Two novel acyl sucroses from <i style="">Petunia nyctaginiflora</

648-650Two acyl sucroses, isolated from Petunia nyctaginiflora Jussieu (Solanaceae) have been characterized chemically as 2,3,4-tri(5-methylhexanoyl)--D-glucopyranosyl--D-6-acetyl fructo­furano­side 4 and 2,3,4-tri(6-methylheptanoyl)--D-glucopyrano­syl--D-6-acetyl fructofuranoside 6, on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic evidence

Cytotoxic constituents of <i>Abutilon indicum</i> leaves against U87MG human glioblastoma cells

<div><p>The study was aimed to identify cytotoxic leads from <i>Abutilon indicum</i> leaves for treating glioblastoma. The petroleum ether extract, methanol extract (AIM), chloroform and ethyl acetate sub-fractions (AIM-C and AIM-E, respectively) prepared from AIM were tested for cytotoxicity on U87MG human glioblastoma cells using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay. These extracts exhibited considerable activity (IC₅₀ values of 42.6–64.5 μg/mL). The most active AIM-C fraction was repeatedly chromatographed to yield four known compounds, methyl trans-<i>p</i>-coumarate (<b>1</b>), methyl caffeate (<b>2</b>), syringic acid (<b>3</b>) and pinellic acid (<b>4</b>). Cell viability assay of <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> against U87MG cells indicated <b>2</b> as most active (IC₅₀ value of 8.2 μg/mL), whereas the other three compounds were much less active. Interestingly, compounds <b>1</b>–<b>4</b> were non-toxic towards normal human cells (HEK-293). The content of <b>2</b> in AIM-C was estimated as 3% by HPLC. Hence, presence of some more active substances besides methyl caffeate (<b>2</b>) in AIM-C is anticipated.</p></div

Antiparkinsonian Effects of Aqueous Methanolic Extract of Hyoscyamus niger Seeds Result From its Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitory and Hydroxyl Radical Scavenging Potency

Hyoscyamus species is one of the four plants used in Ayurveda for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Since Hyoscyamus niger was found to contain negligible levels of L-DOPA, we evaluated neuroprotective potential, if any, of characterized petroleum ether and aqueous methanol extracts of its seeds in 1-methyl-4-phenyl- 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) model of PD in mice. Air dried authenticated H. niger seeds were sequentially extracted using petroleum ether and aqueous methanol and were characterized employing HPLC-electrochemistry and LCMS. Parkinsonian mice were treated daily twice with the extracts (125–500 mg/kg, p.o.) for two days and motor functions and striatal dopamine levels were assayed. Administration of the aqueous methanol extract (containing 0.03% w/w of L-DOPA), but not petroleum ether extract, significantly attenuated motor disabilities (akinesia, catalepsy and reduced swim score) and striatal dopamine loss in MPTP treated mice. Since the extract caused significant inhibition of monoamine oxidase activity and attenuated 1-methyl-4-phenyl pyridinium (MPP?)- induced hydroxyl radical (�OH) generation in isolated mitochondria, it is possible that the methanolic extract of Hyoscyamus niger seeds protects against parkinsonism in mice by means of its ability to inhibit increased �OH generated in the mitochondria