Ferulone A and ferulone B: two new coumarin esters from <i>Ferula orientalis</i> L. roots

<p><i>Ferula orientalis</i> (Apiaceae) is a well-known perennial herb growing wild in Iran used in traditional medicine. To perform phytochemical studies, dried ground roots of <i>F. orientalis</i> were sequentially Soxhlet-extracted using <i>n</i>-hexane, dichloromethane and methanol. A combination of vacuum liquid chromatography and preparative thin-layer chromatographic analyses were performed to isolate coumarin esters. The structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic means, and <i>in vitro</i> free-radical-scavenging property was determined by the DPPH assay. Two new coumarin esters, 7-<i>O</i>-(4,8,12,16-tetrahydroxy-4,8,12,16-tetramethyl-heptadecanoyl)-coumarinand 7-<i>O</i>-(4-hydroxy-4,8,12-trimethyl-trideca-7,11-dienoyl)-coumarin, named ferulone A and ferulone B, respectively, were isolated from the <i>n</i>-hexane extract of the roots of <i>F. orientalis</i>. Both compounds showed a low level of free-radical-scavenging property with the RC₅₀ values of 0.252 and 0.556 mg/mL for compounds <b>1</b> and <b>2</b>, respectively, as opposed to that of the positive control (quercetin) 0.004 mg/mL. This is the first report on the purification of coumarin esters from the genus <i>Ferula</i>.</p

Evaluation of resazurin microtiter plate assay and HPLC- photodiode array analysis of the roots of <i>Asparagus adscendens</i>

<p><i>Asparagus adscendens</i> Roxb. (Asparagaceae), is native to the Himalayas<b>.</b> The present study, for the first time, was undertaken to explore the antimicrobial potential, to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of the methanol extract of the roots of <i>A. adscendens</i> and its solid-phase extraction (SPE) fractions using resazurin microtitre assay against Gram-positive and negative bacterial-registered strains and to carry out HPLC-photodiode array analysis of the SPE fractions. The methanol extract and all SPE exhibited considerable level of antibacterial potential against Gram-positive bacteria (MIC: 2.5–0.009 mg/mL) than against Gram-negative bacteria (MIC: 1.25–2.5 mg/mL). The use of microtitre plates has the advantage of lower cost, fast and quantitative results. Like other <i>Asparagus</i> species, the presence of phenolic compounds in all SPE fractions was evident in the HPLC-PDA data.</p

Cytotoxicity, <i>In vitro</i> anti-Leishmanial and fingerprint HPLC- photodiode array analysis of the roots of <i>Trillium govanianum</i>

<p><i>Trillium govanianum</i> Wall. ex D. Don (Melanthiaceae <i>alt.</i> Trilliaceae), commonly known as ‘nagchhatry’ or ‘teen patra’, distributed from Pakistan to Bhutan about 2500–3800 m altitude is indigenous to Himalayas region. In folk medicine the plant has been reported for the treatment of wound healing, sepsis and in various sexual disorders<i>.</i> This paper reports, for the first time, to evaluate the cytotoxicity, <i>in vitro</i> anti-leishmanial (promastigotes) and fingerprint HPLC-photodiode array analysis of the MeOH extract of the roots of <i>T. govanianum</i> and its solid phase extraction fractions. Reverse phase HPLC-PDA based quantification revealed the presence of significant amount of quercetin, myrecetin and kaemferol ranging from 0.221to 0.528 μg/mg DW. MeOH extract revealed distinguishable protein kinase inhibitory activity against <i>Streptomyces</i> 85E strain with 18 mm bald phenotype. The remarkable toxicity profile against brine shrimps and leishmanial was manifested by MeOH extract with LC₅₀ 10 and 38.5 μg/mL, respectively.</p

DataSheet1.docx

<p>Polymethoxylavones (PMFs) are known to exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. Nicotiana plumbaginifolia, an annual Bangladeshi herb, is rich in polymethoxyflavones that possess significant analgesic and anxiolytic activities. The present study aimed to determine the antinociceptive and neuropharmacological activities of polyoxygenated flavonoids namely- 3,3′,5,6,7,8-hexamethoxy-4′,5′-methylenedioxyflavone (1), 3,3′,4′,5′,5,6,7,8-octamethoxyflavone (exoticin) (2), 6,7,4′,5′-dimethylenedioxy-3,5,3′-trimethoxyflavone (3), and 3,3′,4′,5,5′,8-hexamethoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyflavone (4), isolated and identified from N. plumbaginifolia. Antinociceptive activity was assessed using the acetic-acid induced writhing, hot plate, tail immersion, formalin and carrageenan-induced paw edema tests, whereas neuropharmacological effects were evaluated in the hole cross, open field and elevated plus maze test. Oral treatment of compounds 1, 3, and 4 (12.5–25 mg/kg b.w.) exhibited dose-dependent and significant (p < 0.01) antinociceptive activity in the acetic-acid, formalin, carrageenan, and thermal (hot plate)-induced pain models. The association of ATP-sensitive K⁺ channel and opioid systems in their antinociceptive effect was obvious from the antagonist effect of glibenclamide and naloxone, respectively. These findings suggested central and peripheral antinociceptive activities of the compounds. Compound 1, 3, and 4 (12.5 mg/kg b.w.) demonstrated significant (p < 0.05) anxiolytic-like activity in the elevated plus-maze test, while the involvement of GABA_A receptor in the action of compound 3 and 4 was evident from the reversal effects of flumazenil. In addition, compounds 1 and 4 (12.5–25 mg/kg b.w) exhibited anxiolytic activity without altering the locomotor responses. The present study suggested that the polymethoxyflavones (1–4) from N. Plumbaginifolia could be considered as suitable candidates for the development of analgesic and anxiolytic agents.</p