Studies on the mitochondrial, immunological and inflammatory effects of solvent fractions of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Traditional Uses, Pharmacological Activities, and Phytochemical Analysis of Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC (Ebenaceae): A Review

Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex. A. DC is widely distributed throughout Africa and around the world. It is utilized ethnobotanically to treat fevers, wounds, malaria, diabetes mellitus, and other diseases. This review aims to provide an exhaustive overview of the traditional uses, pharmacology, and phytochemical analysis of D. mespiliformis, with the objective of identifying its therapeutic potential for further research. Scientific resources, including Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Science, Pub Med, and Scopus, were used to find pertinent data on D. mespiliformis. Secondary metabolites tentatively identified from this species were primarily terpenoids, naphthoquinones, phenolics, and coumarins. D. mespiliformis has been reported to demonstrate pharmacological activities, including antimicrobial, antiproliferative, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, anti-hypersensitivity, and antidiabetic properties. The phytochemicals and extracts from D. mespiliformis have been reported to have some pharmacological effects in in vivo studies and were not toxic to the animal models that were utilized. The D. mespiliformis information reported in this review provides researchers with a comprehensive summary of the current research status of this medicinal plant and a guide for further investigation.

Therapeutic efficacy of β-sitosterol treatment on Trypanosoma congolense infection, anemia development, and trans-sialidase (TconTS1) gene expression

Background

African animal trypanosomiasis hinders sustainable livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. About 17 million infected cattle are treated with trypanocides annually but most of the drugs are associated with drawbacks, necessitating the search for a promising chemotherapeutic agent.

Objectives

In this study, the effects of β-sitosterol on Trypanosoma congolense infection were investigated along with its effect on the trans-sialidase gene expressions.

Results

Oral treatment with β-sitosterol at 15 and 30 mg/kg body weight (BW) for 14 days significantly (p < 0.05) reduced parasitemia and ameliorated the parasite-induced anemia. Also, the parasite-induced increase in serum urea level and renal histopathological damage scores in addition to renal hypertrophy was significantly (p < 0.05) reverted following treatment with 30 mg/kg BW β-sitosterol. The compound also significantly (p < 0.05) down-regulated the expression of TconTS1 but not TconTS2, TconTS3, and TconTS4. Correlation analysis between free serum sialic acid with the TconTS1 and TconTS2 gene variants revealed negative correlations in the β-sitosterol-treated groups although they were non-significant (p > 0.05) in the group treated with 15 mg/kg BW β-sitosterol. Similarly, a non-significant negative (p > 0.05) correlation between the biomolecule and the TconTS3 and TconTS4 gene variants was observed in the β-sitosterol-treated groups while positive correlations were observed in the infected untreated control group.

Conclusion

The observed effect of β-sitosterol on T. congolense infection could make the compound a possible template for the design of novel trypanocides.

A new acylated flavone glycoside, in vitro antioxidant and antimicrobial activities from Saudi Diospyros mespiliformis Hochst. ex A. DC (Ebenaceae) leaves

Phytochemical investigation of Diospyros mespiliformis leaves resulted in the isolation of new acylated flavone isoscutellarein 7-O-(4'''-O-acetyl)-β-allopyranosyl(1''' → 2'')-β-glucopyranoside (1), along with eight known flavonoid metabolites, luteolin 3',4',6,8-tetramethyl ether (2), luteolin 4'-O-β-neohesperidoside (3), luteolin 7-O-β-glucoside (4), luteolin (5), quercetin (6), quercetin 3-O-β-glucoside (7), quercetin 3-O-α-rhamnoside (8), and rutin (9). Their structures were identified by analysis of spectroscopic (UV, NMR, and MS) data, as well as by acid hydrolysis for the isolated glycosides. The antioxidant activity of D. mespiliformis metabolites was determined by the DPPH radical-scavenging assay. The new acylated flavone (1) and flavonol O-rhamnoside (8) displayed the highest antioxidant activities with IC₅₀ values 15.46 and 12.32 μg/mL, respectively, with respect to the antioxidant ascorbic acid (IC₅₀ value 10.62 μg/mL). In addition, the isolated flavonoids were evaluated against four human pathogenic bacteria where the methylated flavone (2) exhibited potent activity against Escherichia coli with inhibition zone 34 mm, and mild activity of flavonol O-rhamnoside (8) against Staphylococcus aureus with MIC value 9.77 μg/mL. According to the MBC/MIC ratio, the antibacterial activity of the isolated flavonoids was considered flavonoid 2 is bactericidal nature against S. aureus, and flavonoids 3 and 4 are bactericidal against E. coli.

Curcumin modulates multiple cell death, matrix metalloproteinase activation and cardiac protein release in susceptible and resistant Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

Pro-inflammatory signaling, cell death, and metalloproteinases activation are events in Plasmodium infection. However, it is not known if treatment with mefloquine (MF), and curcumin (CM) supplementation, will modulate these conditions. Malaria was induced in two different studies using susceptible (NK 65, study 1) and resistant (ANKA, study 2) strains of mouse malaria parasites (Plasmodium berghei) in thirty male Swiss mice (n = 5) in each study. Following confirmation of parasitemia, mice received 10 mL/kg distilled water (infected control), MF (10 mg/kg), MF and CM (25 mg/kg), MF and CM (50 mg/kg), CM (25 mg/kg) and CM (50 mg/kg). Five mice (not infected) were used as control. After treatment, the animals were sacrificed, serum obtained and liver mitochondria were isolated. Serum Tumour Necrosis Factor alpha (TNF-α), C-reactive protein (CRP), Interleukins-1 beta (IL-1β) and Interleukins-6 (IL-6) as well as caspases-3, 9 (C3 and C9), p53, serum troponin I (TI) and creatine kinase (CK), were assayed using ELISA techniques. Mitochondrial membrane permeability transition (mPT) pore opening, mitochondrial F₀F₁ ATPase activity, and lipid peroxidation (mLPO) were determined spectrophotometrically. Matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) expressions were determined using electrophoresis. CM supplementation (25 mg/kg) significantly decreased serum p53, TNF-α, CRP and IL-6 compared with MF. In the resistant model, CM prevented mPT pore opening, significantly decreased F₀F₁ ATPase activity and mLPO. MF activated caspase-3 while supplementation with CM significantly decreased this effect. Furthermore, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were selectively expressed in the susceptible model. Malarial treatment with mefloquine elicits different cell death responses while supplementation with curcumin decreased TI level and CK activities.

Antimalarial and Erythrocyte Membrane Stability Properties of Globimetula braunii (Engle Van Tiegh) Growing on Cocoa in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

Introduction

Resistant malaria is a fatal disease. Globimetula braunii (African Mistletoe) is traditionally used for malarial treatment but this fact has not been scientifically reported.

Methods

Plasmodium berghei (NK65)-infected male Swiss mice (20±2 g) were treated orally and once daily with 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg BW of methanol extract and its respective hexane, dichloromethane and ethyl acetate fractions for 9 days. P-alaxin was used as control drug P. berghei (ANKA)-infected mice were then treated with the most potent fraction for 5 days. Parasitemia and parasite clearance were determined by microscopy, while hematological parameters, heme, hemozoin, and mouse erythrocyte membrane stabilisation were assayed. The phytochemicals in the most potent fraction were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Results

Hexane fraction (HF)-treated mice (400 mg/kg BW) had the least mean parasite load (0.00 ± 0.00; 0.14 ± 0.05%) and highest clearance (100 ± 0.00; 75.50 ± 4.95%) compared with infected control (9.81 ± 0.09; 6.84 ± 0.09%) in susceptible and resistant models, respectively. Hexane fraction modulated hematological indices, minimised erythrocyte membrane damage in heat-induced (2.18 ± 0.94%) and hypotonic solution-induced (7.93 ± 0.93%) compared to artequin (5.05 ± 2.18; 6.38 ± 0.33%) and P-alaxin (67.45 ± 5.15; 56.78 ± 1.10%) in both models of membrane stabilisation, respectively. Hexane fraction (P<0.01) increased heme and decreased hemozoin contents. Friedelan-3-one was identified as the most abundant triterpene.

Conclusion

The results indicated that G. braunii has anti-plasmodial properties and minimally dis-stabilised erythrocyte membrane. The major findings in this study are that n-hexane fraction of G. braunii possess excellent and moderate antiplasmodial activity against susceptible and resistant P. berghei, respectively. This was reflected via decreased parasite load, improved hematological parameters, increased heme and decreased hemozoin contents. Friedelan-3-one, a major constituent of the n-hexane fraction, may be responsible for this activity.