Records of Natural Products Articles

Hernandiaceae is a family of higher plants, possessing a large number of bioactive compounds. The present review reveals the total compounds isolated, characterized from the family, till date

The antioxidant activities of the methanol extracts from the leaves and stems of Celtis africana (Ulmaceae) were assessed in an effort to validate the medicinal potential of the subterranean part of the herb. The antioxidant activity and phenolic contents of the stem as determined by the DPPH, proanthocyanidins, total phenols, the flavonoids, and total flavonols were higher than that of the leaves. On the other hand, the FRAP contents of the leaves were higher than that of the stem. The ABTS scavenging activities of both the stem and leaves were similar and comparable to that of BHT, the standard antioxidant used. This study, has to some extent, validated the medicinal potential of the leaves and stems of Celtis africana.

 The leaf essential oils of four members of the Lauraceae Licaria excelsa, Licaria triandra ,Persea schiedeana, and Rhodostemonodaphne kunthiana, from Monteverde , Costa Rica , were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaf oil of L. excelsa was dominated by the monoterpenes a -pinene (42.9%), b -pinene (22.0%) and myrcene (17.2%), while L. triandra was also rich in pinenes (40.9% and 28.5%, respectively). Persea schiedeana had considerable amounts of the sesquiterpenes d -cadinene (18.5%), a -copaene (15.1%), and (E)-caryophyllene (13.3%). Rhodostemonodaphne kunthiana leaf oil had germacrene D (64.4%) and bicyclogermacrene (17.6%) as the major components. The leaf essential oils were screened for in-vitro cytotoxic activity against MDA-MB-231 and Hs 578T human tumor cells. R. kunthiana leaf oil showed notable activity against MDA-MB-231.

 High frequency shoot regeneration and evaluation of product synthesis at various stages in Psoralea corylifolia were investigated. In vitroregenerated shoots were induced from germinated seedling on MS medium supplemented with 2, 4, 8, 20 and 40 µM of thidiazuron and N 6–benzylaminopurine. The results revealed that optimum concentrations of thidiazuron (8 µM) into the medium increased shoot regeneration frequency. Root differentiation was achieved from regenerated shoots on growth regulator free MS medium with frequency of 91.2% and mean number of 4.5 roots per shoot. High concentrations of Indole-3-aceticacid (IAA) into the rooting medium resulted in slow growth. Regenerated shoots and roots enhanced isoflavones production compared to field grown plants. A reverse phase high performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that in vitro regenerated shoots accumulated 0.85% dry wt of daidzein and 0.06% dry wt of genistein. Maximum daidzein (1.23% dry wt) and genistein (0.38% dry wt) were accumulated by roots which obtained from regenerated shoots, which is 6.3-fold more daidzein and 77-fold more genistein respectively than field grown plants. The regeneration protocol developed successfully in this study showed the possibility for rapid propagation of P. corylifolia and enhanced isoflavones product

Methanol, hexane and chloroform extracts of Prostecheamichuacana (EMM) were studied against carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) induced hepatic injury in albino rats. Pre-treatment with methanolic extract reduced biochemical markers of hepatic injury like serum Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels demonstrated dose dependant reduction in the in vivo peroxidation induced by CCl4. Likewise, pretreatment with extracts from EMM on paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity and the possible mechanism involved in this protection were also investigated in rats. The extracts of EMM at 200, 400 and 600 mg/kg were admin istered. The degree of protection was measured by using biochemical parameters such as serum transaminase (GOT and GPT), alkaline phosphatase (ALKP) and bilirubin. The methanol extract of orchid produced significant hepatoprotective effect by decreasing the activity of serum enzymes, and bilirubin. These results suggest that EMM could protect from paracetamol-induced lipid peroxidation eliminating the deleterious effects of toxic metabolites from paracetamol. Hexane and chloroform extracts did not show any effect. This hepatoprotective activity was comparable with sylmarin. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the MEMC can be a potential source of natural hepatoprotective agent.

 Essential oils from different organs of Ageratum fastigiatum (Gardn.) R. M. King et H. Rob., obtained by hydrodistillation were analyzed through Gas Chromatography and Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. The essential oils were tested for antimicrobial activity by the agar-diffusion method and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The main compounds found were b -caryophyllene, germacrene D and 1,10-di-epi-cubenol. The samples were active against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Streptococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhosa, Escherichia coli, but not Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungi. The MIC ranged from 5.0 to 18.0 mg/mL.

Seven coumarin compounds were isolated for the first time from the aerial parts of Descurainia Sophia L. identified as scopoletine, scopoline, isoscopoline, xanthtoxol, xanthtoxin, psoralene and bergaptane. Three flavonoids namely kaempferol, quercetine and isorhamnetine and three terpenoid compounds β-sitosterol β-amyrine and cholesterol were also isolated and identified by physical and chemical methods; melting point, R f values, UV and 1H NMR spectroscopy. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of free and protein amino acids using amino acid analyzer were performed. The plant contains 15 amino acids as free and protein amino acids with different range of concentrations. Fatty acid analysis using GLC, revealed the presence of 10 fatty acids, the highest percentage was palmitic acid (27.45 %) and the lowest was lauric acid (0.13%). Biological screening of alcoholic extract showed that the plant is highly safe and has analgesic, antipyretic and anti-inflammatory effects.

The present paper deals with the antigenotoxic activity of Aegle marmelos fruit extracts employing short term assays i.e. the SOS chromotest using Escherichia coli PQ37 and the Comet assay in peripheral human blood lymphocytes. Methanol extract and Acetone extract were quite effective in decreasing the SOS response induced by hydrogen peroxide and aflatoxin B1 in the SOS chromotest. Methanol extract inhibited the genotoxicity of H 2O 2 by 70.48% and that of AFB1 by 84.65%. The extracts showed significant decrease in the tail moment induced by hydrogen peroxide (9 m M) in the Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis (SCGE) assay. The antigenotoxic activity exhibited by the extracts may be attributed the various polyphenolic constituents present in these extracts.