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Ochrosia elliptica Labill is a small tropical evergreen tree native to Oceania belonging to the Apocynaceae family. Eight alkaloids, two flavonoid glycosides and three phenolic acids were identified by LC/MS analysis. On the other hand, the quality and uniformity of the plant leaves were assessed through the determination of the total phenolic and flavonoid, in addition to total ash, acid-insoluble ash, water-soluble ash and moisture content. The total ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the leaves of O. elliptica as well as their fractions were investigated for their antinociceptive (analgesic) using tail-flick test and antimicrobial activities using agar well diffusion assay. Among the tested fractions, the results showed that the n-butanol fraction exhibited high potency as antinociceptive compared to indomethacin drug and as antifungal compared to amphotericin B.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the impact of drought stress and foliar spraying of salicylic acid (SA) on the secondary metabolites particularly the γ-pyrones and total polyphenolic content in the different organs of Ammi visnaga L. plant. The following were measured: different growth parameters, γ-pyrones, total polyphenolic content (TPC) and the antioxidant activity of the methanolic extracts. From the results obtained, it was clear that drought stress had a negative impact on growth of the plant and on the yield of the fruits, whereas it caused an increase in the percentage of the two major γ-pyrones: khellin and visnagin in most organs. The adverse effects of drought stress on growth parameters was found to be partially alleviated by the salicylic acid foliar spray. On the other hand, combination of SA foliar spray and normal irrigation gave the highest percentage of khellin (1.544 ± 0.002%) and visnagin (0.902 ± 0.002%), as well as an increase in the yield of fruits per plant. In contrast, drought alone and in combination with SA significantly (p

Obesity is a multifactorial problem that leads to several life-threatening diseases and is becoming one of the most important public health problems with huge social costs. The incidence of obesity is increasing at an alarming rate, so the discovery of natural products that counteracts obesity with the least side effects has become of extreme importance nowadays. Inhibition of digestive enzymes is one of the most widely studied mechanisms used to determine the potential efficacy of anti-obesity agents. To that effect, the total methanolic and aqueous extracts of five plants [viz: Caralluma quadrangula, Caralluma tuberculata, Hibiscus shizopetalous, Hibiscus subdariffa (white variety) and Solenostemma argel] were tested for their inhibitory activity against pancreatic lipase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, along with their anti-oxidant potential via two different complementary methods; DPPH (1, 1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity and iron reducing power assays. The plants' extracts were also estimated quantitatively for their total phenolic, flavonoid, tannin and steroidal contents. The results showed that Solenostemma argel was the most active among the selected plants. An optimized extraction method was developed for S. argel based on its enzyme inhibitory activity to ensure maximum biological activity. The methylene chloride and n-butanol fractions in addition to seven isolated compounds viz: sterols, pregnane glycoside and flavonoid aglycones and glycosides from S. argel were further evaluated. Consequently, the present study suggests that S. argel could be of therapeutic interest for the control of obesity.

Cinnamon oil is obtained by steam distillation from cinnamon leaves and is usually considered highly cost-effective compared to bark oil, however, which results in tons of waste cinnamon leaves (WCL) discarded annually. By using MS/MS molecular networking (MN) assisted profiling, six main chemical diversities including flavonols and flavones, phenolic acids, lactones, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids and flavanols were rapid revealed from WCL aqueous extract. 101 compounds were tentatively identified by assigning their MS/MS fragments within typical pathways under ESI-MS/MS dissociation. The featured phenolic acids, terpenoids and their glycosides in cinnamon species were recognized as the main constituents of WCL. The hydrophilic lactones, lignans and flavanols were reported for the first time in cinnamon leaves. Furthermore, ABTS and FRAP assays integrated with MN analysis were conducted to uncover an antioxidant fraction, from which 40 potential antioxidant compounds were rapidly annotated. This fundamental information will help expand the utilization of WCL from cinnamon oil industry.

The chemical composition of essential oils extracted by hydro-distillation of leaves, unripe and ripe fruit peels of Citrus reshni hort. ex Tanaka was studied using GC-MS analysis. The antiviral ac...

The phytochemical investigation of Ochrosia eliptica leaves resulted in isolation and identification of eight compounds; lupeol, lupeol acetate, uvaol, ursolic acid, β-sitosterol glucoside, rutin, 8-methoxy and 9-methoxy ellipticine . The ethanolic extract and fractions were studied for their cytotoxic, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The cytotoxic activity was performed on human mammary adenocarcinoma (MCF7), its multidrug-resistant ‎ counterpart (VCREMS), estrogen receptor negative human metastatic breast ‎ adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231) and the non-cancerous, immortalized by ‎ telomerase, human breast epithelial cell line (hTERT-HME1). Additionally, the inhibitory potential on Cdc25s proteins was determined. The results showed that the dichloromethane (DCM) fraction and the major alkaloid; 9-methoxyellipticine exhibited high inhibitory activity against all tested cell lines particularly MCF7 and VCREMS cell lines, whereas t he DCM fraction showed a significant inhibitory action on Cdc25 A isoform. In contrast, the n-butanol fraction and 9-methoxyellipticine displayed the highest antioxidant potential. The DCM fraction showed significant anti-inflammatory activity compared to indomethacin. This work comprises the first comprehensive work to be conducted on O. elliptica leaves showing its potential in multiple biological activities .

The effects of six biotic and abiotic elicitors, i.e. MeJA (methyl jasmonate), SA (salicylic acid), ZnCl2, glutathione and β-glucan BG (fungal elicitor), and wounding, on the secondary metabolite accumulation in the soft coral Sarcophyton ehrenbergi were assessed. Upon elicitation, metabolites were extracted and analysed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Except for MeJA, no differences in photosynthetic efficiency were observed after treatments, suggesting the absence of a remarkable stress on primary production. Chemometric analyses of UPLC-MS data showed clear segregation of SA and ZnCl2 elicited samples at 24 and 48 h post elicitation. Levels of acetylated diterpene and sterol viz., sarcophytonolide I and cholesteryl acetate, was increased in ZnCl2 and SA groups, respectively, suggesting an activation of specific acetyl transferases. Post elicitation, sarcophytonolide I level increased 132 and 17-folds at 48 h in 0.1 mM SA and 1 mM ZnCl2 groups, respectively. Interestingly, decrease in sarcophine, a major diterpene was observed only in response to ZnCl2, whereas no change was observed in sesquiterpene content following treatments. To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first documentation for elicitation effects on a soft corals secondary metabolome and suggests that SA could be applied to increase diterpenoid levels in corals.

Phyllanthus emblica L. fruits have long been used in Ayurvedic medicine for their many health benefits. In this study, we present P. emblica fruit crude extract and fractions’ effects on the female reproductive system by assessing its estrogenic and gonadotropic activities. Results revealed that the non-polar petroleum ether and chloroform fractions exhibited the strongest estrogenic and follicle-stimulating hormone-like [FSH] activity, while the n-butanol fraction exhibited a significant luteinizing hormone-like [LH] activity. The ethyl acetate fraction showed neither estrogenic nor gonadotropic activities and in contrast it may impair female fertility suggesting that different metabolite classes contribute to the plant's overall effect on female fertility. To pinpoint active agents in these fractions, UPLC/ESI-qTOF-MS- was employed for secondary metabolite profiling with 100 metabolites annotated including ellagitannins, gallic acid derivatives, terpeneoids, sterols, phthalates and fatty acids. Correlation between extracts/fraction bioassays and UPLC/MS data was attempted using orthogonal partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) revealing that guaiane-type sesquiterpenes, phthalates, diterpenes and oxygenated fatty acids showed positive correlation with estrogenic and gonadotropic activities. In contrast, mucic acid gallates, gallic acid derivatives and ellagitannins correlated negatively. GC/MS analysis of the non-polar bioactive fractions viz. petroleum ether and chloroform was also attempted which revealed its enrichment in fatty acids/fatty acyl esters (34%) and phenolic compounds (19.6%). This study provides the first report on the estrogenic and gonadotropic activities of P. emblica fruits in relation to their metabolite fingerprint.

In this work both kinetic and thermodynamics of castor oil extraction from its seeds using subcritical water technique were studied. It was found that the extraction process followed two consecutive steps. In these steps, the oil was firstly extracted from inside the powder by diffusion mechanism. Then the extracted oil, due to extending the extraction time under high temperature and pressure, was subjected to a decomposition reaction following first order mechanism. The experimental data correlated well with the irreversible consecutive unimolecular-type first order mechanism. The values of both oil extraction rate constants and decomposition rate constants were calculated through non-linear fitting using DataFit software. The extraction rate constants were found to be 0.0019, 0.024, 0.098, 0.1 and 0.117 min(-1), while the decomposition rate constants were 0.057, 0.059, 0.014, 0.019 and 0.17 min(-1) at extraction temperatures of 240, 250, 260, 270 and 280°C, respectively. The thermodynamic properties of the oil extraction process were investigated using Arrhenius equation. The values of the activation energy, Ea, and the frequency factor, A, were 73 kJ mol(-1) and 946, 002 min(-1), respectively. The physicochemical properties of the extracted castor oil including the specific gravity, viscosity, acid value, pH value and calorific value were found to be 0.947, 7.487, 1.094 mg KOH/g, 6.1, and 41.5 MJ/Kg, respectively. Gas chromatography analysis showed that ricinoleic acid (83.6%) appears as the predominant fatty acid in the extracted oil followed by oleic acid (5.5%) and linoleic acid (2.3%).

Ethnopharmacological relevance Solenostemma argel (Argel) is a desert plant commonly used in Egyptian and Sudanese traditional medicine to suppress appetite, for treatment of diabetes, and as an antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory agent. Previously the anti-diabetic, hypolipidemic and lipase inhibitory activities of Argel were reported in animal studies and in-vitro assays. However, its specific mechanism of action as an anti-obesity agent has not been studied before. Aim of the study Assessment of the possible anti-obesity effect of Solenostemma argel on diet-induced obesity and elucidation of its mechanism of action, as well as, standardization of the active plant extract. Materials and methods The ethanolic extract (EtOH-E) and its fractions (CH2Cl2-F: methylene chloride and BuOH-F: n-butanol) were prepared from the aerial parts of S. argel and studied at two dose levels; 200 and 400 mg kg−1 in a model of high fat diet (HFD) fed rats. The animals (72 Male Wister rats) were assigned into 9 groups: group (i) fed with normal diet and groups (ii-iv) fed with high fat diet (HFD) for 16 weeks and treated with orlistat, EtOH-E, CH2Cl2-F and BuOH-F in the beginning of the 8th week. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were analysed for lipid and liver biomarkers, glucose and insulin levels, as well as, adipokines and inflammatory markers. Liver and adipose tissues were examined histopathologically and their homogenates were used to determine levels of oxidative stress markers and lipogenesis-related genes. Body weight was monitored weekly during the experiment. Results Our data showed that consumption of S. argel significantly controlled weight gain, attenuated liver steatosis, improved the lipid profile, modulated adipokines activities, increased β-oxidation gene expression, as well as, decreased the expression of lipogenesis-related genes and ameliorated inflammatory and lipid peroxidation derangement. The ethanolic extract was also standardized using LC–MS analysis for its content of stemmoside C. Conclusions The current study revealed that S. argel is a promising Egyptian natural drug, rich in pregnane glycosides, and could be considered a new therapeutic candidate targeting obesity.

Celtis australis L. and Celtis occidentalis L. are deciduous ornamental trees, grown in Egypt. This study presents a comparative investigation of the botanical features of the stems, stem barks and leaves of both plants. Furthermore, the DNA of both plants was extracted from leaf samples and analyzed using 10 decamer random primers. A total of 159 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were identified. Seed protein profiling was also performed and revealed low variation in both plants’ SDS–PAGE profiles.

The metabolomic differences in phenolics from leaves derived from 3 artichoke cultivars (Cynara scolymus): American Green Globe, French Hyrious and Egyptian Baladi, collected at different developmental stages, were assessed using UHPLC–MS coupled to chemometrics. Ontogenic changes were considered as leaves were collected at four different time intervals and positions (top and basal) during artichoke development. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) and supervised orthogonal projection to latent structures-discriminant analysis (O2PLS-DA) were used for comparing and classification of samples harvested from different cultivars at different time points and positions. A clear separation among the three investigated cultivars was revealed, with the American Green Globe samples found most enriched in caffeic acid conjugates and flavonoids vs. other cultivars. Furthermore, these metabolites also showed a marked effect on the discrimination between leaf samples from cultivars harvested at different positions, regardless of the plant age. Metabolite absolute quantifications further confirmed that discrimination was mostly influenced by phenolic compounds, namely caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. This study demonstrates an effect of artichoke leaf position, regardless of plant age, on its secondary metabolites composition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report for compositional differences among artichoke leaves, based on their positions, via a metabolomic approach and suggesting that top positioned artichoke leaves present a better source of caffeoylquinic acids, compared to basal ones.

)Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry,Dept. Bioorganic Chemistry,Weinberg 3, DE-06120 Halle(Saale)Bacterial wilts of potato,tomato,pepper,and or eggplant caused by Ralstoniasolanacearum areamongthemostseriousplantdiseasesworldwide.Inthisstudy,theissueofdevelopingbactericidalagentsfrom natural sources against R. solanacearum derived from plant extracts was addressed. Extractsprepared from 25 plant species with antiseptic relevance in Egyptian folk medicine were screened fortheir antimicrobial properties against the potato pathogen R. solancearum by using the disc-zoneinhibition assay and microtitre plate dilution method. Plants exhibiting notable antimicrobial activitiesagainst the tested pathogeninclude extracts from Acacia arabica and Punica granatum. Bioactivity-guided fractionation of A. arabica and P. granatum resulted in the isolation of bioactive compounds 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid and gallic acid, in addition to epicatechin. All isolates displayedsignificant antimicrobial activities against R. solanacearum (MIC values 0.5–9mg/ml), with 3,5-dihydroxy-4-methoxybenzoic acid being the most effective one with a MIC value of 0.47 mg/ml. Wefurther performed astructure–activity relationship (SAR)study for the inhibitionofR. solanacearumgrowth by ten natural, structurally related benzoic acids.

The biological activities and the determined major volatile components in the Magnolia grandiflora and M. virginiana flowers extracts were compared. Volatile components were detected in the essential oil by dynamic headspace sampling (HS). 2-Phenylethanol (40% and 61%) was found as the main constituent in the essential oil and HS samples of M. virginiana, respectively. In the M. grandiflora oil sample, (E,E)-farnesol (18%) and 2-phenylethanol (10%) were found as main constituents, whereas germacrene D (17%) and β-bisabolene (17%) were the main components of the HS sample. The essential oil in M. virginiana displayed a moderate antioxidant activity relative to vitamin E, whereas both essential oils were active against human lung carcinoma and breast carcinoma cell lines, even at concentrations higher than 200 µg mL(-1).

A major development over the past two decades has been the realization that free radical induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage are associated with major health problems, e.g. cancer and ageing. Plant-derived antioxidants are increasingly found beneficial in protecting against these diseases. Celtis australis L. and Celtis occidentalis L. are two plants that have a variety of uses in folk medicine but have not been evaluated before for their antioxidant and cytotoxic properties. Therefore, the extracts of both plants' leaves were investigated for these activities, as well as isolation of the bioactive compounds responsible for the activities. Molecular structures of the compounds were elucidated by UV, HRESIMS, 1D ((1)H and (13)C) and 2D ((1)H-(13)C HSQC and (1)H-(13)C HMBC) NMR analyses. The ethanolic and aqueous extracts, n-butanol fractions and the isolated major compound were tested for their antioxidant activity using DPPH radical scavenging assay, xanthine oxidase-induced generation of superoxide radical and lipid peroxidation assay by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) method using rat tissue homogenates. Cytotoxic activities were studied using standard MTT assay. A novel flavonoid C-triglycoside, 4‴-α-rhamnopyranosyl-2″-O-β-d-galactopyranosylvitexin, was isolated from both plants' leaves, together with seven known flavonoids. The n-butanol fractions and the major compound 2″-O-β-galactopyranosylvitexin showed significant antioxidant activities, more pronounced than the tested standards BHT and dl-α-tocopherol in most tests. All extracts showed variable cytotoxic activities. This study provides strong evidence for the antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of the extracts of Celtis australis L. and Celtis occidentalis L. leaves, which were attributed to the polar n-butanol fractions and the major isolated flavonoid 2″-galactosylvitexin.

Two novel acylated flavonol glycosides were isolated from the n-butanol fraction of the ethanolic extract of Platanus orientalis L. leaves. They were identified as kaempferol-3-O-(2″’-p-E-coumaroylrhamnosyl)(1″’→6″)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1′″→2″)-β-D-glucopyranoside]-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, and quercetin-3-O-(2″’-p-E-coumaroylrhamnosyl)(1″’→6″)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1″″→2″)-β-D-glucopyranoside]-7-O-α-L-rhamnopyranoside. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectral analysis.

A new flavonoid glycoside, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3,6-dimethoxyflavone-3′- O-β-D-xylopyranoside (axillarin-3′- O-β-D-xylopyranoside), was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanolic extract of Platanus orientalis L. leaves, along with nine known flavonoid aglycones and glycosides, a phenolic acid and a phenolic acid derivative. Their structures were established on the basis of detailed spectral analysis. The total ethanolic, aqueous and ethyl acetate extracts of the leaves were tested for antihepatotoxic, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities. The extracts were found to be effective in protection against CCl4liver injury by significantly lowering alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. The extracts also significantly restored depleted levels of glutathione, indicating a strong antioxidant activity, while they showed variable cytotoxic activity.