Due to certain differences in terms of molecular structure, isoquinoline alkaloids from Chelidonium majus engage in various biological activities. Apart from their well-documented antimicrobial potential, some phenanthridine and protoberberine derivatives as well as C. majus extract present with anti-inflammatory and cytotoxic effects. In this study, the LC–MS/MS method was used to determine alkaloids, phenolic acids, carboxylic acids, and hydroxybenzoic acids. We investigated five individually tested alkaloids (coptisine, berberine, chelidonine, chelerythrine, and sanguinarine) as well as C. majus root extract for their effect on the secretion of IL-1β, IL-8, and TNF-α in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (neutrophils). Berberine, chelidonine, and chelerythrine significantly decreased the secretion of TNF-α in a concentration-dependent manner. Sanguinarine was found to be the most potent inhibitor of IL-1β secretion. However, the overproduction of IL-8 and TNF-α and a high cytotoxicity for these compounds were observed. Coptisine was highly cytotoxic and slightly decreased the secretion of the studied cytokines. The extract (1.25–12.5 μg/mL) increased cytokine secretion in a concentration-dependent manner, but an increase in cytotoxicity was also noted. The alkaloids were active at very low concentrations (0.625–2.5 μM), but their potential cytotoxic effects, except for chelidonine and chelerythrine, should not be ignored.

Inflammatory diseases are a common therapeutic problem and nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs are not deprived of side effects, of which ulcerogenic activity is one of the most frequent. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti‐inflammatory activity of the sanguinarine‐chelerythrine (SC) fraction of Coptis chinensis and its influence on the integrity of gastric mucosa. The study was conducted on sixty male rats randomly divided into six experimental groups: two control groups (a negative control group CON and a positive control group CAR); three groups receiving an investigational fraction of C. chinensis (1, 5, 10 mg/kg i.g.) named SC₁, SC₅, and SC₁₀, respectively; and a group receiving indomethacin (IND) (10 mg/kg i.g.) as a reference drug. In all animals, the carrageenan‐induced paw oedema was measured; PGE₂ release, TNFα production, and MMP‐9 concentration in inflamed tissue were determined. Additionally, the macroscopic and microscopic damage of gastric mucosa was evaluated. Administration of SC dose‐dependently inhibited the second phase of carrageenan rat paw oedema and PGE₂ release, decreased the production of TNFα, and reduced the concentration of MMP‐9, and the efficacy of the highest dose was comparable to the effect of IND. Contrary to IND, no gastrotoxic activity of SC was detected. The investigated sanguinarine‐chelerythrine fraction of C. chinensis seems to be a promising candidate for further research on new anti‐inflammatory and analgesic drugs characterized with a safer gastric profile compared to existing NSAIDs.

The antimicrobial properties of herbs from Papaveraceae have been used in medicine for centuries. Nevertheless, mutual relationships between the individual bioactive substances contained in these plants remain poorly elucidated. In this work, phytochemical composition of extracts from the aerial and underground parts of five Papaveraceae species (Chelidonium majus L., Corydalis cava (L.) Schweigg. and Körte, C. cheilanthifolia Hemsl., C. pumila (Host) Rchb., and Fumaria vaillantii Loisel.) were examined using LC-ESI-MS/MS with a triple quadrupole analyzer. Large differences in the quality and quantity of all analyzed compounds were observed between species of different genera and also within one genus. Two groups of metabolites predominated in the phytochemical profiles. These were isoquinoline alkaloids and, in smaller amounts, non-phenolic carboxylic acids and phenolic compounds. In aerial and underground parts, 22 and 20 compounds were detected, respectively. These included: seven isoquinoline alkaloids: protopine, allocryptopine, coptisine, berberine, chelidonine, sanguinarine, and chelerythrine; five of their derivatives as well as non-alkaloids: malic acid, trans-aconitic acid, quinic acid, salicylic acid, trans-caffeic acid, p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, quercetin, and kaempferol; and vanillin. The aerial parts were much richer in phenolic compounds regardless of the plant species. Characterized extracts were studied for their antimicrobial potential against planktonic and biofilm-producing cells of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans. The impact of the extracts on cellular metabolic activity and biofilm biomass production was evaluated. Moreover, the antimicrobial activity of the extracts introduced to the polymeric carrier made of bacterial cellulose was assessed. Extracts of C. cheilanthifolia were found to be the most effective against all tested human pathogens. Multiple regression tests indicated a high antimicrobial impact of quercetin in extracts of aerial parts against planktonic cells of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and C. albicans, and no direct correlation between the composition of other bioactive substances and the results of antimicrobial activity were found. Conclusively, further investigations are required to identify the relations between recognized and unrecognized compounds within extracts and their biological properties.

Moluccella laevis L. (Lamiaceae) is an annual ornamental plant, naturally occurring in the areas of Western and Central Asia (Irano-Turanian area). It is a popular ornamental species, but its phytochemical profile remains poorly studied. This study presents the first report on in vitro cultures of M. laevis. The influence of two types of illumination and plant growth regulators (PGRs) supplementation on the morphogenetic response and the content of phenolic compounds were examined. Shoots were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) solid basal medium. White light or photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) as well as three concentrations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BA) 2, 3 or 4 µM and one of the three auxins: 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram—PIC) at concentration of 0.5 µM were used for shoot proliferation. The highest number of axillary shoots per explant (3.4) was obtained for shoots grown on MS medium supplemented with 3-µM BA and 0.5-μM NAA under PAR light. However, the effect of PGRs treatment on shoot growth and development was stronger than the influence of light. The phytochemical analysis using Ultra-Performance Liquid Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry allowed identification of four hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic, rosmarinic, chlorogenic) and two cyanidin glycosides (cyanidin 3-O-galactoside, and cyanidin 3-O-malonylglucoside) in shoot clusters and callus tissue.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a serious health problem in the human population due to their chronic and recurrent nature. Bacteria causing UTIs form multispecies biofilms being resistant to the activity of the conventionally used antibiotics. Therefore, compounds of plant origin are currently being searched for, which could constitute an alternative strategy to antibiotic therapy. Our study aimed to determine the activity of asiatic acid (AA) against biofilms formed by uropathogenic Escherichia coli, Enterobacter cloacae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The influence of AA on the survival, biofilm mass formation by bacteria living in mono-, dual-, and triple-species consortia as well as the metabolic activity and bacterial cell morphology were determined. The spectrophotometric methods were used for biofilm mass synthesis and metabolic activity determination. The survival of bacteria was established using the serial dilution assay. The decrease in survival and a weakening of the ability to create biofilms, both single and multi-species, as well as changes in the morphology of bacterial cells were noticed. As AA works best against young biofilms, the use of AA-containing formulations, especially during the initial stages of infection, seems to be reasonable. However, there is a need for further research concerning AA especially regarding its antibacterial mechanisms of action.

Among traditional Iranian herbs, Perovskia species (a subgenus of Salvia), while being valued ornamentals, are also studied for numerous potential pharmacological and therapeutic aspects. The current study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of two species of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), Funneliformis mosseae and Rhizophagus intraradices, separately and in combination, in terms of the essential oil content and compositions along with the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in Salvia abrotanoides and S. yangii in response to three levels of irrigation, including 100% FC as well-watered, 75% FC (moderate irrigation deficit), and 50% FC (severe irrigation deficit). In both species, essential oil content, enzyme antioxidant activities, total phenolics, and flavonoids were increased significantly with the severity of stress; this increase was more pronounced in mycorrhizal inoculated herbs. Furthermore, leaf phosphorus concentration, relative water content, chlorophylls a and b, and total carotenoids decreased in parallel with reducing soil moisture; albeit, AMF inoculation improved the stress symptoms under increasing severity of water restriction compared with their control conditions. In addition, the percentage of root colonization was positively correlated with the relative water content (RWC) and leaf phosphorus concentration. Taking into account the essential oil groups, AMF colonization elevated some essential oil components, such as oxygenated monoterpenes, 1,8-cineol, camphor, and borneol, whereas the main sesquiterpenes, including E-β-caryophyllene and α-humulene, remarkably decreased. Taken together, these findings highlighted the role of symbiosis with AMFs in increasing the tolerance of water deficit stress in S. abrotanoides and S. yangii and improving their essential oil composition.