Phytochemical constituents have been participated with essential role in the discovery of several clinically effective anticancer agents. The goal of this study was to isolate phytoconstituents from Koelreuteria elegans twigs (Sapindacea family) and evaluate their anticancer activities against human lung, colon and breast cancer cell lines. The aqueous methanol extract of plant's twigs was fractionated with different solvents and the preliminary cytotoxicity of fractions was determined using brine shrimp lethality assay. Nine compounds from K. elegans twigs butanol fraction were isolated for the first time; gallic acid (1), methyl gallate (2), 6-O-[Galloyl 4-methyl ether]-(α/β)-D-glucopyranose (3), 3, 5-di-O-galloylquinic acid butyl ester (4), 3,4,5-tri-Ogalloylquinic acid butyl ester (5), 1,3,4,5-tetra-O-galloylquinic acid butyl ester (6), two isomers of 3-O-galloyl quinic acid butyl ester and 4-O-galloyl quinic acid butyl ester (7), austrobailignan 1 (8) and β-sitosterol (9). The structures of compounds were elucidated using different spectroscopic techniques. Anticancer activities of butanol fraction, methyl gallate and austrobailignan 1were estimated in-vitro by cell viability assay. The results showed significant anticancer activity of both methyl gallate and austrobailignan 1 against breast cancer cell lines and less cytotoxicity against colon cell lines while almost no activity against lung cell lines.

No abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the biological activities and the phytochemical contents of Terminalia arjuna's different parts (leaves, fruits, and bark). Firstly, phytoconstituents (tannins, phenols, and flavonoids) in the methanol extracts were determined qualitatively and quantitatively. Followingly, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial capabilities of T. arjuna's leaves, fruits, and bark were evaluated. The antioxidant activity was measured using four assays: 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) scavenging, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), while the anti-inflammatory activity was determined using Human-RBCs membrane stabilisation assay. The antimicrobial potential and MIC were measured against eight selected microorganisms using the agar well diffusion assay and the agar dilution method, respectively. All extracts demonstrated strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory characteristics. Leaves methanol extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity with IC50 (for DPPH and H2O2), FRAP and TAC values of 12.20 µg/mL, 20.60 µg/mL, 3.21 mMol Fe +2 /g and 62.74 mg GAE/g respectively. The highest protection against HRBCs lysis was 95.71% for 5 µg/mL dose of leaves methanol extract and 98.22% for 10 µg/mL dose of fruit methanol extract. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts differed clearly. The maximum activity of leaves, fruits, and bark methanol extracts was against Bacillus subtilis (MIC=39.06 µg /mL), Klebsiella pneumonia (MIC= 156,25 µg /mL), and Proteus vulgaris (MIC = 39.06 µg /mL), respectively. These results suggest that T. arjuna's leaves have more potential beneficial effects than bark and fruits, but future in-vivo and clinical research is required.

Infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria are a major public health concern worldwide, with the emergence of antibiotic resistance, biofilm-forming bacteria, viral epidemics, and the lack of effective antibacterial and antiviral agents exacerbating the problem. In an effort to search for new antimicrobial agents, this study aimed to screen antibacterial and antiviral activity of the total methanol extract and its various fractions of Pulicaria crispa (P. crispa) aerial parts. The P. crispa hexane fraction (HF) was found to have the strongest antibacterial effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including biofilm producers. The HF fraction reduced the expression levels of penicillin binding protein (PBP2A) and DNA gyrase B enzymes in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Additionally, the HF fraction displayed the most potent antiviral activity, especially against influenza A virus, affecting different stages of the virus lifecycle. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the HF fraction identified 27 compounds, mainly belonging to the sterol class, with β-sitosterol, phytol, stigmasterol, and lupeol as the most abundant compounds. The in silico study revealed that these compounds were active against influenza A nucleoprotein and polymerase, PBP2A, and DNA gyrase B. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the chemical composition and mechanism of action of the P. crispa HF fraction, which may lead to the development of more effective treatments for bacterial and viral infections.

Diabetes mellitus is a major challenge for global health, and Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (B. spectabilis) is a widely used herbal remedy with diverse cultivars traditionally used for diabetes treatment. However, the comparative efficacy of these cultivars remains ambiguous. This study aimed to evaluate the D-pinitol content and DPPH radical-scavenging activity of methanolic leaves extracts of five B. spectabilis cultivars. Furthermore, the effects of these cultivars on various parameters, including blood glucose levels, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, lipid profiles, liver enzymes, renal function markers, and histopathological changes, were assessed in STZ-induced diabetic rats after one month of oral daily treatment. All tested cultivars demonstrated significant improvements in the measured parameters, albeit to varying extents. Notably, the LOE cultivar, distinguished by its orange bracts, exhibited the highest efficacy, surpassing the effectiveness of glibenclamide, an antidiabetic medication, and displayed the highest concentration of D-pinitol. These findings underscore the importance of carefully selecting the appropriate B. spectabilis cultivar to maximize the antidiabetic efficacy, with a particular emphasis on the correlation between antidiabetic activity and D-pinitol concentrations.