Genome-wide characterization of the bHLH gene family in Gynostemma pentaphyllum reveals its potential role in the regulation of gypenoside biosynthesis.

BACKGROUND: Gynostemma pentaphyllum, an ancient Chinese herbal medicine, serves as a natural source of gypenosides with significant medicinal properties. Basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factors play pivotal roles in numerous biological processes, especially in the regulation of secondary metabolism in plants. However, the characteristics and functions of the bHLH genes in G. pentaphyllum remain unexplored, and their regulatory role in gypenoside biosynthesis remains poorly elucidated. RESULTS: This study identified a total of 111 bHLH members in G. pentaphyllum (GpbHLHs), categorizing them into 26 subgroups based on shared conserved motif compositions and gene structures. Collinearity analysis illustrated that segmental duplications predominately lead to the evolution of GpbHLHs, with most duplicated GpbHLH gene pairs undergoing purifying selection. Among the nine gypenoside-related GpbHLH genes, two GpbHLHs (GpbHLH15 and GpbHLH58) were selected for further investigation based on co-expression analysis and functional prediction. The expression of these two selected GpbHLHs was dramatically induced by methyl jasmonate, and their nuclear localization was confirmed. Furthermore, yeast one-hybrid and dual-luciferase assays demonstrated that GpbHLH15 and GpbHLH58 could bind to the promoters of the gypenoside biosynthesis pathway genes, such as GpFPS1, GpSS1, and GpOSC1, and activate their promoter activity to varying degrees. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our findings provide a detailed analysis of the bHLH family and valuable insights into the potential use of GpbHLHs to enhance the accumulation of gypenosides in G. pentaphyllum.

Phytochemical analysis and evaluation of its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities for different extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia.

BACKGROUND: Casuarina equisetifolia belongs to the Casuarina species with the most extensive natural distribution, which contain various phytochemicals with potential health benefits. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition and biological activities of different extracts of Casuarina equisetifolia. METHODS: The n-hexane extract was analyzed for its unsaponifiable and fatty acid methyl esters fractions, while chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts were studied for their phenolic components. Six different extracts of C. equisetifolia needles were evaluated for their total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, and their antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. RESULTS: The n-hexane extract contained mainly hydrocarbons and fatty acid methyl esters, while ten phenolic compounds were isolated and identified in the chloroform, ethyl acetate, and butanol extracts. The methanolic extract exhibited the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content, highest antioxidant activity, and most potent cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 and HCT-116 cancer cell lines. The ethyl acetate extract showed the most significant inhibition zone against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. CONCLUSION: Casuarina equisetifolia extracts showed promising antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. Overall, Casuarina equisetifolia is a versatile tree with a variety of uses, and its plant material can be used for many different purposes.

Ceratophyllum demersum the submerged macrophyte from the mining subsidence reservoir Nadrybie Poland as a source of anticancer agents.

Aquatic plants are a rich source of health-beneficial substances. One of such organisms is the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum, which has not been sufficiently studied in this aspect so far. In this work, we have studied environmental conditions prevailing in a subsidence mining reservoir in Eastern Poland and shown that C. demersum can be harvested for further analysis even from artificial anthropogenic reservoirs. The phytochemical analysis of C. demersum ethanolic extract using LC-MS revealed high content of phenolic compounds (18.50 mg/g) (mainly flavonoids, 16.09 mg/g), including those that have not yet been identified in this plant, namely isorhamnetin, sakuranetin, taxifolin, and eriodictyol. Such rich flavonoid content is most likely responsible for the anticancer activity of the C. demersum extract, which was targeted especially at neoplastic cells of gastrointestinal tract origin. The flow cytometry analysis of treated cells showed an increased percentage of late apoptotic and necrotic cells. The fish embryo toxicity (FET) test showed safety of the extract towards Danio rerio fish up to the concentration of 225 µg/ml. This study has shown that the submerged macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum can be taken into consideration as a rich source of a set of anticancer agents with chemopreventive potential.

In vitro anticancer activity of Hirudinaria manillensis methanolic extract and its validation using in silico molecular docking approach.

Cancer has emerged as a potentially lethal illness, which recently upsurged in the mortality rate. Animal-derived compounds could be promising targets with higher efficacy and low toxicity in anticancer therapy. The present study aimed to explore the presence of anticancer potential compounds in Hirudinaria manillensis methanolic extract and their anticancer potential against various cancer cell types and target identification by Auto dock method. Initially, the identification of bioactive compounds was achieved by GC-MS analysis followed by the anticancer activity by MTT assay against A549, HeLa, MDA-MB-231, MG-63, and MOLT-4. Further, the effect of a lead compound on the cancer cell target was analyzed by the Auto dock method. GC-MS analysis results revealed the presence of 25 different bioactive compounds including anticancer potential compounds, such as Lupeol, Carvacrol, and Demecolcine. Interestingly, MTT assay results demonstrated the anticancer potential of Hirudinaria manillensis extract (LE) against various cancer cell lines, such as A549 (54.60 µg/ml), HeLa (19.93 µg/ml), MDA-MB-231 (20.23 µg/ml), MG-63 (20.04 µg/ml), and MOLT-4 (171.8 µg/ml), respectively. Among these cell types, the maximum inhibition was observed against HeLa with the IC50 concentration of 19.93 µg/ml. Furthermore, Demecolcine compound was docked with the EGFR tyrosine kinase showed the binding affinity of the docked complex was predicted to be - 6.2 kcal/mol. Thus, we conclude that H. manillensis has a significant anticancer effect on human cancer cell lines and could be used as a natural target which paves the way for further studies on biomedical applications in cancer therapeutics.

Effects of Physalis peruviana L. (leaf crude extracts) on blood glucose and functional biomarkers in streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic rats.

Promoting antidiabetic phytomedicines necessitates evidence-based preclinical investigations, particularly in animal models. The present study investigated the validity of using the streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type 2 diabetic (STZ/NA-induced T2DM) model to evaluate the effects of Physalis peruviana leaf crude extracts on controlling blood glucose levels and regulating physiological biomarkers in rats. Aqueous and methanol extracts dissolved in carboxymethylcellulose 1% (100, 200, mg/kg/day) were administered orally to STZ/NA-induced T2DM rats alongside glibenclamide (5 mg/kg) as the standard drug for four weeks. Blood samples were collected in fasting rats on days 1, 7, 14, 21, and 28 to measure glucose concentration, lipoprotein-cholesterol, and common serum biomarkers. Nutrition characteristics were also monitored, as well as the pancreas histology. Administration of STZ/NA in Wistar rats induced the T2DM significantly lower than did STZ alone (glycaemia 200 vs 400 mg/dL). The significant effects observed with plant extracts compared to untreated diabetic rats were blood glucose reduction (28-52 %), HDL-C increase, LDL-C decrease, ALAT increase, WBC increase, body weight gain (24%), and pancreas protection. The findings confirm the antidiabetic effect of P. peruviana in T2DM animal model.

GROWTH INHIBITORY EFFECT OF HOUTTUYNIA CORDATA EXTRACT ON STREPTOCOCCUS MUTANS.

Houttuynia cordata is an herbal plant distributed throughout Asia. H. cordata has many bioactive properties, including antibacterial properties. The antibacterial effects of H. cordata on S. mutans remain unknown. Therefore, we treated S. mutans with 1, 3, 5, 10, 20, 30, or 40 mg/mL H. cordata extract at 37°C for 24 h. The antibacterial effect of H. cordata against S. mutans was confirmed using colony forming unit assay and disk diffusion assays. The results of the cell concentration assay demonstrated that H. cordata inhibited the growth of S. mutans in a dose-dependent manner. Prominent growth inhibition was observed after treatment with 10 mg/mL H. cordata extract, and these findings were statistically significant. In addition, no colonies of S. mutans were detected after treatment with 40 mg/mL H. cordata. Disk diffusion assays revealed that 20 mg/mL of H. cordata created a zone of growth inhibition of 11 mm. Therefore, our findings suggest the possibility of using H. cordata in the treatment and prevention of dental caries.

Methyl jasmonate inducible UGT79A18 is a novel glycosyltransferase involved in the bacoside biosynthetic pathway in Bacopa monnieri.

Bacosides are dammarane-type triterpenoidal saponins in Bacopa monnieri and have various pharmacological applications. All the bacosides are diversified from two isomers, i.e., jujubogenin and pseudojujubogenin. The biosynthetic pathway of bacoside is not well elucidated. In the present study, we characterized a UDP-glycosyltransferase, UGT79A18, involved in the glycosylation of pseudojujubogenin. UGT79A18 shows higher expression in response to 5 h of wounding, and 3 h of MeJA treatment. The recombinant UGT79A18 shows in vitro activity against a wide range of flavonoids and triterpenes and has a substrate preference for protopanaxadiol, a dammarane-type triterpene. Secondary metabolite analysis of overexpression and knockdown lines of UGT79A18 in B. monnieri identify bacopasaponin D, bacopaside II, bacopaside N2 and pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside as the major bacosides that were differentially accumulated. In the overexpression lines of UGT79A18, we found 1.7-fold enhanced bacopaside II, 8-fold enhanced bacopasaponin D, 3-fold enhanced pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside, and 1.6-fold enhanced bacopaside N2 content in comparison with vector control plant, whereas in the knockdown lines of UGT79A18, we found 1.4-fold reduction in bacopaside II content, 3-fold reduction in the bacopasaponin D content, 2-fold reduction in the pseudojujubogenin glucosyl rhamnoside content, and 1.5-fold reduction in bacopaside N2 content in comparison with vector control. These results suggest that UGT79A18 is a significant UDP glycosyltransferase involved in glycosylating pseudojujubogenin and enhancing the pseudojujubogenin-derived bacosides.

Essential oil and plant extract of oregano as agents influencing the virulence factors of Candida albicans.

Candida albicans, a polymorphic yeast, is a physiological component of the human and animal commensal microbiome. It is an etiological factor of candidiasis, which is treated by azole antifungals. Growing resistance to azoles is a reason to look for other alternative treatment options. The pharmacotherapeutic use of plant extracts and essential oils has become increasingly important. In our experiment, C. albicans showed susceptibility to four observed plant extracts and essential oils from peppermint ( Mentha piperita), thyme ( Thymus vulgaris), sage ( Salvia officinalis), and oregano ( Origanum vulgare). Oregano plant extract and essential oil showed the highest antifungal activity, at MIC values of 4.9 mg/mL and 0.4 mg/mL respectively. Therefore, it was subjected to further research on the influence of virulence factors - biofilm formation, extracellular phospholipase production and germ tube formation. Oregano plant extract and essential oil showed an inhibitory effect on the observed C. albicans virulence factors at relatively low concentrations. The extract inhibited the adherence of cells at MIC 12.5 mg/mL and essential oil at MIC 0.25 mg/mL. Degradation of the formed biofilm was detected at MIC 14.1 mg/mL for plant extract and at MIC 0.4 mg/mL for essential oil. Extracellular phospholipase production was most effectively inhibited by the essential oil. In particular, the number of isolates with intensive extracellular phospholipase production decreased significantly. Of the 12 isolates intensively producing extracellular phospholipase, only 1 isolate (4.5%) retained intense production. Essential oil caused up to a 100 % reduction in germ tubes formation and plant extract reduced their formation depending on the concentration as follows: 2.6% (0.8 mg/mL), 21.2 % (6.25 mg/mL), and 64.5 % (12.5 mg/mL) compared to the control.

Sequential extraction of anthocyanins and pectin from jabuticaba (Plinia cauliflora) peel: Peel pretreatment effect and ultrasound-assisted extraction.

The jabuticaba bark is rich in anthocyanins and fibers, and its use may be of industrial interest. In the food sector, its used as an ingredient in the production of fermented products, liqueurs or enriched flours. It also has pharmaceutical and cosmetic applications. The objective was to evaluate the effect of pretreatment and fresh use of jabuticaba peels in the extraction of total phenolic compound (TPC) and total anthocyanin (TA) contents with and without ultrasound assistance and in the sequential extraction of pectin from the residue. In the TPC and TA extraction, a 3x2 factorial design was used. For conventional anthocyanin extraction (CAE), occurred in an incubator under agitation. For ultrasound-assisted anthocyanin extraction (UAE) was utilized an ultrasonic homogenizer with probe (20 kHz, 160 W). The extracts were quantified (TPC, TA, antioxidant activity and color). The residues were characterized and used for sequential pectin extraction, which was quantified and characterized. The results were subjected to analysis of variance. Fresh jabuticaba peel is a residue that can be used to sequentially extract phenolic compounds, particularly anthocyanins and pectin. The use of ultrasound (UAE) was less efficient than CAE for extracting TPC and TA or performing sequential extraction on all pretreatment peels.

Phytochemical analysis, toxicity and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of leaves of Dipteryx alata Vogel.

In this study, our objective was to conduct a comprehensive phytochemical analysis, determine toxicity levels, and assess the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of extracts derived from the leaves of Dipteryx alata Vogel, a native species of the Brazilian cerrado flora. Three distinct extracts were prepared utilizing assisted ultrasound and the Soxhlet apparatus, namely, Ultrasound Crude Extract (UCE), Soxhlet Crude Extract (SCE), and the Soxhlet Ethanol Extract (SEE). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, tannins, phytosterols, and saponins in all extracts. Additionally, alkaloids were specifically identified in the SCE and SEE extracts. In the analysis using LC-DAD, the compounds gallic acid, rutin, quercetin, luteolin and kampefrol were determined in higher concentrations in the SCE, followed by the SEE and UCE, respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of campesterol, stigmasterol and ß-sitosterol in all extracts, with UCE and SCE showing a higher concentration of ß-sitosterol. SCE showed the highest concentration of all identified compounds. In the analysis of antioxidant activity by DPPH• and ABTS•+, SEE showed greater efficiency (IC50 = 2.98 ± 2.92 and 6.57 ± 0.89 µg/mL, respectively). In the toxicity test with Allium cepa, all extracts stimulated root growth at 50 g/mL; UCE and SEE stimulated root growth at 250 g/mL; and SEE inhibited root growth at 750 g/mL. In the Artemia salina toxicity, all extracts were non-toxic. Antibacterial activity was identified in the microorganisms S. aureus and S. mutans; however, the extracts did not show antifungal action against the strain of C. albicans. The extracts of D. alata have therapeutic potential for applicability in dentistry.

A novel optimized eco-friendly simple spectrofluorimetric method for the determination of total catechins in green tea extract: Application to commercial tablet.

Green tea extract (GTE) contains antioxidants that are present in green tea. The active constituents of green tea extract are catechins. This study demonstrates a spectrofluorimetric method for measuring GTE's catechin concentration based on its native fluorescence. To design a quick, sensitive, and ecological spectrofluorimetric approach, all features were investigated and adjusted. This method relies on determining the GTE ethanolic solution's native fluorescence at 312 nm after excitation at 227 nm. The calibration graph displayed a linear regression for values between 0.05 and 1.0 µg mL-1. The detection and quantification limits of the proposed technique were 0.008 and 0.026 µg mL-1, respectively. Two pure catechins present in GTE, (-)-epicatechin and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, were examined by the proposed method. The analytical estimation of GTE in the pharmaceutical tablet was achieved effectively using this approach. An adequate degree of agreement was found when the findings were compared to those obtained by the comparative technique. Therefore, the novel strategy may be used in the GTE quality control study with minimal risks to people or the environment. The quantum yields of catechins were estimated. The validated technique was accepted by the International Council of Harmonization criteria.

Malaria: biochemical, physiological, diagnostic, and therapeutic updates.

Background: Malaria has been appraised as a significant vector-borne parasitic disease with grave morbidity and high-rate mortality. Several challenges have been confronting the efficient diagnosis and treatment of malaria. Method: Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and the Egyptian Knowledge Bank (EKB) were all used to gather articles. Results: Diverse biochemical and physiological indices can mirror complicated malaria e.g., hypoglycemia, dyslipidemia, elevated renal and hepatic functions in addition to the lower antioxidant capacity that does not only destroy the parasite but also induces endothelial damage. Multiple trials have been conducted to improve recent points of care in malaria involving biosensors, lap on-chip, and microdevices technology. Regarding recent therapeutic trials, chemical falcipain inhibitors and plant extracts with anti-plasmodial activities are presented. Moreover, antimalaria nano-medicine and the emergence of nanocarrier (either active or passive) in drug transportation are promising. The combination therapeutic trials e.g., amodiaquine + artemether + lumefantrine are presented to safely counterbalance the emerging drug resistance in addition to the Tafenoquine as a new anti-relapse therapy. Conclusion: Recognizing the pathophysiology indices potentiate diagnosis of malaria. The new points of care can smartly manipulate the biochemical and hematological alterations for a more sensitive and specific diagnosis of malaria. Nano-medicine appeared promising. Chemical and plant extracts remain points of research.

Neutrophil Extracellular Traps in Tumors and Potential Use of Traditional Herbal Medicine Formulations for Its Regulation.

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are extracellular fibers composed of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and decorated proteins produced by neutrophils. Recently, NETs have been associated with the development of many diseases, including tumors. Herein, we reviewed the correlation between NETs and tumors. In addition, we detailed active compounds from traditional herbal medicine formulations that inhibit NETs, related nanodrug delivery systems, and antibodies that serve as "guiding moieties" to ensure targeted delivery to NETs. Furthermore, we discussed the strategies used by pathogenic microorganisms to evade NETs.

Crataegus pentagyna willd. Fruits, leaves and roots: phytochemicals, antioxidant and antimicrobial potentials.

BACKGROUND: The hawthorn has recently been used as a popular herbal medicine in food applications and phytotherapy, especially for the cardiovascular system. METHODS: In this study, phytochemicals were evaluated by LC-ESI-MS, GC-MS, and biological activity, including antioxidant (DPPH test) and antibacterial (broth dilution assay), in different extracts of Crataegus pentagyna fruit, leaf, and root. RESULTS: Globally, 49 phenolics were tentatively identified using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS in the hydro-methanolic extract of the fruit (major apigenin, caffeoylquinic acid derivative, and 4-O-(3'-O-glucopyranosyl)-caffeoyl quinic acid), 42 in the leaf (major salicylic acid, naringenin-6-C-glucoside, and naringin), and 33 in the root (major naringenin-7-O-neohesperidoside, isovitexin-2″-O-rhamnoside, and 4-O-(3'-O-glucopyranosyl)-caffeoyl quinic acid). The major group compounds analyzed by GC-MS in petroleum ether extracts were hydrocarbons (63.80%) and fatty acids and their derivatives (11.77%) in fruit, hydrocarbons (49.20%) and fatty acids and their derivatives (13.85%) in leaf, and hydrocarbons (53.96%) and terpenes (13.06%) in root. All samples exhibited promising phytochemical profile (total phenol, flavonoid, phenolic acid, and anthocyanin), antioxidant and antibacterial capacities, especially in hydro-methanolic extract of fruit (210.22 ± 0.44 mg GAE/g DE; 79.93 ± 0.54 mg QE/g DE; 194.64 ± 0.32 mg CAE/g DE; 85.37 ± 0.13 mg cyanidin 3-glucoside/100 g FW; DPPH: 15.43 ± 0.65 µg/mL; MIC: 0.15-0.62 µg/mL; and MBC: 0.62-1.25 mg/mL), followed by the leaf and root extracts, respectively. The PCA and heatmap analysis results distinguished metabolite profile differences for samples. CONCLUSION: The results of the present work provide scientific support for C. pentagyna as antimicrobial agents and natural antioxidants in human health and food preservation.

Mosquitocidal Susceptibility and Non-Target Effects of Tricholoma equestre Mushroom (Agaricomycetes) on the Immature Stages of Aedes aegypti, Anopheles stephensi and Culex quinquefasciatus.

The worldwide scientific community is well aware that mosquitoes are the sole agents responsible for transmitting various dreadful diseases and critical illnesses caused by vector-borne pathogens. The primary objective of this current research was to evaluate the effectiveness of methanol extract from Tricholoma equestre mushroom in controlling the early life stages of Culex quinquefasciatus Say, Anopheles stephensi Liston, and Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus in Hasselquist) mosquitoes. The larvae, pupae and eggs of these mosquitoes were exposed to four different concentrations (62.5 to 500 ppm). After 120 h of treatment, the methanol extract of T. equestre exhibited ovicidal activity ranging from 66% to 80% against the eggs of the treated mosquitoes. It also demonstrated promising larvicidal and pupicidal activity with LC50 values of 216-300 and 230-309 ppm against the early life stages of all three mosquito species. Extensive toxicity studies revealed that the methanol extract from T. equestre had no harmful effects on non-target organisms. The suitability index (SI) or predator safety factor (PSF) indicated that the methanol extract did not harm Poecilia reticulata Peters 1859, (predatory fish), Gambusia affinis S. F. Baird & Girard 1853, dragonfly nymph and Diplonychus indicus Venkatesan & Rao 1871 (water-bug). Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS) analysis identified key compounds, including 3-butenenitrile, 2-methyl-(25.319%); 1-butanol, 2-nitro-(18.87%) and oxalic acid, heptyl propyl ester (21.82%) which may be responsible for the observed activity. Furthermore, the formulation based on the methanol extract demonstrated similar effectiveness against all treated mosquitoes at the laboratory level and was found to be non-toxic to mosquito predators. This groundbreaking research represents the first confirmation that methanol extract from T. equestre could be effectively employed in preventing mosquito-borne diseases through mosquito population control programs.

Unveiling the silver lining: examining the effects of biogenic silver nanoparticles on the growth dynamics of in vitro olive shoots.

The current study aimed to evaluate the effects of biogenic silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on growth behavior and leaf anatomy of in vitro growing shoots of 'Picual' and 'Dolce' olive cultivars. Biosynthesis of AgNPs was carried out using the cell-free filtrate of Fusarium oxysporum. The dimension and shape of the synthesized AgNPs have been analyzed using spectroscopy and topography analysis tools, confirming that the biosynthesis of AgNPs is a crystalline nanostructure with an average particle size of 37 nm. The shoots of the selected olive cultivars were cultured on Rugini olive medium-supplemented AgNPs at 0, 10, 20, and 30mg L- 1. The effect of genotypes on shoot multiplication was significant, 'Picual' recorded higher values of shoot growth parameters compared with 'Dolce' cultivar. Adding AgNPs to the culture medium significantly affected the growth of in vitro olive shoots. AgNPs at 20 and 30mg L- 1 produced higher values of the number of shoots, shoot length, and leaf number of Picual cv. compared with the control treatments, but the higher AgNPs concentration harmed the growth parameters of Dolce cv. and recorded lower growth values compared with the lower concentration (10mg L- 1). AgNPs had a significant effect on leaf morphology and their anatomical structure. The current results showed that the stimulatory effect of AgNPs on shoot growth of in vitro olive shoots is highly dependent on plant genotype and nanoparticle concentration.

Invitro antibacterial activity of bark, leaf and root extracts of combretum molle plant against streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles in donkeys and horses.

BACKGROUND: Effective therapy for many infections is becoming difficult due to the evolutionary development of drug resistance, and hence, the development of alternative treatment options mainly from herbs is crucial. The objective of this study was to investigate the antibacterial effects of ethanol extracts of stem bark, leaves and roots of Combretum molle against Streptococcus equi isolated from clinical cases of strangles using in vitro tests. METHODS: Plant extraction was performed using a maceration technique with 80% ethanol. The mean zone of inhibition was determined using the agar well diffusion method. Six serial dilutions with different concentrations (10%, 5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, 0.625% and 0.3125%) of each plant extract were prepared using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). A modified agar microdilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) of the extracts. RESULTS: The results revealed that all plant extracts showed significant antibacterial activity. The root extract showed the best antibacterial effect compared to the others at all concentrations, with MZI values of 27.5, 23.225, 20.5, 17.9, 15.65 and 12.25 for the respective concentrations mentioned above and an MIC of 250 µg/ml. It was followed by the stem bark extract, which had MZI values of 24.67, 22.35, 18.225, 16.175, 11.125 and 8.2 millimeters and an MIC of 375 µg/ml. The leaf extract also had significant activity, with MZI values of 20.175, 18.25, 15.7, 13.125, 9.4 and 6.75 in millimeters and an MIC of 500 µg/ml. There was a direct relationship between the concentrations of the plant extracts and the level of inhibition. CONCLUSION: The test plant extracts were compared with the conventional antibiotic penicillin G, and the results indicated that the parts of the test plant have significant antibacterial activity, which may support traditional claims and could be candidates for alternative drug discoveries.

In Vitro and In Vivo Insights into a Broccoli Byproduct as a Healthy Ingredient for the Management of Alzheimer's Disease and Aging through Redox Biology.

Broccoli has gained popularity as a highly consumed vegetable due to its nutritional and health properties. This study aimed to evaluate the composition profile and the antioxidant capacity of a hydrophilic extract derived from broccoli byproducts, as well as its influence on redox biology, Alzheimer's disease markers, and aging in the Caenorhabditis elegans model. The presence of glucosinolate was observed and antioxidant capacity was demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro acetylcholinesterase inhibitory capacity was quantified, and the treatment ameliorated the amyloid-ß- and tau-induced proteotoxicity in transgenic strains via SOD-3 and SKN-1, respectively, and HSP-16.2 for both parameters. Furthermore, a preliminary study on aging indicated that the extract effectively reduced reactive oxygen species levels in aged worms and extended their lifespan. Utilizing broccoli byproducts for nutraceutical or functional foods could manage vegetable processing waste, enhancing productivity and sustainability while providing significant health benefits.

Nanopore analysis of salvianolic acids in herbal medicines.

Natural herbs, which contain pharmacologically active compounds, have been used historically as medicines. Conventionally, the analysis of chemical components in herbal medicines requires time-consuming sample separation and state-of-the-art analytical instruments. Nanopore, a versatile single molecule sensor, might be suitable to identify bioactive compounds in natural herbs. Here, a phenylboronic acid appended Mycobacterium smegmatis porin A (MspA) nanopore is used as a sensor for herbal medicines. A variety of bioactive compounds based on salvianolic acids, including caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, protocatechualdehyde, salvianic acid A, rosmarinic acid, lithospermic acid, salvianolic acid A and salvianolic acid B are identified. Using a custom machine learning algorithm, analyte identification is performed with an accuracy of 99.0%. This sensing principle is further used with natural herbs such as Salvia miltiorrhiza, Rosemary and Prunella vulgaris. No complex sample separation or purification is required and the sensing device is highly portable.

Short term supplementation with cranberry extract modulates gut microbiota in human and displays a bifidogenic effect.

Cranberry is associated with multiple health benefits, which are mostly attributed to its high content of (poly)phenols, particularly flavan-3-ols. However, clinical trials attempting to demonstrate these positive effects have yielded heterogeneous results, partly due to the high inter-individual variability associated with gut microbiota interaction with these molecules. In fact, several studies have demonstrated the ability of these molecules to modulate the gut microbiota in animal and in vitro models, but there is a scarcity of information in human subjects. In addition, it has been recently reported that cranberry also contains high concentrations of oligosaccharides, which could contribute to its bioactivity. Hence, the aim of this study was to fully characterize the (poly)phenolic and oligosaccharidic contents of a commercially available cranberry extract and evaluate its capacity to positively modulate the gut microbiota of 28 human subjects. After only four days, the (poly)phenols and oligosaccharides-rich cranberry extract, induced a strong bifidogenic effect, along with an increase in the abundance of several butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Clostridium and Anaerobutyricum. Plasmatic and fecal short-chain fatty acids profiles were also altered by the cranberry extract with a decrease in acetate ratio and an increase in butyrate ratio. Finally, to characterize the inter-individual variability, we stratified the participants according to the alterations observed in the fecal microbiota following supplementation. Interestingly, individuals having a microbiota characterized by the presence of Prevotella benefited from an increase in Faecalibacterium with the cranberry extract supplementation.