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Heteroptera species are a growing problem in the cultivation of horticultural crops, and intensive chemical control of these pests is not sustainable. Therefore, natural products are used in sustainable pest management. We investigated the potential of aqueous coffee and caffeine extracts in the control of three heteropteran species Nezara viridula (L.), Halyomorpha halys (Stål), and Corythucha ciliata (Say). The Soxhlet extraction method was used to prepare the aqueous coffee extracts. Contact efficacy was evaluated by spraying the pests with the aqueous extract of coffee and the aqueous solution of pure caffeine. Significant efficacy of coffee and caffeine standard was found for control of adult H. halys (97% coffee; 83% caffeine) and adult C. ciliata (47% coffee; 70% caffeine). Low efficacy was observed for control of N. viridula nymphs (33% coffee; 28% caffeine), while no insecticidal efficacy was observed for adult N. viridula. There was no statistically significant difference in efficacy between coffee extract and caffeine standard, suggesting that these caffeine levels are sufficient for pest control, while the influence of other various compounds in coffee extract (e.g., polyphenols) could not be detected. This study opens a perspective for the production of natural plant extracts using only water as the extraction medium for pest control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intestinal hypomotility cause health risks and economic losses and is considered as an important digestive disorder that efforts to find prokinetic drugs can solve this major problem. This study investigated the effects of Zingiber officinale aqueous extract (ZOAE) on caecal smooth muscle contractions in healthy cows. To perform in vitro tests, cecum strips connected to the organ bath. Ginger aqueous extract caused concentration-dependent contraction in caecal smooth muscle with an effective threshold concentration of 6.00 mg L-1. The strongest contraction was caused at a concentration of 100 mg L-1 with an average contraction of 141%. To evaluate the possible mechanisms underlying the contractile effect on cecum strips, atropine, 1,1-dimethyl-4-diphenylacetoxypiperidinium iodide (4-DAMP) and verapamil completely inhibited aqueous extract induced smooth muscle contractions, while addition of hexamethonium had no effect on the contraction process. The lack of reduction of contractions caused by the extract in the presence of hexamethonium indicates that presence of acetylcholine-like constituents independent of nicotinic receptors. The inhibitory properties of atropine and 4-DAMP indicate that at least part of the prokinetic effect of the extract is due to stimulating the muscarinic receptors, especially M3 receptors. Also, verapamil inhibitory function proves that the extract acting by L-type calcium channels. The results suggest that the ZOAE has a potential prokinetic effect which may provide a pharmacological base to its medicinal or prophylactic use in caecal motility disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Allelopathy is the process of a plant's chemical release into the environment having direct or indirect, beneficial or negative effects on another plant. In the present work, we investigated the allelopathic interaction of Acacia modesta in the different extracts to show significant effects regarding the growth and germination of test species. Objective: The main objective of this research is to study how the allelopathic activity of Acacia modesta affects the growth of three Brassica species in various extracts (Aqueous extracts, litter & mulching). Methodology: Fresh leaves of Acacia modesta were collected from the Botanical Garden, Islamia College Peshawar, dried in the shade, and ground, whereas the glass ware was rinsed and sterilized for at least 4 hours at 170°C. Seeds of the Brassica crop were used and checked for viability in H2O. The Petri dishes were incubated at 25°C for 72 hours, then the effects of various extracts were examined, and lastly, readings from the Petri dishes were obtained. Results: According to our findings, the leaf extracts of Acacia modesta had a substantial effect on the germination and growth of Brassica species. Brassica campestris (10g/48h dry & 5g/24h fresh), Brassica napus (10g/24h), and Brassica juncea (10g/48h dry & 5g/48h fresh) leaf extracts have a greater effect than the control. Conclusion: Our outcomes concluded that in comparison of the test species in all the experiments, Brassica campestris and Brassica juncea were highly affected by the allelopathy of A. modesta which necessitates further evaluation.

Background: The prolonged situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the emergence of new variants of SARS-CoV-2, not only imposes a financial burden on healthcare supports but also contributes to the issue of medication shortages, particularly in countries with limited access to medical resources or developing countries. To provide an alternative therapeutic approach during this crisis, there is an increasing research that has investigated the potential uses of Andrographis paniculata in supporting the application of herbal medicine for COVID-19.Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the safety profiles and clinical pharmacokinetics, specifically focusing on dose proportionality of the four major active diterpenoids of Andrographis paniculata aqueous extract following oral administration of two different high doses of andrographolide.Methods: The participants received the aqueous extract capsules equivalent to 60 or 120 mg of andrographolide; and as multiple doses administered three times daily, calculated as 180 or 360 mg/day of andrographolide. Safety evaluation was assessed following the oral administration of the multiple doses.Results: The results indicated a dose-dependent effect observed between the respective two doses. A twofold increase in the dose of the extract demonstrated twofold higher plasma concentrations of the four major parent compounds; 1) andrographolide, 2) 14-deoxy-11, 12-didehydroandrographolide, 3) neoandrographolide, and 4) 14-deoxyandrographolide, as well as their conjugated metabolites. The observed diterpenoids are biotransformed partly through a phase II metabolic pathway of conjugation, thus reducing in the parent compounds in the plasma and existing the majority as conjugated metabolites. These metabolites are then excreted through the hepatobiliary system and urinary elimination. For the results of the safety evaluation, the occasional adverse events experienced by individuals were of mild intensity, infrequent in occurrence, and reversible to the normal baseline. Safety consideration should be given to the individual patient’s pertinent health conditions when using this extract in patients with hepatic or kidney dysfunction.Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.thaiclinicaltrials.org/show/TCTR20210201005; Identifier: TCTR20210201005.

Ferula communis L. is thought to possess a wide range of therapeutic qualities. This plant's safety is critical regarding its potential uses as a medicine. Using the techniques outlined in the OECD recommendations, the present study aimed to assess the acute and subacute toxicity profiles of Ferula communis aqueous extract (FC-Ext) in mice. In the acute study, the FC-Ext was administered to adult male and female Swiss albino mice through oral and intraperitoneal routes at doses of 0–4 g/kg. The general behavioral effects, mortality rates, and latency of mortality were evaluated for a period of 14 days. For the sub-acute dose study, the FC-Ext was administered orally to adult mice at doses of 125, 250, and 500 mg/kg on a daily basis for 28 days. Body weight and selected biochemical and hematological parameters were measured, and histological examinations of the liver, kidney, and spleen were conducted to assess any signs of organ damage at the end of the treatment period. The results of the acute toxicity study demonstrated that the LD50 values for the oral and intraperitoneal administration of FC-Ext were 3.6 g/kg and 2.3 g/kg, respectively. In the subacute toxicity study of FC-Ext, no significant changes in body weight were observed. However, a substantial increase in the weights of the liver, kidney, and spleen was observed in male mice. The administration of FC-Ext to mice at doses higher than 250 mg/kg resulted in a decrease in white blood cells and platelets in both sexes and a reduction in red blood cells and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in males and hemoglobin in females. No changes in biochemical parameters were observed. Microscopic examination of vital organs such as the liver, kidney, and spleen revealed no significant injuries. Based on the current results, the aqueous extract of Ferula communis has low toxicity. These findings provide important information about the toxicity profile of the traditional medicine plant Ferula communis.

The aim of the present investigation was to obtain 12 aqueous extracts and 1 oil from Pistacia atlantica Desf. subsp. atlantica specimens. The samples differed for processed plant organs (i.e., roots, buds, and fruits), gender and geographical station of the collected trees. Total phenols, flavonoids, and condensed tannins were determined, revealing that bud extracts exhibited the highest phenolic content (386.785 ± 16.227 mg GAE/g DM), followed by fruit and root preparations. Similar results were detected for flavonoids and tannins, whose quantitation ranged from 0.014 ± 0.005 to 74.780 ± 9.724 mg CE/g DM and from 0.037 ± 0.003 to 14.793 ± 0.821 mg CE/g DM, respectively. The biochemical profile of the extracts was further characterized by HPLC-DAD, in terms of specific phenolics. This analysis identified gallic acid as a typical metabolite for ripe fruit, while hydroxytyrosol for female roots and male buds. In parallel, P. atlantica fruit oil was profiled by GC-MS analysis, which detected 37 lipophilic components, including palmitic acid (the major component, ~55%), anacardol, tetradecanol, arachidic acid, squalene, and some terpenes. The samples revealed interesting antioxidant activity, with EC50 values ranging from 0.073 ± 0.001 to 193.594 ± 28.942 mg/mL and from 0.029 ± 0.001 to 103.086 ± 20.540 mg/mL, in that order, for DPPH and reducing power assays. Concerning the total antioxidant capacity, the results ranged from 0.053 ± 0.008 to 51.648 ± 1.659 mg AAE/g DM. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of the plant extracts was estimated against 7 bacterial species and 2 fungal strains, known to be human pathogens, demonstrating a good antibiotic effect for the bud extracts. All these findings strongly suggest that P. atlantica would represent a natural reservoir for novel additives to be used in therapeutic, food, and cosmetic products.

Allelopathy is a phenomenon that has both beneficial and deleterious influences among plants within the same ecosystem. The allelopathic activity of sunflower on cereals, one of the most popular crops in crop rotation, is still poorly studied and understood. This experiment was aimed at evaluating the allelopathic potential of aqueous extracts of different parts of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) grown in the Boreal environmental zone on seedling morphological parameters of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). The following three factors were studied: factor A—two growth stages: flowering sunflower (FS) and ripe sunflower (RS); factor B—three sunflower plant parts: leaves and stems (L + S), heads (H), and roots (R) for extract preparation; factor C—five concentrations (25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% (initial concentration 1:10, referred to as 100% solution)) of sunflower aqueous extracts and deionised water (0%) as a control. FS extract revealed an inhibitory effect on all parameters of spring barley and spring wheat in comparison to RS extract. Extracts from different plant parts differed in their allelopathic effects. Compared with L + S extract, R extract significantly stimulated SG and the morphological characteristics of wheat. H extract significantly inhibited barley RL and SL. With increasing concentrations of the extracts, the values of all investigated parameters were significantly inhibited for both receptor plants.

Our group previously demonstrated that Caesalpinia mimosoides Lamk exhibits many profound biological properties, including anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities. However, its antiviral activity has not yet been investigated. Here, the aqueous extract of C. mimosoides was prepared from the aerial parts (leaves, stalks, and trunks) to see whether it exerts anti-influenza (H1N1) effects and to reduce the organic solvents consumed during extraction, making it a desirable approach for the large-scale production for medical uses. Our plant extract was quantified to contain 7 g of gallic acid (GA) per 100 g of a dry sample, as determined using HPLC analysis. It also exerts potent antioxidant activities comparable to those of authentic GA. According to untargeted metabolomics (UPLC-ESI(-)-QTOF-MS/MS) with the aid of cheminformatics tools (MetFrag (version 2.1), SIRIUS (version 5.8.3), CSI:FingerID (version 4.8), and CANOPUS), the major metabolite was best annotated as “gallic acid”, phenolics (e.g., quinic acid, shikimic acid, and protocatechuic acid), sugar derivatives, and dicarboxylic acids were deduced from this plant species for the first time. The aqueous plant extract efficiently inhibited an influenza A (H1N1) virus infection of MDCK cells with an IC50 of 5.14 µg/mL. Of equal importance, hemolytic activity was absent for this plant extract, signifying its applicability as a safe antiviral agent. Molecular docking suggested that GA interacts with conserved residues (e.g., Arg152 and Asp151) located in the catalytic inner shell of the viral neuraminidase (NA), sharing the same pocket as those of anti-neuraminidase drugs, such as laninamivir and oseltamivir. Additionally, other metabolites were also found to potentially interact with the active site and the hydrophobic 430-cavity of the viral surface protein, suggesting a possibly synergistic effect of various phytochemicals. Therefore, the C. mimosoides aqueous extract may be a good candidate for coping with increasing influenza virus resistance to existing antivirals.

This study was designed to evaluated the anti- cancerous, antiviral and antibacterial effects of Cymbopogon citratus aqueous leave extracts. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) staining assay has been applied to detect the cytotoxicity and the antiviral properties against measles virus (MV) using cervical cancer cell line (HeLa). The antibacterial potency of the extract against Staphylococcus aureus (staph. aureus) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kleb. pneumoniae) was determined using disc diffusion method by means of agar overlay assay. The results showed that C. Citratus extract effectively destroyed Hela cell line after 72 h of exposure. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) value for the extract was found to be 500 µg mL-1 which exhibited the concentration of 600 µg mL-1 potent antivirus activity. The extract demonstrated antibacterial potency against Staph. aureus with mean inhibition zone 16.4 mm which was higher than that produced by Kleb. pneumoniae with mean inhibition zone of 10.7 mm. C. citratus was a favourable candidate as a natural herb to treat cervical cancers in vitro, restricted the MV replication and has potent antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and negative bacteria isolated from the respiratory tract.

Objective Some plants have antiseptic properties with no harm to humans or animals. In this study, we aim to assess the effects of Ailanthus altissima and Salvia nemorosa extracts on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and Proteus vulgaris in vitro. Methods Ailanthus altissima leaves and flowered branch of Salvia nemorosa were collected and dried in shade and powdered. Their aqueous, hydroalcoholic and methanolic extracts were prepared separately from the plants by Maceration method at four concentrations of 20, 30, 40, 50 mg/mL which were used in Mueller-Hinton Agar culture medium by the well diffusion method. Saponin was extracted was using 20% ethanol. The statistical results were analyzed in GraphPad Prism v.7 software. Results The aqueous extract of Salvia nemorosa was more effective on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (mean non-growth halo diameter = 26±1 mm). The diameter of the non-growth halo with Ailanthus altissima methanolic extract was 17.5±0.5 mm in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and 16.5±0.5 mm in Staphylococcus aureus, and the effect was significant (P

Background: A microneedle patch loaded with Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma water extract was prepared for the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia. To explore the relationship between Mammary gland hyperplasia and intestinal flora. Materials and methods: Preparation of the microneedle patch by micromolding method, the prescription of the microneedle was optimized by the Box-Behnken Design response surface test, and the micro-morphology, penetration, toughness, and brittleness were investigated. In vitro release of drug-loaded microneedles was measured by diffusion cell method. The rat model of mammary gland hyperplasia was prepared by the combination of estradiol benzoate-progesterone, and the microneedle patch of Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract was used for intervention treatment. The change of levels in E2, P, and PRL in rat serum was determined. The intestinal contents of rats were collected and the changes in intestinal flora in MGH rats were analyzed by 16s rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Results: The optimized microneedle formula is a PVA concentration of 6.0%, HA concentration of 15.5%, and PVPK30 concentration of 16.0%. The prepared microneedle tip loaded with Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract has complete, sharp, and no bubbles and the needle rate of the microneedle array is in the range of 95%~100%. The bending rate of the microneedle is about 12.7%, and it has good flexibility, and the microneedle can puncture 4 layers of ParafilmⓇ membrane smoothly, and the puncture rate is more than 96%. The in vitro release of the microneedle was characterized by rapid release. The results of animal experiments showed that Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract microneedle patch could significantly reduce the E2 level, significantly reduce the PRL level, and significantly increase the P level. At the same time, it can regulate the abundance and diversity of intestinal flora in MGH rats, improve the intestinal flora disorder caused by mammary gland hyperplasia, and balance the community structure. Conclusion: The prepared microneedle containing Atractylodes macrocephala Rhizoma aqueous extract has good toughness and brittle strength, can penetrate the skin and enter the dermis, and effectively deliver drugs to play a role in the treatment of mammary gland hyperplasia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim: Previous studies have shown that Rheum ribes (R. ribes) could be effective in controlling the blood glucose levels. This study was conducted to determine the effects of R. ribes supplementation on glycemic indices and apolipoproteins in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods: In the present randomized double-blind controlled trial, 60 type 2 diabetic patients aged 30–60 years with a body mass index (BMI) of 20–30 kg/m2 and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) of 6–8% were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to receive 450 mg of aqueous R. ribes extract (AG), 450 mg of ethanolic R. ribes extract (EG), or placebo (PG) three times daily for 6 weeks. At the baseline and at the end of the study, blood glucose levels, homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and the homeostatic model assessment of β-cell dysfunction (HOMA-B), as well as apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB) were measured. Results: There was a significant decrease in the serum levels of insulin in AG and EG groups (P = 0.003 and P = 0.001, respectively), HOMA-IR (P = 0.01 and P = 0.001, respectively), HOMA-B (P = 0.002 and P = 0.001, respectively), ApoB (P = 0.006 and P = 0.03, respectively), ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (P = 0.016 and P = 0.04, respectively). However, a significant increase in ApoA1 (P = 0.08 and P = 0.05, respectively) with no significant changes in blood glucose, at the end of study compared to beginning values, were observed. None of the variables showed a significant change in PG. At the end of the study; while there were significant differences in insulin (P = 0.04), HOMA-IR (P = 0.03), HOMA-B (P = 0.01), ApoB (P = 0.02), and ApoB/ApoA1 ratio (P = 0.03) among the groups but ApoA1 had no significant change. Conclusion: Consumption of R. ribes intake could have beneficial effects on insulin resistance and apolipoproteins in type 2 diabetic patients. (Registered at en.irct.ir, identification number: IRCT201410142709N31). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitex madiensis Oliv. is a plant widely used in traditional medicine by healers in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The uses of this plant are already known and published but no toxicological investigations have been carried out on this plant to determine its safety. This study, conducted in April 2019, aimed to determine the toxicity profile of the aqueous extract of Vitex madiensis by determining its acute and sub-acute toxicities after oral administration in a male guinea pig model. For the acute toxicity, in adult guinea pigs, single oral administration of the aqueous extract of Vitex madiensis (1; 2; and 3 g/kg body weight) was administered, and general poisoning behaviors such as alopecia, abdominal bloating, weight loss, asthenia, convulsion, etc. was constantly monitored for 14 days. The oral lethal dose 50 was determined with the mortality rate by the Dragstedt and Lang method. In sub-acute toxicity, a daily single oral dose of Vitex madiensis aqueous extract 0.1 g/kg (human dose used in traditional medicine) and 1 g/kg (about the LD 50) was used for 28 days. The LD 50 calculated was 1.4 g/kg with change in mobility behavior, weight loss, alopecia, asthenia, convulsion, and bloating of the abdomen. After 28 days of observation, the aqueous extract of Vitex madiensis induced significant changes in body weights. However, hematological, and biochemical parameters showed a significant decrease in ALT, AST, and creatinine levels suggesting disturbances of haemopoiesis, liver, and kidney functions. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that the aqueous leaf extract of Vitex madiensis has a moderated toxicity for single oral administration and could be dangerous for daily use of doses higher than those used in traditional medicine (0.1 g/kg). This would justify the nontoxic use of this plant under the traditional condition utilizations. [Display omitted] • Many changes in behavior signs of intoxication with high doses of V. madiensis. • Acute and subacute toxicity of the aqueous extract of this plant on Cavia porcellus L. is currently known. • Vitex madiensis is moderately toxic orally at a single dose. • This plant is dangerous in repeated doses in 28 days. • Hematological and biochemical parameters showed a significant decrease in transaminase enzymes. • First toxicity assessment of V. madiensis on Cavia porcellus L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aqueous seaweed extracts are a biological product which have beneficial effects on plant growth as well as improving their resistance to several biotic and abiotic stresses. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of aqueous extracts of three seaweeds Fucus spiralis, Cystoseira ericoides (Phaeophyceae) and Ulva lactuca (Chlorophyceae) harvested from Atlantic coast of Rabat region in Morocco, on lead (Pb) tolerance and accumulation in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants. Aqueous extracts were obtained by the combination of 2 extraction processes, ultrasonication and heating. The brown seaweeds F. spiralis and C. ericoides extracts had good antioxidant activity in the DPPH assay. The growth and physiological parameters were compared between Solanum lycopersicum seedlings grown in hydroponic conditions at 0 and 100 μmol Pb with or without 4% seaweed extract. The F. spiralis and C. ericoides extracts significantly increased the aboveground parts and roots biomass compared to control plants treated with Pb alone. In Pb stress conditions, these seaweed extracts enhanced the plant's tolerance with a reduction of anthocyanin and proline content. F. spiralis extract treatment led to a significant Pb accumulation in aboveground parts of the plant. The effect of U. lactuca extract on tomato plants biomass, anthocyanin and proline was not significant. The study demonstrated that the aqueous extracts of F. spiralis and C. ericoides improved the plant response to heavy metals stress, highlighting the potential use of these seaweeds in phytoremediation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidemia is one of the major risk factors contributing to the severity of cardiovascular disease. Treatment of hyperlipidemia involves diet control and the use of lipid-lowering drugs. However, some patients cannot tolerate the side effects of these drugs, so modern medicine is turning to traditional medicine in search of new therapeutic agents. The objective of this study is the determination of the effect of aqueous and hydroalcoholic extracts of Thymus vulgaris L. administered orally at a dose of 200 mg/kg body weight on the lipid profile — total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoproteins (LDL), very lowdensity lipoproteins (VLDL), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) — of mice on a high cholesterol diet. Determination of lipid parameters after 30 days of treatment showed a significant decrease in the level of TC, TG, LDL, and VLDL with a non-significant increase in HDL level. These results demonstrated that Thymus vulgaris extracts have hypolipidic activity and could be used for the prevention of disorders associated with hyperlipidemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are a rich source of phytochemical compounds with antioxidant activity. Several studies have revealed that the consumption of plant polyphenols reduces the risk of diseases. Purple corn (Zea mays L. variety KND) and butterfly pea (Clitoria ternatea; CT) were selected to be investigated as alternative natural polyphenol sources to increase the value of these plants. Phytochemical profiles and antioxidant activities of KND cob, silk, husk and CT extracts alone and in combination were investigated in this study. The results revealed that purple corn cob (C) extract had the highest tryptophan, melatonin, total anthocyanin (TAC) and delphinidin content, while the purple corn silk (S) extract showed the highest total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activities. Serotonin was found only in purple corn husk (H) extract and C extract. High contents of tryptophan and sinapic acid were found in CT extract. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that strong antioxidant activities were strongly correlated with protocatechuic acid and p-hydroxybenzoic acid contents, moderate antioxidant activities were strongly correlated with melatonin, and low antioxidant activities were strongly correlated with sinapic acid content. Therefore, the purple corn variety KND waste cobs, silk and husks are a potentially rich source of health-promoting phytochemical compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodegradable tissue engineering scaffolds with tunable degradation, high biocompatibility, adequate mechanical strength and intrinsic biomineralization potential instigating biomimetic interactions with osteogenic cells have been well-received for effective bone-defect repair. This study demonstrates the early biomimetic as well as biomineralization of aqueous stem extract (WE) of Cissus quadrangularis (CQ) integrated natural scaffold composed of chitosan and collagen (CC) with a tunable degradation profile. Results demonstrate that the scaffold (CC-WE) synergistically contributes to its biomineralization, water absorption capacity and tunable degradation. The microporous CC-WE with an average pore size of 43.13 ± 13.59 µm attained complete swelling within 1h and maintained equilibrium swelling for 10 days and subsequently underwent controlled degradation (42.3% by day 60) under physiological pH and ambient temperature. Early biomimetic mineralization has been observed by SEM analysis after immersing CC-WE in simulated body fluid under biomimetic conditions for 7 days. In complementary, early biomineralization has been confirmed by Alizarin Red S (ARS) and von Kossa (VK) staining upon interaction with Human Osteosarcoma (HOS) cells for 7 days, viewed as respective coloured adduct formation. The findings, therefore, suggest innate biomineralization proficiency of CC-WE scaffold under a beneficial biological microenvironment to aid faster bone defect healing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Scabiosa genus of the family Caprifoliaceae comprises around 100 species distributed mainly in the Mediterranean. Studies on Scabiosa species, incentivized by their wide use in folk medicine, highlighted their interesting phytochemical contents and biological activities. In this study, we investigated the antioxidant activity and phenolics contents of the aqueous extracts obtained from the different parts of Scabiosa maritima at four stages of development. Extraction was conducted by maceration, infusion, and decoction methods. Total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), condensed tannin content (CTC), flavonols content, ferric reducing power (RP), total antioxidant activity (TAC), and ABTS and DPPH scavenging activity were evaluated. Pigments (β-carotene, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b , leukopene) contents of the different plant parts were also investigated as well as the chemical composition of essential oils obtained from leaves collected during April (pre-flowering stage) and inflorescence collecting during May (flowering stage). Mixed effect models were fitted to the different datasets, to elucidate the effect of the different intervening factors (organs, sampling date, and extraction method). The studied parameters have shown an organ-dependent variation, with leaves exhibiting in general the highest values. The analysis of random effect plots revealed an opposite behavior of leaves vs. stem and roots across time. Pigments, phenolics contents, and antioxidant activities were the highest in leaves during March, while they attained their peak during either April or June for stem and roots. The extraction method did not drastically affect the variation pattern of different variables across plant parts and sampling date, however, a significant effect on deviation magnitude was recorded. Infusion extraction generally assures the best recovery of phenolics from the different plant parts. Leaves and inflorescence essential oils exhibited a distinct chemical composition with only hexahydrofarnesyl acetone as the common compound. Leaves essential oil composition was dominated by apocarotenoid derivatives while pyridine derivatives were the group of the major compounds identified in inflorescence essential oil. Inflorescence essential oil was also characterized by a considerable amount of mescalin (5.66%). Repeated measure correlation (rmcorr) and multivariate analysis (MFA) highlighted respectively a moderate to strong correlation between extracts' antioxidant activities and phenolics contents and confirm the opposite time evolution pattern displayed by roots and leaves regarding the different analyzed variables. The extreme position on the second axes of the factorial map, occupied by stems collected during June and roots collected during May highlighted the distinctively high antioxidant activities of their decoctions. [Display omitted] • Phenolics contents and antioxidant activity recorded in the different aqueous extracts were shown to be organ dependent, with a significant effect of plant growing stage. • Extraction process (maceration, infusion, decoction) have shown a significant impact on phenolics contents and antioxidant capacity deviation magnitudes rather than their profiles across plant parts and sampling date. • Leaves extracts have shown an opposite deviation pattern over time to those of stem and roots with regard of the different variables. • Scabiosa.maritima essential oils chemical compositions were investigated for the first time. • Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone was the only common compounds to leaves and inflorescence essential oils. • A considerable amount of mescaline was recorded in Scabiosa.maritima inflorescence essential oil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six samples of bio-capped copper oxide nanoparticles were made from two bio-waste extracts: Punica granatum L. peels and Psidium guajava Linn. leaves. Extraction methods included soaking in water or hydroethanol and boiling in water. The samples were characterized using FT-IR, XRD, SEM, and TGA. Results showed organic residue capping on CuO nanoparticles varied based on the extract and capping medium used. The thermal stability of all CuO samples was observed to be high, as recorded from TGA patterns and confirmed by EDX analysis, which showed a high content of copper ranging from 10.1 to 36.1%. TEM analysis revealed an average particle size of less than 20 nm for all six samples, suggesting a similarity in size. The soaking technique produced the most stable bio-capped CuO nanoparticles with a high negative zeta potential value. According to the study, the CuO samples synthesized from aqueous extracts obtained through soaking showed the highest antibacterial activity. This could be attributed to the high oxygen ratio, which was confirmed via EDX analysis. The bio-capped CuO was effective against multidrug-resistant gram-positive bacteria MRSA, and C. albicans. A mechanism was proposed to explain how the capping media affected the antimicrobial activity of the bio-capped CuO nanoparticles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, field crops with allelopathic activity have gained overwhelming importance in overcoming the adverse effects of chemical herbicides on the environment and the increasing weed resistance to herbicides. Among the many cover crops studied for their allelopathic activity, wheat has exhibited strong allelopathic activity against a wide range of weed species, as reported in the previous literature. Several previous studies have focused on identifying wheat allelochemicals responsible for the weed suppression effect. The current review represents details about the most critical and influential chemical groups, including benzoxazinoids and phenolic compounds. In addition, several methods have been reported to exploit wheat's ability to combat weeds, including growing wheat in a crop rotation, applying wheat residues as soil mulch, or exposing weeds to wheat aqueous extract. A general background is also provided about allelopathy and allelochemicals; their concept, importance, chemical groups, mode of action and environmental impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Massularia acuminata stem is often used in folkloric medicine in the management of erectile dysfunction (ED), without full scientific basis for its action. Thus, the effects of aqueous extract of M. acuminata stem (MAS) on sexual activity, hormonal action, enzymatic activity and levels of molecules associated with erectile function were assessed. ED was induced by single intraperitoneal injection of 50 mg/kg body weight of streptozotocin in rats and treated with sildenafil citrate or MAS (50 or 100 mg/kg) orally for 2 weeks. The results revealed that there was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in mounting and intromission frequencies, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and nitric oxide levels, as well as elevation in mounting and intromission latencies, phosphodiesterase 5, arginase, acetylcholinesterase, adenosine triphosphatidase, and adenosine deaminase activities, nitric oxide, thiobarbituric acid reactive species, and glycated haemoglobin levels were observed in ED rats in comparison with the control rats. Treatment with MAS or sildenafil citrate significantly (p < 0.05) modulated the sexual behaviour, biochemical parameters and histological architecture, with 100 mg/kg of MAS having the best erectogenic effects. Furthermore, phenolic characterization revealed that catechin and kaempferol as the main phenolic compounds present in MAS, that can act in synergistically or additively with other phytochemicals to confer erectogenic effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artemisia annua (A. annua) has been used as a medicinal plant in the treatment of several infectious and non-infectious diseases in the forms of tea and press juice since ancient times. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aqueous extract of A. annua (AAE) as an antimicrobial agent in vitro and to evaluate its chemopreventive efficacy in vivo in a small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) animal model. The dried powder of AAE was prepared using the Soxhlet extraction system from the leaves of Artemisia annua. The in vitro activity of AAE was determined against Candida albicans (C. albicans), Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) using the agar well diffusion method and propidium iodide (PI)-stained microbial death under a confocal microscope. The pretreatment of mice with AAE was initiated two weeks before the first dose of benzo[a]pyrene and continued for 21 weeks. The chemopreventive potential of the extract was evaluated by flow cytometry and biochemical and histopathological analyses of the tissues and serum accordingly, after sacrificing the mice. The data revealed the antimicrobial potential of AAE against all the species investigated, as it showed growth-inhibitory activity by MIC, as well as confocal microscopy. The pretreatment of AAE exhibited significant protection in carcinogen-modulated, average body weight (ABW), and relative organ weight (ROW) cancer biomarkers in the serum and antioxidants in the lungs. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining of the tissues revealed that AAE prevented malignancy in the lungs. AAE also induced apoptosis and decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the lung cells analyzed by flow cytometry. The current findings demonstrated the use of AAE as an alternative medicine in the treatment of infectious disease and the chemoprevention of lung cancer. To our knowledge, this is the first study that summarizes the chemopreventive potential of AAE in a lung cancer model in vivo. However, further investigations are suggested to understand the role of AAE to potentiate the therapeutic index of the commercially available drugs that show multiple drug resistance against microbial growth and high toxicity during cancer chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Haberlea rhodopensis is a Balkan endemic plant that belongs to the Gesneriaceae family, and is believed to have medicinal use and health-promoting properties. This study aimed to (i) prepare aqueous (HAE) and ethanolic (HEE) extracts from the leaves of H. rhodopensis from in vitro propagated plants, (ii) screen for their potential antiproliferative and antimigratory activities, and (iii) chemically characterize both HAE and HEE by identifying compounds which may contribute to their observed bioactivity thereby further supporting their potential use in biomedical applications. The antiproliferative activity of both extracts was assessed against six human cancer cell lines by employing the sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay. HEE was found to be more potent in inhibiting cancer cell growth as compared to HAE. Therefore, HEE's antimigratory effects were further studied in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma (A459) cell lines as they were among the most sensitive ones to its antiproliferative activity. HEE was found to exert significant antimigratory concentration-dependent effects in both cell lines assessed with the wound healing assay. Chemical characterization by UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified that HEE contains higher levels of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, pigments (chlorophyll–/-b, lycopene, and β-carotene), monoterpenoids, and condensed tannins compared to HAE, while HAE, contains higher levels of soluble protein and sugars. Furthermore, HEE demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS●+) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. We have obtained comprehensive results highlighting the potential of HEE as a source of bioactive compounds with anticancer properties. Future studies should aim at identifying the chemical constituents responsible for the bioactivities observed, and focus on investigating HEE's effects, in in vivo preclinical cancer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Boswellia serrata has been traditionally used for the treatment of several inflammatory diseases, and bacterial resistance to antibiotics has recently increased the use of bioproducts. The present study aimed to assess the antibacterial effect and phagocytic ability of the aqueous extract of the Boswellia serrata in bacteria isolated in nosocomial infections. Boswellia carterii plant was collected and prepared from the aqueous extract in different concentrations. A total of 125 samples were collected from various clinical sources, including urine, sputum, wounds, otitis, and blood, from patients of both genders in different age groups. The results demonstrated that out of the 59 infected samples, urine samples had the highest infection (68%), followed by wounds, sputum, and otitis reported as (60%), (44%), and (40%), respectively. On the other hand, blood samples had the lowest percentage of infection (28%). Microscopic diagnostic results, biochemical tests, API Staph System, API 20E System, and Vitek 2 Compact pointed out that the highest infection rates were related to Staphylococcus aureus (32.20%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (25.33%), and Escherichia coli (22.03%), while the lowest infection rate was detected in Klebsiella pneumonia (20.33%). The results indicated that aqueous extract of Boswellia carterii had an antibacterial activity for all bacterial isolates, 25 mg/ml of extract gave an inhibition zone of 10.8 mm,10.4 mm, 7mm, and 10mm for S. aureus, E. coli, P aeruginosa, and K. pneumonia, respectively, while 200 mg/ml of extract gave 24 mm, 22 mm, 18.4 mm, and 20 mm, respectively. The results pointed to a significant increase in the phagocytosis rate, with the phagocytosis of blood samples treated with Boswellia carterii extract (79.7%), as compared to control samples (57.75%). As evidenced by the results of this study, the aqueous extract of the Boswellia carterii plant showed antibacterial effects and a positive impact on the phagocytic ratio; nonetheless, it is recommended that further studies be conducted to characterize the compounds of this herb.

Introduction: Allium genus with more than 900 important breeding and wild species, as a natural and bioactive antioxidant, is widely used in the pharmaceutical and food industries. This study aimed to investigate the effect of antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of Allium canadense and its effect on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase enzyme and recovery of the inhibited enzyme activity. Material & Methods: After the preparation of Allium canadense aqueous extract, the antioxidant activity of the extract at the concentrations of 100, 500, and 1000 μg/ml was investigated using DPPH free radical scavenging method. Following that, the activity of serum acetylcholinesterase and its reactivation after inhibition by organophosphate diazinon was evaluated at the concentrations of 100, 500, and 1000 μg/ml of the extract by the Ellman method. Findings: Inhibition concentration of 50% (IC50) of free radicals of DPPH was 360/19 μg/ml. Aqueous extract of Allium canadense did not inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity and was added to the concentration dependently. The regeneration of the inhibited enzymes activity was also observed in the vicinity of different concentrations of the aqueous extract of the plant. Discussion & Conclusion: The aqueous extract of Allium canadense does not inhibit acetylcholinesterase activity; however, it can reactivate the enzyme inhibited by diazinon. The reason for this positive effect may be related to the high antioxidant activity in the extract.

Introduction: Nowadays, production and utilization of Nano materials have increased due to their unique and interesting properties. So far, different physical and chemical methods have been used to synthesize silver nanoparticles. Chemical synthesis is not compatible due to the hazardous chemicals residues on the surface of the nanoparticles (NP) as well as production of by products with high impact on the environment. Physical routes for synthesis of NPs have some drawbacks, too. These methods require high energy and space, and are expensive. Therefore, biological methods for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles are considered emerging technologies as economic choices in the green chemistry field. Among these methods, plant-mediated synthesis of AgNPs is a rapid, simple, non-toxic and eco-friendly technique. Silver nanoparticles exhibit high bactericidal activity at their utilized concentrations with no toxic effect on human cells, and they also strongly enhance the antibacterial activity of conventional antibiotics even against multi-resistant bacteria through their synergistic effects. Callistemon citrinus belongs to the family Myrtaceae and includes more than 30 species. The plant is widespread in wet tropics, notably Australia, South America and tropical Asia, but presently can be found all over the world. Callistemon citrinus is a potential medicinal plant used to treat gastrointestinal distress, pain, and infectious diseases caused by bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. In this study Callistemon citrinus aqueous extract was used to reduce silver ions in silver nitrate solution. In the following, the antimicrobial activity of nanoparticles synthesized by various qualitative and quantitative methods on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Listeria innocua was investigated. Materials and Methods: For the synthesis of silver nanoparticles, 25 mL of silver nitrate solution was added to 5 mL of leaf extract with a concentration of 100 mg/mL and maintained for 24 h at 20 °C. Change the color of the solution to Red represents the production of silver nanoparticles in the solution. To stabilize the presence of silver nanoparticles, the absorption spectrum of silver nanoparticles produced by spectrophotometer was prepared. Antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Callistemon citrinus leaf aqueous extract was examined by disc diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration (microdilution broth) and minimum bactericidal concentration on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi and Listeria innocua. Results and Discussion: The results showed that in disc diffusion agar method, the diameter inhibition zone increased with increasing the concentration of silver nanoparticles. The maximum effect of silver nanoparticles synthesized using Callistemon citrinus leaf aqueous extract at a concentration of 150 mg / ml was observed for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An inhibition zone was observed for all examined pathogenic microorganisms at all concentrations. The results showed that in the well diffusion agar method, nanosilver particles at a concentration of 18.75 mg/ml did not show any inhibitory effect on all the pathogenic microorganisms. The results of statistical analysis showed that there was no significant difference between all the concentrations of silver nanoparticles synthesized for Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi and Staphylococcus aureus (P˂ 0.05(. The MIC for Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria innocua was 128, 256, 256, 256 and 512 mg/mm, respectively. The MBC for all the pathogenic strains was 512 mg/mm. The results of this study showed that the Callistemon citrinus leaf extract has a good ability to synthesize silver nanoparticles. Nanoparticles synthesized from Callistemon citrinus leaf extract had good antimicrobial activity against examined pathogenic bacteria, especially Gram-negative bacteria. Green-synthesized nanoparticles can be used as antimicrobial agent to fight infectious diseases caused by various microbial strains, although more research is needed in vitro, animal models and in vivo.

Juniperus oxycedrus L. (J. oxycedrus) has a rich historical background in herbal remedies to treating digestive system abnormalities. However, no comprehensive evaluation of its potential toxic effects has been conducted. The current investigation aimed to evaluate the acute and subacute toxicity of an aqueous extract of J. oxycedrus (AEJO). AEJO was prepared by the conventional Moroccan methods by decoction the arial part of the plant. The acute and subacute toxicity tests were conducted in mice and rats, respectively. Acute toxicity tests showed that the extract was not toxic even at high doses of 5000 mg/kg. In the subacute study, no detectable indications of toxicity or mortality were observed and there were no notable deviations in food intake or water consumption among all rats. However, changes in body weight of animals treated with 1000 and 2000 mg/kg underwent a significant decrease. AEJO administration decreased platelet number, elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase, and reduced albumin levels. Histological examination revealed normal renal parenchyma despite increased creatinine. It also showed binucleation, and hepatocyte vacuolation. The results indicate that AEJO has considerable tolerance for consumption, but repeated use can affect hepatocytes and kidneys. Therefore, additional analyses, such as subchronic, chronic, and neurotoxic studies, are required before using this plant in clinical research. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a persistent and advanced pulmonary ailment. The roles of innate immunity and adaptive immunity are pivotal in the evolution of IPF. An ill-adjusted interaction between epithelial cells and immune cells is responsible for initiating the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and sustaining chronic inflammation, thereby fostering fibrosis progression. The intricacy of IPF pathogenesis has hindered the availability of efficacious agents. Elephantopus scaber Linn. (ESL) is a canonical Chinese medicine with significant immunoregulatory effects, and its aqueous extract has been proven to attenuate IPF symptoms in bleomycin (BLM)-induced mice. However, the underlying mechanism through which ESL relieves IPF remains unclear. To validate whether ESL reverses IPF by mediating the immune response and EMT. : Ultra-performance liquid chromatography with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS) and UPLC were used to identify the components and determine the concentrations of the specific compounds in the ESL. Network pharmacology and molecular docking were applied to predict the potential mechanism underlying the anti-IPF effect of ESL. BLM-induced IPF mice were used to validate the anti-IPF effect of ESL, and lung tissue was collected to test putative pathways involved in inflammation and EMT via immunohistochemistry (ICH), real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT–qPCR) and Western blotting. Sixty-one compounds were identified, and thirteen main ingredients were quantified in the ESL. In silico experiments predicted that the IPF-mediated reversal of adverse effects by ESL would be related to interruption of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/nuclear factor-k-gene binding (NF- ĸ B) inflammatory pathway and the transforming growth factor-beta l (TGF-β1)/phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a) fibrosis pathway. In vivo experiments showed that ESL alleviates BLM-induced lung inflammation and fibrosis by reducing neutrophil aggregation and fibroblast foci, similar to the effects of the positive control drug pirfenidone (PFD). ESL markedly inhibited the transcription of TNF-α, IL-1 β, and IL-6, which are downstream genes of the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, the protein levels of TLR4 and p-NF- κ B were correspondingly inhibited in response to ESL treatment. Additionally, ESL reverses BLM-induced changes in the expression of EMT-related biological characteristic indicators (collagen I [COLIA1], E-cadherin, and alpha smooth muscle actin [ α -SMA]) at the messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level and markedly inhibits the expression of EMT-related upstream proteins (TGF- β 1, p-PI3K, p-Akt, and p-FOXO3a). Our research suggested that ESL attenuates BLM-induced IPF through mediating the EMT process via the TGF-β1/PI3K/Akt/FOXO3a signaling pathway and inhibiting inflammation through the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway, highlighting that ESL can serve as an immunoregulator for relieving the abnormal immune response and reversing the EMT in IPF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background : Due to the increased occurrence of bacterial resistance to multiple antimicrobial drugs, there is a constant search for novel therapeutic strategies; medicinal plants represent an important source for obtaining such substances. The antimicrobial activity of extracts and essential oils of medicinal plants has been proven in several studies conducted in countries with diverse flora. Aim : To evaluate the antibacterial activity of cinnamon against multidrug- resistant bacteria. Material and Method: Bacterial susceptibility testing was conducted by the diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar using paper discs impregnated with test substances. Results: All test strains were sensitive to the essential oil of cinnamon. We observed low synergistic potential between essential oils against the strain of S. aureus. Conclusion: The essential oil of cinnamon has antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Future research should be conducted to define the best concentration and better extraction solution for mastic and cinnamon peels.

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of aqueous extracts of different plant species on the grain and protein yield of soybean. The testing was conducted at the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad on the seeds of the NS Apolo variety. The aqueous extracts of the above-ground part of nettle, the above-ground part of nettle and comfrey, whole banana fruit, banana peel, onion bulbs leaves, the top parts of willow twigs and the top parts of soybean plants were foliarly applied. In addition to the untreated control variant, the experiment also included a distilled water control. Control with distilled water was to show whether the effect of aqueous plant extracts was due to plant material or just water. The results of the experiment showed that the use of aqueous extracts contributed to the increase in grain and protein yield. The increase in grain yield ranged from 9.48% to 15.34%, and the increase in protein yield from 9.31% to 16.16%. The best effect was achieved by applying the aqueous extract of the whole banana fruit and the aqueous extract of the mix of nettle and comfrey. By applying them each year, a significantly higher yield was achieved in relation to the control with distilled water.

Objective: To investigate the prophylactic efficacy of date palm fruit extract against doxorubicin-induced hepatotoxicity in Wistar albino rats. Methods: The rats were equally and randomly assigned to 6 groups: group 1 (untreated control), group 2 and 3 given daily oral administration of prophylactic aqueous extract of date palm fruit at 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg body weight, respectively, and group 4, 5 and 6 intraperitoneally injected with doxorubicin at 15 mg/kg on day 30. Rats in group 5 and 6 received daily oral administration of aqueous extract of date palm fruit at 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg body weight, respectively, for 30 d. The phytochemicals identified by GC-MS analysis were analyzed using in silico study. Antioxidant enzymes, liver enzymatic, biochemical parameters and histopathological analysis were determined to evaluate hepatoprotective activity of date extract. Results: Aqueous extract of date palm fruit significantly mitigated doxorubicin-induced changes in activities of liver enzymes, reduced reactive oxygen species levels, and suppressed lipid peroxidation and DNA damage. Moreover, aqueous extract of date palm fruit reduced doxorubicin-induced hepatic lesions. Molecular docking studies showed that most compounds of aqueous extract of date palm fruit identified via GC-MS had good interaction with proteins of human pregnane X receptor, oxygenase-1, and CYP2C9. Conclusions: The aqueous extract of date palm fruit mitigates doxorubicin-mediated DNA damage and hepatotoxicity, and restores normal liver function and may be a promising agent against the deleterious effects of doxorubicin.

Background: A significant number of species of grasses (Poaceae) have allelopathic properties and two genera of Andropogoneae -Cymbopogon and Bothriochloa- are the main aromatic genera recognized in the family. The genus Imperata (Poaceae: Andropogoneae) is widely distributed, with several species being present around the world. Questions and / or Hypotheses: This study assessed the allelopathic potential of some South American species of Imperata taking into account previous reports on I. cylindrica, which has been extensively studied due to its invasiveness and allelopathic potential. Studied species / data description /Mathematical model: I. brasiliensis, I. condensata, I. minutiflora, and I. tenuis Study site and dates: Greenhouse of the Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal, Sistemática y Filogeografía de Plantas, Córdoba, Argentina. Methods: We obtain the aqueous extract from the studied species and we evaluated its effect on germination and root and shoot growth of lettuce, corn, and tomato. Results: In bioassays, aqueous leaf extract of I. brasiliensis, I. condensata, I. minutiflora, and I. tenuis inhibited seed germination and root and shoot growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and maize (Zea mays). The extracts mainly affected root and shoot length, whereas the effect on seed germination was low. Conclusions: The studied species may contain allelochemicals, which interfere with seed germination and seedling growth. Future research on the type of chemical compounds present in aqueous extracts may contribute to their use for agroecological purposes.

Cymbopogon nardus is one of the medicinal plants widely used in folk medicine to cure certain diseases. The current work aims to assess the diuretic potential of Cymbopogon nardus using animal models. Urine electrolytes (Sodium and potassium), serum electrolytes (Sodium, potassium, and chloride), blood urea, creatinine, creatinine clearance, osmolar clearance, urinary osmolarity, and urine flow were determined. To assess the diuretic effect of the studied plant, four groups of rats were used (n = 6). The control group received 10 mL of water, the second and third groups received both studied doses of the plant (100 and 150 mg/kg bw), and the last group received furosemide (10 mg/kg bw), the experiment sustained for seven days. Urine flow and electrolytes levels were studied. The single dose of Cymbopogon nardus extract significantly increased urine flow after oral administration. In addition, daily administration of both doses of Cymbopogon nardus significantly elevated urine excretion as opposite to the first group. Cymbopogon nardus enhanced the urine elimination of sodium and potassium. Importantly, both doses have no effect on serum potassium level. Creatinine clearance was significantly elevated in a dose-dependent manner. This information will be considered as a keystone for further studies forward in applying new process to isolate active compounds of Cymbopogon nardus responsible for its biological properties.

This study was conducted in the laboratories of Food Science dept. in the Faculty of Agriculture, Tikrit University and a number of laboratories in Baghdad, as it included the isolation and diagnosis of two types of pathogenic bacteria from minced meat samples obtained from the markets of Tikrit through cultivation on the agricultural media MacCkonkey Agar, SS. Agar, Nutrient Agar and Cetrimide Agar, where it was diagnosed based on its microscopic and agricultural characteristics, where two types of Gramnegative bacteria were included, E. coli and Salmonella enterica sub sp diarizonaeand diagnosed to the species level using the Vitek 2 system . The aqueous and oil extract of the study samples were prepared, from which concentrations were prepared 2%, 4 %, after which the process of diagnosing and estimating the effective compounds in relation to the oil extract of cumin was performed using the gas chromatography technique connected to the mass spectrometer device type Shimazu Qp 2010 plus GC / MS, where a number of 29 compounds were diagnosed, the most important these are cominol, eugenol, borneil and others. The inhibitory activity of these extracts was studied on bacterial species by Well diffusion assay method, with concentrations of 2% , 4% , where the results showed , the highest inhibition diameter at concentration is 4% was 18 mm and 17 mm towards the growth of Salmonella enterica sub sp diarizonae and E.coli, respectively, for the oil extracted,and the effect of the aqueous extract and the oil extracted of cumin , was studied in the logarithm of the preparation of the test bacteria from study models and stored at a temperature of 5 ° C where no bacterial growth appeared the emergence of a few numbers at the beginning of the preservation period, while there was a significant increase in the logarithm of the number of bacteria at the seventh day for all concentrations and tested bacterial species,. focusing on the sensory characteristics of minced beef and added to it each of the aromatic oil of cumin, we notice an increase in the value of flavor, juiciness, freshness, general acceptance by an increase in the amount of addition, but these characteristics are reduced by increasing storage times

IntroductionXanthium strumarium (Cocklebur) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Asteraceae, native to the America, Eastern Asia, South Africa and Australia. It is coarse, herbaceous annual plant growing to 50-120 cm tall, which invades agricultural lands. Its seedlings and seeds contain the glycoside carboxyatractyloside and can be poisonous to animals, including cattle, horses and pigs. Its successful spread in so many parts of world has mainly attributed to its allelopathic properties, which enable it to complete effectively with native crops and/or pasture species. Vigna radiata is an important food legume cultivated in rainfed areas in the west and northwest of Iran. One of the main reasons of its lower yield is competition from weeds, because it does not compete well with weeds. Thus, weeds reduce yield and quality of mungbean through competition for light, moisture and nutrient. This study was aimed at determining the possible effects of the widespread weed X. strumarium L. whole plant A.E. on germination and seedling growth of mungbean under laboratory and greenhouse conditions Materials and MethodsNaturally growing common cocklebur plants around our university campus were randomly uprooted and collected during flowering stage in August 2018. The plants were immediately brought to laboratory and the whole plant cut into 2 to 3 cm pieces, air-dried in greenhouse and ground in a mill of 2 mm sieve size. Then 3, 6 and 9 g of ground materials were mixed in 100 ml distilled water and soaked for 24 h at room temperature (21 to 22 oC) and filtered through four layers of cheesecloth. The aqueous extracts were stored in conical flasks in dark until use. Both in laboratory bioassays or greenhouse studies were done from August to December, 2018 and the rates of 90, 180 and 270 g powdered material or 3, 6 and 9% extracts were based on the previous studies. Results and DiscussionResults showed that mean rate of germination in control treatment was higher than that of other treatments, but there was not any significant difference between control and 3% treatment. The lowest value for this trait belonged to aqueous extract i.e. 9%. The increase in X. strumarium L. A.E. concentration was concomitant with decrease of the mean rate of mungbean seed germination. In this case, there was a negative linear regression between A.E. concentration and plumule length as well. It is noteworthy that decrease in germination rate led to a delayed emergence and poor establishment of mungbean seedlings. X. strumarium A.E. did not adversely influence plumule dry weight of mungbean in the 3% A.E. treatment, compared to the control. The A.E. concentrations of 6 and 9% resulted in significant reduction of 20.87 and 30.97% in plumule length compared with those of the control, respectively. The soil incorporation of dry mix residues decreased both germination and seedling growth of mungbean. There was an increase in inhibitory effect with increase in amount of dry residues incorporated. However, no significant difference was observed between control and 90 g for both germination (%) and rate, and root and shoot lengths. Compared to soil incorporated dry mix residues, the soil surface applied dry whole plant residues drastically inhibited the mungbean germination and seedling growth. This is congruent with previous report. All rates of soil surface placed X. strumarium dry mix residues significantly inhibited the mungbean seedling emergence (%) and rate and root and shoot lengths over the control. ConclusionHigh concentrations of X. strumarium L. A.E. negatively influenced seed germination rate, plumule length and seedling dry weight of mungbean. However, their effects were not considerable at low concentrations. In conclusion, we can claim that mismanagement of weed population in field condition especially high densities of X. strumarium L. weed and presence of high concentrations of water soluble chemicals produced by this weed adversely influence early growth (delayed emergence and dwarf and weak seedlings) of mungbean plants. Eventually, this trend negatively influences homogenous emergence of plants and the result would be plants susceptible to biotic and abiotic stresses, leading to very low marketable yields.

A pot experiment was executed in the college of science, Salahaddin university glass house to investigate the allelopathic potentiality of aqueous chickpea Cicer arietinum L. seed extracts that was foliar sprayed on chickpea plants 45 days after sowing to estimate growth, yield, yield components, and seeds chemical characteristics. Results showed that the allelopathic effect was significant on chickpea plant height, number of pods per plant, seeds per pod, shoot dry weight, seed yield per plant, biological yield per plant, harvest index, hundred seeds weight, nitrogen, protein, and phosphorus content. The allelopathic effect was on its own species, and the effect was percentage dependent which, means increasing extract percentage elevated allelopathic impact. The allelopathic index was at the maximum level when the plants were sprayed with the highest extract percentage.

Objectives: Trichomoniasis is the most common non-viral sexually transmitted infection in the world. Metronidazole is currently used for the treatment of trichomoniasis, which has side effects. In recent years, the use of plants has been considered by researchers. This study was conducted to investigate the anti-trichomonal activity of aqueous and alcoholic extract of pomegranate peel on Trichomonas vaginalis in vitro.Methods: In this experimental study, the extracts were prepared, and to evaluate the effect of aqueous and alcoholic extract of pomegranate peel on Trichomonas vaginalis parasites, the concentrations of 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and 3200 µg/ml were prepared. Metronidazole and TYM medium were considered positive and negative controls, respectively. Afterward, 105 live parasites were added to all wells, and all groups were kept at 37°C. Live parasites were counted at 24 and 48 h intervals by Trypan Blue using a neobar slide microscope (Hemocytometer). Also, the effect of metronidazole (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10 µg/ml) was investigated as a drug control. Subsequently, the IC50 value for the above extract was calculated using GraphPad Prism 9. It should be noted that all steps of the experiment were performed in triplicate and the results were considered as average.Results: The IC50 of aqueous and alcoholic extract of pomegranate peel on Trichomonas vaginalis were calculated at 226.3, 109.9 μg/ml after 24h and 60.16 and 32.6 μg/ml after 48h, respectively. The IC50 of metronidazole was calculated at 0.28 and 0.1 μg/ml after 24h and 48h. The highest mortality rate (100%) was observed at a concentration of 3200 μg/ml after 24h of exposure.Conclusion: While the aqueous and alcoholic extract of pomegranate peel has an anti-Trichomonas effect, the anti-Trichomonas properties of the alcoholic extract are more than its aqueous extract. Further and more comprehensive studies are suggested to investigate this plant's constituents and the parasite's lethal effect in vitro and in vivo conditions.

Regarding the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial effects of Salvia officnalis (S. officinalis) extracts and the use of medicinal herbs as an alternative to chemical drugs, this study aimed to evaluate the enzymatic changes and reduction of hepatocyte damage in mice poisoned with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) after treatment with aqueous and alcoholic extract of Salvia officnalis. A total of 40 adult male mice were divided into eight groups including six experimental, one negative, and one positive control group, which were exposed to CCl4 at the concentration of 2.3 mg/kg. The active compounds in the alcoholic and aqueous extracts of S. officinalis were obtained using high-performance liquid chromatography. Subsequently, S. officinalis extract in 100, 200, and 300 mg /kg doses were fed orally to mice for six days. The enzymes (GST, ALP, ALT, AST, and MDA) were determined in mice serum. The study results showed that enzyme activity was significantly decreased in the group treated with S. officinalis extract, and the concentration of 300mg/kg proved to be most effective. In addition, it was indicated that the alcoholic extract had a higher effect than the aqueous extract, which might be due to the greater amount of active compounds in the alcoholic extract. The improving effects of S. officinalis can be attributed to the bioactive components with antioxidant properties that inhibit the damaging effects of free radicals, chemical drugs, and tissue damage.

Abstract The oil-in-water (O/W) nano-emulsion (NE) is expanded to enhance the bioavailability of hydrophobic compounds. The NE can be prepared by herbal extract and essential oil as herbal medicines for antidiabetic treatment. In the present study, the O/W NE was prepared by fenugreek extract (FE), nettle extract (NE), and cumin essential oil (CEO) using tween 80 and span 80 surfactants in an ultrasonic bath, at room temperature within 18 min. The antidiabetic property was evaluated by determining glucose absorption using cultured rat L6 myoblast cell line (L6) myotubes and insulin secretion using the cultured mouse pancreatic beta-cell (RIN-5) for NEs. The samples were investigated by dynamic light scattering (DLS) to examine the size distribution and size, zeta potential for the charge determination, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to investigate morphology and size. The rheological properties were studied by viscosity. The sample stability was evaluated at different temperatures and days by DLS and SEM analyses. The cytotoxicity of samples was explored by MTT assay for HEK293 human cell line as a specific cell line originally derived from human embryonic kidney cells at three different concentrations for three periods of time. The NEs with nanometer-size were observed with antidiabetic properties, low cytotoxicity, and suitable stability. This study provides definitive evidence for the NE as a plant medicine with antidiabetic properties. The NE can be a good candidate for biomedical applications.

In recent years, the use of plant compounds has been considered due to their lower side effects and drug resistance. In this study, the antitumor and antibacterial properties of methanolic and aqueous extracts of Acroptilon repens, Amaranthus retroflexus L, Chenopodium album L and Convolvulus arvensis L were investigated. In addition, the antioxidant, as well as apoptosis activity of these extracts, were evaluated using DPPH and flow cytometry, respectively. The results showed that methanolic extracts of weeds had higher anti-tumor activity compared to their aqueous extract on AGS cells. The lowest IC50 value of aqueous weeds extract against AGS cells was 0.75 mg/mL, which was observed in C. album, while this amount for the methanolic weeds extract was 0.23 mg/mL, which was observed in A. retroflexus. The DPPH and flow cytometry results revealed that the extracts of A. retroflexus is more appropriated compared to other extracts of weeds for future antitumoral application due to high ratio of apoptosis and antioxidant activity. The concentration of aqueous and methanolic extracts of A. retroflexus. required to inhibit 50% of free radical were 51.66 and 23.04 mg/mL respectively. Antimicrobial assays showed that the weeds extracts have good effective on Staphylococcus arouse compared to Escherichia coli. Generally, C. album extracts had higher antimicrobial properties than the extracts of A. repens, A. retroflexus and Convolvulus arvensis L. The lowest minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) value of weed extract against E. coli and Staphylococcus bacteria was 500 and 1000 μg/mL, respectively, which was observed after their treatment with methanol extract of C. album. Weeds have various beneficial compounds, which many of them are still unknown, therefore, more research is needed to identify these compounds.

Purpose: Allelopathy is a plant interaction in which a donor species releases chemicals that suppress the development of receptor species. Allelopathy has been suggested as one explanation for catastrophic loss of native biodiversity in some invaded biomes; however, experimental tests of this hypothesis have had inconsistent results. Here, we examine if a previous finding of strong allelopathic effects of the warm-season, invasive C4 grass Bothriochloa ischaemum on North American prairie grasses can be reproduced in a different geographic setting. Methods: We examined the effects of sterilized (autoclaved or microfiltered) and unsterilized leachate on germination and the effect of sterilized leachate on seedling growth, including five native species and two exotic warm season grass species. For nine weeks, seedlings were irrigated with water or autoclaved leachate from B. ischaemum or Schizachyrium scoparium, a native species. Results: Germination rates were significantly suppressed only in the two invasive species and only when treated with sterilized leachates. Seedling biomass at harvest was largely insensitive to leachate application. Conclusions: The present study did not replicate earlier results, though many details of the experimental designs were similar. However, we used sterilized leachates and soils, whereas the previous study did not, which could indicate mediation by indirect microbial effects in the previous study. In addition, historic differences in the introduction of B. ischaemum in Oklahoma and Texas, along with climatic differences, may have affected the evolution of allelopathy post-invasion. Future studies would benefit from comparisons of allelopathic effects across invasive species' ecotypes, using sterilized and unsterilized extracts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The allelopathic potential of Calotropis procera (Aiton) W.T. Aiton was investigated on germination, growth and minerals uptake of 5-Agricultural crops : gram (Cicer arietinum L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., mungbean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek], fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.). For this purpose, we treated seeds with 0 %, 10 %, 20 % and 30 % concentrations of the entire C. procera plant aqueous extract. The effect on germination was examined for six days, while the root and shoot length of the seedling were measured after 10 days of growth. The germination parameters, including germination (%) and mean germination time (MGT), were recorded at each concentration, including control. The results showed that these parameters except MGT were significantly reduced at higher concentrations. Likewise, biomass, minerals uptake and chlorophyll contents were markedly reduced. With the C. procera extract treatment, the fungal species (i.e. Fusarium solani, Macrophomina phasiolina, Sclerotinia sclerotium, Fusarium semitectum, Phompsos sp., Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Rhizoctonia solani) exhibited severe inhibition effects with the methanolic and lesser inhibition by the aqueous extract. Allelochemicals like p-hydroxybenzoic acid, coumaric acid, syringic acid, ferulic acid, quercetin and caffeic acid were identified using HPLC and showed their antifungal activities. These results suggested that C. procera is harmful to crops under field conditions, but its extract may be used as a fungicide to control pathogenic fungi. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To explore whether the allelopathy of Metasequoia glyptostroboides litter is an obstacle to its natural regeneration, eight concentrations (200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 2, 1 g·L-1 and CK) of aqueous extracts from fresh and natural litter of M. glyptostroboides were set to analyze the allelopathic effects of aqueous extracts of different types and concentrations on seed germination and growth of M. glyptostroboides. The results were as follows:(1)The aqueous extract of the fresh M. glyptostroboides litter had no significant effects on seed germination rate and germination energy (P>0.05), but had significant effects on germination index (P<0.05), and seed germination was significantly inhibited by 1, 100, 200 g·L-1 treatments. The effects of aqueous extracts of the natural M. glyptostroboides litter on three indexes of seed germination were not significant (P>0.05), but the inhibitory effect was reflected in 5, 10, 50, 200 g·L-1. (2)The shoot length, hypocotyl length and main root length of M. glyptostroboides seeds were significantly different between different concentrations of fresh and natural litter aqueous extracts (P<0.05), and decreased gradually with the increase of aqueous extract concentrations (≥10 g·L-1), especially in the range from 50 to 200 g·L-1. (3)Compared with seed germination, the aqueous extracts of fresh and natural M. glyptostroboides litters had stronger inhibitory effect on the growth of seeds after germination, and the allelopathic effect of fresh litter was stronger than that of natural litter. (4)The main root length was the most sensitive to allelochemicals among seeds germination and growth indexes. (5)The dynamic change of shoot length growth of M. glyptostroboides seeds accords with the “S” type growth curve (R²≥0.988). In summary, the litter of M. glyptostroboides has a certain allelopathic inhibitory effect on its own seed germination and growth, which affects the natural regeneration of its population. It is suggested that the litter under the forest should be properly cleaned to promote the natural renewal of the M. glyptostroboides population in the management of M. glyptostroboides populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The extraction of phenols from almond skin using water has not been applied before. The purpose of this study was to obtain aqueous extracts from almond skin to be added to pork patties to prolong their shelf life. Four different varieties of almonds were studied and aqueous extracts were obtained. The antioxidant capacity and composition of phenol compounds of the extracts were determined. Results showed that the use of water produces extracts with phenol compounds and antioxidant capacity, with the Antoñeta variety presenting the best performance in terms of antioxidant behavior. The most abundant phenolic compounds identified were isorhamentin-3-O-rutinoside, catechin and protocatechuic acid, all of them had a hydrophilic character due to the –OH groups in their molecules. The effect of almond skin extracts (ALMOND) on the shelf life of pork patties was compared with the effects of a control without extract (CONTROL NEG) and a control with sodium ascorbate (CONTROL POS). Throughout storage, values of pH, weight loss, headspace composition, color, TBARs and psychrotrophic aerobic bacteria were studied. CONTROL POS samples showed the lowest lipid oxidation values in comparison to CONTROL NEG or ALMOND extract samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modern medicine does not have reliable liver protection drugs that prevent and treat liver injury caused by drugs. The leaves of sacred / holy basil (Ocimum sanctum) belong to the family of lamiaceae, which is traditionally used for its liver protection. We aimed to determine if Ocimum sanctum has hepatoprotective properties and, if so, whether or not they work synergistically with silymarin. Albino rats (150-200 g) were divided into five groups. Groups A and B are normal control groups and experimental control groups, respectively. Groups C, D and E received the alcoholic extract of Ocimum sanctum leaves (OSE) 200 mg / kg BW / day, silymarin 100 mg/kg BW/day and OSE 100 mg/kg BW/day + silymarin 50 mg/kg BW/day p.o., respectively, for 10 days. Hepatotoxicity was induced in Groups B, C, D and E on the eighth day with paracetamol 2 g/kg BW/day. The effect of hepatoprotection was evaluated through a study of serum proteins, albuminglobulin ratios, alkaline phosphatase, transaminase, and liver histology. The results of the study were presented as averages and standard deviations for each group (SEM). The study group was compared with the control group with a single-way ANOVA and Bonferoni test followed. A P-value of <0.01 was considered significant. In groups C, D and E, liver enzymes and albumin globulin ratio were significantly (P < 0.01) closer to normal than in group B. On histological inspection, groups C, D and E revealed reduced sinusoidal congestion, cloudy edoema, fatty abnormalities, and regenerating regions of the liver, but group B showed only liver necrosis. The extract of the alcoholic leaves of Ocimum sanctum has significant liver protection and synergy with Silimarin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present investigation, the bark of terminalia paniculata were shade dried, coarsely powdered and exhaustively extracted with 90% ethanol and aqueous extract were prepared by cold maceration method. The extracts were subjected to prelimnary phytochemical investigations and were further evaluated for total phenolic and flavonoid content in the plant extracts. The aqueous extract were selected for synthesis of metal based nanoparticles and were characterized by different techniques like UV–Visible Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), Zeta Potential, FTIR analysis and Dynamic light scattering (DLS). The aqueous extract of the plant and prepared metal nanoparticles were subjected to invitro antimicrobial, antifungal and anticancer activity at various concentration range using ciprofloxacin, fluconazole, itraconazole and cisplatin as standard drugs. The results of antimicrobial activity of aqueous bark extract of Terminalia paniculata Roth and its iron nanoparticles showed that both were found to be active at (concentration 10-30 µg/ml )against the bacterial strains of Escherichia coli (ATCC 10536) and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 60511) strains. Antifungal activity of TPA1(Terminalia paniculata aqueous extract-1) and FeNPs was showed against pathogenic fungi Candida albicans(ATCC-2091). Results showed that TPA-1 and FeNPs inhibited the growth of Candida albicans with MIC of 30 and 50 µg/ml. Standard drug Fluconazole was found to be 20 µg/ml . TPA-1 showed viability of cells with percentage of 82.68 % at a concentration of 50µg/ml and FeNPs found to be 81.60% at a concentration of 10 µg/ml.against MCF-7 and A549 of human breast and lung cancer cell lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]