Nada M. Mostafa

This study has investigated the phytochemical composition and therapeutic potential of the Red Sea soft coral Sinularia levi .

Callistemon is a genus of aromatic plants indigenous to Australia and widely spread for ornamental purposes. In this study, we aimed to investigate the chemical composition of essential oils isolated from the leaves, flowers, stems, and fruits of Callistemon subulatus using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, alongside the assessment of the protective effects of the leaf oil against cyclophosphamide (CY)-induced lung toxicity in rats. The leaf oil was rich in oxygenated monoterpenes (51.15%), while the flower oil contained a higher proportion of monoterpene hydrocarbons (72.06%). The stem and fruit oils were predominantly composed of hydrocarbons, accounting for 52.79% and 62.52%, respectively. Interestingly, C. subulatus leaf oil (CLO) showed the highest yield with the highest proportion of eucalyptol (44.36%), a reported anti-inflammatory monoterpene. Thirty rats were divided into five groups and treated for 10 days as follows: group I is a vehicle group, group II was administered CY (200 mg/kg, i. p. ), groups III and IV received oral CLO (50 and 100 mg/kg, respectively) in addition to CY (200 mg/kg, i. p. ), and group V received only CLO (100 mg/kg, oral). It was found that CLO inhibited the lipid peroxidation level and augmented catalase and glutathione levels. Furthermore, it significantly reduced the overtranscription of α -smooth muscle actin ( α- SMA) by preventing fibroblastic cell differentiation into myofibroblasts. The histological appearance of CY-induced lung tissue revealed congestion, epithelial hyperplasia, and inflammatory cell aggregations. However, CLO considerably alleviated these manifestations. The findings demonstrated the preventive function of CLO against the harmful effects of CY on rat lungs. Therefore, C. subulatus oil might be a promising natural candidate for protecting the lung from CY-induced pneumotoxic manifestations.

Rosaceae is a vital plant family that includes a great diversity of plant species. Plant endophytic fungi reportedly can biosynthesize medicinally active secondary metabolites, acting as novel sources of natural bioactive products. This review evaluates the prospective exploitation of Rosaceae-associated fungal endophytes as dependable sources of natural bioactive compounds. It provides a comprehensive overview of these endophytes' metabolites and biological functions. The data has been collected from the Web of Science and PubMed databases. Alkaloids, sterols, terpenoids, coumarins, isocoumarins, and anthraquinones are the major compounds isolated from endophytic fungi. They have shown notable biological activities, mainly antibacterial, antifungal, and cytotoxic. In addition, it has been revealed that they boost plants to produce active metabolites. Therefore, these endophytes can serve as consistent, reliable, and eco-friendly sources of natural bioactive molecules. They can be exploited for the commercial production of medicines.

This study explores the metabolic profile and wound-healing capabilities of Ficus trijuja, a species within the Moraceae family, for the first time. Ficus plants contain a variety of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, triterpenoids, and alkaloids, known for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic properties. Previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of Ficus extracts in wound healing, with evidence of improved wound contraction, strength, and faster epithelization. This study shows the impact of F. trijuja extract in a gel base as well as when delivered through a lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) formula, on all phases of wound-healing in rats, by determining the expression levels of their key markers. The results indicated that treatment with F. trijuja extract accelerated wound healing, particularly when applied through lipid nanocapsulation, which shows comparable efficacy to standard treatments like MEBO^® with approximately 2.62% improvement in wound healing when compared to MEBO^® itself. Understanding these molecular markers offers insights for developing targeted therapies to optimize wound healing and prevent complication development. To unravel the phytochemical composition of F. trijuja extract, LC-HRESIMS analysis was implemented, which revealed 24 secondary metabolites belonging to different classes of flavonoids, terpenoids, and megastigmane. In conclusion, both Ficus trijuja gel and its nanoformulation have proven efficacy in wound healing in vivo and can be further investigated for potential clinical use.

Two pure fungal strains were isolated and identified from Ficus sycomorus and Morus nigra , namely, Penicillium oxalicum (OR673586) and Phoma herbarum (OR673589), respectively.

Ifosfamide (IFOS) is a broad‐spectrum chemotherapeutic agent that has been extensively used for breast cancer and other solid tumors. Unfortunately, its use is associated with toxicities of several organs.Stenocarpus sinuatusis an Australian tree belonging to the Proteaceae family. In the current study, the phytochemical constituents ofS. sinuatusmethanol leaf extract (SSLE) were assessed. In addition, the protective effect of SSLE against IFOS‐induced nephrotoxicity and hepatotoxicity was evaluated. Rats were randomly divided into six groups: control, IFOS (50 mg/kg), IFOS + SSLE (100 mg/kg), IFOS + SSLE (200 mg/kg), IFOS + SSLE (400 mg/kg), and SSLE (400 mg/kg). Hepatoprotective and nephroprotective potency of SSLE was assessed using different biochemical parameters. The phytochemical investigation resulted in the isolation of four flavonoid glycosides (kaempferol 3‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside, kaempferol 3‐O‐α‐rhamnopyranoside, isorhamnetin 3‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside, and quercetin 3‐O‐β‐d‐glucopyranosyl‐(1→2)‐α‐l‐rhamnopyranoside) and a coumarin (scopoletin). This is the first report on the isolated compounds from the genusStenocarpus. SSLE showed enhancement of kidney and liver functions and reduction of oxidative stress and inflammation. The histopathology of the investigated organs confirmed the protective effect of SSLE. In conclusion, SSLE is considered as a promising candidate that can be used in defense against the toxic effects of IFOS after further clinical trials.

Calendula officinalis L. (Asteraceae), commonly known as English or pot marigold, is an herbaceous plant with edible flowers. In this study, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis was used for tentative identification of compounds in marigold flower methanol extract (MFE). In addition, RP-HPLC-DAD analysis was used to quantify the flavonoids hesperidin and rutin in MFE. The antileishmanial potentials of the crude extract and compounds were evaluated against Leishmania major promastigotes and amastigotes. Further, in vivo 4-day antimalarial testing of the extract and compounds was carried out at doses of 25 mg kg⁻¹ per day using mice infected with ANKA strain of Plasmodium berghei, following standard procedure. Molecular docking studies were carried out to assess the binding mode of flavonoids against the vital targets of L. major, including pteridine reductase 1 and farnesyl diphosphate synthase enzymes. The in silico antimalarial potentials of flavonoids were evaluated against wild-type Plasmodium falciparum dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase and phosphoethanolamine methyltransferase enzymes. Twenty compounds were tentatively identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis of MFE, of which, seven flavonoids, six saponins, three phenolic acids, three fatty acids, and a triterpene glycoside were identified. MFE phytochemical analysis revealed that hesperidin content was 36.17 mg g⁻¹ extract, that is, 9.9-fold their content of rutin (3.65 mg g⁻¹ extract). The method was validated to ensure reproducibility of the results. The tested samples exhibited antileishmanial potentials against L. major promastigotes, with IC₅₀ values of 98.62, 118.86, and 104.74 ng µL⁻¹ for hesperidin, rutin, and MFE, respectively. Likewise, hesperidin showed inhibitory potentials against L. major amastigote with an IC₅₀ value of 108.44 ± 11.2 µM, as compared to miltefosine. The mean survival time, parasitemia, and suppression percentages showed similar results for the three samples against ANKA strain of P. berghei. The docking studies showed good binding affinities of rutin and hesperidin with numerous H-bonding and van der Waals interactions. Marigold flowers are nutraceuticals, presenting important sources of bioactive flavonoids with potential against neglected tropical diseases.