This study aims to evaluate the anti-Leishmania major and the lung adenocarcinoma (A549) cytotoxicity of Withania somnifera root and fruit. The total extracts were obtained by homogenisation in aqueous MeOH, and the sub-extracts [n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc), nbutanol (n-BuOH), and methanol (MeOH)] were obtained by flash chromatography. The activity evaluation showed that n-BuOH sub-extracts from root and fruit exhibited noticeable antileishmanial promastigote properties. The n-hexane and EtOAc sub-extracts from both organs, and the MeOH sub-extract from the fruit exerted mild to moderate effects on the promastigotes.In-vitro growth-inhibitory test results on axenic amastigote and cytotoxicity testing on macrophages (RAW264.7), the parasite-host at the amastigote stage, revealed that the activity was mainly concentrated in the root EtOAc and n-BuOH sub-extracts and to a lesser extent the fruit MeOH and EtOAc, and the root n-hexane sub-extracts. Only the roots' EtOAc and n-BuOH sub-extracts demonstrated low cytotoxicity on the A549 cell line.

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Three new [nilotinins M8-M10 (1-3)] and two known [tamarixinin A (4) and gemin D (5)] ellagitannins and seven simple phenolics [gallic acid (6), methyl gallate (7), 3,4-di-O-methylgallic acid (8), ellagic acid (9), 3-O-methylellagic acid (10), methyl ferulate 3-O-sulphate (11), and 7,4′-di-O-methylkaempferol (12)] were isolated from the halophytic plant Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge (Tamaricaceae). Their structures were determined based on intensive spectroscopic studies and comparisons with reported data. Compounds 4, and 6-8 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against lung adenocarcinoma cell line (A549) and antileishmanial activity against Leishmania major. Compounds 4, 6 and 7 showed promising cytotoxic properties against A549 (IC 50 29 ± 2.3, 10.5 ± 0.7, and 20.7 ± 1.9 μg/mL), while compounds 4 and 7 showed higher growth-inhibitory effects against L. major promastigotes (IC 50 40.5 ± 2.7 and 38.4 ± 2.5 μg/mL), as compared with the standards doxorubicin (IC 50 0.42 µg/mL) and miltefosine (IC 50 9.43 μg/mL), respectively.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the cytotoxic activities of the fractions and isolated compounds of the soft corals Litophyton arboreum against A549, MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines by MTT assay method, and to chemically investigate the various metabolites of its total extract using LC-HR-ESI-MS metabolomic profiling. The metabolomic profiling revealed the presence of various metabolites, mainly sesquiterpenes and steroids reported for the first time in L. arboreum.Additionally, eight compounds (1-8) have been isolated from the n-hexane-chloroform (1:1) fraction that exhibited noticeable activity towards A549, MCF-7 and HepG2 cell lines. The steroids (5 and 6), and the sesquiterpene (1) exerted noticeable activity against A549 cell line (IC50 28.5 ± 4.4, 36.9 ± 2.9 and 67.3 ± 9.9 M/mL, respectively) compared to etoposide as standard cytotoxic agent (IC50 48.3 ± 7.6 M/mL). Compound 6 also exhibited cytotoxicity against MCF-

Using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region for identification, three strains of Aspergillus terreus were identified and designated AUMC 15760, AUMC 15762, and AUMC 15763 for the Assiut University Mycological Centre culture collection. The ability of the three strains to manufacture lovastatin in solid-state fermentation (SSF) using wheat bran was assessed using gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). The most potent strain was strain AUMC 15760, which was chosen to ferment nine types of lignocellulosic waste (barley bran, bean hay, date palm leaves, flax seeds, orange peels, rice straw, soy bean, sugarcane bagasse, and wheat bran), with sugarcane bagasse turning out to be the best substrate. After 10 days at pH 6.0 at 25 °C using sodium nitrate as the nitrogen source and a moisture content of 70%, the lovastatin output reached its maximum quantity (18.2 mg/g substrate). The medication was produced in lactone form as a white powder in its purest form using column chromatography. In-depth spectroscopy examination, including 1H, 13C-NMR, HR-ESI-MS, optical density, and LC-MS/MS analysis, as well as a comparison of the physical and spectroscopic data with published data, were used to identify the medication. At an IC50 of 69.536 ± 5.73 µM, the purified lovastatin displayed DPPH activity. Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis had MICs of 1.25 mg/mL, whereas Candida albicans and Candida glabrata had MICs of 2.5 mg/mL and 5.0 mg/mL, respectively, against pure lovastatin. As a component of sustainable development, this study offers a green (environmentally friendly) method for using sugarcane bagasse waste to produce valuable chemicals and value-added commodities.

The aim of the present study is the evaluation of the in-vitro cytotoxicity and antileishmanial activities of a methanolic extract and its different fractions of the soft coral Sarcophyton spongiosum collected from the Egyptian Red Sea against three cancer cell lines, A549, HepG2, and MCF-7, and a protozoan, Leishmania major, by the MTT assay protocol. The dichloromethane fraction exhibited significant anti-L. major (IC50 28.1 ± 1.2 µg/mL) and cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 cell line IC50 (31.5 ± 1.1 µg/mL). The ethyl acetate fraction showed promising cytotoxicity against A549 and HepG2 cell lines (IC50 13.4 ± 1.2 and 11.6 ± 1.9 µg/mL, respectively). A preliminary chemical screening of the total methanolic extract indicated of the presence of sterols and diterpenes.

Chemical investigation of the total extract of the Egyptian soft coral Heteroxenia fuscescens, led to the isolation of eight compounds, including two new metabolites, sesquiterpene fusceterpene A (1) and a sterol fuscesterol A (4), along with six known compounds. The structures of 1–8 were elucidated via intensive studies of their 1D, 2D-NMR, and HR-MS analyses, as well as a comparison of their spectral data with those mentioned in the literature. Subsequent comprehensive in-silico-based investigations against almost all viral proteins, including those of the new variants, e.g., Omicron, revealed the most probable target for these isolated compounds, which was found to be Mpro. Additionally, the dynamic modes of interaction of the putatively active compounds were highlighted, depending on 50-ns-long MDS. In conclusion, the structural information provided in the current investigation highlights the antiviral potential of H. fuscescens metabolites with 3β,5α,6β-trihydroxy steroids with different nuclei against SARS-CoV-2, including newly widespread variants.