Biological activities of Cretan Salvia pomifera extracts

The polyphenolic content and biological activities of dichloromethane, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and ethanol extracts of Cretan Salvia pomifera L. (Lamiaceae) were analysed. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest content of total phenolics and total flavonoids. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest activity in the DPPH and FRAP assays, while the dichloromethane extract had the highest activity in the ABTS test. The ethyl acetate extract showed the highest activity in the β-carotene--linoleic acid system. The antioxidant activity of extracts was positively correlated with the total content of phenolics. Extracts demonstrated weak antibacterial activity. The ethyl acetate extract had the highest acethylcholinesterase inhibition at 50 μg/mL, while the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts showed the highest activity of tyrosinase inhibition at 25 μg/mL. In view of the significance of antioxidants in prevention and treatment of neurological diseases, the noticeable antioxidant and anti-neurodegenerative effects of the ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts recorded in this study make further research on S. pomifera seem promisin

Glandular trichomes on the leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis: Morphology, stereology and histochemistry

Stereological and histochernical analyses of the glandular trichomes on leaves of Rosmarinus officinalis were carried out using light and fluorescence microscopy. Non-glandular and two types of glandular trichomes - peltate and capitate - are described. The stereological method was used for estimating the volume density of epidermis, mesophyll, mechanical tissue, central cylinder, intercellular spaces and volume density of different types of glandular trichomes. The results showed that the volume density of adaxial epidermis was higher than abaxial epidermis. The volume density of peltate trichomes was higher than the volume density of capitate ones. The values obtained for number of peltate and capitate trichomes showed that the capitate trichomes type I were more numerous. The histochernical tests showed positive reactions to proteins and polysaccharides for both types of trichomes, while the phenolic substances were found only in peltate trichomes

Brine shrimp lethality bioassay of selected Centaurea L. species (Asteraceae)

Ether extracts of 15 Centaurea L. species (Asteraceae) methanol extracts of 12species, and cnicin isolated from C. derventana were tested for general bioactivity using the brine shrimp lethality test. Cnicin showed the most potent activity with LC50 0.2. Also, ether extract of C. splendens showed significant activity with LC50 7.3, as did methanol extract of C. arenaria with LC50 12.4

BRINE SHRIMP LETHALITY BIOASSAY OF SELECTED CENTAUREA L. SPECIES (ASTERACEAE)

Abstract — Ether extracts of 15 Centaurea L. species (Asteraceae) methanol extracts of 12 species, and cnicin isolated from C. derventana were tested for general bioactivity using the brine shrimp lethality test. Cnicin showed the most potent activ� ity with LC50 0.2. Also, ether extract of C. splendens showed significant activity with LC50 7.3, as did methanol extract of C. arenaria with LC50 12.4

Antimicrobial activity of essential oils and ethanol extract of Phlomis fruticosa L. (Lamiaceae)

The essential oils and an ethanol extract of Phlomis fruticosa L. were evaluated for antibacterial and antifungal activities. Seven bacterial and seven fungal species were used. Among them were human, animal and plant pathogens, food poisoning bacteria and fungi which are known as potential mycotoxin producers. The essential oils showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Micrococcus luteus. The essential oils extracted from the plants collected from two different localities showed similar antibacterial activities. The antifungal activity of the essential oils was positive against Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium tricinctum and Phomopsis helianthi. The ethanol extract showed antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis and antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, A. ochraceus, Cladosporium cladosporioides, Fusarium tricinctum and Phomopsis helianthi. Copyright (C) 2000 John Wiley and Sons, Ltd

Chemical characterization and in vitro immunomodulatory effects of different extracts of moss Hedwigia ciliata (Hedw.) P. Beauv. from the Vršačke Planine Mts., Serbia.

Bioactive compounds from natural sources are of great importance because of their potential pharmacological activity and tremendous structural diversity. In this study, the chemical composition of different moss extracts of Hedwigia ciliata P. Beauv. have been examined, as well as their antioxidant, antineurodegenerative/anti-neuroinflammatory, antidiabetic, and antiproliferative potential. The extracts were prepared by Soxhlet extractor using solvents of different polarity. Chemical characterization of the extracts revealed the presence of phenolics and flavonoid compounds, together with triterpenoids as secondary metabolites of high biological activity. Significant antioxidant properties of all the extracts were exhibited using the β-carotene assay. The highest activities were found for water:ethanol extract (with the highest inhibition rate of 96%), but also significant inhibition was measured for ethanol and ethyl acetate extracts (80% and 70%, respectively). Confirmation of biocompatibility of investigated moss extracts has been performed using normal human fibroblast cell line, MRC-5. The H. ciliata extracts exhibited significant antiproliferative activity (~ 50%) against the MDA-MB-231 (human breast adenocarcinoma cell line), which has not previously been reported elsewhere. The Griess assay confirmed the potential anti-neuroinflammatory activity of the extracts, as significant effects in reducing NO production by LPS-stimulated BV2 (normal murine microglia cell line) was observed. This data is in line with noted antineurodegenerative potential measured by the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (with the highest inhibition rate of 60% for ethyl acetate extract) and tyrosinase (with the highest inhibition rate of 70% for ethanol extract). Additionally, the H. ciliata extracts exhibited significant antidiabetic effect mediated by α-glucosidase inhibition (with the highest inhibition rate of 80% for ethyl acetate extract). The obtained data suggest the presence of immunomodulatory effects of the moss extracts in vitro, which allows the design of new experiments aimed at detecting and characterizing bioactive compounds of the extracts and additionally elucidate detailed mechanisms of their effects