Chemical reactivities and molecular docking studies of parthenolide with the main protease of HEP-G2 and SARS-CoV-2

We have used bioinformatics to identify drugs for the treatment of COVID-19, using drugs already being tested for the treatment as benchmarks like Remdesivir and Chloroquine. Our findings provide further support for drugs that are already being explored as therapeutic agents for the treatment of COVID-19 and identify promising new targets that merit further investigation. In addition, the epoxidation of Parthenolide 1 using peracids, has been scrutinized within the MEDT at the B3LYP/6-311(d,p) computational level. DFT results showed a high chemoselectivity on the double bond C₃[bond, double bond]C₄, in full agreement with the experimental outcomes. ELF analysis demonstrated that epoxidation reaction took place through a one-step mechanism, in which the formation of the two new C-O single bonds is somewhat asynchronous.

Anticandidal activity of the essential oils of Thymus maroccanus and Thymus broussonetii and their synergism with amphotericin B and fluconazol

The discovery of antifungal drugs had eradicated some infections that ravaged the humankind. But their indiscriminate use has led to the development of multidrug resistant pathogens. One strategy employed to overcome these resistance mechanisms is the use of combination of the essential oils (EOs) of medicinal plants and conventional drugs. In this study, we investigated a possible synergistic effect of the EOs of two Moroccan endemic thymes (Thymus broussonetii and T. maroccanus) with amphotericin B (Amp B) and fluconazol against Candida albicans. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICI) of T. maroccanus and T. broussonetii EOs combined with Amp B and fluconazol, calculated from the checkerboard titer assay, were 0.49, 0.27, 0.37 and 0.3, respectively. Also, our results indicate that the synergistic effect of EOs with fluconazol was stronger than the combination with Amp B. All these data highlight that the EOs tested potentiate the antifungal action of Amp B and fluconazol, suggesting a possible utilization of these EOs in addition to antifungal drugs for the treatment of some candidiasis due to C. albicans. The use of these combinations is likely to reduce the minimum effective dose of the drugs, thus minimizing their toxic side effects and the treatment cost.

Anti-tumor properties of blackseed (Nigella sativa L.) extracts

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo anti-cancer effect of Nigella sativa L. seed extracts. The essential oil (IC50 = 0.6%, v/v) and ethyl acetate (IC50 = 0.75%) extracts were more cytotoxic against the P815 cell line than the butanol extract (IC50 = 2%). Similar results were obtained with the Vero cell line. Although all extracts had a comparable cytotoxic effect against the ICO1 cell line, with IC50 values ranging from 0.2 to 0.26% (v/v), tests on the BSR cell line revealed a high cytotoxic effect of the ethyl acetate extract (IC50 = 0.2%) compared to the essential oil (IC50 = 1.2%). These data show that the cytotoxicity of each extract depends on the tumor cell type. In vivo, using the DBA2/P815 (H2d) mouse model, our results clearly showed that the injection of the essential oil into the tumor site significantly inhibited solid tumor development. Indeed, on the 30th day of treatment, the tumor volume of the control animals was 2.5 +/- 0.6 cm(3), whereas the tumor volumes of the essential oil-treated animals were 0.22 +/- 0.1 and 0.16 +/- 0.1 cm(3) when the animals were injected with 30 microL (28.5 mg)/mouse and 50 microL (47.5 mg)/mouse per 48 h (six times), respectively. Interestingly, the administration of the essential oil into the tumor site inhibited the incidence of liver metastasis development and improved mouse survival.

Antibacterial activity of Quercus ilex bark's extracts

The antibacterial activity of different extracts of Quercus ilex bark (Fagaceae) was studied in vitro against seven reference strains of bacteria by using a disc-diffusion method and agar-dilution method. The ethyl acetate extract (QE), n-butanol extract (QB) and final aqueous layer (QA) were effective against all bacterial strains tested at MICs ranging from 128 to 512 microg/ml. The n-hexane extract (QH) and dichloromethane extract (QD) showed no activity.

Study on the antinociceptive effects of Thymus broussonetii Boiss extracts in mice and rats

In Morocco, Thymus broussonetii is widely used in folk medicine for the treatment of a variety of diseases including gastroenteric and bronchopulmonary disorders and to relieve dolorous process. The antinociceptive effect of the aqueous, butanolic and ethyl acetate extracts of this species was examined in rats and mice using chemical and thermal models. The results obtained showed that aqueous and butanolic extracts exerted an antinociceptive activity in the two phases of formalin (50-300 mg/kg), tail immersion and writhing tests. Whereas, the ethyl acetate extract reduced the nociceptive response only in the second phase of formalin (100-300 mg/kg) and writhing tests. The aqueous extract, which is the most effective, contains active analgesic principles acting both centrally and peripherally. Furthermore, this antinociceptive effect has been avoided by naloxone at a dose of 1mg/kg in the first phase of formalin and hot plate tests indicating that this extract acts partly through an opioid-mediated mechanism. The present results demonstrated that Thymus broussonetii contains active constituents which possess antinociceptive activity justifying its popular use to relieve some pains.

Antimicrobial activities of the leaf extracts of two Moroccan Cistus L. species

We used the standard M27-T technique to study organic and aqueous leaf extracts of two Moroccan Cistus L. species: Cistus villosus L. and Cistus monspeliensis L. (Cistaceae L.) used in traditional medicine, for their antimicrobial properties against microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida glabrata and Aspergillus fumigatus. The broth dilution method M27-T, standardized by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) allowed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of different extracts. Results showed that the different extracts differed clearly in their antimicrobial activities. Cistus villosus extracts exhibited more interesting activity than Cistus monspeliensis extracts when used on Staphylococcus aureus (MIC=0.78 mg/ml) and Candida glabrata (MIC=0.19 mg/ml), which are the most susceptible microorganisms. On the other hand, Candida krusei and Aspergillus fumigatus were the least susceptible microorganisms to all Cistus extracts. Comparison results were carried out using chloramphenicol, amoxicillin and amphotericin B as standard antibiotics.

Absolute configuration and conformational disorder of a tricyclic thiosemicarbazone derivative

The title compound, (1S,3R,8R)-2,2-dichloro-3,7,7,10-tetramethyltricyclo[6.4.0.0(1,3)]dodecan-11-one thiosemicarbazone, C17H25Cl2N3S, has two disordered conformations of the cycloheptane moiety and a screw-boat conformation for the cyclohexene ring. The absolute configuration was established.

Antibacterial diterpenoids fromCedrus atlantica

Four diterpene alcohols were isolated from the neutral hexane extract of the cones of Cedrus atlantica, and their structures were confirmed after comparing their spectral data with literature values. These products exhibited significant antibacterial activity against gram (+/-) bacteria.

Isolation and antimicrobial activity of two phenolic compounds from Pulicaria odora L

The essential oil of Pulicaria odora, a Moroccan medicinal plant; was analyzed by GC-MS, and subjected to column chromatography on silica gel. Two major constituents were isolated and identified as 2-isopropyl-4-methylphenol (1) and isobutyric acid 2-isopropyl-4-methylphenylester (2), by analysis of spectroscopic data (MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, DEPT, COSY, HMQC and HMBC experiments). The isolated compounds are reported for the first time from Pulicaria genus. The essential oil and its major constituents (compounds 1 and 2) were examined for antibacterial and antifungal activity in vitro using the diffusion and dilution methods. Results showed that the essential oil and the 2-isopropyl-4-methylphenol (1) exhibited a very significant antibacterial and antifungal activity, while the isobutyric acid 2-isopropyl-4-methylphenylester (2) was inactive for all tested strains.

Toxic effect of Herniaria cinerea DC. on the stomach, intestine, lung, and kidney of rats

The toxic effect of the butanolic extract of Herniaria cinerea DC., a plant used traditionally to cure renal stones, has been tested by oral administration on Wistar male rats. The extract causes bloody diarrhea and respiratory troubles. The study of the histopathological lesions in the stomach, intestine, lung, and kidney revealed an ulcerous effect on the digestive tract and alveolar destruction. In the kidney, we observed total tubular necrosis with hemorrhage.

(1S,3R,8S,9S,10R)-2,2-Dichloro-9,10-epoxy-3,7,7,10-tetramethyltricyclo[6.4.0.0(1,3)]dodecane and (1S,3R,8S,10R)-2,2-dichloro-3,7,7,10-tetramethyltricyclo[6.4.0.0(1,3)]dodecan-9-one

The stereochemistries of the title compounds, both C(16)H(24)Cl(2)O, have been established by X-ray diffraction. In both structures, the seven-membered ring adopts the same conformation, whereas the six-membered ring shows an envelope conformation in the epoxydodecane structure and a boat conformation in the dodecan-9-one structure.

Bactericidal properties of the chloroform fraction from rhizomes of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel

The deffated chloroform fraction (APRC) obtained from the rhizomes of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel (Aristolochiaceae) has a high bacteriostatic activity against bacterial strains like Clostridium perfringens ATCC 13124 and Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212. Here, we report the bactericidal activity of APRC against both strains which was evaluated by using time-to kill assays. The results showed that APRC produced an intense time-dependent bactericidal effect against C. perfringens, achieving over a 24 h-period a 5log10-unit decrease in CFU/ml at a concentration > or =1.25 x MIC. In contrast, when tested against E. faecalis, APRC exhibited a concentration-dependent killing activity at concentrations of 1.25 x MIC and 2.5 x MIC, yielding to a decrease of 1.5 and 2.5log10-unit in CFU/ml at 4 h, respectively. However, substantial regrowth of E. faecalis occurred within 24 h. Ultrastructural alterations were observed for both exposed microorganisms by scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Anti-Helicobacter pylori activity of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel extracts

The anti-Helicobacter pylori effect of the extracts and the fractions obtained from Aristolochia paucinervis rhizome and leaves were studied against a reference strain of H. pylori by using the agar dilution method. Only the methanol extracts and the hexane fractions of either the rhizome or the leaves exhibited an inhibitory activity at a concentration of < or =128 microg/ml. The leaf hexane fraction APLH demonstrated a higher inhibitory activity (MIC: 4 microg/ml) than the rhizome hexane fraction APRH (MIC: 16 microg/ml), the leaf methanol extract APLM (MIC: 32 microg/ml) and the rhizome methanol extract APRM (MIC: 128 microg/ml). This inhibitory activity was confirmed for the active extracts and fractions against clinical isolates of H. pylori (n = 20) for which MIC50) and MIC90 were determined.

Facile and efficient synthesis of 3β-hydroxy-eupholanost-8-en-24-one

The epoxidation of the natural product α-euphol followed by cleavage of the obtained epoxide with BF₃-etherate, provides 3β-hydroxy-eupholanost-8-en-24-one in satisfactory overall yield.

Antidermatophytic properties of extracts from the leaves of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel

Several fractions of a methanol extract from the leaves of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel (Aristolochiaceae) were screened for their antidermatophytic efficiency against different human pathogenic fungi responsible for tinea and other skin infections. The antifungal study was carried out by the macrodilution agar method and the results showed that, with the exception of the aqueous fraction, all the fractions exhibited antifungal activities against the dermatophytic fungi tested. The hexane fraction was found to be the most effective (MIC range: 64-2048 microg/mL), whereas the butanol fraction was the least active (MIC range: 1024 microg/mL to more than 2048 microg/mL). The most susceptible fungi were Epidermophyton floccosum and Trichophyton violaceum in contrast to Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Trychophyton rubrum which were less sensitive to the fractions tested. The effects were compared with those of ketoconazole, amphotericin B and griseofulvin, for which MIC ranges were, respectively, 0.12-4 microg/mL, 0.5-4 microg/mL and 0.5-2 microg/mL.

Antibacterial and antifungal activities of Cistus incanus and C. monspeliensis leaf extracts

In this study, the antimicrobial activity of leaf extracts obtained from two species of genus Cistus L. was examined in vitro against five strains of bacteria and five strains of fungi. The species studied are Cistus villosus L. = incanus and Cistus monspeliensis L. All extracts showed inhibitory activity against microorganisms. These results encourage us towards further biological investigation.

Antibacterial activity of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel

Several fractions of the methanolic extract of the rhizome or the leaves of Aristolochia paucinervis Pomel were screened for antibacterial activity using the agar dilution method against fourteen reference bacterial strains. Only three fractions (defatted chloroformic rhizome fraction: APRC, rhizome ethyl acetate fraction: APRE and leaf chloroform fraction: APLC) showed an activity against at least one of the microorganisms tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination showed that APRC was the most active against Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium difficile, Enterococcus faecalis, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus subtilis. The high bacteriostatic activity of APRC was confirmed by its MIC determination against clinical strains of C. perfringens (n = 32), C. difficile (n = 31), and E. faecalis (n = 22). Results of this study suggest the potential interest of this highly active fraction and support the use of A. paucinervis Pomel in Moroccan traditional medicine to treat skin and soft-tissue infections, especially gas gangrene and intestinal diseases.