A comprehensive review on medicinal plants possessing antioxidant potential.

Many research studies have proposed that about two-thirds of the medicinal plant species of the world possess significant antioxidant potential. Antioxidants are very beneficial as they decrease oxidative stress (OS) in cells and hence play their role in management as well as treatment of numerous diseases like cancers, cardiovascular diseases, as well as many inflammatory illnesses. This review comprises the antioxidant potential of numerous parts of medicinal plants like leaves, stems, roots, seeds, fruits, as well as bark. Synthetic antioxidants named butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as well as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) are extensively employed in foods because of their role as food preservatives. Several natural antioxidants have better efficacy as compared to synthetic antioxidants. These medicinal plants include Geranium sanguineum L., Rheum ribes L., Diospyros abyssinica, Sargentodoxa cuneata Rehd. Et Wils, Pistacia lentiscus, Ficus microcarpa L. fil., Polyalthia cerasoides (Roxb.) Bedd, Cunn, Teucrium polium L., Crataeva nurvala Buch-Ham., Urtica dioica L., Dracocephalum moldavica L., Momordica Charantia L., Acacia auriculiformis A., Bidens pilosa Linn. The Lamiaceae species, Radiata, Leea indica, Pelargonium endlicherianum, Salvia officinalis L., and Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC. The literature study disclosed more side effects of synthetic antioxidants (including food additives) in comparison with natural antioxidants and for prevention of many diseases.

Increased Expression of Circulating Stress Markers, Inflammatory Cytokines and Decreased Antioxidant Level in Diabetic Nephropathy.

Background and Objectives: The main objective of the present study was to determine the role of oxidative markers (glutathione (GSH), advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), advanced glycation end products (AGEs), and malondialdehyde (MDA)) and inflammatory biomarkers (interleukin-6 IL-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), myeloperoxide (MPO)) in the development of diabetic nephropathy along with routinely used biochemical parameters. Materials and Method: This was a case control study. All the selected patients were screened and enrolled by convenient non-probability sampling technique at the Jinnah hospital in Lahore. Informed consent was obtained before enrollment of the study subjects. A total of 450 patients enrolled in the study, and they were divided into three groups, 150 subjects with type 2 diabetes and 150 diagnosed diabetic nephropathy (DN) vs. 150 healthy individuals as a control group. Five mL of venous blood sample was taken from the antecubital vein of each participant. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS. The results of all variables were evaluated by using one way ANOVA. Results: The mean value of biochemical parameters (WBCs, platelets, prothrombin time, HbA1c, glucose, urinary albumin-to creatinine ratio (UACR), triglycerides, LDL, HDL, serum creatinine, urinary albumin (creatinine)) were increased and Hb (g/dL), red blood cells (RBCs), hematocrit (Hct), free serum insulin levels, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were decreased in the nephropathy group compared to the control and type 2 diabetes groups. The mean values of MDA, AGE, and AOPPs in type 2 diabetes and diabetic nephropathy were significantly increased compared to the control group. GSH level was decreased in type 2 diabetics and DN patients as compared to the control group. In addition, IL-6, TNFα, and MPO levels were also increased in case of diabetes nephropathy compared to controls. Conclusions: ROS mediated injuries can be prevented by the restoration of an antioxidant defense system, through the administration of antioxidant agents. Moreover, increased levels of inflammatory mediators are responsible for enhancing inflammation in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis and antimicrobial screening of ethanolic extract of Operculina terpathum from cholistan desert.

Aim of present study was to assess pharmacological (antioxidant, antibacterial & antifungal) potential of Operculina terpathum seeds. Ethanolic extract was prepared and its phytochemical evaluation show the different chemical compounds such as carbohydrates, phenols, tannin, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, alkaloids and proteins. FTIR spectra showed the presence of organic acids, hydroxyl and phenolic compounds, amino groups, aliphatic compounds, functional groups such as amide, ketone, aldehyde, aromatics and halogen compounds. Antioxidant activity of the Operculina terpathum alcoholic extract was performed by DPPH method and it showed 97.13%whereas IC50±SEM (µg/ml) was 1.425±0.16. Antibacterial activity was performed against different bacterial strains and results were comparable with that of standard. Maximum antibacterial activity was exhibited by Bacillus subtillis (28.33±2 mm) and Bacillus pumilus (25.33±2 mm) respectively. Antifungal activity was also performed and it showed maximum activity against Aspergillus flavous and Candida albicans6±1, 5±1mm respectively. These results showed that Operculina terpathum has good antibacterial and antifungal activity against different microbes and it could be used as an alternative to antibiotics, as the antibiotics resistance is very common now a days.

Fourier transform infrared spectrometer analysis and antimicrobial screening of ethanolic extract of Operculina terpathum from cholistan desert

Aim of present study was to assess pharmacological (antioxidant, antibacterial & antifungal) potential of Operculina terpathum seeds. Ethanolic extract was prepared and its phytochemical evaluation show the different chemical compounds such as carbohydrates, phenols, tannin, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides, steroids, alkaloids and proteins. FTIR spectra showed the presence of organic acids, hydroxyl and phenolic compounds, amino groups, aliphatic compounds, functional groups such as amide, ketone, aldehyde, aromatics and halogen compounds. Antioxidant activity of the Operculina terpathum alcoholic extract was performed by DPPH method and it showed 97.13%whereas IC50±SEM (μg/ml) was 1.425±0.16. Antibacterial activity was performed against different bacterial strains and results were comparable with that of standard. Maximum antibacterial activity was exhibited by Bacillus subtillis (28.33±2 mm) and Bacillus pumilus (25.33±2 mm) respectively. Antifungal activity was also performed and it showed maximum activity against Aspergillus flavous and Candida albicans6±1, 5±1mm respectively. These results showed that Operculina terpathum has good antibacterial and antifungal activity against different microbes and it could be used as an alternative to antibiotics, as the antibiotics resistance is very common now a days. (AU)

Synergistic Effect of Barbadensis miller and Marsdenia Condurango Extracts Induces Apoptosis Promotes Oxidative Stress by Limiting Proliferation of Cervical Cancer and Liver Cancer Cells.

BACKGROUND: Drug synergy is the combine effect of drug efficacy. Synergistic combinations of active ingredients have proven to be highly effective and more useful in therapeutics. In contrast, the individual effect of drug is usually undesirable and mostly used for selecting drug-resistant mutations. Purpose of this study was to check synergistic effects of both plants (Barbadensis miller and Marsdenia condurango) against liver and cervical cancer. METHODOLOGY: Culturing of HeLa (cervical cancer cell line) and HepG2 (liver cancer cell line) cells, IC50 evaluation, viability assays (trypan blue, crystal violet), p53 ELISA and immunocytochemistry, MUSE analysis (count and viability), antioxidants (GSH, SOD, CAT), at the end RT-PCR was performed. RESULTS: IC50 evaluation was done of each plant individually and with combination for synergistic effects, IC50 with plants combination (synergism) was applied on further viability assays (trypan blue, crystal violet, MUSE analysis via count and viability kit) p53 ELISA and immunocytochemistry for evaluation of cellular apoptosis, antioxidants assays (GSH, SOD, CAT), and RT-PCR with proliferative and apoptotic markers along with internal control. CONCLUSION: According to current study it was observed that synergistic effect of these plants has more anticancer properties with minimum effective dose. It was also observed that extracts possess the ability to induce apoptosis, restrict proliferation and enhanced oxidative stress.

Gold nanoparticles improve the embryonic developmental competency of artificially activated mouse oocytes.

Currently, artificial oocyte activation has attracted wide attention in assisted reproduction due to extensive range of applications, particularly in somatic cell nuclear transfer and deriving pluripotent stem cell lines and it is the unique model to determine the role of paternal genome. Numbers of artificial activating agents have been used extensively to induce the oocytes activation; however, embryos developmental competency of artificially activated oocytes is still very low. In the present study, we determined the functional impact of strontium chloride supplementation with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in artificial oocytes activation and subsequent embryonic development. Oocytes were activated artificially in the culture medium containing 250 nM AuNPs with constant concentration of strontium chloride 10.00 mM. We found that adding 250 nM AuNPs with constant concentration of strontium chloride (10.00 mM for 3 hr) in culture medium improves the proportion of embryos reaching to the morula and blastocyst stages from 61.00% and 42.00% (controls) to 75.00% and 58.00% (250 nM AuNPs), respectively. In addition, foster mothers receiving AuNPs-treated embryos showed more implantation percentage and pregnancy rate relative to females received control embryos. Finally, embryos treated with 250 nM AuNPs concentration showed no toxic effect in term of blastocyst development. Collectively, our findings suggest the potential role of AuNPs in early embryonic development for mouse oocytes activated artificially and provide new insights in the field of animal biotechnology and assisted reproduction in humans.

Anti-Proliferative and Apoptosis-Inducing Activity of Acacia Modesta and Opuntia Monocantha Extracts on HeLa Cells.

BACKGROUND: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Numerous phytochemicals from plants have shown antineoplastic effects via programmed cell death (apoptosis). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing activity of Acacia modesta and Opuntia monocantha against HeLa cells. METHODS: To estimate anti-proliferative activity of the plants against HeLa cells, ethanol solvent was used for the extraction. For the evaluation of anti-proliferative effects, MTT assay was performed with 100, 200, and 400 µg/mL dose. The antioxidant assays including glutathione reductase (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were performed. Moreover, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed. Furthermore, immunocytometry P53 and flow cytometry were also carried out to assess the apoptosis in HeLa cell. RESULTS: MTT assay showed that the groups treated with Opuntia monocantha and Acacia modest have less level of toxicity as compared to untreated groups. Antioxidant assays confirmed that GSH, SPD and, catalase activities were quite decreased in treated groups as compared to untreated groups. Similarly, ELISA and apoptosis p53 have shown more pronounced apoptosis effect in treated groups as compared to untreated groups. CONCLUSION: Based on above findings, treatment of HeLa cells with these plant extracts induced apoptosis, restricts proliferation, and enhances the anti-oxidative index in post treated cells.
.

Hepato-protective role of itraconazole mediated cytochrome p450 pathway inhibition in liver fibrosis.

Liver is a vital organ and is routinely exposed to toxins. Carbon tetrachloride is one such noxious agent which cause toxicity in liver when CYP450 enzyme bio-activates it. Many hepatoprotective agents are available in market with severe side effects. Appropriate agent is required to combat such liver problems. Azole compounds have much therapeutic values in many diseases. Based upon this fact, present study is aimed to evaluate the repurposing of Itraconazole in the prevention of hepatic fibrosis via inhibition of cytochrome P450 pathway. For in-vitro evaluation of cyto-protective effects in HepG2 cells (untreated and treated groups), cell viability assays, antioxidant evaluation, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunocytochemistry was used. For in-vivo evaluation, CCl4 induced liver fibrotic rat model was used and post treated evaluation was done by blood biochemistry, hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining and gene expression profiling. Results of the current study indicated hepatoprotective role of itraconazole via inhibition of CYP450 pathway inhibition. Therefore, Itraconazole use could be a potential therapeutic approach to prevent liver fibrosis.

In-Vitro Anti-Proliferative, Apoptotic and Antioxidative Activities of Medicinal Herb Kalonji (Nigella sativa).

BACKGROUND: Natural product with apoptotic activity could serve as a potential new source for anti-cancer medicine. Numerous phytochemicals from plants have shown to exert antineoplastic effects via programmed cell death (apoptosis). Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in prosperous countries. The subject study was intended to evaluate the anticancer properties of Kalonji extracts against cancer cell lines HeLa and HepG2 and normal cell lines BHK and VERO were used as normal controls. MATERIALS & METHODS: For the evaluation of anti-proliferative effects, cell viability and cell death in all groups of cells were evaluated via MTT, crystal violet and trypan blue assays. For the evaluation of angiogenesis, Immunocytochemistry and ELISA of VEGF were done. Immunocytochemistry and ELISA of Annexin-V and p53 were performed for the estimation of apoptosis in all groups of cells. Furthermore, LDH assay, antioxidant enzymes activity (GSH, APOX, CAT and SOD) and RT-PCR with proliferative and apoptotic markers along with internal control were also performed. Cancer cells of both cell lines HepG2 and HeLa cells showed reduced viability, angiogenesis and proliferation with increased apoptosis when treated with Kalonji extracts. Whereas anti-oxidative enzymes show enhanced levels in treated cancer cells as compared to untreated ones. CONCLUSION: It was observed that Kalonji extracts have the ability to induce apoptosis and improve the antioxidant status of HeLa and HepG2 cells. They can also inhibit the proliferation and angiogenesis in both these cancer cell lines.