An Investigation of the Vegetative Anatomy of <i>Piper sarmentosum</i>, and a Comparison with the Anatomy of <i>Piper betle</i>(Piperaceae)

This paper describes the detailed anatomy and micromorphology of the vegetative parts of Piper sarmentosum Roxb. (synonym, P. lolot C.DC.), which is a southeast Asian medicinal plant valued for its medicinal and culinary uses. The study also compares the anatomy of the leaf, petiole, stem and root of P. sarmentosum with those of the well-characterized P. betle L. The leaves of both the species are morphologically comparable and have similar culinary uses. The present study showed that the leaves of both the species possess more or less comparable anatomical features with a few differences;whereas, the microscopic features of the petiole, stem, and root of the two species are distinctive.

Quantification of total phenol,flavonoid content and pharmacognostical evaluation including HPTLC fingerprinting for the standardization of Piper nigrum Linn fruits

Objective:To carry out the physicochemical and phytochemical standardization with high performance thin layer chromatography fingerprinting of Piper nigrum L.(P.nigrum)fruits in order to ascertain the standard pharmacognostical parameters of this king of spices.Methods:Many standardization parameters like extractive values,total ash value,water soluble ash value and acid insoluble ash,moisture content,loss on drying and pH values of P.nigrum L.fruits were analyzed.The method of Harborne was adopted for the preliminary phytochemicals screening.Analysis of total phenolic and flavonoid contents,pesticides residues,aflatoxin and heavy metals were also performed.CAMAG-high performance thin layer chromatography system was used for fingerprinting of methanolic extract of P.nigrum L.fruits.Results:The results of phytochemicals testing indicated the presence of carbohydrates,phenolic compounds,flavonoids,alkaloids,proteins,saponins,lipids,sterols and tannins in various solvent extracts.Total phenolic and flavonoid contents in methanolic extract were found to be 1.728 1 mg/g and 1.087 ug/g,respectively.Heavy metals concentrations were found to be within standard limits.Aflatoxins and pesticides residues were absent.Conclusions:The outcome of this study might prove beneficial in herbal industries for identification,purification and standardization of P.nigrum L.fruits.

New amide alkaloids from Piper longum fruits

Three new amide alkaloids piperlongumamides A-C(1-3),together with 12 known ones(4-15),were isolated from the fruits of Piper longum.The structures of the new isolates were determined using spectroscopic data analyses.Cytotoxic activity of these amides against HL-60(human leukemia),A-549(human lung cancer),MCF-7(human breast cancer),SMMC-7721(human liver cancer)and SW480(human rectal cancer)cell lines were evaluated.Piperchabamide B(11)exhibited weak inhibitory activity against HL-60(IC_(50)=21.32μM),A-549(IC_(50)=23.82μM)and MCF-7(IC_(50)=16.58μM)cell lines.

Amides,Isoquinoline Alkaloids and Dipeptides from the Aerial Parts of Piper mullesua

One undescribedamide,pipermullesine A,twoundescribed isoquinoline alkaloids,pipermullesinesBand C,and six undescribed dipeptides,pipermullamides A–F,along with 28 known compounds,were isolated from the aerial parts of Piper mullesua.The structures of the undescribed compounds were elucidated based on the analysis of 1D and 2D NMR and MS data.Furthermore,the structures of pipermullesines A–Cwere confirmed by single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis.All isolates were evaluated for inhibitory activity against platelet aggregation induced by thrombin(IIa)or platelet-activating factor(PAF).(-)-Mangochinine,pellitorine,and(2E,4E)-N-isobutyl-2,4-dodecadienamide showed weak inhibitory activity against rabbit platelet aggregation induced by PAF,with IC_(50)values of 470.3μg/mL,614.9μg/mL,and 579.7μg/mL,respectively.

New Amides and Phenylpropanoid Glucosides from the Fruits of Piper retrofractum

Two new amides(E)-N-cinnamoyl-2-methoxypiperidine(1)and(R)-1-(2-oxopyrrolidin-3-yl)-5,6-dihydropyridin-2(1H)-one(2),four new amide glucosides,retrofractosides A-D(3-6),and two new phenylpropanoid glucosides,retrofractosides E(7)and F(8),together with 24 known compounds(9-32)were isolated from the fruits of Piper retrofractum.The chemical structures of these new compounds were elucidated based on extensive spectroscopic analysis.All of these isolates(1-32)were evaluated for inhibitory activity against mouse platelet aggregation induced by the peptide AYPGKF-NH2.(E)-N-(Tetrahydro-2H-pyran-2-yl)cinnamamide(9)showed a weak inhibitory efect,with an inhibition ratio of 52.0%at a concentration of 150μM.

Piper betle leaf extract enhances the cytotoxicity effect of 5-fluorouracil in inhibiting the growth of HT29 and HCT116 colon cancer cells

Objective： The combination effect of Piperbetle （PB） and 5-fluorouracil （5-FU） in enhancing the cytotoxic potential of 5-FU in inhibiting the growth of colon cancer cells was investigated. Methods： HT29 and HCT116 cells were subjected to 5-FU or PB treatment. 5-FU and PB were then combined and their effects on both cell lines were observed after 24 h of treatment. PB-5-FU interaction was elucidated by isobologram analysis. Apoptosis features of the treated cells were revealed by annexin V/PI stain. High-performance liquid chromatography （HPLC） was performed to exclude any possible chemical interaction between the compounds. Results： In the presence of PB extract, the cytotoxicity of 5-FU was observed at a lower dose （IC^0 12.5 pmol/L） and a shorter time （24 h） in both cell lines. Both cell lines treated with 5-FU or PB alone induced a greater apoptosis effect compared with the combination treatment. Isobologram analysis indicated that PB and 5-FU interacted synergistically and antagonistically in inhibiting the growth of HT29 and HCT116 cells, respectively. Conclusions： In the presence of PB, a lower dosage of 5-FU is required to achieve the maximum drug effect in inhibiting the growth of HT29 cells. However, PB did not significantly reduce 5-FU dosage in HCT116 cells. Our result showed that this interaction may not solely contribute to the apoptosis pathway.

The effect of drying of Piper hispidinervium bydifferent methods and its influence on the yield ofessential oil and safrole

The Piper hispidinervium leaves and thin stems were dried under laboratory and field conditions.Laboratory drying was performed using a shade dryer operating with and without forced convection and an oven dryer operating at 30 and 40
C.Field experiments were conducted using solar dryers with three different covers,i.e.,transparent,black plastic,and palm straw covers.The essential oil extraction was performed by steam distillation,and the safrole content was analyzed by gas chromatography.Five mathematical models(Page,logarithmic,Henderson and Pabis,fractional,and diffusion)were fitted with the experimental data and compared based on the coefficient of determination(R2),root mean square error(RMSE)and v2.Results suggest that the best model was the logarithmic model(R2>0.99,RMSE<0.0005,and v2<0.005).With sufficient drying,the safrole content increased up to 95%of the extracted oil;however,when the drying time was prolonged,both the oil yield and safrole content of the extracted oil decreased.