Antimicrobial activity of bioactive compounds and leaf extracts in Jatropha tanjorensis

Objectives

Jatropha tanjorensis was investigated scientifically to generate evidence for the efficacies reported in traditional systems and the results are given here.

Methods

Different concentrations of the solvent extracts of leaves and four isolated compounds were tested against human pathogenic microorganisms such as gram-positive bacteria of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermis, gram-negative bacteria of Aeromonas hydrophila, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Salmonella paratyphi, Salmonella paratyphi A, Vibrio alcaligenes, Vibrio cholerae and fungi of Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, Microsporum gypseum and Trichophyton rubrum by agar-well diffusion and disk diffusion methods.

Results

In agar-well diffusion method, maximum activity was recorded in a concentration-dependent manner. The extracts recorded activity against bacteria such as 17–26, 15–25 and 13–24 mm to methanol extract and 15–24, 14–23 and 12–22 mm to chloroform extract at 50, 25 and 12.5 mg/ml respectively and fungi such as 9–15 mm to A. fumigatus and 5–16 mm to T. rubrum. Maximum activity was 30–46, 27–43 and 17–40 mm to friedelin and 23–46, 28–44 and 18–41 mm to R (+) 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone against bacteria and 12–37, 8–34 and 31–33 mm to friedelin and 12–40, 11–35 and 10–33 mm to R (+) 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone against fungi at 10, 5 and 2.5 mg respectively.

Conclusions

The present study concludes that friedelin, β-amyrin, stigmasterol and R (+) 4-hydroxy-2-pyrrolidinone present in the methanol extract could be responsible for the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity and provide scientific evidence.     

Transdermal behaviors comparisons among Evodia rutaecarpa extracts with different purity of evodiamine and rutaecarpine and the effect of topical formulation in vivo

Aim

Evodiamine (EVO) and rutaecapine (RUT), the major active components from Evodia rutaecarpa extract (EE), are recognized as a depended analgesic agent. This study was designed to investigate the effect of purity and chemical enhancers on the transdermal behavior of EVO and RUT, and the pharmacological effect of their topical cream in vivo.

Material and methods

Transdermal delivery across a full thickness pig abdominal skin was detected in vitro by Franz-type diffusion cell, with HPLC for quantification of the permeation of EVO and RUT. The activity of topical cream in vivo was evaluated by a mice pain model induced by formalin and hot plate.

Results

Transdermal characters of EVO and RUT showed a low transdermal rate, long lag time and low cumulative amount. The transdermal rate and cumulative amount could be promoted by lipophilic enhancers, whereas lag time was shortened by hydrophilic surfactant, but these permeation parameters were not markedly influenced by purity of EE (p > 0.05). The effect in vivo was confirmed by analgesic models in topical cream of EE, which produced a significant (p < 0.05) inhibitory effects on pain response in dose-dependent manner.

Conclusion

The purity of EVO and RUT from EE has no significant effect on their permeation through porcine skin, but oleic acid or nerolidol can markedly elevate the transdermal rate of EVO and RUT. High purity of EE is the best choice for topical preparation to increase the drug loading. The effect of EE in vivo is verified by formalin model and hot plate test.     

Cellular mechanisms underlying Hyperin-induced relaxation of rat basilar artery

Background and aim

Hyperin, a flavonol compound extracted from the Chinese herb Abelmoschus manihot L. Medic, is reported to exert protective actions in cerebral ischemic injury. The specific aim of the present study was to study the relaxation of Hyperin in rat isolated basilar artery and identify the underlying cellular mechanisms.

Methods

Rat isolated basilar artery segments were cannulated and perfused while being superfused with PSS solution. Vessel images were recorded by video microscopy and diameters measured. Membrane potential was recorded using glass microelectrodes to evaluate the basilar artery smooth muscle cell hyperpolarization.

Results

Perfusion of Hyperin (1 ~ 100 μM) elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation of basilar artery segments preconstricted with 0.1 μM U46619. The response was significantly inhibited by the removal of the endothelium. Hyperin also elicited marked and concentration-dependent hyperpolarization of smooth muscle cells. 30 μM nitro-L-arginine (an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase) and indomethacin (an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase), partially inhibited Hyperin-induced relaxation and hyperpolarization leaving an attenuated, but significant, endothelium-dependent relaxation and hyperpolarization. This remaining effect was almost completely blocked by 1 mM tetraethylammonium (an inhibitor of Ca²⁺-activated K⁺ channels), or by 100 μM DL-propargylglycine, an inhibitor of cystathionine-γ-lyase (a synthase of the endogenous H₂S).

Conclusion

These findings show that Hyperin produces significant hyperpolarization in rat basilar artery smooth muscle cells and relaxation through both endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent mechanisms. The underlying mechanisms appeared to be multi-factorial involving nitric oxide, prostacyclin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Our data further suggest that endogenous H₂S is a component of the EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization and relaxation to Hyperin.     

A review of phytotherapy of acne vulgaris: Perspective of new pharmacological treatments

Aim

This review focuses on plants currently used and those with a high potency for the future development of anti-acne products.

Methods

All relevant literature databases were searched up to 25 March 2011. The search terms were plant, herb, herbal therapy, phytotherapy, and acne, acne vulgaris and anti-acne. All of the human, animal, and in vitro studies, and reviews were included. Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-androgen effects were the key outcomes.

Results

Studies on cell lines revealed that flavonoid, alkaloid, essential oil, phenol and phenolic compound, tannin, xanthone and xanthone derivative, and the bisnaphthquione derivative are effective in treatment of acne. Animal studies showed that diterpene acid, phenylpropanoid glycosides, acteoside and flavonoids have anti-inflammatory activity. Eleven human studies revealed that Camellia sinensis has 5α-reductase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities. Also anti-bacterial effect was shown by oleoresin of Commiphora mukul.

Conclusion

In addition to the standardization of these herbs, screening herbs as anti-acne agents may help to find new sources of therapy for acne.     

Cytotoxic, cytoprotective and antioxidant effects of isolated phenolic compounds from fresh ginger

Twenty-nine phenolic compounds were isolated from the root bark of fresh (Yunnan) ginger and their structures fully characterized. Selected compounds were divided into structural categories and twelve compounds subjected to in-vitro assays including DPPH radical scavenging, xanthine-oxidase inhibition, monoamine oxidase inhibition, rat-brain homogenate lipid peroxidation, and rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cell and primary liver cell viability to determine their antioxidant and cytoprotective properties. Isolated compounds were also tested against nine human tumor cell lines to characterize anticancer potency. Several diarylheptanoids and epoxidic diarylheptanoids were effective DPPH radical scavengers and moderately effective at inhibiting xanthine oxidase. An enone–dione analog of 6-shogaol (compound 2) was isolated and identified to be most effective at protecting PC12 cells from H₂O₂-induced damage. Almost all tested compounds inhibited lipid peroxidation. Three compounds, 6-shogaol, 10-gingerol and an enone-diarylheptanoid analog of curcumin (compound 6) were identified to be cytotoxic in cell lines tested, with KB and HL60 cells most susceptible to 6-shogaol and the curcumin analog with IC₅₀ < 10 μM. QSAR analysis revealed cytotoxicity was related to compound lipophilicity and chemical reactivity. In conclusion, we observed distinct compounds in fresh ginger to have biological activities relevant in diseases associated with reactive oxygen species.     

Rapid assessment of wood traits for large-scale breeding selection in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Picea mariana</Emphasis> [Mill.] B.S.P.

Key message

Pilodyn and acoustic velocity measurements on standing trees, used for predicting density and stiffness, can be good genetic selection tools for black spruce. Genetic parameters and selection efficiency were conserved in two breeding zones with contrasted bioclimatic conditions.

Context

Given the recent progress made in the black spruce genetic improvement program, the integration of juvenile wood mechanical properties as selection criteria is increasingly relevant.

Aims

This study aims to estimate the genetic parameters of in situ wood density and modulus of elasticity (MoE) measurements and to verify the efficiency of various measuring methods used for large-scale selection of black spruce based on wood quality.

Methods

Height, diameter, wood density, and some indirect measures of density (penetration and drilling resistance) and MoE (acoustical velocity and Pilodyn) were estimated on 2400 24-year-old trees of 120 open-pollinated families in progeny trials located in the continuous boreal or mixed forest subzones.

Results

Heritability of growth, density, and indirect density measurements varied from low to moderate and was moderate for acoustical velocity in both vegetation subzones. Expected genetic gains for wood properties based on in situ methods were higher for MoE proxy estimation combining Pilodyn and acoustic velocity.

Conclusion

Acoustic velocity is a good predictor of MoE. It is virtually unaffected by the environment and can be used on a large scale in the same manner as the Pilodyn for density. Using a proxy estimation that combines both methods helps optimize genetic gain for MoE.

     

A spatial dataset of forest mensuration collected in black pine plantations in central Italy

Key message

The dataset provides an exhaustive tree inventory with forest mensuration and spatial location carried out in 54 plots sampled in 45- to 55-year-old black pine plantations, located in two areas of Tuscany (central Italy). Forest mensuration includes horizontal and vertical structure measurements and a total of 4171 trees were geo-referenced. The most abundant species was the black pine, Pinus nigra spp. laricio , for which a total of 3631 trees were observed. The dataset was collected as part of the SelPiBio LIFE project (LIFE13 BIO/IT/000282). Dataset access at   http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.438681 . Associated metadata available at https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/apps/georchestra/?uuid=73591027-0f1e-40a3-95d0-b614517c1290&hl=eng .

Context

The main aim of the SelPiBio LIFE project (www.selpibio.eu) is to demonstrate the effects of two thinning regimes, selective and from below, on soil biodiversity in young black pine stands. The spatial structure of forests and the relationships between trees are a good proxy of overall biodiversity level. Spatial datasets with geo referenced trees and related mensurational data represent the highest level of information for forest inventories and research activities.

Aims

This dataset has been developed during the A2 Action (Assessment of structural and mensurational parameters of the forest stands and the dead wood) of the project, to record the main mensurational parameters of the studied black pine stands. A tree-level database was compiled to describe the vertical and horizontal structure of 54 monitoring plots before the application of the silvicultural treatment.

Methods

In addition to classical in-field measurements (e.g. diameters at breast height, total height of the tree, crown depth etc.), all trees were georeferenced by means of polar coordinates collected from the centre of each monitoring plot, including crown projection on the ground, described with eight points. Then, a polynomial spline function was fitted across the recorded data to obtain a convex polygon and to calculate crown area and crown perimeter of each measured tree in GIS environment.

Results

A polygonal ESRI shapefile in ETRS89/UTM32N reference system (EPSG: 25832) with 4171 records representing the crown projections on the ground of each measured tree with all the mensurational parameters included into the attribute table. The database is freely available under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4. 182 0 License.

Conclusion

With this database, a wide range of forestry-related indices could be easily calculated, including geostatistical analysis and autocorrelation functions, to compare Italian artificial black pine stands with other studied forests.

     

The role of seasonality on the inhibitory effect of Brazilian green propolis on the oxidative metabolism of neutrophils

The reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by neutrophils are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases, for which the intake of antioxidants could benefit patients either as a prophylactic or therapeutic treatment. Propolis is among the known antioxidants, and its chemical composition may vary under the influence of seasonality, which may interfere in its biological properties. This work evaluates the role of seasonality on the production of some important compounds of propolis samples produced monthly from November 2001 through October 2002 as well as the effect of these samples on the oxidative metabolism of stimulated neutrophils, by using both luminol and lucigenin to produce chemiluminescence (CLlum and CLluc, respectively). The cytotoxicity of the most active extracts to neutrophils was also investigated. The inhibitory effect of the propolis samples varied significantly during the studied period for both assays (3.4 ± 1.1 to 16.0 ± 1.1 μg/mL for CLlum and 6.2 ± 2.0 to 30.0 ± 5.0 μg/mL for CLluc), which was also observed in the quantitative profile of the main analyzed compounds (aromadendrin-4′-methyl ether, artepillin C, and baccharin). This effect started to become more prominent during the fall and, among all the studied extracts, the one obtained in May displayed the highest inhibitory effect on CL production (3.4 ± 1.1 μg/mL for CLlum and 6.2 ± 2.0 μg/mL for CLluc). The HPLC qualitative profiles of the extracts of propolis samples were quite similar, but there was a huge variation in terms of quantitative profile. It seems that aromadendrin-4′-methyl ether and baccharin play an essential role in the antioxidant activity, while artepillin C is not very important for this effect. The extracts presenting the highest antioxidant activity were produced in May, June, and August, and they did not display cytotoxicity at 25 μg/mL; quercetin, used as control, was not toxic to neutrophils at 8.5 μg/mL.     

Prevalence of interspecific competition in a mixed poplar/black locust plantation under adverse climate conditions

Key message

In a mixed poplar/black locust plantation in central France, adverse conditions have led to a prevalence of interspecific competition, resulting in a poorer performance than monocultures.

Context

In mixed tree plantations, the presence of woody N₂-fixing species is thought to reduce N needs by fertilization. However, benefits associated to soil nitrogen enrichment have to outweigh the negative effects of interspecific competition. To do so, co-occurring tree species have to be chosen carefully to promote niche sharing between species and reduce competition. Black locust and poplar mixtures therefore seem promising since both species are fast growing and have potentially complementary crown shapes.

Aims

Our objective was to evaluate the impact of the poplar/black locust mixture on the growth, above- and belowground biomass production, and nitrogen allocation of the two species, as compared to their respective monocultures.

Methods

An experimental plantation mixing poplar and black locust was set up in central France. For five growing seasons, growth, nitrogen allocation, and carbon allocation were monitored for the two species growing either in mixture or in monoculture.

Results

After a couple of promising growing seasons, black locust growth and survival slowly declined, mainly in the mixture. At the stand level, biomass production in the mixed plots was nearly 50% below the most productive monoculture (poplar) by age 5 years.

Conclusion

Under adverse conditions, interspecific competition in the mixture was the preponderant interaction, resulting in higher mortality and lower biomass production than the two monocultures.

     

Drought response of upland oak (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Quercus</Emphasis> L.) species in Appalachian hardwood forests of the southeastern USA

Key message

In Appalachian hardwood forests, density, stem size, and productivity affected growth during drought for red oak, but not white oak species. Minor effects of density suggest that a single low thinning does little to promote drought resilience for oaks in the region.

Context

Management is increasingly focused on promoting resilience to disturbance. Because stand density can modulate climate-growth relationships, thinning may be an adaptation strategy that promotes resistance/resilience to drought.

Aims

We examined how density, manipulated via thinning, stem size, and site productivity, influences the drought response of northern red, black, chestnut, and white oak.

Methods

We modeled the role of density, stem size, and site productivity on resistance, recovery, and resilience during two drought events.

Results

Chestnut and white oak displayed greater resistance, recovery, and/or resilience than did northern red and black oak. For black oak, density and stem size negatively affected resistance during the first and second drought, respectively. Density, stem size, and site productivity had no effect on chestnut and white oak.

Conclusion

The lack of sensitivity of chestnut and white oak to the ranges of density, stem size, and site productivity observed in this study and generally better resistance, recovery, and resilience suggests that management focused on the maintenance of these species, as opposed to a single silvicultural low thinning, may be a possible strategy for sustaining the growth and productivity of oak species in Appalachian hardwood stands. Drought response as affected by alternative thinning interventions should be evaluated.

     

Two new amide alkaloids with anti-leukaemia activities from Aconitum taipeicum

Two new amide alkaloids, named 3-isopropyl-tetrahydropyrrolo [1,2-a] pyrimidine-2,4(1H,3H)-dione (1) and 1-acetyl-2,3,6-triisopropyl-tetrahydropyrimidin-4(1H)-one (2), were isolated from the roots of Aconitum taipeicum. Their chemical structures were characterized on the basis of MS, 1D- and 2D NMR. The anti-leukaemia activities of the compounds were also tested. The results indicated that the compounds exhibited more significant cell growth inhibitory activities against HL-60 cells than adriamycin, with the IC₅₀ of 1.1 ± 0.03 μg/mL and 1.6 ± 0.07 μg/mL respectively. In addition, two compounds showed anti-tumor activities against K562 cells as well.     

Failure of black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.) rhizome transplants: potential causes and forest farming implications

Black cohosh (Actaea racemosa L.) rhizomes are harvested extensively from eastern North American forests and sold worldwide for treatment of menopausal symptoms. While forest farming is encouraged to reduce wild-harvest impacts, little information is available to aid landowners in successfully cultivating black cohosh. This study examined survival and multi-year growth of 200 black cohosh rhizomes collected from an Appalachian deciduous forest and transplanted to a similar forest type. By the second year after transplant, fewer than 40 % of rhizomes produced above-ground growth and mean rhizome biomass declined by more than 50 %. Shoot biomass was the greatest predictor of below-ground biomass; however, leaf area provided a reasonable, non-destructive means of estimating this commercially-important biomass. Our results suggest that pre-transplant rhizome condition is particularly important to transplant success. Low biomass, lack of roots, and fungal infection all were associated with reduced plant survival. Based on this and associated studies, we recommend careful site selection for propagation, including circumneutral or lime-amended soils and light to moderate shading. Well-drained soil appears particularly important to discourage fungal infection. Understanding conditions for successful transplanting of black cohosh rhizomes can improve forest farming and contribute to sustainable management of this and other non-timber forest products.     

A new abietane diterpene from Glyptostrobus pensilis

A new abietane diterpene, glypensin A (1) and four known compounds, 12-acetoxy-ent-labda-8(17), 13E-dien-15-oic acid (2), quercetin 3-O-α-L-arabinofuranoside (3), quercetin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside (4), β-sitosterol (5) were isolated from the branches and leaves of Glyptostrobus pensilis (Staut.) Koch. Their structures were determined by MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR means. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity on human chronic myeloid leukemia cell line K562 (IC₅₀ = 21.2 μM).     

The antifungal constituents from the seeds of Itoa orientalis

Three new phenolic constituents, itolide A (1), itolide B (2), itoside P (3), and 1D-3-deoxy-3-hydroxymethyl-myo-inositol (4), which is described herein for the first time as a natural product, were isolated along with four other known compounds (5 to 8) from the methanol extract of the seeds of Itoa orientalis Hemsl by the activity-guided fractionation. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic means. Compounds 1 to 8 exhibited antifungal activities against Sclerotium rolfsii with IC₅₀ values ranging from 60.12 to 240.00 μM and against Rhizoctonia solani with IC₅₀ values ranging from 45.34 to 233.14 μM, respectively, and compounds 1, 2, 5 exhibited cytotoxic activity against Tn5B1-4 insect cell line with EC₅₀ values of 203.68, 93.41 and 40.37 μM, respectively.     

Kujigamberol, a new dinorlabdane diterpenoid isolated from 85million years old Kuji amber using a biotechnological assay

A new compound, 15,20-dinor-5,7,9-labdatriene-18-ol (1), named kujigamberol, was isolated from amber, fossilized tree resin from the Kuji area in Japan, has been dated as being 85 million years old (late Cretaceous). Kujigamberol was identified using the hypersensitive mutant yeast (zds1? erg3? pdr1? pdr3?) with respect to Ca²⁺-signal transduction. The structure was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic analysis including 1D NMR, 2D NMR and HR-EI-MS. It was different from known diterpenoids with a similar activity isolated from Baltic amber (agathic acid 15-monomethyl ester (2), dehydroabietic acid (3) and pimaric acid (4)). Kujigamberol showed glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) inhibition activity involving the growth restored activity against the mutant yeast and was cytotoxic to HL60 cells (IC₅₀ = 19.6 μM).     

Adaptive management rules for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus nigra</Emphasis> Arnold ssp<Emphasis Type="Italic">. salzmannii</Emphasis> stands under risk of fire

Key message

We generate flexible management rules for black pine stands, adaptable to alternative stand management situations and entailing thinnings, final-felling, and salvage cuts, based on the results on 270 stand level optimizations.

Context

Forest management instructions often rely on the anticipated prediction of the stand development, which poses a challenge on variable economic and environmental conditions. Instead, an alternative approach to better adapt forest management decisions to changing conditions is defining flexible rules based on thresholds that trigger management operations.

Aims

This article develops rules for the adaptive management of P. nigra stands in Catalonia (Spain) addressing the risk of fire and post-fire forest management.

Methods

The stochastic version of the simulation-optimization system RODAL was used to optimize the management of forest stands in three sites under different fire probability levels. A total of 270 optimizations were done varying site fertility, fire probability, and economic factors. The results of the optimizations were used as the basis of flexible forest management rules for adaptive stand management.

Results

The developed management rules defined the basal area limit for thinning, the thinning intensity, the mean tree diameter at which regeneration cuttings should start, and the basal area below which a salvage cutting should be done. Fire risk was not a significant predictor of the models for thinning and final cutting rules.

Conclusion

The presented rules provide a flexible tool for forest management during the stand development and under changing conditions when the management objective is to maximize economic profitability of timber production.

     

A new coumestan with immunosuppressive activities from Flemingia philippinensis

A new coumestan, 1,3,9-trihydroxy-8-methoxycoumestan, named flemicoumestan A 1 together with nine isoflavone-related compounds were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the roots of Flemingia philippinensis. Their structures were elucidated and confirmed by spectroscopic methods and literature data. Compounds 3 and 4 showed strong lymphocyte proliferation inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 1.04-2.76 μM, and the low cytotoxicity with the CC₅₀ value of 71.01 and 56.36 μM, respectively.     

Stand-level wind damage can be assessed using diachronic photogrammetric canopy height models

Key message

Diachronic photogrammetric canopy height models can be used to quantify at a fine scale changes in dominant height and wood volume following storms. The regular renewal of aerial surveys makes this approach appealing for monitoring forest changes.

Context

The increasing availability of aerial photographs and the development of dense matching algorithms open up new possibilities to assess the effects of storm events on forest canopies.

Aims

The objective of this research is to assess the potential of diachronic canopy height models derived from photogrammetric point clouds (PCHM) to quantify changes in dominant height and wood volume of a broadleaved forest following a major storm.

Methods

PCHMs derived from aerial photographs acquired before and after a storm event were calibrated using 25 field plots to estimate dominant height and volume using various modeling approaches. The calibrated models were combined with a reference damage maps to estimate both the within-stand damage variability, and the amount of volume impacted.

Results

Dominant height was predicted with a root mean squared error (RMSE) of 4%, and volume with RMSEs ranging from 24 to 32% according to the type of model. The volume impacted by storm was in the range of 42–76%. Overall, the maps of dominant height changes provided more details about within-stand damage variability than conventional photointerpretation do.

Conclusion

The study suggests a promising potential for exploiting PCHM in pursuit of a rapid localization and quantification of wind-throw damages, given an adapted sampling design to calibrate models.

     

Trichalasins C and D from the plant endophytic fungus Trichoderma gamsii

Two new cytochalasans, trichalasins C (1) and D (2) together with known cytochalasans aspochalasins D (3), M (4) and P (5) were isolated from one endophytic fungus Trichoderma gamsii inhabiting in traditional medicinal plant Panax notoginseng (BurK.) F.H.Chen. The structures for the new compounds 1 and 2 were determined by NMR and HRESIMS, and their relative configurations were established by analysis of coupling constants and NOESY correlations. Compound 3 displaying inhibitory activity with EC₅₀ value 5.72 μM, whereas the EC₅₀ values for compounds 1, 2 and 4, 5 are more than 40 μM.