The Effect of Quercus infectoria Acorn on Clinical, Hematobiochemical Parameters of Pregnant Albino Rats

Background: Quercus infectoria is a kind of forest tree widely used for livestock feeding within the northern parts of Iraq with little was known about the Quercus infectoria toxicity mainly in pregnant animals. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potential effect of Quercus infectoria acorn on the pregnant albino rats. Methods: This study was conducted on the Wistar pregnant rats, using aqueous extract of the acorn at doses of 2 grams/ rat for a period of 10 days. The effect of the quercus acorn on the animal behavior, pregnancy hematobiochemical parameters was investigated compared to the control groups. Result: Neither mortality, nor significant changes in animals’ behavior were detected in treated rats; whereas, abortion and early parturition with lower weight of the pups were observed in treated pregnant rats. Significant increases in red blood cells, packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, means corpuscular volume and means corpuscular hemoglobin and levels of neutrophils and eosinophil were reported in treated rats compared to the control groups. Besides, blood urea nitrogen and aspartate aminotransferase were significantly increased in the treated group. Study results suggest that the aqueous extract of Quercus infectoria acorn has potential toxic effects on pregnancy.

Tischeriidae (Lepidoptera) leafminers new to Iran, including Tischeria caucasica on Quercus: a sibling species of T. ekebladella or a case of clinal variation?

We record three Tischeriidae species new for Iran: Coptotriche gaunacella (Duponchel, 1843) from Tehran and Mazandaran provinces, Tischeria dodonaea Stainton, 1858 from East Azarbaijan province and T. caucasica Klasiński & Stonis, 2020, previously only known from Georgia. The larvae of T. caucasica were observed mining the leaves of planted trees of Quercus infectoria G. Olivier, Q. robur Linnaeus and Q. libani G. Olivier in Peykan Shahr, Tehran province; and on native trees of Q. castaneifolia C.A.Mey. and Q. macranthera Fisch. & C.A.Mey. ex Hohen. in East Azarbaijan, Gilan and Mazandaran provinces. This species was very abundant on planted oaks in Peykan Shahr, Tehran and the infestation increased progressively in the second generation of the moth in November and December. Tischeria caucasica is very similar to European T. ekebladella (Bjerkander, 1795) in external appearance and biology, both sharing the same DNA barcode. The only diagnostic character, in the male genitalia, are the spiny appendages of the juxta. We provide a brief diagnosis and describe the larvae, leafmines and pupae for the first time. We discuss whether the observed difference in the male genitalia supports separate specific status, or is the result of clinal variation of a single species.

review on anticancer potential of Quercus infectoria and its bioactive compounds

Cancer is a life-threatening disease if not diagnosed and treated early. Available cancer treatments with undesirable side effects have led to the search for safer and more effective treatments. Therapeutic intervention using plant-derived natural products have been of great interest these days. Many plant-derived phytochemicals have been implicated with anticancer activities. Quercus infectoria is one of the prominent candidates for its chemopreventive mechanisms of action in cancer. Worldwide, this plant has been used in various medicinal purposes. Based on the available data from previous scientific researches, this review focuses on the anticancer potentials of Q. infectoria, as well as its bioactive compounds such as tannic acid, gallic acid and ellagic acid. This review will trigger of generating new insights into possible application of this plant in cancer therapy.

Chemical composition of essential oil by SPME and evaulation antimicrobial, antioxidant activities of medicinal plant of Quercus infectoria galls

Quercus infectoria galls have been utilized to cure widespread illnesses. In line with it, this paper aims to investigate the chemical combination of the volatile oils obtained from galls of Q. infectoria and evaluate their antioxidant and antimicrobial features. The volatiles of Q. infectoria has been isolated by solid-phase microextraction (SPME). The compositions of the volatiles were revealed via gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Twenty-nine substances have been characterized in the volatile essential oil of Q. infectoria. The major components of the volatile oil were (Z)-Anethol 28.55%, pentadecanolide (26.44%), diethyl phthalate (6.46%), and acetoin (5.66%). Q. infectoria showed good-moderate antimicrobial (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptomyces griseolus, Pseudomonas citronellosis) and antifungal (Candida glabrata, Candida krusei) activities against to test microorganisms with MIC value 250 µg/mL and 125 µg/mL, respectively. Also, total flavonoid and total polyphenol amounts were found for Q. infectoria, and our total polyphenol result (342.87 mg GAE/g) was found higher than the studies in the literature. At the same time Q. infectoria has been observed to have high antioxidant activity according to DPPH, FRAP, and CUPRAC assays. Especially it exhibited excellent DPPH activity for the IC50 rate of 0.002 μg/mL which is higher than the standard Trolox (IC50 = 0.008 μg/mL). This study is important because it is the first one, which reports the determination of essential oil, total polyphenol, flavonoid contents, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities all together for Q. infectoria.

Gallotannin-Enriched Fraction from Quercus infectoria Galls as an Antioxidant and Inhibitory Agent against Human Glioblastoma Multiforme

In recent years, herbal medicine has experienced rapid development in the search for alternative anticancer compounds. Various phytochemicals present in Quercus infectoria (QI) galls have been reported to trigger cytotoxic effects on many types of cancer cells. However, a specific active constituent of QI galls with the potential to inhibit highly invasive stage IV malignant brain tumor, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is yet to be discovered. In this study, a two-phase system composed of aqueous soxhlet extraction and methanolic enrichment fractionation was employed to extract an anticancer compound, gallotannin, from the QI galls. This optimized two-phase system successfully generated a fraction (F4) with ~71% gallotannin, verified by the TLC and HPLC assays. Astoundingly, this fraction showed significantly higher (~1.15-fold) antioxidant activities compared to its crude extract, as well as to a commercial synthetic pure gallotannin. The F4 was also found to significantly suppress GBM cell growth, better than the synthetic pure gallotannin and the QI gall crude extract, probably related to its significantly higher antioxidant property. Moreover, the inhibitory effects exerted by the F4 treatment on GBM cells were comparable to the effects of two clinically used chemo-drugs (Temozolomide and Tamoxifen), indicating its high efficiency in combating human cancer. In conclusion, this study pioneered the development of an optimized extraction procedure for enriched yield of the natural gallotannin metabolite from the galls of the QI medicinal plant with high antioxidant potential and inhibitory effects on human GBM cells.

The effect of Quercus infectoria pair cream on the severity of episiotomy pain in nulliparous women

Introduction: Episiotomy is an incision in the perineal area during the second stage of labor to facilitate delivery. Complications of perineal injuries are one of the most important health issues. Oak pair has long been used experimentally to heal wounds and reduce pain. The present study was performed to investigate the effect of oak pair (Quercus infectoria) cream on pain due to episiotomy in nulliparous women. Methods: This double-blind clinical trial experimental study was performed on 120 nulliparous women in Asali hospital in 2018. Individuals were randomly divided into oak pair cream, placebo, and normal saline groups. Data were collected by demographic and midwifery information questionnaires and numerical pain scales. The creams were used by the participants every 12 hours for 10 days, and the pain intensity was evaluated before the intervention and on days 1, 5, and 10. Data analysis was performed by SPSS using chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests. Results: There was no statistically significant difference in pain intensity scores among the three groups of oak pair, placebo, and normal saline before the intervention (P = 0.20). Pain intensity on days 1, 5, and 10 after the intervention showed a significant difference between the three groups in favor of oak cream (P < 0.001). The results showed that there was a significant decrease in the mean pain intensity score of the oak pair receiving group over time (P < 0.001).Conclusion: Oak cream might be effective in reducing pain caused by episiotomy due to analgesic properties.

Novel Synergistic Activity of Quercus infectoria Gall Extract with Ceftazidime Against Standard and Multiple Drug Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli Isolates

Background: Multidrug resistance pathogens are important heath challenges. In this study, the antibacterial activity of 20 plant extracts was tested against standard as well as 20 multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. The most active plant extract (Quercus infectoria) was selected for the synergistic activity assay. Methods: Plant extracts were prepared by maceration using water, methanol and ethanol. The antibacterial activity of extracts was determined by both broth and agar dilution methods. The synergistic activity of QIG with ceftazidime (CAZ) was evaluated by checker board assay. Antioxidant activity was determined by colorimetric Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assay. Results: Only the methanol extract of QIG inhibited the growth of all the bacterial strains at a concentration of 1000 µg/mL. Other active extracts were Myrtus communis and Eucalyptus globulus inhibiting the growth of most bacterial strains tested at 2000 µg/ mL. In checker board assay, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to both QIG extract and CAZ was reduced. The MIC of CAZ was reduced from 64-4096 µg/mL to 4 µg/mL for P. aeruginosa and to 16 µg/mL for E. coli isolates. Conclusion: The QIG extract exhibited potent antioxidant activity determined by FRAP assay. The result of this study showed a strong synergistic activity between QIC and CAZ on P. aeruginosa and E. coli. The activity within ethyl acetate-methanol (7:3) fraction indicates that the active components of the plant have a semi-polar nature and further work with this fraction may lead to understanding the mechanism of this synergistic activity.

Quercus infectoria gall extract aids wound healing in a streptozocin-induced diabetic mouse model

Objective: Quercus infectoria galls have commonly been used for different therapeutic purposes. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of topical application of an ointment prepared from Quercus infectoria gall hydroethanolic extract on open wound healing in a streptozocin-induced diabetic BALB/c mouse model. Method: After induction of diabetes, two circular wounds (5mm) were created on the dorsum of the mice which were then divided into three groups. The mice were treated with soft yellow paraffin (control-sham group) and therapeutic doses of 5% and 10% of an ointment prepared from Quercus infectoria, respectively. To evaluate the effects of the therapeutic ointment on the wound healing process, wound area, histological parameters, mRNA levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2 and p53, plasma levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and tissue antioxidant capacity were investigated. Results: The mice (n=54) were divided into three equal groups. Wound area and concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α were significantly decreased in both ointment-treated groups compared to the control group (p<0.05). Moreover, angiogenesis, fibroblast distribution per mm2 of wound tissue, collagen deposition, rapid re-epithelialisation, and the expression of VEGF, Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA, were significantly increased (p<0.05). The administration of the ointment reduced malondialdehyde concentration and increased total antioxidant capacity compared with the control group (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study suggests that an ointment prepared from Quercus infectoria gall hydroethanolic extract accelerated open wound healing in a diabetic animal model by shortening the inflammatory phase, inducing apoptosis, up-regulating the expression of Bcl-2 and p53 mRNA, antioxidant properties and cellular proliferation.