Selective and Simple Determination of Isoquinoline Alkaloids in Papaver Species by Ion Mobility Spectrometry.

In this study, a fast and precise method for determining three opium alkaloids (morphine, codeine, and thebaine) in different parts of some Papaver species was developed and validated with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.05 - 0.20 mg/L. The proposed method was based on three extraction steps by alkaline aqueous solution/chloroform/acidic aqueous solution and analysis by ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After optimizing IMS parameters based on an experimental design, IMS was applied to analyze the extracts of seeds, stems, leaves, and capsules of seven Papaver species collected from different regions of Iran. All prepared samples were analyzed by HPLC and IMS at the same time. Then, the obtained results of the two instrumental methods were compared. The HPLC did not detect morphine in the prepared samples, while IMS results showed trace amounts of morphine in the capsules and leaves of four Papaver species. Other results were comparable and showed that IMS is more sensitive, affordable, and faster than HPLC for alkaloid analysis.

Bioassay-guided Isolation of Flavonoids from Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. and Evaluation of Their Cytotoxicity.

Cancer is one of the most important causes of death all around the world. Screening plants and their secondary metabolites as cytotoxic agents is one of the common methods for identifying new compounds used in chemotherapy and inhibition cancer process. Caesalpinia bonduc (L.) Roxb. from the Fabaceae family was used for improving wound, fever, tumor, hydrocele, hernia, smallpox, toothache, inflammation, and as astringent, anthelmintic, antidiabetic, and antimalarial agent in traditional medicine. A bioassay-guided study of this species led to the isolation of three flavonoids. At first, the cytotoxicity of methanol extract of aerial parts (leaves and stems), seeds, and legumes of this plant was tested against MCF-7 and PC-3 by MTT assay. The methanol extract of legumes showed better inhibitory activities (IC50 < 500 µg/mL). As a result, this extract was selected for fractionation. In the next step, the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction was selected for phytochemical analysis based on the inhibitory activity (IC50 = 170 ± 0.9 µg/mL). In this way, total phenol content (625 ± 7.2 GAE/g extract) and antioxidant activity (IC50 = 6.1 ± 0.3 µg/mL) was compared by BHT (IC50 = 13.5 ± 0.7 µg/mL). Finally, three compounds including, quercetin-3-methyl ether (1), kaempferol (2), and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-1→2)-ß-D-xylopyranoside (3) were isolated from EtOAc fraction, and all isolated compounds were tested for their cytotoxicity and compound 1 showed better inhibitory activity than other two compounds. This study suggests that Caesalpinia bonduc could be considered for further investigations as a natural source of biological compounds.

Bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active component from Tragopogon graminifolius based on its wound healing property.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Tragopogon graminifolius (T. graminifolius) from Asteraceae family has been used as a remedy in Persian traditional medicine for the treatment of various disorders such as wound healing. AIM OF THE STUDY: The purpose of this study is to investigate the compounds of T. graminifolius, which are responsible for its wound healing activity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was performed in three phases; each phase consisted of fractionation of extracts followed by scratch assay. The results of the scratch assay were expressed using scratch closure index (SCI), representing the contraction of scratch. RESULTS: In phase I, Ethyl acetate fraction (E) showed the maximum SCI (61.7 ±â€¯3.5) that was selected for more fractionation in the next phase. In phase II, 12 fractions were obtained and labeled as fractions E- A to L, respectively. Based on the SCI of fractions, EF (SCI=68.9 ±â€¯0.6) was the most active fraction in phase II and selected for further fractionation in phase III. In phase III, 8 fractions were resulted by fractionation of EF and labeled as EF- 1-8. Fraction EF5 with the highest SCI (30.8 ±â€¯3.0) was the most effective fraction and Luteolin was the main component. Luteolin significantly improved viability of fibroblast cells and increased cell population that was accompanied by decreased cell apoptosis. Luteolin-induced cell number increase in the S and G2M phases of the cell cycle, further confirms the proliferative effect of this compound. CONCLUSION: The results showed that the total extract and fractions of T. graminifolius stimulate proliferation and migration of skin fibroblast cells and Luteolin is one of the active compounds responsible for these effects.

Bioactive coumarins from the roots and fruits of Ferulago trifida Boiss., an endemic species to Iran.

Phytochemical analysis of the Ferulago trifida Boiss. from Apiaceae family led to the isolation and identification of suberosin (1), isoimperatorin (2), prantschimgin (3), oxypeucedanin (4), oxypeucedanin methanolate (5), suberenol (6), 6-hydroxymethylherniarin (7), oxypeucedanin hydrate (8), ulopterol (9), bergapten (10), xanthotoxin (11), imperatorin (12) and grandivittin (13) from chloroform extracts of the roots (1-9) and fruits (1, 2, 8, 10-13) of this species. Oxypeucedanin methanolate and suberenol demonstrated a potent antioxidant power with 268.2 ± 5.4 and 251.2 ± 6.2 mmol FSE/100 g, respectively, compared by BHT (267.2 ± 4.2 mmol FSE/100 g) in FRAP method. The potent antibacterial effects were found for oxypeucedanin methanolate on S. epidermidis (IZ; 26 mm, MIC; 250 µg mL-1) an oxypeucedanin hydrate on K. pneumoniae (IZ: 21 mm, MIC: 250 µg mL-1). Moreover, suberosin showed higher preferential toxicity against MDA-MB-23 cells (IC50: 0.21 mM, SI: 5.0), in comparison with tamoxifen (IC50: 0.012 mM, SI: 2.45) in MTT assay.

Antioxidant potential assessment of phenolic and flavonoid rich fractions of Clematis orientalis and Clematis ispahanica (Ranunculaceae).

The antioxidant activities of crude extract fractions using Hexane, Chloroform, Ethyl Acetate, Butanol and Water of Clematis orientalis and Clematis ispahanica were investigated. 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) assay and the ferric reducing/antioxidant potential (FRAP) were used to evaluate the antioxidant capacity. The total phenolics were found to be 4.37-9.38 and 1.32-11.37 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g in different fractions for C. orientalis and C. ispahanica, respectively. The ethyl acetate fraction of C. orientalis and chloroform fraction of C. ispahanica showed the highest DPPH and FRAP activities at a concentration of 300 µg/mL. The predominant phenolic compounds identified by HPLC in C. orientalis were Resorcinol (603.5 µg/g DW) in chloroform fraction and Ellagic acid (811.7 µg/g DW) in chloroform fraction of C. ispahanica.

Improved glycemic control in patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus taking Urtica dioica leaf extract: a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial.

BACKGROUND: Advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) needing insulin therapy is common. Most conventional anti-hyperglycemic drugs have limited efficacies and significant side effects, so that better anti-hyperglycemic agents are needed. Urtica dioica L. (nettle) leaves have insulin secretagogue, PPARgamma agonistic, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitory effects. Moreover, nettle leaves are used in traditional medicine as an anti-hyperglycemic agent to treat diabetes mellitus. Thus, efficacy and safety of nettle in the treatment of patients with advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus needing insulin were studied. METHODS: In this randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial, we evaluated the effects of taking nettle leaf extract (one 500 mg capsule every 8 hours for 3 months) combined with the conventional oral anti-hyperglycemic drugs on the blood levels of fasting glucose, postprandial glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), creatinine and liver enzymes SGOT and SGPT, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures in 46 patients and compared with the placebo group (n = 46). RESULTS: At the endpoint, the extract lowered the blood levels of fasting glucose, 2 hours postprandial glucose, and HbA1c significantly (p < 0.001, p = 0.009, and p = 0.006, respectively) without any significant effects on the other parameters (p > 0.05) compared with placebo. CONCLUSIONS: Nettle may safely improve glycemic control in type 2 diabetic patients needing insulin therapy.

Tyrosinase inhibitor and radical scavenger fractions and isolated compounds from aerial parts of Peucedanum knappii Bornm.

In this study, we investigated tyrosinase inhibitory and radical scavenger activities of the hydroalcoholic extract from Peucedanum knappii Bornm aerial parts, together with its fractions. The EtOAc fraction showed the highest antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activity was selected for the isolation and identification of major active compound(s). Two flavonol glycosides, named rhamnetin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1) and isorhamnetin-3-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from the EtOAc fraction. Compound 1 showed the most active radical scavenging and potential anti-tyrosinase activity with SC50 values of 2.9 µg mL(-1) on the DPPH test and IC50 27.95 µg mL(-1) in mushroom tyrosinase method. Therefore, isolated flavonoids from P. knappii can be considered as antioxidant and effective tyrosinase inhibitors.

Introduction of medicinal plants species with the most traditional usage in alamut region.

The ethnobotany of the medicinal plants of Alamut region is important in understanding the cultures and traditions of Alamut people. This study documents 16 medicinal plant species, most commonly used by the indigenous people of Alamut region (Ghazvin Province), northwest, Iran. The botanical name, family name, vernacular name, part used, and the application of the plants have been provided in this paper. Alamut region was divided into different villages with the aid of maps. We recorded traditional knowledge and use of medicinal plants from herbal practitioners and village seniors in Alamut. The plants were gathered from different sites. The fully dried specimens were then mounted on herbarium sheets. We found 16 medicinal plants belonging to 11 families which were traditionally used in Alamut. Finally, we describe traditional usages by the native people in the Alamut region. The obtained results were compared with data on the herb's clinical effects. A set of voucher specimens were deposited to the Institute of Medicinal Plants Herbarium (IMPH).

Cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of 23 plant species of leguminosae family.

Numerous studies have been focused on natural anticarcinogenic agents. Many antioxidants have been identified as anticarcinogens. Antimutagens have also been proposed as cancer chemopreventive agents. The use of natural products as anticancer has a long history that began with traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxicity and antioxidant activity of twenty-three plant species of Leguminosae family from different regions of Iran. Twenty-three plant species of Leguminosae family were collected in May-June 2009 from different regions of Iran.Methanol extracts of these species were tested through the brine shrimp lethality assay in order to detect potential sources of novel cytotoxic compounds. The total antioxidant activity was evaluated with DPPH free radical-scavenging method. The extracts of twelve species showed moderate cytotoxicity against brine shrimp (LC50 between 30 and 50 µg/mL). The extracts of Taverniera spartea and Tephrosia persica showed significant cytotoxicity (LC50 < 30 µg/mL) with LC50 values of 0.34 and 2.43 µg/mL, respectively, whereas the positive control, thymol showed a LC50 value of 1.37 µg/mL. The chloroform fractions of the latter two species were subjected to the brine shrimp lethality assay with LC50 values of 113.79 and 1.23 µg/mL, respectively. In comparing antioxidant capacities, Gleditschia caspica and Taverniera spartea showed significant antioxidant activity (IC50 < 50 µg/mL) with LC50 values of 14.54 and 20.32 µg/mL, respectively. It could be seen among 23 tested plant species that Taverniera spartea had the most cytotoxic and antioxidant activity and was the best candidate for these effects. Further investigations are necessary for chemical characterization of the active compounds and more comprehensive biological assays.

Chemical composition of essential oils in Zataria multiflora Boiss. from different parts of Iran and their radical scavenging and antimicrobial activity.

The objective of the study was to characterize the chemical constituents, antioxidant and antibacterial properties of five ecotypes of Zataria multiflora Boiss. essential oil with respect to main phytogeographic grown towns in Iran. Our investigation showed that the plants had essential oil yield ranging from 1.59+/-0.86% to 0.99+/-0.29% v/w. There were qualitative similarities among the oils from different origins, whereas the amounts of some components were varied. From different samples, 34, 34, 32, 29 and 53 various compounds were identified, representing 98.32%, 97.77%, 99.5%, 98.38% and 96.54% of total oils, respectively. The highest oxygenated monoterpens value in this study stood at 72.99%. Moreover, thymol, a phenolic compound of oxygenated monoterpens, was the most abundant component in GC/MS ranging from 27.05% to 64.87%. In the DPPH antioxidant assay, all samples exhibited a remarkable activity with a higher degree of IC(50)=19.7+/-0.7 microg/ml almost similar to BHT (18.1+/-0.4 microg/ml). Escherichia coli O157:H7 was the most resistant and Candida tropicalis was the most vulnerable organisms with MICs of 16 and 0.062 mg/ml, respectively. In conclusion, it seemed that geographical variation might have influenced the oil compounds either quantitatively or qualitatively.