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The rationale for this work was to investigate the phytoconstituents of the Caesalpinia decapetala species and their possible antibacterial and antioxidant capabilities, based on their traditional use in treating conditions such as inflammation, diabetes, purgative, and bronchitis. Analysis of the C. decapetala seed identified phytoconstituents such as flavonoids, alkaloids, phenolics, glycosides, saponins, proteins, terpenoids, and triterpenoids. The quantitative analysis revealed that the phenolic content of C. decapetala seed was greater than that of the seed oil (889 ± 0.35 mg GAE/100g of dry weight). Additionally, the total flavonoid content of the seed was estimated to be higher than that of the seed oil (225.03 ± 7.13mg QE/100g of dry weight). Furthermore, the seed of C. decapetala contained 11.5813% ± 0.242 of the total alkaloid contents. The antioxidant activity of the seed oil was investigated using the 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), ferric reducing power, and 2,2-azino-bis-3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) techniques. The measured IC50 value for DPPH was 114.86 µg/mL, while for ABTS it was 138.45µg/mL. Seed oil exhibited a more pronounced zone of inhibition in its antibacterial activity against K. pneumoniae. Overall, the present investigation validates that the seed and seed oil of C. decapetala have the potential to serve as a valuable reservoir of minerals, antioxidants, and antibacterial properties. This is due to the presence of diverse phytoconstituents, including phenolic compounds, flavonoids, alkaloids, di-α-tocopherol, stigmasterol, γ-sitosterol, and lupeol, within its fatty acid composition.

Oxytenanthera abyssinica has been investigated as a possible substitute raw material for pulp and paper production because of its long fiber (2.40 mm), larger fiber width (21.83 μm), and flexibility ratio (0.72), smaller Runkel ratio (0.35), large slenderness ratio (109.98), and thinner cell wall thickness (2.74 μm). A response surface methodology (RSM) method was applied to explore and identify the best conditions for soda processing of the O. abyssinica stem. Soda concentration, cooking temperature, and cooking time were used to optimize the process of pulp production and the Kappa number (KPN). Under optimal conditions such as 180 min cooking time, 20 % active alkali, and 165 °C cooking temperature, the highest pulp yield and the lowest KPN were 43.48 % and 19.9, respectively. The optimized pulp was used to make a paper sheet having mechanical characteristics of the tensile index (28.23 Nm/g), tearing index (10.70 mNm2/g), and Burst index (1.11 kPam2/g). This study demonstrates that O. abyssinica pulp can produce paper with mechanical properties of medium strength equivalent to that of paper using a more environmentally friendly pulping process such as soda pulping compared to kraft and sulfite pulping. In summary, it can be inferred that O. abyssinica holds significant promise as a substitute raw material for pulp and paper industries. However, it is recommended to conduct pilot plant studies for further exploration.

This study aimed to determine the concentrations of ascorbic acid and polyphenols in fruits and peels of Citrus medica and Ziziphus spina-christi grown in Ethiopia. Conditions of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD) were optimized, using a multivariate experimental design. The optimum conditions of UAE were 15 min extraction time at 35 ℃, with 75 % aqueous methanol as solvent, and a fruit powder-to-solvent ratio (m/v) of 1:15. Among the different drying conditions investigated, freeze-drying was found to be appropriate for analyzing ascorbic acid, polyphenols, and antioxidant potential. The overall ranges, across the fruits and peels, of ascorbic acid, total polyphenols, and antioxidant potentials (EC50) obtained were 8.7 ± 1.4–91.2 ± 2.6 mg/100 g, 253.0 ± 6.3–764.1 ± 25.8 mg GAE/100 g and 2.4 ± 0.1–26.1 ± 2.9 mg/mL, respectively. This indicates that the fruits and peels of the studied plants are advantageous as sources of ascorbic acid and polyphenols.

Senna didymobotrya is one of the emerging invasive weeds in East and South Africa. One of the solutions for weed management involves isolating cellulose and converting it into valuable materials. In this research, the isolation of cellulose was optimized by the Plackett-Burman design (PBD) and response surface methodology using Box-Behnken design (BBD), both of which are statistical empirical models. The maximum isolated cellulose yield was 37.5% (w/w) using sulfuric acid 1.75% (w/v), sodium chlorite 3% (w/v) at pH of 3.5, and potassium hydroxide 6% (w/v) treatment. Each chemical treatment was done by heating the mixture at 90°C for 2 hrs. The cellulose yield obtained (37.5% (w/w)) was higher than the preoptimized value of 35.5% (w/w). The dewaxed powder of the weed, isolated cellulose, and commercial cellulose was characterized side by side for comparison using FTIR, XRD, SEM, and TGA/DTA. All the characterizing methods indicated that the isolated material was cellulose. Even though the intensity of FTIR and XRD graphs of the isolated cellulose was higher than the commercial cellulose, the crystallinity index calculated from XRD analysis showed that the commercial cellulose (83%) was higher than the isolated cellulose (78%). The TGA/DTA indicates that the isolated cellulose and commercial cellulose had comparable thermal stability, both stable at up to 360°C. Therefore, using this optimized method, cellulose isolation from S. didymobotrya opens avenues for converting cellulose into valuable materials like carboxymethyl cellulose, cellulose hydrogel, and cellulose nanocrystals.

Lignin nanoparticles (LNPs) have a wide range of potential uses in the biomedical and environmental fields. They are used to prepare antioxidants, food packaging material, energy storage, cosmetics, thermal/light stabilizers, reinforced materials, and drug delivery. In this study, LNPs were prepared from soda lignin obtained from Oxytenanthera abyssinica using dioxane, acetone, ethanol, and acid-base solvents through the nanoprecipitation method, followed by an ultrasonic process. These methods produced four different LNPs with yields in the range of 28.5% to 88.9%. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed that the spherical-shaped LNPS (100–400 nm) were obtained using the acetone solvent, while irregularly shaped LNPs were formed by dioxane (150–400 nm), ethanol (40–200 nm) and acid-base (100–800 nm) solvents. The maximum zeta potential of the LNPAS samples was |-35.1 mV|, determined by the dynamic light scattering (DLS), with a particle size distribution between 91.28 and 458.7 nm. According to the energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDX) results, the sample contains the elements C, O, Si, Na, and Mo. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis showed very small crystallinity sizes ranging from 0.31 to 0.35 nm. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (H-NMR) and Fourier transformation infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to find the functional groups in the synthesized LNPs. The Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) peak showed that LNPS was thermally stable, and rapid mass loss occurred between 300 and 415 °C. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) data shows that the highest exothermic peaks are obtained at 345.2 °C. Synthesis of LNPs by dissolving isolated soda lignin in acetone, ethanol, dioxane, and acid-base solvents was quickly recovered, cheap, and eco-friendly. The synthesized are free of sulfur; they do not use toxic solvents such as Tetrahydrofuran (THF), Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and Dimethylformamide (DMF). Thus, they provide benefits for high-value-added Nanocomposite applications such as bio-based nonmaterial and food packaging materials. Acid-base nanoprecipitation procedure is the best approach regarding stability and size, but the acetone nanoprecipitation method is preferable regarding shape.

Plant-based phytochemicals are known for their potential sources of anti-inflammatory agents. Various studies reported the potential disease-healing efficiency of medicinal plants’ crude extracts, pure compounds, and their metal/metal oxide nanoparticles (M/MONPs) against inflammation. The purpose of this paper is to review the current research status of phytochemicals of medicinal plants and their nanoparticles as anti-inflammatory agents reported by various studies. Phytochemicals representing the class of flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, saponins, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, chemical constituents of essential oils, and some of their M/MONPs were reported from about 50 medicinal plants for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The natural products of these plants demonstrated promising anti-inflammatory activities to treat skin, liver, cardiovascular, joint, gastrointestinal, neurological, and lung inflammation diseases. Besides, the mechanism of anti-inflammatory actions of phytochemicals and their M/MONPs agents are also summarized briefly. Various studies of phytochemistry, M/MONPs, and anti-inflammatory activities of phytochemicals from medicinal plants have developed novel, safe, and lesser side effects agents. Hence, this review may draw the attention of scholars more toward the investigation of natural products of medicinal plants and their nanoparticles in the treatment of different health disorders.

This study examined the chemical composition, fiber morphology, and physical properties of Oxytenanthera abyssinica culm to assess its pulping potential. Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry (TAPPI) and Franklin’s methods have been used for experiments. The statistical analysis showed that the chemical composition of O. abyssinica is influenced by the age of the plant. The amount of cellulose in the culm increases with age, while hand extractive content decreases with age. The average chemical content of the three years aged O. abyssinica was 49.26±0.13 wt%, 21.31±0.15 wt%, and 20.63±0.12 wt% for cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin contents, respectively. A significant difference exists between 1, 2, and 3-year aged plants (P

Background. Dodonaea angustifolia is a known medicinal plant across East Arica. The flower of D. angustifolia is not well investigated in terms of phytochemistry and biological activities. This study aims to investigate the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids in the flower of D. angustifolia and its antioxidant activity. Methods. Preliminary phytochemical screening was carried out using the standard protocols. Antioxidant activity evaluation using DPPH assay and total phenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) determinations in the flower extract were compared with the values of the leaf extract. UHPLC-DAD analysis was managed to develop the profile of the flower extract. Prediction of biological activity spectra for substances (PASS) was done using an online server for antioxidant and related activities. Results. Preliminary phytochemical screening and TPC and TFC values confirmed the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids. From the HPLC analysis of flavonoids, quercetin, myricetin, rutin, and phenolic acids such as chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, and syringic acid were detected and quantified. The biological activity spectrum was predicted for the detected and quantified polyphenols. Conclusions. D. angustifolia flower is a rich source of flavonoids and phenolic acids, which are extractable and can be checked for further biological activity. It was possible to identify and quantify phenolic compounds through HPLC analysis in the methanol extract of D. angustifolia flower. The PASS biological activity prediction results showed that there were stronger antioxidant activities for the identified flavonoids. Future work will emphasize the isolation and characterization of active principles responsible for bioactivity.

Abstract Background Rumex nepalensis, a widely known traditional medicinal plant and is used as the source of medicines and human diet in various communities. Currently, the phytochemical investigation and pharmacological studies of R. nepalensis are of significant research interest. Therefore, the current review is mainly focused on the phytochemical investigation and pharmacological applications of R. nepalensis Main body Various secondary metabolites like emodin, endocrocin, chrysophanol, neopodin, physcion, torachrysone, aloesin, catechin, quercetin, resveratrol, and their derivatives were isolated from root and aerial parts of the plant. Both isolated compounds and extracts from R. nepalensis are reported to have pharmacological activities such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, wound healing, and anti-plasmodial activities Conclusions Different parts of R. nepalensis have ethnomedicinal importance. R. nepalensis is one of the potential sources of pharmacologically active extracts and isolated compounds. In future R. nepalensis can play a vital role for the preparation of modern drugs. Graphical abstract

In East Africa, Dodonaea angustifolia (L.f.) is a well-known medicinal herb. Its leaf is primarily studied in light of its ethnobotanical use. In terms of phytochemistry and biological activity, its flower is not studied. In a prior study, our team looked into phytochemical screening, antioxidant activity, and total phenolic levels. This study aims to compare the profiles and biological activities of the leaf and flower samples of D. angustifolia and to present therapeutic alternatives. The leaf and flower sample powders were extracted with methanol using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). HPTLC profile was obtained using CAMAG—HPTLC equipped with VisionCATS software. Antimicrobial agar well diffusion assay and minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) were determined. The leaf and flower extracts of D. angustifolia showed antibacterial activity with a MIC value of 20 µg/mL against Enterococcus faecalis and Listeria monocytogenes. Similarly, 40 µg/mL was found to be effective against Aspergillus flavus. D. angustifolia flower is a rich source of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Because of its antibacterial properties and profile, which are almost the same, the flower is emerging as a viable option for medicinal alternatives.

Cyclospermum leptophyllum is plant species known for its medicinal value and pleasant aroma. The aerial part and plant seeds are traditionally used as food additives as a spice. This study aims to isolate the chemical constituents of essential oil of the aerial part of the plant and study their potential antibacterial activities against some food contaminating bacteria. The essential oil of C. leptophyllum (CSEO) was isolated from aerial parts of the plant species and studied using GC-MS and FTIR techniques. The first four major chemical constituents determined from GC-MS analysis of CSEO (for peak area % ≥ 1.15%) were 2,5-dimethoxy-p-cymene (87.09%), 2-methoxy-1-methyl-4-(1-methylethyl) benzene (3.09%), 2-methoxy-4-methyl-1-(1-methylethyl) benzene (1.71%), and humulene (1.15%). 60%, 30%, 15%, 7.5%, and 3.75% of CSEO solutions were prepared and evaluated for their potential antibacterial activities against six food spoilage pathogenic bacterial strains. Three Gram-positive strains: Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228), Streptococcus agalactiae (ATCC 12386) and three Gram-negative strains: Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922), Proteus mirabilis (ATCC 35659), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) were used as test microorganisms. Compared to ciprofloxacin, a positive control, the promising antibacterial activity was observed for CSEO against S. aureus at minimum and maximum test solutions as the values of the zone of inhibition diameter (ZID, mm) were recorded as 14.33 ± 0.58 for 3.75% CSEO solution and 30.67 ± 0.58 for 60% CSEO solution. Tests of CSEO solutions generally showed stronger antibacterial activities against Gram-positive than Gram-negative strains. Therefore, CSEO contains potent chemical constituents that might be applicable in treating pathogenic bacterial species.

The medicinal benefits of P. lanceolata L. have been acknowledged worldwide for hundreds of years. The plant is now distributed worldwide, especially in temperate zones. This review gives an overview of ethnomedicinal use, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and other potential application of P. lanceolate L. Several effective chemical constituents such as polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, iridoid glycosides, fatty acids, and polysaccharides are found in P. lanceolata L., which contribute to its exerting specific therapeutic effects. Correspondingly, studies have found that P. lanceolata L. has different biological activities, including antioxidant, antibacterial, wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and antiulcerogenic activity. The plant also treats various diseases related to the skin, respiratory organs, digestive organs, reproduction, circulation, cancer, pain relief, and infections. The plant has many applications in cosmetics such as lotion and creams; it is also used as an excellent indicator to know the presence and absence of heavy metals and the accumulation in industrial and urban areas. The plant suppresses soil nitrogen mineralization in agriculture due to allelochemicals such as aucubin. The biological activities, medicinal properties, and industrial application of P. lanceolata mainly depend on the activities of the responsible, active chemical constituents. However, this field still needs more study to determine the exact mechanisms and the main bioactive compound activity accountable for these activities. Also, most of the studies have been performed in vitro, so further in vivo studies are recommended for the future.

Plants are the primary sources of cellulose. This paper is aimed at isolating cellulose from Oxytenanthera abyssinica via chemical treatments. The thermal behavior, functional group, chemical composition, crystallinity, and morphology of raw (ROA), dewaxed (DOA), alkali-treated (AOA), and bleached (BOA) fibers were examined. TGA, FTIR, DSC, DTA, XRD, and SEM were used for characterization techniques. The effects of chemical treatments were examined by determining the content of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and ash. The cellulose content in the ROA improved from 49.26±0.13 wt% to 86.01±0.02 wt% due to the removal of noncellulose components using waxing, alkali treatment, and bleaching with alkali peroxide bleaching stages followed by aqueous chlorite in buffer solution. The highest content of cellulose and holocellulose was exhibited in the BOA samples with a yield of 86.01±0.02 wt% and 97.61±0.17 wt%, respectively. ROA had greater hemicellulose (21.31±0.15 wt%), lignin (20.63±0.12 wt%), and ash content (3.30±0.11 wt%) in comparison to AOA and BOA. The XRD data showed a change in crystallinity after each treatment. Because of the high amount of crystalline cellulose, the XRD results revealed that BOA has a higher crystallinity index (CrI) (59.89%) and peak intensity than AOA, DOA, and ROA. The strength of the FTIR peaks increased in the order of ROA, DOA, AOA, and BOA, indicating that pretreatment causes hemicellulose and lignin to be gradually removed from the Oxytenanthera abyssinica fiber. The TGA, DTG, DTA, and DSC data also confirmed that BOA has the highest thermal stability due to the high content of cellulose. The SEM analysis showed a morphological change in the surface due to chemical treatment. These results confirmed that through chemical pretreatment, a high amount of cellulose was produced from Oxytenanthera abyssinica. Even though Oxytenanthera abyssinica is commonly grown in Ethiopia, few studies have been done on it, and no works have been carried out to isolate and characterize cellulose from the plant. Thus, the findings in this work will encourage researchers to use Oxytenanthera abyssinica as a source of cellulose for various applications, including the manufacture of cellulose nanocrystals, polymer matrix biofilters, green biocomposite reinforcing agents, and hydrogel synthesis.

Shigellosis is one of the major causes of death in children worldwide. Flavonoids and phenolic acids are expected to demonstrate anti-shigellosis activity and anti-diarrheal properties. The aerial part of A. integrifolia is commonly used against diarrhea. This study aimed to identify flavonoids and phenolic acids responsible for this therapeutic purpose. Antioxidant activity, total phenol content, and total flavonoid content were determined. The antibacterial activity of the aerial part against Shigella spp. was also tested using the agar well diffusion method. HPLC analysis was performed using UHPLC-DAD for different extracts of the aerial part. Autodock Vina in the PyRx platform was used to screen responsible components. Ciprofloxacin was used as a reference drug. An enzyme taking part in pyrimidine biosynthesis was used as a target protein. Molecular docking results were visualized using Discovery Studio and LigPlot1.4.5 software. Antioxidant activity, total phenol content, and total flavonoid content are more significant for the aerial part of A. integrifolia. From HPLC analysis, the presence of the flavonoids, quercetin, myricetin, and rutin and the phenolic acids gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and syringic acid were identified from the aerial part of A. integrifolia. Regarding the antibacterial activity, the aerial part shows considerable activity against Shigella spp. Binding energies, RMSD and Ki values, interaction type, and distance are considered to identify the components most likely responsible for the therapeutic effects and observed activity. Antioxidant activity, total phenol content, and total flavonoid content of the aerial part are in line with anti-shigellosis activity. The top five components that are most likely potentially responsible for therapeutic purposes and anti-shigellosis activity are chlorogenic acid, rutin, dihydroquercetin, dihydromyricetin, and kaempferol.