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Leontice smirnowii is a member of the Berberidaceae family. We have recently reported the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, reducing power and metal chelating activities [...]

Leontice smirnowii is a member of the Berberidaceae family. In the current study we investigated the possible antiradical and antioxidant activity of the monodesmosides (MLS) and crude extract (CELS) of [...]

The anti-inflammatory potential of α-hederin (monodesmoside) and hederasaponin-C from Hedera helix, and hederacolchisides-E and -F (bidesmosides) from H. colchica was investigated in carrageenan-induced acute paw edema in rats. Saponins and [...]

Summary Hedera helix is a plant well-known as ivy or English ivy, and a member of the Araliaceae family. In the present study, we tested the possible antiinflammatory effects of [...]

Methanol extracts of wood from Pinus resinosa were found to be selectively cytotoxic against human lung carcinoma cells, A549 (IC50 41 +/- 6 microg/mL), human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells, DLD-1 (IC50 47 +/- 4 microg/mL) in comparison with healthy cells, WS1 (IC50 130 +/- 11 microg/mL). Five known compounds were isolated and identified by 1H, 13C NMRspectroscopy and HR-ESI-MS mass spectrometry as, pinosylvin monomethyl ether (1), pinosylvin (2), pinosylvin dimethyl ether (3), pinobanksin (4) and (-)-norachelogenin (5). Compound 4 was isolated for the first time in P. resinosa. The cytotoxicity of compounds 1-5 was evaluated against A549, DLD-1 and WS1. Compound 1 exhibited the strongest cytotoxicity against both tumor cell lines and the healthy cell line with an IC50 of 25 +/- 4 microm for A549, 20 +/- 1 microm for DLD-1 and 34 +/- 3 microm for WS1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant activity of a triterpenoid glycoside [3-O-(beta-D-glucopyranosyl)-hederagenin; OGH] isolated from the berries of Hedera colchica, an ivy species endemic in Georgia, was investigated. The antioxidant properties of OGH were evaluated using different antioxidant assays: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl free radical (DPPH.) scavenging, total antioxidant activity, reducing power, superoxide anion radical (O2*-)) scavenging, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging and metal chelating activities. The total antioxidant activity was measured according to the ferric thiocyanate method. alpha-Tocopherol and trolox, a water-soluble analogue of tocopherol, were used as reference antioxidant compounds. At a 30 microg/mL concentration, the inhibitory effects of OGH on the peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion was found to be 95.3%, whereas alpha-tocopherol and trolox exhibited 88.8% and 86.2% inhibition of peroxidation in the system, respectively. In addition, OGH had effective DPPH. scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide scavenging, total reducing power and metal chelation of ferrous ions activities. These various antioxidant activities were compared with alpha-tocopherol and trolox. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five triterpenoid saponins were isolated from the stems ofHedera colchica K. Koch, Araliaceae. Two of them are new natural substances. HCSt-A (1): 3-O-a-D-arabinopyranoside; 28-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1? 4)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-arjunolic acid. HCSt-B (2): 3-O-ß-D-xylopyranoside; 28-O-a-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1?4)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1?6)-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-hederagenin. The derivative of arjunolic acid is described for the first time inAraliaceaefamily. The chemical structures of isolated compounds were established on the base of chemical and 1D and 2D NMR experiments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objects of this research were the aboveground and underground parts of Vinca rosea L., a species of periwinkle introduced in Western Georgia. The sum of alkaloids and biologically aactive fractions of monomeric alkaloids were obtained by liquid-liquid extraction, precipitation with petroleum ether (I), polybuffer distribution (II) and 10% acetic acid (III). 14 known compounds were identified by LC-MS/MS and GC/MS: Low molecular weight compounds (М+226, М+202, №1,2, М+168) and alkaloids Ajmalicine, Tetragidroalstonine, C20-dihydrova llesiahotamine, C19-C20 Vallesiahotaminole, Vallesiahotamine lacton, Polyneuridine, Pericy clivine, Lochnerame, Norharmane, Vidorosine, Vindolinine, Isovindolinine, Akuammicine. The cytotoxicity of monomeric alkaloids was evaluated for A-549 (cells of the lung cancer line), DLD-1 (cells of the rectal adenocarcinoma line) and W-1 (cells of the normal human fibroblast line). All three substances (I, II, III) showed pronounced cytotoxic activity.

The fractionation of the methanolic extract (MeOH-E) of Retama raetam (Forssk.) Webb & Berthel and further analysis by thin layer chromatography resulted in four fractions (F1, F2, F3 and F4) that, in parallel with the MeOH-E, were screened for antioxidant, cytotoxic, antidiabetic and antibacterial properties. In addition, chemical characterization of their bioactive molecules was performed using LC-DAD-ESI/MS n . The results indicated that F3 was the most promising regarding antioxidant and cytotoxicity abilities, possibly due to its richness in flavonoids class, particularly isoflavones. In turn, F1 was characterized by the presence of the most polar compounds from MeOH-E (organic acids and piscidic acid) and showed promising abilities to inhibit α-amylase, while F4, which contained prenylated flavonoids and furanoflavonoids, was the most active against the tested bacteria. The gathered results emphasize the distinct biological potentials of purified fractions of Retama raetam .

UV-B and IR-A radiation are important inducers of biological changes in skin involving ROS generation. The overloading of antioxidant defense mechanisms by ROS production could lead to photoaging and photocarcinogenesis processes. Various traditional usages are reported for Aralia nudicaulis L. extracts, including treatment of dermatological disorders. Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have already been reported for other Aralia species possibly due to the presence of phenolic compounds. However, the phenolic composition and the potential activity of A. nudicaulis rhizomes extract against oxidative stress and UV/IR damages have not been investigated. The main aims of this study were to prepare a fraction enriched in phenolic compounds (FEPC) from A. nudicaulis rhizomes, to identify its major phenolic compounds and to assess its potential for protective effects against oxidative stress induced by UV-B, IR-A or inflammation. A quantitative LC-MS study of FEPC shows that chlorogenic, caffeic and protocatechuic acids are the main phenolic compounds present, with concentrations of 15.6%, 15.3% and 4.8% of the total composition, respectively. With a validated analytical method, those compounds were quantified over different stages of the growing period. As for biological potential, first this extract demonstrates antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Furthermore, ROS generation induced by IR-A and UV-B were strongly inhibited by A. nudicaulis extract, suggesting that Aralia nudicaulis L. rhizome extract could protect dermal cells against oxidative stress induced by UV-B and IR-A.

The aim of the study was to determine the stable diagnostic traits of a Caucasian endemic plant Daphne axilliflora (Keissl.) Pobed. and study its phytochemical composition. The following stable diagnostic characteristic were identified during the microstructural analysis: leaf surface glabrous, hypostomatic, dorsoventral; epidermal cells chaotic; curved with curved walls on both the upper and lower epidermis; stomata anomocytic; well visible chloroplasts, rhomboid and needle shaped crystals in lower leaf epidermis; leaf vascular bundles reverse-collateral; vascular system monocyclic, bilateral; wood diffuse-porous; xylem parenchyma is apotracheal, scanty metatracheal; vessel walls are predominantly characterized by spiral and pitted thickening; collenchyma lamellar; radial rays in single rows, heterogeneous. Phytochemical analysis showed the presence of terpene and phenolic substances, including coumarins. Two well-known coumarins (daphnin and daphnetin) were isolated and identified.

The genus Daphne belongs to the Thymeleaceae family and contains over 90 species that are distributed in Asia, Europe and parts of North Africa. The species of the genus Daphne are used in the traditional medicine of China, Tibet, Korea, and the Middle East for the treatment of various conditions. A broad range of studies has shown the significant biological potential of these species as sources of biologically and pharmacologically active compounds. Daphne species are a source of several classes of valuable phytochemicals such as coumarins, flavonoids, lignans, steroids and different classes of terpenes. The phytochemical diversity of this genus is demonstrated by over 350 secondary metabolites isolated from various species. The genus possesses a broad spectrum of biological activities including antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, antiviral, abortive and haemostatic effects. A variety of bioactive secondary metabolites found in this genus may have potential use in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. Thus, species belonging to the genus Daphne can be considered an important source both for the treatment of various disorders, due to the presence of a plethora of bioactive constituents with potent bioactivities, and as possible leads in the discovery and synthesis of new medications., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The aim of research was to study underground parts of Aconitum orientale Mill and Aconitum nasutum Fisch exReichemb for the composition of biological active diterpenic alkaloids. The research object was underground parts of Aconitum species. Alkaloids sum was received from raw-material which was alkalined beforehand with chloroform extraction. From the results of research we established, that both species of Georgian flora's Aconitum contains alkaloids: lappaconitine, aconitine, karakoline. Underground parts of Aconitum orientale and Aconitum nasutum differ from eath other with composition of alkaloids spectrum. Underground parts of Aconitum orientale contains bases: ranaconitine, gigactonine, licoctonine, but underground parts of Aconitum nasutum contains: talitizamine, kamakonine, aconosine. Alkaloids' summary substances, which were received from underground parts of Aconitum species spread in Georgia, showed selective cytotoxic activity towards A-549 (lung carcinoma), DLD-1 (intestine adenocarcinoma), WS-1 (human normal fibroblasts).