Assessment of antimutagenic and genotoxic potential of senna (Cassia angustifolia Vahl.) aqueous extract using in vitro assays

Comparative LC-ESIMS-Based Metabolite Profiling of Senna italica with Senna alexandrina and Evaluating Their Hepatotoxicity

Senna Mill. (Fabaceae) is an important medicinal plant distributed worldwide. Senna alexandrina (S. alexandrina), the officinal species of the genus, is one of the most well-known herbal medicines traditionally used to treat constipation and digestive diseases. Senna italica (S. italica), another species of the genus, is native to an area ranging from Africa to the Indian subcontinent, including Iran. In Iran, this plant has been used traditionally as a laxative. However, very little phytochemical information and pharmacological reports investigating its safety of use are available. In the current study, we compared LC-ESIMS metabolite profiles of the methanol extract of S. italica with that of S. alexandrina and measured the content of sennosides A and B as the biomarkers in this genus. By this, we were able to examine the feasibility of using S. italica as a laxative agent like S. alexandrina. In addition, the hepatotoxicity of both species was evaluated against HepG2 cancer cell lines using HPLC-based activity profiling to localize the hepatotoxic components and evaluate their safety of use. Interestingly, the results showed that the phytochemical profiles of the plants were similar but with some differences, particularly in their relative contents. Glycosylated flavonoids, anthraquinones, dianthrones, benzochromenones, and benzophenones constituted the main components in both species. Nevertheless, some differences, particularly in the relative amount of some compounds, were observed. According to the LC-MS results, the amounts of sennoside A in S. alexandrina and S. italica were 1.85 ± 0.095% and 1.00 ± 0.38%, respectively. Moreover, the amounts of sennoside B in S. alexandrina and S. italica were 0.41 ± 0.12 % and 0.32 ± 0.17%, respectively. Furthermore, although both extracts showed significant hepatotoxicity at concentrations of 50 and 100 µg/mL, they were almost non-toxic at lower concentrations. Taken together, according to the results, the metabolite profiles of S. italica and S. alexandrina showed many compounds in common. However, further phytochemical, pharmacological, and clinical studies are necessary to examine the efficacy and safety of S. italica as a laxative agent.

The genus Cassia L.: Ethnopharmacological and phytochemical overview

Nature gifts medicinal plants with the untapped and boundless treasure of active chemical constituents with significant therapeutic potential that makes these plants a beneficial source in the development of phytomedicines. Genus Cassia, with approximately 500 species, is a large group of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. Cassia species are widely distributed throughout different regions mainly tropical Asia, North America, and East Africa. In the folk medicinal history, these plants are used as laxative and purgative agents. In the Ayurveda system of medicine, they are used to cure headache and fever. Cassia plants exhibit pharmacological activities at large scales such as antimicrobial, anticancer, antiinflammatory, antioxidant, hypoglycemic, hyperglycemic, antimutagenic, and antivirals. The phytochemical investigations of genus Cassia demonstrate the presence of more than 200 chemical compounds, including piperidine alkaloids, anthracene derivatives (anthraquinones), flavonoids, pentacyclic triterpenoids, sterols, phenylpropanoids, and γ-naphthopyrones. The literature illustrated anthraquinones and flavonoids as major secondary metabolites from this genus. However, some Cassia plants, with rich contents of anthraquinones, still show toxicology properties. As Cassia plants are used extensively in the herbal system of medicine, but only senna dosage forms have achieved the status of the pharmaceutical market as standard laxative agents. In conclusion, further investigations on isolating newer biologically active constituents, unknown underlying mechanisms, toxicology profiles, and clinical studies of Cassia species are needed to be explored. This review article specifies the systematic breach existing between the current scientific knowledge and the fundamentals for the marketization of genus Cassia products.

In-Silico UHPLC Method Optimization for Aglycones in the Herbal Laxatives Aloe barbadensis Mill., Cassia angustifolia Vahl Pods, Rhamnus frangula L. Bark, Rhamnus purshianus DC. Bark, and Rheum palmatum L. Roots

For the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph. Eur.) herbal monograph draft of Cassia angustifolia Vahl. and Cassia senna L. leaves and pods, a safety limitation of aloe-emodin and rhein was proposed, due to toxicological concerns. A quantitative, analytical method of the anthraquinone aglycones in all Ph. Eur. monographed herbal laxatives is of interest. A rational method development for the aglycones aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and physcion in five herbal drugs was realized by using 3D chromatographic modelling (temperature, solvent, and gradient time) and design of experiment (DOE) software (DryLab^® 4). A methodical approach suitable for the challenging peak tracking in the chromatograms of the herbal drugs in dependence on the changes in the chromatographic conditions is described by using a combination of mass spectroscopy (MS) data (UHPLC-QDa), UV/Vis-spectra, and peak areas. The model results indicate a low robust range and showed that with the selected chromatographic system, small interferences could not be averted. The separation achieved shows a pure UV/Vis spectrum for all aglycones except for chrysophanol in Aloe barbadensis and emodin in Cassia angustifolia fruit. A gradient with the best resolution of the aglycones in all five drugs is proposed, and its suitability demonstrated for the quantification of aglycones in these herbal drugs.

Ausencia de efecto citotóxico, mutagénico y genotóxico de extracto acuoso y aceite esencial de <i>Carica candamarcensis</i>. hook. (Plantae: Caricaceae)

El extracto acuoso y el aceite esencial de la pulpa de frutos maduros de Carica candamarcensis Hook. f. (1875) (chilacuán, papayuela de clima frío) presentan actividad in vitro anti-Helicobacter pylori, por lo cual se consideran promisorios para realizar una terapia complementaria para controlar la infección gástrica por esta bacteria. El presente trabajo contribuye a profundizar en el estudio de estos extractos evaluando: a) citotoxicidad mediante análisis de viabilidad de linfocitos humanos aislados por el método tradicional en gradiente de Hystopaque® y en cultivo con medio RPMI-1640; b) mutagenicidad mediante el ensayo de Ames; c) genotoxicidad a través de electroforesis alcalina de células individuales [ensayo cometa (SGCE)]. Para extracto acuoso (EA) se evaluaron dosis desde el extracto concentrado original hasta 10-2 (diluciones en agua destilada estéril) y para el caso de aceite esencial (AE) desde el extracto original diluido en DMSO al 1% hasta10-6. Este estudio demuestra que según las pruebas utilizadas todas las concentraciones evaluadas son seguras a nivel mutagénico, genotóxico y citotóxico. Sin embargo, se requieren estudios adicionales con otros métodos de ensayo que permitan confirmar o descartar si los extractos inducen daños relevantes sobre el ADN, si tienen efectos antimutagénicos y antigenotóxicos para contemplar, así, su posterior inclusión en el desarrollo de un fitofármaco de C. candamarcensis como tratamiento complementario en pacientes con antecedentes de infección de H. pylori.

Role of traditional Islamic and Arabic plants in cancer therapy

ETHNO PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

This review article underlines individual Traditional Islamic and Arabic plant (TAI) and their role in treating cancer. The aim of the study is to specifically evaluate the progress of herbs, Arabic and Islamic traditional herbs in particular, applied in cancer treatment, so far.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Islamic and Arabic plants were selected and identified through different literature survey using "Google scholar", "Web of science", "Scopus" and "PubMed". Each plant, from identified Arabic and Islamic plants list, was search individually for the most cited articles in the aforementioned databases using the keywords, "Anticancer", "Uses in cancer treatment", "Ethno pharmacological importance in cancer" etc.

RESULTS

The current review about Islamic and Arabic plants illuminates the importance of Islamic and Arabic plants and their impact in treating cancer. There is a long list of Islamic and Arabic plants used in cancer as mentioned in review with enormous amount of literature. Each plant has been investigated for its anticancer potential. The literature survey as mentioned in table shows; these plants are widely utilized in cancer as a whole, a part thereof or in the form of isolated chemical constituent.

CONCLUSIONS

This review strongly supports the fact; Arabic and Islamic traditional plants have emerged as a good source of complementary and alternative medicine in treating cancer. Traditional Arab-Islamic herbal-based medicines might be promising for new cancer therapeutics with low toxicity and minimal side effects. The plants used are mostly in crude form and still needs advance research for the isolation of phytochemicals and establishing its cellular and molecular role in treating cancer.

Toxicity and antioxidant capacity of Frangula alnus Mill. bark and its active component emodin

In the present study toxicity of Frangula alnus Mill. bark, widely used as laxative, was investigated. Human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBLs) were treated with F. alnus bark extract or emodin (emodin is bark component with laxative property), and cytotoxicity, genotoxicity and parameters of oxidative stress were assessed. Also, polyphenol content of bark extract and antioxidant activity of the extract and emodin measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP methods were examined. The bark extract (500 μg/ml) produced cell death and DNA damage, while level of ROS changed at 250 μg/ml. Emodin induced cell death and DNA damage at 150 μg/ml and 200 μg/ml, respectively, and the increase of ROS was observed at 25 μg/ml. These results suggest that both, bark extract and emodin, are cyto/genotoxic to HPBLs and that oxidative stress is involved in the mechanism of their toxicity. The results on antioxidant activity showed that, unlike emodin, bark extract possess moderate antioxidant capacity (44.6%, 46.8% and 2.25 mmol Fe(2+)/g measured by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP assay, respectively) that can be related to relatively high phenolic content (116.07 mg/g). However, due to toxicological properties use of F. alnus bark as well as emodin-containing preparations should be taken with caution.

Folium Sennae protects against hydroxyl radical-induced DNA damage via antioxidant mechanism: an in vitro study

BACKGROUND

In the study, Folium Sennae (FS) was firstly extracted by various solvents to obtain five FS extracts. Then, five FS extracts were evaluated for the protective effects against •OH-induced DNA damage, antioxidant abilities in vitro, and chemical contents using various methods. On this basis, the correlation graphs between the pharmacological effects and chemical contents were plotted to obtain the correlation coefficients (R values). Finally, in order to obtain biological evidence, ethyl acetate extract of FS (EAFS) was investigated for the protective effect against •OH-induced MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) damage using MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl) assay.

RESULTS

The pharmacological assays indicated that five FS extracts could effectively protect against •OH-induced DNA damage. The correlation analysis suggested that the average R values of total phenolics, total anthraquinones, aloe-emodin, rhein, and emodin were respectively 0.843, 0.833, 0.753, 0.820, and 0.784, while those of total sugars and total saponins were respectively 0.103 and 0.0068. The mechanistic analysis revealed that five FS extracts could also scavenge •OH, •O₂^-, DPPH• & ABTS•⁺ radicals, and reduce Cu²⁺ to Cu⁺. MTT assay revealed that the viability of MSCs which were treated with •OH radicals has been effectively protected by EAFS (3 and 30 μg/mL).

CONCLUSION

On this basis, it can be concluded that: (i) Folium Sennae exhibits a protective effect against •OH-induced damages to DNA and MSCs; (ii ) The effects may be attributed to phytophenols (especially aloe-emodin, rhein, and emodin), not sugars or saponins; (iii) They exert the protective action via hydrogen atom transfer (HAT) and/or sequential electron proton transfer (SEPT) mechanisms which make phenolic -OH moiety be oxidized to stable semi-quinone form; (iv) The stability of semi-quinone form can ultimately be responsible for the protective or antioxidant effect of phytophenols.

Gentiana asclepiadea protects human cells against oxidation DNA lesions

The objectives of this study were to examine whether the methanolic and aqueous extracts from the haulm and flower of Gentiana asclepiadea exhibited free radical scavenging and protective (antigenotoxic) effect against DNA oxidation induced by H(2)O(2) in human lymphocytes and human embryonic kidney cells (HEK 293). All four extracts exhibited high scavenging effect on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radicals at concentrations 2.5 and 25 mg ml(-1). The level of DNA damage was measured using the alkaline version of single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet assay). Challenge with H(2)O(2) shows that the pre-treatment of the cells with non-genotoxic doses of Gentiana extracts protected human DNA-either eliminated or significantly reduced H(2)O(2) induced DNA damage. The genotoxic activity of H(2)O(2) was most effectively decreased after 30 min of pre-incubation with 0.05 mg ml(-1) (range, 93.5%-96.3% of reduction in lymphocytes) and 0.25 mg ml(-1) (range, 59.5%-71.4% and 52.7%-66.4% of reduction in lymphocytes and HEK 293 cells, respectively) of G. asclepiadea extracts. These results suggest that the tested G. asclepiadea extracts could be considered as an effective natural antioxidant source.

Authentication of the medicinal plant Senna angustifolia by RAPD profiling

In this study "RAPD" molecular marker was employed for the identification of Senna angustifolia, Senna acutifolia, Senna tora and Senna sophera. Total 32 decamer primers were screened in amplification with genomic DNA extracted from all species, of which 6 primers yielded species-specific reproducible bands. Out of 42 loci detected, the polymorphic, monomorphic and unique loci were 24, 2 and 16, respectively. Based on dendrogram and similarity matrix, 4 species were differentiated from each other and showed more divergence. Thus, this technique may prove and to contribute the identification of these species of Senna having similar morphology sold in the local markets.

An experimental model to study the effects of a senna extract on the blood constituent labeling and biodistribution of a radiopharmaceutical in rats

Cassia angustifolia Vahl (senna) is a natural product that contains sennosides, which are active components that affect the intestinal tract and induce diarrhea. Authors have shown that senna produces DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) lesions in Escherichia coli cultures and can act as an antifungal agent. Natural drugs can alter the labeling of blood constituents with technetium-⁹⁹m (⁹⁹mTc) and can affect the biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals. In this work, we have evaluated the influence of a senna extract on the radiolabeling of blood constituents and on the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical sodium pertechnetate (Na⁹⁹mTcO₄)in Wistar rats. Twelve animals were treated with senna extract for 7 days. Blood samples were withdrawn from the animals and the radiolabeling procedure was carried out. The senna extract did not modify the radiolabeling of the blood constituents. A biodistributional assay was performed by administering Na⁹⁹mTcO₄ and determining its activity in different organs and in blood. The senna extract altered the biodistribution of Na⁹⁹mTcO₄ in the thyroid, liver, pancreas, lungs and blood. These results are associated with properties of the chemical substances present in the aqueous senna extract. Although these assays were performed in animals, our findings suggest that caution should be exercised when nuclear medicine examinations using Na⁹⁹mTcO₄ are conducted in patients who are using senna extract.

Genotoxic and Cytotoxic Safety Evaluation of Papain (Carica papaya L.) Using In Vitro Assays

Papain, a phytotherapeutic agent, has been used in the treatment of eschars and as a debriding chemical agent to remove damaged or necrotic tissue of pressure ulcers and gangrene. Its benefits in these treatments are deemed effective, since more than 5000 patients, at the public university hospital at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, have undergone papain treatment and presented satisfactory results. Despite its extensive use, there is little information about toxic and mutagenic properties of papain. This work evaluated the toxic and mutagenic potential of papain and its potential antioxidant activity against induced-H(2)O(2) oxidative stress in Escherichia coli strains. Cytotoxicity assay, Growth inhibition test, WP2-Mutoxitest and Plasmid-DNA treatment, and agarose gel electrophoresis were used to investigate if papain would present any toxic or mutagenic potential as well as if papain would display antioxidant properties. Papain exhibited negative results for all tests. This agent presented an activity protecting cells against H(2)O(2)-induced mutagenesis.