Erythrina abyssinica Lam. is an important medicinal plant growing in Sudan; its seeds were investigated for the first time for their alkaloidal constituents and biological activity. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the crude alkaloidal fraction (CAF) against the cell lines HeLa, Hep-G2, HEP-2, HCT116, MCF-7 and HFB4 showed promising activity, with IC₅₀ values of 13.8, 10.1, 8.16, 13.9, 11.4 and 12.2 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. Doxorubicin (positive control) showed in vitro cytotoxic activity with IC₅₀ values 3.64, 4.57, 4.89, 3.74, 2.97 and 3.96 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. Bioassay-guided fractionation and isolation of the CAF led to the isolation of five Erythrina alkaloids, identified as erythraline, erysodine, erysotrine, 8-oxoerythraline and 11-methoxyerysodine. These were evaluated for their in vitro cytotoxic activity against Hep-G2 which resulted in IC₅₀ values 17.60, 11.80, 15.80, 3.89 and 11.40 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. Furthermore, in vitro cytotoxic activity against HEP-2 was evaluated, which resulted in IC₅₀ values 15.90, 19.90, 21.60, 18.50 and 11.50 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The CAF caused a reduction in the viability of mock-infected MT-4 cells with a CC₅₀ of 53 µM and a 50% protection of MT-4 cells against HIV-1 induced cytopathogeneticy with a EC₅₀ of >53 µM, compared with EFV as a positive control, which had a CC₅₀ of 45 µM and an EC₅₀ of 0.003 µM. We concluded that the isolated alkaloids were responsible for the carcinogenic actions of the plant extract previously reported in the literature.

The cytotoxic activity of petroleum ether extract of the leaves of Cassia roxburghii Linn. against HCT-116 and MCF-7 cell lines resulted with IC₅₀=34.9 and 38.04 μg/ml, respectively, while against HepG-2 showed no activity. A bioassay guided-fractionation approach was conducted to isolate and identify the active cytotoxic principles. Further chromatographic separation and purification of the petroleum ether extract resulted in the isolation of two anthraquinones identified as aloe-emodin acetate and aloe-emodin, along with stigmasterol, β-sitosterol and palmitic acid. The structure elucidation of isolated compounds was performend using 1D, 2D-NMR and HR-MS. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity of aloe-emodin acetate and aloe-emodin were evaluated and resulted with IC₅₀=153.30 and 70.02 μg/ml against HCT-116 and with 93.20 and 53.20 μg/ml against MCF-7, respectively, while against HepG-2 showed no activity. Moreover, the antiviral activity of the two isolated anthraquinones was tested against influenza virus-A, and resulted with IC₅₀=10.23 as well as 2.00 and with CC₅₀=1.32 and 0.47 μg/ml, respectively.

Two new cytotoxic furoquinoline alkaloids were isolated from the leaves of Aegle marmelos (Linn.) Correa; one from the total alkaloidal fraction (acid/base shake-out method) of the CHCl₃ extract and identified as 7,8-dihydroxy-4-hydrofuroquinoline and named trivially as Aegelbine-A. The other new alkaloid isolated from the pet. ether extract and identified as 4-hydro-7-hydroxy-8-prenyloxyfuroquinoline and named trivially as Aegelbine-B, together with a known alkaloid; aegeline and a known phenolic acid; ρ-hydroxybenzoic acid. The structures of all the isolated compounds were established based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and HR-ESI/MS. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds was evaluated in vitro against HepG-2, PC3, A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. The obtained results revealed promising activity with structure-based relationship which is discussed briefly.

The methanol extracts of both leaves and fruits (MEL & MEF) of A. marmelos (L.) Correa (family Rutaceae) were analyzed by using analytical method based on liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The objective of this study was to identify the active constituents of (MEL & MEF) of A. marmelos. Six, alkaloids namely aeglemarmelosine, marmesiline aegelinoside, shahidine, anhydromarmeline and N-2-methoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl) ethylcinnamide and two flavonoids, rutin and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside in leaves were identified. Two alkaloids marmesiline and shahidine in the methanol extracts of fruits, also have been identified. Moreover, the efficiency of extracts was performed for measuring the reducing hepatotoxicity effect induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in mice. Accordingly, several biochemical parameters were performed such as lipid profile in serum, liver functions enzyme activities, glycolytic enzyme activities. In addition, LDH and SDH were investigated. The results obtained demonstrated, significant increase in lipid profile, liver function biomarkers in addition to glycolytic enzyme activities in CCl4-induced hepatotoxicity. Histopathological examination confirmed the biochemical results. Treatment of intoxicated mice with (MEL & MEF) of A. marmelos showed amelioration signs in biochemical findings as well as at cellular level. It could be concluded that both MEL & MEF can be used clinically for their potential effect as a hepatoprotective that normalized liver function biomarkers, hepatic architecture and restore physiologically status of the body against CCl4 intoxication.

Background: Trichinellosis is a public health threat infected both animals and humans as a result of eating undercooked meat. It caused by Trichinella spiralis that has widespread drug resistance and even developed many sophisticated strategies for their survival, this increases the demand in searching for new anthelmintic drugs from natural source. Methods: Our objectives were to test the in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity of Bassia indica BuOH frac., and to characterize its chemical composition using UPLC-ESI–MS/MS. Besides an in silico molecular docking study with the prediction of the PreADMET properties. Results: In vitro investigation of B. indica BuOH frac., showed severe destruction of the adult worm and larvae, marked cuticle swelling, areas with vesicles, blebs and loss of annulations. This was assured via in vivo study, which revealed a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the mean adult worm count with efficacy of 47.8% along with a significant decrease (P < 0.001) in the mean larval count per gram muscle with efficacy 80.7%. Histopathological examinations of the small intestine and muscular sections showed marked improvement. In addition, immunohistochemical findings demonstrated that B. indica BuOH frac. depressed the proinflammatory cytokines expressions of TNF-α, which was obviously upregulated by T. spiralis. Precise chemical investigation of the BuOH frac. using UPLC-ESI–MS/MS resulted in the identification of 13 oleanolic type triterpenoid saponins; oleanolic acid 3-O-6´-O-methyl-β-D-glucurono-pyranoside (1), chikusetsusaponin-IVa (2) and its methyl ester (3), chikusetsusaponin IV (4) and its methyl ester (5), momordin-Ic (6) and its methyl ester (7), betavulgaroside-I (8), -II (9) -IV (10), -X (11), licorice-saponin-C₂ (12) and -J₂ (13). In addition, 6 more phenolics were identified as syringaresinol (14), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid (15), 3-O-caffeoyl-4-O-dihydrocaffeoylquinic acid (16), 3,4-di-O-caffeoylquinic acid butyl ester (17), 3,5-di-O-galloyl-4-O-digalloylquinic acid (18) and quercetin 3-O-(6´´-feruloyl)-sophoroside (19). The auspicious anthelmintic activity was further ascertained using in silico molecular docking approach that targeted certain protein receptors (β-tubulin monomer, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), cysteine protease (Ts-CF1), calreticulin protein (Ts-CRT)), all the docked compounds (1–19) fit into the binding site of the active pocket with binding affinities noteworthy than albendazole. In addition, ADMET properties, drug score and drug likeness were predicted for all compounds.

Two alkaloids of the furoquinoline-type were isolated from Ammi majus L.; a new one and was identified as 4-hydro-7-hydroxy-8-methoxyfuroquinoline (1), and the other was isolated for the second time from nature and was identified as 4-hydro-7-hydroxy-8-prenyloxyfuroquinoline (2). The structures of the isolated compounds were established and confirmed by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy including ¹H, ¹³C NMR, COSY, HSQC and HMBC, while the exact masses were confirmed by HRESI/MS. The cytotoxic activity of the isolated compounds (1 and 2) was evaluated against HepG-2, PC-3, A-549 and MCF-7 and the obtained results suggested selective antiproliferative and cytotoxic effects, with IC₅₀ = 230.2 and 326.5 μM against HepG-2 and MCF-7, respectively, for compound (1). While, compound (2) recorded IC₅₀ = 234.2 μM against MCF-7.