Antibacterial, Antihemolytic, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, and Antileishmanial Effects of Ajuga bracteosa Transgenic Plants

Abstract

Herbal and traditional medicines can play a pivotal role in combating cancer and neglected tropical diseases. Ajuga bracteosa, family Lamiaceae, is an important medicinal plant. The genetic transformation of A. bracteosa with rol genes of Agrobacterium rhizogenes further enhances its metabolic content. This study aimed at undertaking the molecular, phytochemical, and in vitro biological analysis of A. bracteosa extracts. We transformed the A. bracteosa plant with rol genes and raised the regenerants from the hairy roots. Transgenic integration and expression of rolB were confirmed by conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and qPCR analysis. The methanol: chloroform crude extracts of wild-type plants and transgenic regenerants were screened for in vitro antibacterial, antihemolytic, cytotoxic, anticancer, and leishmanial activity. Among all plants, transgenic line 3 (ABRL3) showed the highest expression of the rolB gene. Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR) analysis confirmed the enhanced number of functional groups of active compounds in all transgenic lines. Moreover, ABRL3 exhibited the highest antibacterial activity, minimum hemolytic activity (CC50 = 7293.05 ± 7 μg/mL) and maximum antileishmanial activity (IC50 of 56.16 ± 2 μg/mL). ABRL1 demonstrated the most prominent brine shrimp cytotoxicity (LD5039.6 ± 4 μg/mL). ABRL3 was most effective against various human cancer cell lines with an IC50 of 57.1 ± 2.2 μg/mL, 46.2 ± 1.1 μg/mL, 72.4 ± 1.3 μg/mL, 73.3 ± 2.1 μg/mL, 98.7 ± 1.6 μg/mL, and 97.1 ± 2.5 μg/mL against HepG2, LM3, A549, HT29, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231, respectively. Overall, these transgenic extracts may offer a cheaper therapeutic source than the more expensive synthetic drugs.

Flavonoids and Phenolic Acids from Aerial Part of Ajuga integrifolia (Buch.-Ham. Ex D. Don): Anti-Shigellosis Activity and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies

“…The computed smaller IC 50 values of the plant parts considered in our study reveal that this medicinal plant is effective in treating many illnesses [ 55 ] due to its high antioxidant activities. This is also shown in various ethnomedicinal studies [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ] and dictates the presence of polyphenols [ 45 , 46 ] in the extracts more significantly in the aerial part, as demonstrated by Banothu et al [ 56 ]. Similarly, measured TPC and TFC values for AIA were twice those of AIR.…”

“…It is a crucial candidate for evaluating the response to antimicrobial resistance because there is considerable variation between bacterial and mammalian DHOs. Ethnobotanical studies indicate that the aerial part of A. integrifolia and its synonyms are used for hypertension [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ], antimalarial and insecticidal activities [ 29 , 30 , 31 ], diuretic activity [ 32 ], tonsillitis [ 33 ], epilepsy [ 34 ], breast cancer [ 35 ], wound healing [ 36 ], abdominal pain and anthelmintic [ 37 , 38 , 39 ], and diarrhea [ 25 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Individual components have not been identified so far for anti-diarrhea; activity.…”

Laser Light Treatment Improves the Mineral Composition, Essential Oil Production and Antimicrobial Activity of Mycorrhizal Treated Pelargoniumgraveolens

“…The antibacterial activity of the tested plants was evaluated against B. subtilis , S. salivarius , E. coli , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Sarcina lutea , and S. aureus by the application of the Disc diffusion method [ 74 ], using 100 μL of suspension containing 10 8 CFU/mL of bacteria spread on Muller Hinton agar. The antibacterial activity was indicated based on the inhibition zone, determined by the Vernier caliper.…”

Comparative microscopic investigations of leaf epidermis in four Ajuga species from Korea

“…The genus Ajuga L. (Lamiaceae) is found in the temperate and subtropical regions of Eurasia (Li & Hedge, 1994) and includes species of medicinal importance possessing anti‐inflammatory, anti‐plasmodial, anti‐platelet, analgesic, and insecticidal secondary metabolites (Nagarkoti et al, 2021; Rauca et al, 2019; Rubnawaz et al, 2021). Ajuga includes approximately 40–50 species, 18 of which are found in China, 13 in Japan, and four species in Korea (Harley et al, 2004; Li & Hedge, 1994; Murata & Yamazaki, 1993; Suh et al, 2007).…”

“…The genus Ajuga L. (Lamiaceae) is found in the temperate and subtropical regions of Eurasia (Li & Hedge, 1994) and includes species of medicinal importance possessing anti-inflammatory, anti-plasmodial, anti-platelet, analgesic, and insecticidal secondary metabolites (Nagarkoti et al, 2021;Rauca et al, 2019;Rubnawaz et al, 2021).…”