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This study investigated the anti‐inflammatory properties of Ajuga integrifolia, an herbal preparation. Qualitative and quantitative phytochemical analyses were conducted to identify active compounds in the preparation. The researchers also assessed its ability to inhibit the production of pro‐inflammatory enzymes, cyclooxygenases (COX‐1, COX‐2), and lipoxygenase (5‐LOX) in vitro. The extracts demonstrated dose‐dependent inhibition of these enzymes, with some extracts showing IC50 values comparable to standard anti‐inflammatory drugs. The ethanol extract exhibited significant inhibition of 5‐LOX (52.99 μg/mL), compared to the standard drug zileuton (32.41 μg/mL), while the inhibition of COX‐1 (66.00 μg/mL) and COX‐2 (71.62 μg/mL) was comparable to the standard drug indomethacin (40.57 and 54.39 μg/mL, respectively). These findings suggest that A. integrifolia has the potential to be used as a herbal remedy for treating inflammatory conditions. By inhibiting pro‐inflammatory enzymes, the extracts may effectively reduce inflammation and promote tissue healing or repair. The inhibition potential of extract of this plant can be taken as a good candidate of anti‐inflammatory agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Ajuga genus is used as wound healing in traditional Persian medicine. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella ointment on healing pressure ulcers in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial, 131 patients with grade 1 or 2 pressure ulcers were randomly assigned into one of two groups through simple randomization. The study group received 3% Ajuga ointment, containing 17.26 µg/mL of 20-hydroxyecdysone (ecdysterone) as the main compound, while the control group received placebo twice a day for 14 days in addition to the standard care for pressure ulcers Changes in the degree and size of wounds were considered as the primary outcomes of the study based on the 2-digit Stirling scale. Results: Forty patients in each group completed the research. Mean (95% confidence interval) difference values, for wound degree, between two groups on day 7 vs. day 0 was -0.88 (-1.01 to -0.76, p

Ajuga bracteosa (family: Lamiaceae), commonly known as kauri booti, is an important ethnomedicinal plant. The current research was conducted to appraise and compare the in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial profiles as well as in vivo wound healing potentials of Ajugarin I and A. bracteosa extract. Ajugarin I and polyphenols in A. bracteosa were enumerated by reversed-phase high- performance liquid chromatography analysis that confirmed significant amounts of Ajugarin I (2.2 ± 0.02 Mg/mg DW) and other phenolic compounds (14 out of 17 standards). A. bracteosa (374.4 ± 0.20 Mg AAE/mg of DW, 201.9 ± 0.20 Mg AAE/mg of DW, 87 ± 0.30%) showed a higher antioxidant profile compared to Ajugarin I (221.8 ± 0.50 Mg AAE/mg of DW, 51.8 ± 0.40 Mg AAE/mg of DW, 27.65 ± 0.80%) with 1.86-, 3.89-, and 3.15-fold greater activity in ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity, and free radical scavenging assays, respectively. Likewise, A. bracteosa showed antibacterial activity against 3/5 strains (MIC 25-200 Mg/ml) than Ajugarin I (2/5 strains; MIC 50-200 Mg/ml). Hemolytic (<2% hemolysis) and dermal toxicity tests rendered both samples non-toxic. Additionally, A. bracteosa (100 ± 2.34% at day 12; 9.33 ± 0.47 days) demonstrated 1.11- and 1.24-fold higher percent wound contraction and epithelization time, respectively, than Ajugarin I (95.6 ± 1.52% at day 12; 11.6 ± 0.47 days) as assessed by an excision wound model in mice. Histopathological examination further reinforced the better wound healing potential of A. bracteosa with good epithelization, collagen synthesis, fibroblast proliferation, and revascularization. Briefly, we endorse the significant comparative antioxidant, antibacterial, and wound healing activities of A. bracteosa and Ajugarin I and present these as prospective candidates for wound healing drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal infections are a serious health concern that poses a danger to global healthcare systems. The innate resistance of fungi to chemical agents has made researchers investigate natural sources with bioactive contents against a wide spectrum of pathogenic microbes. The present study aimed to explore the variability of the mineral profile, as well as the antifungal effect of different extracts of Ajuga iva L. collected from different geographical locations in Morocco. Different extracts (aqueous, ethanol, and methanol) were prepared from Ajuga iva samples using the maceration technique. The mineral profile of the extracts was determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Eight pathogenic fungi were used to determine the antifungal effect of different extracts of Ajuga iva using agar disc diffusion method. The results showed high variability in the mineral profile according to geographical origin with the abundance of Na (between 160.52 and 192.40 mg/L), K (between 10.52 and 41.41 mg/mL), Ca (between 32.07 and 58.76 mg/L), Mg (between 4.16 and 8.42 mg/L), and P (between 1.69 and 10.54 mg/L). All the test extracts exhibited considerable antifungal effects against all fungi except Cryptococcus. The findings of the present study confirmed that Ajuga iva is a valuable source of essential minerals and is effective in inhibiting the growth of pathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate phytochemical composition of Ajuga reptans L. (Lamiaceae) aerial parts (separately flower and leaf) methanol, aqueous-methanolic extracts, and their cytotoxic activities. The phytochemical analysis was performed high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Caffeic acid, p-coumaric, gallic, chlorogenic, ferulic acids, kaempferol, rutin, quercetin, quercetin-3-O-galactoside, and quercitrin were used as reference substances by HPLC in all samples. The major compounds in the extract were found as ferulic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, and quercetin-3-O-galactoside. Cytotoxicity was investigated using methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Cytotoxic evaluation of the extracts against cancer (MCF7, PC3, and A549) and healthy human embryonic kidney cell line (HEK293) cell lines by MTT. Compared to other cells, the methanol extract of A. reptans demonstrated high selectivity against PC3 cells (IC50: 95 ± 0.99 µg/mL) and selectivity index was four times higher than reference drug colchicine. (IC50: 95 ± 0.99 µg/mL, SI: 6.10). A. reptans demonstrated antiproliferative potential against prostate and lung cancer cells. Therefore, additional investigations are needed to study the mechanism of the cytotoxicity for A. reptans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: Nowadays, the use of medicinal plants is on the rise mainly due to the fewer side effects and lower costs. Despite the traditional reports about the healing properties of Ajuga species, no clinical studies have been conducted. In this study, the effect of hydroalcoholic extract cream (3%) of Ajuga chamaecistus ssp. tomentella, one of the exclusive species of Ajuga in Iran, was compared with nitrofurazone cream (0.2%) on the second-degree burn wound healing. Methods: This clinical trial was performed at Motahhari Burns Hospital in Tehran. Fifty-two cases of second-degree burn patients were randomly assigned to two groups of 26 members, including nitrofurazone and Ajuga. We evaluated the wounds based on the onset of epithelialization, healing time, post-drug irritation, primary irritation, decreased irritation, post-drug pain, primary pain, decreased pain, allergy, infection parameters, and the Bates-Jensen Wound Assessment Tool. Results: Ajuga cream was more effective than nitrofurazone in terms of the mean day of epithelialization onset (p = 0.007), healing time (p = 0.001), post-drug irritation (p = 0.007), decreased irritation (p

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Cancer is a significant public health concern both globally and in Jordan. Modern cancer therapies are associated with multidrug resistance, severe side effects, and high costs. There has recently been a lot of interest in screening for plants that can be used in cancer prevention and treatment. The current study is intended to assess the cytotoxic activity of methanolic extract of aerial parts of Ajuga orientalis L. on a human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The cytotoxic activity of the extract against human breast cancer cells (MCF-7) and normal fibroblast (MRC-5) was assessed using the (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) - 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The cells were treated with different concentrations of methanol extract of Ajuga orientalis (3.125-200 µg/mL) for 24, 48, and 72 hrs. The extract demonstrated inhibition in the proliferation of the MCF-7 cell line in a dose-dependent manner, without any toxic impact on normal fibroblast cells. Furthermore, the extract showed significant cytotoxic activity after 72 hrs of incubation (IC50 30.5±0.05 µg/mL). In conclusion, the methanol extract of A. orientalis showed a potent reduction in the proliferation of MCF-7 cells and could be considered a potential source of the anticancer compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Ajuga is widely distributed in temperate to subtropical regions, and four species are currently recognized in Korea (A. decumbens, A. multiflora, A. nipponensis, and A. spectabilis), but epidermal anatomical differences across these species have never been described. A comparative study of the leaf micromorphological characteristics of Korean Ajuga species was performed using light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to elucidate their taxonomic usefulness and to assess leaf micromorphological diversity. Considerable diversity in epidermal and stomatal anatomy was observed across Korean Ajuga species. Species had both hypostomatic or amphistomatic leaves, with anomocytic, anisocytic, diactyic, or actinocytic stomatal complexes. Guard cell length across species ranged from 17.66 ± 0.57 μm to 32.50 ± 2.38 μm and correlated with genome size. Abnormal stomata were frequently observed in three species (A. decumbens, A. multiflora, and A. nipponensis) but not in A. spectabilis. Three types of glandular trichomes were found: peltate in all species, short-stalked in all species, and long-stalked glandular trichomes in A. multiflora. Among the investigated leaf micromophological characters, trichome type, epidermal cell shape, and stomatal morphology were all taxonomically informative traits at a species level. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: A comprehensive micromorphological description of the leaf surface is provided for Korean Ajuga species using scanning electron microscopic (SEM) and light microscopic (LM) analyses. The diverse range of stomatal development and the occurrence of polymorphic stomatal types are documented for the first time in Korean Ajuga species. The great diversity in stomatal and trichome morphology in Korean Ajuga species are taxonomically useful traits for species identification., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Ajuga multiflora Bunge is a perennial ornamental herb and has been used for the treatment of fever in Korean folk medicine. In the course of searching for protective agents associated with the potential of A. multiflora against dexamethsone (DEX)-induced muscle atrophy, a new phytoecdysteroid, 29-hydroxyprecyasterone ( 1 ), together with four known compounds ( 2 - 5 ), were isolated from A. multiflora . The structures of the compounds were determined by spectroscopic analyses, including 1D-, 2D-NMR and HR-MS interpretation. To elucidate the effects of obtained compounds on DEX-induced muscle atrophy, the myotubes diameter, myosin heavy chain (MyHC) positive area, and fusion index were evaluated by immunofluorescence staining. Overall, each compound treatment effectively prevented the atrophic myotubes through an increase of MyHC-positive myotubes and the number of nuclei. Particularly, the measurement of myotube diameter showed that compounds 1 and 5 treatment significantly alleviated the myotube thickness.

Iron oxide nanoparticles (NPs) have attracted substantial interest due to their superparamagnetic features, biocompatibility, and nontoxicity. The latest progress in the biological production of Fe 3 O 4 NPs by green methods has improved their quality and biological applications significantly. In this study, the fabrication of iron oxide NPs from Spirogyra hyalina and Ajuga bracteosa was conducted via an easy, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective process. The fabricated Fe 3 O 4 NPs were characterized using various analytical methods to study their unique properties. UV-Vis absorption peaks were observed in algal and plant-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs at 289 nm and 306 nm, respectively. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyzed diverse bioactive phytochemicals present in algal and plant extracts that functioned as stabilizing and capping agents in the fabrication of algal and plant-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs. X-ray diffraction of NPs revealed the crystalline nature of both biofabricated Fe 3 O 4 NPs and their small size. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that algae and plant-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs are spherical and rod-shaped, averaging 52 nm and 75 nm in size. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy showed that the green-synthesized Fe 3 O 4 NPs require a high mass percentage of iron and oxygen to ensure their synthesis. The fabricated plant-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs exhibited stronger antioxidant properties than algal-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs. The algal-based NPs showed efficient antibacterial potential against E. coli , while the plant-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs displayed a higher zone of inhibition against S. aureus . Moreover, plant-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs exhibited superior scavenging and antibacterial potential compared to the algal-based Fe 3 O 4 NPs. This might be due to the greater number of phytochemicals in plants that surround the NPs during their green fabrication. Hence, the capping of bioactive agents over iron oxide NPs improves antibacterial applications.

The Src-homology 2 domain-containing phosphatase 2 (SHP2), which is encoded by PTPN11, participates in many cellular signaling pathways and is closely related to various tumorigenesis. Inhibition of the abnormal activity of SHP2 by small molecules is an important part of cancer treatment. Here, three abietane diterpenoids, named compounds 1 - 3 , were isolated from Ajuga ovalifolia var. calantha . Spectroscopic analysis was used to identify the exact structure of the compounds. The enzymatic kinetic experiment and the cellular thermal shift assay showed compound 2 selectively inhibited SHP2 activity in vitro. Molecular docking indicated compound 2 targeted the SHP2 catalytic domain. The predicted pharmacokinetic properties by SwissADME revealed that compound 2 passed the majority of the parameters of common drug discovery rules. Compound 2 restrained A549 proliferation (IC 50 = 8.68 ± 0.96 μM), invasion and caused A549 cell apoptosis by inhibiting the SHP2-ERK/AKT signaling pathway. Finally, compound 2 (Ajuforrestin A) is a potent and efficacious SHP2 inhibitor and may be a promising compound for human lung epithelial cancer treatment.

Two new 3,4-epoxy group-containing abietane diterpenoids ( 1 and 2 ), together with five known diterpenoids ( 3 - 7 ), were isolated from Ajuga decumbens . Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic data analysis, NMR calculations, and X-ray diffraction experiments. The structures of two known abietane diterpenoids were revised based on NMR calculations and X-ray diffraction data. Notably, compound 4 specifically inhibited RSL3-induced ferroptosis with an EC 50 of 56 nM by antioxidation. Moreover, 4 significantly decreased RSL3-induced lipid and cytosolic ROS accumulation and ferroptosis marker gene PTGS2 mRNA expression. This work reports the most potent natural inhibitor against ferroptosis found so far.

Introduction: Panama's HIV epidemic is far from under control. One of the populations with the fastest-growing epidemic among the Indigenous peoples of the Comarca Ngäbe-Buglé (CNB). The CNB is an administratively autonomous Indigenous region in Western Panama that is home to over 200,000 individuals of Ngäbe and Buglé ethnicities. This population is unique and, in several ways, represents the early stages of the AIDS epidemics in high-income countries. The CNB is the most impoverished region in Panama and is relatively isolated from outside influences, with limited roads, electricity, and an internet connection, including medical assistance. Around 1.5% of all rapid HIV tests are positive, compared to a national prevalence of 0.9%; in CNB, diagnosis tends to be late. In CNB, 56.3% of individuals had an initial CD4 count of <350 cells/mm3. Antiretroviral treatment (ART) dropout in this region is five times higher than the national average; there is high early mortality due to opportunistic infections. Using the Social-Ecological Theory for Health as a framework, this study aims to describe the facilitators and barriers associated with ART adherence and retention in HIV care among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the CNB. A better understanding of factors that obstruct adherence could lead to more effective HIV care and prevention in CNB., Methods: We conducted 21 semi-structured interviews with PLHIV who reside across all three regions of the CNB and have attended an antiretroviral (ART) clinic at least once. Deductive thematic analysis was used to uncover themes related ART adherence and retention in HIV care at the individual, social and structural levels., Discussion: This unique, isolated population of rural Indigenous peoples has high infection rates, late diagnosis, poor ART adherence, and high AIDS-related death rates. The CNB is an important region to examen ART adherence and retention in care. We determined that psychological health, social support, and discrimination acted as individual-level facilitators and barriers to adherence and retention. Notably, structural barriers included difficult access to ART care due to travel costs, ART shortages, and uncooperative Western/Traditional medical systems. Recommended interventions used in other Low- and Middle-Income settings include increasing peer and family-level support and community knowledge and understanding of HIV infection. Additionally, our study suggests structural interventions, including decreasing the cost and distance of traveling to the ART clinic, by decentralizing services, decreasing food scarcity, and increasing collaboration between Western and Traditional providers., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Background: Ajuga bracteosa is a traditional herb used against various diseases., Objectives: Current research aimed to investigate the anti-diabetic and hepato-protective effect of green synthesized silver nanoparticles (ABAgNPs) using Ajuga bracteosa aqueous extract (ABaqu)., Methods: In vitro anti-diabetic and cytotoxic effects were carried out via α- glucosidase inhibition, brine shrimp lethality, and protein kinase inhibition assays. For in vivo screening of 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg of both ABAgNPs and ABaqu in alloxan-induced and CCl4-induced Swiss albino mice were used. Liver and kidney functional markers, hematology, and histopathological studies were carried out after 14 days of administration., Results: In vivo antidiabetic and anti-cancerous effects showed valuable anti-hyperglycemic and hepatoprotective potential when mice were treated with ABaqu and ABAgNPs. A significant reduction in the blood glucose level was recorded when ABaqu and ABAgNPs were administrated orally compared to Glibenclamide treated group. Significant reduction in ALT, AST, ALP, urea, uric acid, and creatinine was recorded in ABaqu and ABAgNPs treated diabetic mice. The hepato-protective findings indicated that ALT, ALP, AST were elevated in CCl4-induced mice while declined in both ABAgNPs and ABaqu treated CCl4-induced mice. Histopathological examination revealed that ABAgNPs have hepato-protective activity., Conclusion: It was concluded that ABAgNPs and ABaqu possessed strong anti-diabetic and hepatoprotective phytoconstituents, which could be used in the prevention of diseases., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)