Chemistry & Biodiversity最新文献

Cratoxylum formosum (Jack) Benth. & Hook.f. ex Dyer is a medicinal plant widely distributed in Southeast Asia. This study presents the first investigation of the essential oil from leaves of C. formosum collected in Vietnam, focusing on its chemical composition, antimicrobial activity, and mosquito larvicidal potential. Gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID)/mass spectrometry (MS) analysis identified 35 compounds in the essential oil, with (E)-caryophyllene (39.30%), α-humulene (12.90%), and (E)-β-ocimene (11.85%) as the major constituents. The essential oil exhibited notable antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 16 to 64 µg/mL and IC₅₀ values between 7.55 and 20.56 µg/mL. Larvicidal assays demonstrated strong activity against Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, and Culex quinquefasciatus, with LC₅₀ values ranging from 44.27 to 77.71 µg/mL and LC₉₀ values from 57.74 to 102.61 µg/mL after 24 and 48 h of exposure. These findings suggest that C. formosum essential oil is a promising natural source of antimicrobial and mosquito control agents.

Ferula is a genus of flowering plants known for its edible and medicinal properties. The gum of the Ferula kokanica was selected for this study based on its traditional uses. From the gum of F. kokanica, an undescribed sesquiterpene coumarin was isolated, named kokanin A, along with 22 known compounds. Structure elucidation of the isolated compounds was carried out by one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance and high-resolution-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry data analysis. Using NOE correlation, the relative configurations of the isolated compounds were established. The absolute configurations of isolates were established by electronic circular dichroism calculation. Cytotoxicity and anti-vitiligo activity of the isolated compounds were tested. Gummosin demonstrated strong cytotoxicity against the HT-29 cell line with IC₅₀ values of 6.96 ± 0.38 µM. Colladonin, farnesiferol A, and feshurin provided greater relative melanin content than that of the positive control at 50 µM. The elemental composition of the gum of F. kokanica using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry method allowed the determination of trace levels of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Na, Mg, K, and Ca. The toxic elements were determined in the sample, and their content was found to be lower than the maximum acceptable concentration established by the World Health Organization. This study showed that some isolated compounds demonstrated significant anti-vitiligo activity and showed promise for future drug discovery. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the chemical composition and the bioactivities of the gum of F. kokanica.

This study focuses on Kickxia lanigera (Def.) Hand.-Mazz., a plant that is traditionally used in Turkey and some other Middle Eastern countries to treat diabetes, kidney stones and venomous bites. The study aimed to determine the molecular basis of these traditional medicinal uses by evaluating the in vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts of K. lanigera, as well as ten known compounds (mosloflavone 2, baicalein 3, salvigenin 4, chrysin 5, acacetin 6, jaseosidin 7, hispidulin 8, apigenin 9, luteolin 10 and daucosterol 11) and one previously unidentified flavone (lanigeraflavone 1), which were obtained by activity-directed isolation. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics were then performed to confirm the activity of the targets. The isolated compounds exhibited lower antioxidant activity than the original extracts. However, chrysin and lanigeraflavone exhibited the most effective H₂O₂ scavenging activity in comparison to the standard, with respective values of 24.17 and 26.90 µg/mL. Molecular docking and dynamic simulations confirmed the activity of the new compound against erythrocyte catalase. This study demonstrates the potential of K. lanigera as a source of bioactive compounds that could be used in anticancer pharmacological formulations and food additives.

The sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) is a plant commonly used in agriculture and the fuel industry, as well as being an ornamental garden plant. However, its biologically active compounds make it an interesting plant for medicinal purposes. This review evaluated the phytochemistry of sunflower leaves, stems, receptacles, flowers, seeds, and sprouts and its pharmacological activities. A search was conducted in the PubMed, Embase, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar in March 2025. This review includes studies on the quantitative phytochemical profile of H. annuus extract and studies that reported some pharmacological activity of sunflower extracts or metabolites. The compounds identified in the parts of the sunflower include phenolic acids, flavonoids, and terpenes, mainly. These classes of metabolites are responsible for the pharmacological effects of the species, especially 5-O-caffeoylquinic acid (chlorogenic acid) and its derivates. Fatty acids, vitamins, alkanes, alkaloids, and benzenoids were also found, but in smaller variations. Studies have reported that the effects of sunflowers include antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antidyslipidemic, hypoglycemic, renal, and colon-protective activity. Thus, sunflowers are plants rich in chemical compounds with pharmacological potential, which can be used as raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry.

Traditional medicinal plants are valuable sources of bioactive compounds used for therapeutic purposes. Haloxylon articulatum, a halophyte adapted to arid climate, has been consumed to treat several health issues. This study explores the phytochemical richness, the antioxidant, and the anticancer activities of a hydroalcoholic extract of H. articulatum through liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry (LC–HRMS/MS), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) analysis, cytotoxicity testing, and computational analysis. Alkaloids, flavonoids, and phenolic acids were among numerous bioactive chemicals found within the extracts. The DPPH assay revealed a notable antioxidant activity. Using the cytotoxicity test, the major phytochemicals, N-caffeoyltyramine and sinapoyltyramine, exhibited anticancer activity against gastric cancer cell lines AGS and NCI-N87, with IC₅₀ values ranging from 49.33 to 82 µmol/L. These activities were significantly enhanced in combination treatments with the standard reference, cisplatin. Molecular docking analysis demonstrated the presence of significant interactions between these compounds and the key cancer-related protein; the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) kinase, indicating their ability to inhibit tumor cells proliferation. Absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) analysis further showed promising pharmacological profiles, confirming the potential of N-caffeoyltyramine and sinapoyltyramine as effective natural anticancer drugs. This research provided novel insights, supported for the first time by in silico investigations, into the medicinal potential of the plant, highlighting its prospects for the development of natural anticancer drugs.

The green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) offers an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional methods by replacing toxic chemical reagents with natural sources. These methods utilize microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, or natural plant extracts rich in secondary metabolites that act as reducing and stabilizing agents during nanoparticle formation. In this study, we biosynthesized AgNPs using an ethanolic extract of Piper nigrum seeds and isolated piperine (PPN), the main bioactive compound. Furthermore, we evaluated the cytotoxic properties of PPN and its interaction with AgNPs (Np-AgPPN) in gastric cancer cells. The samples were characterized using UV–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (SEM–EDS), x-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric (TG), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results suggest successful functionalization of AgNPs with piperine (Np-AgPPN). UV–Vis spectroscopy showed a hypsochromic shift of the maximum peak and a hypochromic effect, suggesting electronic interactions between PPN and Ag. FTIR-attenuated total reflectance (ATR) spectra revealed shifts in the carbonyl and aromatic bands, confirming PPN–Ag complex formation. SEM micrographs displayed rectangular crystals characteristic of PPN, whereas Np-AgPPN exhibited amorphous clusters. XRD analysis revealed a decrease in crystallinity and peaks characteristic of metallic Ag. Thermal analyses (TG/DTG and DSC) demonstrated the reduced thermal stability of Np-AgPPN compared to PPN, in addition to altered endothermic and exothermic transitions. In vitro cytotoxicity assays showed that Np-AgPPN had superior antitumor activity compared to PPN, with IC₅₀ in the range 23.1–33.9 µg/mL, particularly against the gastric cell line AGP01 PIWIL1⁻/⁻. These results demonstrate that piperine-functionalized AgNPs can be synthesized from a piperine-rich extract and that Np-AgPPN exhibits superior cytotoxic effects against gastric cancer cells. In conclusion, this work highlights the feasibility of producing piperine-functionalized AgNPs through a green synthesis approach and demonstrates their enhanced cytotoxic activity against gastric cancer cells, reinforcing the therapeutic potential of this strategy.

Skin wound infections represent a major clinical challenge, exacerbated by biofilm formation and the increasing prevalence of bacterial resistance. Essential oils, particularly those of Mentha piperita, are well recognized for their antimicrobial and wound-healing properties. This scoping review mapped the available evidence on the use of topical formulations containing M. piperita-derived products for wound healing, with a focus on formulation vehicles, concentrations, experimental models, and efficacy parameters. Following JBI and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and LILACS (2010–2025). Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria, the majority of which were preclinical, comprising in vitro (35%), in vivo (30%), and combined in vitro/in vivo (30%) models. Only one ex vivo study was identified, and no clinical trials were found. The formulations investigated ranged from creams and gels to nanoemulsions, lipid carriers, films, and nanofibers, with concentrations varying from 0.5% to 20%. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently tested strain and showed greater susceptibility to peppermint essential oil (PEO). Incorporation into nanostructured systems was associated with improved stability, enhanced skin permeation, and superior antimicrobial performance, particularly when combined with nanoparticles, metals, other bioactive compounds, or, in specific cases, clinical antibiotics such as levofloxacin. Across both infected wound models and noninfected wound-healing models, M. piperita-containing formulations were associated with favorable outcomes, although the underlying mechanisms differed depending on the presence or absence of microbial challenge. Despite these promising findings, significant gaps remain regarding ex vivo validation, safety assessment, and clinical translation. Overall, PEO demonstrates considerable potential as an antimicrobial and wound-healing agent; however, more standardized and clinically oriented studies are required.