Differential Extraction and GC-MS based Quantification of Sesquiterpenoids from Immature Heartwood of East Indian Sandalwood Tree

The East Indian sandalwood tree yields the costliest heartwood and essential oil that are used in traditional medicine, aromatherapy and in cosmetic and fragrance industries. Steam distillation is the traditional method employed for extraction of the sesquiterpenoid rich essential oil from chips of matured heartwood. However, there is no information available on the comparative extractability of sesquiterpenoids when different solvents are employed. Thus we used four different solvents to extract, detect and quantify fourteen major sesquiterpenoids from immature heartwood, by gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC- MS) method employing an ion trap quadruple (ITQ) mass analyzer. Results suggest that, with increasing solvent polarity the diversity of sesquiterpenoids decreased, but the quantities of santalols increased. Moreover, n-hexane remained the best extraction solvent for santalols, i.e., yielding up to 92.6 % of total sesquiterpenoids quantified. Furthermore, Z-?-trans-bergamotol, Z-epi-?-santalol and Z-?-santalols were found to be the most abundant constituents of immature heartwood. Keywords: GC-MS, heartwood, Santalum album, sesquiterpenoid, solven

Biological activities of East Indian sandalwood tree, Santalum album. PeerJ PrePrints 2013; e96v1

Abstract 21 The East Indian Sandalwood tree, Santalum album L. has been widely used in folk medicine 22 for treatment of common colds, bronchitis, skin disorders, heart ailments, general weakness, 23 fever, infection of the urinary tract, inflammation of the mouth and pharynx, liver and 24 gallbladder complaints and other maladies. With more than 200 constituents, the essential oil 25 is emergent as an interesting and biologically valuable active source of phytochemicals

Accumulation patterns of phenylpropanoids and enzymes in East Indian sandalwood tree undergoing developmental progression in vitro

Abstract The East Indian Sandalwood tree, Santalum album L., is sought for its fragrant essential oil and heartwood. The prolonged harvestable economic phase, over-exploitation, and poaching have contributed to extensive micro propagation endeavors in this woody tropical species. However, till date there is no information available regarding the metabolic changes associated with its development in vitro. Established in vitro cultures (i.e. callus, somatic embryo, and somatic seedlings) were examined extensively for phenylpropanoid pathway enzymes and metabolite accumulation patterns. Two to twelve fold increases in critical enzymatic activities across the three stages suggested a progressive developmental organization. Phenylpropanoid analysis by reverse phasehigh performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and liquid chromatography-electro spray ionization-mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS) revealed changes and distribution patterns of 18 phenolics and 46 phenylpropanoids, respectively. Moreover, anatomical studies yielded insights into the vasculature's progressive organization and enhanced complexity. This study constitutes the first ever report on a comprehensive phenylpropanoid profiling analysis in East Indian sandalwood tree

Immunolocalization of α-santalol in sandalwood

<div><p>Alpha-santalol is a key constituent of sandalwood essential oil and is responsible for most of its biological activities. The heartwood of a mature East Indian sandalwood tree accumulates this sesquiterpenoid-rich oil. Although gas chromatography (GC) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS)-based technologies are used to detect and quantify santalols from heartwoods and the essential oil, information on the sites of deposition of these molecules remains obscure. Recently, <i>in vitro</i> cells of sandalwood were shown to accumulate sandalwood oil constituents. However, no reports are available on the visualization of these small molecules <i>in planta</i>. Immunization of rabbits with a bovine serum albumin (BSA)–α-santalol conjugate resulted in the production of anti-α-santalol polyclonal antibody in six weeks, which showed high affinity and specificity. The success and extent of cross-linking of α-santalol with BSA was further confirmed by photometric, fluorometric and chromatographic methods. These polyclonal rabbit antibodies were used to immunolocalize α-santalol in sandalwood plant materials for the first time. Results indicate the localization of α-santalol to the vascular bundles of somatic embryos and leaves, whereas distribution was evident in secondary xylem, cortical parenchyma and epidermis of the mature stem. Furthermore, the polyclonal antibody is shown to be a useful tool in detection of both free and immobilized α-santalol for screening purposes.</p></div

Water soluble bioactives of nacre mediate antioxidant activity and osteoblast differentiation.

The water soluble matrix of nacre is a proven osteoinductive material. In spite of the differences in the biomolecular compositions of nacre obtained from multiple species of oysters, the common biochemical properties of those principles substantiate their biological activity. However, the mechanism by which nacre stimulates bone differentiation remains largely unknown. Since the positive impact of antioxidants on bone metabolism is well acknowledged, in this study we investigated the antioxidant potential of a water soluble matrix (WSM) obtained from the nacre of the marine oyster Pinctada fucata, which could regulate its osteoblast differentiation activity. Enhanced levels of ALP activity observed in pre-osteoblast cells upon treatment with WSM, suggested the induction of bone differentiation events. Furthermore, bone nodule formation and up-regulation of bone differentiation marker transcripts, i.e. collagen type-1 and osteocalcin by WSM confirmed its ability to induce differentiation of the pre-osteoblasts into mature osteoblasts. Remarkably, same WSM fraction upon pre-treatment lowered the H2O2 and UV-B induced oxidative damages in keratinocytes, thus indicating the antioxidant potential of WSM. This was further confirmed from the in vitro scavenging of ABTS and DPPH free radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation by WSM. Together, these results indicate that WSM poses both antioxidant potential and osteoblast differentiation property. Thus, bioactivities associated with nacre holds potential in the development of therapeutics for bone regeneration and against oxidative stress induced damages in cells

Evaluation of Cyclosaplin Efficacy Using a Silk Based 3D Tumor Model

Development of novel anti-cancer peptides requires a rapid screening process which can be accelerated by using appropriate in vitro tumor models. Breast carcinoma tissue is a three-dimensional (3D) microenvironment, which contains a hypoxic center surrounded by dense proliferative tissue. Biochemical clues provided by such a 3D cell mass cannot be recapitulated in conventional 2D culture systems. In this experiment, we evaluate the efficacy of the sandalwood peptide, cyclosaplin, on an established in vitro 3D silk breast cancer model using the invasive MDA-MB-231 cell line. The anti-proliferative effect of the peptide on the 3D silk tumor model is monitored by alamarBlue assay, with conventional 2D culture as control. The proliferation rate, glucose consumed, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) activity of human breast cancer cells are higher in 3D constructs compared to 2D. A higher concentration of drug is required to achieve 50% cell death in 3D culture than in 2D culture. The cyclosaplin treated MDA-MB-231 cells showed a significant decrease in MMP-9 activity in 3D constructs. Microscopic analysis revealed the formation of cell clusters evenly distributed in the scaffolds. The drug treated cells were less in number, smaller and showed unusual morphology. Overall, these findings indicate the role of cyclosaplin as a promising anti-cancer therapeutic

Production and characterization of arabinogalactan protein (AGP) from a hairy root line of <i style="">Catharanthus roseus</i> (L.) G. Don

211-216Arabinogalactan protein (AGP), a class of cell wall proteoglycan, was isolated from the hairy root cultures of a newly developed hairy root line IIT-BT/D1 of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don. AGP was found to be present both in the roots (0.3 mg/g fresh weight) and in the spent media (47 mg/L). The compositional analysis revealed the predominance of arabinose and galactose sugar, a characteristic feature of AG

Arsenic biosorption by mucilaginous seeds of Hyptis suaveolens (L.) Poit

577-581Hyptis suaveolens seeds could serve as natural immobilized source of agriculturally based polysaccharide. Maximum adsorption capacity (6 gl⁻¹) of the seeds for arsenic adsorption has been found at pH 3.5 - 4.5. Among the tested interfering common metal ions, Ca⁺⁺, Mg⁺⁺ and Cl⁻ decreased adsorption rate about 48%, 54% and 30% respectively, whereas Zn⁺⁺ and Co⁺⁺ ions have no significant effect. Adsorption isotherm studies revealed a better correlation with Langmuir isotherm plot