Effects of Marantodes pumilum (Kacip Fatimah) on vaginal pH and expression of vacoular ATPase and carbonic anhydrase in the vagina of sex-steroid deficient female rats

Authentication of Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze: A Systematic Review

Botanical drug products consist of complex phytochemical constituents that vary based on various factors that substantially produce different pharmacological activities and possible side effects. Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze (Primulaceae) is one of the most popular Malay traditional botanical drugs and widely recognized for its medicinal use. Many studies have been conducted focusing on the identification of bioactive substances, pharmacological and toxicological activities in its specific varieties but less comprehensive study on M. pumilum authentication. Lack of quality control (QC) measurement assessment may cause different quality issues on M. pumilum containing products like adulteration by pharmaceutical substances, substitution, contamination, misidentification with toxic plant species, which may be detrimental to consumers' health and safety. This systematic literature review aims to provide an overview of the current scenario on the quality control of botanical drug products as determined by pharmacopoeia requirements specifically for M. pumilum authentication or identification. A systematic search for peer-reviewed publications to document literature search for M. pumilum authentication was performed using four electronic databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus and ScienceDirect for related studies from January 2010 to December 2021. The research studies published in English and related articles for identification or authentication of M. pumilum were the main inclusion criteria in this review. A total 122 articles were identified, whereby 33 articles met the inclusion criteria. Macroscopy, microscopy, chemical fingerprinting techniques using chromatography, spectroscopy and hyphenated techniques, and genetic-based fingerprinting using DNA barcoding method have been used to identify M. pumilum and to distinguish between different varieties and plant parts. The study concluded that a combination of approaches is necessary for authenticating botanical drug substances and products containing M. pumilum to assure the quality, safety, and efficacy of marketed botanical drug products, particularly those with therapeutic claims.

Topical administration of mangiferin promotes healing of the wound of streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced type-2 diabetic male rats

Purpose: This study identifies the potential use of mangiferin gel to promote wound healing in diabetes mellitus (DM).Materials and methods: Male rats were rendered diabetes mellitus via intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin and nicotinamide. Following diabetes development, wound was created at the back of the neck. 1% and 2% mangiferin gel and 1% silver sulphurdiazine (SS) gel (positive control) were applied to the wound for twenty-one (21) days. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels were weekly monitored. At the end of the treatment, rats were sacrificed and wound was excised and subjected for histopathological and molecular biological analysis.Results: No changes to serum FBG levels was noted throughout the period of mangiferin treatment. Albeit, a significant decrease in the size of the wound with increased in the skin thickness of surrounding the wound were observed. Increased expression and distribution of EGF, FGF, TGF-β, VEGF, PI3K, MMP and Nrf2 and decreased expression and distribution of TNFα and NF-κB p65 were observed in diabetic wound treated with topical mangiferin.Conclusions: Mangiferin has potential to be used as an agent to promote wound healing in diabetic condition.

Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze (Kacip Fatimah) stimulates uterine contraction in rats in post-partum period

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Marantodes pumilum (Blume) Kuntze has traditionally been used to firm the uterus after delivery, however scientific evidences behind this claim is still lacking.

AIMS OF STUDY

To demonstrate Marantodes pumilum leaves aqueous extract (MPE) has an effect on uterine contraction after delivery and to elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved.

METHODS

Day-1 post-delivery female rats were given MPE (100, 250 and 500 mg/kg/day) orally for seven consecutive days. A day after the last treatment (day-8), rats were sacrificed and uteri were harvested and subjected for ex-vivo contraction study using organ bath followed by protein expression and distribution study by Western blotting and immunohistochemistry techniques, respectively. The proteins of interest include calmodulin-CaM, myosin light chain kinase-MLCK, sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca²⁺-ATPase (SERCA), G-protein α and β (Gα and Gβ), inositol-triphosphate 3-kinase (IP3K), oxytocin receptor-OTR, prostaglandin (PGF)2α receptor-PGFR, muscarinic receptor-MAChR and estrogen receptor (ER) isoforms α and β. Levels of estradiol and progesterone in serum were determined by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA).

RESULTS

Ex-vivo contraction study revealed the force of uterine contraction increased with increasing doses of MPE. In addition, expression of CaM, MLCK, SERCA, Gα, Gβ, IP3K, OTR, PGF2α, MAChR, Erα and ERβ in the uterus increased with increasing doses of MPE. Serum analysis indicate that estradiol levels decreased while progesterone levels remained low at day-8 post-partum in rats receiving 250 and 500 mg/kg/day MPE.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings support the claims that MPE help to firm the uterus and pave the way for its use as a uterotonic agent after delivery.

Mechanisms underlying the regulation of intracellular and luminal pH in vaginal epithelium

The vagina provides a characteristic low-Na⁺ and low-pH fluid microenvironment that is considered generally protective. Previous studies have shown that various types of epithelial cells harbor the capacity of intracellular pH (pHi) regulation. However, it remains elusive whether vaginal epithelium could actively regulate pHi by transporting acid-base ions. In this study, we verified that after transient exposure to NH₄ Cl, the pHi values could rapidly recover from acidification via Na⁺ -H⁺ exchanger (NHE), Na⁺ -HCO₃ ^- cotransporter (NBC), and carbonic anhydrase in human vaginal epithelial cell line VK2/E6E7. Positive expression of the main acid-base transporters including NHE1-2, NBCe1-2, and NBCn1 mRNA was also detected in VK2/E6E7 cells. Moreover, the in vivo study further showed that interfering with the function of V-type H⁺ -ATPase, NHE or NBC expressed in vagina impaired vaginal luminal pH homeostasis in rats. Taken together, our study reveals the property of pH regulation in vaginal epithelial cells, which might provide novel insights into the potential role of vaginal epithelium in the formation of the vaginal acidic microenvironment.

Intravaginal treatment with Marantodes pumilum (Kacip Fatimah) ameliorates vaginal atrophy in rats with post-menopausal condition

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Marantodes pumilum (MP) (Kacip Fatimah) is used to maintain the well-being of post-menopausal women. However, its role in ameliorating post menopause-related vaginal atrophy (VA) is unknown.

AIMS

To investigate the ability of intravaginal MP gel treatment to ameliorate VA in sex-steroid deficient condition, mimicking post-menopause.

METHODS

Ovariectomized female Sprague-Dawley rats received MP (100 μg/ml, 250 μg/ml and 500 μg/ml) and estriol (E) gels intravaginally for seven consecutive days. Rats were then euthanized and vagina was harvested and subjected for histological and protein expression and distribution analyses. Vaginal ultrastructure was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

RESULTS

Thickness of vaginal epithelium increased with increasing intravaginal MP doses. Additionally, increased in expression and distribution of proliferative protein i.e. PCNA, tight junction protein i.e. occludin, water channel proteins i.e. AQP-1 and AQP-2 and proton extruder protein i.e. V-ATPase A1 were observed in the vagina following intravaginal MP and E gels treatment. Intravaginal MP and E gels also induced desmosome formation and approximation of the intercellular spaces between the vaginal epithelium.

CONCLUSIONS

Intravaginal MP was able to ameliorate features associated with VA; thus, it has potential to be used as an agent to treat this condition.