Impact of seasons and dioecy on therapeutic phytoconstituents of Tinospora cordifolia, a Rasayana drug

Phytochemical analysis of Tinospora cordifolia and Withania somnifera and their therapeutic activities with special reference to COVID-19

Various important medicines make use of secondary metabolites that are produced by plants. Medicinal plants, such as Withania somnifera and Tinospora cordifolia, are rich sources of chemically active compounds and are reported to have numerous therapeutic applications. The therapeutic use of medicinal plants is widely mentioned in Ayurveda and has folkloric importance in different parts of the world. The aim of this review is to summarize the phytochemical profiles, folkloric importance, and primary pharmacological activity of W. somnifera and T. cordifolia with emphasis on their action against the novel coronavirus.

Genome sequencing and functional analysis of a multipurpose medicinal herb Tinospora cordifolia (Giloy)

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Hook.f. & Thomson, also known as Giloy, is among the most important medicinal plants that have numerous therapeutic applications in human health due to the production of a diverse array of secondary metabolites. To gain genomic insights into the medicinal properties of T. cordifolia, the genome sequencing was carried out using 10× Genomics linked read and Nanopore long-read technologies. The draft genome assembly of T. cordifolia was comprised of 1.01 Gbp, which is the genome sequenced from the plant family Menispermaceae. We also performed the genome size estimation for T. cordifolia, which was found to be 1.13 Gbp. The deep sequencing of transcriptome from the leaf tissue was also performed. The genome and transcriptome assemblies were used to construct the gene set, resulting in 17,245 coding gene sequences. Further, the phylogenetic position of T. cordifolia was also positioned as basal eudicot by constructing a genome-wide phylogenetic tree using multiple species. Further, a comprehensive comparative evolutionary analysis of gene families contraction/expansion and multiple signatures of adaptive evolution was performed. The genes involved in benzyl iso-quinoline alkaloid, terpenoid, lignin and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were found with signatures of adaptive evolution. These evolutionary adaptations in genes provide genomic insights into the presence of diverse medicinal properties of this plant. The genes involved in the common symbiosis signalling pathway associated with endosymbiosis (Arbuscular Mycorrhiza) were found to be adaptively evolved. The genes involved in adventitious root formation, peroxisome biogenesis, biosynthesis of phytohormones, and tolerance against abiotic and biotic stresses were also found to be adaptively evolved in T. cordifolia.

Tinosporaside from Tinospora cordifolia Encourages Skeletal Muscle Glucose Transport through Both PI-3-Kinase- and AMPK-Dependent Mechanisms

The stem of Tinospora cordifolia has been traditionally used in traditional Indian systems of medicine for blood sugar control, without the knowledge of the underlying mechanism and chemical constitution responsible for the observed anti-diabetic effect. In the present study, Tinosporaside, a diterpenoid isolated from the stem of T. cordifolia, was investigated for its effects on glucose utilization in skeletal muscle cells, which was followed by determining the anti-hyperglycemic efficacy in our diabetic db/db mice model. We found that tinosporaside augmented glucose uptake by increasing the translocation of GLUT4 to the plasma membrane in L6 myotubes, upon prolonged exposure for 16 h. Moreover, tinosporaside treatment significantly increased the phosphorylation of protein kinase B/AKT (Ser-473) and 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK, Thr-172). These effects were abolished in the presence of the wortmannin and compound C. Administration of tinosporaside to db/db mice improved glucose tolerance and peripheral insulin sensitivity associated with increased gene expression and phosphorylation of the markers of phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) and AMPK signaling in skeletal muscle tissue. The findings revealed that tinosporaside exerted its antidiabetic efficacy by enhancing the rate of glucose utilization in skeletal muscle, mediated by PI3K- and AMPK-dependent signaling mechanisms.

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers: Protection mechanisms and strategies against oxidative stress-related diseases

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Tinospora cordifolia (Willd.) Miers (Menispermaceae) is a Mediterranean herb, used in Ayurvedic, Siddha, Unani, and folk medicines. The herb is also used in conventional medicine to treat oxidative stress-related diseases and conditions, including inflammation, pain, diarrhea, asthma, respiratory infections, cancer, diabetes, and gastrointestinal disorders.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

The taxonomy, botanical classification, geographical distribution, and ethnobotanical uses of T. cordifolia, as well as the phytochemical compounds found in the herb, the toxicology of and pharmacological and clinical studies on the effects of T. cordifolia are all covered in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To gather information on T. cordifolia, we used a variety of scientific databases, including Scopus, Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct. The information discussed focuses on biologically active compounds found in T. cordifolia, and common applications and pharmacological activity of the herb, as well as toxicological and clinical studies on its properties.

RESULTS

The findings of this study reveal a connection between the use of T. cordifolia in conventional medicine and its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, antidiabetic, anticancer, immunomodulatory, and other biological effects. The entire plant, stem, leaves, root, and extracts of T. cordifolia have been shown to have a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, antiviral, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective impact. Toxicological testing demonstrated that this plant may have medicinal applications. T. cordifolia contains a variety of biologically active compounds from various chemical classes, including alkaloids, terpenoids, sitosterols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids. Based on the reports researched for this review, we believe that chemicals in T. cordifolia may activate Nrf2, which leads to the overexpression of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, GPx, GST, and GR, and thereby induces the adaptive response to oxidative stress. T. cordifolia is also able to reduce NF-κB signalling by inhibiting PI3K/Akt, activating AMPK and sirtuins, and downregulating PI3K/Akt.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicate that the pharmacological properties displayed by T. cordifolia back up its conventional uses. Antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimutagenic, antidiabetic, nephroprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and cardioprotective activities were all demonstrated in T. cordifolia stem extracts. To validate pharmacodynamic targets, further research is needed to evaluate the molecular mechanisms of the known compounds against gastrointestinal diseases, inflammatory processes, and microbial infections, as immunostimulants, and in chemotherapy. The T. cordifolia safety profile was confirmed in a toxicological analysis, which prompted pharmacokinetic assessment testing to confirm its bioavailability.

Defence Is a Priority in Female Juveniles and Adults of Taxus baccata L

Female individuals of dioecious plants invest their resources more in storage and defence, and the males have higher nitrogen content invested in the production of pollen grains. An unresolved problem is whether this strategy occurs only in sexually mature plants or can also occur in juvenile plants. To answer this, Taxus baccata (L.) needles from the mature plants and rooted cuttings (juveniles) in a pot experiment were compared for the content of carbon, nitrogen, starch, total non-structural carbohydrates (TNC), and total phenolic compounds (TPhC). The results indicate that the differences between sexes occurred mainly in sexually mature plants, where the starch content was higher in females and nitrogen in males. However, the novelty of the results is that TPhC was generally higher in females than males in both adults and juveniles, suggesting that defence is a priority for females from an early age. We do not know if this is an innate trait because the strobili production (albeit at a very low level) of juveniles was observed in all individuals after the autumn of the first year. We found no effect of fertilization on sex-specific response in the pot experiment, which may be related to the lower reproductive effort of juveniles.

In-Vitro α-amylase, α-glucosidase Inhibitory Activities and In-Vivo Anti-Hyperglycemic Potential of Different Dosage Forms of Guduchi (Tinospora Cordifolia [Willd.] Miers) Prepared With Ayurvedic Bhavana Process

Guduchi (Tinospora cordifolia [Willd.] Miers) is a flagship rejuvenating herb of Ayurveda with reported anti-diabetic potential. In the present study, different dosage forms of Guduchi stem (growing on neem tree) were developed by adopting Ayurvedic pharmaceutical process of Bhavana (levigation). Guduchi Churna (GC) was subjected to 07 times Bhavana separately with its own extracted juice, decoction and potable water, and dosage forms namely Svarasa Bhavita Guduchi Churna (SBGC), Kwatha Bhavita Guduchi Churna (KBGC), and Jala Bhavita Guduchi Churna (JBGC) were prepared. The present study was aimed to evaluate the role of Bhavana on the potentiation of therapeutic properties of Guduchi. Sequential solvent extracts (5, 10, 15 and 25%) of GC, SBGC, KBGC and JBGC were prepared in different solvents [phosphate buffer, hexane, dichloromethane (DCM), chloroform] and screened for the α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. The results revealed that phosphate buffer and DCM extracts of SBGC exhibited strong α-amylase inhibitory potential (>80% inhibition at 25% concentration) followed by KBGC, JBGC and GC with reference to the standard acarbose. In α-glucosidase inhibitory activity, maximum inhibition was observed in DCM and chloroform extracts of SBGC (>85% inhibition at 25% concentration), followed by KBGC (>80% inhibition at 25% concentration), JBGC and GC. In vivo anti-hyperglycemic studies were carried out by oral glucose tolerance test in Swiss albino mice. Test drugs (JBGC, KBGC, SBGC) treated groups showed marginal decrease of blood glucose levels in normo glycemic mice. However, the blood glucose level in test drug JBGC, KBGC and SBGC treated groups was still within normal range in overnight fasted mice. In oral glucose tolerance test, among all dosage forms SBGC (51.08%) produced pronounced anti-hyperglycemic effect followed by KBGC (42.57%) at a dose of 520 mg/kg. The GC, JBGC, KBGC and SBGC samples were also standardized using berberine (a well established anti-diabetic compound) as a marker compound by HPTLC fingerprint analysis. Findings of the present study indicate that SBGC and KBGC can be used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus and gives supporting evidence to Ayurvedic claims that the Bhavana process has pharmaceutico-therapeutic significance in Ayurvedic drug development.

Evolution of the adaptogenic concept from traditional use to medical systems: Pharmacology of stress- and aging-related diseases

Adaptogens comprise a category of herbal medicinal and nutritional products promoting adaptability, resilience, and survival of living organisms in stress. The aim of this review was to summarize the growing knowledge about common adaptogenic plants used in various traditional medical systems (TMS) and conventional medicine and to provide a modern rationale for their use in the treatment of stress-induced and aging-related disorders. Adaptogens have pharmacologically pleiotropic effects on the neuroendocrine-immune system, which explain their traditional use for the treatment of a wide range of conditions. They exhibit a biphasic dose-effect response: at low doses they function as mild stress-mimetics, which activate the adaptive stress-response signaling pathways to cope with severe stress. That is in line with their traditional use for preventing premature aging and to maintain good health and vitality. However, the potential of adaptogens remains poorly explored. Treatment of stress and aging-related diseases require novel approaches. Some combinations of adaptogenic plants provide unique effects due to their synergistic interactions in organisms not obtainable by any ingredient independently. Further progress in this field needs to focus on discovering new combinations of adaptogens based on traditional medical concepts. Robust and rigorous approaches including network pharmacology and systems pharmacology could help in analyzing potential synergistic effects and, more broadly, future uses of adaptogens. In conclusion, the evolution of the adaptogenic concept has led back to basics of TMS and a new level of understanding of holistic approach. It provides a rationale for their use in stress-induced and aging-related diseases.

Sexual Dimorphism in the Chemical Composition of Male and Female in the Dioecious Tree, Juniperus communis L., Growing under Different Nutritional Conditions

We hypothesized that female and male individuals of the dioecious tree species, Juniperus communis, exhibit different strategies of resource allocation when growing under stress conditions. To test this hypothesis, we performed a two-year pot experiment on plants exposed to different levels of nutrient availability. Analysis of the plants revealed a higher concentration of carbohydrates, carbon, and phenolic compounds in needles of female plants, indicating that females allocate more resources to storage and defense than males. This difference was independent of nutrient availability. Differences in carbohydrates levels between the sexes were most often significant in June, during the most intensive phase of vegetative growth in both sexes, but could also be attributed to female resources investment in cone development. A higher level of nitrogen and other macroelements was observed in males than in females, which may have been connected to the accumulation of resources (nitrogen) for pollen grain production in males or greater allocation of these elements to seeds and cones in females. The interaction between sex and soil fertilization for the C:N ratio may also indicate sex-specific patterns of resource allocation and utilization, which is impacted by their availability during specific periods of J. communis annual life cycle.

A Validated HPTLC Densitometric Method for Determination of Lupeol, β-Sitosterol and Rotenone in Tephrosia purpurea: A Seasonal Study

Tephrosia purpurea (L.) Pers., commonly known as “sarpunkha” and “wild indigo”, is being used in traditional systems of medicine to treat liver disorders, spleen and kidney. In the present study, a validated High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) method was established for the estimation of lupeol, β-sitosterol and rotenone in various extracts of T. purpurea with the aim to see the effect of seasons on the quantity of aforesaid phytoconstituents. The plant material was collected in summer (April), rainy (August) and winter (December) during 2013–2014 from Lucknow, India. The method was validated in terms of precision, repeatability, specificity, sensitivity linearity and robustness. The method permits reliable quantification and showed good resolution on silica gel with toluene-ethyl acetate-formic acid (9:1:1 v/v/v) as mobile phase, and characteristic bands of β-sitosterol, rotenone and lupeol were observed at Rf 0.38, 0.45 and 0.52, respectively. The content of aforesaid phytoconstituents varies from season to season and extract to extract. Our finding indicated that winter season (December) may not be appropriate for collection of T. purpurea for the preparation of therapeutic formulations because of the high content of rotenone, a known insecticide that is responsible for Parkinson’s disease and associated with heart failure, fatty liver and liver necrosis.

Altitudinal variation of berberine, total phenolics and flavonoid content in Thalictrum foliolosum and their correlation with antimicrobial and antioxidant activities

Background

The quality of herbal medicine is determined by its secondary metabolites, which may vary according to growth, season and altitude etc.

Objective

We studied the variation in phytochemistry and biological activities of Thalictrum foliolosum (TF) roots collected from four sites at different altitudes.

Material and methods

The berberine content in different extracts of T. foliolosum roots collected from various altitudes was estimated using HPTLC. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined using Folin-Ciocalteau reagent and aluminum chloride method respectively. The sensitivity of microbes for the extracts was studied using disc diffusion and the MIC was estimated using broth dilution method. Antioxidant capacity of the plant was studied using β-carotene bleaching assay, lipid peroxidation assay using goat liver, reducing power assay and DPPH free radical scavenging activity.

Results

Berberine content varied inversely with altitude; while phenol and flavonoid content of TF increased at higher altitudes. All the TF extracts showed moderate to high activity against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Extracts with high berberine content were most effective against C. albicans and S. aureus and also showed relatively significant anti-lipid peroxidation, β-carotene bleaching and reducing power. TF extracts with higher phenol and flavonoid content showed better scavenging of DPPH free radicals. Berberine was used as a standard in all the antioxidant and antimicrobial experiments performed.

Conclusion

Thalictrum from lower elevations can be explored as an alternate source of berberine and the plant has high antioxidant and antimicrobial properties owing to its berberine content.

Metabolic Study of Dioecy in Mauritia flexuosa: NMR-based and Chemometric Approaches

INTRODUCTION

Mauritia flexuosa is a dioecious species native to the Amazon, and the gender identification can currently be determined through the differentiation between female and male flowers in the first flowering.

OBJECTIVES

To identify variations in the metabolome profiles of pooled and individual samples of leaves from female and male plants of M. flexuosa in reproductive phase, and the plant in its vegetative phase, using two extraction systems.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Extractions of leaves were separately conducted using deuterated water and methanol. The extracts were evaluated by NMR spectroscopy and chemometric methods.

RESULTS

Different NMR spectroscopic profiles were observed for females, males, and plants in the vegetative phase. Significant variations were found in the carbohydrate and fatty acid contents for the aqueous and methanolic extracts, respectively. Although principal component analysis (PCA) has not been efficient to distinguish the genders, orthogonal signal correction/partial least squares-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was able to successfully differentiate male and female plants in the reproductive phase, independently on the sampling approach. For plants in the vegetative phase, OPLS-DA method from aqueous extracts of M. flexuosa leaves also distinguished female samples from the others and showed a small overlap between male and young plants, while the classification model was not able to be used for prediction.

CONCLUSIONS

NMR spectroscopy and chemometric-based approach was demonstrated to be useful in the metabolic study of dioecy in M. flexuosa. The extracts of the leaves allowed for differentiation between male and female plants; however, for plants in the vegetative phase, the identification of the gender was not effective. Copyright © 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enhanced production of berberine in In vitro regenerated cell of Tinospora cordifolia and its analysis through LCMS QToF

Tinospora cordifolia is a prioritized medicinal plant and having an immense medicinal importance especially in Indian medicinal system. But this plant needs a regeneration protocol for its rapid propagation. An efficient regeneration protocol was developed for T. cordifolia using nodal explants. High frequency of multiple shoot formation was induced when the nodal segments were cultured on MS medium supplemented with BAP (1.0 mg L⁻¹) and 2-iP (0.5 mg L⁻¹). The highest mean number of shoots per nodal explant (7.9 ± 0.45) with highest shoot length (9.3 ± 0.48 cm) and 86% response were achieved on this media and hormonal concentration. The optimum rooting was obtained on ½ strength of MS medium augmented with IBA (0.5 mg L⁻¹) with 8.3 ± 0.46 cm root length and 89% response. Micropropagated plantlets were found to be identical with the mother plant when clonal fidelity of these plantlets were analyzed with inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR) marker. The berberine content was analyzed through LCMS QToF and the highest amount was found in in vitro callus (19.8 µg/gm) followed by stem (9.3 µg/gm) and leaves of field-grown plants (8.4 µg/gm). Further, presence of berberine was confirmed by ESI–MS spectra with protonated molecular ions ([M + H]⁺) at m/z 336. Furthermore, MS–MS fragmentation pattern confirmed for the presence of berberine in both the samples. Both the spectra (standard and samples) showed common peaks for berberine in the form of protonated molecular ions ([M + H]⁺) at m/z 320, m/z 304, m/z 292, m/z 278 in MS/MS mode. The study revealed that developed protocol is potent for rapid mass propagation of this plant species with high accumulation of important secondary metabolite berberine.

A Validated HPTLC Densitometric Method for Simultaneous Determination of Evernic and Usnic Acids in Four Usnea Species and Comparison of Their Antioxidant Potential

A simple, sensitive and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatography method with densitometric detection was used for simultaneous determination of evernic (EV) and (+)-usnic acids (USN) in Usnea aciculifera (UA), U. ghattensis (UG), U. longissima (UL) and U. stigmatoides (US). This method was also validated according to the ICH guidelines. Separation and quantification was performed with the mobile phase toluene-1, 4-dioxane-formic acid (18:4.5:0.2, v/v/v) on silica gel 60F254 plates. The linearity for EV and USN was found in the 200-600 ng/band range. The limit of detection for EV and USN was 51.56 and 32.59 ng/band, while the limit of quantification was 156.23 and 98.76 ng/band, respectively. Intra- and interday precisions (n = 6) for EV and USN were 0.70-1.89 and 0.50-0.76 (%RSD), and 1.56-1.60 and 1.54-1.99 (%RSD), respectively. The mean percent recoveries were 99.66 and 99.87%, respectively, for EV and USN. However, USN was estimated in all four Usnea species but EV only in two species with varied quantity. Comparative antioxidant activity revealed that US is a better free radical scavenger in comparison with other three Usnea species. Furthermore, these results indicated that USN and EV are not solely responsible for antioxidant potential, but it may be due to synergistic effect.

Analysis of phytochemical variations in dioecious Tinospora cordifolia stems using HPLC/QTOF MS/MS and UPLC/QqQLIT -MS/MS

INTRODUCTION

The stem of dioecious Tinospora cordifolia (Menispermaceae) is a commonly used traditional Ayurvedic medicine in India having several therapeutic properties.

OBJECTIVE

To develop and validate LC-MS methods for the identification and simultaneous quantitation of various secondary metabolites and to study metabolomic variations in the stem of male and female plants.

METHODS

Ethanolic extract of stems were analysed by HPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS/MS for rapid screening of bioactive phytochemicals. High resolution MS and MS/MS in positive ESI mode were used for structural investigation of secondary metabolites. An UPLC/ESI-QqQ(LIT) -MS/MS method in MRM mode was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantitation of five bioactive alkaloids.

RESULTS

Identification and characterisation of 36 metabolites including alkaloids, sesquiterpenes and phytoecdysteroids were performed using LC-MS and MS/MS techniques. The bioactive alkaloids such as jatrorrhizine, magnoflorine, isocorydine, palmatine and tetrahydropalmatine were successfully quantified in male and female plants. The mean abundances of magnoflorine jatrorrhizine, and oblongine were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in male plants while mean abundances of tetrahydropalmatine, norcoclaurine, and reticuline were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in female plants.

CONCLUSIONS

Phytochemicals in the stem of male and female Tinospora cordifolia showed significant qualitative and quantitative variations. LC-MS and MS/MS methods can be used to differentiate between male and female plants based on their chemical profiles and quantities of the marker bioactive alkaloids. This chemical composition difference was also evident during vegetative stage when there were no male and female flowers.