ZEITSCHRIFT FUR NATURFORSCHUNG SECTION C-A JOURNAL OF BIOSCIENCES

Essential oil of (L.) ssp. (Apiaceae) flower: chemical composition, antimicrobial potential, and insecticidal activity on (L.)
Elhourri M, M'hamdi Z, Ghouati Y, Benkhnigue O, Hikal WM, Said-Al Ahl HAH, Kačániová M, Ramadan MF and Amechrouq A
In order to search for new chemotypes and to carry out a comparative study with the literature, the current study investigated the chemical composition of the essential oil of the flowers of (L.) ssp. using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Moreover, the antimicrobial and insecticidal potentials of essential oil were studied. Hydrodistillation was used to extract the essential oil. Due to the immiscibility of essential oils in water and, therefore, in the culture medium, emulsification was carried out using a 0.2 % agar solution to promote germ/composite contact. Fumigation with the oil phase of the essential oil was carried out in airtight and transparent plastic boxes, with a capacity of 1 L as an exposure chamber to test the lightness of essential oils against adults of (L.). In each box, five dishes were placed. Each replicate consisted of five adults of (L.). The essential oils were spread on Wathman filter paper and placed inside the exposure chamber. Mortality control was carried out by counting insect deaths from the first day of treatment until the death of all individuals. α-Pinene (22.2 %) was the major compound in the essential oil of the oil phase of (L.) ssp. followed by β-asarone (15.1 %), sabinene (12.4 %), and α-himachalene (10.1 %), as well as the crystallized phase containing β-asarone. In terms of antimicrobial activity, the essential oils showed significant inhibition of the six bacteria and seven molds studied at a concentration of 0.45 mg/mL. The essential oils were found to be highly effective against (L.). This approach can help reduce the amount of synthetic antibiotics applied and, therefore, decrease the negative impact of artificial agents, such as residues, resistance, and environmental pollution.
Antidiabetic phytochemicals: an overview of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds in diabetes mellitus treatment
Ashagrie YN, Chaubey KK, Tadesse MG, Dayal D, Bachheti RK, Rai N, Pramanik A, Lakhanpal S, Kandwal A and Bachheti A
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia due to insufficient insulin secretion or action. Contributing factors include genetic predisposition, obesity, family history, inactivity, and environmental risks. Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), the most common form, involves impaired insulin secretion by pancreatic β-cells, leading to insulin resistance. By 2045, it is projected that India and China will have approximately 134.3 and 110.8 million diabetic individuals, respectively. Although synthetic drugs are effective in managing DM, they often come with side effects. Consequently, plant-based phytochemicals with antidiabetic properties are gaining attention. Research indicates that around 115 medicinal plants (MPs) have antidiabetic effects, particularly those from the Fabaceae, Liliaceae, and Lamiaceae families. Bioactive compounds like alkaloids, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolics are known to combat DM. Traditional medicinal systems, particularly in developing countries, offer effective DM management. This review highlights the importance of MPs and their bioactive compounds in treating diabetes and underscores the need for further research to commercialize plant-based antidiabetic drugs.
French marigold () flavonoid extract-based priming ameliorates initial drought stress on var , cultivar Satabdi (IET4786): a sustainable approach to avoid initial drought stress
Saha A, Kumar S, Dey S, Bhattacharyya C, Sahu R, Ashraf GJ, Bhattacharyya S, Das P, Bandyopadhyay S, Dewanjee S and Gangopadhyay M
Drought stress remains a serious concern in L. var , cultivar Satabdi (IET4786) production, particularly during the earliest growth phases, ultimately affecting yield due to the recent trend of delayed rain arrival in West Bengal, India. This study aimed to develop a cost-effective strategy to improve the drought tolerance capacity of rice seedlings by priming the seeds with flavonoid-enriched extract (FEE) of French marigold () petals to withstand the initial drought milieu. The morpho-physiological and biochemical responses of rice seedlings were evaluated to perceive the priming efficacy in alleviating water stress-induced untoward effects. The findings revealed that mechanical priming of the IET4786 seeds with FEE (50 mg/mL for 30 min) significantly improved seedling survival against initial drought stress for 14 days. After 24 h of recovery from drought stress, the primed seed-derived seedlings exhibited significantly improved morphological, physiological, biochemical, and redox parameters compared to the seedlings derived from unprimed seeds under net house conditions. In search of mechanistic insights, seed priming significantly increased proline content by endorsing Δ-pyrroline-5-carboxylate synthetase activities, endorsed methylglyoxal clearance homeostasis by improving glyoxalase I and II activities through restoring glutathione (GSH) level, and enhanced polyamine accumulation in the leaves of seedlings to endure drought stress.
Essential oil composition, antidiabetic, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity, and molecular modeling analysis of secondary metabolites from
Tegegn G, Melaku Y, Aliye M, Abebe A, Degu S, Eswaramoorthy R, Hunsen M and Endale M
, known as "Dhumuugaa" in Afan Oromo and "Sensel" or "Smiza" in Amharic, is traditionally used to treat ailments such as scabies, fever, asthma, diarrhea, malaria, and more. This study explored the chemical composition and biological activity of its extracts and isolated compounds. The essential oils were extracted using the hydrodistillation method, and their chemical composition was evaluated using GC-MS. GC-MS analysis identified 54 and 52 chemical components in the essential oils (EOs) from roots and leaves, respectively. The structures of the isolated compounds have been identified using 1D and 2D-NMR techniques. Six compounds - β-sitosterol (), 5-methoxy durmillone (), -resveratrol (), tricuspidatol A (), kaempferol-3-O-α-rhamnopyranoside (), and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside () - were isolated from the root extracts and reported for the first time in this species. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the broth microdilution technique. EOs extracts showed significant antibacterial activity, particularly against , , while compound showed potent activity with an MIC of 0.25 μg/mL. The antioxidant activity revealed strong radical scavenging for compounds and , with extracts also demonstrating significant α-amylase inhibitory effects and moderate cytotoxicity against the MCF-7 cell line. Molecular docking and ADMET analysis highlighted compounds and as promising therapeutic agent. These findings highlight the medicinal potential of roots, warranting further exploration.
Cytotoxic compounds from (Kom.) Nakai
Wen B, Pan J, Meng X, Hao ZC, Guan W, Kuang HX, Chen QS, Zhang LL, Liu Y and Yang BY
Two new compounds (-) and a new artificial product () together with fifteen known compounds (-) were isolated from (Kom.) Nakai. Their structures were established by analysis of their spectroscopic data including MS, 1D and 2D NMR spectra, and comparison with existing literature. All the compounds were assessed for their cytotoxic activity against 4T1 and LN229 cells (with cisplatin as the positive control), and the anti-LN229 cytotoxicity of compounds , and were greater than that of 4T1 cells.
Molecular modeling and synthesis of novel benzimidazole-derived thiazolidinone bearing chalcone derivatives: a promising approach to develop potential anti-diabetic agents
Abbasi SA, Rehman W, Rahim F, Hussain R, Hawsawi MB, Alluhaibi MS, Alharbi M, Taha M, Khan S, Rasheed L, Wadood A and Ali Shah SA
Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disorder which is raised at the alarming level and it is characterized by the hyperglycemia results from the impaired action of insulin, production of insulin or both of these simultaneously. Consequently, it causes problems or failure of different body organs such as kidneys, heart, eyes, nerve system. Since this disease cannot be completely cured until now, we aimed to design series of enzymes inhibitors and tested them for DM treatment. In this series, benzimidazole-based thiazolidinone bearing chalcone derivatives completed in a four step reaction and their structures were confirmed through various spectroscopic techniques. A significant efficacy on antidiabetic enzymes was observed, with IC values ranging from 25.05 ± 0.04 to 56.08 ± 0.07 μM for α-amylase and 22.07 ± 0.02 to 53.06 ± 0.07 μM for α-glucosidase. The obtained results were compared to those of the standard glimepiride drug (IC = 18.05 ± 0.07 µM for α-amylase and IC = 15.02 ± 0 .03 µM for α-glucosidase). The synthesized compounds showed promising antidiabetic potency. Moreover, a molecular docking study was conducted on the most active analogs of the compounds to better understand their interactions with the active sites of the targeted enzymes.
Effect of L. leaf flavonoid-rich extract on Nrf-2 and HO-1 pathways in liver damage of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats
Ajiboye BO, Famusiwa CD, Oyedare DI, Julius BP, Adewole ZO, Ojo OA, Akindele AFI, Hosseinzadeh H, Brai BIC, Oyinloye BE, Vitalini S and Iriti M
This study investigated the effects of flavonoid-rich extract from L. (Malvaceae) leaves on liver damage in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats by evaluating various biochemical parameters, including the molecular gene expressions of Nrf-2 and HO-1 as well as histological parameters. The extract was found to significantly reduce liver damage, as evidenced by lower levels of fragmented DNA and protein carbonyl concentrations. Oxidative stress markers, including malondialdehyde (MDA) level, were also significantly ( < 0.05) decreased, while antioxidant biomarkers, like reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were enhanced. Additionally, the extract improved the activities of key liver enzymes, including phosphatases and transaminases, and increased albumin levels. Importantly, the study demonstrated that extract effectively regulated the expression of Nrf-2 and HO-1, suggesting a significant role in mitigating liver damage. These findings highlight its potential as a therapeutic agent for liver protection in diabetic conditions.
Synthesis, anti-urease, molecular docking study and ADMET predictions of piperidine and piperazine Morita-Baylis-Hillman Adducts (MBHAs)
Aslam S, Ullah S, Ullah H, Rehman AU, Khan N, Baqi A and Khan Y
The current work describes an efficient synthesis of Morita-Baylis-Hillman adducts (MBHAs) derived heterocycles (, , , , , , , , and ) with the Michael addition of piperidine and piperazine heterocycles. The comparative studies of mono and di-hydrogen bond acceptors heterocycles, meta and para substituted nitro-phenyl rings and the isolated single diastereomer through molecular docking coupled with bioactivities displayed very important results. The biological significances were observed against urease enzyme (IC = 3.95 ± 0.10 µM). Almost all the compounds displayed different ranges of inhibition potential whereas the di-hydrogen bond donor diastereomers and were found to be highly potent against the targeted enzyme while the remaining had shown comparable inhibitory activity. The diastereomers and were the most active having minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) IC = 3.95 ± 0.10 µM. All the synthesized compounds were docked and their best poses were explored for enhanced biological properties. The molecular docking studies revealed better binding interactions of the ligand with the target enzyme. Furthermore, ADMET predictions were also observed which revealed drug like properties for all the novel MBHAs based piperidine and piperazine derivatives.
Inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines by homalolide A and homalomenol A isolated from rhizomes of
Khanh Nguyen LT, Thi Le HB, Van Anh Tran T, Nguyen HT, Ho DV and Nguyen HM
Inflammation, a natural process of the innate immune system, involves elevated levels of various proinflammatory mediators, such as, nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin (PGE), cytokines such as interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and enzymes including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of homalolide A () and homalomenol A (), two sesquiterpenoids isolated from the rhizome of , on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated macrophage cells. The results demonstrated that both and dose-dependently inhibited the production of PGE, TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Furthermore, also stimulated IL-10 production in RAW 264.7 cells. Consistent with these findings, these compounds suppressed the LPS-stimulated protein levels of iNOS and COX-2 in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggested that and could be effective candidates for ameliorating inflammatory-associated complications.
Latest developments in biomaterial interfaces and drug delivery: challenges, innovations, and future outlook
Patel S, Salaman SD, Kapoor DU, Yadav R and Sharma S
An ideal drug carrier system should demonstrate optimal payload and release characteristics, thereby ensuring prolonged therapeutic index while minimizing adverse effects. The field of drug delivery has undergone significant advancements, particularly within the last two decades, owing to the revolutionary impact of biomaterials. The use of biomaterials presents significant due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability, which must be addressed in order to achieve effective drug delivery. The properties of the biomaterial and its interface are primarily influenced by their physicochemical attributes, physiological barriers, cellular trafficking, and immunomodulatory effects. By attuning these barriers, regulating the physicochemical properties, and masking the immune system's response, the bio interface can be effectively modulated, leading to the development of innovative supramolecular structures with enhanced effectiveness. With a comprehensive understanding of these technologies, there is a growing demand for repurposing existing drugs for new therapeutic indications within this space. This review aims to provide a substantial body of evidence showcasing the productiveness of biomaterials and their interface in drug delivery, as well as methods for mitigating and modulating barriers and physicochemical properties along with an examination of future prospects in this field.
Phyto-pharmaceuticals as a safe and potential alternative in management of psoriasis: a review
Patel P, Garala K, Bagada A, Singh S, Prajapati BG and Kapoor D
Psoriasis is a chronic autoimmune skin disease with a worldwide prevalence of 1-3 % results from uncontrolled proliferation of keratinocytes and affects millions of people. While there are various treatment options available, some of them may come with potential side effects and limitations. Recent research has shown that using bioactive compounds that originate from natural sources with a lower risk of side effects are relatively useful in safe management psoriasis. Bioactive compounds are molecules that are naturally available with potential therapeutic efficacy. Some of bioactive compounds that have shown promising results in the management of psoriasis include curcumin, resveratrol, quercetin, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, etc., possess anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-proliferative properties, with capabilities to suppress overall pathogenesis of psoriasis. Moreover, these bioactive compounds are generally considered as safe and are well-tolerated, making them potential options for long-term use in the management of various conditions linked with psoriasis. In addition, these natural products may also offer a more holistic approach to treat the disease, which is appealing to many patients. This review explores the bioactive compounds in mitigation of psoriasis either in native or incorporated within novel drug delivery. Moreover, recent clinical findings in relation to natural product usage have been also explored.
DFT and molecular modeling of novel pyrazine-bearing thiazolidinone hybrids derivatives: elucidating anti-cancer and urease inhibitors
Khan S, Hussain R, Khan Y, Iqbal T, Anwar S, Aziz T and Alharbi M
In the present work, one of the leading health issues i.e. cancer was targeted by synthesizing and biologically investigating the potential of pyrazine-based thiazolidinone derivatives (). The basic structure of the synthesized compounds was determined using a variety of spectroscopic techniques, including H NMR, C NMR, and HREI-MS. These scaffolds were studied for their biological profiles as anti-cancer as well as anti-urease agents. The biological effectiveness of these compounds was compared using the reference tetrandrine (IC = 4.50 ± 0.20 µM) and thiourea (IC = 5.10 ± 0.10 µM), respectively. Among novel compounds, scaffold and demonstrated an excellent potency with highest inhibitory potential (IC = 1.70 ± 0.10 and 1.30 ± 0.20 µM), (IC = 4.20 ± 0.10 and 5.10 ± 0.30 µM), (IC = 2.10 ± 0.10 and 3.20 ± 0.20 µM) and (IC = 2.70 ± 0.20 and 4.20 ± 0.20 µM), respectively, out of which scaffold emerged as the leading compound due to the presence of highly reactive -CF moiety which interacts via hydrogen bonding. Molecular docking investigations of the potent compounds was also carried out which revealed the binding interactions of ligands with the active sites of enzyme. Moreover, the electronic properties, nucleophilic and electrophilic sited of the lead compounds were also studied under density functional theory (DFT).
Phytochemical composition, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and wound healing activities of
Akdağ G, Hazman Ö, Aksoy L, Savrık M, Büyükben A, Yılmaz MA, Cakir O and Kara R
The antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, wound healing activities and phenolic substance profile of aqueous extracts prepared using branch, leaf, flower parts and above-ground parts of were determined in the study. The analyses indicate that the total phenolic substance contents and total antioxidant status are higher in the mix, flower, and leaf extracts. The extracts reduced cell viability in HGF cells more than in A549 cells. It shows that the extract has low anticarcinogenic activity in A549 cells. Flower extract had the highest wound closure rate. Quinic acid, cyranoside and luteolin were found in high concentrations in all extracts with LC/ESI-MS/LC analysis. It has been determined that the flower extract of the species is the most critical part showing antioxidant, antimicrobial, cytotoxic and wound healing properties. While the leaf and mix extracts stand out with their antioxidative and antimicrobial properties, the branch extract is effective in wound healing.
Review perspective on advanced nutrachemicals and anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation
Haojie D, Mukherjee S and Bhattacharya T
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are prevalent among athletes, necessitating surgical intervention followed by comprehensive rehabilitation. Recently, the integration of nutraceuticals - bioactive compounds from food sources - into rehabilitation protocols has shown promise in enhancing recovery outcomes. This review explores the potential benefits of various nutraceuticals, including omega-3 fatty acids, collagen supplements, vitamin D, glucosamine and chondroitin, curcumin, and branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs), in ACL rehabilitation. These nutraceuticals offer anti-inflammatory properties, support tissue repair, and improve joint and muscle health, which are critical during the rehabilitation process. Despite encouraging preclinical findings, there is a need for robust clinical trials to confirm their efficacy and establish optimal dosages and formulations. Personalized nutrition plans and interdisciplinary collaboration among healthcare providers are essential for optimizing patient care. This perspective underscores the potential of advanced nutraceuticals to revolutionize ACL rehabilitation, paving the way for faster and more effective recovery pathways.
Molecular detection of infection (Q fever) in livestock in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia
Baroom HM, Alkenani NA, Al-Johny BO, Almohimeed AA, Mohammed MS, Alshehri LA, Althobaiti SS, Omar RI, Alshaeri MA and Al-Mmaqar SM
The study aims to investigate the prevalence of Q fever in livestock and ticks in Makkah Province, Saudi Arabia, by molecular methods. Using DNA obtained from (40) blood samples, (60) vaginal swabs and ticks (120) samples. Real-time PCR was used to detect the insertion sequence of in aborted animals. Among 40 blood samples only one sample of the camel was found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 2.5 %. The highest prevalence (10 %) was recorded in AL-Laith in one camel blood sample out of 10 samples examined. Of 60 vaginal swabs examined for DNA, four samples were found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 6.6 %. The highest prevalence (10 %) was recorded in Makkah in two camel vaginal swabs out of 20 samples, followed by Jeddah and AL-Laith with a prevalence of (5.6 %) by detection of one sample positive out of 18 samples on each of them, while vaginal swabs from AL-Kamil were negative. Three types of ticks were identified , and tick is the most common in aborted camels with a prevalence (6.7 %) in Makkah followed by Jeddah (5 %). The findings of this study revealed that infection is prevalent in agricultural animals especially camels and ticks maintained at livestock farms in Makkah Province. However, these animals and ticks may pass on infections to nearby people and other animals in the study area.
Spermidine protects cellular redox status and ionic homeostasis in D-galactose induced senescence and natural aging rat models
Singh S, Verma AK, Garg G, Singh AK and Rizvi SI
Impaired redox homeostasis is an important hallmark of aging. Among various anti-aging interventions, caloric restriction mimetics (CRMs) are the most effective in promoting health and longevity. The potential role of spermidine (SPD) as a CRM in modulating oxidative stress and redox homeostasis during aging remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of SPD in D-galactose (D-gal) accelerated induced senescence model and naturally aged rats. Young male rats (4 months), D-gal induced (500 mg/kg b. w., subcutaneously) aging model and naturally aged (22 months) rats were supplemented with SPD (10 mg/kg b. w., orally) for 6 weeks. The results showed that SPD supplementation suppresses the age induced increase in reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. Additionally, it increases the level of antioxidants, plasma membrane redox system in erythrocytes and membrane. These results also indicate that membrane transporter activity is correlated with the susceptibility of the erythrocyte towards oxidative damage. We therefore present evidence that SPD improves redox status and membrane impairments in erythrocytes in experimental and naturally aging rat models, however, more research is required to recommend a potential therapeutic role for SPD as an anti-aging intervention strategy.
Exploring the functionality of fluorescent liposomes in cancer: diagnosis and therapy
Prajapati BG, Sharma JB, Pareek A, Garg R, Saini PK and Kapoor DU
Fluorescent liposomes are pivotal in cancer research, serving as adaptable vehicles for imaging and therapeutics. These small lipid vesicles, capable of encapsulating fluorescent dyes, offer precise visualization and monitoring of their targeted delivery to cancer cells. This review delves into the critical role fluorescent liposomes play in enhancing both cancer diagnosis and treatment. It provides an in-depth analysis of their structural features, fluorescent labeling techniques, targeting strategies, and the challenges and opportunities they present. In the domain of cancer diagnosis, the article sheds light on various imaging modalities enabled by fluorescent liposomes, including fluorescence imaging and multimodal techniques. Emphasis is placed on early detection strategies, exhibiting the utility of targeted contrast agents and biomarker recognition for enhanced diagnostic precision. Moving on to cancer treatment, the review discusses the sophisticated drug delivery mechanisms facilitated by fluorescent liposomes, focusing on chemotherapy and photodynamic therapy. Moreover, the exploration extends to targeted therapy, explaining the applications of fluorescent liposomes in gene delivery and RNA interference. In a nutshell, his article comprehensively explores the multifaceted impact of fluorescent liposomes on advancing cancer diagnosis and treatment, combining existing knowledge with emerging trends.
Characterization and antimicrobial activity of essential oils extracted from lemongrass () using microwave-assisted hydro distillation
Adhikary K, Barman S, Banerjee P, Mondal P, Dam B, Misra A, Chandra Mandal N, Mukherjee D, Bandyopadhyay B and Maiti R
Lemongrass () essential oil (LGEO) contains α-citral, β-citral and other phytochemicals extracted using various methods. This research extracted essential oils using steam distillation (SD) and microwave-assisted hydro distillation (MAHD) to maximize quantity and purity. LGEO was tested for antibacterial properties. LGEO was extracted using SD and compared to MAHD output based on oil production and chemical composition. We performed GCMS to characterize LGEO. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) used for quantum chemical analysis. Spectroscopic analysis showed that SD extracted secondary metabolites (ethyl-linalool, isogeranial, β-citral, α-citral, geranyl acetate, and caryophyllene) yielded 9.7 %, 11.5 %, 35.4 %, 13.4 %, 6.4 %, and 6.4 %, respectively, while MAHD yielded 10.2 %, 13.4 %, 43.2 %, 17.3 %, 6.9 %, and 7.3 %. MAHD extracted α and β citral content was better than SD extraction technique. FTIR spectroscopy and quantum chemistry analysis showed extracted oil chemical composition, electronic structure of α and β citral isomers. In the disc-diffusion experiment, both extracts were effective against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and harmful fungi. LGEO from SD and MAHD extraction (30 mg/mL) demonstrated disc diffusion assay antibacterial efficacy against microorganisms. The two extracts effectively inhibited microorganisms with MIC values of 3.75 and 7.5 μg/mL. It can be concluded that, LGEO have greater antimicrobial activity in MAHD extraction.
Green synthesized AgNPs of the aqueous extract resulting in impressive protein kinase, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities
Mohany M, Ali J, Wahab A, Fozia F, Shah SM, Gul R, Gul A, Ahmad I, Milošević M, Al-Rejaie SS and Aboul-Soud MAM
This study focused on analyzing the pharmacological activities of AgNPs synthesized from an aqueous plant extract of . The effectiveness of AgNPs was evaluated for protein kinase inhibition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. The AgNPs and plant were used to regulate the protein kinase activity using the liquid TSB and ISP4 medium protein kinase inhibition study demonstrated that nanoparticles exhibited a larger zone of inhibition (9.1 ± 0.8) compared to the plant extract (8.1 ± 0.6). The antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH reagent, and the results indicated that AgNPs displayed potent free radical scavenging properties. In terms of antibacterial activity, AgNPs showed higher efficacy against (20.1 ± 0.9), (19.1 ± 0.9), and (17.2 ± 0.8) at 4 mg/mL. The antifungal activity of AgNPs was prominent against (14.1 ± 0.9), (19.2 ± 0.8), and (11.2 ± 0.8) at 20 mg/mL. These findings suggest that AgNPs possess multiple beneficial properties, including bactericidal/fungicidal effects, protein kinase inhibition, and potential free radical scavenging abilities. Therefore, AgNPs have potential applications in various fields, such as biomedicine and industry, due to their ability to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals.
Molecular mechanisms of the anticancer action of fustin isolated from Scop. in MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cell line
Antov GG, Gospodinova ZI, Novakovic M, Tesevic V, Krasteva NA, Pavlov DV and Valcheva-Kuzmanova SV
The aim of the present work was to investigate some of the molecular mechanisms and targets of the anticancer action of the bioflavonoid fustin isolated from the heartwood of Scop. in the triple-negative breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. For this purpose, we applied fluorescence microscopy analysis to evaluate apoptosis, necrosis, and mitochondrial integrity, wound healing assay to study fustin antimigratory potential and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to analyze the expression of genes associated with cell cycle control, programmed cell death, metastasis, and epigenetic alterations. A complex network-based bioinformatic analysis was also employed for protein-protein network construction, hub genes identification, and functional enrichment. The results revealed a significant induction of early and late apoptotic and necrotic events, a slight alteration of the mitochondria-related fluorescence, and marked antimotility effect after fustin treatment. Of 34 analyzed genes, seven fustin targets were identified, of which , , and were significantly enriched in pathways such as cell cycle, intrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in response to DNA damage and generic transcription pathway. Our findings outline some molecular mechanisms of the anticancer action of fustin pointing it out as a potential oncotherapeutic agent and provide directions for future research.
Ethnopharmacology and current conservational status of
Arora P, Bahuguna N, Anand J, Semwal P and Rai N
, known as the caterpillar fungus, constitutes an invaluable and irreplaceable part of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and is now gaining widespread global recognition and dedicated attention owing to both highly promising characteristics as well as grave dangers that are suggestive of an impending doom. possibly holds the key to the treatment of many human ailments with minimal side effects due to a wide array of biologically active chemical constituents. The powerful potential harbored by this fungus has led to a meteoric rise in its prices in the domestic and international markets which has caused the involvement of an increasing number of harvesters, traders, and buyers and unchecked overexploitation of this bioresource thus threatening its long-term survival in its natural habitat of the Himalayan region. This review focuses on the ethnopharmacology of and various aspects related to its conservation, such as natural distribution, sale and revenue, decline in population density, and conservational practices prevalent in the current scenario of fungal depletion. The paper concludes with a comprehensive evaluation of the discrete therapeutic capabilities possessed by , the mechanistic insights into the remarkable treatment of chronic ailments using the fungus or its derivatives, and a suggested strategic roadmap that may be adopted for fruitful conservation of this natural miracle.