4^th International Conference and Exhibition on Natural Products, Medicinal Plants & Marine Drugs June 11-12, 2018 Rome, Italy

Liliana V Muschietti is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Buenos Aires (UBA), Argentina and received her PhD from the same university. She has worked in multiple research projects funded by UBA, National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET) and Agencia Nacional de Promoción Científica y Tecnológica (ANPCyT). She has her expertise in Phytochemistry and Biodiscovery. She is also involved in the isolation and structure elucidation of bioactive natural compounds, from Argentine medicinal species, with special emphasis on drug candidates for Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, cancer and viral infections.

Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis are life-threatening illnesses that affect mainly the poorest and the most marginalized communities. The scarcity of effective chemotherapy, due to the low investment in the Research and development (R&D) of new drugs, together with a high incidence of side effects, and the emergence of drug resistance phenomena emphasizes the urgent need for new therapeutic agents. Sesquiterpene lactones (STLs) are a large group of naturally occurring terpenoids derived from plants which display a broad spectrum of biological activities including antiprotozoal activity. In this context, this work focuses on the potential of the STLs uvedalin, enhydrin and polymatin B, isolated from Smallanthus sonchifolius, as potential Trypanocidal and Leishmanicidal agents. The three STLs were isolated from S. sonchifolius by bioassay guidedfractionation and their inhibitory effect on the growth of the infective and non-infective forms of Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma cruzi was evaluated in vitro. The changes produced by the compounds on the ultrastructure of parasites were examined by Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Enhydrin and uvedalin were also studied in a murine model of acute

T. cruzi infection. The cytotoxicity of the compounds was evaluated in Vero cells and the selectivity index was calculated. Serum activities of the hepatic enzymes were used as biochemical markers of hepatotoxicity. The three compounds exhibited significant in vitro Leishmanicidal and Trypanocidal activity. The TEM evaluation showed marked ultrastructural alterations, such as an intense vacuolization and mitochondrial swelling in both L. mexicana promastigotes and T. cruzi epimastigotes exposed to the STLs. In the in vivo study, enhydrin and uvedalin displayed a significant decrease in circulating parasites and no signs of hepatotoxicity were detected. Uvedalin, enhydrin and polymatin B may provide valuable leads for the development of new drugs against Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis.

Bamba Abou completed his Doctorate at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan. He is a Researcher at the Laboratory of Pharmacology of Natural Substances of the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny. He has published more than five articles in reputed, indexed and peer-reviewed journals.

Gomphrena celosioides, Cola nitida, Entandrophragma angolense are three plants, regularly used by the Ivorian traditional medicine to treat various diseases. The objective of this study was to evaluate the nephroprotective, hepatoprotective and cardioprotective aqueous and ethanol extracts of these plants. The test of acute oral toxicity indicates that these extracts have LD50 superior to 5000 mg/kg and are practically non-toxic. But nevertheless, at 5000 mg/kg, Pc of G. celosioides and E. angolanse extracts had an impact on the hepatic functionality. The studied extracts have lowered the effects of gentamicin on the kidney, liver CCl4 and doxorubicin on the heart by significantly decreasing serum concentrations of urea, creatine, Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), the Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase, alkaline phosphatase, Total bilirubin of Lactate dehydrogenase(LDH), creatine kinase (CK-MB), cholesterols and triglycerides. In addition, they significantly increase serum concentrations of total proteins, HDL cholesterol, and significantly decrease the total protein and urinary albumin microwave. These protective activities have also been materialized by an increase in weight gain. However, the extracts showed much more important properties at a dose 500 mg/kg of Pc with a better cardioprotective activity for E. angolanse and more interesting nephroprotective activity for C. nitida. In addition, C. nitida and E. angolanse showed better hepatoprotective activity.

Donghua Cao is a PhD candidate from Xishuangbanna Tropical Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences and University of Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research interest lies in the crossroads of chemistry and biology, and endeavors to discover novel active natural products from medicinal plants. She has published 3 papers in reputed journals

Meliaceous limonoids are characteristic chemical markers of the Meliaceae family. They are natural products with both fascinating structures and potential bioactivities that have attracted interest from both natural products chemists and synthetic chemists in the past half century. As part of a continuing search for structurally interesting and biologically important limonoids from the Meliaceae family, the leaves and twigs of Trichilia sinensis collected from Xishuangbanna, Yunnan province of China were investigated. Trichilia sinensis Bentv., a shrub, is native to the south of China and Vietnam, and it has traditional applications for the treatment of several diseases such as abdominal pain caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, chronic osteomyelitis, scabies, and eczema in folk medicine. The three novel rearranged mexicanolide-type limonoids (Trichiliasinenoids A-C) with an unprecedented C-29-C-7 connecting carbon skeleton formed by migration of C-7 from C-6 to C-29 of a mexicanolide-type limonoid precursor were isolated from the leaves and twigs of Trichilia sinensis. Their structures were assigned by spectroscopic analysis, and the absolute configurations were determined by X-ray crystallography and CD calculation. A possible biosynthetic pathway of Trichiliasinenoids A was also proposed. The three new limonoids were evaluated for their cytotoxic activity against human myeloid leukaemia (HL-60), hepatocellular carcinoma (SMMC-7721), lung cancer (A-549), breast cancer (MCF-7), and colon cancer (SW480) cell lines by MTS assay. Trichiliasinenoid B showed cytotoxicity against HL-60 cells, SMMC-7721 with an IC50 value of 5.2 μM and 30.6 μM, respectively, whereas other limonoids were inactive and comparable to the cisplatin positive control (IC50: 1.1–17.3 μM).

Aishwarya Balap has completed her PhD from Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University (BVDU), Pune, India. She is currently working as Assistant Professor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry at PES Modern College of Pharmacy, Nigdi, Pune, India. She has published 12 papers in reputed journals. She is an approved Research Guide for MPharm students in Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune, India and currently is active in research areas like Bio-analytical Method Development, Pharmacokinetics and Herb-Drug Interaction

Andrographis paniculata Nees (Acanthaceae) has been used as a traditional medicine in Asia and South Africa to treat upper respiratory tract infections, diarrhea, rheumatoid arthritis, and laryngitis. Andrographolide (AN) is one of the major active constituents of Andrographis paniculata Nees extract (APE). Etoricoxib (ETO), Nabumetone (NAB) and Naproxen (NP) are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, commonly used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The study investigated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (anti-arthritic) herb-drug interactions of standardized APE and pure AN with ETO, NAB and NP after oral co-administration in Wistar rats. In pharmacokinetic studies, significant changes in Cmax, tmax, t1/2, MRT, Vd, CL, and AUC of ETO, NAB and NP after co-administration with pure AN and APE has been observed. In pharmacodynamic study, significant changes in antiarthritic activity of ETO, NAB and NP on concomitant administration with APE and AN have been observed. Further studies should be done to understand the mechanism and effect of other herbal ingredients of APE on ETO, NAB and NP and to predict the herb-drug interaction in humans.

Samira Besharati has completed her Bachelor of Science in Marine biology from Shahid Beheshti university, Tehran, Iran at the age of 23 years and Master Science studies at the age of 26 years from Tarbiat modares University, Tehran, Iran. Her Thesis topic was: Biotechnology [Cytotoxic Properties of Hydrolyzed Protein of Sea Cucumber Muscle on the Breast cancer cell line (4T1) by Using of Na+/K+ATPase]. Saber Khodabandeh has her Supervisor. She has several published papers in journals and she Attended two conferences. Saber Khodabandeh has completed his PhD in 2004 from University of Montpellier II, FRANCE in Eco-physiology of aquatic animal and postdoctoral studies in Molecular Biology, obtained from University of St Andrews, Scotland. His recent interests including: 1) Effects of different ecological factors on some bioactive materials concentration in sea animals (Marine Biotechnology, isolation and protective effect of some bioactive materials on different stresses in cultured cells). 2) Use of the Molecular Biology techniques in Aquaculture. 3) Investigation on effects of the different ecological factors on physiology (survival, body composition, energy metabolism, growth and osmoregulation) in the aquatic animals. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute.

Marine fauna, due to have secondary metabolites, are from the most important natural resources with source of biological activity. With the development of marine drugs, biotechnological studies for identifying and isolating of bioactive

compounds from the marine fauna, especially invertebrates, has increased. So that in the marine environment, the role of marine invertebrates including echinoderms is quite striking. The sea cucumber is more interested because of long-standing experience in traditional medicine and having high protein. So far, the presence of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, anticoagulant and anticancer effects in the total extract of sea cucumbers has been reported in many research publications. In the present study, the goal of study was investigating the cytotoxic effect of peptides extracted were isolated from hydrolyzed protein of the sea cucumber muscle, Holothuria parva, by using the ultra-filteration method on the breast cancer cell line (4T1). Sea cucumber samples were collected from inter-tidal area of Persian Gulf and transport to the laboratory in containers of ice. Hydrolyzed protein of sea cucumber muscle extracts were prepared by using of Alcalase enzyme. In the following, the peptide were isolated from hydrolyzed protein of the sea cucumber muscle, using ultra-filteration method. (The peptide used were in 4 different fraction: over 30 kDa, 30-10 kDa, 10-3 kDa and less than 3 kDa peptide). The cytotoxic effect of these peptide were studied, using of MTT assay in the concentration of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/ml on peptides over 30 kDa and the concentrations of 1.5 and 3 mg/ml on peptides 30-10 kDa and the concentrations of 1.5 and 3.5 mg/ml on peptides 10-3 kDa and the concentrations of 2.5 and 3.5 mg/ml on peptides less than 3 kDa in 2 different times 24 and 72 hours on the 4T1 breast cancer cell line with a density of 104 cells in per well. The results of MTT assay showed that, the isolated peptides possess cytotoxic effect, and the most cytotoxic effect between fractions, was observed in >30 KDa peptides at a concentration of 2 mg/ml in the 24 hour. Due to cytotoxic of these peptides on breast cancer cell line, bioactive Compounds derived from this species after purification, can be a suitable candidate for anti-tomur and anti-cancer studies.

Pectin was extracted from a new source Manilkara zapota peel using two different strengths of acids, to evaluate its potential utilization as an alternate source of commercial pectin production. Peels of Manilkara zapota were treated with hydrochloric acid in two strengths (0.1 and 1N) and pectin was extracted using conventional and microwave heating methods with different times of heating (10, 20, 40 and 60 min). Different mechanical procedures (cutting, grinding, chopping, hammering and homogenizing) were also used to crush the peels. The result after applying statistical calculation indicated that higher strength of acid is acquired better and effective extraction of pectin in less period of time. Hence it can be concluded that strength of acid has a positive impact on yield of pectin irrespective of the procedure used to extract pectin.

Yuh Shan Chung has completed his PhD from National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan and He is the deputy executive director, Institute of Pharmaceutics,Development Center for Biotechnology. He has obtained more than 15 patents

The aim of this study was to establish the method and medium for culturing white Antrodia cinnamomea fruiting bodies. The white Antrodia cinnamomea was obtained form a slice of fruiting bodies, then incubating to obtain an isolated white strain. We investigated the medium compositions and controlling the environmental condition on dish culture.The results indicated that culture medium of white Antrodia cinnamomea fruiting bodies comprises Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) having the concentration of 2%-4%(w/v), malt extract having the concentration of 2%-4%(w/v), amino acid having the concentration of 0.1%-0.3%(w/v), agar having the concentration of 0.5-0.6% and a composition of sucrose having the concentration of 5%- 7%(w/v). The controlling of environmental condition includes: (1) low temperature inducing range form 40C to 150C; (2) wound inducing by using blade or needle to make 1-2cm wound; (3) light wave inducing compose of red light and blue light, and the light intensity is range from 5μmol/S.m2 to 20μmol/S.m2. The white fruiting bodies of Antrodia cinnamomea cultured by the present method contain target components the same as the ones of wood cultured Antrodia cinnamomea and some different components.

Slobodan Dunjić is Medical Doctor with a Master’s of Science in the field of Rheumatology. He is Founder of the Center for Integrative Procedures and Supplements Dunjić, based in Belgrade, Serbia, which is primarily oriented towards integrative and personal-holistic approach in healing the patients suffering from various diseases. He has published more than 25 papers in various national and international journals. He strongly believes that we need to treat a person suffering from diseases rather

than the disease itself.

Introduction: Along with the conventional methods for diagnostics and treatment, holistic-personalized medicine consolidates all scientifically validated alternative methods of treatments and healing. Holistic approach uses natural products for healing.

 

Aim: The aim of the paper is to present the relation that we found between ovary tumor marker CA-125 and some biochemical parameters.

 

Materials & Methods: 130 females were included in the study, with the minimum age being 24 years and maximum 79 years. Mean age was 45.42±13.12yrs. Laboratory analysis of female patients was statistically analyzed. Patients were divided into two groups: group with level of CA-125 within normal range (NR value: 0–35 U/mL), and patients having elevated levels of CA-125 (EV value: over 35 U/mL). None of the patients were diagnosed with ovarian tumor. All of patients were recruited from the Center for Integrative Procedures and Supplements “Dr Dunjić”, Belgrade. Holistic-personalized approach in patients healing was performed in the center and statistical analysis was done by using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

 

Results: Numerous biochemical parameters have shown statistically significant difference between two groups examined—NR vs. EV of CA-125. Prolactin was 390.19±20.36 vs. 718.0±18.37; p=0.045; df=17. Cortisol level was 485.95±16.7 vs. 1.100,3±91.8; p=0.001; df=32. Liver enzyme Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) level was 22.8±12.6 vs. 40.0±16.1; p=0,047; df=23. Liver enzyme gama-GT was 19.11±3.48 vs. 55.5±6.16; p=0,025; df=17. Tumor marker alpha fetoprotein was 3.8±2.2 vs. 8.65±1.34; p=0,013; df=13. Level of oxidative damage marker 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was 17.64±5.8 vs. 20.25±6.8; p=0,007; df=6. Vitamin D was higher in NR group, but did not show statistical significant difference between two groups examined—53.42±22.5 vs. 41.9±11.0; p=0.173; df=77.

 

Conclusion: These finding also point that imbalance in the human body, which is represented with CA-125 elevation, can be accompanied with numerous biochemical changes. That is true for hormones (i.e. prolactin, cortisol), AST, gama-GT, alpha fetoprotein and 8-OHdG. However, the clinical importance of these findings requires further research.

Dušan Vešović is Medical Doctor with a Doctorate of Medical Sciences in the field of Preventive Medicine–Occupational Medicine. He also works as Professor of Occupational Medicine. He is follows a personal-holistic approach in treating patients. He deeply believes that the disease is a result of imbalance in human body and, when we treat a patient, we need to re-establish homeostasis in his/her body. For that purpose, he believes that personalized therapy of whole body, including spirit and mind should be applied. He has published more than 100 papers in various national and international journals.

Introduction: Raised blood pressure is a major risk factor for ischemic, coronary heart disease, as well as hemorrhagic stroke. Beside conventional methods of high blood pressure treatment, holistic approach by using natural products also plays an important role.

 

Aim: The aim of the paper is to present the relation that we found between presence of high blood pressure and some biochemical parameters.

 

Materials & Methods: The total number of male and female patients was 216. There were 130 females (59.9%), and 87 males (40.1%). Mean age of all examinees was 44.97±13.6 yrs (minimum 18; maximum 79). Patients were divided into two groups: group with no presence of high blood pressure (no BP), and group with presence of blood presence (BP). All the patients were recruited from Center for Integrative Procedures and Supplements “Dr Dunjić”, Belgrade. Holistic-personalized approach in patients healing was performed in the center. Statistical analysis was done by using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS).

 

Results: 168 patients (77.4%) belonged to no BP group, while 48 (22.6%) belong to BP group. Numerous biochemical parameters have shown statistically significant difference between two the groups examined—no BP vs. BP. Blood glucose level (BGL) was 5.24±0.61 vs. 5.6±1.2; p=0.024; df=162. HbA1c level was 5.18±0.47 vs. 5.37±0.75; p=0.019; df=27. Oxytocin blood level was 336.39±27.56 vs. 466.03±41.8; p=0.024; df=162. Statistical analysis was also done for both gender groups separately. In the group of males, the results were: oxytocine level 271.5±20.8 vs. 416.1±23.4; p=0.011; df=70; BGL was 5.36±0.74 vs. 5.83±0.72; p=0.015; df=77; HDL 1.22±0.24 vs. 1.02 vs. 0.22; p=0.007; df=55. In the group of females, BGL was 5.17±0.51 vs. 5.43±1.47; p=0.022; df=17; HbA1c was 5.13±0.49 vs. 5.4±0.93; p=0.025; df=13; homocysteine level was 5.51±0.47 vs. 38.75±4.2; p=0.025;

df=13.

 

Conclusion: These findings point that high blood pressure can be accompanied with numerous biochemical changes such are elevation of BGL, HbA1c, and oxytocin when both sexes are analyzed. When males were considered, it was found that elevation of oxytocin and BGL were present in patients with high blood pressure, while level of HDL was lower. When females were analyzed, it was revealed that BGL, HbA1c, and homocysteine levels were higher in patients with high blood pressure in comparison to those with normal. Clinical importance of these findings requires further research which will clarify their

impact on these diseases.

Rukhsana A Rub has completed her Ph.D from University of Pune. She is working as a professor in Pharmacognosy in a pharmacy school under University of Pune, India. She has published more than 30 research papers in reputed international journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of many reputed journals.

Background: An Indian origin, Celosia argentea is a weed growing during rainy season, traditionally claimed for treating several ailments. Early researches on C. argentea were focused on the anti-cancer screening of seeds, with few reports on aerial parts.

 

Objective: To isolate, characterize and evaluate drug like potential of bioactive compound obtained from aerial parts of C. argentea.

 

Methodology: The methanolic aerial part extract was fractionated and purified on MCI-HP20 HPLC Column. Chromatographically pure compounds were pooled, concentrated, screened for cytotoxic potential and were characterized spectroscopically. The elucidated active molecule was further subjected to elaborate drug likeness study.

 

Results: The isolated bioactive phenolic compound was confirmed as, 1-(4-hydroxy- 2-methoxybenzofuran-5-yl)-3- phenylpropane-1,3-dione which showed potent cytotoxicity against SiHa, HCT and MCF-7 cancer cell lines at 18 μg/ml (**P< 0.01), without affecting the normal Vero cells. Apoptosis occurred at concentrations of 35.15 ± 0.4 μg/ml and 28.05 ± 0.3 μg/ ml for HT-29 and MCF-7 respectively. The ADME, toxicity and drug likeness study indicated that the drug is nontoxic, better absorbed through intestine, does not cross BBB and qualifies Lipinski’s, CMC like, MDDR,WDR like rules.

 

Conclusion: A novel anticancer phenolic compound; (1-(4-hydroxy-2 methoxybenzofuran-5-yl)-3-phenylpropane- 1,3-dione can be regarded as a potential anticancer drug molecule.

Geneive E. Henry completed her PhD at the University of the West Indies Mona, followed by successive postdoctoral appointments at Harvard University and Michigan State University. She is currently Degenstein Professor and Chair of the Chemistry Department at Susquehanna University

The major components of oregano and thyme essential oils are the isomeric monoterpene phenols, carvacrol and thymol. These phenols have a wide range of biological effects including anticancer, antibacterial, antifungal, anticholinesterase, insecticidal, antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. The present study is focused on the DPPH radical scavenging and tyrosinase inhibitory activities of fourteen γ-keto ester derivatives of carvacrol and thymol, prepared in three synthetic steps. The esters showed 20-40% inhibition of the DPPH radical at a concentration of 1 mg/mL, with no distinction between carvacrol and thymol isomers. However, the esters showed 30-100% inhibition of the mushroom tyrosinase at 500 μM. The thymol derivatives showed higher tyrosinase activity than the carvacrol derivatives, but within both series of compounds activity was enhanced with an increase in the carbon chain length of the alkyl group. IC50 values will be determined for the tyrosinase assay.

Doleasha Davis is currently pursuing her PhD in Marine Natural Products Chemistry under the supervision of Winklet Gallimore at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. She also completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Food and General Chemistry from the same university, where she was the recipient of various awards for outstanding performances in both food and Organic Chemistry and was a Member of the Dean’s Honour List.

The Jamaican marine environment is home to many diverse organisms that produce various interesting classes of compounds with bioactivities such as anti-cancer and antimicrobial properties. Colon and prostate cancers are two of the leading causes of cancer related deaths in the world and in recent times there has also been an increase in the presence of antibiotic resistant microbes. This research focuses on the characterization of compounds from specimens of the red algae Gracilaria mammillaris, the purple ascidian Clavelina picta and the itching gorgonian Plexaurella nutans. These organisms were collected from different sites within the Ramsar vicinity of Port Royal, Jamaica and their compounds isolated by means of repeated silica column chromatography, solvent-solvent extraction and size exclusion chromatography using Sephadex® LH-20. This led to the isolation of compounds with steroidal, lipid, sesquiterpene and quinolizidine frameworks. Bioactivities of compounds were evaluated against colon and prostate cancer cell lines and microorganisms with a hope that these compounds may be of economic benefit in the agriculture and pharmaceutical industry.

Sriklung K has completed a B A in Microbiology, at the Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Thailand. She has over five years of experience as an Assistant Researcher at the National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology. She commenced her PhD in Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok in 2012. In 2014, She was awarded a 3.5 year PhD Scholarship by the Thai Goverment. In 2016, she was awarded the Newton Fund PhD Placement Scholarship to perform research in the Faculty of Pharmacology, Nottingham University, UK for a 15 month period. She expects to complete his/her PhD in 2018 at Srinakharinwirot University, Bangkok. She has co-authored five publications on anti-cancer activity and one on anti-inflammortory signalling pathway.

The dried stem of Derris scandens Benth. (Leguminosae) is well known as an Asian medicinal plant and is used for a variety of aliments. The extracts using organic solvents have been reported for anti-cancer activity in human lung cancer cells. However, the anti-inflammatiory molecular mechanism of Derris scandens extract is still unknown. Our work is focused on in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of Lupalbigenin in Raw 264.7 cells using 1 ug/ml lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 hrs to induce cell changes. The results showed that Lupalbigenin at concentrations of 5 uM and below had no cytotoxicity with the macrophages. Subsequently, the macrophage cells were pre-treated with 5, 2.5 and 1.25 uM concentrations of Lupalbigenin for 2 hrs and after being incubated with 1 ug/ml LPS for 24 hrs, the results showed that at 1.25 uM of Lupalbigenin the protein expression levels of iNOS, COX-2 and TNF-α were decreased. The results indicate that Lupalbigenin appears to decrease the inflammatory activity level. Further experiments on anti-inflammatory gene expressions and signalling pathway will be studied.

Sanjay Campbell is currently pursuing his PhD in Marine Natural Products Chemistry under the supervision of Winklet Gallimore, at the University of the West Indies, Jamaica. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Food Chemistry and General Chemistry from the University of the West Indies, Mona in 2013.

The ocean, which occupies just about three quarters of the surface of the planet, comprises of a huge diversity of living organisms. Such marine natural products continue to provide an unparalleled opportunity for driving creativity and discovery. In our continuing research towards the discovery of new biologically active natural products from Jamaican marine macroalgae, chemical study of the brown alga, Canistrocarpus cervicornis was launched. Marine macroalgae of this genus are known for producing dolastanes and seco-dolastanes, which have a broad spectrum of biological/ecological activity. In this communication, we will discuss the approaches and/or strategies which successfully led to the isolation of novel and known dolastanes with noteworthy biological activities. This study gave us some fundamental evidence that Jamaican marine organisms can result in the discovery of structurally novel natural products with possible benefits to mankind

Majority of deaths in children aged less than 5 years are due to Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Malaria deaths in children decreased but malaria remains a major killer of children, taking the life of a child every 2 minutes. This study aims to investigate the increase of the in vitro antiplasmodial activities by mutagenesis techniques using gamma-rays (Cs-137) or sodium azide (NaN3) as mutagens. It will allow the importance of mutagenesis use as tools for improvement of secondary metabolites against malarial parasites using chemical or physical mutagens. Aerial parts of plants M1 and M2 from Gammarays irradiation of P. odontadenius seeds or from immersion of P. odontadenius seeds in Sodium azide (SA) solutions were used as biological material for the in vitro antiplasmodial analysis. The in vitro antiplasmodial activities assays on clinical isolates of P. falciparum and on chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain K1 was determined using microscopic method, isotopic microtest method and using HRP2-based ELISA assay. Gamma-rays (Cs-137) increased (multiplied) the in vitro antiplasmodial activities from 2.48 up to 7.6 in comparison to control. Thus, the in vitro antiplasmodial activities were improved or exceeded from 147.57% up to 660% than those of control plant. SA had increased (multiplied) the in vitro antiplasmodial activities from 1.24 up to 10.15 comparing to the control plants. The in vitro antiplasmodial activities were exceeded compared to the control plants from 24.43% up to 915%. The treatments of Phyllanthus odontadenius seeds by Gamma-rays or by SA give plants with high in vitro antiplasmodial activities. Values of in vitro antiplasmodial activities varied from 1.24 (147.57%) to 10.15 (915%). 125, 150 and 225 Gy of Gamma-rays (Cs-137) for physical mutagenesis and 10.15 and 17.5 mm of SA solutions for the chemical mutagenesis could be used for improving in vitro antiplasmodial activities against P. falciparum (clinical isolates of P. falciparum or chloroquine-resistant P. falciparum strain K1). Thus, plants extracts from treated seeds have justified the usefulness of mutagens in plant breeding particularly in the increasing production of secondary metabolite against malarial parasite.

Corneliu Tanase has completed his PhD in Biology at “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of IaÅŸi and in Chemical Engineering at "Gheorghe Asachi” Technical University, Iasi. He is Associate professor at Botanical Pharmaceutical Department in University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Tirgu Mures, Roamania. He has published more than 30 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. Research topics are biorefining, plant physiology, pharmaceutical botany, isolation and characterizations of secondary metabolites of plants.

Wood wastes are potential source of bioactive compounds. The wasted by-products can present higher contents of bioactive compounds. One of the most important sources of bioactive compounds present in the forestry waste is the phenolic compounds. This study present information about influence of phenolic compounds, separated from wood waste in the processes of growth and development of some plants. Natural extracts are characterized by different concentrations and compositions, depending on the source and the agent used to separate them. Their own data and those in the literature, highlight that polyphenolic extracts influence a series of processes, such as seed germination, plant growth and development, cell division, biosynthesis of chlorophyll and carotenoid pigments. These influences are manifested differently, depending on the type of plant being tested and on the type of extract applied in the growth medium, characterized by a certain concentration and composition of the polyphenols. Thus, the inhibitory or stimulatory role of polyphenolic compounds in the metabolism of plants has been highlighted. Therefore, these aspects need to be further investigated in order to highlight some mechanisms of action that would allow the establishment of a correlation between structure, function and properties.

Bamba Abou completed his Doctorate at the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny, Abidjan. He is a Researcher at the Laboratory of Pharmacology of Natural Substances of the Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny. He has published more than five articles in reputed, indexed and peer-reviewed journals

Gomphrena celosioides is a plant of traditional medicine known in Nigeria, Benin, Togo and Ivory Coast to treat various diseases including liver disease. The hydroalcoholic extract of this plant is rarely the subject of pharmacological study. The objective of this study was to investigate the hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol extract of Gomphrena celosioides (EEG). The experiments were performed on 5 groups of 6 rats according to the method of Kadifkova Panovka with some modifications. Carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to induce hepatic toxicity in rats. This Hepatotoxic causes a significant rise in liver enzymes and bilirubin by massive hepatocyte alteration rate. The rats were then treated by the EEG (250 and 500mg/ kg body weight) and the Silymarin (SIL) known for its hepatoprotective properties (100mg/kg body weight). The results showed that preventive treatment with EEG and SIL have no significant influences on body weight and relative liver weights of animals; however these treatments have caused a significant decrease in serum transaminases and alkaline phosphatase (Px0.05) compared to the negative control. with a protection of 84.56%, 86.79%, 86.67% for SIL and 46.29%, 46.22%, 49.87% for the EEG at a dose of 500 mg/kg; respectively for Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), the Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase. This study reveals that the EEG possesses hepatoprotective properties more significant to 500mg/kg. But this protective activity of the liver of the EEG is statistically less than that of silymarin which is our reference molecule.