Phytochemical investigation and hepatoprotective activity of Cupressus sempervirens L. leaves growing in Egypt

Potential Hepatoprotective Effects of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana against Methotrexate-Induced Liver Injury: Integrated Phytochemical Profiling, Target Network Analysis, and Experimental Validation

Methotrexate (MTX) therapy encounters significant limitations due to the significant concern of drug-induced liver injury (DILI), which poses a significant challenge to its usage. To mitigate the deleterious effects of MTX on hepatic function, researchers have explored plant sources to discover potential hepatoprotective agents. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of the ethanolic extract derived from the aerial parts of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (CLAE) against DILI, specifically focusing on MTX-induced hepatotoxicity. UPLC-ESI-MS/MS was used to identify 61 compounds in CLAE, with 31 potential bioactive compounds determined through pharmacokinetic analysis. Network pharmacology analysis revealed 195 potential DILI targets for the bioactive compounds, including TP53, IL6, TNF, HSP90AA1, EGFR, IL1B, BCL2, and CASP3 as top targets. In vivo experiments conducted on rats with acute MTX-hepatotoxicity revealed that administering CLAE orally at 200 and 400 mg/kg/day for ten days dose-dependently improved liver function, attenuated hepatic oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis, and reversed the disarrayed hepatic histological features induced by MTX. In general, the findings of the present study provide evidence in favor of the hepatoprotective capabilities of CLAE in DILI, thereby justifying the need for additional preclinical and clinical investigations.

Phenolic compounds, antioxidant and antibacterial activities of extracts from aerial parts of Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis, Mentha suaveolens and Sideritis incana from Morocco

Thymus zygis subsp. gracilis , Mentha suaveolens and Sideritis incana (Lamiaceae family) are well recognized for their medicinal, pharmaceutical and aromatic properties. The present study aimed to investigate for the first time the polyphenolic composition, the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the extracts obtained from the aerial parts of these species collected from the Ifrane region of Morocco. The polyphenolic compounds were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS). The antioxidant activity was investigated using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, reducing power and ferrous ion chelating assays. The antibacterial activity was evaluated against three Gram-negative bacteria ( Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhimurium ) and three Gram-positive bacteria ( Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes ). A total of thirty-three, sixteen and thirteen polyphenolic compounds were positively identified and characterized in T. zygis subsp. gracilis , M. suaveolens and S. incana extracts, respectively. Among the extracts, M. suaveolens exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, followed by S. incana and T. zygis subsp. gracilis in both DPPH and reducing power assays; all extracts showed the lowest activity in the chelating assay. In addition, all extracts demonstrated a bactericidal effect against Gram-positive bacteria and bacteriostatic effect against Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, the aerial parts of Moroccan T. zygis subsp. gracilis , M. suaveolens and S. incana might be considered as a valuable source of natural antioxidant and antibacterial agents with potential application in food and pharmaceutical industries.

Effects of Cupressus sempervirens extract on the healing of acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rat

Ulcerative colitis is a chronic inflammatory condition of the colon with an unknown etiology. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects of Cupressus sempervirens extract on the healing of acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rat. Fifty-five male rats divided into five equal treatment groups were used for this study and received the following treatments: Group 1, 250 mg/kg asacol; Group 2, 1 ml gel base (carboxymethyl cellulose); Group 3, 0.5% gel form of C. sempervirens extract; Group 4, 1% gel form of C. sempervirens extract, and; Group 5, considered as negative control and received 1 ml of normal saline. Body weight changes, histopathological and antioxidant changes in the colon tissue were evaluated. Significant weight gain was observed in rats that received 1% gel extract of C. sempervirens. Significant superoxide dismutase activity was also detected in 0.5 and 1% gel extract groups compared to C. sempervirens extract, Asacol and in 1% gel extract groups compared to the gel base group. Furthermore, both gel extract groups had significant lower total antioxidant capacity compared to Asacol group. Several histopathological lesions including inflammation, ulceration, crypt disarray, and goblet cell depletion were detected in the different groups, however, the mean rank of pathological changes showed no significant difference among the five groups. In summary, our results showed that hydroalcoholic extracts of C. sempervirens leaves produces healing effects in acetic acid induced ulcerative colitis.

A Review of Conifers in Iran: Chemistry, Biology and their Importance in Traditional and Modern Medicine

Cupressus sempervirens, Platycladus orientalis, Juniperus communis, J. excelsa, J. foetidissima, J. polycarpos var. turcomanica, J. sabina, and Taxus baccata are conifers in Iran. These plants have a long reputation in different systems of traditional medicines for a variety of diseases. This review aims to provide comprehensive and up-to-date information about the ethnopharmacological uses, chemical constituents, and pharmacology of these conifers. Furthermore this study comprises a bibliographical survey of major Islamic Traditional Medicine (ITM) books regarding different medical aspects of these species. A literature search was conducted on the applications of these conifers both in traditional and modern medicines by referencing traditional textbooks and scientific databases. Ethnobotanical literature review indicates that various parts of the plants including cones, berries, leaves, bark, wood, and resin have been used for a broad spectrum of applications. In Iran, C. sempervirens, J. sabina, J. communis, and T. baccata have been used traditionally for the treatment of urinary, digestive, nervous, respiratory, and integumentary systems-related problems. The phytochemical constituents of these plants can be divided into two main categories: volatile and non-volatile components, all dominated by terpenes. Considering the pharmacological and clinical evidence, while some of the traditional applications of these plants are supported by modern medicine, implying the value of the traditional and folklore knowledge for finding new lead compounds in drug discovery, some have remained unexamined showing the need for much more studies in this regard.

Effects of Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa Hartw) Leaf Essential Oil as a Dietary Supplement on Growth Performance and Haematological and Biochemical Parameters of Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)

Common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is the most farmed freshwater fish worldwide. In recent years, use of natural products in fish diets has become popular in aquaculture, to improve fish health and growth performance. The present study investigated the effects of essential oil from the leaves of Monterey cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa; CMEO) on growth performance and blood parameters in common carp fingerlings. Identification of 96.1% of the CMEO total volatile components was achieved, with the highest contents for terpinen-4-ol and α-pinene, at 22.9% and 47.7%, respectively. After 60 days of feeding of the fingerlings with supplemented diets without CMEO (CMEO 0%) and with CMEO at 0.5%, 0.75% and 1%, the best growth performance was seen for those fish fed with the CMEO 0.5% diet. No significant differences were seen for the haematological parameters and blood cell indices versus CMEO 0%. Serum glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol and glutamic pyruvic transaminase were significantly reduced in the fingerlings fed with the CMEO 0.5% diet versus CMEO 0%. Thus, CMEO oil as a 0.5% dietary supplement can be used to improve the growth performance and health status of the common carp without any adverse effects seen.

Cytotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects of lignans and diterpenes from Cupressus macrocarpa

Cupressus macrocarpa is a windbreak tree and is reported to have various cytotoxic effects. A natural product study on the leaves of C. macrocarpa has yielded ten secondary metabolites, including three new diterpenoids (1-3), four known diterpenoids (4-7), and three known lignans (8-10). The structures of all isolated compounds were elucidated via the interpretation of spectroscopic methods, especially 2D NMR and mass analyses. In the cytotoxic assays, compounds 1-3 and 7-10 showed inhibition effect against HepG2, MDA-MB-231, and A549 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 0.004 to 19.9 μg/mL. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory assays revealed that (-)-matairesinol (8) had significant inhibitory activities on superoxide anion generation (IC₅₀ = 2.7 ± 0.3 μM) and elastase release (IC₅₀ = 6.6 ± 0.7 μM).

Essential oil constituents of Juniperus oxycedrus L. and Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae) growing in Aures region of Algeria

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition of essential oils from the aerial parts of two species belonging to the Cupressaceae family growing in the Aures region of Algeria Juniperus oxycedrus and Cupressus Sempervirens. The analysis by GC-MS and GC-FID techniques showed the presence of 38 compounds in J. oxycedrus oil where the major constituents were manoyl oxide (23.5%), pentadecan-2-enone 6Z (12.6%), abietatriene (8.0%), abieta-8,11,13-triene-7-one (6.5%), cubebol (4.6%), epi-torilenol (3.8%) and α-cadinol (2.6%), while, a total of 65 compounds were showed in C. sempervirens oil where the major constituents were α-pinene (68.0%), epi-cedrol (6.1%), α-terpenyl acetate (3.5%) and germacrene D (2.5%). It is the first time that the compounds pentadecan-2-enone 6Z, abieta-8,11,13-trien-7-one, cubebol and epi-torilenol have been identified in our J. oxycedrus and epi-cedrol in C. sempervirens essential oils with high contents, as we noticed the absence of α-pinene in our J. oxycedrus essential oil.

Mediterranean Cypress “Cupressus sempervirens”: A Review on Phytochemical and Pharmacological Properties

Background:

Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens), commonly known as Mediterranean cypress is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, North America and subtropical Asia at higher altitudes. The crude, semi-purified and purified extracts of C. sempervirens have long been recognized for its pharmacological activities as evidenced by its extensive use by indigenous cultures in herbal medicines, tonics and infusion. Pharmacological properties displayed the prodigious biological activities that could be further explored for development of new herbal formulations or therapeutic agents.

Aims:

This review presents a critical analysis of the current state of knowledge about the ethno medicinal uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of C. sempervirens L and its future applications.

Materials and Methods:

Literature related to C. sempervirens and its synonyms were searched on the available online literature databases such as Google Scholar, PubMed, SciFinder, Scopus, Springer, ScienceDirect, Wiley, ACS, Scielo and Web of Science, thesis, dissertations, books, reports, local herbal encyclopedias and other relevant websites.

Results:

A review of literature showed that decoction of cones and young branches of C. sempervirens gave astonishing effect in the treatment of hemorrhoids and to treat excessive sweating in the feet. Enormous pharmacological properties have been found including antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, wound-healing, anticoagulant, antihyperlipidemic, anticancer, neurobiological, antidiabetic, and antiosteoporotic. Approximately 109 phytochemical constituents have been searched out as isolates from various parts of this plant comprising mostly diterpenoids and biflavonoids.

Conclusion:

Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have provided support for the traditional uses of C. sempervirens but further research work is required towards isolating more active constituents and for validating its clinical utilization in the herbal formulations for humans as well as investigating any potential toxicity for future clinical studies.

Chinese Herbal Medicine for Wilson's Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Wilson's disease (WD) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder of chronic copper toxicosis. Currently, Chinese herbal medicines (CHM) is widely used for WD. Here, we conducted an updated systematic review to investigate the efficacy and safety of CHM for WD and its possible mechanisms. Randomized-controlled clinical trials (RCTs), which compared CHM with Western conventional medicine or placebo for WD, were searched in six databases from inception to July 2017. The methodological quality was assessed using 7-item criteria from the Cochrane's collaboration tool. All the data were analyzed using Rev-Man 5.3 software. Eighteen studies involving 1,220 patients were identified for the final analyses. A score of study quality ranged from 2/7 to 4/7 points. Meta-analyses showed that CHM could significantly increase 24-h urinary copper excretion and improve liver function and the total clinical efficacy rate for WD compared with control (p < 0.05). Additionally, CHM was well tolerated in patients with WD. The underlying mechanisms of CHM for WD are associated with reversing the ATP7B mutants, exerting anti-oxidation, anti-inflammation, and anti-hepatic fibrosis effects. In conclusion, despite the apparent positive results, the present evidence supports, to a limited extent because of the methodological flaws and CHM heterogeneity, that CHM paratherapy can be used for patients with WD but could not be recommended as monotherapy in WD. Further rigorous RCTs focusing on individual CHM formula for WD are warranted.

IL-6 and NFE2L2: A putative role for the hepatoprotective effect of N. Sativa, P. Ginseng and C. Sempervirens in AFB-1 induced hepatocellular carcinoma in rats

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P. Ginseng showed a prominent prophylactic effect in AFB-1 induced rat model.

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Hepatoprotective effects of extracts possibly mediated via IL-6, hs-CRP, SOD, NFE2L2.

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NFE2L2 play a pivotal role in this hepatoprotective effect of herbal extracts.

In this study, we investigated possible hepato-protective effects of N. Sativa, P. Ginseng, and C. Sempervirens in Aflatoxin B1 (AFB-1) induced hepatocellular carcinoma rat model.

Fifty-four male albino rats were randomly assigned to experimental groups. Alcoholic extracts of aforementioned herbs were administered orally for 28 days at different doses. IL-6, hs-CRP, MDA, SOD and NFE2L2 were determined using ELISA. Histopathological changes in treated groups were examined.

Herbal treatment significantly reduced IL-6, hs-CRP, and MDA (P < 0.001) whereas it significantly increased SOD (p < 0.001). C. Sempervirens 600 and N. Sativa 1000 increased NFE2L2 level compared to P. Ginseng 500 group (P value<0.01). Histopathological evaluation of treated groups showed different grades of healing of the liver.

This study confirms a beneficial hepatoprotective effect for aforementioned herbal extracts orally administered in rat model of AFB1 induced HCC. This effect is putatively mediated via modulation of inflammatory cytokines as well as amelioration of oxidative stress.

LC-MS-MS and GC-MS analyses of biologically active extracts and fractions from Tunisian Juniperus phoenice leaves

CONTEXT

Despite some studies related to Juniperus phoenicea L. (Cupressaceae), phytochemical and biological investigations of this plant remain unexplored.

OBJECTIVE

This work is the first report dealing with the identification and characterization of volatile components and flavonoids in hexane and methanol extracts from J. phoenicea leaves Materials and methods: Antioxidant activity of hexane, and methanol extracts from J. phoenicea leaves were determined by DPPH-radical scavenging assay. α-Amylase inhibitory activity was evaluated by enzyme inhibition using in vitro assay (each extract was dissolved in DMSO to give concentrations of 50, 100 and 200 mg/mL). The chemical composition of fractions (Fr1-Fr3) from methanol extract was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectroscopy (HPLC-MS) analysis.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The hexane extract was analyzed by GC-MS technique which allowed the identification of 32 compounds. The main constituents were α-humulene (16.9%), pentadecane (10.2%) and α-cubebene (9.7%). Fraction Fr 2 exhibited a strong DPPH radical-scavenging activity (IC₅₀=20.1 μg/mL) compared to that of BHT as well as the highest α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀=28.4 μg/mL). Three flavonoids were identified in these fractions using HPLC-MS analysis: Quercetin 3-O-glucoside, isoscutellarein 7-O-pentoside and quercetin 3-O-pentoside. In addition, the more active fraction (Fr 2) was purified with semi-preparative HPLC affording one pure compound (amentoflavone) using ¹H NMR analysis. This compound exhibited powerful DPPH radical-scavenging (IC₅₀=14.1 μg/mL) and α-amylase inhibition (IC₅₀=20.4 μg/mL) effects.

CONCLUSION

This study provides scientific support to some medicinal uses of J. phoenicea found in North Africa.

Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of cupressuflavone from Cupressus macrocarpa: Impact on pro-inflammatory mediators

Hit, Lead & Candidate Discovery Inflammation is a complex biological process that is generally occurs in response to pathological triggers. Both neurodegenerative diseases and cancer have been linked to inflammation. The analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects of cupressuflavone (CUF) isolated from Cupressus macrocarpa were examined. The analgesic effects of CUF (40, 80 and 160 mg/kg po) were assessed in the acetic acid-induced writhing and hot plate models in mice with diclofenac sodium as the reference standard (100 mg/kg). CUF dose-dependently inhibited the writhing response in mice by 25, 48, and 62%, at the three CUF doses with 160 mg/kg being equivalent to the diclofenac control. CUF dose-dependently increased the hot plate model reaction time with a maximal effect after 120 min. In the carrageenan-induced paw edema model of inflammation, CUF demonstrated anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting paw edema by 55, 60, and 64% at doses of 40, 80, and 160 mg/kg po, respectively. CUF also reduced the plasma pro-inflammatory mediators PGE₂ (44, 54, and 58%), TNF-α (26, 37, and 53%), IL-1β (19, 33, and 41%), and IL-6 (32, 44, and 55%) at the three doses tested with the highest dose having similar effects to diclofenac sodium (100 mg/kg). This finding from this study indicates that CUF has both analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Phytochemicals: Extraction, Isolation, and Identification of Bioactive Compounds from Plant Extracts

There are concerns about using synthetic phenolic antioxidants such as butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) and butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA) as food additives because of the reported negative effects on human health. Thus, a replacement of these synthetics by antioxidant extractions from various foods has been proposed. More than 8000 different phenolic compounds have been characterized; fruits and vegetables are the prime sources of natural antioxidants. In order to extract, measure, and identify bioactive compounds from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, researchers use multiple techniques and methods. This review includes a brief description of a wide range of different assays. The antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anticancer properties of phenolic natural products from fruits and vegetables are also discussed.

A Review on the Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Pharmacokinetics of Amentoflavone, a Naturally-Occurring Biflavonoid

Amentoflavone (C30H18O10) is a well-known biflavonoid occurring in many natural plants. This polyphenolic compound has been discovered to have some important bioactivities, including anti-inflammation, anti-oxidation, anti-diabetes, and anti-senescence effects on many important reactions in the cardiovascular and central nervous system, etc. Over 120 plants have been found to contain this bioactive component, such as Selaginellaceae, Cupressaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Podocarpaceae, and Calophyllaceae plant families. This review paper aims to profile amentoflavone on its plant sources, natural derivatives, pharmacology, and pharmacokinetics, and to highlight some existing issues and perspectives in the future.

Ethnobotanical investigations on plants used in folk medicine in the regions of Constantine and Mila (North-East of Algeria)

ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Constantine and Mila regions have been investigated in an ethnobotanical study for the first time. A total of 102 medicinal plants have been cited to treat human ailments. Twenty-eight new species of 31 common plants with 151 new therapeutic applications and 12 new cited species including one endemic specie Zygophyllum cornutum Coss were found as compared to other Algerian regions. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, 369 new medicinal uses of 75 known plants, were reported for the first time in the Mediterranean basin.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed at contributing to safeguard world cultural heritage and document ethnomedicinal uses of plants in Algeria and the Mediterranean basin; data on the national and global uses in the world were obtained to extract new potential species for further phytochemical and clinical investigations.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The survey was carried out in two cities in the northeast of Algeria: Constantine and Mila. It was based on semi-structured interviews of 79 local informants. Data were analyzed using quantitative indices, namely, informant consensus factor, fidelity level (FL), use value (UV), and relative frequency citation (RFC), to evaluate the reliability and richness of herbal knowledge in the region.

RESULTS

The interviewed persons used 102 plant species belonging to 90 genera and distributed among 53 families, represented mainly by Lamiaceae, Apiaceae, and Asteraceae (30%, 13%, and 10%, respectively), which were used to treat 14 ailment categories. The category of most frequent ailments (16%) was digestive disorders (diarrhea, constipation, and stomach bloating). The highest RFC was found for Origanum glandulosum Desf. With regard to the fidelity level, a higher FL was found for Tilia cordata Mill. (100%), followed by Artemisia herba alba Asso. with an FL of 95.74% and Punica granatum L. with an FL of 93.09%) to treat gastrointestinal system diseases, and Aloe sp. L. with an FL of 96.67% for skin diseases. The highest UV was found for Origanum glandulosum Desf. (2.280). Moreover, new medicinal uses were recorded for the first time in Algeria and Mediterranean regions.

CONCLUSION

The present study has highlighted the rich herbal knowledge about newfound medicinal plants and their new uses in the Mediterranean region, which could be useful not only in facilitating other studies such as phytochemical and pharmacological investigations and upgrading the sources of biomolecules beneficial to people but also in reopening discussion on pharmacovigilance in herbal medicine as an imperative requirement for local authorities.

Protective effect of Cupressus sempervirens extract against indomethacin-induced gastric ulcer in rats

Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens) belongs to the family Cupressaceae. It is widspread in Northern Africa, Greece, Turkey, North America, Cyprus and Syria. Cupressuflavone is the major ingredient of the plant leave extract. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antiulcerogenic activity of the extract of C. sempervirens leaves in gastric ulcer tissues induced by indomethacin. The results of the present study revealed that indomethacin significantly decreased glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels, while it increased significantly lipid peroxidation (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) and protein carbonyl (PC) levels in gastric tissue. Furthermore, indomethacin decreased p53 expression, while it increased bcl-2 expression in gastric tissue. Pretreatment with 5%, 10% & 20% of the LD₅₀ of C. sempervirens and cupressuflavone of indomethacin-treated rats restored all the above parameters to approach normal values. C. sempervirens at the highest dose was more effective than the two lower doses. C. sempervirens proved more potent than cupressuflavone. In conclusion, C. sempervirens exerted antiulcerogenic activity and the effect was dose-dependent and related to the cupressuflavone ingredient of the plant leave extract.

Potential of Cupressus sempervirens (Mediterranean Cypress) in Health

Cupressus sempervirens L. (Cupressaceae), known as Mediterranean cypress, is a medicinal and aromatic plant with decorative uses. It is widely distributed throughout the Mediterranean region, including Syria, Turkey, Cyprus, Lebanon, Palestine, and some Greek Islands, as well as the southern coasts of the Caspian Sea in Iran. The plant has a long history of utilization in folk medicine in many countries, mainly for cough and flu treatment, and the research has consistently shown that C. sempervirens has antimicrobial, antiviral, insecticidal, antihyperlipidemic, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antiplatelet, hepatoprotective, and neurobiological activities to varying extents. The mentioned biological activities of the plant are strongly associated with its phytochemical content, which is particularly rich in phenolic constituents and essential oils that could be responsible for most of its antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiviral activities. This chapter covers botanical information, brief phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities related to C. sempervirens.

Protective effect of 70% ethanolic extract of Lindera obtusiloba Blume on tert-butyl hydroperoxide-induced oxidative hepatotoxicity in rats

Lindera obtusiloba Blume, a native plant of East Asia, has traditionally been used as a folk medicine for liver disease. We studied the in vitro antioxidant and in vivo hepatoprotective activities of a 70% ethanolic extract of L. obtusiloba (LOE) containing 62.9% quercitrin and 22.0% afzelin. LOE prevented tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP)-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells. Along with its high antioxidant potency in vitro, our animal study confirmed that pretreatment with LOE (500 or 2000 mg/kg) for 7 days prior to a single dose of t-BHP (i.p.: 0.5 mmol/kg) significantly lowered the serum levels of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases. In addition, glutathione levels were increased in the liver, and lipid peroxidation levels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner. The histopathological examinations of rat livers showed that LOE significantly reduced the incidence of liver lesions induced by t-BHP. Therefore, we concluded that LOE has merit as a potent candidate to protect the liver against oxidative damage.

Phenolic composition and biological activities of Juniperus drupacea Labill. berries from Turkey

The present study was designed to define the phenolic profile and the biological potential of berries methanol extract of Juniperus drupacea Labill. from Turkey. The total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteau assay) was 48.06±0.99mgGAE/g extract. The HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis allowed the determination of the complete phenolic profile of J. drupacea berries. Phenolic acids represented more than 60% of the total phenolics, and tyrosol was the major one (1324±0.64μg/g extract); within the flavonoids amentoflavone was detected as the main constituent (927±0.35μg/g extract). The extract exhibited good antioxidant properties, as determined by different in vitro models: DPPH test (IC(50) 0.38±0.02mg/mL), reducing power (12.63±0.14ASE/mL), Fe(2+) chelating ability (IC(50) 2.26±0.06mg/mL), and TBA test (IC(50) 2.47±1.13μg/mL). Cytotoxicity against Artemia salina was highlighted (LC(50) 489.47±27.8μg/mL), and a significant decrease (p⩽0.05; p⩽0.01) in HepG2 cells viability was observed at the higher concentrations (5-10μg/mL). The extract displayed good antibacterial activity towards Gram-positive bacteria and in particular Staphylococcus aureus was the most susceptible strain (MIC 78.12μg/mL).

Comparison of various easy-to-use procedures for extraction of phenols from apricot fruits

Phenols are broadly distributed in the plant kingdom and are the most abundant secondary metabolites of plants. Plant polyphenols have drawn increasing attention due to their potential antioxidant properties and their marked effects in the prevention of various oxidative stress associated diseases such as cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate a suitable method for determination of protocatechuic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, vanillin, p-coumaric acid, rutin, ferulic acid, quercetin, resveratrol and quercitrin from apricot samples. A high-performance liquid chromatograph with electrochemical and UV detectors was used. The method was optimized in respect to both the separation selectivity of individual phenolic compounds and the maximum sensitivity with the electrochemical detection. The lowest limits of detection (3 S/N) using UV detection were estimated for ferulic acid (3 µM), quercitrin (4 µM) and quercetin (4 µM). Using electrochemical detection values of 27 nM, 40 nM and 37 nM were achieved for ferulic acid, quercitrin and quercetin, respectively. It follows from the acquired results that the coulometric detection under a universal potential of 600 mV is more suitable and sensitive for polyphenols determination than UV detection at a universal wavelength of 260 nm. Subsequently, we tested the influence of solvent composition, vortexing and sonication on separation efficiency. Our results showed that a combination of water, acetone and methanol in 20:20:60 ratio was the most effective for p-aminobenzoic acid, chlorgenic acid, caffeic acid, protocatechuic acid, ferulic acid, rutin, resveratrol and quercetin, in comparison with other solvents. On the other hand, vortexing at 4 °C produced the highest yield. Moreover, we tested the contents of individual polyphenols in the apricot cultivars Mamaria, Mold and LE-1075. The major phenolic compounds were chlorgenic acid and rutin. Chlorgenic acid was found in amounts of 2,302 mg/100 g in cultivar LE-1075, 546 mg/100 g in cultivar Mamaria and 129 mg/100 g in cultivar Mold. Generally, the cultivar LE-1075 produced the highest polyphenol content values, contrary to Mold, which compared to cultivar LE-1075 was quite poor from the point of view of the phenolics content.

Protective role of Juniperus phoenicea and Cupressus sempervirens against CCl4

AIM: To investigate the role of Cupressus sempervirens (C. sempervirens) and Juniperus phoenicea (J. phoenicea) extracts as therapeutic effect against CCl₄ with biochemical, histopathological evaluations.

METHODS: A single intraperitoneal dose of 10% CCl₄ in olive oil (1 mL/kg body weight) was administered to a group of female Wister rats, sacrificed after 24 h (as the injury group). The other groups were given CCl₄ as described above and divided as follows: two groups of ten rats each were orally administered either J. phoenicea extract or C. sempervirens extract three times per week for six weeks and a further group administered CCl₄ was left for six weeks to allow self-recovery. At the end of experiment, the rats from all groups were sacrificed for sampling and for biochemical and histological analysis.

RESULTS: Remarkable disturbances were observed in the levels of all tested parameters. On the other hand, rats injected with the toxic agent and left for one and a half month to self recover showed moderate improvements in the studied parameters while, treatment with both medicinal herbal extracts ameliorated the levels of the disturbed biochemical parameters. The group treated with J. phoenicea extract showed a remarkable improvement in comparison to the CCl₄ treated group. The C. sempervirens group revealing an even more remarkable effect showing histopathological liver& kidney profiles close to those of the control group.

CONCLUSION: C. sempervirens and J. phoenicea leaf extracts show a remarkable effect in enhancing liver and kidney functions and may thus be of therapeutic potential in treatment hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

8,8''-Biapigeninyl stimulates osteoblast functions and inhibits osteoclast and adipocyte functions: Osteoprotective action of 8,8''-biapigeninyl in ovariectomized mice

8,8''-Biapigeninyl (BA), a condensation product of two apigenin molecules, is found abundantly in the nuts of Cupressus sempervirens. We investigated the effects of BA on murine bone cells in vitro and in ovariectomized (OVx) mice. BA at 10(-10)M and 10(-8)M, inhibited osteoclastogenesis of bone marrow cells (BMCs) and displayed concentration dependence. BA at 10(-8) M and 10(-6) M inhibited differentiation of 3T3-L1 and BMCs to mature adipocytes. BA (10(-10)M) stimulated osteoblast proliferation, differentiation and mineralization. In stimulating osteoblast function, BA was found to be 10(4)-fold more potent than apigenin. The effect of BA in osteoblasts appeared to be mediated via estrogen receptors (ER) as antiestrogen, ICI-182780 abolished BA-stimulated osteoblast differentiation. In OVx mice BA treatment (at 1.0-, 5.0- and 10.0 mg kg(-1) day(-1) doses) given orally for 30 days dose-dependently inhibited mRNA levels of osteoclastic genes including tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, receptor activator of nuclear factor (RANK), tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-6 and the ratio of RANK ligand/osteoprotegerin ratio in bones compared with OVx mice treated with vehicle. In addition, BA treatment to OVx mice dose-dependently stimulated production of osteoprogenitor cells in the bone marrow and increased mRNA levels of osteogenic genes core binding factor alpha-1, type I collagen and bone morphogenic protein-2 in bones compared with OVx+vehicle group. Microcomputed tomography revealed that BA treatment to OVx mice improved parameters of trabecular and cortical architecture. BA exhibited no uterine estrogenicity. From these data, we conclude that BA exerts osteoprotective effect in OVx mice by multiple beneficial effects on bone cells.

Phytochemical investigation and medicinal evaluation of fixed oil of Balanites aegyptiaca fruits (Balantiaceae)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Balanites aegyptiaca (Balantiaceae), mainly the fruit, is used by traditional healers and herbalists for treating many diseases in Africa and Asia.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Investigation of fixed oil composition of fruits and evaluation of its biological activity.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Oil content was identified using GC and GC/MS. In vitro examination of the oil biological activity (including cytotoxicity, antimutagenicity, antiparasitic, antiviral and antimicrobial activities) was performed.

RESULTS

The oil contained 54.53% unsaturated fatty acids and 1.14% sterols. The oil exhibited anticancer activity against lung, liver and brain human carcinoma cell lines. It also had antimutagenic activity against Fasciola gigantica induced mutagenicity besides anthelmintic activity against hepatic worms (Schistosoma mansoni and Fasciola gigantica). Preliminary screening showed that the oil had antiviral activity against Herpes simplex virus. It also had antimicrobial activity against selected strains of Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and Candida.

CONCLUSION

The results showed remarkable biological activity of Balanites aegyptiaca fixed oil and proved its importance as natural bioactive source.

Comparative analysis of flavonoid profile, antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of the berries of Juniperus communis L. var. communis and Juniperus communis L. var. saxatilis Pall. from Turkey

The present study was designed to define and compare the flavonoid composition and the biological potential of berries methanol extracts of Juniperus communis L. var. communis (Jcc) and Juniperus communis L. var. saxatilis. Pall. (Jcs) from Turkey. Total polyphenols (Folin-Ciocalteau method) were 3-fold higher in Jcc (59.17 +/- 1.65 mg GAE/g extract) than in Jcs (17.64 +/- 0.09 mg GAE/g extract). Flavonoid and biflavonoid content, evaluated by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS analysis, was higher in Jcc (25947 +/- 0.86 and 4346 +/- 3.95 microg/g extract) than in Jcs (5387 +/- 34.88 and 1944 +/- 26.88 microg/g extract). The HPLC analysis of Jcc allowed the separation of 16 flavonoids; hypolaetin-7-pentoside and quercetin-hexoside are the main compounds. Moreover, gossypetin-hexoside-pentoside and gossypetin-hexoside were identified for the first time in Jcc berries. In Jcs eight flavonoids were identified: quercetin-hexoside and isoscutellarein-8-O-hexoside are the most abundant compounds. The in vitro antioxidant activity was determined using different methods; Jcc was found to be more active than Jcs in the DPPH test (IC(50) of 0.63 +/- 0.09 mg/mL and 1.84 +/- 0.10 mg/mL) in reducing power assay (12.82 +/- 0.10 ASE/mL and 64.14 +/- 1.20 ASE/mL), and in TBA assay (IC(50) of 4.44 +/- 0.70 microg/mL and 120.07 +/- 3.60 microg/mL). By contrast, Jcs exhibited more elevated Fe(2+) chelating ability than Jcc. The extracts were also studied for their antimicrobial potential, displaying antimicrobial capacity only against Gram-positive bacteria.