Chemical Composition, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils in the Above-Ground Parts of Sonchus oleraceus L.

Sonchus oleraceus L. is a leafy vegetable that is usually consumed in the area of the Mediterranean and is a frequently used traditional herb to treat a variety of ailments. Previous studies deduced the potent antioxidant and cytotoxic functions of the different extracts and isolated compounds from S. oleraceus. The current study represents the first instance of chemical profiling and bioactivities of the extracted essential oil (EO) of S. oleraceus. The present investigation set out to identify the chemical components of this EO by means of Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (G004-MS) techniques; assess the oil's antioxidant potencies through 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate (ABTS) assays; and evaluate the oil's cytotoxic impact against HepG2 cancer cell lines. The GC-MS chemical profiling revealed the identification of 23 components representing 97.43% of the total oil mass within abundant cyclic ketones (20.15%), nonterpenoidial hydrocarbons (28.77%), and sesquiterpenes (42.19%). The main components were n-nonadecane (28.77%), trans-caryophyllene (23.73%), trans-methyl dihydrojasmonate (19.55%), and cis-cadina-1,4-diene (9.44%). In a dose-dependent manner, this EO demonstrated antioxidant capacities on DPPH and ABTS, with IC50 values of 609.35 and 804.16 µg/mL, respectively, compared to ascorbic acid. Using doxorubicin as a reference therapy, the MTT assay findings revealed that this oil had remarkable inhibitory effects on the proliferation of HepG2 cancer cell lines, with an IC50 of 136.02 µg/mL. More studies were recommended for further investigation of new biological roles for this oil and its main components, along with the construction of action mechanisms based on chemical components.

Fennel seeds extract prevents fructose-induced cardiac dysfunction in a rat model of metabolic syndrome via targeting abdominal obesity, hyperuricemia and NF-κß inflammatory pathway.

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is commonly associated with increased risk of cardiac disease that affects a large number of world populations. OBJECTIVE: This research attempted to investigate the efficacy of fennel seeds extract (FSE) in preventing development of cardiac dysfunction in rats on fructose enriched diet for 3 months, as a model of MetS. MATERIALS & METHODS: Thirty adult Wistar male rats (160-170 g) were assigned into 5 groups including control, vehicle, FSE (200 mg/kg BW) and fructose (60%) fed rats with and without FSE. Following the last treatment, blood pressure, ECG and heart rate were measured. Next, blood and cardiac tissues were taken for biochemical and histological investigations. RESULTS: Feeding fructose exhibited characteristic features of MetS involving, hypertension, abnormal ECG, elevated heart rate, serum glucose, insulin, lipids and insulin resistance, accompanied by abdominal obesity, cardiac hypertrophy and hyperuricemia. Fructose fed rats also showed significant reduction in cardiac antioxidants (GSH, SOD, CAT) with elevation in oxidative stress indices (NADPH oxidase, O2.-, H2O2, MDA, PCO), NF-κß, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1ß, IL-6), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1) and serum cardiac biomarkers (AST, LDH, CK-MB, cTn-I). Histopathological changes evidenced by destruction of cardiac myofibrils, cytoplasmic vacuolization, and aggregation of inflammatory cells were also detected. Consumption of FSE showed high ability to alleviate fructose-induced hypertension, ECG abnormalities, cardiac hypertrophy, metabolic alterations, oxidative stress, inflammation and histological injury. CONCLUSION: Findings could suggest FSE as a complementary supplement for preventing MetS and associated cardiac outcomes. However, well controlled clinical studies are still needed.

Radial artery pseudoaneurysm a rare complication after coronary angiography: A case report and systematic review of the reported cases.

This is a case of 83 years old male who had radial artery pseudoaneurysm after cardiac catheterization. The diagnosis was through Doppler ultrasound and the patient was treated with thrombin injection and reported good outcomes. The literature also included 41 cases of pseudoaneurysm after catheterization. The mean age of patients was 68.5 years with a male prevalence of 49%. Onset of pseudoaneurysm ranged from 0 days (directly after the catheterization) to 150 days with a median of 5 days. The treatment of patients was mainly surgical (19 cases) followed by compression (either manual or TR band) (12 cases), thrombin injection (four cases), compression then surgery (three cases), compression then thrombin injection (one case), percutaneous endovascular repair using a covered stent (one case) and not reported in one case. All cases recovered well.

Profiling Key Aroma Compounds of Senecio glaucus L. and their Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities: Multiplex of GC-MS, NMR and In Silico Studies.

The essential oils of Senecio plants have been used to treat a wide range of ailments. The current study aimed to extract the essential oil of Senecio glaucus obtained from Egypt's Nile delta and determine its chemical profile using GC-MS and NMR analysis. Then, the antimicrobial activity of the oil has been investigated against different fungal and bacterial strains. In addition, its activity as radical scavenger has been evaluated using DPPH, ABTS, and metal chelating techniques. The results revealed the identification of 50 compounds representing 98.80 % of the oil total mass. Sesquiterpenes, including dehydrofukinone (27.15 %) and 4,5-di-epi-aristolochene (10.27 %), as well as monoterpenes, including p-cymene (4.77 %), represented the most predominant constituents. The dehydrofukinone has been isolated and structurally confirmed using 1D and 2D NMR techniques. The oil has showed remarkable antifungal activity against Candida glabrata and C. albicans where the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values were 3.13 µg/mL and 1.50 µg/mL and 12.50 µg/mL and 6.30 µg/mL, respectively that could be attributed to the sesquiterpene ketones present in the aerial tissues of the plant. Also, this oil inhibited the growth of the tested bacteria with MIC ranging from 12.50-100.00 µg/mL. In comparison to ascorbic acid and Trolox, the EO had remarkable scavenging activity of DPPH, ABTS and metal chelating with IC50 values of 313.17±13.4, 493.83±20.1, and 409.13±16.7 µg/mL. The docking studies of the identified compounds of the oil to different microbial targets, including Gyrase B and α-sterol demethylase, showed that the phytol possessed the best binding affinities toward the active sites of both enzymes with ΔG=-7.42 and -7.78 kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the phytol revealed the highest binding affinity to tyrosine kinase Hck with ΔG=-7.44 kcal/mol.

Correction: Ammar et al. Protective Effects of Naringenin from Citrus sinensis (var. Valencia) Peels against CCl4-Induced Hepatic and Renal Injuries in Rats Assessed by Metabolomics, Histological and Biochemical Analyses. Nutrients 2022, 14, 841.

In the original publication [...].

Protective Action Mechanisms of Launaea mucronata Extract and Its Nano-Formulation against Nephrotoxicity in Rats as Revealed via Biochemical, Histopathological, and UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS Analyses.

Plants belonging to the Launaea genus have been extensively utilized ethnopharmacologically to treat a variety of diseases, including kidney disorders. Chromium is a common industrial pollutant that has been linked to kidney disease. The present work was designed for the investigation of the UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS metabolite profile of the L. mucronate ethanolic extract (LME), along with assessing the mechanistic protective actions of LME and its nano-silver formulation (LMNS) against K2Cr2O7-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. LMNE was successfully biosynthesized and confirmed using UV-Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nephroprotective effects of LME and LMNE was assessed in rats exposed to potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7, 15 mg/kg BW) to cause nephrotoxicity. LME and LMNS, separately, were administered twice daily for 14 days at doses of 200 and 400 mg/kg BW, respectively. The kidney function, catalase, UGT, Nrf2, PGE2, Cox-2, ERK, and MAPK levels in renal tissue were all assessed, along with histopathological examinations for exploring their ameliorative effects. Forty-five bioactive metabolites were annotated belonging to flavonoids, phenolic and organic acids, coumarins, and fatty acids. Metabolite profiling revealed that chlorogenic acid, apigenin, and luteolin glycosides were the main phenolics, with chlorogenic acid-O-hexoside reported for the first time in LME. The findings revealed that the serum kidney function indicators (urea and creatinine) were markedly elevated in K2Cr2O7-intoxicated rats. Furthermore, inflammatory indicators (COX-2 and PGE2), MAPK, and ERK were all markedly elevated in kidney tissue, whereas catalase, UGT, and Nrf2 levels were downregulated. Histological and immunohistochemical assays confirmed the toxic effects of K2Cr2O7 in the kidneys. In contrast, the administration of LME and LMNS prior to K2Cr2O7 considerably improved the architecture of the renal tissue, while also restoring levels of most biochemical markers. Functioning via the inhibition of the MAPK/ERK pathway, activating Nrf2, and modifying the antioxidant and metabolic enzymes, LME and LMNS exerted their nephroprotective effects against K2Cr2O7-induced toxicity.

Metabolomics approach of Symphyotrichum squamatum ethanol extract and its nano-Ag formulation protective effect on gastric ulcer via bio-chemical and pathological analyses.

ContextGastric ulcer (GU) a widely distributed ailment is associated with many causes, including alcohol consumption.Materials and MethodsChemical profiling of Symphyotrichum squamatum ethanol extract (SSEE) was established via ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-qTOF-MS) and employed in a silver nano-formulation (SSEE-N-Ag). SSEE and SSEE-N-Ag antiulcer activities were estimated against ethanol-induced rats by biochemical, histological, and metabolomics assessments. Reduced glutathione, total antioxidant capacity and prostaglandin E2 levels and gastric mucosa histopathological examination were analysed. The rats' metabolome changing alongside action pathways were elucidated via metabolite profile coupled to multivariate data analysis.ResultsUPLC-MS profiling of SSEE identified 75 components belonging to various classes. Compared with control, EtOH-treated rats showed decreased of tissue GSH, TAC and PGE2 by 62.32%, 51.85% and 47.03% respectively. SSEE and SSEE-N-Ag administration mitigated biochemical and histopathological alterations. Serum metabolomics analysis revealed for changes in several low molecular weight metabolites with ulcer development. These metabolites levels were restored to normal post-administration of SSEE-N-Ag. SSEE-N-Ag as mediated via modulating numerous metabolic pathways such as lipids, pyrimidine, energy metabolism and phosphatidylinositol signalling. This study provides novel insight for metabolic mechanisms underlying gastric ulcer relieving effect.ConclusionPresent results revealed potential antiulcer effect of SSEE and SSEE-N-Ag by decreasing ulcer-associated syndromes, supporting their anti-ulcerogenic action.

Dissection of Moringa oleifera leaf metabolome in context of its different extracts, origin and in relationship to its biological effects as analysed using molecular networking and chemometrics.

M. oleifera known as "miracle tree" is increasingly used in nutraceuticals for the reported health effects and nutritional value of its leaves. This study presents the first metabolome profiling of M. oleifera leaves of African origin using different solvent polarities via HR-UPLC/MS based molecular networking followed by multivariate data analyses for samples classification. 119 Chemicals were characterized in both positive and negative modes belonging to 8 classes viz. phenolic acids, flavonoids, peptides, fatty acids/amides, sulfolipids, glucosinolates and carotenoids. New metabolites i.e., polyphenolics, fatty acids, in addition to a new class of sulfolipids were annotated for the first time in Moringa leaves. In vitro anti-inflammatory and anti-aging bioassays of the leaf extracts were assessed and in correlation to their metabolite profile via multivariate data analyses. Kaempferol, quercetin and apigenin-O/C-glycosides, fatty acyl amides and carotenoids appeared crucial for biological activities and leaves origin discrimination.

Wheat Germ Oil and Propolis Decrease Parasite Burden and Restore Marked Histopathological Changes in Liver and Lung in Mice with Chronic Toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic zoonotic disease with a worldwide distribution. Its effects can be critical in immunocompromised patients. However, there is a limited availability of effective, low-toxicity drugs against this disease, particularly in its chronic form. The present study evaluated the effect of propolis and wheat germ oil (WGO) as safe, natural products to reduce Toxoplasma cysts in experimentally infected mice. For the experiment, five groups (10 mice per group) were examined: Group 1: negative control (noninfected, nontreated); Group 2: positive control (infected, nontreated); Group 3: infected and treated with WGO at a dose of 0.2 mg/1.5 mL per kg body weight/day; Group 4: infected and treated with 0.1 mL propolis extract/day; and Group 5: infected and treated with a combination of WGO and propolis at the same doses as Group 3 and 4. After the mice were sacrificed, liver and lung specimens underwent histopathological examination, and the parasite burden was investigated by parasitological methods and quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Notably, the results showed a substantial decrease in parasitic burden in Group 5 compared to the control group. These results were further confirmed by molecular analysis and quantification of the DNA concentration of the Toxoplasma P29 gene after treatment in all tested samples. Furthermore, the combination of propolis and WGO restored all histopathological changes in the liver and lungs. Taken together, these findings provide remarkably promising evidence of the effects of the combination of WGO and propolis against chronic toxoplasmosis in mice.

Antiviral Potentialities of Chemical Characterized Essential Oils of Acacia nilotica Bark and Fruits against Hepatitis A and Herpes Simplex Viruses: In Vitro, In Silico, and Molecular Dynamics Studies.

Acacia nilotica (synonym: Vachellia nilotica (L.) P.J.H.Hurter and Mabb.) is considered an important plant of the family Fabaceae that is used in traditional medicine in many countries all over the world. In this work, the antiviral potentialities of the chemically characterized essential oils (EOs) obtained from the bark and fruits of A. nilotica were assessed in vitro against HAV, HSV1, and HSV2. Additionally, the in silico evaluation of the main compounds in both EOs was carried out against the two proteins, 3C protease of HAV and thymidine kinase (TK) of HSV. The chemical profiling of the bark EOs revealed the identification of 32 compounds with an abundance of di- (54.60%) and sesquiterpenes (39.81%). Stachene (48.34%), caryophyllene oxide (19.11%), and spathulenol (4.74%) represented the main identified constituents of bark EO. However, 26 components from fruit EO were assigned, with the majority of mono- (63.32%) and sesquiterpenes (34.91%), where trans-caryophyllene (36.95%), Z-anethole (22.87%), and γ-terpinene (7.35%) represented the majors. The maximum non-toxic concentration (MNTC) of the bark and fruits EOs was found at 500 and 1000 µg/mL, respectively. Using the MTT assay, the bark EO exhibited moderate antiviral activity with effects of 47.26% and 35.98% and a selectivity index (SI) of 2.3 and 1.6 against HAV and HSV1, respectively. However, weak activity was observed via the fruits EO with respective SI values of 3.8, 5.7, and 1.6 against HAV, HSV1, and HSV2. The in silico results exhibited that caryophyllene oxide and spathulenol (the main bark EO constituents) showed the best affinities (ΔG = -5.62, -5.33, -6.90, and -6.76 kcal/mol) for 3C protease and TK, respectively. While caryophyllene (the major fruit EO component) revealed promising binding capabilities against both proteins (ΔG = -5.31, -6.58 kcal/mol, respectively). The molecular dynamics simulation results revealed that caryophyllene oxide has the most positive van der Waals energy interaction with 3C protease and TK with significant binding free energies. Although these findings supported the antiviral potentialities of the EOs, especially bark EO, the in vivo assessment should be tested in the intraoral examination for these EOs and/or their main constituents.

Chemical Profile of Cyperus laevigatus and Its Protective Effects against Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatorenal Toxicity in Rats.

Cyperus species represent a group of cosmopolitan plants used in folk medicine to treat several diseases. In the current study, the phytochemical profile of Cyperus laevigatus ethanolic extract (CLEE) was assessed using UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS. The protective effect of CLEE at 50 and 100 mg /kg body weight (b.w.) was evaluated on hepatorenal injuries induced by thioacetamide (100 mg/kg) via investigation of the extract's effects on oxidative stress, inflammatory markers and histopathological changes in the liver and kidney. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis of CLEE resulted in the identification of 94 compounds, including organic and phenolic acids, flavones, aurones, and fatty acids. CLEE improved the antioxidant status in the liver and kidney, as manifested by enhancement of reduced glutathione (GSH) and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), in addition to the reduction in malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8OHdG). Moreover, CLEE positively affected oxidative stress parameters in plasma and thwarted the depletion of hepatorenal ATP content by thioacetamide (TAA). Furthermore, treatment of rats with CLEE alleviated the significant increase in plasma liver enzymes, kidney function parameters, and inflammatory markers. The protective effect of CLEE was confirmed by a histopathological study of the liver and kidney. Our results proposed that CLEE may reduce TAA-hepatorenal toxicity via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties suppressing oxidative stress.

Cytoprotective potentialities of carvacrol and its nanoemulsion against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats: development of nano-encasulation form.

Cisplatin (Cisp) is a widely distributed chemotherapeutic drug for cancers. Nephrotoxicity is one of the most common side effects of the use of this drug. Carvacrol (CV) is a common natural compound in essential oils and extracts of medicinal plants with potent in vivo and in vitro bioactivities. The work was extended to achieve the target of investigation of the protective potentialities of CV and its nanoemulsion as a cytoprotective drug against Cisp-induced nephrotoxicity in albino rats. CV-nanoemulsion was prepared by a hydrophilic surfactant polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) and deionized water. The TEM image of the particle distribution prepared nanoemulsion is mainly spherical in shape with particle size varying between 14 and 30 nm. Additionally, the Cisp administration caused the increasing of the levels of urea and creatinine in the blood and serum. These increasing of urea and creatinine levels caused consequently the turbulence of the oxidative stress as well as the rising of hs-CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels in the serum. Also, histopathological changes of the kidney tissue were observed. These changes back to normal by treatment with CV-nanoemulsion. Expression levels of nephrotoxicity-related genes including LGALS3, VEGF, and CAV1 in kidney tissue using qRT-PCR were measured. The results revealed that the expression of LGALS3, VEGF and CAV1 genes was highly significantly increased in only Cisp treated group when compared with other treated groups. While, these genes expressions were significantly decreased in Cisp + CV treated group when compared with Cisp treated rats (P < 0.001). In addition, there were no significant differences between Cisp + nano-CV treated group and both negative control and nanoemulsion alone groups but it was not significant. In addition, the Western blot of protein analysis results showed that the LGALS3 and CAV1 are highly expressed only in Cisp + CV treated group compared with other groups. There was no significant difference between Cisp + nano-CV treated animals and negative control for both mRNA and protein expression. Based on these results, CV was combined with calcium alginate; a more stable capsule is formed, allowing for the formation of a double wall in the microcapsule. These results supported the therapeutic effect of CV and its nano-emulsion as cytoprotective agents against Cisp nephrotoxicity.

Chemical Composition of Kickxia aegyptiaca Essential Oil and Its Potential Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities.

The exploration of new bioactive compounds from natural resources as alternatives to synthetic chemicals has recently attracted the attention of scientists and researchers. To our knowledge, the essential oil (EO) of Kickxia aegyptiaca has not yet been explored. Thus, the present study was designed to explore the EO chemical profile of K. aegyptiaca for the first time, as well as evaluate its antioxidant and antibacterial activities, particularly the extracts of this plant that have been reported to possess various biological activities. The EO was extracted from the aerial parts via hydrodistillation and then characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extracted EO was tested for its antioxidant activity via the reduction in the free radicals, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). In addition, the EO was tested as an antibacterial mediator against eight Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacterial isolates. Forty-three compounds were identified in the EO of K. aegyptiaca, with a predominance of terpenoids (75.46%). Oxygenated compounds were the main class, with oxygenated sesquiterpenes attaining 40.42% of the EO total mass, while the oxygenated monoterpenes comprised 29.82%. The major compounds were cuminic aldehyde (21.99%), caryophyllene oxide (17.34%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (11.74%), ar-turmerone (8.51%), aromadendrene oxide (3.74%), and humulene epoxide (2.70%). According to the IC50 data, the K. aegyptiaca EO revealed considerable antioxidant activity, with IC50 values of 30.48 mg L-1 and 35.01 mg L-1 for DPPH and ABTS, respectively. In addition, the EO of K. aegyptiaca showed more substantial antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacterial isolates compared to Gram-negative. Based on the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the EO showed the highest activity against Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus, with an MIC value of 0.031 mg mL-1. The present study showed, for the first time, that the EO of K. aegyptiaca has more oxygenated compounds with substantial antioxidant and antibacterial activities. This activity could be attributed to the effect of the main compounds, either singular or synergistic. Thus, further studies are recommended to characterize the major compounds, either alone or in combination as antioxidants or antimicrobial agents, and evaluate their biosafety.

Protective Effects of Naringenin from Citrus sinensis (var. Valencia) Peels against CCl4-Induced Hepatic and Renal Injuries in Rats Assessed by Metabolomics, Histological and Biochemical Analyses.

Citrus fruits are grown worldwide for their special nutritive and several health benefits. Among citrus bioactives, naringenin, a major flavanone, exhibits a potential hepatoprotective effect that is not fully elucidated. Herein, serum biochemical parameters and histopathological assays were used to estimate the hepatoprotective activity of naringenin, isolated from Citrus sinensis (var. Valencia) peels, in CCl4-induced injury in a rat model. Further, GC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics was used to characterize the potential metabolite biomarkers associated with its activity. Present results revealed that naringenin could ameliorate the increases in liver enzymes (ALT and AST) induced by CCl4 and attenuate the pathological changes in liver tissue. Naringenin decreased urea, creatinine and uric acid levels and improved the kidney tissue architecture, suggesting its role in treating renal disorders. In addition, naringenin increased the expression of the antiapoptoic cell marker, Bcl-2. Significant changes in serum metabolic profiling were noticed in the naringenin-treated group compared to the CCl4 group, exemplified by increases in palmitic acid, stearic acid, myristic acid and lauric acids and decrease levels of alanine, tryptophan, lactic acid, glucosamine and glucose in CCl4 model rats. The results suggested that naringenin's potential hepato- and renoprotective effects could be related to its ability to regulate fatty acids (FAs), amino acids and energy metabolism, which may become effective targets for liver and kidney toxicity management. In conclusion, the current study presents new insights into the hepato- and renoprotective mechanisms of naringenin against CCl4-induced toxicity.

Volatile Oils Discrepancy between Male and Female Ochradenus arabicus and Their Allelopathic Activity on Dactyloctenium aegyptium.

Volatile oils (VOs) composition of plants is affected by several exogenous and endogenous factors. Male and female plants of the dioecious species exhibit variation in the bioactive constituents' allocation. The chemical variation in the VOs between male and female plants is not well studied. In the present study, the chemical characterization of the VOs extracted from aerial parts of male and female ecospecies of Ochradenus arabicus was documented. Additionally, the extracted VOs were tested for their allelopathic activity against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium. Via GC-MS analysis, a total of 53 compounds were identified in both male and female plants. Among them, 49 compounds were identified from male plants, and 47 compounds were characterized in female plants. Isothiocyanates (47.50% in male and 84.32% in female) and terpenes (48.05% in male and 13.22% in female) were the main components of VOs, in addition to traces of carotenoid-derived compounds and hydrocarbons. The major identified compounds of male and female plants are m-tolyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate, butyl isothiocyanate, isobutyl isothiocyanate, carvone, and α-bisabolol, where they showed variation in the concentration between male and female plants. The O. arabicus VOs of the male plants attained IC50 values of 51.1, 58.1, and 41.9 µL L-1 for the seed germination, seedling shoot growth, and seedling root growth of the weed (D. aegyptium), respectively, while the females showed IC50 values of 56.7, 63.9, and 40.7 µL L-1, respectively. The present data revealed that VOs composition and bioactivity varied significantly with respect to the plant gender, either qualitatively or quantitatively.

Comparative Chemical Profiles and Phytotoxic Activity of Essential Oils of Two Ecospecies of Pulicaria undulata (L.) C.A.Mey.

The Asteraceae (Compositae) family is one of the largest angiosperm families that has a large number of aromatic species. Pulicaria undulata is a well-known medicinal plant that is used in the treatment of various diseases due to its essential oil (EO). The EO of both Saudi and Egyptian ecospecies were extracted via hydrodistillation, and the chemical compounds were identified by GC-MS analysis. The composition of the EOs of Saudi and Egyptian ecospecies, as well as other reported ecospecies, were chemometrically analyzed. Additionally, the phytotoxic activity of the extracted EOs was tested against the weeds Dactyloctenium aegyptium and Bidens pilosa. In total, 80 compounds were identified from both ecospecies, of which 61 were Saudi ecospecies, with a preponderance of ß-pinene, isoshyobunone, 6-epi-shyobunol, α-pinene, and α-terpinolene. However, the Egyptian ecospecies attained a lower number (34 compounds), with spathulenol, hexahydrofarnesyl acetone, α-bisabolol, and τ--cadinol as the main compounds. The chemometric analysis revealed that the studied ecospecies and other reported species were different in their composition. This variation could be attributed to the difference in the environmental and climatic conditions. The EO of the Egyptian ecospecies showed more phytotoxic activity against D. aegyptium and B. pilosa than the Saudi ecospecies. This variation might be ascribed to the difference in their major constituents. Therefore, further study is recommended for the characterization of authentic materials of these compounds as allelochemicals against various weeds, either singular or in combination.

Oral and Topical Anti-Inflammatory and Antipyretic Potentialities of Araucaria bidiwillii Shoot Essential Oil and Its Nanoemulsion in Relation to Chemical Composition.

Different parts of Araucaria bidiwillii (bunya pin) trees, such as nuts, seeds, bark, and shoots, are widely used in cooking, tea, and traditional medicines around the world. The shoots essential oil (EO) has not yet been studied. Herein, the chemical profile of A. bidiwillii shoots EO (ABSEO) was created by GC-MS analysis. Additionally, the in vivo oral and topical anti-inflammatory effect against carrageenan-induced models, as well as antipyretic potentiality of ABSEO and its nanoemulsion were evaluated. Forty-three terpenoid components were identified and categorized as mono- (42.94%), sesqui- (31.66%), and diterpenes (23.74%). The main compounds of the ABSEO were beyerene (20.81%), α-pinene (16.21%), D-limonene (14.22%), germacrene D (6.69%), ß-humulene (4.14%), and sabinene (4.12%). The ABSEO and its nanoemulsion exhibited significant inflammation suppression in carrageenan-induced rat paw edema model, in both oral (50 and 100 mg/kg) and topical (5% in soyabean oil) routes, compared to the control and reference drugs groups. All the results demonstrated the significant inflammation reduction via the inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and IL8), nitrosative (NO), and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) supported by the histopathological studies and immunohistochemical assessment of MMP-9 and NF-κß levels in paw tissues. Moreover, the oral administration of ABSEO and its nanoemulsion (50 and 100 mg/kg) exhibited antipyretic activity in rats, demonstrated by the inhibition of hyperthermia induced by intramuscular injection of brewer's yeast. These findings advised that the use of ABSEO and its nanoemulsion against numerous inflammatory and hyperthermia ailments that could be attributed to its active constituents.

Renoprotective and therapeutic effects of newly water, ethanol, and butanol ginseng fractions in hypertensive and chronic kidney disease with L-NAME.

The present study investigated the protective and treatment effects of different ginseng fractions against L-NAME-induced renal toxicity in rats. The data obtained demonstrated that L-NAME significantly increased creatinine, urea, KIM-1, and lipocalin-2 levels in serum; and also increased renal MDA and eNOS levels compared with the control group. Three bioactive fractions were newly extracted from ginseng, analyzed by GC-MS analysis, and were examined for antimicrobial, prebiotic, and histological activities. All ginseng fractions improved such histological changes, as reflected by significant reductions in creatinine, urea, KIM-1, and LCN-2 levels in serum, and renal MDA and eNOS contents in tissue homogenate. The water ginseng fraction (WGF) has the highest prebiotic index of 4.7 toward Lactobacillus reuteri, and can improve the renal functions more than butanol ginseng fraction (BGF) and ethanol ginseng fraction (EGF). These three ginseng fractions significantly reversed L-NAME-induced depletion in the TNF-α gene expression level. Interestingly, WGF was able to improve the renal functions more than BGF and EGF. L-NAME led to alterations in the histological structure and functions of renal tissue of rats and ginseng supplementation could offer greater protection against these changes. Moreover, the WGF exhibited superior renoprotection properties when compared with the other two fractions: BGF and EGF, and the reference drug losartan.

Aflibercept versus Ranibizumab as a Second Line Therapy After Bevacizumab for Diabetic Macular Edema.

PURPOSE: To compare the visual and anatomic outcomes of aflibercept versus ranibizumab as a second line treatment for persistent diabetic macular edema (DME) after initial bevacizumab injections. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, patients with center-involved DME of ≥ 300 µm thickness after bevacizumab intravitreal injections in 2015-2019 were included. Those treated with ranibizumab (R) and aflibercept (A) were grouped as group R and group A, respectively. The change in central macular thickness (CMT) measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT) and the best corrected distance visual acuity (BCVA) before and after three-monthly anti-VEGF injections (anti-VEGF) in group R and group A were compared and reviewed. RESULTS: There were 80 eyes of 75 patients in group R and 80 eyes of 72 patients in group A. The initial bevacizumab injections in group R and group A varied significantly (p = 0.01). The median change of the CMT after the three injections was not significantly different in group R (80 µm) and group A (81.5µm) (p = 0.7). The improvement of BCVA in group R and group A was not significant (p = 0.5). Dry macula was noted in 1 vs 14 eyes in group R vs group A. CONCLUSION: After treating refractory DME with initial bevacizumab injections, 3 injections of either aflibercept or ranibizumab had similar anatomic and functional outcomes. Aflibercept achieved dry macula in more eyes with refractory DME compared to ranibizumab.

Chemical Composition, Allelopathic, Antioxidant, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities of Sesquiterpenes Rich Essential Oil of Cleome amblyocarpa Barratte & Murb.

The integration of green natural chemical resources in agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical applications allures researchers and scientistic worldwide. Cleome amblyocarpa has been reported as an important medicinal plant. However, its essential oil (EO) has not been well studied; therefore, the present study aimed to characterize the chemical composition of the C. amblyocarpa, collected from Egypt, and assess the allelopathic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory activities of its EO. The EO of C. amblyocarpa was extracted by hydrodistillation and characterized via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The chemometric analysis of the EO composition of the present studied ecospecies and the other reported ecospecies was studied. The allelopathic activity of the EO was evaluated against the weed Dactyloctenium aegyptium. Additionally, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities were determined. Forty-eight compounds, with a prespondence of sesquiterpenes, were recorded. The major compounds were caryophyllene oxide (36.01%), hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7.92%), alloaromadendrene epoxide (6.17%), myrtenyl acetate (5.73%), isoshyobunone (4.52%), shyobunol (4.19%), and trans-caryophyllene (3.45%). The chemometric analysis revealed inconsistency in the EO composition among various studied ecospecies, where it could be ascribed to the environmental and climatic conditions. The EO showed substantial allelopathic inhibitory activity against the germination, seedling root, and shoot growth of D. aegyptium, with IC50 values of 54.78, 57.10, and 74.07 mg L-1. Additionally, the EO showed strong antioxidant potentiality based on the IC50 values of 4.52 mg mL-1 compared to 2.11 mg mL-1 of the ascorbic acid as standard. Moreover, this oil showed significant anti-inflammation via the suppression of lipoxygenase (LOX) and cyclooxygenases (COX1, and COX2), along with membrane stabilization. Further study is recommended for analysis of the activity of pure authentic materials of the major compounds either singularly or in combination, as well as for evaluation of their mechanism(s) and modes of action as antioxidants or allelochemicals.