Research on the Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacology of Taxus × media.

Taxus × media, belonging to the genus Taxus of the Taxaceae family, is a unique hybrid plant derived from a natural crossbreeding between Taxus cuspidata and Taxus baccata. This distinctive hybrid variety inherits the superior traits of its parental species, exhibiting significant biological and medicinal values. This paper comprehensively analyzes Taxus × media from multiple dimensions, including its cultivation overview, chemical composition, and multifaceted applications in the medical field. In terms of chemical constituents, this study delves into the bioactive components abundant in Taxus × media and their pharmacological activities, highlighting the importance and value of these components, including paclitaxel, as the lead compounds in traditional medicine and modern drug development. Regarding its medicinal value, the article primarily discusses the potential applications of Taxus × media in combating tumors, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant activities, and treating diabetes. By synthesizing clinical research and experimental data, the paper elucidates the potential and mechanisms of its primary active components in preventing and treating these diseases. In conclusion, Taxus × media demonstrates its unique value in biological research and tremendous potential in drug development.

Exploring the anti-inflammatory, sedative, antidiabetic, and antioxidant potential in in-vitro and in-vivo models and phenolic profiling of Atractylis aristata Batt.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Atractylis aristata batt., as an endemic plant from the Asteraceae family, holds a significant position in the Ahaggar region of southern Algeria's traditional medicine. The aerial parts of Atractylis aristata was used to cure inflammation, fever, and stomach disorders. AIM OF THE STUDY: The objective of the present investigation was to ascertain the overall bioactive components and phytochemical components and examine the antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, acute toxicity, and sedative properties of the crude extract obtained from the aerial portions of Atractylis aristata (AaME). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The AaME's antioxidant activity was assessed by the use of pyrogallol autoxidation, (1,1 diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) (DPPH), 2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), and reducing power (RP) techniques. 1 mg/mL of AaME was used to evaluate the antidiabetic activity by applying the enzyme α-amylase inhibitory power test. At the same time, the bovine serum albumin (BSA) denaturation method was employed to quantify the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity at different concentrations (1.5625, 0.78125, 0.390625, 0.1953125 and 0.09765625 mg/mL). In contrast, following the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline No. 423, which covers acute oral toxicity testing protocols, the limit dosage test was employed to assess in vivo acute toxicity. At the dose of 0.08 mg/mL, the carrageenan-induced paw edema approach was used to assess the anti-inflammatory efficacy in vivo, and the sedative activity was carried out at the dose of 0.08 mg/mL using the measurement of the locomotor method. Different bioactive compounds were identified within AaME using LC-MS/MS and HPLC-UV analysis. RESULTS: The acute toxicity study showed no fatalities or noticeable neurobehavioral consequences at the limit test; this led to their classification in Globally Harmonized System (GHS) category Five, as the OECD guideline No 423 recommended. At a concentration of 0.08 mg/mL (2000 mg/kg), AaME showed apparent inhibition of paw edema and a significant (p = 0.01227) reduction in locomotor activity compared to the control animals. Our findings showed that AaME exhibited considerable antioxidant (IC50 = 0.040 ± 0.003 mg/mL (DPPH), IC50 = 0.005 ± 5.77 × 10-5 mg/mL (ABTS), AEAC = 91.15 ± 3.921 mg (RP) and IR% = 23.81 ± 4.276 (Inhibition rate of pyrogallol) and rebuts antidiabetic activities (I% = 57.6241% ± 2.81772). Our findings revealed that the maximum percentage of BSA inhibition (70.84 ± 0.10%) was obtained at 1.562.5 mg/mL. Thus, the AaME phytochemical profile performed using phytochemical screening, HPLC-UV, and LC-MS/MS analysis demonstrated that A. aristata can be a valuable source of chemicals with biological activity for pharmaceutical manufacturers. CONCLUSION: The phytochemical profiling, determined through HPLC-UV and LC-MS/MS applications, reveals this plant's therapeutic value. The aerial parts of Atractylis aristata contain bioactive molecules such as gallic acid, ascorbic acid, and quercetin, contributing to its significant antioxidant capabilities. Furthermore, identifying alizarin, the active compound responsible for its anti-inflammatory properties, could provide evidence supporting the anti-inflammatory capabilities of this subspecies.

Phoenix dactylifera L.: An Overview of Phytochemical Constituents and Impact on Women's Health.

Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) is the most significant member of the palm family (Arecaceae), particularly in the Middle East and Arab World. It is a valuable source of both primary and secondary metabolites including sugars, amino acids, phenolic acids, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids, phytosterols, terpenes and sphingolipids, besides vitamins and minerals. Besides, it possesses a wide array of pharmacologic activities viz. immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, anti-mutagenic and anti-cancer activities, in addition to its positive effects on male and female fertility. Further research is still required to deeply understand its clinical implications, especially concerning women's health. Moreover, there are other Phoenix species that still need to be investigated to learn more about their undiscovered phytochemical components and biological activities.

Advancements in the Cultivation, Active Components, and Pharmacological Activities of Taxus mairei.

Taxus mairei (Lemée and H.Lév.) S.Y.Hu, indigenous to the southern regions of China, is an evergreen tree belonging to the genus Taxus of the Taxaceae family. Owing to its content of various bioactive compounds, it exhibits multiple pharmacological activities and has been widely applied in clinical medicine. This article comprehensively discusses the current state of cultivation, chemical constituents, applications in the pharmaceutical field, and the challenges faced by T. mairei. The paper begins by detailing the ecological distribution of T. mairei, aiming to provide an in-depth understanding of its origin and cultivation overview. In terms of chemical composition, the article thoroughly summarizes the extracts and monomeric components of T. mairei, unveiling their pharmacological activities and elucidating the mechanisms of action based on the latest scientific research, as well as their potential as lead compounds in new drug development. The article also addresses the challenges in the T. mairei research, such as the difficulties in extracting and synthesizing active components and the need for sustainable utilization strategies. In summary, T. mairei is a rare species important for biodiversity conservation and demonstrates significant research and application potential in drug development and disease treatment.

Chromatographic Fingerprinting of Cacao Pod Husk Extracts (Theobroma cacao L.): Exploring Antibacterial, Antioxidant, and Antidiabetic Properties with In Silico Molecular Docking Analysis.

Natural drugs derived from plants are becoming more popular because of their apparent biological efficacy, affordability, and safety. A byproduct of cocoa farms, cocoa pod husk (CPH), is often disregarded yet contains an abundance of phenolic chemicals that have antimicrobial and antioxidant features, which has led to intensive investigation into possible biomedical applications. In order to identify crucial functional groups and phytochemical components, we carefully examined the 80% ethanol and dichloromethane extracts of CPH using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and HPLC. The antibacterial and antioxidant properties of such extracts and their impact on cytotoxicity and α-glucosidase were explored. According to our results, the 80% ethanol and dichloromethane extracts contained 19 and 12 phytochemical components, respectively. Interestingly, at 250 µg/mL, all CPH extracts showed strong antibacterial properties that totally prevented the bacterial growth. At 66.6% and 82.7%, respectively, the ethanol and dichloromethane extracts showed impressive antioxidant and DPPH scavenging capabilities where the ethanol extract showed a substantially lower IC50 value of 35.26 µg/mL than the dichloromethane extract, which had an IC50 value of 23.88 µg/mL. Furthermore, the α-glucosidase inhibitory effect of the dichloromethane extract was found to be better, as shown by its IC50 value of 126.5 µg/mL, which was lower than that of the ethanol extract at 151.3 µg/mL. The extracts' compatibility was verified by cytotoxicity tests, which revealed no appreciable alterations in the cell lines. Additionally, novel in silico molecular docking experiments were performed on 25 discovered compounds, providing insight into their possible bioactivity. Broad-spectrum activities of extracts were confirmed by molecular docking investigations aimed at interacting with α-glucosidase proteins. Our thorough analysis makes CPH extracts seem like the excellent candidates for biomedical uses. These results provide new insights into the therapeutic potential of CPH extracts and pave the way for the development of innovative medications and natural remedies.

Botanical description, phytochemical constituents, ethnobotany, traditional medicinal use, and pharmacological activities of Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl.

Stachys lavandulifolia Vahl known as "mountain tea", is a perennial flowering plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family and is widespread in Iran, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iraq, Turkey and Turkmenistan. S. lavandulifolia is widely used in traditional medicine for its analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic properties. This plant has different chemical compounds classes including terpenoids, iridoids, flavonoids and phenylethanoids that have been isolated from the aerial parts of it. This review covers the plant botany, traditional medicinal uses and chemical composition of S. lavandulifolia, along with its biological and pharmacological activities including clinical trial data. The information of this review article was obtained from different scientific databases such as Google scholar, Science Direct, Hindawi, SID, Scopus, PubMed, and ACS as well as traditional Persian books. Pharmacological and clinical studies, especially Anxiolytic activity and anti-inflammatory on the plant are relatively low, so these studies are suggested in the future. Also, phytochemical investigation on root of the plant is necessary.

Phytochemical constituents, ferric reducing and radical scavenging activities of helichrysm caespititium.

Helichrysm caespititium is used for the treatment of viral infections and respiratory ailments. This study aimed to determine the phytochemical constituents and antioxidants (using ABTS, DPPH and FRAP) of H. caespititium water and methanol extracts. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, phytosterols, tannins, glycosides etc. Whilst the alkaloids were absent. Quantitative analysis of total phenols using both methanol and water extracts yielded high values of (839,1 and 531) GA/mg indicating rich phytochemical constituents from this plant. Whilst flavonoids from methanol and water extracts yielded (324 and 58) mg GA/mg, respectively. Results obtained from FRAP water and methanol extracts were 20,42% and 2,36% respectively; DPPH water and methanol extracts results were 92,62% and 80,56% respectively; and ABTS water and methanol extracts were 93,64% and 97,68%, respectively. These findings support the potential of H. caespititium as the potential source for the development of antioxidant-based therapies and health-promoting products.

Comprehensive Review on Herbal Medicine: Emphasis on Current Therapy and Role of Phytoconstituents for Cancer Treatment.

INTRODUCTION: Cancer poses a significant public health challenge in both developed and developing nations, with a rising global incidence of patients facing the threat of death due to abnormal cell proliferation. AIM: Review explores the utilization of different parts of herbal medicinal plants and their active pharmaceutical constituents in the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer. METHODOLOGY: Various anticancer medicinal plants have been identified, demonstrating their therapeutic effects by inhibiting cancer-stimulating enzymes and hormones, activating DNA repair processes, boosting the synthesis of protective stimulants, reducing the formation of free radicals, and enhancing individual immunity. Data for this study were gathered from diverse online bibliographic and databases, including Google, Google Scholar, Mendeley, Springer Link, Research Gate, and PubMed. RESULT: Herbal drugs have a huge contribution to the inhibition of the progression of cancer.A large volume of clinical studies has reported the beneficial effects of herbal medicines on the survival, immune modulation, and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients, when these herbal medicines are used in combination with conventional therapeutics. CONCLUSION: The latest medicines for the clinical purpose (Above 50 %) are derived from herbal products. Furthermore, combination of these herbs with nanotechnology shows promise in treating specific carcinomas.

Phytochemical Constituents from the Seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris and Their Antioxidant Activities.

Phytochemical investigation of 70% EtOH extract of the seeds of Capsella bursa-pastoris led to the isolation of a new cyclobutane organic acid (1), and fourteen known compounds, including two organosulfur compounds (2, 3), two quinonoids (4, 5), five flavonoids (6-10), three sterols (11-13) and two other types (14, 15). The structures of the compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic analyses as well as comparison of their spectroscopic data with those reported in the literature. The antioxidant capacities of all compounds and extractive fractions were evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging test and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Then the antioxidative substances were evaluated for their neuroprotective effects against H2O2-induced HT22 cell injury. The results indicated the strong scavenging ability to free radical of the extractive fractions and compounds 1-3, 8-10 and 13, and the ferric reducing antioxidant power of the extractive fractions and compounds 1-3, 8 and 10, which were close to or higher than that of the positive control trolox. The EtOAc fraction, n-BuOH fraction, and compounds 1, 3 and 8 can protect HT-22 cells from oxidative damage.

The Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical, and Pharmacological Review of Euryale ferox Salisb.: A Chinese Medicine Food Homology.

Euryale ferox Salisb. (prickly water lily) is the only extent of the genus Euryale that has been widely distributed in China, India, Korea, and Japan. The seeds of E. ferox (EFS) have been categorized as superior food for 2000 years in China, based on their abundant nutrients including polysaccharides, polyphenols, sesquineolignans, tocopherols, cyclic dipeptides, glucosylsterols, cerebrosides, and triterpenoids. These constituents exert multiple pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, hypoglycemic, cardioprotective, antibacterial, anticancer, antidepression, and hepatoprotective properties. There are very few summarized reports on E. ferox, albeit with its high nutritional value and beneficial activities. Therefore, we collected the reported literature (since 1980), medical classics, database, and pharmacopeia of E. ferox, and summarized the botanical classification, traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological effects of E. ferox, which will provide new insights for further research and development of EFS-derived functional products.

GC-MS based metabolite profiling, antioxidant and antiurolithiatic properties of apple cider vinegar.

Aim: To perform in vitro analysis of antioxidant and antiurolithiasis to carry out GC-MS-based metabolite profile. Materials & methods: The effect of apple cider vinegar (ACV) in vitro, antioxidant and GC-MS analysis was evaluated. The antioxidant studies were performed. In vitro techniques included nucleation, aggregation and growth assay. Results & conclusion: The presence of polyphenols, flavonoids, alkaloids and carbohydrates was shown. Concentrations from 5-30 µg/ml could dissolve calcium oxalate (p < 0.05) in vitro. The IC50 value of ACV in DPPH was found to be around 7 µg/ml and the IC50 value of the ACV in ABTS assay was around 9 µg/ml. Different phytocompounds were obtained from GC-MS analysis. ACV can be consumed to prevent kidney stones which seems helpful to the current therapy.

Due to the modern lifestyle, urolithiasis continues to be a global medical burden and is getting worse every day and seems to have a very high recurrence rate. Urolithiasis can be managed with the pharmacotherapy of drugs and the usage of medicinal plants and nutraceuticals. The effect of apple juice products on urine physiology has been studied profoundly. The product thus obtained was examined for antioxidant assay using DPPH and in vitro antiurolithiasis activity. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) exhibited dose-dependent radical scavenging activity against free radicals. The ACV demonstrated a substantial suppression of the DPPH radical in the DPPH assay. ACV could be a potential source of a natural antioxidant drink based on in vitro, phytochemical and GC­MS analysis which was noteworthy and thus can be used as a therapeutic agent against bladder stones.

Critical review on chemical compositions and health-promoting effects of mushroom Agaricus blazei Murill.

Agaricus blazei Murrill (AbM) is a medical mushroom which has huge potential commercial value with various health-promoting functions. However, the chemical composition and therapeutic mechanisms of AbM have not been concluded systematically yet. Thus, this study aims to comprehensively summarize the phytochemical profiles and thoroughly characterize the health promotion effects such as the antitumor and antidiabetic impact of AbM in in vivo and in vitro. The AbM consists of abundant bioactive substances; polysaccharides, lipids including ergosterol, sterols, proteins, vitamin B, C and D, and phenolic compounds. Several studies have claimed that Agaricus blazei Murrill polysaccharides (AbMP) had immunoregulation, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, and antitumor function both in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, AbM extracts were thought to cure diabetes and bacterial infection, exhibiting anticarcinogenic and antimutagenic functions. But some principles behind health-promoting effects have not been clarified. Additionally, AbM related clinical trials are limited and further discovery need to be conducted. Therefore, this paper has concluded the health promotion impact with corresponding mechanisms of AbM and indicated its potential medical usage as functional food in the future.

Smilax glabra Roxb.: A Review of Its Traditional Usages, Phytochemical Constituents, Pharmacological Properties, and Clinical Applications.

Smilax glabra Roxb. (SGB) is a medicinal plant widely distributed in 17 countries worldwide. It is the primary raw material of the world-famous and best-selling functional food and beneficial tea. SGB was first recorded in Ben Cao Jing Ji Zhu of the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589 AD) and was reported for nutritional and medicinal properties for thousands of years. This review searched PubMed, Web of Science, and other databases for relevant literature on SGB species until April 2022. It aims to provide more integrated thinking, detailed awareness, and better knowledge of SGB. More than 200 chemical components have been discovered, including flavonoids, phenolic, phenolic acids, stilbenes, organic acids, phenylpropanoids, and others. Previous studies have demonstrated that SGB and its active ingredients show a wide range of pharmacological effects, including anti-infective, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, cardiovascular protection, etc. However, many studies on the biological activity of this plant were mainly based on crude extracts and active ingredients, and there is a lack of clinical studies and toxicity studies to support the development of drug design, development, and therapy. In summary, this review will provide specific and valuable suggestions and guidelines for further research and application of this plant in the medicinal field.

Phytochemical Constituents and In vitro Pharmacological Response of Cnidium monnieri; A Natural Ancient Medicinal Herb.

Background: Natural medicines are being used for the treatment of various disorders due to pharmacological, therapeutical, and nutraceuticals characteristics. Objectives: Current research was planned to explore In vitro pharmacological response of phytochemical constituents extracted from C. monnieri' seeds using aqueous ethanol (70%). Methods: Qualitative and quantitative measurements for phytochemical constituents were performed following reference protocols. Then In vitro antioxidant potential, cytotoxic studies, antimicrobial, and spermicidal pharmacological response of C. monnieri extract were investigated. Results: The results of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) spectroscopy, and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) explored the presence of wide range of bioactive compounds with significant (p<.05) antioxidant activities. Cytotoxic studies revealed significant (p<.05) protective behavior of C. monnieri evaluated using CtDNA damage protection, against Salmonella typhi TA98 and TA100, RBCs membrane stabilizing and clot lysis assay. It was also found that selected herb has antibacterial and antifungal activities. The results of spermicidal study on human (n = 30) spermatozoa revealed significant (p<.05) contraceptive per vaginal behavior of this natural medicinal plant. Conclusion: It could be concluded that C. monnieri showed significant pharmacological activities with non-toxic behavior, however In vivo study in animals and clinical trials are required to declare this natural herb as therapeutic agent.

In vitro evaluation of bioactive properties of banana sap.

Banana sap is currently designated as a waste subsequent to utilization of pseudo stem in pulp and paper industry as well as other applications which is contributing to the environmental pollution. In the present study, banana sap and its crude extracts were evaluated for antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties. The role of oxidized and un-oxidized banana sap for its antimicrobial potential against a microbial test panel comprising gram positive as well as gram negative bacteria and Candida albicans using in vitro micro broth dilution assay. The un-oxidized banana sap exhibited a significantly higher antibacterial potential as evident by a lower minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ranging between 15.625 to 62.5 mg/mL. In vitro radical scavenging activity of dichloromethane (DCM) extract of banana sap by DPPH method exhibited 54.62 ± 1.09 (µg/mL) IC50 value at the concentration of 1 mg/mL. Dichloromethane extract of banana sap showed maximum cytotoxic effect with human breast cancer (MCF-7) cell proliferation at the concentration of 100 µg/mL which was 78.37 ± 0.05% and the cytotoxic effect significantly increased with increasing concentration of banana sap extract. Furthermore, LCMS studies revealed the presence of bioactive compounds in dichloromethane extract of banana sap, such as rescinnamine derivative, dihydrorescinnamine and epimedin A. The present study suggested that banana sap is a promising source of bioactive compounds with relevant antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer properties.

Traditional uses, pharmacological activities, and phytochemical constituents of the genus Syzygium: A review.

The genus Syzygium comprises 1200-1800 species that belong to the family of Myrtaceae. Moreover, plants that are belonged to this genus are being used in the traditional system of medicine in Asian countries, especially in China, India, and Bangladesh. The aim of this review is to describe the scientific works and to provide organized information on the available traditional uses, phytochemical constituents, and pharmacological activities of mostly available species of the genus Syzygium in Bangladesh. The information related to genus Syzygium was analytically composed from the scientific databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Wiley Online Library, Springer, Research Gate link, published books, and conference proceedings. Bioactive compounds such as flavanone derivatives, ellagic acid derivatives and other polyphenolics, and terpenoids are reported from several species of the genus Syzygium. However, many members of the species of the genus Syzygium need further comprehensive studies regarding phytochemical constituents and mechanism-based pharmacological activities.

Dose differentiation in elevated UV-B manifests variable response of carbon-nitrogen content with changes in secondary metabolites of Curcuma caesia Roxb.

Despite acting as environmental stress, UV-B also plays a regulatory role in the plant's growth and secondary metabolism. UV-B-induced changes show variations between and among the species. The present study mainly focuses on variations in carbon and nitrogen contents and their relation with the phytochemical constituents of Curcuma caesia exposed to two different doses of UV-B (ambient ± elevated UV-B for 1 h (2.4 kJ m-2 day-1) and 2 h (4.8 kJ m-2 day-1)) under natural field conditions. Results showed that increasing the dose of eUV-B leads to high tuber biomass and reduced rhizome biomass (the medicinally important part). Increased expression of compounds at the initial rhizome formation stage might be due to the increased carbon content, whereas no such trend was found at the final growth or rhizome maturation stage. After final harvesting, carbon content was reduced, with an increase of nitrogen content which might be responsible for enhanced production of major components of essential oil (D-camphor and 1,8-cineole) in 2 h of UV-B exposure followed by 1 h. The phytochemical analysis at the final stage showed induction of compounds (15 and 10 in 1 h and 2 h, respectively) after UV-B exposure which was not detected in controls. The present study suggests that the change in carbon-nitrogen played an important role in the fraction of compounds at different stages, and a lower dose of UV-B (1 h) favoured the increased production of essential oil; however, 2 h dose is important for the enhanced production of major active compounds of essential oil.

Phytochemical Constituents of Propolis Flavonoid, Immunological Enhancement, and Anti-porcine Parvovirus Activities Isolated From Propolis.

Propolis is widely used in health preservation and disease healing; it contains many ingredients. The previous study had revealed that the ethanolic or water extracts of propolis have a wide range of efficacy, such as antiviral, immune enhancement, anti-inflammatory, and so on, but its antiviral components and underlying mechanism of action remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the chemical composition, anti-porcine parvovirus (PPV) effectiveness, and immunological enhancement of propolis flavone ethanolic extracts. The chemical composition of propolis flavone was distinguished by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole/time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry analysis. In this study, the presence and characterization of 26 major components were distinguished in negative ionization modes to evaluate the effects of propolis flavonoid used as an adjuvant on the immune response of Landrace-Yorkshire hybrid sows immunized with an inactivated vaccine of PPV. Thirty Landrace-Yorkshire hybrid sows were randomly assigned to one of three groups, and the sows in the adjuvant groups were intramuscularly injected with PPV vaccine with a 2.0-ml propolis flavonoid adjuvant (PA) and oil emulsion adjuvant. After that, serum hemagglutination inhibition antibody titers and specific immunoglobulin (Ig)M and IgG subclasses were measured to evaluate the adjuvant effects of propolis flavonoid on the humoral immune responses, as well as peripheral lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum concentrations of Th1 and Th2 cytokines for cellular immunity. Results indicated an enhancing effect of PA on IgM, interleukins 2 and 4, interferon-γ, and IgG subclass responses. Especially in the effect of improving cellular immune response, the PA was the best. These findings suggested that PA can significantly enhance the immune responses against the PPV vaccine and could be an alternative way to improve PPV vaccination in sows. Furthermore, we screened the PF chemical components to the effectiveness of anti-PPV. Ferulic acid has an excellent anti-PPV effect.

Formulations for Effective Detoxification Derived from Three Medicinal Plants: Thunbergia laurifolia, Clerodendrum disparifolium and Rotheca serrata.

BACKGROUND: Based on the long history of the medicinal use of Thunbergia laurifolia, Clerodendrum disparifolium and Rotheca serrata, the extract formulations of these species: T. laurifolia and C. disparifolium; T. laurifolia and R. serrata; and T. laurifolia, C. disparifolium and R. serrata, called formulas 1, 2 and 3, were created for detoxification testing to take more advantage of each species. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to estimate the detoxifying effects of studied extract formulations on human cell and tissue culture as a preclinical trial. METHODS: The major phytochemicals were derived by GC-MS. The detoxification efficacy of these formulations in cells and DNA levels were derived by MTT and comet assays in toxic PBMCs (incubated with rice whisky or bathroom cleaner). RESULTS: The phytochemical constituents were detected at 23.48% phytol and 43.03% oleamide in T. laurifolia; 12.88% oleamide, 20.93% 9,12,15-octadecatrien, 25.52% squalene, 22.19% butylated hydroxy toluene and 15.36% vitamin E in C. disparifolium; and 30.41% phytol, 32.78% oleamide, and 12.20%, 9,12,15-octadecatrien-1-ol in R. serrata. The toxic cells treated with the plant formulas 1, 2 and 3 showed no IC50 values, but formulas 1 and 2 displayed higher efficacies than formula 3 did. The comet assay indicated that the experiments (the treatment on toxic cells with the plant formulas) induced significant (p < 0.05) DNA damage compared to the negative control due to poisoning occurring before administration of the plant formulas. The OTM of the controls was significantly (p < 0.05) longer than the experimental samples showing significantly reduce the toxicity of the created formulations. CONCLUSION: The formulas showed high detoxification efficacies and formulations 1 and 2 resulted in higher levels of detoxification than formulation 3, especially in immediate treatment after receiving toxic substances.

Bioactive chemical constituents, in vitro anti-proliferative activity and in vivo toxicity of the extract of Curcuma singularis Gagnep rhizomes.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Curcuma singularis Gagnep is a Vietnamese medicinal plant which has been commonly used as a medicinal remedy in traditional and folk medicines for improving health as well as for treating some diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis, kidney failure. However, pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer activity and the safety of this plant has not been fully investigated. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-growth activity of an extract derived from Curcuma singularis rhizome extract (CSE) against cell lines as well as determine its phytochemical composition. The other goal of our study was to assess the safety of CSE in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The main constituents in the extract were identified and quantitatively analyzed. The in vitro cytotoxicity of CSE was evaluated in several cancer and normal cell lines. The apoptotic activity of CSE and the expression of the apoptosis-related genes were investigated in AGS cells to clarify the underlying molecular mechanisms. The in vivo toxicity of CSE was assessed via acute and subacute oral studies on Sprague-Dawley rats, respectively according to the guidelines 425 and 407 of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The drug-related toxicity signs, mortality, body and organ weights were recoreded during the experimental period. In addition, the selected hematological and biochemical parameters, and histological alterations were determined at the end of the subacute toxicity test. RESULTS: Germacrone, ar-turmerone, and curcumol were three sesquiterpene components found in the extract. CSE showed cytotoxic effects in different cancer cells, but had minimal effects on normal cells. Apoptosis in AGS cells was caused by CSE in a concentration-dependent pattern through increase of Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, and release of cytochrome c, which leads to activation of caspase-3/-7, caspase-9, as well as cleavage of PARP. In the acute toxicity test, no signs of toxicity and no mortality were recorded in rats at both doses of 1000 and 5000 mg/kg. In the subacute toxicity study, CSE showed no drug-related adverse effects on water and food consumption, body and organ weights. CSE at a dose of 1000 mg/kg slightly increased WBC and platelet values in female rats, while it increased WBC values in male rats in all tested doses. The decrease of total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were found in female rats treated CSE at doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg. In addition, the increase of serum ALT and AST levels in rats treated at the dose of 1000 mg/kg were noted. No significant changes in histopathological structures of kidneys, spleen, heart and lungs, except liver tissue with minor modifications was found. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicated that CSE exhibited in vitro anti-proliferative effects on AGS cells by mainly activating the caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. CSE also showed in vivo toxicity signals at the dose of 1000 mg/kg with proven minor hepatic injuries, which should be avoided the high dose for prolonged use. Curcuma singularis rhizomes may be used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of gastric cancer with in vitro anti-cancer investigation and in vivo biological safety evaluation.