Cheminformatics-based anticoagulant study of traditionally used medicinal plants

Background: Medicinal plants, as a complementary medicine, have been used to treat various diseases since ancient times. These plants have numerous beneficial applications and are the source of certain conventional drugs. In diseases such as stroke and ischemia, which are caused by several factors, abnormal coagulation is an important causative factor. Accordingly, novel and effective therapies such as herbal remedies should be practiced to prevent such lethal diseases

Methods: Using the available databases such as Google Scholar and PubMed, the previously reported anticoagulant compounds and plants possessing anticoagulant activity were identified and collected in two separate lists. Next, the fast and cost-effective cheminformatics methods incorporated in PubChem were applied to detect some compounds similar to reported anticoagulants. Subsequently, 15 native medical plants of Iran containing the potential anticoagulants were selected. The selected plants were purchased and chopped, and the potential compounds were extracted by ethanol. Then three concentrations of extracts [1, 10, and 100 micro g per ml] were made. Finally, anticoagulant effect of the selected plants was evaluated by in vitro prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time coagulation tests

Results: Among the 15 selected medicinal plants, three plants, including Terminalia bellirica [P=0.0019], Astragalus arbusculinus [P=0.0021], and Origanum vulgare [P=0.0014] showed a more promising anticoagulant effect in comparison to the control

Conclusion: The anticoagulant activity was identified for the first time in these three plants. Further in vivo study and mechanism of action assay are required to be performed on these three plants, which could be suitable candidates for use as natural anticoagulant medicines

Antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of different parts of Lantana camara

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the antioxidant activity of methanolic extracts of Lantana camara (L. camara) various parts and the determination of their total phenolics content.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The extract was screened for possible antioxidant activities by free radical scavenging activity(DPPH), xanthine oxidase inhibition activity and Griess-Ilosvay method.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The results showed that all the plant parts possessed antioxidant properties including radical scavenging, xanthine oxidase inhibition and nitrites scavenging activities. The antioxidative activities were correlated with the total phenol. The leaves extract of L. camara was more effective than that of other parts.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>This study suggests that L. camara extracts exhibit great potential for antioxidant activity and may be useful for their nutritional and medicinal functions.</p>

In vivo toxicity study of Lantana camara

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the toxicity of methanol extract of various parts (Root, Stem, Leaf, Flower and Fruit) of Lantana camara (L. Camara) in Artemia salina.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The methanol extracts of L. camara were tested for in vivo brine shrimp lethality assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>All the tested extract exhibited very low toxicity on brine shrimp larva. The results showed that the root extract was the most toxic part of L. camara and may have potential as anticancer agent.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>Methanolic extract of L. camara is relatively safe on short-term exposure.</p>