Bioactive flavonoids of the flowers of Butea monosperma

Proposed mechanisms of action of herbal drugs and their biologically active constituents in the treatment of coughs: an overview

Various medicinal plants find their use in cough treatment, based on traditions and long-term experience. Pharmacological principles of their action, however, are much less known. Herbal drugs usually contain a mixture of potentially active compounds, which can manifest diverse effects. Expectorant or antitussive effects, which can be accompanied by others, such as anti-inflammatory or antibacterial, are probably the most important in the treatment of coughs. The aim of this review is to summarize the current state of knowledge of the effects of medicinal plants or their constituents on cough, based on reliable pharmacological studies. First, a comprehensive description of each effect is provided in order to explain the possible mechanism of action in detail. Next, the results related to individual plants and substances are summarized and critically discussed based on pharmacological in vivo and in vitro investigation.

Metabolomics and molecular networking approach for exploring the anti-diabetic activity of medicinal plants

Metabolomics and molecular networking approaches have expanded rapidly in the field of biological sciences and involve the systematic identification, visualization, and high-throughput characterization of bioactive metabolites in natural products using sophisticated mass spectrometry-based techniques. The popularity of natural products in pharmaceutical therapies has been influenced by medicinal plants with a long history of ethnobotany and a vast collection of bioactive compounds. Here, we selected four medicinal plants Cleistocalyx operculatus, Terminalia chebula, Ficus lacor, and Ficus semicordata, the biochemical characteristics of which remain unclear owing to the inherent complexity of their plant metabolites. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of these aforementioned plant extracts in inhibiting the enzymatic activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase, respectively, followed by the annotation of secondary metabolites. The methanol extract of Ficus semicordata exhibited the highest α-amylase inhibition with an IC50 of 46.8 ± 1.8 μg mL-1, whereas the water fraction of Terminalia chebula fruits demonstrated the most significant α-glucosidase inhibition with an IC50 value of 1.07 ± 0.01 μg mL-1. The metabolic profiling of plant extracts was analyzed through Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-HRMS) of the active fractions, resulting in the annotation of 32 secondary metabolites. Furthermore, we applied the Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform to evaluate the MS/MS data of Terminalia chebula (bark), revealing that there were 205 and 160 individual ion species observed as nodes in the methanol and ethyl acetate fractions, respectively. Twenty-two metabolites were tentatively identified from the network map, of which 11 compounds were unidentified during manual annotation.

Isolation and biological activity of natural chalcones based on antibacterial mechanism classification

Bacterial infection, which is still one of the leading causes of death in humans, poses an enormous threat to the worldwide public health system. Antibiotics are the primary medications used to treat bacterial diseases. Currently, the discovery of antibiotics has reached an impasse, and due to the abuse of antibiotics resulting in bacterial antibiotic resistance, researchers have a critical desire to develop new antibacterial agents in order to combat the deteriorating antibacterial situation. Natural chalcones, the flavonoids consisting of two phenolic rings and a three-carbon α, β-unsaturated carbonyl system, possess a variety of biological and pharmacological properties, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and so on. Due to their potent antibacterial properties, natural chalcones possess the potential to become a new treatment for infectious diseases that circumvents existing antibiotic resistance. Currently, the majority of research on natural chalcones focuses on their synthesis, biological and pharmacological activities, etc. A few studies have been conducted on their antibacterial activity and mechanism. Therefore, this review focuses on the antibacterial activity and mechanisms of seventeen natural chalcones. Firstly, seventeen natural chalcones have been classified based on differences in antibacterial mechanisms. Secondly, a summary of the isolation and biological activity of seventeen natural chalcones was provided, with a focus on their antibacterial activity. Thirdly, the antibacterial mechanisms of natural chalcones were summarized, including those that act on bacterial cell membranes, biological macromolecules, biofilms, and quorum sensing systems. This review aims to lay the groundwork for the discovery of novel antibacterial agents based on chalcones.

Isoflavonoid and Furanochromone Natural Products as Potential DNA Gyrase Inhibitors: Computational, Spectral, and Antimycobacterial Studies

In pursuit of new antitubercular agents, we here report the antimycobacterial (H₃₇Rv) and DNA gyrase inhibitory potential of daidzein and khellin natural products (NPs). We procured a total of 16 NPs based on their pharmacophoric similarities with known antimycobacterial compounds. The H₃₇Rv strain of M. tuberculosis was found to be susceptible to only two out of the 16 NPs procured; specifically, daidzein and khellin each exhibited an MIC of 25 μg/mL. Moreover, daidzein and khellin inhibited the DNA gyrase enzyme with IC₅₀ values of 0.042 and 0.822 μg/mL, respectively, compared to ciprofloxacin with an IC₅₀ value of 0.018 μg/mL. Daidzein and khellin were found to have lower toxicity toward the vero cell line, with IC₅₀ values of 160.81 and 300.23 μg/mL, respectively. Further, molecular docking study and MD simulation of daidzein indicated that it remained stable inside the cavity of DNA GyrB domain for 100 ns.

Butein Inhibits Cell Growth by Blocking the IL-6/IL-6Rα Interaction in Human Ovarian Cancer and by Regulation of the IL-6/STAT3/FoxO3a Pathway

Butea monosperma (Fabaceae) has been used in traditional Indian medicine to treat a variety of ailments, including abdominal tumors. We aimed to investigate the anti-IL-6 activity of butein in ovarian cancer and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Butein was isolated and identified from B. monosperma flowers, and the inhibition of IL-6 signaling was investigated using the HEK-Blue™ IL-6 cell line. The surface plasmon resonance assay was used to estimate the binding of butein to IL-6, IL-6Rα, and gp130. After treatment with butein, ovarian cancer cell migration, apoptosis, and tumor growth inhibition were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, we used STAT3 siRNA to identify the mechanistic effects of butein on the IL-6/STAT3/FoxO3a pathway. Butein suppressed downstream signal transduction through higher binding affinity to IL-6. In ovarian cancer, butein inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, it decreased the growth of ovarian cancer cells in xenograft tumor models. Butein inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and induced FoxO3a accumulation in the nucleus by inhibiting IL-6 signaling. The anticancer activity of butein was mediated by blocking the IL-6/IL-6Rα interaction and suppressing IL-6 bioactivity via interfering with the IL-6/STAT3/FoxO3a pathway.

Antimicrobial Secondary Metabolites from the Mangrove Plants of Asia and the Pacific

Microbes such as the White Spot Syndrome Virus account for severe losses in the shrimp farming industry globally. This review examines the literature on the mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific with antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral activities. All of the available data published on this subject were collected from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, ChemSpider, PubChem, and a library search from 1968 to 2022. Out of about 286 plant species, 119 exhibited antimicrobial effects, and a total of 114 antimicrobial natural products have been identified including 12 with MIC values below 1 µg/mL. Most of these plants are medicinal. The mangrove plants of Asia and the Pacific yield secondary metabolites with the potential to mitigate infectious diseases in shrimp aquaculture.

Promising Antimycobacterial Activities of Flavonoids against Mycobacterium sp. Drug Targets: A Comprehensive Review

Tuberculosis (TB) caused by the bacterial pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a threat to mankind, with over a billion of deaths in the last two centuries. Recent advancements in science have contributed to an understanding of Mtb pathogenesis and developed effective control tools, including effective drugs to control the global pandemic. However, the emergence of drug resistant Mtb strains has seriously affected the TB eradication program around the world. There is, therefore, an urgent need to develop new drugs for TB treatment, which has grown researchers’ interest in small molecule-based drug designing and development. The small molecules-based treatments hold significant potential to overcome drug resistance and even provide opportunities for multimodal therapy. In this context, various natural and synthetic flavonoids were reported for the effective treatment of TB. In this review, we have summarized the recent advancement in the understanding of Mtb pathogenesis and the importance of both natural and synthetic flavonoids against Mtb infection studied using in vitro and in silico methods. We have also included flavonoids that are able to inhibit the growth of non-tubercular mycobacterial organisms. Hence, understanding the therapeutic properties of flavonoids can be useful for the future treatment of TB.

New Flavonoid Derivatives from Melodorum fruticosum and Their α-Glucosidase Inhibitory and Cytotoxic Activities

Three new flavonoid derivatives, melodorones A–C (1–3), together with four known compounds, tectochrysin (4), chrysin (5), onysilin (6), and pinocembrin (7), were isolated from the stem bark of Melodorum fruticosum. Their structures were determined on the basis of extensive spectroscopic methods, including NMR and HRESIMS, and by comparison with the literature. Compounds 1–7 were evaluated for their in vitro α-glucosidase inhibition and cytotoxicity against KB, Hep G2, and MCF7 cell lines. Among them, compound 1 exhibited the best activity against α-glucosidase and was superior to the positive control with an IC50 value of 2.59 μM. On the other hand, compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxicity toward KB, Hep G2, and MCF7 cell lines with the IC50 values of 23.5, 19.8, and 23.7 μM, respectively. These findings provided new evidence that the stem bark of M. fruticosum is a source of bioactive flavonoid derivatives that are highly valuable for medicinal development.

3',4',7-Trihydroxyflavone Downregulates NO Production in LPS- or IFN-γ-Activated MG6 Microglial Cells by Attenuating the JNK-STAT1 Pathway

Neuroinflammation induced by activated microglia is a key feature of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. The natural flavonoid 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone protects nerve cells from oxidative stress-mediated apoptosis and inhibits the aggregation of amyloid β protein in vitro. However, little is known about its effects on microglial activation. In this study, we investigated the effects of 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- or interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced neuroinflammatory responses in MG6 microglial cells. 3',4',7-Trihydroxyflavone inhibited LPS- or IFN-γ-mediated nitric oxide (NO) generation and the upregulation of inducible NO synthase (iNOS) in MG6 cells. 3',4',7-Trihydroxyflavone also suppressed LPS- or IFN-γ-mediated phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), which is crucial for iNOS expression. LPS stimulation induced rapid phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in MG6 cells. 3',4',7-Trihydroxyflavone significantly inhibited the LPS-mediated phosphorylation of JNK, but not that of ERK and p38 MAPK. The inhibitory effect of 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone on NO generation was mimicked by pharmacological inhibition of the JNK signaling pathway with SP600125. Furthermore, SP600125 significantly inhibited LPS- or IFN-γ-mediated phosphorylation of STAT1 in MG6 cells. These results suggest that 3',4',7-trihydroxyflavone exerts anti-neuroinflammatory effects via inhibition of the JNK-STAT1 pathway in microglia.

Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antidiabetic Activities of Bioactive Compounds from the Fruits of Livistona chinensis Based on Network Pharmacology Prediction

In this study, a chemical investigation on the fruits of Livistona chinensis (FLC) led to the isolation and identification of 45 polyphenols and 5 alkaloids, including two new compounds (Livischinol (1) and Livischinine A (46)), an undescribed compound (47) and 47 known compounds. FLC was predicted with novel potential antidiabetic function by collecting and analyzing the potential targets of the ingredients. Compound 32 exhibited significant α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ = 5.71 μM) and 1, 6, and 44 showed the PTP1B inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 9.41-22.19 μM, while that of oleanolic acid was 28.58 μM. The competitive inhibitors of PTP1B (compounds 1 and 44) formed strong binding affinity, with catalytic active sites, proved by kinetic analysis, fluorescence spectra measurements, and computational simulations, and stimulated glucose uptake in the insulin-resistant HepG2 cells at the dose of 50 μM. In addition, FLC was rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory bioactive compounds so that they could be developed as nutraceuticals against diabetes.

Trichocladabiflavone A, a chalcone-flavonone type biflavonoid from Selaginella trichoclada Alsto

A chalcone-flavonone type biflavonoid, trichocladabiflavone A (1), along with eight known biflavonoids (2-9) were isolated from the 70% EtOH extract of Selaginella trichoclada. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses. Compound 1 was the first chalcone-flavonone type biflavonoid reported in the genus Selaginella. Moreover, compound 1 exhibited moderate cytotoxicity against DU145, MCF-7 and PC3 human cancer cell lines.

UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS based phytochemical characterization and anti-hyperglycemic prospective of hydro-ethanolic leaf extract of Butea monosperma

Butea monosperma is one of the extensively used plants in traditional system of medicines for many therapeutic purposes. In this study, the antioxidant activity, α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibition properties of freeze drying assisted ultrasonicated leaf extracts (hydro-ethanolic) of B. monosperma have been investigated. The findings revealed that 60% ethanolic fraction exhibited high phenolic contents, total flavonoid contents, highest antioxidant activity, and promising α-glucosidase and α-amylase inhibitions. The UHPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis indicated the presence of notable metabolites of significant medicinal potential including apigenin, apigenin C-hexoside C-pentoside, apigenin C-hexoside C-hexoside, apigenin-6,8-di-C-pentoside and genistin etc., in B. monosperma leave extract. Docking studies were carried out to determine the possible role of each phytochemical present in leaf extract. Binding affinity data and interaction pattern of all the possible phytochemicals in leaf extract of B. monosperma revealed that they can inhibit α-amylase and α-glucosidase synergistically to prevent hyperglycemia.

Simultaneous Study of Anti-Ferroptosis and Antioxidant Mechanisms of Butein and (S)-Butin

To elucidate the mechanism of anti-ferroptosis and examine structural optimization in natural phenolics, cellular and chemical assays were performed with 2'-hydroxy chalcone butein and dihydroflavone (S)-butin. C11-BODIPY staining and flow cytometric assays suggest that butein more effectively inhibits ferroptosis in erastin-treated bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells than (S)-butin. Butein also exhibited higher antioxidant percentages than (S)-butin in five antioxidant assays: linoleic acid emulsion assay, Fe3+-reducing antioxidant power assay, Cu2+-reducing antioxidant power assay, 2-phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide radical (PTIO•)-trapping assay, and α,α-diphenyl-β-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH•)-trapping assay. Their reaction products with DPPH• were further analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF-MS). Butein and (S)-butin produced a butein 5,5-dimer (m/z 542, 271, 253, 225, 135, and 91) and a (S)-butin 5',5'-dimer (m/z 542, 389, 269, 253, and 151), respectively. Interestingly, butein forms a cross dimer with (S)-butin (m/z 542, 523, 433, 419, 415, 406, and 375). Therefore, we conclude that butein and (S)-butin exert anti-ferroptotic action via an antioxidant pathway (especially the hydrogen atom transfer pathway). Following this pathway, butein and (S)-butin yield both self-dimers and cross dimers. Butein displays superior antioxidant or anti-ferroptosis action to (S)-butin. This can be attributed the decrease in π-π conjugation in butein due to saturation of its α,β-double bond and loss of its 2'-hydroxy group upon biocatalytical isomerization.

Hydroponically Grown Sanguisorba minor Scop.: Effects of Cut and Storage on Fresh-Cut Produce

Wild edible plants have been used in cooking since ancient times. Recently, their value has improved as a result of the scientific evidence for their nutraceutical properties. Sanguisorba minor Scop. (salad burnet) plants were hydroponically grown and two consecutive cuts took place at 15 (C1) and 30 (C2) days after sowing. An untargeted metabolomics approach was utilized to fingerprint phenolics and other health-related compounds in this species; this approach revealed the different effects of the two cuts on the plant. S. minor showed a different and complex secondary metabolite profile, which was influenced by the cut. In fact, flavonoids increased in leaves obtained from C2, especially flavones. However, other secondary metabolites were downregulated in leaves from C2 compared to those detected in leaves from C1, as evidenced by the combination of the variable important in projections (VIP score > 1.3) and the fold-change (FC > 2). The storage of S. minor leaves for 15 days as fresh-cut products did not induce significant changes in the phenolic content and antioxidant capacity, which indicates that the nutraceutical value was maintained. The only difference evidenced during storage was that leaves obtained from C2 showed a lower constitutive content of nutraceutical compounds than leaves obtained from C1; except for chlorophylls and carotenoids. In conclusion, the cut was the main influence on the modulation of secondary metabolites in leaves, and the effects were independent of storage.

Comprehensive multivariate correlations between climatic effect, metabolite-profile, antioxidant capacity and antibacterial activity of Brazilian red propolis metabolites during seasonal study

The standardization of apiceutical products like as propolis extracts has been widely debated worldwide and variations in the propolis chemical composition are still very relevant topics for use-standardized of different propolis-type as medication by much of the world’s population. The present manuscript discuss important issues related to the climate effect and variations in propolis metabolite-profiling changes, antioxidant capacity and variations of the antibacterial activity of the Brazilian red propolis metabolites using comprehensive multivariate correlations. It was observed the increasing of guttiferones concentrations during the intense drought period and drastic decreasing in rainy period. The climate variation induced the high concentration of flavonoids in rainy period with pronounced dropped in some rainy months. The Pearson´s analysis demonstrated correlation between IC₅₀ from DPPH and guttiferones and flavonoids concentrations. The PCA-X and Hotelling T2 test showed outliers during the months with lowest concentrations of formononetin and isoliquiritigenin was observed in antibacterial tests. The PLS-DA, OPLS-DA and VIP analysis demonstrate guttiferone E, guttiferone B, liquiritigenin, naringenin are considered important substances responsible by anti-staphylococcal activity in red propolis composition during the rainy season and drought period, but a synergistic effect with other flavonoids and isoflavonoids are not ruled out.

Termipaniculatones A-F, chalcone-flavonone heterodimers from Terminthia paniculata, and their protective effects on hyperuricemia and acute gouty arthritis

Terminthia paniculata (Sanyeqi) is widely used for treating inflammation and rheumatic arthritis in the folk areas of Yunnan province, China. Its total extract was first revealed with xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibitory activity in vitro and anti-hyperuricemic effect in vivo. Bioassay-guided separation on Fr. A5 yielded six chalcone-flavonone heterodimers, termipaniculatones A-F. Their structures were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analyses involving HRESIMS, 1D and 2D NMR, UV, IR and [α]_D, and the absolute configuration of termipaniculatone F was verified by ECD calculation. Termipaniculatones A and E showed obvious XO inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ values of 55.6 and 89.5 μM, respectively, which took effects via a mix-type mode. A molecular modeling study revealed that termipaniculatone A was well located into the active site of XO by interacting with Glu802, Arg880, Thr1010 and Val1011 residues. Termipaniculatone A showed anti-hyperuricemic effects by decreasing serum uric acid levels and inhibiting XO activity in both serum and liver on potassium oxonate (PO)-induced hyperuricemia mice, and anti-inflammatory activity through alleviating paw swelling on monosodium urate (MSU)-induced mice, at the concentration of 20 mg/kg. This is the first time to reveal the anti-hyperuricemic and anti-acute gouty arthritis potency of T. paniculata and the characteristic biflavonoids as active constituents, which provides valuable information for searching new XO inhibitors from natural sources.

Chalcones and Flavanones Bearing Hydroxyl and/or Methoxyl Groups: Synthesis and Biological Assessments

Chalcones and flavanones are isomeric structures and also classes of natural products, belonging to the flavonoid family. Moreover, their wide range of biological activities makes them key scaffolds for the synthesis of new and more efficient drugs. In this work, the synthesis of hydroxy and/or methoxychalcones was studied using less common bases, such as sodium hydride (NaH) and lithium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide (LiHMDS), in the aldol condensation. The results show that the use of NaH was more effective for the synthesis of 2′-hydroxychalcone derivatives, while LiHMDS led to the synthesis of polyhydroxylated chalcones in a one-pot process. During this study, it was also possible to establish the conditions that favor their isomerization into flavanones, allowing at the same time the synthesis of hydroxy and/or methoxyflavanones. The chalcones and flavanones obtained were evaluated to disclose their antioxidant, anticholinesterasic, antibacterial and antitumor activities. 2′,4′,4-Trihydroxychalcone was the most active compound in terms of antioxidant, anti-butyrylcholinesterase (IC50 26.55 ± 0.55 μg/mL, similar to control drug donepezil, IC50 28.94 ± 1.76 μg/mL) and antimicrobial activity. 4′,7-Dihydroxyflavanone presented dual inhibition, that is, the ability to inhibit both cholinesterases. 4′-Hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxyflavanone and 2′-hydroxy-4-methoxychalcone were the compounds with the best antitumor activity. The substitution pattern and the biological assay results allowed the establishment of some structure/activity relationships.

Phenolic Compounds as Promising Drug Candidates in Tuberculosis Therapy

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) remains one of the deadliest, infectious diseases worldwide. The detrimental effects caused by the existing anti-TB drugs to TB patients and the emergence of resistance strains of M. tuberculosis has driven efforts from natural products researchers around the globe in discovering novel anti-TB drugs that are more efficacious and with less side effects. There were eleven main review publications that focused on natural products with anti-TB potentials. However, none of them specifically emphasized antimycobacterial phenolic compounds. Thus, the current review’s main objective is to highlight and summarize phenolic compounds found active against mycobacteria from 2000 to 2017. Based on the past studies in the electronic databases, the present review also focuses on several test organisms used in TB researches and their different distinct properties, a few types of in vitro TB bioassay and comparison between their strengths and drawbacks, different methods of extraction, fractionation and isolation, ways of characterizing and identifying isolated compounds and the mechanism of actions of anti-TB phenolic compounds as reported in the literature.

The different tolerance to magnesium deficiency of two grapevine rootstocks relies on the ability to cope with oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Magnesium (Mg) deficiency causes physiological and molecular responses, already dissected in several plant species. The study of these responses among genotypes showing a different tolerance to the Mg shortage can allow identifying the mechanisms underlying the resistance to this nutritional disorder. To this aim, we compared the physiological and molecular responses (e.g. changes in root metabolome and transcriptome) of two grapevine rootstocks exhibiting, in field, different behaviors with respect to Mg shortage (1103P, tolerant and SO4 susceptible).

RESULTS

The two grapevine rootstocks confirmed, in a controlled growing system, their behavior in relation to the tolerance to Mg deficiency. Differences in metabolite and transcriptional profiles between the roots of the two genotypes were mainly linked to antioxidative compounds and the cell wall constituents. In addition, differences in secondary metabolism, in term of both metabolites (e.g. alkaloids, terpenoids and phenylpropanoids) and transcripts, assessed between 1103P and SO4 suggest a different behavior in relation to stress responses particularly at early stages of Mg deficiency.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggested that the higher ability of 1103P to tolerate Mg shortage is mainly linked to its capability of coping, faster and more efficiently, with the oxidative stress condition caused by the nutritional disorder.

Performance Analysis and Soil Quality Indexing for Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. Grown in Marginal and Degraded Land of Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India

The successful utilization of marginal and degraded lands for biomass and bioenergy production depends upon various factors such as climatic conditions, the adaptive traits of the tree species and their growth rate and respective belowground responses. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the growth performance of a bioenergy tree (Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.) grown in marginal and degraded land of the Mirzapur district of Uttar Pradesh, India and to analyze the effect of D. sissoo plantations on soil quality improvement over the study years. For this, a soil quality index (SQI) was developed based on principal component analysis (PCA) to understand the effect of D. sissoo plantations on belowground responses. PCA results showed that among the studied soil variables, bulk density (BD), moisture content (MC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and soil urease activity (SUA) are the key variables critically influencing the growth of D. sissoo. The SQI was found in an increasing order with the growth period of D. sissoo. (i.e., from 0.419 during the first year to 0.579 in the fourth year). A strong correlation was also observed between the growth attributes (diameter at breast height, R2 = 0.870; and plant height, R2 = 0.861) and the soil quality (p < 0.01). Therefore, the developed SQI can be used as key indicator for monitoring the restoration potential of D. sissoo growing in marginal and degraded lands and also for adopting suitable interventions to further improve soil quality for multipurpose land restoration programs, thereby attaining land degradation neutrality and United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Phytochemical and Pharmacological Role of Liquiritigenin and Isoliquiritigenin From Radix Glycyrrhizae in Human Health and Disease Models

The increasing lifespan in developed countries results in age-associated chronic diseases. Biological aging is a complex process associated with accumulated cellular damage by environmental or genetic factors with increasing age. Aging results in marked changes in brain structure and function. Age-related neurodegenerative diseases and disorders (NDDs) represent an ever-growing socioeconomic challenge and lead to an overall reduction in quality of life around the world. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are most common degenerative neurological disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) in aging process. The low levels of acetylcholine and dopamine are major neuropathological feature of NDDs in addition to oxidative stress, intracellular calcium ion imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, ubiquitin-proteasome system impairment and endoplasmic reticulum stress. Current treatments minimally influence these diseases and are ineffective in curing the multifunctional pathological mechanisms. Synthetic neuroprotective agents sometimes have negative reactions as an adverse effect in humans. Recently, numerous ethnobotanical studies have reported that herbal medicines for the treatment or prevention of NDDs are significantly better than synthetic drug treatment. Medicinal herbs have traditionally been used around the world for centuries. Radix Glycyrrhizae (RG) is the dried roots and rhizomes of Glycyrrhiza uralensis or G. glabra or G. inflata from the Leguminosae/Fabaceae family. It has been used for centuries in traditional medicine as a life enhancer, for the treatment of coughs and influenza, and for detoxification. Diverse chemical constituents from RG have reported including flavanones, chalcones, triterpenoid saponins, coumarines, and other glycosides. Among them, flavanone liquiritigenin (LG) and its precursor and isomer chalcone isoliquiritigenin (ILG) are the main bioactive constituents of RG. In the present review, we summarize evidence in the literature on the structure and phytochemical properties and pharmacological applications of LG and ILG in age-related diseases to establish new therapeutics to improve human health and lifespan.

Isoliquiritigenin attenuates spinal tuberculosis through inhibiting immune response in a New Zealand white rabbit model

Spinal tuberculosis (ST) is the tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infections in spinal curds. Isoliquiritigenin 4,2′,4′-trihydroxychalcone, ISL) is an anti-inflammatory flavonoid derived from licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), a Chinese traditional medicine. In this study, we evaluated the potential of ISL in treating ST in New Zealand white rabbit models. In the model, rabbits (n=40) were infected with Mtb strain H37Rv or not in their 6^th lumbar vertebral bodies. Since the day of infection, rabbits were treated with 20 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of ISL respectively. After 10 weeks of treatments, the adjacent vertebral bone tissues of rabbits were analyzed through Hematoxylin-Eosin staining. The relative expression of Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2), transcription factor κB (NF-κB) p65 in lymphocytes were verified through reverse transcription quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). The serum level of interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-10 and interferon γ (IFN-γ) were evaluated through ELISA. The effects of ISL on the phosphorylation of IκBα, IKKα/β and p65 in NF-κB signaling pathways were assessed through western blotting. In the results, ISL has been shown to effectively attenuate the granulation inside adjacent vertebral tissues. The relative level of MCP-1, p65 and IL-4 and IL-10 were retrieved. NF-κB signaling was inhibited, in which the phosphorylation of p65, IκBα and IKKα/β were suppressed whereas the level of IκBα were elevated. In conclusion, ISL might be an effective drug that inhibited the formation of granulomas through downregulating MCP-1, NF-κB, IL-4 and IL-10 in treating ST.

Identification of a novel chalcone derivative that inhibits Notch signaling in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Notch signaling is considered a rational target in the therapy of several cancers, particularly those harbouring Notch gain of function mutations, including T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Although currently available Notch-blocking agents are showing anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies, they are not effective in all the patients and often cause severe side-effects, limiting their widespread therapeutic use. Here, by functional and biological analysis of the most representative molecules of an in house library of natural products, we have designed and synthetized the chalcone-derivative 8 possessing Notch inhibitory activity at low micro molar concentration in T-ALL cell lines. Structure-activity relationships were afforded for the chalcone scaffold. Short term treatments with compound 8 resulted in a dose-dependent decrease of Notch signaling activity, halted cell cycle progression and induced apoptosis, thus affecting leukemia cell growth. Taken together, our data indicate that 8 is a novel Notch inhibitor, candidate for further investigation and development as an additional therapeutic option against Notch-dependent cancers.

Protoflavanones from the Wood Stem of Salvertia convallariodora

Phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate extract of stem wood of Salvertia convallariodora A. St.-Hil. (Vochysiaceae), a Brazilian Cerrado species, led to the isolation and full characterization of three new non-aromatic B-ring flavanones (1-3) as well as the terpene mixture of sericic acid (4), 24-hydroxytormentic acid (5), 24-hydroxytormentic acid glucosyl ester (6), and sericoside (7), all identified for the first time from S. convallariodora. The structures of the new flavanones (1-3) were established from IR, LC-PDA-qTOF-MS, and NMR spectral data, including 2D NMR experiments.

Hepatoprotective activity of Butea monosperma bark against thioacetamide-induced liver injury in rats

For thousands of years, the plant-based natural products have been a source of curative agents for various ailments. Butea monosperma (Fabaceae) has an important place in Indian traditional system of medicine for curing number of disorders. The present study deals with evaluation of hepatoprotective properties of ethyl acetate fraction (Beac) from B. monosperma bark in rat model. In preliminary antioxidant studies, Beac demonstrated pronounced superoxide scavenging (IC₅₀ 88.85μg/ml) and anti-lipid peroxidation (IC₅₀ 131.66μg/ml) potential. In animal studies, Beac showed protective effect against thioacetamide-induced pathophysiology in liver of male Wistar rats. The levels of different parameters related to hepatic functions were altered by thioacetamide treatment (300mg/g bw) in rats. The pre-treatment of rats with Beac (50, 100 and 200mg/kg bw) was able to normalize the biochemical markers viz. serum bilirubin, SGOT, SGPT, albumin and ALP along with liver antioxidative molecules viz. SOD, CAT, GSH and GR. Results of histopathological and colorimetric studies revealed that Beac treatment also restored the markers of fibrosis i.e. collagen and hydroxyproline towards normal level. Beac considerably inhibited thioacetamide-induced expression of p-PI3K, p-Akt and p-mTOR in hepatocytes as revealed from immunohistochemical studies. This finding is the first evidence of inhibitory action of B. monosperma bark on these pro-carcinogenic proteins. HRMS analysis revealed the presence of quercetin, buteaspermin B and ononin in Beac fraction of Butea monosperma. From the results, it can be concluded that B. monosperma bark is a rich source of phytochemicals with in vitro and in vivo protective activities which deserves further mechanistic studies for its use as a hepatoprotective agent in the prevention of hepatic inflammation and its related malignancies.

Identification, characterization, kinetics, and molecular docking of flavonoid constituents from Archidendron clypearia (Jack.) Nielsen leaves and twigs

In our search for natural soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) inhibitors from plants, we found that the methanolic extract of the leaves and twigs of Archidendron clypearia (Jack.) Nielsen (Fabaceae) significantly inhibits sEH in vitro. In a phytochemical investigation of the water layer of A. clypearia, we isolated two new chalcones, clypesides A-B (1-2), 13 flavonoid derivatives (3-15) and established their structures based on an extensive 1D and 2D NMR, CD data, and MS analysis. All of the flavonoid derivatives inhibited sEH enzymatic activity in a dose-dependent manner, with IC50 values ranging from 10.0±0.4 to 30.1±2.1μM. A kinetic analysis of compounds 4, 8-10, 12, 13, and 15 revealed that the compounds 8-10 were non-competitive, 4, 13, and 15 were mixed-type, and 12 was competitive inhibitors. Additionally, molecular docking increased our understanding of their receptor-ligand binding. These results demonstrated that flavonoid derivatives from A. clypearia are potential sEH inhibitors.

Two activators of in vitro fertilization in mice from licorice

Systems for artificial insemination have been established in some animals. However, due to limited availability of sperm and oocytes, more effective treatment methodologies are required. Recently, it was demonstrated that the rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF) in mice was improved by adding a water extract of licorice (Glycyrrhiza uralensis), but not glycyrrhizic acid, to the artificial insemination culture medium. In this study, we examined licorice extract for active compounds using bioassay-guided separation. The results indicated that isoliquiritigenin and formononetin were the active molecules in licorice that contributed to the improved rate of IVF.

Docking studies of flavonoid compounds as inhibitors of β-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase I (Kas I) of Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli is one of the most frequent causes of many common bacterial infections, including cholecystitis, bacteremia, cholangitis, urinary tract infection (UTI), traveler's diarrhea and other clinical infections such as neonatal meningitis and pneumonia. The fatty acid biosynthesis is essential for the bacterial viability and growth. There are three types of β-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase (KAS) which are important for overcoming the bacterial resistance problem. β-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein synthase I (KAS I) is member of the condensing enzyme family, which is a key catalyst in bacterial fatty acid biosynthesis, and thus an attractive target for novel antibioticsis related to the elongation of unsaturated fatty acids in bacterial fatty acid synthesis and can be a good therapeutic target of designing novel antibiotics. In this report, we performed docking study of E. coli (KAS I) and 50 flavonoids. Out of these 50 flavonoids, there are two compounds, genistein and isorhamnetin, that showed the superior binding energy while fully satisfying the conditions of drug likeliness. The predicted binding energy of genistein and isorhamnetin toward KAS I are -135.76kcal/mol and -132.42kcal/mol, respectively. These energies favorably compare to the biding energy of known drugs thiolactomicin and cerulenin that are -90.26kcal/mol and -99.64kcal/mol, respectively. The method used was docking with the selected E. coli (KAS I-PDB ID-1FJ4) using iGemdock. This was also found to obey the Lipinski's guidelines of five and to show the drug likeliness and bioavailability.

Anti-hepatitis C virus compounds obtained from Glycyrrhiza uralensis and other Glycyrrhiza species

Development of complementary and/or alternative drugs for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is still much needed from clinical and economic points of view. Antiviral substances obtained from medicinal plants are potentially good targets to study. Glycyrrhiza uralensis and G. glabra have been commonly used in both traditional and modern medicine. In this study, extracts of G. uralensis roots and their components were examined for anti‐HCV activity using an HCV cell culture system. It was found that a methanol extract of G. uralensis roots and its chloroform fraction possess anti‐HCV activity with 50%‐inhibitory concentrations (IC₅₀) of 20.0 and 8.0 μg/mL, respectively. Through bioactivity‐guided purification and structural analysis, glycycoumarin, glycyrin, glycyrol and liquiritigenin were isolated and identified as anti‐HCV compounds, their IC₅₀ being 8.8, 7.2, 4.6 and 16.4 μg/mL, respectively. However, glycyrrhizin, the major constituent of G. uralensis, and its monoammonium salt, showed only marginal anti‐HCV activity. It was also found that licochalcone A and glabridin, known to be exclusive constituents of G. inflata and G. glabra, respectively, did have anti‐HCV activity, their IC₅₀ being 2.5 and 6.2 μg/mL, respectively. Another chalcone, isoliquiritigenin, also showed anti‐HCV activity, with an IC₅₀ of 3.7 μg/mL. Time‐of‐addition analysis revealed that all Glycyrrhiza‐derived anti‐HCV compounds tested in this study act at the post‐entry step. In conclusion, the present results suggest that glycycoumarin, glycyrin, glycyrol and liquiritigenin isolated from G. uralensis, as well as isoliquiritigenin, licochalcone A and glabridin, would be good candidates for seed compounds to develop antivirals against HCV.

Characterization of antiproliferative activity constituents from Artocarpus heterophyllus

Artocarpus heterophyllus is an evergreen fruit tree cultivated in many tropical regions. Previous studies have shown that some of its compositions exhibited potential tyrosinase inhibition activities. This study indentified 8 new phenolic compounds, artoheterophyllins E-J (1-6), 4-geranyl-2',3,4',5-tetrahydroxy-cis-stilbene (7), and 5-methoxymorican M (8) and 2 new natural compounds (9 and 10), 2,3-dihydro-5,7-dihydroxy-2-(2-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-4H-benzopyran-4-one and 6-[(1S,2S)-1,2-dihydroxy-3-methylbutyl]-2-(2,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-5-hydroxy-7-methoxy-3-(3-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one, together with 23 known compounds (11-33), from the ethanol extract of the wood of A. heterophyllus. The structures of the eight new compounds (1-8) and two new natural compounds were established by extensive 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. The anticancer effects of the isolated compounds were examined in MCF-7, H460, and SMMC-7721 human cancer cell lines by MTT assay. Compounds 5, 11, 12, and 30 significantly reduced the cell viabilities of these cell lines. Especially, compounds 11 and 30 resulted in more potent cytotoxicity than the positive control, 5-fluorouracil (5-Fu), in SMMC-7721 cell line, with IC50 values of 15.85 and 12.06 μM, whereas compound 30 exhibited more potent cytotoxicity than 5-Fu in NCI-H460 cell line, with an IC50 value of 5.19 μM. In addition, this study suggests that compounds 11 and 30 from the wood of A. heterophyllus have anticancer potential via MAPK pathways.

Computer-guided approach to access the anti-influenza activity of licorice constituents

Neuraminidase (NA), a key enzyme in viral replication, is the first-line drug target to combat influenza. On the basis of a shape-focused virtual screening, the roots of Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice) were identified as plant species with an accumulation of constituents that show 3D similarities to known influenza NA inhibitors (NAIs). Phytochemical investigation revealed 12 constituents identified as (E)-1-[2,4-dihydroxy-3-(3-methyl-2-butenyl)phenyl]-3-(8-hydroxy-2,2-dimethyl-2H-1-benzopyran-6-yl)-2-propen-1-one (1), 3,4-dihydro-8,8-dimethyl-2H,8H-benzo[1,2-b:3,4-b']dipyran-3-ol (2), biochanin B (3), glabrol (4), glabrone (5), hispaglabridin B (6), licoflavone B (7), licorice glycoside B (8), licorice glycoside E (9), liquiritigenin (10), liquiritin (11), and prunin (12). Eleven of these constituents showed significant influenza virus NA inhibition in a chemiluminescence (CL)-based assay. Additional tests, including (i) a cell-based cytopathic effect inhibition assay (general antiviral activity), (ii) the evaluation of cytotoxicity, (iii) the inhibition of the NA of Clostridium perfringens (CL- and fluorescence (FL)-based assay), and (iv) the determination of self-fluorescence and quenching, provided further perspective on their anti-influenza virus potential, revealing possible assay interference problems and false-positive results. Compounds 1, 3, 5, and 6 showed antiviral activity, most likely caused by the inhibition of NA. Of these, compounds 1, 3, and 6 were highly ranked in shape-focused virtual screening.

Flavanone glycosides from Bidens gardneri Bak. (Asteraceae)

LC-DAD-MS/MS analysis of the Brazilian medicinal plant Bidens gardneri Bak. (Asteraceae) results in identification of eleven phenolic compounds. HRESIMS, MS/MS and UV data analyses, with phytochemicals isolation guided by MS data, results in flavanones-(-)-4'-methoxy-7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8,3'-dihydroxyflavanone; (-)-7-O-(6″-E-p-coumaroyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8,3',4'-trihydroxyflavanone; and (-)-4'-methoxy-7-O-(6″-acetyl)-β-D-glucopyranosyl-8,3'-dihydroxyflavanone being identified-together with four known compounds. The absolute configurations of two of the flavanones were determined as 2S via circular dichroism.

Polyphenols from the bark of Rhus verniciflua and their biological evaluation on antitumor and anti-inflammatory activities

Bioassay-guided fractionation and chemical investigation of the extract of Rhus verniciflua bark resulted in the identification of six polyphenols, rhusopolyphenols A-F (1-6), together with four known compounds including (2R,3S,10S)-7,8,9,13-tetrahydroxy-2-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)-2,3-trans-3,4-cis-2,3,10-trihydrobenzopyrano[3,4-c]-2-benzopyran-1-one (7), peapolyphenol C (8), cilicione-b (9) and (αR)-α,3,4,2',4'-pentahydroxydihydrochalcone (10). The structures of these polyphenols were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, and HR-ESIMS, and their absolute configurations were further confirmed by a combination of chemical methods and CD data analysis. All isolates were evaluated for their antiproliferative activities against four human tumor cell lines (A549, SK-OV-3, SK-MEL-2, and HCT-15), and compounds 4-6, 9 and 10 showed antiproliferative activity against the tested cells, with IC50 values of 3.31-18.51 μM. On the basis of the expanded understanding that inflammation is a crucial cause of tumor progression, the anti-inflammatory activities of these compounds were determined by measuring nitric oxide (NO) levels in the medium of murine microglia BV-2 cells. Compounds 5 and 10 significantly inhibited NO production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine microglia BV-2 cells with IC50 values of 28.90 and 12.70 μM, respectively.

Afrormosin, an Isoflavonoid from Amburana cearensis A. C. Smith, Modulates the Inflammatory Response of Stimulated Human Neutrophils

Isoflavones are phytoestrogens known by their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunomodulatory properties. Presently, there is no information on whether afrormosin, an isoflavone from Amburana cearensis A.C. Smith (Fabaceae), has some effect on the inflammatory response from stimulated human neutrophils. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potentials of afrormosin on human neutrophils. Neutrophils (2.5 × 10(6) cells/mL) were incubated with afrormosin (3.35-335.2 μM) prepared from a product isolated from Amburana cearensis A.C. Smith with a 78.5% degree of purity and stimulated by the addition of cytochalasin B and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) or phorbol 12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA). Afrormosin inhibited the neutrophil degranulation induced by fMLP (10.47-335.2 μM) or PMA (0.33-167.6 μM), myeloperoxidase activity (3.3-335.2 μM), TNF-α secretion (16.7-335.2 μM) and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation (16.7-335.2 μM). On the other hand, afrormosin did not show any effect either on elastase or as a free radical scavenger. These data suggest that afrormosin modulates intermediary steps of the neutrophil ROS generation process. In addition, the modulatory effect of afrormosin on human neutrophil degranulation seems to be directed towards PMA-induced activation, indicating a potent inhibition of the protein kinase C activity. This study provided evidence, for the first time, to support the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of afrormosin, creating novel insights into the pharmacological actions of this natural isoflavone.

Protective effect of a Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taub. flowers extract against skin inflammation: antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and matrix metalloproteinases inhibitory activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Butea monosperma (Lam.) Taubert (Syn. Butea frondosa; family Fabaceae) is a common plant of the Indian continent (Das et al., 2011; Sharma and Deshwal, 2011). The brightly orange flowers of this plant are widely used in traditional medicine and more particularly for inflammatory disease.

AIM OF THE STUDY

In vitro anti-inflammatory mechanism of a hydroethanolic extract of B. monosperma flowers (BME) and more specifically of an enriched fraction in butrin and isobutrin (BI) was studied using cell culture of Normal Human Keratinocyte, cells involved in the skin inflammatory.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Dried and crushed B. monosperma flowers were extracted with Ethanol/H2O (70/30 v/v). The butrin/isobutrin fraction was obtained by centrifugal Partition Chromatography (CPC). Experiments were conducted on UV-B treated normal human epidermis keratinocytes, cells involved in the skin inflammatory response. To evaluate extract anti-inflammatory activity, cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, prostaglandin E2 and metalloproteinases MMP-1, -2, -9 and -10 were measured in the cells supernatant.

RESULTS

Our data clearly showed that hydroalcoholic B. monosperma flower extract was able to decrease the secretion of IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8 pro-inflammatory cytokines of -32, -33 and -18% respectively. Interestingly, Prostaglandin E2 production and the secretion of MMP-1, -2, -9 and -10 were also inhibited. Same results were observed in presence of enriched fraction in butrin and isobutrin and confirmed the participation of these molecules in the anti-inflammatory activity.

CONCLUSION

These results explain the anti-inflammatory activity of B. monosperma and confirm the interest to use it in traditional Indian medicine. Moreover, its metalloproteinases inhibitory activities coupled with its anti-inflammatory action also give anti-aging property to this plant.

New Flavan and Alkyl α,β-Lactones from the Stem Bark of Horsfieldia Superba

In the present study phytochemical investigation of the methanol extract of the stem bark of Horsfieldia superba led to the isolation of twenty compounds (1-20), of which three (1-3) were new. However, compounds 2 and 3 were previously reported as synthetic α, β-lactones. The compounds were characterized as (-)-3,4′,7-trihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavan (1), (-)-5,6-dihydro-6-undecyl-2 H-pyran-2-one (2), and (-)-5,6-dihydro-6-tridecyl-2 H-pyran-2-one (3). Seventeen other known compounds were also isolated and identified as (-)-viridiflorol (4), hexacosanoic acid (5), β-sitosterol (6), methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-6-methylbenzoate (methylorsellinate) (7), methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethylbenzoate (8), (-)-4′-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavan (9), (-)-4′,7-dihydroxyflavan (10), (-)-4′,7-dihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavan (11), (+)-3,4′,7-trihydroxyflavan (12), (-)-catechin (13), (-)-epicatechin (14), (-)-7-hydroxy-3′,4′-methylenedioxyflavan (15), 2′,3,4-trihydroxy-4′-methoxydihydrochalcone (16), 3′,4′,7-trihydroxyflavone (17), (+)-4′-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone (18), hexadecanoic acid (palmitic acid) (19) and 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (20). The structures of the compounds were fully characterized by various physical methods (melting point, optical rotation), spectral (UV, IR, ID and 2D NMR) and mass spectrometric techniques. In vitro assay of compounds 2 and 3 demonstrated moderate cytotoxic activities against human prostate (PC-3), colon (HCT-116) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cells, while the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions of H. superba were found to exhibit moderate AChE inhibitory activity (IC50 72 and 60 μg/mL).

Comparative evaluation of two structurally related flavonoids, isoliquiritigenin and liquiritigenin, for their oral infection therapeutic potential

Isoliquiritigenin (1) and liquiritigenin (2) are structurally related flavonoids found in a variety of plants. The purpose of this study was to perform a comparative analysis of biological properties of these compounds in regard to their therapeutic potential for oral infections. Compound 1 demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against three major periodontopathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Prevotella intermedia. In contrast, 2 exerted less pronounced effects on the above bacterial species. Neither compound was effective against cariogenic bacteria (Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus). Furthermore, 1 exhibited a stronger inhibitory activity than 2 toward P. gingivalis collagenase and human matrix metalloproteinase 9. Finally, the capacity of 1 to attenuate the inflammatory response of macrophages induced by Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was much higher when compared to 2. The activation of transcriptional factors nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) p65 and activator protein-1 (AP-1) associated with the LPS-induced inflammatory response in macrophages was inhibited strongly by 1, but less affected by 2.