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Background and objective: Doxorubicin is extensively utilized chemotherapeutic drug, and it causes damage to the heart, liver, and kidneys through oxidative stress. Theobroma cacao L (cocoa) is reported to possess protective effects against several chemical-induced organ damages and also acts as an anticancer agent. The study aimed to determine whether the administration of cocoa bean extract reduces doxorubicin-induced organ damage in mice with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) without compromising doxorubicin efficacy.Methodology: Multiple in vitro methods such as cell proliferation, colony formation, chemo-sensitivity, and scratch assay were carried out on cancer as well as normal cell lines to document the effect of cocoa extract (COE) on cellular physiology, followed by in vivo mouse survival analysis, and the organ-protective effect of COE on DOX-treated animals with EAC-induced solid tumors was then investigated. In silico studies were conducted on cocoa compounds with lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase to provide possible molecular explanations for the experimental observations.Results:In vitro studies revealed potent selective cytotoxicity of COE on cancer cells compared to normal. Interestingly, COE enhanced DOX potency when used in combination. The in vivo results revealed reduction in EAC and DOX-induced toxicities in mice treated with COE, which also improved the mouse survival time; percentage of lifespan; antioxidant defense system; renal, hepatic, and cardiac function biomarkers; and also oxidative stress markers. COE reduced DOX-induced histopathological alterations. Through molecular docking and MD simulations, we observed chlorogenic acid and 8′8 methylenebiscatechin, present in cocoa, to have the highest binding affinity with lipoxygenase and xanthine oxidase, which lends support to their potential in ameliorating oxidative stress.Conclusion: The COE reduced DOX-induced organ damage in the EAC-induced tumor model and exhibited powerful anticancer and antioxidant effects. Therefore, COE might be useful as an adjuvant nutritional supplement in cancer therapy.

IntroductionCareya arborea, Punica granatum, and Psidium guajava are traditionally used to treat diarrheal diseases in India and were reported to show anti-Cholera toxin activity from our earlier studies. As polyphenols are reported to neutralize Cholera toxin (CT), the present study investigated the inhibitory activity of selected polyphenols from these plants against CTB binding to GM1 receptor using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches.MethodsMolecular modelling approach was used to investigate the intermolecular interactions of selected 20 polyphenolic compounds from three plants with CT using DOCK6. Based on intermolecular interactions, two phenolic acids, Ellagic acid (EA) and Chlorogenic acid (CHL); two flavonoids, Rutin (RTN) and Phloridzin (PHD) were selected along with their respective standards, Gallic acid (GA) and Quercetrin (QRTN). The stability of docked complexes was corroborated using molecular dynamics simulation. Furthermore, in vitro inhibitory activity of six compounds against CT was assessed using GM1 ELISA and cAMP assay. EA and CHL that showed prominent activity against CT in in vitro assays were investigated for their neutralizing activity against CT-induced fluid accumulation and histopathological changes in adult mouse.Results and discussionThe molecular modelling study revealed significant structural stability of the CT-EA, CT-CHL, and CT-PHD complexes compared to their respective controls. All the selected six compounds significantly reduced CT-induced cAMP levels, whereas EA, CHL, and PHD exhibited > 50% binding inhibition of CT to GM1. The EA and CHL that showed prominent neutralization activity against CT from in vitro studies, also significantly decreased CT-induced fluid accumulation and histopathological changes in adult mouse. Our study identified bioactive compounds from these three plants against CT-induced diarrhea.

Dengue and chikungunya are two important mosquito-borne infections which are known to occur extensively in tropical and subtropical areas. Presently, there is no treatment for these viral diseases. In vitro antiviral screening of 25 extracts prepared from the plants of Vitex negundo, Plumeria alba, Ancistrocladus heyneanus, Bacopa monnieri, Anacardium occidentale, Cucurbita maxima, Simarouba glauca, and Embelia ribes using different solvents and four purified compounds (anacardic acid, chloroquinone, glaucarubinone, and methyl gallate) were carried out for their anti-dengue virus (DENV) and anti-chikungunya virus (CHIKV) activities. Maximum nontoxic concentrations of the chloroform, methanol, ethyl acetate, petroleum ether, dichloromethane, and hydroalcoholic extracts of eight plants were used. The antiviral activity was assessed by focus-forming unit assay, quantitative real-time RT-PCR, and immunofluorescence assays. Extracts from Plumeria alba, Ancistrocladus heyneanus, Bacopa monnieri, and Cucurbita maxima showed both anti-DENV and CHIKV activity while extract from Vitex negundo showed only anti-DENV activity. Among the purified compounds, anacardic acid, chloroquinone and methyl gallate showed anti-dengue activity while only methyl gallate had anti-chikungunya activity. The present study had identified the plant extracts with anti-dengue and anti-chikungunya activities, and these extracts can be further characterized for finding effective phytopharmaceutical drugs against dengue and chikungunya.

Abstract Background Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic fungal pathogen is associated with a wide array of diseases. It produces 1, 8-dihydroxy naphthalene (DHN) melanin that imparts greenish grey color to conidia and is an important virulence factor. It masks various molecular patterns associated with A. fumigatus and protects the fungus from host immune system. Myristica fragrans, enriched with secondary metabolites has been traditionally used for the treatment of infectious and inflammatory diseases. The present study was aimed to explore the anti-melanogenic effect of M. fragrans extracts on A. fumigatus. Methods M. fragrans extracts (hexane, chloroform, methanol and ethanol) were prepared through polarity guided extraction. Phytochemical analysis was performed to detect the chemical constituents of the extracts. The minimum effective concentration (MEC) of the extracts against A. fumigatus melanin was determined by broth micro-dilution assay. Various virulence factors were assayed by spectrophotometric methods. Electron microscopic studies were performed to evaluate the effect of the hexane extract of M. fragrans on A. fumigatus cell surface morphology. The major active compounds of the extract were detected by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Docking was performed to study the interaction between the major identified compounds and the ketosynthase domain of polyketide synthase protein. Results The results indicated that the hexane extract of M. fragrans inhibited melanin production (76.09%), reduced ergosterol content (83.63%) and hydrophobicity of the cell (72.2%) at the MEC of 0.078 mg/mL. Altered conidial surface, disappearance of protrusions and absence of melanin layer on outer cell surface was observed in electron microscopy. Forty-two compounds were identified by GC-MS. The main constituents were identified as sabinene (12.2%), linoleic acid (11.7%), hexadecanoic acid (10.5%), safrole (8.1%) and elemicin (7.8%). Docking studies revealed that hexadecanoic acid, its derivative compound cis-9-hexadecenal and isoeugenol have lower binding energy forming proper hydrogen bond with ketosynthase domain of polyketide synthase protein. Conclusion The study concludes that the extract of M. fragrans has potential antifungal properties that can be explored in combination with available antifungals. This combination approach may be helpful for large number of patients suffering with A. fumigatus infections.

Essential oils are generally produced to confer the protection of medicinal plants against several natural enemies. Variations of chemical and physical environmental factors exert significant influences on plant development. They hence may affect the quality and quantity of volatile organic metabolites of interest and, therefore, the economic applications of essential oils. This research focused on the effects of the harvest region on the production and analytes present in Tunisian Pimpinella lutea Desf. Apiaceae that were collected in three different growing environments (North and South Bizerta and Tabarka). Essential oils extracted from a variety of genotypes were analyzed, for the first time, using gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC/FID and GC/MS). The determination of the percentage of essential oil components allowed the recognition of three chemotypes: α-trans-Bergamotene quantified at a percentage of 18.1% in North Bizerta (NBEO), muurola-4,10(14)-dien-1-β-ol identified in South Bizerta (10.1%, SBEO) and acora-3,7(14)-dien present in a high level of 29.1% in Tabarka population (TEO). The richness of different populations in sesquiterpenes (60.2–78.1%) suggests that Pimpinella lutea Desf. may be used in different industrial segments.

The chemical composition, antioxidant, cytotoxic and antiviral activities of the essential oil obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Teucrium pseudochamaepitys (Lamiaceae) collected from Zaghouan province of Tunisia are reported. The essential oil was analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Thirty-one compounds were identified representing 88.6% of the total essential oil. Hexadecanoic acid was found to be the most abundant component (26.1%) followed by caryophyllene oxide (6.3%), myristicin (4.9%) and α-cubebene (3.9%). The antioxidant capacity of the oil was measured on the basis of the scavenging activity to the stable 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The IC50 value of the oil was evaluated as 0.77 mg·mL−1. In addition, the essential oil was found to possess moderate cytotoxic effects on the HEp-2 cell line (50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) = 653.6 µg·mL−1). The potential antiviral effect was tested against Coxsackievirus B (CV-B), a significant human and mouse pathogen that causes pediatric central nervous system disease, commonly with acute syndromes. The reduction of viral infectivity by the essential oil was measured using a cytopathic (CPE) reduction assay.

Plectranthus is a large and widespread genus with a diversity of ethnobotanical uses. In traditional medicine P. mollis has been used against snakebites, respiratory stimulant and vasoconstrictor, cardiac depressant, cure for haemorrahage, treatment of mental retardation and rheumatism. P. mollis is reported to exhibit relaxant activity on smooth and skeletal muscles, and has cytotoxic and anti-tumour promoting activity, and can be used in the treatment of cancer. The aim of the present study was to identify chemical composition of the essential oil of P. mollis and to evaluate antimicrobial efficacy of the oil. The essential oil of the flowering aerial parts of P. mollis as obtained by hydro-distillation and analyzed by gas chromatography equipped with a flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Twentyseven compounds were identified, which comprised 98.6% of the total constituents. The main compound was identified as fenchone (32.3%), followed by α-humulene (17.3%), piperitenone oxide (8.5%), cis-piperitone oxide (6.0%) and E-β-farnesene (5.9%). The oil was found rich in oxygenated monoterpenes type constituents (52.0%), followed by sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (40.2%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (4.9%), and monoterpene hydrocarbons (1.5%). Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of P. mollis was tested against six Gram-positive and eight Gram negative bacteria, and three fungi, by using the tube dilution method. The oil was active against the tested Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi at a concentration range of 0.065±0.008-0.937±0.139mg/mL, 0.468±0.069-3.333±0.527 mg/mL and 0.117±0.0170.338±0.062mg/mL respectively. The present study revealed that the oil constituents somehow were qualitatively similar and quantitatively different than earlier reports from different parts of the world. The essential oil of P. mollis has found to be antimicrobial activity which can be usefulness in the treatment of various infectious diseases caused by bacteria and fungi.

The essential oil composition of the flower of Senecio bombayensis was analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry . Forty -six compounds representing 98.2% of the total oil were identified. The m ain constituents are linalool (26.3%), β-cedrene (14.5%), E-β-farnesene (10.8%), 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (7.0%), E-β-ocimene (5.9%), terpinen-4-ol (5.1%) and Z-β-ocimene (4.7%). The oil is rich in sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (38.1%), followed by oxygenated monoterpenes (32.3%), monoterpene hydrocarbons (17.7%), oxygenated sesquiterpenes (6.0%) and others (4.1%).

Effects of varying temperatures with constant pressure of solvent on extraction efficiency of two chemically different alkaloids were studied. Camptothecin (CPT) from stem of Nothapodytes nimmoniana (Grah.) Mabb. and piperine from the fruits of Piper nigrum L. were extracted using Accelerated Solvent Extractor (ASE). Three cycles of extraction for a particular sample cell at a given temperature assured complete extraction. CPT and piperine were determined and quantified by using a simple and efficient UFLC-PDA (245 and 343 nm) method. Temperature increased efficiency of extraction to yield higher amount of CPT, whereas temperature had diminutive effect on yield of piperine. Maximum yield for CPT was achieved at 80∘C and for piperine at 40∘C. Thus, the study determines compound specific extraction of CPT from N. nimmoniana and piperine from P. nigrum using ASE method. The present study indicates the use of this method for simple, fast, and accurate extraction of the compound of interest.

The hydrodistilled essential oil of the roots of Chromolaena odorata (L.) R. M. King & H. Rob. was analysed by gas chromatography equipped with flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A total of twenty-nine compounds have been identified, accounting 97.6% of the total oil. The main constituents were himachalol (24.2%), 7-isopropyl-1,4-dimethyl-2-azulenol (17.6%), androencecalinol (14.1%), and 2-methoxy-6-(1-methoxy-2-propenyl) naphthalene (5.6%). The essential oil consists mainly of phenyl derivatives (41.6%), followed by oxygenated sesquiterpenes ((26.6%), long-chain hydrocarbons (18.9%), sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (6.8%), oxygenated monoterpenes (2.8%), and monoterpene hydrocarbons (0.9%). This study revealed that the roots of C. odorata produced different chemotypes other than leaves oil. This is the first report on the essential oil composition of the roots of C. odorata.