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The plants belonging to the genus Vicia are of great interest as a source of many bioactive compounds and micronutrients. A snapshot of their cultivation, habitat, main components, from which essential oils can be obtained, is given. The traditional medicinal uses of Vicia plants are also reported, as well as the wide spectrum of the main biological activities attributed to Vicia plants is discussed regarding potential health beneficial properties, in particular anti-Parkinson, anticholinesterase, antidepressant, anticonvulsant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, antioxidant, antiinflammatory and antinociceptive, antidiabetic, antihemolytic, anticoagulant, estrogenic, diuretic, antihypoxic activities., (© 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Phytochemicals serve as potential therapeutic agents for the prevention and treatment of diseases. In this study, we elucidate the renoprotective activity of compounds isolated from Eucalyptus globulus and Melaleuca styphelioides extracts in glucose- and oxalate-challenged NRK-49F cell model. The antioxidant potential of isolated compounds was evaluated based on their effect on antioxidant enzyme activities and lipid peroxidation levels. The results demonstrated that exposure of NRK-49F cells to glucose and oxalate stress augmented cell damage and attenuated antioxidant enzyme activities. The phytochemicals 2,2,8-trimethyl-6-formyl-chrom-3-ene-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside, Cornusiin B and tellimagrandin I treatment restored antioxidant enzyme activity, significantly lowered lipid peroxidation levels and effectively protected cells from glucose and oxalate stress equivalent to the known antioxidant, N-acetyl cysteine. Pterocarinin A significantly reversed cellular damage owing to glucose stress. In conclusion, the compounds isolated from E. globulus and M. styphelioides showed potential cytoprotective and anti-oxidative property against glucose- and oxalate-induced oxidative stress in NRK-49F cells.

Context In a previous study, the total extract of Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. (Myrtaceae) showed a significant hepatoprotective effect in a CCl4-induced toxicity model in mice. However, the active components responsible for the activity of the extract were not identified. Objective To determine the in vitro hepatoprotective activity of the isolated pure compounds from M. styphelioides leaves using the CCl4-challenged HepG2 cell model. Materials and methods The hepatoprotective activity of the compounds (at concentrations of 100, 50 and 25 μm), the total extract and silymarin (Sil) (100, 50 and 25 μg/ml) was determined by measuring the activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) after pretreatment with the tested samples for one hour. Glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) were estimated to determine the mechanisms of the hepatoprotective activity. Results Some compounds showed marked hepatoprotection, including tellimagrandin I, which produced 42, 36 and 31% decrease in ALT and 47, 43 and 37% decrease in AST, at the tested concentrations, respectively, pedunculagin (32, 32 and 30% decrease for ALT and 48, 48 and 45% for AST), tellimagrandin II (38, 32 and 26% decrease for ALT and 45, 40 and 34% for AST) and pentagalloyl glucose (30, 28 and 26% decrease for ALT and 45, 38 and 36% for AST). Tellimagrandin I and II showed the highest increase in GSH (113, 105 and 81% and 110, 103 and 79%, respectively), which was comparable to Sil. Pedunculagin produced the highest increase in SOD (497, 350 and 258%). Conclusion This study highlights promising natural hepatoprotective candidates derived from M. styphelioides.

Context: Liver disease is a serious problem. Polyphenolic compounds have marked antioxidant effect and can prevent the liver damage caused by free radicals. In vitro studies have revealed the strong antioxidant activity of an ellagitannin-rich plant, namely, Melaleuca styphelioides Sm. (Myrtaceae)., Objective: In view of the limited therapeutic options available for the treatment of liver diseases, the hepatoprotective potential of the methanol extract of M. styphelioides leaves (MSE) was investigated against CCl4-induced liver injury in mice., Materials and Methods: MSE was administered (500 and 1000 mg/kg/d p.o.) along with CCl4 for 6 weeks. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined in the serum. Glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated in the liver homogenate. The bioactive components of MSE were identified by NMR, UV and HRESI-MS/MS data., Results: MSE treatment (500 and 1000 mg/kg/d) markedly inhibited the CCl4-induced increase in the levels of AST (31 and 38%), ALT (29 and 32%), ALP (13 and 19%), and MDA (22 and 37%) at the tested doses, respectively. MSE treatment markedly increased the levels of GSH (29 and 57%) and antioxidant enzymes compared with the CCl4-treated group. MSE was more effective than silymarin in restoring the liver architecture and reducing the fatty changes, central vein congestion, Kupffer cell hyperplasia, inflammatory infiltration, and necrosis induced by CCl4. The LD50 of MSE was more than 5000 mg/kg., Conclusion: MSE confers potent antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects against CCl4-induced toxicity.

The hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of Bauhinia hookeri ethanol extract (BHE) against CCl4-induced liver injury was investigated in mice. BHE was administered (500 and 1000 mg/kg/day) along with CCl4 for 6 weeks. The hepatic marker enzymes: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined in the serum. The antioxidant parameters: glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were estimated in the liver homogenate. BHE treatment significantly inhibited the CCl4-induced increase in ALT (44 and 64%), AST (36 and 46%), ALP (28 and 42%), and MDA (39 and 51%) levels at the tested doses, respectively. Moreover, BHE treatment markedly increased the activity of antioxidant parameters GSH, GPx, GR, GST, and SOD. Histological observations confirmed the strong hepatoprotective activity. These results suggest that a dietary supplement of BHE could exert a beneficial effect against oxidative stress and various liver diseases by enhancing the antioxidant defense status, reducing lipid peroxidation, and protecting against the pathological changes of the liver. The hepatoprotective activity of BHE is mediated, at least in part, by the antioxidant effect of its constituents. The active constituents of BHE were identified by HPLC-PDA-ESI/MS/MS.