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Background: The study aimed to compare the antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity of saponin extracted from six sea-cucumber species, licorice, and ginseng to determine the most potent one. Methods: Antimicrobial activity assessed by well diffusion and agar dilution methods. The inhibitory effects of the tested extracts on cell growth of Liver (HePG-2) and breast (MCF-7) cell lines assessed by MTT [3- (4, 5- dimethyl thiazol-2yl) - 2, 5- diphenyl tetrazolium bromide] assay. Results: The results revealed that licorice extract presented higher antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacterial strains than sea-cucumber extracts; but has comparable results for Gramnegative (Salmonella tyhimurium, Klebsiella spp, and Acinetobacter baumanii). Holothuria atra body wall and Bohadschia tubules have the highest antifungal effect against Candida albicans, Candida krusei, Candida famata, Candida glabrata, and Candida tropicalis. Sea-cucumbers are more potent against fungal strains than licorice and ginseng extract. Licorice and ginseng presented higher cytotoxicity against HePG2 and MCF-7 cell lines than sea-cucumbers. Conclusion: This study promotes the use of licorice extract as a better antibacterial substance than sea-cucumber extracts; however, the use of sea-cucumber extracts as antifungal agents than herbal extracts. Also, we support the utilization of licorice and ginseng as a cytotoxic agent instead of seacucumbers to stop the fishing of animals and consequently save it from extinction.

This study evaluates the reno-protective effect of Beta vulgarissubspecies maritima lyophilized 70% ethanolic extract (BVLE) in renal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) induced injury model in rats. Detailed investigation of the effects of its oral administration was checked. serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN), which was reduced to 0.7 ± 0.04 mmol/L at a dose of 200 mg/Kg of BVLE compared to 1.9 ± 0.08 mmol/L for the I/R group. And creatinine levels were reduced to 1.2 ± 0.06 nmol/L at a dose of 200 mg/Kg of BVLE compared to 4.7 ± 0.12 nmol/L for the I/R group. Oxidative stress biomarkers including MDA (reduced to 0.4 ± 0.03 compared to 1.7 ± 0.05 nmol/mg protein of I/R a dose of 200 mg/Kg) and GSH levels (increased to 1.3 ± 0.03 compared to 0.3 ± 0.02 nmol/mg protein of I/R a dose of 200 mg/Kg). Meanwhile, inflammatory mediators including TNF-α and IL-6 levels were lowered to 46.7 ± 0.60 and 32.1 ± 1.78 pg/mg protein, respectively. Oxidative stress genetic pathways including Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway viatesting Nrf2 and its dependent HO-1 mRNA expression levels were studied as well. Metabolomic profiling of BVLE was achieved by UPLC-HR-ESIMS coupled with molecular networking. BVLE significantly improved renal inflammatory markers, oxidative stress biomarkers and renal functions test, in dose dependent manner. Thirty-nine compounds were tentatively identified in BVLE by UPLC-MS/MS. Mainly flavonoid glycosides, triterpenoidal saponins and fatty acids. Among identified saponins five unreported betavulgaroside derivatives were tentatively described for the first time.

The n-BuOH-soluble fraction of the MeOH-CH2Cl2(1:1) extract of the aerial parts of Egyptian Atriplex halimusL. yielded two new flavonol glycosides, designated as atriplexoside A (1) [3′-O-methylquercetin-4′-O-β-apiofuranoside-3-O-(6″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-β-glucopyranoside)] and atriplexoside B (2) [3′-O-methylquercetin-4′-O-(5″″-O-β-xylopyranosyl-β-apiofuranoside)-3-O-(6″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-β-glucopyranoside)], together with six known compounds: two phenolic glucosides (3, 4), one ecdysteroid (5), one megastigmane (6) and two methoxylated flavonoid glycosides (7, 8). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by detailed spectroscopic analysis, including HR-ESI-MS and 2D-NMR spectroscopic data. DPPH radical scavenging, antileishmanial and anti-multidrug resistance activities were investigated using the n-BuOH-soluble fraction as well as the isolated compounds. Compound 8 (5-O-methylquercetin-3-O-(6″-O-α-rhamnopyranosyl-β-glucopyranoside) presented marked DPPH radical scavenging, weak antileishmanial and anti-multidrug resistance activity while the other tested compounds showed weaker activities.