Impact of seasonal variation on four labdane-type diterpenoids in Coleus forskholii Briq

The present study has been planned to evaluate the impact of seasonal variation in labdane-type diterpenoids namely isoforskolin, forskolin, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin and 1-deoxyforskolin in Coleus forskholii (roots). The plant samples were harvested in different seasons from our experimental field located at CSIR-NBRI garden, Lucknow (India) and metabolite contents were estimated through validated high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) method. The HPTLC plate was developed in tertiary mobile phase of toluene-ethyl acetate-methanol (8.5-1-0.05 v/v) for separation of all the four metabolites. The metabolite content viz. isoforskolin, forskolin, 1,9-dideoxyforskolin and 1-deoxyforskolin varies from 0.0247% to 0.198%, 0.238 to 0.730%, 0.056 to 0.161% and 0.0401 to 0.332% on dry weight basis respectively. The maximum content of metabolites was recorded in winter season and was found optimum for harvesting of C. forskholii roots. Optimization of harvesting season for this industrially valuable medicinal plant will lead to sustainable sources of good quality raw material to herbal drug industry.

Influence of Seasonal Variation on Diosgenin Content in Costus speciosus (J. Koenig) Sm. Rhizome Quantified Through Validated RP-HPLC-PDA Method

Background

Costus speciosus (J. Koenig) Sm. (Syn. Cheilocostus speciosus) is an ethnic anti-diabetic plant, used for its high diosgenin content.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate the seasonal variation of diosgenin content in Costus speciosus rhizome, quantified through validated RP-HPLC method.

Materials and Methods

The rhizomes were collected in four different seasons, such as rainy (August), autumn (October), winter (February) and summer (May), from Lucknow, India. The HPLC method validation was done in terms of linearity, precision, repeatability, accuracy, sensitivity and robustness.

Results

Diosgenin was separated under isocratic elution on an RP-HPLC column (4.6 × 250 mm, 5 µm) with a mobile phase consisting of methanol and water, eluted at retention time (Rt) of 18.396 min and content was calculated with the help of standard curve. The limit of detection and limit of quantification (LOQ) was found to be 522.68 and 1583.90 ng (nanogram), respectively. The diosgenin content varies significantly in different seasons.

Conclusion

The diosgenin content was found higher in rainy (193.97 µg/mg) season and was concluded to be optimum season for collection of rhizomes as quality raw material. Harvesting at optimal season may fulfill the commercial demand of diosgenin and may reduce the diosgenin-intended overexploitation of the species from the wild.

Deciphering the multi-scale mechanisms of Tephrosia purpurea against polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and its major psychiatric comorbidities: Studies from network pharmacological perspective

Tephrosia purpurea (T. purpurea), a plant belonging to Fabaceae (pea) family, is a well-known Ayurvedic herb and commonly known as Sarapunkha in traditional Indian medicinal system. Described as "Sarwa wranvishapaka", i.e. having a capability to heal all types of wounds, it is particularly recognized for its usage in splenomegaly. Towards exploring the comprehensive effects of T. purpurea against polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and three comorbid neuropsychiatric diseases (anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder), its constituent phytochemicals (PCs) were extensively reviewed and their network pharmacology evaluation was carried out in this study. The complex regulatory potential of its 76 PCs against PCOS is enquired by developing and analyzing high confidence tripartite networks of protein targets of each phytochemical at both pathway and disease association scales. We also developed a high-confidence human Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) sub-network specific to PCOS, explored its modular architecture, and probed 30 drug-like phytochemicals (DPCs) having multi-module regulatory potential. The phytochemicals showing good binding affinity towards their protein targets were also evaluated for similarity against currently available approved drugs present in DrugBank. Multi-targeting and synergistic capacities of 12 DPCs against 10 protein targets were identified and evaluated using molecular docking and interaction analyses. Eight DPCs as a potential source of PCOS and its comorbidity regulators are reported in T. purpurea. The results of network-pharmacology study highlight the therapeutic relevance of T. purpurea as PCOS-regulator and demonstrate the effectiveness of the approach in revealing action-mechanism of Ayurvedic herbs from holistic perspective.

Plants in the Genus Tephrosia: Valuable Resources for Botanical Insecticides

Simple Summary

There is an increasing interest in botanical insecticides worldwide. Plants from the genus Tephrosia are rich in bioactive phytochemicals, particularly rotenoids which include rotenone, deguelin, rotenolone, and tephrosin. Rotenoids have strong insecticidal activities against a wider range of pests. However, there has been no treatise thus far focusing on Tephrosia as insecticidal plants. This article is intended to review phytochemicals produced by selected species, their insecticidal activities, and the current status on the use of Tephrosia as botanical insecticidal plants for insect pest control.

Abstract

Synthetic insecticides are effective in controlling insect pests but can also harm nontarget organisms and the environment. During the last 40 years, there has been an increasing interest in alternative insecticides, particularly those derived from plants, commonly known as botanical insecticides. However, commercially available botanical insecticides remain limited. Rotenone is one of the earliest identified compounds and was used as fish poison and pest management. Due to its link with Parkinson disease, the use of rotenone was banned in many developed countries. Rotenone used to be isolated from Derris spp. and Lonchocarpus spp., and it can also be isolated from Tephrosia species. In this article, we present basic botanical information on selected Tephrosia species and their major compounds related to insecticidal activities and highlight the current use of extracts derived from some species, Tephrosia vogelii in particular, for control of insect pests in stored grains and crop production. The crude extracts contain multiple bioactive compounds, mainly rotenone, deguelin, rotenolone, and tephrosin, which act in either additive or synergistic fashion, resulting in effective control of insect pests. There are about 400 species in the genus Tephrosia, and species and even strains or variants vary greatly in these active compounds. We argue that a systematic evaluation of bioactive compounds in different species are needed, and species or strains with high insecticidal activities should be selected for use in the sustainable control of insect pests.

A comprehensive review on ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicity of Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers. is a well-known plant in Ayurveda and named "Sarwa wranvishapaka" for its property to heal wounds. Traditionally, it is practiced for impotency, asthma, dyspepsia, hemorrhoids, syphilis gonorrhea, rheumatism, enlargement of kidney and spleen. It is an important component of herbal preparations like Tephroli and Yakrifti used to cure liver disorders. Various phytocompounds including pongamol, purpurin, purpurenone, tephrosin, bulnesol, tephrostachin, β-sitosterol, and so on have been reported. Modern pharmacological studies have shown that the plant have wound healing, antileishmanial, anticarcinogenic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, hepatoprotective, antifertility, antispermatogenic, anti-diarrheal, diuretic, and insecticidal properties. Acetylcholinesterase inhibitory action reported from this plant aids its utilization for the development of drugs for Alzheimer's and dementia neurological disorders. Among the known active compounds of T. purpurea, tephrostachin is responsible for antiplasmodial activity, tephrosin, pongaglabol, and semiglabrin exerts antiulcer activity while quercetin, rutin, β-sitosterol, and lupeol are mainly responsible for its anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. From different toxicological studies, concentrations up to 2,000 mg/kg were considered safe. The present review comprehensively summarizes the ethnomedicine, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology of T. purpurea. Further research on elucidation of the structure-function relationship among active compounds, understanding of multi-target network pharmacology and clinical applications will intensify its therapeutic potential.