Genotoxic and mutational potential of monocyclic terpenoids (carvacrol, carvone and thymol) in Drosophila melanogaster

A perspective review on factors that influence mutagenicity in medicinal plants and their health implications

Medicinal plants are products from natural sources that have found relevance in medicine for several decades. They are rich in bioactive compounds; thus, they are widely used to treat different ailments globally. Medicinal plants have provided hope for the healthcare industry as most are used to synthesize modern medicines currently used in the treatment of various diseases. However, there are still concerns with respect to the mutagenic properties of medicinal plants. Over the years, researchers have embarked on various studies aimed at investigating the mutagenicity of several medicinal plants found in different regions of the world. In this review, we discussed factors that may influence plant mutagenicity and the findings of in vitro and in vivo mutagenicity studies of several medicinal plants from across the globe. In addition, this review considers the potential health implications of mutagenic medicinal plants and safety measures that can be used to mitigate mutagenesis in medicinal plants. To achieve this, we searched for articles reporting on medicinal plants and mutagenesis on the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Several journal articles reported on the mutagenicity of some medicinal plants; however, it was observed that the majority of the articles reported the nonmutagenicity of medicinal plants. The findings from these studies imply that medicinal plants have good prospects in treating diseases and that they are clinically relevant. However, these reports will require further validation to determine their safety for human use as limited in vivo studies were conducted and there are no clinical safety reports for any of the plants discussed in this review.

Genotoxic and antigenotoxic medicinal plant extracts and their main phytochemicals: "A review"

Many medicinal plant extracts have been proven to have significant health benefits. In contrast, research has shown that some medicinal plant extracts can be toxic, genotoxic, mutagenic, or carcinogenic. Therefore, evaluation of the genotoxicity effects of plant extracts that are used as traditional medicine is essential to ensure they are safe for use and in the search for new medication. This review summarizes 52 published studies on the genotoxicity of 28 plant extracts used in traditional medicine. A brief overview of the selected plant extracts, including, for example, their medicinal uses, pharmacological effects, and primary identified compounds, as well as plant parts used, the extraction method, genotoxic assay, and phytochemicals responsible for genotoxicity effect were provided. The genotoxicity effect of selected plant extracts in most of the reviewed articles was based on the experimental conditions. Among different reviewed studies, A total of 6 plant extracts showed no genotoxic effect, other 14 plant extracts showed either genotoxic or mutagenic effect and 14 plant extracts showed anti-genotoxic effect against different genotoxic induced agents. In addition, 4 plant extracts showed both genotoxic and non-genotoxic effects and 6 plant extracts showed both genotoxic and antigenotoxic effects. While some suggestions on the responsible compounds of the genotoxicity effects were proposed, the proposed responsible phytochemicals were not individually tested for the genotoxicity potential to confirm the findings. In addition, the mechanisms by which most plant extracts exert their genotoxicity effect remain unidentified. Therefore, more research on the genotoxicity of medicinal plant extracts and their genotoxicity mechanisms is required.

Impact of plant monoterpenes on insect pest management and insect-associated microbes

The fight against insect pests primarily relies on the utilization of synthetic insecticides. However, improper application of these chemicals can lead to detrimental effects on both the environment and human health, as well as foster the development of insect resistance. Consequently, novel strategies must be implemented to address the challenges stemming from the prolonged use of synthetic insecticides in agricultural and public health environments. Certain strategies involve the combination of crop protectants, which not only enhance insecticidal effectiveness but also reduce application rates. Plant-based natural products emerge as promising alternatives for insect management. Monoterpenes, which are abundant plant compounds produced through the activation of various enzymes, have attracted significant attention for their effectiveness in insect control. Notably, they are prolific in fragrance-producing plants. This review explores the plant defense, insecticidal, and antimicrobial characteristics of monoterpenes against insect pests, shedding light on their potential modes of action and possibilities for commercialization. Emphasizing their role as targeted and environmentally safer, the review highlights the practical viability of monoterpenes within integrated pest management programs.

Alcohol-free synthesis, biological assessment, in vivo toxicological evaluation, and in silico analysis of novel silane quaternary ammonium compounds differing in structure and chain length as promising disinfectants

Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are commonly used as disinfectants for industrial, medical, and residential applications. However, adverse health outcomes have been reported. Therefore, biocompatible disinfectants must be developed to reduce these adverse effects. In this context, QACs with various alkyl chain lengths (C12-C18) were synthesized by reacting QACs with the counterion silane. The antimicrobial activities of the novel compounds against four strains of microorganisms were assessed. Several in vivo assays were conducted on Drosophila melanogaster to determine the toxicological outcomes of Si-QACs, followed by computational analyses (molecular docking, simulation, and prediction of skin sensitization). The in vivo results were combined using a cheminformatics approach to understand the descriptors responsible for the safety of Si-QAC. Si-QAC-2 was active against all tested bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 13.65 to 436.74 ppm. Drosophila exposed to Si-QAC-2 have moderate-to-low toxicological outcomes. The molecular weight, hydrophobicity/lipophilicity, and electron diffraction properties were identified as crucial descriptors for ensuring the safety of the Si-QACs. Furthermore, Si-QAC-2 exhibited good stability and notable antiviral potential with no signs of skin sensitization. Overall, Si-QAC-2 (C14) has the potential to be a novel disinfectant.