Development of a simple and reproducible HPTLC method on protective effect induced by bark of Acacia nilotica on poisoning caused by use of nicotine containing tobacco products.

Tobacco (Nicotiana tobacum) and tobacco products are the most critical public health challenges today across the globe. Nicotine is the main chemical composition of tobacco and is associated with withdrawal syndrome. A laboratory animal is commonly employed as a model to investigate nicotine toxicity, drug dependence, reinforcing effects, and the protective effects of samples against nicotine-induced toxicity. The first in-vitro model was developed to prove the protective effect of Babbul (Acacianilotica Linn.) against nicotine poisoning caused by consumption of tobacco products. The HPTLC method for estimating the protective effect against nicotine poisoning was performed by taking the solvent systems dichloromethane, methanol, and liquid ammonia (25 %)(9:1:0.04v/v/v). This in-vitro approach was done by treating the bark of the Acacia nilotica extract with a standard solution of nicotine, which reduced the concentration of nicotine by 39.12 %. The prescribed HPTLC method can be used successfully to assess Acacia nilotica's protective impact against nicotine toxicity caused by intake of nicotine containing tobacco products.

Boosting impacts of Acacia nilotica against hepatic toxicity induced by gentamicin: biochemical, anti-inflammatory and immunohistochemical study.

It seems that gentamicin's toxicity to the liver is caused by reactive oxygen species production. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Acacia nilotica extract (AN) have been demonstrated in recent studies. This research focused on how AN's extract affected gentamicin-induced liver damage in rats. Twenty-four Wister rats of male type were divided into four groups: first group received saline as a control, second group received AN (5%) for fifteen days, group three received daily intraperitoneal injections of gentamicin (100 mg/kg) for fifteen days, and group four, as mentioned in groups 2 and 3, also received gentamicin injections and AN extraction (5%) for fifteen days. In order to conduct biochemical analysis, serum was extracted. Histopathology, immunohistochemistry analyses for hepatic toxicity were all performed on the collected tissue samples. Serum levels of ALT, AST, total bilirubin, and GGT were all elevated after using gentamicin. The inflammatory cytokines)IL-1, TNF-α and IL-6(, all were increased in gentamycin-injected group. There were showing deformity of bile duct, hepatocellular necrosis and infiltration of inflammatory cells congestion of portal vein, and hepatic sinusoids besides fibrosis of portal area (white arrows), hypertrophy in gentamycin-injected group compared to AN plus gentamycin administered rats. There were upregulation in the immunoreactivity of COX-2, IFNkB and TGF-beta1 (TGF-ß1) in gentamycin intoxicated rats. When gentamicin and AN were administered together, hepatic biomarkers, inflammatory cytokines, histological, and immunohistochemical markers were all ameliorated by AN administration.

A network pharmacology-based approach to understand the mechanism of action of anti-mycobacterial activity of Acacia nilotica: a modelling and experimental study.

The rapid rise in drug-resistant tuberculosis poses a serious threat to public health and demands the discovery of new anti-mycobacterial agents. Medicinal plants are a proven potential source of bioactive compounds; however, identifying those responsible for the putative anti-mycobacterial action still remains a challenging task. In this study, we undertook a systematic network pharmacology approach to identify and evaluate anti-mycobacterial compounds from a traditional plant, Acacia nilotica, as a model system. The protein-protein interaction network revealed 17 key pathways in M. tuberculosis encompassing 40 unique druggable targets that are necessary for its growth and survival. The phytochemicals of A. nilotica were preferentially found to interfere with the cell division and cell wall biogenesis proteins, especially FtsZ and Mur. Notably, the compounds epigallocatechin, ellagic acid, chlorogenic acid, and D-pinitol were found to exhibit a potential polypharmacological effect against multiple proteins. Further, in vitro studies confirmed that the selected candidates, chlorogenic acid, and ellagic acid exhibited potent anti-mycobacterial activity (against M. smegmatis) with specific inhibition of purified M.tb FtsZ enzyme. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that network pharmacology combined with molecular docking can be utilized as an efficient approach to identify potential bioactive phytochemicals from natural products along with their mechanism of action. Hence, the compounds identified in this study can be potential lead candidates for developing novel anti-mycobacterial drugs, while the key proteins identified here can be potential drug targets.

Potential protective effects of Acacia nilotica (L.) against gentamicin - induced nephrotoxicity by suppressing renal redox imbalance, inflammatory stress and caspase-dependent apoptosis in Wistar rats.

Gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity limits its therapeutic use as an effective aminoglycoside. Herbal drugs have a distinct place in the world of pharmaceuticals since they are safe, effective, and cost-efficient. Acacia nilotica (L.) has long been recognized for its antihypertensive, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antiplatelet aggregatory benefits in traditional medicine. Still, the protective effect of Acacia nilotica on gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity is still unknown. Thus, the goal of this research was to examine the protection of ethanolic extract of Acacia nilotica (ANE) against nephrotoxicity triggered by Gentamicin.Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into six groups containing six rats in each group. The distilled water were given in control group. The rats in groups two and three were administered metformin and gentamicin respectively. In groups five and six, rats were administered ANE at doses of 100 and 200 mg/kg. Ten days of daily treatments were given. The urea, creatinine, uric acid, and LDH levels were analyzed on serum, whereas histological evaluation, MDA, GSH, SOD, CAT, TNF-α, IL-6, and caspase-3, were performed on kidney tissue on day 11. The gentamicin-treated group exhibited a significantly elevated MDA, and lower levels of antioxidant enzymes. Kidney function markers, inflammatory markers and caspase-3 expression were significantly elevated in the gentamicin-treated group. ANE significantly restored kidney function biomarkers, upregulated biochemical levels, inhibited TNF-α, caspase-3, cytokine expression, and reduced histological lesions.In conclusion, ANE has the ability to prevent gentamicin-induced nephrotoxicity and reduce nephrotoxic damage. As such, it may represent an effective therapy for patients receiving gentamicin treatment.

Assessing anticancer, antidiabetic, and antioxidant capacities in green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles and solvent-based plant extracts.

Cancer and diabetes represent significant challenges in the field of biomedicine, with major and global impacts on public health. Acacia nilotica, commonly called 'gum arabic tree,' is recognized for its unique biomedical properties. The current study aimed to investigate the pharmacological potential of A. nilotica-based zinc-oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) in comparison to the ethanol and methanol-based extracts against cancer, diabetes, and oxidative stress. Green synthesis of ZnO-NPs was performed using barks of Acacia nilotica. Different techniques for the characterization of ZnO-NPs, including UV-Visible spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Fourier Transmission Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), were utilized. The morphological analysis of ZnO-NPs revealed that the fine NPs have mean particle sizes of 15 ± 1.5 nm. For the solvent based-extraction, leaves and barks were utilized and dissolved into ethanol and methanol for further processing. The MTT assay revealed that the optimum concentration of ZnO-NPs to inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cell line HepG2 was 100 µg/mL where 67.0 % inhibition was observed; and both ethanol- and methanol-based extracts showed optimum inhibition at 100 µg/mL. The DPPH assay further demonstrated that 250 µg/mL of ZnO-NPs and 1000 µg/mL of both ethanol- and methanol-based extracts, as the optimum concentration for antioxidant activity (with 73.1 %, 68.9 % and 68.2 % inhibition respectively). The α-Glucosidase inhibition assay revealed that 250 µg/mL of ZnO-NPs and 10 µg/mL of both ethanol- and methanol-based extracts as the optimum concentration for antidiabetic activity (with 95 %, 93.7 % and 93.4 % inhibition respectively). The study provided interesting insights into the efficacy and reliability of ZnO-NPs for potential pharmacological application. Further research should be focused on examining specific pathways and the safety of ZnO-NPs in comparison to solvent-based extracts.

Effect of Technological Factors on the Extraction of Polymeric Condensed Tannins from Acacia Species.

The aim of this research work was to investigate the influence of parameters such as particle size, mass/solvent ratio, temperature and spray drying on the tannin extraction process in order to develop cost-effective methods with better environmental and structural performance. The pods of Acacia nilotica ssp. tomentosa (ANT) were fractionated into three fractions, coarse fraction (C) (>2 mm), medium fraction (M) (1-2 mm), and fine fraction (F) < 1 mµ), and extracted with different water-to-pod ratios (2:1, 4:1 and 6:1) at different temperatures (30, 50 and 70 °C). The best results were scaled up using the three fractions of ANT, its bark and the bark of Acacia seyal var. seyal (ASS). Part of their extract was spray dried. The tannin content and total polyphenolic materials were evaluated using standard methods. Their adhesives were tested for their tensile strength. Tannins of ASS were characterized by 13C NMR and MALDI-TOF. The results revealed that the fine fraction (F) gave the highest percentage of tannins in both small and scaled-up experiments. The results of the tensile strength conformed to the European standard. The 13C NMR spectra of ANT and ASS showed that the bark contained condensed tannins mainly consisting of procyanidins/prodelphinidin of 70%/30% and 60%/40%, respectively. MALDI-TOF spectra confirmed the results obtained by 13C NMR and detailed the presence of flavonoid monomers and oligomers, some of which were linked to short carbohydrate monomers or dimers.

Hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective potentials of crude methanolic extract from Acacia nilotica L. - results of an in vitro study.

Acacia nilotica L., also known as babul, belonging to the Fabaceae family and the Acacia genus, is typically used for ornamental purposes and also as a medicinal plant found in tropical and subtropical areas. This plant is a rich source of bioactive compounds. The current study aimed to elucidate the hypoglycemic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective potential of A. nilotica's crude methanolic extract. The results of the in vitro antidiabetic assay revealed that methanolic extract of A. nilotica inhibited the enzyme α-glucosidase (IC50: 33 µg mL-1) and α-amylase (IC50: 17 µg mL-1) in a dose-dependent manner. While in the anticholinesterase enzyme inhibitory assay, maximum inhibition was shown by the extract against acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (637.01 µg mL-1) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) (491.98 µg mL-1), with the highest percent inhibition of 67.54% and 71.50% at 1000 µg mL-1, respectively. This inhibitory potential was lower as compared to the standard drug Galantamine that exhibited 82.43 and 89.50% inhibition at the same concentration, respectively. Moreover, the methanolic extract of A. nilotica also significantly inhibited the activities of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) and 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) in a concentration-dependent manner. The percent inhibitory activity of 5-LOX and COX-2 ranged from 42.47% to 71.53% and 43.48% to 75.22%, respectively. Furthermore, in silico, in vivo, and clinical investigations must be planned to validate the above-stated bioactivities of A. nilotica.

Liming potential and characteristics of biochar produced from woody and non-woody biomass at different pyrolysis temperatures.

Large amount of wastes are burnt or left to decompose on site or at landfills where they cause air pollution and nutrient leaching to groundwater. Waste management strategies that return these food wastes to agricultural soils recover the carbon and nutrients that would otherwise have been lost, enrich soils and improve crop productivity. The incorporation of liming materials can neutralize the protons released, hence reducing soil acidity and its adverse impacts to the soil environment, food security, and human health. Biochar derived from organic residues is becoming a source of carbon input to soil and provides multifunctional values. Biochar can be alkaline in nature, with the level of alkalinity dependent upon the feedstock and processing conditions. This study conducted a characterization of biochar derived from the pyrolysis process of eggplant and Acacia nilotica bark at temperatures of 300 °C and 600 °C. An analysis was conducted on the biochar kinds to determine their pH, phosphorus (P), as well as other elemental composition. The proximate analysis was conducted by the ASTM standard 1762-84, while the surface morphological features were measured using a scanning electron microscope. The biochar derived from Acacia nilotica bark exhibited a greater yield and higher level of fixed carbon while possessing a lower content of ash and volatile components compared to biochar derived from eggplant. The eggplant biochar exhibits a higher liming ability at 600 °C compared to the acacia nilotica bark-derived biochar. The calcium carbonate equivalent, pH, potassium (K), and phosphorus (P) levels in eggplant biochars increased as the pyrolysis temperature increased. The results suggest that biochar derived from eggplant could be a beneficial resource for storing carbon in the soil, as well as for addressing soil acidity and enhancing nutrients availability, particularly potassium and phosphorus in acidic soils.

Larvicidal activity of Acacia nilotica extracts against Culex pipiens and their suggested mode of action by molecular simulation docking.

Mosquitoes are one of the deadliest and most hazardous animals on Earth, where they transmit several diseases that kill millions of people annually. There is an ongoing search almost everywhere in the world for more effective and contemporary ways to control mosquitoes other than pesticides. Phytochemicals are affordable, biodegradable biological agents that specialize in eliminating pests that represent a risk to public health. The effectiveness of Acacia nilotica methanol and aqueous leaf extracts against 4th instar larvae was evaluated. The results revealed that the methanol extract of A. nilotica had a noticeable influence on the mortality rate of mosquito larvae, especially at high concentrations. Not only did the mortality rate rise significantly, but the hatching of the mosquito eggs was potentially suppressed.Terpenes, fatty acids, esters, glycosides, pyrrolidine alkane, piperazine, and phenols were the most prevalent components in the methanol extract, while the aqueous extract of A. nilotica exclusively showed the presence of fatty acids. The insecticidal susceptibility tests of both aqueous and alcoholic extract of A. nilotica confirmed that the Acacia plant could serves as a secure and efficient substitute for chemical pesticides because of its promising effect on killing larvae and egg hatching delaying addition to their safety as one of the natural pesticides. Molecular docking study was performed using one of the crucial and life-controlling protein targets, fatty acid binding protein (FABP) and the most active ingredients as testing ligands to describe their binding ability. Most of the structurally related compounds to the co-crystallized ligand, OLA, like hexadecanoic acid furnished high binding affinity to the target protein with very strong and stable intermolecular hydrogen bonding and this is quite similar to OLA itself. Some other structural non-related compounds revealed extraordinarily strong binding abilities like Methoxy phenyl piperazine. Most of the binding reactivities of the majortested structures are due to high structure similarity between the positive control, OLA, and tested compounds. Such structure similarity reinforced with the binding abilities of some detected compounds in the A. nilotica extract could present a reasonable interpretation for its insecticidal activity via deactivating the FABP protein. The FABP4 enzyme inhibition activity was assessed for of both methanolic and aqueous of acacia plant extract and the inhibition results of methanol extract depicted noticeable potency if compared to orlistat, with half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.681, and 0.535 µg/ml, respectively.

Investigating the Potential of Acacia nilotica-Enriched Glass Ionomer Cement: An Analysis of Antimicrobial Activity and Compressive Strength.

Background According to existing literature, introducing natural antibacterial agents into glass ionomer cement (GIC) has been associated with potential negative impacts on their strength properties. Hence, this study aims to explore the antibacterial effectiveness of glass ionomer cement enriched with Acacia nilotica and subsequently assess its compressive strength characteristics. Aim The objective of the study is to assess the antimicrobial effectiveness and compressive strength of glass ionomer cement modified with Acacia nilotica. Materials and methods  The plant extract was incorporated into the conventional glass ionomer cement in three different proportions (powder GIC: extract: liquid GIC), divided into group I, group II, and group III with ratios of 2:1:1, 3:1:2, and 3:2:1 respectively. Additionally, a control group denoted as group IV was included without any modifications. Subsequently, the specimens were prepared, and their chemical structure was analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), followed by testing for antimicrobial activity using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus. The assessment of compressive strength was conducted following ISO 9917-1:2007 standards, and the recorded values represent the maximum force the specimen could withstand before fracturing. Results The antimicrobial effectiveness against Streptococcus mutans and Lactobacillus exhibited a notable increase in all modified specimens compared to the control group, with a significance level of p<0.05. Additionally, significant improvements in compressive strength were observed in group III (183.49±2.99) when compared to the remaining groups. The higher concentrations of the plant extract resulted in superior outcomes. Conclusion Therefore, the incorporation of Acacia nilotica into GIC shows promising potential as a restorative material. These investigations can provide valuable insights into the material's performance and durability, contributing to its potential application in dental restorations. Future research is needed to thoroughly investigate the bonding chemistry between Acacia nilotica and GIC, as well as to assess the extent of microleakage.

Polyphenolic characterization and biological assessment of Acacia nilotica (L.) wild. Ex delilie: An In vitro and In vivo appraisal of wound healing potential.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Acacia nilotica (L.) Wild. Ex Delilie is a shrub with significant ethnomedicinal stature. Therefore, in the undertaken study, its wound healing attributes are determined. AIM OF THE STUDY: The current study provided evidence of the traditional use of A. nilotica species and conferred A. nilotica bark extract as a potent candidate for wound healing agents. MATERIALS & METHODS: A. nilotica leaves extract (ANL-E); A. nilotica bark extract (ANB-E), and A. nilotica stem extract (ANS-E) were prepared using methanol-chloroform (1:1). Phytochemical analysis was performed using gallic acid equivalent (GAE) total phenolic content (TPC), quercetin equivalent (QE) total flavonoid content (TFC) assays and High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In vitro antioxidant potential (free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay), antibacterial activity (broth microdilution method) and hemolytic analysis was carried out. Wound healing proficiency of ANB-E was determined by wound excision model followed by estimating hydroxyproline content and endogenous antioxidant markers. RESULTS: Maximum phenolic and flavonoid content were depicted by ANB-E i.e., 50.9 ± 0.34 µg gallic acid equivalent/mg extract and 28.7 ± 0.13 µg quercetin equivalent/mg extract, respectively. HPLC analysis unraveled the presence of a significant amount of catechin in ANL-E, ANB-E and ANS-E (54.66 ± 0.02, 44.9 ± 0.004 and 31.36 ± 0.02 µg/mg extract) respectively. Highest percent free radical scavenging activity, total antioxidant capacity, and ferric reducing action power (i.e., 93.3 ± 0.42 %, 222.10 ± 0.76, and 222.86 ± 0.54 µg ascorbic acid equivalent/mg extract) were exhibited by ANB-E. Maximum antibacterial potential against Staphylococcus aureus was exhibited by ANB-E (MIC 12.5 µg/ml). Two of the extracts i.e., ANL-E and ANB-E were found biocompatible with less than 5 % hemolytic potential. Based upon findings of in vitro analysis, ANB-E (10, 5, and 2.5 % w/w, C1, C2, and C3, respectively) was selected for evaluating its in vivo wound healing potential. Maximum contraction of wound area and fastest epithelization i.e., 98 ± 0.05 % and 11.2 ± 1.00 (day) was exhibited by C1. Maximum hydroxyproline content, glutathione, catalase, and peroxidase were demonstrated by C1 i.e., 15.9 ± 0.52 µg/mg, 9.3 ± 0.17 mmol/mg, 7.2 ± 0.17 and 6.2 ± 0.14 U/mg, respectively. Maximal curbed lipid peroxidation i.e., 0.7 ± 0.15 mmol/mg was also depicted by C1. CONCLUSIONS: In a nutshell, the current investigation endorsed the wound healing potential of ANB-E suggesting it to be an excellent candidate for future studies.

Laboratory Assessment of Molluscicidal Activities of Cannabis sativa, Acacia nilotica, and Tinospora cordifolia Against Snail Host of Fasciola spp.

Background: The potential molluscicidal extracts, obtained from indigenous plants Cannabis sativa, Acacia nilotica, and Tinospora cordifolia, were tested for toxicity against freshwater pulmonate snail Lymnaea acuminata, an intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica. The organic extracts had a significant effect on young snails. Materials and Methods: All organic extracts and column-purified fractions gave median lethal concentrations (19-100.05 mg/L; 24 h) that fell well within the threshold level of 100 mg/L, set for a potential molluscicide by the World Health Organization. Results: The toxicity of T. cordifolia stem acetone extract (96 h LC50: 16.08 mg/L) was more pronounced compared with C. sativa leaf ethanol extract (96 h LC50: 16.32 mg/L) and A. nilotica leaf ethanol extract (96 h LC50: 24.78 mg/L). ß-caryophyllene, gallic acid, and berberine were characterized and identified as active molluscicidal components. Co-migration of ß-caryophyllene (retardation factor [Rf] 0.95), gallic acid (Rf 0.30), and berberine (Rf 0.23) with column-purified parts of Cannabis sativa, Acacia nilotica, and Tinospora cordifolia on thin-layer chromatography demonstrates same Rf value, that is, 0.95, 0.30, and 0.23, respectively. Conclusion: This study indicates that these extracts thus represent potential plant-derived molluscicides that are worthy of further investigations.

Differential Impact of Zinc Salt Precursors on Physiognomies, Anticancerous, and Antibacterial Activities of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles.

Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) are enormously popular semi-conductor metal oxides with diverse applications in every field of science. Many physical and chemical methods applied for the synthesis of ZnONPs are being rejected due to their environmental hazards. Therefore, ZnONPs synthesized from plant extracts are steered as eco-friendly showing more biocompatibility and biodegradability. Additionally, various synthesis conditions such as the type of precursor salt also play a role in influencing the physicochemical and biological properties of ZnONPs. In this study, green synthesis of ZnONPs from Acacia nilotica was carried out using zinc acetate (ZA-AN-ZNPs), zinc nitrate (ZN-AN-ZNPs), and zinc sulfate (ZS-AN-ZNPs) precursor salts. Surprisingly, characterization of ZnONPs using UV-visible spectroscopy, TEM, XRD, and EDX revealed the important role precursor salts played in influencing the size and shape of ZnONPs, i.e., 20-23 nm spherical (ZA-AN-ZNPs), 55-59 nm triangular (ZN-AN-ZNPs), and 94-97 nm nano-flowers (ZS-AN-ZNPs). FTIR analysis showed the involvement of alkaloids, alcohols, carboxylic acid, and phenolic compounds present in Acacia nilotica extract during the synthesis process. Since different precursor salts showed different morphology of ZnONPs, their biological activities were also variable. ZN-AN-ZNPs showed the highest cytotoxicity towards HepG2 cells with the lowest cell viability (28.92 ± 0.99%), highest ROS/RNS production (3425.3 ± 184.58 relative DHR123 fluorescence), and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (1645.2 ± 32.12 relative fluorescence unit) as well as induced significant caspase-3 gene expression. In addition to this, studying the zone of inhibitions and minimum bactericidal and inhibitory concentrations of ZnONPs showed their exceptional potential as antibacterial agents. At MIC as low as 8 µg/mL, ZA-AN-ZNPs and ZN-AN-ZNPs exhibited significant bactericidal activities against human pathogens Klebsiella pneumoniae and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively. Furthermore, alkaline phosphatase, DNA/RNA leakage, and phosphate ion leakage studies revealed that a damage to the bacterial cell membrane and cell wall is involved in mediating the antibacterial effects of ZnONPs.

Validating Interactions of Pathogenic Proteins of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli with Phytochemicals of Ziziphus jujube and Acacia nilotica.

This study focused on the assessment of the antimicrobial resistance of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from bovine mastitis milk samples and the revealing anti-mastitis potential of phytocompounds of Ziziphus jujube and Acacia nilotica through molecular docking analysis. The mastitis milk samples were collected from various dairy farms for the isolation of the bacteria (S. aureus and E. coli) and their response to antibiotics. Ethanolic extracts of both plants were prepared. Their antibacterial activity was evaluated, and they were processed for phytochemical analysis after which, molecular docking analysis with pathogenic proteins of the bacteria was carried out. Parametric and non-parametric statistical analyses were performed to reach the conclusions of this study. The findings of the study revealed a higher drug resistance (≥40%) of E. coli against ampicillin, amikacin, and vancomycin, while S. aureus exhibited the highest resistance to ampicillin, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin. The ethanolic extracts of the Ziziphus jujube and Acacia nilotica plants produced a ZOI between 18 and 23 mm against multidrug-resistant S. aureus and E. coli. Gas chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) was used to explore 15 phytocompounds from Ziziphus jujube and 18 phytocompounds from Acacia nilotica. The molecular docking analysis of 2cyclopenten-1-one,3,4,4 trimethyl and Bis (2ethylhexyl) phthalate of Ziziphus jujube showed a binding affinity of -4.8 kcal/mol and -5.3 kcal/mol and -5.9 kcal/mol and -7.1 kcal/mol against the DNA Gyrase and toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 proteins of S. aureus and E. coli, respectively. The suberic acid monomethyl ester of Acacia nilotica showed a binding affinity of -5.9 kcal/mol and -5 kcal/mol against the outer membrane protein A and Topoisomerase IV protein of E. coli and -5.1 kcal/mol and -5.8 kcal/mol against the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and Enterotoxin B proteins of S. aureus. Similarly, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol di-iso-butyrate showed a binding affinity of -6.5 kcal/mol and -5.3 kcal/mol against the outer membrane protein A and Topoisomerase IV of E. coli and -5.2 kcal/mol and -5.9 kcal/mol against the toxic shock syndrome toxin-1 and Enterotoxin B proteins of S. aureus, respectively. The study concluded that there was an increasing trend for the antimicrobial resistance of S. aureus and E. coli, while the Ziziphus jujube and Acacia nilotica plant extracts expressed significant affinity to tackle this resistance; hence, this calls for the development of novel evidence-based therapeutics.

Effects of Dietary Bioactive Lipid Compounds of Acacia nilotica Bark on Productive Performance, Antioxidant Status, and Antimicrobial Activities of Growing Rabbits under Hot Climatic Conditions.

This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of dietary Acacia nilotica bark bioactive lipid compounds (ANBBLCs) as novel feed additives on the growth performance, carcass criteria, antioxidants, and antimicrobial activities of growing male rabbits. A total of 100 California male weanling rabbits aged 35 days were divided into four nutritional treatments, each of which contained ANBBLCs at concentrations of 0 (control group), 50, 100, and 150 mg/kg diet (n = 25 per treatment, each replication consisting of one animal). The average body weight of the animals was 613 ± 14 g. The experiments lasted for 56 days. Dietary ANBBLC levels linearly improved (p < 0.05) the body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of rabbits. Furthermore, with increasing concentrations of ANBBLCs, the total antioxidant capacity of blood and liver tissue was linearly (p < 0.05) enhanced. Lactobacillus increased and Staphylococcus decreased (p < 0.05) in comparison to the control group when ANBBLC levels were added to the diets of rabbits. Rabbit diets supplemented with ANBBLCs increased dressing percentages and decreased abdominal fat. This study shows that ANBBLCs can be used as a feed additive to enhance the growth performance, carcass criteria, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of growing rabbits.

Efficacy of Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Salix safsafs on the mortality and development of two vector-borne mosquito species, Culex pipiens and Aedes aegypti, in the laboratory and field.

Mosquitoes are one of the most lethal animals in the world and transmit many dangerous human pathogens, causing millions of deaths each year. The search for modern and better mosquito control is an endless effort almost all over the world. Phytochemicals are promising biological agents for getting rid of pests that are harmful to human and animal health and crops, they are inexpensive, biodegradable, and have diverse modes of action. The efficacy of acetone and hexane leaf extracts of Acacia nilotica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, and Salix safsafs was investigated against the 2nd and 4th larvae and pupae of two vectors, Culex pipiens and Aedes aegypti. The results showed the obvious effect of A. nilotica extract on the mortality of mosquito larvae, the reduction of female eggs, and a higher mortality rate in sunlight than in shadow (fluorescein). Data from field trials revealed that A. nilotica extracts had the greatest effect on larval reduction, reaching 89.8% in 24 h and having a 12-day stability. Polyethylene glycol, sesquiterpenes, and fatty acids were the most common compounds found in A. nilotica, E. camaldulensis, and S. safsafs, respectively. The acacia plant had promising larvicidal activity, safe and effective alternative to chemical insecticides.

Essential oils from Acacia nilotica (Fabales: Fabaceae) seeds: May have insecticidal effects?

In the present study Acacia nilotica seed derived essential oils were tested against Spodoptera litura, Tenebrio molitor, Oxycarenus hyalinipennis, and Aphis fabae, as well as their effects on non-target species Eudrilus eugeniae and Artemia salina at 24 h post treatment. The seed essential oil produced insecticidal activity against A. fabae (LC50 = 41.679, LC90 = 75.212 µl/mL), O. hyalinipennis (LC50 = 37.629, LC90 = 118.485 µl/mL), T. molitor (LC50 = 56.796, LC90 = 201.912 µl/mL), and S. litura (LC50 = 62.215, LC90 = 241.183 µl/mL). Essential oils do not cause a remarkable effect on E. eugeniae and A. salina cytotoxicity. The essential oils produced a lower effect on Artemia salina (LC50 = 384.382, LC90 = 1341.397 µl/mL) and no lethal effects were observed on E. eugeniae. The histopathological evaluation showed no sub-lethal effects of essential oils on earthworm gut tissues. GC-MS analysis results revealed that the major chemical constituent was hexadecane (19.560%) and heptacosane (17.214%) and FT-IR analysis revealed the presence of alkanes and alkyles, aromatics, and amides functional groups that may be involved in insecticidal activity. Overall, the results showed that the seed derived essential oil has excellent insecticidal action against major agricultural insect pests and may therefore offer an environmentally benign alternative to conventional insecticide.

Pharmacological Evaluation of Acacia nilotica Flower Extract against Helicobacter pylori and Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma In Vitro and In Silico.

The resistance of cancer and Helicobacter pylori to several drugs reflects a worldwide problem, and it has been the intention of numerous researchers to overcome this problem. Thus, in this study, Acacia nilotica fruits were subjected to HPLC analysis to detect their phenolic compounds and flavonoids. Moreover, A. nilotica's anti-H. pylori activity and its inhibitory activity against human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG-2 cells) were reported. Various compounds with different concentrations, such as ferulic acid (5451.04 µg/mL), chlorogenic acid (4572.26 µg/mL), quercetin (3733.37 µg/mL), rutin (2393.13 µg/mL), gallic acid (2116.77 µg/mL), cinnamic acid (69.72 µg/mL), hesperetin (121.39 µg/mL) and methyl gallate (140.45 µg/mL), were detected. Strong anti-H. pylori activity at 31 mm was reported, compared to the positive control of the 21.67 mm inhibition zone. Moreover, the MIC and MBC were 7.8 µg/mL and 15.62 µg/mL, respectively, while the MIC and MBC of the positive control were 31.25 µg/mL. The concentration of MBC at 25%, 50% and 75% reflected H. pylori's anti-biofilm activity of 70.38%, 82.29% and 94.22%, respectively. Good antioxidant properties of the A. nilotica flower extract were documented at 15.63, 62.50, 250 and 1000 µg/mL, causing the DPPH scavenging percentages of 42.3%, 52.6%, 65.5% and 80.6%, respectively, with a IC50 of 36.74 µg/mL. HepG-2 cell proliferation was inhibited (91.26%) using 500 µg/mL of flower extract with an IC50 of 176.15 µg/mL, compared to an IC50 of 395.30 µg/mL used against human normal melanocytes. Molecular docking was applied to investigate ferulic acid with the H. pylori (4HI0) crystal structure to determine the best binding mode that interacted most energetically with the binding sites. Molecular docking indicated that ferulic acid was a proper inhibitor for the 4HI0 protein enzyme of H. pylori. A low energy score (-5.58 Kcal/mol) was recorded as a result of the interaction of ferulic acid with the residue's SER 139 active site caused by the O 29 atom, which was important for its antibacterial activity.

Exploratory quasi-experimental study of anti-arthritic activity of Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation, Abha Guggulu in osteoarthritis patients.

OBJECTIVES: Abha Guggulu (AG) is a traditional Ayurvedic herbal formulation used for treating joint disorders and bone fractures. Individually, the ingredients are known for their promising anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating actions. The present study attempts to explore the anti-arthritic potential of AG through an exploratory clinical trial. METHODS: The study was conducted using a quasi-experimental model. The clinical trial has been registered in Clinical Trials Registry of India (registration number: CTRI/2019/09/021354). Osteoarthritis patients of both genders (n=12, 40-70 years age group), meeting the inclusion/exclusion criteria, were recruited in the single arm study. AG was administered in tablet form in a dose of 1.5 g, twice daily. The WOMAC score was used as a primary outcome measure. The WOMAC scale of patients was recorded on 0th, 15th and 30th days of treatment. RESULTS: At the end of treatment, there was a significant difference in the scores of the outcome measure. As per WOMAC total score, participants were significantly improved (p=0.002) after consuming the drug for 1 month. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, the data indicates significant improvement of subjects in both scales and objective measures used for assessment purposes. There were no adverse drug reactions reported during the trial. AG may be used as a safe and effective supplement to reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis. The clinical efficacy of the formulation might be mediated through the synergistic blend of herbal bioactive compounds from AG.

Revealing the Underlying Mechanism of Acacia Nilotica against Asthma from a Systematic Perspective: A Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study.

Acacia Nilotica (AN) has long been used as a folk cure for asthma, but little is known about how AN could possibly modulate this disease. Thus, an in-silico molecular mechanism for AN's anti-asthmatic action was elucidated utilizing network pharmacology and molecular docking techniques. DPED, PubChem, Binding DB, DisGeNET, DAVID, and STRING were a few databases used to collect network data. MOE 2015.10 software was used for molecular docking. Out of 51 searched compounds of AN, eighteen compounds interacted with human target genes, a total of 189 compounds-related genes, and 2096 asthma-related genes were found in public databases, with 80 overlapping genes between them. AKT1, EGFR, VEGFA, and HSP90AB were the hub genes, whereas quercetin and apigenin were the most active components. p13AKT and MAPK signaling pathways were found to be the primary target of AN. Outcomes of network pharmacology and molecular docking predicted that AN might exert its anti-asthmatic effect probably by altering the p13AKT and MAPK signaling pathway.