Terpenes from Species and Their Pharmacological Potential.

is a genus of neotropical trees mainly distributed in Mexico and Central and South America. Currently, 63 species have been described, some of which have been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and wound healing, among others. In recent times, modern phytochemical studies have succeeded in isolating individual compounds with potential specific medicinal applications.

Exploring Phytochemical Composition and In Vivo Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Grape Seed Oil from an Alternative Source after Traditional Fermentation Processes: Implications for Phytotherapy.

This study aimed to analyze the composition of grape seed oil (GSO) derived from an alternative source after traditional fermentation processes and its potential anti-inflammatory effects using an in vivo model of carrageenan-induced inflammation in mice. Gas chromatography high-resolution electron ionization mass spectrometry (GC-HR-EIMS) analysis identified eight main components in the GSO extract, including myristic acid methyl ester, palmitoleic acid methyl ester, methyl isoheptadecanoate, cis-linoleic acid, oleic acid methyl ester, linoleic acid stereoisomer, linoleic acid ethyl ester, and methyl (6, 9, 12, 15)-docose-6,9,12,15-tetraenoate. No significant differences were observed in the main fatty acids between commercially available grape seed oil and GSO extract obtained from fermented grape seeds.

Anticancer Secondary Metabolites: From Ethnopharmacology and Identification in Native Complexes to Biotechnological Studies in Species of Genus L. and L.

Some of the most effective anticancer compounds are still derived from plants since the chemical synthesis of chiral molecules is not economically efficient. Rapid discovery of lead compounds with pronounced biological activity is essential for the successful development of novel drug candidates. This work aims to present the chemical diversity of antitumor bioactive compounds and biotechnological approaches as alternative production and sustainable plant biodiversity conservation.

A Study on the Safety and Effects of Fruit Extract on Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats with Induced Type 2 Diabetes.

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by a variety of diagnostic criteria: obesity, dyslipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and arterial hypertension. They contribute to the elevated risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The potential for L.

Comparative LC-MS analysis of tropolone alkaloids from in vitro cultures and native sources of Gloriosa superba by Kendrick mass defect plots.

Introduction: Gloriosa superba L. is a promising antitumoural plant species as a source of colchicinoids. Ethnobotanical applications of G.

In vitro antigenotoxic activity, in silico ADME prediction and protective effects against aflatoxin B induced hepatotoxicity in rats of an Erythrina latissima stem bark extract.

Stem bark of Erythrina latissima E. Mey (Leguminosae) contains a wide range of prenylated flavonoids able to counteract the genotoxic properties of aflatoxin B (AFB). Thus, the hypothesis was raised that E.

HPLC-DAD-SPE-NMR isolation of tetracyclic spiro-alkaloids with antiplasmodial activity from the seeds of .

Seven tetracyclic spiro-alkaloids, i.e. glucoerysodine (), erysodine (), -erythratidine (), erysovine (), erythratidine (), erysotrine () and erythraline () were isolated from the seeds of by means of conventional separation methods and HPLC-DAD-SPE-NMR.

A new tetracyclic saponin from L. and its neuroprotective and hMAO-B inhibiting activity.

A new tetracyclic saponin, 17(),20()-3,6,16-trihydroxycycloartanyl-23-carboxylic acid 16-lactone 3-O--D-glucopyranoside () together with one known flavonoid, camelliaside A () were isolated from the aerial parts of L. Their structures were determined by chemical, HRESIMS and NMR methods. On 6-hydroxydopamine model on isolated rat brain synaptosomes, compounds - had statistically significant neuroprotective activity similar to that of Silibinin, tested at 100 μM.

Antigenotoxic prenylated flavonoids from stem bark of Erythrina latissima.

A series of prenylated flavonoids was obtained from antigenotoxic extracts and fractions of stem bark of Erythrina latissima E. Mey (Leguminosae). In addition to five constituents never reported before, i.

Isolation and Structure Elucidation of Glucosylated Colchicinoids from the Seeds of Gloriosa superba by LC-DAD-SPE-NMR.

Four new colchicinoids were isolated from the seeds of Gloriosa superba together with the known compounds colchicoside (4) and 3-de-O-methylcolchicine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→4)-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (6), by means of conventional column chromatography and LC-DAD-SPE-NMR. The new compounds were identified as N-deacetyl-N-formyl-3-de-O-methylcolchicine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (1), 3-de-O-methylcolchicine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (2), N-deacetyl-N-formyl-3-de-O-methylcolchicine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (3), and 3-de-O-methylcolchicine-3-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-3-O-β-d-glucopyranoside (5). The structure elucidation was performed by means of NMR (COSY, HSQC, and HMBC), HRESIMS/MS, and GCMS data analysis.

Production of Δ⁷-Sterols from In Vitro Root Cultures of Endangered Gypsophila trichotoma.

Species from the genus Gypsophila are known for their medicinal, industrial and decorative applications. G. trichotoma Wend.

Antidiabetic and antioxidant effects of saponarin from Gypsophila trichotoma on streptozotocin-induced diabetic normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Background: Diabetes and hypertension are diseases that often coexist, which increases the risk of chronic organ damages and cardiovascular complications.

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of saponarin, isolated from Gypsophila trichotoma Wend, on blood pressure, glycemia, body weight, and liver biochemical parameters related to oxidative stress in diabetic normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (NTR) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).

Methods: Diabetes was induced by administration of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg, i.

Flavoalkaloids and Flavonoids from Astragalus monspessulanus.

A new flavonol tetraglycoside, quercetin-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-D-galactopyranosyl]-7-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), and two new flavonol alkaloids, N-(8-methylquercetin-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-D-galactopyranosyl])-3-hydroxypiperidin-2-one (2) and N-(8-methylkaempferol-3-O-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-D-galactopyranosyl])-3-hydroxypiperidin-2-one (3), were isolated from the aerial parts of Astragalus monspessulanus ssp. monspessulanus. Two rare flavonoids with an unusual 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaric acid moiety, quercetin-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[6-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (4) and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-[6-O-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl)-β-D-galactopyranoside (5), were isolated from the aerial parts of A.

Methyl Jasmonate Induces Enhanced Podophyllotoxin Production in Cell Cultures of Thracian Flax (Linum thracicum ssp. thracicum).

The Linum thracicum ssp. thracicum cell lines developed in this study are a feasible source for the sustainable production of podophyllotoxin, a lignan with an aryltetralin skeleton that is used for the manufacture of the chemotherapeutic drugs etopophos and teniposide. We used mass spectrometry to confirm the presence of the aryltetralin lignan in the thracian flax cell cultures.

Apoptotic mechanisms of the biotechnologically produced arylnaphtalene lignan justicidin B in the acute myeloid leukemia-derived cell line HL-60.

Background: The present study aimed at optimization of the biotechnological production of the lignan justicidin B by genetically transformed cultures of Linum leonii and the pharmacological evaluation of the pro-apoptotic effects of the compound in HL-60 cells.

Methods: A rapidly growing selected root line of L. leonii was grown in 2-L bioreactor for period of 40 days and the protocols for obtaining of the compound have been optimized.

Cytotoxic effect of the biotechnologically-derived justicidin B on human lymphoma cells.

Purpose of work: The study was aimed to assess the antineoplastic activity of justicidin B in vitro and to search for its general toxicological profile in vivo. The anti-neoplastic activity of the arylnaphthalene lignin, justicidin B, was assessed in a panel of human lymphoma cell lines and compared with etoposide as a reference compound. A screening of the cytotoxicity after 24, 48 and 72 h exposure was performed by the MTT-dye reduction assay.

Linum narbonense: A new valuable tool for biotechnological production of a potent anticancer lignan Justicidine B.

Background: Arylnaphthalene lignan Justicidin B is a lead compound in the management of bone cancer and osteoclastogenesis. The compound is the main cytotoxic principle of rare medicinal plant Linum narbonense L. (Linaceae).

Anticancer lignans--from discovery to biotechnology.

Malignant diseases are the second mortality cause within the human population. Despite the serious progress in establishing and introduction of novel specifically targeted drugs the therapy of these diseases remains severe medical and social problem. Some of the most effective cancer treatments to date are natural products or compounds derived from plant products.

Effect of justicidin B - a potent cytotoxic and pro-apoptotic arylnaphtalene lignan on human breast cancer-derived cell lines.

Justicidin B produced by genetically transformed cultures of Linum leonii was tested for cytotoxic activity and induction of apoptosis in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 breast cancer derived cell lines. The tested lignan evoked strong, concentration dependent cytotoxicity in both cell lines, whereby MCF-7 proved to be far more sensitive as compared to MDA-MB-231. The 24 h treatment of both cell lines increased the level of apoptotic DNA fragmentation; however the proapoptotic activity is completely inhibited if the cells are co-incubated with the non-selective pan-caspase inhibitor Boc-Asp(OMe)-fluoromethyl ketone (PCI), which implies that justicidin B, activates programmed cell death via caspase -dependent mechanisms.

Antiproliferative alkaloids from Crinum zeylanicum.

Crinum zeylanicum is used in folk medicine as a rubefacient in rheumatism, a treatment for malaria or as a poison. Complex alkaloid profiles in C. zeylanicum plant organs were revealed by GC-MS analysis, including several bioactive compounds.

Production of podophyllotoxin in Linum linearifolium in vitro cultures.

For the first time, callus and suspension cultures of Linum linearifolium were initiated. Podophyllotoxin (PTOX), a strong antitumor precursor, was isolated from the calli and suspension, as a main lignan besides smaller amount of 6-methoxypodophyllotoxin (6MPTOX). L.

Lignans in flowering aerial parts of Linum species--chemodiversity in the light of systematics and phylogeny.

The aerial parts of 54 accessions representing 41 Linum species and four species of related genera were analysed for lignans by means of HPLC-ESI/MS-MS-UV/DAD. In total, 64 different lignans of the aryltetralin-, arylnaphthalene-, aryldihydronaphthalene-, dibenzylbutyrolactone-, and furofuran type were identified. According to their lignan profile, the Linum species can be divided in two groups accumulating as major lignan types either cyclolignans of the aryltetralin-series on one hand, or aryldihydronaphthalenes/arylnaphthalenes, on the other.

Effects of cycloartane saponins from hairy roots of Astragalus membranaceus Bge., on human tumor cell targets.

For the first time three different natural compounds, isolated from hairy roots of Astragalus membranaceus, cultivated in airlift bioreactor were tested for their cytotoxic potential and apoptosis induction in a panel of human tumor cell lines. Root cultures, cultivated in bioreactor gave 18.5 g l(-1) dry wt roots with the highest astragaloside production in vitro up to now - 1.

Metabolic profiling of lignan variability in Linum species of section Syllinum native to Bulgaria.

Lignans in eighteen samples of Linum species ( L. tauricum ssp. tauricum, serbicum, bulgaricum and linearifolium; L.