Antimycotic Activity of 20 Plants from Colombian Flora

Abstract

The antifungal activities of 65 extracts were evaluated through the agar well diffusion method in 22 plant samples from the Ucumari Natural Regional Park (UNRP). These samples belong to 20 plant species related to the following botanic families: Asteraceae, Euphorbiaceae, Melastomataceae, Podocarpaceae, Rubiaceae and Solanaceae. The plant extracts were obtained in hexanes, dichloromethane and methanol. The 65 extract samples were tested against pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus (ATCC 1022), Candida albicans (ATCC 18804) and Fusarium solani (ATCC 11712). Ketoconazole was used as positive control. The methanol extracts from Solanum spp. (FJR 3155) and Tibouchina grossa exhibited the greatest inhibitory activity against the three fungi tested, while the methanol extracts from Hyeronima macrocarpa, Miconia lehmannii, and Sapium stylare inhibited two of the fungi assayed. The dichloromethane extracts from Miconia lehmannii Cong, Lycinathes acutifolia and Solanum spp. (FJR 3155) inhibited two of the three fungi tested, while the dichloromethane extracts from Cinchona pubescens Vahl and Palicourea spp. (FJR 3182) inhibited one of the three microorganism tested. Only one of the hexane extracts produced activity against the three fungi tested.     

Quantification of Sesquiterpene Lactones in Asteraceae Plant Extracts: Evaluation of their Allergenic Potential

Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs), mainly those with an activated exocyclic methylene group, are important allergens in Asteraceae (Compositae) plants. As a screening tool, the Compositae mix, consisting of five Asteraceae plant extracts with allergenic potential (feverfew, tansy, arnica, yarrow, and German chamomile) is part of several national patch test baseline series. However, the SL content of the Compositae mix may vary due to the source material. Therefore, a simple spectrophotometric method for the quantitative measurement of SLs with the α-methylene-γ-butyrolactone moiety was developed, giving the percentage of allergenic compounds in plant extracts. The method has been validated and five Asteraceae extracts, namely feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium L.), tansy (Tanacetum vulgare L.), arnica (Arnica montana L.), yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), and German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita L. Rauschert) that have been used in routine patch test screening were evaluated. A good correlation could be found between the results obtained using the proposed spectrophotometric method and the corresponding clinical results. Thus, the introduced method is a valuable tool for evaluating the allergenic potential and for the simple and efficient quality control of plant extracts with allergenic potential.     

In Vitro Anthelmintic Effects of Medicinal Plants Used in Czech Republic

The ethanol extracts of 16 Czech medicinal plants, namely, Allium sativum L. (Alliaceae), Artemisia absinthium L. (Asteraceae), Artemisia vulgaris L. (Asteraceae), Carum carvi L. (Apiaceae), Consolida regalis Gray (Ranunculaceae), Cucurbita pepo L. (Cucurbitaceae), Daucus carota L. (Apiaceae), Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott (Dryopteridaceae), Erigeron canadensis L. (Asteraceae), Hedera helix L. (Araliaceae), Inula helenium L. (Asteraceae), Juglans regia L. (Juglandaceae), Satureja hortensis L. (Lamiaceae), Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae), Thymus vulgaris L. (Lamiaceae), and Valeriana officinalis L. (Valerianaceae), have been tested for their potential in vitro anthelmintic effect against eggs Ascaris suum and infectious larvae Trichostrongylus colubriformis. The extracts of A. sativum, A. absinthium, C. carvi, D. carota, and J. regia possessed the strongest anthelmintic effect on the embryonating eggs at all concentrations tested (62.5, 125, 250, 500, 1000, 2000 μg/mL). The best results, showing a higher effect against the infective third-stage larvae in comparison with synthetic anthelmintic Zentel (albendazole), have been obtained for A. sativum, A. absinthium, C. carvi, C. regalis, I. helenium, J. regia, S. hortensis, and V. officinalis.     

Effects of Some Lamiaceae Species Methanol Extracts on Potential Mycotoxin Producer Fungi

In this study, antifungal effects of some Lamiaceae species (Thymbra spicata L.Satureja hortensis L., Origanum onites L., O. vulgare L. subsp. hirtum (Link) Iestswaart, O. vulgare L. subsp vulgare, O. minutiflorum O. Schwarz & P.H. Davis, Sideritis vuralii H. Duman & Baser and S. caesarea H. Duman, Aytaç & Baser) commonly used by people, were investigated. To determine the antifungal effects, the aerial parts of plant methanol extracts were tested against four fungal species, Aspergillus flavus Link., A. niger Raper, and Fennel, A. ochraceus K. Wilh., and Fusarium proliferatum (Matsushima) Nirenberg. Three plant species, O. vulgare subsp. hirtum, O. minutiflorum, and T. spicata, methanol extracts showed antifungicidal activity with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1.6 mg/ml against four potential mycotoxigenic fungi. The results were evaluated using statistical tests.     

Cytotoxic activity and chemical constituents of Anthemis mirheydari

Context The genus Anthemis L. (Asteraceae) comprises about 195 species which are widely used in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.

Objective Anthemis mirheydari Iranshar, an endemic plant from Iran, was investigated for its cytotoxic properties and chemical constituents.

Materials and methods The whole parts of the plant (320?g) were extracted by dichloromethane and methanol for four days, successively. The cytotoxic activity of both dichloromethane and methanol extracts were assayed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide colorimetric methods against three human cancer cell lines including LS180, MCF-7 and MOLT-4. Different concentrations (10–100?μg/mL) of the plant extracts were tested to obtain IC₅₀ values. The dichloromethane extract of A. mirheydari was subjected to silica gel-column and thin layer chromatography for purification of its chemical constituents and the isolated compounds were further tested against MOLT-4 cells. The structures of the pure compounds were elucidated using different spectral data including nuclear magnetic resonance and electron impact mass spectra.

Results The IC₅₀ values of the dichloromethane extract were 30.8?±?6.7, 25.2?±?6.5 and 8.6?±?1.1?μg/mL (means?±?standard error) for the above-mentioned cell lines, respectively. Two triterpenoids, taraxasterol (1) and pseudotaraxasterol (2), one sterol, β-sitosterol (3) and one coumarin, 7-methoxycoumarin (4) were isolated from the extract. The IC₅₀ of the mixture of compounds 1 and 2 as well as compounds 3 and 4 were higher (>100?μM) than that reported for the dichloromethane extract against MOLT-4 cells.

Conclusion The dichloromethane extract was the most active one among the tested material.     

Antioxidant,anti-inflammatory,and antinociceptive activities of Turkish medicinal plants

Hypericum orientale L. (Hypericaceae), Helichrysum plicatum Dc. subsp. plicatum (Asteraceae), Centaurea drabifolia Sm. subsp. drabifolia (Asteraceae), Centaurea drabifolia Sm. subsp. detonsa (Bornm.) Wagenitz (Asteraceae), Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch (Asteraceae), and Rubus canescens Dc. var. canescens (Rosaceae) are used for the treatment of hemorrhoids, abdominal pains, and wound healing in traditional Turkish medicine. In order to assess these uses, methanol extracts prepared from their aerial parts were investigated for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antinociceptive activities. All extracts demonstrated scavenging properties against superoxide anion (O₂^?–) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) in a non-cellular system, and toward 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical. They also inhibited Cu²⁺-induced low-density lipoprotein (LDL) peroxidation. Among the tested plants, R. canescens var. canescens, H. orientale, and H. plicatum subsp. plicatum were the most effective on ROS in a non-cellular system. Another goal in this work was to test in vivo anti-inflammatory and antinociceptive activities of some of these plants not previously studied. The methanol extracts of C. drabifolia subsp. drabifolia, H. orientale, and C. drabifolia subsp. detonsa were shown to possess significant inhibitory activity in mice against carrageenan-induced hind paw edema and in p-benzoquinone-induced writhings.     

Screening of Southeastern Brazilian Mikania. Species on Trypanosoma cruzi.

Abstract

Southeastern Brazilian Mikania. (Asteraceae) species were evaluated for trypanocidal activity against the trypomastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi.at a concentration of 4000 µg/mL. Fourteen extracts were examined for in vitro. trypanocidal properties. Of total extracts, 92.9% (13 extracts) exhibited trypanocidal effects. The dichloromethane extract of Mikania camporum. B. Robinson and the methanol extract of Mikania micrantha. H. B. K. caused 100% lysis of the parasites.     

Antioxidant Activities of Plants Used in Traditional Medicine in Turkey

Ethanol extracts from 6 species representing six different families, used in traditional medicine in Turkey were evaluated for their antioxidant activities. The inhibition of superoxide anion formation and lipid peroxidation levels of Ononis spinosa, Centranthus longiflorus, Lythrum salicaria, Plantago major, Juglans regia and Teucrium polium extracts were tested using in vitro standard procedures and IC₅₀ values were determined. In vitro tests included superoxide anion radical scavenging activity and lipid peroxidation. All ethanol extracts of plants showed concentration-dependent superoxide anion radical scavenging activity. The results of the superoxide anion formation assay showed that the ethanol extract of Centranthus longiflorus was found to be most potent inhibitor (IC₅₀ 0.77?mg/ml) and followed by Plantago major (IC₅₀ 1.21?mg/ml), Juglans regia (IC₅₀ 1.39?mg/ml), Ononis spinosa (IC₅₀ 1.35?mg/ml), Teucrium polium (IC₅₀ 3.10?mg/ml) and Lythrum salicaria (IC₅₀ 5.00?mg/ml). All the extracts, excluding Ononis spinosa and Teucrium polium, showed concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on lipid peroxidation. IC₅₀ values of the effective ethanol extracts of plants on lipid peroxidation were as follows: Juglans regia (IC₅₀ 3.3?mg/ml), Plantago major (IC₅₀ 3.4?mg/ml), Centranthus longiflorus (IC₅₀ 3.9?mg/ml) and Lythrum salicaria (IC50 5.3?mg/ml). The results showed that Centranthus longiflorus, Plantago major and Juglans regia extracts had the highest antioxidant capacities among the six species examined.     

Antibacterial,Antifungal, and Cytotoxic Activities of 11 Solanaceae Plants from Colombian Biodiversity

Abstract

The hexane, dichloromethane, and methanol extracts of 11 Solanaceae plants collected in Regional Natural Park Ucumarí (RNPU) Colombia were evaluated for their antibacterial and antifungal activities through the agar-well diffusion method and for cytotoxic activity by the brine shrimp lethality assay. In general, the methanol plant extracts were more bioactive in the three different tests performed in this work. Under conditions and concentrations of the plant extracts evaluated in this research, the cytotoxic activities against brine shrimp Artemia salina. (Leach) larvae were the strongest compared with the antibacterial or the antifungal activities. The strongest cytotoxic activities were observed with the methanol extracts from Browallia speciosa. Hook (LC₅₀ 0.01 mg/ml) and Deprea glabra. (Standl.) A.T. Hunziker (LC₅₀ 0.01 mg/ml). The three extracts from Solanum deflexiflorum. Bitter (MIC 0.31 mg/ml) and the dichloromethane extract from Solanum leucocarpun. Dunal (MIC 0.31 mg/ml) were more bioactive against the Gram-positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis.. The methanol extract from Lycianthes synanthera. (Send.) Bitter exhibited good antimycotic activities against Candida albicans. and Fusarium solani. both with a MIC of 0.62 mg/ml.     

Carthamus,Salvia and Stachys species protect neuronal cells against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis

Context: Finding effective therapies for neurodegenerative diseases is of utmost importance for the aging population. Plants growing in Iran are rich sources of antioxidants and active phytochemicals.

Objective: The protective capacity of plants, with a special focus on those with reported antioxidant or neuroprotective potential or nervous system-related applications in folk medicine, was tested against oxidative stress-induced apoptosis.

Materials and methods: Aerial parts of 20 plants including Carthamus, Salvia, and Stachys species were extracted with 80% methanol and dichloromethane and preincubated with neuronal PC12 cells for 3?h. Oxidative stress and apoptosis were induced by hydrogen peroxide (75?µM, 1?h exposure). Cell viability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by MTT and 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein-diacetate (DCFH-DA) assays, respectively, while apoptosis was determined by annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining by a flow cytometer.

Results: Eighty percent methanol extracts of Carthamus oxyacantha Bieb. (Asteraceae), Salvia santolinifolia Boiss. (Lamiaceae), and Salvia sclarea L. (Lamiaceae) at the concentration of 100?μg/ml showed significant neuroprotection in the MTT assay by 38.7, 34.7, and 39.5%, respectively, and inhibited intracellular ROS by 48.6, 61.9, and 61.4%, respectively. The first two extracts also significantly inhibited apoptosis. Dichloromethane extracts of C. oxyacantha and Stachys pilifera Benth. (Lamiaceae) at the concentration of 25?μg/ml showed neuroprotection by 27.5 and 26.5%, respectively, and inhibited ROS by 44.5 and 39.4%, respectively.

Conclusion: The above-mentioned plants seem to have important biological activities and their further study may lead to the discovery of new natural therapeutics useful against disorders such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases.     

Anti-inflammatory Effects of South American Tanacetum vulgare

In recent years the role of phenolic compounds and sesquiterpene lactones, particularly parthenolide, in the anti-migraine and anti-inflammatory effects of Tanacetum parthenium (Asteraceae) has attracted much attention. However, the closely-related cosmopolitan species T. vulgare has remained outside the mainstream of research in this field. After treating the aerial parts of T. vulgare with dichloromethane and methanol, and applying conventional column and thin-layer chromatographic techniques, it was possible to isolate from the moderately lipophilic fractions the principles responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity of this plant against the mouse-ear oedema induced by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate. These were identified by ultraviolet and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy as parthenolide (93% oedema inhibition at 0.5 mg/ear, ID50 (dose of drug inhibiting the oedema by 50%) = 0.18 μmol/ear) and the methoxyflavones jaceosidin (80% oedema inhibition at 0.5 mg/ear, ID50 = 0.50 μmol/ear), eupatorin, chrysoeriol and diosmetin. Because in molar terms the potency of parthenolide was nearly three times greater than that of the most active of the flavones and because it is obtained from the plant in considerably larger amounts, the flavonoids must only be partially responsible, and to a minor extent, for the observed in-vivo anti-inflammatory local effect.     

Antimalarial activity of neurolenin B and derivates of Eupatorium inulaefolium (Asteraceae)

Dried stems and leaves of Eupatorium inulaefolium (Austroeupatorium inulaefolium) (Asteraceae) were used to obtain four crude extracts (hexane, dichloromethane, methanol and ethanol). Two fractions were obtained from the hexane extract (S1 and S2) and three compounds (neurolenin B, lobatin A and lobatin B) from the dichloromethane extract. The ethanol, hexane, dichloromethane and methanol extracts, two fractions from the hexane extract (S1 and S2), and neurolenin B were evaluated in vitro against Plasmodium falciparum, FCB-2 strain. Two extracts (dichloromethane and methanol), the S2 fraction and neurolenin B showed statistically significant antiplasmodial activity.     

Chemical composition,antibacterial activity and cytotoxicity of essential oils of Tanacetum parthenium in different developmental stages

Context: Tanacetum parthenium Schultz Bip. (Asteraceae) is an aromatic perennial plant, widely distributed in the northern hemisphere. This species traditionally has been used in insecticides, cosmetics, balsams, dyes, medicines and preservatives.

Material and methods: The essential oil of T. parthenium was obtained by hydrodistillation in three developmental stages and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The antibacterial activity of the oils was investigated against four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria. The oil was tested for cytotoxicity against THP-1 cells using the Trypan blue assay.

Results: Twenty-nine components were identified in the essential oil; the highest amount was extracted at the flowering stage. The main component, in the flowering stage, was camphor (18.94%) and other major components were bornyl acetate (18.35%), camphene (13.74%), bornyl isovalerate (3.15%), borneol (10.93%), juniper camphor (6.23%) and β-eudesmol (2.65%). Minimum inhibitory concentration of essential oil was evaluated from 4 µL mL^?1 against Staphylococcus subtilis to 38 µL mL^?1 against Entrobacter aerogenes. Toxicity assay showed that the oil has no significant toxicity at 5–15% v/v concentrations on THP-1 cells.

Discussion and conclusion: This study demonstrates the occurrence of camphor/bornyl acetate chemotype of T. parthenium in western regions of Iran. The finding showed also the studied oils have relatively good antibacterial activity without significant toxicity, thus have great potentiality to be used as natural health product.     

Anti-inflammatory,antioxidant and antifungal activity of Chuquiraga spinosa

Context: Stem and leaves infusion of Chuquiraga spinosa (R&P) Don. (Asteraceae) is used in the Peruvian traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory properties and for the treatment of vaginal infections.

Objective: This study evaluated the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antifungal activities of C. spinosa for the first time.

Materials and methods: Extracts of methanol, 50% methanol and water were obtained from C. spinosa aerial parts. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated (DPPH˙, ABTS˙⁺ and superoxide radical-scavenging activity). The correlation between these results and total polyphenolic content was determined by Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient. Anti-inflammatory activity of 50% methanol extract was evaluated with the rat model of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation and mouse model of TPA-induced acute inflammation. The antifungal activity of the extracts against Cladosporium cucumerinum and Candida albicans was studied by direct bioautography, and antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi was performed by culture in potato dextrose agar plates.

Results: All the extracts showed high antioxidant activity, and there was correlation between the activity and total polyphenolic compounds. As 50% methanol extract was administered orally, the paw edema in rats was reduced significantly (52.5%). This extract, by topical administration, produced a reduction of 88.07% of the edema TPA-induced in ear of mice. The aqueous and 50% methanol extracts were active against C. albicans (minimum inhibitory concentration of 2.5 and 6.25 µg, respectively). The aqueous extract showed antifungal activity against C. cucumerinum (MIC: 2.5 µg).

Discussion and conclusion: Preliminary phytochemical screening and the analysis of the three extracts by high-performance liquid chromatography diode-array detection showed the majority compounds are flavonoids and phenolic acid derivatives. These compounds may be responsible of the radical-scavenging activity of these extracts as well as responsible of anti-inflammatory effect in vivo of 50% methanol extract. Several authors have demonstrated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of some flavonoids and phenolic acids. The antifungal activity of the extracts obtained from aerial parts of C. spinosa has been investigated here for the first time. Other studies are necessary to determine the mechanism of action and to identify the bioactive compounds of this plant.     

Antibacterial Activity of Piqueria trinervia., a Mexican Medicinal Plant Used to Treat Diarrhea

Abstract

Intestinal infectious diseases are among the top 10 causes of mortality in Mexico. Children under 5 years of age and adults over 65 years are the most affected; the incidence is greater in rural and indigenous communities. Traditional remedies based on medicinal plants are commonly used; however, the biological activity of many of them has been poorly studied. Thus, we evaluated the antimicrobial activity of the hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and methanol extracts of aerial parts and roots of the Piqueria trinervia. Cav. (Asteraceae) plant used to treat diarrhea in Mexico. The extracts were tested in vitro. against 11 strains: Escherichia coli., E. coli. multidrug resistant (MDR), Salmonella typhi., Shigella boydii., Staphylococcus aureus., Staphylococcus epidermidis., Yersinia enterocolitica., Vibrio cholerae. not toxic, Bacillus subtilis., Enterobacter aerogenes., and Enterobacter agglomerans.. The hexane extract obtained from the thick roots was active against the 11 strains. The ethyl acetate extract from the thin roots was active against eight of the strains; poor activity was detected in dichloromethane and methanol extracts.     

Antifungal and antibacterial activities of different extracts of Harungana madagascariensis stem bark

The antifungal and antibacterial effects of the stem bark extracts of Harungana madagascariensis Lam. ex Poir. (Clusiaceae) were examined against nine microbial pathogens causing infections in both man and animals. Hexane (H), dichloromethane (D), chloroform (C), ethyl acetate (E), acetone (A), methanol (M), and water (W) extracts were tested in vitro through bioautography and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) determination using the serial micro-dilution assays. Bioautographic results revealed the presence of eight different spots. Extract A exhibited the lowest MIC of 0.04?mg/mL against Microsporum canis, while water extract (W) and methanol (M) showed the highest MIC of 2.5?mg/mL against at least one of the tested fungi when compared to amphotericin B with 0.0625–1?g/mL. Sporotrichum schenckii was the most susceptible fungal pathogen with average MIC of 0.06?mg/mL, while the acetone extract (A) was the most active against three fungal organisms when compared with other extracts. Similarly, extracts D, C, E and A exhibited very high activity with low MIC values of 0.156–0.62?mg/mL, while M and W gave the highest values of 0.31–2.5?mg/mL on bacterial pathogens as compared to gentamicin (0.02–0.62 8?g/mL). The dichloromethane extract is the most active against bacteria with average MIC of 0.19?mg/mL, while Staphylococcus aureus is the most sensitive organism; that shows susceptibility at an average MIC of 0.34?mg/mL. These results provide promising information for the potential use of the crude extracts from the stem-bark of H. madagascariensis in the treatment of bacterial and fungal infections similar to what was obtained in the leaves.     

Anti-Helicobactor pylori activity of some Jordanian medicinal plants

Context: Natural flora are considered a major source of new agents for the treatment of Helicobactor pylori. The plants used in this study were selected based on previous traditional use.

Objective: In this study, we evaluated the effect of extracts of 16 medicinal plants grown in Jordan against clinical isolates of H. pylori.

Materials and methods: Tested plant extracts included Aloysia triphylla (L'Her.) Britton (Verbenaceae), Anethum graveolens L. (Apiaceae), Artemisia inculata Delile (Asteraceae), Capparis spinosa L. (Capparaceae), Crataegus aronia (L.) Bosc ex. DC. (Rosaceae), Inula viscose (L.) Ait (Asteraceae), Lavandula officinalis Chaix. (Lamiaceae), Lepidium sativum L. (Cruciferae), Origanum syriaca L. (Lamiaceae), Paronychia argentea Lam. (Caryophyllaceae), Passiflora incarnate L. (Passifloraceae), Psidium guajava L. (Myrtaceae), Sarcopoterium spinosum (L.) Spach (Rosaceae), Sesamum indicum L. (Pedaliaceae), Urtica urens L. (Urticaceae) and Varthemia iphionoids Boiss (Asteraceae). Clinical isolates of H. pylori were tested in vitro for susceptibility to each of the above plant crude extracts using disk diffusion method, and the MIC value was determined for each plant extract using the serial dilution method.

Results: Results showed that ethanol extracts of most medicinal plants exerted cytotoxiciy against H. pylori isolates. Among the tested plant extracts, A. triphylla (MIC: 90?µg/mL, MBC: 125?µg/mL) and I. viscosa (MIC: 83?µg/mL, MBC: 104?µg/mL) showed the strongest activity against both isolates of H. pylori.

Discussion and conclusion: Jordanian medicinal plants might be valuable sources of starting materials for the synthesis of new antibacterial agents against H. pylori.     

Acetylcholinesterase,butyrylcholinesterase, and tyrosinase inhibition studies and antioxidant activities of 33 Scutellaria L. taxa from Turkey

The members of Scutellaria L. (Lamiaceae) is known to be rich particularly in flavonoids and among them, S. baicalensis has been recorded to be used for memory-enhancing purpose. Therefore, we initiated a study to screen the methanol extracts prepared from the aerial parts of 33 Turkish Scutellaria species for their acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibitory activities, which are the key enzymes taking place in pathogenesis of Alzheimer’s disease. Besides, the methanol extracts were tested in vitro against another enzyme, tyrosinase, which is associated with melanin hyperpigmentation. 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenger effect, ferrous ion-chelating ability, and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) of the ethyl acetate and methanol extracts were also determined. AChE, BChE, and tyrosinase inhibition of the extracts were performed on ELISA microplate reader by spectrophotometric method. The extracts showed weak inhibition against AChE and BChE, while the best tyrosinase inhibition was caused by the methanol extract of S. brevibracteata subsp. subvelutina. The extracts had a very high DDPH radical scavenging effect and moderate antioxidant activity in ferrous ion-chelating and FRAP tests.     

Pharmacological Activity of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz-Bip.): Assessment by Inhibition of Human Polymorphonuclear Leukocyte Chemiluminescence In-vitro

The bioactivity of feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium) leaf extracts has been analysed, by use of a human polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) bioassay, to assess the relative contributions of solvent extraction and parthenolide content to the biological potency of the extract. Extracts prepared in acetone-ethanol (system 1) contained significantly more parthenolide (mean ± s.d. 1.3 ± 0.2% dry leaf weight) than extracts in chloroform–PBS (phosphate-buffered saline; system 2; 0.1 ± 0.04% dry leaf weight) or PBS alone (system 3; 0.5 ± 0.1% dry leaf weight). Extract bioactivity, measured as inhibition of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced, 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazinedione (luminol)-enhanced PMNL chemiluminescence, followed a similar trend. Extracts inhibited phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-induced oxidative burst by amounts which, if solely attributable to parthenolide, indicated parthenolide concentrations for the respective solvent systems of 2.2 ± 0.6%, 0.2 ± 0.1% and 0.9 ± 0.1% dry leaf weight. The mean ratio of parthenolide concentration to the parthenolide equivalent/PMNl-bioactivity value, for acetone–ethanol and PBS extracts were both 1:1.7. Parthenolide, although a key determinant of biological activity for T. parthenium leaf extracts based on the PMNl-bioassay, seems not to be the sole pharmacologically-active constituent. The identical and elevated bioactivity-parthenolide ratios for both organic and aqueous-phase leaf extracts suggest that a proportion of the other bioactive compounds have solubilities similar to that of parthenolide.     

Radical Scavenging Activity of Methanol Leaf Extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus.

Abstract

The antioxidant activity of methanol extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus. Benth (Lamiaceae), cultivated in different regions of Malaysia, was determined by measuring the scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical and on superoxide anion. The results showed a variation in free-radical and superoxide-anion scavenging activities of the methanol extracts ranging from 62.82 to 92.34% and 53.29 to 75.88%, respectively. Methanol extract was active, and its antioxidative potency was comparable to that of pure quercetin and higher than that of the widely used synthetic antioxidant butylated hydroxylanisole (BHA). The UV and HPLC chromatographic fingerprints of the major phenolics were qualitatively similar for all the methanol leaf extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus. from various locations.