Volume 70, Issue 1-2

The aim of this study was to evaluate the larvicidal activity of the essential oil of Youngia japonica aerial parts against the larvae of Aedes albopictus and to isolate any active compounds from the oil. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed the presence of 31 compounds, with menthol (23.53%), α-asarone (21.54%), 1,8-cineole (5.36%), and caryophyllene (4.45%) as the major constituents. Bioactivity-directed chromatographic separation of the oil led to the isolation of menthol and α-asarone as active compounds. The essential oil of Y. japonica exhibited larvicidal activity against the fourth instar larvae of A. albopictus with an LC 50 value of 32.45 μg/mL. α-Asarone and menthol possessed larvicidal activity against the fourth instar larvae of A. albopictus with LC 50 values of 24.56 μg/mL and 77.97 μg/mL, respectively. The results indicate that the essential oil of Y. japonica aerial parts and the two constituents can be potential sources of natural larvicides.

Lectins, a group of highly diverse proteins of non-immune origin and are ubiquitously distributed in plants, animals and fungi, have multiple significant biological functions, such as anti-fungal, anti-viral and, most notably, anti-tumor activities. A lectin was purified from the rhizomes of Aspidistra elatior Blume, named A. elatior lectin (AEL). In vitro experiments showed that the minimum inhibitory concentrations of AEL against the vesicular stomatitis virus, Coxsackie virus B4, and respiratory syncytial virus were all the same at about 4 μg/mL. However, AEL was ineffective against the Sindbis virus and reovirus-1. AEL also showed significant in vitro antiproliferative activity towards Bre-04, Lu-04, HepG2, and Pro-01 tumor cell lines by increasing the proportion of their sub-G 1 phase. However, AEL failed to restrict the proliferation of the HeLa cell line. Western blotting indicated that AEL induced the upregulation of cell cycle-related proteins p53 and p21. The molecular basis and species-specific effectiveness of the anti-proliferative and anti-viral potential of AEL are discussed.

The zoophilic dermatophyte Microsporum canis has cats as natural reservoir, but it is able to infect a wide range of hosts, including humans, where different clinical features of the so-called ringworm dermatophytosis have been described. Human infections are increasingly been reported in Mediterranean countries. A reliable control program against M. canis infection in cats should include an antifungal treatment of both the infected animals and their living environment. In this article, a herbal mixture composed of chemically defined essential oils (EOs) of Litsea cubeba (1%), Illicium verum , Foeniculum vulgare , and Pelargonium graveolens (0.5% each) was formulated and its antifungal activity assessed against M. canis arthrospores which represent the infective environmental stage of M. canis . Single compounds present in higher amounts in the mixture were also separately tested in vitro. Litsea cubeba and P. graveolens EOs were most effective (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) 0.5%), followed by EOs of I. verum (MIC 2%) and F. vulgare (MIC 2.5%). Minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) values were 0.75% ( L. cubeba ), 1.5% ( P. graveolens ), 2.5% ( I. verum ) and 3% ( F. vulgare ). MIC and MFC values of the mixture were 0.25% and 0.5%, respectively. The daily spray of the mixture (200 μL) directly onto infected hairs inhibited fungal growth from the fourth day onwards. The compounds present in higher amounts exhibited variable antimycotic activity, with MIC values ranging from >10% (limonene) to 0.1% (geranial and neral). Thus, the mixture showed a good antifungal activity against arthrospores present in infected hairs. These results are promising for a further application of the mixture as an alternative tool or as an adjuvant in the environmental control of feline microsporosis.

Albizia lebbeck Benth. is extensively used in Indian traditional medicine for treating several painful and inflammatory disorders. The possible central analgesic activity and the underlying mechanism of action of the aqueous (AE) and ethanolic extracts (EE) of the leaves of A . lebbeck were investigated in Wistar rats using Eddy’s hot plate and the tail flick tests. In order to investigate the underlying mechanism of action, rats were pretreated with naloxone, bicuculline or methysergide and then were administered a per os (p.o.) dose of AE or EE. AE and EE caused a significant (p<0.05) elevation in the mean basal reaction time in the hot plate method and an increase in the latency time in the tail flick method. In rats pretreated with bicuculline and methysergide, a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the analgesic activity was observed in comparison to AE and EE. Thus, AE and EE exhibited significant central analgesic activity and act possibly via the GABAergic and serotonergic pathways. The flavonoids and saponins found in the leaves could be responsible for the observed effect.

Three triterpenoidal saponins were isolated from the saponin fraction derived from a Gleditsia caspica Desf. methanolic fruit extract. The isolated saponins were identified as gleditsiosides B, C, and Q based on spectral data. The saponin-containing fraction was evaluated in vivo for genotoxic and antigenotoxic activities. The fraction caused no DNA damage in Swiss albino male mice treated with a dose of 45 mg/kg body weight for 24 h, although it significantly inhibited the number of chromosomal aberrations induced by cyclophosphamide (CP) in bone marrow and germ cells when applied before or after CP administration. The inhibitory indices in chromosomal aberrations were 59% and 41% for bone marrow and 48% and 43% for germ cells, respectively. In addition, the saponin fraction was found to reduce the viability of the human tumor cell line MCF-7 in a dose-dependent manner with an extrapolated IC 50 value in the range of 220 μg/mL.

Chemical investigation of the extract of the whole Ammania auriculata plant resulted in the identification of 13 polyphenols, including the hitherto unknown flavonoids, kaempferol 3- O -β-(6″-galloylglucopyranoside)-7- O -β-glucopyranoside, and its quercetin analogue. The structures of all isolates were elucidated by conventional methods, spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR, and by HRESI-MS as well.

N-alkyl substituted 2′,3″-thiazachalcones {3-[(1 E )-3-(4-methylthiophene-2-yl)-3-oxoprop-1-en-1-yl]-1-alkyl (C 5–12,14 ) pyridinium bromides} were synthesized by a two-step reaction. The newly synthesized compounds were characterized by IR, 1 H NMR, 13 C NMR, elemental analysis and mass spectral studies. The synthesized compounds were tested for antibacterial activities and found to be more active against Gram-positive as compared to Gram-negative bacteria.