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Background Syzygium palodense is an unexplored species endemic to the southern Western Ghats in India. Purpose Here we report the chemical profiles of essential oils (EOs) of the leaves and fruit pericarps of S. palodense and their antiproliferative activities against C6 glioma and Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells. Methods S. palodense leaves and fruit pericarp EOs were isolated by hydrodistillation and characterized by gas chromatographic (GC/FID, GC/MS) techniques. Antiproliferative activities of EOs were elucidated by MTT, phase contrast/fluorescent microscopic and flow cytometric assays. Results Thirty six (99.92%) constituents were identified from S. palodense fruit pericarp EO, with (E)-β-ocimene (63.20%), myrcene (15.79%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (9.70%) as its major constituents. Sixty nine (99.40%) constituents were identified in the leaf EO, and the major ones were (E)-β-ocimene (30.58%), (E)-caryophyllene (14.23%), δ-selinene (13.89%), γ-himachalene (7.59%), myrcene (8.38%) and (Z)-β-ocimene (5.68%). Both leaf and fruit pericarp EOs showed significant cytotoxicity in C6 glioma and Dalton's Lymphoma Ascites (DLA) cells with very low CD50 values of 1.8, 1.2 µg/ml and 4.8, 1.1 µg/ml, respectively. MTT, phase contrast/fluorescent microscopic and flow cytometric assays revealed the cytotoxic mechanism of these EOs in C6 glioma and DLA cells as induction of apoptosis. Conclusion This is the first report of the chemical profiles and biological activities of EOs of S. palodense. Both leaf and fruit pericarp EOs displayed strong antiproliferative activity (very low CD50 values) against C6 glioma and DLA cells.

Volatile oils from dry rhizomes and fruit rinds of Alpinia mutica were isolated and characterized by GC-FID and GC-MS. A. mutica rhizome oil showed forty-seven components of which forty (92.8%) were characterized, and the major components were β-pinene (20.2%), camphor (13.3%), 1,8-cineole (8.9%), camphene (7.9%) and α-pinene (6.2%). Fruit rind essential oil showed sixty-nine components of which sixty-three (97.8%) were identified. Major constituents in A. mutica fruit rind oil were 1,8-cineole (14.8%), camphor (11.7%), β-pinene (7.6%) and camphene (4.8%). Four major constituents in both A. mutica rhizome and fruit rind oils (camphene, β-pinene, 1,8-cineole, camphor) were estimated by external standardization. Refractive index, specific rotation and specific gravity of both volatile oils were determined. Fruit rind oil showed significant antioxidant, cytotoxic and moderate antimicrobial activities. A. mutica dry fruit rind oil has a very pleasant smell with potential applications in fragrances.

Ethnopharmacological relevance Melicope lunu - ankenda leaves are used to treat diabetes in folklore medicinal practices in India and Malaysia. Here we report the isolation of an O -prenylated flavonoid (3,5,4′-trihydroxy-8,3′-dimethoxy-7-(3-methylbut-2-enoxy)flavone; OPF) from the leaves of M. lunu - ankenda and its antidiabetes activity against type-2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Materials and methods OPF was isolated from M. lunu - ankenda leaves by extraction and repeated column chromatography and its structure was elucidated by IR, UV–vis, 1D-, 2D-NMR and mass spectral analyses. Blood glucose lowering activity of OPF was tested in normal rats by oral glucose tolerance test and its efficacy was tested in STZ-induced type-2 diabetic rats. SGOT, SGPT, ALP, serum urea, total triglycerides, total cholesterol and reduction in HDLC, protein and serum insulin levels in normal rats and STZ-induced type-2 diabetic rats were measured. Acute toxicity of OPF was tested at 500 mg/kg dose. Mechanism of antidiabetes action of OPF was elucidated by insulin release from RIN 5F cells. Results OPF isolated from M. lunu - ankenda showed significant blood glucose lowering activity in oral glucose tolerance test on overnight fasted, glucose loaded normal rats and the optimum activity was observed at a dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. In neonatal streptozotocin (STZ) induced diabetic rats, the OPF treatment for 20 days significantly ameliorated the derailed blood glucose levels, liver glycogen and serum biological parameters including insulin to normal levels. OPF on acute toxicity evaluation did not show any conspicuous toxic symptoms even at a higher dose of 500 mg/kg body weight in mice. On evaluating the mechanism of antidiabetes action, it was observed that, OPF induced insulin release from cultured RIN 5F cells in vitro from which it was evident that the OPF acts on pancreatic β-cells for insulin release thereby correcting the derailed blood glucose levels, serum biochemical parameters and ameliorate various diabetic complications in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Conclusions This study shows the potent antidiabetes activity of OPF and describes its mechanism of action. OPF is a promising candidate for the development of new generation anti-DM drugs. Isolation of the O -prenylated flavonoid justifies the use of M. lunu - ankenda for diabetic treatments in folklore practices.

Melicope denhamii leaf volatile oil was isolated by hydrodistillation, and twenty-six constituents comprising 95.95% of the leaf oil were characterised by gas chromatographic techniques. Sesquiterpenes, zierone (22.49%) and α-gurjunene (19.96%), were identified as the major components. M. denhamii leaf oil tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria showed significant activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Anticancer activity of M. denhamii leaf oil against Dalton's lymphoma ascites cells was assessed by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assays, and the oil showed significant cytotoxicity at CD50 of 12.2 μg/mL. Induction of apoptosis on DLA cells by M. denhamii leaf oil was confirmed by morphological observation, nuclear damage and comet assays.

While evaluating the toxicity of the tuberous root extracts of Hemidesmus indicus, a traditional medicinal plant, the glucose lowering property of the root was observed by the investigators. Therefore, it was thought of interest to isolate the anti-hyperglycemic principle from the root and determine its utility to develop an anti-diabetes mellitus medicine. The active principle was isolated from H. indicus root extract by anti-hyperglycemic activity guided chromatographic techniques. Glucose tolerance test in rats was used to evaluate the anti-hyperglycenic property. Anti-diabetes mellitus property was evaluated in alloxan-induced diabetic rats as well as streptozotocin-induced (type-2 model) diabetic rats. The active principle was isolated and identified with spectral data as β-amyrin palmitate. Although it is a known compound, its presence in H. indicus is not known previously. It was observed for the first time that β-amyrin palmitate has remarkable anti-hyperglycemic activity in orally glucose loaded rats. Further, interestingly, it exhibited excellent anti-diabetes mellitus activity in both alloxan-diabetic and streptozotocin-diabetic rats at a very low concentration (50µg/kg body weight). One of the mechanisms of action of β-amyrin palmitate appears to be blocking the entry of glucose from the intestine. β-Amyrin palmitate is very promising to develop a medicine for diabetes for combination therapy and/or mono-therapy.

Objectives: Zornia diphylla (L.) Pers is an ethnomedical herb. The aim of the study is to scientifically verify the traditional use of Z. diphylla as an anticancer medicine. Materials and Methods: Different extracts, fractions, and chemical isolates of the whole plant were screened for cytotoxicity to Dalton's lymphoma ascites (DLA) cells by the Trypan blue exclusion method and MTT assay. Column chromatographic and preparative TLC techniques were used for the isolation of active fraction (AF) and active principle. Cytotoxicity of AF to different cell types was tested. The apoptotic activity of AF was evaluated by morphological observations, nuclear condensation, and comet assay. In vivo antitumor activity of AF was determined in DLA-challenged mice. Short-term (29 days) preliminary toxicity evaluation of AF was done in mice. Results: n -Hexane extract (but not water and ethanol extracts) showed significant cytotoxicity. AF, isolated from n -hexane extract, induced apoptotic cell death ( in vitro ) to DLA cells, but not to normal thymocytes and macrophages. A steroid positive active principle was isolated which showed 100% cytotoxicity at 5 μg/mL level. Interestingly, AF (50 mg/kg) protected all the mice challenged with one million DLA cells/mouse. AF (up to 10 times higher than the therapeutic dose) did not exhibit any conspicuous adverse toxic symptoms in the toxicity evaluation. Conclusion: Z. diphylla (AF) showed promising in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity against DLA cells, and it was devoid of any toxicity to mice in short-term toxicity evaluation. The herb is promising for the development of a valuable anticancer medicine.

Melicope denhamii leaf volatile oil was isolated by hydrodistillation, and twenty-six constituents comprising 95.95% of the leaf oil were characterised by gas chromatographic techniques. Sesquiterpenes, zierone (22.49%) and α-gurjunene (19.96%), were identified as the major components. M. denhamii leaf oil tested against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria showed significant activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. Anticancer activity of M. denhamii leaf oil against Dalton's lymphoma ascites cells was assessed by trypan blue exclusion and MTT assays, and the oil showed significant cytotoxicity at CD50 of 12.2 μg/mL. Induction of apoptosis on DLA cells by M. denhamii leaf oil was confirmed by morphological observation, nuclear damage and comet assays.

Volatile oil from fresh rhizomes of Zingiber anamalayanum was isolated by hydrodistillation and characterised by GC-FID and GC-MS. Twenty-one out of 24 constituents comprising 99.47% of the oil were identified. Major components in Z. anamalayanum rhizome oil were δ-2-carene (52.83%), camphene (9.83%), endo-fenchol (9.42%), iso-dihydrocarveol (6.44%) and cis-p-mentha-2,8-dien-1-ol (5.19%). Monoterpene hydrocarbons in the rhizome oil were 65.81%, followed by oxygenated monoterpenes (23.78%) and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons (9.87%). Physical parameters of rhizome oil were [Formula: see text] 1.4031, [Formula: see text] - 16.097(o) (c = 1, CHCl3) and [Formula: see text] 0.9202. Z. anamalayanum rhizome oil showed significant anti-Dalton's Lymphoma Ascitic activity.

Hemionitis arifolia, a folklore anti-diabetes fern, was evaluated for its hypoglycaemic and anti-diabetic properties using rats. Glucose lowering effect and anti-diabetes activity were studied using glucose tolerance test in normal rats and alloxan diabetic rats, respectively. When different extracts were tested, the ethanol and, to some extent, the water extracts were found to lower the levels of blood glucose in glucose fed rats. The ethanol extract showed optimum activity at 200 mg/kg. The extract exhibited only marginal hypoglycaemic activity in overnight fasted normal rats and it was devoid of conspicuous toxic symptoms in sub-acute toxicity evaluation in mice. When the alcohol extract was fractionated by sequential solvent extraction, the activity was found in ethyl acetate fraction (50 mg/kg). This fraction containing steroids and coumarins showed anti-diabetes activity in alloxan diabetic rats as judged from serum glucose levels, liver glycogen content and body weight. This fraction is an attractive material for further research vis-à-vis drug development.

Objective: To isolate an active anticancer fraction from Emilia sonchifolia and to determine the mechanism of its anticancer activity. Materials and methods: The anticancer principle was separated using thin layer chromatography (TLC) from the most active n-hexane extract and chemically analysed. The anticancer efficacy of n-hexane extract was determined in mice using Dalton's lymphoma ascitic (DLA) cells. Cytotoxicity of the extracts and isolates to macrophages, thymocytes and DLA cells was measured using Trypan blue exclusion method, MTT (3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) assay, DNA ladder assay and DNA synthesis in culture. Short-term toxicity evaluation of the active fraction was also carried out in mice. Results: The hexane extract was found to be most active and it showed in vitro cytotoxicity to DLA and thymocytes, but not to macrophages. In a concentration and time-dependent manner, it induced membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation, DNA ladder formation, and formation of apoptotic bodies which are characteristic to apoptotic cell death. The n-hexane fraction protected 50% of mice challenged intraperitoneally with 106 DLA cells. This fraction did not exhibit conspicuous adverse toxic symptoms in mice. An active terpene fraction was separated from the n-hexane extract by TLC. This isolate induced apoptotic cell death in DLA cells at 0.8 µg per mL level. Conclusion: An anticancer terpene fraction was isolated by TLC from Emilia sonchifolia that induced cell-specific apoptosis and appears to be a promising anticancer agent.