The neuroprotective attribution of Ocimum basilicum: a review on the prevention and management of neurodegenerative disorders

Background

Bioactive principles from various natural resources including medicinal herbs have always played a crucial role in healthcare settings and increasingly became key players in drug discovery and development for many biopharmaceutical applications. Additionally, natural products (NPs) have immense arrangement of distinctive chemical structures with diverse functional groups that motivated numerous investigators including synthetic chemists to discover new therapeutic entities. Numerous pre-clinical investigations involving the animal models have evident the usefulness of these NPs against various human diseases including neurodegenerative disorders (NDs).

Main text

Ocimum basilicum Linn (O. basilicum L.), also known as sweet basil, is well practiced in traditional healthcare systems and has been used to treat various human illnesses, which include malaria, skin disease, diarrhea, bronchitis, dysentery, arthritis, eye diseases, and insect bites and emphasize the significance of the ethno-botanical approach as a potential source of novel drug leads With the growing interest in advanced techniques, herbal medicine and medicinal plants explorations are still considered to be a novel resource for new pharmacotherapeutic discovery and development. O. basilicum L and its bioactive principles including apigenin, eugenol, myretenal, β-sitosterol, luteolin, rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, essential oil (EO)-rich phenolic compounds, and others like anthocyanins and flavones could be of therapeutic values in NDs by exhibiting their neuro-protective efficacy on various signaling pathways. The present comprehensive review collected various related information using the following searching engines such as PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, etc. and focused mainly the English written documents. The search period comprised of last two decades until present.

Conclusion

Although these efficacious plant genera of prime importance and has potential medical and socioeconomic importance, yet the pivotal evidence for its neuroprotective potential in novel clinical trials remains lacking. However, with the available wealth of obtainable literature on this medicinal plant, which supports this review and concludes that O. basilicum L may function as a promising therapeutics for the treatment of NDs.

Triterpenoids isolated from Jatropha macrantha (Müll. Arg.) inhibit the NF-κB and HIF-1α pathways in tumour cells

Activity-guided fractionations of Jatropha macrantha Müll. Arg. led to the isolation of pomolic acid (1) and euscaphic acid (2). The potential for inhibition against NF-κB and HIF-1α production of these two compounds was tested in different tumour cell lines. Compounds 1 and 2 showed an inhibitory activity of HIF-1α in the SK-MEL-28 (IC₅₀=3.01 ± 0.02 μM and 3.78 ± 0.02 μM), A549 (IC₅₀=9.97 ± 0.01 μM and 10.25 ± 0.01 μM) and U-373 MG (IC₅₀=6.34 ± 0.02 μM and 8.85 ± 0.02 μM) cell lines. In addition, compounds 1 and 2 showed an inhibitory activity on NF-κB in SK-MEL-28 (IC₅₀=1.05 ± 0.02 μM and 2.71 ± 0.01 μM), A549 (IC₅₀=3.63 ± 0.01 μM and 3.73 ± 0.02 μM) and U-373 MG (IC₅₀=2.55 ± 0.02 μM and 3.39 ± 0.01 μM) cell lines. This is the first report that isolates these compounds from J. macrantha and tests their antitumor potential.

The genus Jatropha (Euphorbiaceae): A review on secondary chemical metabolites and biological aspects

The genus Jatropha belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family and has about 175 species. Originally from tropical America, the Jatropha genus can be found all over the tropics and subtropics of Asia and Africa. Jatropha species are recognized to be important sources of secondary metabolites with a broad spectrum of biological functions. Extracts and isolated compounds from species of this genus have been known to have properties of cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, insecticidal, larvicidal, inhibition AChE, and toxicity activities. Investigations on the chemical aspects of the genus Jatropha have led to the identification of cyclic peptides, lignans, flavonoids, coumarins, alkaloids, eudesmenoic acids, and mainly terpenes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive picture of the phytochemical and biological characteristics of Jatropha species. The information gathered and approached in this paper might support the planning and discussion of future studies on the topic.

Genetic Tracing of Jatropha curcas L. from Its Mesoamerican Origin to the World

Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha), a shrub species of the family Euphorbiaceae, has been recognized as a promising biofuel plant for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, recent attempts at commercial cultivation in Africa and Asia have failed because of low productivity. It is important to elucidate genetic diversity and relationship in worldwide Jatropha genetic resources for breeding of better commercial cultivars. Here, genetic diversity was analyzed by using 246 accessions from Mesoamerica, Africa and Asia, based on 59 simple sequence repeat markers and eight retrotransposon-based insertion polymorphism markers. We found that central Chiapas of Mexico possesses the most diverse genetic resources, and the Chiapas Central Depression could be the center of origin. We identified three genetic groups in Mesoamerica, whose distribution revealed a distinct geographic cline. One of them consists mainly of accessions from central Chiapas. This suggests that it represents the original genetic group. We found two Veracruz accessions in another group, whose ancestors might be shipped from Port of Veracruz to the Old World, to be the source of all African and Asian Jatropha. Our results suggest the human selection that caused low productivity in Africa and Asia, and also breeding strategies to improve African and Asian Jatropha. Cultivars improved in the productivity will contribute to expand mass commercial cultivation of Jatropha in Africa and Asia to increase biofuel production, and finally will support in the battle against the climate change.

Cardioprotective Effects of Lagenaria siceraria Fruit Juice on Isoproterenol-induced Myocardial Infarction in Wistar Rats: A Biochemical and Histoarchitecture Study

The present study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of Lagenaria siceraria fruit juice in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction. Rats injected with isoproterenol (200 mg/kg, s.c.) showed a significant increase in the levels of serum uric acid, tissue Na⁺⁺ and Ca⁺⁺ ions and membrane-bound Ca⁺²-ATPase activity. A significant decrease in the levels of serum protein, tissue K⁺ ion, vitamin E level, and the activities of Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase and mg⁺²-ATPase was observed. Isoproterenol injected rats also showed a significant increase in the intensity of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme and histopathologic alterations in the heart. Treatment with L. siceraria fruit juice (400 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 30 days and administration of isoproterenol on 29^th and 30^th days showed a protective effect on altered biochemical and histopathologic changes. These findings indicate the cardioprotective effect of L. siceraria fruit juice in isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in rats.

Experimental assessment of toxic phytochemicals in Jatropha curcas: oil, cake, bio-diesel and glycerol

BACKGROUND

Jatropha curcas seed is a rich source of oil; however, it can not be utilised for nutritional purposes due to presence of toxic and anti-nutritive compounds. The main objective of the present study was to quantify the toxic phytochemicals present in Indian J. curcas (oil, cake, bio-diesel and glycerol).

RESULTS

The amount of phorbol esters is greater in solvent extracted oil (2.8 g kg⁻¹) than in expeller oil (2.1 g kg⁻¹). Liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis of the purified compound from an active extract of oil confirmed the presence of phorbol esters. Similarly, the phorbol esters content is greater in solvent extracted cake (1.1 g kg⁻¹) than in cake after being expelled (0.8 g kg⁻¹). The phytate and trypsin inhibitory activity of the cake was found to be 98 g kg⁻¹ and 8347 TIU g⁻¹ of cake, respectively. Identification of curcin was achieved by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the concentration of curcin was 0.95 g L⁻¹ of crude concentrate obtained from cake.

CONCLUSION

Higher amounts of phorbol esters are present in oil than cake but bio-diesel and glycerol are free of phorbol esters. The other anti-nutritional components such as trypsin inhibitors, phytates and curcin are present in cake, so the cake should be detoxified before being used for animal feed.

A hevein-like protein and a class I chitinase with antifungal activity from leaves of the paper mulberry

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera, syn. Morus papyrifera L.) is a Chinese traditional medicine and its low-molecular-weight extracts are reported to have antifungal activity. In this study, two proteins (PMAPI and PMAPII) with activity against Trichoderma viride were obtained from paper mulberry leaves with a fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC) unit. The purification protocol employed (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, ion-exchange chromatography and hydrophobic-interaction chromatography on FPLC. Molecular masses were 18,798 Da for PMAPI, and 31,178 Da for PMAPII determined by Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Peptide mapping fingerprint analysis showed that PMAPI has no peptides similar to PMAPII. N-terminal amino acid sequencing revealed that PMAPI is a hevein-like protein, and PMAPII is a class I chitinase. They both had a half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 0.1 µg/µL against T. viride. This is the first report of high-molecular-weight extracts with antifungal activity from paper mulberry.

Jatropha toxicity--a review

Jatropha is a nonedible oil seed plant belonging to Euphorbiaceae family. Global awareness of sustainable and alternative energy resources has propelled research on Jatropha oil as a feedstock for biodiesel production. During the past two decades, several cultivation projects were undertaken to produce Jatropha oil. In future, the increased cultivation of toxic Jatropha plants and utilization of its agro-industrial by-products may raise the frequency of contact with humans, animals, and other organisms. An attempt was thus made to present known information on toxicity of Jatropha plants. The toxicity of Jatropha plant extracts from fruit, seed, oil, roots, latex, bark, and leaf to a number of species, from microorganisms to higher animals, is well established. Broadly, these extracts possess moluscicidal, piscicidal, insecticidal, rodenticidal, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties, and exert adverse effects on animals including rats, poultry, and ruminants. The toxicity attributed to these seeds due to their accidental consumption by children is also well documented. An attempt was also made to identify areas that need further study. The information provided in this review may aid in enhancing awareness in agroindustries involved in the cultivation, harvesting, and utilization of Jatropha plants and its products with respect to the potential toxicity of Jatropha, and consequently in application and enforcement of occupational safety measures. Data on the wide range of bioactivities of Jatropha and its products were collated and it is hoped will create new avenues for exploiting these chemicals by the phamaceutical industry to develop chemotherapeutic agents.

Antimicrobial activity of five herbal extracts against multi drug resistant (MDR) strains of bacteria and fungus of clinical origin

Antimicrobial activities of the crude ethanolic extracts of five plants were screened against multidrug resistant (MDR) strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans. ATCC strains of Streptococcus mutans, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus bovis, Pseudimonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans were also tested. The strains that showed resistance against the maximum number of antibiotics tested were selected for an antibacterial assay. The MDR strains were sensitive to the antimicrobial activity of Acacia nilotica, Syzygium aromaticum and Cinnamum zeylanicum, whereas they exhibited strong resistance to the extracts of Terminalia arjuna and Eucalyptus globulus. Community-acquired infections showed higher sensitivity than the nosocomial infections against these extracts. The most potent antimicrobial plant was A. nilotica (MIC range 9.75-313 microg/ml), whereas other crude plant extracts studied in this report were found to exhibit higher MIC values than A. nilotica against community acquired as well as nosocomial infection. This study concludes that A. nilotica, C. zeylanicum and S. aromaticum can be used against multidrug resistant microbes causing nosocomial and community acquired infections.

Macleaya cordata extract and Sangrovit genotoxicity. Assessment in vivo

BACKGROUND

Sanguinarine (SG) has been reported to form DNA adducts in vitro and increase the levels of DNA single strand breaks in the blood and bone marrow of mice treated intraperitoneally with SG. Recently, we showed no genotoxic effects of orally administrated 120 mg/kg feed Macleaya cordata extract (a mixture of sanguinarine and chelerythrine) in pigs or rats in 90-day studies. The goal of this paper was to assess the possible genotoxicity of M. cordata extract when included as a dietary admixture to rodents at concentrations providing 600 mg/kg feed and 100, 7000 or 14000 mg/kg feed Sangrovit (natural feed additive containing M. cordata extract and powdered M. cordata) in a 90-day pilot study.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The rats consumed ad libitum either the standard diet or the diets containing 367 ppm of sanguinarine and chelerythrine in M. cordata extract, and 5, 330, or 660 ppm of total alkaloids in Sangrovit for 90 days. The DNA adducts formation in liver was analyzed by (32)P-postlabeling technique and DNA single strand breaks in lymphocytes were evaluated by Comet assay. The results showed that M. cordata extract and/or Sangrovit induced no DNA damage to rat lymphocytes or hepatocytes after 90-days oral administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from the studies described in this paper and the fact that Sangrovit given to the rats in our experiments were higher than the recommended dose (50 to 100 mg/kg feed), argue strongly in favour of the use of Sangrovit in live stock.

A new potyvirus from butterfly flower (Iris japonica Thunb.) in Zhejiang, China

A filamentous virus isolated from Iris japonica with mosaic symptoms was pathogenic to I. japonica and I. bulleyana but not to 12 virus indicator species. Sequencing of the 3'-terminus of the genome showed that it was a potyvirus, most closely related to sunflower mosaic virus (63.2% identical), and phylogenetic analysis also showed a more distant grouping with tobacco etch and Colombian datura viruses. The virus was detected by RT-PCR in symptomatic I. japonica plants from several regions of China. The virus appears to be an isolate of a new species in the genus Potyvirus, tentatively named butterfly flower mosaic virus.

Efficiency of physical (light) or chemical (ABA, tetracycline, CuSO4 or 2-CBSU)-stimulus-dependent gus gene expression in tobacco cell suspensions

In this study, the efficiency of inducible promoters to switch on gene expression in the presence of inducer or to switch it off in its absence was evaluated in tobacco cell suspensions transformed with the gus gene coding sequence. Either plant (pats1A, pSalT, pIn2-2) or microbial (pMre, pTet) inducible promoters were used to drive gus expression. The inducers were light, abscisic acid, 2-CBSU, CuSO4, tetracycline, respectively. For each construct (inducible promoter-gus coding sequence), the optimal induction conditions were determined (inducer concentration, induction time, and age of cells in culture cycle before induction). The efficiency of the inducible promoter was then evaluated under optimal induction conditions. GUS-expression levels obtained under non-inducing and inducing conditions were systematically compared. Thirty or forty percent of the clones transformed with the pSalT-gus or pTet-gus construct, respectively, showed high induction rates (>1000) and GUS activities of the same order as those obtained with a constitutive system. However, basal GUS levels were always high for the pTet-gus cell lines. Seventy or eighty-five percent of the cell lines transformed with the pMre-gus or pln2-2-gus construct, respectively, had induction rates of 1.5 to 1000. The pats1A-gus construct gave very low induction rates-55% of cell lines had induction rates less than 1.5. Only the pSalt-gus construct gave both the highest induction rates and basal GUS-levels equivalent to the endogenous GUS background.