Natural Products Journal, The - Volume 11, Issue 3, 2021

Barleria prionitis, a small perpetual, prickly shrub, belongs to the family Acanthaceae, normally called “porcupine flower” or “Vajradanti” with a lot of vernacular names. It is an indigenous herb of Southern Asia and some regions of Africa. The therapeutic use of leaf, flower, stem, seed, shoot, root and in certain cases complete herb of B. prionitis against numerous disorders including cough, fever, jaundice, asthma, severe pain, acne, cut wound is recognized by ayurvedic and other conventional medicinal systems. An exhaustive bibliographic research of this plant has been carried out by means of scientific engines and databases like Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science direct; as a result, it has been found that this herb possesses a rich phytochemical content and a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antimicrobial activity, anthelmintic activity, antidiarrheal activity, antioxidant activity, antifertility activity, anti-diabetic activity, anti-inflammatory activity, cytoprotective activity, antiarthritic activity, diuretic activity, hepatoprotective activity, enzyme inhibitory activity and antinociceptive activity without any toxic effects. The plant has been reported to have tannin, saponin, flavonoid, glycoside, alkaloid and phenolic compounds present in it. It is also a noteworthy origin of secondary metabolites such as β-sitosterol, lupeol, syringic acid, and vanillic acid. However, having potential therapeutic importance, it is still underutilized.

Background: Lichens play an important role in many ecosystems and exist as a symbiotic association between fungi and algae or cyanobacteria. This symbiosis results in the production of unique secondary metabolites known as lichen substances, which arise within the thalli and are typically in crystal form on the surface of the fungal hyphae. Recently, lichens and their secondary metabolites have been receiving increased attention due to their nutritional value and pharmaceutical potential. Objectives: This review aims to cast a light on the importance and variety of common lichen substances (secondary metabolites), which are investigated along with their historical and contemporary applications, use in environmental research and discussion of the commercialisation of lichens-based products. Methods: The literature, including research and review articles, was analysed and the information was compiled to provide a complete review of Lichens. A desk-based study to elucidate the role of lichens in commercial products was also undertaken. Results: The analysis of metabolites, mostly secondary metabolites, has yielded a wide range of interesting compounds with biological activities from antimicrobial to anticancer. 31 of these compounds are discussed in detail. Further, the nutritional value of lichens is identified alongside a role in environmental monitoring and a number of commercialised lichen-based products are located. Conclusion: Lichens are found on every continent and have a history of use as food, medicine, dyes and livestock feed. The pharmaceutical potential of lichens is high and several companies are now attempting to commercialise these unique attributes.

The Aizoaceae “ice plant” family, is one of the neglected plant family despite its promising phytoconstituents. It includes approximately 135 genera and 2499 succulent species distributed throughout the tropics and subtropics worldwide. Many of the species in this family have a long history in traditional medicine, and many phytochemical and biological studies have attempted to confirm the folk uses of these plants. This review gathers all the available information concerning this family offering an in-depth search for all published papers, websites, and proceedings for the identified compounds besides their biological activities. More than one hundred eighty compounds belonging to different classes have been identified and found responsible for a wide range of therapeutic activity including, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hepatotoxic, anticancer and antimicrobial activities revealing Aizoaceae species as very promising candidates for all phytochemical and biological studies.

Aim: The aim of the manuscript is to summarize various biomedical applications of metallic nanoparticles that are synthesized using herbal components. Methodology: Various search engines such as google, sciencedirect, scopus etc. were utilized for the literature survey. The literature survey was focused on the different parts of plants like leaves, stem, root, fruit and flowers as a source of therapeutic active component and their utilization in the preparation of metallic nanoparticles. Manuscript also described in depth information about the different activities of synthesized nanoparticles. It was concluded from the literature surveys that, a plant extract used for the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles was cheaper than the synthetic chemicals and less toxic to the environment. Results and Conclusion: The plant extract used in the synthesis is herbal in nature. It does not cause any environmental hazards. Instead of synthetic chemicals, the plant extracts which are used in the synthesis of metallic nanoparticles, act as capping, reducing and stabilizing agent during the synthesis. It was also observed that plant-based metallic nanoparticles were more stable, the synthesis rate was faster as compared to chemical processes and can be easily obtained in different shapes and sizes.

Background: Curcuma longa L. is worldwide investigated as the well known indian spice by virtue of its principal constituent, curcumin. Objective: The objective of this review is to study the biosynthetic pathway, extraction process, chemistry, various analytical methods for identification of curcumin and its effect on biological system. Methods: Current prose and papers emphasizing the biosynthesis, extraction methods, analytical methods and biological activities of curcumin have been identified and reviewed with particular emphasis on their scientific impact and novelty. Result: Curcumin, principal constituent extracted from dried rhizomes of Curcuma longa L. is a hydrophobic polyphenol meant to cure chronic malignancies like rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer’s, Inflammatory bowel disease and many common ailments related to colon, lung, stomach and skin. Conclusion: This present review gives the erudition of curcumin which paves the way for further work.

Plants have been the main source of molecules for the treatment of diseases over the years. They have been used in traditional medicine based on experience and practice. Many molecules from plant latex have been isolated, identified and tested for pharmacological activities, including reduction of inflammation. This review provides an overview of the latexes released from different plant species and their anti-inflammatory properties. Different in vivo and in vivo assays have been performed trying to confirm this pharmacological potential. Many studies suggest that latexes from plants have therapeutic potential to treat inflammatory diseases and support their traditional medicinal use.

Background: Deinbollia pinnata belonging to Sapindaceae family are known as medicinal plants for the treatment of human diseases. Because of human over-exploitation, the choice of phytochemicals re-search and screening was made to add to the available compounds and ethno-medicinal records. Objective: To investigate phytochemicals and their antioxidant activities. Methods: Antioxidant assay (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) activities; phytochemical contents (Folin Ciocalteaus’s (FC) and aluminum chloride) methods; and phytochemical analysis were employed. Successful characterization of isolates using spectroscopic methods (¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, FTIR and GC-MS analysis). Results: Alkaloid, simple sugar, phenolics, tannins and steroids were present in all the parts. Saponin, terpenes and flavonoids were found in both leaves and root bark, while root bark and heartwood possessed quinones. The methanol extracts demonstrated total phenolic content at 75. 9 ± 2.05 GAE (mg GAE/g dw) and total flavonoid content at 88.41 ± 0.56 QUE (mg QUE/g dw). The plant extracts showed good DPPH scavenging activity with percentage inhibition more than 70% at 125 ppm. The methanol extracts showed excellent antioxidant activity towards ABTS assay with the IC50 value of 13.68 μg/mL. The extracts also exhibited the most potent ferric ion reducer at 3.45 ± 1.30 mM FRAP equivalent. Methyl gallate (2) displayed the highest antioxidant radical scavenging activity towards DPPH assay with the IC50 value of 0.19 μg/mL and pyrogallol (4) showed the highest ABTS activity with the SC50 value of 7.44 μg/mL. While, 3,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (1) also showed the potential as ferric ion reducer ranging from 0.67± 0.01 to 3.63±0.12 mM FRAP equivalent respectively. Conclusion: Based on the antioxidant activity, methanolic extracts and its isolated constituents can be used as antioxidant sources for the management of oxidative causative diseases. Being the first report of these phytochemicals from genius Deinbollia and specie pinnata.

Background: The preparations of commercially available Clinacanthus nutans (Burm.F) Lindau (Acanthaceae) (CN) leaf are gaining attention as an alternative cancer treatment, particularly in South East Asia. Multiple studies have suggested that CN has potential anticancer activities; however, the mechanism of these activities has remained elusive. Objective: This study evaluated the cytotoxic mechanisms of CN extracts in cancer cells. Methods: CN extracts were prepared from either fresh or dried leaves, using different solvents. Cytotoxicity of CN extracts was tested on the A549 (lung cancer), HeLa (cervical cancer), MCF-7 (breast cancer) and MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer) cell lines using the MTT assay. Flow cytometry was used to assess changes in the cell cycle profile, while Western blotting was used to examine microtubule stability. Finally, the mode of cell death was investigated using the Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. Results: Aqueous Fresh (AQF) extract was prepared to simulate the ethnomedicinal use of CN, and reduce cell viability of MCF-7 cells with IC50 = 1.71 mg/mL. Some CN extracts have the ability to inhibit the proliferation of four different cancer cell lines after a 24 hour treatment. Annexin V assay results showed that acetone extracts of CN induced increments in the percentage of apoptotic cell death. However, flow cytometry results showed that the cancer cell cycle profile was not affected. Similarly, immunoblotting results also indicate that microtubule dynamics in MCF-7 cells were not altered. However, the aqueous extract, prepared to simulate the current ethnomedicinal use of CN leaves in cancer treatment, did not significantly inhibit cancer cell proliferation with an IC50 = 1.71 mg/mL. Conclusion: This study was the first to show that microtubules in cancer cells remain dynamic after treatment with CN extracts, effectively ruling interference of microtubule dynamics as the mode of cell death. AMD extract showed the highest effects of MCF-7 cell proliferation.

Background: Numerous Ayurvedic formulations contain tugaksheeree as a key ingredient. Tugaksheeree is the starch gained from the rhizomes of two plants, Curcuma angustifolia Roxb. (Zingiberaceae) and Marantaarundinacea (MA) Linn. (Marantaceae). Objective: The primary concerns in quality assessment of Tugaksheeree occur due to adulteration or substitution. Methods: In the current study, Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) technique with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) facility was used to evaluate the tugaksheeree samples. A total of 10 different samples were studied and transmittance mode was kept to record the spectra devoid of the pellets of KBR. Further treatment was given with multi-component tools by considering the fingerprint region of the spectra. Multivariate analysis was performed by various chemometric methods. Result: Multi-component methods, like Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA), were used to discriminate the tugaksheeree samples using Minitab software. Conclusion: This method can be used as a tool to differentiate samples of tugaksheeree from its adulterants and substitutes.

Background: Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is one of the complex diseases, affecting people both in developed and developing countries. Plant extracted compounds known as phytochemicals are worthy because they have various medicinal properties. Objective: The present study aimed at the in silico discovery of novel potent inhibitors against Diabetes Mellitus type 2. Methods: A total of 2750 phytochemicals from various medicinal important plants were collected for this study. The origin of these plants was Pakistan and India. The ADMET, molecular docking approaches were used to determine the binding and reactivity of these phytochemicals as Diabetes Mellitus type 2 inhibitors. Results: The ADMET analysis and molecular docking resulted in the selection of 42 phytochemicals (3 against Glucokinase receptor, 22 against Fructose 1,6 Bisphosphate protein and 17 for multidrugresistant protein) showing high binding affinity as compared to the previously reported inhibitors of Diabetes Mellitus type 2. Conclusion: These 42 phytochemicals can be considered novel inhibitors against Diabetes Mellitus type 2 and can be selected for additional in vitro and in vivo studies to develop a suitable drug against diabetes.

Objective: Although morphine is among the first-line medicines for the treatment of neuropathic pain, evidence has shown that the morphine efficacy gradually decreases and tolerance can occur. Regarding many reports concerning the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory properties of umbelliprenin (UMB), this study aimed to investigate the effect of UMB on antinociceptive activity of morphine in a rat model of neuropathic pain induced by Chronic Constriction Injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve. Methods: Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into sham, CCI and CCI + UMB100 (100 μg UMB per rat) groups. UMB was intrathecally administered once daily for four consecutive days (from the day before surgery until day 2 after surgery). All the animals received a single dose of morphine (5 mg/kg, s.c.) on day 14. To evaluate the effect of UMB on antinociceptive activity of morphine, allodynia and hyperalgesia were measured using the von-Frey and hot plate tests, before and 30 min after morphine injection and the Percentage of Maximum Possible Effect (%MPE) was calculated. Besides, the expression and concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), as a proinflammatory cytokine, was measured in the spinal cord using quantitative real-time PCR (RTPCR) and ELISA, respectively. Results: UMB significantly enhanced anti-allodynic and anti-hyperalgesic effects of morphine in the neuropathic animals. Moreover, UMB considerably downregulated TNF-α expression in the spinal cord of the animals. Conclusion: UMB can enhance the antinociceptive effects of morphine, and this action may be partially due to its anti-inflammatory property.

Background: The Algerian Saharan plants are plants of terrestrial origin, which during their evolution have adapted to the Algerian south ecosystem. By their particular ecological and evolutionary position, it is possible that these endemic plants also selected specific secondary metabolites with original chemical and biological characteristics. Objective: Phytochemical investigation of ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of M. nivellei leaves. Methods: Air-dried and coarsely powdered leaves were macerated with 80% methanol. The methanol extract diluted with distilled water was successively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and n- BuOH. The ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts were fractionated by sephadex (LH-20) column using MeOH as eluent. Fraction 1 from ethyl acetate extract was chromatographed by preparative TLC to give pure compound (1). Fractions 4 and 5 from n-butanol extract were chromatographed by RPHPLC over a C18 column using MeOH/H2O (4:6, v/v) as solvent system. Fraction 4 gave compounds 3 (1.5 mg) and 4 (1.1 mg), fraction 5 gave compound 2 (5.5 mg). Structural elucidation was established by a combination of one- and two-dimensional NMR techniques, and mass spectrometry. Results: The investigation of ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of M. nivellei leaves allowed the isolation for the first time of Octabenzone (1) which was never reported before along with three known flavonols, myricetin 3-O-β-D-(6”-galloyl)galactoside (2), quercetin 3-O-β-D-(6”- galloyl)galactoside (3) and myricetin 3-O-arabinoside (4). Conclusion: These results suggested that the leaves of M. nivellei stand as a promising natural source for sunscreen products such as octabenzone. In combination with its richness of phenolic compounds, these observations lead us toward further studies concerning M. nivellei biological activity against skin damages and skin cancer.

Aims: Evaluation of the effectiveness of herbal formulation consisting of Morinda citrifolia L, Artemisia annua L, Glycyrrhiza glabra L and Ocimum basilicum L, in treating ulcerative colitis. Objectives: Assessment of the effect of herbal formulation on the indomethacin-induced ulcerative colitis based on serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, tissue myloperoxidase (MPO) activity and colonic glutathione (GSH) content and macroscopic features. Determination of tissue ulcer scores, tissue weight and tissue histopathological changes before and after treatment with herbal formulation in disease-induced model. Methods: Herbal formulation from ancient literature was selected and evaluated for its effectiveness against indomethacin-induced ulcerative colitis in rats. Mesalamine was used as a standard drug to compare the effect of herbal formulation on ulcerative colitis. Quantification of serum LDH levels, tissue MPO activity, colonic GSH levels, and the histopathological features of inflammatory and recovered cells were used to establish the efficacy of the formulation. Results: Formulation treatment showed an appreciable increase in the serum GSH levels, and a decrease in the tissue MPO activity and serum LDH levels. The results of ulcer score analysis and tissue weight analysis of the formulation treated group were similar to the mesalamine treated group. Histopathological studies revealed a decrease in oedema and reduced inflammation followed by the formulation treatment. Conclusion: The study established the efficacy of polyherbal formulation in the treatment of ulcerative colitis following sub-chronic administration. This study concludes that the polyherbal formulation is effective as mesalamine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis.

Background: The leaves of Annona reticulata Linn. have been traditionally used by the tribes of Assam as a source of medicine to mitigate a range of health ailments, including diabetes and obesity. Objectives: The current study aimed to evaluate the anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of bioactive fractions isolated from the methanolic extract of Annona reticulata Linn. leaves using Nicotinamide + Streptozotocin (60 mg/kg, i.p.) induced diabetic rats. Methods: The partially purified bioactive fractions, namely F1, F2, F3 and F4 were administered to diabetic rats with a dose of 200 mg/kg, per oral (p.o.) and the effect of the fractions on serum glucose was studied up to 21 days. The potent fractions were further subjected to spectral analysis for the identification of the isolated active compounds. Results: The in-vivo anti-diabetic activity of the isolated fractions F2 and F3 was found significant controlling blood glucose level, alike glibenclamide. Interestingly, F2 and F3 treated animals were found significant in restoring the lipid and liver enzymes profile in streptozotocin challenge rats. Further, spectral analysis revealed that F2 and F3 were comprised of Quercetin and Gallic acid, respectively. Conclusion: The outcome of finding demonstrates the anti-diabetic and anti-hyperlipidemic potential of the isolates/fractions of A. reticulata, which were found enriched in polyphenolics, including Quercetin and Gallic acid; and provided logistic behind the traditional use of the A. reticulata against diabetes and obesity.

Background: Sargassum polycystum C. Agardh has potent antioxidant and antiinflammatory properties. However, its anti-allergic effect has not yet been reported. In this study, we investigated the anti-allergic effects of sulfated polysaccharide of S. polycystum (SPSP) in Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB)- induced allergic contact dermatitis animal model. Methods: SPSP was extracted through the hot water extraction method and was subjected to compositional analyses. For the Allergic Contact Dermatitis (ACD) model, symptoms were induced by the topical application of 0.5% DNFB on the shaved ventral skin of mice. SPSP (500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg) and Prednisolone were orally administered for seven days after sensitization. Elicitation was performed seven days later with 0.2% DNFB. After this, ear thickness was measured at baseline and 24 hours post elicitation using a dial thickness gauge. Serum of mice was obtained 24 hours post elicitation, and the level of IFNγ and TNFα was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Results: SPSP afforded 33.6% carbohydrates, 23.7% sulfate, 7.5% protein, and 1.5% uronic acid contents. SPSP inhibited the ear swelling and cytokines (IFNγ and TNFα) production in DNFBinduced mice in a dose-dependent manner. In comparison with Prednisolone (p>0.05), the highest concentration (2000 mg/kg) of SPSP showed a comparable anti-allergic effect. Conclusion: These findings showed that the sulfated polysaccharide from S. polycystum is a potential natural source to treat allergic contact dermatitis. The effect is attributed to the polysaccharideprotein complex present in the extract, but further studies are needed to establish the exact mechanism of action of SPSP in the treatment of the disease.