Phytochemical profiles, phototoxic and antioxidant properties of eleven Hypericum species - A comparative study

Hyperatins A-D, highly oxidized polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols from Hypericum perforatum L. with hypoglycemic potential in liver cells

Hyperatins A-D (1-4), four previously undescribed polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols, were isolated from Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort). Compound 1 possessed a unique octahydroindeno[1,7a-b]oxirene ring system with a rare 2,7-dioxabicyclo[2.2.1]heptane fragment. Compounds 2-4 had an uncommon decahydrospiro[furan-3,7'-indeno[7,1-bc]furan] ring system. Their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses and X-ray crystallography. Plausible biosynthetic pathways of 1-4 were also proposed. Compounds 1 and 2 exerted promising hypoglycemic activity by inhibiting glycogen synthase kinase 3 expression in liver cells.

The potential role of Hypericum perforatum in wound healing: A literature review on the phytochemicals, pharmacological approaches, and mechanistic perspectives

St. John's Wort, commonly known as Hypericum perforatum L., is a flowering plant in the Clusiaceae family that traditionally been employed for treating anxiety, depression, wounds, burns, sunburn, irritation, and stomach ailments. This review provides a synopsis of H. perforatum L. phytoconstituents and their biological effects, highlighting its beneficial therapeutic properties for dermatological indications, as well as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic activity in various applications including wound healing and skin conditions such as eczema, sun burn and minor burns also spastic paralysis, stiff neck and mood disorders as anti-depressant and nerve pains such as neuralgia. The data were collected from several databases as Web of Science PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar using the terms: "H. perforatum L.", "H. perforatum L. /phytochemistry," and "H. perforatum extracts/wound healing" collected from 1994 to 2023. The findings suggest H. perforatum L. acts through various mechanisms and plays a role in each phase of the wound healing process, including re-epithelialization, angiogenesis, wound contraction, and connective tissue regeneration. H. perforatum L. enhances collagen deposition, decreases inflammation, inhibits fibroblast migration, and promotes epithelialization by increasing the number of fibroblasts with polygonal shape and the number of collagen fibers within fibroblasts. H. Perforatum L. extracts modulate the immune response and reduce inflammation were found to accelerate the wound healing process via inhibition of inflammatory mediators' production like interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Thus, H. perforatum L. represents a potential remedy for a wide range of dermatological problems, owing to its constituents with beneficial therapeutic properties. H. perforatum L. could be utilized in the development of novel wound healing therapies.

Chemical profiling of botanical extracts obtained in NADES systems using centrifugal partition chromatography combined with 13 C NMR dereplication-Hypericum perforatum as a case study

INTRODUCTION

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) have emerged as interesting extractants to develop botanical ingredients. They are nontoxic and biodegradable, nonflammable, easy to prepare, and able to solubilize a wide range of molecules. However, NADES extracts remain difficult to analyze because the metabolites of interest stay highly diluted in the nonvolatile viscous NADES matrix.

OBJECTIVE

This study presents a robust analytical workflow for the chemical profiling of NADES extracts. It is applied to Hypericum perforatum aerial parts extracted with the neutral mixture fructose/glycerol/water (3/1/1, w/w/w), and compared to the chemical profiling of a classical dry methanol extract.

METHODS

Exploiting polarity differences between metabolites, the H. perforatum NADES extract was partitioned in a liquid-liquid solvent system to trap the hydrophilic NADES constituents in the lower phase. The upper phase, containing a diversity of secondary metabolites from H. perforatum, was fractionated by centrifugal partition chromatography. All fractions were chemically investigated using a 13 C NMR dereplication method which involves hierarchical clustering analysis of the whole NMR dataset, a natural metabolite database for metabolite identification, and 2D NMR analyses for validation. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analyses were also performed to complete the identification process.

RESULTS

A range of 21 metabolites were unambiguously identified, including glycosylated flavonols, lactones, catechins, phenolic acids, lipids, and simple sugars, and 15 additional minor extract constituents were annotated by LC-MS based on exact mass measurements.

CONCLUSION

The proposed identification process is rapid and nondestructive and provides good prospects to deeply characterize botanical extracts obtained in nonvolatile and viscous NADES systems.

Redox State Modulatory Activity and Cytotoxicity of Olea europaea L. (Oleaceae) Leaves Extract Enriched in Polyphenols Using Macroporous Resin

The food products derived from Olea europaea are a fundamental part of the Mediterranean diet, and their health-promoting effects are well known. In this study, we analyzed the phytochemical characteristics, the redox state modulatory activity, and the cytotoxic effect of an olive leaf aqueous extract enriched by macroporous resin on different tumor and normal cell lines (LNCaP, PC3, HFF-1). HPLC-DAD analysis, the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods confirmed the qualitatively and quantitatively high content of phenolic compounds (130.02 ± 2.3 mg GAE/g extract), and a DPPH assay (IC50 = 100.00 ± 1.8 μg/mL), the related antioxidant activity. The biological investigation showed a significant cytotoxic effect, highlighted by an MTT test and the evident cellular morphological changes, on two prostate cancer cell lines. Remarkably, the extract was practically non-toxic on HFF-1 at the concentrations (100, 150, 300 µg/mL) and exposure times tested. Hence, the results are selective for tumor cells. The underlying cytotoxicity was associated with the decrease in ROS production (55% PC3, 42% LNCaP) and the increase in RSH levels (>50% PC3) and an LDH release assay (50% PC3, 40% LNCaP, established necrosis as the main cell death mechanism.

Methyl cellulose/okra mucilage composite films, functionalized with Hypericum perforatum oil and gentamicin, as a potential wound dressing

There is a growing demand for the development of functional wound dressings enriched with bioactive natural compounds to improve the quality of life of the population by accelerating the healing process of chronic wounds. In this regard, a functional composite film of okra mucilage (OM) and methylcellulose (MC) incorporated with Hypericum perforatum oil (Hp) and gentamicin (G) was prepared and characterized as a wound dressing. Increasing Hp resulted in improved film properties with a more porous structure, higher WVTR, and lower surface hydrophobicity. Furthermore, incorporating Hp into OM:MC films led to increased elongation at the break while reducing the tensile strength of the films. The highest values of total antioxidant capacity (1.09-1.16 mM trolox equivalent) and total phenolic content (13.76-16.94 μg GA equivalent mL-1) were measured in the composite films containing the highest Hp concentration (1.5 %). In addition, OM:MC/HpG composite films exhibited significant antibacterial activity against both E. coli and S. aureus and prevented the transmission of these bacteria through the films. Hp incorporation reduced the cytotoxic effects of OM:MC films on BJ cells and increased the wound closure rate in vitro. In conclusion, the developed OM:MC/HpG composite film can be a promising candidate as a novel wound dressing with its superior properties.

The In Vitro Assessment of Antibacterial and Antioxidant Efficacy in Rosa damascena and Hypericum perforatum Extracts against Pathogenic Strains in the Interplay of Dental Caries, Oral Health, and Food Microbiota

The rising demand for novel antibiotic agents prompts an investigation into natural resources, notably plant-derived compounds. In this study, various extracts (aqueous, ethanolic, aqueous-ethanolic, and enzymatic) of Rosa damascena and Hypericum perforatum were systematically evaluated against bacterial strains isolated from dental lesions (n = 6) and food sources (raw milk and broiler carcass, n = 2). Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC), antibiofilm activity, and time-kill kinetics were assessed across a range of extract concentrations, revealing a dose-responsive effect. Notably, some extracts exhibited superior antibacterial efficacy compared to standard clinical antibiotics, and the time-kill kinetics demonstrated a rapid elimination of bacterial loads within 24 h. The susceptibility pattern proved strain-specific, contingent upon the extract type, yet all tested pathogens exhibited sensitivity. The identified extracts, rich in phenolic and polyphenolic compounds, as well as other antioxidant properties, contributed to their remarkable antibiotic effects. This comprehensive investigation not only highlights the potential of Rosa damascena and Hypericum perforatum extracts as potent antibacterial agents against diverse bacterial strains including caries pathogens, but also underscores their rapid action and dose-dependent efficacy. The findings suggest a promising avenue for harnessing plant-derived compounds in the development of novel antimicrobial strategies against dental caries and other oral inflammations, bridging the gap between natural resources and antibiotic discovery.

New trends in the development of photodynamic inactivation against planktonic microorganisms and their biofilms in food system

The photodynamic inactivation (PDI) is a novel and effective nonthermal inactivation technology. This review provides a comprehensive overview on the bactericidal ability of endogenous photosensitizers (PSs)-mediated and exogenous PSs-mediated PDI against planktonic bacteria and their biofilms, as well as fungi. In general, the PDI exhibited a broad-spectrum ability in inactivating planktonic bacteria and fungi, but its potency was usually weakened in vivo and for eradicating biofilms. On this basis, new strategies have been proposed to strengthen the PDI potency in food system, mainly including the physical and chemical modification of PSs, the combination of PDI with multiple adjuvants, adjusting the working conditions of PDI, improving the targeting ability of PSs, and the emerging aggregation-induced emission luminogens (AIEgens). Meanwhile, the mechanisms of PDI on eradicating mono-/mixed-species biofilms and preserving foods were also summarized. Notably, the PDI-mediated antimicrobial packaging film was proposed and introduced. This review gives a new insight to develop the potent PDI system to combat microbial contamination and hazard in food industry.

Chemical Characterization and Antioxidant Activity of Nine Hypericum Species from Greece

Hypericum L. comprises about 500 species distributed almost worldwide. Research has mainly focused on H. perforatum with confirmed biological activity on the alleviation of depression symptoms, among others. The compounds responsible for such activity are considered naphthodianthrones and acylphloroglucinols. Other Hypericum species are less studied or not studied, and further research is needed to complete the characterization of the genus. In this study we evaluated the qualitative and quantitative phytochemical profile of nine Hypericum species native to Greece, namely H. perforatum, H. tetrapterum, H. perfoliatum, H. rumeliacum subsp. apollinis, H. vesiculosum, H. cycladicum, H. fragile, H. olympicum and H. delphicum. Qualitative analysis was performed using the LC/Q-TOF/HRMS technique, while quantitative data were calculated with the single point external standard method. Additionally, we estimated the antioxidant activity of the extracts using DPPH and ABTS assays. Three species endemic to Greece (H. cycladicum, H. fragile, H. delphicum) were studied for the first time. Our results indicated that all studied species are rich in secondary metabolites, mainly of the flavonoids family, with strong antioxidant activity.

Effects of Aronia melanocarpa and Hypericum perforatum aqueous extracts on hexavalent chromium induced toxicity in rat's thyrocytes

BACKGROUND

Hexavalent chromium known as oxidizing agent is able to form reactive oxygen species. Aronia melanocarpa and Hypericum perforatum are two plants known for their antioxidant effects. Our study aimed to establish if CrVI induces apoptosis and structural changes in thyrocytes and if its effect can be counteracted by the administration of both extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Wistar rats divided in five groups: C - distilled water (DW), Cr - 75 mg/L CrVI in DW for 3 months, Cr 2 - 75 mg/L CrVI in DW for 3 months followed by 1 month DW, CrA - 3 months 75 mg/L CrVI in DW and 1 month Aronia 2.5% extract, CrH - 3 months 75 mg/L CrVI in DW and 1 month Hypericum 2.5% extract. Histological assessment and qRT-PCR for evaluation of BAX and Bcl2 protein levels performed on thyroid samples.

RESULTS

The Cr and Cr2 groups were those with altered cytoarchitecture: increase in the diameter of many thyroid follicles, a decrease in their number, a decrease in the height of the follicular cells. The histological examination of the CrH group revealed almost recovery of structural architecture. The BAX gene levels were higher in the Cr and Cr2 groups indicating the apoptotic activity of chromium. In extract receiving groups the BAX gene expressions were significantly lower, but the lowest level presented the CrH group. Bcl2 gene expression levels indicate antiapoptotic activity being elevated in the Cr group, followed by CrA, Cr2, and CrH groups. The BAX/Bcl2 ratio which significantly increased in the case of the Cr and Cr2 group compared to the groups that were administered the two plant extracts.

CONCLUSION

The results obtained in this study confirm that CrVI has toxic effects on thyroid endocrine cells and H. perforatum has stronger antioxidant properties against the action of hexavalent chromium in thyrocytes than A. melanocarpa.

Essential Oil Composition of Seven Bulgarian Hypericum Species and Its Potential as a Biopesticide

Hypericum species and especially H. perforatum L. are well known for their therapeutic applications. The present study assessed the essential oil (EO) composition, and antifungal and aphid suppression activity of seven Bulgarian Hypericum species. The EOs were analyzed by GC-MS-FID. Two experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, H. perforatum, H. maculatum, and H. hirsutum were used. Additionally, the EO composition of H. perforatum extracted via hydrodistillation (ClevA) and via commercial steam distillation (Com) were compared. The second experiment compared the EOs of H. perforatum, H. cerastoides, H. rumeliacum, H. montbretii, and H. calycinum (flowers and leaves) extracted via hydrodistillation and collected with n-hexane. Overall, the EO constituents belonged to four classes, namely alkanes, monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and fatty acids. The main class for compounds in H. maculatum and H. perforatum (section Hypericum) were sesquiterpenes for both experiments except for H. perforatum (Com). Hypericum montbretii (section Drosocarpium) EO had monoterpenes (38.09%) and sesquiterpenes (37.09%) as major groups, while H. hirsutum EO (section Taeniocarpium) contained predominately alkanes (67.19%). Hypericum hirsutum EO contained cedrol (5.04%), found for the first time in Hypericum species. Fatty acids were the main compounds in H. cerastoides (section Campylopus), while monoterpenes were the most abundant class in H. rumeliacum and H. calycinum EOs. α-Pinene and germacrene D were the major EO constituents of all analyzed Hypericum species except for H. hirsutum and H. cerastoides. Hypericum perforatum EO (Com) had significant repellent and insecticidal activity against two aphid species, Rhopalosiphum padi (Bird Cherry-oat aphid) and Sitobion avenae (English grain aphid) at concentrations of 0%, 1%, 2.5%, 3.5%, 4.5%, and 5%. The tested EOs did not show significant activity against selected economically important agricultural fungal pathogens Fusarium spp., Botrytis cinerea, Colletotrichum spp., Rhizoctonia solani, and Aspergillus sp. The EO of the Hypericum species found in the Bulgarian flora could be utilized for the development of new biopesticides for aphid control.

Hypericum perforatum L. extract exerts insulinotropic effects and inhibits gluconeogenesis in diabetic rats by regulating AMPK expression and PKCε concentration

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hypericum perforatum L., commonly known as St. John's Wort (SJW), represents one of the best-known and most thoroughly researched medicinal plant species. The ethnobotanical usage and bioactivities related to H. perforatum include treatment of skin diseases, wounds and burns, gastrointestinal problems, urogenital diseases and psychiatric disorders, particularly depression. In the last decade, many studies focused on the bioactive constituents responsible for the antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic activity of SJW extracts. However, the mechanism by which H. perforatum extract exhibits these properties is still unclear. Hence, the current study was designed to gain insight into the underlying biochemical and molecular mechanisms by which wildly growing H. perforatum exerts its antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic activities.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Plant material of H. perforatum was harvested from a natural population in the Republic of North Macedonia during full flowering season. Methanol (80% v/v) was used to extract bioactive components from HH powder. The dissolved HH dry extract (in 0.3% CMC) was given daily as a single treatment (200 mg/kg bw) during 14 days both in healthy and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. As a positive control, we applied glibenclamide. The activity of key enzymes involved in carbohydrate methabolisam in the liver were assessed, along with substrate concentration, as well as AMPK mRNA levels, PKCε concentration, plasma insulin level and pancreatic PARP activity.

RESULTS

Compared to diabetic rats, treatment of diabetic rats with HH extract resulted with decreased activity of hepatic enzymes glucose-6-phospatase and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase, increased liver glycogen and glucose-6-phosphate content, which resulted with reduced blood glucose concentration up to normoglycaemia. Non-significant changes were observed in the activity of hexokinase, glycogen phosphorylase and glucose-6-phospahte dehydrogenase. HH-treatment also caused an increase in plasma insulin concentration and increase in pancreatic PARP activity. Finally, HH treatment of diabetic rats showed significant increase in AMPK expression and decrease of PKCε concentration.

CONCLUSION

We present in vivo evidence that HH- extract exert insulinotropic effects and regulate endogenous glucose production mostly by suppressing liver gluconeogenesis. The HH-treatment did not effected glycogenolysys and glycolysis. Finally, we confirm the antihyperglycemic and antidiabetic effect of HH-extract and the mechanism of this effect involves amelioration of AMPK and PKCε changes in the liver.

Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Activity of Hypericum perforatum L. Extracts against Human Melanoma Cells from Different Stages of Cancer Progression, Cultured under Normoxia and Hypoxia

Oxidative stress and the hypoxic microenvironment play a key role in the progression of human melanoma, one of the most aggressive skin cancers. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effect of Hypericum perforatum extracts of different origins (both commercially available (HpEx2) and laboratory-prepared from wild grown (HpEx12) and in vitro cultured (HpEx13) plants) and hyperforin salt on WM115 primary and WM266-4 lymph node metastatic human melanoma cells cultured under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. The polyphenol content, radical scavenging activity, and hyperforin concentration were determined in the extracts, while cell viability, apoptosis, ROS production, and expression of NRF2 and HO-1, important oxidative stress-related factors, were analyzed after 24 h of cell stimulation with HpExs and hyperforin salt. We found that cytotoxic, pro-apoptotic and antioxidant effects depend on the extract composition, the stage of melanoma progression, and the oxygen level. Hyperforin salt showed lower activity than H. perforatum extracts. Our study for the first time showed that the anticancer activity of H. perforatum extracts differs in normoxia and hypoxia. Importantly, the composition of extracts of various origins, including in vitro cultured, resulting in their unique properties, may be important in the selection of plants for therapeutic application.

Hyperforin: A natural lead compound with multiple pharmacological activities

Hypericum perforatum L. (Clusiaceae), commonly known as St. John's wort, has a rich historical background as one of the oldest and most widely studied herbal medicines. Hyperforin is the main antidepressant active ingredient of St. John's wort. In recent years, hyperforin has attached increasing attention due to its multiple pharmacological activities. In this review, the information on hyperforin was systematically summarized. Hyperforin is considered to be a lead compound with diverse pharmacological activities including anti-depression, anti-tumor, anti-dementia, anti-diabetes and others. It can be obtained by extraction and synthesis. Further pharmacological studies and more precise detection methods will help develop a value for hyperforin. In addition, structural modification and pharmaceutical preparation technology will be beneficial to promoting the research progress of hyperforin based innovative drugs. Although these works are full of known and unknown challenges, researchers are still expected to make hyperforin play a greater value.

Photoactivity of hypericin: from natural product to antifungal application

Considering the multifaceted and increasing application of photodynamic therapy (PDT), in recent years the antimicrobial employment of this therapy has been highlighted, because of the antiviral, antibacterial, antiparasitic, and antifungal activities that have already been demonstrated. In this context, research focussed on antimycological action, especially for treatment of superficial infections, presents promising growth due to the characteristics of these infections that facilitate PDT application as new therapeutic options are needed in the field of medical mycology. Among the more than one hundred classes of photosensitizers the antifungal action of hypericin (Hyp) stands out due to its ability to permeate the lipid membrane and accumulate in different cytoplasmic organelles of eukaryotic cells. In this review, we aim to provide a complete overview of the origin, physicochemical characteristics, and optimal alternative drug deliveries that promote the photodynamic action of Hyp (Hyp-PDT) against fungi. Furthermore, considering the lack of a methodological consensus, we intend to compile the best strategies to guide researchers in the antifungal application of Hyp-PDT. Overall, this review provides a future perspective of new studies and clinical possibilities for the advances of such a technique in the treatment of mycoses in humans.

In Vitro Antibacterial and Phytochemical Screening of Hypericum perforatum Extract as Potential Antimicrobial Agents against Multi-Drug-Resistant (MDR) Strains of Clinical Origin

Background

The perennial plant Hypericum perforatum is widely distributed around the world. It has been used for many years in conventional medicine to treat a variety of illnesses, including stress, mild to moderate depression, and minor injuries. This study examined the antimicrobial activity of the H. perforatum total extract and its fractions (n-hexane, ethyl acetate, chloroform, and aqueous) against multi-drug-resistant (MDR) isolates that were gathered from clinical samples, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumonia.

Materials and Methods

Aerial parts of H. perforatum were collected and extracted using various solvents and were tested versus different isolated bacterial species. The inhibition zone of tested extracts was detected using an agar diffusion assay, and MICs were measured. Phytochemical analysis of promising H. perforatum extract was done using LC-ESI-MS/MS. Ultrastructure examination for the most altered bacteria used transmission electron microscopy. Antioxidant assays were done using DPPH and ABTS scavenging capacity methods. Cytotoxicity was reported versus Vero cells.

Results

Different extracts of H. perforatum showed promising antibacterial activity against the pathogens. While the subfractions of the total extract were observed to show lesser inhibition zones and higher MIC values than the total extract of H. perforatum against MDR strains, the total extract of H. perforatum demonstrated the most potent antimicrobial action with an inhibition zone range of 17.9-27.9 mm. MDR-K. pneumoniae was discovered to be the most susceptible strain, which is consistent with the antibacterial inhibitory action of H. perforatum whole extract. Additionally, after treatment at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC 3.9 μg/ml), the transmission electron microscope showed alterations in the ultrastructure of the K. pneumoniae cells. Methanol extract from H. perforatum has a CC₅₀ value of 976.75 μg/ml.

Conclusion

Future inhibitors that target MDR strains may be revealed by these findings. Additionally, the extracts that were put to the test demonstrated strong antioxidant effects as shown by DPPH or ABTS radical-scavenging assays.

Biochemical Analyses of Bioactive Extracts from Plants Native to Lampedusa, Sicily Minor Island

Major threats to the human lifespan include cancer, infectious diseases, diabetes, mental degenerative conditions and also reduced agricultural productivity due to climate changes, together with new and more devastating plant diseases. From all of this, the need arises to find new biopesticides and new medicines. Plants and microorganisms are the most important sources for isolating new metabolites. Lampedusa Island host a rich contingent of endemic species and subspecies. Seven plant species spontaneously growing in Lampedusa, i.e., Atriplex halimus L. (Ap), Daucus lopadusanus Tineo (Dl), Echinops spinosus Fiori (Es) Glaucium flavum Crantz (Gf) Hypericum aegypticum L: (Ha), Periploca angustifolia Labill (Pa), and Prasium majus L. (Pm) were collected, assessed for their metabolite content, and evaluated for potential applications in agriculture and medicine. The HPLC-MS analysis of n-hexane (HE) and CH2Cl2 (MC) extracts and the residual aqueous phases (WR) showed the presence of several metabolites in both organic extracts. Crude HE and MC extracts from Dl and He significantly inhibited butyrylcholinesterase, as did WR from the extraction of Dl and Pa. HE and MC extracts showed a significant toxicity towards hepatocarcinoma Huh7, while Dl, Ha and Er HE extracts were the most potently cytotoxic to ileocecal colorectal adenocarcinoma HCT-8 cell lines. Most extracts showed antiviral activity. At the lowest concentration tested (1.56 μg/mL), Dl, Gf and Ap MC extracts inhibited betacoronavirus HCoV-OC43 infection by> 2 fold, while the n-hexane extract of Pm was the most potent. In addition, at 1.56 μg/mL, potent inhibition (>10 fold) of dengue virus was detected for Dl, Er, and Pm HE extracts, while Pa and Ap MC extracts dampened infections to undetectable levels. Regarding to phytotoxicity, MC extracts from Er, Ap and Pm were more effective in inhibiting tomato rootlet elongation; the same first two extracts also inhibited seed cress germination while its radicle elongation, due to high sensitivity, was affected by all the extracts. Es and Gf MC extracts also inhibited seed germination of Phelipanche ramosa. Thus, we have uncovered that many of these Lampedusa plants displayed promising biopesticide, antiviral, and biological properties.

Phenolic Profiles, Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Hydrodistillation Wastewaters from Five Lamiaceae Species

Distillation is the most widely used method to obtain an essential oil from plant material. The biomass used in the process is returned as a solid residue together with variable amounts of water rich in water-soluble compounds, which currently are not addressed to any further application. The scope of this work was to evaluate the phytochemical composition of wastewaters coming from hydrodistillation (DWWs) of five aromatic plants belonging to the Lamiaceae family, and to assess their in vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The phenolic profiles of the DWWs were determined by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI/MS. Free radical scavenging ability, oxygen radical antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase mimetic activity of the samples under study were measured. Moreover, to investigate the anti-inflammatory activity of the DWWs, an in vitro experimental model of intestinal inflammation was used. The DWW samples’ phytochemical analysis allowed the identification of 37 phenolic compounds, all exhibiting good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity. Our study contributes to the knowledge on the polyphenolic composition of the DWWs of five aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family. The results highlight the presence of compounds with proven biological activity, and therefore of great interest in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields.

Low temperature modifies seedling leaf anatomy and gene expression in Hypericum perforatum

Hypericum perforatum, commonly known as St John's wort, is a perennial herb that produces the anti-depression compounds hypericin (Hyp) and hyperforin. While cool temperatures increase plant growth, Hyp accumulation as well as changes transcript profiles, alterations in leaf structure and genes expression specifically related to Hyp biosynthesis are still unresolved. Here, leaf micro- and ultra-structure is examined, and candidate genes encoding for photosynthesis, energy metabolism and Hyp biosynthesis are reported based on transcriptomic data collected from H. perforatum seedlings grown at 15 and 22°C. Plants grown at a cooler temperature exhibited changes in macro- and micro-leaf anatomy including thicker leaves, an increased number of secretory cell, chloroplasts, mitochondria, starch grains, thylakoid grana, osmiophilic granules and hemispherical droplets. Moreover, genes encoding for photosynthesis (64-genes) and energy (35-genes) as well as Hyp biosynthesis (29-genes) were differentially regulated with an altered growing temperature. The anatomical changes and genes expression are consistent with the plant's ability to accumulate enhanced Hyp levels at low temperatures.

How Should the Worldwide Knowledge of Traditional Cancer Healing Be Integrated with Herbs and Mushrooms into Modern Molecular Pharmacology?

Traditional herbal medicine (THM) is a “core” from which modern medicine has evolved over time. Besides this, one third of people worldwide have no access to modern medicine and rely only on traditional medicine. To date, drugs of plant origin, or their derivates (paclitaxel, vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, etoposide, camptothecin, topotecan, irinotecan, and omacetaxine), are very important in the therapy of malignancies and they are included in most chemotherapeutic regimes. To date, 391,000 plant and 14,000 mushroom species exist. Their medical and biochemical capabilities have not been studied in detail. In this review, we systematized the information about plants and mushrooms, as well as their active compounds with antitumor properties. Plants and mushrooms are divided based on the regions where they are used in ethnomedicine to treat malignancies. The majority of their active compounds with antineoplastic properties and mechanisms of action are described. Furthermore, on the basis of the available information, we divided them into two priority groups for research and for their potential of use in antitumor therapy. As there are many prerequisites and some examples how THM helps and strengthens modern medicine, finally, we discuss the positive points of THM and the management required to transform and integrate THM into the modern medicine practice.

Effect of Multivoice Chorus on Interpersonal Communication Disorder

Objective

As a type of music therapy, multipart chorus does not have high requirements for participants, and the basic level can be high or low. For college students, it is more likely to participate. Exploring the effect of multivoice chorus intervention on college students' mental health can provide reference for school psychological correction work. This study uses multivoice chorus as a means, combined with certain group psychological counseling techniques, to try to explore a new model for improving the mental health of college students.

Method

Fifty college students in prison were selected as subjects and randomly divided into the control group and experimental group. The multivoice chorus method was used to conduct an intervention test on the mental health of the college students in the experimental group, and the observation was carried out for 3 months. Before and after the intervention, the anxiety self-rating scale, the trust scale, the social avoidance and distress scale, the shyness scale, the UCLA loneliness scale, and the college student psychological test personality subtest were used for psychological testing and evaluation. Results/Discussion. College students can actively recognize and reflect on their own behavior, and objectively evaluate others. Through the cognition and management of emotions, college students can handle personal emotions well in interpersonal communication. In the later stage of multivoice chorus, they can help each other, establish a mutual assistance system, help each other, and discuss and learn interpersonal communication skills together, so that college students can learn good interpersonal communication experience and skills from others in various interactions, achieve self-help, and promote college students to work together. In the process of interfering with interpersonal communication disorder, simple psychological counseling has also improved the phenomenon of interpersonal communication disorder, but the experimental effect is far from the effect of the combination of music education and psychological counseling, and it is relatively unstable in the stability test. In the specific operation, in the purely psychological counseling process, college students with interpersonal barriers do not actively cooperate with the intervention, the operating atmosphere is relatively dull, and the teachers are time-consuming and labor-intensive during the psychological counseling process, but the results are minimal. The only effect is also worn out within a few weeks, and the stability is poor. It can be seen that music education has played a pivotal role as a medium in the intervention of interpersonal communication disorders, which can make the intervention process easier, more effective, and more stable.

Hyperforin and Myrtucommulone Derivatives Act as Natural Modulators of Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling in HCT116 Colon Cancer Cells

The therapeutic activities of natural plant extracts have been well known for centuries. Many of them, in addition to antiviral and antibiotic effects, turned out to have anti-tumor activities by targeting different signaling pathways. The canonical Wnt pathway represents a major tumorigenic pathway deregulated in numerous tumor entities, including colon cancer. Here, we investigated the acylphloroglucinols hyperforin (HF) from St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) and myrtucommulone A (MC A) from myrtle (Myrtus communis) and semi-synthetic derivatives thereof (HM 177, HM 297, HM298) for their effects on Wnt/β-catenin signaling. None of these substances revealed major cytotoxicity on STF293 embryonic kidney and HCT116 colon carcinoma cells at concentrations up to 10 μM. At this concentration, HF and HM 177 showed the strongest effect on cell proliferation, whereas MC A and HM 177 most prominently inhibited anchorage-independent growth of HCT116 cells. Western blot analyses of active β-catenin and β-catenin/TCF reporter gene assays in STF293 cells revealed inhibitory activities of HF, MC A and HM 177. In line with this, the expression of endogenous Wnt target genes, Axin and Sp5, in HCT116 cells was significantly reduced. Our data suggest that the acylphloroglucinols hyperforin, myrtucommulone A and its derivative HM 177 represent potential new therapeutic agents to inhibit Wnt/β-catenin signaling in colon cancer.

Hypericum spp.—An Overview of the Extraction Methods and Analysis of Compounds

The Hypericum genus contains one of the few genera of flowering plants that contains a species with authorization for marketing as a traditional medicine, H. perforatum. Due to the fact that this is a large genus, comprising numerous species, a large amount of interest has been shown over the years in the study of its various pharmacological activities. The chemical composition of these species is quite similar, containing compounds belonging to the class of phloroglucinol derivatives, naphthodianthrones, phenols, flavonoids and essential oils. Taking all of this into consideration, the present study aims to offer an overview of the species of the genus from the point of view of their extraction techniques and analysis methods. An extensive study on the scientific literature was performed, and it revealed a wide range of solvents and extraction methods, among which ethanol and methanol, together with maceration and ultrasonication, are the most frequent. Regarding analysis methods, separation and spectral techniques are the most employed. Therefore, the present study provides necessary data for future studies on the species of the genus, offering a complete overview and a possible basis for their development.

Anti-Inflammatory, Antioxidant, Moisturizing, and Antimelanogenesis Effects of Quercetin 3-O-β-D-Glucuronide in Human Keratinocytes and Melanoma Cells via Activation of NF-κB and AP-1 Pathways

Quercetin 3-O-β-D-glucuronide (Q-3-G), the glucuronide conjugate of quercetin, has been reported as having anti-inflammatory properties in the lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages, as well as anticancer and antioxidant properties. Unlike quercetin, which has been extensively described to possess a wide range of pharmacological activities including skin protective effects, the pharmacological benefits and mechanisms Q-3-G in the skin remained to be elucidated. This study focused on characterizing the skin protective properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, of Q-3-G against UVB-induced or H₂O₂-induced oxidative stress, the hydration effects, and antimelanogenesis activities using human keratinocytes (HaCaT) and melanoma (B16F10) cells. Q-3-G down-regulated the expression of the pro-inflammatory gene and cytokine such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in H₂O₂ or UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells. We also showed that Q-3-G exhibits an antioxidant effect using free radical scavenging assays, flow cytometry, and an increased expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2- related factor 2 (Nrf2). Q-3-G reduced melanin production in α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH)-induced B16F10 cells. The hydration effects and mechanisms of Q-3-G were examined by evaluating the moisturizing factor-related genes, such as transglutaminase-1 (TGM-1), filaggrin (FLG), and hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS)-1. In addition, Q-3-G increased the phosphorylation of c-Jun, Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) kinase 4 (MKK4), and TAK1, involved in the MAPKs/AP-1 pathway, and the phosphorylation of IκBα, IκB kinase (IKK)-α, Akt, and Src, involved in the NF-κB pathway. Taken together, we have demonstrated that Q-3-G exerts anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, moisturizing, and antimelanogenesis properties in human keratinocytes and melanoma cells through NF-κB and AP-1 pathways.

Cytotoxic and apoptotic effects of Hypericum androsaemum on prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3) and hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cell lines with identification of secondary metabolites by LC-HRMS

The study aims to determine the secondary metabolites of Hypericum androsaemum L. extracts by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS), and investigate the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the plant. Cytotoxic activity was evaluated by MTT assay, and apoptosis induction abilities on human prostate adenocarcinoma (PC-3), and hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cell lines. Accordingly, major secondary metabolites were found as hederagenin (762 ± 70.10 μg/g) in the leaves dichloromethane (LD), herniarin (167 ± 1.50 μg/g) in fruit dichloromethane (FD), (-)-epicatechin (6538 ± 235.36 μg/g) in the leaves methanol (LM), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (758 ± 20.46 μg/g) in the fruit methanol (FM), and caffeic acid (370 ± 8.88 μg/g) in the fruit water (FW), and (3313 ± 79.51 μg/g) in the leaves water (LW) extracts. LM exerted strong antioxidant activity in DPPH free (IC50 10.94 ± 0.08 μg/mL), and ABTS cation radicals scavenging (IC50 9.09 ± 0.05 μg/mL) activities. FM exhibited cytotoxic activity with IC50 values of 73.23 ± 3.06 µg/mL and 31.64 ± 2.75 µg/mL on PC-3 and Hep G2 cell lines, respectively. Being the richest extract in terms of quillaic acid (630 ± 18.9 μg/g), which is a well-known cytotoxic triterpenoid with proven apoptosis induction ability on different cells, FM extract showed apoptosis induction activity with 64.75% on PC-3 cells at 50 μg/mL concentration. The study provides promising results about the potential of Hypericum androsaemum on cancer prevention.

Phytochemical profiling of several Hypericum species identified using genetic markers

In the present study, we performed phytochemical profiling of several under-exploited Hypericum representatives taxonomically belonging to the sections Ascyreia, Androsaemum, Inodora, Hypericum, Coridium, Myriandra, and Adenosepalum. The authenticity of the starting plant material was confirmed using the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer as a molecular marker, DNA content and chromosome number. Phenolic constituents were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography to complement species-specific metabolic profiles. In several Hypericum representatives, the pharmacologically important compounds, including naphthodianthrones; phloroglucinol derivatives; chlorogenic acid; and some classes of flavonoids, particularly the flavonols rutin and hyperoside, flavanol catechin, and flavanones naringenin and naringin, were reported for the first time. Comparative multivariate analysis of chemometric data for seedlings cultured in vitro and acclimated to the outdoor conditions revealed a strong genetically predetermined interspecific variability in phenolic compound content. In addition to hypericins, which are the most abundant chemomarkers for the genus Hypericum, rarely employed phenolic metabolites, including phloroglucinol derivatives, chlorogenic acid, catechin, naringenin, naringin, and kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, were shown to be useful for discriminating between closely related species. Given the increasing interest in natural products of the genus Hypericum, knowledge of the spectrum of phenolic compounds in shoot cultures is a prerequisite for future biotechnological applications. In addition, phytochemical profiling should be considered as an additional part of the integrated plant authentication system, which predominantly relies upon genetic markers.

Volatile and phenolic profiling of a traditional medicinal plant, Hypericum empetrifolium with in vitro biological activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hypericum empetrifolium Willd is a member of the Hypericaceae family, mainly known in southern Greece, and western Turkey. Being a centuries-old medicinal plant, the aerial parts of the plant have been used for the treatment of herpes, kidney stones, gastric ulcer, and also for their anti-helminthic, and diuretic purposes traditionally.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The current study aimed to investigate the phytochemical profiles of the essential oil, and two ethanol extracts prepared from the aerial parts (H. empetrifolium aerial parts extract - HEA), and roots of the plant (H. empetrifolium roots extract - HER), and to provide data on antioxidant, anticholinesterase, antityrosinase, antiurease, cytotoxic, and antimicrobial activities of the extracts.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, volatile and phenolic compounds of the HEA and HER were analyzed by GC-MS and LC-MS/MS, respectively. Antioxidant potential of the extracts was clarified by using DPPH radical scavenging assay, ABTS cation radical assay, and the CUPRAC assay. Acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, urease, and tyrosinase inhibitory activity assays were used to determine enzyme inhibition capacity of the extracts. Cytotoxic activity of the extracts was established by using XTT assay. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was determined by the microbroth dilution technique.

RESULTS

The major compounds of the essential oil were revealed as alloaromodendrene (24.7%), α-pinene (14.7%), β-pinene (10.7%), and α-terpineol (7.7%) by the GC-MS analysis. According to the LC-MS/MS analysis results, quinic acid was the most abundant constituent in both extracts with 20612.42 ± 169.02 μg/g extract in HEA extract, and with 2254.34 ± 18.49 μg/g extract in HER extract, respectively. The HEA extract was also found to be rich in terms of chlorogenic acid (5583.14 ± 38.52 μg/g extract), isoquercitrin (3076.77 ± 40.92 μg/g extract), and malic acid (2822.90 ± 31.90 μg/g extract). HEA extract exhibited a significant antioxidant effect with an IC₅₀ value of 11.98 ± 0.22 μg/mL according to the DPPH radical scavenging assay. Similar results were obtained with the ABTS cation radical assay, and the CUPRAC assay. HER extract showed a strong butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory effect with 88.69 ± 0.62% at 200 μg/mL concentration. Both extracts were considered to have moderate anti-tyrosinase activity compared to the standard at 200 μg/mL. The best antimicrobial activity was obtained for HEA against C. parapsilosis with an MIC value of 4.88 μg/mL. HEA also exhibited antifungal activity against C. tropicalis with 19.53 μg/mL. Only HER exhibited low cytotoxicity on A498 renal cell lines with 60.6% cell viability.

CONCLUSION

Unquestionably, H. empetrifolium Willd has ethnopharmacological importance according to these results, and further investigations are required to evaluate other therapeutic properties of the plant.

Chemical Composition and New Biological Activities of Essential Oil and Hydrosol of Hypericum perforatum L. ssp. veronense (Schrank) H. Lindb

The chemical profile, antiproliferative, antioxidant and antiphytoviral activities of the species Hypericum perforatum ssp. veronense (Schrank) H. Lindb. (Clusiaceae) were investigated. Free volatiles were isolated and the chemical composition was determined in the lipophilic fraction (essential oil) and for the first time in the water fraction (hydrosol). The aim is to provide phytochemical data for H. perforatum ssp. veronense useful for distinguishing ssp. veronense from ssp. angustifolium, as there are taxonomic disagreements between them and the composition of the secretory products may be helpful in this respect. In the essential oil, the most abundant compounds identified were α-pinene and n-nonane, while in the hydrosol, myrtenol, carvacrol and α-pinene were the most abundant. Overall, the class of monoterpenes and oxygenated monoterpenes dominated in the EO and hydrosol samples. The essential oil showed high antioxidant activity, in contrast to the antiproliferative activity, where the hydrosol showed exceptional activity against three cancer cell lines: Hela (cervical cancer cell line), HCT116 (human colon cancer cell line) and U2OS (human osteosarcoma cell line). Both the essential oil and hydrosol showed antiphytoviral activity against tobacco mosaic virus infection on the local host plants. This is the first report dealing with biological activities of hydrosol of H. perforatum ssp. veronense, and the obtained results suggest that this traditional medicinal plant is a valuable source of volatiles with promising antiproliferative, antioxidant and antiphytoviral activities.

Cytotoxic activities of Hypericum perforatum L. extracts against 2D and 3D cancer cell models

Six extracts were obtained from plant species Hypericum perforatum L., collected at Samsun in Turkey. The aim of this study was to examine the mechanisms of the anticancer activity of these extracts. Methanol, ethyl-acetate and hexane were used as a solvents for extraction from both branch-body part of the plant (extracts 1, 2 and 3) and from plant flowers (extracts 4, 5 and 6). The cytotoxic effects of the extracts were determined against 2D and 3D cancer cell models. Cell cycle changes of treated HeLa cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Measurements of gene and microRNA expression levels in treated HeLa cells were done by quantitative real time PCR. Five examined extracts (2-6) exerted selective concentration-dependent cytotoxic effects on HeLa, K562, and A549 cancer cells, while the extract 1 exhibited very weak cytotoxicity. The extract 6 showed the highest intensity of cytotoxic activity. All tested extracts (2-6) demonstrated the ability to induce apoptosis in HeLa cells through activation of caspase-3. These extracts remarkably decreased gene expression levels of MMP2, MMP9, TIMP3, and VEGFA in HeLa cells. Flower extracts might have stronger effects on miR128/193a-5p/335 level changes than branch-body extracts. Hypericum perforatum extracts exerted weaker cytotoxic effects on 3D HeLa spheroids when compared with their effects on 2D monolayer HeLa cells. Taken together, results of our research may suggest the promising anticancer properties of the Hypericum perforatum extracts.

Natural antioxidants in the management of Parkinson's disease: Review of evidence from cell line and animal models

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a chronic progressive neurodegenerative disease. It results from the death of dopaminergic neurons. The pathophysiological mechanisms in idiopathic PD include the production of α-synuclein and mitochondrial respiratory function-affecting complex I, caused by reactive oxygen species. Therefore, the use of natural antioxidants in PD may provide an alternative therapy that prevents oxidative stress and reduces disease progression. In this review, the effects of hydroxytyrosol, Ginkgo biloba, Withania somnifera, curcumin, green tea, and Hypericum perforatum in PD animal and cell line models are compared and discussed. The reviewed antioxidants show evidence of protecting neural cells from oxidative stress in animal and cell models of PD. However, the clinical efficacy of these phytochemicals needs to be optimised and further investigated.

The Role of Antioxidants in the Management of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic neuropsychiatric disorder that has a significant effect on the quality of life. The most effective treatment for OCD is the combination of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI) with cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). However, several adverse effects have been linked with this usual pharmacotherapy, and it is unsuccessful in many patients. The exact pathophysiology of OCD is not completely known, though the role of oxidative stress in its pathogenesis has been proposed recently. This review presents an overview of animal and human studies of antioxidant treatment for OCD. The use of antioxidants against oxidative stress is a novel treatment for several neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. Among antioxidants, NAC was one of the most studied drugs on OCD, and it showed a significant improvement in OCD symptoms. Thus, antioxidants could be promising as an adjuvant treatment for OCD. However, a limited number of human studies are conducted on these agents, and for better judgment, human studies with a large sample size are necessary.

Hypericum perforatum extract and hyperforin inhibit the growth of neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii and infection-induced inflammatory responses of glial cells in vitro

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Hypericum perforatum L. has been widely used as a natural antidepressant. However, it is unknown whether it is effective in treating infection-induced neuropsychiatric disorders.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In order to evaluate the effectiveness of H. perforatum against infection with neurotropic parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which has been linked to neuropsychiatric disorders, this study investigated the anti-Toxoplasma activity using in vitro models.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dried alcoholic extracts were prepared from three Hypericum species: H. perforatum, H. erectum, and H. ascyron. H. perforatum extract was further separated by solvent-partitioning. Hyperforin and hypericin levels in the extracts and fractions were analyzed by high resolution LC-MS. Anti-Toxoplasma activities were tested in vitro, using cell lines (Vero and Raw264), murine primary mixed glia, and primary neuron-glia. Toxoplasma proliferation and stage conversion were analyzed by qPCR. Infection-induced damages to the host cells were analyzed by Sulforhodamine B cytotoxicity assay (Vero) and immunofluorescent microscopy (neurons). Infection-induced inflammatory responses in glial cells were analysed by qPCR and immunofluorescent microscopy.

RESULTS

Hyperforin was identified only in H. perforatum among the three tested species, whereas hypericin was present in H. perforatum and H. erectum. H. perforatum extract and hyperforin-enriched fraction, as well as hyperforin, exhibited significant anti-Toxoplasma property as well as inhibitory activity against infection-induced inflammatory responses in glial cells. In addition, H. perforatum-derived hyperforin-enriched fraction restored neuro-supportive environment in mixed neuron-glia culture.

CONCLUSIONS

H. perforatum and its major constituent hyperforin are promising anti-Toxoplasma agents that could potentially protect neurons and glial cells against infection-induced damages. Further study is warranted to establish in vivo efficacy.

Harvest time affects antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol and flavonoid content of Polish St John's wort's (Hypericum perforatum L.) flowers

The polyphenol content and antioxidant capacity of hyperforin and hypericin-standardized H. perforatum L. extracts may vary due to the harvest time. In this work, ethanol and ethanol-water extracts of air-dried and lyophilized flowers of H. perforatum L., collected throughout a vegetation season in central Poland, were studied. Air-dried flowers extracts had higher polyphenol (371 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (160 mg CAE/g) content, DPPH radical scavenging (1672 mg DPPH/g), ORAC (5214 µmol TE/g) and FRAP (2.54 mmol Fe2+/g) than lyophilized flowers extracts (238 mg GAE/g, 107 mg CAE/g, 1287 mg DPPH/g, 3313 µmol TE/g and 0.31 mmol Fe2+/g, respectively). Principal component analysis showed that the collection date influenced the flavonoid and polyphenol contents and FRAP of ethanol extracts, and DPPH and ORAC values of ethanol-water extracts. The ethanol extracts with the highest polyphenol and flavonoid content protected human erythrocytes against bisphenol A-induced damage. Both high field and benchtop NMR spectra of selected extracts, revealed differences in composition caused by extraction solvent and raw material collection date. Moreover, we have shown that benchtop NMR can be used to detect the compositional variation of extracts if the assignment of signals is done previously.

Anti-Tumor Activity of Hypericum perforatum L. and Hyperforin through Modulation of Inflammatory Signaling, ROS Generation and Proton Dynamics

In this paper we review the mechanisms of the antitumor effects of Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort, SJW) and its main active component hyperforin (HPF). SJW extract is commonly employed as antidepressant due to its ability to inhibit monoamine neurotransmitters re-uptake. Moreover, further biological properties make this vegetal extract very suitable for both prevention and treatment of several diseases, including cancer. Regular use of SJW reduces colorectal cancer risk in humans and prevents genotoxic effects of carcinogens in animal models. In established cancer, SJW and HPF can still exert therapeutic effects by their ability to downregulate inflammatory mediators and inhibit pro-survival kinases, angiogenic factors and extracellular matrix proteases, thereby counteracting tumor growth and spread. Remarkably, the mechanisms of action of SJW and HPF include their ability to decrease ROS production and restore pH imbalance in tumor cells. The SJW component HPF, due to its high lipophilicity and mild acidity, accumulates in membranes and acts as a protonophore that hinders inner mitochondrial membrane hyperpolarization, inhibiting mitochondrial ROS generation and consequently tumor cell proliferation. At the plasma membrane level, HPF prevents cytosol alkalization and extracellular acidification by allowing protons to re-enter the cells. These effects can revert or at least attenuate cancer cell phenotype, contributing to hamper proliferation, neo-angiogenesis and metastatic dissemination. Furthermore, several studies report that in tumor cells SJW and HPF, mainly at high concentrations, induce the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, likely by collapsing the mitochondrial membrane potential. Based on these mechanisms, we highlight the SJW/HPF remarkable potentiality in cancer prevention and treatment.

Identification of Small Molecule Inhibitors of the Deubiquitinating Activity of the SARS-CoV-2 Papain-Like Protease: in silico Molecular Docking Studies and in vitro Enzymatic Activity Assay

COVID-19 is an ongoing pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus with important political, socio-economic, and public health consequences. Inhibiting replication represents an important antiviral approach, and in this context two viral proteases, the SARS-CoV-2 main and papain-like proteases (PLpro), which cleave pp1a and pp1ab polypeptides, are critical. Along with protease activity, the PLpro possesses deubiquitinating activity, which is important in immune regulation. Naphthalene-based inhibitors, such as the well-investigated GRL-0617 compound, have been shown to possess dual effects, inhibiting both protease and deubiquitinating activity of the PLpro. Rather than binding to the canonical catalytic triad, these type of non-covalent inhibitors target an adjacent pocket, the naphthalene-inhibitor binding site. Using a high-throughput screen, we have previously identified the dietary hypericin, rutin, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside compounds as potential protease inhibitors targeting the naphthalene-inhibitor binding site. Here, our aim was to investigate the binding characteristics of these compounds to the PLpro, and to evaluate deubiquitinating activity, by analyzing seven different PLpro crystal structures. Molecular docking highlighted the relatively high affinity of GRL-0617 and dietary compounds. In contrast binding of the small molecules was abolished in the presence of ubiquitin in the palm subdomain of the PLpro. Further, docking the small molecules in the naphthalene-inhibitor binding site, followed by protein-protein docking revealed displacement of ubiquitin in a conformation inconsistent with functional activity. Finally, the deubiquitinating activity was validated in vitro using an enzymatic activity assay. The findings indicated that the dietary compounds inhibited deubiquitinase activity in the micromolar range with an order of activity of GRL-0167, hypericin >> rutin, cyanidin-3-O-glucoside > epigallocatechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, and cefotaxime. Our findings are in accordance with mechanisms and potential antiviral effects of the naphthalene-based, GRL-0617 inhibitor, which is currently progressing in preclinical trials. Further, our findings indicate that in particular hypericin, rutin, and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, represent suitable candidates for subsequent evaluation as PLpro inhibitors.

Protective Role of St. John's Wort and Its Components Hyperforin and Hypericin against Diabetes through Inhibition of Inflammatory Signaling: Evidence from In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

Diabetes mellitus is a very common chronic disease with progressively increasing prevalence. Besides the well-known autoimmune and inflammatory pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes, in many people, metabolic changes and inappropriate lifestyle favor a subtle chronic inflammatory state that contributes to development of insulin resistance and progressive loss of β-cell function and mass, eventually resulting in metabolic syndrome or overt type 2 diabetes. In this paper, we review the anti-inflammatory effects of the extract of Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John's wort, SJW) and its main active ingredients firstly in representative pathological situations on inflammatory basis and then in pancreatic β cells and in obese or diabetic animal models. The simultaneous and long-lasting inhibition of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT)-1, nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs)/c-jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathways involved in pro-inflammatory cytokine-induced β-cell dysfunction/death and insulin resistance make SJW particularly suitable for both preventive and therapeutic use in metabolic diseases. Hindrance of inflammatory cytokine signaling is likely dependent on the hyperforin content of SJW extract, but recent data reveal that hypericin can also exert relevant protective effects, mediated by activation of the cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)/protein kinase cAMP-dependent (PKA)/adenosine monophosphate activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway, against high-fat-diet-induced metabolic abnormalities. Actually, the mechanisms of action of the two main components of SJW appear complementary, strengthening the efficacy of the plant extract. Careful quantitative analysis of SJW components and suitable dosage, with monitoring of possible drug-drug interaction in a context of remarkable tolerability, are easily achievable pre-requisites for forthcoming clinical applications.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy against Propionibacterium acnes biofilms using hypericin (Hypericum perforatum) photosensitizer: in vitro study

Acne vulgaris is the most recurring skin condition in the world, causing great harm to the physical and psychological well-being of many patients. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) has broad therapeutic applicability. The purpose was to evaluate in vitro the photodynamic inactivation against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) biofilms by using different concentrations of hypericin (Hypericum perforatum) photosensitizer associated with different energies of low-level laser. The biofilms were placed in 96-well microplates with a 6.4-mm diameter surface, by using standard suspensions (2 × 10⁷ CFU/mL) and grown in brain heart infusion broth (BHI) for 48 h in anaerobic chamber. Subsequently, the control group received application of 0.9% sterile saline solution for 3 min; the photosensitising groups received hypericin at concentrations of 5 and 15 μg/mL for 3 min; the laser groups received irradiation of energies of 3 and 5 J (660 nm, continuous output, 100 mW, 30 and 50 s and 100 J/cm² and 166 J/cm², respectively); the aPDT groups received 5 and 15 μg/mL concentrations of hypericin associated with energies of 3 and 5 J of low-level laser irradiation. After the biofilms were broken up and seeded for CFU counting. The results showed a reduction in P. acnes biofilms after aPDT emphasising that 15 μg/mL hypericin associated with 3 and 5 J laser irradiation reduced biofilms by 14.1 and 27.9%, respectively. In addition, all groups of aPDT demostrated statistically significant reductions. In vitro photodynamic inactivation against P. acnes biofilms using different concentration of hypericin photosensitizer associated with different energies of low-level laser promoted effective antimicrobial action.

Subject: UV-B radiation and low temperature promoted hypericin biosynthesis in adventitious root culture of Hypericum perforatum

The hypericin is assumed as a highly demanded and key bioactive compound, which has antiviral, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antitumor properties isolated from Hypericum perforatum. Nowadays, increasing bioactive molecules' contents through generating novel compounds is one of the major research objectives of H. perforatum biotechnology; however, this plant remains recalcitrant and unmanageable to Agrobacterium mediated transformation and genetic improvement programs. In order to overcome these challenges, many researchers have focused on this unruly herb using biotic and abiotic eliciting strategies. Therefore, two experiments were separately designed for the evaluation of two types of abiotic elicitors, aiming at increasing the productivity of hypericin in the adventitious root suspension culture of H. perforatum. The first one was accomplished to evaluate the effect of UV-B light elicitors (the exposure time of 30, 60, and 90 min) and the recovery treatment (with or without) on hypericin content while the second one was assessed the effect of various temperatures (4°C, 8°C, 16°C, and 25°C) in three different exposure times (24 h, 72 h, and 7 d). Based on the results, UV-B (60 min) treatment followed by the recovery produced 0.430 µg/g DW hypericin and was distinguished as the most effective UV-B elicitation treatment. In addition, a temperature of 4°C for a period of 72 hours is required to get the highest amount of hypericin content. These findings indicate the fact that hypericin biosynthesis is notably affected by UV-B exposure time and Low-temperature. The data also clearly elucidate further mechanisms of hypericin production in H. perforatum adventitious root culture.

Metabolomic fingerprinting and genetic discrimination of four Hypericum taxa from Greece

Hypericum perforatum has plenty of uses in traditional medicine and is the source of top-selling herbal drugs and food supplements. The secondary metabolite chemistry for most of the nearly 500 Hypericum taxa is still unknown, even though they are used interchangeably. In the present study, we characterized four Hypericum populations from Achaia, Greece, belonging to H. perforatum ssp. veronense, H. perfoliatum, H. triquetrifolium, and an uninvestigated taxon, H. empetrifolium ssp. empetrifolium, in terms of their essential oils and polar bioactives in methanolic extracts via GC-MS, LC-HRMS, LC-DAD-MS, and HPLC-DAD. We also performed sequence analysis of nrITS to explore the genetic profile of these taxa and to examine whether their genotype is correlated to the metabolome. Sixty-three non-volatile compounds, phloroglucinols in their majority, and over one hundred (113) volatiles, mostly sesqui- and mono- terpenes, were detected. The concentration of the major polar constituents varied greatly among samples. In particular, phloroglucinols' diversity and abundance in H. empetrifolium ssp. empetrifolium was remarkable. The PCA and Biplot analysis revealed the contribution of each compound to the total chemodiversity and also revealed certain compounds that contribute to the discrimination of the samples. Sequence analysis of nrITS revealed different genetic profiles and markers which can be used for the identification of the four Hypericum taxa. The Mantel test showed a relatively strong correlation between the genetic profile and the volatile compounds and low with the main polar metabolites.

Putative Inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease from A Library of Marine Natural Products: A Virtual Screening and Molecular Modeling Study

The current emergency due to the worldwide spread of the COVID-19 caused by the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a great concern for global public health. Already in the past, the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2012 demonstrates the potential of coronaviruses to cross-species borders and further underlines the importance of identifying new-targeted drugs. An ideal antiviral agent should target essential proteins involved in the lifecycle of SARS-CoV. Currently, some HIV protease inhibitors (i.e., Lopinavir) are proposed for the treatment of COVID-19, although their effectiveness has not yet been assessed. The main protease (Mpr) provides a highly validated pharmacological target for the discovery and design of inhibitors. We identified potent Mpr inhibitors employing computational techniques that entail the screening of a Marine Natural Product (MNP) library. MNP library was screened by a hyphenated pharmacophore model, and molecular docking approaches. Molecular dynamics and re-docking further confirmed the results obtained by structure-based techniques and allowed this study to highlight some crucial aspects. Seventeen potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpr inhibitors have been identified among the natural substances of marine origin. As these compounds were extensively validated by a consensus approach and by molecular dynamics, the likelihood that at least one of these compounds could be bioactive is excellent.

Enzyme and Biological Activities of the Water Extracts from the Plants Aesculus hippocastanum, Olea europaea and Hypericum perforatum That Are Used as Folk Remedies in Turkey

Phenolic compounds are secondary metabolites that are found ubiquitously in plants, fruits, and vegetables. Many studies have shown that regular consumption of these compounds could have a positive effect on our health. The aim of this study was to compare the phytochemical contents of the water extracts from three different plants used as folk remedies in Turkey: Aesculus hippocastanum, Olea europaea, and Hypericum perforatum. A liquid chromatography-electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) analysis was performed to explore the phenolic profiles. The biological activities of these extracts were also evaluated in terms of their antioxidant activities (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl DPPH, 2,2′-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid ABTS, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay FRAP, cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity CUPRAC, β-carotene, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating) and enzyme inhibitory properties (against acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase). The aqueous extract of H. perforatum showed the highest levels of total phenolic, flavonoid, and saponin contents. Protocatechuic acid, vanillic acid, verbascoside, hesperidin, hyperoside, apigenin 7-hexosides, and quercetin were the most common compounds found in this species. The results confirm that A. hippocastanum, O. europaea, and H. perforatum represent a potential source of natural-derived molecules with positive properties that could be used as valid starting point for new food supplements, and drugs in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries.

Hypericum spp.: An Update on the Biological Activities and Metabolic Profiles

Plants from the genus Hypericum, one genus of the Hypericaceae family, have attracted a lot of attention for their potential pharmaceutical applications. Most of the studies in the literature focus on H. perforatum L. (common St. John's wort), whose complex spectrum of bioactive compounds makes this species one of the top herbal remedies and supplements in the world. It is also important to compare the studies on other Hypericum species, both from the phytochemical and biological point of view. The aim of this review was to provide an update of most recent studies about biological investigations of plants belonging to Hypericum genus. The metabolic profiles of Hypericum spp. were also discussed in order to present a spectrum of secondary metabolites not previously identified in this genus.

Variability of Hypericins and Hyperforin in Hypericum Species from the Sicilian Flora

Within Sicilian flora, the genus Hypericum (Guttiferae) includes 10 native species, the most popular of which is H. perforatum. Hypericum's most investigated active compounds belong to naphtodianthrones (hypericin, pseudohypericin) and phloroglucinols (hyperforin, adhyperforin), and the commercial value of the drug is graded according to its total hypericin content. Ethnobotanical sources attribute the therapeutic properties recognized for H. perforatum, also to other Hypericum species. However, their smaller distribution inside the territory suggests that an industrial use of such species, when collected from the wild, would result in an unacceptable depletion of their natural stands. This study investigated about the potential pharmacological properties of 48 accessions from six native species of Hypericum, including H. perforatum and five 'minor' species, also comparing, when possible, wild and cultivated sources. The variability in the content of active metabolites was remarkably high, and the differences within the species were often comparable to the differences among species. No difference was enlightened between wild and cultivated plants. A carefully planned cultivation of Hypericum seems the best option to achieve high and steady biomass yields, but there is a need for phytochemical studies, aimed to identify for multiplication the genotypes with the highest content of the active metabolites.

Antiviral Activity Against Infectious Bronchitis Virus and Bioactive Components of Hypericum perforatum L

Hypericum perforatum L., also known as Saint John’s Wort, has been well studied for its chemical composition and pharmacological activity. In this study, the antiviral activities of H. perforatum on infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) were evaluated in vitro and in vivo for the first time. The results of in vitro experiments confirmed that the antiviral component of H. perforatum was ethyl acetate extraction section (HPE), and results showed that treatment with HPE significantly reduced the relative messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and virus titer of IBV, and reduced positive green immunofluorescence signal of IBV in chicken embryo kidney (CEK) cells. HPE treatment at doses of 480–120 mg/kg for 5 days, reduced IBV induced injury in the trachea and kidney, moreover, reduced the mRNA expression level of IBV in the trachea and kidney in vivo. The mRNA expression levels of IL-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) significantly decreased, but melanoma differentiation-associated protein 5 (MDA5), mitochondrial antiviral signaling gene, interferon alpha (IFN-α), and interferon beta (IFN-β) mRNA levels significantly increased in vitro and in vivo. Our findings demonstrated that HPE had significant anti-IBV effects in vitro and in vivo, respectively. In addition, it is possible owing to up-regulate mRNA expression of type I interferon through the MDA5 signaling pathway and down-regulate mRNA expression of IL-6 and TNF-α via the NF-κB signaling pathway. Moreover, the mainly active compositions of HPE analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography/electrospray ionization–mass spectroscopy (ESI-MS) are hyperoside, quercitrin, quercetin, pseudohypericin, and hypericin, and a combination of these compounds could mediate the antiviral activities. This might accelerate our understanding of the antiviral effect of H. perforatum and provide new insights into the development of effective therapeutic strategies.

Phenolic constituents with neuroprotective activities from Hypericum wightianum

Five undescribed phenolic compounds, inclusing a depsidone derivative, hyperwightin A, a flavone derivative, hyperwightin B, and three benzophenone glycosides, hyperwightins C-E, along with four known ones were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of the whole plants of Hypericum wightianum. Structures of the obtained compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses. The protective effects of the isolates against corticosterone-induced PC12 cell injury were assessed. Hyperwightin E, petiolin G and hyperxanthone exhibited noticeable neuroprotection at 10 μM.