Antimicrobial activity and mechanism of action of Nu-3, a protonated modified nucleotide

For centuries, plants have been used in traditional medicines and there has been recent interest in the chemopreventive properties of compounds derived from plants. In the present study, we investigated the antibutyrylcholinestrasic (anti-BuChE) and antioxidant (against some free radicals) activities of extracts from Rhus pentaphyllum. Aqueous extracts were prepared from powdered R. pentaphyllum roots, leaves and seeds and characterized for the presence of tannins, flavonoids and coumarins. Seeds aqueous extract contained the highest quantities of both flavonoids and tannins (21.12% and 17.45% respectively). In the same way, seeds extracts displayed remarkable inhibition against BuChE over 95%, at 100 μg/ml and with IC₅₀ 0.74 μg/ml. In addition, compared to leaves and roots extracts, seeds aqueous extract revealed relatively strong antiradical activity towards the ABTS ^.+ (IC₅₀ = 0.25 μg/ml) and DPPH (IC₅₀ = 2.71 μg/ml) free radicals and decreased significantly the reactive oxygen species such O₂ ^.- (IC₅₀ = 2.9 μg/ml) formation evaluated by the non-enzymatic generating O₂ ^.- system (Nitroblue tetrazolium/riboflavine). These data suggest that the anti-BuChE activities mechanism of these extracts occurs through a free radical scavenging capacities. The present study indicates that extracts of Rhus pentaphyllum leaves, seeds and roots are a significant source of compounds, such as tannins, flavonoids and coumarins, with anti-BuChE and antioxidant activities, and thus may be useful for chemoprevention.     

Survey of pyruvate,phosphate dikinase activity of plants in relation to the C3, C4 and CAM mechanisms of CO2 assimilation

The pyruvate, phosphate dikinase activity (PPD, EC 2.7.9.1) associated with crude extracts of leaf tissue of some C₃ and C₄ plants was determined by phosphoenolpyruvate plus PPi-dependent phosphorylation of AMP. The PPD activity of all C₄ plants examined was > 15 nmol/mg protein/min. Several factors contributed to the underestimation of PPD activity in crude extracts of at least some species. Significant PPD activity (> 0.15 nmol/mg protein/min) was not detected in the majority of C₃ species but several C₃ species and the two CAM species studied exhibited activity in the range 0.4–4 nmol/mg protein/min while the C₃ species Avena sativa showed activity up to 8 nmol/mg protein/min. The oat leaf enzyme was partially purified; it exhibited properties similar to those of partially purified PPD from maize. Leaf extracts of the orchids Cymbidium canaliculatum and C. madidum contained high levels of PPD activity similar to the majority of C₄ plants. PPD activity has also been shown in other previously unstudied species.     

Characterization of deoxyribonucleic Acid species from castor bean endosperm: inability to detect a unique deoxyribonucleic Acid species associated with glyoxysomes

Three DNA buoyant density species (nuclear, 1.692 g cm⁻³; mitochondria 1.705 g cm⁻³; and proplastid, 1.713 g cm⁻³) can be detected in extracts from castor bean endosperm. No other buoyant density species can be identified. DNA extracts from sucrose density gradient purified glyoxysomes exhibit varying amounts of each of the three identified DNAs but no other distinguishable DNA species. RNA synthesized in vitro by Escherichia coli RNA polymerase using purified castor bean nuclear DNA as a template, hybridizes equally well with its template and with the 1.692 g cm⁻³ species from glyoxysome fractions. These results are discussed in terms of their relevance to microbody biogenesis.     

LC–MS method for detecting prostratin in plant extracts and identification of a high-yielding population of Euphorbia fischeriana

Prostratin, a tigliane phorbol ester with promise for the treatment of HIV, was identified and quantified in Euphorbia fischeriana root extracts obtained from several different sites in China. The greatest yield was recovered from root samples collected from Yakeshi, Inner Mongolia (63.54 μg/g dry weight, or 0.00635% by mass). Prostratin was not detected in extracts of Euphorbia sp., E. esula, E. lucorum or Stellera chamaejasme. The presence of prostratin was verified by ¹H and ¹³C NMR. Major fragmentation products were identified from ESI MSⁿ spectra after HPLC separation, providing a reproducible fingerprint for unambiguously recognizing the compound in plant extracts.     

Purification and properties of fluoroacetate dehalogenase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pseudomonas fluorescens</Emphasis> DSM 8341

The degradation of fluoroacetate by microorganisms has been established for some time, although only a handful of dehalogenases capable of hydrolyzing the stable C–F bond have been studied. Pseudomonas fluorescens DSM 8341 was originally isolated from soil and readily degrades fluoroacetate, thus it was thought that its dehalogenase might have some desirable properties. The enzyme was purified from cell-free extracts and characterised: it is a monomer of 32,500 Da, with a pH optimum of 8 and is stable between pH 4 and 10; its activity is stimulated by some metal ions (Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺ and Fe³⁺), but inhibited by others (Hg²⁺, Ag²⁺). The enzyme is specific for fluoroacetate, and the K _m for this substrate (0.68 mM) is the lowest determined for enzymes of this type that have been investigated to date.     

Variability of phenolic composition and biological activities of two Tunisian halophyte species from contrasted regions

The present study consists in evaluating the inter- and intraspecific variability of phenolic contents and biological capacities of Limoniastrum monopetalum L. and L. guyonianum Boiss. extracts. Ultimately, they were subjected to HPLC for phenolic identification. Results showed a great variation of phenolic content as function of species and localities. In fact, L. guyonianum extracts (El Akarit) contained the highest polyphenol (57 mg GAE g^?1 DW), flavonoid (9.47 mg CE g^?1 DW) and condensed tannin contents (106.58 mg CE g^?1 DW). These amounts were accompanied by the greatest total antioxidant activity (128.53 mg GAE g^?1 DW), antiradical capacity (IC₅₀ = 4.68 μg/ml) and reducing power (EC₅₀ = 120 μg/ml). In addition, L. monopetalum and L. guyonianum extracts exhibited an important and variable antibacterial activity with a diameter of inhibition zone ranging from 6.00 to 14.83 mm. Furthermore, these extracts displayed considerable antifungal activity. L. monopetalum extracts (Enfidha) showed the strongest activity against Candida glabrata and C. krusei with a diameter exceeding 12 mm. The phytochemical investigation of these extracts confirmed the variability of phenolic composition, since the major phenolic compound varied as a function of species and locality. These findings suggest that these two halophytes may be a new source of natural antioxidants that are increasingly important for human consumption, as well as for agro-food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vivo</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> antioxidant effects of three Veronica species

The aim of the present study was to examine the antioxidant activity of three Veronica species (Plantaginaceae). The antioxidant potential of various extracts obtained from aerial flowering parts was evaluated by DPPH-free (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-free) radical scavenging activity and ferric-reducing antioxidant power assays. Considerable antioxidant activity was observed in the plant samples (FRAP values ranged from 0.97 to 4.85 mmol Fe²⁺/g, and DPPH IC₅₀ values from 12.58 to 66.34 μg/ml); however, these levels were lower than the activity of the control compound butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) (FRAP: 10.58 mmol Fe²⁺/g; DPPH IC₅₀: 9.57 μg/ml). Also, the in vivo antioxidant effects were evaluated in several hepatic antioxidant systems in rats (activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, peroxidase, catalase, xanthine oxidase, glutathione content and level of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) after treatment with different Veronica extracts, or in combination with carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Pretreatment with 100 mg/kg b.w. of Veronica extracts inhibited CCl₄-induced liver injury by decreasing TBA-RS level, increasing GSH content, and bringing the activities of CAT and Px to control levels. The present study suggests that the extracts analyzed could protect the liver cells from CCl₄-induced liver damage by their antioxidative effect on hepatocytes.     

Schistosomiasis Control Using Piplartine against Biomphalaria glabrata at Different Developmental Stages

Background

Schistosomiasis is one of the most significant diseases in tropical countries and affects almost 200 million people worldwide. The application of molluscicides to eliminate the parasite''s intermediate host, Biomphalaria glabrata, from infected water supplies is one strategy currently being used to control the disease. Previous studies have shown a potent molluscicidal activity of crude extracts from Piper species, with extracts from Piper tuberculatum being among the most active.

Methods and Findings

The molluscicidal activity of P. tuberculatum was monitored on methanolic extracts from different organs (roots, leaves, fruit and stems). The compounds responsible for the molluscicidal activity were identified using ¹H NMR and ESIMS data and multivariate analyses, including principal component analysis and partial least squares. These results indicated that the high molluscicidal activity displayed by root extracts (LC₅₀ 20.28 µg/ml) was due to the presence of piplartine, a well-known biologically-active amide. Piplartine was isolated from P. tuberculatum root extracts, and the molluscicidal activity of this compound on adults and embryos of B. glabrata was determined. The compound displayed potent activity against all developmental stages of B. glabrata. Next, the environmental toxicity of piplartine was evaluated using the microcrustacean Daphnia similis (LC₅₀ 7.32 µg/ml) and the fish Danio rerio (1.69 µg/ml). The toxicity to these organisms was less compared with the toxicity of niclosamide, a commercial molluscicide.

Conclusions

The development of a new, natural molluscicide is highly desirable, particularly because the commercially available molluscicide niclosamide is highly toxic to some organisms in the environment (LC₅₀ 0.25 µg/ml to D. similis and 0.12 µg/ml to D. rerio). Thus, piplartine is a potential candidate for a natural molluscicide that has been extracted from a tropical plant species and showed less toxic to environment.     

Dark/Light modulation of ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase activity in plants from different photosynthetic categories

Ribulose bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBPCase) from several plants had substantially greater activity in extracts from lightexposed leaves than dark leaves, even when the extracts were incubated in vitro with saturating HCO₃⁻ and Mg²⁺ concentrations. This occurred in Glycine max, Lycopersicon esculentum, Nicotiana tabacum, Panicum bisulcatum, and P. hylaeicum (C₃); P. maximum (C₄ phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase); P. milioides (C₃/C₄); and Bromelia pinguin and Ananas comosus (Crassulacean acid metabolism). Little or no difference between light and dark leaf extracts of RuBPCase was observed in Triticum aestivum (C₃); P. miliaceum (C₄ NAD malic enzyme); Zea mays and Sorghum bicolor (C₄ NADP malic enzyme); Moricandia arvensis (C₃/C₄); and Hydrilla verticillata (submersed aquatic macrophyte). It is concluded that, in many plants, especially Crassulacean acid metabolism and C₃ species, a large fraction of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase in the dark is in an inactivatable state that cannot respond to CO₂ and Mg²⁺ activation, but which can be converted to an activatable state upon exposure of the leaf to light.     

云雾山铁杆蒿茎叶浸提液对封育草地四种优势植物的化感效应

为了揭示铁杆蒿群落在植被演替中的作用,通过研究铁杆蒿茎叶浸提液对铁杆蒿草地4种优势植物(百里香、大针茅、本氏针茅和赖草)的种子萌发及幼苗生长的干扰,结果表明:高浓度的铁杆蒿浸提液(甲醇浸提液和水浸提液)使得百里香、大针茅、本氏针茅和赖草的种子发芽指数降低,发芽率、芽长和根长低于对照,种子平均发芽时间延长达1.13-2.16 d。而低浓度浸提液(0.005 g/mL)使得百里香的发芽要高于对照11.63%(水浸提液)、15.12%(甲醇浸提液)。在幼苗生长期,铁杆蒿浸提液对4种受试植物幼苗芽和根的生长受到不同程度的抑制,不同浓度的浸提液对植物的化感作用强度不同,随浓度的增加,抑制作用越强,0.1 g/mL相对其他浓度有显著性差异;其中0.005 g/mL浸提液对本氏针茅和赖草的幼苗生长有促进作用,幼根生长高出对照19.00%、16.06%,水浸提液对幼芽促进了2.33%、9.06%,在0.1 g/mL浓度下,本氏针茅或大针茅的生长完全受到抑制,芽长和根长抑制率为100%;同一浓度下的不同浸提液对植物的抑制作用也不同,其中百里香对铁杆蒿浸提液的敏感度是最低的;甲醇浸提液的化感作用要强于水浸提液。在封育过程中,百里香群落向铁杆蒿群落的过渡,铁杆蒿的化感作用是该草地演替的一个重要影响因子。     

Gibberellin estimation and biosynthesis in germinating Hordeum distichon

Gibberellic acid (GA₃) and 13-deoxy-gibberellic acid (GA₇) were identified in extracts of germinating barley as their ¹⁴C-methyl esters. The maximal level of GA₃ was estimated by an isotopic dilution procedure to be 1·5 ng per grain. Germinating barley incorporated 2-¹⁴C-mevalonic acid into several terpenes, whose specific radioactivities were measured, but incorporation into GA₃ could not be detected. Cell-free embryo extracts from germinating barley converted 2-¹⁴C-mevalonic acid into isopentenol, dimethylallyl alcohol, farnesol and squalene, while ¹⁴C-isopentenyl pyrophosphate was incorporated into geraniol, farnesol, geranylgeraniol and squalene. There was no detectable incorporation into the gibberellin intermediate ent-kaurene.     

Aldehyde oxidases and dehydrogenases in antennae of five moth species

Conversion of Z11–16:A1 to its corresponding carboxylic acid was examined in male antennal extracts from Heliothis subflexa, Heliothis virescens, Heliothis zea, Manduca sexta and Spodoptera frugiperda moths. Both aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) and aldehyde oxidase (AO) activities were detected by radiochromatographic assays using [³H]Z11–16:A1 as the substrate and by spectroscopic assays using Z11–16:A1 as the substrate. AO activity in each of the five moths showed a broad substrate specificity which included C₄ to C₁₈ aliphatic aldehydes and benzaldehyde.ALDH and AO enzymes from the male and female antennal extracts were identified after electrophoretic protein separation. AO enzymes were visualized on native polyacrylamide gels with formazan- or horseradish peroxidase-mediated stain coupled to the AO-catalyzed oxidation of benzaldehyde. Both sexes of most species showed intense AO-stained bands of similar mobility. Molecular subunits of potential ALDH enzymes were visualized by fluorography of SDS-PAGE-separated proteins after covalent modification by [³H](Z)-1,11-hexadecadien-3-one, a selective affinity label for ALDH. ALDH subunits appeared at 51 ± 1 kDa in antennae from males of all five species and females of three species; female H. zea and M. sexta moths lacked these characteristic ALDH subunits. These results constitute the first biochemical comparisons of coexisting ALDH and AO enzymes in antennal extracts from lepidopteran species from two families.     

Bioprospecting of brown seaweed (Ochrophyta) from the Yucatan Peninsula: cytotoxic,antiproliferative, and antiprotozoal activities

In the Yucatan Peninsula coast, a large diversity of seaweed species are found, and recent studies have reported the presence of metabolites with pharmaceutical importance. In this study, a biological screening of brown seaweed extracts from Dictyota ciliolata, Padina sanctae-crucis, Sargassum fluitans, and Turbinaria tricostata was carried out. Their cytotoxicity and antiproliferative activities were evaluated by the sulforhodamine B assay on human embryonic kidney (HEK 293), human breast cancer (MCF-7), human prostate cancer (LNCaP), and human hepatic cancer (Hep-G2) cell lines. Seaweed extracts were also tested for their anti-trichomonal (Trichomonas vaginalis) and anti-giardicidal (Giardia lamblia) properties. Fucan fractions were extracted using successive maceration with ethanol/water and freeze-dried. Organics extracts were obtained from ethanol residue from liquid–liquid fractionation. A total of four ethanol extracts, four fucan-rich fractions, four ethanolic extracts, and 12 organic fractions were obtained. Only the ethanolic extracts from Turbinaria tricostata and D. ciliolata were active against LNCaP (CC₅₀ of 24.4 and 29.3 μg mL^?1, respectively). Interestingly, the activity found in the extracts from D. ciliolata and Turbinaria tricostata was maintained when both extracts were subjected to a liquid–liquid fractionation with hexane on the LNCaP cell line (CC₅₀ of 24.4 and 25.2 μg mL^?1, respectively). The antiproliferative assays showed that both dichloromethane and ethanolic fractions from P. sanctae-crucis were active against MCF-7, with IC₅₀ of 26.1 and 29.8 μg mL^?1, respectively. These species have been selected for further bio-guided fractionation and isolation of active compounds.     

Tubulin:tyrosine ligase in oocytes and embryos of Xenopus laevis

Tubulin:tyrosine ligase (TTL), which catalyzes the post-translational addition of tyrosine to the α chain of tubulin, exists in a wide variety of embryonic and adult vertebrate tissues. In the present study, we report that TTL exists in amphibian oocytes at a time when tubulin is a poor substrate for tyrosination, and when, in immature oocytes, tubulin is not polymerizable. Ligase activity detected at several stages of oogenesis and embryogenesis in Xenopus is compatible with mammalian brain tubulin in the tyrosination reaction. Within 3–5 hr after fertilization, [³H] tyrosine incorporated/μg endogenous tubulin increases approximately 3.5-fold over that in extracts prepared from the largest oocytes obtained. This increase cannot be accounted for by increasing levels of TTL. Ligase activity remains fairly constant throughout oogenesis and early embryogensis and rises significantly (2-fold) only 35–50 hr after fertilization. The late rise in embryonic ligase activity is not accompanied by a change in apparent k_m for tubulin.     

Plants from Brazilian Cerrado with Potent Tyrosinase Inhibitory Activity

The increased amount of melanin leads to skin disorders such as age spots, freckles, melasma and malignant melanoma. Tyrosinase is known to be the key enzyme in melanin production. Plants and their extracts are inexpensive and rich resources of active compounds that can be utilized to inhibit tyrosinase as well as can be used for the treatment of dermatological disorders associated with melanin hyperpigmentation. Using in vitro tyrosinase inhibitory activity assay, extracts from 13 plant species from Brazilian Cerrado were evaluated. The results showed that Pouteria torta and Eugenia dysenterica extracts presented potent in vitro tyrosinase inhibition compared to positive control kojic acid. Ethanol extract of Eugenia dysenterica leaves showed significant (p<0.05) tyrosinase inhibitory activity exhibiting the IC₅₀ value of 11.88 µg/mL, compared to kojic acid (IC₅₀ value of 13.14 µg/mL). Pouteria torta aqueous extract leaves also showed significant inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 30.01 µg/mL. These results indicate that Pouteria torta and Eugenia dysenterica extracts and their isolated constituents are promising agents for skin-whitening or antimelanogenesis formulations.     

Aspects of carbon metabolism in Chloroflexus

When fluoroacetate was added to aerobic, washed cells of Chloroflexus, O₂ uptake was strongly inhibited and citrate accumulated. Under anaerobic conditions in the light, fluoroacetate inhibited CO₂ uptake and caused citrate accumulation. The results are taken as evidence for the operation of a tricarboxylic acid cycle in Chloroflexus both under aerobic conditions in the dark and anaerobically in the light. 2. Organic compounds are assimilated into the storage materials polyglucose and poly--hydroxybutyric acid by washed cells of Chloroflexus. The type of storage product formed from acetate depends upon the availability of reducing power. 3. Low activities of the key enzymes of the reductive pentose phosphate cycle, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase and phosphoribulokinase were detected in cell free extracts of photoheterotrophically grown Chloroflexus.Abbreviations RuBP Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate - TCA tricarboxylic acid - PHB poly--hydroxybutyric acid     

Yeast alpha glucosidase inhibitory and antioxidant activities of six medicinal plants collected in Phalaborwa,South Africa

Recent decades have experienced a sharp increase in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes mellitus. One antidiabetic therapeutic approach is to reduce gastrointestinal glucose production and absorption through the inhibition of carbohydrate-digesting enzymes such as α-amylase and α-glucosidase and α-amylase. The aim of the current study was to screen six medicinal plant species, with alleged antidiabetic properties for α-glucosidase inhibitory activities. Powdered plant materials were extracted with acetone, and tested for ability to inhibit baker's yeast α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities. The largest mass (440 mg from 10 g) of the extract was obtained from Cassia abbreviata, while both Senna italica and Mormordica balsamina yielded the lowest mass of the extracts. Extracts of stem bark of C. abbreviata inhibited baker's yeast α-glucosidase activity with an IC₅₀ of 0.6 mg/ml. This plant species had activity at low concentrations, with 1.0 mg/ml and above resulting in inhibition of over 70%. The other five plant extracts investigated had IC₅₀ values of between 1.8 and 3.0 mg/ml. Senna italica only managed to inhibit the activity of enzyme-glucosidase at high concentrations with an IC₅₀ value of 1.8 mg/ml, while Tinospora fragosa extracts resulted in about 55% inhibition of the activity of the enzyme at a concentration of 3.5 mg/ml, with an estimated IC₅₀ value of 2.8 mg/ml. The bark extract of C. abbreviata was the most active inhibitor of the enzyme, based on the IC₅₀ values (0.6 mg/ml). The bark extract of C. abbreviata contains non-competitive inhibitor(s) of α-glucosidase, reducing V_max value of this enzyme from 5 mM·s^–1 to 1.67 mM·s^–1, while K_m remained unchanged at 1.43 mM for para-nitrophenyl glucopyranoside. Antioxidant activity of the extracts was also investigated. The C. abbreviata extract was more active as an antioxidant than the positive control, trolox. The extracts did not inhibit alphaamylase activity more than about 20% at the highest concentration tested.     

Oenothein B's contribution to the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of Epilobium sp

Willow herb tea or preparation are available and relatively popular in the European market, and claimed to be effective inter alia because of their anti-inflammatory activity. The present study is therefore aimed at comparing the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activity of extracts of the three most popular Epilobium species (E. angustifolium, E. hirsutum and E. parviflorum) and at juxtaposing this activity against the dominating compounds from the following extracts: oenothein B (OeB), quercetin-3-O-glucuronide and myricetin-3-O-rhamnoside. The phytochemical analysis of the extracts has shown that OeB quantities vary between 20% and 35%, while flavonoids content does not exceed 2%. All extracts have inhibited the activity of hyaluronidase and lipoxygenase with IC₅₀ around 5 μg/ml and 25 μg/ml. The inhibition of hyaluronidase is related with the presence of OeB, a strong inhibitor of this enzyme (IC₅₀ 1.1 μM). Additionally, the extracts inhibited myeloperoxidase (MPO) release from stimulated neutrophils. OeB inhibited MPO release similarly to the anti-inflammatory drug indomethacin with IC₅₀ 7.7 μM and 15.4 μM, respectively. Tested extracts significantly reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) from f-MLP and PMA induced neutrophils with IC₅₀ 5 μg/ml and 25 μg/ml, respectively. The flavonoids content seems to exert little influence on extracts’ activity, contrary to OeB, whose high concentration explains the activity of extract obtained from Epilobium. Tested currently marketed Epilobium preparations are often wrongly assigned, but we should stress that the level of OeB in all tested herbs was high and always exceeded 2% in raw material.     

Genetically Modified Ruminal Bacteria Protect Sheep from Fluoroacetate Poisoning

Four strains of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens, transformed with a gene encoding fluoroacetate dehalogenase, maintained a combined population of 10⁶ to 10⁷ cells ml⁻¹ in the rumens of test sheep. Five inoculated sheep showed markedly reduced toxicological symptoms after fluoroacetate poisoning when behavioral, physiological, and histological effects were compared with those of five uninoculated control sheep.     

Anticancer effect of Tamarix gallica extracts on human colon cancer cells involves Erk1/2 and p38 action on G2/M cell cycle arrest

Taking into account that oxidative stress is among the factors causing cancer-related death; chemoprevention which consists in using antioxidant substances such as phenolics could prevent cancer formation and progression. In the present study, phenolic contents and antioxidant activities of methanolic extracts from the halophyte Tamarix gallica shoots were determined. Moreover, the anticancer effect of this species on human colon cancer cells and the likely underlying mechanisms were also investigated. Shoot extracts showed an appreciable total phenolic content (85 mg GAE/g DW) and a high antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 3.3 μg/ml for DPPH test). At 50 and 100 μg/ml, shoot, leaf, and flower extracts significantly inhibited Caco-2 cell growth. For instance, almost all plant part extracts inhibited cell growth by 62 % at the concentration 100 μg/ml. DAPI staining results revealed that these extracts decrease DNA synthesis and confirm their effect on Caco-2 cells proliferation, principally at 100 μg/ml. More importantly, cell mitosis was arrested at G₂/M phase. The changes in the cell-cycle-associated proteins (cyclin B1, p38, Erk1/2, Chk1, and Chk2) are correlated with the changes in cell cycle distribution. Taken together, our data suggest that T. gallica is a promising candidate species to be used as a source of anticancer biomolecules.