Assessment of antiproliferative and genotoxicity effects of traditional medicinal plants Plantago ovata Forssk. and Linum usitatissimum L. by Allium cepa L. test root cells combining with Comet assay

126-134This study assessed the antiproliferative and genotoxic effects of Linum usitatissimum L. and Plantago ovata Forssk. plants used in Turkish traditional medicine for medicinal purposes. P. ovata and L. usitatissimum, which have a purgative effect, have been used extensively in recent years. The P. ovata plant has a large quantity of soluble fibre in the seed coat, while the seeds of the L. usitatissimum also have a large quantity of mucilage from the soluble fibres. In the present study, the genotoxic and antiproliferative effects of these species were examined using the Allium cepa L. test. As an experimental group, three different concentrations (for P. ovata-7.2 mg/mL, 14.4 mg/mL and 28.8 mg/mL; for L. usitatissimum- 20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL and 80 mg/mL) were used (two different concentration series were used, taking into consideration the traditional usage quantities); purified water was used as a negative control, and methyl methane sulfonate (the DNA-alkylating agent MMS, 0.01 mg/mL) was used as a positive control. To evaluate the mitotic index (MI) and chromosome aberrations type (CA) of the A. cepa root-tip meristem cells, approximately 1000 cells per concentration group, including the controls, were numbered. For both extractions, it was observed that the root length decreased from the negative control to other concentrations, with the lowest length in the positive control. P. ovata and L. usitatissimum were found to cause alters in the rates of the MI relative to the negative control in A. cepa due to the increased concentration. The comet assay distinctly indicated that concentration-dependent DNA damage in the root-tip meristem cells of A. cepa were detected for the different concentrations of plant extracts. These results showed that P. ovata and L. usitatissimum aqueous extracts had increased concentrations that were above the recommended antiproliferative and genotoxic effects

Unraveling the chemical profile, antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, cytotoxic potential of different extracts from Astragalus caraganae

Six extracts (water, ethanol, ethanol‐water, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and n‐hexane) of Astragalus caraganae were studied for their biological activities and bioactive contents. Based on high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS), the ethanol‐water extract yielded the highest total bioactive content (4242.90 μg g−1), followed by the ethanol and water extracts (3721.24 and 3661.37 μg g−1, respectively), while the least total bioactive content was yielded by the hexane extract, followed by the dichloromethane and ethyl acetate extracts (47.44, 274.68, and 688.89 μg g−1, respectively). Rutin, p‐coumaric, chlorogenic, isoquercitrin, and delphindin‐3,5‐diglucoside were among the major components. Unlike the dichloromethane extracts, all the other extracts showed radical scavenging ability in the 2,2‐diphenyl‐1‐picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay (8.73–52.11 mg Trolox equivalent [TE]/g), while all extracts displayed scavenging property in the 2,2‐azino‐bis(3‐ethylbenzthiazoline‐6‐sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging assay (16.18–282.74 mg TE/g). The extracts showed antiacetylcholinesterase (1.27–2.73 mg galantamine equivalent [GALAE]/g), antibutyrylcholinesterase (0.20–5.57 mg GALAE/g) and antityrosinase (9.37–63.56 mg kojic acid equivalent [KAE]/g) effects. The molecular mechanism of the H2O2‐induced oxidative stress pathway was aimed to be elucidated by applying ethanol, ethanol/water and water extracts at 200 μg/mL concentration to human dermal cells (HDFs). A. caraganae in HDF cells had neither a cytotoxic nor genotoxic effect but could have a cytostatic effect in increasing concentrations. The findings have allowed a better insight into the pharmacological potential of the plant, with respect to their chemical entities and bioactive contents, as well as extraction solvents and their polarity

Photocatalytic degradation of organic dyes and biological potentials of biogenic zinc oxide nanoparticles synthesized using the polar extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. (Cyperaceae)

In this study, the polar root extract of Cyperus scariosus R.Br. was used for the biogenic synthesis of ZnO NPs. The results of this study show that ZnO NPs have a spherical structure with an average size of 85.4 nm. The synthesized catalysts were tested for their photocatalytic activity by degrading methyl orange and methylene blue under sunlight. Improved degradation efficiencies of 79.44% and 84.92% were achieved within 120 min. ZnO NPs exhibited strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive Listeria monocytogenes (18 mm) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (20 mm) and Gram-negative strains of Escherichia coli (16 mm) and Bordetella bronchiseptica (14 mm), as shown by the inhibition zones, which were comparable to the positive control (ceftriaxone) but larger than the plant root extract. ZnO NPs showed high antioxidant activity, as a ferric-reducing antioxidant power assay value of 66.29 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) and a DPPH value of 57.44 µg (AAE µg·mL−1) were obtained at a concentration of 500 µL, which was higher than those of the C. scariosus root extract. Quantification of the total phenolic and flavonoid content yielded values of 57.63 µg (GAE µg·mL−1) and 70.59 µg (QCE µg·mL−1), respectively. At a concentration of 500 μL (1 mg·mL−1), the tested nanoparticles (NPs) showed a greater anti-inflammatory effect (84.12%) compared to the root extract of C. scariosus (34.39%). Overall, our findings highlight the versatile properties of green synthesized ZnO NPs and demonstrate their potential for environmental remediation and antimicrobial formulations, as well as promising candidates for further investigation in biomedical fields such as drug delivery and therapy

Assessment of antiproliferative and genotoxicity effects of traditional medicinal plants Plantago ovata Forssk. and Linum usitatissimum L. by Allium cepa L. test root cells combining with Comet assay

This study assessed the antiproliferative and genotoxic effects of Linum usitatissimum L. and Plantago ovata Forssk. plants used in Turkish traditional medicine for medicinal purposes. P. ovata and L. usitatissimum, which have a purgative effect, have been used extensively in recent years. The P. ovata plant has a large quantity of soluble fibre in the seed coat, while the seeds of the L. usitatissimum also have a large quantity of mucilage from the soluble fibres. In the present study, the genotoxic and antiproliferative effects of these species were examined using the Allium cepa L. test. As an experimental group, three different concentrations (for P. ovata-7.2 mg/mL, 14.4 mg/mL and 28.8 mg/mL; for L. usitatissimum- 20 mg/mL, 40 mg/mL and 80 mg/mL) were used (two different concentration series were used, taking into consideration the traditional usage quantities); purified water was used as a negative control, and methyl methane sulfonate (the DNA-alkylating agent MMS, 0.01 mg/mL) was used as a positive control. To evaluate the mitotic index (MI) and chromosome aberrations type (CA) of the A. cepa root-tip meristem cells, approximately 1000 cells per concentration group, including the controls, were numbered. For both extractions, it was observed that the root length decreased from the negative control to other concentrations, with the lowest length in the positive control. P. ovata and L. usitatissimum were found to cause alters in the rates of the MI relative to the negative control in A. cepa due to the increased concentration. The comet assay distinctly indicated that concentration-dependent DNA damage in the root-tip meristem cells of A. cepa were detected for the different concentrations of plant extracts. These results showed that P. ovata and L. usitatissimum aqueous extracts had increased concentrations that were above the recommended antiproliferative and genotoxic effects

Application of Ethnobotanical Indices in the Utilization of Five Medicinal Herbaceous Plant Species in Benin, West Africa

The ethnobotanical utilization of five neglected herbaceous species, Argemone mexicana L., Heliotropium indicum L., Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn., Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth and Schrankia leptocarpa DC. was investigated in Southern Benin to determine the ethnomedicinal and magic knowledge on them. Thirty-six herbal medicine traders were surveyed in six different markets in three districts. Four ethnobotanical indices were used. All informants traded A. mexicana and the majority traded H. indicum, K. foetidissima, and P. pellucida. Purchases in the traders’ own markets was the single most important source of H. indicum, A. mexicana and P. pellucida. A. mexicana was the most demanded by customers. Traders reported the scarcity of A. mexicana and H. indicum and the availability of S. leptocarpa, K. foetidissima and P. pellucida. H. indicum was mainly used to treat hypertension and fever. Similarly, S. leptocarpa was mostly mentioned in the treatment of hypertension and to facilitate childbirth. K. foetidissima mainly served religious and animist purposes. Similarly, P. pellucida was reported as being mainly used to implant a vodun, a traditional religion in West Africa. A. mexicana served to treat babies just after the umbilical cord fall as well as jaundice. S. leptocarpa and P. pellucida exhibited the highest Use Value (UV), and there was a very low similarity between study species in terms of uses. The majority of traders did not plant the study species, although they serve to treat various social conditions. We suggest a better management of H. indicum and S. leptocarpa through collection for trading and medicinal utilization while the planting is required for A. mexicana and P. pellucida because of their scarcity. K. foetidissima should be preserved and used as medicine wherever it occurs

Application of Ethnobotanical Indices in the Utilization of Five Medicinal Herbaceous Plant Species in Benin, West Africa

The ethnobotanical utilization of five neglected herbaceous species, Argemone mexicana L., Heliotropium indicum L., Kedrostis foetidissima (Jacq.) Cogn., Peperomia pellucida (L.) Kunth and Schrankia leptocarpa DC. was investigated in Southern Benin to determine the ethnomedicinal and magic knowledge on them. Thirty-six herbal medicine traders were surveyed in six different markets in three districts. Four ethnobotanical indices were used. All informants traded A. mexicana and the majority traded H. indicum, K. foetidissima, and P. pellucida. Purchases in the traders’ own markets was the single most important source of H. indicum, A. mexicana and P. pellucida. A. mexicana was the most demanded by customers. Traders reported the scarcity of A. mexicana and H. indicum and the availability of S. leptocarpa, K. foetidissima and P. pellucida. H. indicum was mainly used to treat hypertension and fever. Similarly, S. leptocarpa was mostly mentioned in the treatment of hypertension and to facilitate childbirth. K. foetidissima mainly served religious and animist purposes. Similarly, P. pellucida was reported as being mainly used to implant a vodun, a traditional religion in West Africa. A. mexicana served to treat babies just after the umbilical cord fall as well as jaundice. S. leptocarpa and P. pellucida exhibited the highest Use Value (UV), and there was a very low similarity between study species in terms of uses. The majority of traders did not plant the study species, although they serve to treat various social conditions. We suggest a better management of H. indicum and S. leptocarpa through collection for trading and medicinal utilization while the planting is required for A. mexicana and P. pellucida because of their scarcity. K. foetidissima should be preserved and used as medicine wherever it occurs

Determination of enzyme inhibition potential and anticancer effects of Pistacia khinjuk Stocks raised in in vitro and in vivo conditions

In this study, antihypertensive, anticholinesterase, antiurease, antityrosinase and antielastase enzyme inhibition and anticancer activities of in vivo (male and female) and in vitro samples (root, stem and leaf parts) of the Pistacia khinjuk Stocks were investigated comparatively. In this context, in vitro shoot cultures were obtained from germinated mature seeds. Then, the juvenile shoots were proliferated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1 mg/L 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP). In terms of anticancer activity, the whole of the samples studied was found to have apoptotic effects against MCF-7 (breast cancer) and HT-29 (colon cancer) cell lines. The extracts obtained from in vivo female root parts showed better cytotoxicity than all the other tested extracts on MCF-7 (IC50: 31.86 ± 1.40 µg/mL) and HT-29 cell series (IC50: 59.60 ± 0.69 µg/mL). Even though all the samples showed a strong butyrylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition (BChE) activity, it was detected that none of the samples had shown acetylcholinesterase enzyme inhibition (AChE). It was also determined that in vivo leaf samples of female trees had the highest BChE activity (Inhibition%: 75.20 ± 1.50). All the samples showed a low-moderate level of urease and tyrosinase enzyme activity, while in vivo samples showed a significant level of the elastase enzyme activities (Inhibition%: 58.72 for female root extracts; 58.25 for female leaf extracts, at 50 µg/mL concentration), and they were more active than the standard oleanolic acid (Inhibition%: 39.46 ± 0.52). The antihypertensive activities as the inhibition of angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) of in vivo samples (Inhibition%: 95.88 for female stem extracts; 95.18 for female root extracts) were detected as close to the standard (Inhibition%: 96.64 ± 1.85) used. In general, it can be stated that in vivo samples had higher biological activities compared to in vitro ones. Consequently, according to our results, it was concluded that in vitro stem parts of khinjuk pistachio could also be evaluated as an alternative new antihypertensive, antielastase and anticancer agent source

Preliminary investigation on chemical composition and bioactivity of differently obtained extracts from Symphytum aintabicum Hub.- Mor. & Wickens

bone fractures and other pain resulting from inflammation. However, many species belonging to this genus have not yet been scientifically investigated and hence investigation in this regard is warranted. In the present research, S. aintabicum extracts prepared by different extraction techniques (homogenizer assisted extraction, infusion and maceration) were assayed for their chemosystematic attributes (total phenolic, flavonoid) as well as bioactive compound contents, antioxidant and enzyme inhibition potentials. For instance, the extracts were found to possess phenolic and flavonoid levels ranging from 35.50 to 112.25 mg GAE/g and 2.54–25.12 mg RE/ g, respectively. In general, the extracts displayed significant antioxidant activity. However, methanolic and infusion extracts were observed as the most potent radical scavengers and reducing agents, most likely related to their phenolic content. The extracts also showed metal chelating power and total antioxidant capacity in phosphomolybdenum assay. Moreover, while all extracts showed inhibition on amylase, only the methanolic extracts acted as inhibitors of cholinesterases and tyrosinase, most probably due to their relatively higher flavonoid content. The findings also indicated that the extraction method as well as the solvent type used to more or less affect the yield of the bioactive compounds and extracts’ bioactivity reported herein. Hence, as a first report highlighting the in vitro pharmacological properties of S. aintabicum, promising results were revealed from the quantitative chemosystematic analysis of bioactive components present and as sources of antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors against key human illnesses, thus providing scope for potential applications in phytomedicine development

Which Extraction Solvents and Methods Are More Effective in Terms of Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Alcea fasciculiflora from Turkey?

The bioactive content, antioxidant properties, and enzyme inhibition properties of extracts of Alcea fasciculiflora from Turkey prepared with different solvents (water, methanol, ethyl acetate) and extraction methods (maceration, soxhlet, homogenizer assisted extraction, and ultrasound assisted extraction) were examined in this study. UHPLC-HRMS analysis detected or annotated a total of 50 compounds in A. fasciculiflora extracts, including 18 hydroxybenzoic and hydroxycinnamic acids, 7 Hexaric acids, 7 Coumarins, 15 Flavonoids, and 3 hydroxycinnamic acid amides. The extracts had phenolic and flavonoid levels ranging from 14.25 to 24.87 mg GAE/g and 1.68 to 25.26 mg RE/g, respectively, in the analysis. Both DPPH and ABTS tests revealed radical scavenging capabilities (between 2.63 and 35.33 mg TE/g and between 13.46 and 76.27 mg TE/g, respectively). The extracts had reducing properties (CUPRAC: 40.38–78 TE/g and FRAP: 17.51–42.58 TE/g). The extracts showed metal chelating activity (18.28–46.71 mg EDTAE/g) as well as total antioxidant capacity (phosphomolybdenum test) (0.90–2.12 mmol TE/g). DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, and metal chelating tests indicated the water extracts to be the best antioxidants, while the ethyl acetate extracts had the highest overall antioxidant capacity regardless of the extraction technique. Furthermore, anti-acetylcholinesterase activity was identified in all extracts (0.17–2.80 mg GALAE/g). The water extracts and the ultrasound-assisted ethyl acetate extract were inert against butyrylcholinesterase, but the other extracts showed anti-butyrylcholinesterase activity (1.17–5.80 mg GALAE/g). Tyrosine inhibitory action was identified in all extracts (1.79–58.93 mg KAE/g), with the most effective methanolic extracts. Only the ethyl acetate and methanolic extracts produced by maceration and homogenizer aided extraction showed glucosidase inhibition (0.11–1.11 mmol ACAE/g). These findings showed the overall bioactivity of the different extracts of A. fasciculiflora and provided an overview of the combination of solvent type and extraction method that could yield bioactive profile and pharmacological properties of interest and hence, could be a useful reference for future studies on this species