Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activity of the Ethanolic Extract of Equisetum myriochaetum and Molecular Docking of Its Main Metabolites (Apigenin,Kaempferol, and Quercetin) on β-Tubulin

Equisetum myriochaetum is a semi-aquatic plant found on riverbanks that is commonly used in traditional medicine as a diuretic agent. Additionally, the genus Equisetum stands out for its content of the flavonoid kaempferol, a well-known antiproliferative agent. Therefore, in this study, E. myriochaetum ethanolic extract was tested in vitro against a cervical cancer cell line (SiHa). Additionally, the antioxidative activity was evaluated through a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrilhidrazil (DPPH) assay. Finally, a molecular docking analysis of apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin on the active site of β-tubulin was performed to investigate their potential mechanism of action. All fractions of E. myriochaetum ethanolic extract showed antioxidative activity. Fraction 14 displayed an antiproliferative capacity with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) value of 6.78 μg/mL against SiHa cells.     

Domestication of Plants of Ugni molinae Turcz (Myrtaceae) Interferes in the Biology of Chilesia rudis (Lepidoptera: Erebidae) Larvae

In terms of the domestication process in murtilla, studies have found changes in the concentration of phenolic compounds, with reduction of chemical defense of plants, depending on the change in the feeding behavior of insects. Thus, we hypothesized that the domestication of Ugni molinae decreases the content of phenolic compounds and modifies the feeding preference of Chilesia rudis larvae. Leaves of three parental ecotypes and four cultivated ecotypes were used in preference experiments to evaluate the mass gain and leaves consumption of larvae. Phenolic extracts from leaves of U. molinae were analyzed by HPLC. Identified compounds were incorporated in an artificial diet to assess their effect on mass gain, consumption, and survival of the larvae. The presence of phenolic compounds in bodies and feces was also evaluated. In terms of choice assays, larvae preferred parental ecotypes. Regarding compounds, vanillin was the most varied between the ecotypes in leaves. However, plant domestication did not show a reduction in phenolic compound concentration of the ecotypes studied. Furthermore, there was no clear relation between phenolic compounds and the performance of C. rudis larvae. Whether this was because of sequestration of some compounds by larvae is unknown. Finally, results of this study could also suggest that studied phenolic compounds have no role in the C. rudis larvae resistance in this stage of murtilla domestication process.     

四川凉山杜鹃及其中成药药效成分的研究Ⅰ.槲皮素和山萘酚的快速直接测定

 用反相 HPLC法测定了凉山杜鹃叶子、浸膏和口服液中的两种黄酮类物质——槲皮素和山萘酚的含量。分析方法简便、快速、灵敏。所用分析柱为 Zorbax SB-C1 8,流动相为体积分数为 60 %的甲醇水溶液 ,检测波长为3 60 nm。     

Photochemical properties of selected flavonol dyes: Effects on their separation using capillary electrophoresis

Flavonols are naturally occurring dyes that can be extracted from plants. Because of their antioxidant properties, they are thought to have health benefits. In this study, the photochemical degradation properties of selected flavonols were investigated. Dilute solutions of dyes were exposed to light from a broadband visible light source, and the rate of photodegradation was determined by measuring the decrease in fluorescence of the dyes with respect to time. At pH 9.24, the first-order rate constants for 10?µg?mL^?1 solutions of myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, and morin were 0.468, 0.162, 0.108, and 0.126?s^?1, respectively. Interestingly, the stability of these historical dyes was also found to be greatly affected by pH. Awareness of the photochemical properties and stability of flavonol dyes is very important for capillary electrophoresis (CE) separations. Photodegradation of the flavonol dyes under the alkaline conditions (pH 9.2) used in CE can have a profound effect on the reproducibility of repeated separations. Even a modest decrease in pH (pH 8.5) greatly improved the stability of these dyes and enabled the successful separation of these flavonol dyes with minimal degradation over time.     

毛细管电泳紫外检测法测定莲须中的槲皮素、木犀草素、山萘酚、异槲皮甙

采用毛细管区带电泳紫外检测法(CZE-UV)同时测定中药莲须中槲皮素、木犀草素、山萘酚、异槲皮甙4种有效成分.研究了缓冲溶液的离子浓度、pH值和电压对分离度和迁移时间的影响,得到了最佳分离实验条件.在离子浓度为40 mmol/L Na2B4O7缓冲溶液(pH 9.0)中,分离电压为16 kV,波长为254 nm时,槲皮素、木犀草素、山萘酚、异槲皮甙4种物质在10 min内得到了良好的分离测定,其检出限分别为5.0、6.7、4.5和6.0 mg/L.本方法应用于实际样品的测定,结果令人满意.     

液相色谱法同时测定维药蜀葵花中芦丁、槲皮素和山柰酚

维药是祖国医药学不可分割的组成部分。维药现代化,即利用现代技术研究维药的有效成分,是维药科学化、标准化、规范化、商品化和产业化的必经之路。本文建立了维药蜀葵花中有效成分芦丁、槲皮素和山柰酚的选择性提取方法,优化了高效液相色谱法(HPLC)同时测定这3种有效成分的分析条件。采用HC-C₁₈色谱柱(250 mm×4.6 mm, 5 μm)和甲醇-0.4%磷酸(50:50, v/v)流动相,在柱温30 ℃和流速1.00 mL/min的条件下实现了3种物质之间以及和干扰物之间的基线分离。维药蜀葵花中芦丁、槲皮素及山柰酚的线性范围分别为12.5~150 μg/mL (r=0.9998), 12.5~125 μg/mL (r=0.9999)及12.5~125 μg/mL (r=0.9988),加标回收率(n=5)分别为100.3%(RSD=1.1%)、97.60%(RSD=0.47%)、97.75%(RSD=0.71%)。该方法实现了同时测定维药蜀葵花中芦丁、槲皮素及山柰酚,为其他黄酮类物质的开发应用提供了科学依据,同时也可为其他维药分析提供借鉴。     

Two novel prenylated kaempferol derivatives from fresh bud’s fur of Platanus acerifolia and their anti-proliferative activities

Two novel prenylated kaempferol derivatives (1, 2), together with seven known metabolites were isolated from ethanol extract of fresh Platanus acerifolia bud’s fur by multistep chromatographic processing. Structure of compounds 1 and 2 was confirmed by 1D, 2D NMR spectra and HR-ESI-MS. In addition, compound 1 was further analysed by X-ray crystallography. Anti-proliferative activities in vitro against human breast carcinoma (MCF-7) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep-G2) cell lines for compound 1, 2 and 8 were evaluated. Compound 1 exhibited cytotoxic activity towards MCF-7 and Hep-G2 cell lines with the IC₅₀ values 38.2 and 39.5 μM, respectively. Moreover, compound 2 showed weak cytotoxic activities against the two cell lines.     

青钱柳叶中黄酮化合物结构及含量研究

研究青钱柳(Cydocaryap paliurus(Baud．)Iljinsk．)叶中的黄酮化合物结构及含量分布。采用溶剂萃取及多种色谱技术分离纯化,根据理化性质和光谱分析方法鉴定其结构,确定从青钱柳中分离得到山柰酚、槲皮素和异槲皮苷3个黄酮单体化合物,并用反相高效液相色谱法对其含量进行了测定,测得各自在甲醇和水提取物中的含量：山柰酚0．0387％,0．0337％;槲皮素0．0615％,0．0603％;异槲皮苷0．543％,0．464％。     

Antihyperglycemic,antihyperlipidemic and antioxidative evaluation of compounds from Senna sophera (L.) Roxb in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Senna sophera (L.) Roxb (Common name: Kasunda, Baner) (Leguminosae) is used as traditional medicine in Africa and Asia. The compounds were isolated from methanolic extract of leaves of Senna sophera (MFCS). Compound A was identified as Hexahydroxy diphenic acid and Compound B as Kaempferol. MFCS administration to diabetic rats exhibited significant reduction in the blood sugar level and showed gain in body weight. After the treatment of 100 mg/kg of MFCS, the blood sugar level was reduced to 52.33 ± 2.83 mg/dl in comparison to the blood sugar level of vehicle control 76.66 ± 3.17 mg/dl, whereas treatment with 50 mg/kg of MFCS reduced the blood sugar level slightly (72.33 ± 2.42 mg/dl). The daily continuous administration of MFCS for a period of 21 days normalised the serum lipid levels confirming the effect of MFCS on diabetic hyperlipidemia. Treatment with MFCS also reversed the activities of antioxidants, which could be a result of decreased lipid peroxidation.     

Anti-Cancer Activity and Phenolic Content of Extracts Derived from Cypriot Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Pods Using Different Solvents

Extracts derived from the Ceratonia siliqua L. (carob) tree have been widely studied for their ability to prevent many diseases mainly due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds. In this study, we explored, for the first time, the anti-cancer properties of Cypriot carobs. We produced extracts from ripe and unripe whole carobs, pulp and seeds using solvents with different polarities. We measured the ability of the extracts to inhibit proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer and normal immortalized breast cells, using the MTT assay, cell cycle analysis and Western Blotting. The extracts’ total polyphenol content and anti-oxidant action was evaluated using the Folin–Ciocalteu method and the DPPH assay. Finally, we used LC-MS analysis to identify and quantify polyphenols in the most effective extracts. Our results demonstrate that the anti-proliferative capacity of carob extracts varied with the stage of carob maturity and the extraction solvent. The Diethyl-ether and Ethyl acetate extracts derived from the ripe whole fruit had high Myricetin content and also displayed specific activity against cancer cells. Their mechanism of action involved caspase-dependent and independent apoptosis. Our results indicate that extracts from Cypriot carobs may have potential uses in the development of nutritional supplements and pharmaceuticals.