Vijai K. Agnihotri

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Cytotoxic Activity of Essential Oil of Leaves of Malus domestica Growing in Western Himalaya (India).

Light pale-colored volatile oil was obtained from fresh leaves of Malus domestica tree, growing in Dhauladhar range of Himalaya (Himachal Pradesh, India), with characteristic eucalyptol dominant fragrance. The oil was found to be a complex mixture of mono-, sesqui-, di-terpenes, phenolics, and aliphatic hydrocarbons. Seventeen compounds accounting for nearly 95.3% of the oil were characterized with the help of capillary GC, GC-MS, and NMR. Major compounds of the oil were characterized as eucalyptol (43.7%), phytol (11.5%), α-farnesene (9.6%), and pentacosane (7.6%). Cytotoxicity of essential oil of leaves of M. domestica was evaluated by sulforhodamine B (SRB) assays. The essential oil of leaves of M. domestica, tested against three cancer cell lines, namely, C-6 (glioma cells), A549 (human lung carcinoma), CHOK1 (Chinese hamster ovary cells), and THP-1 (human acute monocytic leukemia cell). The highest activity showed by essential oil on C-6 cell lines (98.2%) at concentration of 2000 μg/ml compared to control. It is the first paper in literature to exploit the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of leaves essential oil of M. domestica.

New labdane diterpenes from Leonurus cardiaca.

Leonurus cardiaca L. has been used in oriental medicine against several types of disorders. The ethanolic extract of leaves of Leonurus cardiaca yielded three new labdane-type diterpenes: 15- O-ethylleopersin C (1), 15- O-methylleopersin C (2), and 15- EPI- O-methylleopersin C (3). Their structures were determined using 1 D and 2 D NMR including 1H-1H COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and ROESY spectroscopic techniques. Compounds (1 - 3) were evaluated for in vitro antiplasmodial activity (D6 and W2 clones) and cytotoxicity (Vero cells).

Silica-supported boric acid assisted conversion of mono- and poly-saccharides to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural in ionic liquid

Silica-supported boric acid has been prepared and applied as heterogeneous catalyst for the direct conversion of inexpensive and biorenewable mono- and polysaccharides to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in ionic liquid under much milder conditions. Fructose, glucose, sucrose, inulin, and cellulose were successfully converted to HMF with moderate to excellent conversion. The catalyst and the solvent system can be recycled for up to four consecutive cycles without a significant loss in conversion.

Evaluation of antioxidant activity of Picrorhiza kurroa (leaves) extracts

Picrorhiza kurroa is a well-known herb in Ayurvedic medicine. Although it shows antioxidant, antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory activities, it is most valued for its hepatoprotective effect. The rhizomes are widely used against indigestion problems since ancient times due to improper digestive secretions. Aim of this study was to explore antioxidant study of P. kurroa leaves for a new source of naturally occurring antioxidants. Two pure compounds, luteolin-5-O-glucopyranoside (1) and picein (2) were isolated from butanol extract through column chromatography. Different extracts of P. kurroa leaves (ethanol, ethyl acetate, butanol) were quantified for isolated compound (2) by high-performance liquid chromatography. All the extracts and isolated compounds were evaluated for its antioxidant activity using two assays, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay. The linear detection range was 1.56-200 μg/ml for picein. The limit of detection and limit of quantification for picein were 2.34 and 7.81 μg/ml, respectively. Butanol and ethyl acetate extract showed greater antioxidant activity as compare to ethanol extract. Compound 1 and ascorbic acid showed nearly similar antioxidant activity where as 2 showed no activity at standard concentration. The IC50 values for 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical and 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay for ascorbic acid, compound 1, ethanol extract and its different fractions (ethyl acetate and butanol) were found to be 0.81, 1.04, 67.48, 39.58, 37.12 and 2.59, 4.02, 48.36, 33.24, 29.48 μg, respectively.

UPLC/MS/MS method for quantification and cytotoxic activity of sesquiterpene lactones isolated from Saussurea lappa

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Saussurea lappa (Asteraceae) roots have been reputed for the usage in traditional medicinal systems of India, China and Japan for the treatment of various kinds of disorders such as anti-ulcer, anti-convulsant, anti-cancer, hepatoprotective, anti-arthritic and anti-viral activities. MATERIALS AND METHODS Compounds were isolated using a column chromatographic technique. The root extract, fractions and isolated compounds were tested for cytotoxicity against A549 (human lung carcinoma) and C-6 (rat glioma) cells using the Sulphorhodamine B assay. Chromatographic separations of active sesquiterpene lactones were accomplished on BEH-HSS-T3 column at 25°C. RESULTS Phytochemical investigation of Saussurea lappa root extract resulted in the isolation of isoalantolactone (1), β-cyclocostunolide (2) α-cyclocostunolide (3), 4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycinnamyl-9-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), sucrose (5), and alantolactone (6). Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means. Ethanolic extract, chloroform fraction, compounds 1, 2, 3 and 6 possessed significant activity against both tested cells. The quantification was performed using the transitions of m/z 233/105 for isoalantolactone and m/z 233/105 for alantolactone respectively. Costunolide and dehydrocostus lactone were also characterised by comparison of MS/MS fragmentation pattern. CONCLUSIONS This is the first study on simultaneous quantification of isoalantolactone and alantolactone by the UPLC/MS/MS method in Saussurea lappa. Our study against A549 and C-6 cells showed higher cytotoxicity. It is suggested that roots of Saussurea lappa might be a potential source of anticancer compounds.

Anabaena flos-aquae

Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) are the most primitive prokaryotic photosynthetic organisms, that have survived and flourished on the planet for more than 3 billion years and produced the oxygen that enabled aerobic metabolism. Anabaena is a genus of filamentous cyanobacteria, known for its nitrogen fixing abilities and is one of cyanobacterial genera that produce toxins. Because of plasmid DNA, the nontoxic strain of Anabaena flos-aquae, transformed into a toxic strain that producing neuro-toxins. The major toxins those were produced by this species are anatoxin-a, homoanatoxin-a, and anatoxin-a(s). Presence of these toxins in the source of fresh water makes water toxic and every year so many reports on death of animals were documented. Several studies have been done over this toxic cyanobacterium and showed that under controlled environment this species is very useful for human being. However, presence of this alga in the water sources makes environment toxic. Several analytical methods were reported for the detection of these toxins. This review is be focused on the detailed literature survey on fresh water cyanobacterium, Anabaena flos-aquae, with respect to its importance and cure.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the leaf essential oil of Skimmia laureola growing wild in Jammu and Kashmir, India

The analysis of Skimmia laureola hydrodistillate by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 20 constituents, representing 94.6% of the total oil. The major constituents of oil were linalyl acetate (33.0%), linalool (25.0%), limonene (8.1%), α-terpineol (5.9%) and geranyl acetate (5.9%). The monoterpene (93.4%) rich essential oil was evaluated for its antibacterial and antifungal activities against seven microorganisms by agar diffusion and microdilution methods. The oil showed appreciable antimicrobial effects against all Gram-positive bacteria tested, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis with MIC values 32 and 64 µg mL−1, respectively. The oil also exhibited strong fungicidal activity against Aspergillus niger and Penicillium chrysogenum with MIC value in the range 32–16 µg mL−1. The oil could be used in the formulation of antimicrobial agents.

Evaluation of several Rosa damascena varieties and Rosa bourboniana accession for essential oil content and composition in western Himalayas

Field experiments were conducted at CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India, to study the performance of different varieties of rose oil species in western Himalayas. Five varieties of Rosa damascena, namely Indica, Jwala, Super jwala, Himroz, Hot himroz and one accession of Rosa bourboniana were investigated for essential oil content and chemical composition. The rose oil was obtained by hydrodistillation in Clevenger-type apparatus and the components in the oil were analyzed by gas chromatography–flame ionization detector (GC–FID) and GC–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of volatile compounds. The essential oil content of the varieties of R. damascena varied from 0.037% to 0.051% and that of R. bourboniana was 0.017%. Super jwala recorded the highest oil content (0.051%). A total of 32 components were identified in the different varieties of rose oil. These components constituted 78.1–93.5% of the total rose oil species. The main components of rose oil were citronellol + nerol (16.3–30.1%), geraniol (15.8–29.3%), linalool (0.7–1.9%), rose oxide (0.9–2.6%), phenyl ethyl alcohol (0.1–0.4%), eugenol (0.3–2.2%), nonadecane (7.3–14.7%). The content of citronellol + nerol (30.1%) and geraniol (29.3%) was the highest in Himroz compared with other varieties.

Selective Th2 Upregulation by Crocus sativus: A Neutraceutical Spice

The immunomodulatory activity of an Indian neutraceutical spice, saffron (Crocus sativus) was studied on Th1 and Th2 limbs of the immune system. Oral administration of alcoholic extract of Crocus sativus (ACS) at graded dose levels from 1.56–50 mg/kg p.o. potentiated the Th2 response of humoral immunity causing the significant increases in agglutinating antibody titre in mice at a dose of 6.25 mg/kg and an elevation of CD19+ B cells and IL-4 cytokine, a signature cytokine of Th2 pathway. Appreciable elevation in levels of IgG-1 and IgM antibodies of the primary and secondary immune response was observed. However, ACS showed no appreciable expression of the Th1 cytokines IL-2 (growth factor for CD4+ T cells) and IFN-γ (signature cytokine of Th1 response). A significant modulation of immune reactivity was observed in all the animal models used. This paper represents the selective upregulation of the Th2 response of the test material and suggests its use for subsequent selective Th2 immunomodulation.

UPLC-PDA quantification of chemical constituents of two different varieties (golden and royal) of apple leaves and their antioxidant activity†

BACKGROUND Malus domestica is the most widely cultivated fruit tree and is well known for its therapeutic value. Apple leaves are known to contain phenolic compounds but the nature of these has not been explored to the same extent as in apple fruit. A simple, rapid and sensitive ultra-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (UPLC-DAD) quantification method has been developed. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents, as well as the antioxidant activity of golden and royal apple leaves were evaluated. RESULTS Four compounds, namely rutin, 3-hydroxyphloridzin, phloridzin and quercetin-3-O-arabinoside were identified by UPLC. The separation was achieved in less than 7 min. Total polyphenol and flavonoid contents were found to be slightly higher in apple golden variety than royal variety. The IC50 values determined by the DPPH assay were 49.94 µg mL(-1) for golden apple leaves and 43.89 µg mL(-1) for royal apple leaves. IC50 values determined by the ABTS assay were 47.10 and 66.53 µg mL(-1) for golden and royal apple leaves, respectively. Antioxidant activity was determined as 24.45 and 21.15 mg ascorbic acid g(-1) for golden and royal apple leaves, respectively, by using the FRAP assay. CONCLUSION This study showed that apple leaves (both varieties) contain considerable amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids and are also a promising source of phloridzin.