Minor pregnanes from Caralluma adscendens var. gracilis and Caralluma pauciflora

Comprehensive polyoxypregnane glycosides report in Caralluma quadrangula using UPLC-ESI-Q-TOF and their antioxidant effects in human plasma

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Caralluma quadrangula (Forssk.) N.E.Br. (Syns: = Stapelia quadrangula Forssk. = Monolluma quadrangula Forssk.) is an indigenous member of the genus Caralluma and it is a rather common species on rocky hillsides in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. Several members of this genus have found medicinal uses in the treatment of rheumatism, diabetes, leprosy and as antiseptics and disinfectants. All parts are edible but rather more bitter and can cause diarrhea.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present report was tentatively elucidated the structure of acylated and non-acylated polyoxypregnane glycosides from Caralluma quadrangula.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The analyses were performed using an electrospray-ionization quadrupole time-of-flight (ESI-Q-TOF) mass spectrometer in both positive and negative ionization modes to explore fragmentation pathways. The antioxidant and prooxidant properties of the different mobility portions of human plasma were evaluated in vitro using thiobarbituric acid reactive substance assay (TBARS).

RESULTS

The analyses showed sixty-five characteristic ion peaks which could be more efficient to assignment the aglycones and fragmentation sequences of sugar moieties. The used ionization modes provided consistent and/or complementary information for most of the pregnane glycosides, their fragmentation sequences, and their aglycones. A DFT Study was performed to elucidate the neutral loss of H₂O molecules sequences from aglycones and the esterification linkage.

CONCLUSIONS

This report could be useful to reduce material consuming and time in phytochemistry analysis of the different medicinal plants. The two portions significantly depleted TBARS were subjected to autoperoxidation assay in the presence of hydrogen peroxide.

Caralluma edulis (Apocynaceae): A comprehensive review on its Traditional uses, Phytochemical profile and pharmacological effects

Caralluma edulis is a well-known species of the genus Caralluma from Apocynaceae, commonly known as chunga. Caralluma species are mostly succulent perennial herbs, several of which are edible species. The plant has an outstanding therapeutic background in the traditional system of treatment. It has been recommended for the treatment of a number medical disorder such as hypertension, Alzheimer disease, rheumatism, gastric problems and leprosy. Traditionally the stem was boiled in water and this extract was then used to cure diabetes. The pharmacological effects of C.edulis have also been explored in various in vitro and in vivo experiments. In this regard, the extract of the plant exhibited strong antioxidant activity, analgesic, against inflammation as well as xylene mediated ear edema for topical effects. The significant anti-hyperlipidemic effect of the plant extract is also reported. However, the extract was found insignificant in the reversal of alloxan-induced diabetes in rabbit model at test doses. These pharmacological effects are strongly supported by the presence of different bioactive phytochemicals in the plant. These groups of compounds include sterols, terpenoids, flavonoids, and pregnane glycosides. C.edulis is a very potential member of the genus Caralluma with strong traditional history, phytochemistry and phytopharmacology, needed further exploration for clinically used lead compounds. In this review, we have focused to combined different reported data on the traditional uses of the plant, phytochemical profile and pharmacological effects in different experimental assay and subsequent future prospects.

Russelioside B: a Pregnane Glycoside with Pharmacological Potential

Pregnanes and pregnane glycosides or their esters are well-studied secondary metabolites, many of them exhibit immunomodulator, anticancer, antidiabetic, antarthritic, antiulcer, anti-nociceptive, hypolipidemic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties. Pregnane glycosides are widely distributed in the families Apocyanaceae and Asclepiadaceae. Plant members of the genus Caralluma R.Br., Apocynaceae, are among the most studied species because of uses in traditional medicine or as food. They are a rich source of pregnane glycosides, as russelioside B. However, the bioactivity profile of this pregnane glycoside has not been reviewed until now. The present review aims to summarize the most important pharmacological and therapeutic applications of russelioside B with specific emphasis on the mechanism of actions associated with its administration in preclinical models. Russelioside B has many pharmacological effects including antidiabetic, anti-obesity, anti-nociceptive, antiulcer, anti-inflammatory, anti-arthritis effects, and antibiofilm, and wound healing activities. Despite its outstanding pharmacotherapeutic potential, russelioside B has never been tested in clinical trials. This review indicates that russelioside B is a potentially promising bioactive candidate, but further deeper mechanistic studies and clinical trials are needed in the future to elucidate its interaction with receptors of specific genes.

Influence of Caralluma adscendens Var. attenuata cold cream on UV-B damaged skin epidermal cells: a novel approach

Ultraviolet radiation-induced sunburns are characterized by pigmented, wrinkled, and dried skin, with rashes and red spots. Chemical sunscreen lotion shows beneficial effects, but it shows the adverse side effect while in continuous usage. Natural substances of plant origin are deemed a possible cause of UV radiation through sunscreen resources. On this basis, we formulated the cold cream from the Caralluma adscendens Var. attenuata (CAVA) plant extract. The phytocompounds were studied by using GC-MS. The antioxidant potential of the plant extract was determined, and the CAVA showed cytotoxicity on A375 skin melanoma cells determined by MTT assay. The FT-IR spectra analysis confirmed the chemical nature of crude and crosslinking between cold creams. The cream was applied topically to rats pre-exposed to UV-B radiation (32,800 J/m2) four times/week (on alternate days). UV-B exposed without any treatment rats showed increased red spots or wrinkles (5 cm2). In contrast, the cold cream treatment application on irradiated skin has significantly reduced the size of rashes and red spots and the wound was contracted in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, histopathology of the experimental rat skin confirmed that CAVA cream treatment significantly reduced the epidermal thickening, damage in dermis and epidermis layers, and restructured the hair follicles. This study suggests that the cream formulated using CAVA can alleviate the damages caused by the UV-B-irradiation at a high level and safeguard the skin tissues.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02694-y.

A review on ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacology of plant genus C aralluma R. Br

Objectives

C aralluma is a xerophytic genus used as traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, inflammation, leprosy, obesity and rheumatism. Objectives of this review are to establish a relationship between traditional uses and scientific studies by critically evaluating the available fragmented literature on ethnobotany, pharmacology, phytochemistry and toxicology of genus Caralluma.

Key findings

Ethnomedical uses of Caralluma have been recorded from various countries such as China, India, Iran and Pakistan for six major classes of diseases including diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. This review indicated the efficacy of genus Caralluma in several in vitro and in vivo pharmacological properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer activity. These bioactivity might be due to the presence of certain classes of compounds in genus Caralluma including pregnane glycosides, flavonoid glycosides and flavones.

Summary

Traditional uses and scientific evaluation of Caralluma indicates that it is one of the most widely used genus in some parts of the world. Further studies on the structural activity relationship of some of the isolated compound may improve their biological potency as well as scientific exploitation of traditional uses of the genus.

Synthesis and anti-cancer evaluation of steroidal diglycoside–pyrazoline hybrids

A new series of pyrazoline-steroidal diglycoside hybrids were synthesized via catalyzed cyclocondensation of the corresponding chalcones, screened for in vitro cytotoxic activity and the SAR deduced.

Androstanes and pregnanes from Trichilia emetica ssp. suberosa J.J. de Wilde

Four pregnanes: 1-methoxy-pregnan-17(R)-1,4-dien-3,16-dione (1), 1-methoxy-pregnan-17(S)-1,4-dien-3,16-dione (2), 2,3-seco-pregnan-17(S)-2,3-dioic acid-16-oxo-dimethyl ester (4), 2α,3α,16α-trihydroxy-5α-pregnan-17(R)-20-yl acetate (7), three androstanes: 1-methoxy-androstan-1,4-dien-3,16-dione (3), 2,3-seco-androstan-2,3-dioic acid-16-oxo-dimethyl ester (5), 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,3-seco-androstan-3-oic acid-16-oxo-2,19-lactone (6), together with three known pregnane derivatives, were isolated from the roots of Trichilia emetica ssp. suberosa. Their structures were determined by means of 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy, mass spectrometry analysis, as well as by quantum chemical calculations.

Acylated pregnane glycosides from Caralluma sinaica

Caralluma sinaica is sold on local markets of Saudi Arabia for various health benefits however no phytochemical study has specifically been performed on this species. NMR and UHPLC-ESI-TOF-MS profilings of the ethanolic extract of the whole plant reveal a very complex phytochemical composition dominated by pregnanes. Detailed information on its constituents was obtained after isolation. Six pregnane glycosides were obtained and characterized based on the extensive spectroscopic analysis (including IR, ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and MS data), in addition to ten known compounds (seven pregnanes and three flavonoids). The compounds were identified as 12β-O-benzoyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-6-deoxy-3-O-methyl-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside, 12β-O-tigloyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside, 12β-O-benzoyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-digitalopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside, 12β-O-benzoyl-20-O-acetyl boucerin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-hevetopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside, 12β-O-benzoyl-20-O-tigloyl boucerin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside, 12β-20-O-dibenzoyl boucerin-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranosyl-(1-->4)-β-D-cymaropyranoside. Finally, the isolated compounds were evaluated for their quinone reductase induction.