Phytochemical Profiling and Antiviral Activity of Green Sustainable Nanoparticles Derived from Maesa indica (Roxb.) Sweet against Human Coronavirus 229E.

Plant secondary metabolites are key components for new, safe and effective drugs. Ethanolic extract of Maesa indica Roxb. Sweet (ME) aerial parts were used for biosynthesis of sustainable green zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) with an average particle size 6.80 ± 1.47 nm and zeta potential -19.7 mV. Both transmission electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction assay confirmed the hexagonal shape of ZnO NPs. Phenolic ingredients in ME were identified using LC-ESI-MS/MS-MRM revealing the identification of chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid, rutin, coumaric acid, vanillin, naringenin, quercetin, ellagic acid, 3.4-dihydroxybenzoic acid, methyl gallate, kaempferol, ferulic acid, syringic acid, and luteolin. The major compound was chlorogenic acid at concentration of 1803.84 µg/g. The antiviral activity of ME, ZnO NPs, and combination of ME with ZnO NPs against coronavirus 229E were investigated. ZnO NPs had superior antiviral effect against coronavirus 229E than ME while their combination showed the highest anti-coronavirus 229E effect, with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 5.23 ± 0.18 µg/mL and 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 138.49 ± 0.26 µg/mL while the selectivity index (SI) was 26.47. The current study highlighted the possible novel anti-coronavirus 229E activity of green ZnO NPs synthesized from Maesa indica. More studies are needed to further investigate this antiviral activity to be utilized in future biomedical and environmental applications.

Vetiver aerial parts and roots ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis in complete Freund's adjuvant rat model, a phytochemical profiling and mechanistic study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vetiver (Chrysopogon zizanioides) is indigenous to India where it is traditionally used to relief rheumatisms, lumbagos and sprains. Vetiver anti-inflammatory activity has not been previously investigated, and its specific interactions with body inflammation cascade remain largely unknown. AIM OF THE STUDY: The present work was performed to validate the ethnobotanical use of the plant and compare the anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanolic extracts of the most traditionally used part (aerial part) to that of the root. Furthermore, we attempt to reveal the molecular mechanism of this anti-inflammatory activity in correlation to the chemical composition of C. zizanioides aerial (CA) and root parts (CR). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ultraperformance liquid chromatography coupled to high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/HRMS) was used for comprehensive analysis of both CA and CR. The anti-inflammatory effect of both extracts was evaluated in complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA)-induced RA model in Wistar rats. RESULTS: Phenolic metabolites were predominant in CA and 42 were identified for the first time, while only 13 were identified in CR. Meanwhile, triterpenes and sesquiterpenes were confined to the root extract. In CFA arthritis model, CA showed better anti-inflammatory activity than CR marked by an increase in serum level of IL-10 with simultaneous decrease in pro-inflammatory markers; IL-6, ACPA and TNF-α and was evident in histopathological examination. This anti-inflammatory effect was accompanied by down-regulation of JAK2/STAT3/SOCs3, ERK1/ERK2, TRAF6/c-FOS/NFATC1, TRAF6/NF-κB/NFATC1 and RANKL pathways which were all upregulated after CFA injection. These pathways were modulated to larger extent by CA, except for ERK1/ERK2 which was downregulated more effectively by CR. This differential effect between CA and CR can be explained by the variability in their phytoconstituents profile. CONCLUSION: In agreement with the ethnobotanical preference, CA extract was more effective than CR extract in reducing the symptoms of RA probably due to its enrichment with flavonoids, lignans, and flavolignans. Both CA and CR reduced the production of inflammatory cytokines through modulating various biological signaling pathways. These findings support the traditional use of vetiver leaves as a remedy for RA and suggest that the use of the whole plant may offer advantage by synergistically affecting more inflammatory pathways.

Phytochemical constituents and anti-tyrosinase activity of Macadamia integrifolia leaves extract.

Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche is cultivated around the world for its highly valued nuts (macadamia nuts). Although the chemical composition of the edible macadamia oil has been repeatedly investigated, other plant organs have not been phytochemically or biologically assessed. In this study, ethanolic extract of M. integrifolia leaves was phytochemically investigated which led to the isolation of 6 compounds. Two functional galactolipids, i.e., monogalactosyl diacylglycrol 36:4 (MGDG 36:4), digalactosyl monoacylglycerol 18:2 (DGMG 18:2), gallic acid and protocatechuic acid were identified in the genus Macadamia for the first time, in addition to the cyanogenic glycoside dhurrin and ß-sitosterol. Additionally, anti-tyrosinase activity of the extract, its fractions and isolated compounds was investigated and a good tyrosinase inhibitory activity was observed for the extract, IC50=85 µg/mL and its polar fractions (ethyl acetate at 60 µg/mL and n-butanol at 75 µg/mL), with gallic acid showing strong anti-tyrosinase activity at IC50 56 µg/mL.