Antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of mangrove plants: a mini review.

Mangrove plants are specialised plants that grow in the tidal coasts of tropic and subtropic regions of the world. Their unique ecology and traditional medicinal uses of mangrove plants have attracted the attention of researchers over the years, and as a result, reports on biological activity of mangrove plants have increased significantly in recent years. This review has been set out to compile and appraise the results on antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity of mangrove plants. While the Web of Knowledge, Google Scholar, and PubMed were the starting points to gather information, other pieces of relevant published literature were also adequately explored for this purpose. A total of 29 reports on 17 plant species have been found to report such activities. While 19 reports were on the biological activity of the crude extracts, 10 reports identified the active compound(s) of various chemical classes of natural products including terpenes, steroids, and flavonoids. This review finds that antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, and antipyretic activity appears to be widespread in mangrove plants.

Estudio de la actividad antibacteriana y la toxicidad en gambas en salmuera de dos especies de Polygonum / Assessment of anti-bacterial activity and brine shrimp toxicity of two Polygonum species

Se estudi¨® la actividad antibacteriana de las partes a¨¦reas de Polygonum barbatum var. barbata y Polygonum stagninum(Familia: Polygonaceae) frente a diversas cepas bacterianas mediante el ensayo de difusi¨®n en disco, as¨ª comola toxicidad en gambas en salmuera mediante el ensayo de letalidad de gambas en salmuera. Todos los extractos/fracciones, a excepci¨®n del extracto/fracci¨®n de MeOH, presentaron niveles de actividad antibacteriana de bajosa moderados frente a la mayor¨ªa de las cepas de la prueba (zona de inhibici¨®n = 7-21 mm). Todos los extractos yfracciones presentaron considerable toxicidad general hacia las gambas en salmuera. Los valores de LD50 de losextractos/fracciones de la prueba se encontraron en el rango de 2,19 a 114,81 ¦Ìg/mL, mientras que la del controlpositivo (sulfato de vincristina) fue de 0,61 ¦Ìg/mL

The extracts of the aerial parts of Polygonum barbatum var. barbata and Polygonum stagninum (Family: Polygonaceae)were assessed for anti-bacterial activity against a number of bacterial strains using the disc diffusion assay, andbrine shrimp toxicity using the brine shrimp lethality assay. All extracts/fractions, except the MeOH extract/fraction,exhibited low to moderate levels of anti-bacterial activity against most of the test strains (zone of inhibition = 7-21mm). All extracts and fractions displayed considerable general toxicity towards brine shrimps. The LD50 values of thetest extracts/fractions were within the range of 2.19 to 114.81 mg/mL, whereas that of the positive control (vincristinesulphate) was 0.61 mg/mL

A review on synthetic and natural steroid dimers: 1997-2006.

Since the publication of the review by Li and Dias in 1997, which covered almost all steroid dimers known to us until the early part of 1997, there have been significant amounts of work carried out on steroid dimers, and another review on this topic has long been overdue. Thus, this review presents a comprehensive review of literature published over the last decade on various aspects of steroid dimers, including synthesis and applications. Steroid dimers that were published before 1997 but were not covered within the previous review have also been included.

Actividad antibacteriana y antioxidante de los extractos de Piper cubeba (Piperaceae) / Antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the extracts of Piper cubeba (Piperaceae)

Piper cubeba L. (Piperaceae), conocida comúnmente como ‘cubeb’, es autóctona de Indonesia y también se encuentraen muchos otros países del sureste de Asia, así como en algunos países africanos.Esta planta se ha utilizado como un popular aditivo alimentario y, en la medicina tradicional, para tratar diversasdolencias, especialmente infecciones bacterianas. Para evaluar la actividad antioxidante (barrido de radicales libres)y la actividad antibacteriana de los extractos de n-hexano, diclorometano (DCM) y metanol (MeOH) de las bayassecas (fruto) de esta planta, se llevó a cabo un ensayo 2,2-difenil-1-picrilhidracil (DPPH) y un ensayo antimicrobianobasado en microtitulación que incorporaba resazurina como indicador del crecimiento celular, respectivamente. Aunquetodos los extractos mostraron actividad antioxidante en el ensayo cualitativo, la actividad antioxidante más destacadase observó con el extracto de MeOH en el ensayo cuantitativo con un valor de RC50 de 2,71 x 10-1 mg/mL.La potencia antioxidante del extracto de DCM fue aproximadamente 3 veces menor (RC50 = 6,50 x 10-1 mg/mL)que la del extracto de MeOH.Ninguno de los extractos mostró propiedades antibacterianas frente a Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli y Escherichiacoli resistente a la ampicilina. Aunque ambos extractos, el n-hexano y el DCM, inhibieron el crecimiento de Bacilluscereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa y Staphylococcus aureus, el extracto de MeOH sólo mostró actividad frente a B.cereus y P. aeruginosa. El extracto de n-hexano fue el que mostró mayor potencia antibacteriana frente a B. cereus,con un valor de concentración inhibitoria mínima (CIM) de 1,56 mg/mL. Se observó que todas las actividades antibacterianasde los extractos resultaron más bacteriostáticas que bactericidas

Piper cubeba L. (Piperaceae), commonly known as ‘cubeb’, is native to Indonesia, and also found in many other countriesof the South-East Asia, and in some African countries. This plant has been used as a popular food additive, andin folklore medicine to treat various ailments, particularly bacterial infections. The n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM)and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the dried berries (fruit) of this plant were assessed for their antioxidant (free radicalscavenging) and antibacterial activities using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the micro titre basedantimicrobial assay incorporating resazurin as an indicator of cell growth, respectively. While all extracts showed antioxidantactivity in the qualitative assay, the most prominent antioxidant activity was observed with the MeOH extract inthe quantitative assay with a RC50 value of 2.71 x 10-1 mg/mL. The antioxidant potency of the DCM extract was about3 fold less (RC50 = 6.50 x 10-1 mg/mL) than that of the MeOH extract. None of the extracts showed any antibacterialproperty against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and ampicillin resistant Escherichia coli. While both the n-hexaneand the DCM extracts inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, theMeOH extract was active only against B. cereus and P. aeruginosa. The most potent antibacterial activity was displayedby the n-hexane extract against B. cereus with an MIC value of 1.56 mg/mL. All antibacterial activities of the extractswere found to be bacteriostatic rather than bactericidal (AU)

Chrozophorin: a new acylated flavone glucoside from Chrozophora tinctoria (Euphorbiaceae) / Crozoforina: uma nova flavona glicosilada e acetilada de Chrozophora tinctoria (Euphorbiaceae)

Preparative reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Chrozophora tinctoria (Euphorbiaceae) yielded five flavonoid glycosides, quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (1, rutin), acacetin 7-O-rutinoside (2), apigenin 7-O-b-D-[(6-p-coumaroyl)]-glucopyranoside (3), apigenin 7-O- b-D-glucopyranoside (4) and apigenin 7-O-b-D-[6-(3,4-dihydroxybenzoyl)]-glucopyranoside (named, chrozophorin, 5), the last one being a new natural product. The structures of these compounds were elucidated unambiguously by UV spectroscopic analyses using shift reagents, ESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. The free-radical scavenging activity of the methanol extract (RC50 = 2.24 x 10-1 mg/mL) as well as the isolated compounds (1-5) (RC50 = 4.38 x 10-3, 2.26 x 10-2, 7.69 x 10-4, 8.71 x 10-3 and 3.19 x 10-4 mg/mL, respectively) were assessed by the DPPH assay.

Análise das partes aéreas de Chrozophora tinctoria (Euphorbiaceae) através de HPLC preparativa com coluna de fase reversa produziu cinco glicosídeos de flavonóides, quercetina 3-O-rutinosídeo (1, rutina), acacetina 7-O-rutinosídeo (2), apigenina 7-O-b-D-[(6-p-cumaroil)]-glicopiranosídeo (3), apigenina 7-O-b-D-glicopiranosídeo (4) e apigenina 7-O-b-D-[-(3,4-diidroxibenzoil)]-glicopiranosídeo (chamado crozoforina, 5), sendo o último um novo produto natural. As estruturas dessas substâncias foram inequivocamente elucidadas por análise de espectrofotometria de UV com o uso de reagentes de deslocamento, ESIMS, e técnicas de RMN 1D e 2D. A atividade de captura de radicais livres do extrato metanólico (RC50 = 2,24 x 10-1 mg/mL) bem como das substâncias isoladas (1-5) (RC50 = 4,38 x 10-3, 2,26 x 10-2, 7,69 x 10-4, 8,71 x 10-3 e 3,19 x 10-4 mg/mL, respectivamente) foram analisados pelo método DPPH.

Assessment of neuropharmacological activities of Pandanus foetidus (Pandanaceae) in mice.

The methanol extract of the leaves of Pandanus foetidus Roxb. (Pandanaceae) was assessed for neuropharmacological activities in mice using a number of experimental models. The extract dose-dependently inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing in mice when given at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight. At the same dose levels, it significantly prolonged the pentobarbitone-induced sleeping time in mice, and showed mild to moderate central nervous system depressant activity when assessed by the hole cross and the open field tests in mice model. On the basis of these findings, it can be assumed that the extract exerts its depressant effect on the central nervous system in mice by interfering with the cortical function.

Bioactividad de los extractos y aislamiento de los lignanos de las semillas de Centaurea dealbata / Bioactivity of the extracts and the isolation of lignans from the seeds of Centaurea dealbata

La Centaurea dealbata Willd. (familia: Asteraceae) pertenece al género Centaurea, que comprende unas 500 especies. Para evaluar la actividad antioxidante y la toxicidad general de los extractos de n-hexano, diclorometano (DCM) y metanol (MeOH) de las semillas de C. dealbata se han utilizado, respectivamente, el ensayo DPPH y el ensayo de letalidad de gambas en salmuera. Tanto el extracto de DCM como el de MeOH presentaron niveles signifi cativos de actividad antioxidante, con valores de RC50 de 6,8 x 10-2 y 4,7 x 10-2 mg/mL, respectivamente. Ninguno de los extractos presentó una toxicidad general signifi cativa (LD50 = >1000 mg/mL). Se observó que los tres principales componentes bioactivos del extracto de MeOH fueron los lignanos arctigenina, arctiina y matairesinosida. Las estructuras de estos lignanos se dilucidaron mediante análisis espectroscópicos exhaustivos y comparación directa con los datos respectivos publicados. Éste es el primer informe sobre la ocurrencia de arctiina y matairesinol en C. dealbata. También se presenta la distribución de estos lignanos dentro del género Centaurea

Centaurea dealbata Willd. (Family: Asteraceae) belongs to the big genus Centaurea that comprises ca. 500 species. The n-hexane, dichloromethane (DCM) and methanol (MeOH) extracts of the seeds of C. dealbata have been assessed for antioxidant activity and general toxicity using, respectively, the DPPH assay, and the brine shrimp lethality assay. Both the DCM and the MeOH extract showed signifi cant levels of antioxidant activities with an RC50 value 6.8 x 10-2 and 4.7 x 10-2 mg/mL, respectively. None of the extracts exhibited any signifi cant general toxicity (LD50 = >1000 mg/mL). Three major bioactive components of the MeOH extract were found to be the lignans, arctigenin, arctiin and matairesinoside. The structures of these lignans were elucidated by comprehensive spectroscopic analyses, and also by direct comparison with the respective published data. This is the fi rst report on the occurrence of arctiin and matairesionl in C. dealbata. The distribution of these lignans within the genus Centaurea has also been presented

Two acylated flavonoid glycosides from Stachys bombycina, and their free radical scavenging activity.

Preparative reversed-phase HPLC analysis of the methanol extract of the aerial parts of Stachys bombycina (Lamiaceae) afforded two acylated flavonoids glycosides, chrysoeriol 7-O-[6-O-acetyl-beta-D-allopyranosyl]-(1 --> 2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1) and apigenin 7-O-beta-D-(6-p-coumaroyl)-glucopyranoside (2), the former being a new natural product. The structures of these compounds were elucidated unambiguously by UV spectroscopic analyses using shift reagents, ESIMS, and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic techniques. The free radical scavenging activity of 1 and 2 compounds were assessed by DPPH assay, and the RC50 values were 1.25 x 10(-2) and 7.69 x 10(-4) mg/mL, respectively.

Chenoalbuside: an antioxidant phenolic glycoside from the seeds of Chenopodium album L. (Chenopodiaceae)

In addition to three known phytoecdysteroids, a new phenolic glycoside (named, chenoalbuside) was isolated from the methanol extract of the seeds of Chenopodium album. While the structures of all phytoecdysteroids were elucidated by direct comparison of their spectroscopic data with published data, the structure of chenoalbuside was determined unequivocally by a combination of UV, MS and 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses. The antioxidant potential of the new compound was assessed by the DPPH assay, and the RC50 value was found to be 1.4 x 10-4 mg/mL.

Antidiarrhoeal activity of the methanol extract of the barks of Xylocarpus moluccensis in castor oil- and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea models in mice.

The methanol (MeOH) extract of the barks of Xylocarpus moluccensis, and different fractions of this extract were studied for antidiarrhoeal activity using castor oil- and magnesium sulphate-induced diarrhoea models in mice. At the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg, the MeOH extract showed significant antidiarrhoeal activity in both models. The EtOAc fraction (EAF) and the residual MeOH fraction (RMF) exhibited similar activity using a dose of 250 mg/kg in both models. No antidiarrhoeal activity was observed with the chloroform fraction (CHF) at the test doses. When tested for antibacterial effect, the MeOH extract displayed moderate inhibitory activity against Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholera, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, Shigella dysentery, Staphylococcus pyogenes, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter aerogenes. While the CHF inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Staphylococcus epidermis, Staphylococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, the EAF was active against all test organisms except Vibrio cholera and Staphylococcus epidermis. The RMF inhibited the growth of all the test organisms with moderate zone of inhibition. On the basis of these findings, it can be assumed that Xylocarpus moluccensis could be a potential source for novel 'lead' discovery for antidiarrhoeal drug development.

Bioactividad de la umbelliprenina, principal componente de las semillas de Angelica sylvestris / Bioactivity of umbelliprenin, the major component found in the seeds of Angelica sylvestris

Se ha evaluado la actividad antibacteriana y antioxidante de la umbelliprenina (1), una cumarina de sesquiterpenil, aislada como el componente principal presente en extractos de n-hexano y diclorometano de semillas de Angelica sylvestris (Apiaceae). También se ha evaluado la toxicidad general de 1 mediante el bioensayo de letalidad de gambas en salmuera (BSL)

Umbelliprenin (1), a sesquiterpenyl coumarin, isolated as the major component present in the n-hexane and dichloromethane extracts of the seeds of Angelica sylvestris (Apiaceae), has been assessed for antibacterial and antioxidant activities. General toxicity of 1 has also been evaluated by the brine shrimp lethality (BSL) bioassay

Phytochemical and antimicrobial activities of the Daniellia oliveri leaves.

The n-butanol soluble part and four chromatographic fractions of the aqueous ethanolic extract of the leaves of Daniellia oliveri were investigated for antimicrobial properties. All fractions showed activity against Staphylococcus aureus. A chromatographic fraction showed significant activity against the fungus Tricophyton rubrum.

Natural medicine: the genus Angelica.

More than 60 species of medicinal plants belong to the genus Angelica (Family: Apiaceae). Many of these species have long been used in ancient traditional medicine systems, especially in the far-east. Various herbal preparations containing Angelica species are available over-the-counter, not only in the far-eastern countries, but also in the western countries like USA, UK, Germany, etc. For centuries, many species of this genus, e.g. A. acutiloba, A. archangelica, A. atropupurea, A. dahurica, A. japonica, A. glauca, A. gigas, A. koreana, A. sinensis, A. sylvestris, etc., have been used traditionally as anti-inflammatory, diuretic, expectorant and diaphoretic, and remedy for colds, flu, influenza, hepatitis, arthritis, indigestion, coughs, chronic bronchitis, pleurisy, typhoid, headaches, wind, fever, colic, travel sickness, rheumatism, bacterial and fungal infections and diseases of the urinary organs. Active principles isolated from these plants mainly include various types of coumarins, acetylenic compounds, chalcones, sesquiterpenes and polysaccharides. This review evaluates the importance of the genus Angelica in relation to its traditional medicinal uses, alternative medicinal uses in the modern society and potential for drug development, and summarises results of various scientific studies on Angelica species or Angelica-containing preparations for their bioactivities including, antimicrobial, anticancer, antitumour, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, etc.

Analgesic, antiinflammatory and CNS depressant activities of sesquiterpenes and a flavonoid glycoside from Polygonum viscosum.

Analgesic, antiinflammatory and CNS depressant activities of four sesquiterpenes, viscosumic acid, viscozulenic acid, viscoazucine and viscoazulone, and a flavonoid glycoside, quercetin-3-O-(6''-feruloyl)-beta-D-galactopyranoside isolated form the aerial parts of Polygonum viscosum (Polygonaceae) have been assessed. All test compounds exhibited CNS depressant activity in open field test, all but viscoazulone showed analgesic activity in Eddy's hot plate test, all sesquiterpenes inhibited acetic acid induced abdominal writhing in mice, and all but viscoazucine and the flavonoid glycoside exhibited mild to moderate antiinflammatory effect on carrageenan induced rat paw edema.

Comparative studies on biological activities of Prunus padus and P. spinosa.

Comparative studies on the antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities of the n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the seeds of Prunus padus and P. spinosa have been carried out. General toxicity of these extracts has also been determined.

2'-(2,3-Dihydroxybenzoyloxy)-7-ketologanin: a novel iridoid glucoside from the leaves of Gentiana kurroo.

A new bitter acylated iridoid glucoside, 2'-(2,3-dihydroxybenzoyloxy)-7-ketologanin (1), has been isolated from the leaves of Gentiana kurroo. The structure of the compound was elucidated conclusively by chemical analysis, and extensive 1D and 2D NMR experiments.

Biological activity of serotonin conjugates from the seeds of Centaurea nigra.

Two serotonin conjugates, N-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-serotonin (1) and N-(trans-feruloyl)-serotonin (maoschamine, 2), isolated from the methanol extract of the seeds of Centaurea nigra, have been assessed for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activities. The general toxicity of 1 and 2 has also been determined by the brine shrimp lethality bioassay.

Bioactivity of secoiridoid glycosides from Centaurium erythraea.

As part of our on-going search for bioactive compounds from Scottish plants, two secoiridoid glycosides, swertiamarin and sweroside, have been isolated from the aerial parts of Centaurium erythraea Rafn (Family: Gentianaceae) by reversed-phase preparative HPLC coupled with a photo-diode-array detector. The structures of these compounds were elucidated unambiguously by UV, FABMS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analyses and also by comparing experimental data with literature data. Antibacterial, free radical scavenging activities and general toxicity of these glycosides have been assessed. Both compounds inhibited the growth of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Citrobacter freundii and Escherichia coli. While swertiamarin was also active against Proteus mirabilis and Serratia marcescens, sweroside inhibited the growth of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Swertiamarin and sweroside exhibited significant general toxicity in brine shrimp lethality bioassay and the LD50 values were 8.0 microg/ml and 34 microg/ml, respectively, whereas that of the positive control podophyllotoxin, a well known cytotoxic lignan, was 2.79 microg/ml. Chemotaxonomic implications of these compounds in the family Gentianaceae have also been discussed briefly.

Biological activity of Euonymus europaeus.

The n-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts of the seeds of Euonymus europaeus have been screened for antibacterial and free radical scavenging activity. General toxicity (brine shrimp lethality assay) of these extracts has also been assessed.

Antimicrobial and cytotoxic constituents of Loranthus globosus.

(+)-Catechin, 3,4-dimethoxycinnamyl alcohol and 3,4,5-trimethoxycinnamyl alcohol were isolated from the barks of Loranthus globosus. All compounds showed significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities.