Different extracts of the Bamboo shoot skin Phyllostachys heterocycla var. pubescens were screened against panel of cancer cell lines and normal one. The cell viability results exhibited that the ethyl acetate extract showed the least vitality percentage of 2.14% of HepG2 cells. Accordingly, it was subjected to chromatographic separation, which resulted in the isolation of a new natural product; 7-hydroxy, 5-methoxy, methyl cinnamate (1), together with four known compounds. The structures of the pure isolated compounds were deduced based on different spectroscopic data. The new compound (1) was screened against the HepG2 and MCF-7 cells and showed IC₅₀ values of 7.43 and 10.65 µM, respectively. It induced apoptotic cell death in HepG2 with total apoptotic cell death of 58.6% (12.44-fold) compared to 4.71% in control by arresting cell cycle progression at the G1 phase. Finally, compound 1 was validated as EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor in both enzymatic levels (IC₅₀ = 98.65 nM compared to Erlotinib (IC₅₀ = 78.65 nM). Finally, in silico studies of compound 1 through the molecular docking indicated its high binding affinity towards EGFR protein and the ADME pharmacokinetics indicated it as a drug-like.

Phytochemical screening of nonpolar fractions from the methanol extract of the Bamboo shoot skin Phyllostachys heterocycla var. pubescens resulted in the isolation of a new sterol-glucoside-fatty acid derivative (6’-O-octadeca-8″,11″-dienoyl)-sitosterol-3-O-β-d-glucoside (1), together with six known compounds. The chemical structures of the pure isolated compounds were deduced based on different spectral data. The isolated compounds were assessed to determine their cytotoxic activity, and the results were confirmed by determining their apoptotic activity. Compound 1 was more cytotoxic against the MCF-7 cells (IC₅₀ = 25.8 µM) compared to Fluorouracil (5-FU) (26.98 µM), and it significantly stimulated apoptotic breast cancer cell death with 32.6-fold (16.63% compared to 0.51 for the control) at pre-G1 and G2/M-phase cell cycle arrest and blocked the progression of MCF-7 cells. Additionally, RT-PCR results further confirmed the apoptotic activity of compound 1 by the upregulation of proapoptotic genes (P53; Bax; and caspases 3, 8, and 9) and downregulation of the antiapoptotic genes (BCL2). Finally, the identified compounds, especially 1, were found to have high binding affinity towards both tyrosine-specific protein kinase (TPK) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR-2) through the molecular docking studies that highlight its mode of action.

The Genus Phyllostachys (bamboo) is widespread all over the world. Through history, bamboo has been an important source of food and medicine in China and South East Asia. Almost all parts of the bamboo plant such as rhizome, culm and bark shaving, shoots, leaves, roots and seeds are having clinical applications. Recently, bamboo gained attention around the world because of its nutritive and therapeutic values and the important role it plays in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmeceutical industry. Bamboo leaves and shoots have tremendous therapeutic potential and can provide health care in a safe and eco-friendly way. In this review, we summarize the most important biological activities of different species of the genus Phyllostachys which found to include anticancer, antibacterial, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, antidiabetic, cardiovascular, prebiotic, melanin-biosynthesis-inhibition, anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory activities. That could be contributed to the existence of a broad range of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, phenolic acids, glycosides and sterols.

The crude methanolic extract of Phyllostachys heterocycla was examined for the anti-inflammatory activity in rats using two different models of paw inflammation. Induction of edema was performed using 1% carrageenan in the first model and 2.5% formalin in the second model. The extract powder was dissolved in tween 80 and given orally for six consecutive days. Treatment with two doses (250 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg) of the extract of Phyllostachys heterocycla caused a dose-dependent reduction of paw thickness in both models. The anti-inflammatory effect of the crude extract of Phyllostachys heterocycla was also evaluated by determination of the serum levels of four inflammatory markers, where the serum levels of NF- κB, TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 were markedly increased in both models compared to the normal rats, with greater numbers recorded in the carrageenan-induced group. Treatment with both doses of the extract of Phyllostachys heterocycle led to a significant reeducation in all the detected markers in both the carrageenan and the formalin induced models, especially in case of the higher dose (500 mg/kg) that showed almost no significant different results compared to the normal group. In conclusion, the current preliminary study reports strong anti-inflammatory properties of Phyllostachys heterocycle extract.

For several drugs in use, nature is still a valuable source. Natural product screening is among the most reliable ways to produce new products. Bamboo plant is widespread all over the world. It has approximately 75 genera and 1250 species. Phytochemical investigation of Bamboo Phyllostachys genus has revealed the existence of a broad range of bioactive compounds, which include flavonoids, phenolic glycosides, phenolic acids, glycosides and sterols. This review study showed that secondary metabolites identified in Bamboo Phyllostachys genus were including flavonoids, lignans, phenolic glycosides, phenolic acids and sterols.

Nature remains a valuable source for many phytochemicals that provide different physiological activities. Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae) or Mandarin is a widespread plant used worldwide in food, beverages, perfumes, and folk medicine, including cancer prevention, flu treatment, inflammation, and generally in body healing and strengthening. Citrus reticulata have also been used for treating indigestion, bronchitis and asthma. Phytochemical investigation of the Citrus genus has revealed the existence of a broad range of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, flavonoid glycosides, sterols, fatty acids, and alkaloids, along with many other miscellaneous compounds. Among these diverse bioactive compounds, flavonoids (e.g., polymethoxylated flavones, glycosylated flavanones, flavonoids and limonoids), were found to be the largest group of phytochemicals in the Citrus genus. These flavonoids have been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, anti-atherogenic, anti-proliferative, antibacterial, antiviral, and antifungal activities. Additionally, they have a role in preventing atherosclerosis as they reduce total blood cholesterol, showing also anti-hypertensive, hypolipidaemic, diuretic and analgesic properties. This review study summarizes the secondary metabolites identified in Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae) or Mandarin.