Middle Eastern Plants with Potent Cytotoxic Effect Against Lung Cancer Cells

Cancer is one of the leading causes of increasing global mortality with uprising health concerns and threats. Unfortunately, conventional chemotherapy has substantial side effects, limiting its relevance and prompting a quest for safe and efficient alternatives. For thousands of years, plants have provided a rich reservoir for curing a variety of ailments, including cancer. According to the World Health Organization, medicinal plants would be the best source of medications. However, only 25% of drugs in the present pharmacopoeia are derived from plants. Hence, further research into different plants is required to better understand their efficacy. Twenty extracts of widely distributed Middle Eastern plants were screened for the cytotoxic effect against lung cancer cell lines (A549). Eleven plants showed IC50 below 25 μg/mL, consequently, the bioactive extracts were further fractionated by graded precipitation using absolute ethanol. All fraction A (FA; crude polysaccharides precipitate) showed potent IC50, 0.2-5.5 μg/mL except the FA of Brassica juncea, Silybum marianum, and Phaseolus vulgaris, whereas FB fractions (filtrate) of Anastatica hierochuntica, Plantago ovate, Tussilago farfara, and Cucurbita moschata had lower efficacy than other fractions with IC50 values in the range of 0.1-7.7 μg/mL. The fractions of FA Taraxacum officinale and FB Ziziphus spina possess the most potent cytotoxic activity with IC50, 0.2 and 0.1 μg/mL, respectively. Moreover, cell cycle analysis of both fractions revealed an arrest at G1/S-phase and activation of apoptosis rather than necrosis as the mode of cell death. Therefore, T. officinale and Z. spina fractions may pave the way to manage lung carcinoma as an alternative and complementary food regimen.

Phytochemical Analysis of Anastatica hierochuntica and Aerva javanica Grown in Qatar: Their Biological Activities and Identification of Some Active Ingredients

Plant-derived compounds and their extracts are known to exhibit chemo preventive (antimicrobial, antioxidant and other) activities. The levels of such chemo preventive compounds vary depending on environmental factors, including the regions where they grow. Described in this study are: (i) a phytochemical analysis of the two plants grown in the desert environment of Qatar, viz., Anastatica hierochuntica and Aerva javanica; (ii) the antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activities of various solvent extracts of these plants; (iii) a report on the isolation of several pure compounds from these plants. The phytochemical screening indicated the presence of glycosides, tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins, phenol and anthraquinones in various extracts of each of the plants. Antibacterial and antioxidant activities were studied using agar diffusion and DPPH methods, respectively. The extracts of Anastatica hierochuntica as well as Aerva javanica inhibit the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial species. Various extracts of the two plants also exhibited higher or similar antioxidant activities as those of the standard antioxidants, α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid. The extracts of these plants were further purified by HPLC and characterized by IR and NMR techniques. This process has led to identification of β-sitosterol, campesterol and methyl-9-(4-(3,4-dihydroxy-1'-methyl-5'-oxocyclohexyl)-2-hydroxycyclohexyl)nonanoate from Anastatica hierochuntica, and lupenone, betulinic acid, lupeol acetate and persinoside A and B from Aerva javanica. The results reported herein suggests that Anastatica hierochuntica and Aerva javanica are potent sources of phytomedicines.

Multiple Skeletal Anomalies of Sprague Dawley Rats following Prenatal Exposure to Anastatica hierochuntica, as Delineated by a Modified Double-Staining Method

Anastatica hierochuntica (A. hierochuntica) is a plant that originates from Middle Eastern countries. This herb is commonly consumed by pregnant women to ease the process of childbirth. However, consumption of A. hierochuntica during the prenatal period may disrupt foetal development. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential effects of four different doses (0, 250, 500 and 1000 mg/kg) of A. hierochuntica aqueous extract (AHAE) on the skeletal development of Sprague Dawley rat foetuses. The AHAE was administered from gestational day (GD) 6 till GD20. We also aimed to produce a simplified and reproducible skeletal staining procedure for proper skeletal assessment of full-term Sprague Dawley rat foetuses. Skeletal structures were stained using a modified method that utilised Alcian Blue 8GX and Alizarin Red S dyes. The staining procedure involved fixation, skinning, evisceration, cartilage staining, bone staining and clearing. Our modified staining technique has successfully showed a clear demarcation between the bone and cartilage components, which enabled objective assessment of the skeletal ossification following administration of AHAE. Some skeletal anomalies such as sacrocaudal agenesis and maxillary defect (cleft lip) were observed in 250 and 1000 mg/kg groups, respectively. These findings indicate potential toxicity effects of AHAE on the developing foetuses.

Naturally Available Flavonoid Aglycones as Potential Antiviral Drug Candidates against SARS-CoV-2

Flavonoids are important secondary plant metabolites that have been studied for a long time for their therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases because of their cytokine-modulatory effects. Five flavonoid aglycones were isolated and identified from the hydrolyzed aqueous methanol extracts of Anastatica hierochuntica L., Citrus reticulata Blanco, and Kickxia aegyptiaca (L.) Nabelek. They were identified as taxifolin (1), pectolinarigenin (2), tangeretin (3), gardenin B (4), and hispidulin (5). These structures were elucidated based on chromatographic and spectral analysis. In this study, molecular docking studies were carried out for the isolated and identified compounds against SARS-CoV-2 main protease (Mpro) compared to the co-crystallized inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro (α-ketoamide inhibitor (KI), IC50 = 66.72 µg/mL) as a reference standard. Moreover, in vitro screening against SARS-CoV-2 was evaluated. Compounds 2 and 3 showed the highest virus inhibition with IC50 12.4 and 2.5 µg/mL, respectively. Our findings recommend further advanced in vitro and in vivo studies of the examined isolated flavonoids, especially pectolinarigenin (2), tangeretin (3), and gardenin B (4), either alone or in combination with each other to identify a promising lead to target SARS-CoV-2 effectively. This is the first report of the activity of these compounds against SARS-CoV-2.

Phenolic compounds and hepatoprotective potential of Anastatica hierochuntica ethanolic and aqueous extracts against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of Anastatica hierochuntica ethanolic (KEE), aqueous (KAE) extracts, and their combination against CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity in rats.

METHODS

The HPLC analysis for KEE and KAE was quantitatively carried out. Biochemical liver markers, antioxidant enzymes, and histopathological alterations were examined then total hepatoprotection potential was calculated.

RESULTS

Among 9 identified phenolic compounds (PC) in KEA, sinapic acid was the highest while syringic acid was the highest among 21 identified PC in KAE. Six flavonoids were identified in KEE and two in KAE using HPLC, respectively. Oral administration of KEE, KAE, and KEE + KAE at 250 mg/kg body weight significantly reduced aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total bilirubin (TBILI), and also attenuated histopathological changes. Additionally, they reduced malondialdehyde (MOD), restored reduced-glutathione (GSH), and enhanced superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels. KEE, KAE, and KEE+KAE protected the liver from CCl4-hepatotoxicity as they mainly attenuating oxidative stress. Total hepatoprotection was about 128.3%, 114.5%, and 103.8% for KEE, KAE, and KEE+KAE, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Biochemical observations, supplemented by histopathological examination revealed that AH affords extract-depending protection against CCl4-hepatotoxicity.

A. hierchuntica extract exacerbates genotoxic, cytotoxic, apoptotic and oxidant effects in B16F10 melanoma cells

Melanoma is a highly malignant tumor caused by melanocytes. Even though melanoma represents just 3% of all skin malignancies, it represents 75% of deaths. Extracts of A. hierchuntica were reported to have anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and anti-melanogenic activities. This study aims to investigate the dose-related relationship and selectivity of the toxic effects of A. hierchuntica extracts (AHE) on melanoma cells and provide a new option that can be used in the future treatment of melanoma. B16F10 Mus musculus malign melanoma cells and L929 Mus musculus healthy fibroblast cells were treated with root and leaf AHEs in a dose-dependent manner. Intracellular glutathione levels, mitochondrial membrane potential activity, apoptosis, genotoxicity, and cytotoxicity of AHE were evaluated. This study is probably the first study to show a significant apoptotic and genotoxic activity of AHE in selected B16F10 cancer cell lines. Mitochondrial membrane potential and glutathione activity of B16F10 and L929 melanoma cells decreased with increasing concentrations of both leaf and root AHEs. However, viability and reactive oxygen species levels showed selectivity especially the AHEs concentrations between 400 μg/mL and 500 μg/mL. This selectivity based on doses was also validated in apoptosis and genotoxicity between healthy and cancer cells (p < 0.001). The results showed that when looking at melanoma-specific, AHE could be a source of inspiration as an active ingredient in future treatment protocols. AHE can be recommended as potential nutraceuticals in the prevention of human melanoma cancer.

Synergistic and Antagonistic Effects of Biogenic Silver Nanoparticles in Combination With Antibiotics Against Some Pathogenic Microbes

The latest advances in green nanoparticle synthesis have preserved natural and non-renewable resources and decreased environmental pollution. The current study was designed to evaluate silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) fabricated using aqueous extracts of two medicinal plants, Anastatica hierochuntica L. (Kaff Maryam) and Artemisia absinthium. The phytochemicals were detected by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The effects of the AgNPs on Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans as well as the cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 cells were examined. The synergistic and antagonistic effects of the biogenic AgNPs in combination with standard antibiotics against several microbes were also investigated. The ability of the plant extracts to transfer silver ions to AgNPs was measured via dynamic light scattering, zeta potential measurement, and transmission electron microscopy. The most sensitive microbes to AgNP treatment were examined via scanning electron microscopy to assess morphological changes. Biogenic AgNPs showed significant antibacterial effects against most of the tested microbes and significant cytotoxicity was noted. Polysaccharides, proteins and Phenolic compounds are likely involved in AgNP biosynthesis since hydroxyl groups and amides were detected via FTIR as well as GC-MS. This study confirmed that plant-based AgNP fabrication with AgNO₃ as the Ag (I) delivering salt can be an economical and practical approach for large-scale production of particles with antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential. The synergistic effects of biogenic AgNPs in combination with some antibiotics support their potential as a safe therapeutic for bacterial infections because they are capped with organic biomolecules.

Anastatica hierochuntica (L.) methanolic and aqueous extracts exert antiproliferative effects through the induction of apoptosis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

Breast cancer therapy using anticancer bioactive compounds derived from natural products as adjuvant treatment has gained recognition due to expensive and toxic conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. The whole plant of Anastatica hierochuntica (L.) (A. hierochuntica) has been investigated for its pharmacologically important anticancer properties but without categorizing the biological activities of the plant parts. We assessed the anticancer potential of different parts of A. hierochuntica (seeds, stems and leaves) and explored their mechanisms of action using the human breast cancer cell line, MCF-7. Currently, we investigated the antiproliferative effects of methanolic (MSD, MST, ML) and aqueous (ASD, AST, AL) extracts of A. hierochuntica plant parts on the MCF-7 cells using cell viability assays. Flow cytometry, Western Blot, DNA fragmentation, and gene expression assays were performed to evaluate apoptosis and cell cycle regulatory proteins. The results indicate that the methanolic and aqueous extracts decreased MCF-7 cell viability in a dose-dependent manner. The induction of apoptosis was observed in all the methanolic and aqueous-treated MCF-7 cells. The cell death process was confirmed by the visualization of DNA fragmentation and cleavage of the intrinsic apoptotic pathways, caspase-9 and caspase-3, the key enzyme causing apoptosis hallmarks. In addition, the most pro-apoptotic extracts, ASD and ML, up-regulated the expression of pro-apoptotic Bax, tumor suppressor TP53 genes and the cyclin inhibitor CDKN1A gene. In conclusion, of the aqueous and methanolic extracts of A. hierochuntica plant parts exerting antiproliferative effects through the induction of apoptosis in breast cancer MCF-7 cells, ASD and ML extracts were the most promising natural-based drugs for the treatment of breast cancer.

Potential toxicity effects of Anastatica hierochuntica aqueous extract on prenatal development of Sprague-Dawley rats

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Anastatica hierochuntica (A. hierochuntica) is a plant consumed in folk medicine for the treatment of reproductive system related problems and metabolic disorders. It is of concern that the herb is commonly consumed by pregnant women towards the end of pregnancy to ease the process of labour, despite the lack of studies evaluating its safety.

AIM OF THIS STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the potential toxicity effects of A. hierochuntica in pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats and their developing foetuses.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Experiments were conducted in accordance to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline 414. Animals were randomly divided into four groups (n = 10 females per group): negative control (received the vehicle only), experimental animals received 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg A. hierochuntica aqueous extracts (AHAE), respectively. Treatment was administered daily by oral gavage from gestational day (GD) 6-20, and caesarian section performed on GD21.

RESULTS

There were significant reduction in the corrected maternal weight gain of dams and body weight of foetuses in the lowest and highest dose of AHAE-treated animals compared to the control. These findings were associated with the increase in anogenital distance index and multiple congenital anomalies observed in some of the offspring. On the other hand, rats treated with 500 mg/kg showed higher embryonic survival rate with absence of significant treatment-related effect.

CONCLUSION

Findings showed that highest and lowest doses of AHAE have prenatal toxicity effects in SD rats. Therefore, AHAE is potentially harmful to the developing foetuses especially when consumed during the period of implantation and organogenesis. As for the rats treated with 500 mg/kg AHAE, there was no significant treatment-related effect. Hence, we postulate that this finding suggests that the disruption on the hormonal regulation could have been compensated by negative feedback response. The compensated effects of AHAE at 500 mg/kg and the presence of lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) at 250 mg/kg has resulted in a non-monotonous dose response curve (NMDRC), which complicates the determination of the value of no-observed-adverse effect level (NOAEL).

Mutagenicity evaluation of Anastatica hierochuntica L. aqueous extract in vitro and in vivo

Anastatica hierochuntica L. ( A. hierochuntica), a folk medicinal plant, was evaluated for mutagenic potential via in vitro and in vivo assays. The in vitro assay was conducted according to modified Ames test, while the in vivo study was performed according to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development guideline for mammalian erythrocyte micronucleus assay. Four groups ( n= 5 males and 5 females per group) Sprague Dawley rats were randomly chosen as the negative control, positive control (received a single intramuscular injection of cyclophosphamide 50 mg/kg), 1000 and, 2000 mg/kg A. hierochuntica aqueous extracts. All groups except the positive control were treated orally for three days. Findings of the in vitro assay showed mutagenic potential of AHAE at 0.04 and 0.2 mg/ml. However, no mutagenic effect was demonstrated in the in vivo study up to 2000 mg/kg. No significant reduction in the polychromatic and normochromatic erythrocytes ratio was noted in any of the groups. Meanwhile, high micronucleated polychromatic erythrocytes frequency was seen in cyclophosphamide-treated group only. These findings could perhaps be due to insufficient dosage of A. hierochuntica aqueous extracts to cause genetic damage on the bone marrow target cells. Further acute and chronic in vivo toxicity studies may be required to draw pertinent conclusion on the safety aspect of A. hierochuntica aqueous extracts consumption. Impact statement In this paper, we report on the mutagenicity evaluation of Anastatica hierochuntica aqueous extract. This is a significant research in view of the popularity of this herb consumption by the people across the globe despite of limited scientific evidence on its toxicity potential. This study is intended to encourage more extensive related research in order to provide sufficient evidence and guidance for determining its safe dosage.