Phytochemical analysis for ten Peruvian Mentheae (Lamiaceae) by liquid chromatography associated with high resolution mass spectrometry

Salvia deserti Decne., an endemic and rare subshrub from Arabian desert: antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of leaf hydroethanolic extracts

Introduction

Diabetes is a major health issue that has reached alarming levels worldwide. Although their effectiveness, the antidiabetic drugs have many side effects such as cardiovascular diseases, kidney failure, and hepatic complications. Many plant species of the genus Salvia L. such as "Arabian desert sage" (Salvia deserti) should began to be the focus of phytochemical and bioactivity studies.

Methods

The study aims to investigate, first-ever, the antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic effects of the leaf hydroethanolic extract of S. deserti, an endemic and rare subshrub from Arabian desert. A single intraperitoneal injection of alloxan monohydrate (160 mg/kg) was used to induce type-2 diabetes. Development of diabetes was confirmed by measuring the blood glucose collected from the tail vein after 72 h of alloxan injection. Oral administration of hydroethanolic extracts of S. deserti at 200 and 400 mg/kg for 14 days were tested on the alloxan-induced diabetic mice and animals were divided into 6 groups of 6 mice each. The identity of phenolic compounds of the hydroethanolic extract of S. deserti was conducted through HPLC-Electrospray Ionization-Mass Spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) analyses.

Results

Oral administration of hydroethanolic extract of S. deserti at 200 and 400 mg/kg for 14 days significantly decreased blood glucose and restored the hepatic and renal function by reducing the levels of ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, LDH, urea and creatinine. An improved lipid profile as revealed by the reduced levels of TC, TG and LDL coupled with increased level of HDL was also observed. Moreover, treatment with S. deserti hydroethanolic extract relieved oxidative stress (reduction of MDA and H2O2) and the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD, CAT and GPx. The presence of several phenolic compounds (derivatives of ferulic, coumaric, and caffeic acids, among other derivatives) could at least in part explain the obtained data and empower the use of S. deserti as a source of bioactive ingredients with antioxidant, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic properties.

Discussion

Our research has unveiled S. deserti as a source of potential to effectively manage diabetes and its associated dyslipidemia by improving antioxidant status, recovery of the liver and kidney functions and presumably by increasing insulin secretion and sensitivity of peripheral tissues to insulin.

Physalis peruviana calyces extract ameliorate oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune loss in rats-exposed to hexaflumuron

BACKGROUND

Hexaflumuron (HFM), a common pesticide, can disrupt the immune system and cause oxidative stress. This study investigated the potential of Physalis peruviana L. calyces extract (PP) to counteract these effects in rats.

METHODS

Rats were divided into 6 groups including control, PP-treated, HFM-exposed, and co-treated (HFM + PP) groups. Immune function, antioxidant activity, and organ damage were assessed. Furthermore, UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified potential bioactive compounds in PP extract.

RESULTS

HFM exposure suppressed immune responses and caused organ damage. Notably, the co-administration of PP extract with HFM reversed these effects, indicating its ability to reduce oxidative stress and protect the immune system. UPLC-MS/MS analysis of PP calyces ethanolic extract revealed its richness in various health-promoting metabolites, including acyl sucrose sugar, withanolides, and flavonoids, which may provide valuable insight into the underlying mechanisms of PP's calyces protective effects against HFM toxicity.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provides novel insights into the potential of P. peruviana L. calyces ethanolic extract as a natural agent to counteract the harmful effects of HFM exposure. These findings have significant implications for developing effective strategies to mitigate pesticide-induced toxicity and promote human health.

Sequential Obtention of Blood-Brain Barrier-Permeable Non-Polar and Polar Compounds from Salvia officinalis L. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. with Neuroprotective Purposes

This study investigates the biorefinery approach to extracting blood-brain barrier (BBB)-permeable compounds from Eucalyptus globulus Labill. and Salvia officinalis L. for neuroprotective purposes. A sequential extraction process was applied, starting with supercritical CO2 extraction (SC-CO2) to obtain non-polar terpenoids, followed by pressurized natural deep eutectic solvent extraction (PLE-NaDES) to recover phenolic compounds from the SC-CO2 residue. PLE-NaDES extracts exhibited higher antioxidant and anticholinergic capacities than SC-CO2 extracts for both plants, with S. officinalis extracts being more bioactive than E. globulus extracts. A total of 21 terpenoids were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry from E. globulus while 24 were detected from S. officinalis SC-CO2 extracts. In addition, 25 different phenolic compounds were identified in both plants using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry from PLE-NaDES extracts. The study of the permeability across the BBB showed limited permeability for non-polar compounds obtained by SC-CO2 from both plants; however, the more polar compounds obtained by PLE-NaDES showed high permeability, particularly for flavonoids in E. globulus and rosmarinic acid in S. officinalis. This study revealed, for the first time, the antioxidant and neuroprotective potential of S. officinalis and E. globulus extracts obtained using SC-CO2 followed by PLE-NaDES, as well as the high permeability of PLE-NaDES extracts when crossing the BBB to exert their protective effects. This research opens a new pathway for exploring alternatives to current drugs used in treating neurodegenerative diseases.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Activity of Selected Plant Extracts against Staphylococcus Strains Isolated from Wound Infections

Wound infections are a significant medical problem, with Staphylococcus species being one of the most common etiological factors. Treatment is complex due to bacterial antibiotic resistance and the ability to form a biofilm. The aim of this study was to determine the drug susceptibility of the clinical isolates of Staphylococcus species obtained from wound infections, assess their ability to form a biofilm in vitro, evaluate the level of extracellular slime synthesis, and test the antistaphylococcal properties of selected plant extracts against plate-cultured bacteria and activity against mature biofilms. A total of 20 Staphylococcus strains were evaluated. The antibiotic susceptibility and sensitivity of the strains to the tested extracts were determined using the disc diffusion method. The production of extracellular bacterial slime was assessed using Congo Red agar plates. The biofilm formation and the effect of plant extracts on the biofilm layer were examined using the MTT method on polystyrene microtiter plates. Diverse drug susceptibility profiles, slime production ability, and in vitro biofilm formation were observed among the tested strains. It was found that aqueous extracts from the Serpylli herba, Arctii lappae folium, Taraxaci folium, and Galii aparini herba showed antibacterial activity against some of the tested strains. In contrast, their antibiofilm activity was not confirmed. Among all tested preparations, the most promising antimicrobial extracts in both planktonic cultures and biofilm were Thymus serpyllum herb and Taraxacum officinale leaf extracts. These results allowed us to conclude their potential application in medicine to support the treatment of challenging wound conditions.

Metabolomic Profiling and DNA-Fingerprinting of Newly Recorded White-Flowered Populations of Salvia lanigera Poir. in Egypt

Salvia lanigera Poir. is a small herbaceous perennial species with violet flowers that grows in low-altitude deserts, and sandy loam. During the collection of S. lanigera, unusual populations with white flowers were found. Therefore, the two populations (violet- and white-flowered) were subjected to comparative investigations, including DNA fingerprinting, chemical composition, and biological evaluation. The two populations showed DNA variations, with 6.66 % polymorphism in ISSR and 25 % in SCoT markers. GC/MS and UHPLC/HRMS of aqueous methanol extracts, led to the tentative identification of 43 and 50 compounds in both populations. In addition, the structures of nine compounds, including four first-time reported compounds in the species, were confirmed by NMR. Furthermore, the total extracts exhibited weak radical scavenging activity against DPPH and a lower inhibitory effect towards acetylcholinesterase. In conclusion, the obtained data suggested that the white-colored flower could be an additional important character record for the Egyptian S. lanigera.

Anti-phototoxicity and anti-melanogenesis activities of eelgrass Zostera marina and its phenolic constituents

The eelgrass Zostera marina L. has several economic roles, from its earlier usage in the insulation industry to protecting the earth from global warming. In this study, we aimed to discover the cosmetic potential of Z. marina. A methanolic extract of Z. marina showed anti-phototoxicity and anti-melanogenesis activity with an IC50 of 17.5 μM, followed by a phytochemical analysis of its phenolic constituents. Ten compounds (1-10) were isolated by several chromatographic techniques and identified by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) as well as high-resolution mass spectrometry (HR/MS). The identified compounds are caffeic acid (1), 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (protocatechuic acid) (2), luteolin (3), diosmetin (4), 4-coumaroyl-4'-hydroxyl phenyllactic acid (5), rosmarinic acid (6), caffeoyl-4'-hydroxy-phenyllactic acid (isorinic acid) (7), apigenin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (8), luteolin 7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (9), and luteolin 7-sulfate (10). This is the first report to identify compounds 5 and 7 from the family Zosteraceae. The isolated compounds were assessed for their anti-aging abilities and were found to exhibit good anti-phototoxicity and anti-melanogenesis activities by increasing the viability of UVB-irradiated HaCaT cells by 6% to 34% and by inhibiting melanin synthesis in B16 melanoma cells by 44% to 65%.