Antiviral activity of Petiveria alliacea against the bovine viral diarrhea virus

Amazonian Plants: A Global Bibliometric Approach to Petiveria alliacea L. Pharmacological and Toxicological Properties

Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae) holds significant importance in the Amazon region, where it has been traditionally utilized in folk medicine. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis using conventional metrics, combined with a critical content review of its pharmacological and toxicological properties, to identify gaps in the existing literature that require further investigation. Our investigation identified a total of 55 articles that met the inclusion criteria for this study. Remarkably, Brazil emerged as the primary contributor within the scope of this review, indicating a strong presence of research from this country. Furthermore, professional scientific societies have played a pivotal role in facilitating the dissemination of scientific findings through specialist journals, fostering the sharing of research work within the community. Analysis of keyword co-occurrence revealed that "Petiveria alliacea", "plant extract", and "guatemala" were the most frequently encountered terms, indicating their significance within the literature. In terms of study designs, in vivo and in vitro were the predominant types observed, highlighting their prevalence in this field of study. Our study also identified a lack in knowledge yet to be investigated.

Ethnobotany, phytochemistry and neuropharmacological effects of Petiveria alliacea L. (Phytolaccaceae): A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Petiveria alliacea L. commonly grows in the tropical regions of the Americas such as the Amazon forest, Central America, Caribbean islands and Mexico, as well as specific regions of Africa. Popularly known by several different names including 'mucuracaá', 'guiné' and 'pipi', P. alliacea has been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of various central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as anxiety, pain, memory deficits and seizures, as well as for its anaesthetic and sedative properties. Furthermore, the use of this species for religious ceremonies has been reported since the era of slavery in the Americas. Therefore, the present review aims to provide a critical and comprehensive overview of the ethnobotany, phytochemistry and pharmacological properties of P. alliacea, focusing on CNS pharmacological effects, in order to identify scientific lacunae and to open new perspectives for future research.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A literature search was performed on P. alliacea using ethnobotanical textbooks, published articles in peer-reviewed journals, unpublished materials, government survey reports and scientific databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Science Direct and Google Scholar. The Plant List, International Plant Name Index and Kew Botanical Garden Plant name databases were used to validate the scientific names.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Crude extracts, fractions and phytochemical constituents isolated from various parts of P. alliacea show a wide spectrum of neuropharmacological activities including anxiolytic, antidepressant, antinociceptive and anti-seizure, and as cognitive enhancers. Phytochemistry studies of P. alliacea indicate that this plant contains a diversity of biologically active compounds, with qualitative and quantitative variations of the major compounds depending on the region of collection and the harvest season, such as essential oil (Petiverina), saponinic glycosides, isoarborinol-triterpene, isoarborinol-acetate, isoarborinol-cinnamate, steroids, alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins. Root chemical analyses have revealed coumarins, benzyl-hydroxy-ethyl-trisulphide, benzaldehyde, benzoic acid, dibenzyl trisulphide, potassium nitrate, b-sitosterol, isoarborinol, isoarborinol-acetate, isoarborinol-cinnamate, polyphenols, trithiolaniacine, glucose and glycine.

CONCLUSIONS

Many traditional uses of P. alliacea have now been validated by modern pharmacology research. The available data reviewed here support the emergence of P. alliacea as a potential source for the treatment of different CNS disorders including anxiety, depression, pain, epilepsy and memory impairments. However, further studies are certainly required to improve the knowledge about the mechanisms of action, toxicity and efficacy of the plant as well as about its bioactive compounds before it can be approved in terms of its safety for therapeutic applications.

Immunomodulatory effects of aqueous and organic fractions from Petiveria alliacea on human dendritic cells

Petiveria alliacea is a plant traditionally known for its anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activities; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms of its immunomodulatory properties are still unknown. Dendritic cells (DC) promote adaptive immune response by activating T lymphocytes, inducing an effector response or tolerance depending on the DC differentiation level. Herein, we evaluated the immunomodulatory activity of aqueous and organic plant fractions from P. alliacea using human monocyte-derived dendritic cells. The phenotype, cytokine secretion and gene expression were estimated after treatment with the plant fractions. We found that P. alliacea aqueous fraction induced morphological changes and co-stimulatory expression of CD86, indicating partial DC maturation. In addition, pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, and TNF-α were secreted. The fraction also increased NF-κB gene expression while down-regulating TGFβ gene expression. These results suggest that the aqueous fraction can induce partial DC activation, a situation that can be relevant in tolerance induction. It is important to state that the organic fraction by itself does not show any immunomodulatory activity. This study provides evidence for possible immunomodulatory activity of P. alliacea extracts which has been used in traditional medicine in Colombia.

The in vitro anti-herpes simplex virus type-1 and type-2 activity of Long Dan Xie Gan Tan, a prescription of traditional Chinese medicine

BACKGROUND

Long Dan Xie Gan Tan (LDXGT), a decoction of radix gentianae for purging the pathogenic inflammation of the liver, is a widely used prescription among many in traditional Chinese medicine. The prescription is primarily used to treat the disorders induced by damp-heat in the liver and the gall bladder.

METHODS

In this study, the in vitro anti-herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) and type-2 (HSV-2) activity of the water extract of LDXGT was investigated.

RESULTS

LDXGT water extract was shown to exhibit anti-HSV activity. The IC(50) values of LDXGT against HSV-1 and HSV-2 infections were 257.5 +/- 12.2 and 494.6 +/- 1.8 microg/ml, respectively. It had a CC(50) value of 4,077.2 +/- 2.4 microg/ml towards Vero cells and showed no cytotoxic effect at a concentration of 2,000 microg/ml or below. The prescription was also found to inactivate HSV-2 infectivity in a dose-, time- and temperature-dependent manner.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, the water extract of LDXGT was concluded to inhibit HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection at different magnitudes of potency, and our observations also suggested that the effect was likely mediated by directly inactivating the virus infectivity.

Identification of natural compounds with anti-hepatitis B virus activity from Rheum palmatum L. ethanol extract

BACKGROUND

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a severe health problem in the world; however, there is still no satisfactory therapeutic strategy for the HBV infection. In search for new anti-HBV agents with higher efficiency and less side effects, the anti-HBV activities of traditional Chinese medicine Rheum palmatum L. ethanol extract (RPE) and isolated anthraquinones were evaluated.

METHODS

The anti-HBV activities of RPE and isolated anthraquinones were demonstrated in a stable HBV-producing cell line HepG2 2.2.15 by using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Southern blot analysis.

RESULTS

RPE could inhibit HBV-DNA production and HBsAg expression in a dose-dependent manner. The concentration of 50% HBV-DNA inhibition (IC(50)) of RPE was calculated at 212.36 +/- 11 microg/ml. Six anthraquinones were isolated from RPE by using RP-HPLC. Five free anthraquinones showed weakly or slightly inhibitory activities against HBV. The only combined anthraquinone chrysophanol 8-O-beta-D-glucoside exhibited significant activity against HBV DNA production and antigens expression with an IC(50) value of 36.98 +/- 2.28 microg/ml on HBV DNA inhibition. Endogenous HBV DNA polymerase activity assay indicated that chrysophanol 8-O-beta-D-glucoside might be a potential inhibitor of the HBV DNA polymerase.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggested that RPE could effectively inhibit HBV. The combined anthraquinone chrysophanol 8-O-beta-D-glucoside is the major active compound in RPE and could be a promising candidate for the development of new anti-HBV drugs in the treatment of HBV infection.

Inhibitory effect of medicinal herbs against RNA and DNA viruses

Fifteen Argentine medicinal plants were tested for their antiviral activity in vitro against herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and 2), bovine viral diarrhoea virus type 1 (BVDV-1), influenza virus type A (Inf A) and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Antiviral activity was evaluated by a reduction in cytopathic effect, plaque-forming units and p24 HIV-1 antigen. The Selective Index of the active extract (SI(extract) = CC50(extract)/EC50(extract)) of Coronopus didymus (SI(extract) = 110.7), Juglans australis (SI(extract) = 8.1) and Lippia alba (SI(extract) = 19.2) against BVDV-1, HSV-1 and influenza A virus, respectively, justify a further analysis. None of the seven plants assayed against HIV-1 displayed any antiviral activity. The results of this study justify the continuing isolation and characterization of the antiviral components present.