Methodology for rapid isolation of Moringin: Potential anticancer compound from the seeds of Moringa stenopetala

The seeds of Moringa stenopetala which are known to be rich sources of glucosinolates, primarily glucomoringin, have been shown to have limited anticancer effects when tested in vitro. In the present study, however, the water extract of the seeds obtained following defatting by hexane displayed potent cytotoxic activity against HepG2 (IC50, 6.28 ± 0.55 μg/ml) and the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma (IC50, 9.81 ± 1.30 μg/ml) cells. The methanol extract displayed a weak cytotoxic activity against the HepG2 human hepatocellular cancer cells when tested upto 500 μg/ml, while extraction with hexane yielded the non-cytotoxic fixed oil which fatty acid composition was primarily oleic acid (75%). By monitoring the constituents of the water extract by HPLC and a one-step combiflash chromatographic system using C-18 silica gel system, the principal active constituent (glucomoringin isothiocyanate or moringin; 4(α-L-rhamnosyloxy)-benzyl isothiocyanate) was isolated. Moringin was 6.3 and 2.4 times more potent than etoposide in the HepG2 and SH-SY5Y cell lines respectively. The isolation of this potent potential anticancer compound from the seeds of M. stenopetala without the need for multi-step chromatographic and enzyme-digestion based purification steps are discussed

The hidden treasure in Europe’s garden plants: Case examples; Berberis darwinni and Bergenia cordifolia

Numerous plants cultivated in European gardens have a history of traditional medicinal uses. Some are native to Europe, while others are introduced from other geographical regions. Systematic pharmacological and phytochemical studies on these plants could yield valuable lead compounds of pharmacological significance. In this short communication, two case examples using Berberis darwinii and Bergenia cordifolia are presented

Could we really use aloe vera food supplements to treat diabetes? Quality control issues

Diabetes UK has recently listed a number of herbs and spices that have been clinically shown to improve blood glucose control in type-2 diabetes patients and the diabetes high-risk group. With Aloe vera being top in this list, its health benefit along with health and beauty/food retailers supplying it was illustrated in detail. Previous article from this laboratory scrutinised the merit of using A. vera as an alternative therapy to prescription antidiabetic drugs and the risk of using food supplements in the market which do not qualify as drug preparations. In continuation of this discussion, the present study assesses three Aloe Pura brands and one Holland and Barret brand of A. vera juice supplements in the UK market through chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis. While the polysaccharide active ingredient, acemannan, appears to be within the recommended limit, it was found that Aloe Pura (one of the best-selling brands for A. vera supplement) products have benzoate additive that does not appear in the supplement levels. Moreover, two of the Aloe Pura brand juices contain methanol, suggesting that the International Aloe Science Council (IASC) certification does not guarantee the medicinal quality of these products. The therapeutic fitness of such supplements is discussed

Iridoids and other Mmnoterpenes in the Alzheimer’s Brain: Recent development and future prospects

Iridoids are a class of monoterpenoid compounds constructed from 10-carbon skeleton of isoprene building units. These compounds in their aglycones and glycosylated forms exist in nature to contribute to mechanisms related to plant defenses and diverse plant-animal interactions. Recent studies have also shown that iridoids and other structurally related monoterpenes display a vast array of pharmacological effects that make them potential modulators of the Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This review critically evaluates the therapeutic potential of these natural products by assessing key in vitro and in vivo data published in the scientific literature. Mechanistic approach of scrutiny addressing their effects in the Alzheimer’s brain including the τ-protein phosphorylation signaling, amyloid beta (Aβ) formation, aggregation, toxicity and clearance along with various effects from antioxidant to antiinflammatory mechanisms are discussed. The drug likeness of these compounds and future prospects to consider in their development as potential leads are addressed

Ebola therapy: Developing new drugs or repurposing old ones?

The lack of Ebola therapies has recently kindled the debate about the possible repurposing of approved organotropic (i. e., not etiotropic) drugs for the treatment of this unmet medical emergency [1]. The scientific community is now facing an apparently dichotomal opportunity: focusing efforts on the time-consuming attempt to develop new drugs [2] or preferring the apparently quicker approach of repurposed ones [3]. Of course, each choice would subtract time and resources to the other and some scholars fear the possibility that some of the repurposed drugs might even worsen the viral pathology by changing the immune response [1]. Probably, what we are going to say is trivial, but we wonder if any statistical analysis of the organotropic therapies circumstantially used so far by Ebola patients has been done. This study could suggest which drugs might be more suited to offer beneficial effect against Ebola, if any. For example, some cardiovascular drugs previously demonstrated to be endowed with antiviral properties in vitro [3], might display higher prevalence amongst survived Ebola patients, thus proposing themselves as candidates for repurposing. Conversely, the systematic review of the medicines assumed in unlucky anecdotes might indicate which drugs should be considered as the second choice in the above studies

Molecular pharmacology of rosmarinic and salvianolic acids: Potential seeds for Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia drugs.

Both caffeic acid and 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid (danshensu) are synthesized through two distinct routs of the shikimic acid biosynthesis pathway. In many plants, especially the rosemary and sage family of Lamiaceae, these two compounds are joined through an ester linkage to form rosmarinic acid (RA). A further structural diversity of RA derivatives in some plants such as Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge is a form of RA dimer, salvianolic acid-B (SA-B), that further give rise to diverse salvianolic acid derivatives. This review provides a comprehensive perspective on the chemistry and pharmacology of these compounds related to their potential therapeutic applications to dementia. The two common causes of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and stroke, are employed to scrutinize the effects of these compounds in vitro and in animal models of dementia. Key pharmacological mechanisms beyond the common antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of polyphenols are highlighted with emphasis given to amyloid beta (Aβ) pathologies among others and neuronal regeneration from stem cell

The Therapeutic Potential of Rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) is one of the most economically important species of the family Lamiaceae. Native to the Mediterranean region, the plant is now widely distributed all over the world mainly due to its culinary, medicinal, and commercial uses including in the fragrance and food industries. Among the most important group of compounds isolated from the plant are the abietane-type phenolic diterpenes that account for most of the antioxidant and many pharmacological activities of the plant. Rosemary diterpenes have also been shown in recent years to inhibit neuronal cell death induced by a variety of agents both in vitro and in vivo. The therapeutic potential of these compounds for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is reviewed in this communication by giving special attention to the chemistry of the compounds along with the various pharmacological targets of the disease. The multifunctional nature of the compounds from the general antioxidant-mediated neuronal protection to other specific mechanisms including brain inflammation and amyloid beta (Aβ) formation, polymerisation, and pathologies is discussed

Plants-derived neuroprotective agents: Cutting the cycle of cell death through multiple mechanisms

Neuroprotection is the preservation of the structure and function of neurons from insults arising from cellular injuries induced by a variety of agents or neurodegenerative diseases (NDs). The various NDs including Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases as well as amyotropic lateral sclerosis affect millions of people around the world with the main risk factor being advancing age. Each of these diseases affects specific neurons and/or regions in the brain and involves characteristic pathological and molecular features. Hence, several in vitro and in vivo study models specific to each disease have been employed to study NDs with the aim of understanding their underlying mechanisms and identifying new therapeutic strategies. Of the most prevalent drug development efforts employed in the past few decades, mechanisms implicated in the accumulation of protein-based deposits, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and certain neurotransmitter deficits such as acetylcholine and dopamine have been scrutinized in great detail. In this review, we presented classical examples of plant-derived neuroprotective agents by highlighting their structural class and specific mechanisms of action. Many of these natural products that have shown therapeutic efficacies appear to be working through the above-mentioned key multiple mechanisms of action

In vitro studies on indigenous medicine for urolithiasis: Efficacy of aqueous extract of Aerva lanata (Linn.) Juss. Ex Schult on growth inhibition of calcium hydrogen phosphate dihydrate.

Aerva lanata (L.) Juss. ex Schult., is one of the medicinal plants widely used by traditional healers for the treatment of urolithiasis. A perusal of literature revealed that no studies have so far been undertaken to evaluate its efficacy against Calcium Hydrogen Phosphate Dihydrate (CHPD) or brushite type urinary crystals. Hence, an attempt is made in this study to assess the validity of this indigenous knowledge by using in vitro single diffusion gel growth technique. The morphology of CHPD crystals was studied by microscopy. The structural and chemical changes of the treated crystals were assessed by FTIR, XRD, TGA/DTA and SEM/ EDX analysis. The study revealed that aqueous extract of Aerva lanata is very effective to make structural changes and reduction in size of the brushite type urinary crystals