Acute and subacute toxicity evaluation of hydroalcoholic extract from the stem bark of Bois Bande (Parinari campestris Aubl.1772) in rats

Thermosensitive smart hydrogel of PEITC ameliorates the therapeutic efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune condition that accompanies chronic inflammation of joints with limited therapeutic options. Phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), a bioactive phytochemical, exerts its chemopreventive, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory activity via the Nrf-2 pathway. However, limited water solubility, short half-life, and instability are reasons for the low bioavailability of PEITC that hampers clinical application. From studies in healthy rats, the performance of PEITC-loaded chitosan/pluronic F-127 smart hydrogel (PH) as a thermosensitive injectable demonstrated adequate thermosensitivity (gel formation), injectability (ease of administration), biocompatibility (with prolonged contact), pharmacokinetics (sustained drug release), and biosafety (nontoxic to major organs). In the adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model, PEITC-hydrogel (PH50) injected into the knee joint lowered RA-related symptoms significantly (paw edema and arthritis score). Further, a marked reduction in bone erosion and inflammation-specific biomarkers was observed. Finally, this study demonstrates a smart injectable hydrogel optimally loaded with PEITC which is safe, biocompatible and exhibits significant therapeutic efficacy in RA conditions.

Bioactive Chemical Constituents of Matthiola longipetala Extract Showed Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Cytotoxic Potency

The exploration of bioactive compounds from natural resources attracts the attention of researchers and scientists worldwide. M. longipetala is an annual aromatic herb that emits a pleasant odor during the night. Regarding the chemical composition and biological characteristics, M. longipetala extracts are poorly studied. The current study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of M. longipetala methanol extract using GC-MS and determine its biological potencies, including its capacity for cytotoxicity and antioxidant and antibacterial activities. In this approach, 37 components were identified, representing 99.98% of the total mass. The major chemical components can be classified as oxygenated hydrocarbons (19.15%), carbohydrates (10.21%), amines (4.85%), terpenoids (12.71%), fatty acids and lipids (50.8%), and steroids (2.26%). The major identified compounds were ascaridole epoxide (monoterpene, 12.71%) and methyl (E)-octadec-11-enoate (ester of fatty acid, 12.21%). The extract of M. longipetala showed substantial antioxidant activity. Based on the DPPH and ABTS scavenging, the antioxidant activity of the extracted components of M. longipetala revealed that leaf extract is the most effective with IC50 values of 31.47 and 28.94 mg/L, respectively. On the other hand, the extracted plant showed low antibacterial activities against diverse bacterial species, viz., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. haemolyticus, and S. aureus. The most potent antibacterial results were documented for leaf and flower extracts against E. coli and S. aureus. Additionally, the extract’s effectiveness against HepG2 cells was evaluated in vitro using the measures of MTT, DNA fragmentation, and cell proliferation cycle, where it showed considerable activity. Therefore, we can conclude that M. longipetala extract displayed improvement in cytocompatibility and cell migration properties. In conclusion, M. longipetala could be considered a potential candidate for various bioactive compounds with promising biological activities. However, further characterization of the identified compounds, particularly the major compounds, is recommended to evaluate their efficacy, modes of action, and safety.

Investigation and Biological Assessment of Rumex vesicarius L. Extract: Characterization of the Chemical Components and Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Cytotoxic, and Anti-Dengue Vector Activity

The objective of this study was to assess the biological potency and chemical composition of Rumex vesicarius aboveground parts using GC-MS. In this approach, 44 components were investigated, comprising 99.99% of the total volatile compounds. The major components were classified as fatty acids and lipids (51.36%), oxygenated hydrocarbons (33.59%), amines (7.35%), carbohydrates (6.06%), steroids (1.21%), and alkaloids (0.42%). The major components were interpreted as 1,3-dihydroxypropan-2-yl oleate (oxygenated hydrocarbons, 18.96%), ethyl 2-hydroxycyclohexane-1-carboxylate (ester of fatty acid, 17.56%), and 2-propyltetrahydro-2H-pyran-3-ol (oxygenated hydrocarbons, 11.18%). The DPPH antioxidant activity of the extracted components of R. vesicarius verified that the shoot extract was the most potent with IC₅₀ = 28.89 mg/L, with the percentages of radical scavenging activity at 74.28% ± 3.51%. The extracted plant, on the other hand, showed substantial antibacterial activity against the diverse bacterial species, namely, Salmonella typhi (23.46 ± 1.69), Bacillus cereus (22.91 ± 0.96), E. coli (21.07 ± 0.80), and Staphylococcus aureus (17.83 ± 0.67). In addition, the extracted plant was in vitro assessed as a considerable anticancer agent on HepG2 cells, in which MTT, cell proliferation cycle, and DNA fragmentation assessments were applied on culture and treated cells. The larvicidal efficacy of the extracted plant was also evaluated against Aedes aegypti, the dengue disease vector. As a result, we may infer that R. vesicarius extract increased cytocompatibility and cell migratory capabilities, and that it may be effective in mosquito control without causing harm.