Pterocarpus santalinus: a traditional herbal drug as a protectant against ibuprofen induced gastric ulcers

Progress in traditional Chinese medicine against chronic gastritis: From chronic non-atrophic gastritis to gastric precancerous lesions

Chronic gastritis (CG) is a persistent inflammation of the gastric mucosa that can cause uncomfortable symptoms in patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been widely used to treat CG due to its precise efficacy, minimal side effects, and holistic approach. Clinical studies have confirmed the effectiveness of TCM in treating CG, although the mechanisms underlying this treatment have not yet been fully elucidated. In this review, we summarized the clinical research and mechanisms of TCM used to treat CG. Studies have shown that TCM mechanisms for CG treatment include H. pylori eradication, anti-inflammatory effects, immune modulation, regulation of gastric mucosal cell proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy levels.

Four new cycloartane-type triterpenoids from the leaves of Combretum mellifluum Eichler: assessment of their antioxidant and antileishmanial activities

The beneficial pharmacological actions including antioxidant effects as an antileishmanial, antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antiviral, and analgesic of compounds isolated from Combretum mellifluum Eichler (Combretaceae) are well established. The aim of the present study was to determine the phytochemistry as well as assess the antioxidant and antileishmanial activities of the leaves from Combretum mellifluum Eichler (Combretaceae). Analysis of ethanolic extract resulted in isolation and identification of two epimeric mixtures of four previously unknown cycloartane-type triterpenoids, methyl quadrangularate M and methyl 24-epiquadrangularate M, and 2α,3β,24β-trihydroxy-cycloart-25-ene and 2α, 3β, 24α-trihydroxy-cycloart-25-ene, and eight known compounds. Their structures were using one-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance (1D NMR), 2D NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectroscopy (HRESIMS) analysis. Further, the extract and fractions were tested for antioxidant potential. The ethyl acetate and aqueous fractions demonstrated the highest antioxidant activity against 2,2-dipheny-1-picrylhydrazl (DPPH) free radicals, which correlated directly with total flavonoid content. All extracts and fractions from C. mellifluum Eichler were assessed for antileishmanial activity. The supernatant fraction exhibited highest potential, inhibiting the growth of Leishmania amazonensis with IC₅₀ value 31.29 μg/ml. Our findings provide information on the chemical composition of C. mellifluum and the potential beneficial therapeutic usefulness as an antioxidant agent in various diseases.

Genus Pterocarpus: A review of ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, biological activities, and clinical evidence

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The genus Pterocarpus (Fabaceae) has about 46 species that are distributed over Asia, especially Indonesia, Africa, and several countries in America. Particularly, P. indicus and P. santalinus have been recorded as ancestor recipe in the old Indonesian book (Cabe puyang warisan nenek moyang). These plants have found application in traditional medicine, such as in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, gonorrhoea, infection, coughs, mouth ulcers, boils, diarrhoea, as well as in the management of pain (as an analgesic).

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The present review aimed to comprehensively summarise the current researches on the traditional and scientific applications of the genus Pterocarpus with regard to the phytochemical content, in vivo and in vitro bioactivities, as well as clinical evidence that may be useful for future drug development.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Information about the Pterocarpus genus were obtained from local classic herbal literature and electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The scientific name of the species and its synonyms were checked with the information of The Plant List. Additionally, clinical trial results were obtained from the Cochrane library.

RESULTS

Several phytochemical constituents of the plants, e.g., flavonoids, isoflavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and fatty acids have been reported. There are about 11 species of Pterocarpus that have been scientifically studied for their biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, analgesic, and anti-hyperglycemic. Of which, the anti-hyperglycemic activity of the extracts and phytochemicals of P. indicus and P. marsupium is particularly remarkable, allowing them to be further studied under clinical trial.

CONCLUSION

The present review has provided an insight into the traditional applications of the plants and some of them have been validated by scientific evidence, particularly their applications as anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial agents. In addition, the genus has demonstrated notable anti-diabetic activity in various clinical trials.

Traditional uses, phytochemistry and pharmacological attributes of Pterocarpus santalinus and future directions: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Pterocarpus santalinus, an ancient folk medicine, is endemic to the eastern ghats of south India, and the heartwood is prescribed since time immemorial for the mitigation of inflammatory disorders in traditional practice and ayurvedic system of medicines.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This review aims to provide collective pieces of information of the traditional uses, phytochemicals, and pharmacological facets of P. santalinus, with an intuition for promoting future research to explore its pharmaceutical potential as a therapeutic agent against modern maladies.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Extensive literature search was performed to collate the data by using various electronic search engines. A network pharmacology-based approach is incorporated for validation of traditional claims orbiting around anti-inflammatory properties and directed its future exploration against obesity, ovarian inflammation, ovarian folliculogenesis, and inflammatory breast cancer.

RESULTS

In a nutshell, the present review encompasses the phytochemistry, pharmacology of this species intending to sensitize the scientific community for future research on this promising plant. Nearly 85 chemical constituents are reported from the plants wherein bark and leaves are enriched with the lupane and oleanane class of triterpene while sesquiterpenes and polyphenolic compounds are predominantly present in the heartwood of the plant. Although phytochemical investigations are being reported since the mid-twentieth century however there has been recent interest in the evaluation of biological activities such as anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-cancer, anti-viral, etc. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, a systematic phytochemical analysis and pharmacological exploration in close collaboration for establishing the therapeutic potential of the chemical constituents present in P. santalinus is recommended to substantiate the traditional claims for bringing it into the mainstream pharmaceutical and commercial utilization.

Medicinal Plants in the Treatment of Peptic Ulcer Disease: A Review

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is the most common disorder of the stomach and duodenum, which is associated with Helicobacter pylori infection. PUD occurs due to an imbalance between offensive and defensive factors and Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI), Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics are frequently used for the treatment. Recently, medicinal plants have emerged as efficacious, safe and widely available alternative therapies for PUD. The aim of this review was to study the medicinal plants and phytochemicals, which have been used for PUD treatment to evaluate the potential role of natural compounds to develop herbal remedies for PUD. Information was obtained using a literature search of electronic databases, such as Web of Science, Google Scholar, PubMed, Sci Finder, Reaxys and Cochrane. Common and scientific names of the plants and keywords such as 'peptic ulcer', 'gastric ulcer', 'stomach ulcer' and 'duodenal ulcer' were used for search. Eventually, 279 plants from 89 families were identified and information on the plant families, part of the plant used, chemical constituents, extracts, ulcer model used and dosage were abstracted. The results indicated that most of the anti-PUD plants were from Asteraceae (7.1%) and Fabaceae (6.8%) families while flavonoids (49%), tannins (13%), saponins (10%) and alkaloids (9%) were the most common natural compounds in plants with anti-PUD activity.

Pterocarpus santalinus L. Regulated Ultraviolet B Irradiation-induced Procollagen Reduction and Matrix Metalloproteinases Expression Through Activation of TGF-β/Smad and Inhibition of the MAPK/AP-1 Pathway in Normal Human Dermal Fibroblasts

Ultraviolet light-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) damage human skin and prematurely cause aging. A growing body of research is focusing on considering plants and plant-derived compounds as antiphotoaging therapeutic material. Pterocarpus santalinus L., as an Indian traditional medicine, possesses antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory and antioxidative effects. Here, we studied the antiphotoaging effects of ethanolic extract of P. santalinus L. heartwood (EPS) on ultraviolet radiation B (UVB)-irradiated normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs). Results showed that EPS significantly inhibited the upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases and IL-6 caused by UVB irradiation, and suppressed UVB-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase, Jun N-terminal kinase and p38, as well as the activation of AP-1 transcription factors. Further study indicated that UVB-induced production of MMP-1 and IL-6 could be inhibited by PD 98059 (an ERK inhibitor) and SP600125 (A JNK inhibitor), implied that EPS inhibited UVB-induced MMP-1 and IL-6 secretion by inactivating MAPK signaling pathway. In addition, EPS possessed an excellent antioxidant activity, which could increase cytoprotective antioxidants such as HO-1, NQ-O1 expression by facilitating the nuclear accumulation of Nrf2. Treatment of NHDFs with EPS also recovered UVB-induced procollagen type I reduction by activating TGF-β/Smad pathway. These findings demonstrated that EPS had a potential effect against UVB-induced skin photoaging.

Anti-inflammatory and Analgesic Activities of Topical Formulations of Pterocarpus Santalinus Powder in Rat Model of Chronic Inflammation

INTRODUCTION

The incidence of arthritis is quite high and there is a need for the search of natural products to halt the progression of disease or provide symptomatic relief without significant adverse effects.

AIM

This study aimed at evaluating the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of topical Pterocarpus santalinus in an animal model of chronic inflammation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Albino rats of either sex were divided into five groups of six rats each (Group I - Control, Group II -Gel base, Group III -P. santalinus paste, Group IV -P. santalinus gel, Group V- Diclofenac gel). Chronic inflammation was induced on day 0 by injecting 0.1 ml Complete Freund's Adjuvant (CFA) in sub-plantar tissue of left hind paw of the rats. Topical treatment was started from day 12 till day 28. Body weight and paw volume (Plethysmometer) were assessed on day 0, 12 and 28. Pain assessment was done using Randall and Selitto paw withdrawal method. Data was analysed using GraphPad Prism version 5. Unpaired students t-test and ANOVA followed by Tukey's test was used for comparison among groups.

RESULTS

Only topical P.santalinus gel significantly reduced the body weight (p=0.02) due to reduction in inflammatory oedema of the left limb. P. santalinus gel also showed significant reduction (p=0.03) in paw volume of rats compared to the other groups. There was significant reduction in pain threshold (gm/sec) due to chronic inflammation, with all the study drugs (p<0.05) but with P. santalinus gel, this reduction was less (p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

Gel showed significant anti-inflammatory and mild analgesic activity on topical application in rat model of chronic inflammation.

Therapeutic Potential of Pterocarpus santalinus L.: An Update

Recently there has been increasing interest in plants and plant-derived compounds as raw food and medicinal agents. In Ayurveda, an Indian system of traditional medicine, a wide spectrum of medicinal properties of Pterocarpus santalinus is described. Many important bioactive phytocompounds have been extracted and identified from the heartwood of P. santalinus. Bioactive compounds typically occur in small amounts and have more subtle effects than nutrients. These bioactive compounds influence cellular activities that modify the risk of disease rather than prevent deficiency diseases. A wide array of biological activities and potential health benefits of P. santalinus have been reported, including antioxidative, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties, and protective effects on the liver, gastric mucosa, and nervous system. All these protective effects were attributed to bioactive compounds present in P. santalinus. The major bioactive compounds present in the heartwood of P. santalinus are santalin A and B, savinin, calocedrin, pterolinus K and L, and pterostilbenes. The bioactive compounds have potentially important health benefits: These compounds can act as antioxidants, enzyme inhibitors and inducers, inhibitors of receptor activities, and inducers and inhibitors of gene expression, among other actions. The present review aims to understand the pharmacological effects of P. santalinus on health and disease with "up-to-date" discussion.

Pterocarpus santalinus: an In Vitro study on its anti-Helicobacter pylori effect

The anti-H. pylori activity of Pterocarpus santalinus (PS), a traditional herb, has been assessed and compared with that of bismuth subcitrate, through in vitro studies employing rat gastric epithelial cell cultures and H. pylori isolates from gastric mucosal biopsy patients. The MIC of PS was found to be 20 microg/mL. H. pylori was co-cultivated with rat gastric epithelial cells in the presence/absence of PS at its MIC. A reduction in the activity of urease, a normal appearance of the epithelial cells on electron microscopic examination, a decrease in lipid peroxidation and lactate dehydrogenase suggests the possible anti-H. pylori activity of PS.