Reinstatement of Phyllanthus retroflexus Brade (Phyllanthaceae)

Phyllanthus retroflexus Brade is reinstated. It and the very similar P. subemarginatus Müll. Arg. are described, illustrated, and their relationships are discussed, based on a morphological analysis of herbarium specimens. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 78–81.     

Isolation and characterization of microsatellites in a medicinal plant,Phyllanthus emblica (Euphorbiaceae)

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite markers were isolated and characterized in a medicinal plant, Phyllanthus emblica, to study population genetics for designing an effective in situ and ex situ conservation of genetic resources of the species. • Methods and Results: Six microsatellite markers were developed using an enrichment and magnetic separation protocol. They were characterized in two natural populations of P. emblica. Out of the six microsatellites, five showed polymorphism, with the number of alleles ranging from four to seven. Observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.360 to 0.760 and 0.499 to 0.806, respectively. • Conclusions: The five polymorphic microsatellite markers will be useful for studying the genetic structure, reproductive biology, and for identification of clones and provenances of this important medicinal plant.     

A new species of Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) from Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brazil

During a study of the genus Phyllanthus (Phyllanthaceae) in Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, a new species Phyllanthus gongyloides Cordeiro & Carneiro-Torres sp. nov. was found and is described and illustrated here. It is probably endemic to the area and is placed in subgen. Phyllanthus , sect. Phyllanthus , subsect. Clausseniani G. L. Webster. A new couplet to Webster's available key to the subsection is provided . © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 146 , 247–250.     

Phenolic antioxidants from the whole plant of Phyllanthus urinaria

The 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrydydrazyl (DPPH) assay on the extract of Phyllanthus urinaria L. (Euphorbiaceae) displayed considerable radical-scavenging activity (SC50 = 14.3 microg/ml). Further bioassay-guided purification of the extract led to the isolation of a series of 15 phenolic compounds, including the ellagitannins 1-7, the flavonoids 8-10, and the simple hydroxylated (or glycosylated) aromatic acids 11-15. Their structures were identified by spectroscopic analyses and comparison with authentic samples or literature data. The structure of repandinin B (1) was for the first time fully assigned by 1D- and 2D-NMR experiments. The phenolic compounds 1, 3, 4, 6, 9, 11, and 15 have not been isolated before from the title plant. The antioxidant activities and mushroom-tyrosinase-inhibitory activities of all compounds were determined by DPPH-radical-scavenging and mushroom-tyrosinase-inhibitory assays (Table 2).     

Selective cytotoxicity evaluation in anticancer drug screening of fractionated plant extracts

Chosen to reflect biodiversity in a phylogenetic sense, 100 fractionated plant extracts were screened in vitro for cytotoxicity following extraction and fractionation (polypeptide isolation). Of these 100 extracts, 30 were selected and then characterized preliminarily for antitumor potency and mode of action by testing them on two cell lines and primary cultures of human tumor cells. On the basis of cytotoxicity potency, 10 of the extracts were further characterized for anticancer activity in 10 human tumor cell lines. This final testing resulted in seven potential lead plants with superior evidence of antitumor potential: Colchicum autumnale L. (Colchicaceae), Digitalis lanata Ehrh. and Digitalis purpurea L. (Plantaginaceae), Helleborus cyclophyllus Boiss. (Ranunculaceae), Menyanthes trifoliata L. (Menyanthaceae), and Viola arvensis Murr. and Viola patrinii Ging. (Violaceae). Within a database of antitumor compounds, the activity profiles of the extracts from these seven plants were compared, by correlation analysis, with those of more than 100 other compounds, including 39 standard drugs from different classes of cytotoxic mechanisms. The activity profiles of six of these candidates were uncorrelated with those of the standard drugs, possibly indicating new pathways of drug-mediated cell death.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of the medicinal plant Primula macrophylla

Primula macrophylla (Primulaceae) is reported as to be useful in asthma, restlessness, insomnia and fish poisoning. Antifungal and toxic activities of crude extract, fractions and a pure isolated compound exhibited statistically significant activities. Excellent antifungal activity was found in the crude extract, benzene and ethyl acetate fractions against T. longifusis and against M. canis with different MIC values. Antileishmanial activity (IC(50) = 50ug/mL) was observed as compared to standard drug Amphotericin B, and cytotoxic activity (LD(50) = 47.919microg/mL) was also found in the chloroform fraction. While pure compound 2-phenylchromone (Flavone) isolated from the chloroform fraction showed good activity (IC(50) = 25microg/mL) against Leishmania and cytotoxicity (LD(50) = 2.0116 microg/mL) in Brine Shrimp experiments. From antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity it can be concluded that 2-phenylchromone is the major compound responsible for these activities.     

Antimicrobial and cytotoxicity activities of the medicinal plant Primula macrophylla

Primula macrophylla (Primulaceae) is reported as to be useful in asthma, restlessness, insomnia and fish poisoning. Antifungal and toxic activities of crude extract, fractions and a pure isolated compound exhibited statistically significant activities. Excellent antifungal activity was found in the crude extract, benzene and ethyl acetate fractions against T. longifusis and against M. canis with different MIC values. Antileishmanial activity (IC₅₀ = 50ug/mL) was observed as compared to standard drug Amphotericin B, and cytotoxic activity (LD₅₀ = 47.919μg/mL) was also found in the chloroform fraction. While pure compound 2-phenylchromone (Flavone) isolated from the chloroform fraction showed good activity (IC₅₀ = 25μg/mL) against Leishmania and cytotoxicity (LD₅₀ = 2.0116 μg/mL) in Brine Shrimp experiments. From antileishmanial and cytotoxic activity it can be concluded that 2-phenylchromone is the major compound responsible for these activities.     

Antioxidant activity of some polyphenol constituents of the medicinal plant Phyllanthus amarus Linn

Phyllanthus amarus Linn is a widely distributed tropical medicinal plant highly valued for its therapeutic properties. The antioxidant activity of some of its principal constituents, namely amariin, 1-galloyl-2,3-dehydrohexahydroxydiphenyl (DHHDP)-glucose, repandusinic acid, geraniin, corilagin, phyllanthusiin D, rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside were examined for their ability to scavenge free radicals in a range of systems including 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)/ferrylmyoglobin, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and pulse radiolysis. In addition, their ability to protect rat liver mitochondria against oxidative damage was determined by measuring the ROO* radical induced damage to proteins and lipids and *OH radical induced damage to plasmid DNA. The compounds showed significant antioxidant activities with differing efficacy depending on the assays employed. Amariin, repandusinic acid and phyllanthusiin D showed higher antioxidant activity among the ellagitannins and were comparable to the flavonoids, rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside.     

Antioxidant activity of some polyphenol constituents of the medicinal plant Phyllanthus amarus Linn

Abstract

Phyllanthus amarus Linn is a widely distributed tropical medicinal plant highly valued for its therapeutic properties. The antioxidant activity of some of its principal constituents, namely amariin, 1-galloyl-2,3-dehydrohexahydroxydiphenyl (DHHDP)-glucose, repandusinic acid, geraniin, corilagin, phyllanthusiin D, rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside were examined for their ability to scavenge free radicals in a range of systems including 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azobis-3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS)/ferrylmyoglobin, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and pulse radiolysis. In addition, their ability to protect rat liver mitochondria against oxidative damage was determined by measuring the ROO? radical induced damage to proteins and lipids and ?OH radical induced damage to plasmid DNA. The compounds showed significant antioxidant activities with differing efficacy depending on the assays employed. Amariin, repandusinic acid and phyllanthusiin D showed higher antioxidant activity among the ellagitannins and were comparable to the flavonoids, rutin and quercetin 3-O-glucoside.     

Floral development of Phyllanthus chekiangensis (Phyllanthaceae), with special reference to androecium and gynoecium

The floral development of Phyllanthus chekiangensis has been studied by scanning electron microscopy. The perianth organs are initiated in two whorls, dimerous in male flowers and trimerous in female flowers, with a longer plastochron between whorls than between the organs within a whorl. Male flowers have two stamens. The prominent connective protrusions begin development simultaneously with the floral disk. The disk is two-lobed in male flowers but continuous in female flowers. In female flowers, the developing gynoecium remains open relatively long, so the developing ovules are visible from the outside for some time. The direction of the hemitropous ovules in the carpels is antitropous (epitropous). Two small obturators are formed per carpel, one above each ovule. The prominent nucellar beak extends far beyond the “micropyle”. A micropyle in the classical sense formed by integuments closing over the nucellus apex is not present at any stage of development. Thus, it is not correct to say that the nucellar beak “grows through the micropyle”. The exposed nucellar beak continues the curvature of the antitropous (epitropous) ovule and becomes contiguous with the obturator. The unusual length of the nucellar beak may be a potential synapomorphy of the enlarged Phyllanthus clade as inferred from molecular phylogenetics.     

Effect of medicinal plant extracts on the growth of microorganisms

Extracts obtained from sweatweed and licorice roots, flax seeds, milfoil, bur-marigold, plantain, coltsfoot, nettle, Indian corn stigmas, laminaria produced a stimulating effect on the growth of Candida albicans test strain and Streptococcus pyogenes test strain Dick 1. Sweatweed, licorice, Aerva lanata and violet extracts influenced the growth of Corynebacterium xerosis 1911, while sweatweed, violet, horse-tail, bur-marigold, camomile, plantain, and nettle extracts influenced the growth of shigellae. The stimulating effect could be supposedly produced by biologically active substances contained in medicinal plants (organic acids, alkaloids, carotinoids, vitamins, microelements). Further studies aimed at the identification of substances producing the stimulating effect are planned.     

The toxicity of some medicinal plant extracts to the potato tuber moth,Phthorimaea operculella (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae)

The potato tuber moth Phthorimaea operculella is a serious pest of potato both in the field and storage that makes great problem in storage. Farmers routinely rely on chemical insecticides that could be hazardous for human health and environment. Insecticide resistance of P. operculella has been reported all over the world, so botanical origin materials may serve as proper alternative materials for controlling the pest. Natural products are generally preferred because of they are less harmful to non-target organisms, eco-friendly and biodegradable. In the present study, ovicidal activity of essential oils (EOs) of basil, European pennyroyal, lavender, mint, oregano and savoury and oviposition-deterrent activity of methanolic extracts of fumitory, lavender, licorice and oregano were investigated on P. operculella. Probit analysis showed that EOs of Lavandula angustifolia revealed the highest activity (LC₅₀ value 0.4 μL/L air). Fumitory extract elicited the highest reduction in percentage of laying eggs. The results indicated that these medicinal plants could be effective for declining damage of P. operculella in storages.     

Antitumor and antiviral activity of Colombian medicinal plant extracts.

Extracts of nine species of plants traditionally used in Colombia for the treatment of a variety of diseases were tested in vitro for their potential antitumor (cytotoxicity) and antiherpetic activity. MTT (Tetrazolium blue) and Neutral Red colorimetric assays were used to evaluate the reduction of viability of cell cultures in presence and absence of the extracts. MTT was also used to evaluate the effects of the extracts on the lytic activity of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). The 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) and the 50% inhibitory concentration of the viral effect (EC50) for each extract were calculated by linear regression analysis. Extracts from Annona muricata, A. cherimolia and Rollinia membranacea, known for their cytotoxicity were used as positive controls. Likewise, acyclovir and heparin were used as positive controls of antiherpetic activity. Methanolic extract from Annona sp. on HEp-2 cells presented a CC50 value at 72 hr of 49.6x10(3)mg/ml. Neither of the other extracts examined showed a significant cytotoxicity. The aqueous extract from Beta vulgaris, the ethanol extract from Callisia grasilis and the methanol extract Annona sp. showed some antiherpetic activity with acceptable therapeutic indexes (the ratio of CC50 to EC50). These species are good candidates for further activity-monitored fractionation to identify active principles.     

Screening of Russian medicinal and edible plant extracts for angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE I) inhibitory activity

The angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE I) inhibitory activities of 108 aqueous ethanol extracts obtained from Russian plants were evaluated in vitro. Activity was assessed with a two-stage colorimetric assay using N-[3-(2-furyl)acryloyl]-L-phenylalanyl-glycyl-glycine (FA-PGG) as a substrate and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS) as a coloring reagent for the enzymatic cleavage product glycylglycine (GG). Extracts from eleven plants, seven of which belong to the family Rosaceae, were found to inhibit ACE I with an IC₅₀ < 0.3 mg/mL. Among these, the Geranium pratense extract was the most active and had an IC₅₀ value of 81 μg/mL.     

Influence of plant polyphenols and medicinal plant extracts on antibiotic susceptibility of Escherichia coli

Aims: To investigate the influence of polyphenols and plant extracts on the susceptibility of Escherichia coli to antibiotics. Methods and Results: Susceptibility of E. coli to antibiotics in the presence of extracts and polyphenols was estimated by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). To study gene expression, we used strains of E. coli carrying fusions between promoters of genes katG, sodA, iucC and structural β‐galactosidase gene. Treatment with polyphenols and some plant extracts significantly decreased the antibacterial effects of antibiotics, to a larger extent, ciprofloxacin. The most remarkable protective effect was observed for the extracts of Chamerion (Epilobium) angustifolium, Filipendula vulgaris, Tanacetum vulgare and Serratula coronata. These extracts increased the MICs of ciprofloxacin by four and more times. In case of kanamycin, extracts of Artemisia austriaca and Artemisia pontica increased MICs by four and eight times, respectively. Polyphenol quercetin also caused protective effect against ciprofloxacin, increasing the MIC by four times. A positive correlation was found between protective effects of polyphenols and extracts and their antioxidant activity. Conclusion: Medicinal plant extracts and polyphenols may protect cells of E. coli against antibiotic toxicity. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results of this study may be used to enhance the efficiency of antibacterial therapies.     

Bioefficacy of root extracts of a medicinal plant,Withania somnifera (Dunal) against a polyphagous pest,Spodoptera litura (Fabricius) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Oral administration of root extracts of a medicinal plant, Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) to last instar larvae of a polyphagous pest, Spodoptera litura resulted into abnormal morphogenesis and the effects comprised mortality, delay in larval-pupal and pupal-adult ecdysis, ecdysial stasis, formation of larval-pupal and pupal-adult intermediates, reduced pupation and formation of abnormal pupae, complete suppression of normal adult emergence and formation of adultoids. These effects are similar to those produced by the administration of JHAs and may be due to interference with the normal hormonal mechanism of moulting and metamorphosis.     

Cytotoxic and antiviral activities of Colombian medicinal plant extracts of the Euphorbia genus

Forty-seven plant extracts of 10 species of the genus Euphorbia (Euphorbiaceae) used by Colombian traditional healers for the treatment of ulcers, cancers, tumors, warts, and other diseases, were tested in vitro for their potential antitumour (antiproliferative and cytotoxic) and antiherpetic activity. To evaluate the capacity of the extracts to inhibit the lytic activity of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) and the reduction of viability of infected or uninfected cell cultures, the end-point titration technique (EPTT) and the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] colorimetric assay were used, respectively. The therapeutic index of the positive extracts for the antiviral activity was determined by calculating the ratio CC50 (50% cytotoxic concentration) over IC50 (50% inhibitory concentration of the viral effect). Five of the 47 extracts (11%) representing 3 out of 10 Euphorbia species (30%) exhibited antiherpetic action; the highest activity was found in the leaf/stem water-methanol extracts from E. cotinifolia and E. tirucalli. The therapeutic indexes of these two plant species were > 7.1; these extracts exhibited no cytotoxicity. Six extracts (13%) representing 4 plant species (40%) showed cytotoxic activity. The highest cytotoxicity was found in the dichloromethane extract obtained from E. cotinifolia leaves and the CC50 values for the most susceptible cell lines, HEp-2 and CHO, were 35.1 and 18.1 microgram/ml, respectively.     

Efficacy of some medicinal plant extracts and essential oils against Colorado potato beetle,Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae)

The Colorado potato beetle (CPB), Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say is one of the most important defoliator pests of potato in the world and it often causes extremely large potato yield losses. Potatoes are the preferred hosts for the pest, but it may feed and reproduce on a number of other plants in the Solanaceae family. Public concern related to pesticides and their residues in and on the foods had prompted a rise of consumer interest in organically produced foods. There have been growing efforts to detect and introduce suitable plant compounds that they have insecticidal properties. However, discovering of plant extracts for possible use in control of this pest requires more studying about plant extracts and compounds. Since resistance of CPB to common chemical insecticides is well documented and potato is one of the most prominent nutritious food products for many people in many countries, we examined the effect of essential oils (EOs) of European pennyroyal, lavander, mint, oregano and savory and methanolic extracts of fumitory, licorice and oregano on the pest. These plants were selected because they have medicinal properties and they are safe to human and environment. Adult CPBs were exposed to mentioned plant extracts and essential oils. LC₅₀ values for EOs of lavander and European pennyroyal were 4154 and 3561 ppm, respectively. The results demonstrated that essential oil of European pennyroyal (Mentha longifolia) would be suitable compound to control the pest, but essential oil of mint (Mentha spicata) was not effective against the pest. Also it is notable that at all treatments, the amount of adult feeding was very low.