Eco-Friendly Green Synthesis and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles by Scutellaria multicaulis Leaf Extract and Its Biological Activities.

Scutellaria multicaulis is a medicinal plant indigenous to Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. It has been widely used as a prominent herb in traditional medicine for thousands of years. This plant is reported to contain baicalein, wogonin, and chrysin flavonoids, which are a significant group of chemical ingredients which can cure different diseases, such as breast cancer. S. multicaulis leaf extract was used for the bioreduction of silver nanoparticles (SmL-Ag-NPs), and their phytochemical contents and antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-proliferative, and apoptotic activity were evaluated. Optimal physicochemical properties of SmL-Ag-NPs were obtained by mixing 5% of leaf extract and 2 mM of aqueous AgNO3 solution and confirmed by characterization studies including UV-visible spectrophotometry, Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), zeta potential, Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), X-ray crystallography (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. SmL-Ag-NPs exhibited a higher content of total phenol and total flavonoid and potential antioxidant activity. SmL-Ag-NPs also demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB231 cell multiplication with an IC50 value of 37.62 µg/mL through inducing cell apoptosis. Results show that SmL-Ag-NPs is effective at inhibiting the proliferation of MDA-MB231 cells compared to tamoxifen. This demonstrates that SmL-Ag-NPs could be a bio-friendly and safe strategy to develop new cancer therapies with a reduction in the adverse effects of chemotherapy in the near future.

Cichorium intybus bio-callus synthesized silver nanoparticles: A promising antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer compound.

Cichorium intybus, commonly called chicory, has been widely used as a coffee substitute. It display a wide range of natural compounds and medicinally uses in treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. This study synthesized silver nanoparticles (Ci-AgNPs) using C. intybus leaf-derived callus extract to evaluate phytochemical content, antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-proliferative activities against human breast cancer cells (MDA-MB231). The optimal shape, size and stability of Ci-AgNPs was confirmed using UV-visible spectrophotometry, FESEM, EDX, XRD, DLS, Zeta potential, FTIR and sp-ICP-MS studies. The antibacterial activity of Ci-AgNPs was assessed using disk diffusion method against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, and they displayed distinct zones of inhibition. Colorimetric phytochemical analysis of Ci-AgNPs revealed their higher total phenolic (TP) and total flavonoid (TF) content. Ci-AgNPs also indicated a high level of antioxidant activity using FRAP and DPPH assays. The Ci-AgNPs were investigated for their anticancer activities on the cancerous MDA-MB231 cells viability and apoptosis using MTT and flow cytometry, respectively. Ci-AgNPs showed dose dependent cytotoxicity against MDA-MB231 cells with IC50 value of 187.6 µg/mL at 48 h through induction of apoptosis. The biocompatibility test showed that Ci-AgNPs induced neglectable cytotoxicity (lower than 3 %) toward human erythrocytes. This is the first study that reports the bio-callus mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticle using C. intybus callus extract which provided a promising anticancer activity against human breast cancer MDA-MB231 cells and therefore could be used as an alternative and interesting benign strategy for biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles useful in cancer therapy.

Green synthesized Ag-nanoparticles using Scutellaria multicaulis stem extract and their selective cytotoxicity against breast cancer.

Scutellaria multicaulis is a medicinal herb which has been extensively prescribed in Iranian traditional medicine for treatment of infections, constipation, wounds, and also as medication for anxiety. To evaluate biological activities of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles (Sm-AgNPs), Sm-AgNPswere synthesized using S. multicaulis stem extract as capping and reducing agent. Characterization studies using UV-vis, XRD, DLS, Zeta potential, FESEM, EDX, TEM, FTIR, RAMAN and TGA assays indicated that Sm-AgNPs had optimal shape, size (∼60 nm) and stability (-46.4 mV) to be used as a drug. Findings also demonstrated that Sm-AgNPs display higher Total Phenolics and Total Flavonoids Content and possesses higher antioxidant activity. HPLC-MSn analysis of constituents in the S. multicaulis stem extract and Sm-AgNPs-free supernatant in negative ion mode showed that flavonoids, mainly jaceidin, skullcapflavon II, wogonin, oroxylin A and dihydroxy, trimethoxyflavone from extract have contributed to the synthesis of Sm-AgNPs. Additionally, Sm-AgNPs demonstrated effective anticarcinogenic properties on MDA-MB231 cells proliferation with IC50 value of 81.2 µg/mL at 48 h by inducing cell apoptosis. Overall, results confirmed the potential role of S. multicaulis stem extract as a potential raw material for synthesis of biologically active Sm-AgNPs, for development of new antitumor agents which could be utilized to combat breast cancer.

Can anti-parasitic drugs help control COVID-19?

Novel COVID-19 is a public health emergency that poses a serious threat to people worldwide. Given the virus spreading so quickly, novel antiviral medications are desperately needed. Repurposing existing drugs is the first strategy. Anti-parasitic drugs were among the first to be considered as a potential treatment option for this disease. Even though many papers have discussed the efficacy of various anti-parasitic drugs in treating COVID-19 separately, so far, no single study comprehensively discussed these drugs. This study reviews some anti-parasitic recommended drugs to treat COVID-19, in terms of function and in vitro as well as clinical results. Finally, we briefly review the advanced techniques, such as artificial intelligence, that have been used to find effective drugs for the treatment of COVID-19.

High-frequency adventitious shoot organogenesis from in vitro stem explants of Scutellaria araxensis Grossh.

The present study introduced an in vitro shoot organogenesis protocol for the medicinal plant Scutellaria araxensis (Lamiaceae). Stem, leaf, and petiole explants were cultured in half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) alone or in combination with thidiazuron (TDZ), indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), or α-naphthalene acetic acid. Callus formation occurred from stem and petiole explants in most cultures; however, in leaf explants, it was observed only in cultures containing 0.5 mg/l BAP supplemented with TDZ at all concentrations. The highest frequency of indirect shoot induction (100 and 90%) with an average of 20.33 and 12 shoots per explant was observed in stem-derived calli cultured on half-strength MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l BAP plus 0.5 and 1.5 mg/l TDZ, respectively. The best direct shoot organogenesis (40%) was observed in stem explants cultured on half-strength MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l BAP and 0.5 mg/l IBA with a mean of 18 shoots per stem explant. The regenerated micro-shoots were elongated on a medium fortified with 0.5 mg/l gibberellic acid and then successfully rooted in half-strength MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/l IBA. The obtained plantlets were acclimatized in a growth chamber with a survival rate of 100%. This study is the first report of a simple and efficient in vitro shoot organogenesis and regeneration protocol for S. araxensis by using stem explants, which could be useful for the conservation, genetic manipulation, and exploitation of biological molecules of this valuable genetic source.

Fractional analysis of dichloromethane extract of Scutellaria araxensis Grossh root and shoot by HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn.

Scutellaria araxensis is a well-known ethnobotanical herb for the treatment of various diseases in Iranian traditional medicine. In this study, dichloromethanolic fraction of partitioned methanol root and shoot extract was analysed by silica gel column chromatography, thin layer chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography combined with photodiode-array detector, and coupled to electrospray ionization with Q-Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-ESI-MSn) in positive ion mode. Metabolites were tentatively characterized by comparing their mass spectrometry spectra with those of bibliographic data. A total of 11 flavonoids were identified from different fractions. Results showed that root and shoot produced very similar flavone patterns characterized by the presence of baicalein, tricin, tenaxin I, tenaxin II, skullcapflavon II, chrysin, wogonin and isorhamnetin. Norwogonin and apigenin-7-glucoside were identified only from shoot. Remarkably, Tenaxin I, II, tricin, apigenin-7-glucoside and norwogonin were tentatively profiled as new compounds for the first time from S. araxensis formula.

HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn analysis of phenolic components of Scutellaria araxensis, S. bornmuelleri and S. orientalis.

Scutellaria araxensis, S. bornmuelleri and S. orientalis are traditional herbs widely used by native Iranians for the treatment various ailments. In the current study, we used HPLC-DAD-ESI/MSn to investigate the presence of phenolic compounds of root and shoot methanolic extracts. The flavonoid composition were identified based on mass of pseudomolecular [M - H]- ions and fragmentation spectra and comparisons with literature data. A total of 26, 25, 17, 23, 19 and 26 flavonoids were identified from roots and shoots of S. araxensis, S. bornmuelleri and S. orientalis, respectively. The obtained phenolic profiles revealed the presence of the major flavonoid components of Scutellaria genus including baicalein, wogonin, scutellarein and their glycosides, as well as chrysin, tricin, skullcapflavon II, pinocembrin and phenylethanoid glycosides such as acteoside and verbascoside. This study, in addition to reveal the potency of chromatographic profiling for identification of Scutellaria flavonoids, introduces this species as a potential source of bioactive metabolites.

Scutellaria orientalis subsp. Bornmuelleri: phytochemical composition and biological activities.

The medicinal plant, Scutellaria orientalis, is used for the treatment of several diseases in North-western of Iran. The purpose of this study was to investigate the phytochemical content, cytotoxicity assay against SW-480 and HCT-116 cells and anti-haemolytic activities using HPLC-PDA, GC/MS, MTT and spectrophotometry methods, respectively. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of different terpenoids and flavonoids such as baicalin, tricin and wogonin and also some of the other medicinally active compounds such as conhydrine and cannabidiol. MTT results revealed that HCT-116 cells were more sensitive to examined extracts compared with SW-480 cells. Methanol extract had the most anti-proliferative activity against HCT-116 and SW-480 cells at 48 h with IC50 values of 614.5 and 592.3 µg/mL, respectively. Also, all samples had no significant haemolytic effect on human erythrocytes. Our results revealed that S. orientalis root extract has a promising anticancer activity, indicating the presence of major anti-cancer agents on human colon cell lines.

Green Synthesized Silver Nanostructure Using Rhus coriaria Fruit Extract Inhibits the Growth of Malignant MCF-7 Cell Line

Abstract Rhus coriaria, popularly known as sumac, has been used as a spice powder in the Middle East for centuries. It contains a broad range of naturally occurring compounds such as flavonoids, proteins, anthocyanins and volatile oils. It showed a putative importance in treatment of different disorders including cancers. In the current study, R. coriaria fruit extract was used for green synthesis of silver nanostructures (Ag-NSs) and their anticancer activity was tested against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7). The aqueous fruit extract was prepared. The synthesis of Ag-NSs under different conditions was optimized. The optimal reaction medium comprised 1:2 concentration of fruit extract and 3 mM concentration of silver nitrate solution. The green-synthesized Ag-NSs were confirmed by using UV-Visible spectroscopy at a range 300-700 nm, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and zeta potential measurements. The anti-proliferative activity of Ag-NSs was confirmed with inhibitory activity on MCF-7 cell line growth. The results showed that the IC50 values at 24 and 48h were 14.27 and 13.4 μg/ml, respectively. In conclusion the results of this study provide a simple, rapid, non-toxic and eco-friendly protocol for green-synthesis of Ag-NSs, which could be used as an alternative and interesting approach for safe and simple synthesis of Ag nanoparticles for biomedical uses.

Enhanced flavonoid production in hairy root cultures of Scutellaria bornmuelleri by elicitor induced over-expression of MYB7 and FNSП2 genes.

For the purpose of the current study, hairy root induction in S. bornmuelleri, which is an important medicinal plant, was examined using a particular protocol. Accordingly, some factors such as four strain types of Agrobacterium rhizogenes (A4, A13, MSU440 and ATCC15834), three different explants, namely stem, petiole and leaf, two co-cultivation media, i.e. full and half-MS were studied. Besides, two inoculation methods including injection and immersion as well as three inoculation times (5, 7 and 10 min) were closely taken into account. Utilizing injection method by MSU440 strain, hairy root induction took place in stem explants, and a remarkable increase in transformation frequency (100%) was observed in half-strength MS medium. Methyl jasmonate (MeJA, 100 µM), methyl-b-cyclodextrin (b-CD, 0.7, 7 and 14 mM) and Chitosan (Chi, 50, 100 and 200 mg/l) were used either individually or in a combined way to elicitation. Based on the HPLC results, production of chrysin, wogonin and baicalein increased 9.15, 10.56 and 13.25 times after elicitation of hairy roots by MeJA + Chi. In addition, transcripts of FNSП2 and MYB7, two important genes involved in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, were studies. By applying Chi and MeJA + Chi elicitor, the expression of both genes increased noticeably. It can be concluded that the mentioned hairy root culture system of S. bornmuelleri can be an alternative to flavonoids production. Moreover, there is a direct and positive relationship between the expression of FNSП2 and MYB7 genes as well as the level of three flavonoids.