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The endophytic fungus Aspergillus is the precious source of chemical biodiversity.

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Background: Volatile oil, terpenoids, mainly diterpene and polyphenolic compounds including flavonoids and phenolic acids were previously isolated from different Plectranthus species. Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng growing abroad was subjected to phytochemical study resulted in isolation of several flavonoids, also the plant exhibited antioxidant, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Materials and Methods: In this study ethyl acetate fraction of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng leaves growing in Egypt was fractionated and chromatographed on silica gel and sephadex to isolate its phenolic constituents. The isolated compounds were identified using UV, 1 HNMR and 13 CNMR. Total phenolics and tannins content of the leaves, stems and roots of Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau and Folin-Denis reagents, respectively. Phenolic compounds of the stems and roots were identified using UPLC-MS analysis. Leaves, stems and roots of this plant were tested for antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities. Results: The isolated compounds were identified as 3-methoxy genkwanin, crisimaritin, p-coumaric acid, caffeic acid, taxifolin, rosmarinic acid, apigenin and 5-O-methyl-luteolin. The stems showed the highest concentration of the total polyphenolics followed by the leaves then the roots (9.6, 8.4 and 5.4 mg/g of gallic acid equivalents, respectively), while the roots recorded the highest tannins content followed by the leaves then the stems (126, 90 and 81 µg/g of tannic acid equivalents, respectively). UPLC-MS analysis revealed the presence of caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, coumaric acid and chrysoeriol in the stems and roots, while luteolin, quercitin and eriodyctiol were detected only in the stems. The different extracts of the three organs exhibited antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, diuretic, cytotoxic and antimicrobial activities with variable potency.

Opuntia ficus-indica (L.) Mill. (OFI), also known as Indian fig Opuntia or prickly pear, is a member of the family Cactaceae that produces edible, nutritionally rich sweet fruits. It has been traditionally used to treat several health disorders and is considered to possess various therapeutic properties. In this work, we have characterized 37 secondary metabolites using HPLC-MS/MS, identified the polysaccharide from the fruits and cladodes pulp , and estimated the neuroprotective activity . All tested extracts exhibited substantial antioxidant activities in-vitro and neuroprotective potential in AlCl 3 induced Alzheimer’s condition. Administration of OFI extracts attenuated AlCl 3 induced learning and memory impairment as confirmed from passive avoidance test and counteracted the oxidative stress as manifested from decreasein the elevated MDA level, increased TAC, GSH, SOD and CAT levels. OFI extracts significantly decreased the elevated brain levels of proinflammatory cytokines (NF-κβ and TNF-α), increased anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), and monoamine neurotransmitters (NE, DA, 5-HT) as compared to positive control group. The extracts showed a significant decrease in acetylcholinesterase level (AChE) as compared with AlCl 3. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed to investigate the ability of the major constituents of OFI extracts to interact with acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and serotonin transporter (SERT). Among the tested extracts, cladodes contain highest phenolic content and exhibited the highest antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective activities, which could be attributed to presence of several polyphenols, which could function as AChE and SERT inhibitors. Opuntia ficus-indica might be promising candidate for treating Alzheimer disease, which makes it a subject for more detailed studies.