Ataa Said

NMR and Radical Scavenging Activities of Patuletin from Urtica urens. Against Aflatoxin B1

Abstract In a previous study, we reported six flavonoids isolated from the methanol extract of Urtica urens L. Patuletin, the major component, was found to have powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. We have now investigated whether patuletin also has antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging effects in rats treated with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1). Male Sprague-Dawley rats (60) were assigned to 6 experimental groups including a control group and groups treated for 10 days with patuletin at low dose (7.5 mg/kg b.w) or high dose (10 mg/kg b.w) with or without AFB1 (2 mg/kg b.w). Blood samples were collected at the end of the experimental period for biochemical analysis. The results showed significant changes typical to aflatoxicosis in rats treated only with AFB1. Patuletin at the two tested doses caused an increase in glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD); high doses also caused an increase in liver and kidney enzymes, except total bilirubin (TB), which was in the normal value of the control animals. On the other hand, these enzymes were comparable to the controls in rats treated with low doses. Cotreatment of AFB1 and patuletin resulted in a significant improvement in all parameters tested. We conclude that patuletin possesses an antioxidant activity and free radical scavenging effects in AFB1-treated rats that can be observed at a dose as low as 7.5 mg/kg b.w.

Zizyphus jujuba and Origanum majorana extracts protect against hydroquinone-induced clastogenicity.

Hydroquinone (HQ) is a myelotoxin that is found in many foods and formed through the metabolism of benzene. HQ is genotoxic in several in vitro and in vivo test systems, inducing micronuclei (MN), sister-chromatid exchange (SCE), and chromosomal aberrations. The aim of the current study was to explore the protective effect of Zizyphus jujuba and Origanum majorana extracts against HQ-induced genotoxicity in male mice. Five groups of mice included the control group, HQ-treated group, and the groups treated with the extracts alone or in combination with HQ. The results indicated that treatment with HQ resulted in significant clastogenetic effects and histological changes typical to those reported in the literature. Both extracts exhibited a protection against HQ-induced cytogenesis and histological changes. Moreover, Z. jujuba extract was effective than O. majorana extract. It could be concluded that both extracts are useful especially for people who are occupationally exposed to benzene or its metabolites.

In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of flavonoids from Ailanthus excelsa (Roxb.) (Simaroubaceae) leaves.

The present study aimed to investigate the chemical composition, and the antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of Ailanthus excelsa, a plant used in Egyptian traditional medicine. Chromatographic separation of a methanol extract of A. excelsa leaves yielded four fl avones, namely apigenin (1), apigenin 7-O-β-glucoside (2), luteolin (3), and luteolin 7-O-β-glucoside (4), and seven fl avonols, namely kaempferol (5), kaempferol 3-O-α-arabinoside (6), kaempferol 3-O-β-galactoside (7), quercetin (8), quercetin 3-O-α-arabinoside (9), quercetin 3-O-β- galactoside (10), and quercetin 3-O-rutinoside (11). The A. excelsa extract tested in different in vitro systems (DPPH and FRAP assays) showed significant antioxidant activity. The potential antiproliferative activity of the A. excelsa extract and isolated flavonoids against five human cancer cell lines such as ACHN, COR-L23, A375, C32, and A549 was investigated in vitro by the SRB assay in comparison with one normal cell line, 142BR. The extract exhibited the highest inhibitory activity against C32 cells with an IC50 value of 36.5 μg ml-1. Interesting activity against COR-L23 was found with 10 (IC50 value of 3.2 μg ml-1). Compounds 1 and 3 inhibited cell growth in both amelanotic melanoma and malignant melanoma cells.

Anti-plasmodial activity of Ailanthus excelsa

The anti-plasmodial activity of Ailanthus excelsa stem bark was investigated. The methanolic extract inhibited in vitro growth of chloroquine-sensitive (D10) and resistant strains (W2) of Plasmodium falciparum (IC50 4.6 and 2.8 microg/ml, respectively). The effect was retained in the chloroform fraction (3.1 and 2.1 microg/ml, respectively). The anti-plasmodial activity could be ascribed to the impairment of haemoglobin degradation through the inhibition of plasmepsin II activity (IC50 of 13.43+/-1.74 microg/ml) and of the haem detoxification to haemozoin.

Anti-inflammatory of pyrrolizidine alkaloids from Heliotropium digynum

One new and six known pyrrolizidine alkaloids (1–7) were isolated from the 70% ethanol extract of the aerial parts of Heliotropium digynum (Forssk.) C. Chr. The chemical structure of the new compound, 7-Angeloylsincamidine N-Oxide (4) was determined by extensive 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic analysis and HRESIMS. The absolute configuration of 4 was elucidated by comparing the experimental and electronic circular dichroism spectra. The anti-inflammatory activity of the ethanolic extract and compounds 1, 2, 4, and 6 were evaluated against the Nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide induced murine macrophages RAW 264.7 cells. The IC50 values of the tested compounds were 52.4, 85.1, 105.1, and 7.9 µM, respectively, while the % inhibition of the ethanolic extract at 25 µg/mL was 78.7%. A docking study was conducted to provide more explanation about the activity of the tested compounds.

Volatile constituents of Zizyphus jujuba aerial parts and Zizyphus spina-christii fruits from Egypt.

Abstract The volatile constituents from fresh aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of Zizyphus jujuba and fruits of Zizyphus spina-christi (Rhamnaceae) were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The major oil constituents were found to be phytol (29.1 %), borneol (10.1 %) and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (9.1 %) for Z. jujuba aerial parts. The fruit oil of Z. spina-christi was comprised mainly of fatty acids and their esters, of which dodecanoic acid (22.4 %) was the main component.

HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND GASTRO PROTECTIVE STUDIES OF Terminalia arjuna LEAVES EXTRACT AND PHYTOCHEMICAL PROFILE

The methanol extract of T. arjuna leaves was evaluated as hepatoprotective and gastroprotective against Swiss albino rats. In hepatoprotective study the liver damage induced by paracetamol while the gastric lesion induced by absolute ethanol in the gastro protective study. The extract was given orally (250,500 and 1000 mg/kg) in different experimental models in both studies. The extract at dose (500mg/kg) showed significant reduction in ALT serum level by 19.9% while at dose (1000mg/kg) it reduced significantly serum ALT, AST and ALP levels by –26.15,–25.46 and – 23.69 % respectively as compared with paracetamol treated group. In the gastro protective study the extract produced significant reduction in the number and severity of mucosal lesion by (–52.1 &–67.3 %, –66.7 &–71.2 % and –68.8 &–77.6%) respectively.

Volatile Constituents of Cassia bicapsularis

Abstract The volatile constituents from fresh aerial parts (leaves and flowers) of Cassia bicapsularis were analyzed by GC and GC-MS. Fatty acids and their esters were representing (20.4%) of the obtained oil with linolenic acid methyl ester (methyl linolenate) being the main component (8.5%). The dominated component of the oil was phytol (45.4%).