Evaluation of basil extract ( Ocimum basilicum L.) on oxidative, anti-genotoxic and anti-inflammatory effects in human leukocytes cell cultures exposed to challenging agents

ABSTRACT Ocimum is one of the most important genera of the Lamiaceae family. Several studies about basil and its popular use reveal many characteristics of the herb, including its use as antioxidant, anti-aging, anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, anti-microbial, and cardiovascular agents, among others. In this paper, we evaluated genotoxic, oxidative, and anti-inflammatory parameters from the extract of Ocimum basilicum in different concentrations, using human leukocytes cultures exposed to challenging agents. Our results confirm that the O. basilicum extract acts as an antioxidant and effectively reverts or subjugates the effects of high oxidizing agents such as hydrogen peroxide. These actions are attributed to its composition, which is rich in polyphenols and flavonoids as well as compounds such as rosmarinic acid, all of which have well-known antioxidant activity. We also show that our basil extract presents anti-inflammatory properties, the mechanism of which is a composed interaction between the inhibition of pro-inflammatory mediator and the stimulation of anti-inflammatory cytokines. Although pharmacodynamics studies are necessary to evaluate the activities in vivo, our results demonstrated that basil could act as an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and a possible alternative for medicinal treatment

Kemijski sastav, antioksidativno djelovanje, inhibicija elastaze i protuupalno djelovanje eteričnog ulja biljke Illicium anisatum

The essential oil of air-dried Illicium anisatum obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Fifty-two components were identified in the essential oil and the main component was eucalyptol (21.8 %). The antioxidant and anti-elastase activities of the essential oil were also investigated; the essential oil exhibited moderate DPPH scavenging and anti-elastase activities. To clarify the mechanism of the anti-inflammatory activities of I. anisatum essential oil (IAE), we evaluated whether it could modulate the production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) by activated macrophages. The results indicate that IAE is an effective inhibitor of LPS-induced NO and PGE2 production in RAW 264.7 cells. These inhibitory activities were accompanied by dose-dependent decreases in the expression of iNOS and COX-2 proteins and iNOS and COX-2 mRNA. In order to determine whether IAE can be safely applied to human skin, the cytotoxic effects of IAE were determined by colorimetric MTT assays in human dermal fibroblast and keratinocyte HaCaT cells. IAE exhibited low cytotoxicity at 100 μg mL1. Based on these results, we suggest that IAE may be considered an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory candidate for cosmetic materials, but additional in vitro and in vivo tests have to be performed to prove its safety and efficacy.Eterično ulje biljke Illicium anisatum dobiveno destilacijom vodenom parom analizirano je plinskom kromatografijom-spektrometrijom masa (GC-MS). Identificirane su pedeset i dvije komponente eteričnog ulja, a glavna komponenta je eukaliptol (21,8 %). Ispitivanje antioksidativnog djelovanja te djelovanja na elastazu ukazuju na umjerenu sposobnost hvatanja DPPH radikala i inhibicije elastaze. Kako bi se objasnio mehanizam protuupalnog djelovanja eteričnog ulja I. anisatum (IAE), ispitan je učinak na moduliranje produkcije dušikovog(II) oksida (NO) i prostaglandina E2 (PGE2) iz aktiviranih makrofaga. Rezultati ukazuju da je IAE učinkovit inhibitor LPS-inducirane produkcije NO i PGE2 u RAW 264.7 stanicama. Inhibitorno djelovanje popraćeno je smanjenjem ekspresije iNOS i COX-2 proteina i iNOS i COX-2 mRNA. Kako bi se odredilo može li se IAE sigurno primijeniti na ljudsku kožu, citotoksični učinci IAE određeni su kolorimetrijskim MTT testom u humanim dermalnim fibroblastima i keratinocitima HaCaT. IAE je pokazao nisku citotoksičnost pri koncentraciji 100 μg mL-1. Temeljem ovih rezultata IAE se može smatrati potencijalnim sredstvom protiv starenja i protuupalnim sredstvom u kozmetičkim pripravcima. Međutim, dodatni in vitro i in vivo testovi nužni su za potvrdu njegove sigurnosti i učinkovitosti

Antioxidant properties of some medicinal Aristolochiaceae species

Antioxidant properties of five Aristolochiaceae species namely Aristolochia brasiliensis Mart. and Zucc., Aristolochia bracteolata Retz., Aristolochia indica Linn., Apama siliquosa Lamk. and Aristolochiatagala Cham. were investigated. Antioxidant and 2,2-diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activities, reducing powers, and the amount of total phenolic compounds of the extracts were studied.The highest antioxidant activity was shown by A. tagala and the lowest one was A. brasiliensis. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was shown by A. tagala and the least one was shown by A. brasiliensis. The highest reducing power and amount of total phenolic compounds was shown by A. tagala and lowest one was A. brasiliensis

In vitro propagation and free radical studies of Smilax zeylanicaVent

A method of micropropagation through multiple shoots formation from nodal segments of Smilax zeylanica Vent. has been developed. The nodal explants were cultured on half strength MS medium containing BA (0.5 mg/l) and IAA (1 mg/l) with activated charcoal (100 mg/100 ml) produced single shoot within 7-10 days. Shoots were multiplied by using nodal segments of in vitro regenerated shoot in modified half strength MS medium supplemented with KIN (2 mg/l), L-Glu (0.5 mg/l) and activated charcoal (100 mg/100 ml). Two shoots were formed. Rooting of the microshoots was achieved in half strength MS medium fortified with IBA (1 mg/l) within three weeks. The rooted plantlets transferred to potting medium containing vermiculite, sand and coir pith (1:1:1). Survival of the plantlets under ex vitro condition was 70%. In vitro antioxidant activities of leaf and stem extracts were performed. Among the extracts tested, ethanol extract of the stem showed maximum DPPH (52.361%) scavenging activity and chloroform extract of stem inhibited hydroxyl radical mediated linoleic acid oxidation up to 50.87%. Ethanol extract of leaf showed maximum reducing power of 0.53. The total free phenolics were found to be 293.3 g in the ethanol extract of leaf

Antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of essential oil of Ocimum canum Sims. from India

Chemical composition analysis of essential oil isolated from the leaves of Ocimum canum Sims. reported the presence of thirty six compounds. The major compound was camphor (39.77%). In vitro antioxidant activity of the isolated oil showed dose dependent free radical scavenging activity against DPPH (IC50 523.55 ± 0.001 μg/mL) and hydroxyl radicals (491.12 ± 0.002 μg/mL), metal chelating (781.38 ± 0.001 μg/mL) and prevention of deoxyribose degradation (168.50 ± 0.003 μg/mL) activities were also calculated. Antioxidant activity of oil was less observed when compared with positive controls such as ascorbic acid and BHT (12.49 ± 0.002 and 30.14 ± 0.005, respectively). Significant cytotoxicity (IC50 value of 60 μg/mL) and DNA fragmentation was observed in breast cancer cells (MCF-7)

Evaluation of cytotoxic, DNA protecting and LPS induced MMP-9 down regulation activities of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng. essential oil.

Introduction: Plectranthus amboinicus(Lour) Spreng is a known medicinal plant used in Siddha and Ayurveda medicines in India. It has enormous medicinal potential to treat various diseases. Methods: The present study focused on the use of essential oil obtained from the leaves of Plectranthus amboinicus to test cytotoxicity against breast (MCF-7) and colorectal (HT-29) cancer cell lines, to protect DNA from H2O2 induced genotoxicity through comet assay and to treat inflammation in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced over expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by gelatin zymogram and inhibition at transcriptional level confirmed using RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction). Results: Cytotoxicity of essential oil against MCF-7 and HT-29 cancer cell lines revealed the IC50 values of 53±0.01 and 87±0.01μg/mL respectively. At 200μg/mL essential oil protected against 75% of DNA damage in 3T3-L1 fibroblast cells. Essential oil showed significant reduction in production of MMP-9 in a concentration dependent manner. Conclusion: Overall, the results showed that essential oil of P. amboinicus is a potent bioactive substance and it could be used in herbal medicine preparations