Phytochemical Profiling and Biological Activity of Achillea sintenisii Hub.-Mor.

Achillea (Asteraceae) species have been traditionally used for their different therapeutical properties. In this study, phytochemical composition of aerial parts of A. sintenisii which is endemic in Turkey was determined with Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). To evaluate the wound healing potential, the cream formulation prepared from A. sintenisii was tested on the linear incision wound model in mice. In vitro enzyme inhibitory activity tests were performed on elastase, hyaluronidase, and collagenase. In the histopathological examination, angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation were significantly increased in A. sintenisii treatment groups compared to the negative control group. As a result of this study, it is thought that the enzyme inhibition and antioxidant activity of the plant may contribute to the wound healing process. According to LC/MS/MS analysis result, quinic acid (24.261 µg/mg extract) and chlorogenic acid (14.97 µg/mg extract) were identified as main constituents of the extract.

Synthesis and Characterization of Copper-Nanoflowers with the Utilization of Medicinal Plant Extracts for Enhanced Various Enzyme Inhibitory Activities.

In this study, organic-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers were synthesized using methanolic extracts of the medicinal plants Ajuga chamaepitys subsp. chia var. chia, Achillea wilhelmsii, Bongardia chrysogonum, Malva sylvestris, Phlomis grandiflora var. grandiflora, Verbascum sp. together with copper ions (Cu2+ ). The synthesized plant extract based-inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (PE-ihNFs) of A. chamaepitys subsp. chia var. chia (Ac-ihNFs), A. wilhelmsii (Aw-ihNfs), B. chrysogonum (Bc-ihNFs), M. sylvestris (Ms-ihNFs) P. grandiflora var. grandiflora (Pg-ihNFs), and Verbascum sp. (Vs-ihNFs) were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX), Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Also, several enzymes were selected to evaluate the enzyme inhibition activities of the synthesized PE-ihNFs. For the first-time, enzymes, tyrosinase, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, acetyl and butyryl cholinesterase inhibition activities of the PE-ihNFs with comparison to their plain plant extracts were evaluated in vitro. Results show that the among all the analyzed PE-ihNFs, demonstrated better α-glucosidase & α-amylase enzyme inhibition activity compared to the plain extracts. These initial studies are promising for the synthesis of these hybrid nanoflowers containing medicinal plant extracts, which might have commercial applications in the pharmaceutical and dermo-cosmetics industries.

Bioassay-guided isolation of cytotoxic compounds from Chrysophthalmum montanum (DC.) Boiss.

Bioassay-guided isolation of the 80% methanol extract of the aerial parts of Chrysophthalmum montanum (DC.) Boiss. (Asteraceae) led to the isolation of four known guaianolide-type sesquiterpene lactones, 6α-acetoxy-4α-hydroxy-1ßH-guaia-9.11(13)-dien-12.8α-olide (1), 6α-acetoxy-4α-hydroxy-9ß.10ß-epoxy-1ßH-guaia-11(13)-en-12.8α-olide (2), 4α,6α-dihydroxy-1ß,5α,7αH-guaia-9(10),11(13)-dien-12,8α-olide (3), and (4α,5α,8ß,10ß)-4,10-dihydroxy-1,11(13)-guaidien-12,8-olide (4), along a steroidal glycoside mixture (5a and 5b). The structures of the compounds were identified on the basis of spectroscopic data. Among them, 2, 4 and a steroidal glycoside mixture were obtained from C. montanum for the first time. All isolates were also first time assayed for in vitro cytotoxicities against four human cancer cell lines, i.e. breast (MCF-7, MDA-MB 231), colon (HT-29), and lung (PC3). Among the isolates, 1-3 showed significant inhibitory effect on the proliferation of cancer cells with viability ranging from 6.86 to 26.51%, while steroidal glycoside mixture showed no cytotoxicity, except against HT-29 (viability 61.99%). Compound 4 exhibited strong and selective cell growth inhibition against HT-29 with viability 20.99% and was identified as a promising compound with high selectivity between cancer cells and normal human lung cells (BEAS-2B), especially against HT-29 (IC50 = 12.2 µg/mL) compared to that of cisplatin. These results suggested that 4 is worthy of further study to determine its cytotoxicity mechanisms.

Phytotoxicity, Toxicity on Brine Shrimp and Insecticidal Effect of Chrysophthalmum gueneri Aytac & Anderb. Growing in Turkey.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the probable toxicity on brine shrimp, phytotoxicity, and insecticidal activity of Chrysophthalmum gueneri Aytac & Anderb. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The MeOH (80%) extract obtained from the whole plant of C. gueneri was fractionated through subsequent solvent extractions in increasing polarity with n-hexane, chloroform, and n-butanol. The MeOH (80%) extract and all fractions of C. gueneri were evaluated for their biologic activities using in vitro screening bioassays such as brine shrimp lethality test and phytotoxicity against Lemna minor, as well as insecticidal activity against Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. RESULTS: The findings showed that the n-hexane and chloroform fractions of the plant had significant phytotoxic activities with 100% growth inhibition (GI) at 1000 µg/mL against L. minor. Moreover, the MeOH (80%) extract (53% GI) and n-butanol fraction (46.6% GI) of the plant had moderate phytotoxic activities at 1000 µg/mL. Otherwise, no samples had toxicity on the brine shrimps. In addition, the remaining water fraction had low insecticidal activity with 20% mortality against T. castaneum. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the n-hexane and chloroform fractions of C. gueneri had potential phytotoxic effects.

Evaluation of renal anomalies, inferior vena cava variations, and left renalvein variations by lumbar magnetic resonance imaging in 3000 patients

Background/aim: The variations and anomalies of the kidneys besides the variations of the inferior vena cava (IVC) and left renal vein (LRV) are mostly asymptomatic, but they carry potential risks particularly during retroperitoneal surgery and radiological interventions. Our aim was to find the frequencies, types, and sex distribution of renal anomalies and variations of the IVC and LRV utilizing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Materials and methods: Between November 2010 and April 2011, a retrospective study was conducted including lumbar spinal MRI of 3000 consecutive patients (1869 females and 1131 males) with a median age of 54 years (range: 9-78 years). Results: The percentages of renal anomalies and variations of the IVC and LRV were 0.9%, 0.07%, and 2.6%, respectively. Sex did not affect the distribution of renal anomalies (P = 0.2), IVC variations (P = 0.72), or LRV variations (P = 0.26).Conclusion: Lumbar spinal MRI is useful in detecting renal anomalies and variations of the IVC and LRV.

Cytotoxic, Phytotoxic and Insecticidal Activities of Chrysophthalmum montanum (DC.) Boiss.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the in vitro cytotoxic, phytotoxic, and insecticidal activity of Chrysophthalmum montanum (DC.) Boiss. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The crude methanol (80%) extract of the aerial parts of C. montanum was fractionated to obtain n-hexane, chloroform, n-butanol, and remaining water fractions. The crude extract and subsequent solvent fractions of the plant were evaluated for their biological activities using screening bioassays such as cytotoxicity on brine shrimp lethality, phytotoxicity against Lemna minor L., and insecticidal activity against Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. RESULTS: The cytotoxicity assay revealed that the crude extract, n-hexane, and chloroform fractions of the plant had positive lethality with LD50 values of 71.51, 126.62, and 75.95 µg/mL, respectively. The extract and its fractions, except for the remaining water fraction, showed phytotoxic activity, which was expressed as percentage growth regulation in a concentration-dependent manner. n-hexane and chloroform fractions in particular had 100% growth inhibition (GI) at 1000 µg/mL, followed by the n-butanol fraction (62.6% GI) and crude extract (40.0% GI) of the plant at the same concentration. Otherwise, all samples had no insecticidal activity against R. dominica and T. castaneum. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that C. montanum contains bioactive compounds related to potential biological activities such as cytotoxic and phytotoxic.