway was studied using C. acnes stimulated sebocyte 2D cultures and 3D skin tissue models containing preactivated Th17 cells. RESULTS: Myrtacine® had an anti-virulence effect, evident as a significant and strong inhibition of the expression of several virulence factor genes by 60%-95% compared to untreated controls. Myrtacine® and CEE significantly inhibited proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6, IL-8, IL-12p40 and TNF-α) production by Mo-DC in response to C. acnes phylotype IA1. Interestingly, these two ingredients resulted in synergistic inhibition of most cytokines when used in combination. Finally, we demonstrated an inhibitory effect of CEE, in solution or formulated at 0.3%, specifically on IL-17 release by Th17 lymphocytes in a C. acnes-stimulated sebocyte 2D cultures and by Th17-lymphocytes integrated in a 3D skin models. CONCLUSIONS: 2D and 3D models were developed to represent relevant and specific pathways involved in acne. Myrtacine® and CEE were shown to alter one or more of these pathways, indicating their potential beneficial effects on this disease.

Simplex-centroid design as innovative approach in the optimization of antimicrobial effect of Thymus satureioides, Myrtus communis and Artemisia herba alba essential oils against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Candidatropicalis.

Essential Oils (EOs) known since Antiquity, and initially obtained by maceration of aromatic plants, are used as diseases' remedies because they contain valuable therapeutic components. Antimicrobial effect's evaluation of formulations established by an augmented centered mixing plan for three Moroccan medicinal and aromatic plants' essential oils (EOs): Thymus satureioides (T. satureioides), Myrtus communis (M. communis) and Artemisia herba alba (A. herba alba) against Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Candida tropicalis (C. tropicalis). The identification of E.Os chemical compounds was made using Gaz chromatography (GC) and Gaz chromatography coupled to Mass spectrometry (GC/MS).Whereas, the optimization of their antimicrobial effect was performed by experimental design methodology (mixture design) coupled to microdilution method based on Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) determination. Results showed that the main components are borneol (34.26%) and α-pinene (31.21%); borneol (27.15%) and 1,8-cineole (21.33%); camphor (14.67%), chrysanthenone (14.10%), and ß-thujone (12.60%) for T. satureioides, M. communis and A. herba alba respectively. Optimal mixtures composed of 60% and 40% of T. satureioides and M. communis E.Os; 72% and 28% of T. satureioides and A. Herba alba E.Os; 75% of thyme E.O and 25% of mugwort E.O; predicted the highest antimicrobial effect against E. coli, S. aureus and C. tropicalis, respectively. This study highlights the antimicrobial effect of EOs tertiary mixtures through using mixture design methodology, which may contribute to a successful application in pharmaceutical, food, or cosmetic industries.

Antileukemic, Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory and Healing Activities Induced by a Polyphenol-Enriched Fraction Extracted from Leaves of Myrtus communis L.

Natural products have offered a number of exciting approaches in cancer treatment over the years. In this study, we investigated the prophylactic and therapeutic effects of the polyphenol-enriched fraction extracted from Myrtus communis (PEMC) on acute and chronic leukemia. According to the UHPLC-MSn, the fraction is rich in flavonoids. Protective activity of the PEMC was assessed by evaluating the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and hemolysis potential in a series of in vivo and in vitro assays, while the therapeutic approach consisted of the evaluation of cytotoxic activity of the PEMC against HL60 and K562 leukemia cell lines. Safety of the fraction was also evaluated on a non-cancerous Vero cell line and by an acute toxicity test performed in mice. The PEMC demonstrated a significant anti-inflammatory and healing potential. The activities found at the dose of 100 mg/kg were better than those observed using a reference drug. The PEMC demonstrated a significant antioxidant effect and a specific cytotoxicity towards HL60 (IC50 = 19.87 µM) and K562 (IC50 = 29.64 µM) cell lines being non-toxic to the Vero cell line. No hemolytic activity was observed in vitro and no toxicity effect was found in mice. Thus, the PEMC has a pharmacological potential as both preventive and therapeutic agent. However, further research is necessary to propose its mechanism of action.

Gallomyrtucommulones G and H, New Phloroglucinol Glycosides, from Bioactive Fractions of Myrtus communis against Staphylococcus Species.

Myrtaceae family is a continuous source of antimicrobial agents. In the search for novel antimicrobial agents against Staphylococcus species, bioactive fractions of Myrtus communis L., growing in the Sardinia island (Italy) have been investigated. Their phytochemical analysis led us to isolate and characterize four alkylphloroglucinol glycosides (1-4), three of them gallomyrtucommulones G-H (1,2), and myrtucommulonoside (4) isolated and characterized for the first time. The structures of the new and known compounds, endopreroxide G3 (5), myricetin-3-O-glycosides (6,7) were determined based on the spectroscopic evidence including 1D-/2D-NMR and HR-MS spectrometry. Enriched fractions as well as pure compounds were tested for their antimicrobial activity by broth micro-dilution assay against Staphylococcus epidermidis and S. aureus. Results reported herein demonstrated that gallomyrtucommulone G (1) showed a selective antimicrobial activity against both S. aureus strains (ATCC 29213 and 43300) until 16 µg/mL while gallomyrtucommulone D (3) showed the best growth inhibition value at 64 µg/mL.

Antioxidant and Anti-Atherogenic Activities of Essential Oils from Myrtus communis L. and Laurus nobilis L. in Rat.

Essential oils (EOs) from aromatic and medicinal plants, such as myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) and Laurel (Laurus nobilis L.), are gaining popularity as a potential ingredient in functional foods and nutraceuticals. This study aims to investigate whether the essential oils (EOs) could be effective in weight control, antioxidative and antilipidemic status of rats by affecting microbiota and its enzymes activity and whether changes in intestinal enzyme activity affect the health of rats. The intragastric application of laurel and myrtle EOs to rats for two weeks affects weight loss, reduces glycolytic activity, lipid parameters (cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL-C)) and atherogenic indicators, leading to cardiovascular protection. Laurel EO can be an excellent candidate for the treatment of drug-induced obesity and related diseases, since it affects lipid metabolism in the liver and inhibits the enzymes responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates into glucose in the digestive tract, leading to weight loss. In contrast, myrtle EO shows a better antioxidant capacity in most tissues, except kidneys, where it causes a pro-oxidative effect, compared to laurel EO. Myrtle EO increases the permeability and instability of the erythrocyte membrane, resulting in a loss of selectivity for the entry of toxic substances into the cell. On the other hand, myrtle EO leads to intestinal inflammation by reducing the number of probiotic bacteria and increasing Enterobacter.

Gastroprotective Effect of Microencapsulated Myrtus communis Essential Oil against Ethanol/HCl-Induced Acute Gastric Lesions.

Myrtus communis L. essential oil (EO), mainly composed of myrtenyl acetate (30.6%), linalool (14.9%), α-pinene (11.10%) and 1,8-cineole or eucalyptol (9.9%), was microencapsulated with maltodextrin by emulsification and spray-drying, reaching a yield and efficiency of 43.7 and 48.7%, respectively. The microencapsulated myrtle EO (MMEO) was then evaluated regarding its gastroprotective activity in a model of ethanol/HCl-induced acute gastric ulcer in Wistar rats. Pretreatment with MMEO induced a remarkable inhibition of gastric lesions and acidity, correlated to high healing and protection percentages. Moreover, it exerted a potent anti-inflammatory effect on the gastric mucosa, counteracting EtOH-induced gastric lipoperoxidation and preventing the depletion of the antioxidant enzyme activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Taken together, the gastroprotective action of encapsulated MMEO may be multi-factorial, and ascribable, at least in parts, to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.

Metabolomics and chemometrics of seven aromatic plants: Carob, eucalyptus, laurel, mint, myrtle, rosemary and strawberry tree.

INTRODUCTION: Arbutus unedo L. (strawberry tree), Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob), Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. (eucalyptus), Laurus nobilis L. (laurel), Mentha aquatica L. (water mint), Myrtus communis L. (common myrtle), and Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) are aromatic plants from the Mediterranean region whose parts and preparations are used for their nutritional properties and health benefits. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate and compare the metabolites profile, total phenol content (TPC), and antioxidant activity of plant leaves for their future use. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used for metabolomics. Data comparison was performed by chemometrics. METHODOLOGY: Polar and apolar extracts were analysed using untargeted GC-MS metabolomics followed by chemometrics (principal component analysis, heatmap correlation and dendrogram) to identify, quantify and compare the major organic compounds in the plants. Additionally, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used for the laurel polar extract to identify d-gluco-l-glycero-3-octulose whose presence was unclear from the GC-MS data. TPC and antioxidant assays were performed using classical methods (Folin-Ciocalteu, 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)) and correlated to the phytochemical profiles. RESULTS: Forty-three metabolites were identified including amino acids, organic acids, carbohydrates, phenols, polyols, fatty acids, and alkanes. Eight metabolites (d-fructose, d-glucose, d-mannose, gallic acid, quinic acid, myo-inositol, palmitic and stearic acids) were in common between all species. d-Gluco-l-glycero-3-octulose (37.29 ± 1.19%), d-pinitol (31.33 ± 5.12%), and arbutin (1.30 ± 0.44%,) were characteristic compounds of laurel, carob, and strawberry tree, respectively. Carob showed the highest values of TPC and antioxidant activity. CONCLUSION: GC-MS metabolomics and chemometrics analyses are fast and useful methods to determine and compare the metabolomics profiling of aromatic plants of food and industrial interest.

Ethanol Extract of Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Berries as a Remedy for Streptozotocin-Induced Oxidative Stress in Rats.

Streptozotocin (STZ) is an antitumor antibiotic indicating in the treatment of metastatic islet cell carcinoma of the pancreas. It is also used as a tool to create experimental diabetes models. The STZ exposure at a high dose causes severe damage to cells of humans and other mammals. The goal of the present study was to assess the protective effects of the ethanol extract of the Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) berries, which is a well-known medicinal plant due to its rich phenolic content and beneficial effects on health, against STZ-induced oxidative stress in the diabetic rats.Diabetes was induced by STZ (40 mg/kg, i.p.) in the rats. After diabetes induction, a significant increase in alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), malondialdehyde (MDA), and blood glucose levels as well as a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and glutathione (GSH) levels was observed. The rats were treated to three different ethanol extracts of Myrtle berries (0.25, 0.5, and 1 g/kg) by oral gavage for 14 days. At the end of the experiment, ALT, AST, MDA, and blood glucose levels of the rats significantly decreased while significant increases in GSH levels and SOD activities were observed.We believe that our findings may contribute to the development of new drugs in the treatment of many global disorders due to the antioxidant activity of the ethanol extract of Myrtus communis L. berries.

Effects of Myrtus communis L. Extract and Apocynin on Lens Oxidative Damage and Boron Levels in Rats with a High Fat-Diet.

OBJECTIVES: Nutritional obesity causes oxidant damage in the body and cataract formation in the lenses by increasing the formation of free radicals. Myrtus communis leaf extracts (Myr) have antioxidant properties, and apocynin (Apo) is an effective NADPH-oxidase inhibitor. The data on tissue boron levels are quite lacking. The aim of this novel study was to investigate the effects of Myr and Apo treatment on boron levels and oxidative lens damage in rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Wistar albino male rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, HFD group, HFD + Myr group, and HFD + Apo group. Body weight and blood lipids were determined before and after the experiment. After decapitating the rats, the lenses were removed and homogenized. Catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and boron, malondialdehyde (MDA), and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in the lens homogenates were determined. RESULTS: The HFD increased serum triglyceride (p<0.05), total cholesterol level (p<0.001), body weight (p<0.001), and lens MDA levels (p<0.01) and decreased lens GSH (p<0.05) and boron level (p<0.01), SOD (p<0.001), and CAT activity (p<0.001). However, Myr and Apo treatment reduced the rats' body weight (p<0.001), serum triglyceride (p<0.05), and total cholesterol level (p<0.001) and increased lens boron (p<0.01; p<0.001), GSH levels (p<0.05; p<0.01), and CAT activity (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Both Myr and Apo may be able to reduce oxidative stress in the lenses of obese rats caused by HFD by increasing boron levels.

Potential antiviral effects of some native Iranian medicinal plants extracts and fractions against influenza A virus.

BACKGROUND: Influenza A virus (IAV) infection is a continual threat to the health of animals and humans globally. Consumption of the conventional drugs has shown several side effects and drug resistance. This study was aimed to screen some Iranian medicinal plants extracts and their fractions against influenza A virus. METHODS: Glycyrrhiza glabra (rhizome), Myrtus commonis (leaves), Melissa officinalis (leaves), Hypericum perforatum (aerial parts), Tilia platyphyllos (flower), Salix alba (bark), and Camellia sinensis (green and fermented leaves) were extracted with 80% methanol and fractionated with chloroform and methanol, respectively. The cytotoxicity of the compounds were determined by MTT colorimetric assay on MDCK cells. The effective concentrations (EC50) of the compounds were calculated from the MTT results compared to the negative control with no significant effects on cell viability. The effects of EC50 of the compounds on viral surface glycoproteins and viral titer were tested by HI and HA virological assays, respectively and compared with oseltamivir and amantadine. Preliminary phytochemical analysis were done for promising anti-IAV extracts and fractions. RESULTS: The most effective samples against IAV titer (P ≤ 0.05) were crude extracts of G. glabra, M. officinalis and S. alba; methanol fractions of M. communis and M. officinalis; and chloroform fractions of M. communis and C. sinensis (fermented) mostly in co- and pre-penetration combined treatments. The potential extracts and fractions were rich in flavonoids, tannins, steroids and triterpenoids. CONCLUSION: The outcomes confirmed a scientific basis for anti-influenza A virus capacity of the extracts and fractions from the selected plants for the first time, and correlated their effects with their phytochemical constituents. It is worth focusing on elucidating pure compounds and identifying their mechanism(s) of action.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) fruit syrup for gastroesophageal reflux disease in children: A double-blind randomized clinical trial.

This double-blind study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a syrup made from Myrtus communis L. fruit on children with gastroesophageal reflux disease. Children aged 1-7 years old, diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), were randomly allocated to either intervention group (omeprazole and "myrtle fruit syrup") or control group (omeprazole and placebo syrup). GERD symptom questionnaire for young children (GSQ-YC) was filled out for each patient at zeroth and eighth week, and also 4 weeks after cessation of intervention. No statistically significant difference between two groups in terms of GERD score was reported neither in 8th nor in 12th week assessments. During the 4 weeks of the drug-free period, patients in myrtle group did not experience a large shift in GERD score, while patients in placebo syrup group experienced an increase of as much as 19.4. However, this difference was not statistically significant, although it could be significant clinically. For achieving more conclusive results, more studies are needed. The symptom "refusal to eat" in the intervention group was less than in placebo group after 8 weeks (p = .018) and at the end of the study (p = .042). So myrtle fruit syrup may be considered for children with low appetite.

Natural Compounds and PCL Nanofibers: A Novel Tool to Counteract Stem Cell Senescence.

Tissue homeostasis mainly depends on the activity of stem cells to replace damaged elements and restore tissue functions. Within this context, mesenchymal stem cells and fibroblasts are essential for maintaining tissue homeostasis in skin, in particular in the dermis. Modifications in collagen fibers are able to affect stem cell features. Skin properties can be significantly reduced after injuries or with aging, and stem cell niches, mainly comprising extracellular matrix (ECM), may be compromised. To this end, specific molecules can be administrated to prevent the aging process induced by UV exposure in the attempt to maintain a youngness phenotype. NanoPCL-M is a novel nanodevice able to control delivery of Mediterranean plant myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) extracts. In particular, we previously described that myrtle extracts, rich in bioactive molecules and nutraceuticals, were able to counteract senescence in adipose derived stem cells. In this study, we analyzed the effect of NanoPCL-M on skin stem cells (SSCs) and dermal fibroblasts in a dynamic cell culture model in order to prevent the effects of UV-induced senescence on proliferation and collagen depot. The BrdU assay results highlight the significantly positive effect of NanoPCL-M on the proliferation of both fibroblasts and SSCs. Our results demonstrate that-M is able to preserve SSCs features and collagen depot after UV-induced senescence, suggesting their capability to retain a young phenotype.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activities of a novel enol ether nor-sesquiterpene isolated from Myrtus nivellei Batt. & Trab.

Myrtus nivellei is a plant traditionally used to treat diseases including infection of microbial origin. Several M. nivellei Batt. & Trab. extracts (dichloromethane, methanol and ethanol/water) were screened for their activity against 36 microorganisms, including strains resistant to antibiotics. These extracts inhibited on average 15 bacteria strains with minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) ranging from 0.07 to 1.20 mg/mL. Bioassay guided fractionation was carried out with bioautography on TLC plates using four pathogenic bacteria strains, and following chromatographies (CPC and HPLC) led to the isolation of two novel enol ether nor-cadinane sesquiterpenes from the dichloromethane extract. The major compound (1) showed a strong antibacterial activity. Minimal inhibition concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values were determined against four bacteria: Acinetobacter baumanii, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The best activity was observed against Acinetobacter baumanii with a MIC value of 9.7 µg/mL. This novel compound was also very active against a Staphylococcus aureus strain resistant to amoxicillin (MIC 19.5 µg/mL). In addition, compound 1 showed a very high antioxidant activity with both DPPH and metal chelate methods.