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Senna tora (L.) Roxb. is an ethno-medicinal herb used by rural and tribal people of the Satpura region of Madhya Pradesh in India and the Phatthalung Province of Thailand for treating rheumatism, bronchitis, ringworm, itches, leprosy, dyspepsia, liver disorders and heart disorders. It is also used in Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine. This study was conducted to investigate the potential of Senna tora (L.) Roxb. as a source of drug candidates against oxidants, inflammation, and bacterial infection. Preliminary phytochemical screening (PPS) and GC-MS were performed to identify the phytochemicals in the ethyl acetate extract of Senna tora (L.) Roxb. leaves (EAESTL). The in vitro antioxidant activity was assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH)- and H2O2-scavenging tests; the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity was determined by bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation and red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis inhibition; and the antibacterial activity was evaluated by agar-well diffusion methods. Cytotoxicity was estimated by Artemia salina larvae lethality, while acute toxicity was evaluated by oral delivery of the extract to mice. In silico antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities were predicted by the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) program. The pharmacokinetics related to ADME and toxicity tests were determined by the admetSAR2 and ADMETlab2 web servers, and drug-able properties were assessed by the SwissADME server. GC-MS detected fifty-nine phytochemicals that support the types of compounds (phenols, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, saponins, steroids, alkaloids, glycosides and reducing sugar) identified by phytochemical screening. EAESTL exhibited dose-dependent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities without any adverse effects or fluctuations in body weight. The PASS program predicted that the identified phytochemicals have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial activities. Among 51 phytochemicals, 16 showed good ADME, and 8 fulfilled drug-able properties without toxicity. Altogether, four phytochemicals, viz., benzyl alcohol, 3-(hydroxy-phenyl-methyl)-2,3-dimethyl-octan-4-one, phenylethyl alcohol and 2,6,6-trimethylbicyclo [3.1.1] heptane-3-ol, showed good pharmacokinetics and drug-able properties without toxicity, along with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. The obtained results suggest that Senna tora (L.) Roxb. leaves contain bioactive phytochemicals that have the potential to fight against oxidants, inflammation, and bacterial infection as potential drug candidates.

Ruellia prostrata Poir. has been used historically as an anti-cancer, wound healing agent and to treat gonorrhea. We aimed to determine the phytochemicals present in ethyl acetate extract of R. prostrata Poir. (EAERP). We sought to determine the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities in vitro, and toxicity properties in vivo. We also analyzed the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS), physicochemical, ADMET, and drug-likeness properties of phytochemicals in EAERP. To determine phytoconstituents, preliminary phytochemical screening and GC–MS were performed, while FT-IR was used to identify functional groups. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using a DPPH scavenging assay, whereas BSA denaturation and RBC hemolysis inhibition were used to assess anti-inflammatory activity. An agar-well-diffusion assay was performed to estimate the antibacterial activity. Brine shrimp lethality bioassay and oral delivery of EAERP of single-dose were performed to determine cytotoxicity and acute toxicity, respectively. The phytochemical screening revealed the presence of phenols, triterpenoids, saponins, steroids, amino acids, and fat and fixed oils. FT-IR analysis of EAERP showed the presence of many functional groups: alcohols/phenols, carboxylic acids, aldehydes, alkanes, esters, amines, amides, aromatic hydrocarbons, sulfoxides, and alkyl halides. GC–MS revealed the presence of 39 phytoconstituents including steroids, consistent with compounds and functional groups found in preliminary screening and FT-IR. EAERP showed dose-dependent antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 21.402 µg/mL and anti-inflammatory activity with an IC50 value of 20.564 µg/mL in RBC hemolysis inhibition and 21.115 µg/mL in BSA denaturation assays. EAERP also exhibited dose-related antibacterial activity. EAERP exerted cytotoxicity with an LC50 value of 17.619 μg/mL and acute toxicity with an LD50 value of 4095.328 mg/kg without any adverse effects. The PASS server also predicted that the phytoconstituents of EAERP have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities with probable activity (Pa) ranging from 0.310 to 0.717. Analysis of physicochemical, ADMET, and drug-likeness properties revealed the drug-able efficacy and safety of most compounds. The findings of this study indicated that R. prostrata Poir. contains phytoconstituents with potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial activities. Taken together, our measurements suggest that R. prostrata Poir. is a prime candidate for further exploration as a potential therapeutic agent.

ABSTRACT: Background: In Southeast Asia, Gynura procumbens has been utilized as a traditional medicinal herb for many diseases. The nontoxic effects of the leaves of G procumbens can be consumed safely for the treatment of many diseases, especially diabetes mellitus. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects of G procumbens leaves through different extracts. Methods: Cold extraction was employed for G procumbens leaves. Disc diffusion, bovine serum albumin denaturation, brine shrimp lethality assays, and microscopic examination of tissues (ie, liver, kidney, and heart) were performed to measure antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic activities, and histopathologic analysis, respectively. Results: The distinct concentrations of aqueous, ethanol, and n-hexane extracts showed prominent antibacterial activity against four pathogenic bacterial strains (Chromobacterium sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecium, and Escherichia coli 0157:H7:LT). The aqueous extract of G procumbens at a concentration of 200 µg/mL showed potential antibacterial activities against S aureus and E faecium, with mean (SD) zones of inhibition of 15 (1.0) mm and 10 (0.55) mm, respectively. At a concentration of 40 µg/mL, the aqueous extract of G procumbens exhibited significant (P < 0.01) anti-inflammatory activity compared with that of the other 2 extracts in the bovine serum albumin denaturation assay. The n-hexane extract showed moderate cytotoxic activity compared with that of vincristine sulfate. The median lethal concentration values of the aqueous, ethanol, and n-hexane extracts were 427.66, 218.56, and 114.51 μg/mL, respectively. The aqueous extract exhibited lower cytotoxicity than that exhibited by the ethanol and n-hexane extracts. The histopathologic analysis results showed that the aqueous extract of G procumbens had no harmful effects on the different organs of the experimental mice. Conclusions: The aqueous extract of G procumbens could be a potential source for treating various infectious and chronic diseases. (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp. 2021; 82:XXX–XXX)