Phytochemical analysis and antioxidative properties of Centaurea albonitens

Background and objectives: Thegenus Centaurea from the Asteraceae family is one of the most widely distributed plant genera worldwide that has been extensively used in folk medicine for hundreds of years. The present study is the first investigation about the principal constituents of Centaurea albonitens Turrill which is native to Iran. Methods: Theaerial parts of C. albonitens were extracted via maceration. Phytochemical analysis of the methanol extract was carried out via different chromatography approaches like HPLC, SPE and preparative TLC. Structures of the purified compounds were revealed through spectral analysis from 1D and 2D NMR including DQF-COSY, HSQC and DEPT in comparison with the relative data in published reports. Subsequently, the antioxidant property of the extract was evaluated via scavenging the free DPPH radicals. In addition, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extract were ascertained based on Folin-Ciocalteu and colorimetric aluminum chloride methods, correspondingly. Results: Analysis of the extract yielded in the isolation and identification of arctiin and apigenin-4'-O-rhamnoside. Moreover, the antioxidant assessment determined IC50 value of 389.9 µg/mL for the plant extract in DPPH assay. The total phenolics and flavonoids content of the plant extract were 2.87 g gallic acid equivalent and 0.28 g quercetin equivalent both in 100 g dried plant material. Conclusion: The findings of this study introduce C. albonitens as a suitable source for isolation of lignans (like arctiin)

Evaluation of androgenic activity of allium cepa on spermatogenesis in the rat

Allium cepa (onion) has a beneficial effect on disease treatment worldwide and has been used since ancient times as a medicinal and food source. Recently several reports have shown that onion has high antioxidant activity. As antioxidants have an essential effect on sperm health parameters, we investigated the effect of the fresh juice of onion bulbs on the spermatogenesis cycle in rats. Wistar male rats (n = 30) were allocated into 3 groups, control (n = 10) and two test groups (each of 10). The animals in the test groups were subdivided into groups of 2 that received fresh onion juice equivalent to 0.5 and 1 g/rat/ /day of fresh onion. The fresh onion juice was administered by gavage for 20 consecutive days. The animals were kept in standard conditions. On the twentieth day, the testes of rats in all groups were removed and sperm was collected from the epididymis and was prepared for analysis. Serum total testosterone significantly increased in all the test groups (p < 0.05), and levels of LH significantly increased only in the group that received the high dose of fresh onion juice (p < 0.05), but the level of FSH did not differ between the experimental and control groups. The percentage of sperm viability and motility in both test groups significantly increased (p < 0.05), but the sperm concentration significantly increased only in the group that received the high dose of freshly extracted onion juice (p < 0.05). It was evident that there was no difference on sperm morphology and testis weight in test groups compared to the control group. In our study, freshly prepared onion juice significantly affected the sperm number, percentage of viability, and motility; it seems that using 4 g/kg of freshly prepared onion juice is effective in sperm health parameters

An investigation on cardioprotective potential of Marrubium vulgare aqueous fraction against ischaemia-reperfusion injury in isolated rat heart

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of aqueous fraction of Marrubium vulgare hydroalcoholic extract on cardiac parameters in ischaemic-reperfused isolated rat hearts. Materials and methods: The aerial parts of the plant were extracted with methanol 70% by maceration. The water-soluble portion of the total hydroalcoholic extract was prepared with liquid-liquid extraction (LLE). Afterwards, the antioxidant activity, total phenolic and flavonoids content of the aqueous fraction were determined. In order to evaluate the effects of the aqueous fraction on cardiac parameters and ischaemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, the Langendroff method was used on male Wistar rats. Harvested hearts were cannulated immediately to the Langendroff apparatus and subjected into 30 min regional ischaemia and 2 h reperfusion, either by a modified Krebs-Henseleit buffer (KHB) solution or enriched KHB solution with plant extract (10, 20, 40 μg/mL). Results: The aqueous fraction was found to be a scavenger of DPPH radical with RC50 value of 47 μg/mL. The total phenolic and flavonoids content of the fraction was 6.05 g gallic acid equivalent and 36.13 mg quercetin equivalent per 100 g of dry plant material. In addition, 40 μg/mL of Marrubium vulgare aqueous fraction significantly decreased infarct size in comparison to control group. All doses considerably reduced the total ventricular ectopic beats during 30 min of ischaemia. The extract at dose of 40 μg/mL noticeably decreased the arrhythmias during the first 30 min of reperfusion. Conclusions: The results of the study indicated aqueous fraction of Marrubium vulgare possesses a protective effect against I/R injuries in isolated rat heart

Caffeic acid derivative from Clinopodium umbrosum

Background and objectives: Plants of genus Clinopodium have been used in different cultures as traditional medicines.Due to theimportance of medicinal properties of the genus Clinopodium, C. umbrosum was selected for phytochemical analysis along with evaluation of its antioxidant property. Methods: The aerial parts of C. umbrosum were extracted with petroleum ether, chloroform, and methanol. Later, the methanol extract was fractionated via solid phase extraction and reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Consequently, structure of the isolated compound was analyzed through spectral analysis of 1D and 2D NMR data. Besides, the essential oil of C. umbrosum achieved through hydrodistillation was analyzed via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Additionally, the antioxidant property of C. umbrosum methanol extracttogether with its phenolics and flavonoids content were assessed. Results: Structure elucidation of the purified compound revealed presence of a caffeic acid derivative in C. umbrosum methanol extract. GC-MS analysis of the essential oil showed limonene, acetophenone, palmitic acid and phytol as the most frequent components of the essential oil. Moreover, the RC50 value for free radical scavenging activity of  the methanol extract was determined as 38.52 µg/mL and values for the total phenolics and flavonoids contact were calculated as 5.14 g gallic acid equivalent and 4.25 g quercetin equivalent per 100 g of dried plant material, respectively.  Conclusion: Overall, the present study was the first report on the phytochemical analysis of C. umbrosum whichrevealed presence of rosmarinic acid as the main component of the methanol extract with prominent antioxidant activity

Secondary metabolites from the roots of Astragalus maximus

Background and objectives: Astragalus is one of the most abundant genera of flowering plants in Iran. There are a few reports on phytochemical investigation of this valuable genus. Saponins, flavonoids and polysaccharides have been reported as the most important metabolites in Astragalus species. In the present research, we aimed to identify the foremost constituents of Astragalus maximus. Method: Phytochemical analysis of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) fraction of Astragalus maximus roots was performed using different methods of chromatography such as HPLC, SPE and preparative TLC. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated on the basis of extensive spectral evidence from 1D and 2D NMR including DQF-COSY, HSQC, HMBC, and DEPT, in comparison with reported values in the literature. Results: Analysis of the extract yielded three flavonoids namely liquiritigenin, formononetin, isoquercitrin and one acylated cycloartane-type saponin, astragaloside I. Conclusion: According to the results of our study, cycloartane-type saponin and flavonoids were the important metabolites in A. maximus