Search

Oxidative stress is a key factor that activates several transcription factors and mediators involved in the inflammatory pathways responsible for the pathogenesis of many chronic diseases. Targeting the expression of these mediators represents a promising approach to preventing these diseases. Cassinopsis ilicifolia leaf infusion is traditionally used for treating conditions such as inflammation and pain relief. Thus, the present study assessed the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of the hydroethanolic leaf extract of C. ilicifolia using in vitro and cell-based assays. As a result, C. ilicifolia extract exhibited the highest DPPH • and ABTS •+ radical scavenging potential. At the same time, it weakly scavenged the Fe 3+ -TPTZ radical up to 200 µg/mL, thus suggesting a different antioxidant mechanism triggered during each assay. Additionally, C. ilicifolia extract inhibited NO production and 15-LOX activity with IC 50 values of 21.10 µg/mL and 40.28 µg/mL, respectively. Further, C. ilicifolia extract was found to strongly inhibit ROS production in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells, and the study of its mechanism of action showed that it exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by downregulating the expression of inflammatory mediators such as IL-1β, TNF-α, and COX-2. Overall, C. ilicifolia extract showed consistent potency in all assays, and the analysis of its phytochemical profile led to the identification of 30 compounds, among which the most abundant were secologanic acid (1), chlorogenic acid (3CQA) (2), monotropein (3), chlorogenic acid (5CQA) (4), geniposidic acid (5), rutin (6), quercetin 3-galactoside (7), astragalin-7-rhamnoside (8), and minecoside (9) that are possibly responsible for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. Therefore, our findings suggested the potential use of C. ilicifolia as an alternative source for developing plant-based products against oxidative stress and inflammation-related conditions.

The emergence of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains is a threat to global health necessitating the discovery of novel chemotherapeutic agents. Natural products drug discovery, which previously led to the discovery of rifamycins, is a valuable approach in this endeavor. Against this backdrop, we set out to investigate the in vitro antimycobacterial properties of medicinal plants from Ghana and South Africa, evaluating 36 extracts and their 252 corresponding solid phase extraction (SPE) generated fractions primarily against the non-pathogenic Mycobacterium smegmatis and Mycobacterium aurum species. The most potent fraction was further evaluated in vitro against infectious M. tuberculosis strain. Crinum asiaticum (bulb) (Amaryllidaceae) emerged as the most potent plant species with specific fractions showing exceptional, near equipotent activity against the non-pathogenic Mycobacterium species (0.39 µg/ml ≤ MIC ≤ 25 µg/ml) with one fraction being moderately active (MIC = 32.6 µg/ml) against M. tuberculosis. Metabolomic analysis led to the identification of eight compounds predicted to be active against M. smegmatis and M. aurum. In conclusion, from our comprehensive study, we generated data which provided an insight into the antimycobacterial properties of Ghanaian and South African plants. Future work will be focused on the isolation and evaluation of the compounds predicted to be active., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Harungana madagascariensis (HM) and Psorospermum aurantiacum (PA), used traditionally for skin care, have been reported to upregulate the expression of intracellular antioxidant genes, thereby preventing melanoma and protecting fibroblast cell lines from Ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced intracellular oxidative stress., Aims: This investigation aimed to identify major compounds in bioactive fractions using bioassay- guided fractionation., Methods: The anti-inflammatory effect of fractions was determined by measuring their inhibitory activity on 15-lipoxygenase and nitric oxide (NO) in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. Additionally, the anti-aging efficacy of the fractions was determined by assessing the expression of markers for the aging process, i.e., expression of tyrosinase (TYR), tyrosinase-related protein-1 (TRP-1), procollagen type-1 (COL1A1), and matrix metalloproteinase- 1 (MMP-1) in UVB-induced photoaging in skin cell-lines. Furthermore, UHPLCMS- based identification of the bioactive compounds from the most prominent fraction was also carried out., Results: Hexane fraction of HM significantly inhibited (p <0.05) the 15-lipoxygenase (IC50 = 46.80 μg/mL) and NO production (IC50 = 66.55 μg/mL), whereas hexane fraction of PA was effective (p <0.05) in inhibiting 15-lipoxygenase activity (IC50 = 27.55 μg/mL). Furthermore, the hexane fraction of HM and methanol fraction of PA were significantly effective (p <0.05) in reverting the UVB-mediated altered expressions of MMP-1, TYR, TRP-1, and COL1A1. Furthermore, hexane fraction of HM revealed the presence of harunganin and betulinic acid, whereas vismion D, vismin, kenganthranol B, and bianthrone 1a were identified from the methanol fraction of PA., Conclusion: Overall, the hexane fraction of HM and methanol fraction of PA displayed effective anti-aging activities, with additional anti-inflammatory effects., (Copyright© Bentham Science Publishers; For any queries, please email at epub@benthamscience.net.)

Small ruminant production is one of the most important animal productions for food security in the world, especially in the developing world. Gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection is a threat to this animal's production. Conventional drugs that are used to control these parasites are losing their efficacy due to the development of resistant parasites. These drugs are not biologically degradable, taint meat products and are also expensive for communal farmers. Hence, research is now exploring ethnomedicinal anthelmintic plants for an alternative remedy. The objective of this paper was to review ethnomedicinal plants as a potential alternative to unsustainable commercial anthelmintics. This review sought to understand common GINs infecting ruminants, resistance manifestation in GINs to conventional treatment, reasons communal farmers choose ethnomedicine, and modes of action in anthelmintic plants. It also examined the usage of plants and plant parts, dosage forms, methods for improving bioactivity, convectional validation procedures, and restrictions on ethnomedicinal plant use as anthelmintics in ethnomedicine. Such insight is essential, as it highlights the importance of ethnoveterinary medicine and ways to adopt or improve it as a potential alternative to conventional anthelmintics., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Lindokuhle Christopher Mhlongo et al.)

Secondary metabolites were isolated using chromatographic techniques after being extracted sequentially from the roots of Artemisia afra using organic solvents such as ethanol, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n-hexane. The isolated compounds were evaluated for anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and cytotoxicity activities. Spectroscopic techniques, including Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), were used to elucidate the structures of the isolated compounds. The phytochemical investigation of A. afra led to the isolation of eight ( A - H ) compounds which were identified as 3 β -taraxerol ( A ), 3 β -taraxerol acetate ( B ), dodecyl- p -coumarate ( C ), ferulic acid ( D ), scopoletin ( E ), sitosterol-3- O - β - D -glucopyranoside ( F ), 3,5-di- O -feruloylquinic acid ( G ) and Isofraxidin-7- O - β - D -glucopyranoside ( H ) based on spectroscopic data. Compounds A , B , C , F , G , and H are known but were isolated for the first time from the roots of A. afra . The isolated compounds and extracts from A. afra exhibited good anti-fungal and anti-bacterial activity with dichloromethane and ethyl acetate crude extracts (0.078 mg/mL) and compound E (62.5 µg/mL) showed good activities against Escherichia coli . Compounds C and F also showed good activity against Enterococcus faecalis with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 62.5 and 31.25 µg/mL, respectively. Extracts and compounds ( A - H ) exhibited anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties and showed no toxicity when tested on Vero monkey kidney (Vero) cells.

Black locust ( Robinia pseudoacacia L.), an invasive tree in Europe, commonly known for its negative impact on biodiversity, is a rich source of phenolic compounds recognized in traditional medicine. Since the metabolite profile depends on the environment and climate, this study aimed to provide the first LC-MS phytochemical screening of the black locust from the Istria region (Croatia). The compounds were extracted from leaves and flowers with 70% ethanol and 80% methanol. Total phenolics (TP) and flavonoids (TF), as well as antioxidant capacity (AC) measured by ABTS (17.49-146.41 mg TE/g DW), DPPH (24.67-118.49 mg TE/g DW), and FRAP (7.38-77.53 mg TE/g DW) assays, were higher in leaf than in flower extracts. Higher TP and total non-flavonoid (TNF) values were displayed in ethanolic than in methanolic extracts. In total, 64 compounds were identified, of which flavonols (20) and hydroxycinnamic acid derivatives (15) were the most represented. Flavanols such as catechin dominated in leaf extracts, followed by flavonols, with kaempferol glucuronyl rhamnosyl hexosides as the main compound, respectively. Flower extracts had the highest share of flavones, followed by ellagitannins, with luteolin dirhamnosyl hexosides and vescalagin, respectively, being predominant. The extracts had good quorum sensing, biofilm formation prevention, and eradicating capacity. The results provided new insights into the phytochemical properties of R. pseudoacacia as the first step toward its potential pharmaceutical use.

Chemical investigation of the ethanol extract from the stems and roots of the medicinal plant Lavigeria macrocarpa led to the isolation and structure elucidation of three previously unreported 21-nordammarane-type saponins namely 6α,27-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxo-21-nordammar-24-(Z)-ene 27-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-glucopyranoside] (1), 6α,27-dihydroxy-3-oxo-21-nordammar-24-(Z)-ene 27-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (2), and 2α,3β,6α,27-tetrahydroxy-21-nordammar-24-(Z)-ene 27-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3) trivially named lavigemacrocarposide A-C, along with eight known secondary metabolites. Acid hydrolysis of lavigemacrocarposide A yielded a new prosapogenin namely 6α,27-dihydroxy-3,20-dioxo-21-nordammar-24-(Z)-ene 27-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1a) and the previously unreported artefactual aglycones 1b and 1c. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including mass spectrometry, 1D and 2D NMR as well as chemical evidence. The EtOH extract, some isolated compounds as well as the prosapogenin (1a) and compounds 1b and 1c were evaluated for anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic activity. Icacine (5) exhibited a significant cytotoxicity against both HeLa and MCF-7 cell lines with an IC 50 value of 0.78 μg/mL. All the tested compounds showed more that 50% inhibition of NO production, except for 1 and 2., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Tuberculosis (TB) is currently rated as the 13th leading cause of mortality and the second leading cause of death after COVID-19, and above AIDS. Existing challenges relating to the development of multidrug-resistant strains and dangerous side effects of currently used drugs add impetus to the search for additional TB treatments. Hence, interest has grown in the use of medicinal plants as a source of bioactive preparations with efficacy against TB-causing organisms, and also with the ability to ameliorate the negative effects of TB drugs. This study aimed to evaluate the antimycobacterial and hepatoprotective potentials of extracts and isolated flavonoid compounds from invasive Chromolaena odorata. Test organisms used were pathogenic Mycobacterium bovis and M. tuberculosis H37RV, and the fast-growing M. aurum, M. fortuitum and M. smegmatis . The selectivity index (SI) values of the test substances were determined through cytotoxicity assays to promote these extracts and compounds as leads for the development of effective and safe anti-tubercular drugs. The antimycobacterial activity was evaluated using a serial microdilution method, and the SI was calculated from the 50% lethal concentrations calculated from cytotoxicity tests. Hepatoprotective activity was determined using HepG2 liver cells treated with rifampicin as a toxin. The extracts and compounds had a range of antimycobacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.031 to 2.5 mg/mL. Two flavonoid compounds, 5,7,4'-trimethoxy flavanone and 5‑hydroxy-3,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone showed promising antimycobacterial potential, and minimal toxicity was observed, as most SI values were higher than 1. The flavonoid compound 5,7,4'-trimethoxy flavanone had the highest SI (6.452), which was against M. tuberculosis H37RV. The HepG2 cells were reduced to 65% due to toxicity by rifampicin, however, the flavonoid compounds were able to improve cell viability to between 81 and 89% at different concentrations tested. Results obtained indicate that C. odorata may serve as a lead for the development of safe and effective antimycobacterial and hepatoprotective drugs., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2023 SAAB. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Sarcocephalus pobeguinii (Hua ex Pobég) is used in folk medicine to treat oxidative-stress related diseases, thereby warranting the investigation of its anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. In our previous study, the leaf extract of S. pobeguinii induced significant cytotoxic effect against several cancerous cells with high selectivity indexes towards non-cancerous cells. Aim: The current study aims to isolate natural compounds from S. pobeguinii , and to evaluate their cytotoxicity, selectivity and anti-inflammatory effects as well as searching for potential target proteins of bioactive compounds. Methods: Natural compounds were isolated from leaf, fruit and bark extracts of S. pobeguinii and their chemical structures were elucidated using appropriate spectroscopic methods. The antiproliferative effect of isolated compounds was determined on four human cancerous cells (MCF-7, HepG2, Caco-2 and A549 cells) and non-cancerous Vero cells. Additionally, the anti-inflammatory activity of these compounds was determined by evaluating the nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitory potential and the 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) inhibitory activity. Furthermore, molecular docking studies were carried out on six putative target proteins found in common signaling pathways of inflammation and cancer. Results: Hederagenin ( 2 ), quinovic acid 3-O-[α-D-quinovopyranoside] ( 6 ) and quinovic acid 3-O-[β-D-quinovopyranoside] ( 9 ) exhibited significant cytotoxic effect against all cancerous cells, and they induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cells by increasing caspase-3/-7 activity. ( 6 ) showed the highest efficacy against all cancerous cells with poor selectivity (except for A549 cells) towards non-cancerous Vero cells; while ( 2 ) showed the highest selectivity warranting its potential safety as a chemotherapeutic agent. Moreover, ( 6 ) and ( 9 ) significantly inhibited NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells which could mainly be attributed to their high cytotoxic effect. Besides, the mixture nauclealatifoline G and naucleofficine D ( 1 ), hederagenin ( 2 ) and chletric acid ( 3 ) were active against 15-LOX as compared to quercetin. Docking results showed that JAK2 and COX-2, with the highest binding scores, are the potential molecular targets involved in the antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory effects of bioactive compounds. Conclusion: Overall, hederagenin ( 2 ), which selectively killed cancer cells with additional anti-inflammatory effect, is the most prominent lead compound which may be further investigated as a drug candidate to tackle cancer progression., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Mfotie Njoya, Ndemangou, Akinyelu, Munvera, Chukwuma, Mkounga, Mashele, Makhafola and McGaw.)

Uncomplicated malaria is effectively treated with oral artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT). Yet, there is an unmet clinical need for the intravenous treatment of the more fatal severe malaria. There is no combination intravenous therapy for uncomplicated due to the nonavailability of a water-soluble partner drug for the artemisinin, artesunate. The currently available treatment is a two-part regimen split into an intravenous artesunate followed by the conventional oral ACT . In a novel application of polymer therapeutics, the aqueous insoluble antimalarial lumefantrine is conjugated to a carrier polymer to create a new water-soluble chemical entity suitable for intravenous administration in a clinically relevant formulation . The conjugate is characterized by spectroscopic and analytical techniques, and the aqueous solubility of lumefantrine is determined to have increased by three orders of magnitude. Pharmacokinetic studies in mice indicate that there is a significant plasma release of lumefantrine and production its metabolite desbutyl-lumefantrine (area under the curve of metabolite is ≈10% that of the parent). In a Plasmodium falciparum malaria mouse model, parasitemia clearance is 50% higher than that of reference unconjugated lumefantrine. The polymer-lumefantrine shows potential for entering the clinic to meet the need for a one-course combination treatment for severe malaria., (© 2023 The Authors. Macromolecular Bioscience published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Purpose: Anacardium occidentale commonly known as Cashew is a plant that is widely used in African traditional medicine. It is endowed with phytochemical constituents that are responsible for its medicinal properties., Methods: Twenty-five male Wistar rats were grouped as follows: Control (Group A), Group B (L-NAME 40 mg/kg), Group C (100 mg/kg Anacardium occidentale extract plus 40 mg/kg L-NAME), Group D (200 mg/kg extract plus 40 mg/kg L-NAME) and Group E (10 mg/kg of Lisinopril plus 40 mg/kg L-NAME). The animals were treated with oral administration of either the extracts or Lisnopril daily for 4 weeks. Neuro-behavioural tests such as the Morris Water Maze and Hanging Wire Grip tests were carried out to evaluate memory/spatial learning and muscular strength, respectively. Makers of oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes and immunohistochemical staining of Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein and Ionised Calcium Binding Adaptor molecule 1 were assessed., Results: L-NAME administration caused significant increases in biomarkers of oxidative stress, decreased antioxidant status, acetylcholinesterase activity, altered neuro-behavioural changes, astrocytosis, and microgliosis. However, Anacardium occidentale reversed exaggerated oxidative stress biomarkers and improved neuro-behavioural changes., Conclusions: Combining all, Anacardium occidentale enhanced brain antioxidant defence status, improved memory and muscular strength, thus, suggesting the neuroprotective properties of Anacardium occidentale .

Purpose The persistent and alarming rates of increase in cardiovascular and renal diseases caused by chemicals such as cobalt chloride (CoCl 2 ) in mammalian tissues have led to the use of various drugs for the treatment of these diseases. This study aims at evaluating the nephron-protective action of Naringin (NAR), a metal-chelating antioxidant against CoCl 2 -induced hypertension and nephrotoxicity. Methods Forty-two male Wistar rats were randomly distributed to seven rats of six groups and classified into Group A (Control), Group B (300 part per million; ppm CoCl 2 ), Group C (300 ppm CoCl 2 + 80 mg/kg NAR), Group D (300 ppm CoCl 2 + 160 mg/kg NAR), Group E (80 mg/kg NAR), and Group F (160 mg/kg NAR). NAR and CoCl 2 were administered via oral gavage for seven days. Biomarkers of renal damage, oxidative stress, antioxidant status, blood pressure parameters, immunohistochemistry of renal angiotensin-converting enzyme and podocin were determined. Results Cobalt chloride intoxication precipitated hypertension, renal damage, and oxidative stress. Immunohistochemistry revealed higher expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and podocin in rats administered only CoCl 2 . Conclusion Taken together, the antioxidant and metal-chelating action of Naringin administration against cobalt chloride-induced renal damage and hypertension could be through abrogation of angiotensin-converting enzyme and podocin signalling pathway.

Sodium fluoride (NaF) is one of the neglected environmental toxicants that has continued to silently cause toxicity to both humans and animals. NaF is universally present in water, soil, and atmosphere. The persistent and alarming rate of increase in cardiovascular and renal diseases caused by chemicals such as NaF in mammalian tissues has led to the use of various drugs for the treatment of these diseases. The present study aimed at evaluating the renoprotective and antihypertensive effects of L-arginine against NaF-induced nephrotoxicity. Thirty male Wistar rats (150-180 g) were used in this study. The rats were randomly divided into five groups of six rats each as follows: Control, NaF (300 ppm), NaF + L-arginine (100 mg/kg), NaF + L-arginine (200 mg/kg), and NaF + lisinopril (10 mg/kg). Histopathological examination and immunohistochemistry of renal angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MCR) were performed. Markers of renal damage, oxidative stress, antioxidant defense system, and blood pressure parameters were determined. L-arginine and lisinopril significantly (P < 0.05) ameliorated the hypertensive effects of NaF. The systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure of the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) reduced compared with the hypertensive group. This finding was concurrent with significantly increased serum bioavailability of nitric oxide in the hypertensive rats treated with L-arginine and lisinopril. Also, there was a significant reduction in the level of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine of hypertensive rats treated with L-arginine and lisinopril. There was a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in markers of oxidative stress such as malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl and concurrent increase in the levels of antioxidant enzymes in the kidney of hypertensive rats treated with L-arginine and lisinopril. The results of this study suggest that L-arginine and lisinopril normalized blood pressure, reduced oxidative stress, and the expression of renal ACE and mineralocorticoid receptor, and improved nitric oxide production. Thus, L-arginine holds promise as a potential therapy against hypertension and renal damage., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Monsonia angustifolia is traditionally used to treat anthrax, heartburn, diarrhea, eye infections and hemorrhoids. Dodonaea angustifolia is frequently used as a treatment for dental pain, microbial infections and jungle fever. The two plant species were selected due to the presence of secondary metabolites such as coumarins, flavonoids, terpenoids, saponins and polyphenolics from the crude extracts, which exhibit pharmacological significance. The pure isolated compounds from the crude extracts are known for their diverse structures and interesting pharmacophores., Aim: To isolate and identify antibacterial and antifungal chemical constituents from Monsonia angustifolia and Dodonaea angustifolia plant extracts and evaluate the cytotoxicity of pure compounds from the crude extracts., Materials and Methods: Extractives from M. angustifolia and D. angustifolia plants were isolated using chromatographic techniques and structures were elucidated based on NMR, IR and MS spectroscopic techniques. A microplate serial dilution method was used to evaluate the antibacterial activity of extracts and pure compounds against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. The cytotoxicity was determined using the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay., Results: The dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol crude extracts from the plants exhibited significant inhibition of microbial growth. The phytochemical investigation of these active crude extracts led to the isolation of five pure active compounds, 5-methoxyjusticidin A (1), cis-phytyl diterpenoidal fatty acid ester (2), stigmasterol (3), β-sitosterol (4) and 5-hydroxy-7,4'-dimethoxyflavone (5). Stigmasterol (3) showed good antifungal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans with a minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of 25 μg/mL and Candida albicans (MIC = 50 μg/mL)., Conclusion: Compounds (1-5) isolated from Monsonia angustifolia and Dodonaea angustifolia showed antibacterial and antifungal activities and were non-toxic against Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells and VERO monkey kidney (VERO) cells., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest Authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Global interest in phytogenic feed additives as alternatives to antibiotics in feed has been spurred by the banning of antibiotic growth promoters by several countries. Suitable plant extracts for development of phytogenic feed additives should have therapeutic value and should also be safe., Aim of Study: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibacterial, antioxidant and anti-lipoxygenase activities as well as cytotoxicity of selected plant species used in poultry ethnomedicine in Zimbabwe., Methods: Antibacterial activity was determined against three ATCC strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis) and two clinical strains isolated from chickens (Escherichia coli and Salmonella Gallinarum) using a two-fold serial microdilution assay. Qualitative antibacterial bioautography was also carried out using the ATCC strains. Antioxidant activities of crude acetone and methanol extracts were determined using free radical scavenging assays whilst anti-lipoxygenase activity was evaluated using a ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX) assay. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using a tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay) on Vero monkey kidney cells., Results: Erythrina abyssinica had the best antibacterial activity against both ATCC strains and clinical strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.02 to 0.156 mg/ml. Aloe greatheadii, Adenia gummifera (leaves), Senna singueana and Aloe chabaudii had moderate activity against the poultry pathogens. Bioautography showed that all ten plant species have antibacterial activity against the tested microorganisms with E. abyssinica and S. singueana having prominent bands of inhibition against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The acetone extract of S. singueana and the methanol extract of Euphorbia matabelensis had the most powerful antioxidant activities with mean IC 50 values of 1.43 μg/ml and 1.31 μg/ml respectively in the ABTS assay which were comparable with those of the positive controls (ascorbic acid and trolox). Bobgunnia madagascariensis, A. chabaudii, E. abyssinica and Tridactyle bicaudata extracts had reasonable antioxidant activity. The S. singueana extract had the most potent anti-lipoxygenase activity with a mean IC 50 value of 1.72 μg/ml. The cytotoxicity results showed that only the acetone extracts of A. greatheadii and S. singueana were relatively safe at concentrations that were active against the tested microorganisms (selective index >1). Regarding anti-lipoxygenase activity, extracts of B. madagascariensis, S. singueana, T. bicaudata and E. matabelensis were more active than toxic (selective index >5) indicating anti-inflammatory potential., Conclusions: This study showed that S. singueana had a cocktail of therapeutic activity and supports further investigation of this plant species for development of phytogenic poultry feed additives. Other plant species with noteworthy biological activities include B. madagascariensis, E. abyssinica, A. greatheadii, T. bicaudata and E. matabelensis., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Rhynchosia minima, commonly known as jumby bean, is used as a remedy for respiratory ailments in various parts of the world. It is also used by South African traditional healers to treat heart or chest pain. This study aimed to investigate the bioactive constituents of the leaf extracts of R. minima against selected fungal isolates that have been identified as risk factors in respiratory illness. Rhynchosia minima leaves were extracted sequentially using hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol in increasing order of polarity. The extracts were subjected to repeated chromatographic techniques, for phytochemical isolation. The extracts and isolated compounds were screened against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans by determining the minimum concentration that inhibited fungal growth. Six flavonoids, one norisoprenoid and one cyclitol were isolated and characterized by 1D and 2D NMR and HR-ESI-MS. The extracts obtained in the study had moderate to weak antifungal activities, with MICs ranging from 312.5 to 1250.0 μg/mL against both fungi. Four isolated compounds were also screened, with two of them exhibiting activity against C. albicans (MIC=6.25 μg/mL) that was comparable to amphotericin B, the positive control. These two compounds also had better antifungal potential against C. neoformans with an MIC=6.25 μg/mL, compared to the MIC of 12.5 μg/mL of amphotericin B. Seven of the eight isolated compounds were obtained from the extracts of Rhynchosia minima for the first time. Two of the isolated compounds demonstrated activity comparable or superior to amphotericin B activity. The notable potency displayed by these compounds warrants further investigation on their development as antifungal agents., (© 2022 The Authors. Chemistry & Biodiversity published by Wiley-VHCA AG, Zurich, Switzerland.)

Apoptosis of germ cells is an important feature of spermatogenesis, as this process allows the removal of excess germ cells from testicular tissue. This is crucial to control the number of germ cells that can be supported and nourished by the Sertoli cells. It has been established that up to 75 % of germ cells are lost during the development of spermatogonia. In this process, germ cells with defective genes are removed. Also, apoptosis regulates homeostasis of testicular tissue by maintaining a balance between germ cell proliferation and cell death. This is necessary as it guarantees normal spermatogenesis. Apoptosis also occurs during maturation divisions of spermatocytes and spermatids but albeit to a lesser extent. Several factors, known pro-apoptotic proteins, play a critical role in the process of apoptosis. The most vital pro-apoptotic proteins are caspase-3, B-cells lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), truncated BH3 interacting death domain (tBID), tumor suppressor protein (p53), and Bcl-2 associated protein (BAX). Execution of apoptosis may be triggered by either an extrinsic or an intrinsic pathway. The extrinsic pathway is initiated by death receptors and death ligands. Death receptors trigger pro-apoptotic proteins such as caspase-3 for the execution of apoptosis. The intrinsic pathway, on the other hand, is triggered by nutrient deprivation, stress, or DNA damage, which in turn activates Bcl2 families of pro-apoptotic proteins that foster apoptosis. The present review focuses on pro-apoptotic proteins and their mechanisms of action, with special emphasis on their involvement in germ cell apoptosis in the testicular tissues of mammalian and avian species., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there are no competing interests., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Lichens, a unique symbiotic association between an alga/cyanobacterium and a fungus, produce secondary metabolites that are a promising source of novel drug leads. The beauty and importance of lichens have not been adequately explored despite their manifold biological activities such as anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antipyretic and antiparasitic., Aim of the Study: The present review collates and discusses the available knowledge on secondary metabolites and biological activities of lichens (in vitro and in vivo)., Materials and Methods: Using relevant keywords (lichens, secondary metabolites, bioactivity, pharmacological activities), five electronic databases, namely ScienceDirect, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus and Recent Literature on Lichens, were searched for past and current scientific contributions up until May 2022. Literature focusing broadly on the bioactivity of lichens including their secondary metabolites were identified and summarized., Results: A total of 50 review articles and 189 research articles were searched. Information related to antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anticancer and insecticidal activities of 90 lichen species (from 13 families) and 12 isolated metabolites are reported. Over 90% of the studies comprised in vitro investigations, such as bioassays evaluating radical scavenging properties, lipid peroxidation inhibition and reducing power, cytotoxicity and antimicrobial bioassays of lichen species and constituents. In vivo studies were scarce and available only in fish and rats. Most of the studies were done by research groups in Brazil, France, Serbia, India and Turkey. There were relatively few reports from Asia and Africa despite the ubiquitous nature of lichens and the high occurrence in these continents., Conclusion: Secondary metabolites from lichens are worthy of further investigation in terms of their potential therapeutic applicability, including better understanding of their mechanism(s) of action. This would be of great importance in the search for novel drugs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace nutrient for humans and animals owing to its role in redox regulation, thyroid hormone control factors, immunity, inflammatory reactions, brain activities, and carbohydrate regulation. It is also important to support muscle development, as well as for reproductive and cardiovascular well-being. Furthermore, sulfur is known to be a healing element, due to the remarkable function of specialized and secondary S-containing compounds. The scope of the current study was to determine the impact of Se and S enrichment on the secondary metabolite accumulation and antibacterial and NO inhibition activities in green and red leaf lettuce (V1 and V2, respectively). The plants were grown in a hydroponic system supplied with different S concentrations (S0: 0, S1: 1 mM and S2: 1.5 mM K 2 SO 4 ) via the nutrient solution and foliar-applied varying levels of Se (0, 0.2 and 2.6 µM). Electrospray ionization-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-QTOF/MS) combined with ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) was used to identify the secondary metabolites in green and red lettuce. The results indicated that extracts of the biofortified lettuce were not cytotoxic to Vero kidney cells at the highest concentration tested of 1 mg/mL. The ESI/MS of the tentatively identified metabolites showed that the response values of 5- O -caffeoylquinic acid, cyanidin 3- O -galactoside, quercetin 3- O -(6''-acetyl-glucoside) and quercetin 3- O -malonylglucoside were induced synergistically under higher Se and S levels in red lettuce plants. The acetone extract of red lettuce had antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa , with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.156 and 0.625 μg/mL under S2/Se1 and S2/Se2 treatments, respectively. As with antibacterial activity, the acetone extract of green (V1) lettuce treated with adequate (S1) and higher S (S2) under Se-limiting conditions showed the ability to inhibit nitric oxide (NO) release from macrophages. NO production by macrophages was inhibited by 50% at respective concentrations of 106.1 ± 2.4 and 101.0 ± 0.6 μg/mL with no toxic effect on the cells, in response to S1 and S2, respectively, under Se-deficient conditions (Se0). Furthermore, the red cultivar (V2) exhibited the same effect as the green cultivar (V1) regarding NO inhibition, with IC 50 = 113.0 ± 4.2 μg/mL, in response to S1/Se2 treatments. Collectively, the promising NO inhibitory effect and antibacterial activity of red lettuce under the above-mentioned conditions might be attributed to the production of flavonoid glycosides and phenylpropanoic acid esters under the same condition. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to show the novel approach of the NO inhibitory effect of Se and S enrichment in food crops, as an indicator for the potential of Se and S as natural anti-inflammatory agents.