Bougainvillea spectabilis flowers extract protects against the rotenone-induced toxicity

Objective:To investigate the effect of two extracts of Bougainvillea spectabilis(B. spectabilis) flowers with yellow and pink/purple on brain oxidative stress and neuronal damage caused in rats by systemic rotenone injection. Methods:Rotenone 1.5 mg/kg was given three times per week alone or in combination with B. spectabilis flowers extracts(25 mg or 50 mg) via the subcutaneous route for 2 weeks. Brain concentrations of the lipid peroxidation marker malondialdehyde(MDA),reduced glutathione,nitric oxide(nitrite),the pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta(Il-1β) as well as butyrylcholinesterase,and paraoxonase-1(PON-1) activities,were determined. Histopathology and caspase-3 immunohistochemistry were also performed. Results:Rotenone resulted in significant increases of brain MDA(the product of lipid peroxidation),and nitric oxide content along with decreased brain reduced glutathione. There were also marked and significant inhibition of brain PON-1 and BCh E activities and increased Il-1β in brain of rotenone-treated rats. B. spectabilis flowers extract itself resulted in brain oxidative stress increasing both lipid peroxidation and nitrite content whilst inhibiting PON-1 activity. The yellow flowers extract inhibited BCh E activity and increased brain Il-1β. When given to rotenone-treated rats,B. spectabilis extracts,however,decreased lipid peroxidation while their low administered doses increased brain GSH. Brain nitrite decreased by the pink extract but showed further increase by the yellow extract. Either extract,however,caused further inhibition of PON-1 activity while the yellow extract resulted in further inhibition of BChE activity. Histopathological studies indicated that both extracts protected against brain,liver and kidney damage caused by the toxicant. Conclusions:These data indicate that B. spectabilis flowers extracts exert protective effect against the toxic effects of rotenone on brain,liver and kidney. B. spectabilis flowers extracts decreased brain lipid peroxidation and prevented neuronal death due to rotenone and might thus prove the value in treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Antiviral effect of polyphenol rich plant extracts on herpes simplex virus type 1

Evaluation of the anti-herpetic activity of 25 Egyptian plants extracts was investigated in vitro in this study.The antiviral activity against Herpes Simplex Virus type 1(HSV-1)was done on Vero cell lines by cell viability.Only two plants extracts;namely Euphorbia coopire(Euphorbiaceae)and Morus alba(Moraceae)showed potent anti-herpetic activity and six other extracts showed moderate inhibition.In contrast,a bioassay monitored phytochemical exploration of these two plants led to the isolation of pure flavonoid compounds.The antiviral activity of the isolated compounds was also examined,among which seven pure compounds namely;7-galloyl catechin,gallic acid,kaempferol 3-O-β-(6″-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside,quercetin 3-O-β-(6″-O-galloyl)-glucopyranoside,curcumin,quercetin and kaempferol exhibited significant inhibition.