Combinations of ascaridole, carvacrol, and caryophyllene oxide against Leishmania.

To date there are no vaccines against Leishmania and chemotherapy remains the mainstay for the control of leishmaniasis. The drugs currently used for leishmaniasis therapy are significantly toxic, expensive, and result in a growing frequency of refractory infections. In this study, we evaluated the effect of combinations of the main components of essential oil from Chenopodium ambrosioides (ascaridole, carvacrol, and caryophyllene oxide) against Leishmaniaamazonensis.

Aromatic Medicinal Plants from Tajikistan (Central Asia).

Tajikistan is a small country located in Central Asia. The mostly mountainous terrain with a continental, subtropical, and semiarid climate, is characterized by diverse flora. Many people in Tajikistan rely on medicinal plants as their traditional form of medicine to prevent and cure health disorders.

Chemistry and leishmanicidal activity of the essential oil from Artemisia absinthium from Cuba.

Historically, natural products have been a rich source of lead molecules in drug discovery. In particular, products to treat infectious diseases have been developed and several reports about potentialities of essential oils (EO) against Leishmania could be found. In this study, we report the chemical characterization, anti-leishmanial effects and cytotoxicity of the EO from Artemisia absinthium L.

Chemical composition and biological activity of Pulicaria vulgaris essential oil from Iran.

The present study investigated the chemical composition of the essential oil (EO) from aerial parts (flowering stage) of Pulicaria vulgaris Gaertn. by GC-MS. Also, the antimicrobial activity of the EO against Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and fungi (Aspergillus niger and Candida albicans) was tested.

Antifungal activity of plant extracts against Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer.

Despite recent advances in antifungal development, fungi remain a devastating threat to human health and compromise viability of the food supply. Plant based antimicrobials represent a vast untapped source with tremendous potential. Herein we present the antifungal properties of more than 50 plant extracts against two important human and agricultural pathogens, Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer.

Antileishmanial Potential of Tropical Rainforest Plant Extracts.

A total of 115 different plant extracts from our collection, representing 96 plant species, have been evaluated for antileishmanial activity against promastigotes. In addition, the extracts were screened for cytotoxic activity against BALB/c mouse macrophages in order to assess a selectivity index. Crude extracts that showed a selectivity index ( for macrophage / for promastigotes) ³ 5 or with < 12.

Characterization of volatiles of necrotic Stenocereus thurberi and Opuntia littoralis and toxicity and olfactory preference of Drosophila melanogster, D. mojavensis wrigleyi, and D. mojavensis sonorensis to necrotic cactus volatiles.

Drosophila mojavensis wrigleyi and D. mojavensis sonorensis are geographically separated races of cactophilic fruit flies. D.

Accumulation of silicon in cacti native to the United States: characterization of silica bodies and cyclic oligosiloxanes in Stenocereus thurberi, Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Opuntia stricta.

Four different cactus species growing in the United States, Stenocereus thurberi growing in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, Arizona, Opuntia littoralis and Opuntia ficus-indica, growing on Santa Catalina Island, California, and Opuntia stricta, growing in northern Alabama, were examined for the presence of silica bodies (opaline phytoliths). Silica bodies were found in all four of these cactus species, parallelepiped-shaped crystals in S. thurberi, and starburst-shaped crystalline structures in the three Opuntia species.

The volatile constituents of Parquetina nigrescens from southwestern Nigeria.

The leaf essential oil of Parquetina nigrescens collected from Badary, Nigeria, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography - mass spectrometry. The essential oil had a simple composition with only five identified components. The oil was dominated by citral (35.

Semi-synthesis of nitrogen derivatives of oleanolic acid and effect on breast carcinoma MCF-7 cells.

Background: Oleanolic acid is a triterpenoid that has shown in vitro cytotoxic activity against human tumour cells and is known to be present in many higher plants.

Materials And Methods: Oleanolic acid is known to have some biological potential including anticancer property. Oleanolic acid was isolated from the ethyl acetate fraction of Syzygium aromaticum seed with an aim of dervitatising the functional group and evaluating the biological activities of the semi-synthesised compounds.

Phytochemical investigations of Lonchocarpus bark extracts from Monteverde, Costa Rica.

The acetone bark extracts of three species of Lonchocarpus from Monteverde, Costa Rica, L. atropurpureus, L. oliganthus, and L.

Composition of essential oil from Tagetes minuta and its cytotoxic, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities.

The essential oil from the leaves of Tagetes minuta L., growing wild in Yemen, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A total of 28 compounds were identified representing 74.

Bioactivities and compositional analyses of Cinnamomum essential oils from Nepal: C. camphora, C. tamala, and C. glaucescens.

This work examines the biological activity of essential oils of Cinnamomum camphora leaves, C. glaucescens fruit, and C. tamala root from Nepal.

Antileishmanial phytochemical phenolics: molecular docking to potential protein targets.

A molecular docking analysis has been carried out to examine potential Leishmania protein targets of antiprotozoal plant-derived polyphenolic compounds. A total of 352 phenolic phytochemicals, including 10 aurones, six cannabinoids, 34 chalcones, 20 chromenes, 52 coumarins, 92 flavonoids, 41 isoflavonoids, 52 lignans, 25 quinones, eight stilbenoids, nine xanthones, and three miscellaneous phenolic compounds, were used in the virtual screening study using 24 Leishmania enzymes (52 different protein structures from the Protein Data Bank). Noteworthy protein targets were Leishmania dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, N-myristoyl transferase, phosphodiesterase B1, pteridine reductase, methionyl-tRNA synthetase, tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, uridine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase, nicotinamidase, and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Interactions of antiparasitic sterols with sterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) of human pathogens.

Sterol 14α-demethylase is a validated and an attractive drug target in human protozoan parasites. Pharmacological inactivation of this important enzyme has proven very effective against fungal infections, and it is a target that is being exploited for new antitrypanosomal and antileishmanial chemotherapy. We have used in silico calculations to identify previously reported antiparasitic sterol-like compounds and their structural congeners that have preferential and high docking affinity for CYP51.

Chemical composition of volatiles from Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Opuntia prolifera growing on Catalina Island, California.

The essential oils from the cladodes of Opuntia littoralis, Opuntia ficus-indica and Opuntia prolifera growing wild on Santa Catalina Island, California, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Terpenoids were the dominant class of volatiles in O. littoralis, with the two main components being the furanoid forms of cis-linalool oxide (10.

Juglans regia and J. nigra, two trees important in traditional medicine: A comparison of leaf essential oil compositions and biological activities.

The essential oils from the leaves of Juglans regia, collected from Kathmandu, Nepal, and Juglans nigra from Huntsville, Alabama, USA, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. A total of 69 compounds were identified in the J. regia oil, accounting for 99.

Interactions of antiparasitic alkaloids with Leishmania protein targets: a molecular docking analysis.

Background: Leishmaniasis is a collection of chronic diseases caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. Current antileishmanial chemotherapeutics have demonstrated adverse side effects and therefore R&D into new safer alternative treatments are needed.

Methods: A molecular docking analysis has been carried out to assess possible Leishmania biochemical targets of antiparasitic alkaloids.

Volatile analysis and antimicrobial screening of the parasitic plant Cuscuta reflexa Roxb. from Nepal.

The essential oil from the parasitic vine Cuscuta reflexa Roxb., collected from Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal, was obtained by hydrodistillation and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. From a total of 62 peaks, 61 compounds were identified in the oil, accounting for 99.

Chemical compositions, phytotoxicity, and biological activities of Acorus calamus essential oils from Nepal.

Four essential oils from the leaf (P23) and rhizomes (P19, P22, P24) of Acorus calamus L., collected from various parts of Nepal, were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC-MS. From a total of 61 peaks, 57 compounds were identified among the four essential oils accounting for 94.

Antileishmanial activity of the essential oil from Bixa orellana.

Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by Leishmania protozoa. There is currently no vaccine against leishmaniasis, and chemotherapy remains the only effective control. However, conventional drugs are toxic, expensive, and require long periods of treatment, and resistance to clinical chemotherapeutic agents is emerging.

In-silico Leishmania target selectivity of antiparasitic terpenoids.

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), like leishmaniasis, are major causes of mortality in resource-limited countries. The mortality associated with these diseases is largely due to fragile healthcare systems, lack of access to medicines, and resistance by the parasites to the few available drugs. Many antiparasitic plant-derived isoprenoids have been reported, and many of them have good in vitro activity against various forms of Leishmania spp.

Volatile constituents of Pinus roxburghii from Nepal.

Background: Pinus roxburghii Sarg. Is one of 3 species of pine found in Nepal, the oil of which is traditionally used to treat cuts, wounds, boils, and blisters.

Objective: To obtain, analyze, and examine the anti-microbial and cytotoxic activities of the essential oils of P.