Polyphenols are bioactive compounds with notable pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic, and neuroprotective activities. This study investigated the anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties of polyphenols extracted from Guiera senegalensis. Phytochemical analyses confirmed high levels of phenolics and flavonoids, with catechins, quercetin, and kaempferol identified using FTIR, GC-MS, and NMR. Toxicity studies validated the safety of these polyphenols at therapeutic doses. Cytotoxicity assays revealed enhanced anti-cancer effects compared to doxorubicin, with reduced cell viability, colony formation, and migration in MCF-7 and OV7 cancer cell lines. Mechanistic insights showed ROS-induced mitochondrial dysfunction, caspase-3 activation, and G2/M cell cycle arrest, indicating apoptosis induction. The polyphenols also demonstrated significant anti-inflammatory effects, downregulating TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS, and NF-κB expression. The neuroprotective activity was evidenced by increased levels of TH, TPH, DAT, SERT, and BDNF, alongside reduced Iba1 expression, suggesting mitigation of neuroinflammation and enhanced neurotransmitter function. These findings highlight the multi-targeted efficacy of G. senegalensis polyphenols in modulating apoptosis, inflammation, and neuroprotection, surpassing doxorubicin. Their dual anti-cancer and neuroprotective effects underscore their potential as safe therapeutic agents. Further research is warranted to explore their translational applications in integrative medicine for cancer and neuroinflammatory disorders.
In Nigeria, numerous organic wastes from the processing of Prosopis africana are indiscriminately discarded and this has led to environmental pollution. This study compared the phytochemical, mineral and proximate constituents of epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of P. africana. Plant samples were collected from P. africana sellers in Ogodo, Ankpa Kogi State. The collected samples were dried at room temperature for 21 days and were grounded to a powdered form. Phytochemical, proximate and mineral analyses were carried out using standard methods of AOAC (2020). Data was analysed by One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95% confidence limits upper confidence limit and lower confidence limit using the SPSS, IBM Statistics version 21.0 software. Differences between groups were considered to be statistically significant at p≤0.05. Results revealed the epicarp, mesocarp and seeds of P. africana as a rich source of protein, carbohydrate and fibre and also contained considerable amounts of phytochemicals such as alkaloid, flavonoid, saponins, tannin and phenols. It also contained good composition of macro and micro elements like calcium, phosphorus, sodium, potassium, magnesium, zinc and iron. The seeds and epicarp contained a high nutritional and phytochemical composition compared to the mesocarp. The epicarp and mesocarp could be explored pharmacologically for their therapeutic values instead of being disposed.
This study aims to investigate the ulcer healing effects of freeze-dried leaf extracts of Rhus natalensis on Ethanol-induced gastric ulcer model in Sprague Dawley rats. Male Sprague Dawley rats (40), 250-300g were randomly assigned into 5 groups each with 8 animals as follows: negative control (1 ml / 200 g ethanol), positive control (20 mg / kg Esomeprazole + 1 ml /200 g ethanol), normal control (normal saline), low dose (150 mg / kg + 1 ml / 200 g ethanol), and high dose (300 mg / kg + 1 ml/ 200 g ethanol). To induce ulcers, absolute ethanol was administered on the first day at a dose of 1 ml / 200 g body weight by oral gavage to all groups except the normal control. Treatments were administered 1 hour after ethanol administration and once daily up to the 6th day. The ulcer healing effects were assessed by determining the total ulcer area, pH, and total acidity of stomach contents, volume of stomach secretions, levels of GSH, and levels of malondialdehyde in gastric tissue, catalase activity, and superoxide dismutase activity in gastric tissue. The data was reported as the mean ± SEM. There was a significant reduction in the total ulcer area in the treatment groups. The results showed a significant increase in the pH of gastric secretions in the treatment groups and also a dose dependent reduction in the total acidity of gastric secretions of the same groups. In this study, there was a decrease in the volume of gastric secretions in the treatment groups as compared to the negative control which showed an increase in the volume of secretions. The study showed an increase in cellular antioxidant activity in the treatment groups by increased catalase activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and levels of reduced glutathione (GSH). The study shows that Rhus natalensis possesses ulcer healing effects. The effects are potentially due to reduced acidity of gastric contents, increased pH of gastric contents, reduced volume of secretions, and increased activity of cellular antioxidant systems; catalase, superoxide dismutase, and reduced glutathione.
Wild edible plants play an essential role in enhancing diets, particularly in developing nations. Macaranga peltata, a member of the Euphorbiaceae family and one of the 300 species within the genus Macaranga, has significant culinary and medicinal value. Traditionally, it has been utilized to address various health conditions such as fever, headaches, stomach disorders, and skin issues. Research highlights its potent antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. The leaves of Macaranga peltata are versatile, often cooked or steamed for consumption as a vegetable, while also finding applications in various culinary preparations. Meanwhile, the fruits are underutilized in Kerala. Even though, M. peltata has several culinary uses, scientific validation regarding the proximal composition is not available. In this context, the present study aims to analyse and compare the nutritive and anti-nutritive potential of Macaranga peltata (Roxb.) fruits and leaves. Proximate composition of M. peltata leaves and fruits were analysed in terms of Moisture, ash content, fibre content, amino acid, protein, carbohydrate, vitamins, phenol, tannin and phytic acid using standard protocols. The results showed that the leaves and fruits contain an appreciable amount of the basic food nutrients such as protein, amino acid, carbohydrates, vitamins and fiber. Anti-nutritional factors like tannin and phytic acid were below the tolerable value. From the results, it was concluded that M. peltata leaves and fruits can supply a substantial amount of the required daily intake. Integrating modern processing techniques such as drying, fermentation, and extraction methods with traditional knowledge has the potential to establish a strong foundation for the commercial utilization of this plant. This approach could facilitate the development of innovative food products and broaden their applications in the pharmaceutical sector.
This study investigates the phytochemical composition of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Asphodelus tenuifolius, along with the antioxidant potential and characterization of its polysaccharide, including its antioxidant and insecticidal effects. Phytochemical analysis showed that the ethanolic extract had higher contents in polyphenol (251.53 ± 8.88 μg EAG/mg), flavonoid (166.66 ± 5.24 μg EQ/mg), and tannin (30.41 ± 7.5 μg EAT/mg) compared to the aqueous extract. Both extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity against DPPH radical and reducing power. The polysaccharide yield reached 8.02%, contains sugars and minimal protein as confirmed by the Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy analysis. It also exhibits considerable DPPH scavenging potential and reducing power. The polysaccharides’ fraction also showed significant insecticidal activity against Tribolium confusum, achieving the highest mortality rate at 8 µg/ml. These findings suggest that polyphenols and flavonoids contained in the extract of A. tenuifolius may be responsible for antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the strong antioxidant and insecticidal properties of the polysaccharide of Asphodelus tenuifolius highlight its potential for further in vivo studies on oxidative stress, supporting its promising biological applications.
The extent of drug action is in direct relationship with the amount of the drug in aqueous medium in contact with the substrate molecules. The factors affecting this concentration in a biological system can be classified into the pharmacokinetics (PK) phase and the pharmacodynamics phase of drug action. Thus, this research focused on the in silico PKs analyses of phenolics (furocoumarinic acid, liquiritin, isorhamnetin and syringin) identified from ethylacetate fraction of methanol leaf extract of A. conyzoides. Determination of the pharmacokinetics and physicochemical properties of the above phenolics were achieved using SwissADME, ADMETlab 2.0 and SuperCYPsPred webservers synergistically. The phenolics with best in-silico pharmacokinetics parameters was further studied experimentally using in-vitro α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibition assays. The findings indicated that four phenolics are soluble in water, and all the ligands have consensus logP values less than 5 according to Lipinski’s Rule of 5, with isorhamnetin being the best (LogP 1.6). Also, most of the phenolics are non-inhibitors of the main CYP450 isozymes, but 1A2 and 3A4 were inhibited by isorhamnetin. Similarly, they are mostly non-substrates of the isozymes, but 2C9, 2C19, and 2D6 were metabolized by isorhamnetin. Inhibition assays using isorhamnetin-containing sample indicated that the inhibitory effects were more on α-glucosidase (IC50 of 18.11 and 15.97µg/ml for acarbose and isorhamnetin, respectively) than on α-amylase. This study has demonstrated that these phenolics from ethylacetate fraction of methanol leaf extract of A. conyzoides have relatively good pharmacokinetics within the acceptable limit of drug-like molecules.
This study aimed to assess the phytochemical profile and quantify the total phenolic and flavonoid content of Brussels sprouts under two environmental conditions. The phytochemical screening of methanol, aqueous and hydro alcohol extracts of different Brussels sprouts genotypes under open and protected environments was conducted as per standard methods. The total phenolic content was measured by the Folin–Ciocalteu assay and total flavonoid content was measured using the Aluminum chloride method. Phytochemical screening was performed to confirm the occurrence of essential bioactive compounds and results revealed significant variations in phytochemical compositions, phenolic and flavonoid content between the two environments, indicating the influence of environmental factors on secondary metabolites accumulation. Genotype Hild’s Ideal under open environment had the highest phenolic content (26.32 mg GAE/g) with methanol extract, while genotype Urja had the lowest value (6.87 mg GAE/g) with aqueous extracts. The highest total flavonoid content was recorded in genotype Hild’s Ideal (13.92 mg QE/g) using methanol extracts under a protected environment; whereas, the lowest flavonoid content 4.29 mg QE/g, was observed in genotype Urja with aqueous extracts under an open environment. Methanol was identified as the most effective solvent for the extraction of the phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The presence of bioactive compounds suggests potential health benefits, supporting the use of Brussels sprouts as an important medicinal and functional vegetable.
The therapeutic potential of medicinal plants has attracted special interest in recent years as a result of their abundant reservoirs of bioactive compounds. The purpose of this review is to discuss the value of medicinal plants in cosmeceutical applications based on their bioactive constituents and their relevance to skin health. Plant bioactive compounds such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, alkaloids, terpenoids, and tannins display a wide variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial effects. By enhancing moisture, elasticity, and barrier function of the skin, these features help overcome the typical pathology of the skin, such as oxidative stress, inflammation, hyperpigmentation, and infections caused by microorganisms. Aloe vera, Curcuma longa (turmeric), Camellia sinensis (green tea), and Centella asiatica (gotu kola) are some of the most studied plants in terms of their cosmeceutical potential. Throughout this review, we examine the mechanisms by which their bioactive compounds inhibit collagen synthesis, melanin production, and free radical production. Furthermore, the latest developments in formulation technology, namely the use of nanoencapsulation and liposomal delivery systems with enhanced stability and bioavailability of plant-derived ingredients, will be discussed. While these findings are promising, some concerns include variability in plant composition, standardization of extracts, and the potential risk of adverse effects. These concerns warrant further investigation both in terms of safety and efficacy. Currently, the regulatory environment for cosmeceuticals derived from plants is far from standardized; therefore, further harmonization of regulations or guidelines is required. Through promoting natural and environmentally friendly alternatives, this review examines the vast potential of medicinal plants as sustainable and effective sources of development in cosmeceuticals. To meet growing consumer demand, future studies should focus on clinical validation, new formulation strategies, and scaling up production.
