Bioactivity of Myrtus communis from the Montenegro coastline / Bioactividad de Myrtus communis del litoral de Montenegro

Although numerous studies have demonstrated the biomedical potential of Myrtus communis L., (Myrtaceae) data on myrt le from Montenegro are scarce. T o evaluate antioxidant, antimutagenic and antibacterial activity of myrtle methanolic extracts. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by measuring free radicals scavenging activity, reducing power and enzyme inhibition. The strongest scavenging activity was towards DPPH radical ( 2,2 - diphenyl - 1 - picry lhydrazyl) (IC 50 1.69 - 2.25 mg/mL) and superoxide anion (IC 50 0.56 to 0.88 mg/mL), followed by high reducing power (428 - 472 mgAA/g.DE) and inhibition of XOD (IC 50 0.308 - 0.6261mg/mL). Antimutagenic activity was evaluated in reverse mutation assays with Esche richia coli WP2 oxyR mutant IC202 and deficient in the induction of antioxidant enzymes. The myrtle extracts strongly inhibited mutagenesis induced by t - BOOH, reaching 70% at the highest concentration applied. Antimicrobial activity was examined on eight different bacterial strains. Gram - positive bacteria, S. epidermis , S. aureus and M. flavus demonstrated the highest sensitivity towards extracts (MICs 4.5 - 9 mg/mL), but significantly lower towards essential oil (MIC 0.42 - 3.32 mg/mL).

Aunque numerosos estudios han demostrado el potencial biomédico de Myrtus communis L., (Myrtaceae), los datos sobre el mirto de Montenegro son escasos. E valuar la actividad antioxidante, antimutagéni ca y antibacteriana de extractos metanólicos de mirto. La actividad antioxidante se evaluó midiendo la actividad de eliminación de radicales libres, el poder reductor y la inhibición enzimática. La actividad secuestrante más fuerte fue hacia DPPH radical ( IC 50 1.69 - 2.25 mg/mL) y radicales de anión superóxido (IC 50 0.56 a 0.88 mg/mL), seguido de alto poder reductor (428 - 472 m gAA/g.DE) e inhibición de XOD (I C 50 0,308 - 0,6261 mg/m L ). La actividad antimutagénica se evaluó en ensayos de mutación inversa con Esche richia coli WP2 oxyR mutante IC202 y deficiente en la inducción de enzimas antioxidantes. Los extractos de mirto inhibieron fuertemente la mutagénesis inducida por t - BOOH, alcanzando el 70% a la mayor concentración aplicada. La actividad antimicrobiana se examinó en octo cepas bacterianas diferentes. Las bacterias grampositivas, S. epidermis , S. aureus y M. flavus demostraron la sensibilidad más alta hacia los extractos (MIC 4.5 - 9 mg/mL), pero significativamente más baja hacia el aceite esencial (MIC 0.42 - 3 .32 mg/mL). Los resultados muestran la gran perspectiva nutrafarmacéutica de la especie montenegrina Myrtus communis .

Antileishmanial and Cytotoxic Effects of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extract of Myrtus communis L

Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat various diseases such as infectious diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Myrtus communis against Leishmania tropica on an in vitro model. Antileishmanial effects of essential oil and methanolic extract of M. communis on promastigote forms and their cytotoxic activities against J774 cells were evaluated using MTT assay for 72 hr. In addition, their leishmanicidal activity against amastigote forms was determined in a macrophage model, for 72 hr. Findings showed that the main components of essential oil were alpha-pinene (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), and linalool (12.6%). Findings demonstrated that M. communis, particularly its essential oil, significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. tropica based on a dose-dependent response. The IC50 values for essential oil and methanolic extract was 8.4 and 28.9 mug/ml against promastigotes, respectively. These values were 11.6 and 40.8 mug/ml against amastigote forms, respectively. Glucantime as control drug also revealed IC50 values of 88.3 and 44.6 mug/ml for promastigotes and amastigotes of L. tropica, respectively. The in vitro assay demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity in J774 cells. However, essential oil indicated a more cytotoxic effect as compared with the methanolic extract of M. communis. The findings of the present study demonstrated that M. communis might be a natural source for production of a new leishmanicidal agent.

Antileishmanial and Cytotoxic Effects of Essential Oil and Methanolic Extract of Myrtus communis L

Plants used for traditional medicine contain a wide range of substances that can be used to treat various diseases such as infectious diseases. The present study was designed to evaluate the antileishmanial effects of the essential oil and methanolic extract of Myrtus communis against Leishmania tropica on an in vitro model. Antileishmanial effects of essential oil and methanolic extract of M. communis on promastigote forms and their cytotoxic activities against J774 cells were evaluated using MTT assay for 72 hr. In addition, their leishmanicidal activity against amastigote forms was determined in a macrophage model, for 72 hr. Findings showed that the main components of essential oil were alpha-pinene (24.7%), 1,8-cineole (19.6%), and linalool (12.6%). Findings demonstrated that M. communis, particularly its essential oil, significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the growth rate of promastigote and amastigote forms of L. tropica based on a dose-dependent response. The IC50 values for essential oil and methanolic extract was 8.4 and 28.9 mug/ml against promastigotes, respectively. These values were 11.6 and 40.8 mug/ml against amastigote forms, respectively. Glucantime as control drug also revealed IC50 values of 88.3 and 44.6 mug/ml for promastigotes and amastigotes of L. tropica, respectively. The in vitro assay demonstrated no significant cytotoxicity in J774 cells. However, essential oil indicated a more cytotoxic effect as compared with the methanolic extract of M. communis. The findings of the present study demonstrated that M. communis might be a natural source for production of a new leishmanicidal agent.

study on the effect of Myrtus communis and Olibanum on Giardia lamblia infection in Egypt

Giardia lamblia is one of the most common protozoal infections in humans. Although metronidazole [MTZ] is the drug of choice for treatment of giardiasis, yet its chemical composition poses major threats. The search for new alternative therapeutic approaches for this parasitic disease in replacement of MTZ. The effect of Myrtus Communis [MC; called Aas plant in Arabic] and Olibanum [OL; called Leban in Arabic] on G. lamblia were studied. Extracts of MC [methyl alcohol, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate and aqueous extracts] amid ethanol extract of OL were used. In vitro culture of G. lamblia trophozoites on TYI-S-33 medium was done, followed by inoculation of the plants' extracts in three different concentrations. This was evaluated by trophiozoite multiplication, adherence assay and electron microscopic study. The in viva effect was evaluated by histopathological study of the duodenum of experimentally infected mice after treatment by each herb. All plant extracts affected G. lamblia trophozoites in a manner dependent on concentration and time of exposure. In low concentration, both herbs significantly decreased the in vitro adherence of tropliozoites when compared to infection control group, while there was no statistical difference when compared to MTZ control group. Extensive ultrastructural changes of Giardia trophozoites were evident after 48 hours exposure to each medical herb. Histopathological examination of duodenum of G. lamblia infected mice showed epithelial microvillus abnormalities, which improved after administration of MC and OL extracts. Results confirm the antiparasitic effect of MC and OL on G. lamblia as an alternative to MTZ, to overcome its resistance and hazards