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Abstract The aim of this work was to examine the chemical composition and antiproliferative activity of Salvia leriifolia Benth. and Salvia acetabulosa L. oils. S. leriifolia oil was characterized by 50 components, whereas 19 components were identified in S. acetabulosa. S. leriifolia oil was characterized by camphor (10.5%), 1,8-cineole (8.6%), camphene (6.2%), and alpha-pinene (4.7%). alpha-Pinene (52.3%), 1,8-cineole (27.7%), and camphor (6.7%) were the major components in S. acetabulosa oil. Both oils exerted a strong antiproliferative activity comparing with vinblastine against COR-L23 with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 7.5 and 6.5 mug/mL for S. leriifolia and S. acetabulosa, respectively. Salvia oils showed an interesting activity also on C32 (IC(50) = 6.3 and 9.1 mug/mL for S. acetabulosa and S. leriifolia, respectively). S. acetabulosa was also found to possess cytotoxic activity against renal adenocarcinoma (IC(50) = 6.8 mug/mL). The results clearly showed that for both Salvia species the antiproliferative activity could not be related to the major abundant compounds. Consequently, the minor components may be involved in some type of synergism with the other active compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT In the present study the in vitro hypoglycemic and anti-acetylcholinesterase activities of hot pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum var. acuminatum L.) at different ripening stages were investigated. The mature, green-stage fruits had the highest activity against alpha-amylase and alpha-glucosidase with 50% inhibitory concentration (IC(50)) values of 55.88 and 76.11 microg/mL, respectively, while C. annuum var. acuminatum in the prematurity green stage exhibited the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibition property (IC(50) = 84.30 microg/mL), using the Ellman method. This study highlights the biochemical rationale for chemopreventive significance in health benefits when consuming this variety of pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inhibitory activity of alpha-amylase and the phytochemical composition of Cedrus libani essential oils obtained from wood, leaves and cones were investigated. The C. libani woods oil exhibit an IC(50) value of 0.14 mg/ml, whereas the leaves and cones oils were devoid of any significant activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In our screening program for antihypertensive properties of plants, the leaves of Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb), a plant used in Egyptian traditional medicine, were analysed. Chromatographic separation of A. excelsa MeOH extract yielded six flavonoids for the first time from this species, namely apigenin, luteolin, kaempferol-3-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside, kaempferol-3-O-beta-galactopyranoside, quercetin-3-O-alpha-arabinopyranoside and luteolin-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside. The in vitro hypotensive activities of the MeOH extract and the isolated compounds were elucidated. All the flavonoids tested exhibited ACE inhibitory activity, in particular the most active compound was kaempferol-3-O-beta-galactopyranoside with an IC(50) value of 260 microm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanolic extract from the fruits of Pimpinella anisoides, an aromatic plant and a spice, exhibited activity against AChE and BChE, with IC(50) values of 227.5 and 362.1 microg/ml, respectively. The most abundant constituents of the extract were trans-anethole, (+)-limonene and (+)-sabinene. trans-Anethole exhibited the highest activity against AChE and BChE with IC(50) values of 134.7 and 209.6 microg/ml, respectively. The bicyclic monoterpene (+)-sabinene exhibited a promising activity against AChE (IC(50) of 176.5 microg/ml) and BChE (IC(50) of 218.6 microg/ml). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]