Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of essential oils and extracts of sweet basil(Ocimum basilicum L.)plants

The present study was conducted to evaluate the chemical composition and antioxidant activity of the essential oils and ethanol extracts of Ocimum basilicum L.obtained from Assiut,Minia and BeniSuef of Egypt.The major constituents of sweet basil essential oils from three locations were linalool,estragole,methyl cinnamate,bicyclosesquiphellandrene,eucalyptol,-bergamotene,eugenol,-cadinene and germacrene D by the method of GC–MS.The relative concentration of these compounds varies.The basil extracts contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents and exhibited good DPPH radical scavenging capacity higher than that of essential oils.The highest TPC(82.45 mg PE/g)and maximum radical scavenging activity with IC50 value(1.29 mg/mL)was obtained from Minia basil extract.High correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of basil extracts was observed.High variation in free radical scavenging activity of essential oils was found.The essential oil from Minia basil showed high activity in DPPH radical scavenging with IC50(11.23 mg/mL)and contained the highest content of phenolic(41.3 mg PE/g).On contrary,low correlation between antioxidant activity and total phenolic contents of basil essential oils from different locations.The results of the present investigation demonstrated significant variations in the antioxidant activities of sweet basil essential oils and extracts from Egypt.

Ampelographic and Genetic Diversity Assessment of Some Local Grape Genotypes under Egyptian Conditions

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) is assumed as one of the most valuable and popular fruit crops all over the world. In this study, ten of local grape germplasm were characterized considering phenotypic diversity and genetic features under Egyptian conditions. Selected local grapes;Baltim Eswid, Edkawy, Matrouh Eswid, Bez El-Naka, Bez El-Anza, Romy Abiad, Romy Ahmer, Gharibi, Fayoumi and Banaty, were spread geographically among seven national governorates. A total of 58 attributes were characterized grape germplasm for the distinctness of vine parts. For molecular characterization, 9 nuclear SSR loci were analysed. Data revealed a broad sense of similarity at the level of studied morphological attributes, where the highest similarity (0.93) was between Romy Ahmer and Romy Abiad. A total of 24 alleles, ranging from 124 - 253 bp in size, were detected at the nine tested loci with an average of 2.67 alleles per locus. The amplification products in all of the 9 SSRs loci showed polymorphism among the 10 grapevine cultivars. The genetic relatedness among most of the cultivars was in accordance with their identification based on ampelographic properties. Data of phenotypic and molecular analysis revealed high variability of Vitis germplasm in Egypt and contributed substantially to our awareness of valuable local grape genetic resources which are on the verge of extinction.

Comparative analysis of antioxidant activities of essential oils and extracts of fennel(Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)seeds from Egypt and China

The present study was conducted to assay the antioxidant activities of essential oils and ethanol extracts of fennel(Foeniculum vulgare Mill.)seeds from Egypt and China.The major components of the Egyptian fennel essential oil were estragole(51.04%),limonene(11.45%),l-fenchone(8.19%)and trans-anethole(3.62%)by GC–MS analysis.Whereas,the major constituents of Chinese fennel essential oil were transanethole(54.26%),estragole(20.25%),l-fenchone(7.36%)and limonene(2.41%).The fennel seed extracts from Egypt and China contained appreciable levels of total phenolic contents(42.24 and 30.94 mg PE/g,respectively).The extracts exhibited good DPPH radical scavenging capacity with IC50(6.34 and 7.17 mg/g),respectively.A high variation in free radical scavenging activities of essential oils was observed.The Chinese fennel essential oil showed high activity in DPPH radical scavenging with IC50(15.66 mg/g).The Egyptian fennel essential oil showed very low activity with IC50(141.82 mg/g).The results of the present investigation demonstrated significant variations in the antioxidant activities of fennel essential oils and extracts from Egypt and China.

Nanobiotechnology for the Detection and Control of Waterborne Parasites

Nowadays, the fast development of nanobiotechnology, has led to rapid diagnosis of important infectious diseases such as arboviruses-borne diseases, vector-borne infections and waterborne parasites diseases and others in order to reduce and avoid further dissemination of the infections within the general population. Furthermore, new nanomedicines based on the application of silver and gold nanoparticles which are less toxic, more effective, and that does not generate resistance could help to solve the problems of parasitic disease like leishmaniasis and chagas disease. It turns out that the combination of nanoparticles with antibiotics not only reduces the toxicity of both agents towards human cells but also enhances their ability to destroy bacteria by facilitating the binding of antibiotics to the microbes. Moreover, combining nanoparticles with antimicrobial peptides and essential oils with nanoparticles generates genuine synergy against microbial resistance.

Chemical Composition and Biological Significance of Thymol as Antiparasitic

Thymol is one of the most important phytochemical components because of its pharmacological and bioactive potential effects. This review focuses particularly on thymol as an alternative natural antiparasitic with potential use in the pharmaceutical industry. This is in line with the preferences of the natural products for treatment being safer and without side effects. The biosynthesis pathways of thymol and carvacrol have been discussed, and mechanism of action of thymol on parasites. Studies on thymol confirmed the activity of thymol as anti-parasite against anthelmintic, Trypanosoma ssp., Toxoplasma gondii, Leishmania spp., Plasmodium falciparum, Giardia duodenalis, Eimeria ssp., Cryptosporidium baileyi and Cryptosporidium galli.

Nanopesticides and Nanofertilizers and Agricultural Development: Scopes, Advances and Applications

Excessive use of pesticides and fertilizers in agriculture in order to increase yields has proved unnecessary because a large part of them remain unused and have negative effects on the environment and human health. Therefore, it is a great challenge for farmers to replace the application of pesticides and fertilizers with nanopesticides and nanofertilizers, with the aim of reducing the use of mineral fertilizers and increasing yields, as well as supporting agricultural development. This review provides a detailed overview of the classification of pesticides, commonly used nanoparticles in agriculture and their function, as well as impact of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers on the environment. The application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers and new delivery mechanisms to improve crop productivity are reviewed and described. Particularly, the advantage of the nanoencapsulation process is emphasized for both pesticides and fertilizers. For hydrophobic pesticides, it may be a tool to provide greater stability, dispersion in aqueous media, and allowing a controlled release of the active compound, which increases its effectiveness. In nanofertilizers, micro- or macronutrients can be encapsulated by nanomaterials which allow to release of nutrients into the soil gradually and in a controlled way maintaining soil fertility, thus preventing eutrophication and pollution of water resources. Risks assessment of application of nanopesticides and nanofertilizers in agriculture are required for their correct and safe application.

Pineapple (<i>Ananas comosus</i>L. Merr.), Waste Streams, Characterisation and Valorisation: An Overview

Processing pineapple industry produces huge amounts of waste thus contributing to worsen the global environmental problem. Valorising pineapple waste through further processing until it is transformed into valuable products using environmentally friendly techniques is both, a challenge, and an opportunity. The aim of this review is to characterize and highlight the phytochemical constituents of pineapple peel, their biological activity, and to evaluate the current state-of-art for the utilization of pineapple waste from the processing industry for obtaining pharmaceuticals, food, and beverages, biocombustibles, biodegradable fibers, and other different usage. Pineapple residues are rich in many bioactive compounds such as ferulic acid, vitamin A and C as antioxidant, and containing alkaloids, flavonoids, saponins, tannins, cardiac glycoside, steroids, triterpenoids and phytosterols may provide a good source of several beneficial properties, as well as bromelain that showed significant anticancer activity. Also, pineapple processing residues contain important volatile compounds used as aroma enhancing products and have high potential to produce value-added natural essences. Pineapple peels can be used as nonpharmacological therapeutical in the form of processed food and instant drinks;its potent natural antimicrobial properties may be applied for food conservation and as potential leads to discover new drugs to control some infectious microbial. Pineapple waste is a promising source of metabolites for therapeutics, functional foods, and cosmeceutical applications.

A review:the mechanism of plant-derived polysaccharides on osteoblasts and osteoclasts

Bone loss and deterioration of bone microarchitecture would increase the bone fragility and fracture risk,leading to the osteoporosis.More and more evidences proved that plant-derived polysaccharides could have a remarkable influence on osteoblasts and osteoclasts,exerting anti-osteoporosis effects.According to the previous research,the extract of Cibotium barumoz,Achyranthes bidentata,Curculigo orchioides,Epimedium brevicornum,Angelica sinensis,Polygonatum sibiricum,Dendrobium officinale,Morinda officinalis,Nelumbo mucifera,Diospyros kaki,Hordeum vulgare,Cistanche deserticola,Commiphora Myrrha and other plant-derived polysaccharides could benefit to the osteoblasts and osteoclasts.The essential mechanisms are mainly related to the activation or inhibition of many factors,including runt-related transcription factor 2(Runx2),B-catenin,osterix(Osx),activator protein-1(AP-1),osteocalcin(OCN/BGP),alkaline phosphatase(ALP),osteopontin(OPN),bone morphogenetic protein(BMP),phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/C-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK)/extracellular regulated protein kinase(ERK),osteoprotegerin(OPG),receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB(RANK),monocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor(M-CSF),tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6(TRAF-6),receptor activator of nuclear factor(NF)-KB ligand(RANKL),nuclear factor of activated T cells 1(NFATc1),c-Fos,matrix metallopeptidase-9(MMP-9),glycogen synthase kinase 3β(GSK3B)/B-catenin,nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nf2),as well as these related pathways,such as Wnt/p-catenin,BMP-2/SMAD1/5/8,PI3K/AKT,OPG/RANKL/RANK,NF-κB,MAPKs,etc.These plant-derived polysaccharides could improve the dynamic balance of bone formation and resorption through promoting the differentiation and maturation of osteoblast or inhibiting its formation.The reviewed plant-derived polysaccharides and their regulating mechanisms on the osteoclasts and osteoblasts provide the evidences for the development of osteoporosis therapeutics.

The protection of Thymus vulgaris leaves alcoholic extract against hepatotoxicity of alcohol in rats

Objective:This study was performed to investigate the protective effect of Thymus vulgaris(T.vulgaris) leaves 70%alcoholic extract against alcohol-mediate hepatotoxicity rats.Methods:The protective effect of extract was investigated at dose of 500 mg/kg/day orally against alcohol-mediate hepatotoxicity using adult male Wister albino rats during 21 days.Protective effect of T.vulgaris extract was evaluated comparing with silymarin standard drug al recommended dose(25 mg/kg/day) orally for 21 days.Results:Alcohol-mediate hepatotoxicity rats(alcohol-control) showed hepatocytes distortion represented as marked increment on liver biomarkers;alkaline phosphatase(ALP),aspartate transaminase(AST) and alanine transaminase(ALT) activities,as well as pronounced reduction on total protein and its fractions albumin and globulin corresponding to normal ranges.Addition to oxidative stress status as depletion on glutathione concentration,catalase(CAT),superoxide dismutase(SOD),glutathione reductase(GR),glutathione-S-transferase(GST) and glutathione peroxidase(GPx)activities,concurrence with augmentation oxidative stress parameters;malondyaldchydc(MDA) and hydrogen peroxide(H_2O_2) concentrations comparing to normal values.Alcohol administration elevated total cholesterol(TC),low density lipoprotein cholesterol(LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein cholesterol(HDL-C) comparing to normal ranges.Co-administration T.vulgaris extract with alcohol showed protective effect on hepatocytes manifested as minimizing on ALP.AST and ALT activities and increment on total protein,albumin and globulin production compared to alcohol-control.Antioxidant enzymes activities;CAT.SOD.GR,GST and GPx were significantly magnified,while MDA and H_2O_2 concentration were lessened corresponding to alcohol-control.Also,lipid profile was markedly improved and risk ratio was lowered compared to alcohol-control.These results were confirmed by normalization of degenerated and fibrotic liver tissue as of alcohol-control.Conclusion:T.vulgaris extract appeared hepatoprotective,hypolipidemic and antioxidant activities on alcohol-mediate hepatotoxicity rats compared to silymarin.

The hypoglycemic effect of Lagerstroemia indica L.and Lagerstroemia indica L.f.alba(Nichols.)Rehd.in vitro and in vivo

Lagerstroemia indica L.has a high medicinal value,its bark,leaves and flowers can be used as medicine.Its flowers are reddish,purple,or white,thereinto,the white one is called L.indica Linn.f.alba(Nichols.)Rehd.,which is a forma of L.indica.In this paper,the hypoglycemic effects of different extracts from flowers of L.indica(LIF)and L.indica L.f.alba(Nichols.)Rehd.(LIAF)were investigated byα-glucosidase inhibitory method in vitro and alloxan-induced diabetic mice model in vivo,respectively.The results in vitro showed that ethyl acetate extracts(EA)of LIF and LIAF(IC_(50)=4.45 and 4.09µg/mL,resepectively)had the highest inhibitory activity ofα-glucosidase,and followed by n-butyl alcohol extracts(BU)(IC_(50)=17.01 and 14.58µg/mL,respectively),and the last was petroleum ether extracts(PE)(IC_(50)=103.29 and 112.47µg/mL,respectively),the activities of all extracts were higher than that of the positive control(acarbose,IC_(50)=1278.83µg/mL).The results in vivo showed that compared with the model control group,each dose group of LIF could significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01 or P<0.001)decrease fasting blood glucose,total cholesterol(TC)level and malondialdehyde(MDA)content in diabetic mice and increase superoxide dismutase(SOD)level(P<0.05)in serum.Partial dose groups of LIF could significantly(P<0.05)decrease postprandial blood glucose,triglyceride(TG)and increase liver glycogen content.Each dose group of LIAF could significantly(P<0.05,P<0.01 or P<0.001)decrease fasting blood glucose,TC level and increase SOD level in serum.Partial dose groups of LIAF could significantly(P<0.05)decrease TG,MDA level and increase liver glycogen content.These results indicate that LIF and LIAF had effective prevention and treatment effects on the development for diabetes.

Identification of phytochemicals from Lentinus edodes and Auricularia auricula with UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap MS

Lentinus edodes and Auricularia auricula are the first and second largest edible fungi in China with high nutritional and medicinal values.Research about phytochemicals of L.edodes and A.auricula mainly focuses on polysaccharides,other phytochemicals are not fully studied.Phytochemicals of L.edodes and A.auricula were investigated by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem hybrid quadrupole-orbitrap mass spectrometry(UPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap MS).Twenty-three compounds were identified in L.edodes,mainly including amino acids and analogs,flavonoids,nucleosides and analogs,phenols and steroids.Twenty-nine compounds were identified in A.auricula,mainly including amino acids and analogs,nucleosides and analogs,flavonoids and phenols.There are 9 common ingredients of L.edodes and A.auricula,including 4 amino acids and analogs,2 flavonoids,2 nucleosides and analogs and 1 phenol.

A reliable and rapid pharmacokinetic study of pueraria isoflavones using pueraria reference extractive substance in beagle plasma:Application to study of Yufeng Ningxin Tablets

Objective:In order to evaluate the reliability and feasibility of pueraria reference extractive substance(RES)used in biological sample,the pharmacokinetics of 3–hydroxy puerarin(3-HP),puerarin,3–methoxy puerarin(3-MP),and daidzein-8-C-apiosyl-(1-6)-glucoside(DAG)in beagle plasma following oral administration of Yufeng Ningxin Tablet were quantitated.Methods:A reliable and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem triple quadrupole mass spectrometry(HPLC-QQQ-MS/MS)method developed with chromatographic separation was operated on a Merck C18 column,and acetonitrile-5 mmol/L ammonium was used as mobile phase in gradient elution.The plasma samples were deproteinized by acetone,detected by triple quadrupole mass spectrometry with an electrospray ionization interface,and quantified using selected ion monitoring mode.The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by Winnonlin 4.1.Results:The calibration curves of the reference extractive substance and standard substance methods were linear over the ranges 0.0417–11.3309μg/m L and 0.0394–10.0000μg/m L.The intra-day and interday precision of the two methods at three concentrations were less than 13.63%,and the average recoveries of 3-HP,puerarin,3-MP,and DAG were more than 70.67%.The RSD of the mean plasma concentrations of the analytes calculated by the two methods was less than 5%,and cos(?)==1.000.Among the analytes,puerarin showed the highest blood concentration[(940±185)ng/m L]and the longest retention time[(5±1)h]in the dog’s bodies.Conclusion:Pueraria reference extractive substance can be seen as an alternative to the standard substance to overcome the scarcity of standard substance for the analysis of biological samples.

Overview on the edible mushrooms in Egypt

Edible Mushrooms have been valued as a valuable food source due to its nutritional and medicinal characteristics.Edible mushrooms contain various bioactive components such as proteins,polyunsaturated fatty acids,polysaccharides,dietary fibers,amino acids,vitamins,and minerals.They have essential health effects,such as antioxidant,antimicrobial,immune-stimulatory,and anticancer,cholesterol-lowering properties.Because of their nutritional and medicinal benefits,mushrooms have become increasingly popular in recent years all over the world.Mushrooms were considered immortality plants in Ancient Egypt and were given to mankind by the god Osiris.Mushrooms were declared a delicacy reserved only for Egyptian nobility due to their distinct flavor.The current study focuses on the common species of edible mushrooms in Egypt and their different bioactive ingredients,nutritional values and the health benefits.

A comprehensive review on mechanism of natural products against Staphylococcus aureus

The abuse of antibiotics seriously threatens the therapeutic effect.Natural products from plants,antimicrobial peptides and micro-organisms have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.The mechanism of natural products reported in recent years on S.aureus includes six types,which are the acting on bacterial cell wall,cytomembrane,metabolic pathway,protein,nucleic acid,biofilm and quorum sensing system to achieve antibacterial effect.This article summarized the mechanism of natural products reported in recent years on S.aureus.It is found that the natural products acting on cell wall or cell wall synthesis pathway key enzymes are relatively safe and highly selective.It has the prospect of developing into medicine and provides the clue to investigate and utilize natural products in antibacterial activity.