Hypoglycemic and antioxidant activities of Caesalpinia ferrea Martius leaf extract in streptozotocininduced diabetic rats

Objective: To evaluate the antidiabetic and antioxidant ef ects of aqueous ethanolic extract of Caesalpinia ferrea(C. ferrea) leaf in normal and streptozotocin(STZ) induced diabetic rats.Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats divided into 6 groups of 6 rats each were assigned into diabetic and non-diabetic groups. Diabetes was induced in rats by single intraperitoneal administration of STZ(65 mg/kg body weight). C. ferrea extract at the doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight was orally administered to both diabetic and non-diabetic animals for a period of 30 days. After completion of experimental duration serum, liver and pancreas were used for evaluating biochemical and histopathological changes.Results: Oral administration of C. ferrea leaf extract significantly reduced elevated serum glucose, α-amylase, liver function levels and signii cantly increased serum insulin, total protein and body weight as well as improved lipid proi le due to diabetes. Furthermore, the treatment resulted in a marked increase in glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione, and diminished levels of lipid peroxidation in liver and pancreas of diabetic rats. Histopathological studies demonstrated the reduction in the pancreas and liver damage and coni rmed the biochemical i ndings.Conclusions: From the present study, it can be concluded that the C. ferrea leaf extract ef ectively improved hyperglycaemia while inhibiting the progression of oxidative stress in STZ-induced diabetic rats. Hence, it can be used in the management of diabetes mellitus.

Cytotoxic activity and phytochemical analysis of Arum palaestinum Boiss.

Objective: To evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic activity of the fractionated extract as well as isolated compounds of Arum palaestinum Boiss.(A. palaestinum)(black calla lily), and to identify the volatile components which may be responsible for the potential antitumor activity.Methods: A. palaestinum was collected from its natural habitats and subjected to phytochemical analysis for separation of pure compounds. In vitro cytotoxic activity was investigated against four human carcinoma cell lines Hep2, He La, Hep G2 and MCF7 for the fractionated extract and isolated compounds. While, the diethyl ether fraction was subjected to GC–MS analysis as it exhibited the most potent cytotoxic effect to evaluate the active constituents responsible for the cytotoxic activities.Results: Four flavonoid compounds were isolated(luteolin, chrysoeriol, isoorientin,isovitexin) from the diethyl ether and ethyl acetate. The extracts and the pure isolated compounds showed a significant high antiproliferative activity against all investigated cell lines. The GC–MS analysis revealed the separation and identification of 15 compounds representing 95.01% of the extract and belonging to different groups of chemical compounds.Conclusions: The present study is considered to be the first report on the cytotoxic activities carried out on different selected fractions and pure compounds of A. palaestinum to provide evidences for its strong antitumor activities. In addition,chrysoeriol and isovitexin compounds were isolated for the first time from the studied taxa.

Determination of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol content of cannabis seizures in Egypt

Objective:To determine the delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol(THC)content of cannabis seizures in Egypt.Methods:Unheated and heated extracts of cannabis seizures were prepared from the dried flowering tops and leaves(marijuana)or from the resin(hashish)and subjected to analysis using high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC).Results:The heated resin extract had the peak of THC in a relative ratio of 31.34%,while extracting the resin directly without heating contained only 18.34%of THC.On the other hand,marijuana showed minimum percentage of THC at 11.188% on heating and 9.55% without heating.Conclusions:These results indicate the high potency of the abused cannabis plant in the illicit Egyptian market.

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.

Polyketides with potential bioactivities from the mangrove‑derived fungus Talaromyces sp.WHUF0362

Metabolites of microorganisms have long been considered as potential sources for drug discovery.In this study,fve new depsidone derivatives,talaronins A-E(1-5)and three new xanthone derivatives,talaronins F-H(6-8),together with 16 known compounds(9-24),were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the mangrove-derived fungus Talaromyces species WHUF0362.The structures were elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and chemical methods including alkaline hydrolysis and Mosher’s method.Compounds 1 and 2 each attached a dimethyl acetal group at the aromatic ring.A putative biogenetic relationship of the isolated metabolites was presented and suggested that the depsidones and the xanthones probably had the same biosynthetic precursors such as chrysophanol or rheochrysidin.The antimicrobial activity assay indicated that compounds 5,9,10,and 14 showed potent activity against Helicobacter pylori with minimum inhibitory concentration(MIC)values in the range of 2.42-36.04μmol/L.While secalonic acid D(19)demonstrated signifcant antimicrobial activity against four strains of H.pylori with MIC values in the range of 0.20 to 1.57μmol/L.Furthermore,secalonic acid D(19)exhibited cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines Bel-7402 and HCT-116 with IC_(50) values of 0.15 and 0.19μmol/L,respectively.The structure–activity relationship of depsidone derivatives revealed that the presence of the lactone ring and the hydroxyl at C-10 was crucial to the antimicrobial activity against H.pylori.The depsidone derivatives are promising leads to inhibit H.pylori and provide an avenue for further development of novel antibiotics.