Antimicrobial and Larvicidal Activities of Different Ocimum Essential Oils Extracted by Ultrasound-Assisted Hydrodistillation

Infectious diseases and their vectors have remained a concern for human population from their historical origin. Microbial pathogens have also emerged as a potent threat to the healthcare systems even in developed countries. Essential oils remain a less explored method for infectious disease control; besides, the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of essential oil production has emerged as promising source of bioactive volatiles over conventional methods. This study analyzed the possible use of UAE- Essential oils (EOs) from different species of Ocimum plants (Ocimum basilicum (OB), O. gratissimum (OG), O. tenuiflorum (OT), and O. canum (OC)) in the management of microbial pathogens and mosquito larval control. The antibacterial activity was estimated in terms of a disc diffusion assay and minimum inhibitory concentrations against Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella enteritidis. The larvicidal property was found using three important mosquito vectors and the LC50 value was determined. Furthermore, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties were estimated in terms of radical scavenging activities and the inhibition of lipoxygenase enzyme activity. The EOs exhibited significant DPPH radical scavenging (high in OG), hydrogen-peroxide scavenging (OB) and lipoxygenase inhibition (OB). The antibacterial activity was high in OB and OG (p < 0.05) and the larvicidal activity was of higher sensitivity against Aedis and Culex, whereas Armigeres was more resistant. However, no sign of toxicity in the Allium cepa model or non-targeted organism Guppy fishes was observed. Overall, the UAE extracted Ocimum essential oils were found to be effective against various human pathogenic microbial organisms, with OB and OG being highly active. Likewise, the EOs was also able to induce mortality in the larval forms of various mosquito vectors

Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-genotoxic, and anticancer activities of different Ocimum plant extracts prepared by ultrasound-assisted method

The genus Ocimum belonging to the family Lamiaceae, have been widely used in traditional medicines for the management of inflammation, dysentery, and chronic diarrhea as well as insect bites. The study aims to evaluate the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of Ocimum gratissimum (OG), O. basilicum (OB), O. canum (OC), O. kilimandscharicum (OK), O. tenuiflorum (OT), and O. citriodorum (OXC) extracted in an ultrasound-assisted manner. There observed significantly higher polyphenols in OB (246.2 ± 8.0 mg GAE/g) and antioxidant activity in OG terms of DPPH radical (14.73 ± 0.54 μg/mL), ABTS+ radical and hydrogen peroxide scavenging assays (in OB with IC50 values 9.46 ± 0.28 and 6.22 ± 0.13 μg/mL); the most active extract was OB and OG. Similarly, OB, OG and OT were shown to have higher anti-inflammatory properties in terms of nitric oxide scavenging and lipoxygenase inhibition. Further, using the Allium cepa model, the genotoxicity of these extracts were evaluated; however, none of these plants was shown to have any kind of genotoxic potentials till a concentration of 500 μg/mL. Instead, they were able to protect the genotoxic effect of ethyl methyl sulfonate (EMS) in the dividing cells of Allium cepa. Further, these extracts, especially of OG, OT and OB, were found to reduce the proliferation of human breast cancer cells (OB and OC with IC50 values 49.36 ± 1.27 and 53.86 ± 0.96 μg/mL). The study identified the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-genotoxic and anticancer properties of ultrasound-assisted extracted Ocimum plants, with higher activity in OB and OG species.The authors acknowledge King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia for funding this research through Researchers Supporting Project No: RSP 2021/11. The authors acknowledge KSCSTE for the student project scheme (No. 00784). AN and JTJ are thankful to DBT-STAR scheme and RUSA, Govt. of India for infrastructure development at St. Joseph's College (Autonomous), Devagiri.Peer reviewe

Phytochemical Composition and In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, Anticancer, and Enzyme-Inhibitory Activities of <i>Artemisia nilagirica</i> (C.B. Clarke) Pamp

Plants have been employed in therapeutic applications against various infectious and chronic diseases from ancient times. Various traditional medicines and folk systems have utilized numerous plants and plant products, which act as sources of drug candidates for modern medicine. Artemisia is a genus of the Asteraceae family with more than 500 species; however, many of these species are less explored for their biological efficacy, and several others are lacking scientific explanations for their uses. Artemisia nilagirica is a plant that is widely found in the Western Ghats, Kerala, India and is a prominent member of the genus. In the current study, the phytochemical composition and the antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer activities were examined. The results indicated that the ethanol extract of A. nilagirica indicated in vitro DPPH scavenging (23.12 ± 1.28 µg/mL), ABTS scavenging (27.44 ± 1.88 µg/mL), H2O2 scavenging (12.92 ± 1.05 µg/mL), and FRAP (5.42 ± 0.19 µg/mL). The anti-inflammatory effect was also noticed in the Raw 264.7 macrophages, where pretreatment with the extract reduced the LPS-stimulated production of cytokines (p A. nilagirica was also efficient in inhibiting the activities of α-amylase (38.42 ± 2.71 µg/mL), α-glucosidase (55.31 ± 2.16 µg/mL), aldose reductase (17.42 ± 0.87 µg/mL), and sorbitol dehydrogenase (29.57 ± 1.46 µg/mL). It also induced significant inhibition of proliferation in breast (MCF7 IC50 = 41.79 ± 1.07, MDAMB231 IC50 = 55.37 ± 2.11µg/mL) and colon (49.57 ± 1.46 µg/mL) cancer cells. The results of the phytochemical screening indicated a higher level of polyphenols and flavonoids in the extract and the LCMS analysis revealed the presence of various bioactive constituents including artemisinin

Proximate composition, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-diabetic properties of the haustorium from Coconut (Cocos nucifera L.) and Palmyra palm (Borassus flabellifer L.)

Objective: Functional foods play important roles in the management of health; the haustoria from the Cocos nucifera and Borassus flabellifer are less explored for their nutritional benefits. Therefore, the study evaluated the proximate composition, biological and anti-diabetic effects of the CH and BH. Methods: The total polyphenol content of coconut and palmyra palm haustorium was conducted using the standard Folin-Ciocalteu based assay. The radical scavenging properties of Coconut and Palmyra palm haustorium was analyzed by DPPH radical scavenging assay, Lipid peroxidation inhibition as well as by hydrogen peroxide scavenging assay. Anti-diabetic activity of the coconut and palmyra palm haustorium extracts were analyzed in terms of the inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities. Results: The results indicated significantly higher amounts of protein, fiber, and fat content in BH. Similarly, higher polyphenol content was present in BH. Substantiating these results, the anti-DPPH radical and anti-hydrogen peroxide radical was higher in BH (18.66 ± 2.09 and 30.73 ± 2.37 µg/mL); likewise, the BH had higher lipoygenase inhibition and nitric oxide scavenging potential (42.14 ± 3.45 and 72.12 ± 4.02 µg/mL). Both the extracts exhibited anti-diabetic activity (58.61 ± 2.98 and 91.17 ± 3.52 µg/mL), however a higher concentration was required for CH compared to the BH. Conclusion: The Palmyra palm and coconut haustorium are highly nutritional in terms of the various components. By virtue of these compounds, the BH and CH may evolve as possible functional foods over time