Search

Mycotoxin contamination poses a significant problem in developing countries, particularly in northern Pakistan's fluctuating climate. This study aimed to assess aflatoxin contamination in medicinal and condiment plants in Upper Dir (dry-temperate) and Upper Swat (moist-temperate) districts. Plant samples were collected and screened for mycotoxins (Aflatoxin-B1 and Aflatoxin-B-2). Results showed high levels of AFB-1 (11,505.42 ± 188.82) as compared to AFB-2 (846 ± 241.56). The maximum contamination of AFB-1 in Coriandrum sativum (1154.5 ± 13.43 ng to 3328 ± 9.9 ng) followed by F. vulgare (883 ± 9.89 ng to 2483 ± 8.4 ng), T. ammi (815 ± 11.31 ng to 2316 ± 7.1 ng), and C. longa (935.5 ± 2.12 ng to 2009 ± 4.2 ng) while the minimum was reported in C. cyminum (671 ± 9.91 ng to 1995 ± 5.7 ng). Antifungal tests indicated potential resistance in certain plant species (C. cyminum) while A. flavus as the most toxins contributing species due to high resistance below 80% (54.2 ± 0.55 to 79.5 ± 2.02). HPLC analysis revealed hydroxyl benzoic acid (5136 amu) as the dominant average phytochemical followed by phloroglucinol (4144.31 amu) with individual contribution of 8542.08 amu and 12,181.5 amu from C. cyaminum. The comparison of average phytochemicals revealed the maximum concentration in C. cyminum (2885.95) followed by C. longa (1892.73). The findings revealed a statistically significant and robust negative correlation (y = - 2.7239 ×  + 5141.9; r = - 0.8136; p < 0.05) between average mycotoxins and phytochemical concentrations. Temperature positively correlated with aflatoxin levels (p < 0.01), while humidity had a weaker correlation. Elevation showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05), while geographical factors (latitude and longitude) had mixed correlations (p < 0.05). Specific regions exhibited increasing aflatoxin trends due to climatic and geographic factors., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

Caralluma europaea (Guss.) N.E.Br.: ( C. europaea ) is a wild medicinal plant belonging to the family Apocynaceae. It is commonly used in traditional medicines for treating several diseases. The present work aims to evaluate the anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antifungal potentials of C. europaea fractions including hydro ethanol (ET CE), n-butanol (But CE), and polyphenol (Poly CE). The chemical composition of hydroethanol, n-butanol, and polyphenol-rich fractions from C. europaea were determined using GC-MS after silylation. The anti-inflammatory effect of hydroethanol, n-butanol, and polyphenol-rich fractions was studied by carrageenan-induced paw edema. Antibacterial and antifungal activities of hydroethanol, n-butanol, and polyphenol-rich fractions against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts were assessed using the disc diffusion and micro-dilution assays. The findings of the chemical characterization affirmed the presence of interesting bioactive compounds in C. europaea fractions. The polyphenol-rich fraction was the best inhibitor of edema by75.68% after 6 h of treatment. The hydroethanol fraction was the most active against both bacteria and yeasts. This study contributes to society as it provides potential bioactive compounds in C. europaea extract, which may help in fighting nosocomial antibiotic-resistant microbes.

Withania frutescens ( W. frutescens ) is a medicinal plant widely used to treat several diseases. This work aims to study phytochemical composition as well as acute and subacute toxicity of W. frutescens hydroethanolic extract in mice. The phytochemical composition of W. frutescens extract was performed using gas chromatographic analysis. Acute toxicity was studied in vivo with oral administration of single doses 400 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg for 14 days. Subacute toxicity was studied with the administration of repeated doses of 400 mg/kg/day and 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Phytochemical analysis of W. frutescens hydro-ethanolic extract confirmed the presence of interesting chemical compounds. Acute toxicity results showed no toxic symptoms in mice treated with an increasing dose up to a maximum of 2000 mg/kg. Alongside acute toxicity, subacute data showed no clinical symptoms nor biochemical or histological alteration in mice treated with an increasing dose up to a maximum of 2000 mg/kg compared to the control group ( p < 0.05). This study shows no toxic effects in animals treated with W. frutescens extract, and, therefore, this plant can be considered safe in animals up to 2000 mg/kg under both acute and subacute toxicity conditions.

Background: Withania frutescens. L ( W. frutescens ) is a perennial woody medicinal plant belonging to family Solanaceae largely used by the indigenous population to Morocco for the treatment of disease., Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate the chemical composition, acute, and subacute toxicity of W . frutescens extract in mice., Materials and Methods: The phytochemical composition of W . frutescens extract was determined using a gas chromatograph (GC/MS). Acute toxicity study was carried out in mice through oral administration of single doses 500 mg/kg, 1000 mg/kg, and 2000 mg/kg for 14 days. Subacute toxicity was performed with oral administration of repeated doses 500 and 2000 mg/kg/day for 28 days. Biochemical parameters (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, urea, and creatinine), as well as histopathological changes potentially occurred in organs, (liver, kidney, and spleen) were evaluated., Results: The results of chromatographic analysis showed the richness of W . frutescens extract in interesting phytochemical compounds majorly constituted of bicyclo[3.1.1]heptane, 6,6-dimethyl-2-methylene-(C10H16). Regarding acute toxicity study, the results showed no clinical symptoms occurred in treated mice compared to the control group and no histological changes detected in analyzed organs of treated mice with dose put to 2000 mg/kg nor adverse effect on biochemical parameters., Conclusion: The outcome of this work showed no toxic effect of W . frutescens in mice up to dose 2000 mg/kg bodyweight. Therefore, this study could scientifically validate further traditional use with safety in the range of tested doses., Competing Interests: The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Abdelfattah EL Moussaoui et al.)

Antioxidants isolated from plants have attracted the interest of clinicians and common people to be used for systemic uses rather than synthetic antioxidants because of their active role in maintaining human health with minimal side effects. Alnus nitida (Spach) Endl. is an important medicinal plant native to western Himalaya and is widely distributed throughout Pakistan. The present study evaluates the phytochemical composition of this plant using HPLC along with the total content of phenolics and flavonoids. The antioxidant activities were determined following the Brand William assay. The methanolic extract (Met. Ext) of leaves, stem bark, seeds, and roots of A. nitida were used to scavenge synthetic free radicals such as DPPH and ABTS. From HPLC fingerprinting of the A. nitida selected portion, six possible phytochemicals were confirmed. Among the identified phytochemicals, there are six compounds (malic acid, chlorogenic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, ellagic acid and pyrogallol) in the leaves of A. nitida, three (epigallocatechin gallate, ellagic acid, and pyrogallol) in the stem bark, six in the seeds (malic acid, vitamin C, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, ellagic acid, and pyrogallol), and five (malic acid, epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, and ellagic acid) in root. Comparatively, the highest antioxidant potentials were recorded for the leaves extract (IC50 of 340 and 645 μg/mL against DPPH and ABTS, respectively). The percentages of inhibition were compared with the positive control ascorbic acid, which produced an IC50 value of 60 μg/mL each against the free radicals DPPH and ABTS. The highest phenolics (43.81 mg GAE/g sample) were found in the roots, while the highest flavonoid contents (53.25 mg QE/g sample) were in the leaves. It was assumed that observed antioxidant potentials of the tested plant might be due to their phytochemicals confirmed through HPLC, and thus, this plant may be a valuable candidate in treating oxidative stress and related disorders. However, further investigations are needed to isolate responsible components in pure from. Furthermore, toxicological effects in in vivo animal models are also needed to confirm the results observed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The root and aerial parts of Cotoneaster microphyllus were subjected to extraction and isolation of phytochemicals. The extracts were evaluated for their antioxidant anthelmintic, antimicrobial, and anticholinesterase potentials using standard protocols. Crude extract of aerial parts and roots, more potently scavenged DPPH free radicals with IC50 values of 83 and 66 μg/mL while ABTS with 92 and 90 μg/mL respectively. Chloroform fraction exhibited highest anthelmintic activity followed by ethyl acetate fraction. Ethyl acetate fraction produced high zone of inhibition against selected bacterial and fungal strains. Maximum phenolic contents and vitamin C were found in the ethyl-acetate and chloroform fractions and were therefore, biologically the most potent fractions. Ethyl acetate fraction exhibited highest anticholinesterase potential and was therefore subjected to silica gel column chromatography which resulted in the isolation of one new (1) and four known (2–5) compounds. The isolated compounds were also screened for anticholinesterase potentials. Compound 3, most potently inhibited acetyl cholinesterase and butyryl cholinesterase with IC50 value of 66 and 114 μg/mL, respectively. The extracts exhibited antioxidant, anticholinesterase, anthelmintic and antimicrobial potentials that should be further subjected for the isolation of other responsible compounds in pure state. As anticholinesterase compound 3 is a good candidate to be tested in animal models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Caralluma europaea (C. europaea) is a medicinal plant used in Moroccan popular medicine. Objective of the Study. The present work was aimed at identifying the chemical composition and the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of hydroethanolic and bioactive compound classes of C. europaea. Materials and Methods. The chemical composition was analyzed using HPLC. The antioxidant power was determined using both DPPH and FRAP assays. The antiproliferative activity was effectuated against cancerous cells using WST-1. Results. The chemical analysis showed the presence of bioactive constituents such as quercetin, myricetin, and hesperetin. The polyphenol and flavonoid contents were estimated at 51.42 mg GA/g and 20.06 mg EQ/g, respectively. The EC50 values of FRAP assay of hydroethanolic, flavonoid, saponin, and mucilage extracts were 5.196 mg/ml, 4.537 mg/ml, 3.05 mg/ml, and 6.02 mg/ml, respectively. The obtained IC50 values with the DPPH test were 1.628 mg/ml, 1.05 mg/ml, 1.94 mg/ml, and 9.674 mg/ml, respectively. Regarding MDA-MB-231, saponins were highly effective even with the lowest concentration (15.62 μg/ml). The flavonoids decreased the cell viability with IC50 values of 43.62 ± 0.06 μg/ml, whereas the hydroethanolic extract and mucilages were ineffective. Saponins were also effective against MCF-7 cells with IC50 values of 4.195 ± 0.025 μg/ml. Conclusion. The present results suggest that C. europaea may have considerable potential for the development of effective natural anticancer agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Prickly pear (Opuntia spp.), called Barbary fig, is a cultivated species springing from family Cactaceae. It is native to Mexico and has been naturalized in other continents, especially the Mediterranean countries (North Africa). The aim of the study was to investigate the physical, physicochemical, and biochemical criteria of peels of three Moroccan prickly pear varieties (Aakria, Derbana, and Mles) growing in the Rhamna regions (dry area). Material and Methods. Both physicochemical characteristics (humidity, water activity, Brix, ash content, pH, and total titratable acidity) and biochemical characteristics (total carotenoid content, betalain content, total polyphenolic content, and ascorbic acid content) were were studied according to previously reported methods. Results. Regarding the physiochemical criteria, the moisture of the fresh peels of studied varieties ranged from 81.59 ± 0.02 to 83.47 ± 0.02%. The water activity (aw) ranged from 0.862 ± 0.001 to 0.872 ± 0.001. The values of Brix varied from 14.69 ± 0.05° Bx to 15.80 ± 0.03° Bx. pH values varied from 5.13 ± 0.01 to 5.32. The total titratable acidity values ranged from 0.130 ± 0.008 to 0.196 ± 0.014 g of citric acid/100 g of FM (fresh matter). The ash content values ranged from 8.92 ± 0.10 to 11.04 ± 0.06 g/100 g of FM. Regarding the biochemical criteria, the total carotenoid content ranged from 2.29 ± 0.01 to 2.87 ± 0.01 μg/g of FM. The total betalain content ranged from 6213.46 ± 58.86 to 8487.19 ± 51.71 μg/100 g of FM. The total polyphenolic content varied from 160 ± 3.55 to 243.79 ± 5.55 mg GA E/100 g of FM. The ascorbic content ranged from 58.21 ± 0.24 to 74.72 ± 0.17 mg/100 g of FM. Conclusion. The findings of physicochemical and biochemical criteria of the investigated varieties growing in Moroccan drylands showed promising results in terms of studied parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aquifoliaceae is an important family and has been used traditionally for some time. One of the members of this family is the Ilex dipyrena wall, which itself possesses a potential medicinal importance. This plant is traditionally used for the treatment of various ailments including pain, swelling, burns, and fever. The current study was designed to screen out the antioxidant and analgesic potential of this plant and to verify its traditional uses, along with its phytochemical profile. Extracts were subjected to antioxidant, analgesic, and phytochemical analysis using DPPH, chemical-induced (acetic acid and formalin) nociception models and GC-MS analysis, respectively. The leaf, bark, and fruit extracts showed significant antioxidant activity compared to that of standard. Likewise, all the extracts demonstrated significant (p < 0.01) analgesic activity in a mice model. In acetic acid induced analgesia, the leaf, bark, and fruit extracts caused 51.64, 56.13 and 59.52% inhibition, respectively at a dose of 100 mg/kg while at 200 mg/kg it showed 83.01, 71.69 and 75.47% inhibition, respectively. In Formalin-induced paw-licking assay, fruit extract showed 59.42 and 64.19% inhibition at 200 mg/kg dose in the first and second phase, respectively. The GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of cathinone, phenylpropanolamine, dl-phenylephrine, amphetamine, myristic acid, and palmitic acid. Results of the study suggest that crude extracts from different parts of this plant may be a useful source for the development of novel analgesics. However, further investigation in terms of isolation of bioactive compounds and their toxicological evaluations are needed to validate the observed results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioassays guided phytochemical investigations on the ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the root material of Ballota pseudodictamnus (L.) Benth. led to the isolation of two new compounds, ballodiolic acid A (1) and ballodiolic acid B (2), along with three known compounds ballodiolic acid (3), ballotenic acid (4), and β-amyrin (5), which were also isolated for the first time from this species by using multiple chromatographic techniques. The structures of the compounds (1–5) were determined by modern spectroscopic analysis including 1D and 2D NMR techniques and chemical studies. In three separate experiments, the isolated compounds (1–5) demonstrated potent antioxidant scavenging activity, with IC50 values ranging from 07.22–34.10 μM in the hydroxyl radical (•OH) inhibitory activity test, 58.10–148.55 μM in the total ROS (reactive oxygen species) inhibitory activity test, and 6.23–69.01 μM in the peroxynitrite (ONOO−) scavenging activity test. With IC50 values of (07.22 ± 0.03, 58.10 ± 0.07, 6.23 ± 0.04 μM) for •OH, total ROS, and scavenge ONOO−, respectively, ballodiolic acid B (2) showed the highest scavenging ability. Antibacterial and antifungal behaviors were also exposed to the pure compounds 1–5. In contrast to compounds 4 and 5, compounds 1–3 were active against all bacterial strains studied, with a good zone of inhibition proving these as a potent antibacterial agent. Similarly, compared to compounds 3–5, compounds 1 and 2 with a 47 percent and 45 percent respective inhibition zone were found to be more active against tested fungal strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]