High-performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis and Antimicrobial Activities of Libyan Cistus salviifolius Extract

Aims: This research is focused on the in vitro evaluation of Cistus salviifolius L. antimicrobial properties and the determination of the contents of phenols and flavonoids. Study Design: This research is analytical study aimed to illustrate the antimicrobial properties and to analyze the methanolic extract contents of aerial parts of Cistus salviifolius L. by high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. Duration: The study was performed within six months in the Faculty of Pharmacy, Benghazy University. Methodology: Antimicrobial properties was tested against twelve organisms using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion sensitivity test and the determination of the contents of phenols and flavonoids was evaluated by running high-performance liquid chromatography techniques. Results: The findings indicated that catechin is the most abundant flavonoid in C. salviifolius, while gallic acid was the major phenol in the methanolic extract of the plant. The results also revealed that the methanol extracts had a significant antimicrobial potential particularly against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli with MIC (0.98 and 0.49) µg/ml respectively, furthermore the extract was effective against Aspergillus fumigatus with MIC 0.98 µg/ml. Conclusion: C. salviifolius was highly rich with flavonoids and phenols and has a significant antimicrobial effect.

Antioxidant, Antihypertensive and Antimicrobial Properties of Phenolic Compounds Obtained from Native Plants by Different Extraction Methods

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of two methods (agitation and ultra-sound) for extracting phenolic compounds from 15 native plants. Plant species collected in the Dehesa of Extremadura were used. The antioxidant, antihypertensive and antimicrobial activity of the phenolic extracts was investigated. Significantly different results were obtained when comparing the two extraction methods, with the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds found for ultrasound extraction. In addition, the extracts obtained for Cistus albidus, Cistus salviifolius, Rubus ulmifolius and Quercus ilex showed the highest concentrations of phenolic compounds. The antioxidant activity was higher in the extracts of Cistus and Q. ilex obtained by ultrasound, as was the antihypertensive activity. Antimicrobial activity was also higher in the extracts obtained by ultrasound from C. salviifolius and Q. ilex plants against bacteria and from Cistus ladanifer against yeasts. Therefore, it can be concluded that, with the ultrasound extraction of phenolic compounds from C. ladanifer, C. albidus and Q. ilex plants, it is possible to obtain extracts with important functional properties, so they could be studied for their use in food with the aim of obtaining healthy and safe products, favouring the sustainability of the environment of the Dehesa Extremeña.

Native Plant Capacity for Gentle Remediation in Heavily Polluted Mines

The use of plant species to stabilize and accumulate trace elements in contaminated soils is considered of great usefulness given the difficulty of decontaminating large areas subjected to mining for long periods. In this work, the bioaccumulation of trace elements is studied by relating the concentrations in leaves and roots of three plants of Mediterranean distribution (Dittrichia viscosa, Cistus salviifolius, Euphorbia pithyusa subsp. cupanii) with the concentrations of trace elements in contaminated and uncontaminated soils. Furthermore, in the case of D. viscosa, to know the concentration of each element by biomass, the pool of trace elements was determined both in the aerial part and in the roots. The bioaccumulation factor was not high enough in any of the species studied to be considered as phytoextractors. However, species like the ones studied in this work that live on soils with a wide range of concentration of trace elements and that develop a considerable biomass could be considered for stabilization of contaminated soils. The plant species studied in this work are good candidates for gentle-remediation options in the polluted Mediterranean.

Can Shrub Flammability be Affected by Goat Grazing? Flammability Parameters of Mediterranean Shrub Species under Grazing

In this study, we evaluated changes in the potential flammability of different Mediterranean shrub species in a pine (Pinus pinea) forest in the Doñana Natural Park (of SW Spain) as a result of goat grazing. Plant height, total biomass, fine fuel biomass and leaves/wood ratio were measured in individual plants of each species in both grazed and ungrazed areas. Moisture content, mean time of ignition, mean time of combustion, gross heat of combustion (GHC) and flammability class of the studied shrub species were determined in the laboratory. The results of this experiment showed that grazing influenced the flammability characteristics of the studied shrub species. However, the strength of this effect was insufficient to modify the flammability index of these plants, except in the case of Myrtus communis, in which grazed plants presented a lower flammability index. According to Valette’s classification, Cistus salviifolius, Halimium halimifolium and Pistacea lentiscus are flammable species, Rosmarinus officinalis is a flammable-highly flammable species, and M. communis is non-flammable. The GHC values obtained were generally “intermediate”, except for those of R. officinalis, which were classified as “high”. The flammability parameters of the study species did not show a very marked trend in relation to grazing, but the vertical structure of plants did change by presenting reduced biomass of leaves and fine twigs. This change altered the physical characteristics of these plants and possibly acted to reduce the inherent fire risk of the shrublands.

The antimicrobial capacity of Cistus salviifolius and Punica granatum plant extracts against clinical pathogens is related to their polyphenolic composition

Antimicrobial resistance poses a serious threat to human health worldwide. Plant compounds may help to overcome antibiotic resistance due to their potential resistance modifying capacity. Several botanical extracts and pure polyphenolic compounds were screened against a panel of eleven bacterial isolates with clinical relevance. The two best performing agents, Cistus salviifolius (CS) and Punica granatum (GP) extracts, were tested against 100 Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates, which resulted in average MIC50 values ranging between 50–80 µg/mL. CS extract, containing hydrolyzable tannins and flavonoids such as myricetin and quercetin derivatives, demonstrated higher activity against methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates. GP extract, which contained mostly hydrolyzable tannins, such as punicalin and punicalagin, was more effective against methicillin-sensitive S. aureus isolates. Generalized linear model regression and multiple correspondence statistical analysis revealed a correlation between a higher susceptibility to CS extract with bacterial resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and quinolones. On the contrary, susceptibility to GP extract was related with bacteria sensitive to quinolones and oxacillin. Bacterial susceptibility to GP and CS extracts was linked to a resistance profile based on cell wall disruption mechanism. In conclusion, a differential antibacterial activity against S. aureus isolates was observed depending on antibiotic resistance profile of isolates and extract polyphenolic composition, which may lead to development of combinatorial therapies including antibiotics and botanical extracts.

Morphological Characterization of the In Vitro Mycorrhizae Formed between Four Terfezia Species (Pezizaceae) with Cistus salviifolius and Cistus ladanifer—Towards Desert Truffles Production in Acid Soils

Terfezia species are obligate symbiotic partners of several xerophytic host plants, mainly belonging to the Cistaceae. Yet, their mycorrhizal associations with members of the genus Cistus remain poorly characterized and their potential application in desert truffle cultivation remains unexplored. This work provides the first anatomic descriptions of the mycorrhizae formed in vitro by four Terfezia species (i.e., T. arenaria; T. extremadurensis; T. fanfani, T. pini) with C. ladanifer and C. salviifolius, two of the most widespread and common Cistus species in acidic soils. All the tested associations resulted in the formation of ectomycorrhizae with well-developed Hartig net, but with a varying degree of mantle development. Our results also demonstrate that all the experimented Terfezia-Cistus combinations expressed high mycorrhization rates. Moreover, the present work shows that C. salviifolius and C. ladanifer are suitable plant hosts for Terfezia species, including some that are, to date, known to be only associated with annual herbs or tree species. This new evidence might aid in broadening the number of situations whereby Terfezia spp. can be cultivated in acid soils.

Mechanisms of Antiviral Activity of Cistus Salviifolius Extract Against Human Respiratory Viruses

Influenza and ARVIs are the most common forms of infectious respiratory diseases in humans. In this regard, the search and development of means for the prevention and treatment of viral infections is a high priority task. The aim of this study was to assess the mechanisms of the antiviral activity of sage-leaved rock-rose extract (Cistus salviifolius) against the causative agents of influenza and ARVIs in humans. In the course of the study, it was shown that C.salviifolius extract inhibits reproduction of influenza viruses A(H1N1), A (H1N1)pdm09, A(H3N2), A(H5N2), A(H7N9) and influenza B virus. The extract showed maximum virus-inhibiting activity at the early stages of the viral cycle (0–2 hours after infection). C.salviifolius extract significantly reduced the hemagglutinating activity of the virus, and at the same time did not affect the fusogenic properties of viral hemagglutinin. Transmission electron microscopy was used to demonstrate that the cistus extract prevents the absorption of influenza virions on the surface of cells in culture. The inhibitory activity of the extract against other human respiratory viruses, parainfluenza virus and adenovirus, was also shown. The protective activity of C.salviifolius extract was demonstrated when applied intranasally during the experiments on a model of influenza pneumonia in mice. The degree of this activity was in inverse proportion to the time window between the application of the extract and the infection of the animals. The virus, pre-incubated with C.salviifolius extract, did not cause death in the animals. The data obtained indicate that C.salviifolius extract serves as an effective and broad-range means of preventing respiratory viral infections in humans.

Evaluation of antidiabetic effect of Cistus salviifolius L. (Cistaceae) in streptozotocin-nicotinamide induced diabetic mice

ObjectivesCistus salviifoluis L. is a shrub from Cistaceae family used in many traditional medicines for the treatment of various diseases including diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vivo antidiabetic potential of the aerial parts aqueous extract of Cistus salviifolius L. (CSA).MethodsExperimental diabetes was induced in adult male mice by intra-peritoneal injection of Streptozotocin-nicotinamide (STZ-NC). CSA at a dose of 500 mg/kg was administered daily to the diabetic mice for four weeks. The effect of the extract on hyperglycemia, body weight, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, hepatic and renal functional markers were determined. Histopathological examination of the mice pancreas was also performed. The diabetic animals treated with CSA were compared with animals treated by the standard drug metformin.ResultsTreatment with CSA showed a significant reduction in blood glucose, total triglycerides and creatinine levels and prevented the reduction of body weight caused by diabetes. Furthermore, histopathological analysis of the mice pancreas showed that the group treated with CSA reduced damage induced by STZ-NC on islets of Langerhans cells when compared to the diabetic control.ConclusionsThe results suggest that the aqueous extract of Moroccan C. salviifolius L. possesses beneficial effect on treatment of diabetes.

UPLC-MS/MS Phytochemical Analysis of Two Croatian Cistus Species and Their Biological Activity

Aqueous extracts of two Cistus species wild growing in Croatia—Cistus creticus (CC) and Cistus salviifolius (CS)—have been assessed with UPLC-MS/MS, showing 43 different phytochemicals, with flavonol glycosides: myricetin-3-hexoside and myricetin-rhamnoside, predominate ones in CC and myricetin-3-hexoside in CS. Antioxidant potential tested with the FRAP method showed no difference between CS and CC aqueous extracts, while higher phenolic content of CC comparing to CS, determined with a Folin–Cicolateu reagent correlated to its higher antioxidant capacity observed by the DPPH method. Both extracts were assessed for antimicrobial activity, using disc-diffusion and broth microdilution assays, targeting the opportunistic pathogens, associated with food poisoning, urinary, respiratory tract, blood stream and wound infections in humans. Antimicrobial assays revealed that fungi were in general more sensitive to both Cistus aqueous extracts, comparing to the bacteria where two extracts showed very similar activity. The most potent activity was observed against A. baumannii for both extracts. The extracts were tested on human lung cancer (A549) cell line using the MTT assay, showing very similar antiproliferative activity. After 72 h treatment with CC and CS aqueous extracts in concentration of 0.5 g/L, the viability of the cells were 37% and 50% respectively, compared to non-treated cells.