Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Phytochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2022) | Viewed by 27686

Special Issue Editors

Laboratory of Natural Products (LaProNat), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Brasilia (UnB), Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Asa Norte, Brasilia, Brazil
Interests: natural products chemistry; herbal medicines; regulatory issues; Cerrado plant species
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Panoz Institute, Trinity College Dublin (TCD), Dublin, Ireland
Interests: natural products chemistry; medicinal plants pharmacology; ethnopharmacology; chemotaxonomy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Ethnobotanical information and phytochemical study are usually the first steps taken to validate the ethnomedicinal use of a plant species, together with in vitro and in vivo preclinical assays. Although preliminary, all obtained data in these stages are important for the definition of the next steps towards the potential development of herbal medicine. For native and endemic species, the research in these areas is sometimes the key event to avoid the destruction of the plant population or the extinction of the species. Additionally, in this sense much remains to be established, integrating the classic and the modern with the use of more sensitive techniques. Therefore, in this Special Issue we invite researchers to share their findings on all aspects of ethnobotany as well as chemistry, toxicity, biological activity and regulatory issues linked to medicinal plants and their development into new medicines.

Prof. Dr. Dâmaris Silveira
Dr. Fabio Boylan
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • ethnobotanical survey
  • traditional medicine
  • phytochemistry investigation
  • regulatory issues
  • biological activity assays

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Published Papers (14 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 222 KiB  
Editorial
Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany
by Dâmaris Silveira and Fabio Boylan
Plants 2023, 12(8), 1682; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081682 - 17 Apr 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1576
Abstract
Prance once defined Ethnobotany as an interdisciplinary Science combining Anthropology and Botany [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review

17 pages, 4133 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Pro-Apoptotic and Anti-Migratory Effects of Marantodes pumilum (syn. Labisia pumila) Extracts on Human Prostate Cancer Cell Lines: Bioguided Isolation of 5-Henicosene-1-yl-resorcinol
by Mohd Mukrish Mohd Hanafi, Harisun Yaakob, Simon Gibbons and Jose M. Prieto
Plants 2023, 12(7), 1576; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12071576 - 06 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1663
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic and anti-migratory effects of Marantodes pumilum Blume Kuntze plant extracts on prostate cancer cells, identify the active compound/s, and characterize their mechanism of action. The crude methanolic extract was partitioned into n-hexane (MPh), [...] Read more.
This study aims to evaluate the in vitro cytotoxic and anti-migratory effects of Marantodes pumilum Blume Kuntze plant extracts on prostate cancer cells, identify the active compound/s, and characterize their mechanism of action. The crude methanolic extract was partitioned into n-hexane (MPh), chloroform (MPc), and aqueous (MPa) extracts. Antiproliferative fractions (IC50 < 30 μg/mL based on SRB staining of LNCaP and PC3 cell lines) were further fractionated. Active compound/s were identified using spectroscopic methods. In vitro mechanistic studies on PC3 cells included: annexin V-FITC staining, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) depolarization measurements, the activity of caspases 3 and 7, nuclear DNA fragmentation, cell cycle analysis, modulation of Bax, Bcl-2, Smac/Diablo, Alox-5, VEGF-A, CXCR4, and CXCL12 mRNA gene expression via RT-PCR, 2D migration (scratch assay), and 3D invasion (Boyden chamber). MPc extract was the most active, inducing cell death (p < 0.05) via apoptosis, as evidenced by nuclear DNA fragmentation and an increase in MMP depolarization (p < 0.05) as well as the activation of caspases 3/7 (MPc p < 0.01) in both PC3 and LNCaP cell lines. In addition, MPc upregulated Bax and Smac/DIABLO, downregulated Bcl-2 (p < 0.05), and inhibited ALOX-5 mRNA gene expression (p < 0.001). MPc was not cytotoxic against normal human fibroblast cells (HDFa) at the tested concentrations. Moreover, MPc inhibited migration and invasion of PC3 cells (p < 0.01). These effects were accompanied by the downregulation of both VEGF-A and CXCL-12 gene expressions (p < 0.001). A monounsaturated 5-alkyl resorcinol was isolated as the active compound in the MPc extract and identified as 5-henicosene-1-yl-resorcinol. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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20 pages, 710 KiB  
Article
Indigenous-Amazonian Traditional Medicine’s Usage of the Tobacco Plant: A Transdisciplinary Ethnopsychological Mixed-Methods Case Study
by Ilana Berlowitz, Ernesto García Torres, Caroline Maake, Ursula Wolf and Chantal Martin-Soelch
Plants 2023, 12(2), 346; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020346 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2408
Abstract
Harmful usage of tobacco is a global public health problem associated with adverse health effects and addiction. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the native region of Nicotiana rustica L., this plant is used in remarkably different manners: it is considered a potent medicinal [...] Read more.
Harmful usage of tobacco is a global public health problem associated with adverse health effects and addiction. Yet, in the Peruvian Amazon, the native region of Nicotiana rustica L., this plant is used in remarkably different manners: it is considered a potent medicinal plant, applied in liquid form for oral ingestion to treat mental health problems, a common and ancient healing practice in this region. Using a transdisciplinary field research approach with mixed ethnopsychological methods, this work aimed to report for the first time a case study in this context. The intervention took place in the Peruvian Amazon (Loreto) and involved ritual tobacco ingestion in a weeklong retreat-like frame, administered by a specialized traditional Amazonian healer. The patient was a 37-year-old woman with diagnosed mood, anxiety, and attention deficit disorders, as well as a chronic somatic condition. We applied qualitative experience-sampling during and quantitative symptom assessments pre- and post-treatment. Our findings offer a detailed description of the experiential therapeutic process during the treatment week and suggest clinically relevant improvements in patient well-being. This work is significant in view of the globally prevalent harmful uses of tobacco and the current scientific trend of revisiting herbal psychoactives (e.g., cannabis, psilocybin) for their therapeutic potentials. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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14 pages, 16616 KiB  
Article
Assessment of Morphological, Anatomical and Palynological Variation in the Medicinal Plant Disporopsis longifolia Craib (Asparagaceae) for Botanical Quality Control
by Anuwat Sarapan, Trevor R. Hodkinson and Chalermpol Suwanphakdee
Plants 2023, 12(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020259 - 05 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1322
Abstract
Disporopsis longifolia Craib is an Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. The plants are well known for their steroidal saponins and phenolic compounds and are traditionally used as tonics for back pain, bellyache, cough, diabetes, asthma, pneumonia and rheumatism. However, they [...] Read more.
Disporopsis longifolia Craib is an Asian medicinal plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. The plants are well known for their steroidal saponins and phenolic compounds and are traditionally used as tonics for back pain, bellyache, cough, diabetes, asthma, pneumonia and rheumatism. However, they are challenging to identify to species level using morphology. This raises a serious concern for their medicinal applications where botanical quality control is essential. The most appropriate morphological, anatomical and pollen characters for species diagnosis were therefore determined. Synonyms were identified and lectotypification provided. The morphological characters were described from 76 fresh and dried specimens to include a broad range of materials from differing habitats and locations. Paraffin and peeling methods were applied for anatomical studies of leaves and stems and a modified acetolysis method was undertaken for pollen morphology. This paper compares the new character data to published data from other species in the genus, namely D. aspersa, D. fuscopicta, D. jinfushanensis, D. pernyi and D. undulata. This is the first report of such anatomical and pollen morphology characters for D. longifolia. The results provide accurate morphological, anatomical and palynological characters for quality control and are best applied in combination with each other. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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11 pages, 3030 KiB  
Article
Diuretic and Natriuretic Effects of Hesperidin, a Flavanone Glycoside, in Female and Male Hypertensive Rats
by Priscila de Souza, Rita de Cássia Vilhena da Silva, Luisa Nathália Bolda Mariano, Sabrina Lucietti Dick, Giovana Cardozo Ventura and Valdir Cechinel-Filho
Plants 2023, 12(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12010025 - 21 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1365
Abstract
Hesperidin (HSP) is a major flavanone glycoside in citrus fruits, including sweet oranges and lemons. It demonstrates numerous pharmacological activities, such as antihypertensive effects and cardiac and kidney tissue protection. However, its effect on modulating renal function has yet to be properly explored. [...] Read more.
Hesperidin (HSP) is a major flavanone glycoside in citrus fruits, including sweet oranges and lemons. It demonstrates numerous pharmacological activities, such as antihypertensive effects and cardiac and kidney tissue protection. However, its effect on modulating renal function has yet to be properly explored. Female and male Wistar spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were used to test the effect of HSP on renal function. The rats were divided into different groups, treated orally, and placed in metabolic cages for urine collection for 8 h. HSP, at doses of 0.3–3 mg/kg, led to an increase in urine volume in both female and male SHR. This effect was associated with increased Na+ elimination (3 mg/kg) without causing any change in K+ excretion or pH and conductivity values. When given HSP in combination with hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) or amiloride (AMLR), urine volume and Na+ elimination were significantly increased compared to the group that received only HSP. In relation to K+ excretion, the depleting effect of HCTZ and the sparing of AMLR prevailed in both groups. Pre-treatment with a non-selective cholinergic receptor antagonist, atropine, partially prevented HSP-induced diuresis and natriuresis in male SHR, but this effect was not demonstrated with the non-selective inhibitor of the enzyme cyclooxygenase, indomethacin. This study shows the diuretic action of HSP in hypertensive rats, an activity probably associated with the cholinergic pathway. Although various biological actions have already been defined for HSP, this pioneering research reveals its potential as a diuretic medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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13 pages, 7940 KiB  
Article
Chemical Survey of Three Species of the Genus Rauhia Traub (Amaryllidaceae)
by Luciana R. Tallini, Edison H. Osorio, Strahil Berkov, Laura Torras-Claveria, María L. Rodríguez-Escobar, Francesc Viladomat, Alan W. Meerow and Jaume Bastida
Plants 2022, 11(24), 3549; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11243549 - 16 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1562
Abstract
Plant biodiversity is an important source of compounds with medicinal properties. The alkaloid galanthamine, first isolated from Galanthus woronowii (Amaryllidaceae), is approved by the FDA for the palliative treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease due to its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. Obtaining [...] Read more.
Plant biodiversity is an important source of compounds with medicinal properties. The alkaloid galanthamine, first isolated from Galanthus woronowii (Amaryllidaceae), is approved by the FDA for the palliative treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease due to its acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity. Obtaining this active pharmaceutical ingredient, still sourced on an industrial scale from the Amaryllidaceae species, is a challenge for pharmaceutical companies due to its low natural yield and the high cost of its synthesis. The aim of this work was to determine the alkaloid profile of three different Rauhia (Amaryllidaceae) species collected in Peru, and to assess the potential application of their extracts for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. The alkaloids were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and the AChE inhibitory activity of the extracts was analyzed. Thirty compounds were quantified from the Rauhia species, the R. multiflora extract being the most interesting due to its high diversity of galanthamine-type structures. The R. multiflora extract was also the most active against AChE, with the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values of 0.17 ± 0.02 μg·mL−1 in comparison with the IC50 values of 0.53 ± 0.12 μg·mL−1 for galanthamine, used as a reference. Computational experiments were carried out on the activity of the galanthamine-type alkaloids identified in R. multiflora toward five different human AChE structures. The simulation of the molecules 3-O-acetylgalanthamine, 3-O-acetylsanguinine, narwedine, and lycoraminone on the 4EY6 crystal structure theoretically showed a higher inhibition of hAChE and different interactions with the active site compared to galanthamine. In conclusion, the results of this first alkaloid profiling of the Rauhia species indicate that R. multiflora is an important natural source of galanthamine-type structures and could be used as a model for the development of biotechnological tools necessary to advance the sustainable production of galanthamine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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26 pages, 556 KiB  
Article
Pulicaria dysenterica (L.) Bernh.—Rightfully Earned Name? Identification and Biological Activity of New 3-Methoxycuminyl Esters from P. dysenterica Essential Oil
by Niko S. Radulović, Marko Z. Mladenović, Dušan R. Vukićević, Nikola M. Stojanović, Pavle J. Randjelović, Zorica Z. Stojanović-Radić and Fabio Boylan
Plants 2022, 11(23), 3340; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11233340 - 01 Dec 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1434
Abstract
Motivated by the ethnopharmacological use of Pulicaria dysenterica, in the present study, the antimicrobial potential of the extracted essential oil was investigated against a panel of eighteen microorganism strains. Additionally, anti-acetylcholinesterase and antispasmodic (isolated rat distal colon) activities, general acute toxicity ( [...] Read more.
Motivated by the ethnopharmacological use of Pulicaria dysenterica, in the present study, the antimicrobial potential of the extracted essential oil was investigated against a panel of eighteen microorganism strains. Additionally, anti-acetylcholinesterase and antispasmodic (isolated rat distal colon) activities, general acute toxicity (Artemia salina model), and immunomodulatory properties (cytotoxicity on isolated mouse macrophages) were studied. Detailed analyses of the essential oil led to the identification of 3-methoxycuminyl 2-methylbutanoate (a new natural product) and 3-methoxycuminyl 3-methylbutanoate (a rare natural product). The obtained esters and intermediates in the synthesis of the starting alcohol (3-methoxycuminol) were subjected to a battery of 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. The synthesized esters were additionally characterized by GC–MS, IR, and UV–Vis. The synthesized compounds (ten in total) were biologically tested in the same way as the extracted P. dysenterica essential oil. The obtained low acute toxicity and promising antimicrobial potential suggest that the P. dysenterica essential oil might partially explain the ethnopharmacological application of P. dysenterica plant material for the treatment of gastrointestinal infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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12 pages, 2253 KiB  
Article
Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) Ethanol Extract Activity on Acetylcholinesterase and PPAR-α/γ Receptors
by Kicia Karinne Pereira Gomes-Copeland, Cinthia Gabriel Meireles, João Victor Dutra Gomes, Amanda Gomes Torres, Simone Batista Pires Sinoti, Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo, Pérola de Oliveira Magalhães, Christopher William Fagg, Luiz Alberto Simeoni and Dâmaris Silveira
Plants 2022, 11(22), 3179; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223179 - 21 Nov 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1567
Abstract
Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) is an endemic plant species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol extract from H. stapfianum leaves on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity and the action on nuclear receptors [...] Read more.
Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) is an endemic plant species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol extract from H. stapfianum leaves on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity and the action on nuclear receptors PPAR-α and PPAR-γ. A gene reporter assay was performed to assess the PPAR agonist or antagonist activity with a non-toxic dose of H. stapfianum ethanol extract. The antioxidant capacity was investigated using DPPH scavenging and fosfomolybdenium reduction assays. The identification of H. stapfianum‘s chemical composition was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and HPLC. The ethanol extract of H. stapfianum activated PPAR-α and PPAR-γ selectively, inhibited the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, and presented antioxidant activity in an in vitro assay. The major compounds identified were lycorine, 7-demethoxy-9-O-methylhostasine, and rutin. Therefore, H. stapfianum is a potential source of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease due to its ability to activate PPAR receptors, acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, and antioxidant attributes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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16 pages, 2949 KiB  
Article
Hydroethanolic Extract of Morus nigra L. Leaves: A Dual PPAR-α/γ Agonist with Anti-Inflammatory Properties in Lipopolysaccharide-Stimulated RAW 264.7
by Amanda de Assis Carneiro, Simone Batista Pires Sinoti, Marcela Medeiros de Freitas, Luiz Alberto Simeoni, Christopher William Fagg, Pérola de Oliveira Magalhães, Dâmaris Silveira and Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo
Plants 2022, 11(22), 3147; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223147 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1577
Abstract
Inhibition of systemic inflammation has been a beneficial strategy in treating several non-communicable diseases, which represent one of the major causes of mortality in the world. The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR) are interesting pharmacological targets, since they can act both through the metabolic [...] Read more.
Inhibition of systemic inflammation has been a beneficial strategy in treating several non-communicable diseases, which represent one of the major causes of mortality in the world. The Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors (PPAR) are interesting pharmacological targets, since they can act both through the metabolic and anti-inflammatory pathways. Morus nigra L. has flavonoids in its chemical composition with recognized anti-oxidant activity and often associated with anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the hydroethanolic extract of M. nigra leaves’ ability to activate PPAR and promote anti-inflammatory effects in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophage cells. The leaf extract was prepared by cold maceration, and the chemical profile was obtained by HPLC-DAD. Activation of PPAR α and γ was evaluated by the luciferase reporter assay. The anti-inflammatory activity was assessed by measuring the reactive oxygen species (ROS), nitric oxide (NO), and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α (TNF-α) in RAW 264.7 cells after stimulation with LPS from Escherichia coli. The HPLC-DAD analysis identified two major compounds: rutin and isoquercitrin. The extract showed agonist activity for the two types of PPAR, α and γ, although its major compounds, rutin and isoquercitrin, did not significantly activate the receptors. In addition, the extract significantly reduced the production of ROS, NO, and TNF-α. Treatment with the specific PPAR-α antagonist, GW 6471, was able to partially block the anti-inflammatory effect caused by the extract. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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27 pages, 2597 KiB  
Article
Ethnobotanical Survey of Medicinal Plants Used in the Treatment of COVID-19 and Related Respiratory Infections in Ogbomosho South and North Local Government Areas, Oyo State, Nigeria
by Christiana Adeyinka Odebunmi, Tomi Lois Adetunji, Ademola Emmanuel Adetunji, Ahmed Olatunde, Oluwatosin Esther Oluwole, Idowu Ayodeji Adewale, Abdulrasak Opeyemi Ejiwumi, Chinwenwa Esther Iheme and Taiwo Opeyemi Aremu
Plants 2022, 11(19), 2667; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192667 - 10 Oct 2022
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3917
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has extensively spread worldwide with high mortality. Besides vaccination, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved only one oral medication as a treatment. Medicinal plants with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties could be explored as complementary treatments for COVID-19. [...] Read more.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has extensively spread worldwide with high mortality. Besides vaccination, the United States Food and Drug Administration approved only one oral medication as a treatment. Medicinal plants with antiviral and immunomodulatory properties could be explored as complementary treatments for COVID-19. Ogbomosho is home to such plants traditionally used to treat infectious diseases in Nigeria, making it relevant in complementary medicine. An ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants used to treat COVID-19 and related ailments, including cough and flu in Ogbomosho South and North Local Government Areas, Nigeria, was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire. Information was obtained from 56 participants, consisting of different groups of individuals with native knowledge of medicinal plants, and ethnobotanical indices, including the frequency of citation (FC), relative frequency of citation (RFC), and fidelity level (FL) were computed. Twenty-six medicinal plants (17 families) were used to treat COVID-19, 31 (20 families) for cough, and 29 (19 families) for flu. The most cited plant was Zingiber officinale (FC = 10; RFC = 0.18; FL = 18%) for treating COVID-19, Citrus limon (FC = 13; RFC = 0.23; FL = 23%) for cough, and Zingiber officinale (FC = 9; RFC = 0.16; FL = 16%) for flu. Leaves were the most used plant part for treating COVID-19 and flu, while the bark was the most used for cough. Trees and herbs were the most cited plant growth forms. The herbal remedies were mostly prepared by decoction and infusion and were mainly administered orally. Further research should be conducted on the identified species for the scientific validation of their antiviral and immunomodulatory efficacies and safety for use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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11 pages, 2593 KiB  
Article
Volatiles of Capparis cartilaginea Decne. from Saudi Arabia
by Bashaer Alsharif, Grace Adebusola Babington, Niko Radulović and Fabio Boylan
Plants 2022, 11(19), 2518; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11192518 - 26 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1680
Abstract
In this study, GC and GC–MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Saudi Arabian Capparis cartilaginea Decne. (CC) allowed for the identification of 41 constituents, comprising 99.99% of the total oil composition. The major compounds identified were isopropyl isothiocyanate [...] Read more.
In this study, GC and GC–MS analysis of the essential oil obtained from the leaves of Saudi Arabian Capparis cartilaginea Decne. (CC) allowed for the identification of 41 constituents, comprising 99.99% of the total oil composition. The major compounds identified were isopropyl isothiocyanate (31.0%), 2-methylbutanenitrile (21.4%), 2-butyl isothiocyanate (18.1%), isobutyronitrile (15.4%), and 3-methylbutanenitrile (8.2%). The chemical composition of the derived oil and 12 additional oils obtained from selected Capparis taxa were compared using multivariate analyses including principal component analysis (PCA) and agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis (AHC). The results of the statistical analyses of this particular data set pointed out that isopropyl isothiocyanate could be potentially used as a valuable infrageneric chemotaxonomical marker for CC. Moreover, the results distinctly separate CC from other members of its genus on the basis of its components. In addition, environmental and geographical stressors may be implicated in the essential oil profile of plants found within the genus Capparis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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11 pages, 641 KiB  
Article
Chemical Composition and In Vitro Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Campomanesia lineatifolia Ruiz & Pavón (Myrtaceae) Essential Oil
by Nívea Cristina Vieira Neves, Morgana Pinheiro de Mello, Sinéad Marian Smith, Fabio Boylan, Marcelo Vidigal Caliari and Rachel Oliveira Castilho
Plants 2022, 11(15), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151945 - 27 Jul 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2069
Abstract
Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers, and the number of resistant strains to multiple conventional antimicrobial agents has been increasing in different parts of the world. Several studies have shown that some essential oils (EO) have bioactive [...] Read more.
Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers, and the number of resistant strains to multiple conventional antimicrobial agents has been increasing in different parts of the world. Several studies have shown that some essential oils (EO) have bioactive compounds, which can be attributed to antimicrobial activity. Therefore, EOs have been proposed as a natural alternative to antibiotics, or for use in combination with conventional treatment for H. pylori infection. Campomanesia lineatifolia is an edible species found in the Brazilian forests, and their leaves are traditionally used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and antioxidant properties are attributed to C. lineatifolia leaf extracts; however, studies related to the chemical constituents of the essential oil and anti-H. pylori activity is not described. This work aims to identify the chemical composition of the EO from C. lineatifolia leaves and evaluate the anti-H. pylori activity. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation from C. lineatifolia leaves and characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses. To assess the in vitro anti-H. pylori activity of the C. lineatifolia leaf’s EO (6 μL/mL–25 μL/mL), we performed broth microdilution assays by using type cultures (ATCC 49503, NCTC 11638, both clarithromycin-sensitive) and clinical isolate strains (SSR359, clarithromycin-sensitive, and SSR366, clarithromycin-resistant). A total of eight new compounds were identified from the EO (3-hexen-1-ol (46.15%), α-cadinol (20.35%), 1,1-diethoxyethane (13.08%), 2,3-dicyano-7,7-dimethyl-5,6-benzonorbornadiene (10.78%), aromadendrene 2 (3.0%), [3-S-(3α, 3aα, 6α, 8aα)]-4,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,7,7-trimethyl-8-methylene-3H-3a,6-methanoazulene (2.99%), α-bisabolol (0.94%), and β-curcumene (0.8%)), corresponding to 98.09% of the total oil composition. The EO inhibited the growth of all H. pylori strains tested (MIC 6 μL/mL). To our knowledge, the current study investigates the relation between the chemical composition and the anti-H. pylori activity of the C. lineatifolia EO for the first time. Our findings show the potential use of the C. lineatifolia leaf EO against sensitive and resistant clarithromycin H. pylori strains and suggest that this antimicrobial activity could be related to its ethnopharmacological use. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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19 pages, 5039 KiB  
Article
In Vitro Anti-Proliferative, and Kinase Inhibitory Activity of Phenanthroindolizidine Alkaloids Isolated from Tylophora indica
by Ehab M. Mostafa, Hamdoon A. Mohammed, Arafa Musa, Mohamed A. Abdelgawad, Mohammad M. Al-Sanea, Suliman A. Almahmoud, Mohammed M. Ghoneim, Hesham A. M. Gomaa, Fatema El-Zahraa S. Abdel Rahman, Khaled Shalaby, Samy Selim and Riaz A. Khan
Plants 2022, 11(10), 1295; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101295 - 12 May 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1726
Abstract
The phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid (-)-tylophorine has been reported for its significant anticancer activity working through different biomechanistic pathways. The current study aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids isolated from Tylophora indica. Six phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid (compounds 16) in [...] Read more.
The phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid (-)-tylophorine has been reported for its significant anticancer activity working through different biomechanistic pathways. The current study aimed to evaluate the anticancer activity of phenanthroindolizidine alkaloids isolated from Tylophora indica. Six phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid (compounds 16) in addition to septicine (7), chlorogenic acid (8), and chlorogenic acid methyl ester (9) were isolated from Tylophora indica using different chromatographic techniques including vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) and preparative high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The isolated compounds structures’ were determined using various spectro-analytical techniques, i.e., 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectrometry. The isolates’ structural stereochemistry and structural geometries were determined with the help of chiroptical techniques together with comparisons with the available standard samples. The in vitro anti-proliferative activity on three different cell lines, MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 were evaluated. Among all the isolated compounds, tylophorinidine (5) was the most active cytotoxic agent with the lowest IC50 values at 6.45, 4.77, and 20.08 μM against MCF-7, HepG2, and HCT-116 cell lines, respectively. The bioactivities were also validated by the in vitro kinase receptors inhibition assay. Compound (5) also exhibited the highest activity with lowest IC50 values (0.6 and 1.3 μM against the Aurora-A and Aurora-B enzymes, respectively), as compared with all the isolated alkaloidal products. The structure activity relationship on the molecular properties, molecular attributes, and bioactivity levels were analyzed, interrelated, and the molecular docking studies on two different receptors, Aurora-A and Aurora-B, were determined, which provided the confirmations of the bioactivity with receptor-ligand geometric disposition, energy requirements, lipophilicity, and detailed the binding pharmacophore involvements responsible for bioactivity elicitations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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Review

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19 pages, 1406 KiB  
Review
Ethnobotanical Review and Dataset Compiling on Wild and Cultivated Plants Traditionally Used as Medicinal Remedies in Italy
by Stefania Monari, Maura Ferri, Mirko Salinitro and Annalisa Tassoni
Plants 2022, 11(15), 2041; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11152041 - 04 Aug 2022
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2033
Abstract
Over the centuries, wild plants have constituted the main food ingredients and traditional medicine in rural communities. In the last decades, thousands of ethnobotanical studies have been conducted, with the aim of documenting the traditional knowledge on wild and cultivated plants both for [...] Read more.
Over the centuries, wild plants have constituted the main food ingredients and traditional medicine in rural communities. In the last decades, thousands of ethnobotanical studies have been conducted, with the aim of documenting the traditional knowledge on wild and cultivated plants both for food and therapeutic purposes. In the present work, 75 published papers related to Italian ethnobotanical knowledge on wild and cultivated plants traditionally used for medical purposes were analyzed and data on 1117 different species organized in the first dataset to target medicinal applications only. For each plant species, the Italian region of use, plant organs, mode of preparation, specific pathological group of application, citation index, and use index were listed. The different therapeutic applications were subdivided into nine main pathological groups according to the targeted human apparatus. Overall, the cited species with highest number of uses were related to the treatment of the digestive system and skin-ears-eyes-hair diseases, followed by diseases of the genito-urinary and respiratory systems. The 13 most relevant species were identified on the basis of their citation and use indexes. The present review on Italian medicinal flora aims to provide valuable information on wild and cultivated species, which are potential sources of plant-based therapeutic remedies, to preserve and reevaluate endangered traditional folk knowledge. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)
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