Phytochemistry, Chemotaxonomy, and Biological Activities of the Araucariaceae Family-A Review

Agathis dammara Extract and its Monomer Araucarone Attenuate Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Mice

BACKGROUND

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic vascular disease wherein the inflammation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) plays a pivotal role in its development. Effectively mitigating AAA involves inhibiting VSMC inflammation. Agathis dammara (Lamb.) Rich, recognized for its robust anti-inflammatory and antioxidant attributes, has been employed as a traditional medicinal resource. Nonetheless, there is a dearth of information regarding the potential of Agathis dammara extract (AD) in attenuating AAA, specifically by diminishing vascular inflammation, notably VSMC inflammation. Furthermore, the active constituents of AD necessitate identification.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study sought to ascertain the efficacy of AD in reducing AAA, evaluate its impact on VSMC inflammation, and elucidate whether the monomer araucarone (AO) in AD acts as an active component against AAA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The extraction of AD was conducted and subjected to analysis through High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry. The isolation of the AO monomer followed, involving the determination of its content and purity. Subsequently, the effects of AD and AO on VSMC inflammation were assessed in vitro, encompassing an examination of inflammatory factors such as IL-6 and IL-18, as well as the activation of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9) in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)-stimulated VSMCs. To explore the inhibitory effects of AD/AO on AAA, C57BL/6J male mice were subjected to oral gavage (100 mg/kg) or intraperitoneal injection (50 mg/kg) of AD and AO in a porcine pancreatic elastase (PPE)-induced AAA model (14 days). This facilitated the observation of abdominal aorta dilatation, remodeling, elastic fiber disruption, and macrophage infiltration. Additionally, a three-day PPE mouse model was utilized to assess the effects of AD and AO (administered at 100 mg/kg via gavage) on acute inflammation and MMP9 expression in blood vessels. The mechanism by which AD/AO suppresses the inflammatory response was probed through the examination of NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway activation in VSMCs and aortas.

RESULTS

Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) revealed that AO constituted 15.36% of AD's content, with a purity of 96%. Subsequent pharmacological investigations of AO were conducted in parallel with AD. Both AD and AO exhibited the ability to inhibit TNF-α-induced VSMC inflammation and MMP production in vitro. Furthermore, both substances effectively prevented PPE-induced AAA in mice, whether administered through gavage or intraperitoneal injection, evidenced by decreased vascular diameter dilation, disruption of elastin fiber layers, and infiltration of inflammatory cells. In the three-day PPE mouse model, AD and AO mitigated the heightened expression of inflammatory factors and the elevated expression of MMP9 induced by PPE. The activation of the NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway in both VSMCs and aortas was significantly suppressed by treatment with AD or AO.

CONCLUSIONS

Through suppressing NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway activation, AD effectively mitigates the inflammatory response in VSMCs, mitigates inflammation in aortas, prevents extracellular matrix degradation, and consequently impedes the progression of AAA. AO emerges as one of the active compounds in AD responsible for inhibiting VSMC inflammation and inhibiting AAA development.

In Vitro and In Vivo Antimelanogenesis Effects of Leaf Essential Oil from Agathis dammara

Agathis species are widely distributed around Southeast Asia, Australasia, South Pacific islands, and etc. Traditionally, Agathis species have been used as the folk medicines, the common ethnopharmacological uses of Agathis genus are the treatments of headache and myalgia. This study aims to investigate the chemical composition of Agathis dammara (Lamb.) Rich. leaf essential oil and to explore its antimelanogenesis effect. The chemical constituents of leaf essential oil are analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the major constituents of leaf essential oil are sesquiterpenoids. The major constituents are δ-cadinene (16.12%), followed by γ-gurjunene (15.57%), 16-kaurene (12.43%), β-caryophyllene (8.58%), germacrene D (8.53%), and γ-cadinene (5.33%). As for the in vitro antityrosinase activity, leaf essential oil inhibit the tyrosinase activity of mushroom when the substrate is 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA). Leaf essential oil prevents tyrosinase from acting as diphenolase and catalyzing L-DOPA to dopaquinone, and converting into dark melanin pigments. A. dammara leaf essential oil also exhibits the in vivo antimelanogenesis effect, leaf essential oil reduces 43.48% of melanin formation in zebrafish embryos at the concentration of 50 μg/mL. Results reveal A. dammara leaf essential oil has the potential for developing the skin whitening drug and depigmentation ingredient for hyperpigmentary disorders.

Chemical Profiling of Significant Antioxidant and Phytotoxic Microwave-Extracted Essential Oil from Araucaria heterophylla Resin

Due to the various hazards of using synthetic chemical compounds in pharmaceutics, agriculture, and industry, scientists and researchers do their best to explore and assess new green natural compounds from natural resources with potent activity. The essential oil (EO) from the resin collected from Araucaria heterophylla Salisb. was extracted by the microwave technique and chemically characterized via GC-MS analysis. Furthermore, the extract EO was assessed for its antioxidant and phytotoxic activities. The EO has 33 compounds, mainly terpenes (98.23%), and the major compounds were α-pinene (62.57%), β-pinene (6.60%), germacrene D (5.88%), and β-caryophyllene (3.56%). The extracted EO showed substantial antioxidant activity, where it showed IC50 values of 142.42 and 118.03 mg L−1 for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. On the other hand, the EO revealed considerable phytotoxicity against the weed Chenopodium murale, where the EO showed IC50 values of 304.0, 230.1, and 147.1 mg L−1, for seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth, respectively. Moreover, the EO showed the same pattern of allelopathic inhibition against the weed Sonchus oleraceus, where it showed IC50 values of 295.7, 224.5, and 106.1 mg L−1, for seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth, respectively. The present study showed that the extraction technique affects the constituents of the EO, particularly the quantitative composition. The EO of A. heterophylla resin also revealed considerable antioxidant and phytotoxic activity against weeds. Therefore, it can be considered a promising natural resource that could be integrated into the weed management approach. However, further study is recommended for deep characterization of their authentic compounds and evaluation of their mode of action(s) on a wide spectrum of weeds.

Gastroprotective and anti-Helicobacter pylori potentials of essential oils from the oleoresins of Araucaria bidwillii and Araucaria heterophylla

Plant resins or oleoresins comprise a chemically complex mixture of different classes of compounds. Oleoresin of the genus Araucaria combines essential oil (EO) and resin. It possesses gastroprotective, cytotoxic, and timicrobial, antipyretic, and anti-inflammatory activities. The study aimed to investigate the EOs from the oleoresins of two Araucaria species, A. bidwillii and A. heterophylla, chemically and biologically for their gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anti-Helicobacter pylori potentials. The chemical composition of both species cultivated in Egypt was analyzed with GC-MS and compared with those cultivated abroad using principal component analysis (PCA). There were 37 and 17 secondary metabolites identified in A. heterophylla and A. bidwillii, respectively. The EOs of both species showed a pronounced inhibitory effect on Helicobacter pylori activity in vitro. The gastroprotective effect was assessed in vivo using ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in rats. Inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) biomarkers were assessed in the stomach tissues. The ulcer index and percentage of ulcer protection were determined. Stomach sections were examined histopathologically by staining with (H/E) and periodic acid Schiff (PAS). Moreover, the proliferative index was determined using the Ki-67 immunostaining. The treatment of rats with EOs (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, orally) 1 hour prior to ethanol administration showed promising gastroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant potentials. These findings declared the gastroprotective role played by both EOs with the superiority of A. bidwillii over A. heterophylla via modulation of oxidative stress/NF-κB/inflammatory cytokines. Their use can be recommended to protect against the recurrence of peptic ulcers.

Bioactive phytosteroids from Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook.: RP-HPLC-DAD analysis, in-vitro antioxidant potential, in-silico computational study and molecular docking against 3MNG and 1N3U

Genus Araucaria is globally known for its medicinal, economic, and ornamental values. Most of its species have not been extensively studied yet for their chemical composition and biological activities. Therefore, the phytochemical investigation and antioxidant potential of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. has been analyzed. This work aims to investigate the isolation, characterization, and antioxidant potential of bioactive compounds from the bark extract of the exemplar plant. Their structures were elucidated by virtue of physicochemical properties and spectroscopic methods. The antioxidant potential was further discussed through various assays including DFT and molecular docking. The isolation of pure compounds from bioactive extract has been carried out chromatographically. Their structures were elucidated by 1D, 2D NMR, FT-IR, UV, MS, and RP-HPLC-DAD data analysis. In vitro, the antioxidant potential was evaluated by the DRSC, FRAP, and TAC assays and in-silico studies by DFT and molecular docking. For the first time, pure compounds such as stigmasterol (IC1) and diosgenin (IC2) were isolated from the bark extract of Araucaria columnaris. In vitro antioxidant activity has been demonstrated that IC2 has higher values of DRSC, FRAP, and TAC than IC1, due to higher reactivity of IC2 than IC1 as represented by quantum reactivity parameters like lower energy gap, higher dipole moment, and higher electron-donor power. Further, antioxidant potential was also confirmed by molecular docking against two stress proteins such as 3MNG (IC2: -7.70 Kcal/mol > IC1: -7.32 Kcal/mol > ascorbic acid: -5.56 Kcal/mol) and 1N3U (heme: -12.42 Kcal/mol > IC2: -11.15 Kcal/mol > IC1: -9.45 Kcal/mol). In conclusion, the phytosteroids exhibited excellent antioxidant potential, which could enlighten their ethnomedical use. The exemplar plant offered powerful and available antioxidant besides significantly active phytoconstituents.

Standardization and quantitative analysis of Araucaria Heterophylla extract via an UPLC-MS/MS method and its formulation as an antibacterial phytonanoemulsion gel

Skin infections are among the bacterial infections that present significant therapeutic challenges due to antibiotic resistance. Recently, herbal products clutched a significant attention as safe replacements for other medications but their low aqueous solubility and poor bioavailability are considered major challenges which could be circumvented via formulation. As a species of genera Araucaria, Araucaria Heterophylla possesses pharmacological activities such as antioxidant and antibacterial actions, and this study aimed to standardize the extract of the plant against 4ʹʹʹmethoxyamentoflavone (as a main component of the extract) through a validated UPLC-MS/MS method and evaluate its antibacterial activity, which was followed by loading the standardized extract into a nanoemulsion to form a phytonanoemulsion (PNE), where the design analysis and optimization were performed through a simplex lattice design. The optimized PNE (PNE 3) was then loaded into HPMC/Pluronic F-127 gel (in ratio 1:4) to sustain the release of the active constituent. The heightened penetrability of PNE 3 gel was visualized via confocal laser scanning microscopy, and its prolonged effect was proved thru an in vivo study conducted on male Wistar rats. A histopathological study revealed the safety of the formulation when applied topically. Thus, PNE gel could be a potentially broad-spectrum antibacterial drug delivery system.

Agathis robusta Bark Extract Protects from Renal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: Phytochemical, In Silico and In Vivo Studies

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (RIRI) is associated with a high incidence of mortality. Existing therapies are mainly supportive, with no available nephroprotective agent. The purpose of this study is to examine the potential protective effect of Agathis robusta Bark Extract (ARBE) in RIRI. Methods: The chemical composition of ARBE was examined by LC-ESI-MS/MS. Network pharmacology was utilized to identify the RIRI molecular targets that could be aimed at by the identified major components of ARBE. Experimentally validated protein–protein interactions (PPIs) and compound-target networks were constructed using the STRING database and Cytoscape software. Molecular docking studies were employed to assess the interaction of the most relevant ARBE compounds with the hub RIRI-related targets. Furthermore, ARBE was tested in a rat model of RIRI. Results: The phytochemical analysis identified 95 components in ARBE, 37 of which were majors. Network analysis identified 312 molecular targets of RIRI that were associated with ARBE major compounds. Of these 312, the top targets in the experimentally validated PPI network were HSP90, EGFR, and P53. The most relevant compounds based on their peak area and network degree value included narcissoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside, and syringetin-3-O-glucoside, among others. Docking studies of the most relevant compounds revealed significant interactions with the top RIRI-related targets. In the in vivo RIRI experiments, pretreatment of ARBE improved kidney function and structural changes. ARBE reduced the renal expression of p-NfkB and cleaved caspase-3 by downregulating HSP90 and P53 in rats exposed to RIRI. Conclusion: Taken together, this study revealed the chemical composition of ARBE, depicted the interrelationship of the bioactive ingredients of ARBE with the RIRI-related molecular targets, and validated a nephroprotective effect of ARBE in RIRI.

There Is Not Only Cupressus sempervirens L.: A Review on the Phytochemistry and Bioactivities of the Other Cupressus L. Species

This review article reports for the first time phytochemistry, ethnobotanical uses and pharmacological activities of all Cupressus L. species other than Cupressus sempervirens L. Indeed, the literature survey showed how many other Cupressus species are rich of important phytochemical compounds, widely used in the ethnobotanical field for several purposes and endowed with interesting biological activities, even if they are somehow neglected by the scientific community. This review aims to continue the study of these other Cupressus species and promote more research on them.

Bromination of eudesmin isolated from araucaria araucana induces epimerization and give bromine derivatives with loss of anti-Candida activity

Furofuran lignanes show important biological activities for the treatment of infectious diseases, inflammatory and metabolic pathologies. They have been isolated from leaves and barks of many plants. In Chile the native conifer Araucaria araucana produces eudesmin, matairesinol, secoisolariciresinol and lariciresinol in stemwood, branchwood and knotwood. These compounds were previously isolated by laborious flash chromatography on silica gel. Here we report the easy isolation of eudesmin by soxhlet extraction from milled knots of Araucaria araucana with hexane, followed by cryo-crystallization at -20 °C. Upon bromination of the isolated eudesmin epimerization at one benzylic position occurs, giving epieudesmin and the corresponding mono and di-brominated derivatives. The structures were determined by 1D, 2D NMR and X-ray diffraction. The analysis of products against Candida yeast showed that eudesmin has a moderate activity against different strains of Candida from 62.5 to 500 µg/mL. This activity decreases for epieudesmin, while bromine derivatives are not active.

Chemical Characterization and Biological Activity of the Essential Oil from Araucaria brasiliensis Collected in Ecuador

The purpose of this study was to determine the chemical composition, physical properties, enantiomeric composition and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of the essential oil (EO) steam-distilled from the leaves of the plant Araucaria brasiliensis Loud. collected in Ecuador. The chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis on two capillary GC columns (DB5-ms and HP-INNOWax). Thirty-three compounds were identified in the EO; the main compounds were beyerene (26.08%), kaurene (24.86%), myrcene (11.02%), α-pinene (9.99%) and 5,15-rosadiene (5.87%). Diterpene hydrocarbons (65.41%), followed by monoterpene hydrocarbons (21.11%), were the most representative components of the EO. Enantioselective analysis of the EO showed four pairs of enantiomeric compounds, α-pinene, camphene, γ-muurolene and δ-cadinene. In an in vitro assay, the EO showed moderate inhibitory activity towards the enzyme butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) (95.7 µg/mL), while it was inactive towards acetylcholinesterase (AChE) (225.3 µg/mL). Further in vivo studies are needed to confirm the anticholinesterase potential of the EO.

Phytochemical analysis on the leaves of Agathis microstachya J.F. Bailey & C.T. White

The first phytochemical analysis on the leaves of Agathis microstachya J.F. Bailey & C.T. White collected in Rome was reported in this work. The study evidenced the presence of four compounds i.e., 7,4'''-dimethoxy-agathisflavone (1), 7,7''-dimethoxy-cupressuflavone (2), dactylifric acid (3) and shikimic acid (4) which were identified by means of spectroscopic techniques. Compounds (1, 2, 4) were reported in the species for the first time as well as this is the second report on the presence of dactylifric acid (3) in the whole Araucariaceae family. The absence of diterpenoids from the studied accession is also important. All these chemotaxonomic aspects were discussed.

A Systematic Review on Phytochemistry, Ethnobotany and Biological Activities of the Genus Bunium L

The aim of this review article is to present, for the first time, an appraisal of the phytochemical, ethnobotanical and pharmacological data on Bunium species. The literature search was conducted using the Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed databases. The genus Bunium has been found to produce both essential oil (EO), mainly comprising monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, and non-volatile components mainly coumarins and flavonoids. There are several pharmacological activities associated with the Bunium species, especially antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties. The chemotaxonomic appraisal of the phytochemical pattern of the genus is in sink with the current classification of the family. Moreover, this review confirms the significant ethnobotanical and pharmacological potential of different Bunium species.

The Genus Haplophyllum Juss.: Phytochemistry and Bioactivities-A Review

Herein, a comprehensive review is given focusing on the chemical profiles of the essential oils (EOs), non-volatile compounds, ethnobotany, and biological activities of different Haplophyllum (Rutaceae family) species. To gather the relevant data, all the scientific databases, including Scopus, ISI-WOS (Institute of Scientific Information-Web of Science), and PubMed and highly esteemed publishers such as Elsevier, Springer, Taylor and Francis, etc., were systematically retrieved and reviewed. A wide array of valuable groups of natural compounds, e.g., terpenoids, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans, flavonoids, and organic acids have been isolated and subsequently characterized in different organic extracts of a number of Haplophyllum species. In addition, some remarkable antimicrobial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cytotoxic, antileishmanial, and antialgal effects as well as promising remedial therapeutic properties have been well-documented for some species of the genus Haplophyllum.

Geographical variations and correlation among some chemical and thermal properties of Almaciga (Agathis philippinensis Warb.) resins from selected commercial sites in the Philippines

Almaciga (Agathis philippinensis Warb.), a tropical conifer that is tapped for its resin commercially known as Manila copal, grows in many parts of the Philippines, but resin buyers prefer and pay a better price for resin from southern Palawan. The study was done to characterize almaciga resins obtained from commercial sites in Davao Oriental and Palawan (Brooke's Point and Marufinas) to explain the quality and price differences. Fresh and aged resin samples were subjected to wet chemical, thermal, and spectral analyses. Generally, the resin samples were found to be soluble in the more polar solvents although significant variations were observed for resins from various sites. Titrimetric determination revealed no significant variation in acid and saponification values, although the Brooke's Point resin had significantly lower unsaponifiable components. Predominant Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) absorption peaks for fresh resin include strong C=O stretch and weak = C–H stretch. Aged Palawan resins, which showed increased solubility in polar solvents, exhibited increased intensity of prominent FTIR peaks such as O–H stretch and C=O stretch. The weak peak at 1719 cm⁻¹ seen in fresh Palawan resins was no longer observed in aged resins. DSC revealed the semi-crystalline nature of almaciga resin and melting temperatures similar to diterpenoid resin acids. This is attributed to the presence of increasing amounts of oxidized abietic acids as shown by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GCMS). For the Davao Oriental resins, significant amount of agatholic acid was shown, while resin acids of the abietane and pimarane type were conspicuously absent in the GC-MS spectrograms. The study found evidence that almaciga resins from Davao and Palawan differ in chemical composition and physical properties, which could explain the quality and price differences.