Spermicidal action of a protein isolated from ethanolic root extracts of Achyranthes aspera: an in vitro study

Purification of triterpenoid saponins and 25R/25S-inokosterone from Achyranthes bidentata Bl. by high-speed countercurrent chromatography coupled silver nitrate coordination

An effective method by high-speed countercurrent chromatography coordinated with silver nitrate for the preparative separation of sterones and triterpenoid saponins from Achyranthes bidentata Blume was developed. Methyl tert-butyl ether/n-butanol/acetonitrile/water (4:2:3:8, v/v/v/v) was selected for 20-hydroxyecdysone (compound 1), chikusetsusaponin IVa methyl ester (compound 4), 2'-glycan-11-keto-pigmented saponin V (compound 5), as well as a pair of isomers of 25S-inokosterone (compound 2) and 25R-inokosterone (compound 3), which were further purified by silver nitrate coordinated high-speed countercurrent chromatography. What is more, dichloromethane/methanol/isopropanol/water (6:6:1:4, v/v/v/v) was applied for calenduloside E (compound 6), 3β-[(O-β-d-glucuronopyranosyl)-oxy]-oleana-11,13-dien-28-oic acid (compound 7), zingibroside R1 (compound 8) and chikusetsusaponin IVa (compound 9). Adding Ag+ to the solvent system resulted in unique selectivity for 25R/25S isomers of inokosterone, which increased the complexing capability and stability of Ag+ coordinated 25S-inokosterone, as well as the α value between them. These results were further confirmed by the computational calculation of geometry optimization and frontier molecular orbitals assay. Comprehensive mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance analysis demonstrated the structures of the obtained compounds.

The genus Achyranthes: A review on traditional uses, phytochemistry, and pharmacological activities

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Achyranthes L. (Amaranthaceae), also known as Chaff Flower and Niuxi/, mainly includes two famous medicinal species namely A. bidentata and A. aspera. A. bidentata has been widely used as blood-activating and stasis-resolving medicine for the treatment of various diseases including amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, lumbago, gonalgia, paraplegia, edema, stranguria, headache, dizziness, odontalgia, oral ulcer, hematemesis, and epistaxis. A. aspera has been widely used to treat various diseases, including gynecological disorder, asthma, ophthalmia, odontalgia, haemorrhoids, and abdominal tumor, and has been applied to difficult labour, wound healing, insect and snake bites.

AIM OF THIS REVIEW

This review aims to provide systematically reorganized information on distributions, botanical characteristics, ethnopharmacology, chemical constituents, qualitative and quantitative analysis, pharmacological activities, and toxicity of Achyranthes species to support their therapeutic potential.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The relevant information on Achyranthes species was gathered from worldwide accepted scientific databases via electronic search (Google Scholar, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, ACS Publications, PubMed, Wiley Online Library, SciFinder, CNKI). Information was also obtained from International Plant Names Index, Chinese Pharmacopoeia, Chinese herbal classic books, PhD and MSc dissertations, etc.

RESULTS

A comprehensive analysis of literatures obtained through the above- mentioned sources confirms that the ethnomedicinal uses of Achyranthes species are mainly recorded in China, India, Korea, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Philippines, etc. Phytochemical investigations revealed that the major bioactive substances of Achyranthes plants are polysaccharides, polypeptides, triterpenoid saponins, and ketosteroids. Achyranthes plants have been shown to not only act on immune system, nervous system, bone metabolism, and reproduction, but also possess a wide range of biological activities, including blood-activating, anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, anti-arthritis, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, wound healing, etc. Toxicity studies indicated that A. bidentata and A. aspera seem non-toxic at the common therapeutic doses.

CONCLUSIONS

A. bidentata and A. aspera are very promising to be fully utilized in the development of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products. There are, however, needs for further in-depth studies to confirm some ethnomedicinal uses of Achyranthes plants and to elucidate the scientific connotation of the widely documented property of conducting drug downward of A. bidentata. In addition, other widespread Achyranthes species like A. japonica and A. rubrofusca ought to be studied. Likewise, systematic comparative studies of the chemical constituents of medicinal Achyranthes plants resources with the same local name are also needed. Furthermore, not only should the investigations on the structure-activity relationship of the main bioactive compounds triterpenoid saponins and ketosteroids be carried out, but the pathways of absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion ought to be clarified. Last but not least, there is also a need to evaluate the long-term chronic toxicity and acute toxicity in vivo of the main bioactive compounds.

Medicinal plants for women's healthcare in southeast Asia: a meta-analysis of their traditional use, chemical constituents, and pharmacology

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

This is an extensive review of plants used traditionally for women's healthcare in Southeast Asia and surrounding countries. Medicinal plants have a significant role in women's healthcare in many rural areas of the world. Plants with numerous efficacious observations have historically been used as a starting point in the development of new drugs, and a large percentage of modern pharmaceuticals have been derived from medicinal plants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A review was conducted for all plant use mentioned specifically for female healthcare, such as medicine to increase fertility, induce menstruation or abortion, ease pregnancy and parturition, reduce menstrual bleeding and postpartum hemorrhage, alleviate menstrual, parturition and postpartum pain, increase or inhibit lactation, and treat mastitis and uterine prolapse, in 200 studies focusing on medicinal plant use, either general studies or studies focusing specifically on women's healthcare.

RESULTS

Nearly 2000 different plant species are reported to be used in over 5000 combinations. Most common are Achyranthes aspera, Artemisia vulgaris, Blumea balsamifera, Carica papaya, Curcuma longa, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Leonurus japonicus, Psidium guajava and Ricinus communis, and each of these species had been reported in more than 10 different scientific articles.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides a basis for traditional plant use in women's healthcare, and these species can be used as the starting point in the discovery of new drugs.