Potential Effects of Essential Oil from Plinia cauliflora (Mart.) Kausel on Leishmania: In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Approaches

In the search for new chemotherapeutic alternatives for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), essential oils are promising due to their diverse biological potential. In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical composition and leishmanicidal and anti-inflammatory potential of the essential oil isolated from the leaves of Plinia cauliflora (PCEO). The chemical composition of PCEO showed β-cis-Caryophyllene (24.4%), epi-γ-Eudesmol (8%), 2-Naphthalenemethanol[decahydro-alpha] (8%), and trans-Calamenene (6.6%) as its major constituents. Our results showed that the PCEO has moderate cytotoxicity (CC50) of 137.4 and 143.7 μg/mL on mice peritoneal exudate cells (mPEC) and Vero cells, respectively. The PCEO was able to significantly decrease mPEC infection by Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis. The value of the inhibitory concentration (IC50) on amastigote forms was about 7.3 µg/mL (L. amazonensis) and 7.2 µg/mL (L. braziliensis). We showed that PCEO induced drastic ultrastructural changes in both species of Leishmania and had a high selectivity index (SI) > 18. The in silico ADMET analysis pointed out that PCEO can be used for the development of oral and/or topical formulation in the treatment of CL. In addition, we also demonstrated the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect, with a 95% reduction in paw edema and a decrease by at least 21.4% in migration immune cells in animals treated with 50 mg/kg of PCEO. Taken together, our results demonstrate that PCEO is a promising topical therapeutic agent against CL.

GC-MS analysis and in silico docking of constituents of Cinnamomum malabatrum against CYP450 17α and CYP450 19 (Aromatase)- Key targets for hyperandrogenism

Poly cystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is considered as one of the common hormonal disorders affecting 6-20% of women in their reproductive age with characteristic features include anovulatory infertility, hyperandrogenism, cystic follicles and insulin resistance. The gene CYP play an important role in pathophysiology of hyperandrogenism associated with PCOS. An elevated androgens are reported in PCOS condition due to overexpression of the enzyme CYP450 17 α: . As well as diminished levels of aromatase (CYP450 19) were observed in several hyperandrogenic PCOS patients. The powdered leafy material of Cinnamomum malabatrum was subjected to Soxhlet extraction. The plant extract was subjected to Gas chromatography-MS analysis (GC-MS), and the chromatogram obtained revealed the presence of active chemical constituents like 1(10),9(11)-B-Homolanistadiene for the first time and other potential compounds. Hypothesis has raised to interpret the efficiency of phytoconstituents of Cinnamomum malabatrum on these enzyme targets and which may be a novel drug candidate for the treatment and maintenance of hyperandrogenism associated with PCOS. Thus, the results obtained from the in-silico study of Cinnamomum malabatrum leaf extract using computational approaches indicate that the phytoconstituents have good affinities for the selected two key targets. ADME and PASS studies has been performed for active phytoconstituents homolanistadiene, β-sitosterol, cycloartenol and a pyrazole derivative, and results revealed the Lipinski drug-likeness and pharmacological potential. In conclusion, this work throws a new insight into the possibility of the active phytoconstituents on binding the two active CYP45017 α and CYP45019 aromatase enzymes which facilitates development of novel compounds for hyperandrogenism associated with PCOS.

Chemical Composition of the Cinnamomum malabatrum Leaf Essential Oil and Analysis of Its Antioxidant, Enzyme Inhibitory and Antibacterial Activities

Cinnamomum species are a group of plants belonging to the Lauraceae family. These plants are predominantly used as spices in various food preparations and other culinary purposes. Furthermore, these plants are attributed to having cosmetic and pharmacological potential. Cinnamomum malabatrum (Burm. f.) J. Presl is an underexplored plant in the Cinnamomum genus. The present study evaluated the chemical composition by a GC-MS analysis and antioxidant properties of the essential oil from C. malabatrum (CMEO). Further, the pharmacological effects were determined as radical quenching, enzyme inhibition and antibacterial activity. The results of the GC-MS analysis indicated the presence of 38.26 % of linalool and 12.43% of caryophyllene in the essential oil. Furthermore, the benzyl benzoate (9.60%), eugenol (8.75%), cinnamaldehyde (7.01%) and humulene (5.32%) were also present in the essential oil. The antioxidant activity was indicated by radical quenching properties, ferric-reducing potential and lipid peroxidation inhibition ex vivo. Further, the enzyme-inhibitory potential was confirmed against the enzymes involved in diabetes and diabetic complications. The results also indicated the antibacterial activity of these essential oils against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The disc diffusion method and minimum inhibitory concentration analysis revealed a higher antibacterial potential for C. malabatrum essential oil. Overall, the results identified the predominant chemical compounds of C. malabatrum essential oil and its biological and pharmacological effects.

Antiglycation, comparative antioxidant potential, phenolic content and yield variation of essential oils from 19 exotic and endemic medicinal plants

The antioxidant potential, antiglycation, and total phenolic content of essential oils (EOs) extracted from 19 medicinal plants were assessed. The variation in yield of the EOs with respect to altitude and season was also studied. The antioxidant potential of Pimenta dioica (L.) Merr., Psiadia terebinthina A.J. Scott, Laurus nobilis L., Piper betle L., and Citrus hystrix DC. showed IC₅₀ values less/equivalent to the positive controls. Weak correlations were observed between the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl hydrazyl (DPPH) and xanthine oxidase (XO) assays as well as between the DPPH and nitric oxide radical scavenging (NO) assay and between the XO and 2,2 azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6 sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay. Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw., L. nobilis, Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees, and Psidium guajava L. successfully inhibited in vitro glycated end-products (IC₅₀: 451.53 ± 3.00, 387.04 ± 1.53, 348.59 ± 3.34 and 401.48 ± 2.86 µg/mL respectively) compared to aminoguanidine (IC₅₀: 546.69 ± 3.57 µg/mL). Some of the EOs had a high content of phenolic compounds. EOs such as P. dioica, P. terebinthina, L. nobilis, P. guajava, and C. hystrix were found to be rich in eugenol and other phenolic compounds. The EOs evaluated in the present study may have applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries.

Comparative Chemical Profiles of Essential Oil Constituents of Eight Wild Cinnamomum Species from the Western Ghats of India

The volatile chemical profiles of 8 wild Cinnamomum species ( C. dubium Nees, C. litseifolium Thwaites, C. mohanense Gangapr. et al., C. palghatensis Gangop., C. riparium Gamble, C. travancoricum Gamble, C. walaiwarense Kosterm. and C. wightii Meissn.) and two chemotypes ( C. agasthyamalayanum Robi et al. and C. keralaense Kosterm.) from the Western Ghats, south India were reported for the first time. A total of 112 constituents belonging to monoterpenoid, sesquiterpenoid and phenyl propanoid classes were identified from the leaf essential oils by GC-FID and GC-MS analytical methods. Monoterpenoids and sesquiterpenoids were the major class of volatile compounds distributed in most of the Cinnamomum species studied. The study lead to the identification of natural sources of aroma compounds such as 1,8-cineole ( C. mohanense), 1,4-cineole ( C. wightii), safrole ( C. walaiwarense) and benzyl benzoate ( C. keralaense). Two new chemotypes of Cinnamomum species viz; C. agasthyamalayanum phellandrene-eugenol type and C. keralaense benzyl benzoate type were also discovered from the Western Ghats. The interrelationships between the studied species were discussed based on the volatile chemical profiles.

Inter-specific variation in headspace scent volatiles composition of four commercially cultivated jasmine flowers

Jasmines are commercially grown for their fragrant flowers and essential oil production. The flowers of jasmine emit sweet-smelling fragrance from evening till midnight. This study was designed to study the composition and inter-specific variation of the emitted scent volatiles from flowers of four commercially cultivated Jasminum species namely, Jasminum sambac, Jasminum auriculatum, Jasminum grandiflorum and Jasminum multiflorum. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis revealed that the scent volatiles composition of these flowers was predominantly enriched with both terpenoid and benzenoid compounds. Linalool and (3E,6E)-α-farnesene were identified as the major monoterpene and sesquiterpene in all the four species, respectively. The most abundant benzenoid detected in all flowers was benzyl acetate. Comparison of volatile profiles indicated a variation in fragrance contents and types emitted from these four jasmine flowers. The outcome of this study shall help in elucidating the enzymes and genes of fragrance biosynthesis in jasmines and in aiming to create flowers with improved scent quality.