Composition, Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory activities of Hexane and Methanol extracts of Acmella uliginosa from Terai region of Uttarakhand

Abstract Acmella uliginosa, an edible herb belonging to Asteraceae family, was collected from the Terai region of Uttarakhand, India. Methanol and hexane extracts of the whole plant were prepared using soxhlet apparatus. The GC-MS analysis of plant extracts identifies 22 and 35 major compounds of methanol and hexane extracts which comprises of 74.21% and 73.20% of the total composition of extracts, respectively. The major compound in hexane was 2, 4-heptadienal (7.99%) whereas trans, trans-9, 12-octadecadienoic acid propyl ester (16.96%) was major compound in methanol extract. The extracts were evaluated for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Methanol extract showed higher free radical scavenging and reducing power activities with IC50 value 153.82±1.69 µg/mL and RP50 value of 152.28±0.41 µg/mL, respectively. The metal chelating activity was higher in hexane extract as compared to methanol extract i.e., 62.08±0.25 µg/mL. The anti-inflammatory activity assessed by its ability to inhibit denaturation was higher in methanol having IB50 value 87.33±0.15 µg/mL. The total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC) and ortho-dihydric phenol content (ODP) of methanol and hexane extracts were also evaluated. TPC, TFC and ODP was higher in methanol extract having value of 122.23±0.22, 35.01±0.29 and 8±0.86 mg/mL, respectively. Acmella uliginosa, might be considered as a natural source for antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties

Chlorella sorokiniana and Chlorella minutissima exhibit antioxidant potentials, inhibit cholinesterases and modulate disaggregation of ß-amyloid fibrils

BACKGROUND: Microalgae are aquatic chlorophyll-containing organisms comprising unicellular microscopic forms, and their biomasses are potential sources of bioactive compounds, biofuels and food-based products. However, the neuroprotective effects of microalgal biomass have not been fully explored. In this study, biomass from two Chlorella species was characterized, and their antioxidant, anticholinesterase and anti-amyloidogenic activities were investigated. RESULTS: GC­MS analysis of the extracts revealed the presence of some phenols, sterols, steroids, fatty acids and terpenes. Ethanol extract of Chlorella sorokiniana (14.21 mg GAE/g) and dichloromethane extract of Chlorella minutissima (20.65 mg QE/g) had the highest total phenol and flavonoid contents, respectively. All the extracts scavenged 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2-azinobis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) and hydroxyl radicals. The highest metal chelating activity of the extracts was observed in the ethanol extracts of C. minutissima (102.60 µg/mL) and C. sorokiniana (107.84 µg/mL). Furthermore, the cholinesterase inhibitory activities of the extracts showed that ethanol extract of C. sorokiniana (13.34 µg/mL) exhibited the highest acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, while dichloromethane extract of C. minutissima (11.78 µg/mL) showed the highest butyrylcholinesterase inhibitory activity. Incubation of the ß-amyloid protein increased the aggregation of amyloid fibrils after 96 h. However, ethanol extract of C. sorokiniana and C. minutissima inhibited further aggregation of Aß1­42 and caused disaggregation of matured protein fibrils compared to the control. This study reveals the modulatory effects of C. sorokiniana and C. minutissima extracts on some mediators of Alzheimer's disease and provides insights into their potential benefits as functional food, nutraceutics or therapeutic agent for the management of this neurodegenerative disease.

Effect of Hexane Extract of Galla Rhois on Inflammatory Alveolar Bone Loss

One of functions of Galla Rhois (GR) is reportedly an anti-inflammatory effect on the several inflammatory diseases. However, an effect of GR related to periodontitis has not been investigated. In the present study, we examined the effect of the hexane extract of Galla Rhois (GR-H) on periodontitis. Cytotoxicity was assessed by MTS analysis using human gingival fibroblast (hGF) cells. Experimental periodontitis was induced by injecting E.coli LPS into the palatal gingiva maxillary molar thrice weekly for 3 weeks (LPS group). GR-H diluted in 1xPBS was orally administrated using a syringe at 30 mg/kg body weight and 100 mg/kg body weight once a day (GR-H group). GR-H effect on the alveolar bone loss (ABL) was digitized with a micro-CT. GR-H treatment at concentrations exceeding 0.5 mg/ml showed cytotoxic effect in hGF cells. The micro-CT among groups were presented for the different distances from cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) to alveolar bone crest (ABC). The results indicated an inhibitory effect on alveolar bone loss for orally administered GR-H in a model of LPS-induced periodontitis.

Anti-ulcerogenic and antisecretory effects of Celtis iguanaea (Jacq. ) Sargent hexane leaf extract / Efeito anti-ulcerogênico e antisecretório do extrato hexânico das folhas de Celtis iguanaea (Jacq. ) Sargent

The Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Cannabaceae) is one of the native species of the Cerrado region of Brazil widely used in folk medicine to treat dyspepsia. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the gastroprotective effect of the Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (HE) hexane leaf extract in the lesion and gastric secretion models.Antiulcerogenic activity of the Celtis iguanaea (HE) hexane leaf extract was observed with the experimental models, such as indomethacin and pyloric ligation-induced gastric ulcers. In order to evaluate the antisecretory activity of this extract, isolated Rana catesbeiana mucosa and pyloric ligation in mice were used. The HE treatment reduced the lesion index of indomethacin and pyloric ligation-induced ulcer. This extract also reduced the gastric acid secretion and total acidity (increasing the gastric pH) in mice. The secretion of H+ was reduced in the basal values (15.58 ± 1.99 µEq H+/g/15 min) when isolated Rana catesbeiana mucosa was incubated with HE. Intraduodenal administration of HE reduced the gastric secretion produced by bethanecol or histamine. The antiulcerogenic and antisecretory efficacy of HE in this study suggest anticholinergic and antihistaminergic mechanism or interruption of intracellular events that are linked to acid secretion.

Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (Cannabaceae) é uma das espécies nativas do cerrado brasileiro, sendo amplamente utilizada na medicina popular para o tratamento de dispepsia. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito gastroprotetor do extrato hexânico das folhas de Celtis iguanaea (Jacq.) Sargent (EH) em modelos de secreção e de lesões gástricas. A atividade antisecretória do extrato hexânico das folhas de Celtis iguanaea (EH) foi avaliada no modelo de mucosa isolada de Rana catesbeiana e pelo modelo de ligadura pilórica em camundongos. A avaliação da atividade anti-ulcerogênica do EH foi determinada no modelo de úlceras gástricas induzidas por indometacina e ligadura pilórica. Quando a mucosa de Rana catesbeiana isolada foi incubada com o EH, a secreção de H+ foi reduzida em comparação com o valor basal (15,58 ± 1,99 µEq H+/g/15 min). O tratamento com o EH reduziu o índice de lesões na úlcera induzida por indometacina e ligadura pilórica. O EH também reduziu o volume de secreção, a acidez total, e aumentou o pH gástrico. A administração intraduodenal reduziu a secreção gástrica produzida por betanecol ou histamina. A eficácia anti-ulcerogênica e antisecretória do EH neste estudo, sugere um mecanismo anticolinérgico e antihistaminérgico ou interrupção de eventos intracelulares que estão ligados à secreção ácida.

Modulation of the norfloxacin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus by Cordia verbenaceae DC.

Background & objectives: Several chemical compounds isolated from natural sources have antibacterial activity and some enhance the antibacterial activity of antibiotics reversing the natural resistance of bacteria to certain antibiotics. In this study, the hexane and methanol extract of Cordia verbenaceae were assessed for antibacterial activity alone and combinated with norfloxacin against the Staphylococcus aureus strain SA1199B. Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of extracts was assayed using microdilution assay and the modulatory activity was evaluated using plate diffusion assay. Results: The MIC observed varied between 256 to >1024 μg/ml. However, the antibiotic activity of norfloxacin was enhanced in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of hexane extract of C. verbenaceae (HECV). Interpretations & conclusions: Our results indicate that Cordia verbenaceae DC. can be a source of plant derived products with antibiotic modifying activity.

The Apoptotic Effect of the Hexane Extract of Rheum undulatum L. in Oral Cancer Cells through the Down-regulation of Specificity Protein 1 and Survivin / 한국실험동물학회지

The hexane extract of Rheum undulatum L. (HERL) has been shown to have anti-cancer activity in several cancers in vivo and in vitro. However, the anti-cancer activity of HERL and its molecular mechanism in human oral cancer cells has not been explored. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate the growth-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing effects of HERL in HN22 and SCC15 oral cancer cell lines. This study shows that HERL inhibits oral cancer growth, decreases cell viability, and causes apoptotic cell death in HN22 and SCC15 cells, as characterized by morphological changes, nuclear condensation and fragmentation, the cleavage of PARP and the accumulation of cells in the sub-G1 phase. The treatment of oral cancer cells with HERL also resulted in decreased expression of specificity protein (Sp1) and its downstream protein, survivin. Therefore, our results suggest that the regulation of Sp1 and survivin plays a critical role in HERL-induced apoptosis in human oral cancer cells.