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Montanoa bipinnatifida is a perennial shrub belonging to family Asteraceae and geographically distributed in Mexico, Central America and Northern South America. This study aimed to investigate the chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from M. bipinnatifida leaves through GC-MS analysis accompanied by in-depth investigation of antimicrobial properties against wide arrays of microbial strains via agar diffusion method and disk diffusion method. The GC-MS analysis of the tested oil revealed presence of sixteen components (∼99.99%), predominated by germacrene D (37.22%), β-caryophyllene (30.73%), α-pinene (4.56%) and β-germacrene (4.48%). The undiluted oil exhibits varying levels of activity against different microbes. The leaf oil showed a significant inhibition against Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis (both vegetative and spores), Mycobacterium phlei, and Candida albicans. However, its activity against Sarcina lutea, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae appears to be less pronounced. Thus, the leaf oil of M. bipinnatifida demonstrates broadspectrum antimicrobial activity and is recommended in the pharmaceutical industry to overcome the current problem related to the microbial resistance to antibiotics. Further experimental studies are warranted to investigate the underlying mechanism of action and the responsible individual components. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myrtaceae is one of the most important plants families, being regarded as the eighth largest flowering plant family. It includes many genera of utmost ecological and economical importance distributed all over the world. This review aimed to report the latest studies on this family focusing on certain widely used plants including Eucalyptus sp., Eugenia sp. (Eugenia uniflora, Eugenia sulcata), Syzygium sp. (Syzygium aromaticum and Syzygium cumini), Psidium sp., Pimenta dioica, Myrtus sp. (Myrtus communis), Myrciaria sp. and Melaleuca alternifolia. The extraction of bioactive compounds has been evolving through the optimization of conventional methods and the use of emerging technologies. Supercritical CO2 was applied for essential oils and ultrasound for polyphenols leading to extracts and essential oils rich in bioactive compounds. Advances in the field of encapsulation and delivery systems showed promising results in the production of stable essential oils nanoemulsions and liposomes and the production of plant extracts in the form of nanoparticles. Moreover, a significant increase in the number of patents was noticed especially the application of Myrtaceae extracts in the pharrmacuetucal field. The applications of ceratin plants (Pimenta dioica, Melaleuca alternifolia, Syzygium aromaticum essential oils or Myrciaria cauliflora peel extract) in food area (either as a free or encapsulated form) also showed interesting results in limiting microbial spoilage of fresh meat and fish, slowing oxidative degradation in meat products, and inhibiting aflatoxin production in maize. Despite the massive literature on Myrtaceae plants, advances are still necessary to optimize the extraction with environmentally friendly technologies and carry out risk assessment studies should be accomplished to harness the full potential in food, industrial and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymol (THY), as the natural monoterpene phenol, acts against oxidative stress and inflammatory processes. This study aimed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effects and possible molecular mechanisms of THY via formalin-induced mouse and egg albumin-induced chick models alongside molecular docking and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations. THY (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg) was investigated, compared to celecoxib and ketoprofen (42 mg/kg), as antiinflammatory standards. THY dose-dependently and significantly (p < 0.05) decreased paw-licking and edema diameter parameters in formalin (phases I and II) and egg albumin-induced models. Moreover, THY (15 mg/kg) exerted better anti-inflammatory effects in combination with the standard drug ketoprofen than alone and with celecoxib. In silico studies demonstrated elevated binding affinities of THY with cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) than the COX-1 enzyme, and the ligand binds at a similar location where ketoprofen and celecoxib interact. The results of MD simulations confirmed the stability of the test ligand. THY exerted anti-inflammatory effects on Swiss mice and young chicks, possibly by interacting with COX-2. As a conclusion, THY might be a hopeful drug candidate for the management of inflammatory disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

St. John's Wort, commonly known as Hypericum perforatum L., is a flowering plant in the Clusiaceae family that traditionally been employed for treating anxiety, depression, wounds, burns, sunburn, irritation, and stomach ailments. This review provides a synopsis of H. perforatum L. phytoconstituents and their biological effects, highlighting its beneficial therapeutic properties for dermatological indications, as well as its antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti‐inflammatory, and anti‐angiogenic activity in various applications including wound healing and skin conditions such as eczema, sun burn and minor burns also spastic paralysis, stiff neck and mood disorders as anti‐depressant and nerve pains such as neuralgia. The data were collected from several databases as Web of Science PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus and Google Scholar using the terms: "H. perforatum L.", "H. perforatum L. /phytochemistry," and "H. perforatum extracts/wound healing" collected from 1994 to 2023. The findings suggest H. perforatum L. acts through various mechanisms and plays a role in each phase of the wound healing process, including re‐epithelialization, angiogenesis, wound contraction, and connective tissue regeneration. H. perforatum L. enhances collagen deposition, decreases inflammation, inhibits fibroblast migration, and promotes epithelialization by increasing the number of fibroblasts with polygonal shape and the number of collagen fibers within fibroblasts. H. Perforatum L. extracts modulate the immune response and reduce inflammation were found to accelerate the wound healing process via inhibition of inflammatory mediators' production like interleukin‐6, tumor necrosis factor‐α, cyclooxygenase‐2 gene expression, and inducible nitric oxide synthase. Thus, H. perforatum L. represents a potential remedy for a wide range of dermatological problems, owing to its constituents with beneficial therapeutic properties. H. perforatum L. could be utilized in the development of novel wound healing therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant pathogenic nematodes pose a significant threat to banana production, causing symptoms such as root lesions, stunted growth, and reduced yield. A comprehensive study in Bangladesh's Sylhet district aimed to assess nematode infestations in banana fields, involving interviews with farmers, soil sample collection, and microscopic examination. Results revealed the presence of multiple nematode species, with Helicotylenchus spp. being the most abundant. PCR analysis confirmed R. similis infestation in 35% of fields, highlighting its prevalence. Monoculture practices were observed among farmers, exacerbating nematode infestation risks. Limited communication between farmers and agricultural offices contributes to unawareness of nematode infestations. Country-wide studies and improved communication are crucial for implementing effective nematode mitigation strategies and safeguarding banana yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cheilanthes tenuifolia is an evergreen ornamental small fern, belonging to the family Pteridaceae, that grows in warm and rocky regions worldwide. Many species of Cheilanthes genus are evidently endowed with important phytochemicals and bioactivities. This study aimed to perform a preliminary phytochemical analysis of Cheilanthes tenuifolia leaves alongside an evaluation of free radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and clot lysis activities of extract fractions. Materials and methods: A preliminary phytochemical analysis was done after fractionation of ethanolic extract (ECT) with n-hexane (HCT) and chloroform (CCT). Then, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, egg albumin and RBC membrane stabilization tests, disc diffusion, and human blood clot lysis assays were performed. Results: Phytochemical investigations suggested that the plant is rich in alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and flavonoids. All obtained fractions exhibited concentration-dependent radical scavenging, inhibition of egg protein denaturation and RBC membrane lysis capacities. Except for antifungal tests, ECT exhibited better DPPH radical scavenging, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and clot lysis capacities than HCT and CCT fractions. However, all fractions exhibited a mild anti-inflammatory activity. Conclusion: C. tenuifolia might be a good source of antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-atherothrombotic agents. Further studies are required to isolate and characterize the active principles liable for each bioactivity, along with possible molecular interactions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes mellitus is a globally metabolic endocrine syndrome marked by a deficiency of insulin secretion (type‐1 DM) or glucose intolerance arising from insulin response impairment (type‐2 DM) leading to abnormal glucose metabolism. With an increasing interest in natural dietary components for diabetes management, the identification of novel agents witnessed major discoveries. Plant‐derived mucilage, pectin, and inulin are important non‐starch polysaccharides that exhibit effective antidiabetic properties often termed soluble dietary fiber (SDF). SDF affects sugar metabolism through multiple mechanisms affecting glucose absorption and diffusion, modulation of carbohydrate metabolizing enzymes (α‐amylase and α‐glucosidase), ameliorating β‐pancreatic cell dysfunction, and improving insulin release or sensitivity. Certain SDFs inhibit dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 and influence the expression levels of genes related to glucose metabolism. This review is designed to discuss holistically and critically the antidiabetic effects of major SDF and their underlying mechanisms of action. This review should aid drug discovery approaches in developing novel natural antidiabetic drugs from SDF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syzygium cumini L. is an evergreen tree belonging to family Myrtaceae, employed for different traditional uses like diabetes, inflammation, and fever. The current study aimed to compare the chemical compositions of the essential oils (EOs) isolated from different organs of Syzygium cumini (leaves (Scl), fruits (Scf), seeds (Scs), and bark (Scb)) using a GC/MS analysis. Also, a chemometric analysis was applied to explore the main similarities and differences among different organs using a Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a hierarchal cluster analysis (HCA). Furthermore, in vitro antiaging activities were investigated via anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and anti-hyaluronidase assays. The GC-MS analysis revealed 82 compounds representing 92.13%, 99.42%, 100%, and 92.97% in Scl, Scf, Scs, and Scb, respectively. The predominant components were α-pinene, β-pinene, (E)-β-caryophyllene, α-caryophyllene, caryophyllene oxide, and α-humulene epoxide II with variable percentages. All EOs were positioned on positive PC1, except for Scs, which was positioned on the negative side in a separate quadrant. The HCA dendrogram displayed the closeness of Scl and Scb, which was not clearly recognized in the PCA score plot. Moreover, the Scs oils were totally discriminated from other parts. The Scl and Scs oils showed superior anti-collagenase, anti-elastase, and anti-hyaluronidase activities. Thus, S. cumini oils should be considered for cosmetic preparations to retard skin aging manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liver fibrosis is considered as one of the ultimate outcomes of chronic liver disorders, characterized by outrageous cell proliferation and abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, resulting in sever pathological distortions in the architecture and performance of liver tissues. The present study aimed to investigate the protective properties of aqueous methanol extract of Acrocarpus fraxinifolius leaves (AFL) against liver fibrosis induced by dual toxicity of γ-irradiation and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in rats. The animals were exposed to 2 Gy irradiation once/week concurrently with intraperitoneal administration of CCl4 (0.2 mL/100 g body weight) for seven weeks. Afterwards, liver toxicity and fibrosis were assessed biochemically at cellular and molecular as well as histopathological levels. The livers of intoxicated rats showed distinct structural and functional changes, compared with the normal rats. The administration of AFL (500 mg/kg, p.o) significantly ameliorated the histopathological manifestations of fibrotic liver evidenced by mitigated steatosis progression, necrosis, fibrotic septa, apoptotic bodies, and immunochistochemical studies of alpha-smooth muscle actin. Also, AFL increased the final body weight, total protein, albumin levels and albumin/globulin ratio. While, the absolute liver weight, liver enzymes, total cholesterol and triglycerides were reduced. A significant modulation was observed in hydroxyproline, transforming growth factor-β and collagen-1expression. Furthermore, AFL exerted a direct effect on liver fibrosis by promoting extracellular matrix degradation via overexpression of the tissue inhibitor metalloproteinase-1, coupled with decease of metalloproteinase-9 activity. Our findings suggested that AFL effectively improved the architecture of fibrotic liver and modified the biochemical markers of liver fibrosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]