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Chroho M, Bailly C, Bouissane L. Ethnobotanical Uses and Pharmacological Activities of Moroccan Ephedra Species. PLANTA MEDICA 2024; 90:336-352. [PMID: 38423032 DOI: 10.1055/a-2269-2113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Ephedra species are among the most popular herbs used in traditional medicine for a long time. The ancient Chinese medical book "Treatise on Febrile Diseases" refers to the classic traditional Chinese medicine prescription Ge Gen decoction, which consists of seven herbs, including an Ephedra species. Ephedra species are utilized all over the world to treat symptoms of the common cold and coughs, and to combat major human diseases, such as asthma, cancers, diabetes, cardiovascular and digestive disorders, and microbial infections. This study aimed at identifying specific Ephedra species used traditionally in Morocco for therapeutic purposes. The plant parts, their preparation process, and the treated pathologies were identified and analyzed. The results revealed five ethnobotanically important species of Ephedra: Ephedra alata Decne, Ephedra altissima Desf., Ephedra distachya L., Ephedra fragilis Desf., and Ephedra nebrodensis Tineo. These species are used traditionally in Morocco for treating people with diabetes, cancer, rheumatism, cold and asthma, hypertension, influenza virus infection, and respiratory ailments. In addition, they are occasionally used as calefacient agents, to regulate weight, or for capillary care. Few studies have underlined the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of some of these Moroccan Ephedra species, but little information is available regarding the natural products at the origin of the bioactivities. Further phytochemical investigations and clinical data are encouraged to better support the use of these plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mounia Chroho
- Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Catalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
| | - Christian Bailly
- OncoWitan, Scientific Consulting Office, Lille, France
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry Albert Lespagnol, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lille, France
| | - Latifa Bouissane
- Molecular Chemistry, Materials and Catalysis Laboratory, Faculty of Sciences and Technologies, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
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Nazeam JA, Boshra SA, Mohammed EZ, El Gizawy HA. Bio-Guided Assay of Ephedra foeminea Forssk Extracts and Anticancer Activities: In Vivo, In Vitro, and In Silico Evaluations. Molecules 2023; 29:199. [PMID: 38202783 PMCID: PMC10780881 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29010199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Ephedra is one of the oldest known medicinal plants and the largest genera of the Ephedraceae family. In vivo antitumor evaluation of Ephedra foeminea revealed that ethyl acetate (EtOAc) was the most bioactive fraction. Bio-guided fractionation of EtOAc fraction afforded nine compounds isolated for the first time from the plant species. Macrocyclic spermine alkaloids (1,9), proanthocyanidins (2,4,5), quinoline alkaloids (7,8), phenolic (3), and nucleoside (6) were identified and elucidated by spectroscopic analyses including 1D and 2D NMR, ESI-MS-MS spectrometry. The tested compounds exhibited moderate anticancer activity, except for the kynurenic acid derivative (6-mKYNA) which showed significant cytotoxicity and remarkable inhibition of CA-19.9 and CA-125 tumor biomarkers. In-silico study was conducted to determine the anti-proliferative mechanism of 6-mKYNA by using the CK2 enzyme active site. Moreover, the ADME computational study suggested that 6-mKYNA is an effective candidate with a promising pharmacokinetic profile and therapeutic potential against various types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilan A. Nazeam
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, 6th of October City 12585, Egypt;
| | - Sylvia A. Boshra
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, 6th of October City 12585, Egypt;
| | - Esraa Z. Mohammed
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, 6th of October City 12585, Egypt;
| | - Heba A. El Gizawy
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, October 6 University, 6th of October City 12585, Egypt;
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Ephedrae Herba: A Review of Its Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Clinical Application, and Alkaloid Toxicity. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 28:molecules28020663. [PMID: 36677722 PMCID: PMC9863261 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28020663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/05/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Ephedrae Herba (Ephedra), known as "MaHuang" in China, is the dried straw stem that is associated with the lung and urinary bladder meridians. At present, more than 60 species of Ephedra plants have been identified, which contain more than 100 compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, sugars, and organic phenolic acids. This herb has long been used to treat asthma, liver disease, skin disease, and other diseases, and has shown unique efficacy in the treatment of COVID-19 infection. Because alkaloids are the main components causing toxicity, the safety of Ephedra must be considered. However, the nonalkaloid components of Ephedra can be effectively used to replace ephedrine extracts to treat some diseases, and reasonable use can ensure the safety of Ephedra. We reviewed the phytochemistry, pharmacology, clinical application, and alkaloid toxicity of Ephedra, and describe prospects for its future development to facilitate the development of Ephedra.
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Nasar MQ, Zohra T, Khalil AT, Ovais M, Ullah I, Ayaz M, Zahoor M, Shinwari ZK. Extraction optimization, Total Phenolic-Flavonoids content, HPLC-DAD finger printing, antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic potentials of Chinese folklore Ephedra intermedia Schrenk & C. A. Mey. BRAZ J PHARM SCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/s2175-97902022e20989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zabta Khan Shinwari
- Quaid-i-Azam University, Pakistan; Lady Reading Hospital (MTI), Pakistan; Pakistan Academy of Sciences, Pakistan
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Hamoudi M, Amroun D, Baghiani A, Khennouf S, Dahamna S. Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Analgesic Activities of Alcoholic Extracts of Ephedra nebrodensis From Eastern Algeria. Turk J Pharm Sci 2021; 18:574-580. [PMID: 34719155 DOI: 10.4274/tjps.galenos.2021.24571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Objectives Ephedra nebrodensis (Ephedraceae) presents a wide range of biological activities. It is used to treat respiratory problems and hepatic pathologies in traditional medicine. The aim of this study is to evaluate the antioxidant, in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties of two hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. nebrodensis in mice. Materials and Methods The antioxidant capacity of hydro-methanolic (HM) and hydro-ethanolic (HE) extracts of E. nebrodensis was evaluated via assays of their superoxide radical scavenging capacity and ferrous ion chelating activity. The in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of the extracts (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) was also determined using the bovine serum albumin denaturation test. Croton oil-induced ear edema was then employed to evaluate the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of the extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg). Finally, the analgesic activity of the extracts (200 and 400 mg/kg) was determined by the acetic acid-induced torsion test. Results The hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. nebrodensis present significant antioxidant activity. The HE and HM could inhibit protein denaturation by 82.99%±20.21% and 56.25%±2.12%, respectively. The extracts (HM and HE) also show strong anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and could reduce ear edema by 70.37%±2.00% and 72.22%±1.94%, respectively. The HM extract (72.51%±2.43%) demonstrates greater pain inhibitory effects than HE (70.76%±2.58%). Conclusion The hydro-alcoholic extracts of E. nebrodensis produce antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. These results confirm the traditional use of the herb in the treatment of various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meriem Hamoudi
- Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Setif, Algeria
| | - Djouher Amroun
- Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Setif, Algeria
| | - Abderrahmane Baghiani
- Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry, Setif, Algeria
| | - Seddik Khennouf
- Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Setif, Algeria
| | - Saliha Dahamna
- Ferhat Abbas Setif 1 University Faculty of Natural and Life Sciences, Laboratory of Phytotherapy Applied to Chronic Diseases, Setif, Algeria
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Abstract
The genus Ephedra of the Ephedraceae family contains more than 60 species of nonflowering seed plants distributed throughout Asia, America, Europe, and North Africa. These Ephedra species have medicinal, ecological, and economic value. This review aims to summarize the chemical constituents and pharmacological activities of the Ephedra species to unveil opportunities for future research. Comprehensive information on the Ephedra species was collected by electronic search (e.g., GoogleScholar, Pubmed, SciFinder, and Web of Science) and phytochemical books. The chemical compounds isolated from the Ephedra species include alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, polysaccharides, and others. The in vitro and in vivo pharmacological studies on the crude extracts, fractions and few isolated compounds of Ephedra species showed anti-inflammatory, anticancer, antibacterial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, anti-obesity, antiviral, and diuretic activities. After chemical and pharmacological profiling, current research is focused on the antibacterial and antifungal effects of the phenolic acid compounds, the immunosuppressive activity of the polysaccharides, and the antitumor activity of flavonoids.
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Venditti A, Sanna C, Lorenzetti LM, Ballero M, Bianco A. New Coumarinyl Ethers in Daphne oleoides Schreb. Collected from Sardinia Island. Chem Biodivers 2017; 14. [PMID: 28281331 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201700072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The phytochemical analysis of the ethanolic extract obtained from D. oleoides collected from Sardinia Island allowed the isolation of several new constituents for the species (3, 8, and 9) together with two new coumarinyl ethers (1 and 2) besides the chemotaxonomic markers of the Daphne genus (4 - 7 and 10) which are also known to possess interesting biological activities. The structure of the new compounds were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic and spectrometric analyses. The identification of these compounds gives an experimental evidence of the variability in the secondary metabolites pattern owned by populations growing in restricted area in respect to populations not confined by geographical barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Venditti
- Dipartimento di Chimica, 'Sapienza' Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, IT-00185, Rome
| | - Cinzia Sanna
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Via Sant'Ignazio da Laconi 13, IT-09123, Cagliari
| | - Lorenzo M Lorenzetti
- Dipartimento di Chimica, 'Sapienza' Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, IT-00185, Rome
| | - Mauro Ballero
- Co.S.Me.Se., Consorzio per lo Studio dei Metaboliti Secondari, via Sant'Ignazio da Laconi 13, IT-09123, Cagliari
| | - Armandodoriano Bianco
- Dipartimento di Chimica, 'Sapienza' Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, IT-00185, Rome
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