Phytochemical profile, antioxidant potential and DFT study of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. Branch extracts.

In the present study, phytochemical investigation, antioxidant potential and quantum study on the dichloromethane (DCM) and ethanol extracts of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. branches have been carried out. The ethanol extract has higher total bioactive contents as compare with DCM extract such as total polyphenolic contents, total flavonoids contents and total tannin contents. The phytochemical quantification and volatile composition of most bioactive extract (ethanol) has been carried out by RP-HPLC-DAD (9-compounds) and GC-MS (19-compounds). The antioxidant potential was demonstrated using free radical scavenging, phosphomolybdenum, metal chelating and reducing power assays. The ethanol extract has higher antioxidant potential. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) has been carried out on major phytochemicals of ethanol extract. The current findings revealed an excellent concentration of bioactive compounds in A. columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. branch, which reaffirms the great significance of the current work and benefaction to natural products chemistry.

The genus Nepeta: Traditional uses, phytochemicals and pharmacological properties.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Nepeta is a multiregional genus of the "Lamiaceae" (Labiatae or Mint) family. Species of Nepeta are a valuable part of traditional medicine and used extensively, particularly in the Himalayan region of India (Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh), Pakistan (Khyber Pakhtunkhwaand Pakistani Kashmir), Nepal (Baglund district), also in China and hilly regions of Turkey and Iran. Nepeta species are extensively used as a remedy against a variety of ailments and conditions like chicken pox, tuberculosis, malaria, pneumonia, influenza, measles, stomach disorders, eye complaints, respiratory disorders, asthma, colds, coughs etc. AIM OF THE REVIEW: The main aim of this review is to present a comprehensive and detailed study on traditional uses, pharmacology, phytochemistry, toxicology of Nepeta species and suggest future direction on the design and conduct of various preparations, either alone or in blends with prevailing conventional remedies. The review also emphasizes encouraging researchers towards the wide range of pharmaceutical applications of the various species of Nepeta for their better use and exploration in the future. MATERIAL AND METHODS: All the relevant data and information on different species of Nepeta were assembled using different databases, such as Science Direct, Springer, PubMed, Taylor and Francis imprints, Chemspider, Google scholar, review and research articles from peer-reviewed journals and unpublished data. Some select 'grey literature' sources viz. ethnobotanical books, chapters, Wikipedia and webpages were also studied. RESULTS: A variety of bioactive secondary metabolites and nutraceuticals has been isolated from various species of Nepeta. These bioactive compounds belong to different classes of secondary metabolites, such as phenolic acids and their glycosides (rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, caffeic acid), flavonoids and their glycosides (cirsimaritin, salvigenin, luteolin, apigenin), iridoids (nepetalactones and their derivatives), terpenoids (1,8-cineole, linalool, ß-caryophyllene, germacrene D, parnapimaro, ß-amyrin, oleanolic acid, ursolic acid), steroids (ß-sitosterol, stigmasterol), lignans, amino acids, carbohydrates, volatile oils, etc. The species of the genus Nepeta possess a variety of pharmacological activities namely anti-inflammatory, anti-nociceptive, anti-alzheimer, anticancer and cytotoxic, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antimicrobial, antifungal, insecticidal and along with other biological activities. CONCLUSION: The species of the genus Nepeta contains a rich source of various bioactive compounds, which are well tolerated as traditional medicines. In fact, different species of Nepeta are widely used in a variety of traditional medicinal systems all around the world. Owing to the variety of pharmacological properties of Nepeta species, more comprehensive and inclusive clinical trials are necessary for the utilization of different Nepeta species against the treatment of a wide range of ailments. There are also various other uses such as food, cosmetic and agriculture that can be investigated or explored in future. Some of the major domains that can be explored within this genus are the investigation of different species for their unexplored biological potential, isolation and characterization of new bioactive constituents and finally, investigation of new applications and possible commercialization of these bioactive leads. No doubt, there are various viable research domains outside those discussed above, but presently for the purposes of this review we will only emphasize the activities herein.

Evaluation of volatile compounds, phenolic acids, antioxidant potential and DFT study of essential oils from different parts of Araucaria columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. from India.

This study is aimed to investigate the aroma composition, phenolic acid, antioxidant activities and computational analysis of essential oils of five different parts of A. columnaris (G. Forst.) Hook. from India. The essential oils were obtained from the fresh root, stem, leaves, bark, and branch of A. columnaris by hydro-distillation using a Clevenger apparatus: the volatile composition was examined by GC-MS; the phenolic acid quantification by RP-HPLC-DAD and the estimation of antioxidant potential by TAC, FRAP, CUPRAC, MCA, DRSC, and NOSC assays. Total 136 chemical compounds i.e. root-60, stem-55, leaves-50, bark-55 and branch-42 were identified in essential oils by GC-MS and major constituents were ß-pinene, terpinolene, 2-nonanone, pinocarveol, trans-verbenol, dihydrocarvone, dodecane, thymol, isolongifolene, α-copaene, α-gurjunene, ß-caryophyllene, isoledene, γ-muurolene, γ-cadinene, etc. The five phenolic acid contents were determined by RP-HPLC-DAD with AR: 91-99%, LOD: 0.010269-0.119857 mg/g and LOQ: 0.039553-0.003388 mg/g. The Density Functional Theory (DFT) study was carried out on the main phytochemicals present in essential oils of A. columnaris in a manner to support the experimental results and give detailed of antioxidants and reactivity parameters. The results suggested that the essential oils of A. columnaris have high antioxidant potential due to the presence of phenolic acids and aroma compositions.