ANTIMICROBIAL AND FREE RADICAL SCAVENGING ACTIVITIES OF FIVE PALESTINIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS

Extracts from five indigenous Palestinian medicinal plants including Rosmarinus officinalis, Pisidium guajava, Punica granatum peel, grape seeds and Teucrium polium were investigated for antimicrobial and free radical scavenging activities against eight microorganisms, using well diffusion method. The microorganisms included six bacterial isolates (i.e. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginos, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis and Micrococcus luteus) and two fungal isolates (i.e. Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger). A standard antioxidant assay was performed on the plant extracts to assess their capability in scavenging 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Of the five tested plant extract, only Rosmarinus offcinalis extract contained significant antimicrobial activity against all eight microbial isolates including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts from other four plants exhibited a variable antimicrobial activity against all microorganisms, except Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Significant antioxidant activity was detected in all plant extracts. However, extracts from Pisidium guajava leaves contained significantly higher antioxidant activity compared to the other extracts tested. The antimicrobial and scavenging activities detected in this in vitro study in extracts from the five Palestinian medicinal plants suggest that further study is needed to identify active compounds to target diseases caused by a wide-spectrum pathogens

Development and optimization of a microwave-assisted protein hydrolysis method to permit amino acid profiling of cultivated and wild wheats and to relate the amino acid to grain mineral concentrations

Wholegrain flour from durum wheat (T.durum, cv. Balcali-2000) was subjected to amino acid analysis following microwave-assisted acid hydrolysis. To optimize this new method, a range of sample masses (100-500 mg), incubation temperatures (130-170[centigrade degree]) and time intervals (1- 4h) were assessed. Overall, the greatest recovery of amino acids was obtained when 200 mg of wheat flour sample was hydrolyzed at 150[centigrade degree] for 3 h. The developed microwave hydrolysis method was confirmed to yield comparable findings with classic reflux methods. Integration of all amino acid signals corresponded to 85 % of the total protein content calculated by total N. The highest signal reflected the combined contributions of glutamic acid and glutamine, in accord with previous findings. Also as expected, proline was found to rank in second place. It follows to reason that an optimized microwave-assisted hydrolysis method may describe a rapid means to compare the constitution of different genotypes of wheats and may further show merit and general applicability towards the rapid analysis of commercially important crops and their end-products. In all wheat species and genotypes Glu was the most abundant amino acid, followed by Pro, whereas Met sln, Lys and Thr were the most limited. The quantities and ratios of individual amino acids were consistent with the literature data and the quantitative order of major and minor amino acids did not change in genotypes or species. However, amino acids exhibited significantly high variations among genotypes and species which can be exploited to enhance specific and/or total amino acids (i.e. protein) in high yielding cultivated wheats through selection, breeding and targeted molecular approaches. Although the existence of significant associations between a few amino acids and mineral nutrients, it was not possible to define or explain a co-transport or co-accumulation mechanism. Future research should focus on the phloem transport and mobility of metal binding proteins and organic ligands, rather than individual amino acids. A major finding of this study was the augmentation of correlations (among amino acids, nutrients and amino acids with nutrients) upon prescreening for contrasting grain N (or protein) concentration. Advancements in increasing the grain protein content of wheat can significantly contribute to enrichment of grains with almost all mineral nutrients except K and Ca

Anti-inflammatory Activities of Ethanolic Extracts of curcuma Longa (Turmeric) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)

Curcuma longa and Cinnamon are used in folkloric medicine and thought to have different pharmacological activities including anti-inflammatory effects. The objective of this work is to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory effect of Curcuma longa and Cinnamon ethanolic extracts on Lipopolysacaride (LPS)-induced Interlukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) by polymorphonuclear Cells (PMNCs). Polymorphonuclear cells were isolated from the whole blood using Histopaque (Ficol-1077) method and then cultured in an enriched Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RBMI) medium. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 in the supernatant were measured after 24 h and compared using paired-samples t test. The Curcuma longa and Cinnamon extracts have shown significant reduction in the levels of both Il-6 and TNF-α. HPLC analysis of Curcuma longa extract revealed that it contains curcumin, demethoxycurcumin, and bisdemethoxycurcumin while the major compound in the extract of cinnamon was found to be cinnamic acid. Reduction in the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α upon effect of the plants” extract is an indication of their anti-inflammatory effects. The observed anti-inflammatory effect may be due to the presence of curcuminoids and cinnamic acid from Curcuma longa and Cinnamon, respectively

Anti-inflammatory of both Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus were investigated along with their phenolic compounds analysis using HPLC with UV detection

Background: Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus are among the Palestinian trees that are traditionally used in folkloric medicine in treating many diseases; leaves of which are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. The goal of this study is to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory effect of Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus extracts on Lipopolysacaride (LPS)-induced Interlukin-6 (Il-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) by polymorphonuclear Cells (PMNCs).Materials and Methods: Polymorphonuclear cells were isolated from the whole blood using Histopaque (Ficol-1077) method and then cultured in an enriched Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RBMI) medium. Supernatants’ Interlukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) levels were determined 24 hour after LPS stimulation. HPLC was employed to determine the concentration of phenolic compounds in the extracts. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were compared using paired-samples t test.Results: Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus leaves extracts have shown significant reduction in the levels of both Il-6 and TNF-α Gallic acid; a strong anti-inflammatory agent was found to be the major phenolic compound in both leaf extracts. However, other antiinflammatory phenolic compounds were detected in Pitascia lentiscus extract including syringic acid and p-coumaric acid, while chlorogenic acid was detected in Eucalyptus spp. leaf extract.Conclusion: Reduction in the levels of Il-6 and TNF-α upon the effect of both Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus extract is an indication of their anti-inflammatory effects. Our results may also indicate that the observed anti-inflammatory effect of the above extracts may be due to the presence of gallic acid and other phenolic compounds.Keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Eucalyptus spp.; Pistascia lentiscus; HPLC; TNF-alpha; IL-

Oleuropein Is Responsible for the Major Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaves are rich in polyphenolic compounds that are known to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiinflammatory activities. Therefore, olive leaf extract (OLE) is considered as a natural supplement. In this study we evaluated the antibacterial and the anti-inflammatory effect of OLE and its individual phenolic components in vitro. Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNCs) were isolated from the whole blood using Histopaque solution and cultured in RPMI-enriched medium. Tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) level was determined by ELISA after 24 h of lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The antibacterial activity of OLE was determined by well diffusion assay. We found a significant decrease in TNFa secretion level in PMNCs culture treated with OLE. Oleuropein is the only OLE component that has shown anti-inflammatory effects at a concentration of 20 lg/mL. Furthermore, OLE exhibited antibacterial activity against some gram positive bacterial strains; however, gram negative bacterial strains were resistant to OLE. Downregulation of TNFa secretion in PMNCs culture in response to OLE treatment indicates that this polyphenol-rich extract has an anti-inflammatory effect, and oleuropein is the major OLE component responsible for this effect. The antibacterial activity of OLE is limited to gram positive bacteria.Our thanks are due to all laboratory members who participated in this study

Separation and identification of phenolics and flavonoids from wild Pistacia palaestina extract and its antioxidant activity

An in-vitro evaluation of the antioxidant activities of wild Palestinian Pistacia palaestina extracts was done. In parallel, the total phenolic content (TPC) and the total flavonoids content (TFC) were measured. The antioxidant activities were determined spectrophotometrically by DPPH, FRAP, CUPRAC and the ABTS methods. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were separated and identified using LC-PDA-MS. The P. palaestina extract was found to contain many phenolic and flavonoids that enhance its reducing activity and free radical scavenging ability. Total phenolic content, and total flavonoids contents were found to be 66.5 ± 2.2 mg Gallic acid/g, and 20.3 ± 1.1 mg catechin/g, respectively. Antioxidant activity represented as FRAP, CUPRAC, DPPH and ABTS was found to be 23.5± 1.2 mmol Fe+2/g, 4562 ± 63 μmol Trolox/g, 344 ± 11 μmol/g, 53.1 ± 6.6 μmol/g, respectively. The aim of the study is therefore to employ different antioxidant tests to evaluate the antioxidant activities of crude ethanol leaf extracts of P. palaestina, and to determine its phenolic and flavonoids content

Effect of different growing media on selected growth performance parameters of Raphanus pugioniformis and Raphanus raphanistrum

Raphanus raphanistrum and R. pugioniformis (Brassicaceae) are wild radishes, native to the Eastern Mediterranean region. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of growing soil media (perlite, sand, and terra rossa) on the growth performance of two Raphanus species. For this, seeds of the selected species were germinated and seedlings were transferred to plastic cylinders, filled with growing soil media. At harvest, various growth parameters including shoot length, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh weight, and root dry weight were determined. Root and shoot fresh and dry weight, before and after oven dry for 24 h at 70 °C was measured. Results of the study revealed statistically significant differences (P value ≤ 0.05) among the various studied growth parameters for the selected Raphanus species and are affected by different growing media including types of soil and growing time (days after potting from 33 to 78). After 33 days of potting, the average shoot length for R. pugioniformis was found 6.6, 8.0, and 8.6 cm in terra rossa, sand, and perlite growing media respectively. On the other hand, the fresh (0.8, 1.6, and 2.5g) and dry (0.25, 0.48, and 0.72g) shoot weight for R. pugioniformis was reported in terra rossa, sand, and perlite soil media respectively. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that among the tested growing media, perlite growing medium is the best medium for the growth of both studied Raphanus species. This study demonstrated that the three studied growing media affected all the growth performance parameters of both Raphanus pugioniformis and Raphanus raphanistrum differently

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY ACTIVITY OF EUCALYPTUS SPP. AND PISTASCIA LENTISCUS LEAF EXTRACTS

Background: Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus are among the Palestinian trees that are traditionally used in folkloric medicine in treating many diseases; leaves of which are thought to have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antioxidant effects. The goal of this study is to evaluate the in vitro inhibitory effect of Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus extracts on Lipopolysacaride (LPS)-induced Interlukin-6 (Il-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) by polymorphonuclear Cells (PMNCs). Materials and Methods: Polymorphonuclear cells were isolated from the whole blood using Histopaque (Ficol-1077) method and then cultured in an enriched Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RBMI) medium. Supernatants’ Interlukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF-α) levels were determined 24 hour after LPS stimulation. HPLC was employed to determine the concentration of phenolic compounds in the extracts. The concentrations of TNF-α and IL-6 were compared using paired-samples t test. Results: Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus leaves extracts have shown significant reduction in the levels of both Il-6 and TNF-α Gallic acid; a strong anti-inflammatory agent was found to be the major phenolic compound in both leaf extracts. However, other antiinflammatory phenolic compounds were detected in Pitascia lentiscus extract including syringic acid and p-coumaric acid, while chlorogenic acid was detected in Eucalyptus spp. leaf extract. Conclusion: Reduction in the levels of Il-6 and TNF-α upon the effect of both Eucalyptus spp. and Pistascia lentiscus extract is an indication of their anti-inflammatory effects. Our results may also indicate that the observed anti-inflammatory effect of the above extracts may be due to the presence of gallic acid and other phenolic compounds

Oleuropein Is Responsible For The Major Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Olive Leaf Extract

Olive leaves are rich in polyphenolic compounds that are known to have antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Therefore, olive leaf extract (OLE) is considered as a natural supplement. In this study we evaluated the antibacterial and the anti-inflammatory effect of OLE and its individual phenolic components in vitro. Polymorphonuclear cells (PMNCs) were isolated from the whole blood using Histopaque solution and cultured in RPMI-enriched medium. Tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) level was determined by ELISA after 24 h of lipopolysaccharide stimulation. The antibacterial activity of OLE was determined by well diffusion assay. We found a significant decrease in TNFα secretion level in PMNCs culture treated with OLE. Oleuropein is the only OLE component that has shown anti-inflammatory effects at a concentration of 20 μg/mL. Furthermore, OLE exhibited antibacterial activity against some gram positive bacterial strains; however, gram negative bacterial strains were resistant to OLE. Downregulation of TNFα secretion in PMNCs culture in response to OLE treatment indicates that this polyphenol-rich extract has an anti-inflammatory effect, and oleuropein is the major OLE component responsible for this effect. The antibacterial activity of OLE is limited to gram positive bacteria