Evaluation of possible mechanisms of Cordia dichotoma fruits for hyperlipidemia controlling in Wistar albino rats

Objective: To investigate the antioxidant capacity of aqueous extract from Cordia dichotoma (C.dichotoma) fruits in-vitro and their effect on nutritional parameters in rats fed on high-fat diet.Methods: In-vitro antioxidant capacity of C. dichotoma extract were evaluated and compared to two standard materials, ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene. Metabolic experiments were set out using rats fed on high-fat diet. The extract was tested with two dosages: 0.5 and 1.0 g/kg body weight/ day for four weeks. Lipid constituents of diet and faeces and lipid profile of serum and liver were determined. Results: The administration of the C. dichotoma extract with two dosages caused a significant improvement in the lipid metabolism of rats, compared to the hyperlipidemic control which showed significant disturbance in lipid profile. C. dichotoma extract reduced total body weight gain and total feed intake, and enhanced the fresh and dry weight of faecal excretion. The superior effect was recorded with the high dosage of extract. C. dichotoma minimized fat and cholesterol intake significantly and maximized those in faecal excretions in comparison with hyperlipidemic control values, and low dosage was better than the high one. C.dichotoma extract at two dosages normalized the lipid profile of the serum and liver compared with hyperlipidemic control. Conclusions: The protective effect of C. dichotoma extract against hyperlipidemia may be attributed to the reduced ability of an animal to ingest and absorb fat and cholesterol, and enhanced ability to get rid of them in faecal excretion.

GLC-MS profiling of non-polar extracts from Phlomis bucharica and P. salicifolia and their cytotoxicity / Perfiles GLC-MS de extractos no polares de Phlomis bucharica y P. salicifolia y su citotoxicidad

Phlomis species (Phlomis bucharica Regel and P. salicifolia Regel) have been traditionally used by Uzbek people as stimulant, tonic, diuretic, and in the treatment of ulcers, hemorrhoids, wounds and gynecological problems. In the present study, we characterized the chemical composition of non-polar extracts from P. bucharica and P. salicifolia by high resolution GLC-MS and evaluated their cytotoxicity. Concentrations of hexadecanoic acid in hexane and chloroform extracts were higher in P. bucharica than in P. salicifolia. 1,8- Cineol, camphor, borneol, alfa-terpinol, thymol, and isobornyl acetate were detected in P. bucharica but not in P. salicifolia. About 45 components were identified in P. bucharica and 40 in P. salicifolia. The chloroform extract from P. bucharica showed cytotoxicity in HeLa and HL-60 cells, with IC50 values of 26.07 and 29.42 ug/ml, respectively.

Las especies Phlomis (Phlomis bucharica Regel y P. salicifolia Regel) se han utilizado tradicionalmente por la gente de Uzbekistán como estimulante, tónico, diurético, y en el tratamiento de las úlceras, hemorroides, heridas y problemas ginecológicos. En el presente estudio, hemos caracterizado la composición química de los extractos no polares de P. bucharica y P. salicifolia por GLC-MS de alta resolución y se evaluó su citotoxicidad. Las concentraciones de ácido hexadecanoico en extractos de hexano y cloroformo fueron mayores en P. bucharica que en P. salicifolia. 1,8-cineol, alcanfor, borneol, se detectaron alfa-terpinol, timol, y acetato de isobornilo en P. bucharica pero no en P. salicifolia. Cerca de 45 componentes fueron identificados en P. bucharica y 40 en P. salicifolia. El extracto de cloroformo a partir de P. bucharica mostró citotoxicidad en células HL-60 y HeLa, con valores de CI 50 de 26,07 y 29,42 ug/ml, respectivamente.

Secondary Metabolites Isolated from Dichloromethane Fraction of Rough Lemon Stem and Hepatoprotective Effect of Limonianin.

Aim: To investigate the dichloromethane fraction obtained from an aqueous methanol extract of green stems of Citrus jambhiri Lush. and evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of limonianin. Study Design: Isolation and identification of secondary metabolite and hepatoprotective activity of limonianin. Place and Duration of Study: Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University and Institute of Pharmacy and Molecular Biotechnology, Heidelberg University, between February 2012 and January 2014. Methodology: Psyllic acid, sinensetin, nobiletin, 6-demethoxytangeretin, limonianin, hesperetin, quercetin were isolated from the green stem of Citrus jambhiri. Their identity was unambiguously confirmed via different spectroscopic methods (UV, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, H-COSY, HSQC and HMBC). The liver enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were used to evaluate the hepatoprotective effect of limonianin. Results: Limonianin exhibited an equal or even better hepatoprotective activity than the known and medicinally used flavonoid mixture silymarin on human hepatoma cells (HepG2) against D-galactosamine-induced hepatotoxicity. Limonianin at concentration 5 μM exhibited a reduction of ALT, AST and MDA with 46.50, 42.10 and 24.36%, respectively while SOD and TAC were elevated with 38.56 and 391.67%, respectively compared with D-galactosamine (D-GaIN) treated cells. At concentration of 10 μM, limonianin shows elevation of SOD and TAC with 74.56 and 791.67%, respectively compared with silymarin (63 and 766.67%, respectively). Conclusion: The findings of this study showed that limonianin could be used as ideal hepatoprotective agent.

Quinolizidine alkaloid composition in different organs of Lupinus aschenbornii

Lupinus aschenbornii S. Schauer, Fabaceae, grows in the Central Highlands of Mexico, at altitudes between 2800 to 4300 m above sea level. The alkaloid patterns in organs of L. aschenbornii were analyzed by Gas-Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GLC-MS). Quinolizidine alkaloids (QA) were identified according to their mass fragmentation patterns, in combination with their Kovats retention indeces. Total QA content in organs differed substantially: seed contained 3.3 mg/g dry weight, flowers 2.8 mg/g DW, leaves 1.9 mg/g DW, stems 1.5 mg/g DW, and pods 1.4 mg/g DW. Roots do not accumulate QA and their profiles differed considerably: while seed stored N-formylangustifoline (17 percent), 17-oxolupanine (16 percent), multiflorine (11 percent) and an unidentified alkaloid (n.i.) 2869 (11 percent) as main QA, sparteine was absent. In flowers, sparteine reached 73 percent, in leaves up to 80 percent, in stems up to 32 percent and in pods up to 96 percent. Other QA present were lupanine (32 percent in stem, 9 percent in flower and 7 percent in seed); N-formylangustifoline (9 percent in stem and 4 percent in flower); multiflorine (6 percent in stem and 3 percent in flower). Differences in QA profile might be a strategy of lupins to avoid adaptation of possible predators because the different QA have different pharmacological properties.