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An examination of the diversity of Zingiberaceae in Thailand led to the discovery of two undescribed taxa within the genus Kaempferia: K. sakolchaii P. Saensouk, Saensouk & Boonma, a newly described species, and K. phuphanensis var. viridans P. Saensouk, Saensouk & Boonma, a novel variety. Additionally, our investigation encompassed the chromosome numbers, karyotypes, and pollen morphological characteristics of these taxa. Both taxa share a chromosome number of 2n = 22, accompanied by distinctive karyotype patterns. Kaempferia sakolchaii displays a karyotype of 12m + 10sm chromosomes, while K. phuphanensis var. viridans presents a karyotype of 10m + 10sm + 2st chromosomes. The pollen grains of K. sakolchaii and K. phuphanensis var. viridans are monads, spheroidal in shape, radially symmetrical, apolar, inaperturate, and exine sculpturing irregularly arranged elongated ornamentation elements with verrucate features. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the taxonomic classification of these two taxa, enriching our understanding of Zingiberaceae diversity in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractionation of the stem bark of Enantia chlorantha Oliv yields three alkaloids, palmatine (1), jatrorrhizine (2), columbamine (3), and β-Sitosterol (4). In this investigation, density functional theory (DFT) calculations were carried out to evaluate the electronic structure and properties of 1–4 by DFT-B3LYP/6-31G level of theory using Gaussian 09 software. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO), lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO), HOMO-LUMO energy difference (band gap), hardness (η), softness (S), dipole moment (μ), electronegativity (χ), hydrophobicity (logP), topological surface area (TPSA), and energy gap (Eg) were calculated. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the compounds was investigated against MCF-7 and HCT116 cancer cell lines using Wi-38 cells as a control. The compounds inhibited the proliferation of the MCF-7 and HCT116 cell lines and induced apoptosis via upregulation of caspase-3, Bax, PARP cleavage, and downregulation of Bcl-2. DFT analyses revealed that compounds 1 and 3 have smaller energy gaps, 0.072 and 0.071eV, respectively, with the highest dipole moments; hence, these compounds are more chemically reactive and exhibit better modulation of caspase-3 enzyme and inhibitory activities of the MCF-3 and HCT116 cell lines. The antimicrobial and antiparasitic evaluation of 1–4 showed moderate efficacy against the bacterial strains and moderate antiparasitic activity against Cichlidogyrus tilapia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Available data suggests that there is no specific treatment in modern medicine. The present study aims to investigate the anti-SARSCoV-2 activity of Annona muricata and Artemisia annua leaf extracts as well as their acute toxicity study. The phytochemical screening of the plant extracts was done using standard methods. The acute toxicity evaluation was done using Lorke method. The antiviral activity screening against SARS-CoV-2 was done by plaque assay with Vero-E6 cell line. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, flavonoids, saponins and steroids in both plants, while tannins and anthraquinone glycosides were absent. The quantification of SARS-CoV-2 by plaque assay with Vero (E6) cell line shows a reduction in the zones of cellular death for the extracts treated cells compared to the cells with the virus only. Acute toxicity test showed no death or abnormal behavioural changes in mice during and after 24 hours of extract administration. On the basis of the results obtained from the present study, both Annona muricata and Artemisia annua leaf extracts are considered to have some level of inhibition against SARS-CoV-2 virus growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyperus conglomeratus has been utilized in traditional medicine as an emollient, diuretic, analgesic, anthelmintic, and for other diseases. Furthermore, several biological activities have been reported for the plant extract and the isolated metabolites. The chromatographic investigation of an ethyl acetate extract of the aerial parts led to the isolation of three aurone derivatives (1–3) from the plant for the first time. Their structures were identified as aureusidin (1), aureusidin-4-methyl ether (2), and 5-methyl aureusidin (3) using 1D and 2D NMR techniques, along with mass spectrometry. The compounds were tested for their inhibitory activities against enzymes vital in metabolic diseases, especially diabetes, such as α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and glycogen phosphorylase. The results were expressed as percentage inhibition. The inhibitory activity of aurones against the tested enzymes was also analyzed by computational docking studies to provide a rational explanation for the observed results. The tested compounds formed stable interactions in terms of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interaction with the active site residues of the tested enzymes, and the results are in agreement with those of the in vitro antidiabetic activity. The compounds were also evaluated for their ability to support the growth and viability of beneficial bacteria in terms of prebiotic activities using two species, Lacticaseibacillus paracasei and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus, through the determination of prebiotic activity scores (Pscore). The findings of this study showed that C. conglomeratus is a potential natural source of bioactive agents. There is, however, a need for in vivo testing to evaluate this plant's efficacy for developing new drug entities in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study evaluated the antioxidant and antidiabetic activity of extracts of Cylicodiscus gabunensis (CG) by in vitro assay methods. The powdered plant material was successively extracted to yield n-hexane extract (CG-HX), ethyl acetate extract (CG-EA), and methanol extract (CG-ME), respectively. The crude extract (CG-TE) was separately obtained from methanol. Phytochemical screening revealed the presence of alkaloids, flavonoids, phenolic compounds, steroids, and reducing sugars. The total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in the CG-ME (122.559 mg GAE/g extract), followed by CG-TE (121.913 mg GAE/g extract), while the total flavonoids content (TFC) was highest in the CG-EA extract (159.351 mg QE/g). The percentage DPPH free radical scavenging assay shows that the potency of the CG-EA extract (95.4±0.40 %) was comparable to ascorbic acid (96.22±0.692 %), p<0.05. In the ferric powerreducing antioxidant assay, CG-TE (2.246±0.1796) and CG-ME (2.140±0.1227) exhibited the highest antioxidant activity compared to others. The extracts significantly inhibited α-Amylase and glucose uptake in yeast cells in the in vitro study. This inhibitory potential was concentration-dependent with crude methanol extract (CG-TE) showing comparable inhibitory potency with Acarbose (45.7%) at 0.05 mg/mL but 40.10% at 4.00 mg/mL as against 51.27 % for Acarbose. Similarly, CG-TE was more potent than metronidazole, with percentage glucose uptake inhibitory potency of 50.13% and 76.465% at concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL and 4.00 mg/mL, respectively. We conclude that the plant extracts possess significant antidiabetic activity, which correlated with the antioxidant effects and could be further investigated for use in managing diabetes and related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antiprotozoal and antimicrobial properties of the extract and fractions of the whole plant of Pallenis hierochuntica were investigated against a panel of pathogenic organisms. Fractionation of the methanol extract of the whole plant of P. hierochuntica using reverse-phase chromatography gave 28 fractions and led to the isolation of 2 new bisabolone hydroperoxides, 6,10ß,11-trihydroxybisabol-2-ene-1-one (1a), 6,10a,11-trihydroxybisabol-2-ene-1-one (1b) and also 6,10ß-dihydroxybisabol-2,11-diene-1-one (2). They were characterised by extensive spectrometric analysis. Anti-infective investigations of the fractions revealed that fractions 22 to 26 possessed significant antimalarial activity against the D6 and W2 strains of Plasmodium falciparum with IC50 = 7.62-9.91 µg/mL and 5.49-6.08 µg/mL, respectively, and SI > 6.0 on average. Fractions 7, 16 to 24 exhibited good activity against Leishmania donovani promastigotes (IC50 = 6.71-18.77 µg/mL). Fractions 25 to 28 were active against Trypanosoma brucei trypomastigotes, fraction 25 being the most potent (IC50 = 4.13 µg/mL). Only fractions 11 to 13 were active against Aspergillus fumigatus (IC50 = 13.406 µg/mL). Compounds 1a and 2 were not promising against the organisms tested. 1a and 1b were characterised for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two humulene derivatives (asteriscunolides A (1) and C (2)) were isolated from the methanolic extract of the whole plant of Asteriscus hierochunticus. Their structures were characterized by IR, 1D, and 2D NMR and HRESIMS data analysis, in addition to comparison with literature. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited excellent in vitro antileishmanial activities against Leishmania donovani promastigotes with IC50 values of 8.38 and 3.26 µg/mL and against Leishmania donovani axenic amastigotes with IC50 values of 9.41 and 4.69 µg/mL, respectively while Pentamidine (the standard drug) exhibited IC50 values of 4.40 and 29.36, respectively. The isolated compounds possessed good activities against Plasmodium falciparum (D6) and (W2) strains with IC50 values ranging from 3.134 - 4.153 µg/mL. Furthermore, 1 and 2 showed no cytotoxic activity against the transformed human monocytic (THP1) cells. The chemical structures of 1 and 2 showed the essential pharmacophoric features of tubulin inhibitors that act through the colchicine binding site. Accordingly, molecular docking studies against the colchicine binding site of Leishmania tubulin have been preceded. Compounds 1 and 2 showed excellent binding mode with free energies of -5.62 and -5.54 kcal/mol, respectively. Further in silico studies were carried out and expected that 1 and 2 have the likeness to be drugs through exhibiting good ADMET results, no significant affinity against CYP3A4, and general low toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromatographic fractionation of the methanolic extract of Asteriscus hierochunticus whole plant led to the identification of a new humulene glucoside (1). The chemical structure of the isolated compound was elucidated by IR, 1D, 2D NMR, and HRESIMS data analysis to be (-)-(2Z,6E,9E)8α-hydroxy-2,6,9-humulatrien-1(12)-olide. In this study, we report the in silico binding affinities of 1 against four different SARS-CoV-2 proteins (COVID-19 main protease (PDB ID: 6lu7), nonstructural protein (PDB ID: 6W4H), RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (PDB ID: 7BV2), and SARS-CoV-2 helicase (PDB ID: 5RMM)). The isolated compound showed excellent binding affinity values (ΔG) of −21.65, −20.05, −28.93, and −21.73 kcal/mol, respectively, against the target proteins compared to the cocrystallized ligands that exhibited ΔG values of −23.75, −17.65, −23.57, and −15.30 kcal/mol, respectively. Further in silico investigations of the isolated compound (1) for its ADMET and toxicity profiles revealed excellent drug likeliness. On the other hand, the results obtained from in vitro antitrypanosomal, antileishmanial, and antimalarial activities of (1) were not promising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Caesalpiniaceae) is an ornamental plant with several ethnomedicinal uses. The present study was designed to investigate the brine shrimp cytotoxicity and insecticidal activity of oil obtained from C. pulcherrima root. The powdered root was extracted with methanol and then defatted with petroleum ether (40-60oC) to obtain a viscous oil. The oil was investigated for its brine shrimp cytotoxicity and insecticidal activity in vitro. The chemical constituents were identified by Gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry. The oil showed significant lethal effect against Artemia salina (Brine shrimp) with LC50 of 23.85 μg/mL and mild insecticidal activity against Tribolium castaneum and Callosbruchus analis with percentage mortality of 20% and 40% respectively at 1 mg/cm². GC-MS analysis identified 37 compounds mainly steroids, terpenoids and fatty acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]