UHPLC, ATR-FTIR analysis of Nymphoides indica rhizome extract and determination of antioxidant & antibiofilm potential

The aim of the study was to perform comprehensive phytochemical analysis, UHPLC, ATR-FTIR profiling and evaluation of various biological activities of N. Indica rhizome. The phytochemical analysis indicated presence of alkaloids, saponins, and triterpenes. In the antioxidant assay, the methanolic (IC50 40.3±0.04) and chloroform fractions (IC50 40.05±0.21) showed highest DPPH inhition. Like wise, methanolic fraction showed highest FRAP value (756.2±0.06) followed by chloroform (225.0±0.04) and ethyl acetate fractions (193.0±0.21). In the antimicrobial assays, chloroform (MIC < 0.156 mg/ml) and methanol fractions (MIC 0.625 mg/ml) fractions showed significant inhibition of Klebsiella pneumoniae. Also a significant antibiofilm of biofilm formation was recorded by chloroform (IC50 1.73 mg/ml) and ethyl acetate fractions (IC50 1.76 mg/ml). It was concluded that the N. Indica rhizome posess antioxidant, antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential, that may be attributed to high flavonoid contents.

Fitoperifíton asociado con macrófitas en una ciénaga tropical de la cuenca del río Atrato, Quibdó (Chocó), Colombia

El fitoperifíton es una de las comunidades más importantes en las ciénagas o lagos de planos inundables por el papel que desempeña en el flujo de la energía, el ciclo de nutrientes y la productividad primaria de estos importantes ecosistemas. En este estudio se analizó la comunidad fitoperifítica asociada con tres especies de macrófitas (Ludwigia sedoides Humb. and Bonpl. Hara 1953, Nymphoides indica L. Kuntze, 1891 y Eichhornia azurea Swartz. Kunth, 1843) en una ciénaga tropical de la cuenca del río Atrato, Chocó, Colombia. Los muestreos se realizaron entre mayo y agosto del 2014 mediante la recolección de muestras de fitoperifíton de raíces de tres ejemplares de cada especie estudiada. Simultáneamente se midieron algunas variables físicas y químicas del agua circundante. Se registró una densidad de 1.160,63 ind.cm-2, distribuida en 82 morfoespecies, 26 familias, 16 órdenes y ocho clases, siendo la clase Bacillariophyceae la más abundante en las tres especies estudiadas. L. sedoides presentó la mayor densidad y riqueza fitoperifítica asociada. Se registraron diferencias en los valores de densidad, riqueza, diversidad y dominancia del fitoperifíton de las macrófitas estudiadas (p<0,05). El análisis de agrupamiento basado en el índice de Jaccard indicó poca similitud en la composición de la comunidad perifítica entre las especies de macrófitas, así como un marcado efecto del periodo hidrológico. En el estudio se establece la línea de base para el conocimiento de las comunidades fitoperifíticas asociadas con macrófitas en las ciénagas de zonas bajas tropicales como las del río Atrato.

Anti-Inflammatory and Skin-Moisturizing Effects of a Flavonoid Glycoside Extracted from the Aquatic Plant Nymphoides indica in Human Keratinocytes

Nymphoides indica, an aquatic plant, is used as folk medicine in some countries. Our previous study demonstrated that the methanol extract of N. indica inhibited the activity of tyrosinases, tyrosine related protein (TRP)1 and TRP2, and microphthalmia-associated transcription factor, as well as the activity of protein kinase A, by effectively inhibiting cyclic adenosine monophosphate. Although the biological activities of N. indica extract have been reported, there are no reports on the skin bioactivity of the main compound(s) on human keratinocytes. This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and moisturizing effects of quercetin 3,7-dimethyl ether 4′-glucoside (QDG) isolated from N. indica. In brief, ultraviolet B irradiated keratinocytes were pretreated with different concentrations of QDG, and the effects of QDG on various inflammatory markers were determined. QDG significantly inhibited inflammation-related cytokines and chemokines and enhanced the activation of skin barrier factors. Additionally, QDG also attenuated phosphorylation inhibition of the upstream cytokines and nuclear factor-κB expression. These results suggest that QDG isolated from N. indica may serve as a potential source of bioactive substances for chronic inflammatory skin diseases.

A review of the genus Nymphoides (Menyanthaceae) in Iran

The genus Nymphoides is a freshwater aquatic dicot represented by two species in Iran. Based on our current regional taxonomic revision of this genus, we recognize Nymphoides cristata, previously identified as Nymphoides indica in Flora Iranica. However, these species are easily distinguished from each other by having crested petal lobes in the latter. We investigated the morphology and anatomy of Nymphoides cristata and Nymphoides peltata. The most important morphological features for differentiation between these species are corolla color and inflorescence type. The anatomy of cross-sections of leaf, petiole, stem and the surface sections of leaf were studied. The following characters were found to be taxonomically informative: the presence of stellate, polyramous and ramiform foliar sclereids as well as the presence of astrosclereids in petioles and stems of both examined taxa, while spheroidal sclereids are only observed in the stems of Nymphoides peltata.