Phytochemical analysis, antimicrobial, antioxidant activities and total phenols of Ferulago carduchorum in two vegetative stages [flower and fruit]

Ferulago carduchorum [Apiaceae family] is an endemic plant of Iran. The crude extract and four fractions of aerial parts of F. carduchorum in two vegetative stages [flower and fruit] were studied for their total phenolic contents, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities using folin-ciocalteu assay, micro dilution method and DPPH assay, respectively. The results indicated that the best antioxidant activity was determined in flower crude extract [IC[50]=0.44mg/mL]. The flower ethyl acetate fraction [FLE] showed better antimicrobial and antifungal activities than other fractions. So, FLE was selected for phytochemical investigations, resulting in isolation of a flavonoid [hesperetin]. Hesperetin showed antimicrobial activity. The results showed that the antimicrobial and antioxidant effects during the flowering are obviously more than the fruit season

[Protective effects of some medicinal plants from Lamiaceae family against beta-amyloid induced toxicity in PC12 cell]

Excessive accumulation of beta-amyliod peptide [Abeta], the major component of senile plaques in Alzheimer's disease [AD], causes neuronal cell death through induction of oxidative stress. Therefore, antioxidants may be of use in the treatment of AD. The medicinal plants from the Lamiaceae family have been widely used in Iranian traditional medicine. These plants contain compounds with antioxidant activity and some species in this family have been reported to have neuroprotective properties. In the present study, methanolic extract of seven plants from salvia and satureja species were evaluated for their protective effects against beta-amyloid induced neurotoxicity. Aerial parts of the plants were extracted with ethyl acetate and methanol, respectively, by percolation at room temperature and subsequently, methanolic extracts of the plants were prepared. PC12 cells were incubated with different concentrations of the extracts in culture medium 1h prior to incubation with Abeta. Cell toxicity was assessed 24h after addition of Abeta by MTT assay. Satureja bachtiarica, Salvia officinalis and Salvia macrosiphon methanolic extracts exhibited high protective effects against Abeta induced toxicity [P < 0.001]. Protective effects of Satureja bachtiarica and Salvia officinalis were dose-dependent. The main constituents of these extracts are polyphenolic and flavonoid compounds such as rosmarinic acid, naringenin, apigenin and luteolin which have antioxidant properties and may have a role in neuroprotection. Based on neuroprotective effect of these plants against Abeta induced toxicity, we recommend greater attention to their use in the treatment of Alzheimer disease

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]

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