For a long time, plant secondary metabolites have been strongly examined for their antitumor and cytotoxic impacts. These days, there is another pattern of making utilization of the waste products of plants because of their extravagance of numerous phytochemical components and adequacy on human wellbeing. This research work is handling the effect of diversity of lipoidal and phenolic compounds found in the peels of two common edible plants in the Middle East; Pisum sativum and Vicia faba L. for their assesment as anticancer agents. The GC/MS of the n-hexane extract of both plant peels led to identification of twenty compounds (82.99%) and seventeen compounds (85.97%) of the total lipoidal contents from P. sativum and V. faba, respectively. While the HPLC analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction of the two plant peels resulted in recognition of 17 flavonoids and 18 phenolics from P. sativum and 16 flavonoids and 17 phenolics from V. faba. Moreover, four flavonoidal compounds were isolated to our knowledge for the first time from the peels and tested separately against different human cancer cell lines and the mode of action of the most potent compound has been determined. P. sativum ethyl acetate fraction possessed the highest scavenging activity (31.2%) as well as the most cytotoxic effect on breast carcinoma cell line. Apigenin proved to be the most potent tested compound on (MCF-7) and has no cytotoxic effect on normal human skin cell lines.

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Opuntia ficus-indica extract has been used in traditional folk medicine for several purposes and exhibits anti-inflammatory properties. This study was directed to explore the prophylactic effect of O. ficus-indica fruit peel extract against irradiation-induced colitis in rats. GC/MS analysis of the petroleum ether extract led to recognition of 33 compounds in the unsaponifiable fraction and 15 fatty acid methyl esters in the saponifiable part. Thirteen terpenes and sterols were isolated and identified from which ten compounds were not isolated from any part of this species before. Data showed that irradiation induced colon injury as manifested by elevated contents of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, myeloperoxidase, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, cyclooxygenase-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, and nuclear factor kappa B, while it reduced superoxide dismutase activity and interleukin 10 content in colonic tissues, which was confirmed by histopathological examination. Pretreatment with O. ficus-indica extract attenuated the alteration in the measured parameters. It could be concluded that O. ficus-indica fruit peel extract can be regarded as a potential agent in limiting colonic complications due to irradiation, possibly by its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

The leaves of Azadirachta indica L. and Melia azedarach L., belonging to Meliaceae family, have been shown to have medicinal benefits and are extensively employed in traditional folk medicine. Herein, HPLC analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction of the total methanolic extract emphasized the enrichment of both A. indica L., and M. azedarach L. leaves extracts with phenolic and flavonoids composites, respectively. Besides, 4 limonoids and 2 flavonoids were isolated using column chromatography. By assessing the in vitro antiviral activities of both total leaves extracts against Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), it was found that A. indica L. and M. azedarach L. have robust anti-SARS-CoV-2 activities at low half-maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 8.451 and 6.922 μg/mL, respectively. Due to the high safety of A. indica L. and M. azedarach L. extracts with half-maximal cytotoxic concentrations (CC50) of 446.2 and 351.4 μg/ml, respectively, both displayed extraordinary selectivity indices (SI>50). A. indica L. and M. azedarach L. leaves extracts could induce antibacterial activities against both Gram-negative and positive bacterial strains. The minimal inhibitory concentrations of A. indica L. and M. azedarach L. leaves extracts varied from 25 to 100 mg/mL within 30 min contact time towards the tested bacteria. Our findings confirm the broad-spectrum medicinal value of A. indica L. and M. azedarach L. leaves extracts. Finally, additional in vivo investigations are highly recommended to confirm the anti-COVID-19 and antimicrobial activities of both plant extracts.

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Background: Plantago spp. includes more than 200 species which had been used traditionally to treat many diseases including colds, hepatitis, and infectious diseases. The aim of this study is to evaluate carbohydrates and fixed oil from Plantago ovata L. (Plantaginaceae) seeds against ketoprofen-induced hepatorenal toxicity in rats. Results: The aqueous extract of P. ovata seeds contain 39% (wt/wt) carbohydrate as glucose and 35% (wt/wt) as mucilage. Paper chromatographic analysis and GLC of the mucilage hydrolysate revealed the presence of six free sugars. GC/MS analysis of the saponifiable and unsaponifiable matter of the petroleum ether extract identified 15 compounds from the saponifiable matter. Linoleic acid ethyl ester was the major unsaturated fatty acid, while palmitic acid methyl ester is presented as the major saturated fatty acid. Eighteen compounds were identified from the unsaponifiable matter. 6-Phenyldodecane and 6-phenyl tridecane are presented as major compounds in the unsaponifiable matter. Five steroidal compounds, namely β-sitosterol, Lupeol, Stigmasterol, Campesterol, and 24(25)dihydrocycloartenol, were identified and confirmed. Carbohydrates and fixed oil administered to normal control rats showed insignificant changes in the oxidative stress markers; liver and kidney function indices, liver DNA degradation pattern, and the histopathological picture of liver and kidney revealed their safety. Ketoprofen induced drastic changes in all the measured parameters. Treatments recorded variable degrees of improvement referring to silymarin as a reference herbal drug. Conclusions: The self-recovery process is not an efficient tool against the ketoprofen toxicity. Treatment with plant carbohydrates exhibited the most potent effect in improving the selected parameters under investigation and served as a safe agent for treatment hepatorenal toxicity in rats.

Saponifiable and unsaponifiable fractions of Ficus microcarpa leaves hexane extract have been phytochemically studied and evaluated for its hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effects in hypercholesterolemic rats. The effect of the extract on the lipid profile was assessed by measuring the levels of total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, phospho and total lipids. Lipid peroxides, glutathione and superoxide dismutase were measured as antioxidants. The work was extended to evaluate liver function indices as well as the histopathological picture of the liver after treatment. Treatment with leaves extract (500 mg kg⁻¹ body weight) 5 times/week for 9 weeks at the same time of cholesterol administration (30 mg/0.3 mL 0.7% tween/animal) recorded an improvement of lipid profile, antioxidants, liver function enzymes and the liver histopathological picture. The lipoidal matters of the unsaponifiable fraction of the hexane extract by GC/MS led to the identification of 22 compounds, while saponifiable fraction by (MS/MS) technique led to identification of 13 unsaturated and saturated fatty acid methyl ester derivatives. It can be concluded that the hexane extract of F. microcarpa L has been proved to have hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effects in hypercholesterolemic rats through its role in counteracting LDL oxidation, enhancement of HDL synthesis and inhibition of lipid peroxidation.

Phytochemical screening of air-dried leaves and fruit juice of certain Ficus and Morus spp. have been studied. In an in vitro study, the ethanol and hexane extracts of the investigated plants were evaluated against hyperlipidaemia by estimating the rate limiting enzyme of cholesterol biothenysis; β-hydroxy-β-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase). The antioxidant activity was evaluated by reduction of DPPH(-) free radical. Extra phytochemical screening of Ficus extracts was undertaken, which recorded potent hypolipidaemic and antioxidant activities. The more pronounced extract, Ficus mysorensis (hexane extract), was evaluated in vivo by estimation of the lipid profile and certain antioxidant parameters in hypercholesterolemic rats. The hexane fraction was chromatographed and six isolated compounds were identified. Furthermore, its saponifiable fraction was identified by a MS/MS technique. In conclusion, F. mysorensis recorded hypolipidaemic and antioxidant effects. Detailed studies of the isolated compounds must be undertaken for an evaluation against hypercholesterolemia and free radical elevation.