BackgroundOleanolic acid (NZ-15), 7 α, 28-olean diol (NZ-38) and Stigmasterol (NZ-14) were isolated from the ethanolic extracts of the roots of Leea macrophylla (Family: Leeaceae) by using chromatographic analysis. This is the first report of isolation of these compounds from this plant. Their structures were constructed by spectroscopic analysis and by comparing the data with the published one. Subsequently the ethanolic extract was fractionated with two organic solvents and all the fractions were studied to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant property.MethodsThe ethanolic extract was fractionated with two organic solvents and all the fractions were studied to evaluate their in vitro antioxidant property by DPPH free radical scavenging assay, superoxide anion radical scavenging assay, nitric oxide radical scavenging assay, and reducing power assay.ResultsIn the DPPH free radical scavenging assay and superoxide radical scavenging assay, the ethyl acetate soluble fraction of ethanolic extract revealed the highest free radical scavenging activity with IC50 value of 2.65 and 155.62 μg/ml, respectively as compared to standard ascorbic acid (IC50 value of 5.8 and 99.66 μg/ml). Ethyl acetate fraction also possessed highest reducing power activity with an EC50 value of 15.27 μg/ml compared to ascorbic acid (EC50 0.91 μg/ml). On the other hand, the carbon tetrachloride fraction exhibited most significant NO scavenging activity with IC50 value of 277.8 μg/ml that was even higher than that of standard ascorbic acid (IC50 value 356.04 μg/ml). In addition, the total phenolic contents of these extract and fractions were evaluated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and varied from 7.93 to 50.21 mg/g dry weight expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE).ConclusionsThis study showed that different extracts of roots of L. macrophylla possess potential DPPH, superoxide, and NO free radical scavenging activities. The antioxidant activities of the plant extracts might be due to the presence of oleanolic acid, oleanolic acid derivative 7 α, 28-olean diol and stigmasterol.

The results of the study demonstrated the antinociceptive, anti-inflammatory, thrombolytic and hepatoprotective activities of roots of P. esculenta.

A new furanoid diterpene, 15,16-epoxy-12-oxo-8(17), 13(16), 14-labdatrien-20,19-olide (1) was isolated from an ethanolic extract of Potamogeton nodosus. Its structure was elucidated by the usual spectroscopic methods, including 2D NMR techniques. Compound 1 was found to exhibit moderate inhibitory activity against a number of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria.

The ethanolic extracts of leaves and roots of Premna esculenta (Roxb.) were evaluated for antihyperlipidemic activity in poloxamer 407 induced hyperlipidemic rats and mice. The administration of the ethanolic extract of leaves induced a significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) levels as well as the atherogenic index compared to the P-407 induced hyperlipidemic control mice after 24 h of treatment at a single dose of 500 mg/kg p.o. Both the leaf and root extracts significantly (p<0.05) reduced the serum TC, TG, VLDL and LDL levels as well as the atherogenic index compared to P-407 induced hyperlipidemic control rats after 4 days of pretreatment at a dose of 250 mg/kg/day p.o. The lipid lowering effects were compared with standard drug atorvastatin (50 mg/kg p.o.). Furthermore, both extracts showed potential to moderate scavenging activity of superoxide, nitric oxide and DPPH free radicals. In DPPH radical scavenging assay the IC 50 values of the leaf and root extracts were found to be 425.79 and 20.26 μg/ml, respectively while ascorbic acid has the IC 50 value 16.34 μg/ml. The IC 50 values of the leaf and root extracts against superoxide radicals were found to be 109.57 and 366.2 μg/ml, respectively which were comparable to that of ascorbic acid (99.66 μg/ml). The findings of the investigation demonstrated both antihyperlipidemic and antioxidant activities of the leaf and root extracts of P. esculenta which could help in prevention of hyperlipidemia associated disorders.