GC-MS Analysis and Biological Evaluation of Essential Oil of Zanthoxylum Rhesta ( Roxb. ) DC Pericarp = تحليل GC-MS و التقييم البيولوجي للزيت العطري من قشرة Zanthoxylum Rhetsa ( Roxb. ) Dvm

Ethnobotanical uses, phytochemistry and pharmacology of pantropical genus Zanthoxylum L. (Rutaceae): An update

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Plants have been used in various parts of the world to treat various diseases. The genus Zanthoxylum L. (Rutaceae) is the second largest genus of this family and comprises approximately 225-549 species distributed in the tropical and temperate regions of the world. Plants of this genus are trees and shrubs with various applications in folklore medicine for food, medicine, construction, and other uses.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The goal of this review is to give an updated data on the ethnobotanical applications, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of the Zanthoxylum species to investigate their medicinal potential and identify research gaps for future research studies.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data was obtained through a systematic search of published literature and online databases such as Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed, Science Direct, and Sci-Finder. The botanical names were confirmed using the World Flora Online and chemical structures were drawn using the ChemBio Draw Ultra Version 14.0 Software.

RESULTS

The Zanthoxylum species have a wide use in different parts of the continents as a remedy for various diseases such as digestive diseases, gastrointestinal disorders, venereal diseases, respiratory diseases, rheumatism, bacterial diseases, viral, and other diseases. Various parts of the plant comprising fruits, seeds, twigs, leaves, oils, and stems are administered singly or in the form of decoction, infusion, powder, paste, poultice, juice, or mixed with other medicinal plants to cure the disease. More than 400 secondary metabolites have been isolated and characterized in this genus with various biological activities, which comprise alkaloids, flavonoids, coumarins, lignans, alcohols, fatty acids, amides, sesquiterpenes, monoterpenes, and hydrocarbons. The crude extracts, fractions, and chemical compounds isolated from the genus have demonstrated a wide range of biological activities both in vivo and in vitro, including; anti-cancer, antimicrobial, anti-sickling, hepatoprotective, antipyretic, antitumor, and other pharmacological activities.

CONCLUSION

This genus has demonstrated an array of phytoconstituents with therapeutic potential. The ethnobotanical uses of this genus have been confirmed in modern pharmacological research. This genus is a potential source for modern drug discovery and health care products. Further and extensive research is therefore required on the safety approval and therapeutic application of the species of this genus as well as clinical trials and pharmacokinetic studies.

Combined Ramipril and Black Seed Oil Dosage Forms Using Bioactive Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (BIO-SNEDDSs)

Purpose: Ramipril (RMP)—an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor—and thymoquinone (THQ) suffer from poor oral bioavailability. Developing a combined liquid SNEDDS that comprises RMP and black seed oil (as a natural source of THQ) could lead to several formulations and therapeutic benefits. Methods: The present study involved comprehensive optimization of RMP/THQ liquid SNEDDS using self-emulsification assessment, equilibrium solubility studies, droplet size analysis, and experimentally designed phase diagrams. In addition, the optimized RMP/THQ SNEDDS was evaluated against pure RMP, pure THQ, and the combined pure RMP + RMP-free SNEDDS (capsule-in-capsule) dosage form via in vitro dissolution studies. Results: The phase diagram study revealed that black seed oil (BSO) showed enhanced self-emulsification efficiency with the cosolvent (Transcutol P) and hydrogenated castor oil. The phase diagram studies also revealed that the optimized formulation BSO/TCP/HCO-30 (32.25/27.75/40 % w/w) showed high apparent solubility of RMP (25.5 mg/g), good THQ content (2.7 mg/g), and nanometric (51 nm) droplet size. The in-vitro dissolution studies revealed that the optimized drug-loaded SNEDDS showed good release of RMP and THQ (up to 86% and 89%, respectively). Similarly, the isolation between RMP and SNEDDS (pure RMP + RMP-free SNEDDS) using capsule-in-capsule technology showed >84% RMP release and >82% THQ release. Conclusions: The combined pure RMP + RMP-free SNEDDS (containing black seed oil) could be a potential dosage form combining the solubilization benefits of SNEDDSs, enhancing the release of RMP/THQ along with enhancing RMP stability through its isolation from lipid-based excipients during storage.

Anti-Diabetes, Anti-Gout, and Anti-Leukemia Properties of Essential Oils from Natural Spices Clausena indica, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, and Michelia tonkinensis

Essential oils (EOs) of Clausena indica fruits, Zanthoxylum rhetsa fruits, and Michelia tonkinensis seeds were analyzed for their phytochemical profiles and biological activities, including anti-diabetes, anti-gout, and anti-leukemia properties. Sixty-six volatile compounds were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), in which, myristicin (68.3%), limonene (44.2%), and linalool (49.3%) were the most prominent components of EOs extracted from C. indica, Z. rhetsa, and M. tonkinensis, respectively. In addition, only EOs from C. indica inhibited the activities of all tested enzymes comprising α-amylase (IC₅₀ = 7.73 mg/mL), α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ = 0.84 mg/mL), and xanthine oxidase (IC₅₀ = 0.88 mg/mL), which are related to type 2 diabetes and gout. Remarkably, all EOs from C. indica, Z. rhetsa (IC₅₀ = 0.73 mg/mL), and M. tonkinensis (IC₅₀ = 1.46 mg/mL) showed a stronger anti-α-glucosidase ability than acarbose (IC₅₀ = 2.69 mg/mL), a known anti-diabetic agent. Moreover, the growth of leukemia cell Meg-01 was significantly suppressed by all EOs, of which, the IC₅₀ values were recorded as 0.32, 0.64, and 0.31 mg/mL for EOs from C. indica, Z. rhetsa, and M. tonkinensis, respectively. As it stands, this is the first report about the inhibitory effects of EOs from C. indica and Z. rhetsa fruits, and M. tonkinensis seeds on the human leukemia cell line Meg-01 and key enzymes linked to diabetes and gout. In conclusion, the present study suggests that EOs from these natural spices may be promising candidates for pharmaceutical industries to develop nature-based drugs to treat diabetes mellitus or gout, as well as malignant hematological diseases such as leukemia.

GC-MS analysis, pH and antioxidant effect of Ruzu herbal bitters on alloxan-induced diabetic rats

The study investigated the antioxidant effect of Ruzu herbal bitters (RHB) on alloxan-induced diabetic rats, the pH and the bioactive components of RHB using gas chromatography and mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Fifty-four adult albino rats were divided into nine groups of six rats each. Group 1 was the normal control. Groups 2-6 were diabetic. Group 2 was untreated positive control, while groups 3-6 were respectively treated with 5 mg/kg b. w of glibenclamide, 0.14, 0.29 and 0.57 ml/kg b. w of RHB for 21 days. Groups 7-9 were not diabetic but treated as in groups 4-6 respectively. The results showed significant (p < 0.05) increase in the blood glucose level and significant (p < 0.05) decrease in weight in diabetic untreated group compared to the normal control. The oxidative stress parameters showed significant (p < 0.05) increases in the serum activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), with significant (p < 0.05) decrease in glutathione peroxidase (GPx); while there were significant (p < 0.05) increases in the levels of vitamin C (VIT C), vitamin E (VIT E), C-reactive protein (CRP) and malondialdehyde (MDA), with significant (p < 0.05) decrease in the level of glutathione (GSH) in the diabetic untreated group compared to the normal control group. However, treatment of the diabetic groups with different doses of RHB resulted in the reversal of the effects to near-normal levels in a dose-dependent manner. The pH of RHB was found to be 3.45. The GC-MS result of RHB revealed the presence of 10 bioactive compounds, out of which four are pharmacologically important antioxidants: 11-Octadecenioc acid -Methyl esther, 2,7-Dioxatricyclodeca-4, 9-diene, Cis-Z-α- Bisabolene epoxide, and Tetradecanoic acid (lauric acid). Thus, the study revealed that Ruzu herbal bitters possesses antidiabetic and antioxidant activities due to the bioactive antioxidant compounds it contains.

The Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oils from Zanthoxylum rhetsa Grown in Son La, Northwest Vietnam

Essential oils (EOs) from the stem barks, leaf petioles, fruit petioles, fresh leaves, and fresh and dried fruits of Zanthoxylum rhetsa were extracted by hydrodistillation. The volatile compounds of the products were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MSD). Monoterpene hydrocarbons formed the predominant fraction of all six EO samples, of which sabinene is one of the major components (from 12.37% to 41.13%). For the leaf petiole EO, limonene (25.01%), sabinene (14.56%), and linalool (12.63%) are the major constituents, while the main constituents of fruit petiole EO were terpinolene (19.66%), terpinen-4-ol (19.07%), and sabinene (17.83%). The major components of stem bark EO are terpinen-4-ol (18.23%), sabinene (12.37%), α-phellandrene (7.34%), β-phellandrene (6.32%), and γ-terpinene (6.12%), while sabinene (38.35%), terpinen-4-ol (13.71%), γ-terpinene (6.47%), and limonene (6.02%) are the major constituents of fresh leaf EO. For the EOs of dried fruits and fresh fruits, sabinene, terpinolene, limonene, and terpinen-4-ol are the major constituents. The essential oils were also tested for their cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. The results revealed that six EOs at concentrations of 50 μg/mL exhibited inhibitory activity against at least one tested cancer cell line but were nontoxic on Vero normal cells. Most EOs showed moderate antimicrobial activity against F. oxysporum; however, there were no obvious activity against B. subtilis and S. aureus.

Anti-Inflammatory Investigations of Extracts of Zanthoxylum rhetsa

Zanthoxylum rhetsa has been consumed in the diet in northern Thailand and also used as a medicament in ancient scripture for arthropathies. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the activity of various extracts from differential parts of Z. rhetsa via inhibition of inflammatory mediators (NO, TNF-α, and PGE₂) in RAW264.7 macrophages. The chemical composition in active extracts was also analyzed by GC/MS. The parts of this plant studied were whole fruits (F), pericarp (P), and seed (O). The methods of extraction included maceration in hexane, 95% ethanol and 50% ethanol, boiling in water, and water distillation. The results demonstrated that the hexane and 95% ethanolic extract from pericarp (PH and P95) and seed essential oil (SO) were the most active extracts. PH and P95 gave the highest inhibition of NO production with IC₅₀ as 11.99 ± 1.66 μg/ml and 15.33 ± 1.05 μg/ml, respectively, and they also showed the highest anti-inflammatory effect on TNF-α with IC₅₀ as 36.08 ± 0.55 μg/ml and 34.90 ± 2.58 μg/ml, respectively. PH and P95 also showed the highest inhibitory effect on PGE₂ but less than SO with IC₅₀ as 13.72 ± 0.81 μg/ml, 12.26 ± 0.71 μg/ml, and 8.61 ± 2.23 μg/ml, respectively. 2,3-Pinanediol was the major anti-inflammatory compound analyzed in PH (11.28%) and P95 (19.82%) while terpinen-4-ol constituted a major anti-inflammatory compound in SO at 35.13%. These findings are the first supportive data for ethnomedical use for analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity in acute (SO) and chronic (PH and P95) inflammation.

Bioactive Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery Systems (Bio-SNEDDS) for Combined Oral Delivery of Curcumin and Piperine

Background: Bioactive oils of natural origin have gained huge interests from health care professionals and patients. Objective: To design a bioactive self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (Bio-SNEDDS) comprising curcumin (CUR) and piperine (PP) by incorporating bioactive natural oils in the formulation. Methods: The self-emulsifying properties of apricot, avocado, black seed and Zanthoxylum rhetsa seed oils were screened within various SNEDDS formulations. Each liquid SNEDDS formulation was loaded with both CUR and PP. The optimal liquid SNEDDS were solidified using Aeroperl® and Neusilin® at 1:1 w/w ratio. Liquid and solid SNEDDS were characterized by droplet size analysis, equilibrium solubility, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. In-vitro dissolution studies were performed to evaluate the efficiency of CUR and PP release from solid Bio-SNEDDS. Results: The liquid SNEDDS comprised of black seed oil exhibited excellent self-emulsification performance, low droplet size along with transparent appearance. The inclusion of the cosolvent Transcutol P improved the solubilization capacity of both CUR and PP. The liquid SNEDDS were efficiently solidified using the two adsorbents and presented the drugs within amorphous state. In particular, SNEDDS comprised of black seed oil/Imwitor988/Transcutol P/Cremophor RH40 (20/20/10/50) and when solidified with Neusilin showed enhanced CUR and PP release (up to 60% and 77%, respectively). In addition, this formulation efficiently delivers the highly bioactive black seed oil to the patient. Conclusions: The optimized Bio-SNEDDS comprising black seed oil showed outstanding self-emulsification characteristics along with enhanced CUR/PP dissolution upon solidification.

Fatty Acids Analysis, Antioxidant and Biological Activity of Fixed Oil ofAnnona muricataL. Seeds

The total oil yield and the fatty acid composition were determined in theAnnona muricataL. fixed oil using organic solvent extraction and GC-FID. The seeds were found to contain about ~21.5% of crude fixed oil on a dry weight basis. The crude oil containing fatty acid was converted into methyl esters and analysed by GC-FID. Fourteen fatty acids were identified using GC-FID. The major monounsaturated and saturated fatty acids were oleic acid (39.2%) and palmitic acid (19.1–19.2%), respectively, whereas theα-linolenic acid (1.2%) and linoleic acid (34.9%) were polyunsaturated fatty acid. The other saturated acids were stearic acid (3.3%), arachidic acid (0.4%), myristic acid (0.1%), heptadecanoic acid (0.1%), behenic acid (0.1%), and lignoceric acid (0.1%). Some of the fatty acids have not been reported earlier from the oil ofAnnona muricataL. Fixed oil exhibited significant free radical scavenging activity which was measured using DPPH and is also known to inhibit the gastrointestinal motility significantly.