Phytochemical analysis,antimicrobial, antioxidant and urease inhibitory potential of Cyphostemma digitatum Lam.

In this paper we report the antimicrobial, antiradical and urease inhibitory potential along with photochemical investigation of the crude extracts of Cyphostemma digitatum Lam. Phytochemical screening of both the crude (hot/cold) alcoholic and aqueous extracts of C. digitatum showed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, coumarins, steroids, terpenoids and tannins. The crude methanolic extract (hot/cold) exhibited good antioxidant activity, while the aqueous extract was a weak antioxidant. The crude methanolic extract was found to be more active against Bacillus subtilis, while both the extracts showed moderate antifungal potential, the methanolic crude extract showed good urease inhibitory activity compared with the aqueous crude extract.     

Phytochemical study,an evaluation of the antioxidant potential and the antimicrobial activity of Inga semialata (Vell.) C. Mart. hydroalcohol extract

Abstract

Inga semialata (Vell.) C. Mart. belongs to the family Fabaceae. It is known for its therapeutic properties, highlighting its antimicrobial and antioxidant potential. The objective of the present work was to obtain crude extract leaves of Inga semialata, to identify and quantify active compounds, to evaluate the antioxidant potential of the crude extract in vitro, as well as to determine its antimicrobial activity. The crude extract was obtained by the maceration process. The identified and quantified of compounds present in the crude extract of Inga semialata was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. The evaluation of the antioxidant potential of the extract was realized by in vitro tests (DPPH, diacetate dichlorofluorescein test and nitric oxide test) and the evaluation of the antimicrobial activity was carried out using the minimum inhibitory concentration methodology.     

Anti-herpes activity of polysaccharide fractions from Stevia rebaudiana leaves

Abstract

The antiviral potential of natural polysaccharide compounds has been demonstrated, especially against enveloped viruses and members of the Herpesviridae family. Two polysaccharide fractions obtained from Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) leaves, that were active against Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) were studied to investigate their mode of action. Both polysaccharides - SFW (crude faction) and SSFK (homogeneous alkaline fraction) - exerted antiviral effects on the initial stages of HSV-1 infection by inhibiting viral adsorption and penetration. When added after virus internalization, both fractions decreased plaque size. The effect of the fractions was confirmed by investigating viral glycoprotein expression. Based on the mode of action of the polysaccharides demonstrated in the present work and on their selectivity index, the polysaccharides obtained from S. rebaudiana could be an alternative treatment of infections caused by HSV-1.     

COMPARISON OF POLYSACCHARIDES ISOLATED FROM THE MYCELIA OF A CULTIVATED STRAIN OF PORIA COCOS GROWN IN DIFFERENT LIQUID CULTURE MEDIA

Mycelium of a cultivated strain of Poria cocos was grown by submerged fermentation in a liquid mediumcontaining corn steep liquor with orbital shaking. Six polysaccharides coded as ac-PCM1, ac-PCM2, ac-PCM3-Ⅰ andⅡ, ac-PCM4-Ⅰand Ⅱ were isolated from the myelium by extracting with 0.9% NaCl aqueous solution, hot water, 0.5 mol/L NaOHaqueous solution and 88% formic acid. Exo-polysaccharide was obtained from the culture medium and coded as ac-PCM0.The monosaccharide composition and molecular weights of these polysaccharides were characterized by using infraredspectroscopy, gas chromaography, elemental analysis, ~(13)C-NMR, viscometry and light scattering. The results indicated thatac-PCM0, ac-PCM1 and ac-PCM2 are heteropolysaccharides containing glucose, galactose, mannose and fucose, and ac-PCM3-Ⅰ and ac-PCM3-Ⅱ mainly consist of D-glucose. The content of the glucose in the polysaccharides increased with theisolation progress. Remarkably, α-glucan and β-glucan coexisted in the extract by NaOH aqueous solution (ac-PCM3), andcould be separated by chemical methods. The protein in the ac-PCM polysaccharides cultured from the medium containingcorn steep liquor was higher than that in the ab-PCM from the medium with bran extract. Therefore, the polysaccharidesfrom Poria cocos mycelia cultured in different media have different chemical composition, molecular weights and conformations.     

Comparison of crude extract from durio zibethinus M. (durian) leaf waste via ultrasound-assisted extraction and accelerated solvent extraction: antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of Durio zibethinus M. (Durian) leaf extract from two extraction methods. Ultrasound-assisted extraction and Accelerated-solvent extraction were used to produce crude extract. The results revealed that UAE achieved 3× higher in total phenolic content in the leaf extract compared to ASE. DPPH radical scavenging activity was 4.6× higher in leaf extract from ASE. No significant differences reported in ferric reducing power, and total flavonoid content of the leaf extract between the two methods. Cytotoxicity via MTT assay demonstrated no significant differences in cell viability upon exposure to the leaf extract from both methods. This suggested that they were appropriate in producing Durio zibethinus M. leaf extract for end use application in food related product. Both ensured similar level of safety in Durio zibethinus M. leaf extract as a new potential ingredient for the food industry.     

Ailanthus altissima (Miller) Swingle fruit - new acyl β-sitosteryl glucoside and in vitro pharmacological evaluation

β-Sitosterol-3-O-(6?-O-13?-octadecenoyl)-β-D-glucoside (1), a new acyl β-sitosteryl glucoside, along with three known compounds β-sitosterol-3-O-β-D-glucoside (2), β-sitosterol (3) and methyl gallate (4) have been isolated from the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of methanolic extract of Ailanthus altissima fruits. Their structures were elucidated through spectroscopic data including 2D NMR, ESI-MS, methanolysis and oxidative cleavage of double bond. Antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, phytotoxic and insecticidal activities were evaluated of compound 1, crude extract and its fractions so far for the first time. Pharmacological activities results showed that n-butanol fraction was good active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi bacteria, and moderate active against Microsporum canis fungus. Crude extract, n-butanol and aqueous fractions showed good cytotoxicity. Moreover, compound 1, extract and all fractions showed notable phytotoxicity at higher concentrations, whereas all inactive against assayed insects.     

Rapid large-scale preparation of polysaccharides from jackfruit peel waste by high-speed countercurrent chromatography and their antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities

Polysaccharides with antioxidant and hypoglycemic activities were first isolated from jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) peel through the one-step high-speed countercurrent chromatography. The separation process was completed using the polymer two-phase aqueous system constituted by PEG1000-K₂HPO₄-KH₂PO₄-H₂O (0.8:1.25:1.25:6.5, w/w). For every separation process, two main polysaccharides, namely, fraction-1 and fraction-2 (165 and 225 mg, respectively) were obtained from a 2.0 g crude sample. As suggested by high-performance gel permeation chromatography, jackfruit peel polysaccharides had the mean molecular weight values of 113.3 and 174.3 kDa, separately. Physicochemical analysis suggested that two polysaccharides were dominant in galacturonic acid, galactose, rhamnose, arabinose, glucose, mannose, as well as fucose, which were highly esterified. Biological activity analysis showed that fraction-1 exhibited stronger antioxidant activity in vitro and hypoglycemic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice compared with fraction-2. The results suggest that polysaccharide fraction-1 may be developed as a potential functional food supplement.     

The application of different Stevia rebaudiana leaf extracts in the “green synthesis” of AgNPs

ABSTRACT

The present work reports a method for green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by reducing Ag ions from silver nitrate solution using alcoholic, aqueous and alcoholic-aqueous Stevia rebaudiana extracts. Depending on a particular extract different sizes of AgNPs could be observed – 40?nm in aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic extracts and significantly bigger 170?nm in case of alcoholic extract. Synthesis of AgNPs was analyzed within spectra range of 300–700?nm. The performed research provided information that aqueous and aqueous-alcoholic extracts are excellent sources for synthesis of AgNPs; however AgNPs were unstable in the case of alcoholic extract. The aqueous-alcoholic extract showed the best properties during studies. Antioxidant potential, antimicrobial properties and cytotoxicity were determined. The 2,2-diphenyl-1-(2,4,6-triphenyl-hydrazyl) method showed that antioxidant activity of an extract containing AgNPs was higher compared to Stevia extract alone. Bacterial inhibition studies had shown substantial antibacterial properties of AgNPs, which was much higher than Stevia extract alone and silver nitrate.     

Excelsanone,a new isoflavonoid from Erythrina excelsa (Fabaceae), with in vitro antioxidant and in vitro cytotoxic effects on prostate cancer cells lines

Abstract

A new isoflavonoid, excelsanone (2), was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of Erythrina excelsa stem bark, together with three known compounds namely 6,8-diprenylgenistein (3), β-sitosterol (1) and sitosteryl-β-D-glucopyranoside (4). Their structures were elucidated using spectroscopic methods (HR-ESI-MS, NMR and IR) and by comparison with some literature data. The antioxidant activity of crude extracts and two isolated compounds was evaluated using free radical scavenging (DPPH) and Ferric Reducing Ability Power (FRAP) methods with catechin as standard. The results of the radical scavenging activity showed that excelsanone (2) has a moderate potential with an IC₅₀ of 1.31?mg/ml. The cytotoxicity of compounds 2 and 3 as well as the ethyl acetate extract was evaluated using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay in two prostate cancer cell lines (DU145 and PC3). Excelsanone (2) induced a greater cytotoxicity in all tested cell lines, with a significant inhibition of DU145 cells growth in a concentration-dependent manner.     

Chemical analysis of the semipurified extract of Paullinia cupana and evaluation of in vitro inhibitory effects against Helicobacter pylori

Abstract

Paullinia cupana Kunth, commonly known as guarana, is a native Brazilian plant species from the Amazon area that presents various biological effects, including antimicrobial action. The aim of this study was to chemically analyse the semipurified aqueous extract (AqF) of the plant and to evaluate the activity of crude (CE), ethyl-acetate (EAF), and AqF extracts against Helicobacter pylori. The chemical profile of AqF was determined based on solid analysis ¹³C-NMR, direct infusion mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), and MALDI-TOF. The ¹³C-NMR spectrum showed characteristics of flavan-3-ol and oligomeric proanthocyanidins. ESI-MS revealed the presence of procyanidin, caffeic acid and its derivatives. MALDI-TOF analysis detected procyanidins of up to 6 units and profisetinidins of up to 5 units. Whereas CE and EAF showed inhibitory activity against H. pylori, CE, EAF, and AqF presented not high inhibitory activity against urease. The results demonstrate the potential of P. cupana to control and prevent H. pylori infection.     

Isolation and identification of a new neo-clerodane diterpenoid from Teucrium chamaedrys L.

Teucrium chamaedrys L. is an aromatic and medicinal plant used as traditional medicine. Aerial parts of the plant material were dried and extracted with hexane–dichloromethane (extract 1), ethyl acetate–dichloromethane (extract 2) and methanol–dichloromethane (extract 3) in a ratio of 1:1 at rt successively. The solvents were evaporated to give crude extracts. Extract 1 was suspended in water at 60°C then partitioned successively with hexane and ethyl acetate to give hexane and ethyl acetate portions. After the column chromatography (silica gel) of ethyl acetate extract, one new and four known compounds were isolated. The new compound was named as 1(12S,18R)-15,16-epoxy-2β,6β-dihydroxy-neo-cleroda-13(16),14-dien-20,l2-olide-l8,l9-hemiacetal (teuchamaedryn D) (4). The known compounds were teucrin A (1), dihydroteugin (2), teucroxide (3), syspirensin A (5). The chromatographic methods were also applied for extract 3 to isolate verbascoside (6) and teucrioside (7). The structure of isolated compounds was elucidated by spectroscopic methods including LC-TOF/MS, 1D NMR and 2D NMR.     

Extraction and isolation of lithospermic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge using aqueous two‐phase extraction followed by high‐performance liquid chromatography

A rapid and effective method integrating separation and purification of lithospermic acid B from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge was developed by combining an aqueous two‐phase system extraction with preparative chromatography. An aqueous two‐phase system of n‐butyl alcohol/KH₂PO₄ was chosen from seven systems. The influence of parameters including concentration of KH₂PO₄, n‐butyl alcohol concentration, pH, and the ratio of an aqueous two‐phase system to crude extract were investigated using a single factor design. Response surface methodology was subsequently used to find the optimal compositions of an aqueous two‐phase system. Keeping a solvent‐to‐solid ratio of 10, the final optimized composition of an aqueous two‐phase system was 39.1% w/w n‐butyl alcohol and 22.6% w/w KH₂PO₄. Under these conditions a recovery yield of 99.8% and a high partition coefficient of 310.4 were obtained. In a pilot‐scale experiment using optimized conditions, 18.79 g of lithospermic acid B with a purity of 70.5% and in a yield of 99.8% was separated from 0.5 kg of crude extract. Subsequently, 9.94 g lithospermic acid B with a purity of 99.3% and recovery yield of 70.3% was obtained with a preparative chromatographic process, and the two‐step total recovery was 70.1%.     

Inulin-containing biomass for ethanol production

The use of stalks instead of tubers as a source of carbohydrates for ethanol production has been investigated. The inulin present in the stalks of Jerusalem artichoke was extracted with water and the effect of solid-liquid ratio, temperature, and acid addition was studied and optimized in order to attain a high-fructose fermentable extract. The maximum extraction efficiency (corresponding to 35 g/L) of soluble sugars was obtained at 1/6 solidliquid ratio. Fermentations of hydrolyzed extracts by baker's yeast and direct fermentation by an inulinease activity yeast were also performed and the potential to use this feedstock for bioethanol production assessed. The results show that the carbohydrates derived from Jerusalem artichoke stalks can be converted efficiently to ethanol by acidic hydrolysis followed by fermentation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae or by direct fermentation of inulin using Kluyveromyces marxianus strains. In this last case about 30 h to complete fermentation was required in comparison with 8–9 h obtained in experiments with S. cerevisiae growth on acid extracted juices.     

Ameliorating effects of Tamarindus indica fruit extract on anti-tubercular drugs induced liver toxicity in rats

The study aimed to evaluate the hepatoprotective potential of aqueous extract of Tamarindus indica fruit against combination of two antitubercular drugs viz. Isoniazid and Rifampicin induced hepatotoxicity in rats. In vitro antioxidant activity of aqueous extract of T. indica by DPPH–HPLC method was found to be 81.48%. Treatment with aqueous extract of T. indica significantly reduced the elevated levels of biochemical markers such as SGOT, SGPT, ALP, bilirubin, TBARS and increased the albumin level as well antioxidant activities of SOD, CAT and GSH in intoxicated rats. The biochemical changes were supported by histological observations. Results of this study clearly demonstrate that aqueous extract of T. indica fruit protects against anti tuberculosis induced oxidative liver damage in rats and thus possess significant hepatoprotective activity. Further, it could be suggested that supplementation with this food extract might prove beneficial in the individuals on anti-TB drugs.     

Assay of Serum Glutamic-Oxaloacetic Transaminase Using Malate Dehydrogenase Preparation Obtained from Streptomyces aureofaciens

Abstract

A modified spectrophotometric method for serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase (SGOT) assay was developed. A crude cell-free extract from Streptomyces aureofaciens which showed a high level of malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity (E.C. 1.1.1.37) was used as the enzymatic indicator. The lyophilized microbial preparation was used without previous purification and was quite stable under refrigeration for one year. Serum sample assays using both the method utilizing the crude cell extract and an enzymatic commercial kit showed good correlation.     

The isolation and structural elucidation of three new biflavonoid glycosides from Lomatogonium carinthiacum

Three biflavonoid glycosides, named carinoside B, C and D (1, 2 and 3, respectively), were isolated from the n-BuOH crude extract of the aerial part of Lomatogonium carinthiacum (Wulfen) Rchb (L. carinthiacum). The structures of 1, 2 and 3 were elucidated by spectroscopic methods, including UV, IR, HR-ESI-MS and extensive 1D and 2D NMR techniques.     

New Δ-tocotrienol derivatives from Colombian propolis

Abstract

Two new δ-tocotrienol derivatives with oxidized terminal chain: 5,6-dioxo-garcinoic acid (trans-13′-carboxy-5,6-dioxo-δ-tocotrienol) (2) and 5-hydroxy-8b-oxo garcinoic acid (trans-13′-carboxy-5-hydroxy-8b-oxo-δ-tocotrienol) (3), together with one known derivative garcinoic acid (trans-13′-carboxy-δ-tocotrienol) (1) were isolated from a Colombian propolis. Garcinoic acid was found as a propolis constituent for the first time. The isolated compounds and crude ethanolic extract demonstrated high antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans (MICs range: 10–39?μg/ml) as well as promising antioxidant potential in DPPH assay. Compound 3 displayed highest radical scavenging activity, even higher than that of dl-α-tocopherol, used as a positive control.     

Pholiotone A,a new polyketide derivative from Pholiota sp

Abstract

Pholiotone A (1), a new polyketide derivative, with tetrahydrobenzofuran-4(2H)-one skeleton, together with four known compounds, trichodermatides A (2) and B (3) and koninginins B (4) and E (5), were isolated from the crude extract of Pholiota sp. The structures of all the isolated compounds were determined mainly by NMR experiments, the modified Mosher method and electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The antifungal and cytotoxicity of all isolates were evaluated.     

A simple and efficient protocol for large‐scale preparation of three flavonoids from the flower of Daphne genkwa by combination of macroporous resin and counter‐current chromatography

In this paper, macroporous resin column chromatography and counter‐current chromatography (CCC) were applied for large‐scale preparative separation of three flavonoids from the flower of Daphne genkwa, a famous Chinese medicinal herb. Nine kinds of resins were investigated by adsorption and desorption tests and D101 macroporous resin was selected for the first cleaning‐up, in which 40% aqueous ethanol was used to remove the undesired constituents and 90% aqueous ethanol was used to elute the targets. The crude extract after the first step was directly subjected to the preparative CCC purification using the solvent system composed of n‐hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (4:5:4:5, v/v). The compounds apigemin (823 mg), 3‐hydroxyl‐genkwanin (842 mg) and genkwanin (998 mg) with the purities of 98.79, 97.71 and 93.53%, respectively, determined by HPLC were produced from 3‐g crude extract only in one CCC run. Their chemical structures were identified by MS, UV and the standards.     

Chemical constituents and allelopathic activity of Machaerium eriocarpum Benth.

Abstract

The analysis by HPLC-PDA of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of M. eriocarpum together with the injection of the fractions containing the already identified metabolites allowed the detection of at least 5 flavonoids, of which two are derived from apigenin and three from luteolin. After isolating larger amounts of isovitexin (I), assays were performed to evaluate the allelopathic activity together with the crude extract. The results show that the initial inhibition indexes were very similar to those observed in the treatments with F17 (Fraction enriched in isovitexin) and F18 (isovitexin), mainly in the concentrations of 500 and 1000?mg L^?1. The index of the number of lateral roots, an increase of the inhibitory effect is observed with the increase of the concentration of M. eriocarpum extract.