Flavonoids from Salvia chloroleuca with α-Amylsae and α-Glucosidase Inhibitory Effect

It is believed that the inhibition of carbohydrate hydrolyzing enzymes including α-amylase and α-glucosidase is one of the therapeutic approaches to decrease the postprandial glucose level after a meal, especially in the people with type 2 diabetes. Medicinal plants and their extracts are one of the main sources to find new inhibitors to the enzymes. In our study four flavonoids, namely luteolin 7-O-glucoside (1), luteolin 7-O-glucuronide (2), diosmetin 7-O-glucuronide (3) and salvigenin (4) were isolated from aerial parts of Salvia chloroleuca. The inhibitory activity of these compounds against α-amylase and α-glucosidase were evaluated. Compounds 1, 2 and 3 showed potent α-glucosidase inhibitory effect with IC50 values of 18.3, 14.7, and 17.1 µM, respectively. Also these compounds exhibited moderate α-amylase activity with IC50 values 81.7, 61.5, and 76.3 µM, respectively.

Bioactive sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula pseudalliacea

One new and five known sesquiterpene coumarins were isolated from the roots of Ferula pseudalliacea. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS data as 4'-hydroxy kamolonol acetate (1), kamolonol (2), szowitsiacoumarin A (3), farnesiferon B (4), farnesiferol C (5), and flabellilobin A (6). The absolute configuration of compounds 1, 2, and 4 was established by comparison of experimental and simulated electronic circular dichroism spectra using time dependence density function theory. 4'-Hydroxy kamolonol acetate and kamolonol showed antibacterial activity against Heliobacter pylori and Staphylococcus aureus at a concentration of 64 µg/mL. Kamolonol, 4'-hydroxy kamolonol acetate, and farnesiferon B displayed a cytotoxic activity in HeLa cells, with an IC50 of 3.8, 4.5, and 7.7 µM, respectively.

Essential Oil Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Diplotaenia damavandica

Antimicrobial activity of the essential oils obtained from leaves, root and the seeds of Diplotaenia damavandica Mozaffarian, Hedge & Lamond, an endemic plant to Iran, was determined against 10 microorganisms using the disk susceptibility test as well as measuring minimum inhibitory concentrations. The results showed that all three oils had antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli. The essential oil from the leaves had the highest antimicrobial activity against all test microorganisms including the fungal strains. The essential oils compositions were analyzed and determined by GC and GC-MS. The oils analyses resulted in the identification of 16, 17 and 20 compounds representing 94.2%, 96.4% and 95.1% of the total oils, respectively. The main components of the leaf essential oils were (Z)-β-ocimene (21.6%), α-phellandrene (21.3%) and terpinolene (20%). Dill apiol (30.1%) and γ-terpinene (16.2%) were the main components of the root and seed essential oils, respectively.

Antimicrobial Activity and Chemical Composition of the Essential Oil of Nepeta crispa Willd. from Iran

The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd., an endemic species from Iran, was studied. The oil was obtained from the aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-three compounds, accounting for 99.8% of the total oil, were identified. The main constituents were 1,8-cineol (47.9%) and 4aα,7α,7aβ- nepetalactone (20.3%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil of N. crispa was tested against seven gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria and four fungi. The results of the bioassays showed the interesting antimicrobial activity, in which the gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, were the most sensitive to the oil. Also, the oil exhibited a remarkable antifungal activity against all the tested fungi.

Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activity and Essential Oil Composition of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. from Iran

The in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and its two main components of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. (Apiaceae) growing wild in Iran, as well as the composition of its essential oil were studied. A total of 19 compounds representing 99.9% of the oil has been identified. γ-Terpinene (73.5%), p-cymene (14.2%) and (E)-β-farnesene (5.3%) were characterized as the main components. The oil showed remarkable activity against three Gram-negative and four Gram-positive test bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.31 to 10.00 mg/ml. The oil and its two main components were also subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging capacity of the oil was determined with an IC50 value of 6.6 mg/ml.

Narcotic Alkaloids of Four Papaver Species from Iran

Four native Papaver species of Iran, i. e. P. glaucum, P. tenuifolium, P. dubium and P. fugax, were collected from their natural habitat and subjected to HPLC analysis for determination of their morphine, codeine and thebaine content. P. dubium and P. glaucum contained all of the three mentioned narcotic alkaloids, while morphine was not found in P. fugax, and P. tenuifolium was free from codeine.

Effects of Hydro-alcoholic Extract of Anethum Graveolens Seed on Pentylenetetrazol-induced Seizure in Adult Male Mice

INTRODUCTION

Regarding chronic nature of epilepsy and its side effects and to access the effective treatment procedures, herbal medicine has received remarkable interest. The aim of this study was to determine the anticonvulsant effects of hydro-alcoholic extract of Anethum graveolens seed on pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) -induced seizure in male mice.

METHODS

Fifty-six albino male mice were divided randomly into seven groups including the negative control (saline), positive control (Phenobarbital) and treatment groups using different doses of hydro-alcoholic extract of Anethum graveolens seed (50, 100, 300, 500 and 1000 mg/ kg). To provoke convulsion, PTZ was injected to all groups and initiation time of myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures as well as surveillance after 24 h were measured.

RESULTS

The results indicated that hydro-alcoholic extract of Anethum graveolens seed (AGS) delayed the initiation time of myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures in comparison with saline group. The latency was considerable for myoclonic and tonic-clonic seizures at all above mentioned doses of AGS extract except for the lowest one. Moreover, the protective effect of AGS extract against mortality was statistically significant at all doses except for 50 mg/kg.

DISCUSSION

As the hydro-alcoholic extract of AGS showed an appropriate response in experimental model of convulsion, it might be considered as an adjuvant therapy with other traditional antiepileptic medications.

Antitrypanosomal isothiocyanate and thiocarbamate glycosides from Moringa peregrina

O-Methyl (1), O-ethyl (2), and O-butyl (3) 4-[(α-L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl] thiocarbamate (E), along with 4-(α-L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl isothiocyanate (4) have been isolated from the aerial parts of Moringa peregrina. The compounds were tested for in vitro activity against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense and cytotoxicity in rat skeletal myoblasts (L6 cells). The most potent compound was 4 with an IC50 of 0.10 µM against T.b. rhodesiense and a selectivity index of 73, while the thiocarbamate glycosides 1, 2, and 3 showed only moderate activity. Intraperitoneal administration of 50 mg/kg body weight/day of 4 in the T.b. rhodesiense STIB 900 acute mouse model revealed significant in vivo toxicity. Administration of 10 mg/kg body weight/day resulted in a 95% reduction of parasitemia on day 7 postinfection, but did not cure the animals. Because of its high in vitro activity and its ability to irreversibly inhibit trypanothione reductase, an attractive parasite-specific target enzyme, 4-[(α-L-rhamnosyloxy) benzyl] isothiocyanate (4), can be considered as a lead structure for the development and characterization of novel antitrypanosomal drugs.

Antitrypanosomal triterpenoid with an ε-lactone E-ring from Salvia urmiensis

A new triterpenoid, urmiensolide (1), was isolated from Salvia urmiensis. The structure was elucidated by a combination of 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and X-ray crystallographic analyses. The absolute configuration was established by comparison of experimental and simulated ECD spectra. Urmiensolide is the first pentacyclic triterpenoid bearing a ε-lactone E-ring. The compound showed in vitro antitrypanosoal activity with an IC₅₀ value of 5.6 μM against the Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense STIB 900 strain and a selectivity index of 33. A possible biosynthetic pathway of 1 from α-amyrin is proposed.

Accuracy of computerized automatic identification of cephalometric landmarks by a designed software

OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this study was to design software for localization of cephalometric landmarks and to evaluate its accuracy in finding landmarks.

METHODS

40 digital cephalometric radiographs were randomly selected. 16 landmarks which were important in most cephalometric analyses were chosen to be identified. Three expert orthodontists manually identified landmarks twice. The mean of two measurements of each landmark was defined as the baseline landmark. The computer was then able to compare the automatic system's estimate of a landmark with the baseline landmark. The software was designed using Delphi and Matlab programming languages. The techniques were template matching, edge enhancement and some accessory techniques.

RESULTS

The total mean error between manually identified and automatically identified landmarks was 2.59 mm. 12.5% of landmarks had mean errors less than 1 mm. 43.75% of landmarks had mean errors less than 2 mm. The mean errors of all landmarks except the anterior nasal spine were less than 4 mm.

CONCLUSIONS

This software had significant accuracy for localization of cephalometric landmarks and could be used in future applications. It seems that the accuracy obtained with the software which was developed in this study is better than previous automated systems that have used model-based and knowledge-based approaches.

In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of phenolic constituents from aerial parts of Polygonum hyrcanicum

Background and the purpose of the study

The early stage of diabetes mellitus type 2 is associated with postprandial hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is believed to increase the production of free radicals and reactive oxygen species, leading to oxidative tissue damage. In an effort of identifying herbal drugs which may become useful in the prevention or mitigation of diabetes, biochemical activities of Polygonum hyrcanicum and its constituents were studied.

Methods

Hexane, ethylacetate and methanol extracts of P. hyrcanicum were tested for α-glucosidase inhibitory, antioxidant and radical scavenging properties. Active constituents were isolated and identified from the methanolic extract in an activity guided approach.

Results

A methanolic extract from flowering aerial parts of the plant showed notable α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 15 μg/ml). Thirteen phenolic compounds involving a cinnamoylphenethyl amide, two flavans, and ten flavonols and flavonol 3-O-glycosides were subsequently isolated from the extract. All constituents showed inhibitory activities while compounds 3, 8 and 11 (IC₅₀ = 0.3, 1.0, and 0.6 μM, respectively) were the most potent ones. The methanol extract also showed antioxidant activities in DPPH (IC₅₀ = 76 μg/ml) and FRAP assays (1.4 mmol ferrous ion equivalent/g extract). A total phenol content of 130 mg/g of the extract was determined by Folin-Ciocalteu reagent.

Conclusion

This study shows that P. hyrcanicum contains phenolic compounds with in vitro activity that can be useful in the context of preventing or mitigating cellular damages linked to diabetic conditions.

Disesquiterpene and sesquiterpene coumarins from Ferula pseudalliacea, and determination of their absolute configurations

The first disesquiterpene coumarin, sanandajin, five sesquiterpene coumarins, kamolonol acetate, fekrynol acetate, ethyl galbanate, methyl galbanate, farnesiferol B, and a sesquiterpene, aristolone, were isolated from a n-hexane extract of Ferula pseudalliacea roots. The structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, HR-ESIMS data, and kamolonol acetate was confirmed by single-crystal X-ray analysis. The absolute configuration of compounds was established by comparison of experimental and simulated ECD spectra using time dependence density function theory (TDDFT). In vitro antiplasmodial activity against Plasmodium falciparum K1 strain was determined. sanandajin, kamolonol acetate and methyl galbanate showed moderate antiplasmodial activity, with IC(50) values of 2.6, 16.1 and 7.1 μM, respectively.

Lower third molar eruption following orthodontic treatment

This study assessed the effect of extraction and preservation of the 1st premolar on lower 3rd molar eruption. Orthodontic clinic records from 1993 to 1995 were evaluated before and after treatment and 8-9 years after treatment for 3 groups of patients: 32 with extraction of 1st premolars in both jaws, 32 with no extraction but orthodontic treatment and 48 controls with no extraction but orthodontic treatment in the upper jaws only. Successful eruption of 3rd molars was evaluated. There was a significant difference in the rates of successful eruptions in the extraction (42%), non-extraction (12%) and control (20%) groups. The findings indicate that 1st premolar extraction may increase the chance of 3rd molar eruption, leading to a lower incidence of health and economic complications.