Effect of different polarities leaves crude extracts of Omani juniperus excels on antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities and their biochemical screening

Antioxidant and hepatoprotective activities of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb against bile duct ligation-induced cholestasis

Background and purpose

Cholestasis is caused by a malfunction of the biliary liver system. Oxidative stress plays an essential role in the progression of cholestasis. This study aimed to investigate the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects of ethanolic extract of Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb (JE) fruits on hepatic impairment induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) in rats.

Experimental approach

Forty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups; sham control + vehicle (SC), BDL + vehicle (BDL), BDL + JE extract (BDL + JE), and SC + extract (SC + JE). One day after surgery, the animals were treated with vehicle or ethanolic extract of JE (500 mg/kg/day) for 7 days. Finally, the blood was taken for biochemical and oxidative stress analysis. Furthermore, the liver tissue of rats was removed for histological examination.

Findings/Results

Treatment with the extract of JE decreased the ALP level, whereas it enhanced total protein content compared to the BDL group. Also, JE increased the activity of SOD and GPx, as well as FRAP content compared to the BDL group; while it did not significantly affect the levels of MDA and inflammation markers. However, JE could not improve BDL-induced histopathological alterations in hepatic tissue.

Conclusion and implication

This study demonstrated that JE may be useful as an adjuvant therapy by attenuating ALP activity, increasing serum total protein and FRAP content, as well as improving the antioxidant enzymes activity of SOD and GPx. However, further research is warranted to explore the other underlying mechanisms of action.

Analysis of total phenolic contents, flavonoids, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of Croton macrostachyus root extracts

Plants are good sources of various bioactive substances and have significant importance for the discovery of new drugs. In this study, Croton macrostachyus plant roots from six different sites in the Central Gondar Zone, Ethiopia, were collected; and their phenolic and flavonoid contents, as well as antioxidant and antibacterial activities were investigated. Total phenolics and flavonoid contents of the root extracts were determined by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods, respectively. The antioxidant activity was determined by the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radical scavenging method. Moreover, the antibacterial activities were evaluated by disk diffusion method. Results revealed that total polyphenols and flavonoid contents were in the range of 802 ± 53-1557 ± 75 mg GAE/100 g and 342 ± 26-745 ± 32 mg CE/100 g, respectively. Root extracts of C. macrostachyus were found to have higher antioxidant activities ranging from 3.53 ± 0.38 to 6.38 ± 0.62 mg AAE/g sample. They also showed inhibition zones of 5.8, 6.2, 5.9 and 6.0 mm for Staphylococcus aurous, Staphylococcus pneumonia, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumonia, and had equivalent potency with the reference Gentamicin antibiotic. Pearson correlation result indicated a strong relationship between total polyphenol contents and their respective antioxidant activities. This study articulates that the root extracts accumulated a substantial quantity of polyphenols and bears a considerable antioxidant activity.

Phytochemical analysis and anticancer activity of Falcaria vulgaris Bernh growing in Moghan plain, northwest of Iran

Background

Falcaria vulgaris Bernh among the most important member of Apiaceae family has been used for medical investigation in Iran and some regions in the world. This plant possesses a range of coumarin and flavonoids compounds that have many therapeutic properties such as gastrointestinal and liver diseases, skin ulcers, gastric ulcers, and intestinal inflammation. It has also been found that these compounds lead to cytotoxic effects.

Objective

This study contains concentrates on the cytotoxic effect and induction of apoptosis on cancerous cells (SW-872) through various extracts and essential oil of Falcaria vulgaris Bernh. It considers the volatile compounds of effective samples.

Methods

The shoot of the plant was extracted by the Soxhlet apparatus and its essential oil was taken by the Clevenger apparatus. The cytotoxicity of the samples was evaluated by the MTT method and the mechanism of cancer cell death by flow cytometry and finally, the volatile compounds of essential oils and effective extracts were identified by GC-MS.

Results

The results demonstrated that n-Hexane extract and 40% VLC fraction had the greatest cytotoxic effect on SW-872 cells. While, the most abundant volatile compounds in essential oil and 40% VLC fraction of n-Hexane extract were terpenoid compounds like (+) spathulenol and caryophyllene oxide, in n-Hexane extract tetradecan, and spathulenol were the most, respectively.

Conclusion

The fraction of 40% n-Hexane was in a concentration-dependent manner and significantly with controlling cells inhibited the growth of cancer cells. A plausible explanation could be made to account for this effect. This inhibition was made through induction of apoptosis and due to the presence of effective volatile compounds such as terpenoids and non-terpenoids which could be considered as valuable natural sources for the isolation of anti-cancer compounds.

Chemical and Antimicrobial Analyses of Juniperus chinensis and Juniperus seravschanica Essential Oils and Comparison with Their Methanolic Crude Extracts

Juniperus chinensis and Juniperus seravschanica are commonly used in the traditional folk medicine to treat microbial infection. In this study, the essential oils obtained from the leaves of J. chinensis growing in Malaysia and J. seravschanica growing in Oman were analysed by head space-solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-SPME-GC-MS) and screened for antimicrobial activities against Escherichia coli (NCTC 10418), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (NCTC 10662), Bacillus subtilis ATCC6059, Micrococcus luteus (ATCC 9341), Staphylococcus aureus (NCTC 6571), and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA; ATCC 33591). To compare the antimicrobial activities of extracts using different extraction methods, methanol extraction was performed to obtain crude extracts from the leaves of J. chinensis and J. seravschanica for antimicrobial analysis. The HS-SPME-GS-MS analysis of the essential oils from the leaves of J. chinensis and J. seravschanica identified 37 and 36 components, respectively. Essential oils from these two species had distinctive chemical component profiles, with α-pinene (27.2%) as the major component of J. chinensis essential oil, while dl-limonene (45.2%) constitutes the major component of J. seravschanica essential oil. Essential oils of these two species shared only six similar terpenoids compounds: α-pinene, β-pinene, γ-elemene, sabinene, elemol, and 3-cyclohexen-1-ol. Overall, the essential oils showed antimicrobial activities against all the six bacterial strains tested, with the highest antagonistic activity against M. luteus and B. cereus; while, methanolic crude extracts showed the highest activities against S. aureus and MRSA strains. The methanolic crude extracts demonstrated significantly higher antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive bacteria (p < 0.005); while, the essential oils of Juniperus did not show significant differences between Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Future studies are needed to investigate the active compounds present in the essential oils and methanolic crude extracts that confer the selectivity in the antimicrobial activity.

Phytochemical Investigation, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Anticancer Activities of Acer cappadocicum Gled

The appearance of novel microbial resistance, diverse cancer ailment and several other morbidities such as appetite loss, hair loss, anemia, cell damage, etc., are among most critical situation that keeps the phytochemical quest on. Thus, this study characterized the antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer potentials of a rarely accessed Acer cappadocicum gled (AC) population thriving in a remote Palas Valley in northern Pakistan. Leaf extracts of the plant were prepared in organic solvents with different polarities through maceration. Extracts were subjected to antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer activities using agar well, DPPH and cell viability assays. A. cappadocicum methanolic extract (ACM) significantly inhibited bacterial growth, followed by n-butanolic extract (ACB) with the second-highest bacterial inhibition. Similar activity was observed against mycelial growth inhibition in plant-fungal pathogen by ACM and ACB. However, human pathogenic fungi did not affect much by extracts. In antioxidant assessment, the chloroform extract (ACC) showed strong scavenging activity and in cytotoxic evaluation, extracts restricted growth proliferation in cancer cells. The inhibitory evidence of extracts, potent scavenging ability, and low cell viability of human-derived cell lines supports the antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancerous potential of A. cappadocicum. It advances our quest for natural product research.

Essential Oil Composition and Bioactivity of Two Juniper Species from Bulgaria and Slovakia

Juniperus excelsa M. Bieb and J. sabina L. contain essential oil (EO), while J. sabina also contains podophyllotoxin, which is used as a precursor for anti-cancer drugs. Two studies were conducted. The first assessed the variability in the EO profile and podophyllotoxin concentration of the two junipers, depending on the location and tree gender. The main EO constituents of J. excelsa were α-cedrol, α-limonene and α-pinene, while the constituents in J. sabina were sabinene, terpinen-4-ol, myrtenyl acetate and α-cadinol. The podophyllotoxin yield of 18 J. sabina accessions was 0.07–0.32% (w/w), but this was not found in any of the J. excelsa accessions. The second study assessed the effect of hydrodistillation (Clevenger apparatus) and steam distillation (in a semi-commercial apparatus) on the EO profile and bioactivity. The extraction type did not significantly alter the EO composition. The EO profiles of the two junipers and their accessions were different and may be of interest to the industry utilizing juniper leaf EO. Breeding and selection programs could be developed with the two junipers (protected species) in order to identify chemotypes with (1) a high EO content and desirable composition, and (2) a high concentration of podophyllotoxin in J. sabina. Such chemotypes could be established as agricultural crops for the commercial production of podophyllotoxin and EO.

Evaluation of phytochemical composition, toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster and effects on antibiotics modulation of Plathymenia reticulata Benth extract

Bacterial resistance is interfering with the action of antibiotics for clinical use in treating pathologies. The search for new substances capable of combating this resistance is necessary. An alternative to the search for these substances is in the extract of medicinal plants. Plathymenia reticulata, plant of the Fabaceae family, is a common tree species from the Brazilian cerrado, and is commonly used in areas of environmental degradation. This species is rich in phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and tannins, compounds that are associated with various biological effects. A hydroethanolic extract from the bark of Plathymenia reticulata (HEPrB) was produced and then tests were carried out to verify the direct antibacterial activity, the modulatory effect of antibiotics for clinical use and their toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster flies. Through the analysis with UPLC, a wide variety of flavonoids contained in the HEPrB was observed. Direct antibacterial activity was observed for the standard strain of Staphylococcus aureus, however, the extract showed antagonistic activity or no significance in relation to the antibiotics tested in this study. As for toxicity, the HEPrB did not show significant damage in the proposed model. The results emphasize care when associating the consumption of teas with treatments with antibiotics for clinical use.

Antibacterial and antioxidant potential of Tetraena simplex extracts of various polarities

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Tetraena simplex is a medicinal plant species which are grown in Oman.

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The ethyl acetate extract showed significant antioxidant activity by applying DPPH.

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All the extracts did not show any promising antibacterial activity by disc diffusion method.

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The highest activity extract could be used as safe natural antioxidant.

Nowadays, infectious and oxidative stress-related diseases are leading to many deaths worldwide. Tetraena simplex, a new species (synonym) that is mainly grown in Oman, has traditionally been used as a medicine for asthma. This study aimed to assess antioxidant and antibacterial activities of T. simplex extracts of various polarities using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and agar gel diffusion assays. Among the six extracts prepared, ethyl acetate extract showed the highest antioxidant activity and hexane extract showed the lowest antioxidant activity. Antioxidant activity of the extracts decreased in the order of ethyl acetate > dichloromethane > water > butanol > methanol > hexane. Similarly, antibacterial activities, indicated as inhibition zones, of the six extracts at four concentrations were assessed against two gram-positive bacteria (Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus) and three gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Proteus bacilli). No extract showed antibacterial activity against the tested bacteria at any concentration. Therefore, the ethyl acetate extract of T. simplex may be used as an antioxidant or a food supplement as an alternative to synthetic drugs.

Cytotoxic and antimicrobial potential of different varieties of ripe banana used traditionally to treat ulcers

Globally, plant as herbal medicine is used to treat different diseases. The goal of this present study was to assess the antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of ripe banana extracts with various polarities which were grown in Oman. The powder banana samples were extracted with methanol by soaking mode. The solvent was removed by a rotary evaporator and the extract was fractionated by dissimilar polarities of solvents to give corresponding extracts. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of the various polarities extracts of ripe banana were determined by modifying disc diffusion and brine shrimp lethality (BSL) bioassays. Each banana extract at different concentrations showed modest antimicrobial potential against two Gram (+) and two Gram (-) with the range of inhibition 0–13 mm. The results of cytotoxic potential revealed that the each banana extract at various applied concentrations killed the shrimp larvae. Among the extracts, the butanol and water extract gave the maximum cytotoxic potential with LC₅₀ value of 20.12 and 24.22 μg/ml, however, the lowest cytotoxic potential was obtained in the ethyl acetate extract with LC₅₀ value of 36.68 and 49.32 μg/ml. In our experimental results showed that the highest polarity banana extracts have significant antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential. In conclusion, the highest polarity extract could be a candidate for the use of antibiotics.

Antimicrobial Activity of Polyphenols and Alkaloids in Middle Eastern Plants

Antibiotic-resistant microorganisms have been an ever-growing concern over the past years. This has led researchers to direct their attention onto plants to be able to discover new possible antimicrobial compounds. The Middle East encompasses a wide spectrum of plant diversity with over 20,000 different species in habitats ranging from deserts to snow-capped mountains. Several plant secondary metabolites and their derivatives have been identified as possible antimicrobial agents. Among the secondary metabolites studied, alkaloids and polyphenols have shown strong antimicrobial activity. Polyphenols are one of the most numerous and diverse group of secondary metabolites; their antioxidant properties provide the basis for antimicrobial effects. Alkaloids provided the underlying structure for the development of several antibiotics with a diverse range of action. The ability of some plant secondary metabolites to act as resistance-modifying agents is a promising field in mitigating the spread of bacterial resistance.

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity of Juniperus thurifera L. leaf extracts growing in East of Algeria

Aim

This work aimed to evaluate the biological activity of the leaf extracts of Juniperus thurifera L., which is an Algerian endemic tree that belongs to the family of Cupressaceae.

Materials and Methods

The plant leaves were extracted in solvents of increasing polarity to obtain different extracts such as methanol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extracts (MeE, PEE, ChlE, EtAE, and AqE). The antioxidant activity of four extracts (MeE, ChlE, EtAE, and AqE) was assessed by trapping test of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. The evaluation of antibacterial activity of MeE, ChlE, EtAE, and PEE was done using the disk diffusion method on solid agar.

Results

The three extracts of EtAE, AqE, and MeE showed high antiradical activity toward the DPPH radical (IC₅₀=29.348 µg/mL, 37.538 µg/mL, and 52.573 µg/mL, respectively), while the lowest radical scavenging activity was expressed by the ChlE (IC₅₀=70.096 µg/mL). These extracts were active only toward the Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC and methicillin-resistant S. aureus) at different concentrations, and the highest activity was obtained with the ChlE with an inhibition diameter of 14 mm at the concentration of 1 g/mL. No inhibition was detected for all of these extracts against the Gram-negative tested strains (Escherichia coli ATCC, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC, and Enterobacter cloacae (extended spectrum β-lactamase).

Conclusion

From this study, on the one hand, it was concluded that J. thurifera L. leaves extracts exhibited a very intense antioxidant potential toward the DPPH radical, and on the other hand, the antibacterial activity showed an action spectrum exclusively toward the Gram-positive bacteria.