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Poisonous plants are widely distributed and may have risk of phytotoxicity upon mixing with medicinal plants. Several species of Cestrum genus are poisonous and linked with many serious health issues. In the present study, cross-mixing of a toxic plant, Cestrum diurnum with morphologically resembling medicinal plant, Adhatoda vasica was studied using chemical fingerprinting approach. LC-ESI-MS/MS tool was used to develop the chemical fingerprints of three toxic species of Cestrum, including, C. diurnum, C. nocturnum and C. parqui. Total forty-three compounds were identified using high-resolution LC-ESI-MS/MS data comparison. Chemometric analyses were done to compare the distribution of identified compounds present in these Cestrum species. One of the identified compounds, nornicotine (a toxic compound) was also quantified using LC-IT-MS/MS. Adulteration study was conducted by mixing toxic C. diurnum in A. vasica with various ratios (w/w) and five differentiable compounds were identified to detect the adulteration. The method was able to detect up to the limit of 5% mixing of toxic C. diurnum. Moreover, cytotoxicity of the methanolic extracts of these three species were also studied on normal human PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) and all found to be toxic, while the C. nocturnum showed the highest level of toxicity with the IC50 12.5 μg/mL.

The pine weevil Hylobius abietis is an important pest causing severe damage to conifer seedlings in reforestation areas in Europe and Asia. Plants that have no evolutionary history with the pine we ...

Background: Bee bread is a product of the fermentation of a mixture of pollen, nectar and bee saliva that is inoculated by a wide range of bacteria and yeasts necessary for fermentation after stora ...

Ruta L. is a typical genus of the citrus family, Rutaceae Juss. and comprises ca. 40 different species, mainly distributed in the Mediterranean region. Ruta species have long been used in traditional medicines as an abortifacient and emmenagogue and for the treatment of lung diseases and microbial infections. The genus Ruta is rich in essential oils, which predominantly contain aliphatic ketones, e.g., 2-undecanone and 2-nonanone, but lack any significant amounts of terpenes. Three Ruta species, Ruta chalepensis L., Ruta graveolens L., and Ruta montana L., have been extensively studied for the composition of their essential oils and several bioactivities, revealing their potential medicinal and agrochemical applications. This review provides a systematic evaluation and critical appraisal of publications available in the literature on the composition and bioactivities of the essential oils obtained from Ruta species and includes a brief outlook of the potential applications of nanotechnology and chitosan-based products of Ruta essential oils.

In the present study, a phytochemical of Ficus sycomorus (Moraceae family) was screened, and the effect of this extract on rabbit performance indices, immunity, and carcass quality measures was determined. Ficus sycomorus samples were collected, air-dried, and extracted with 70% methanol to prepare a solution of 100 mg/mL concentration. The extract was subjected to high-resolution mass spectrometric measurements via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight-nanospray mass spectrometry (UPLC-QToF-MS) and 1H NMR analysis. Forty-eight male rabbits, one-month-old, belonging to the Blanc de Bouscat and New Zealand White breeds were selected and distributed equally in a 2 × 3 factorial trial. The rabbits within each breed received F. sycomorus extract at the dose of 0, 100, and 200 mg/kg for 60 days. Blood samples were collected and serum obtained for the detection of liver enzymes, serum lipids, and proteins. The results of UPLC-QToF-MS and molecular networking analysis revealed the presence of procyanidin B2, procyanidin A1, genistein, eriodyctiol, catechin, luteolin, biochanin A, and chlorogenic acid that might exhibit various pharmaceutical activities. However, the F. sycomorus extract reduced rabbit performance indices and carcass quality measures. In addition, this extract significantly depressed the low-density lipoprotein and triglycerides, which may indicate the antidyslipidemia effect of this extract on rabbits.

Momordica charantia fruit is claimed to have healthy benefit. Despite this potential claim, the phytochemical study of this fruit is still lacking. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antioxidants profile of Momordica charantia (Cucurbitaceae) fruit. The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extracts of various polarities was evaluated and the metabolites that are responsible for its activity were identified using metabolomics approach. Six different mixture of ethanol in water that are 0%, 20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, and 100% (v/v) was extracted using dveseeded fruit sample. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-quadrupole time of flight and multivariate data analysis was used to identify the metabolites that were either antioxidants or pro-oxidants. The 80% ethanol extract exhibited the most antioxidant activity when tested in both 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) antioxidant assays. This extract showed the most intense LC-MS signals represented to ascorbic acid, margarolic acid, brevifolincarboxylic acid, quercetin 3-O-glycoside, kuguacin H, cucurbitacin E, 3-malonylmomordicin I, and goyaglycoside G correlating to the anti-oxidant activity. This study reports for the first time the existence of brevifolincarboxylic acid in this fruit, and the antioxidant activity of 3-malonylmomordicin I and goyaglycoside G. In addition, the loading plots revealed the unknown compounds possessing the antioxidant activity which are potential to be isolated in the future study.

Oligosaccharides from green algae Ulva lactuca (ULO) and Enteromorpha prolifera (EPO) were used for investigation of anti-ageing effects and the underlying mechanism in SAMP8 mice. The structural properties of ULO and EPO were analyzed by fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and agarose gel electrophoresis. These oligosaccharides enhanced the glutathione, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and telomerase levels and total antioxidant capicity, and decreased the levels of malondialdehyde and advanced glycation end products. After ULO and EPO treatment, the levels of inflammatory factors, including IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6, decreased; the BDNF and ChAT levels increased; and hippocampal neurons were protected. Downregulation of the p53 and FOXO1 genes and upregulation of the Sirt1 gene indicated that ULO and EPO have potential therapeutic effects in the prevention of ageing in SAMP8 mice. By 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing, the abundance of Desulfovibrio was discovered to be markedly different in mice treated with ULO and EPO. The abundances of Verrucomicrobiaceae, Odoribacteraceae, Mogibacteriaceae, Planococcaceae, and Coriobacteriaceae were positively correlated with age-related indicators. These results demonstrated that oligosaccharides from U. lactuca and E. prolifera are ideal candidate compounds that can be used in functional foods and pharmaceuticals to prevent ageing.

Senecio serpens (family Asteraceae) is used as a medicinal plant in Portugal. The present study addressed the chemical profile of essential oils of S. serpens using microwave-assisted extraction (M...

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster including hyperglycaemia, obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridaemia as a result of biochemical and physiological alterations and can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Fundamental research on this disease requires validated animal models. One potential animal model that is rapidly gaining in popularity is zebrafish (Danio rerio). The use of zebrafish as an animal model conveys several advantages, including high human genetic homology, transparent embryos and larvae that allow easier visualization. This review discusses how zebrafish models contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome studies. Different diseases in the cluster of metabolic syndrome, such as hyperglycaemia, obesity, diabetes, and hypertriglyceridaemia, have been successfully studied using zebrafish; and the model is promising for hypertension and cardiovascular metabolic-related diseases due to its genetic similarity to mammals. Genetic mutation, chemical induction, and dietary alteration are among the tools used to improve zebrafish models. This field is expanding, and thus, more effective and efficient techniques are currently developed to fulfil the increasing demand for thorough investigations.

Clinacanthus nutans, an herbal shrub belonging to the Acanthaceae family, is traditionally used as a functional food to treat various ailments in Malaysia and Indonesia. Although the polar fraction of this plant shows non-toxic effect, the toxicity of the non-polar extract is not reported so far. The present study aimed to assess the toxic effect and determine the lethal concentration of this non-polar fraction using zebrafish embryos. The n-hexane fraction was partitioned from the crude extract of C. nutans obtained using 80% methanolic solution. After spawning of the adult male and female zebrafish, the eggs were collected, transferred into a 96-well plate and incubated with the n-hexane fraction at concentrations of 15.63 μg/ml, 31.25 μg/ml, 62.5 μg/ml, 125 μg/ml, 250 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml in 2% DMSO. The survival and sublethal endpoint were assessed, the mortality and hatchability rates were calculated based on microscopic observation, while the heartbeat rate was measured using DanioScope software. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of the C. nutans n-hexane fraction, which was determined using probit analysis, was calculated to be 75.49 μg/mL, which is harmful. Moreover, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis revealed the presence of palmitic acid, phytol, hexadecanoic acid, 1-monopalmitin, stigmast-5-ene, pentadecanoic acid, heptadecanoic acid, 1-linolenoylglycerol and stigmasterol in the n-hexane fraction. Keywords: Clinacanthus nutans, Danio rerio, DanioScope, Median lethal concentration, Teratogenicity, Probit analysis

Imidacloprid (Imid), a systemic neonicotinoid insecticide, is broadly used worldwide. It is reported to contaminate aquatic systems. This study was proposed to evaluate oxidative stress and genotoxicity of Imid on Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) and the protective effect of ascorbic acid (Asc). O. niloticus juveniles (30.4 ± 9.3 g, 11.9 ± 1.3 cm) were divided into six groups (n=10/replicate). For 21 days, two groups were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of Imid (8.75 ppm, 1/20 of 72h-LC50 & 17.5 ppm, 1/10 of 72h-LC50); other two groups were exposed to Asc (50 ppm) in combination with Imid (8.75 & 17.5 ppm); one group was exposed to Asc (50 ppm) in addition to a group of unexposed fish which served as controls. Oxidative stress was assessed in the liver where the level of enzymatic activities including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in addition to mRNA transcripts and, Lipid peroxidation (LPO) were evaluated. Moreover, mitotic index (MI) and comet assay were performed, in addition to the erythrocytic micronucleus (MN), and nuclear abnormalities (NA) were observed to assess genotoxicity in fish. Imid exposure induced significant (p˂ 0.05) changes in the antioxidant profile of the juveniles' liver by increasing the activities and gene expression of SOD, CAT and GPX as well as elevating the levels of LPO. DNA strand breaks in gill cells, erythrocytes and hepatocytes along with erythrocytic MN and NA were also significantly elevated in Imid-exposed groups. MI showed a significant (p˂ 0.05) decrease associated with Imid exposure. Asc administration induced a significant amelioration towards the Imid toxicity (8.75 & 17.5 ppm). A significant protective potency against the genotoxic effects of Imid was evidenced in Asc co-treated groups. Collectively, results highlight the importance of Asc as a protective agent against Imid-induced oxidative stress and genotoxicity in O. niloticus juveniles.

The health benefits of Allium cepa (A. cepa) have been proclaimed for centuries. Various pharmacological and therapeutic effects on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders are shown by A. cepa and its constituents. Flavonoids such as quercetin and kaempferol, alk(en)yl cysteine sulfoxides including S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide and S-propyl cysteine sulfoxide, cycloalliin, thiosulfinates, and sulfides are the main compounds of the plant. A. cepa displays broad-spectrum pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and antidiabetic effects. Our objective in this review is to present the effects of A. cepa and its constituents on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders. Different online databases were searched to find articles related to the effect of A. cepa extracts and its constituents on respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders until the end of December 2020 using keywords such as onion, A. cepa, constituents of A. cepa, therapeutic effects and pharmacological effects, and respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders. Extracts and constituents of A. cepa showed tracheal smooth muscle relaxant effects, indicating possible bronchodilator activities or relieving effects on obstructive respiratory diseases. In experimental animal models of different respiratory diseases, the preventive effect of various extracts and constituents of A. cepa was induced by their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory effects. The preventive effects of the plant and its components on lung disorders induced by exposure to noxious agents as well as lung cancer, lung infection, and allergic and immunologic disorders were also indicated in the experimental and clinical studies. Therefore, this review may be considered a scientific basis for development of therapies using this plant, to improve respiratory, allergic, and immunologic disorders.

Current innovations in the marine bionanotechnology arena are supporting and stimulating developments in other fields, including nanomedicine, pharmaceuticals, sensors, environmental trends, food, and agriculture aspects. Many oceanic creatures, particularly algae, plants, bacteria, yeast, fungi, cyanobacteria, actinomyces, invertebrates, animals and sponges can survive under extreme circumstances. They can biogenerate a broad spectrum of phytochemicals/metabolites, including proteins, peptides, alkaloids, flavonoids, polyphenols, carbohydrate polymers, polysaccharides, sulfated polysaccharides, polysaccharide-protein complexes such as carrageenan, fucoidanase, fucoidan, carboxymethyl cellulose, poly-gamma-glutamic acid, sugar residues with proteins, melanin, haemocyanin, etc). These products exhibit exclusive advantages that offer pioneering roles in the ecofriendly fabrication of several nanoparticles (NPs) i.e., Ag, Au, Ru, Fe2O3, Cobalt (III) Oxide (Co2O3), ZnO and Ag@AgCl within a single phase. Importantly, marine organisms can biosynthesize NPs in two modes, namely extracellular and intracellular. Biosynthesized NPs can be characterized using various methodologies among them, ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Taken together, this review focuses on the green synthesis of metallic, metallic oxides and nonmetallic NPs utilizing extracts/derivatives from marine organisms based on eco-friendly green biogenic procedures. Moreover, significant attention is given to the medicinal and industrial importance of such marine organisms mediated NPs.

Aquilegia fragrans (AF) and Aquilegia pubiflora (AP) are the two medicinally important species of genus Aquilegia used for the treatment of various diseases and infections. This paper describes the potential of fetal hemoglobin induction activity of the methanolic extracts of AF and AP in K562 cell line. AF and AP have shown 27.147 +/- 1.376 and 32.786 +/- 1.048 percent erythroid induction, respectively at 15.625 (mg/mL) concentration which suggested that both plants can be the source of potential fetal hemoglobin inducers and may be used for the treatment of beta-thalassemia. Phytochemical analyses of both species were also evaluated by using high-resolution LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS techniques. A Total of thirty compounds were identified using positive and negative ionization modes. The identification was based on the matching of high-resolution masses, isotopic pattern, and MS/MS fragmentation. Several statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the distribution of compounds in both species. Identified compounds belong to various classes including flavonoids, steroids, lignans, terpenoids, benzofuran and coumarins. The established chemical fingerprints will be helpful in standardization and quality control of plant extracts.

Objective Beehive air therapy is recognized as a potential remedy for treating asthma, bronchitis, lung fibrosis, and respiratory tract infections. Developed countries in which beehive air therapy is currently authorized include Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, and Austria. However, scientific proof of its efficacy is lacking which warrants further chemical and biological analyses as a proof of concept. In this study, beehive air volatile profile was determined for the first time along with its individual components (bees, venom, honey, and beeswax). Methods Volatile compounds were collected from beehive air using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Antimicrobial assay of the air released from 4 beehive products was further performed against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and multi drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using the in vitro agar-well diffusion and microtiter plate assays. Results and conclusions: A total of 56 volatile compounds were identified from beehive air, venom, bee insect and wax air including 6 fatty acids, 6 alcohols, 10 aldehydes, 5 esters, 1 ether, 9 hydrocarbons, 1 phenol, 7 ketones, 1 nitrogenous compound and 10 terpenes. The most abundant constituents were short-chain fatty acids (26.32%) while the lowest were the nitrogenous compounds (0.82%). The principal component analysis (PCA) scores plot of the UPLC/MS dataset showed the similarity of the beehive air to the insect bee's aroma profile. With regards to antimicrobial assay, beehive air and venom exerted the strongest antimicrobial activity among the examined bee products against S. aureus, K. pneumoniae, A. baumannii, and MRSA in agar-well diffusion assay but failing to exert an effect using microtiter plate assay as in case of bee venom against the aforementioned bacteria.

The adulteration of plant raw materials used for the preparation of herbal drugs with foreign plant material is one of the important issues in the quality control of herbal products. Chemical fingerprinting is a well-known approach for the characterization of secondary metabolites associated with the plant species and can be used for quality control of plant material. The current study centred on the development of chemical fingerprinting of three medicinal plants of genus Anemone including A. obtusiloba, A. falconeri and A tetrasepala through identification of their metabolites using LC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis. Thirty compounds were identified by using high-resolution positive and negative electrospray- ionization (ESI) modes and MS/MS analysis. The identified compounds belong to diterpenoids, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids and other classes and their distribution among the analysed species was studied using different statistical tools. Moreover, an LC-HR-ESI-MS/MS method was developed to detect the cross mixing of A. obtusiloba with Ziziphus jujuba. Seven chromatographically differentiative peaks confined to A. obtusiloba were selected to detect its contamination in adulterated samples. The method was able to detect as low as 20% mixing of A. obtusiloba in Z. jujuba. This study can play a significant role to manage the quality control of herbal medicines and to identify lead natural products of these plants.

Nigella is a genus belonging to family Ranunculaceae. Its essential oil components have long been used in traditional medicine as well as in culinary food and more recently cosmetics. Its major volatile component thymoquinone is an emerging natural drug to exhibit hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and cytotoxic effects. In Nigella sativa, thymoquinone is the pharmacologically active component in its essential oil that is the most-frequently examined for its quality control analysis. In contrast, much less is reported on other volatiles composition and in response to the different extraction methods. Current review focuses on Nigella genus volatiles composition in the context of its different genotypes, geographical origin as well as processing or extraction methods. A review of Nigella volatiles application in the field of cosmetics, food flavoring and phyto-medicine and underlying chemistry is presented.

Marine bacterial strains are of great interest for their ability to produce secondary metabolites with anticancer potentials. Isolation, identification, characterization and anticancer activities of isolated bacteria from El-Hamra Lake, Wadi El-Natrun (Egypt) were the objectives of this study. The isolated bacteria were identified as a moderately halophilic alkaliphilic strain. Ethyl acetate extraction was performed and identified by liquid chromatography-mass spectrophotometry (LC–MS–MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis (NMR). Cytotoxicity of the extract was assessed on the HepG2 cell line and normal human peripheral lymphocytes (HPBL) in vitro. Halomonas sp. HA1 extract analyses revealed anticancer potential. Many compounds have been identified including cyclo-(Leu-Leu), cyclo-(Pro-Phe), C17-sphinganine, hexanedioic acid, bis (2-ethylhexyl) ester, surfactin C14 and C15. The extract exhibited an IC50 of 68 ± 1.8 μg/mL and caused marked morphological changes in treated HepG2 cells. For mechanistic anticancer evaluation, 20 and 40 µg/mL of bacterial extract were examined. The up-regulation of apoptosis-related genes' expression, P53, CASP-3, and BAX/BCL-2 at mRNA and protein levels proved the involvement of P53-dependant mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The anti-proliferative properties were confirmed by significant G2/M cell cycle arrest and PCNA down-regulation in the treated cells. Low cytotoxicity was observed in HPBL compared to HepG2 cells. In conclusion, results suggest that the apoptotic and anti-proliferative effects of Halomonas sp. HA1 extract on HepG2 cells can provide it as a candidate for future pharmaceutical industries.

Sturgeon muscle byproduct collected after caviar production is usually not fully utilized, and sometimes may be discarded, thus causing a lot of waste. Yet dietary protein hydrolysates, which may be derived from sturgeon muscle, have been reported to have versatile beneficial biological activities. Studying the biological activities of sturgeon muscle-derived hydrolysates holds much promise for adding value to sturgeon. The current study aimed to study the therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects of sturgeon muscle-derived hydrolysates and the underlying mechanisms. The administration of sturgeon hydrolysates (SH) significantly decreased the severity of DSS-induced damage, evidenced by increased body weight, colon length, and decreased disease activity index (DAI) and histological scores. SH also inhibited myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and reduced the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Western blotting results revealed that SH suppressed DSS-induced activation of the NF-κB and MAPK pathways in the colon. Furthermore, SH partially restored the alteration of the gut microbiota in colitic mice. SH increased the Bacteroidetes/Firmicutes ratio and the relative abundance of Ruminococcaceae, Porphyromonadaceae, and Bacteroidetes S24-7, while decreased the abundance of potentially harmful bacteria Erysipelotrichaceae and Enterococcaceae. These results suggest that SH inhibited DSS-induced colitis by regulating the NF-κB and MAPK pathways and modulating microbiota composition.

Bee venom (BV) is a rich source of secondary metabolites from honeybees (Apis mellifera L.). It contains a variety of bioactive ingredients including peptides, proteins, enzymes, and volatile metabolites. The compounds contribute to the venom’s observed biological functions as per its anti-inflammatory and anticancer effects. The antimicrobial action of BV has been shown in vitro and in vivo experiments against bacteria, viruses, and fungi. The synergistic therapeutic interactions of BV with antibiotics has been reported. The synergistic effect contributes to a decrease in the loading and maintenance dosage, a decrease in the side effects of chemotherapy, and a decrease in drug resistance. To our knowledge, there have been no reviews on the impact of BV and its antimicrobial constituents thus far. The purpose of this review is to address the antimicrobial properties of BV and its compounds.

Retracing pathways of historical species introductions is fundamental to understanding the factors involved in the successful colonization and spread, centuries after a species’ establishment in an introduced range. Numerous plants are thought to have been introduced to regions outside their native ranges by European voyagers and early colonists making transoceanic journeys; however, records are scare to document this. We use genotyping-by-sequencing and genotype-likelihood methods on the selfing, global weed, Plantago major, collected from 50 populations worldwide to test hypotheses that the plant was brought to new regions during colonial times. We further investigate how patterns in genomic diversity facilitate the success of this global weed. Although genomic differentiation among populations is found to be low, we identify six unique ecotypes showing very little sign of admixture. Three of the most prevalent of these ecotypes present in the native range gave rise to introduced populations in the Americas, Africa, Australia and New Zealand, indicating that more than one successful ecotype colonized and spread. The distribution of ecotypes is found to have links to colonial history, and ecotypes are further found to be restricted by latitude. Dispersal of multiple successful ecotypes and prior adaptation in the native range to latitudinally dependent environmental factors (such as climate) are likely reasons for the success of this prolific, global weed. Genomic signatures can provide new perspectives on the drivers behind the historic introductions and the successful colonization of introduced species in an era of global change.

The antioxidant activity of Spirulina platensis polysaccharide (SPP) was investigated in Caenorhabditis elegans. Nuclear magnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared, multi-angle laser light scattering, and GC-MS were used to identify the structural characteristics of SPP. It was composed of the →2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→, →4)-β-D-Manp-(1→, →6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→, →4)-β-Xylp-(1→, →3)-β-L-Araf-(1→, and →2)-β-L-Fucp-(1→, respectively. The modulation of gut microbiota in C. elegans was determined using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly decreased, while the total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were improved after SPP supplementation. The cellular mitochondrial content and apoptosis were significantly down-regulated. The obvious increased levels of the DAF-16 and SKN-1 mRNAs were observed in the SPP-treated group, while the levels of miR-48 and miR-51 were significantly reduced. Moreover, SPP administration significantly increased the abundance of Flavobacterium, Achromobacter, Empedobacter, Anaerolinea, and Pseudoalteromonas of the intestinal flora. Based on these results, S. platensis polysaccharides may be used as a functional food to ameliorate diseases related to oxidative stress.

Consumption of areca nut products is the most common cause of oral cancers, particularly in South Asian countries. This study evaluates the cytotoxic and necrotizing effects of areca nut and its formulations on normal human gingival fibroblasts (HGF-1) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC, CAL-27) cell lines. Identification of various carcinogens and adulterants using LC-HR-ESI-MS/MS analysis was performed in the extracts of areca nut and its products. Apart from alkaloids and flavonoids, a major adulterant, saccharin was found in all the samples of chalia (one of the most common chewing products of areca nut) in the ranges between 1.697-7.170 mg/g of the sample. Cytotoxic studies showed that most of the areca nut products were found cytotoxic to HGF-1 cells while being relatively non-cytotoxic against CAL-27 cells, rather they promote the growth of cancer cells. Our findings revealed that the components of areca nut and its products were injurious to HGF-1 cells and caused necrosis, which may attenuate HGF-1 protection toward oral epithelial cells. Moreover, the non-cytotoxic effect of these products on cancer cell lines suggests further predisposal of the habitual chewers for developing oral carcinomas. This study will give a better understanding of the hazardous effects of areca nut products.

It is crucial for the efficacy of the apple storage to apply methods like electronic nose systems for detection and prediction of spoilage or infection by Penicillium expansum. Based on the acquisition of electronic nose signals, selected sensitive feature sensors of spoilage apple and all sensors were analyzed and compared by the recognition effect. Principal component analysis (PCA), principle component analysis-discriminant analysis (PCA-DA), linear discriminant analysis (LDA), partial least squares discriminate analysis (PLS-DA) and K-nearest neighbor (KNN) were used to establish the classification model of apple with different degrees of corruption. PCA-DA has the best prediction, the accuracy of training set and prediction set was 100% and 97.22%, respectively. synergy interval (SI), genetic algorithm (GA) and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) are three selection methods used to accurately and quickly extract appropriate feature variables, while constructing a PLS model to predict plaque area. Among them, the PLS model with unique variables was optimized by CARS method, and the best prediction result of the area of the rotten apple was obtained. The best results are as follows: Rc = 0.953, root mean square error of calibration (RMSEC) = 1.28, Rp = 0.972, root mean square error of prediction (RMSEP) = 1.01. The results demonstrated that the electronic nose has a potential application in the classification of rotten apples and the quantitative detection of spoilage area.

Psychotria malayana Jack has traditionally been used to treat diabetes. Despite its potential, the scientific proof in relation to this plant is still lacking. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the &alpha, glucosidase inhibitors in P.malayana leaf extracts using a metabolomics approach and to elucidate the ligand&ndash, protein interactions through in silico techniques. The plant leaves were extracted with methanol and water at five various ratios (100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% v/v, water&ndash, methanol). Each extract was tested for &alpha, glucosidase inhibition, followed by analysis using liquid chromatography tandem to mass spectrometry. The data were further subjected to multivariate data analysis by means of an orthogonal partial least square in order to correlate the chemical profile and the bioactivity. The loading plots revealed that the m/z signals correspond to the activity of &alpha, glucosidase inhibitors, which led to the identification of three putative bioactive compounds, namely 5&prime, hydroxymethyl-1&prime, (1, 2, 3, 9-tetrahydro-pyrrolo (2, 1-b) quinazolin-1-yl)-heptan-1&prime, one (1), &alpha, terpinyl-&beta, glucoside (2), and machaeridiol-A (3). Molecular docking of the identified inhibitors was performed using Auto Dock Vina software against the crystal structure of Saccharomyces cerevisiae isomaltase (Protein Data Bank code: 3A4A). Four hydrogen bonds were detected in the docked complex, involving several residues, namely ASP352, ARG213, ARG442, GLU277, GLN279, HIE280, and GLU411. Compound 1, 2, and 3 showed binding affinity values of &minus, 8.3, &minus, 7.6, and &minus, 10.0 kcal/mol, respectively, which indicate the good binding ability of the compounds towards the enzyme when compared to that of quercetin, a known &alpha, glucosidase inhibitor. The three identified compounds that showed potential binding affinity towards the enzymatic protein in molecular docking interactions could be the bioactive compounds associated with the traditional use of this plant.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biologically synthesized in an eco-friendly manner using aqueous leaf extract ofOriganum majoranaplant and silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. Size, shape, and crystallinity of the biosynthesized AgNPs were determined by using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). Zeta potential analyzer was used to prove the stability of the metallic nanoparticles, while Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the bioreducing and capping agents. AgNPs were electrochemically investigated using cyclic voltammetry (CV), while the optical properties of the metallic nanoparticles were studied using UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. According to TEM images, AgNPs are spherical with an average size of 35 nm. TEM also refers to the presence of mono and polycrystalline AgNPs. The value of zeta potential (−39 mV) proved the stability of AgNPs caused by capping molecules ofO. majoranaplant. CV studies showed that AgNPs were electrochemically investigated at 0.39 mV. AgNPs showed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 440 nm, while the emission peak was detected at 466 nm. These nanoparticles are promising for many industrial and medical applications.

Moluccella aucheri Scheen belongs to Lamiaceae family and is native to Iran and Pakistan. Different chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses of a dichloromethane extract of M. aucheri's aerial parts led to the isolation of five phytochemicals. They include an undescribed labdane type- diterpene; 6s -acetoxy-9α-hydroxy-7- oxa- labd-13- ene- 15, 16- olide or moluccelactone (1), and four known compounds: stigmasterol and s-sitosterol (2, 3), 5-hydroxy-7, 4′-dimethoxyflavone (4) and genkwanin (5). Their chemical structures were determined by spectroscopic data. As a best result, these compounds are firstly reported in this genus and plant. The α-glucosidase and acetylcholine esterase (AChE) inhibitory activity of 1 were evaluated by the protein-ligand docking and molecular dynamics studies. Compound 1 exhibited strong binding affinities towards the active site residues of human-AChE (hAChE) enzyme, while it was not potent against α-glucosidase enzyme. In conclusion, compound 1 is suggested as a potential natural inhibitor of hAChE enzyme in vitro and in vivo tests.

The essential oils (EOs) of the tubers and aerial parts of Cyperus alternifolius Rottb. were separately extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Seventeen and fifteen...

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is an important perennial grass in the Poaceae family cultivated worldwide due to its economical and medicinal value. In this study, a combined approach using mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was employed for the large-scale metabolite profiling of sugarcane juice and its by-product molasses. The polyphenols were analysed via UPLC-UV-ESI-MS, whereas the primary metabolites such as sugars and organic and amino acids were profiled using NMR spectroscopy and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). UPLC/MS was more effective than NMR spectroscopy or GC/MS for determining differences among the metabolite compositions of the products. Under the optimized conditions, UPLC/MS led to the identification of 42 metabolites, including nine flavonoids, nine fatty acids, and two sterols. C/O Flavone glycosides were the main subclass detected, with tricin-7-O-deoxyhexosyl glucuronide being detected in sugarcane and molasses for the first time. Based on GC/MS analysis, disaccharides were the predominant species in the sugarcane juice and molasses, with sucrose accounting for 66% and 59%, respectively, by mass of all identified metabolites. The phenolic profiles of sugarcane and molasses were further investigated in relation to their in vitro antioxidant activities using free radical scavenging assays such as 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical-scavenging ability (DPPH), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). In view of its higher total phenolic content (TPC) (196 &plusmn, 2.1 mg GAE/100 g extract) compared to that of sugarcane juice (93 &plusmn, 2.9 mg GAE/100 g extract), molasses exhibited a substantially higher antioxidant effect. Interestingly, both extracts were also found to inhibit &alpha, glucosidase and &alpha, amylase enzymes, suggesting a possible antihyperglycaemic effect. These findings suggest molasses may be a new source of natural antioxidants for functional foods.

Background: Plants belonging to the genus Kaempferia (family: Zingiberaceae) are distributed in Asia, especially in the southeast region, and Thailand. They have been widely used in traditional medicines to cure metabolic disorders, inflammation, urinary tract infections, fevers, coughs, hypertension, erectile dysfunction, abdominal and gastrointestinal ailments, asthma, wounds, rheumatism, epilepsy, and skin diseases. Objective: Herein, we reported a comprehensive review, including the traditional applications, biological and pharmacological advances, and phytochemical constituents of Kaempheria species from 1972 up to early 2019. Materials and methods: All the information and reported studies concerning Kaempheria plants were summarized from library and digital databases (e.g., Google Scholar, Sci-finder, PubMed, Springer, Elsevier, MDPI, Web of Science, etc.). The correlation between the Kaempheria species was evaluated via principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical clustering (AHC), based on the main chemical classes of compounds. Results: Approximately 141 chemical constituents have been isolated and reported from Kaempferia species, such as isopimarane, abietane, labdane and clerodane diterpenoids, flavonoids, phenolic acids, phenyl-heptanoids, curcuminoids, tetrahydropyrano-phenolic, and steroids. A probable biosynthesis pathway for the isopimaradiene skeleton is illustrated. In addition, 15 main documented components of volatile oils of Kaempheria were summarized. Biological activities including anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticholinesterase, antioxidant, anti-obesity-induced dermatopathy, wound healing, neuroprotective, anti-allergenic, and anti-nociceptive were demonstrated. Conclusions: Up to date, significant advances in phytochemical and pharmacological studies of different Kaempheria species have been witnessed. So, the traditional uses of these plants have been clarified via modern in vitro and in vivo biological studies. In addition, these traditional uses and reported biological results could be correlated via the chemical characterization of these plants. All these data will support the biologists in the elucidation of the biological mechanisms of these plants.

The continuously increasing incidence rates of cancer and infectious diseases are open threats to the sustainable survival of animals and humans. In the last two decades, the demands of nanomaterials as modern therapeutic agents have increased. In this study, biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) were developed from aqueous Pandanus odorifer leaf extract (POLE) and characterized using modern methods and tools, such as electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and UV-vis spectroscopy, which indicated the formation of very pure, spherical NPs approximately 90 nm in size. The anticancer activity of the ZnO NPs was evaluated by MTT and neutral red uptake (NRU) assays in MCF-7, HepG2 and A-549 cells at different doses (1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100 g ml(-1)). Moreover, the morphology of the treated cancer cells was examined by phase contrast microscopy. The results suggest that the synthesized ZnO NPs inhibited the growth of the cells when applied a concentration from 50-100 g ml(-1). Moreover, the biogenic ZnO NPs were analysed as an antimicrobial agent against pathogenic bacteria. The highest antibacterial activity was observed against Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis (26 nm) and Gram-negative Escherichia coli (24 mm) at 50 g per well. Complete bacterial growth (100%) vanished 100% upon treatment with ZnO NPs at 85 g ml(-1). Overall, POLE mediated derived biogenic ZnO NPs could serve as a significant anticancer and antimicrobial agent and be used in the development of novel drugs and skin care products.

WOS: 000464920800030, PubMed: 31000042, Portulaca oleracea L. (Purslane) has great potential as food and traditional drugs in several countries. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects of purslane extract on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Purslane extracts significantly reduced LPS-induced synthesis of NO in a dose-dependent manner, as well as the expression levels of iNOS and COX-2. The productions of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were also significantly reduced at the higher dose of 400 mu g/ml. Meanwhile, the expression levels of P65, p-P65, p-MEK and p-I kappa B-alpha were inhibited dose-dependently. The nuclear translocation of P65 was partially prevented by the extract, which explained the inhibition of NF-kappa B pathway. In addition, three reported flavonoids, named luteolin, kaempferol and quercitrin, were identified in the extract, which might be responsible for its anti-inflammatory effects. Above all, our research has partially proved that purslane could be considered as a natural anti-inflammatory agent in further applications., Multi-Year Research Grant of University of Macau [MYRG2018-00169-ICMS], This study was supported by Multi-Year Research Grant of University of Macau (MYRG2018-00169-ICMS). The authors also thank Ms. Conghui Liu and Mr. Jason Kuang for their valuable assistance.

Desert truffles are popular ectomycorrhizal fungi valued worldwide for their nutritional and traditional health benefits. Herein, two chief desert truffles viz., Terfezia claveryi and T. boudieri were assessed for their metabolites heterogeneity in context of their volatile sensory and nutrients profile as analyzed via GC-MS. Primary metabolites accounting for nutritive indices in T. claveryi and T. boudieri were investigated with 61 peaks belonging to sugars, sugar alcohols and amino acids. After headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME), a total of 106 volatiles were annotated belonging to alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters, ethers and furans. The abundance of oxygenated monoterpenes as antimicrobials rationalizes for the folk use of desert truffles against trachoma. Benzyl isothiocyanate was detected as the sulfur containing volatile component in desert truffle and absent from truffles. Multivariate data analyses (MVA) revealed that 1-octen-3-ol and 3-octanone were the most significantly contributors in the discrimination of T. claveryi and T. boudieri specimens. Being more enriched in essential amino acids, T. claveryi provided a better sugar diet composition concurrent with lower sugars and higher sugar alcohols compared to T. boudieri. This study provides the first insight into desert truffles metabolites and sensory composition, and to account for its culinary and medicinal uses.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Egyptian plants are a rich source of natural molecules, representing considerable biodiversity due to climate variations between the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western regions of the country. Sinai is considered a precious nature reserves preserving flora, fauna, marine organisms, and historical habitats with ancient origins. Here, traditional medicinal approaches have been used for hundreds of years. Healthy lifestyles, low levels of stress and microbial infections, and a dependence on flora and herbal medicine might in combination explain why the burden of cancer is lower in some regions than in others. Aim of the study The primary aim of this review is to document the plants and natural products that are used as foods and medicines in Egypt, in general, and in Sinai, in particular, with a focus on those with demonstrated anticancer activities. The documented traditional uses of these plants are described, together with their chemical and pharmacological activities and the reported outcomes of clinical trials against cancer. Materials and methods A literature search was performed to identify texts describing the medicinal plants that are cultivated and grown in Egypt, including information found in textbooks, published articles, the plant list website ( http://www.theplantlist.org/ ), the medicinal plant names services website ( http://mpns.kew.org/mpns-portal/ ), and web databases (PubMed, Science Direct, and Google Scholar). Results and discussion We collected data for most of the plants cultivated or grown in Egypt that have been previously investigated for anticancer effects and reported their identified bioactive elements. Several plant species, belonging to different families and associated with 67 bioactive compounds, were investigated as potential anticancer agents (in vitro studies). The most potent cytotoxic activities were identified for the families Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Apocynaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Gramineae, and Liliaceae. The anticancer activities of some species, such as Punica granatum L., Nerium oleander L., Olea europea L., Matricaria chamomilla L., Cassia acutifolia L., Nigella sativa L., Capsicum frutescens L., Withania somnifera L., and Zingiber officinale Roscoe, have been examined in clinical trials. Among the various Egyptian plant habitats, we found that most of these plants are grown in the North Sinai, New-Delta, and Giza Governorates. Conclusion In this review, we highlight the role played by Egyptian flora in current medicinal therapies and the possibility that these plants may be examined in further studies for the development of anticancer drugs. These bioactive plant extracts form the basis for the isolation of phytochemicals with demonstrated anticancer activities. Some active components derived from these plants have been applied to preclinical and clinical settings, including resveratrol, quercetin, isoquercetin, and rutin.

Fungal infection is one of the main causes of apple corruption. The main dominant spoilage fungi in causing apple spoilage are storage mainly include Penicillium Paecilomyces paecilomyces (P. paecilomyces), penicillium chrysanthemum (P. chrysogenum), expanded Penicillium expansum (P. expansum), Aspergillus niger (Asp. niger) and Alternaria. In this study, surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) based on gold nanorod (AuNRs) substrate method was developed to collect and examine the Raman fingerprints of dominant apple spoilage fungus spores. Standard normal variable (SNV) was used to pretreat the obtained spectra to improve signal-to-noise ratio. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to extract useful spectral information. Linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and non-linear pattern recognition methods including K nearest neighbor (KNN), Support vector machine (SVM) and back propagation artificial neural networks (BPANN) were used to identify fungal species. As the comparison of modeling results shown, the BPANN model established based on the characteristic spectra variables have achieved the satisfactory result with discrimination accuracy of 98.23%; while the PCA-LDA model built using principal component variables achieved the best distinguish result with discrimination accuracy of 98.31%. It was concluded that SERS has the potential to be an inexpensive, rapid and effective method to detect and identify fungal species.

Natural products are important ingredients for pharmaceutical applications specifically new entities for treating cancer and other diseases. Phaleria macrocarpa is native of Indonesia and considered as a prolific source of bioactive substances useful for chemoprevention.To investigate the chemopreventive properties of Phaleria macrocarpa on azoxymethane (AOM)-induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rats.The biological activities of the ethanol extract of P. macrocarpa fruits were evaluated both in vitro and in vivo. First the extract was investigated for its in vitro antioxidant activity by the total phenolic content and ferric reducing antioxidant power assay. Then the chemopreventive effect of P. macrocarpa was performed on AOM-induced aberrant crypt foci as colorectal carcinoma model in rats.the crude ethanolic extract of P. macrocarpa has high antioxidant activity and modulated the oxidative stress as proved by the up-regulation of glutathione-s-transferase and superoxide dismutase. Immunohistochemical staining of the treated sections showed overexpression of PCNA and Bax, reduced crypt sizes and numbers, indicating the characteristic feature of apoptotic cancer cells. PCNA is a landmark of cell damage and turn-over and can be associated with clinical cancer mutation. The most potent doses were 250mg/kg and 500mg/kg as compared to 35mg/kg 5-fluorouracil.In this sense, the potential modulation of the colorectal pathophysiological pathway by P. macrocarpa natural compounds mostly flavonoids offer a great possibility for the discovery of new leads towards the colorectal cancer.

The circumscription of Molluginaceae has changed radically in recent years, with Corbichonia being moved to Lophiocarpaceae, Limeum to Limeaceae, Macarthuria to Macarthuriaceae and all species of H ...

The aim of the present study is to characterize the structure of a novel natural polysaccharide from Agrocybe aegirita (AAPS) and evaluate its anti-aging activity. The MALLS and GC–MS analysis indicated that the AAPS with molecular weights of 1.81 × 104 Da was mainly composed by rhamnose, fucose, mannose, and glucose in a molar ratio of 2.90:10.25:3.70:38.27. The FT-IR and NMR analysis showed that the backbone of AAPS was α-L-Rhap-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→2)-α-L-Fucp-(1→6)-α-D-Glcp-(1→5)-α-L-Araf-(1→4)-β-D-GlcpA-(1→5)-α-L-Araf-(1→6)-α-D-Manp-(1→6)-α-D-Manp-(1→2)-α-L-Fucp-(1→6)-β-D-Glap-(1→2)-α-L-Rhap-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→, which linked with two side chains α-L-Fucp-(1→6)-β-D-Glcp-(1→6)-β-D-Manp-(1→ and α-D-Xylp-(1→2)-α-L-Fucp-(1→5) -α-D-Araf-(1→6)-β-D-Galp-(1→ at OH2 at H-4-arabinose and the terminal Galp residues, respectively. The MRC-5 cells induced by H2O2 were used to explore the anti-ageing effect and its underlying mechanism of AAPS. It showed a potent anti-ageing activity, representing by the increased cell viability and β-Gal viability, prevented G1-phase cell-cycle arrest, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. The polysaccharides extracted from A. aegirita might be applied in functional food as anti-ageing ingredient.

The Ricinus communis biomarker peptides RCB-1 to -3 comprise homologous sequences of 19 (RCB-1) or 18 (RCB-2 and -3) amino acid residues. They all include four cysteine moieties, which form two disulfide bonds. However, neither the 3D structure nor the biological activity of any of these peptides is known. The synthesis of RCB-1, using microwave-assisted, Fmoc-based solid-phase peptide synthesis, and a method for its oxidative folding are reported. The tertiary structure of RCB-1, subsequently established using solution-state NMR, reveals a twisted loop fold with antiparallel β-sheets reinforced by the two disulfide bonds. Moreover, RCB-1 was tested for antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic activity, as well as in a serum stability assay, in which it proved to be remarkably stable.

The marine soft corals Sarcophyton trocheliophorum crude extracts possessed antimicrobial activity towards pathogenic bacterial strains, i.e. Bacillus cereus, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bioassay-guided fractionation indicated that the antimicrobial effect was due to the presence of terpenoid bioactive derivatives. Further biological assays of the n-hexane fractions were carried out using turbidity assay, inhibition zone assay and minimum inhibitory concentration for investigating the growth-inhibition effect towards the Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The fractions were screened and the structure of the isolated compound was justified by interpretation of the spectroscopic data, mainly mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The structure was assigned as (5S)-3-[(3E,5S)-5-hydroxy-3-hepten-6-yn-1-yl]-5-methyl-2(5H)-furanone and was effective at concentrations as low as 0.20 mg/mL. The above findings, in the course of our ongoing research on marine products, may implicate that the profound anti-microbial activity of the S. trocheliophorum soft corals, inhabiting the red sea reefs, is attributed to the presence of growth-inhibiting secondary metabolites mainly terpenoids.

Plants of the Allium genus produce sulphur compounds that give them a characteristic (alliaceous) flavour and mediate for their medicinal use. In this study, the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Allium cepa red cv. and A. sativum in the context of three different drying processes were assessed using metabolomics. Bulbs were dried using either microwave, air drying, or freeze drying and further subjected to chemical analysis of their composition of volatile and non-volatile metabolites. Volatiles were collected using solid phase micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) with 42 identified volatiles including 30 sulphur compounds, four nitriles, three aromatics, and three esters. Profiling of the polar non-volatile metabolites via ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution MS (UPLC/MS) annotated 51 metabolites including dipeptides, flavonoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids. Major peaks in GC/MS or UPLC/MS contributing to the discrimination between A. sativum and A. cepa red cv. were assigned to sulphur compounds and flavonoids. Whereas sulphur conjugates amounted to the major forms in A. sativum, flavonoids predominated in the chemical composition of A. cepa red cv. With regard to drying impact on Allium metabolites, notable and clear separations among specimens were revealed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA scores plot of the UPLC/MS dataset showed closer metabolite composition of microwave dried specimens to freeze dried ones, and distant from air dried bulbs, observed in both A. cepa and A. sativum. Compared to GC/MS, the UPLC/MS derived PCA model was more consistent and better in assessing the impact of drying on Allium metabolism. A phthalate derivative was found exclusively in a commercial garlic preparation via GC/MS, of yet unknown origin. The freeze dried samples of both Allium species exhibited stronger antimicrobial activities compared to dried specimens with A. sativum being in general more active than A. cepa red cv.

The metal nanoparticles synthesis is highly explored field of nanotechnology. The biological methods seem to be more effective. A simple and elegant method is adopted to prepare Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a single step using Calendula officinalis extract (COE) as reducing and stabilizing agent. The plant extract is mixed with AgNO3 to get biosynthesized AgNPs. The biosynthesized AgNPs were both optically and electrochemically characterized by UV-Vis, Infrared spectroscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, Fluorescence spectroscopy, Zeta potential and Cyclic Voltammetry. The results showed Calendula officinalis extract is a useful bioreductant for the synthesis of AgNPs. This study infers that the size of biosynthesized AgNPs ranges from 30 to 50 nm. The surface plasmon resonance peak in the UV-Vis absorption spectra shows maximum absorption at 435 nm. Fluorescence spectra of silver nanoparticles, which show an emission peak at 468 nm have also been studied. Zeta potential analysis ensured the biosynthesized AgNPs are highly stable. Using this environmentally friendly method of biological AgNPs production supplies rates of biosynthesis facile in comparison with other chemical and engineered routes. The employment of traditional medicine in biosynthesis protocols can potentially open new doors in various human health and well-being implications such as cosmetics, foods and medicine.

In our search for effective tick repellents from plant origin, we investigated the effect of essential oils of four medicinal and culinary plants belonging to the family Lamiaceae on nymphs of the tick Ixodes ricinus (L.). The essential oils of the dry leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) (L.), Mentha spicata (Spearmint) (L.), Origanum majorana (Majoram) (L.), and Ocimum basilicum (Basil) (L.) were isolated by steam distillation and 15 microg/cm2 concentration of oils was tested against ticks in a laboratory bioassay. The oils of R. officinalis, M. spicata, and O. majorana showed strong repellency against the ticks 100, 93.2, and 84.3%, respectively, whereas O. basilicum only showed 64.5% repellency. When tested in the field, the oils of R. officinalis and M. spicata showed 68.3 and 59.4% repellency at a concentration of 6.5 microg/cm2 on the test cloths. The oils were analyzed by gas chromatography mass spectrometry and the major compounds from the most repellent oils were 1,8-cineole, camphor, linalool, 4-terpineol, borneol, and carvone.

An extract of Glinus lotoides, a medicinal plant used in Africa and Asia for various therapeutic purposes, was recently shown to cause DNA damage in vitro. To further explore the potential genotoxicity of this plant, fractionation of the crude extract was performed using reverse phase solid-phase extraction and a stepwise gradient elution of methanol in water. Four fractions were collected and subsequently analysed for their DNA damaging effects in mouse lymphoma cells using an alkaline version of the comet assay. To identify potential genotoxic and non-genotoxic principles, each fraction was then subjected to liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry, LC-MS/MS. 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance analyses were used to confirm the identity of some saponins. Although fractions containing a mixture of flavonoids and oleanane-type saponins or oleanane-type saponins alone produced no DNA damage, those containing hopane-type saponins exhibited a pronounced DNA damaging effect without affecting the viability of the cells. To conclude, even if this study presents evidence that hopane-type of saponins are endowed with a DNA damaging ability, further studies are needed before individual saponins can be cited as a culprit for the previously reported genotoxicity of the crude extract of G. lotoides.

Background: Filamentous fungi are well known for their production of substances with antimicrobial activities, several of which have formed the basis for the development of new clinically important antimicrobial agents. Recently, environments polluted with extraordinarily high levels of antibiotics have been documented, leading to strong selection pressure on local sentinel bacterial communities. In such microbial ecosystems, where multidrug-resistant bacteria are likely to thrive, it is possible that certain fungal antibiotics have become less efficient, thus encouraging alternative strategies for fungi to compete with bacteria. Methods: In this study, sediment of a highly antibiotic-contaminated Indian river was sampled in order to investigate the presence of cultivable filamentous fungi and their ability to produce substances with antimicrobial activity. Results: Sixty one strains of filamentous fungi, predominantly various Aspergillus spp. were identified. The majority of the Aspergillus strains displayed antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans. Bioassay-guided isolation of the secondary metabolites of A. fumigatus led to the identification of gliotoxin. Conclusion: This study demonstrated proof of principle of using bioassay-guided isolation for finding bioactive molecules Keywords: secondary metabolites; Aspergillus; gliotoxin (Published: 24 May 2012) Citation: Infection Ecology and Epidemiology 2012, 2 : 11591 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/iee.v2i0.11591

The essential oil from aerial parts of Psoralea pubescence (Miq.) Standl (Leguminoseae) was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and GC/mass spectroscopy systems. The major components identified were psoralen (24.8%), bakuchiol (21.3%), β-caryophyllene (8.5%), germacrene D (6.8%), and α-humulene (4.6%). The major volatiles released by β-glucosidase treatment of the aqueous plant residue were δ-pinene (28.3%), germacrene D (13.6%), and tricyclene (10.2%). The oil showed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while the β-glucosidase-liberated fraction was inactive.

The essential oil of the leaves of Cupressus sempervirens L. was isolated by hydrodistillation and tested against gram positive and gram negative bacteria, showing remarkable antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 75%. The antiviral activity of the essential oil was tested against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), showing antiviral activity with virucidal percentages of 68.0% and 53.2% at concentrations of 1:32 and 1:64, respectively. We firstly reported the isolation of two epi-betulin esters of fatty acids from the CHCl3 fraction of Cupressus sempervirens L. leaves, which were isolated and purified using HPLC, and identified using PMR and MS. The CHCl3 fraction showed significant cytotoxicity against HeLa cells.

Water-distilled essential oil from leaves and flowers of Micromeria nubigena H.B.K. (Lamiaceae) were analyzed by GC and GUMS systems. The major components identified were thymol (36.9%), carvacrol ...

Staphylococci are facultative anaerobes, perfectly spherical un-encapsulated cocci, with a diameter not exceeding 1 micrometer in diameter. Staphylococcus aureus are generally harmless and remain confined to the skin unless they burrow deep into the body, causing life-threatening infections in bones, joints, bloodstream, heart valves and lungs. Among the 20 medically important staphylococci species, Staphylococcus aureus is one of the emerging human pathogens. Streptomycin had its highest potency against Staphylococcus infections despite the likelihood of getting a resistant type of staphylococcus strains. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is the persister type of Staphylococcus aureus and was evolved after decades of antibiotic misuse. Inadequate penetration of the antibiotic is one of the principal factors related to success/failure of the therapy. The active drug needs to reach the bacteria at concentrations necessary to kill or suppress the pathogen's growth. In turn the effectiveness of the treatment relied on the physical properties of Staphylococcus aureus. Thus understanding the cell integrity, shape and roughness is crucial to the overall influence of the therapeutic agent on S. aureus of different origins. Hence our experiments were designed to clarify ultrastructural changes of S. aureus treated with streptomycin (synthetic compound) in comparison to artonin E (natural compound). In addition to the standard in vitro microbial techniques, we used transmission electron microscopy to study the disrupted cell architecture under antibacterial regimen and we correlate this with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to compare results of both techniques.