GC-MS profiling of Vitex pinnata bark lipophilic extract and screening of its anti-TB and cytotoxic activities.

Tuberculosis is a highly infectious ailment worldwide. The emergence of multi-drug resistance and serious adverse effects of anti-TB drugs have led to the continuous search of natural candidates. This study aimed to analyse the chemical profile of Vitex pinnata (VP) bark lipophilic extract using GC-MS also evaluating its anti-TB and cytotoxic activities. GC-MS revealed a total of 81 compounds which representing 86% identified compounds. In vitro anti-TB of VP lipophilic extract was evaluated using the Microplate Alamar Blue Assay which exhibited MIC value of 62.5 µg/mL. In vitro cytotoxicity was evaluated using Water Soluble formazan assay recording IC50 > 100 and 200 µg/mL using Vero and A-549 cell lines, respectively. In silico docking study was performed on the major identified compounds, n-nonane showed the most favourable binding affinity (ΔG) equals to -33.34 Kcal/mol. The results obtained herein unravelled the potential use of VP n-hexane extract as a natural anti-TB.

Evaluation of antioxidant, antibacterial and wound healing activities of Vitex pinnata.

Background: Vitex pinnata is one of the many plants known for its ethnomedicinal properties. However, the pharmacological properties of this plant have not been well studied. This study aims to determine the antioxidant, antimicrobial and wound healing properties of the methanolic extract of the leaves and the hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions.    Methods: The leaves of Vitex pinnata underwent methanol extraction and the methanol extract was fractionated with hexane, chloroform and ethyl acetate solvents. The antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH radical scavenging assay. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by disc diffusion assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. For the wound healing studies, the methanolic extracts of V. pinnata were used to prepare ointments with compositions of 10% (w/w) and 50% (w/w), which were evaluated for wound healing activity in an excision wound model in Wistar rats. Results: All the extracts showed antioxidant activities, with the ethyl acetate extract having the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity, followed by the methanol, chloroform and hexane extracts. Similarly, their quercetin equivalent concentrations were 33.1, 31, 20.3 and 4.5 mg/mL, respectively. Except for the methanol extract, the disc diffusion assay showed that the extracts demonstrated species-specific antibacterial activities, with the ethyl acetate extract showing antibacterial activities against all four tested strains. The wound healing activity of the high dose treated group (50% [w/w]) shows significant increase of wound contraction when compared to the control group. Conclusion: In the current study, the ethyl acetate extract showed activity for all tested bacteria and also had the highest DPPH activity. The methanolic extracts of V. pinnata leaves show modest wound healing activity in an excision wound model.

Ethnobotanical review and pharmacological properties of selected medicinal plants in Brunei Darussalam:Litsea elliptica, Dillenia suffruticosa, Dillenia excelsa, Aidia racemosa, Vitex pinnata and Senna alata

The aim of the current study is to review the medicinal properties of the plants found in Brunei Darussalam namely Litsea elliptica, Dillenia suffruticosa, Dillenia excelsa, Aidia racemosa, Vitex pinnata and Senna alata. The known phytochemical constituents of these plants and their ability to bring about a range of biological activities are included in this review. These plants have been used traditionally for a multitude of diseases and illnesses. There is a lot of untapped potential in these medicinal plants which could cure multiple diseases.

Ethnobotanical review and pharmacological properties of selected medicinal plants in Brunei Darussalam: Litsea elliptica, Dillenia suffruticosa, Dillenia excelsa, Aidia racemosa, Vitex pinnata and Senna alata

The aim of the current study is to review the medicinal properties of the plants found in Brunei Darussalam namely Litsea elliptica, Dillenia suffruticosa, Dillenia excelsa, Aidia racemosa, Vitex pinnata and Senna alata. The known phytochemical constituents of these plants and their ability to bring about a range of biological activities are included in this review. These plants have been used traditionally for a multitude of diseases and illnesses. There is a lot of untapped potential in these medicinal plants which could cure multiple diseases.

New flavonol methyl ether from the leaves of Vitex peduncularis exhibits potential inhibitory activity against Leishmania donovani through activation of iNOS expression.

One new flavonol methyl ether (1), along with four known compounds from the leaves of methanol extract of Vitex peduncularis Wall and three known compounds from the leaves of methanol extract of Vitex pinnata Linn (Verbenaceae) were isolated. The chemical structure of the new compound was established by detailed spectroscopic studies. The in vitro antileishmanial activities of 1 against both Leishmania donovani promastigote and amastigote forms were evaluated. To characterize the effector mechanism of compound 1 against Leishmania parasite infected THP-1 macrophage cells, RT-PCR analysis of inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 (iNOS2) was done followed by measurement of nitric oxide generation by Griess reaction. Pentostam (sodium antimonygluconate) was used as reference drug. Compound 1 exhibited better antileishmanial activity than sodium antimonygluconate (SAG) (having IC50 values for promastigote, 2.4 and 58.5 µM and for amastigotes, 0.93 and 36.2 µM, respectively). Compound 1 was less toxic than SAG towards THP-1 having CC50 of 123.7 µM and 364.3 µM, respectively. Moreover, compound 1 was found to induce a potent host-protective response by enhancing NO generation and iNOS2 expression in infected macrophages to prevent the progression of Leishmania parasite.