The Phytochemistry of Cherokee Aromatic Medicinal Plants

Pinosylvin: A Multifunctional Stilbenoid with Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential

Stilbenoids are a category of plant compounds exhibiting notable health-related benefits. After resveratrol, perhaps the most well-known stilbenoid is pinosylvin, a major phytochemical constituent of most plants characterised by the pine spines among others. Pinosylvin and its derivatives have been found to exert potent antibacterial and antifungal effects, while their antiparasitic and antiviral properties are still a subject of ongoing research. The antioxidant properties of pinosylvin are mostly based on its scavenging of free radicals, inhibition of iNOS and protein kinase C, and promotion of HO-1 expression. Its anti-inflammatory properties are based on a variety of mechanisms, such as COX-2 inhibition, NF-κB and TRPA1 activation inhibition, and reduction in IL-6 levels. Its anticancer properties are partly associated with its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory potential, although a number of other mechanisms are described, such as apoptosis induction and matrix metalloproteinase inhibition. A couple of experiments have also suggested a neuroprotective potential. A multitude of ethnomedical and ethnobotanical effects of pinosylvin-containing plants are reported, like antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and prokinetic actions; many of these are corroborated by recent research. The advent of novel methods of artificial pinosylvin synthesis may facilitate its mass production and adoption as a medical compound. Finally, pinosylvin may be a tool in promoting environmentally friendly pesticide and insecticide policies and be used in land remediation schemes.

Plants of the USA: recordings on native North American useful species by Alexander von Humboldt

BACKGROUND

The German naturalist Alexander von Humboldt conducted an expedition through the American continent, alongside Aimé Bonpland, from 1799 to 1804. Before finally returning to Europe, they decided to take a side trip to the USA between May 20 and July 7, 1804. Humboldt's most detailed account of his time in the USA consists of a manuscript entitled "Plantae des États-Unis" (1804), containing information on useful plants and timber of the country. The aim of this paper is to retrieve, for the first time, ethnobotanical information regarding North American plants and their uses inside this Humboldt's manuscript as well as to highlight the erasure and invisibilization of North American Indigenous knowledge within historical documents and bibliography, mainly during the nineteenth century.

METHODS

"Plantae des États-Unis" (digitized version and its transcription) was carefully analyzed, and information on plant species mentioned in the manuscript (including botanical and vernacular names, traditional uses, and general observations) was retrieved. Traditional uses were correlated with ethnobotanical data from the Native American Ethnobotany Database and encyclopedic literature on North American plants from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, as well as recent pharmacological studies searched in scientific papers.

RESULTS

In the manuscript are mentioned 28 species distributed in 15 botanical families, with Fagaceae (9 Quercus species) being the most representative. All species are USA natives, except for one undetermined species (only the genus was mentioned, Corylus). Four species were directly mentioned as medicinal (Toxicodendron radicans, Liriodendron tulipifera, Actaea racemosa, and Gillenia stipulata), while other four were described as tanning agents (astringent) (Cornus florida, Diospyros virginiana, Quercus rubra, and Quercus velutina). Two species were described as bitter (Xanthorhiza simplicissima and A. racemosa). Nine Quercus species were described, but five were reported as the most useful oaks for cultivation in Europe (Quercus bicolor, Quercus castanea, Quercus virginiana, Quercus michauxii, and Quercus alba); three of them were used for ship construction (Q. virginiana, Q. michauxii, and Q. alba), two as astringent (Q. rubra and Q. stellata), and one had wood of poor quality (Quercus phellos). One species was described as a yellow dye (Hydrastis canadensis), and the other was mentioned as toxic (Aesculus pavia). Ten species did not have any useful applications listed.

CONCLUSIONS

Although "Plantae des États-Unis" is a brief collection of annotations, these data reveal a historical scenario of outstanding plants with social and economic interest in the USA at the beginning of the nineteenth century. The data highlight a clear process of suppression of the traditional knowledge of Native North American Indigenous peoples in past historical records and literature, due to the lack of acknowledgment by white European settlers and American-born explorers. This ethnobotanical inventory may help us understand the relationship between plants and Native North American Indigenous peoples, as well as European naturalists and settlers, and USA-born people in the past, and reflect on the importance of Indigenous traditional knowledge, bioeconomy, sustainable management, and conservation of biodiversity in the present and future.

Exploring the Efficacy and Safety of Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) in Menopausal Symptom Management

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a perennial plant used to treat menopause. This plant is known to have a serotonergic rather than estrogenic impact. It has been recommended to treat vasomotor symptoms associated with breast cancer patients. It also relieves symptoms such as night sweats and hot flashes, commonly called vasorelaxation. The variability in the study's results, doses, and assessment methods requires more rigorous research to establish its efficacy and safety. Standardized trials are needed to provide more precise information on the benefits and limitations of menopause treatment, informing women seeking alternatives to hormone therapy. Black cohosh has shown the potential to reduce the frequency and intensity of vasomotor symptoms in breast cancer patients undergoing tamoxifen treatment. In addition to its effectiveness in alleviating night sweats and hot flashes, the vasorelaxation properties contribute to its overall positive impact on menopausal symptoms. Due to discrepancies, varying dosages, and assessment techniques, further comprehensive studies are essential to determine the optimal dosage, long-term safety, and overall efficacy. Only through standardized trials can women make informed decisions about black cohosh as a viable alternative to hormone therapy during menopause.

Pharmacognostic Evaluation of Monarda didyma L. Growing in Trentino (Northern Italy) for Cosmeceutical Applications

Monarda didyma L. (Lamiaceae) is a medicinal and aromatic herb native to eastern North America and now is also cultivated in Northern Italy, which shows terminal heads of bright scarlet-red flowers, subtended by a whorl of red-tinged leafy bracts. Starting from 2018, M. didyma flowering tops have been included in the Belfrit List of botanicals. However, to date studies on the crude extract of this plant are still lacking. The aim of the present study was to investigate the morphological and anatomical features of the flowering tops and the phytochemical profile of their ethanolic and hydroglyceric extracts (EE and HGE, respectively). HGE was the richest in total phenols (105.75 ± 5.91 vs. 64.22 ± 3.45 mg/100 mL) and especially in flavonoids (71.60 ± 5.09 vs. 47.70 ± 1.27 mg/100 mL), as confirmed also by LC-DAD-ESI-MS. Fifty-three polyphenols were identified and quantified. Even if they showed a common polyphenolic profile, EE and HGE showed quantitative differences. Flavan-3-ols and anthocyanins were the most expressed metabolites in HGE, whereas flavonols were the most expressed metabolites in EE. These features confer to HGE the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic properties, detected by several in vitro and in vivo assays, highlighting a promising use of this plant extract for skincare applications.

In Vitro and In Vivo Imaging-Based Evaluation of Doxorubicin Anticancer Treatment in Combination with the Herbal Medicine Black Cohosh

As a substitution for hormone replacement therapy, many breast cancer patients use black cohosh (BC) extracts in combination with doxorubicin (DOX)-based chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the viability and survival of BC- and DOX-treated MCF-7 cells. A preclinical model of MCF-7 xenografts was used to determine the influence of BC and DOX administration on tumor growth and metabolism. The number of apoptotic cells after incubation with both DOX and BC was significantly increased (~100%) compared to the control. Treatment with DOX altered the potential of MCF-7 cells to form colonies; however, coincubation with BC did not affect this process. In vivo, PET-CT imaging showed that combined treatment of DOX and BC induced a significant reduction in both metabolic activity (29%) and angiogenesis (32%). Both DOX and BC treatments inhibited tumor growth by 20% and 12%, respectively, and combined by 57%, vs. control. We successfully demonstrated that BC increases cytotoxic effects of DOX, resulting in a significant reduction in tumor size. Further studies regarding drug transport and tumor growth biomarkers are necessary to establish the underlying mechanism and potential clinical use of BC in breast cancer patients.

EXPLORING A PLANT-DIVERSITY HYPOTHESIS TO EXPLAIN HELMINTH PREVALENCE IN NORTHERN BOBWHITE (COLINUS VIRGINIANUS) IN TEXAS, USA

Helminths, in particular eyeworms (Oxyspirura petrowi) and cecal worms (Aulonocephalus pennula), may be a factor influencing northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) populations in Texas. Previous research has shown a discrepancy in helminth infections between the Rolling Plains and Rio Grande Plains of Texas, US, potentially caused by differences in intermediate host distribution and abundance. We explored an alternative hypothesis centered on plant diversity, given that many plants possess phytochemicals with anthelmintic properties. We predicted that plant diversity would be greater and bobwhite diet more diverse in the Rio Grande Plains than the Rolling Plains, which in turn would potentially expose bobwhites to more plants with anthelmintic properties and therefore result in lower parasite prevalence and intensity. We conducted a literature review of plant diversity, anthelmintic plants, and bobwhite diet in Texas to explore this hypothesis. We also quantified the relationship between helminth prevalence in bobwhites and latitude. We documented trends for higher plant species richness, greater number of anthelmintic plants, and more diverse bobwhite diet in the Rio Grande Plains compared to the Rolling Plains. In addition, we documented a trend for increasing helminth prevalence with latitude for eyeworms but not cecal worms. Our study provides circumstantial evidence supporting the plant-diversity hypothesis and warrants experimental testing.

Preliminary Phytochemical and Biological Evaluation of Rudbeckia hirta Flowers

Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta L.), a flowering plant with various traditional medicinal uses, has recently garnered interest for its therapeutic properties. However, little is known about the potential therapeutic activities of the plant species. The current study focused on conducting a comprehensive investigation into the chemical composition and bioactivity of black-eyed Susan cultivated in Romania. Untargeted metabolite profiling and UHPLC-HR-MS phytochemical analysis of the studied extract revealed the presence of more than 250 compounds pertaining to different classes, including sesquiterpene lactones, polyphenolic acids, flavonoids, amino acids, and fatty acids. The tested extract exhibited inhibitory activity against Gram-positive bacteria and showed promising antifungal activity. It also demonstrated potent antioxidant properties through iron chelation and 15-LOX inhibition capacities, as well as inhibition of cell growth, particularly on the MCF-7 cell line, suggesting potential anticancer effects. Therefore, current research provides valuable information on the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antitumor potential of Rudbeckia hirta flowers. Implicitly, the discovery of such a wide range of biosubstances, together with the biological activity observed for the studied extract in these preliminary in vitro studies, paves the way for future investigation of the potential application of the plant in the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical sectors.

Alkaloid Extract of Ageratina adenophora Stem as Green Inhibitor for Mild Steel Corrosion in One Molar Sulfuric Acid Solution

Green corrosion inhibitors are of great interest due to their exciting and environmentally friendly behavior in mild steel corrosion control during and after the acid cleaning process. Herein, alkaloids were extracted from the stem of Ageratina adenophora and were ensured by qualitative chemical tests as well as spectroscopic test methods. The corrosion inhibition efficacy of the alkaloids against mild steel corrosion was evaluated by gravimetric, electrochemical and EIS measurement methods. In addition, the adsorption isotherm, free energy of adsorption and thermodynamic parameters of the process were evaluated. The investigations indicated the most promising inhibition efficacy of the alkaloids for mild steel corrosion. The adsorption isotherm study revealed that the adsorption of inhibitor molecules on the MS interface was manifested by dominant physisorption followed by chemisorption. Free energy and thermodynamic parameters are well suited to endothermic processes.

Mineral Profiling of Twenty Wild and Cultivated Aromatic and Medicinal Plants Growing in Morocco

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs) have attracted a considerable attention owing to their medicinal and nutritional value. The main research focus in AMPs is devoted to bioactive compounds and related biological activities; however, little is known about their mineral profiling, hence the novelty of this work, which aims at investigating the mineral composition of 20 species of AMPs belonging to 10 botanical families growing in Morocco. Mineral profiling was determined using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer in various plant parts depending on each species. Wide variations were found in mineral content among the studied plants. Major elements were K (3987.49 ± 319.01-36,707.01 ± 2936.56 mg/kg), Ca (862.54 ± 69.86-32,836.15 ± 2626.89 mg/kg), P (1065.77 ± 86.33-6328.83 ± 506.32 mg/kg), Mg (986.96 ± 79.66-4935.41 ± 394.82 mg/kg), and Na (28.21 ± 2.23-5792.26 ± 463.38 mg/kg). Fe (62.09 ± 4.96-1636.24 ± 130.89 mg/kg), Mn (10.63 ± 0.85-124.72 ± 9.85 mg/kg), B (5.64 ± 0.45-71.33 ± 5.71 mg/kg), Zn (8.94 ± 0.72-47.01 ± 3.76 mg/kg), and Cu (2.06 ± 0.14-15.12 ± 1.20 mg/kg) were detected at minor levels. Most of the investigated plants were shown to be good sources of minerals. Important correlations were found among different minerals. These outcomes were confirmed by principal component analysis, which separate among studied plants and minerals through the first two principal components. According to obtained results, the studied plants could provide a new promising source of necessary minerals for human diet as well as other various applications.

Molecular dynamics simulations, docking and MMGBSA studies of newly designed peptide-conjugated glucosyloxy stilbene derivatives with tumor cell receptors

In this work, for the first time, we designed derivatives of beta-D-glucosyloxy-3-hydroxy-trans-stiblene-2-carboxylic acid (GHS), by conjugating GHS with tumor targeting peptides RPARPAR and GGKRPAR to target over-expressed receptors in tumor cells. The sequences RPARPAR and GGKRPAR are known to target the neuropilin1 (NRP1) receptor due to the C-terminal Arg domain; however, their effectiveness has never been examined with other commonly over-expressed receptors in tumor cells, particularly of chronic lymphocytic leukemia that include integrin α1β1 and CD22. By conjugating these peptides with GHS, which is known for its inherent anti-cancer properties, the goal is to further enhance tumor cell targeting by developing compounds that can target multiple receptors. The physicochemical properties of the conjugates and individual peptides were analyzed using Turbomole and COSMOthermX20 in order to determine their hydrogen bond accepting and donating capabilities. The web server POCASA was used in order to determine the surface cavities and binding pockets of the three receptors. To explore the binding affinities, we conducted molecular docking studies with the peptides and the conjugates with each of the receptors. After molecular docking, the complexes were analyzed using Protein-Ligand Interaction Profiler to determine the types of interactions involved. Molecular dynamics simulation studies were conducted to explore the stability of the receptor-ligand complexes. Our results indicated that in most cases the conjugates showed higher binding and stability with the receptors. Additionally, highly stable complexes of conjugates were obtained with CD22, NRP1 and in most cases with the integrin α1β1 receptor as well. The binding energies were calculated for each of the receptor ligand complexes through trajectory analysis using MMGBSA studies. SwissADME studies revealed that the compounds showed low GI absorption and were not found to be CYP inhibitors and had bioavailability score that would allow them to be considered as potential drug candidates. Overall, our results for the first time show that the designed conjugates can target multiple over-expressed receptors in tumor cells and may be potentially developed as future therapeutics for targeting tumor cells.

Pre-Hippocratic medicine

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Phytochemical Analysis of the Essential Oils From Aerial Parts of Four Scutellaria “Skullcap” Species Cultivated in South Alabama: Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, S. Barbata D. Don, S. Incana Biehler, and S. Lateriflora L

Scutellaria (skullcap) are important medicinal plants. Scutellaria baicalensis and S.barbata have been used in Chinese traditional medicine, while S. incana and S. lateriflora were used as herbal medicines by Native Americans. In this work, the essential oils of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, Scutellaria barbata D. Don , Scutellaria incana Biehler, and Scutellaria lateriflora L. were obtained from plants cultivated in south Alabama and analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques, including chiral gas chromatography. The most abundant components in the Scutellaria essential oils were 1-octen-3-ol (31.2% in S. incana), linalool (6.8% in S. incana), thymol (7.7% in S. barbata), carvacrol (9.3% in S. baicalensis), ( E)-β caryophyllene (11.6% in S. baicalensis), germacrene D (39.3% in S. baicalensis), ( E)-nerolidol (10.5% in S. incana), palmitic acid (15.6% in S. barbata), phytol (19.7% in S. incana), and linolenic acid (8.0% in S. barbata). These analyses of the essential oil compositions and enantiomeric ratios of predominant aromatic molecules add to our understanding of the medicinal phytochemistry of the genus Scutellaria.

In Silico and In Vitro Screening of Antipathogenic Properties of Melianthus comosus (Vahl) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) system regulates pathogenesis, virulence, and biofilm formation, and together they contribute to nosocomial infections. Opportunistic pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, rely on QS for regulating virulence factors. Therefore, blocking the QS system may aid management of various infectious diseases caused by human pathogens. Plant secondary metabolites can thwart bacterial colonization and virulence. As such, this study was undertaken to evaluate three extracts from the medicinal plant, Melianthus comosus, from which phytochemical compounds were identified with potential to inhibit QS-dependent virulence factors in P. aeruginosa. Chemical profiling of the three extracts identified 1,2-benzene dicarboxylic acid, diethyl ester, neophytadiene and hexadecanoic acid as the common compounds. Validation of antibacterial activity confirmed the same MIC values of 0.78 mg/mL for aqueous, methanol and dichloromethane extracts while selected guanosine showed MIC 0.031 mg/mL. Molecular docking analysis showed anti-quorum sensing (AQS) potential of guanosine binding to CviR’ and 2UV0 proteins with varying docking scores of −5.969 and −8.376 kcal/mol, respectively. Guanosine inhibited biofilm cell attachment and biofilm development at 78.88% and 34.85%, respectively. Significant swimming and swarming motility restriction of P. aeruginosa were observed at the highest concentration of plant extracts and guanosine. Overall, guanosine revealed the best swarming motility restrictions. M. comosus extracts and guanosine have shown clear antibacterial effects and subsequent reduction of QS-dependent virulence activities against P.aeruginosa. Therefore, they could be ideal candidates in the search for antipathogenic drugs to combat P.aeruginosa infections.

The Volatile Phytochemistry of Seven Native American Aromatic Medicinal Plants

As part of our evaluation of essential oils derived from Native American medicinal plants, we have obtained the essential oils of Agastache foeniculum (Pursch) Kuntze (Lamiaceae), Gaultheria procumbens L. (Ericaceae), Heliopsis helianthoides (L.) Sweet (Asteraceae), Liatris spicata (L.) Willd. (Asteraceae), Pycnanthemum incanum (L.) Michx. (Lamiaceae), Smallanthus uvedalia (L.) Mack. ex Mack. (Asteraceae), and Verbena hastata L. (Verbenaceae) by hydrodistillation. The essential oils were analyzed by gas chromatographic techniques. The essential oil of A. foeniculum was dominated by estragole (88–93%), while methyl salicylate (91%) dominated the G. procumbens essential oil. Germacrene D was the major component in H. helianthoides (42%) and L. spicata (24%). 1,8-Cineole (31%) and α-terpineol (17%) were the main compounds in P. incanum essential oil. The essential oil of S. uvedalia showed α-pinene (24%), perillene (15%), and β-caryophyllene (17%) as major components. Verbena hastata essential oil was rich in 1-octen-3-ol (up to 29%) and palmitic acid (up to 22%). Four of these essential oils, H. helianthoides, L. spicata, P. incanum, and V. hastata, are reported for the first time. Additionally, the enantiomeric distributions of several terpenoid components have been determined.

Geroprotective potential of in vitro bioactive compounds isolated from yarrow (Achilleae millefolii L.) cell cultures

Introduction. There is an urgent need for geroprotectors that prevent premature aging, especially antioxidants of plant origin. Due to the shortage of medicinal plant materials, scientists look for alternative sources of bioactive compounds of phenolic nature, for example, cell cultures and organs of higher plants. This paper describes a study of the geroprotective potential of in vitro bioactive compounds isolated from yarrow (Achilleae millefolii L.) cell cultures. Study objects and methods. Callus, suspension and hairy root cultures of A. millefolii were obtained by in vitro cultivation on modified nutrient media. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyze the composition of the cell cultures and ethanol extracts. The extracts’ antimicrobial activity was studied by the disk diffusion method and their antioxidant activity was measured based on titration of a potassium permanganate solution. Results and discussion. The biomass of all yarrow cell cultures contained essential oils, flavonoids, glycosides, phenolic acids, carotenoids, as well as vitamins C and E. The suspension culture had a higher content of essential oils, flavonoids and glycosides than the callus and hairy root cultures. The extracts of the A. millefolii suspension culture also contained geroprotectors – phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, and simple phenols, with a prevalence of caffeic acid, cynaroside, 4,5-dicofeylquinic acid, apigenin, and luteolin. In addition, HPLC revealed the presence of cumic aldehyde, umbelliferone, 3-caffeylquinic acid, and caffeic acid – the bioactive compounds previously not reported in yarrow. In vitro experiments with the extracts proved their antimicrobial and antioxidant activity. Conclusion. The complex of bioactive compounds isolated from the biomass of yarrow suspension culture provides this plant with potential geroprotective properties. Thus, yarrow can be used to create nutraceuticals that prevent premature aging.

Volatile Compositions and Antifungal Activities of Native American Medicinal Plants: Focus on the Asteraceae

In the past, Native Americans of North America had an abundant traditional herbal legacy for treating illnesses, disorders, and wounds. Unfortunately, much of the ethnopharmacological knowledge of North American Indians has been lost due to population destruction and displacement from their native lands by European-based settlers. However, there are some sources of Native American ethnobotany remaining. In this work, we have consulted the ethnobotanical literature for members of the Asteraceae used in Cherokee and other Native American traditional medicines that are native to the southeastern United States. The aerial parts of Eupatorium serotinum, Eurybia macrophylla, Eutrochium purpureum, Polymnia canadensis, Rudbeckia laciniata, Silphium integrifolium, Smallanthus uvedalia, Solidago altissima, and Xanthium strumarium were collected from wild-growing plants in north Alabama. The plants were hydrodistilled to obtain the essential oils and the chemical compositions of the essential oils were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The essential oils were tested for in-vitro antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and Cryptococcus neoformans. The essential oil of E. serotinum showed noteworthy activity against C. neoformans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 78 μg/mL, which can be attributed to the high concentration of cyclocolorenone in the essential oil.