Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 7, Issue 3, 2017

Callistemon viminalis (weeping bottlebrush), belongs to the family Myrtaceae, is known to have medical importance. An ornamental plant stands for its numerous attributes such as antioxidant, moluscicidal, antibacterial, antifungal, allelopathic, anti-platelet aggregation, anti-quorum sensing, anti-infective, anti-helminthic and has also been found as an effective insecticidal activity. This plant possesses a wide range of secondary metabolites inclusive of triterpenoid, monoterpenes, steroid, steroida l glycoside, phenolic, tetra deca hydro xanthene diones, pyrrole derivatives, flavonoids and essential oils. An impression has been taken from previous research that the major constituents of C. viminalis are monoterpenes which are mainly responsible for different biological activities of C. viminalis. This review includes the information concerning the cultivation, morphology, microscopic studies, physiochemical, and phytochemistry, so as to exploit it further for the human welfare.

Anisophyllea disticha is one of the species of genus Anisophyllea that is not pharmacologically investigated despite its high utilization by the folklore. Leaf, stem and root of this plant are being used especially in treating diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, refreshing men128;™s body, revitalizing the birth canal of women after delivering the baby as well as relieving weariness and body aches. The medicinal properties of A. disticha are predicted based on a literature review that provides information on secondary metabolites present and biological activities of this genus. The most reported biological activities comprise of antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-diabetic and DNA damaging activity. From the previous studies, it can be observed that the extraction of bioactive components from this genus has been conducted using conventional method such as maceration, percolation and soxhlet. In this review, phytochemical contents, bioactivities and the methods of extraction of bioactive compounds from genus Anisophyllea have been broadly discussed. The advantages, as well as disadvantages of both conventional and non-conventional extraction methods have also been explained. Therefore, the extraction using non-conventional method like supercritical fluid extraction could provide the opportunity to obtain highly purified chemical constituents with potential in the application of various fields.

Background: In recent decade, researchers aim to exploit the growth regulators from natural sources due to adverse effects posed by chemical fertilizers. Ash gourd waste (peel and seeds) has been traditionally used as a green manure for increasing the soil nutrients. The role of acetoin, a major aroma compound of ash gourd (Benincasa hispida), and its glucosidic precursor as a plant growth promoter was investigated in the present study. Methods: Tobacco leaf discs exhibited growth when treated with methanolic extract of ash gourd. The structure of active principal responsible for growth promoting activity was elucidated. Identification of differentially expressed protein in response to treatment was also carried out. Results: Free acetoin and its glucoside at a concentration of 0.44 μg/mL were found to enhance the growth of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) leaf discs by 44% and 56%, respectively, when grown in MS medium. Two dimensional gel electrophoresis of the proteins isolated from the untreated and acetoin glucoside treated tobacco leaf discs revealed the upregulation of a new protein in the treated samples. This was identified as a Ras related nuclear GTPase or Ran protein, a very important regulatory protein, by peptide mass finger printing. The physiological role of acetoin and its glucosidic precursor present in ash gourd as a plant growth promoter is reported here for the first time. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates growth promoting activity of acetoin and its glucoside. The treatment of plants with such highly active but cheap chemicals could have potential use in increasing crop yield. Conclusion: The present study demonstrates growth promoting activity of acetoin and its glucoside. The treatment of plants with such highly active but cheap chemicals could have potential use in increasing crop yield.

Background: The cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco, L) is in the Chrysobalanaceae family. It has a pantropical distribution, with 18-20 genuses and at least 500 species. This family is comprised of trees and shrubs, with alternating, simple leaves with stipules (small and deciduous). Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) the fatty acid profile in cocoplum (Chrysobalanus icaco, L) seed oil by High Resolution Gas Chromatography (HRGC), (2) the melting point by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). In addition, the relatively high concentration of unsaturated fats makes it a potentially nutritious food. This includes oleic acid (C18:1) and a low concentrations of lauric (C12:0), myristic (C14:0) and palmitic (C16:0) acids. Method: HRGC and DSC. Results: The melting point of 24.29 ºC makes this a vegetable oil. Conclusion: Since it has 4 to 5% solids at body temperature (36.5 to 37 °C), it would be useful in the food industry.

Background: Glycoalkaloids production from natural plants suffers from many problems, including instability and scarcity. The scope of the study was to biosynthesize these important metabolites via plant tissue culture as alternative way besides, evaluating their biological activities. Method: Solasodine glycoalkaloids production potentiated in cultures of Solanum laciniatum leaves on Murashige and Skoog (MS) media containing growth hormones and phenylalanine. The biosynthesized glycoalkaloids were examined for their biological activities. Results: Extracted glycoalkaloids from calli and regenerated shootlets were found to be much higher than intact plant. HPTLC and HPLC examination illustrated that glycoalkaloids were solasonine and solamargine in addition to solasodine aglycone. Electron Spin Resonance technique (ESR) was used for measurement of the antioxidant capacity of the separated glycoalkaloids extract (83.87%) against DPPH•. In vitro glycoalkaloids possessed cytotoxic activity against human carcinoma cell lines of lung, liver, brain, lymphoblastic leukemia and breast. IC50 values (μg/mL) were 0.84, 11.79, 12.58, 14.88 and 23.40, respectively. Virucidal activity of the glycoalkaloids against Herpes simplex performed using plaque reduction method and exhibited marked activity (88.1%). Glycoalkaloids also have pronounced anti-inflammatory effect. Conclusion: The obtained results explore in vitro solasodine glycoalkaloids biosynthesis that could incorporate in pharmaceuticals according to the examined biological efficiency.

Objective: n the present study, the essential oil of Athroisma proteiformis was characterized for the first time. Method: GC-HRMS (Gas Chromatography-High Resolution Mass Spectrometry) was performed for qualitative and quantitative analysis of the phytochemicals present in the extract. Chemical analyses were conducted to evaluate the total phenols, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity of the extract. Results: Of the 130 peaks detected, 50 were studied and 30 compounds were clearly identified. The main components of the extract were p-cymen-8-ol, the major compound (13.37%), followed by caryophyllene oxide (12.02%), o-cymene (7.79%), humulene epoxide II (7.62%) and limonene (7.35%). The essential oil of Athroisma proteiformis exhibited a good antioxidant activity. The Athroisma extract IC50 values were lower than those of the antioxidant standards used in the FRAP and ABTS tests, ascorbic acid and BHT, and lower than glutathione in the OH radical reducing power test. On the contrary, in the DPPH test, IC50 was higher for A. proteiformis than for ascorbic acid or BHT. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the A. proteiformis plant can be used as a source of natural antioxidants but the consequences on human health should first be carefully studied due to the large number of compounds present in the oil.

Background: Microorganisms are highly diverse sources of bioactive natural products. A valuable set of fungi has been encountered in the hot Egyptian desert soils. The aims of this paper were to isolate soil thermophilic fungi and detect their bioactive metabolites. Methods: Direct incorporation method of soil into PDA medium is used for fungal isolation. The metabolic extracts of the isolated fungi were assayed against four bacterial species, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Neisseria lactamica and Bacillus subtilis. Phytochemical methods were used to isolate active compounds from Aspergillus japonicas. Their structures were determined by the interpretation of the NMR data and high resolution mass spectrometry (HRESIMS). Results: The Ethyl acetate extract of Aspergillus japonicus inhibited the growth of Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Neisseria lactamica and Staphylococcus aureus. Metabolomic investigation of A. japonicus extra-cellular secretion resulted in the isolation of nigragillin (1); and nigerazine B (2); along with five naphtho-γ-pyrones, flavoasperone (3); rubrofusarin B (4); dianhydroaurasperone C (5); fonsecinone A (6); and aurasperone A (7). The antimicrobial activity of the isolated compounds is also described in this paper. Conclusion: This is the first report on those secondary metabolites from A. japonicus as well as the first full NMR assignments of nigerazine B (2). A. japonicas Compounds 1, 3, 4 and 7 exhibited antibacterial activities against B. subtilis, E. coli, N. lactamica, and S. aureus. Aurasperone A (7), and flavasperone (3) were the most active compounds against the tested Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.a.

Background: Arborinine is a naturally found alkaloid with various biological activities. It has been isolated from the leaf extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla, a traditionally used medicinal plant of North East of India. Single crystal X-ray diffraction on arborinine has never been reported earlier. Objective: The main objective of the present study is to report the isolation and characterization of arborinine and its single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. Method: Arborinine was isolated from the leaf extract of Glycosmis pentaphylla by repeated column chromatography. Fine yellow needle-shaped crystals were recovered from a solution of purified arborinine in a mixture of ethyl acetate and petroleum ether (1:5). The purified compound is characterized by IR, NMR, HRMS and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Results: The crystal structure was solved in orthorhombic Pbca space group with unit cell parameters a = 14.805(3) Å, b = 7.5342(15) Å, c = 23.620(5) Å, = 90°, β= 90°, γ= 90°, V= 2634.7(9) s, Φ#150; = 8, Dcalc = 1.438 Φ#156;gm-3 and F (000) = 1200. The molecules of arborinine with a planar acridine ring with flanking methoxy groups at 2- and 3- position dsplay a 3D framework resulting from weak C-H•••O, π-π stacking and Van der Waal interactions.i Conclusion: Single crystal X-ray diffraction on arborinine is reported for the first time. High field NMR and high resolution mass are also reported for the first time on a sample of arborinine isolated from the plant Glycosmis pentaphylla. æ#133;

Background: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease that affects about 47.5 million people worldwide, a number that is expected to double every 20 years. Available treatments are only palliative because none of the cholinomimetic agents is curative or preventive and they mostly come with severe side effects. The discovery of safer and more effective medications is an unmet healthcare need. Penianthus longifolius is an herbal medicine with strong cholinomimetic activity. Objectives: The purpose of this research was to identify the bioactive components responsible for the observed activities. Method: Aqueous extract of the leaves of P. longifolius was subjected to liquid-liquid fractionation and was tested for cholinomimetic properties in an organ bath experiment and for free radical scavenging properties using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method. The aqueous fraction was further fractionated using HP20 and the HP20 fractions were analyzed using HPLC-DAD. The components were identified by dereplication. Results: Results showed that the extracts had a dose dependent response antioxidant activity in addition to the cholinomimetic property which had been reported. The dereplication analysis showed that the compounds responsible for the activities observed were vitexin, isovitexin and other apigenin glycosides. Conclusion: With the antioxidant activity and cholinomimetic activity mediated through muscarinic receptors, P. longifolius leaf extract deserves further attention as a potential source of anti-Alzheimer's medication.

Background: In recent years researchers have undertaken the search for antioxidant compounds that can delay or inhibit the initiation or propagation of oxidative chain reaction and thus prevent or repair oxidative damage done to the body's cells by reactive oxygen species. Currently, a variety of synthetic antioxidant supplements are available. However, antioxidants derived from natural sources have attracted many interests for use in foods or pharmaceutical preparations. Various dermatological disorders such as freckling, age spots and sites of actinic damage are caused by the accumulation of dermal melanin pigment, which is synthesized in melanocytes via the action of tyrosinase. Therefore, there is a large demand for developing antityrosinase and antioxidant products to treat and protect against hyperpigmentation and ageing of the skin caused by ultraviolet rays, ROS, free radicals and other insults. Method: Ethanol 70% extract of Paeonia lactiflora flowers was partitioned in water and ethyl acetate extracts by liquid/liquid chromatography. These two extracts were purified by combination of chromatographic methods. The chemical structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and Mass spectrometry. HPLC analysis was used to quantify the major compounds of the ethanol 70% extract. The in vitro fungal tyrosinase assay, using 3,4- dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA) as substrate, was used to evaluate the antityrosinase potential of these extracts and isolated compounds. The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity was used to quantifying the antioxidant activity. Results: Twenty-six compounds were isolated from the flowers of Paeonia lactiflora. The HPLC fingerprint of the ethanol 70% extract of this plant was established. The antioxidant assays revealed that ethanol 70% and ethyl acetate extracts had significant antioxidant abilities in DPPH scavenging activity. The most active compound was identified as methyl gallate. Through the in vitro fungal tyrosinase inhibition screening, we found, that ethanol, ethyl acetate and H2O extracts and three isolated compounds [1,2,3,6-tetra-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucopyranoside and kaempferol 3-O-(6-O-galloyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside] inhibit the target protein activities with good IC50 values. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the antioxidant and antityrosinase activities of ethanol extract of Paeonia lactiflora flowers. A simple, accurate, and reliable method was developed to evaluate the quality of P. lactiflora extracts by using the established HPLC fingerprint and the determination of sixteen compounds. It is interesting that the tetra- and penta-galloylglucoses and the flavonoid have bi-functionality, not just have antioxidative abilities, but also had the inhibitory effects on fungal tyrosinase. These constituents from P. lactiflora exhibited potential applications in medical cosmetology and food supplementation, simultaneously.