Inhibitory activities of extracts of Rumex dentatus, Commelina benghalensis, Ajuga bracteosa, Ziziphus mauritiana as well as their compounds of gallic acid and emodin against dengue virus

Objective: To investigate the inhibitory effects against dengue virus serotype 2(DENV-2) by five different fractions(extracted by methanol, ethanol, benzene, chloroform and n-hexane) of Rumex dentatus, Commelina benghalensis, Ajuga bracteosa and Ziziphus mauritiana, as well as their constituents(gallic acid, emodin, and isovanillic acid). Methods: All the samples were tested for cytotoxicity on baby hamster kidney cells by MTT assay and for anti-DENV-2 activity by plaque reduction neutralization assay using two DENV-2 doses(45 and 90 plaqueforming units or PFU). Results: All the samples except isovanillic acid exhibited significant prophylactic effects against DENV-2 infectivity(without cytotoxicity) when administered to cells before infection, but were not effective when given 6 h post-infection. The methanol extract of Rumex dentatus demonstrated the highest antiviral efficacy by inhibiting DENV-2 replication, with IC_(50) of 0.154 μg/mL and 0.234 μg/mL, when added before infection with 45 and 90 PFU of virus, respectively. Gallic acid also exhibited significant antiviral effects by prophylactic treatment prior to virus adsorption on cells, with IC_(50) of 0.191 μg/mL and 0.522 μg/mL at 45 and 90 PFU of DENV-2 infection, respectively. Conclusions: The highly potent activities of the extracts and constituent compounds of these plants against DENV-2 infectivity highlight their potential as targets for further research to identify novel antiviral agents against dengue.

In vitro antioxidant and anti-cancer activities and phytochemical analysis of Commelina benghalensis L. root extracts

Objective:To explore antioxidant potential,anti-cancer activity,and phytochemicals of Commelina benghalensis L.Methods:The roots of Commelina benghalensis were extracted in different solvents(methanol,ethanol,benzene,chloroform,n-hexane)with a range of polarity.Antioxidant activity was evaluated by reducing power assay,DPPH radical scavenging activity and phosphomolybdenum method,cytotoxicity by MTT assay,apoptotic and cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry,migratory and invasive potential by wound scratch assay and invasion assay,respectively,functional groups analysis by FT-IR spectroscopy and phytochemicals by aluminum chloride colorimetric and FolinCiocalteu methods.Results:The extracts showed worthy antioxidant potential.The chloroform extract demonstrated the most significant cytotoxic effect on MDA-MB-231(breast cancer)cell line,induced apoptosis and reduced migratory and invasive potential of MDA-MB-231 cells.Methanol and ethanol extracts presented good yield of total phenolic and total flavonoid contents.The FTIR spectroscopic studies revealed different characteristic peak values with various functional compounds such as alkenes,alkanes,aliphatic amines,aromatics,alkyl halides,carboxylic acid,alcohols,ester,aldehydes and ketones.Conclusions:The results demonstrate the potential use of Commelina benghalensis as a good antioxidant with significant anticancer effect.

Rumex dentatus could be a potent alternative to treatment of microbial infections and of breast cancer

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the phytochemicals and in vitro antioxidant,antimicrobial and cytotoxic potential of Rumex dentatus(R.dentatus)leaf extracts.METHODS:The total phenolics and flavonoids content of R.dentatus extracts were evaluated by the Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods respectively.Antioxidant potential of studied plant extracts was assessed through 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity,total reducing power and total antioxidant methods.Moreover,antibacterial and antifungal capacity was also evaluated by disc diffusion method against six clinically isolated multi-drug resistant bacterial strains as well as six fungal isolates.Further,cell cytotoxicity was also evaluated through3-(4,5-dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay.RESULTS:Ethanol extract showed highest total phenolic[(38.9±1.5)μg gallic acid equivalent/mg]and total flavonoids[(17.2±1.9)μg quercetin equivalent/mg]contents.Antioxidant assays indicated that ethanol and methanol extracts possess potent antioxidant potential.Moreover,it was observed that ethanol and hexane extracts have the potential to inhibit most of the tested multi-drug resistant bacterial strains while methanol,chloroform and hexane extracts could inhibit the growth of pathogenic fungal strains successfully.Among all the studied extracts,ethanolic extract showed highest cytotoxicity against MCF-7 cell line then Hep-2 and DU-145 cell lines by MTT assay with lowest IC50 of 47.3μg/m L.CONCLUSION:These results suggest that R.dentatus could be a potent alternative candidate for treatment of microbial infections and for breast cancer treatment.