Antifibromyalgic activity of standardized extracts of Phyllanthus amarus and Phyllanthus fraternus in acidic saline induced chronic muscle pain

An insight into the potent medicinal plant Phyllanthus amarus Schum. and Thonn

Phyllanthus amarus Schum. and Thonn., a globally distributed herb is known for its several therapeutic potentials. P. amarus has a long history of use in the traditional system of medicine for over 2000 years owing to its wide array of secondary metabolites that confer significant medicinal attributes. Research on various aspects including ethnobotany, phytochemistry to bioactivity, or pharmacological studies has been conducted over the past several decades on this potent herb. P. amarus extracts have shown a broad range of pharmacological activities like hepatoprotective, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antimalarial, nephroprotective, diuretic, and several other properties. The present review compiles and covers literature and research of several groups across past decades to date and focuses on how the therapeutic significance of this plant can be further explored for future research either as herbal formulations, alternative medicine, or in the pharmaceutical industry.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13237-022-00409-z.

Protective role of Phyllanthusfraternus in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats

BACKGROUND

Phyllanthusfraternus is a pantropical weed of family phyllanthaceae, mainly found in northeast India. It has been used in the folklore medicine of Manipur tribe for treating type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was commenced to evaluate the anti-diabetic and renoprotective potential of P.fraternus (aerial parts) in alloxan-induced diabetes in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Alloxan (130 mg/kg, ip) was used for the induction of diabetes in adult male wistar rats. Animals with blood glucose level greater than 280 mg/dL were treated once daily for 14 days with various test extracts. The biochemical parameters were measured from serum on the 15th day post-treatment. Necropsy samples harvested from pancreas and kidneys were examined for histopathological changes in these organs.

RESULTS

Alloxan-induced diabetes not only caused significant increases in blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, creatinine and urea levels, but also provoked high oxidative stress in pancreas and kidneys. Profound morphological injuries were observed in islets of Langerhans and kidneys of diabetic animals. Administration of methanol extract (200 and 400 mg/kg) and mother liquor (200 and 400 mg/kg) ameliorate the elevated levels of blood glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol as well as other biochemical parameters, but highest reduction in blood glucose concentration was observed with the largest dose of ethyl acetate fraction (400 mg/kg) of P.fraternus. Histopathological examination of pancreas and kidneys also exhibited greater protection by treatment with acetate fraction (400 mg/kg). The HPLC analysis showed the presence of four polyphenols such as catechin, gallic acid, caffeic acid and ellagic acid in ethyl acetate fraction of P. fraternus during HPLC analysis.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that polyphenols present in P.fraternus may be responsible for the anti-diabetic and renoprotective activity in rats. Such protective effects of could be mediated through flavonol-induced anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in the pancreas and kidneys.

An Insight Into the Anxiolytic Effects of Lignans (Phyllanthin and Hypophyllanthin) and Tannin (Corilagin) Rich Extracts of Phyllanthus amarus : An In-Silico and In-vivo approaches

The extracts and the compounds isolated from Phyllanthus amarus Schumm and Thonn (Family: Euphorbiaceae) have shown a wide spectrum of pharmacological activities including antiviral, antibacterial, antiplasmodial, antimalarial, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypolipidemic, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, nephroprotective and diurectic properties.

BACKGROUND

This investigation was aimed at exploring the anxiolytic potential of Phyllanthus amarus standardized extracts and predict probable role of marker phyto constitutents.

OBJECTIVE AND METHODS

Three standardized extracts of Phyllanthus amarus plant viz. standardized aqueous extract of Phyllanthus amarus whole plant (PAAE), standardized methanolic extract of P. amarus leaf (PAME) and the standardized hydro-methanolic extract of P. amarus leaf (PAHME) were tested in the classical animal models of anxiety: Elevated plus-maze model and Light & Dark Exploration test.

RESULTS

The lower doses of the tannin rich extract (PAHME) of the P. amarus possess significant anxiolytic activity compared to lignin rich (PAME) and aqueous extracts (PAAE), while at a higher dose (400mg/kg) the results of all three extracts appears to be potentially sedative. While the molecular docking studies support these probable anxiolytic, the sedative effects of the Phyllanthus amarus extracts could be due to the interaction of tannins and lignans with the GABAbenzodiazepine receptor complex.

CONCLUSION

The results of the present study indicate that the tannin-rich extract of the P. amarus may have potential clinical applications in the management of anxiety. It can be further studied for optimum dosage to be used as a future of anti-anxiety drug development or as a standardized Phytomedicine.