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In this work, an interesting potential application of phytochemistry is reported. In particular, we employed the Sporne diagrams to provide information about the evolution of some different Lamiaceae species in relation to their content in secondary metabolites. In more details, fifteen species belonging to six different genera were studied i.e. Ajuga L., Galeopsis L., Melittis L., Sideritis L., Stachys L. and Teucrium L. The selected secondary metabolites were iridoids because of their wide occurrence and distribution within all the family, thus providing a more accurate and general overview. Nineteen different compounds of this class were identified in the studied species. The aim of this work was to verify if the evolutionary data available in literature for the studied species and based on molecular studies, matched with those obtained from a more phytochemical approach or not. The final objective was to ascertain a correspondence between these two opposite methods. The results of this study clearly showed that, only in some cases, this correspondence was present. This may suggest the possibility to use both methods for drawing phylogenetic trees of plants. Anyway, this study is not general and is quite limited in studied species and in collection areas and does not intend to affirm its absolute accuracy even though it may be a good starting point for future researches in this field.

Leaves and flowers of Ajuga chamaepitys subsp. chia var. chia and Ajuga orientalis, which were taken from both their natural habitat and cultivars, were analyzed by SPME and GC-MS. The amount and the composition of volatile oil of cultivated plants were compared with natural area plants. beta-pinene was detected as major component in A. chamaepitys in both natural habitat and cultivars. It was seen that its amount was between 17.86-25.21%. Moreover, germacrene-D was determined in significant amount (15.40-21.13%) in both samples of A. chamaepitys. 2-hexen-l-al was the most abundant component in the natural area (30.89%) and cultivated plants (23.12%) in the first vegetation period of A. orientalis but a decrease of almost 80% was determined in the second vegetation period. The amount of 1-octen-3-ol was found as one of the dominant components in A. orientalis and no significant difference was observed in both natural habitat and cultivars, during the vegetation periods. In addition, the amount of limonene in A. orientalis volatile oil increased in the second vegetation period compared to the first.

Lamiaceae (or Labiatae) is a family of plants included in the Angiosperms group comprising 12 subfamilies, 16 tribes, 9 subtribes, 236 genera, and more than 7000 species. It represents what is probably one of the best-known and most-studied families from the phytochemical and ethnopharmacological standpoints, because it contains several compounds with great relevance and many important biological properties. In the context of phytochemistry, Lamiaceae can be unofficially divided into two major groups. The first one comprises all those species that mainly produce volatile terpenoids, found in the essential oils, while the second one comprises species that mainly biosynthesize components of the polar fraction. Typical examples of the first class are Salvia L., Mentha L., and Rosmarinus L. species, while typical examples of the second class are Ajuga L., Teucrium L., Melittis L., and Stachys L. species. Several phytochemicals have been isolated from Lamiaceae species, such as α- and β-pinene, menthol, and limonene among the essential oil constituents, and di- and triterpenes, flavonoids, and iridoids among the polar fraction constituents. Some of these compounds are even considered to be chemotaxonomic markers at the family, genus, and species levels. From the ethnopharmacological point of view, the Lamiaceae family is very important. In fact, the essential oil of these species is well known to exert strong antibacterial and antioxidant properties, while the polar fraction constituents are known to exhibit good antiviral, anticancer, and antiinflammatory activities. This may explain (and maybe justify) the ancient and modern use of several Lamiaceae species in traditional medicine. Moreover, some Lamiaceae species are consumed on a daily basis as food, spices, or herbal teas, given that their high nutritional and pharmacological properties are able to produce several beneficial nutraceutical effects. In this chapter, these topics will be explored. For every species, all the known phytochemicals will be described, and an overview of their chemotaxonomic relevance will also be provided. In addition, the pharmacological and nutraceutical activities of every species, as reported in the literature, will be detailed and compared with available phytochemical data in order to verify a possible connection of theirs. One further aspect also will be taken into consideration namely, the recent opinions of the scientific community about the species belonging to the Ajuga and Teucrium genera. These plants have been widely employed in the past in traditional medicine, but the use has now stopped due to the presence of toxic secondary metabolites known as neo-clerodane diterpenoids which have clearly been shown to cause hepatotoxicity.

The Lamiaceae plant Ajuga forrestii Diels is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine with abundant glandular trichomes (GTs), but their chemistry and biological functions remain uninvestigated. Here, a panel of six highly functionalized neo-clerodane diterpenoids was localized to the peltate GTs of A. forrestii using laser microdissection coupled with HPLC analysis, indicating that the GTs of A. forrestii are an excellent material for the elucidation of the yet unclear biosynthetic pathway of natural neo-clerodane diterpenoids. In addition, four undescribed neo-clerodane diterpenoids with an acyclic C-9 side chain including two pairs of 1:1 mixture of inseparable diastereomers, ajuforrestins D-G, were isolated from the fresh leaves of A. forrestii together with six known compounds. The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic (including 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS) analyses. Biological assays indicated that the major GT compound ajugacumbin B and undescribed ajuforrestins D/E showed antifeedant activity against Helicoverpa armigera, suggesting that neo-clerodanes in A. forrestii should be involved in plant defence against insects. Moreover, the abietane diterpenoid ajuforrestin B exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity on the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and cytotoxicity against three cancer cell lines, NCI-H1975, HepG2 and MCF-7, suggesting that ajuforrestin B could positively contribute to the therapeutic effects of this traditional Chinese medicine.

Ajuga iva (L.) Schreb. (Labiatae) (AI) is used in folk medicine for a variety of ailments, including diabetes mellitus and hypertension.In this work, we aimed to investigate the antihypertensive and vasorelaxant effects of AI aqueous extract in stroke prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP).Male SHR-SP rats were orally force-fed AI aqueous extract (500 mg/kg body weight) daily for one week. Systolic blood pressure and urine output were recorded in vivo by non-invasive methods. AI vasoactive effects on noradrenaline contractile response and acetylcholine-evoked relaxation were assessed ex vivo on aorta rings of treated and untreated SHR-SP rats. AI extract was then subjected to bio-guided fractionation using solvents of increasing polarity. For each fraction, in vitro vasorelaxation assay was performed on noradrenaline-precontracted aorta of Wistar rats, in the absence/presence of N-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA). HPLC analysis of AI total extract, and the most in vitro active AI residual aqueous extract fraction (A1) was performed using naringin, naringenin, apigenin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside as marker compounds.AI aqueous extract (500 mg/kg) significantly (P 0.05) decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP) in SHR-SP rats, while not affecting the urine output. In ex vivo experiments, the total extract decreased contractile response to noradrenaline of aortic rings isolated from AI-treated SHR-SP rats with or without addition of N-nitro-L-arginine, but endothelium dependent relaxation evoked by acetylcholine in noradrenaline-contracted aortic rings was not affected by the extract treatment. In vitro experiments on AI aqueous extract fractions showed that its polar fraction was the only one affecting in vitro noradrenaline induced contractions, but only in an endothelium dependent manner. This fraction was shown by HPLC-UV to contain flavonoid glycosides among other polar compounds whose activity and mode of action may be modified in vivo by metabolization.These results support the use of AI as antihypertensive treatment in folk medicine. The systolic blood pressure decrease may be attributed at least in part to vasorelaxant glycosylated/polar phenolic compounds as flavonoids and/or their metabolites.

Dimunito/Dwarf1 (DWF1) is an oxidoreductase enzyme that is responsible for the conversion of C28- and C29-Δ24(28)-olefinic sterols to 24-methyl- and 24-ethylcholesterols. Generally, the reaction proceeds in two steps via the Δ24(25) intermediate. In this study, we characterized the ArDWF1 gene from an expression sequence tag library of Ajuga reptans var. atropurpurea hairy roots. The gene was functionally expressed in the yeast T21 strain. The in vivo and in vitro study of the transformed yeast indicated that ArDWF1 catalyzes the conversion of 24-methylenecholesterol to campesterol. A labeling study followed by GC-MS analysis suggested that the reaction proceeded with retention of the C-25 hydrogen. The 25-H retention was established by the incubation of the enzyme with (23,23,25-2H3,28-13C)-24-methylenecholesterol, followed by 13C NMR analysis of the resulting campesterol. Thus, it has been concluded that ArDWF1 directly reduces 24-methylenecholesterol to produce campesterol without passing through a Δ24(25) intermediate. This is the first characterization of such a unique DWF1 enzyme. For comparison purposes, Oryza sativa DWF1 (OsDWF1) was similarly expressed in yeast. An in vivo assay of OsDWF1 supported the generally accepted two-step mechanism because the C-25 hydrogen of 24-methylenecholesterol was eliminated during its conversion to 24-methylcholesterol. As expected, the 24-methylcholesterol produced by OsDWF1 was a mixture of campesterol and dihydrobrassicasterol. Furthermore, the 24-methylcholesterol contained in the Ajuga hairy roots was determined to be solely campesterol through its analysis using chiral GC-MS. Therefore, ArDWF1 has another unique property in that only campesterol is formed by the direct reduction catalyzed by the enzyme.

Aims: To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of Crassocephalum vitellinum (Benth), Euphorbia hirta (L), Cupressus lusitanica (Mill), Euphorbia inaquilatera (Sond), Ajuga remota (Benth) and Lantana camara (linn) extracts against six Gram negative bacterial strains and two fungal strains. Study Design: In vitro antibacterial and antifungal assay was done using micro dilution method. Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at Nelson Mandela African Institution of

Context Some Ajuga L. (Lamiaceae) species are traditionally used for the treatment of malaria, as well as fever, which is a common symptom of many parasitic diseases. Objective In the continuation of our studies on the identification of antiprotozoal secondary metabolites of Turkish Lamiaceae species, we have investigated the aerial parts of Ajuga laxmannii. Materials and methods The aerial parts of A. laxmannii were extracted with MeOH. The H2O subextract was subjected to polyamide, C18-MPLC and SiO2 CCs to yield eight metabolites. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by NMR spectroscopy and MS analyses. The extract, subextracts as well as the isolates were tested for their in vitro antiprotozoal activities against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanasoma brucei rhodesiense, T. cruzi and Leishmania donovani at concentrations of 90–0.123 µg/mL. Results Two iridoid glycosides harpagide (1) and 8-O-acetylharpagide (2), three o-coumaric acid derivatives cis-melilotoside (3), trans-melilotoside (4) and dihydromelilotoside (5), two phenylethanoid glycosides verbascoside (6) and galactosylmartynoside (7) and a flavone-C-glycoside, isoorientin (8) were isolated. Many compounds showed moderate to good antiparasitic activity, with isoorientin (8) displaying the most significant antimalarial potential (an IC50 value of 9.7 µg/mL). Discussion and conclusion This is the first report on the antiprotozoal evaluation of A. laxmannii extracts and isolates. Furthermore, isoorientin and dihydromelilotoside are being reported for the first time from the genus Ajuga. © 2016 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

In Turkish folk medicine, aerial parts of Ajuga chamaepitys (L.) Schreber subsp. chia (Schreber) are used for the treatment of diarrhea. The crude methanolic extract of aerial parts of A. chamaepitys subsp. chia was sequentially fractionated into five subextracts; n-hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol and aqueous extracts. Effects of the methanol extract, subextracts and fractions were investigated in acetic acid-induced rat colitis model. The MeOH extract and n-BuOH subextract have regulated the caspase-3, myelopemxidase, TNF-alpha, IL-6 levels and antioxidant parameters. After confirmation of the activity against ulcerative colitis, n-BuOH subextract was subjected to more chromatographic separation for the isolation of compounds ajugoside (1), asperulosidic acid (2) and deacetyl-asperulosidic acid (3). As a conclusion, A. chamaepitys subsp. chia can be used in cell, tissue, or individual-specific treatments that will be developed in the future treatment of IBD, or as a complementary therapeutic agent that contributes to these treatments.

The phenolic profile and aroma volatiles of aerial parts of wild Ajuga iva L., collected from the Tunisian Desert, have been investigated. Sixteen phenolic compounds in the methalonic extract were identified including 7 phenolic acids and 9 flavonoids. The major compounds were cirilisiol (32 ± 2%), chlorogenic acid (2.4 ± 0.1%), cirsilineol (1.6 ± 1%), hyperoside (1.7 ± 0.1%), syringic acid (0.7 ± 0.1%), and quinic acid (0.6 ± 0.1%). The chromatographic analysis showed three volatile compounds detected in hydrodistilled essential oil (HDEO), representing 99% of the total oil, while solid-phase microextraction (SPME) showed 6 components constituting 98% of the volatile material. The results showed that monoterpenes β-pinene (70 ± 5%) and α-pinene (20 ± 2%) were predominant in SPME and β-pinene (59 ± 4%) and limonene (26 ± 4%) were predominant in HDEO. Furthermore, the in vivo anti-diabetic effect of the extract of A. iva aerial parts was monitored. As a supplement at 50% of extract seemed to be beneficial for significantly reducing hyperglycemia (~4 fold), after 8 days in rats.

A phytochemical survey to obtain bioactive natural products from Ajuga pantantha afforded five new neo-clerodane diterpenoids (1–5). The structures were established by analysis of their NMR spectroscopic data, and electronic circular dichroism calculations were applied to define their absolute configurations. Compounds 2 and 5 were found to have the property of inhibiting NO production (IC50 values

Ethnopharmacological relevance Ajuga iva (L.,) Schreb (A. iva). is a medicinal plant commonly used in Africa to treat several diseases such as diabetes, rheumatism, allergy, cancer, renal, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disorders, digestive, and respiratory disorders. Aim of the review We highlighted previous reports on A. iva including its ethnopharmacological uses, the chemistry of its secondary metabolites, in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties, and toxicological evidence. Materials and methods The data on A. iva were gathered using scientific research databases such as ScienceDirect, PubMed, SpringerLink, Web of Science, Scopus Wiley Online, and Google Scholar. In this review, studies focused on A. iva and its phytopharmacological activities were explored. Results A. iva is used by many North African folk medicine practitioners especially against diabetes and immunological diseases. Our analysis of the previous reports confirmed the scientific evidence of A. iva ethnomedicinal uses, especially the antidiabetic and anti-hypercholesterolemia activity. However, there was no clear correlation between previous pharmacological reports on A. iva and its other ethnomedicinal uses in the treatment of rheumatism, allergy, metabolic, digestive, and respiratory disorders. The extracts and isolated compounds from A. iva exhibited numerous in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities such as antidiabetic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-hypercholesterolemia, insecticide, and litholitic effects. Chemical characterization using GC-MS, HPLC, and NMR revealed the presence of many chemical compounds such as 20-hydroxyecdysone, cyasterone, ajugasterone, apigenin dihexoside, apigenin, carvacrol, ecdysterone, palmitic acid in different parts of A. iva. These compounds belong to different classes of chemical compounds such as steroids, flavonoids, fatty acids, and terpenoids. Conclusions A. iva extracts especially from the leaves showed significant antidiabetic, antioxidant, anti-hypercholesterolemia, and analgesic effects. Future studies are required to validate the results of clinical trials on A. iva antidiabetic, anti-hypercholesterolemia, antioxidant/anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and analgesic properties. Toxicological validation and pharmacokinetics investigation are necessary to validate the efficacy and safety A. iva extracts and its secondary metabolites. An in-depth investigation is needed to reveal the biological activity of A. iva active compounds in preventing the development of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

The administration of natural antioxidants is considered to be a prevention strategy for chronic diseases and a useful tool for the healthcare system to reduce the administration of expensive and often not effective treatments. The chemical characterization of a methanolic extract (AJ) of Ajuga reptans L. was performed, and its antioxidant activity was evaluated. AJ and the major compounds, characterized by chromatographic techniques as phenylpropanoids and iridoids, were able to reduce the Reactive Oxygen Species levels in cancer cell lines (melanoma, A375, cervical cancer, HeLa, and alveolar adenocarcinoma, A549), stimulated by E. coli lipopolysaccharide. However, a clinical translation of these results encountered a significant limitation represented by the poor water solubility and bioavailability of the extract and compounds. Consequently, a hydro-soluble powder system (AJEP3) was developed by spray-drying encapsulating AJ into a multi-component solid matrix that is based on L-proline and hydroxyethylcellulose as loading and coating agents, and lecithin as solubility enhancer. The technological approach led to a satisfactory process yield (71.5%), encapsulation efficiency (99.9%), and stability. The in vitro water dissolution rate of the bioactive compounds appeared to be improved with respect to the extract, suggesting higher feasibility in the manufacturing and administration, even the in vitro biological activity of the produced multi-component AJEP3 was clearly enhanced.

Ethnopharmacological relevance High population density, economic burden, scarcity of modern health facilities and increasing cost of modern drugs required the inhabitants of the remote areas to rely on indigenous medicinal flora. This report documents the quantitative estimation of indigenous medicinal plants of Tall Dardyal Hills, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. Materials and methods Rapid Appraisal Approach (RAA) together with the semi-structured questionnaire technique was used to collect data from June 2014 to July 2015 and relative importance of reported medicinal plants was shown by calculating the use value and frequency of citation. Results and discussions A total of 71 medicinal plants belonging to 48 families were reported to be effective against 40 human ailments. Rosaceae was the predominant plant family contributing maximum number of medicinal plants to the medicinal flora of that area. Indigofera heterantha, Artemisia vulgaris, Berberis lycium, Aesculus indica, Juglans regia, Ajuga integrifolia, Thymus linearis and Paeonia emodi exhibited the highest usage value among other reported medicinal plants. Conclusion Quantitative analysis indicated that medicinal plants are an integral part of the life of the inhabitants. Local flora is recognised as highly valuable and is reported to be used against various ailments. Most commonly reported diseases were arthritis, kidney stone, typhoid fever, stomach problems, hepatitis, jaundice and diabetes. Among these aliments, the most common in the study area were stomach disorders, diabetes and kidney stones. The possible cause of kidney stones may be the food habits of the inhabitants, as the locals prefer vegetables like spinach that contain high amounts of oxalate.

Moroccan people have a rich tradition of phytotherapy. Studies have been carried in different areas in order to describe local pharmacopoeia. However, very little information is available on the traditional medicine of Tarfaya province. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document medicinal plants used for diabetes treatment by the inhabitants of this province. A 150 respondents were interviewed through semi-structured surveys. A total of 68 medical plants belonging to 35 families were identif ied in the region. The most encountered medicinal plant families were Lamiaceae, Fabaceae and Apiaceae. Citrullus colocynthis, Ajuga iva, Allium sativum, Foeniculum vulgare, Ammodaucus leucotrichus and Searsia tripartita were reported as major medicinal plants to treat diabetes in Morocco. The present ethnobotanical study will extend the list of plants already mentioned in use for diabetes treatment in Morocco. However, further studies on their conservation strategies, phytochemical characterization and pharmacological validations are required to serve as a source for alternative therapeutic treatments.

A new abietane diterpenoid glycoside, ajugaside B (

A phytochemical study was carried out on

Ajuga lobata D. Don is a medicinal plant rich in 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E), alkaloids, and other active substances. In this study, the cell suspension was incubated for 7 days, followed by the analysis on the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) on the regulation of 20E synthesis. Then A. lobata suspension cells treated with 0.15 mg/l ABA were used as material, with the Illumina technology applied for transcriptome sequencing. Digital analysis on the gene expression profile was carried out on ABA treated and control samples, respectively. Finally, transcriptomics was applied to assess the molecular response of A. lobata induced by ABA through applying transcriptomics by evaluating differentially expressed genes. The results suggested that ABA promoted 20E accumulation, while longer processing time caused cell browning. A total of 154 genes were significantly regulated after ABA treatment, with 99 up-regulated and 55 down-regulated, respectively. In addition to 20E-related pathways, the genes belonged to the ko00900 (terpenoid backbone biosynthesis) pathway (six differentially expressed genes [DEGs]), ko00100 (steroid biosynthesis) pathway (four DEGs), and ko00140 (steroid hormone biosynthesis) pathway (six DEGs). Providing a better understanding of the 20E biosynthetic pathway and its regulation, in particular in plants, this study is necessary.

To investigate the effects of extracts fromOne hundred and twenty female Kunming (KM) mice were randomly divided into quiet control group, sport control group, positive control group and 3 experimental groups which were the low, medium and high dose group given the extracts fromThe exhausting time, the number of red blood cell, the contents of hemoglobin and blood sugar, the contents of muscle and liver glycogen, and the activities of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase and catalase in organs of mice in the medium dose group and the high dose group were significantly more than those of the sport control group, but the contents of blood lactic acid, blood urea nitrogen and that of triglyceride and total cholesterol in serum, and the content of malondialdehyde in organs of mice in the medium dose group and the high dose group were significantly lower than those of the sport control group. And the effect of medium dose extracts fromThe extracts from

Five novel compounds, including four neoclerodane diterpenoids, named ajugacumbins KN (1-4) along with a phytoecdysterone, named ajugacetalsterone E (5), were isolated from the whole herbs of Ajuga decumbens (Labiatae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of detailed spectroscopic analysis including IR, HRESIMS, CD, 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic experiments. Compounds 1-5 were evaluated for their cytotoxic activities and the effects on superoxide anion generation and elastase release in FMLP/CB-induced human neutrophils.

The use of synthetic food additive and the appearance of antibiotic resistance are at the basis of important human health problems. The substitution of synthetic compounds with new natural substances extracted from plants or microorganisms is therefore the ideal solution to this scourge. The objective of this work was to evaluate the phyto-constituents (polyphenols, flavonoids and condensed tannins), and to test the biological activities (antioxidant, antibacterial and antiviral) of the Ajuga iva (L) aerial part extracts. The antioxidant activity assayed by DPPH method showed an IC50 of 0.43 ± 0.03 mg/mL. Antibacterial activity of aqueous and hydro methalonic extracts was tested against seven pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRS), Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis) using the diffusion method. A Thin Layer Chromatography-bioautotography-guided was performed, and the isolated antibacterial fraction was identified by CG-MS analysis. Antiviral effect of methanolic extract performed on 4 viruses: Coxsackie Virus type B-3 (CVB-3), Adenovirus type 5 (ADV-5), Respiratory Syncytial Virus type B (RSV-B) and Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2) showed an activity against Coxsackie Virus. As a result of this study, the aerial parts of Ajuga iva (L) extract could be used in the food, cosmetic, medical and health sectors.

To characterize the impact of inflammatory process and oxidative stress in the degree of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition in which chronic inflammation plays a crucial role, we investigated the effect of different plant extract preparations in an in vivo model of BPH as new therapeutic target. BPH was made in rats with daily administration of testosterone propionate (3 mg/kg) for 14 days. Rats were randomized into different groups to receive oral administration of plant extract preparations: Serenoa repens with selenium (SeR 28.5 mg/kg associated with Se 0.005 mg/kg), Teoside (2 mg/kg), and Puryprost (14 mg/kg containing Teoside 50% 2 mg/kg and Epilobium 12 mg/kg). After 14 days, rats were killed and histological changes, prostate weight and apoptotic pathways were assayed. The results obtained demonstrated that the association of treatments reduced prostate weight and hyperplasia, while treatment with Puryprost demonstrated a greater trend of protection compared to the other treatments. Thus, our results indicate that plant extract could be considered as new useful therapy in the treatment of BPH with particular attention on Puryprost that represents a rational approach to reduce BPH through modulation of inflammatory process and anti-oxidant process.

In the Romanian folk medicine, aerial parts of Ajuga laxmannii (“nobleman’s beard,” Romanian – “barba boierului” or “avrămească” or “creştinească”) are traditionally used as galactagogue and anti-inflammatory agents. The present study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition (polyphenols, iridoids, and phytosterols), antioxidant, antimicrobial and in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of different extracts of A. laxmannii aerial parts. The major identified bioactive compounds were rutin, 8-O-acetylharpagide and β-sitosterol. The antioxidant activity of A. laxmannii extracts was evaluated using several methods, and the results showed good antiradical effects. Moreover, the antimicrobial evaluation showed a potent antifungal activity against C. albicans and P. funiculosum. Furthermore, the anti-inflammatory effect was determined by monitoring some parameters involved in the inflammatory process. The results obtained showed differences between the analyzed extracts; and therefore the importance of choosing the best solvent in order to extract the appropriate amount of bioactive compounds. A. laxmannii ethanol extract showed an anti-inflammatory effect by reducing total leukocytes, PMN, phagocytosis, and oxidative stress. Compared to diclofenac, only the 50 mg/mL A. laxmannii extract had better anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative stress effects, and this could justify the importance of a correlation between the activity and the used concentration. These findings strongly suggest that A. laxmannii could be considered as a valuable source of bioactive compounds, which could be further valued as anti-inflammatory agents in the composition of several herbal drugs.

The chemical composition of the essential oil from the aerial parts of three Lamiaceae species from Uzbekistan was investigated by GC-MS analysis. β-Linalool (26.6%), α-terpineol (10.0%), coumarin (8.9%) and 4,5,7,7α-tetrahydro-4,4,7α-trimethyl-2(6H)-benzofuranone (5.4%) resulted as the main components of Ajuga turkestanica essential oil, while camphene (17.1%), 1,8-cineole (15.9%), β-cymene (7.9%) and limonene (7.4%) in Phlomis regelii. The essential oil of Thymus seravschanicus was dominated by thymol (37.5%), phellandral (26.0%), τ-terpinene (6.6%) and β-cymene (5.2%). The essential oils had considerable antimicrobial activity against different bacterial strains and fungi. Among the tested samples of essential oils, P. regelii essential oil has the significant antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 117.8 ± 8.02 μg/mL.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in females in Jordan, it accounts for about 35.3% of all female cancers. Searching for alternative medicine from plants for breast cancer is a paramount importance. No studies have investigated the cytotoxic effect of the plants of Ajuga chia, Micromeria nervosa and Origanum dayi that are belonging to the family Lamiaceae and are growing wild in Jordan.Objective: To investigate the cytotoxic effect of the A. chia, M. nervosa and O. dayi plant species against two different breast cancer cell lines MCF7 and T47D.Materials and methods: The aerial parts of the aforementioned plant species were extracted with water and ethanol. Cell viability was assessed using MTT assay, after incubation with various concentrations of plant extracts.Results: A pronounced cytotoxic effect of the ethanolic extract of O. dayi against MCF7 and T47D cell lines, with IC50=99.4 ± 2.9 and 250 ± 4 μg/mL respectively. The ethanolic extract of A. chia has shown cytotoxic effect against T47D cell line with IC50=200 ± 5.2. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of M. nervosa did not show any toxicity against the aforementioned cell lines. The three plant species showed selectivity when they were tested on fibroblasts (normal cells).Conclusion: Origanum dayi exhibited good cytotoxicity against aforementioned cell lines among the detected plant species, so O. dayi is considered a candidate for the development of a novel agent against breast cancer.

Ajuga genus is among one of the more than 250 genera of Labiatae, cosmopolitan in distribution, and comprises of more than 70 species with the remarkable therapeutic importance. Many species of Ajuga including A. bracteosa, A. reptans, A. Chamaepitys, etc. have been used in the traditional system of medicine and are also in use for making formulations in modern medicines. Ajuga species offer anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anabolic, antileishmanial, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, immunomodulatory, antimalarial, astringent, anthelmintic, and diuretic properties and are used in the treatment of rheumatism, palsy, and gout. They hold a large number of secondary metabolites which are active principles to combat the foresaid diseases including phytoecdysteroids, withanolides, iridoid glycosides, neo-clerodane di- and triterpenoids, sterols, and a large range of flavonoid and phenolic compounds. Some of the species of Ajuga are genetically modified for some of these compounds including A. bracteosa, A. reptans, A. multiflora, etc. Latest development made in the exploration of these compounds is yet dealing with the transformation of rol genes and some stress and feeding experiments. We precisely discuss here the details of biotechnological progress that has been made in Ajuga species so far.

Currently, the world population is face to face with a rapid emergence of high blood pressure, which presents economic, as well as a serious current and long-term health problem. This chapter includes data on the medicinal and aromatic plants used in the treatment of hypertension in Turkey, Pakistan, and Malaysia. The medicinal plants used in the treatment of hypertension include 132 taxa. These belong to 39 families and can be grouped under 92 genera in Turkey, 86 taxa from 41 families and 76 genera in Pakistan, and 61 taxa from 34 families and 53 genera in Malaysia. Allium sativum, Viscum album ssp. album, Urtica dioica, and Olea europaea are the commonly used taxa in Turkey; Allium sativum, Cannabis sativa, Ajuga integrifolia, Caralluma edulis, Taraxacum campylodes, Heliotropium strigosum, and Tribulus terrestris in Pakistan; and Andrographis paniculata, Centella asiatica, Eurycoma longifolia, Gynura procumbens, Solanum torvum, and Tetracera indica in Malaysia. The number of taxa used in common in Turkey and Pakistan is 10, only 3 are commonly used among Pakistan-Malaysia and 2 between Turkey and Malaysia. Allium sativum is the only taxon commonly used for the hypertension treatment in all three countries. The countries under consideration here seem to embody a great potential in the use of medicinal plants. They possess interesting folk medicine culture used in the treatment of hypertension. The medicinal and aromatic plants have been traditionally used by the people in these countries for hundreds of years. This review is expected to open new horizons in the treatment of hypertension in these countries.

Context: Ajuga ovalifolia Bur. et Franch. var. calantha (Diels) C. Y. Wu et C. Chen (Labiatae), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been used to treat several inflammatory diseases. Objective: To assess the anti-inflammatory activity of ajudecumin A isolated from Ajuga ovalifolia var. calantha, and its possible mechanisms. Materials and methods: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 μg/mL)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages were used to assess the anti-inflammatory activity of ajudecumin A (1–40 μM) in vitro. Nitric oxide levels were evaluated by Griess reagent. The mRNA levels of iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were determined using qRT-PCR. Phosphorylation of ERK, JNK, p38 MAPK and IκBα were detected by western Blot. To further assess the anti-inflammatory of ajudecumin A in vivo, mice were oral treated with ajudecumin A (10 mg/kg) or dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg, positive control) for 5 days before administration of carrageenan or xylene. Paw and ear edema were then measured, respectively. Results: Ajudecumin A (10–40 μM) decreased LPS-induced nitric oxide production with an IC50 value of 16.19 μM. Ajudecumin A (20 and 40 μM) also attenuated cell spreading and formation of pseudopodia-like structures, and decreased the mRNA levels of iNOS (55.23–67.04%, p

WOS: 000429181000006, Ajuga L. is represented by 14 species and 27 taxa in the flora of Turkey. Eleven species of Ajuga have been studied for phylogeny based on sequence data of the nuclear ribosomal DNA region ( ITS). According to the findings, morphologically similar species collected in the same group. The polymorphism in sequences of internal transcribed spacers ITS1 and ITS2 and 5.8 S rDNA coding region was used to determine relationships among different species of genus Ajuga. The taxonomy of several Ajuga species is need of revision based on the ITS phylogeny. Understanding the phylogenetic relationships among Ajuga species would contribute to the systematics of the genus, comprehension of the origins and evolution of species and sections and the use of species of genus Ajuga., Anadolu University Scientific Research Committee [080307], This study was supported by the Anadolu University Scientific Research Committee (Project No. 080307).

Ajuga forrestii is a medicinal plant commonly used in southwest of China. In this study, we sequenced the complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequence of A. forrestii to investigate its phylogenetic r...

The present work was made to investigate the vegetation structure of shrubs and herbs in research area. Total 48 plant species consisting of 7 shrubs and 41 herbs constructing Cenchrus-Zizyphus-Saccharum community from 9 sites in which 9 communities i.e. Fumaria-Rumex-Xanthium community, Cynodon-Solanum-Sonchus community, Cynodon-Sorghum-Alhagi community, Ajuga-Malvastrum-Calotropis community, Cynodon –Convolvulus-Cyperus community, Ajuga-Saccharum-Chenopodium community, Alhagi-Rumex-Euphorbia community, Saccharum-Cannabis-Xanthium community and Achyranthus-Ajuga-Euphorbia community were found. The contribution of total important values by shrubs was 43.78 and 256.2 by herbs. The soil of the area had better calcium carbonate in the range of (11.72 – 12.99 %), with soil pH (6.45 – 8.11). The EC was found in the range of (0.13-0.22 dS m-1). The concentrations of P and K content were found in the range of (3.54-3.92 mg Kg-1) and (111.21-127.14 mg Kg-1). These results highlight the constant need for long-term ground-based conservation monitoring in combination with satellite-based monitoring of changes in vegetation cover.

Introduction : Ajuga turkestanica is a plant used in traditional medicine for its high ecdysteroid content, including the presence of the particularly active turkesterone, which possess efficient anabolic activity. Objectives : To isolate and identify minor ecdysteroids present in a semi-purified plant fraction containing ca. 70% turkesterone. Material and Methods : Multi-step preparative HPLC (combining RP- and NP-HPLC systems) was used to purify the different components present in the turkesterone fraction. Isolated compounds were identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2D-NMR. Results : Fourteen ecdysteroids (including turkesterone and 20-hydroxyecdysone) were isolated. Seven of these, all bearing an 11α-hydroxy group, were previously unreported. Conclusion : Ajuga turkestanica ecdysteroids are characterised by the abundance of 11α-hydroxylated compounds and by the simultaneous presence of 24C, 27C, 28C and 29C ecdysteroids. It is expected that even more ecdysteroids are to be found in this plant since the starting material for this study lacked the less polar ecdysteroids. The simultaneous presence of 20-hydroxyecdysone and turkesterone (its 11α-hydroxy analogue) as the two major ecdysteroids suggests that every ecdysteroid is probably present in both 11α-hydroxy and 11-deoxy forms.

The volatile constituents of Ajuga parviflora Benth. were isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. β-caryophyllene (22.4 %), γ-muurolene (12.7 %), γ-terpinene (6.3 %), caryophyllene oxide (6.2 %), α-humulene (5.8 %), δ-cadinene (4.3 %), α-amorphene (3.8 %) and β-selinen (2.5 %) were found to be the major constituents of the essential oil along with other minor constituents. The composition of oil is being reported for the first time.

The dependence of photosynthesis on arrangement of the chloroplasts in Ajuga reptans and Syringa vulgaris differing in the ability of chloroplasts translocation was studied.

The chemical composition of essential oil obtained from the aerial parts of Ajuga comata Stapf. was analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Thirty-seven components were identified in the oil. (E)-β-caryophyllene (30.9%), caryophyllene oxide (24.9%), (E)-β-farnesene (12.6%), β-eudesmol (3.2%), δ-cadinene (3.1%) and germacrene D (3.0%) were the main compounds in the EOs. The chemical composition of A. comata Stapf. from the Southern Zagros of Iran is reported for the first time.

Заложен опыт по восстановлению нарушенного напочвенного покрова посадкой 5-ти видов лесных травянистых растений, типичных для сложных боров (копытень, живучка, зеленчук, кислица, осока волосистая). По результатам опыта в условиях сложных боров на супесчаных почвах наиболее успешными оказались посадки зеленчука желтого и живучки ползучей, которые в короткий срок занимают лишенный напочвенного покрова участок под кронами деревьев сложного бора. Создание групп травянистых растений на территориях нарушенных сложных боров может ускорить восстановление лесного напочвенного покрова., During 5 years the natural experiment has been held using 5 species of forest herbaceous plants: Asarum europaeum L., Ajuga reptans L., Galeobdolon luteum Huds., Oxalis acetosella L., Carex pilosa Scop. They were introduced under the canopy of complex pine forests in anthropogenic disturbed areas of Moscow region. Some biotopes differing in degree of soil moisture and surface illumination have been chosen for the experiment. Soils of five test areas were identified as sod-weakly podzolic weakly differentiated, and in humid and wet areas – as lowland peat-gley. The undisturbed complex pine forest played the role of a control area. Places of experimental planting differed as follows: 1) shady area – with high crown density; 2) illuminated area – glade without understory; 3) moist area – with temporarily soil moisture; 4) wet area – with permanent soil moisture; 5) burned out place; 6) burned out place with the processing by herbicide «Roundup»; 7) burned out place with natural recovery. Each experimental area was divided in 5 lines. The ground litter was moved away by rake. Five quadrates (1 m2) were installed on each line on the distance of 0.5 m from each other. One species of herbaceous plants (collected in nearby forest) was planted on each quadrate. As a whole, 140 experimental quadrates and 25 control ones were installed. After 5 years in shady area four species of plants survived – except Oxalis. In the illuminated area all five plants have survived, but overgrowth was observed only for Galeobdolon and Oxalis. In the moist area Asarum and Oxalis took roots, and in the wet area – Asarum, Ajuga and Galeobdolon. Both variants of burned out place were characterized by intensive growth of Carex and less intensive growth of Ajuga. Other plantings would be considered not very successful, especially that of Oxalis. Galeobdolon and Ajuga have grown intensively during the second year, but then partially starved out. Carex has grown rather slowly but occupied the quadrates for a long time. Thus, forest grasses, particularly Carex and Galeobdolon, can be significantly increase rate of regeneration of ground cover of disturbed forests., №3(4) (2017)

The chlorophyll and carotenoid content, and the spectra of low-temperature fluorescence of the leaves, chloroplasts and isolated pigment–protein complexes in the perennial herbaceous wintergreen plant Ajuga reptans L. (bugle) in different seasons of the year were studied. During winter, these plants downregulate photosynthesis and the PSA is reorganised, including the loss of chlorophyll, possible reductions in the number of functional reaction centres of PSII, and changes in aggregation of the thylakoid protein complexes. We also observed a restructuring of the PSI–PSII megacomplex and the PSII–light-harvesting complex II supercomplex in leaves covered by snow. After snowmelt, the monomeric form of the chl a/b pigment–protein complex associated with PSII (LHCII) and the free pigments were also detected. We expect that snow cover provides favourable conditions for keeping photosynthetic machinery ready for photosynthesis in spring just after snowmelt. During winter, the role of the zeaxanthin-dependent protective mechanism, which is responsible for the dissipation of excess absorbed light energy, is likely to increase.

To elucidate how biosynthesis of plant metabolites is affected by temperature, metabolite profiles from in vitro regenerated plants raised under different temperature regimes of 10, 15 °C, 20 °C, 25 °C and 30 °C were obtained using electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out to identify key metabolites. Several bin masses were detected by PCA loading scatter plots which separated the samples. In-house bin program selectively manifested the putative known metabolites depending on % total ions count and intensity of selected bins in the plant samples. Total phenolic and flavonoid content were harvested to highest levels (12.9 mg GAE/g DW and 9.3 mg QE/g DW), respectively, at 15 °C. Besides, pinoresinol (lignan), some of the vital amino acids such as serine, methionine, histidine and glutamine were found to be at higher amount in plants raised at 15 °C. Significant phenylpropanoids like cinnamic acid, caffeic acid and quercitol were detected at a higher concentration in plants raised at 15 °C as compared to other treatments. However, phosphoenolpyruvate, and oxalosuccinate (intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway) were accumulated the most in plants raised at 30 °C and they were detected with lowest values at 10 °C. Glucose and deoxy-xylose 5 phosphate (intermediates of TCA cycle) were found in higher amounts at temperature treatments of 15 and 25 °C, respectively. We conclude that a low-temperature treatment (15 °C) results in a stress-induced accumulation of a variety of pharmacologically important secondary metabolites.

Background Malaria is one of the most life-threatening health problems worldwide and treatment has been compromised by drug resistance. Identifying lead molecules from natural products might help to find better anti-malarial drugs, since those obtained from natural sources are still effective against malarial parasites. This study aimed at investigating the in vivo antiplasmodial activity of crude extract of the leaves of Ajuga remota together with its safety in mice models. Methods In vivo parasite growth inhibitory effect of crude extract was assessed in mice inoculated with Plasmodium berghei (ANKA strain). The in vivo antiplasmodial activity of the test extract was performed against early infection (4-day suppressive test), curative effect against established infection and prophylactic effect against residual infection. Acute and sub-acute toxicity were carried out according to OECD guidelines. Results In vivo parasite growth inhibition effect of hydroethanolic crude extract of A. remota was evaluated at 30, 50 and 100 mg/kg dose levels. It suppressed parasitaemia by 77.34% at 100 mg/kg dose level in the 4-day test. In curative and prophylactic potential tests, it suppressed parasitaemia by 66.67 and 59.66% at 100 mg/kg dose level, respectively. In vivo toxicity tests revealed no toxicity. All parasitaemia suppressions were statistically significant at P