Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 11, Issue 5, 2021

Background: Helicteres hirsuta has been used traditionally as a useful agent for hepatoprotective treatment. The aim of the current study is to isolate chemical constituents from the EtOAc extract of H. hirsuta stem and evaluate the capacity of the isolated compounds against hydroperoxide damaged rat liver cells. Methods: Column chromatography was used for phytochemical isolation whereas MTT method was applied for intracellular antioxidative assay. Results: Phytochemical analysis of the EtOAc extract of H. hirsuta stem led to the isolation and determination of four triterpenoids betulin (1), bentulinic acid (2), alphitolic acid (3), and oleanolic acid (4), together with two steroids stigmast-4-ene-6β-ol-3-one (5), and β-sitostenone (6), whereas EtOAc extract of its leaf was composed of three steroids cucurbitacin D (11), cucurbitacin I (12), and simiarenol (13), four flavonoids tiliroside (14), potengriffioside A (15), kaempferide (16), and isokaempferide (17), along with two carotenoids lutelin (18), and β-carotene (19). Isolated compounds 3, 5, 6, 16, and 17 were found in genus Helicteres for the first time, while carotenoids 18, and 19 were never isolated from family Sterculiaceae before. Phytochemicals derived H. hirsuta species are also useful agents for antioxidative drugs, e.g, flavonol 17 induced the significant EC50 value of 22.24 ± 0.14 μg/mL, as compared with that of positive control curcumin (EC50 19.33 ± 0.77 μg/mL), against hydroperoxide damaged rat liver cells. Conclusion: Antioxidative activity of the EtOAc extract of H. hirsuta stem against hydroperoxide is mostly based on the role of flavonoids.

Novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) can infect the respiratory tract and cause severe respiratory syndrome. The excessive inflammatory response is involved in the pathogenicity of the SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 are generally associated with immunopathogenesis and may result in pulmonary tissue damage. Melatonin is a natural and multifunctional hormone that is involved in both physiological and pathological conditions in the body, such as immune modulation, anti-inflammation, and antioxidant. Melatonin is found in foods, animal and human milk and increases the expression of anti-inflammatory cytokines and, as an adjuvant treatment in SARS-- CoV-2 infection, it may have considerable therapeutic potential, because of its safety and immunomodulatory effects.

Arctium lappa or burdock (Compositae family) is a perennial plant, native to Europe, Northern Asia, and North America. Burdock roots are known as detoxifying herb to clear toxins from the bloodstream. It seems that its effects are on the liver functions as it is main part of the body for detoxifying the bloodstream. The aim of this review article was to evaluate the potency of burdock in the management of liver functions in detoxifying the bloodstream. The information was extracted from electronic resources (Google scholar, Science Direct, Springer, Magiran). The results of the investigation exhibited that the studies are limited to animals, but the results of investigations showed that burdock roots detoxify the liver against ethanol, carbon tetrachloride (CCL4), acetaminophen, cadmium, and zinc oxide by improving the functions of liver enzymes. The anti- oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and prebiotic effects of burdock roots may be involved in its effects on liver enzymes and detoxifying the blood. Large clinical studies are required to confirm its efficacy on liver functions and detoxifying the liver.

Tetraterpenoids comprise of a large family of C 40 polyene, obtained from plants, fungi and bacteria. Their colouring properties have been employed to use as a natural colorant in the pharmaceutical industries. These exist as an attractive target of research because of their easy availability and plentiful health benefits in cardiovascular diseases, cancer, age related degenerative diseases, macular degeneration, antiatherosclerotic, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory properties and in HIV infection, probably due to their antioxidant properties. Formulating carotenoids in a particular dosage form is a big challenge as they possess some limitations like chemical unstability, poor bioavailability, less solubility and quick release. Due to this, numerous nanoencapsulation techniques have been developed till now to maintain their original properties. This review will highlight the phytochemical and pharmacological update on tetraterpenoids and their formulations.

Aim: The purpose of this review paper is to elaborate many nano-formulations of Rosemary which are used against many diseases and also explain the Pharmacological activity of phytocompounds of Rosemary and detail about the applications and uses of Rosemary in many fields. Objectives: Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is a medicinal herbal plant; their leaves are used in Europe, America, and Asia as a food additive. It is very valuable; its parts contain many chemical constituents which are very effective against many diseases like diabetes, obesity, cancer, infections and also have antioxidant, anti-inflammation, memory-improvement, etc. properties. Results: In the literature reviewed, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) has shown exciting potential both as a natural food preservative and therapeutic agent. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) essential oil has been extensively studied due to its chemical composition and biological activities. The extract of Rosemary also shows medicinal properties like anticancer, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti- inflammatory, etc. From many studies, it was also found that nano-formulation of Rosemary had been developed by using the Rosemary essential oil and its extract used in the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases. Conclusion: From the conventional times, therapeutic effects of Rosemary are seen, which is also used in Modern Medicine nowadays. It had been used as food additives in conventional times. In renal colic and dysmenorrhea, it is used as an antispasmodic to relieve respiratory disorders and to boost hair development. CNS, cardiac and locomotive activity promote inhalation and oral administration of Rosemary oil, suggesting the direct effect of one or more of its constituents. Rosemary has curative potential in the therapy and avoidance of bronchial asthma, peptic ulcer, spasmodic disorders, inflammatory illnesses, atherosclerosis, hepatotoxicity, cancer, ischemic heart illness, bad sperm motility, Alzheimer, and may act as an antidepressant and anxiolytic properties.

Coumarins, a natural class of compounds, firstly isolated from Tonka beans, are found in various medicinal herbs. This class of compounds has been reported of remarkable biological and pharmacological applications, including antimicrobial, anticoagulants, anti-inflammatory as well as cancer. Additionally, coumarins have revealed significant inhibition of different human cancers viz bladder cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer, gastric cancer, leukemia, pancreatic cancer, etc. Therefore, the compilation of medicinal research progress of natural coumarin and its derivatives will be beneficial for scientists and researchers worldwide. The literature review of medicinal research progress of natural coumarin and its derivatives was collected from various databases, including PubMed, Web of Science and Science Direct from the year 1942 to date. The presented data on medicinal research progress of natural coumarin and its derivatives provides a detailed review which could serve as a platform for future research. The data presented the medicinal and biological activities of coumarin and its derivatives like antimicrobial, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer in particular. This could be utilized for future formulation and development of drugs and references based on coumarin and its derivatives.

Aim and Background: Amytriptiline (AMY), an antidepressant, is used in the treatment of neuropathic pain. However, with limited therapeutic benefits and side effects of AMY, it is not helpful to the majority of the neuropathic pain patients. Gallic acid (GA) is a polyphenolic product with potential antioxidant effects, useful in neuropathic pain. Objective: The purpose of the study was to investigate the improved neuropathic pain relief with GA in combination with AMY in rats. Methods: Partial sciatic nerve ligation (PSNL) method is used for neuropathic pain induction in rats. The rats were randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 8), and treated with drugs or vehicle once daily for 15 days after the pain induction. The first group served as Normal control and received normal saline (p.o), the second group served as Sham Control and received Normal Saline (p.o), the third group served as Surgery Control and received normal saline (p.o), the fourth group received AMY (25mg/kg, p.o), while the fifth group received GA (100mg/kg,p.o), and the sixth group received both AMY and GA. Further behavioural studies for pain were carried out on days 1,4,7,10,13,16,19 and 22. Histological studies of sciatic nerves were carried out on days 1, 15 and 22, and on the 22nd day, all the remaining animals were sacrificed for the biochemical estimations of the sciatic nerve tissues. Results: GA attenuates neuropathic pain better in combination with AMY by ameliorating the behavioral, biochemical and histopathological signs and symptoms. This resultant effect is due to its antioxidant, antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory actions. It also potentiates AMY antinociceptive and antioxidant effects when given in combination in a continuous treatment. Conclusion: The results suggest that GA in combination with AMYattenuated the neuropathic pain. Hence, the use of GA as an adjunctive with AMY in the neuropathic pain will be more therapeutically beneficial; further studies on patients to confirm the results are warranted.

Background: The emerging public concern regarding the quality of drinking water has led to an increased interest in household water treatment systems. Many systems reduce contaminants effectively in laboratory tests, at least to some degree, but for the vast majority, their effects in actual use are not investigated. Objective: To test the effectiveness of an in-home water filter system (AcalaQuell® Swing) in reducing health problems under real life conditions. Methods: Twenty participants suffering from cardiovascular ailments, gastrointestinal issues, or fatigue/ exhaustion symptoms were enrolled in the study. In the control condition (three weeks), they consumed 35ml of tap water per kg of body weight daily. After an intermission of one week, they drank the same amount of filtered water in the following three weeks. Results: There was a large reduction in physical complaints after consumption of the filtered water (d = 1.4), and an increase in resiliency to physical and mental stress, cognitive performance, and affectivity (d = 1.0). Conclusion: The AcalaQuell® Swing water filter effectively mitigates health complaints. The effect is not due to expectation, increase in water consumption, decrease of life stress, or spontaneous symptom remission.

Aim: The aim of the present study was the establishment of a process for the extraction of phytochemicals from Ficus racemosa. Background: Ficus racemosa is an underutilized crop containing numerous phytochemicals having the potential to play a significant role in food and nutritional security. However, it has lower consumer acceptability because of its taste and presence of fig wasps. In these situations, extraction of the phytochemical from this crop is an alternate option for its efficient utilization in any food matrices. Objective: The objective of the present study was to optimize the extraction technique for the extraction of phytochemicals from dried Ficus racemosa powder. Methods: Present study shows the method for extraction of phytochemicals from dried Ficus racemosa powder using different variables, i.e. solid-to-liquid ratio (1:10-1:40), temperature (30-70°C), time (30-120min) and pH (2.5-6.5). Results: Maximum phytochemical activity was observed under optimized conditions, i.e. solid-- to-liquid ratio (1:15), temperature (59.99°C), time (30.01min.) and pH (3.50) with 0.834 desirability. The optimized extract was analyzed using HPLC-DAD, which confirms the presence of ascorbic acid, gallic acid, tannic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, catechin, and quercetin. Conclusion: It is concluded that Ficus racemosa can be successfully utilized for the extraction of phytochemicals.

Background: The Lamiaceae (Labiatae) family is one of the most diverse and widespread plant families in terms of ethnomedicine and its medicinal value is based on the concentration of the volatile oil present in it. This family is important for flavor, fragrance and medicinal properties. Many plants belonging to this family have indigenous value. Methods: The essential oil of Plectranthus gerardianus Benth. (Lamiaceae) was analyzed by GC and GC-MS analyses, while the major components were isolated and confirmed by NMR spectroscopy. Results: The oil was found to be rich in oxygenated monoterpenes, which contribute around 62% of the total oil. The major components identified were fenchone (22.90%) and carvenone oxide (16.75%), besides other mono and sesquiterpenoids. The in-vitro antimicrobial activity of essential oil was tested against three gram-negative bacteria including Pasteurella multocida, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica, two gram-positive bacteria namely Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and two fungi namely Candida albicans and Aspergillus flavus. The antimicrobial activity of the oil was also compared to the antimicrobial activity of leaf essential oil of another Himalayan plant namely Nepetacoerulescens. Conclusion: The oil showed in-vitro antimicrobial activity against all the microbial strains and can lessen the ever-growing demand for potentially hazardous antibiotics for treatment.

Background: Natural products play a significant role in the drug discovery process due to the presence of a large variety of bioactive compounds. Objective: The present study aims to isolate the essential oil from Salvia Fruticosa (SF), Lavandula Intermedia (LI), and Rosmarinus Officinalis (RO) with identification of the chemical composition of the oils and to investigate the antioxidant, antifungal and antibacterial activities. Methods: The plant materials were cultivated and supplied from Yalova, Turkey. Essential oils were generated from aerial parts of each plant by steam distillation, and the compounds were identified by GC-MS analyses. Total phenolic and total flavonoid contents were determined. DPPH method was used for antioxidant activity. Seed germination was executed with the standard method. Antifungal and antibacterial activities were carried out by disc diffusion method. Results: 1,8-Cineole (45.8%) was the main constituent of SF. Linalyl acetate (34.4%) was detected as the chief product of LI. The major product of RO was assigned as 1,8-cineole (43.3%). RO essential oil (IC50, 224.76 μg ml-1) had a higher DPPH• effect than the standard, BHT. LI essential oil showed the outstanding antifungal activity (100%) on Botrytis cinerea and Scelerotinia sclerotiorum. LI essential oil inhibited the Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis at the rate of 16.4% at 7.5 μl dose. The best antibacterial effect was observed for RO essential oil on Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (30.5%) at 7.5 μl. Conclusion: R. officinalis essential has the potential for using in the food industry as a natural antioxidant. L. intermedia and R. officinalis essential oils could be useful in food and agriculture to keep the products in high worth.

Aim: The present study aims at explaining the epidemic situation in India for COVID-19 and forecasting the expected rise in the positive cases in India. Objective: This study will be useful for Government authorities and Medical Practitioners in assessing the trends for India and preparing a combat plan with stringent measures. This research would also be useful in predicting outbreak numbers with greater precision for people involved in exploring this deadly disease. Methods: We used the Support Vector Machine (SVM) to forecast and analyze the COVID-19 situations to predict future trends. On definite trail and model training, it was observed that the number of COVID cases will increase for the next four days. Results: The SVM model predicted accurate results. The prediction accuracy seems to best fit and indicates the cases to rise in the next coming days. Confirmed cases and the SVM predictions are close to each other, thus proving the accuracy of the SVM predictions. It was inferred that the numbers of COVID-19 instances will rise if the same trend is followed. Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak is exacerbated by secondary hospital transmission. Testing, particularly of those coming in with respiratory symptoms, is essential to isolate those in hospitals. A two-stage, pre-emptive testing is recommended in symptomatic older people immediately to reduce mortality. Immediate and on-going serological surveys are required to track the epidemic level. We are flying blind at the moment. The demand for the ventilators would be 1 million. The current supply in India is projected to range from 30 K to 50 K (the US has 160 K and is still running short). Health staff involved in treating COVID-19 patients also have to shield themselves using personal protection (i.e., masks and gowns) to save themselves from being infected. Thus, SVM model predictions will give a better insight into the growth of COVID-19 cases and, therefore, will allow the government of India to take adequate measures to restrain the issue at the earliest.

Background: Protium heptaphyllum (Aubl.) March resin is accepted as an analgesic, healing, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, antinociceptive and gastroprotective agent. However, there are no specific studies on leaves of this plant. Objective: This study identified the chemical composition and biological activity of crude ethanolic extract (EE) and ethyl acetate (EA) fraction from P. heptaphyllum. Methods: Mice were intoxicated with acetaminophen (PCM; 250 mg kg^-1), and subsequently treated with EE and EA (100 mg kg^-1) for 7 days via gavage. Plasma analysis and evaluation of liver and kidney homogenates of the animals were performed. Results: The extract and fraction showed the presence of phenols and flavonoids. Three main flavonoids were identified by HPLC-UV, LC-MS/MS fractionation, quercetin-3-β-D-glycoside, myricetin and quercetin. For total antioxidant potential tests, EE presented EC50 of 75 mg kg^-1 and 100 μg mL^-1 for EA. ALT, AST and ALP enzymes activity increased in the PCM-exposed plasma, but EA decreased these activities at control levels for ALT and AST. Animal glycemic levels decreased with EE and EA, which may be due to a possible hypoglycemic effect of the plant. In the liver tissue, SOD was unchanged, CAT, GSH and ASA decreased in the PCM group, but EA was able to reverse these effects. TBARS and PC were reduced by both treatments. In the renal tissue, EA fraction recovered the GST activity, GSH levels were restored by EE and EA and PC was reduced by treatments. Conclusion: This antioxidant effect may be due to the presence of the flavonoids identified, which are already well known for their antioxidant properties.

Background: Spondias pinnata (L. F.) Kurz is a well-known medicinal and edible plant indigenous to Southeast Asian countries. Although previous studies suggested that the high content of total phenolics in S. pinnata fruits leads to their antioxidant activity, there is no systematic study on its chemical constituents. Aim: To investigate chemical constituents of S. pinnata fruit extract, which will benefit to the utilization of S. pinnata fruit as an ingredient of functional food and medicines and will be helpful for quality control. Methods: The EtOAc extract of S. pinnata fruit was separated and purified by Sephadex LH-20, medium preparative liquid chromatography and silica gel column chromatography. And the structures of compounds 1-14 were elucidated on the basis of 1D, 2D NMR and ESIMS experiments. Results: Five caffeoylquinic acid derivatives (1 - 5), three coumarin derivatives (6 - 8), two flavonoid glucosides (9 and 10), three organic acids (11 - 13) and one aromatic glycoside (14) were identified from the fruit extracts. 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid methyl ester (1) was the major constituent, and the quantitative determination established by HPLC analysis of 1 was 258 mg/kg dry weight fruits. Conclusion: S. pinnata fruit could provide various groups of compounds and the quantification of 1 will be helpful for quality control of S. pinnata.

Introduction: Cyanthillium cinereum has long been used in Thai traditional medicine. However, the standard information of C. cinereum raw material has not been established. Objective: This study aimed to present the standard information of C. cinereum raw material. Material and methods: The microscopic and macroscopic characteristics, the physicochemical analysis, and assays for bioactive contents of 24 samples of C. cinereum from different locations were evaluated to determine the standard information of the plant material. Results: The result showed the microscopic characteristic of pollens in all powder samples. No nicotine content in C. cinereum extract was observed with LC-MS; apigenin and luteolin were instead selected as markers. The observed average contents of apigenin and luteolin were 0.238 and 1.059 mg/g, respectively, using HPLC-UV. Nitrite and nitrate components in C. cinereum, which induced flavor aversion leading to smoking cessation, were determined. The average nitrite and nitrate content were 0.004 and 0.526 mg/kg in ethanol extract and 0.014 and 1.645 mg/kg in the water extract, respectively. The results did not substantiate the concern for high potassium content in C. cinereum materials for cardiovascular and renal patients where only traces were observed in all samples (3.113 and 20.898 mg/kg in ethanol and water extracts, respectively). Conclusion: The results can be used to establish the specification of C. cinereum, which will be useful for quality control of the raw material. This new information is crucial and can be utilized extensively prior to herbal product preparation.

Background & Objective: Barley is widely used as a major staple of human food and animal feed. Several antioxidant phenols are found in barely, which have scavenging properties. The present study aimed to assess the protective effects of barley seed against the oxidative damage of brain tissues in a scopolamine-induced memory impairment model. Materials and Methods: In total, 32 male albino rats (mean weight: 250±10 g) were divided into four groups of saline (control), scopolamine, barley seed (100 mg/kg) with scopolamine, and barley seed alone. The spatial memory function was assessed using the Morris water maze. Results: Compared to the scopolamine group, barley seed could decrease the escape latency time in the treated rats, while the time spent and distance traveled in the target quadrant on the probe trial increased. Moreover, barley seed could increase the malondialdehyde concentration in the hippocampus and cortical tissues, while the thiol content was observed to decrease. Conclusion: According to the results, the use of dietary barley seed could improve the memory function in dementia associated with increased oxidative stress.

Artocarpus heterophyllus has been used as a folk medicine. This plant contained a wide range of flavonoid compounds and possessed several pharmacological properties including anticancer properties. Chemotherapeutic agent is a major option for cancer treatment. However, it may lead to tumor relapse. Therefore, it needs to discover an alternative to reduce this limitation using natural products. Objective: This study was aimed to determine anti-proliferative activities of isolated compounds against cancer cell lines. The morphological changes of cancer cell lines after treatment with the compounds was also evaluated. Methods: The flavonoid compounds were determined for their cytotoxic activity against leukaemia HL-60 (CCL-240), colorectal adenocarcinoma HT-29 (HTB-38), breast adenocarcinoma cancer MCF-7 (HTB-22), and non-small lung cancer H460 (HTB-177) cell lines using MTT assay. Hoechst 33342/PI staining assay was used to evaluate the morphological changes, and observed using a fluorescent microscope. Results: It showed that amongst compound, artocarpin consistently exhibited strong cytotoxic activity against H460, HT-29, MCF-7, and HL-60 cancer cell lines with IC50 values of 5.07, 5.56, 12.53, and 19.94 μg/mL, respectively. The activity was comparable to the cisplatin as a positive control. Morphological observations showed the most typical apoptotic morphology of cancer cells upon treatment with artocarpin and the least typical of apoptotic structure with other compounds. Conclusion: It can be suggested that A. heterophyllus bioactive compound modulates apoptosis by the presence of its distinctive, typical forms of morphological changes in treating cancer cells. Thus, artocarpin compound may provide high potential therapeutic use in chemotherapeutic strategies.