-
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies May 2024Medicinal plants play a major role in the delivery of healthcare, particularly among the rural population of Ethiopia. Plant extracts and their bioactive compounds have...
BACKGROUND
Medicinal plants play a major role in the delivery of healthcare, particularly among the rural population of Ethiopia. Plant extracts and their bioactive compounds have been utilized for the treatment of several diseases. This study was aimed at evaluating the antibacterial activity, antioxidant capacity, and phytochemical content of selected medicinal plants used in Dibatie district, western Ethiopia.
METHODS
Study plants were collected, shade dried, pulverized, extracted by maceration in 80% ethanol, and subjected to antibacterial, antioxidant, and phytochemical tests. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using 96-well microplates and nutrient broth microdilution. Antioxidant activity was evaluated using the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay. Phytochemical screening was conducted using standard test methods.
RESULTS
The ethanolic extract of Polystachya steudneri Rchb.f. pseudobulbs was the most active against gram-negative Proteus mirabilis, Salmonella typhimurium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Shigella flexneri, with MIC values of 8 ± 0, 11 ± 5, 3 ± 1, 3 ± 1, and 2 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. The ethanolic extract of P. steudneri was also the most effective against gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Enterococcus faecalis, with MIC values of 8 ± 0, 8 ± 0, 3 ± 1, and 16 ± 0 mg/mL, respectively. Ethanolic extracts of Gnidia involucrata Steud. ex A.Rich. stems and roots were effective antioxidants, with respective 50% DPPH free radical inhibitory concentrations (IC) of 168.68 and 181.79 µg/mL, followed by that of P. steudneri (IC = 203.11 µg/mL). The study plants contained alkaloids, anthocyanins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, coumarins, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, steroids, tannins, and terpenoids.
CONCLUSIONS
This study confirmed the antibiotic, antioxidant, and phytochemical constituents of the investigated plants and suggested further investigations that may lead to bioactive lead compounds.
Topics: Ethiopia; Plants, Medicinal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Plant Extracts; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Phytochemicals; Medicine, African Traditional; Humans; Bacteria
PubMed: 38773522
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04499-x -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024Rhubarb is widely used in health care, but causing a great amount of rhein-containing herbal residue. Rhein with several toxicities might pollute environment, damage...
Rhubarb is widely used in health care, but causing a great amount of rhein-containing herbal residue. Rhein with several toxicities might pollute environment, damage ecology and even hazard human health if left untreated. In this study, the degradation effects of bisulfite- (BS) and peroxymonosulfate- (PMS) based oxidation systems on rhein in rhubarb residue were compared and investigated. The effects of BS and PMS with two valence states of ferric ion (Fe) on the degradation of rhein in rhubarb residue were optimized for the selection of optimal oxidation system. The influences of reaction temperature, reaction time and initial pH on the removal of rhein under the optimal oxidation system were evaluated. The chemical profiles of rhubarb residue with and without oxidation process were compared by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS, and the degradation effects were investigated by PLS-DA and S plot/OPLS-DA analysis. The results manifested that PMS showed relative higher efficiency than BS on the degradation of rhein. Moreover, Fe(III) promoted the degradation effect of PMS, demonstrated that Fe(III)/PMS is the optimal oxidation system to degrade rhein in rhubarb residue. Further studies indicated that the degradation of rhein by the Fe(III)/PMS oxidation system was accelerated with the prolong of reaction time and the elevation of reaction temperature, and also affected by the initial pH. More importantly, Fe(III)/PMS oxidation system could degrade rhein in rhubarb residue completely under the optimal conditions. In conclusion, Fe(III)/PMS oxidation system is a feasible method to treat rhein in rhubarb residue.
Topics: Anthraquinones; Rheum; Oxidation-Reduction; Peroxides; Tandem Mass Spectrometry; Sulfites; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Ferric Compounds; Temperature
PubMed: 38772144
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116474 -
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Jul 2024The purpose of this study is to evaluate the decolorization ability and detoxification effect of LAC-4 laccase on various types of single and mixed dyes, and lay a good...
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the decolorization ability and detoxification effect of LAC-4 laccase on various types of single and mixed dyes, and lay a good foundation for better application of laccase in the efficient treatment of dye pollutants. The reaction system of the LAC-4 decolorizing single dyes (azo, anthraquinone, triphenylmethane, and indigo dyes, 17 dyes in total) were established. To explore the decolorization effect of the dye mixture by LAC-4, two dyes of the same type or different types were mixed at the same concentration (100 mg/L) in the reaction system containing 0.5 U laccase, and time-course decolorization were performed on the dye mixture. The combined dye mixtures consisted of azo + azo, azo + anthraquinone, azo + indigo, azo + triphenylmethane, indigo + triphenylmethane, and triphenylmethane + triphenylmethane. The results obtained in this study were as follows. Under optimal conditions of 30 °C and pH 5.0, LAC-4 (0.5 U) can efficiently decolorize four different types of dyes. The 24-hour decolorization efficiencies of LAC-4 for 800 mg/L Orange G and Acid Orange 7 (azo), Remazol Brilliant Blue R (anthraquinone), Bromophenol Blue and Methyl Green (triphenylmethane), and Indigo Carmine (indigo) were 75.94%, 93.30%, 96.56%, 99.94%, 96.37%, and 37.23%, respectively. LAC-4 could also efficiently decolorize mixed dyes with different structures. LAC-4 can achieve a decolorization efficiency of over 80% for various dye mixtures such as Orange G + Indigo Carmine (100 mg/L+100 mg/L), Reactive Orange 16 + Methyl Green (100 mg/L+100 mg/L), and Remazol Brilliant Blue R + Methyl Green (100 mg/L+100 mg/L). During the decolorization process of the mixed dyes by laccase, four different interaction relationships were observed between the dyes. Decolorization efficiencies and rates of the dyes that were difficult to be degraded by laccase could be greatly improved when mixed with other dyes. Degradable dyes could greatly enhance the ability of LAC-4 to decolorize extremely difficult-to-degrade dyes. It was also found that the decolorization efficiencies of the two dyes significantly increased after mixing. The possible mechanisms underlying the different interaction relationships were further discussed. Free, but not immobilized, LAC-4 showed a strong continuous batch decolorization ability for single dyes, two-dye mixtures, and four-dye mixtures with different structures. LAC-4 exhibited high stability, sustainable degradability, and good reusability in the continuous batch decolorization. The LAC-4-catalyzed decolorization markedly reduced or fully abolished the toxic effects of single dyes (azo, anthraquinone, and indigo dye) and mix dyes (nine dye mixtures containing four structural types of dyes) on plants. Our findings indicated that LAC-4 laccase had significant potential for use in bioremediation due to its efficient degradation and detoxification of single and mixed dyes with different structural types.
Topics: Coloring Agents; Laccase; Azo Compounds; Reishi; Trityl Compounds; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Biodegradation, Environmental; Anthraquinones; Indigo Carmine; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Water Decolorization; White
PubMed: 38768540
DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116450 -
Evidence-based Complementary and... 2024This study was conducted to isolate and identify the chemical compounds from the roots of (L.) and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. From the...
This study was conducted to isolate and identify the chemical compounds from the roots of (L.) and evaluate their antioxidant and antibacterial activities. From the acetone (99.5%) extract of the roots of this plant, four anthraquinones, such as chrysophanol (), asphodeline (), aloesaponarin I (), and laccaic acid D-methyl ester (), and a new catechol derivative, 5-allyl-3-methoxybenzene-1,2-diol (), were isolated and elucidated by different chromatographic and spectroscopic methods together with linoleic acid (), respectively. Compounds , and were reported here for the first time from this plant and compound from the genus . The compounds were evaluated for their antioxidant activity using HO and DPPH assays and bactericidal activity against and . Compounds and showed highest antioxidant activities with IC values of 19.38 ± 0.64 and 32.81 ± 0.78 g/mL in DPPH, and 28.52 ± 1.08 and 27.31 ± 1.46 g/mL in HO, respectively. The isolated compounds also demonstrated considerable activity towards . Among these compounds, compound exhibited the highest activity (91.20 ± 0.12% and 9.14 ± 0.93 mm at 1.0 mg/mL) against this bacterium. The overall results suggest that the isolated compounds may be considered as potential sources of the bioactive agents to be used in the pharmacological, food, and other industries. Moreover, their high sensitivity against may also support the use of plant in the traditional medicine to treat wounds. Therefore, the isolated compounds are responsible for medicinal properties of this plant.
PubMed: 38746073
DOI: 10.1155/2024/6651648 -
Frontiers in Pharmacology 2024Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to release heat and has cathartic effects. Official rhubarb in Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopeias 4th edition (THP 4th)...
Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) used to release heat and has cathartic effects. Official rhubarb in Taiwan Herbal Pharmacopeias 4th edition (THP 4th) and China Pharmacopeia 2020 (CP 2020) are the roots and rhizomes of L., Maxim. ex Balf., and Baill. However, the genus is a large genus with many different species, and owing to the similarity in appearance and taste with official rhubarb, there needs to be more clarity in the distinction between the species of rhubarb and their applications. Given the time-consuming and complicated extraction and chromatography methods outlined in pharmacopeias, we improved the qualitative analysis and quantitative analysis methods for rhubarb in the market. Hence, we applied our method to identify the species and quality of official and unofficial rhubarb. We analyzed 21 rhubarb samples from the Taiwanese market using a proposed HPLC-based extraction and qualitative analysis employing eight markers: aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, physcion, rhapontigenin, rhaponticin, and resveratrol. Additionally, we developed a TLC method for the analysis of rhubarb. KEGG pathway analysis was used to clarify the phytochemical and pharmacological knowledge of official and unofficial rhubarb. Rhein and rhapontigenin emerged as key markers to differentiate official and unofficial rhubarb. Rhapontigenin is abundant in unofficial rhubarb; however, rhein content was low. In contrast, their contents in official rhubarb were opposite to their contents in unofficial rhubarb. The TLC analysis used rhein and rhapontigenin to identify rhubarb in Taiwan's markets, whereas the KEGG pathway analysis revealed that anthraquinones and stilbenes affected different pathways. Eight reference standards were used in this study to propose a quality control method for rhubarb in Taiwanese markets. We propose a rapid extraction method and quantitative analysis of rhubarb to differentiate between official and unofficial rhubarb.
PubMed: 38746013
DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1364460 -
Journal of Nanobiotechnology May 2024Chemotherapy, the mainstay treatment for metastatic cancer, presents serious side effects due to off-target exposure. In addition to the negative impact on patients'...
BACKGROUND
Chemotherapy, the mainstay treatment for metastatic cancer, presents serious side effects due to off-target exposure. In addition to the negative impact on patients' quality of life, side effects limit the dose that can be administered and thus the efficacy of the drug. Encapsulation of chemotherapeutic drugs in nanocarriers is a promising strategy to mitigate these issues. However, avoiding premature drug release from the nanocarriers and selectively targeting the tumour remains a challenge.
RESULTS
In this study, we present a pioneering method for drug integration into nanoparticles known as mesoporous organosilica drugs (MODs), a distinctive variant of periodic mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles (PMOs) in which the drug is an inherent component of the silica nanoparticle structure. This groundbreaking approach involves the chemical modification of drugs to produce bis-organosilane prodrugs, which act as silica precursors for MOD synthesis. Mitoxantrone (MTO), a drug used to treat metastatic breast cancer, was selected for the development of MTO@MOD nanomedicines, which demonstrated a significant reduction in breast cancer cell viability. Several MODs with different amounts of MTO were synthesised and found to be efficient nanoplatforms for the sustained delivery of MTO after biodegradation. In addition, FeO NPs were incorporated into the MODs to generate magnetic MODs to actively target the tumour and further enhance drug efficacy. Importantly, magnetic MTO@MODs underwent a Fenton reaction, which increased cancer cell death twofold compared to non-magnetic MODs.
CONCLUSIONS
A new PMO-based material, MOD nanomedicines, was synthesised using the chemotherapeutic drug MTO as a silica precursor. MTO@MOD nanomedicines demonstrated their efficacy in significantly reducing the viability of breast cancer cells. In addition, we incorporated FeO into MODs to generate magnetic MODs for active tumour targeting and enhanced drug efficacy by ROS generation. These findings pave the way for the designing of silica-based multitherapeutic nanomedicines for cancer treatment with improved drug delivery, reduced side effects and enhanced efficacy.
Topics: Humans; Breast Neoplasms; Female; Cell Survival; Organosilicon Compounds; Antineoplastic Agents; Mitoxantrone; Cell Line, Tumor; Drug Carriers; Silicon Dioxide; Porosity; Drug Liberation; Nanoparticles; MCF-7 Cells; Nanomedicine; Reactive Oxygen Species
PubMed: 38745193
DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02522-4 -
Nature Communications May 2024Electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (HO) production (EHPP) via a two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR) provides a promising alternative to replace the...
Electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (HO) production (EHPP) via a two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR) provides a promising alternative to replace the energy-intensive anthraquinone process. M-N-C electrocatalysts, which consist of atomically dispersed transition metals and nitrogen-doped carbon, have demonstrated considerable EHPP efficiency. However, their full potential, particularly regarding the correlation between structural configurations and performances in neutral media, remains underexplored. Herein, a series of ultralow metal-loading M-N-C electrocatalysts are synthesized and investigated for the EHPP process in the neutral electrolyte. CoNCB material with the asymmetric Co-C/N/O configuration exhibits the highest EHPP activity and selectivity among various as-prepared M-N-C electrocatalyst, with an outstanding mass activity (6.1 × 10A g at 0.5 V vs. RHE), and a high practical HO production rate (4.72 mol g h cm). Compared with the popularly recognized square-planar symmetric Co-N configuration, the superiority of asymmetric Co-C/N/O configurations is elucidated by X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy analysis and computational studies.
PubMed: 38744850
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48209-0 -
Natural Products and Bioprospecting May 2024Among microorganisms, fungi are the ones that have the most imagination in producing secondary metabolites with the most varied structural differences, which are...
Among microorganisms, fungi are the ones that have the most imagination in producing secondary metabolites with the most varied structural differences, which are produced through different biosynthetic pathways. Therefore, they synthesize secondary metabolites classifiable into numerous families of natural compounds such as amino acids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, aromatic compounds, cyclohexene epoxides, furanones, macrolides, naphthoquinones, polyketides, pyrones, terpenes, etc. They also produced metabolites with very complex structures that can not be classified in the known families of natural compounds. Many fungal metabolites show different biological activities with potential applications in agriculture, food chemistry, cosmetics, pharmacology and medicine. This review is focused on the fungal secondary metabolites with anticancer activity isolated in the last ten years. For some metabolites, when described, their biosynthetic origin, the mode of action and the results of structure activity relationships studies are also reported.
PubMed: 38743184
DOI: 10.1007/s13659-024-00452-0 -
European Journal of Histochemistry : EJH May 2024Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading public health issue associated with high morbidity worldwide. However, there are only a few effective therapeutic strategies...
Emodin improves renal fibrosis in chronic kidney disease by regulating mitochondrial homeostasis through the mediation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α).
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a leading public health issue associated with high morbidity worldwide. However, there are only a few effective therapeutic strategies for CKD. Emodin, an anthraquinone compound from rhubarb, can inhibit fibrosis in tissues and cells. Our study aims to investigate the antifibrotic effect of emodin and the underlying molecular mechanism. A unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-induced rat model was established to evaluate the effect of emodin on renal fibrosis development. Hematoxylin and eosin staining, Masson's trichrome staining, and immunohistochemistry staining were performed to analyze histopathological changes and fibrotic features after emodin treatment. Subsequently, a transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced cell model was used to assess the inhibition of emodin on cell fibrosis in vitro. Furthermore, Western blot analysis and real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were performed to validate the regulatory mechanism of emodin on renal fibrosis progression. As a result, emodin significantly improved histopathological abnormalities in rats with UUO. The expression of fibrosis biomarkers and mitochondrial biogenesis-related proteins also decreased after emodin treatment. Moreover, emodin blocked TGF-β1-induced fibrotic phenotype, lipid accumulation, and mitochondrial homeostasis in NRK-52E cells. Conversely, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) silencing significantly reversed these features in emodin-treated cells. Collectively, emodin plays an important role in regulating PGC-1α-mediated mitochondria function and energy homeostasis. This indicates that emodin exhibits great inhibition against renal fibrosis and acts as a promising inhibitor of CKD.
Topics: Animals; Emodin; Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Gamma Coactivator 1-alpha; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic; Fibrosis; Mitochondria; Male; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Homeostasis; Kidney; Ureteral Obstruction; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; Cell Line
PubMed: 38742403
DOI: 10.4081/ejh.2024.3917 -
Communications Chemistry May 2024Two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR) is a promising alternative to energy-intensive anthraquinone process for hydrogen peroxide (HO) production. Metal-free...
Two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2e ORR) is a promising alternative to energy-intensive anthraquinone process for hydrogen peroxide (HO) production. Metal-free nanocarbon materials have garnered intensive attention as highly prospective electrocatalysts for HO production, and an in-depth understanding of their porous structure and active sites have become a critical scientific challenge. The present research investigates a range of porous carbon catalysts, including non-porous, microporous, and mesoporous structures, to elucidate the impacts of porous structures on 2e ORR activity. The results highlighted the superiority of mesoporous carbon over other porous materials, demonstrating remarkable HO selectivity. Furthermore, integration of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) data analysis with electrochemical assessment results unravels the moderate surface oxygen content is the key to increase 2e ORR activity. These results not only highlight the intricate interplay between pore structure and oxygen content in determining catalytic selectivity, but also enable the design of carbon catalysts for specific electrochemical reactions.
PubMed: 38740979
DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01194-3