ABSTRACT The hepatoprotective activities of two traditionally used plants, Cleome droserifolia (Forssk.) Delile, Cleomaceae, and Artemisia annua L., Asteraceae, were recently reported. However, the biologically active metabolites responsible for this activity were not identified. The aqueous extract of C. droserifolia aerial parts, and the polar fraction of A. annua leaves were screened for their antioxidant activities using the 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) assay. The in vitro viability of HepG-2 cells treated with CCl4 and the extracts were assessed by MTT assay. The effects of the extracts on the liver enzymes and the total soluble protein in CCl4-intoxicated HepG-2 cells were investigated. An HPLC/PDA/ESI/MS–MS based analysis was carried out for extract of C. droserifolia and polar fraction of A. annua. Both exhibited pronounced free radical scavenging activities (86 and 83%, respectively). Both showed a significant increase in cell viability: 86.43% for the extract of C. droserifolia and 79.32% for polar fraction of A. annua. Only the extract of C. droserifolia (39.6 ± 5.41 and 20.4 ± 6.91 IU/dl, respectively) and polar fraction of A. annua (40.8 ± 2.14 and 24.5 ± 3.11 IU/dl, respectively) restored the levels of liver enzymes (aspartate transaminase and alanine transaminase, respectively) compared to the CCl4 intoxicated group (87.5 ± 4.34 and 34.1 ± 8.12 IU/dl, respectively) and other herbal extracts. More than fifty phenolic secondary metabolites were identified in the extracts under investigation. The significant hepatoprotective activities of both extracts seemed to be strongly connected to their content of hydroxycinnamoyl quinic acids and flavonoids.

ABSTRACT Chemical profile analyses of artichoke (Cynara scolymus L., Asteraceae) edible parts (fleshy receptacle, inner bracts) as well as roots are compared with the commercially usable leaf extract using HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS via chlorogenicacid as a marker. Overall polyphenolic constituents demonstrated by means of LC/MS profiling. The nutritional values and inulin contents of different assessed parts were investigated. The present study was designed to determine the effect of artichoke: leaves, bracts, receptacles and roots alcoholic extracts against CCl4-induced acute hepatotoxicity and hyperlipidemia in rats by means of histopathological and biochemical parameters. Serum liver enzymes levels of aspartate amino transferase, alanine amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase and lipid peroxidase content (malondialdehyde MDA) were estimated. Blood glutathione, total cholesterol, triacylglycerides and high density lipid level were estimated in plasma. The ethanol extract of roots, leaves, bracts and receptacles were standardized to (0.82 ± 0.02, 1.6 ± 0.06, 2.02 ± 0.16 and 2.4 ± 0.27 mg chlorogenic acid/100 mg extract), respectively. The receptacle showed the highest content of polyphenols and exhibits the highest antioxidant activity. HPLC analysis of inulin in the receptacles of globe artichoke revealed high content of inulin (41.47 mg/g) dry extract. All artichoke parts contain comparable vitamins and minerals. Artichokes receptacles extract when taken in dose of (500 mg/kg/day) reduce the lesion caused by CCl4 alone more than groups receiving silymarin. Bracts and leaves extract exert nearly the same effect.

ABSTRACT The standardized 80% ethanolic extract of the leaves of Ocimum basilicum var. thyrsiflorum (L.) Benth., Lamiaceae, growing in KSA, exhibited a significant antioxidant activity compared to the ethyl acetate and butanol extracts, which was correlated to its higher phenolic and flavonoid contents. Chromatographic separation of the 80% ethanol extract resulted in the isolation of ten known compounds; cinnamic acid, gallic acid, methylgallate, ellagic acid, methyl ellagic acid, apigenin, luteolin, vitexin, isovitexin, and 3"-O-acetylvitexin. Compound 3"-O-acetylvitexin, a C-glycosylated derivative of apigenin, was isolated for the first time from genus Ocimum. The 80% ethanolic extract and 3"-O-acetylvitexin showed significant cytotoxic activities against the HCT116 human colon cancer cell line [IC50 values 22.3 ± 1.1 and 16.8 ± 2.0 µg/ml (35.4 µM), respectively].

Abstract Echinochloa crus-galli (L.) P. Beauv., Poaceae, grains are used as a feed for birds and millet for humans. The sulforhodamine B assay was used to assess its cytotoxicity against four human cancer cell lines. The ethanolic extract (70%) proved to be most active against HCT-116 and HELA cell lines (IC50 = 11.2 ± 0.11 and 12.0 ± 0.11 µg/ml, respectively). On the other hand, the chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions exhibited their highest activities against HCT-116 cell lines. The chloroform and ethyl acetate fractions were subjected to several chromatographic separations to render pure phenolic compounds (1-8). Compounds 1-8 were identified as: 5,7-dihydroxy-3′,4′,5′-trimethoxy flavone, 5,7,4′-trihydroxy-3′,5′-dimethoxy flavone (tricin), quercetin, flavone, apigenin-8-C-sophoroside, 2-methoxy-4-hydroxy cinnamic acid, p-coumaric acid and quercetin-3-O-glucoside. All the isolated phenolic compounds exhibited various significant activities against the four human carcinoma where the methoxylated flavones (1 and 2) were the most active, in a way comparable to the anticancer drug Doxorubicin®. Thus, these methoxylated flavonoids may be considered as lead compounds for the treatment of cancer, which supports previous claims of E. crus-galli traditional use. This is the first report of the occurrence of these phenolic compounds in E. crus-galli.