Cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations induced by methanolic extract of Cuscuta reflexa and its pure compounds on meristematic cells of Allium species

Cuscuta reflexa [Convolvulaceae], is commonly known as amarbel or akashbel. In Bangladesh and Nepal some of the tribes use C. reflexa against edema, body ache, cancer, skin infections and liver disorders. Despite its traditional uses there is no information regarding genotoxic effects of either the plant extract or its pure compounds. Methanolic extract of C. reflexa [MECR] and pure compounds derived from it namely, odoroside H, neritaloside, and strospeside, were evaluated in Allium cepa L. and A. sativum L. for their effects on root growth, root apical meristem mitotic index [MI], and chromosomal aberrations [CAs]. In this study, we adopted a new method of calculating percent change in root length. MECR caused a concentration- and time- dependent inhibition in root length at 100 - 10000micro g/ml in A. cepa root. It was accompanied by a subsequent decline in MI which is an indicative of its cytotoxic effect. On the contrary, at low concentrations a significant rise in root length was noticeable. In A. sativum, MECR also reduced the root length having IC 50 values [tilde]8 x and 4.3 x lower than A. cepa. A variety of CAs were evident in both Allium systems after treatment with MECR, odoroside H and neritaloside. Thus in MECR, cardenolides glycosides, i.e. odoroside H and neritaloside could be accountable for its genotoxicity

Cuscuta reflexa roxb. and its pure compounds-induced micronuclei in plant cells and downregulation of EGFR expression in NCI-H460 Cell Line

Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. [Convolvulaceae] has medicinal applications used in treating wide range of diseases including cancer. The methanolic extract of C. reflexa Roxb. [MECR] grown on host Nerium oleander L.] and its pure compounds namely, odoroside H [1], neritaloside [2] and strospeside [3] were assessed for genotoxicity using mitotic meristematic root tip cells of Allium species [A. cepa and A. sativum] and meiotic pollen mother cells from Tradescantia pallida var purpurea. The effect of pure compounds were also evaluated in human non-small cell lung cancer cell line [NCI-H460] on tumor suppressor gene [p53] and epidermal growth factor receptor [EGFR] expression using agarose gel electrophoresis. The MECR between 0.1 and 1 mg/ml was ineffective in mitotically dividing cells, whereas in meiotic pollen mother cells, higher concentrations [5-20 mg/ml] caused significant induction of micronuclei [MN]. In both mitotic and meiotic cells, odoroside H and neritaloside induced significant rise in MN frequency, however, strospeside had no effect. The genotoxic potential in both cells was in the order of: [1] = [2] > MECR > [3]. MECR and odoroside H [1] caused dose dependent growth inhibition in NCI-H460 cells with GI50 of 0.92 +/- 0.04 microg/ml and of 0.08+/-0.01 microg/ml, respectively. The antiproliferative action of MECR [1 microg/ml], odoroside H [1] [0.14 microM], neritaloside [2] [.16 microM] and strospeside [3] [0.5 microM] in comparison to control, significantly downregulated expression of epithelial growth factor receptor [EGFR] by two fold with no affect on p53 gene expression. This study clearly demonstrates that MECR is genotoxic at higher doses and should be taken into account if used for medicinal purposes. The mitotic cells of Allium species were more sensitive [2x] in MN formation than meiotic cells of T. pallida pu. Furthermore, MECR and pure compounds possesses antiproliferative activity against NCI-H460 cells that might be mediated through EGFR-dependent but p53-independent pathways?

Phytochemical, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of flowers of phlox drummondii

The extracts and fractions of flowers of Phloxdrum mondii were evaluated for antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Their purification resulted in the isolation of four known constituents of which uracil and 2-methyl-1,2,3,4- butantetrol have not been obtained previously from any specie of the genus Phlox, while isolation of the flavonoid glycosides [1] and [2] have been reported from the flowers of the plant. Among all the samples PhFC and its fraction PhFCM showed significant activity against both bacteria and fungi. Flavonoid glycoside O-rhamnosyl-6-C-xylosylapigenin 1 and O-rhamnosyl- 6- C-xylosylluteolin 2 demonstrated antioxidant activity which were of same magnitude [IC50 42.67 +/- 4.99 micro g/ml and 46.33 +/- 6.65 micro g/ml, respectively]. Thereby, suggesting that the presence or absence of hydroxyl group at position C-3' does not play a significant role in said activity in this case. Interestingly, the mixture of 1 and 2 apparently showed synergism as reflected by 45% improvement in antioxidant activity as compared to the individual values obtained for either 1 or 2

Toxicological studies of acetone extract of moringa oliefera lam. roots

Plants and their metabolities play a key role in community health. The data of the acute toxicity is obligatory in order to verify the safety profile of plant extracts. The aim of this work was to study the effects of Moringa oleifera root acetone extract [MRA] administrated orally to NMRI mice [n=6] daily for 7 consecutive days at a dose of 700mg/kg, while control animals [n=6] received Tween-80 [5%]. Physical parameters and histopathological studies were observed for any organ specific toxicities in liver, heart, kidney, spleen and lungs. M. oleifera root acetone extract [700 mg/kg] was non-toxic in mice

GC/GCMS analysis of the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of Moringa oleifera roots

Objective: To explore the phytochemical constituents from petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) roots using GC/GC-MS. Methods: A total of 5.11 kg fresh and undried crushed root of M. oleifera were cut into small pieces and extracted with petroleum ether and dichloromethane (20 L each) at room temperature for 2 d. The concentrated extracts were subjected to their GC-MS analysis. Results: The GC-MS analysis of the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of M. oleifera roots, which showed promising biological activities, has resulted in the identification 102 compounds. These constituents belong to 15 classes of compounds including hydrocarbons, fatty acids, esters, alcohols, isothiocyanate, thiocyanate, pyrazine, aromatics, alkamides, cyanides, steroids, halocompounds, urea and N-hydroxyimine derivatives, unsaturated alkenamides, alkyne and indole. GC/GC-MS studies on petroleum ether extract of the roots revealed that it contained 39 compounds, belonging to nine classes. Cyclooctasulfur S8 has been isolated as a pure compound from the extract. The major compounds identified from petroleum ether extract were trans-13-docosene (37.9%), nonacosane (32.6%), cycloartenol (28.6%) nonadecanoic acid (13.9%) and cyclooctasulfur S8 (13.9%). Dichloromethane extract of the roots was composed of 63 compounds of which nasimizinol (58.8%) along with oleic acid (46.5%), N-benzyl-N-(7-cyanato heptanamide (38.3%), N-benzyl-N-(1-chlorononyl) amide (30.3%), bis [3-benzyl prop-2-ene]-1-one (19.5%) and N, N-dibenzyl-2-ene pent 1, 5-diamide (11.6%) were the main constituents. Conclusions: This study helps to predict the formula and structure of active molecules which can be used as drugs. This result also enhances the traditional usage of M. oleifera which possesses a number of bioactive compounds.

GC/GCMS analysis of the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of Moringa oleifera roots

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the phytochemical constituents from petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of Moringa oleifera (M. oleifera) roots using GC/GC-MS.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 5.11 kg fresh and undried crushed root of M. oleifera were cut into small pieces and extracted with petroleum ether and dichloromethane (20 L each) at room temperature for 2 d. The concentrated extracts were subjected to their GC-MS analysis.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The GC-MS analysis of the petroleum ether and dichloromethane extracts of M. oleifera roots, which showed promising biological activities, has resulted in the identification 102 compounds. These constituents belong to 15 classes of compounds including hydrocarbons, fatty acids, esters, alcohols, isothiocyanate, thiocyanate, pyrazine, aromatics, alkamides, cyanides, steroids, halocompounds, urea and N-hydroxyimine derivatives, unsaturated alkenamides, alkyne and indole. GC/GC-MS studies on petroleum ether extract of the roots revealed that it contained 39 compounds, belonging to nine classes. Cyclooctasulfur S8 has been isolated as a pure compound from the extract. The major compounds identified from petroleum ether extract were trans-13-docosene (37.9%), nonacosane (32.6%), cycloartenol (28.6%) nonadecanoic acid (13.9%) and cyclooctasulfur S8 (13.9%). Dichloromethane extract of the roots was composed of 63 compounds of which nasimizinol (58.8%) along with oleic acid (46.5%), N-benzyl-N-(7-cyanato heptanamide (38.3%), N-benzyl-N-(1-chlorononyl) amide (30.3%), bis [3-benzyl prop-2-ene]-1-one (19.5%) and N, N-dibenzyl-2-ene pent 1, 5-diamide (11.6%) were the main constituents.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study helps to predict the formula and structure of active molecules which can be used as drugs. This result also enhances the traditional usage of M. oleifera which possesses a number of bioactive compounds.</p>

Antidepressant like actions of opuntia dillenii butanol fraction in rodents

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antidepressant like actions of butanol fraction from methanol extract of Opuntia dillenii in rodents. Butanol fraction of Opuntia dillenii was obtained by bioassay guided fractionation of crude methanol extract of the plant. This fraction was evaluated for antidepressant activities using two behavioral tests viz a] forced swimming and b] tail suspension tests in rats and mice, respectively. Additionally, locomotor test and yohimbine potentiation test were also conducted to understand its mechanism of antidepressant action. One way analysis of variance and Student's paired t test were applied for data analysis and significance was defined as P value <0.05. The butanol fraction significantly reduced the duration of immobility time of rodents in a dose dependant manner in both behavioral stress models, indicating antidepressant-like activity. This effect was comparable to that of reference antidepressant drug fluoxetine. The butanol fraction did not cause significant change in the locomotor activity suggesting that the butanol fraction is not a stimulant. The four times higher mortality in yohimbine treated mice in the presence of butanol fraction as compared to control animals implies that butanol fraction is probably interfering with the alpha -2 feedback mechanism of norepinephrine. Hence the butanol fraction of Opuntia dillenii possesses antidepressant activity therefore it merits further research to identify active moiety and to further elaborate the possible mechanism[s] involved in its antidepressant activity

Activity of synergistic combination amoxy cassia against salmonella

The object of this study was to formulate new, cost effective anti-microbial combination for Multi Drug Resistant [MDR] Salmonella enterica Serover Typhi [SEST] based on the synergistic activity of amoxicillin with the aqueous fruit solution of Cassia fistula [CFF], a medicinal plant found in Pakistan which when tested alone have weak antimicrobial activity against blood isolates of MDR SEST. MIC of MDR SEST for amoxicillin and CFF alone was 750 micro g/ml and 3750micro g/ml. The MIC of amoxicillin in combination with CFF was 23.4-187.5 micro g/ml and 0.37-1.56 micro g/ml for MDR and MDS SEST respectively. Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index [FICI] using chequer-board titration suggested synergism for 80% MDR and MDS SEST tested, no antagonism observed. Time kill kinetics showed difference > log2 in CFU of CFF having sub-lethal amoxicillin concentrations. This novel combination is named as Amoxy-cassia. In vivo it is found to be non toxic at 1gm/body weight of mice