Characterization of the Phytochemical Composition and Bioactivities of Anacyclus maroccanus Ball. and Anacyclus radiatus Loisel Aerial Parts: Preliminary Evidence for the Possible Development of Moroccan Plants

Abstract

In the present study, the phytochemical composition and bioactivities of A. maroccanus (AM) and A. radiatus (AR), two ecotypes collected in the Demnate road and Essaouira regions, respectively, were studied to highlight a pharmacological interest and to enable possible pharmaceutical development. To this end, methanolic and ethyl acetate extracts were prepared for each ecotype by fractionation; next, their phytochemical composition was evaluated by spectrophotometric and chromatographic analysis. Moreover, in line with the available evidence for Anacyclus spp. and their traditional use, a screening of bioactivities, including antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antiglycative, chelating, and antibacterial activities, was performed. The extracts were characterized by high amounts of polyphenols, tannins, and flavonoids, especially in the methanolic extracts; these samples were also enriched in carotenoids despite a lower chlorophyll content. Chlorogenic acid and rutin were the major identified compounds. The extracts also showed interesting hypoglycemic, antiglycative, and antibacterial properties, although with differences in efficacy and potency. Present results provide more scientific basis to the ethnopharmacological uses of Anacyclus spp. and suggest a further interest in AM and AR ecotypes as natural sources of bioactive compounds and/or phytocomplexes for possible pharmaceutical and nutraceutical developments.

Phytochemical Composition and Cytoprotective Properties of the Endemic Sideritis sipylea Boiss Greek Species: A Valorization Study

“…Moreover, ethnopharmacological studies also allow to valorize medicinal plant biodiversity and to exploit them in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical fields. At last, ethnopharmacology represents an important tool for the sustainable use of medicinal plants to avoid an uncontrolled collection that can endanger botanical species [32,33].…”

“…DPPH and ABTS are synthetic radicals that can be neutralized by electron-or hydrogentransfer mechanisms, although they differ in specificities and kinetics. Indeed, DPPH is scavenged by small molecules, due to the steric hindrance at the radical site, while ABTS is able to react with both lipophilic and hydrophilic compounds due to poor selectivity [33]. NO is a species released by cells during stress and a marked increase in its levels is involved in the onset of inflammation [37].…”

“…The ability of the samples to scavenge DPPH and ABTS radicals was determined according to the previously described spectrophotometric methods [33]. The scavenger activity of the samples towards nitric oxide radicals was investigated too, according to Fraisse et al [45], with minor changes.…”

“…The ability of the samples (1-250 µg/mL) to block the AGE formation was measured according to Sissi et al [33]. The standard antiglycation agent rutin was used as a positive control.…”

ECHOPvir: A Mixture of Echinacea and Hop Extracts Endowed with Cytoprotective, Immunomodulatory and Antiviral Properties

“…The phenolic pattern was investigated by using HPLC-PDA (high-performance liquid chromatography photodiode array) analysis, as previously reported [38]. Particularly, the extracts (20 µL) were dissolved in the mobile phase (1:10 dilution factor) and injected into Waters HPLC liquid chromatography (model 600 solvent pump, 2996 PDA) connected to a C18 reversed-phase column (Prodigy ODS-3, 4.6 × 150 mm, 5 µm; Phenomenex, Torrance, CA, USA).…”