Prophage Induction in Escherichia Coli K-12(λ) by Some Plants from Iran

Caccinia macranthera Brand var. macranthera: Phytochemical analysis, phytotoxicity and antimicrobial investigations of essential oils with concomitant in silico molecular docking based on OPLS force-field

This study was conducted to extract the essential oils (EOs) of Caccinia macranthera identify their phytochemicals, evaluate their phytotoxicity, antimicrobial activity and enzyme inhibition effects using in silico molecular docking technique. EOs of aerial parts, seeds, and roots of C. macranthera were extracted and analyzed via Gas chromatography-Mass Spectrometry. The antibacterial activity of EOs were determined on nine microorganisms via disk diffusion and microbroth dilution assays. In addition, the allelopathic properties of EOs were investigated by calculating the IC50s for inhibition of germination, seedling length and seedling weight growth of Cuscuta campestris seeds. In order to assess the possible inhibitory effect of major components of C. macranthera EOs on enzymes inhibiting germination and plant growth, molecular docking was employed against the glutamine synthetase (GS), acetohydroxyacid synthetase (AHAS), and 4-hydroxyphenyl pyruvate dioxygenase (HPPD) enzymes. The main compounds of EOs from aerial parts, seeds, and roots EOs were dihydrocarveol (29.5%), Trimethyl-2-Pentadecanone (13.6%), and Palmitic acid (16.8%), respectively. The maximum antibacterial effect was related to the aerial parts EO against Staphylococcus epidermidis. Phytotoxicity analysis exhibited a concentration-dependent increase (p ≤ 0.05) activity. The aerial parts EO demonstrated a substantial allelopathy effect, with IC50 values of 0.22 ± 0.026, 0.39 ± 0.021, and 0.20 ± 0.025 mg/mL, respectively, on inhibitory germination, seedling length and seedling weight growth of Cuscuta campestris seeds. Molecular docking analyzes showed that Oleic acid was suitable for dynamic stabilization of HPPD (-6.552 kJ/mol) and GS (-7.265 kJ/mol) and Eupatoriochromene had the inhibitory potential against AHAS, with docking score of -4.189 kJ/mol. The current research demonstrated that C. macranthera EOs from its aerial parts have an acceptable phytotoxic activity against Cuscuta campestris weed. The major components of EOs, Oleic acid and Eupatoriochromene, presented the strongest binding with HPPD, GS, and AHAS active sites causing disturbance in germination, photosynthesis and weed growth suggesting it as a natural herbicide for controlling the weeds.

A fast and reliable method for monitoring of prophage-activating chemicals

Bacteriophages, that is viruses that infect bacteria, either lyse bacteria directly or integrate their genome into the bacterial genome as so-called prophages, where they remain at a silent state. Both phages and bacteria are able to survive in this state. However, prophages can be reactivated with the introduction of chemicals, followed by the release of a high number of phage particles, which could infect other bacteria, thus harming ecosystems by a viral bloom. The basics for a fast, automatable analytical method for the detection of prophage-activating chemicals are developed and successfully tested here. The method exploits the differences in metabolic heat produced by Escherichia coli with (λ+) and without the lambda prophages (λ-). Since the metabolic heat primarily reflects opposing effects (i.e. the reduction of heat-producing cells by lysis and enhanced heat production to deliver the energetic costs for the synthesis of phages), a systematic analysis of the influence of the different conditions (experimentally and in silico) was performed and revealed anoxic conditions to be best suited. The main advantages of the suggested monitoring method are not only the possibility of obtaining fast results (after only few hours), but also the option for automation, the low workload (requires only few minutes) and the suitability of using commercially available instruments. The future challenge following this proof of principle is the development of thermal transducers which allow for the electronic subtraction of the λ+ from the λ- signal.

The genus Hymenocrater: a comprehensive review

CONTEXT

The genus Hymenocrater Fisch. et Mey. (Lamiaceae) contains over 21 species in the world. Some species have been used in folk medicine around the world. The present review comprises the ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and therapeutic potential of various species of Hymenocrater.

OBJECTIVE

This review brings together most of the available scientific research regarding the genus Hymenocrater. Through this review, the authors hope to attract the attention of natural product researchers throughout the world to focus on the unexplored potential of Hymenocrater species.

METHODS

This review has been compiled using references from major databases such as Chemical Abstracts, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts, ScienceDirect, SciFinder, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Springer Link and books, without limiting the dates of publication. General web searches were also carried out using Google and Yahoo search engines by applying some related search terms (e.g., Hymenocrater spp., phytochemical, pharmacological, extract, essential oil and traditional uses). The articles related to agriculture, ecology, and synthetic works and those using languages other than English or Persian have been excluded.

RESULTS

The genus Hymenocrater contains essential oil. Flavonoids, phenolic acids and terpenoids are important constituents of this genus. The pharmacological studies confirmed that the species of the genus Hymenocrater showed antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anticancer and antidiabetic activities.

CONCLUSION

This review discusses the current knowledge of Hymenocrater species that review therapeutic potential, especially their effects on the cancer cells and gaps offering opportunities for future research.

Antitumor evaluation of two selected Pakistani plant extracts on human bone and breast cancer cell lines

BACKGROUND

The medicinal plants Vincetoxicum arnottianum (VSM), Berberis orthobotrys (BORM), Onosma hispida (OHRM and OHAM) and Caccinia macranthera (CMM) are used traditionally in Pakistan and around the world for the treatment of various diseases including cancer, dermal infections, uterine tumor, wounds etc. The present study focuses on the investigation of the selected Pakistani plants for their potential as anticancer agents on human bone and breast cancer cell lines in comparison with non-tumorigenic control cells.

METHODS

The antitumor evaluation was carried out on human bone (MG-63, Saos-2) and breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, BT-20) in contrast to non-tumorigenic control cells (POB, MCF-12A) via cell viability measurements, cell cycle analysis, Annexin V/PI staining, microscopy based methods as well as migration/invasion determination, metabolic live cell monitoring and western blotting.

RESULTS

After the first initial screening of the plant extracts, two extracts (BORM, VSM) revealed the highest potential with regard to its antitumor activity. Both extracts caused a significant reduction of cell viability in the breast and bone cancer cells in a concentration dependent manner. The effect of VSM is achieved primarily by inducing a G2/M arrest in the cell cycle and the stabilization of the actin stress fibers leading to reduced cell motility. By contrast BORM's cytotoxic properties were caused through the lysosomal-mediated cell death pathway indicated by an upregulation of Bcl-2 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

The antitumor evaluation of certain medicinal plants presented in this study identified the methanolic root extract of Berberis orthobotrys and the methanolic extract of Vincetoxicum arnottianum as promising sources for exhibiting the antitumor activity. Therefore, the indigenous use of the herbal remedies for the treatment of cancer and cancer-related diseases has a scientific basis. Moreover, the present study provides a base for phytochemical investigation of the plant extracts.

A pharmacological and phytochemical overview on Satureja

CONTEXT

Satureja (Lamiaceae) species are used as flavoring compounds in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries because of its sweetness and simple cultivation characteristics. They have traditionally been used as muscle pain relievers, tonic, and carminative agents to treat stomach and intestinal disorders such as cramps, nausea, indigestion, and diarrhea, due to their considerable phytochemical characteristics.

OBJECTIVE

This review evaluates some information published since 1989 on Satureja genus from a systematic perspective in terms of its pharmacological and phytochemical characteristics.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases were searched up to March 2014. "Satureja" was used as a research term without narrowing or limiting research elements. After obtaining all reports from database (a total number is about 637), the papers were carefully analyzed in order to find data related to the topic of this review.

RESULTS

In this review, 453 reports were used which were published between 1989 and 2014. The study was compiled into two sections (Pharmacology and Phytochemistry). In the pharmacology section, more than 50 different activities were studied. In the second section, in addition to other compounds and inorganic substances, volatiles, phenolic acids, and flavonoids were discussed.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

According to our contemporary information, Satureja species have been evaluated for their wide range of biological activities. However, a small part of these studies have been carried out on the active principles. Therefore, in the future, more studies should be carried out to identify responsible phytochemicals for the various activities.