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The present study focused on the antibacterial and biofilm inhibitory potential of 4-epi-pimaric acid isolated from aerial parts (stem and leaves) of Aralia cachemirica L. (Araliaceae) against oral cavity pathogens. 4-epi-Pimaric acid exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 4-16 μg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) two- to four-folds higher than MIC. There was significant inhibition in the biofilm formation by Streptococcus mutans on the saliva coated surface (P < 0.05), and confocal microscopy revealed that 4-epi-pimaric acid inhibited the clumping and attachment of S. mutans. At 8 × MIC concentration, it significantly prevented the pH drop and reduced S. mutans biofilms (P < 0.05). Increased propidium iodide staining and leakage of 260- and 280-nm absorbing material by 4-epi-pimaric acid treated cells of S. mutans suggested that it probably causes disruption of the cytoplasmic membrane structure. It also exhibited significant suppression of TNF-α expression in human neutrophils, suggestive of its anti-inflammatory activity. Furthermore, the compound was found to be significantly safe (IC(50) >100 μg/ml) in the MTT assay on AML-12 cell lines. In conclusion, 4-epi-pimaric acid showed promising antibacterial, anti-biofilm and anti-inflammatory potency and this compound can be exploited for therapeutic application in oral microbial infections.

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The essential oil of Tanacetum gracile (Accession no. AT-01 termed AT-01 in the manuscript), a cold desert alpine highly aromatic herb, has 40 constituents including lavendulol (21.5 %), lavendulol acetate (1.7 %), alpha-pinene (11.2 %), 1,8-cineole (15.2 %), CIS-beta-ocimene (6.9 %), borneol (6.1 %), limonene (5.1 %) and chamazulene (3.7 %). AT-01 was evaluated for its anticancer activity. It inhibited HL-60 cell proliferation with an IC (50) of 27 microg/mL. Furthermore, AT-01 induced apoptosis in human leukemia HL-60 cells as measured by several biological end points. AT-01 induced apoptotic body formation, enhanced annexinV-FITC binding of the cells, increased sub-G (0) DNA fraction, loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (Deltapsi (mt)) and release of cytochrome c from mitochondria, activated caspase-9 as well as caspase-3, and increased cleavage of PARP in HL-60 cells. Thus, AT-01 induced apoptosis through the mitochondrial dependent pathway in HL-60 cells.