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In vitro anti-leishmanial activity of methanolic extracts of Calendula officinalis flowers, Datura stramonium seeds, and Salvia officinalis leaves
Abstract
Aim
The anti-leishmanial activity of methanolic extracts of Calendula officinalis flowers, Datura stramonium seeds, and Salvia officinalis leaves against extracellular (promastigote) and intracellular (amastigote) forms of Leishmania major were evaluated in this study.
Method
In the first stage, promastigote forms of L. major, were treated with different doses of the plant extracts in a 96-well tissue-culture microplate and IC50 values for each extract were measured with colorimetric MTT assay. In the second stage, macrophage cells were infected with L. major promastigotes. Infected macrophages were treated with plant extracts. Then the macrophages were stained with Gimsa and the number of infected macrophages and amastigotes were counted with a light microscope.
Results
The results indicated that the plant extracts inhibited the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major. Inhibitory concentrations (IC50) for promastigote assay were 108.19, 155.15, and 184.32 μg7middot;mL−1 for C. officinalis flowers, D. stramonium seeds and S. officinalis, respectively. The extracts also reduced the number of amastigotes in macrophage cells from 264 for control group to 88, 97, and 102 for test groups. Although the anti-leishmanial activity of the extracts were not comparable with the standard drug, miltefosine; but they showed significant efficiency in reducing the number of amastigotes in macrophages, in comparison with the control group (P < 0.001). These plant extracts had lower toxicity compared with miltefosine.
Conclusion
This study demonstrates the potential efficacy of the methanolic extracts of C. officinalis flowers, D. stramonium seeds, and S. officinalis leaves to control of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
... C. officinalis is a medicinal plant rich in carotenoids, coumarins, volatile oils, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, and phenolic acids, which are known as biologically active compounds with multiple applications in phytotherapy [60,61]. Nikmehr et al. (2014) [62] demonstrated that marigold methanolic extract inhibited the growth of Leismania major promastigotes and amastigotes, while also reducing the number of macrophage amastigotes. The antihelmintic activity of certain bioactive principles (triterpenoid saponins, glycosides of oleanic acid) isolated from marigold, against free-living stages of Heligmosomoides bakery and Heligmosomoides polygyrus was already reported on [63,64]. ...
... C. officinalis is a medicinal plant rich in carotenoids, coumarins, volatile oils, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, and phenolic acids, which are known as biologically active compounds with multiple applications in phytotherapy [60,61]. Nikmehr et al. (2014) [62] demonstrated that marigold methanolic extract inhibited the growth of Leismania major promastigotes and amastigotes, while also reducing the number of macrophage amastigotes. The antihelmintic activity of certain bioactive principles (triterpenoid saponins, glycosides of oleanic acid) isolated from marigold, against free-living stages of Heligmosomoides bakery and Heligmosomoides polygyrus was already reported on [63,64]. ...
Coccidiosis in pigs seldom results in important economic losses. However, it can influence growth rates in weaners and it is an important hygiene indicator in swine farms. Certain herbs, along with their extracts, have been used over the course of history in traditional medicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro anticoccidial effects of Allium sativum L. (garlic), Artemisia absinthium L. (wormwood), Coriandrum sativum L. (coriander), Cucurbita pepo L. (pumpkin), Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory), and Calendula officinalis L. (marigold) against Eimeria suis and Eimeria debliecki oocysts. The stock solution of oocysts (58% E. suis + 42% E. debliecki) was incubated for three days, before adding the tested solutions. The unsporulated Eimeria spp. oocysts were then placed in a 3 mL well plate and incubated for 96 h at 27 °C, in a suspension containing serial dilutions of alcoholic plant extracts (5%, 2.5%, 1.25%, 0.625%, and 0.312%). The percentage of sporulated and destroyed oocysts was recorded every 24 h for 96 h. All extracts had a good in vitro anticoccidial effect against oocysts of Eimeria spp. compared with the control groups. Oocyst sporulation was significantly (p = 0.05) inhibited by the 5% marigold extract (3.6% sporulated oocysts). The same extract had the highest lytic effect on oocysts (65.2% destroyed oocysts). Our results prove that the most effective alcoholic plant extract is the marigold extract, followed, in order of efficiency, by the wormwood, coriander, garlic, pumpkin, and summer savory extracts. This study represents a preliminary contribution for establishing a new generation of natural disinfectants aimed at destroying Eimeria oocysts in the context of swine contamination.
... The experiment was carried out thrice and each test was performed in triplicate. [20] Asthma and Inflammation [21] Chill, rheumatism and cough [22] Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and pathologies of the digestive system [23] Polyphenols, flavonoids [19] α-Thujone, camphor, αpinene, β-thujone, αthujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor and viridiflorol [24] Antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-leishmanial activities [18,23,24] Mentha viridis L. ...
... The experiment was carried out thrice and each test was performed in triplicate. [20] Asthma and Inflammation [21] Chill, rheumatism and cough [22] Diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and pathologies of the digestive system [23] Polyphenols, flavonoids [19] α-Thujone, camphor, αpinene, β-thujone, αthujone, 1,8-cineole, camphor and viridiflorol [24] Antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-leishmanial activities [18,23,24] Mentha viridis L. ...
Aims: Evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of essential oils extracted from Salvia
officinalis, Mentha viridis, Eucalyptus globulus and Myrtus communis from Ouezzane province.
Study Design: In vitro evaluation of antibacterial and antioxidant activities of medicinal plants
essential oils (EOs).
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biology (Faculty of Sciences), July, 2015 to
September, 2016 (15 Months).
Methodology: Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation method, while agar well diffusion, microdilution and spectrophotometry methods were used to evaluate the antibacterial and
antioxidant activities respectively.
Results: The yields of EOs are 0.9, 1.2, 2.5, and 2.1% for M. communis, E. globulus, M. viridis,
and S. officinalis respectively. EOs showed significant antibacterial activities against test bacterial
strains: Staphylococcus aureus CECT 976, Staphylococcus aureus CECT 994, Listeria
monocytogenes serovar 4b CECT 4032, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus MBLA,
Escherichia coli K12, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis 6633. Salvia officinalis EO
was more active than the rest EOs on the test bacteria and exhibited the highest zone of inhibition
(23 mm) against B. subtilis bacterial, while P. aeruginosa was the most resistant bacterial strain.
S. officinalis and M. communis EO showed minimum inhibitory concentration at MIC=0.5 % (v/v)
against L. monocytogenes and P. mirabilis. The antioxidant results indicated that M. communis and
S. officinalis possess the ability to scavenge DPPH radicals. Their IC50 Values of 0.24 and 0.46
mg/mL respectively, suggest their antioxidant capacity compared to reference drugs IC50 value
(IC50=0.027 mg/mL for ascorbic acid and IC50=0.043 mg/mL for Trolox).
Conclusion: Our study showed that apart from the local uses of the plants extracts, the EOs of
S. officinalis, M. viridis, E. globulus and M. communis plants poses strong antibacterial and
antioxidant properties and may be useful as food preservatives.
... The three extracts showed moderate activity compared to standard antioxidants. In fact, the antioxidant capacity (IC 50 This difference is probably related to phenols and flavonoids concentrations in our extracts, which is correlated to the antiradical activity. Indeed, these compounds are influenced by some ecological extrinsic factors such as soil moisture, drought, and genetic factors, but also by plant phenological stage and storage time [25]. ...
... Leishmania tested show a similar sensitivity tested at or above concentrations 1000 µg/ml (Fig. 3). To our knowledge, Banafsheh et al. [50] show that S. officinalis has a significant effect on the species L. major promastigotes (strain MROH/IR/75/IR) with IC50 = 108.19 ± 8.6 µg/ml and this difference in results may be due to the chemical composition that differs by geographic region (climate, soil type, etc ...) [25]. ...
... However, until now, there is no report on antileishmanial activity of solanaceous plants from Cuba. Different species of this family have been reported to have ethnomedicinal uses against leishmaniasis (França et al., 1996;Valadeau et al., 2009;Gachet et al., 2010), and experimental pharmacological activities against Leishmania have been reported (Fuchino et al., 2008;Guimarães et al., 2009;Hubert et al., 2013;Mothana et al., 2014;Nikmehr et al., 2014). Therefore, we have performed an in vitro antileishmanial assessment of plants growing in Cuba belonging to Solanaceae family. ...
... Many ethnomedical antileishmanial uses of several solanaceous plants have been reported, such as Solanum americanum Mill. in Brazil (França et al., 1996), Brunfelsia grandiflora D. Don, Cestrum racemosum Ruiz & Pav., Nicotiana tabacum L., Solanum mammosum L. and Solanum nigrum L. in Ecuador (Gachet et al., 2010) and Solanum peruvianum L. in Peru (Valadeau et al., 2009). Pharmacological activity of B. grandiflora D. Don (Fuchino et al., 2008), Datura stramonium L. (Nikmehr et al., 2014), Physalis angulata L. (Guimarães et al., 2009), Solanum glabratum Dunal (Mothana et al., 2014) and Solanum torvum Sw. (Hubert et al., 2013) against different Leishmania sp. has been demonstrated. Rocha et al. (2005) included the Solanaceae family as a promising source of antileishmanial compounds. ...
In this study, an in vitro antileishmanial assessment of plant extracts from 12 genera and 46 species growing in Cuba belonging to Solanaceae family was performed. A total of 226 extracts were screened against promastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis, and cytotoxicity of active extracts [median inhibitory concentration (IC50) promastigotes <100 µg/mL] was determined on peritoneal macrophage from BALB/c mice. Extracts that showed selective index >5 were then assayed against intracellular amastigote. Metabolomics analysis of promissory extracts was performed using chemical profile obtained by ultra performance liquid chromatography. Only 11 extracts (4.9%) from nine plants were selected as potentially actives: Brunfelsia cestroides A. Rich, Capsicum annuum L., Capsicum chinense Jacq., Cestrum nocturnum L., Nicotiana plumbaginifolia Viv., Solanum havanense Jacq., Solanum myriacanthum Dunal, Solanum nudum Dunal and Solanum seaforthianum And., with IC50 < 50 µg/mL and selectivity index >5. Metabolomics analysis demonstrated significant differences in the chemical profiles with an average of 42.8 (range 31–88) compounds from m/z 104 to 1477, which demonstrated the complex mixture of compounds. In addition, no common markers among active extracts were identified. The results demonstrate the importance of the Solanaceae family to search new antileishmanial agents, particularly in unexplored species of this family. Copyright
... In another experiment the intracellular and extracellular forms of L. major were used to determine the antileishmanial activity of the methanol extracts of S. officinalis and two other plants (Nikmehr et al. 2014). The leaves extract of the sage showed significant toxicity (IC 50 =184.32 ...
... The leaves extract of the sage showed significant toxicity (IC 50 =184.32 μg/mL) measured in a colorimetric MTT bioassay against the promastigotes forms of the microorganism and also reduced the number of its amastigotes (n=102) in the infected macrophage relative to the control, n=264 (Nikmehr et al. 2014). The aqueous and methanol extracts of 27 Lebanese plants were tested for in vitro antileishmanial bioassays among which S. multicaulis was found to be active against intracellular amastigotes of the parasite (Di Giorgio et al. 2008). ...
The plants of the genus Salvia L. are important medicinal herbs of the Lamiaceae family and some of them such as S. officinalis (sage), S. miltiorrhiza (red sage, Danshen) and S. sclarea (clary sage) have been used as medicinal plants in the folk medicine of several countries. In this review, we discuss the reports that have examined Salvia species with the aim of isolation of pure compounds with different biological activities. The phytochemical analyses of various sage plants have reported 10 monoterpenoids (1–10), 1 sesquiterpenoid (11), 8 labdane (13–20), 15 ent-kaurane (21–35), 82 abietane, rearranged abietane and tanshinone (36–117), 3 icetexane (118–120), 43 clerodane (121–163), and 3 pimarane (164–166) diterpenoids with cytotoxic and antimicrobial, antiprotozoal, antioxidant, phytotoxic and insecticide effects. The other heavier terpenoids, including 3 sesterterpenes (167–169), 10 triterpenoids and β-sitosterol (170–180) have been introduced as minor bioactive compounds in the sage plants. Sahandinone (107), 6,7-dehydroroyleanone, 7-α-acetoxyroyleanone (40), and tanshinone like diterpenoids have been isolated from the roots’ extracts of different Salvia species. On the other hand, several radical scavenger phenolic compounds like simple phenolics and caffeic acid derivatives (181–201) including rosmarinic acid, flavonoids (202–217) as well as phenolic diterpenoids, such as carnosol and carnosic acid have been isolated from the aerial parts of these plants. One pyrrole (218) and 3 antimicrobial oxylipins (219–221) are among the other less detected constituents in the members of Salvias. Furthermore, sages also synthesize antifungal, antileishmanial and antimalarial phytochemicals in their roots and shoots, which are reviewed in this paper. We also examine the allelopathic phenomena and the ecologically important phytochemicals identified in different parts of the sage plants. Finally, antifeedant and insecticide phenomena, which are due to the presence of volatile monoterpenes and clerodane diterpenes in these plants, are discussed. Considering the presence of diverse biologically active phytochemicals in the sage plants, they can be suggested as suitable candidates for the formulation of valuable natural medicines.
... In vitro [28] Chamomilla recutita NI Alpha-bisabolol 100 μg/ml (100% de death) L. infantum (P) In vitro [29] Chenopodium ambrosioides Leaf Ethanol extract IC 50 : 151.9 μg/ml L. amazonensis (P) In vitro [30] NI Aqueous extract 100 μg/ml (82.1 % de death) L. amazonensis (P) In vitro [31] Aerial parts Essential oil IC 50 : 27.8 mg/ml L. amazonensis (P) In vitro [32] Aerial In vitro / In vivo [33] Aerial [36] Aerial parts Essential oil 150 mg/kg/day (100% death) L. amazonensis (P) In vivo [37] Aerial parts Essential oil P (IC 50 ): 3.7 μg/ml IA (IC 50 ): 4.6 μg/ml L. amazonensis (P, IA) ...
... Salvia species are well-known herbal therapeutic medicines that have been utilized for centuries. Because of their antioxidant, antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-leishmanial characteristics, they are popular medicines both inside and outside of European nations [Nikmehr et al., 2014]. Due to the increase in yeast resistance, there is a need to search for new strategies in the treatment of candidiasis. ...
Salvia species are known for their anti-fungal and anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. Metabolomics is defined as a comprehensive quantitative and qualitative analysis of large-scale of metabolites. In this study, besides determining anti-acetylcholinesterase and synergistic antifungal activities of selected Salvia species (S. cryptantha Montbret & Aucher ex Benth., S. tchihatcheffii (Fisch. & C. A. Mey.) Boiss., S. officinalis L., S. virgata Jacq.), the metabolite profiles were clarified and correlation analyzes between the activity results and profiles were carried out. Aerial parts of all plant materials were extracted by methanol to determine the metabolic profile by using GC-MS (Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry) and LC-QTOF-MS (Liquid Chromatography Quadrupole Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry). Also, Ellman's spectrophotometric method for anti-acetylcholinesterase activity and the checkerboard method for synergistic antifungal activity between extracts and fluconazole were performed. 295 known and 1408 unknown metabolites were detected by using GC-MS while 346 known and 69008 unknown metabolites were by using LC-QTOF-MS. S. cryptantha, S. tchihatcheffii, S. officinalis, and S. virgata demonstrated inhibitory activities on AChE with the ratio of 32.72%, 5.9%, 43.96%, and 12.1% respectively at the concentration of 200 µg/mL. A synergism was found for all Salvia sp. against Candida tropicalis ATCC 750 strain (FICI values of ≤0.5). In addition, primary and secondary metabolites, which are highly correlated with both activities, were determined. All Salvia species exhibited synergic activity with fluconazole while having weak AChE inhibitory activity. Combining natural products with synthetic drugs is important in order to increase efficacy. At the same time, herbal products must be used carefully at the point of herb-drug interactions. Further studies are needed to investigate active metabolites according to correlation results.
... The subsequent filtration with by Whatman paper (No. 1), and evaporation under low pressure at below 40 C in a rotor evaporator resulted the crude extract. Final obtained preparations, were kept in the refrigerator for further applications [31].The QIG final extract was placed in petri dish at ambient temperature and let to get dried, subsequently the powder was collected and preserved at 4 C [32, 33]. ...
In this study, copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) were synthetized through green chemistry approach using C. officinalis flowers extract. The biosynthetized nanoparticles were characterized by FESEM, XRD, DLS and FTIR analysis. Subsequently, PCL nanofiber was fabricated as first supportive layer by electrospinning method. Afterward, PVA/Quercus infectoria galls (QLG) extracts/biosynthetized CuNPs blending solution was electrospinned as second bioactive topical layer. The morphology, physicochemical properties and biological characteristics of the produced PCL, PCL/PVA, PCL/PVA/CuNPs, PCL/PVA/QLG and PCL/PVA/QLG/CuNPs were investigated. Eventually, in vivo wound healing effectiveness were examined. Histologic investigation was carried out for visualization of the healing wounds architecture in different treated groups. FESEM, XRD and DLS assays confirmed the successful synthesis of CuNPs in range of 40-70 nm and FTIR spectrum approve the presence of functional constituents of C. officinalis extract on synthesized CuNPs. The incorporation of CuNPs and QLG extract into PCL/PVA based nanofibers improved their biological capabilities and physicochemical properties. Furthermore, PCL/PVA/QLG/CuNPs illustrated significant wound healing potentials and excellent antibacterial function against at wounds infected with MRSA. Histological assay demonstrated complete wound healing and less inflammation on day 10th. These outcomes recommended the utilization of PCL/PVA/QLG/CuNPs as a novel promising wound dressings with considerable antibacterial features.
... The antipromastigote and antiamastigote activities of D. stramonium seeds and S. officinalis leaves were less potent than that of the C. officinalis flower extract. However, all extracts reduced the infectivity of L. major amastigotes in macrophages [57]. ...
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease that causes severe morbidity and mortality. It has an estimated worldwide incidence of 15 million infected people and 350 million at risk, living in tropical and subtropical areas of 88 endemic countries in America, Europe, Africa, Middle East, and Asia. Current treatment of leishmaniasis relies on chemotherapy. No vaccine exists for leishmaniasis and most of the antileishmanial drugs currently in use, have disadvantages, such as severe side effects or parasite resistance. Amphotericin B and its lipid‐carrier formulations have been successfully applied, while the first line drugs were no longer effective due to drug resistance. Nevertheless, very high costs of these drugs prevent their widespread use. Alternatively, many plants and plant constituents have been used over the past years for controlling such disease. In this chapter, emphasis was made on the different plants, plant extracts as well as natural lead molecules that were proved to have antileishmanial activity.
... A Salvia officinalis (Sálvia) tem comprovado os seus efeitos vermífugos (Nikmehr et al., 2014) Arctium lappa (Bardana) tem seu uso confirmado para tratamento gastrointestinal, com descrita atividade antinflamatória neste órgão (Almeida et al., 2013). As espécies de Aloe (Babosa) foram classificadas como potentes cicatrizantes (Jia et al., 2008). ...
RESUMO: Descrever as plantas medicinais cultivadas em hortos medicinais em um município da região Noroeste do Rio Grande do Sul. Estudo qualitativo do tipo exploratório cuja coleta dos dados ocorreu por meio de entrevista semiestruturada e observação, aplicadas nos meses de abril e maio de 2014, no domicílio dos participantes e no local de cultivo dos hortos medicinais. Para a análise dos dados utilizou-se da proposta operativa de Minayo. Participaram dessa pesquisa 22 pessoas, cultivadoras de três hortos medicinais. Foram elencadas 12 plantas cultivadas nos três hortos medicinais. O conhecimento a respeito das plantas é proveniente do saber popular, sendo as mudas cultivadas, oriundas dos quintais das cultivadoras. A análise dos resultados permitiu perceber que nos três hortos medicinais, são cultivadas as mesmas espécies de plantas e que grande parte destas, contam com seus potenciais terapêuticos confirmados por estudos científicos. Tais estudos são desconhecidos pela população entrevistada. Palavras-chave: plantas medicinais; enfermagem; medicina tradicional; conhecimento. ABSTRACT: Plants grown in medicinal gardens in a municipality in the Rio Grande do Sul state-Northwest Region. To describe the medicinal plants grown in nurseries medicinal in a city of Northwest Rio Grande do Sul region. A qualitative exploratory study whose Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and observation, applied in April and May 2014, in the participants' homes and place of cultivation of medicinal plant nurseries. In order to analyze data we have used the operative proposal of Minayo. 22 persons participated in this study, cultivators three medicinal plant nurseries. Were listed 12 plants grown in three medicinal plant nurseries. The knowledge about plants comes from the popular knowledge, being cultivated seedlings coming from the backyards of cultivators. The results showed that the three medicinal plant nurseries, the same species of plants and that many of these are grown, have their potential therapeutic confirmed by scientific studies. Such studies are unknown to the people interviewed. INTRODUÇÃO Há milhares de anos, o homem vem buscando a cura e prevenção de diversas doenças por meio de práticas não convencionais de saúde, como o uso de plantas medicinais, advindas do saber e da cultura popular, sendo o conhecimento à este respeito repassado entre as gerações familiares e comunitárias (Alvim et al., 2006). Por muito tempo, estas práticas populares de cuidado foram rejeitadas pelo sistema oficial de saúde, prevalecendo o modelo biomédico de atenção. Atualmente acredita-se que esse cuidado realizado por meio das plantas medicinais seja favorável à saúde humana, desde que o usuário tenha conhecimento de sua finalidade, dos riscos e benefícios (Badke et al., 2012). Apesar da população afirmar que as plantas medicinais não trazem malefícios ao organismo, o uso de uma planta incorretamente identificada pode gerar efeitos colaterais, indesejados e/ou tóxicos. Às vezes, plantas de espécies diferentes, com princípios ativos distintos, recebem o mesmo nome popular. Por essa razão, é importante a correta identificação da planta e a comprovação científica de seu princípio ativo (Ceolin et al. 2009). Sociedade Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais 2021 © I Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais (2018) 20:477-484. ARTIGO ORIGINAL ©️ 2018 Revista Brasileira de Plantas Medicinais/Brazilian Journal of Medicinal Plants. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
... Despite various efforts and progresses, no definite anti-leishmanial drug is still available. Antimonials have been the first treatment choice for cutaneous leishmaniosis (CL) for nearly 65 years [18]. But in recent years, the search for a suitable alternative drug has been a health priority due to reduced effectiveness, side effects, toxicity, and resistance [19]. ...
Leishmaniosis is one of the most important vectors borne disease that is endemic in tropical and subtropical areas. There are many approved treatment for different types of leishmaniosis but all are with some adverse side effects that limited its uses. Here, we attempt to evaluate in vitro and ex vivo anti-leishmanial activities of Peganum harmala (P. harmala) and N. sativa (Nigella sativa) on promastigotes and amastigotes of L. major. The plants were extracted by maceration method and prepared in concentrations of 7.8, 3.9, 1.9, and 0.9 μg. L. major were cultured in RPMI-1640 medium alone and in J774 cell line separately. The extracts at different concentrations were assessed against promastigote (in vitro assay) and amastigotes (ex vivo assay) of L. major for 72 h at 22 and 37°C, respectively. In current work, N. sativa at highest concentration (7.8 μg/ml) showed 54.4 and 60% anti-leishmanial activity with IC50 of 5.3 and 3.278 μg/ml, respectively. Also, P. harmala at highest concentration (7.8 μg/ml) showed 68.9 and 58.6% antileishmanial activity with IC50 of 2.4 μg/ml for both of them, respectively. The SI value was 38.22 for N. sativa, 25.9 for P. harmala, 19.4 for Amphotericin B, and 16.33 for Glucantime. The results of our study indicated that N. sativa and P. harmala are effective against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes and could be consider as an alternative treatments for leishmaniosis. Therefore, it is recommended that further studies be performed to confirm the efficacy and evaluate the toxicity of the herbal extracts.
... The results suggests that A. bracteosa extracts can be employed as an important tool for the futuristic anti-leishmanial therapies. Our findings, are in agreement with some of the previous studies reported and thus emphasizes on the futuristic possibilities for medicinal plants as an alternative to current antileishmanial therapies (Mans et al., 2016;Nikmehr et al., 2014). ...
This research study is mainly focused to evaluate the anti-parasitic, insecticidal, cytotoxic and anti-alzheimer potential of various leaf extracts of Ajuga bracteosa Wallich ex Bentham. 04 different extracts were prepared using solvent of different polarity to determine the best candidate for potent bioactivity i.e. n-hexane (NH), Ethyl acetate (EA), Ethanol (EL) and Chloroform (CH). Concentrations of each extracts were made specified for all activities. All extracts were exploited for broad range of biomedical applications including leishmaniasis, in vitro anti-Alzheimer, insecticidal and cytotoxic studies. Our results showed that A. bracteosa n-hexane extract was highly active against Leishmania Tropica with significant inhibition of 58±1.61 for promastigote and 63±2.29 for amastigote at 1000 μg/mL. Furthermore, promising anti-alzheimer activity acetylcholinesterase (AChE) 46±0.83 and butrylcholineterase (BChE) 49±1.17 was noted for n-hexane. The insecticidal potential of these extracts were test against five different insects (Rhyzopertha dominica, Trogoderma granarium, Tribolium castaneum, Sitophilus oryze, and Callosobruchus analis). The higest mortality rate of insecticidal activity was recorded by n-hexane followed by Ethyl acetate whereas ethanol extract was found to be less effective against all the test species. Significant cytotoxic potential of each plant sample against Artemia salina thus aware us for further detailed research to find out novel drugs. Based on our results we believe that Ajuga bracteosa could be used to develop as a potential botanical insecticide against different insect and pests, such as aphids as well as an excellent source for the compound isolation as anti-tumor agent.
... Other compounds, such as Tt extracted from C. officinalis displayed cytotoxic effects against colon, melanoma and leukemia cancer cells 103 . In the case of antimicrobial activity, C. officinalis exhibited inhibitory effects against bacterial species such as E. coli, P. aeruginosa, B. subtilis, S.s aureus, L. monocytogenes, S. typhimurium and also fungi species like C. albicans, C. parapsilosis and A. niger 92,97,105 . Finally, C. officinalis has also shown anti-leishmania effects, inhibiting the growth of promastigotes and amastigotes of Leishmania major 105 . ...
Traditional plants have been used in the treatment of disease and pain due to the beneficial properties from the antioxidant, anti-inflammation, analgesic and antibiotic activities. Asteraceae family is one of the most common groups of plants used in folk medicine. The species Achillea millefolium, Arnica montana, Bellis perennis, Calendula officinalis, Chamaemelum nobile, Eupatorium cannabinum, Helichrysum stoechas and Taraxacum officinale have been used in different remedies in the North West region of Spain. Besides the health beneficial properties, some of them like Chamaemelum nobile and Helichrysum stoechas are already employed in cooking and culinary uses, like cocktails, desserts and savory dishes. This study aimed to review the current information of the nutritive and beneficial properties and bioactive compounds of these plants which are not mainly used as foods but are possible candidates for this purpose. The report highlights their current uses and their suitability for the development of new functional food industrial applications. Phenolic compounds, essential oils and sesquiterpene lactones are some of the most important compounds, being related to different bioactivities. Thus, they could be interesting for the development of new functional foods.
... These compounds or secondary metabolites particularly possess also anti-protozoan activities, especially against Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp. [46][47][48][49][50]. Then, the phenolic compounds are good candidate molecules due to a relatively low or no toxicity and because the presence of some flavonoids limits the resistance of protozoan to other drugs [51]. ...
... It is the first report about antileishmanial effects of C. lanatus and no more reports were found on this case in the literature. However, in contrast to our study, the antileishmanial effects of different species of Asteraceae family have been reported in several studies (Azizi et al., 2016;Fournet, Barrios, & Munoz, 1994;Nikmehr, Ghaznavi, Rahbar, Sadr, & Mehrzadi, 2014;Panda & Luyten, 2018). The inconsistency of our study with previous reports of Asteraceae, may refer to different plant species used. ...
Objective
Current therapy strategies of leishmaniasis have some problems such as high cost, toxicity and side effects. Plant extracts can be a source of drugs to control leishmaniasis. In this study, the effect of hydroalcoholic and chloroformic extracts of Vigna radiata, Tamarix ramosissima, and Carthamus lanatus on Leishmania major and L. tropica was studied.
Methods
The plant samples were collected from west of Iran and their extracts were prepared. Anti-promastigote activity assay of all extracts was done using tetrazolium-dye assay.
Results
Only high concentrations of V. radiata and C. lanatus were able to inhibit Leishmania, while both high and low concentrations of T. ramosissima had antileishmanial effect. No difference was observed between hydroalcoholic with chloroformic extract of each plant.
Conclusion
Altogether, the results revealed the antileishmanial activity of T. ramosissima extracts against L. major and L. tropica, indicating its potential as an antileishmanial agent.
... Its chemical constituents include triterpene glycosides, triterpene alcohols, flavanol glycosides, essential oil, polysaccharides and fatty oil (Gantait and Chattopadhyay 2005). Many studies have reported that the plant has pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer (Jimenez-Medina et al. 2006;Mazzio and Soliman 2009;Matić et al. 2013;Teiten et al. 2013), anti-microbial (Dumenil et al. 1980;Modesto et al. 2000;Efstratiou et al. 2012;Farjana et al. 2014;Vieira et al. 2014), anti-leishmanial (Nabi et al. 2012;Nikmehr et al., 2014), anti-HIV (Kalvatchev et al. 1997), antioxidant (Çetkovic et al. 2004;Erçetin et al. 2012;Babaee et al. 2013), cytotoxic, antitumor (Boucaud-Maitre et al. 1988Jimenez-Medina et al. 2006;Ukiya et al. 2006), anti-viral (De Tommasi et al. 1991, anti-inflammatory (Hamburger et al. 2003;Ukiya et al. 2006), edema diuretic (Eglseer-Zitterl et al. 1997), hypoglycemic (Marukami et al. 2001), uterotonic (Shipochliev 1981) and lymphocyte activator effect (Jimenez-Medina et al. 2006) and is used in venous ulcer treatment (Duran et al. 2005) and for biligenic function (Ugulu et al. 2009). ...
Background: Calendula officinalis (pot marigold) L., known for its ornamental plant characteristics, is a medicinal plant which belongs to the Asteraceae (Compositae) family. Methods: The cell suspension cultures of Calendula officinalis and C. arvensis species with pharmacological importance were created in the four different MS media which were supplemented with different concentrations of NAA:BAP (1:1, 0.5:5 mg/l) and IAA:BAP (1:1, 0.5:5 mg/l) under sterile conditions. Caffeic acid and beta carotene quantity were researched at the end of every 30 days in the cell suspension cultures (stationary phase) during a total of 120 days. Statistical analysis was performed with Tukey Multiple Comparison Test. Maximum caffeic acid and beta carotene quantity were obtained from the cell suspension culture of C. officinalis species developing in MS1 nutrient medium (268,59 µg/g dry weight). Results: It was found that all nutrient media for the cell suspension culture (MS1, MS3, MS4, MS6) of C. officinalis species had more caffeic acid and beta carotene quantity than C. officinalis species. Caffeic acid and beta carotene quantity accumulating in the cell suspension culture of C. officinalis and C. arvensis species was more than is found in the leaves of Calendula species in the literature.
... These compounds or secondary metabolites particularly possess also anti-protozoan activities, especially against Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp. [46][47][48][49][50]. Then, the phenolic compounds are good candidate molecules due to a relatively low or no toxicity and because the presence of some flavonoids limits the resistance of protozoan to other drugs [51]. ...
Aim
The objective of the present study was to investigate in vitro anticoccidial effect of olive pulp (Olea europaea L var. Chemlal) extract on the destruction of Eimeria spp. oocysts isolated from infected chickens naturally.
Materials and methods
The olive pulp (OP) powder was stirred manually in aqueous ethanol in preparation for extraction using the microwave-assisted extraction system. The identification of the phenolic compounds was obtained by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation (HPLC–ESI–MS). The treatment of Eimeria oocyst with OP extract and standard compounds (quercetin and oleuropein) leads to their lysis as shown by the release of substances absorbing at 273 nm.
Results
Our results showed that the maximum number of reduced oocysts was recorded after 8 h of incubation of optimum OP extract, quercetin and oleuropein for different periods of time. Also, the number of Eimeria oocysts decreased considerably with increase concentrations after adding the optimum of OP extract in concentration ranging from 0.023 to 0.371 mg/ml. Positive correlation between the optimum OP extract concentrations and the number of Eimeria oocysts reduced was R2 = 0.959. From this in vitro experiment, it can be concluded that the OP extract possesses an anti-Eimeria spp activity.
Conclusion
To our knowledge, this is the first time that quercetin and oleuropein were tested to evaluate their anticoccidial activity. The findings of this study showed that phenolic compound of OP extract tested separately possesses anti-Eimeria spp. effect. Further studies should be carried out to test its in vivo efficacy of the OP bioactive compounds in broiler chickens.
... In fact, it has been reported that the preparation of leaves applied in the form of compresses (Dei Cas et al., 2015) , the oil and ointments from flowers (Jarić et al., 2018) and the tinctures or infusions made with aerial parts were employed to relieve ,wounds , bruises, minor burns and skin damaged (Arora et al., 2013). Furthermore, many pharmacological investigations have demonstrated the biological effects of Calendula officinalis L. including antimicrobial (Gazim et al., 2008b) (Efstratiou et al., 2012) (Chebouti et al., 2014) (Shankar et al., 2017), anti-inflammatory (Ukiya et al., 2006, Amoian et al., 2010, hypoglycemic (Yoshikawa et al., 2001) antioxydant (Ćetković et al., 2004) ,anti-leishmanial (Nikmehr et al., 2014) and genotoxic effects (Bakkali et al., 2005). ...
Microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) was used as an ecofriendly method to extract the essential oils from flowers and leaves of Calendula officinalis L. cultivated in Algeria. The results obtained were compared with the conventional extraction method, hydrodistillation (HD), and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) and GC-MS. For flowers oils, 33 compounds were identified with HD method vs 20 compounds with MAHD method. For leaves, 26 compounds were identified with HD method vs 19 compounds identified with MAHD method. It is interesting to note, furthermore, that the use of MAHD method during 90 min allowed us to obtain relatively similar yields than HD method during 180 min. The main abundant volatile constituent was α-cadinol with 31.9±0.71% for HD vs 39.7±0.26% for MAHD in leaves oils and 32.3±0.26% for HD vs 37.1±0.30% for MAHD in flowers oils. The oxygenated sesquiterpens was the most represented group of natural compounds contributing to the chemical composition in all oils. In the other hand, extraction of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and total flavonoids (TFC) was affected by the solvent type and, thus, 100% methanol was the better extraction solvent for both leaves and flowers. Highest levels were obtained from leaves. The highest antioxidant activity was recorded for leaves extract with 100% methanol. These values indicated a weak antioxidant activity compared to antioxidant standards. A correlation was established between the phenolic and flavonoids contents and the antioxidant activity of the crude extracts. A moderate to great antibacterial activity was observed against Gram + bacteria. Any antibacterial activity was detected against fungi strains and Gram-bacteria.
... Finally, it is important to highlight that those studies without data on the isolation/chemical composition of the extracts or their effects in vivo were not included in this manuscript. Examples of these studies are: Calendula officinalis L. against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes (Nikmehr et al., 2014); Echinacea purpurea (L.) Moench against L. donovani promastigotes (Canlas et al., 2010) and L. major in in vivo infection (Sarkari et al., 2017); Echinops kebericho Mesfin toward L. aethiopica and L. donovani promastigotes and amastigotes (Tariku et al., 2011); Gochnatia pulchra Cabrera against L. amazonensis (Lucarini et al., 2012(Lucarini et al., , 2016; Waldheimia tomentosa (Decne.) Regel against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes (Bhatnagar et al., 2017); and Pulicaria gnaphalodes (Vent.) ...
Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease cause great impact on social and economic aspects of people living in developing countries. The treatments for these diseases are based on the same regimen for over 40 years, thus, there is an urgent need for the development of new drugs. In this scenario, Asteraceae plants (a family widely used in folk medicine worldwide) are emerging as an interesting source for new trypanocidal and leishmanicidal compounds. Herein, we provide a non-exhaustive review about the activity of plant-derived products from Asteraceae with inhibitory action toward Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi. Special attention was given to those studies aiming the isolation (or identification) of the bioactive compounds. Ferulic acid, rosmarinic acid, and ursolic acid (Baccharis uncinella DC.) were efficient to treat experimental leishmaniasis; while deoxymikanolide (Mikania micrantha) and (+)-15-hydroxy-labd-7-en-17-al (Aristeguietia glutinosa Lam.) showed in vivo anti-T. cruzi action. It is also important to highlight that several plant-derived products (compounds, essential oils) from Artemisia plants have shown high inhibitory potential against Leishmania spp., such as artemisinin and its derivatives. In summary, these compounds may help the development of new effective agents against these neglected diseases.
... The plants contain saponins and have also shown anthelmintic potential which are in accordance with previous reports which reveals that saponins are known to have anthelmintic activity (160). Further methanolic floral extract of C. officinalis is effective against extracellular (promastigote) and intracellular (amastigote) forms of Leishmania major in controlling cutaneous leishmaniasis (161). Godara et al., reported acaricidal activity of aqueous and ethanolic floral extract of C. officinalis against Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus resistant to pyrethroids (deltamethrin and cypermethrin). ...
Calendula officinalis Linn. commonly known as marigold has long history of usage by the folklore system. It has a high economic value as herbal medicine and is widely used in cosmetics, perfumes, dyes, pharmaceutical preparations and food products for centuries. The plant has been approved for food use and appears in the food and drug administration (FDA) list of generally recognized as safe (GRAS) substances. The literature available for the comprehensive review study were taken from the different worldwide accepted scientific database, journals, books for botanical description, pharmacological properties and ethno-botanical uses of C. officinalis Linn. Natural products containing calendula either as extract or oil are complex mixtures containing hundreds of biologically active constituents such as carotenoids, flavonoids, saponins, sterols, phenolic acids, lipids, amino acids, carbohydrates, etc. These phytoconstituents have wide applicability in food and cosmetic industries besides their therapeutic applications viz. as antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcer, anti-proliferative, antiparasitic, hypoglycemic, hypolipidemic and wound healing potential in experimental and clinical trials. Being useful therapeutic agents in their own right, an understanding of these traditional medicines has provided new plant derived drug leads to modern medicine for therapeutic application.
... Another investigation has assessed the synergistic effects of mixed Achillea millefolium, A. absinthium, and walnut leaf extracts on L. majorin vitro and found that plant extracts increase the immobility of parasites, which was directly associated with exposure time. That in vitro investigation, the same as the present study, confirmed the effectiveness of A. absinthium extract in inhibiting the growth of L. major (33,34). Another study evaluated the anti-leishmanial effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Calendula officinalis on L. major promastigotes in vitro. ...
Background: Leishmaniasis is a protozoan disease ranging from simple to mucocutaneous, diffuse, and visceral lesions. Current chemical medicines, including Glucantime, have high toxicity, side effects, and drug resistance. Herbal medicines are unlimited sources for discovering new medications to treat infectious diseases. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the in vitro effect of hydroalcoholic extract of Artemisia absinthium on the growth of Leishmania major in peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. Methods: In this experimental study, the hydroalcoholic extract of A. absinthium was prepared and dissolved in 2% dimethyl sul-foxide (DMSO). Leishmania major (MRHO/IR/75/ER) was cultured in RPMI1640 medium containing 15% fetal bovine serum (FBS). Peritoneal macrophages were extracted from BALB/c mice and were infected with promastigotes at a ratio of 1:10. The extract was added to Leishmania-infected macrophages and promastigotes at different concentrations. After 24, 48, and 72 hours, the effectiveness of A. absinthium on promastigotes was assessed using Trypan blue test and methyl thiazole tetrazolium (MTT) colorimetric assay, and the half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of A. absinthium extract was obtained. Giemsa staining was used to evaluate the effect of A. absinthium extract on amastigotes. Also, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOs) level was measured from Leishmania-infected macrophages. The data were analyzed by ANOVA in SPSS software. Results: The hydroalcoholic extract of A. absinthium showed a significant anti-Leishmania activity against promastigotes and amastigotes at various concentrations after 48 and 72 hours. The IC50 values of the alcoholic extract of A. absinthium were obtained at 56 mg/mL and 51 mg/mL concentrations of promastigotes and amastigotes, respectively. The lowest levels of iNOs were seen at 100 and 50 mg/mL concentrations of A. absinthium in treated macrophages. The former was obtained at 60.8 and 58.8 ng/mL after 24 and 48 hours and the latter at 55.5 ng/mL and 50 mg/mL of A. absinthium, respectively, after 72 hours. Conclusions: Findings of the present study showed the anti-parasitic effects of A. absinthium on both promastigotes and amastigotes. Further studies are recommended to be conducted on animal models and the active ingredients of A. absinthium extract to accurately assess the effects of this extract on the growth of L. major.
... Calendula officinalis has been used traditionally by the tribes of Odisha for worm infections. Nikmehr et al. [95] found that crude methanolic extracts have antileishmanial activity, but no bioactive molecules have been isolated so far. Caesulia axillaris, a wetland plant, is used very frequently for the treatment of malaria by the coastal peoples of Odisha. ...
The purpose of this review is to survey the antiparasitic plants of the Asteraceae family and their applicability in the treatment of parasites. This review is divided into three major parts: (a) literature on traditional uses of Asteraceae plants for the treatment of parasites; (b) description of the major classes of chemical compounds from Asteraceae and their antiparasitic effects; and (c) antiparasitic activity with special reference to flavonoids and terpenoids. This review provides detailed information on the reported Asteraceae plant extracts found throughout the world and on isolated secondary metabolites that can inhibit protozoan parasites such as Plasmodium, Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and intestinal worms. Additionally, special attention is given to the Asteraceae plants of Odisha, used by the tribes of the area as antiparasitics. These plants are compared to the same plants used traditionally in other regions. Finally, we provide information on which plants identified in Odisha, India and related compounds show promise for the development of new drugs against parasitic diseases. For most of the plants discussed in this review, the active compounds still need to be isolated and tested further.
... The macerated extract exhibited an unfavorable IC 50 value against the promastigotes of 184 ± 11.17 µg/mL. Furthermore, at this concentration it yielded 58% of lethality of parasite internalized into macrophages (cell line infected with Lm amastigotes) and 8% of toxicity [35]. ...
Natural products from plants have been used since ancestral times to treat a wide variety of diseases worldwide. Plants of the genus Salvia (Sage) have been reported to be used for the prevention and treatment of various diseases and ailments. In particular, some Salvia species have been used in traditional medicine to treat diseases caused by protozoan parasites of the genera Trypanosoma, Leishmania and Plasmodium and scientific studies have demonstrated the activity of various isolated constituents from these plants against these pathogens. The current review attempts to give a critical overview of published information about the antiprotozoal activity of species of the genus Salvia and their chemical constituents. It is meant to give a unified overview of these results in order to avoid repetitions caused, e.g., by limited access to some primary reports, and to stimulate further research to possibly facilitate the development of new molecular leads against protozoal neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) based on Salvia constituents.
... Fifty-eight species of S. officinalis are found in Iran, 17 of which are native varieties. Methanolic extracts of S. officinalis leaves reduces number of amastigote and promastigote of L. major inside the macrophages (46,47). In addition, tannins and phenols extracted from S. officinalis were effective on L. donovani and L. major (48). ...
Background
Chemotherapy still relies on the use of pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, paromomycin, miltefosin, and allopurinol. In this study, we explained about the native plant that grows in different regions of Iran and used as anti-leishmanial in Iran and even many other countries.
Methods
This narrative review covers all information about local herbal medicine in Iran that used in treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis in all the worlds, published in local and international journals from 1996 to 2015 using various databases including PubMed, SID, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Science Direct.
Results
Overall, 150 articles in databases were identified. Many local plants grown in some places of Iran were used to treat this endemic disease.
Conclusion
The cutaneous leishmaniasis is also a major health problem in Iran, especially in Mashhad (Northeast of Iran). Therefore, many patients seek for herbal therapy that is cheaper and readily available. This review provides information regarding plant that exists in Iran and exhibiting effects on anti-Leishmania activity. Among the anti-leishmanial mentioned in this review, most have never been tested for cytotoxicity and very few have been tested for in vivo activity.
... Именно за счет усиления антиоксидантных защитных механизмов при местном применении экстракта календулы ускоряется процесс регенерации тканей и улучшается качество грануляций, что способствует быстрой эпителизации ран [10, 36,39]. При этом мазь на основе этилового спирта оказывает регенерирующее действие уже на 5-10-е сутки, а мазь на основе водного экстракта на 10-14-й день. ...
Currently worldwide chemical burns of the esophagus rank first among all diseases of the esophagus in children and second in adults. Because of commonly accepted algorithms of rendering of medical aid in case of chemical burns of the esophagus in the prehospital and hospital stages (washing of the esophagus and the stomach, adequate anesthesia, corticosteroid, antibiotic therapy, the group of antacids and symptomatic treatment), the choice of drug and method of local impact on the surface of chemical burn of the esophagus remain an urgent problem. The lack of standardized approach in treatment of local changes in chemical burns of the esophagus, severe and unsatisfactory results of using medication algorithms inspire a search for alternative methods of treatment and drug development. Herbal remedies are comparable in effectiveness, but also have the combined multivalent effect on the entire body, causing minimum of side effects. Basing on the literature review, we have come to a conclusion that the most balanced composition of biologically active substances and a positive influence on the basic pathogenesis of esophageal chemical burns has Calendula officinalis. Features and scope of Calendula officinalis are not fully understood. The creation of a multidrug for the local treatment chemical burns of the esophagus based on this herb proves to be very promising.
... Interestingly, we report here that the differential antileishmanial effects of these extracts was related not only to their chemical composition but also to the nature of the promastigotes species and the differential antileishmanial activity of these extract against the same promastigotes species is related to the differential composition of such extracts. Our results agree with previous research in which the best antileishmanial activity was observed with the dichloromethane extract of Acanthospermum hispidum and methanol extracts of Calendula officinalis, Datura stramonium and Salvia officinalis [29,30]. On the other hand, the mechanism of action of plant extract is still obscure. ...
... It is a yearly or perennial taproot plant with 20-40 cm height and has 20 varieties [2]. As a result of the studies conducted with Calendula, many studies have reported the plant to have pharmacological effects such as anti-cancer [3,4,5,6], anti-microbial [7,8,9,10,11], anti-leishmanial [12,13], anti-HIV [14], antioxidants [15,16,17], cytotoxic, anti-tumor [18,3,19], anti-viral [20], anti-inflamatuar [21,19], oedema diuretic [22], hypoglycemic [23], uterotonic [24], lymphocyte activator effect [3], in venous ulcer treatment [25] and for biligenic function [26]. ...
This study has been conducted to investigate different explants of plant growth regulators on callus induction of Calendula officinalis L. medicinal and aromatic herb. The seeds were surface sterilized using 70% ethanol for 3 minutes, 10% commercial bleach for 5 minutes and rinsed 3 times with sterile water for 3 minutes. The seeds were germinated in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. Hypocotyl, cotyledon and cotyledon node explants have been excised from the plantlets obtained from in vitro germinated seeds. Three explants were cultured on MS media supplemented with various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP; 1.0, 2.0 mgL-1) and auxin (IBA; 0.1, 0,5 mgL-1) for callus induction. At the end of eight weeks, the best results were observed in a treatment with 1 mgL-1 BAP + 0.5 mgL-1 IBA and 2 mgL-1 BAP + 0.5 mgL-1 IBA 100% on the hypocotyl; 1 mgL-1 BAP + 0.5 mgL-1 IBA and 2 mgL-1 BAP + 0.5 mgL-1 IBA 88% on the cotyledon; 2 mgL-1 BAP + 0.1 mgL-1 IBA 100% on the cotyledon nodes. The data obtained from the path is instructive to gene transformation, phytoremediation and cell culture study.
Background: Medicinal herbs are used to cure parasitic protozoan diseases. Protozoan parasites continue difficult
to treat, but diverse extracts from both terrestrial and aquatic plants have been shown to provide a variety of
medical benefits for people’s personal health. One of the main issues in the management of health and disease is
the absence of treatment resistance in parasites. It affects millions of people’s health globally, poses a threat to
get worse, and threatens to cause financial losses. Drug resistance in parasites is progressively complex and
challenging the treatment of parasitic disorders, which is disappointing because it does not receive serious
consideration from every part of society.
Methods: In this regard, our focus has been on examining the antiparasitic plants of the Asteraceae family and
their potential use in the management of protozoan parasites.
Results: This review is divided into a i) analysis of traditional parasite treatments using Asteraceae plants (ii) an
overview of the major chemical classes found in Asteraceae and their effects on parasites; (iii) with special focus
on flavonoids, terpenoids, and alkaloids, antiparasitic properties. In-depth information on isolated bioactive
compounds that can inhibit protozoan parasites such Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma, Entamoeba, and
Toxoplasma is provided in this study. It also includes information on Asteraceae plant extracts that have been
reported around the globe.
Conclusion: These medicinal plants can be further studied to determine whether they have the potential to be
turned into novel pharmaceuticals or utilised as a medicinal plant to treat a variety of protozoan diseases.
Leishmania is an intracellular digenetic obligate parasite spread by insects and poses grave health issues throughout the world. Extensive use of antimony compounds as drugs poses high toxicity and cost and therefore, a position has been identied for herbal medicine. This study has been carried out to explore the developmental biochemical characteristics of Leishmania donovani promastigote. In addition, the mode of action of Datura stramonium (Solanaceae) plant extract on promastigote form of leishmania have been examined. Friedman's repeated measures analysis showed that 96hr of development is the junction point in promastigotes ontogeny. Post 96hr, it grows with a long stationary phase with higher enzymatic activities viz., acid phosphatase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione (oxidized and reduced). Total protein estimated, showed a linear relationship (R2 = 0.999). Phytochemical screening of extracts showed the presence of alkaloid, avonoid, xed oil and fats, saponin, tannin and phenolic compounds etc, and showed an effectual free radical scavenging in the DPPH assay with an IC50 value of extract of D. stramonium (55.63 µg/ml). A concentration of 250 µg/mL of the plant extract completely inhibited the L. donovani promastigotes in vitro while concentrations of 50 µg/mL and 100 µg/mL decreased the survival level by 25-50%. Our ndings corroborate the ethnopharmacological use of this plant for the treatment of Leishmaniasis. Also, our results are promoters as potential sources to search antileishmanial bioactive agents.
Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease present in more than 90 countries and annually affects about 1 million people worldwide. It is caused by the genus Leishmania protozoa that are transmitted to humans by insect bites. This disease is a serious public health problem, which can cause death, disability, and mutilation. The drugs used in treatment have high toxicity, low efficiency, high costs, and possible antiparasitic resistance. Medicinal plant-based treatments have been used for leishmaniasis by population from endemic areas. Among the main botanical families used against leishmaniasis, in different parts of the world, the family Lamiaceae stands out. In this review, the antileishmanial activity of extracts, fractions, and non-volatile compounds of Lamiaceae species are presented. Leishmania species present in the Old and New World were evaluated and discussed. Altogether there are forty-two Lamiaceae species, belonging to twenty-six genera, and ninety-one constituents, isolated from eighteen species of this family, verified in antileishmanial assays. Chemical and biological aspects of extracts, fractions and non-volatile constituents are discussed in order to define a profile of antileishmanial plants of this family, based on the antileishmanial activities results. Notes are presented to guide future investigations to expand chemical and biological knowledge of Lamiaceae species and highlight its most promising antileishmanial agents.
Objective:
Natural plant products are considered as a source of novel and effective compounds for the treatment of leishmaniasis. In this study, the in vitro activities of essential oils obtained from Origanum dubium (OD), Origanum majorana (OM), Salvia fruticosa (SF) and Laurus nobilis (LN) plants in Northern Cyprus were investigated against Leishmania tropica.
Methods:
Leishmania tropica strain (MHOM/TR/2012/CBCL-LT) was obtained. RPMI-1640 was added to 96-well plates in 100 μL aliquots, 100 μg/mL essential oil was added to the first well of each row and serial 2-fold dilutions were performed. A promastigote suspension was pipetted into all wells, and the plates were incubated. The promastigotes were enumerated using a haemocytometer.
Results:
OD essential oil was effective at killing all promastigotes at a minimum inhibitor height (MIC)=0.2 μg/mL and had high activity at the lowest concentrations. Both SF and LN oils had MIC=1.56 μg/mL and LD50=0.78 μg/mL. SF was observed to impair promastigote morphology at the lowest concentrations, while LN did not exert any effect at concentrations <0.2 μg/mL. OM essential oil was found to have a MIC=3.13 μg/mL and a LD50=1.56 μg/mL.
Conclusion:
All tested essential oils inhibited promastigotes of Leishmania tropica. OD essential oil demonstrated the highest anti-leishmanial activity.
Background: Priming teratments are methods used to increase seed germination and seedling development. Objective: In this study, it was aimed to increase the germination percentage for C. officinalis and Calendula arvensis seedling formation. Methods: This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of various priming applications on the embryo germination including different combination of cold stratification at +4°C for 7 days, hydropriming for 24h, 2g/l KNO 3 for 2h, GA 3 (20 mg/l) for 24h, 20% H 2 SO 4 for
The cell suspension culture C. officinalis and C. arvensis plants having medicinal and economical important was carried out in the four different MS medium which supplemented with different concentrations of NAA:BAP (1:1, 0.5:5 mg/l) and IAA:BAP (1:1, 0.5:5 mg/l)under sterile conditions. For this purpose, four months old calli which grown in the callus cultures were passed into the cell suspension culture. In this cell suspension cultures, cell counting and measurement of fresh/dry weight process were realized for two Calendula species during 40 days. This process repeated once in a five days. All of the research results were evaluated with Tukey Multiple Comparison Test.
The cell suspension culture C. officinalis and C. arvensis plants having medicinal and economical important was carried out in the four different MS medium which supplemented with different concentrations of NAA:BAP (1:1, 0.5:5 mg/l) and IAA:BAP (1:1, 0.5:5 mg/l)under sterile conditions. For this purpose, four months old calli which grown in the callus cultures were passed into the cell suspension culture. In this cell suspension cultures, cell counting and measurement of fresh/dry weight process were realized for two Calendula species during 40 days. This process repeated once in a five days. All of the research results were evaluated with Tukey Multiple Comparison Test.
The consumption of flowers as food is reported in various cultures around the world as part of traditional cuisine or alternative medicine, in addition to their wide use as ornaments. However, many species of edible flowers can be considered more than a delicacy or a garnish due to their nutritional value as source of protein and essential aminoacids. In this scenario, flowers represent an important segment to expand food market, due to their suitable sensory and nutritional characteristics, as well as presence of bioactive compounds beneficial to human health. Research on consumer behavior and purchase intent have been unraveling ways to explore the different attributes of edible flowers, in order to conquer this promising market in the following decades. Socio-cultural factors involved in the consumption of edible flowers have been subject of several studies aiming at popularizing and expanding this growing industry and encouraging local use of traditional flowers is important to preserve endangered traditions. On the other hand, nutritional properties, pharmacological benefits, chemical composition and the forms of preparation of edible species have been increasingly studied with the growing search for natural and health foods. Modern and effective methods for extraction of bioactive compounds from flowers are also contributing to explore their components, allowing the development of functional ingredients for food industry. Some key information as proper taxonomy and toxicological profile are still necessary to stimulate the consumption of edible flowers, as well as the creation of a good practice manual for proper management (cultivation, handling and preparation) of flowers for commercialization. Scientific and technical information on nutritional, therapeutic and chemical features of edible flowers are reviewed and discussed, aiming at strengthening the knowledge, and, consequently, consuming habits and research on their benefits in human diet.
The use of medicinal plants can be an alternative method for the control of microorganisms responsible for human infections. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of Salvia officinalis Linnaeus (sage) extract on clinical samples isolated from the oral cavity and reference strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata. In addition, testing assessed the cytotoxic effect of S officinalis on murine macrophages (RAW 264.7). Minimum inhibitory, minimum bactericidal, and minimum fungicidal concentrations of S officinalis extract were determined by broth microdilution method in 60 microbial samples. The cytotoxicity was checked by a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The quantities of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) produced by RAW 264.7 were analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. An S officinalis concentration of 50.0 mg/mL was effective against all microorganisms. Regarding cytotoxicity, the groups treated with 50.0-, 25.0-, and 12.5-mg/mL concentrations of S officinalis presented cell viability statistically similar to that of the control group, which was 100% viable. The production of IL-1β and TNF-α was inhibited at a 50.0-mg/mL concentration of S officinalis. Thus, S officinalis extract presented antimicrobial activity on all isolates of Staphylococcus spp, S mutans, and Candida spp. No cytotoxic effect was observed, as demonstrated by the survival of RAW 264.7 and inhibition of IL-1β and of TNF-α.
Medicinal Plants: Chemistry, Biology and Omics reviews the phytochemistry, chemotaxonomy, molecular biology, and phylogeny of selected medicinal plant tribes and genera, and their relevance to drug efficacy. Medicinal plants provide a myriad of pharmaceutically active components, which have been commonly used in traditional Chinese medicine and worldwide for thousands of years. Increasing interest in plant-based medicinal resources has led to additional discoveries of many novel compounds, in various angiosperm and gymnosperm species, and investigations on their chemotaxonomy, molecular phylogeny and pharmacology. Chapters in this book explore the interrelationship within traditional Chinese medicinal plant groups and between Chinese species and species outside of China. Chapters also discuss the incongruence between chemotaxonomy and molecular phylogeny, concluding with chapters on systems biology and "-omics? technologies (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics), and how they will play an increasingly important role in future pharmaceutical research.
SixtyseventropanealkaloidswereidentifiedintheorgansofDaturastramoniumL.byGC/MS.Nine new tropane alkaloids, 3,7-dihydroxy-6-propionyloxytropane, 6,7-dehydro-3-tigloyloxytropane, 3-tigloyloxy-6,7-epoxytropane, 3,7-dihydroxy-6-(2′-methylbutyryloxy)tropane, 6,7-dehydroa- poatropine, 3-(3′-methoxytropoyloxy)tropane, 3-tigloyloxy-6-isobutyryloxy-7-hydroxytropane, 3-tropoyloxy-6-isobutyryloxytropane,3β-tropoyloxy-6β-isovaleroyloxytropaneweretentatively identified. The alkaloids cyclotropine, dihydroaposcopolamine, 6,7-dehydrohyoscyamine and 4′-hydroxylittorine are reported for the first time for the genus Datura and 6,7- dehydrotropine for the family Solanaceae. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine figure as the major tropane alkaloids in the plant organs. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.
This study tested in vitro activity of the essential oil from flowers of Calendula officinalis using disk-diffusion techniques. The antifungal assay results showed for the first time that the essential oil has good potential antifungal activity: it was effective against all 23 clinical fungi strains tested.
The antileishmanial activity of extracts of Warburgia ugandensis (family Canellaceae), a known traditional therapy and one of the commonly used medicinal plants in Kenya was evaluated. Extracts of this plant were tested for possible antileishmanial activity in vitro. Different doses of hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts of W. ugandensis were tested against Leishmania major and Leishmania donovani promastigotes and amastigotes. The hexane extract had the best activity against L. major promastigotes and amastigotes with IC 50 value of 9.95 for promastigotes and 8.65 for amastigotes and minimum inhibition concentrations of 62.5 μg/ml. The activity of the hexane extract on amastigotes was comparable (P > 0.05) to that of pentostam and amphotericin B. Similar results were obtained for L. donovani with IC 50 values of 8.67 for promastigotes and 100-fold reduction of amastigotes in macrophage cultures. Warburgia ugandensis had lower levels of toxicities compared to pentostam and amphotericin B. This study scientifically demonstrates the potential of W. ugandensis in the treatment of leishmaniasis.
Floral malformation caused by Fusarium mangiferae is a serious threat to mango cultivation in various countries. Different long-term measures suggested to control it were
found to be unsuccessful. Present studies clearly showed strong antifungal activity of a concoction brewed from Datura stramonium, Calotropis gigantea, Azadirachta indica (neem) and cow manure (T1) followed by methanol-water (70/30 v/v) extracts of Datura stramonium, Calotropis gigantea and Azadirachta indica (T2) against Fusarium mangiferae. Optimal control of floral malformation was found in trees sprayed with T1 followed by T2 at bud break stage and again at fruit set stage when compared with the control. All the malformed buds or panicles completely
dried two days after foliar spray with T1 or T2. In the trees treated with T1 at fruit set stage, flower abscission was observed from the fourth day after spraying and all flowers dropped by the ninth
day without requiring any manual de-blossoming, whereas in the control, the malformed panicles remained green and competed
with the growing fruits for plant nutrients. In vitro culture of fresh malformed tissues in MS media along with T1 or T2 showed no growth of any fungus in the media. However, in vitro culture of the completely dry malformed tissues in MS media after foliar treatment with T1 or T2 revealed growth of F. mangiferae on the twenty fifth day indicating that the concoction-brewed compost (T1) or methanol-water (70/30 v/v) extracts (T2) could not completely eliminate the pathogen but helped in controlling malformation by suppressing the activity of F. mangiferae. Mango trees sprayed with T1 and T2 revealed significant differences in percent fruit set and retention when compared with the control. This could be due to
observed higher levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, iron and manganese in T1, followed by T2 when compared with T3 (control). Among the different fruit quality parameters analysed, the total flavonoids were found to be significantly higher
in T1 and T2 when compared with T3. The study proved that the concoction-brewed compost (T1) is effective, inexpensive, easy to prepare and constitutes a sustainable and eco-friendly approach to control floral malformation
in mango when it is sprayed at bud break stage and again at fruit set stage. In this present study, exogenous treatment of
emerging buds with (Tc) further proved that with increase in the number of malformed panicles/tree the number of buds developing into healthy panicles/tree
decrease.
Two novel phenolic glycosides cis-p-coumaric acid 4-O-(2′-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside and trans-p-coumaric acid 4-O-(2′-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside were isolated and identified from Salvia officinalis together with 4-hydroxyacetophenone 4-O-(6′-O-β-d-apiofuranosyl)-β-d-glucopyranoside, luteolin 7-O-β-d-glucoside, 7- and 3′-O-β-d-glucuronide, 6-hydroxyluteolin 7-O-β-d-glucoside and 7-O-glucuronide, and 6,8-di-C-β-d-glucosylapigenin (vicenin-2). The luteolin glucuronides and vicenin-2 were identified as new sage constituents.
In the recent past the standard treatment of kala-azar involved the use of pentavalent antimonials Sb(V). Because of progressive rise in treatment failure to Sb(V) was limited its use in the treatment program in the Indian subcontinent. Until now the mechanism of action of Sb(V) is not very clear. Recent studies indicated that both parasite and hosts contribute to the antimony efflux mechanism. Interestingly, antimonials show strong immunostimulatory abilities as evident from the upregulation of transplantation antigens and enhanced T cell stimulating ability of normal antigen presenting cells when treated with Sb(V) in vitro. Recently, it has been shown that some of the peroxovanadium compounds have Sb(V)-resistance modifying ability in experimental infection with Sb(V) resistant Leishmania donovani isolates in murine model. Thus, vanadium compounds may be used in combination with Sb(V) in the treatment of Sb(V) resistance cases of kala-azar.
The objective of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effect of mouthwashes containing Calendula officinalis L., Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze and 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate on the adherence of microorganisms to suture materials after extraction of unerupted third molars.
Eighteen patients with unerupted maxillary third molars indicated for extraction were selected (n=6 per mouthwash). First, the patients were subjected to extraction of the left tooth and instructed not to use any type of antiseptic solution at the site of surgery (control group). After 15 days, the right tooth was extracted and the patients were instructed to use the Calendula officinalis, Camellia sinensis or chlorhexidine mouthwash during 1 week (experimental group). For each surgery, the sutures were removed on postoperative day 7 and placed in sterile phosphate-buffered saline. Next, serial dilutions were prepared and seeded onto different culture media for the growth of the following microorganisms: blood agar for total microorganism growth; Mitis Salivarius bacitracin sucrose agar for mutans group streptococci; mannitol agar for Staphylococcus spp.; MacConkey agar for enterobacteria and Pseudomonas spp., and Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol for Candida spp. The plates were incubated during 24-48 h at 37ºC for microorganism count (CFU/mL).
The three mouthwashes tested reduced the number of microorganisms adhered to the sutures compared to the control group. However, significant differences between the control and experimental groups were only observed for the mouthwash containing 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate.
Calendula officinalis L. and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze presented antimicrobial activity against the adherence of microorganisms to sutures but were not as efficient as chlorhexidine digluconate.
Calendula officinalis Linn. (Asteraceae) is used medicinally in Europe, China and India amongst several places in the world. It is also known as "African marigold" and has been a subject of several chemical and pharmacological studies. It is used in traditional medicine, especially for wound healing, jaundice, blood purification, and as an antispasmodic. Chemical studies have underlined the presence of various classes of compounds, the main being triterpenoids, flavonoids, coumarines, quinones, volatile oil, carotenoids and amino acids. The extract of this plant as well as pure compounds isolated from it, have been demonstrated to possess multiple pharmacological activities such as anti-HIV, cytotoxic, antiinflammatory, hepatoprotective, spasmolytic and spasmogenic, amongst others. In this review, we have explored the phytochemistry and pharmacological activities of C. officinalis in order to collate existing information on this plant as well as highlight its multi-activity properties as a medicinal agent. This is as a result of the worldwide cultivation of the plant and increasing published reports on it.
As a treatment for leishmaniasis, miltefosine exerts direct toxic effects on the parasites. Miltefosine also modulates immune
cells such as macrophages, leading to parasite elimination via oxidative radicals. Dendritic cells (DC) are critical for initiation
of protective immunity against Leishmania through induction of Th1 immunity via interleukin 12 (IL-12). Here, we investigated the effects of miltefosine on DC in Leishmania major infections. When cocultured with miltefosine for 4 days, the majority of in vitro-infected DC were free of parasites. Miltefosine treatment did not influence DC maturation (upregulation of major histocompatibility
complex II [MHC II] or costimulatory molecules, e.g., CD40, CD54, and CD86) or significantly alter cytokine release (IL-12,
tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], or IL-10). Further, miltefosine DC treatment did not alter antigen presentation, since
unrestricted antigen-specific proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells was observed upon stimulation with miltefosine-treated, infected DC. In addition, miltefosine application in vivo did not lead to maturation/emigration of skin DC. DC NO− production, a mechanism used by phagocytes to rid themselves of intracellular parasites, was also unaltered upon miltefosine
treatment. Our data confirm prior studies indicating that in contrast to, e.g., pentavalent antimonials, miltefosine functions
independently of the immune system, mostly through direct toxicity against the Leishmania parasite.
The baker’s yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was tested for modifications in sensitivity to ethanol extracts from Salvia officinalis leaves. The extracts obtained with aqueous ethanol of various concentrations showed different antifungal effect against the yeast cells. The strongest growth inhibitory capacity was noted for the extracts obtained in 90% ethanol demonstrating that under these conditions the yeast cells were more susceptible to metabolic or structural damage.
The antibacterial and antiparasitic activities of free oleanolic acid and its glucosides and glucuronides isolated from marigold (Calendula officinalis) were investigated. The MIC of oleanolic acid and the effect on bacterial growth were estimated by A600 measurements. Oleanolic acid’s influence on bacterial survival and the ability to induce autolysis were measured by counting the number of cfu. Cell morphology and the presence of endospores were observed under electron and light microscopy, respectively. Oleanolic acid inhibited bacterial growth and survival, influenced cell morphology and enhanced the autolysis of Gram-positive bacteria suggesting that bacterial envelopes are the target of its activity. On the other hand, glycosides of oleanolic acid inhibited the development of L3 Heligmosomoides polygyrus larvae, the infective stage of this intestinal parasitic nematode. In addition, both oleanolic acid and its glycosides reduced the rate of L3 survival during prolonged storage, but only oleanolic acid glucuronides affected nematode infectivity. The presented results suggest that oleanolic acid and its glycosides can be considered as potential therapeutic agents.
Abbreviations
A600:absorbance at wavelength 600 nm
cfu:colony forming unit
Gal:galactose
Glc:glucose
Glcl:3-O-monoglucoside of oleanolic acid
GlcOA:other glucosides of oleanolic acid
GlcUA:glucuronic acid
GlcUAOA:oleanolic acid glucuronides
L3:infective larval stage
OA:oleanolic acid
Natural products have long been providing important drug leads for infectious diseases. Leishmaniasis is a protozoan parasitic disease found mainly in developing countries, and it has toxic therapies with few alternatives. Fungal infections have been the main cause of death in immunocompromised patients and new drugs are urgently needed. In this work, a total of 16 plant species belonging to 11 families, selected on an ethnopharmacological basis, were analyzed in vitro against Leishmania (L.) chagasi, Leishmania (L.) amazonensis, Candida krusei, and C. parapsilosis. Of these plant species, seven showed antifungal activity against C. krusei, five showed antileishmanial activity against L. chagasi and four against L. amazonensis, among them species of genus Plectranthus. Our findings confirm the traditional therapeutic use of these plants in the treatment of infectious and inflammatory disorders and also offer insights into the isolation of active and novel drug prototypes, especially those used against neglected diseases as Leishmaniasis.
In previous studies, we demonstrated the leishmanicide effect of coronaridine, a natural indole alkaloid isolated from stem
bark of Peschiera australis (Delorenzi et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 45:1349-1354, 2001). In this study we show the leishmanicidal effect of the synthetic coronaridine and its racemic 18-methoxylated
analog, 18-methoxycoronaridine. Both alkaloids revealed a potent leishmanicide effect against Leishmania amazonensis, a causative agent of cutaneous and diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in the New World. Despite their potent leishmanicide
effect, both alkaloids were neither toxic to murine macrophages nor did they modulate their oxidative or cytokine production
responses.
Pentamidine was compared with meglumine antimoniate (Glucantime) for 80 patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania braziliensis in Peru. Of the 40 patients administered Glucantime (20 mg of antimony [Sb]/kg/day intravenously for 20 days), 31 cured (78%), 6 failed (15%), of which 5 were due to relapse, and 3 were lost to follow-up (7%). Of the 40 patients administered pentamidine (2 mg/kg every other day for seven injections), 14 were cured (35%), 23 failed (58%), and 3 were lost to follow-up (7%). Five pentamidine failures were due to relapse, and 14 failures were due to the presence of parasites two weeks after therapy. Both regimens were well tolerated. Gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and total adverse events were not statistically different in either group. Elevations in levels of liver enzymes and pancreatic enzymes were statistically higher in the Glucantime group, but no patient terminated therapy prematurely. In this study, Glucantime was more effective than pentamidine for treatment of L. braziliensis cutaneous leishmaniasis in Peru based on parasitologic as well as clinical criteria.
This study tested in vitro activity of the essential oil from flowers of Calendula officinalis using disk-diffusion techniques. The antifungal assay results showed for the first time that the essential oil has good potential antifungal activity: it was effective against all 23 clinical fungi strains tested.Neste estudo foi avaliada a atividade antifúngica do óleo essencial, obtido das flores de Calendula officinalis utilizando-se técnica de difusão em discos. Os resultados dos ensaios antifúngicos mostraram pela primeira vez, que o óleo essencial tem um grande potencial antifúngico, pois foi efetivo contra todas as 23 amostras clínicas de fungos testados.
This paper presents an outline of a coherent pulse compression–expansion system constructed for an airborne synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The design concept, system performance, and experimental results are presented. Notably, a pair of conjugate surface acoustic wave (SAW) dispersive delay lines is implemented on a Bi12GeO20 substrate for the first time. The Bi12GeO20 substrate is chosen as a good tradeoff between insertion loss and temperature stability. Furthermore, its low acoustic velocity provides the added advantage of being able to use a shorter line to achieve the same time delay. ©2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 24: 263–267, 2000.
Pharmaceutical research in natural products represents a major strategy for discovering and developing new drugs. The use of medicinal plants for the treatment of parasitic diseases is well known and documented since ancient times e.g. by the use of Cinchona succiruba (Rubiaceae) as an antimalarial. This chapter provides a comprehensive review of the latest results in the field of antiparasitic drug development from biologic sources (plants, bacteria, fungi and marine organisms) focussing on the treatment of protozoal infections (Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma spp.). The status of validated in vitro and in vivo assays is reviewed, discussing theirdifferent features, problems and limitations. Because of the high number of natural products tested against the aforesaid protozoa in the last years, we limit the discussion to lignans, phenolics, terpenoids, and alkaloids as defined natural product classes. The review also covers essential research topics of recent publications on specific natural products (e.g. licochalcone A, benzyl- and naphthylisoquinoline alkaloids, and artemisinin) and gives an outlook to semi-synthetic approaches of drugsalready introduced in clinics or in clinical trial studies.
Sixty seven tropane alkaloids were identified in the organs of Datura stramonium L. by GC/MS. Nine new tropane alkaloids, 3,7-dihydroxy-6-propionyloxytropane, 6,7-dehydro-3-tigloyloxytropane, 3-tigloyloxy-6,7-epoxytropane, 3,7-dihydroxy-6-(2'-methylbutyryloxy)tropane, 6,7-dehydroapoatropine, 3-(3'-methoxytropoyloxy)tropane, 3-tigloyloxy-6-isobutyryloxy-7-hydroxytropane, 3-tropoyloxy-6-isobutyryloxytropane, 3β-tropoyloxy-6β-isovaleroyloxytropane were tentatively identified. The alkaloids cyclotropine, dihydroaposcopolamine, 6,7-dehydrohyoscyamine and 4'-hydroxylittorine are reported for the first time for the genus Datura and 6,7-dehydrotropine for the family Solanaceae. Hyoscyamine and scopolamine figure as the major tropane alkaloids in the plant organs.
The treatment options of leishmaniasis are limited and far from satisfactory. For more than 60 years, treatment of leishmaniasis has centered around pentavalent antimonials (Sb(v)). Widespread misuse has led to the emergence of Sb(v) resistance in the hyperendemic areas of North Bihar. Other antileishmanials could also face the same fate, especially in the anthroponotic cycle. The HIV/ visceral leishmaniasis (VL) coinfected patients are another potential source for the emergence of drug resistance. At present no molecular markers of resistance are available and the only reliable method for monitoring resistance of isolates is the technically demanding in vitro amastigote-macrophage model. As the armametrium of drugs for leishmaniasis is limited, it is important that effective monitoring of drug use and response should be done to prevent the spread of resistance. Regimens of simultaneous or sequential combinations should be seriously considered to limit the emergence of resistance.
In view of increasing resistance to existing antimicrobial agents, herbal drugs are being looked as very importance sourcefor discovery of new agents for treating various ailments related to bacterial infections. Cassia tora, Calendula officinalis andMomordica charantia are well known plants in Asia including India which posses wide range of pharmacological activities. Thesedrugs have been used in India as folk remedy in the form of decoctions and infusions to treat bacterial infections and also claimed tobe an effective against variety of skin conditions like psoriasis, acne, wounds etc. The present investigation was carried out to studythe unexplored area of these drugs towards their antibacterial activity with respect to their traditional use as antipsoriatic agents. Theherbs were subjected to successive extraction using different solvents and the extracts were subjected to antibacterial evaluationagainst both gram positive and gram negative organisms by cup plate technique. Among the various extracts, aqueous extracts werefound to be more effective against all the bacteria. Staphyllococcus aureus was more susceptible to the aqueous extracts among thetested organisms.
Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by flagellated protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, which affects both humans and other mammals. Most of the available drugs against the disease are toxic and parasite resistance to some of the drugs has already developed. In the present study, the leishmanicidal activities of methanolic extracts of some Israeli plants have been evaluated in vitro, against the free-living promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania major. Of the 41 extracts examined, those of two plants (Nuphar lutea>Withania somnifera) were highly effective (with a maximum inhibitory effect of >50%), those of three other species (Pteris vittata>Smyrnium olusatrum>Trifolium clypeatum) were moderately effective (25%-50%) and another four extracts (Erodium malacoides>Hyparrhenia hirta>Thymelaea hirsuta>Pulicaria crispa) showed a marginal effect (15%-22%) against the parasites. Extracts of nine plant species therefore showed antileishmanial activity but only the extract of N. lutea, used at 1.25 microg/ml, eliminated all the intracellular parasites within 3 days of treatment, with no detectable toxicity to the host macrophages. The mean (S.D.) values recorded for the median inhibitory concentrations of this extract (IC50) against the promastigotes [2.0 (0.12) microg/ml] and amastigotes [0.65 (0.023) microg/ml] and the median lethal concentration (LD50) against macrophages [2.1 (0.096) microg/ml] were encouraging, giving a therapeutic selectivity index [LD50/IC50 for amastigotes)] of 3.23. The extract of N. lutea was, in fact, generally as effective as the paromomycin that was used as the 'gold standard' drug. These results indicate that N. lutea and probably also Withania somnifera might be potential sources of clinically useful, antileishmanial compounds.
Medicinal plants constitute the base of health care systems in many societies. The recovery of the knowledge and practices associated with these plant resources are part of an important strategy linked to the conservation of biodiversity, discovery of new medicines, and the bettering of the quality of life of poor rural communities. Research in phytosciences, an emerging multidisciplinary science, is almost unlimited, with several aspects to be discussed. Therefore, the focus of the present review is mainly on the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of bioactive phytocompounds resultant of our research with crude plant extracts and essential oils of medicinal plants belonging to different families, used in various infectious disorders. The results obtained in the last years warrant the present review, discussing not only the use of several medicinal plants against bacteria, yeast, filamentous fungi and protozoa, but also their mechanisms of action, interactions with macromolecules and potential for toxicity in mammalian cells. Problems related to the efficacy of the isolation techniques and stability of bioactive compounds are also commented on. In addition, this review aims to emphasize the greatest importance to investigate plant species that have not been the subject of pharmacological studies, although their popular uses have been reported.
A tetrazolium salt has been used to develop a quantitative colorimetric assay for mammalian cell survival and proliferation. The assay detects living, but not dead cells and the signal generated is dependent on the degree of activation of the cells. This method can therefore be used to measure cytotoxicity, proliferation or activation. The results can be read on a multiwell scanning spectrophotometer (ELISA reader) and show a high degree of precision. No washing steps are used in the assay. The main advantages of the colorimetric assay are its rapidity and precision, and the lack of any radioisotope. We have used the assay to measure proliferative lymphokines, mitogen stimulations and complement-mediated lysis.
There have been many treatment modalities used for the therapy of cutaneous leishmaniasis. Although treatment need not be given for cosmetically insignificant lesions, which are often self-limited, therapy is usually indicated for larger, cosmetically significant and disfiguring lesions, and lesions which progress. This review summarizes the published evidence in support of the numerous therapeutic options that have been employed for cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Natural products are not only the basis for traditional or ethnic medicine. Only recently, they have provided highly successful new drugs such as Artemisinin. Furthermore, screening natural products found in all sorts of environments such as the deep sea, rain forests and hot springs, and produced by all sorts of organisms ranging from bacteria, fungi and plants to protozoa, sponges and invertebrates, is a highly competitive field where all of the major pharmaceutical companies are encountered. Already, many new natural product groups have revealed antiparasitic properties of surprising efficacy and selectivity, as will be shown in this review for plant-derived alkaloids, terpenes and phenolics. Many novel lead structures, however, have severe chemico-physical drawbacks such as poor solubility. Here, innovative drug formulations and carrier systems might help, as discussed by the authors in another article of this series.
The antibacterial activity of the methanol extracts of the aerial parts of the Datura innoxia and Datura stramonium was investigated. The extracts showed activity against Gram (+) bacteria in a dose dependent manner. Little or no antibacterial activity was found against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Infections caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania are a major worldwide health problem, with high endemicity in developing countries. The incidence of the disease has increased since the emergence of AIDS. In the absence of a vaccine, there is an urgent need for effective drugs to replace/supplement those in current use. The plant kingdom is undoubtedly valuable as a source of new medicinal agents. The present work constitutes a review of the literature on plant extracts and chemically defined molecules of natural origin showing antileishmanial activity. The review refers to 101 plants, their families, and geographical distribution, the parts utilized, the type of extract and the organism tested. It also includes 288 compounds isolated from higher plants and microorganisms, classified into appropriate chemical groups. Some aspects of recent antileishmanial-activity-directed research on natural products are discussed.
Governed by parasite and host factors and immunoinflammatory responses, the clinical spectrum of leishmaniasis encompasses subclinical (inapparent), localised (skin lesions), and disseminated infection (cutaneous, mucosal, or visceral). Symptomatic disease is subacute or chronic and diverse in presentation and outcome. Clinical characteristics vary further by endemic region. Despite T-cell-dependent immune responses, which produce asymptomatic and self-healing infection, or appropriate treatment, intracellular infection is probably life-long since targeted cells (tissue macrophages) allow residual parasites to persist. There is an epidemic of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Afghanistan and Pakistan and of visceral infection in India and Sudan. Diagnosis relies on visualising parasites in tissue or serology; culture and detection of parasite DNA are useful in the laboratory. Pentavalent antimony is the conventional treatment; however, resistance of visceral infection in India has spawned new treatment approaches--amphotericin B and its lipid formulations, injectable paromomycin, and oral miltefosine. Despite tangible advances in diagnosis, treatment, and basic scientific research, leishmaniasis is embedded in poverty and neglected. Current obstacles to realistic prevention and proper management include inadequate vector (sandfly) control, no vaccine, and insufficient access to or impetus for developing affordable new drugs.
Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, has strong but complex links with poverty. The burden of leishmaniasis falls disproportionately on the poorest segments of the global population. Within endemic areas, increased infection risk is mediated through poor housing conditions and environmental sanitation, lack of personal protective measures and economically driven migration and employment that bring nonimmune hosts into contact with infected sand flies. Poverty is associated with poor nutrition and other infectious diseases, which increase the risk that a person (once infected) will progress to the clinically manifested disease. Lack of healthcare access causes delays in appropriate diagnosis and treatment and accentuates leishmaniasis morbidity and mortality, particularly in women. Leishmaniasis diagnosis and treatment are expensive and families must sell assets and take loans to pay for care, leading to further impoverishment and reinforcement of the vicious cycle of disease and poverty. Public investment in treatment and control would decrease the leishmaniasis disease burden and help to alleviate poverty.
Sixty-four extracts issued from twenty-one plants used in the Malian traditional medicine--several of them as antiparasitic drugs--were assayed for their antileishmanial effects against both extracellular and intracellular forms of Leishmania major. Seven extracts from six different plants--Sarcocephalus latifolius, Zanthoxylum zanthoxyloides, Entada africana, Bobgunnia madagascarensis, Pseudocedrela kotschyi and Psorospermum guineense--were found to be significantly active against the intracellular form of the parasite.
An extract from Salvia officinalis (Sage) leaves showed antimicrobial activity against vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE). We isolated the effective compound and identified it as oleanolic acid, a triterpenoid. We also tested antimicrobial activity of similar triterpenoids, ursolic acid, uvaol, betulinic acid and betulin. We found that ursolic acid also showed antimicrobial activity against VRE. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of oleanolic acid and ursolic acid were 8 and 4 microg/ml, respectively. These two compounds also showed antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). These compounds showed bactericidal activity against VRE at least for 48 h when added at concentrations that were two-times higher than their MICs.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in the tropics and neotropics. It is often referred to as a group of diseases because of the varied spectrum of clinical manifestations, which range from small cutaneous nodules to gross mucosal tissue destruction. Cutaneous leishmaniasis can be caused by several Leishmania spp and is transmitted to human beings and animals by sandflies. Despite its increasing worldwide incidence, but because it is rarely fatal, cutaneous leishmaniasis has become one of the so-called neglected diseases, with little interest by financial donors, public-health authorities, and professionals to implement activities to research, prevent, or control the disease. In endemic countries, diagnosis is often made clinically and, if possible, by microscopic examination of lesion biopsy smears to visually confirm leishmania parasites as the cause. The use of more sophisticated diagnostic techniques that allow for species identification is usually restricted to research or clinical settings in non-endemic countries. The mainstays of cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment are pentavalent antimonials, with new oral and topical treatment alternatives only becoming available within the past few years; a vaccine currently does not exist. Disease prevention and control are difficult because of the complexity of cutaneous leishmaniasis epizoology, and the few options available for effective vector control.
Leishmaniasis is a disease caused by flagellate protozoan Leishmania spp. and represents an emergent illness with high morbidity and mortality in the tropics and subtropics. Since the discovery of the first drugs for Leishmaniasis treatment (i.e., pentavalent antimonials), until the current days, the search for substances with antileishmanial activity, without toxic effects, and able to overcome the emergence of drug resistant strains still remains as the current goal. This article reports the development of new chemotherapies through the rational design of new drugs, the use of products derived from microorganisms and plants, and treatments related to immunity as new alternatives for the chemotherapy of leishmaniasis.
Flavonoid and phenolic glycosides from Salvia officinalis Cite this article as: Banafsheh Nikmehr In vitro anti-leishmanial activity of methanolic extracts of Calendula officinalis flowers, Datura stramonium seeds, and Salvia officinalis leaves
- Lu Y Foo
- Ly
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