Gracilariopsis persica from persian gulf contains bioactive sterols

Gracilariopsis persica [Rhodophyta] is one of the most abundant algae, introduced newly from the Indian Ocean. In this study, the main sterols of the algae have been isolated and identified. Separation and purification of the compounds was carried out on silica gel and sephadex LH[20] column chromatography [CC] and high performance liquid chromatography [HPLC] to obtain five pure compounds 1-5. Structural elucidation of the compounds was based on the data obtained from H-NMR, [13]C-NMR, DEPT and Mass spectroscopy. The separated compounds from Gp. persica were identified as 22-dehydrocholesterol [1], cholesterol [2], stigmasterol [3], beta-sitosterol [4] and fucosterol [5] based on the spectral data compared to those reported in literatures. Most of these sterols are noteworthy for their effectiveness in decreasing the plasma cholesterol, glucose and inflammation. The results of Brine Shrimp Cytotoxicity Assay indicated that the ethyl acetate extract of Gp. persica showed a high cytotoxic effect against A. salina nauplii [LC[50]= 4 microg/mL]. The methanol extract was no effective but the aqueous methanol extract was moderately effective [LC[50]= 40 [microg/mL] compared to berberine hydrochloride as a positive control [LC[50]= 26 microg/mL]

Green synthesis of small silver nanoparticles using geraniol and its cytotoxicity against fibrosarcoma-Wehi 164

Many reports have been published about the biogenesis of silver nanoparticles using several plant extracts such as Pelargonium graveolens [P.graveolens-geranium] and Azadirachta indica [neem] but the capacity of their natural reducing constituents to form silver nanoparticles has not yet been studied. In this research the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using geraniol has been investigated. We successfully synthesized uniformly dispersed silver nanoparticles with a uniform size and shape in the range of 1 to 10 nm with an average size of 6 nm. Also the cytotoxicity of the prepared silver nanoparticles was investigated using a cancer cell line [Fibrosarcoma-Wehi 164]. The cytotoxicity analysis of the sample shows a direct dose-response relationship; cytotoxicity increased at higher concentrations. At concentration of 1 pg/ml, silver nanoparticles was able to inhibit the cell line's growth by less than 30%. Conversly, the presence of 5 pg/m/of silver nanoparticlse significantly inhibited the cell line's growth [> 60%]. The concentration necessary to produce 50% cell death was 2.6 microg/m/for this silver nanoparticles preapared with geraniol

Identification of the C10 aldehyde derivative of limonene in the volatile oil of dracocephalum kotschyi boiss. using 2D-NMR

GC-MS analysis of the volatile oil, extracted by hydro-distillation from dried aerial parts of Dracocephalum kotschyi, revealed that the major constituents were geranial [35.8%], C 10H14O [26.6%], limonene [15.8%] and 1, 1-dimethoxy decane [14.5%]. In order to isolate the unknown oxygenated monoterpene, fractionation of the volatile oil was carried out on silica gel column chromatography. The structures of the separated compounds were confirmed to be geranial, neral and limonene-10-al [C 10H14O] by analysis of physical and spectroscopic data [[1]H NMR, [13]C NMR, HMBC and HMQC experiments]

Cytotoxic terpenoids from Satureja macrantha C. A. Mey

From the aerial parts of Satureja macrantha C. A. Mey, one monoterpene [1], two triterpenoids [2,3] and one sesquiterpene [4] were isolated. Their structures were determined to be thymol [1], oleanolic acid [2], ursolic acid [3] and caryophyllene oxide [4], by using 1H and 13C-NMR, FTIR and EIMS spectra. Brine shrimp cytotoxicity effects of the crude extracts and isolated compounds were examined. Among them compounds 1 [612 microM], 2 [17 microM] and 3 [29 microM] were effective against Artemia salina larva

In vitro anti-epimastigote activity of some Iranian medicinal plants

Some medicinal plants are a potential source of new drugs, in order to improve the treatment of Chagas disease whose treatment is still a challenge. In this study, the in vitro anti-epimastigote activity of certain fractions of Achillea biebersteinii, A. millefolium, Satureja mutica and S. macrantha was evaluated. Diethyl ether fractions of Achillea species and acetone fractions of Satureja species were the most active fractions [MLC=12.5 microg/ml] against the epimastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi, the ethiological agent causing Chagas disease. The trypanocidal activity seems to be decreased by fractionation, using MeOH and water as the solvents. The results obtained from assay revealed that Achillea and Satureja species could be a source of active trypanocidal compounds